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Final Fantasy II (PSP)

• Developer:
• Publisher: Square-Enix
• Genre: Role Playing
• Official Website: http://na.square-enix.com
• Score: 4 of 5: Niche

It is hard not to judge Final Fantasy II without comparing it to its predecessor, especially considering that the last time this game graced this shore was in a combined FFI/FFII PlayStation release. While the two share a plethora of similarities, their differences are what truly define them and help us understand the arc that Square Enix took to create a memorable gaming franchise.

The story starts with an invasion, as a hostile power occupies your town and destroys everything in its path. You and your friends make a desperate escape to the surrounding woods to avoid detection, but just when you think you are safe you become hopelessly overwhelmed and left for dead. Upon waking up in a rebel camp, you find one of friends missing and you must try to find him.

While far from Grand Illusion, the narrative is a solid step away from the original Final Fantasy which only flirted with the notion of having a "plot." It is here we see Square Enix deepening its storytelling roots, laying the foundation for the compelling stories found in future titles, full of twists, turns, and honest pathos.

The story is not the only departure from the series' freshman effort, as the gameplay in this second Final Fantasy takes an interesting change of focus by eliminating the standard experience gathering and replaces it with non-linear enhancements based off of use. For example, you are not defined by specific classes of individuals such as warrior or mage. Instead, characters are defined by their actions; if they use magic, there are eventually rewarded with greater intelligence and magic power.
No doubt this is a point of contention among players, resulting in a kind of love-or-hate debate over the game, but I for one found it refreshing as I gained proficiency in things I actually used and, moreover, customized my characters as a team as I found best.

For most RPGs, exploration is encouraged as you are rewarded for finding that hidden area or dungeon, but here, exploration is rewarded with a swift kick in the ass. More than once I wandered into an area where I never stood a chance, not even having the opportunity to flee. It only reminded me that I needed to save more often, but felt odd in a game that otherwise seemed readily accessible to most anyone.

While the game has stood the test of time admirably, Final Fantasy II's graphics do take a hit in this latest translation. Granted, the additional cut scenes are beautifully rendered and on par with current PlayStation 2 releases, in-game graphics lose clarity and feel dated, especially when compared against the recently rereleased Final Fantasy original. This game's release just doesn't seem to have been given the same level of care as was put into its predecessor.

However, despite my critiques, Final Fantasy II still stands solid. Especially when considering the rarity of finding this title before now and its flow in the overall series, this second game in Square Enix's venerable role-playing franchise has an elevated niche value that a similar new title simply wouldn't have. Even as a standalone, Final Fantasy II has enough value to warrant playing by Final Fantasy virgins.

Jul 20, 2007 | 1 comments
Paul Bishop