Summary
Square Enix, or just Squaresoft at the time, virtually became an exclusive partner once the PS1 was released. They launched a plethora of original titles on the PS1 includingXenogears,Parasite Eve,Bushido Blade, and more. The PS1 also became the new home to theFinal Fantasyfranchise and that did not stop for the mainline titles into the next generation aka the PS2.
The PS2 was home to sixFinal Fantasygames made or distributed by Square Enix which included spinoffs too. One of these games many fans have probably never heard of before. So, let’s rank them all out to see which among them is the best.
6Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special
Metacritic Score: N/A
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Specialis a game that the West never got. It’s part of the Itadaki Street series which are like Monopoly games if they were RPGs. This is the first one to feature Final Fantasy andDragon Questcharacters together.
Players can engage with a plethora ofcharacters fromFinal Fantasy 7throughFinal Fantasy 12, includingFinal Fantasy 10-2. Also, there are characters and monsters from the first eight mainlineDragon Questadventures. Even though it is in Japanese, it’s not hard to understand the gameplay although an online guide might be worth bookmarking.
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7is a spinoff thatstarred Vincent Valentinein Square Enix’s attempt to make aDevil May Crygame. It’s the furthest thing in the timeline ofFinal Fantasy 7spinoffs, taking place after the film,Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. A new organization is rising from the ashes of Shinra called Deepground and Vincent is sent in to investigate.
Everything was mission-based, featuring a lot of run-and-gun action with some occasional platforming sections. The reviews weren’t terribly high, but fans enjoyed it for expanding the story at least. While Deepground was created solely for this spinoff, it has since been featured in the remake series viaYuffie’s DLC forFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.
Final Fantasy 11was the biggest risk the franchise had taken in a while. It was the first MMO and it was made with the new PS2 HDD in mind which used dial-up internet as the main outgoing source. Like many MMOs of the early 2000s,Final Fantasy 11was brutally difficultif played alone.
Even with rock-hard Jobs that had good attack and defense power, like the Warrior, solo players would find it challenging. That’s why the game built such a strong community as players knew they had to group up to make any headway in the adventure. Through multiple expansions, the game grew even more popular, building the groundwork for an even bigger MMO sensation viaFinal Fantasy 14.
Final Fantasy 10-2was the first direct sequel the series had ever released. Like the MMO gateway being ripped open forFinal Fantasy 11, this changed Square Enix’s approach to game sequels and spinoffs forever. Set shortly after the first game, this sequel dealt with the citizens of Spira rebuilding their lives in a post-Sin world which sounds dark.
Yuna was no longer a Summoner and was instead a gun-toting badass trying to make the world a better place. She was joined by her cousin Rikku along with the new sword master, Paine. The game was a more lighthearted experience with a lot of jokes thrown in to keep things lively.Final Fantasy 10-2’sbest feature though was the Job system using items called Dresspheresto change the playstyle of the three heroines in battle.
Final Fantasy 12took a while to release and it was like the swan song for the series on PS2. Even though there is a gorgeous-looking HD remaster of it on most current platforms, playing the game natively on a PS2 is still a wondrous experience. Square Enix truly put their best foot forward with this one visually.
It’s another entry that played with non-conformity as the gameplay system fell more in line with an MMO than a traditional turn-based system. It was also built withina pre-existing world, Ivalice, which was also the realm in whichFinal Fantasy Tacticstook place. It’s kind of a dark horse in the series, but that makes it more appealing for a lot of players including those that thinkFinal Fantasy 8is the best one.
Final Fantasy 10was a giant leap forward on the PS2 in the same way thatFinal Fantasy 7was for the PS1. The graphics were one thing as characters no longer looked like bricked polygons. The voice acting was another big change which was solid for the most part although certain scenes have been involved in plenty of memes. Fans will never escape the hilarity of Tidus’ infamous laughing scene for example.
The battle system was turn-based, but players could swap out characters mid-battle, adding more strategies to the mix. Summons played a huge role in the story and they could be controlled manually in battle for the first time via Yuna’s guidance. And best of all,Final Fantasy 10brought fans the best mini-game of all time, Blitzball.
