History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

When you have a series that has become beloved and spans many consoles, it's only natural to want to branch out at times.  That's what Square did with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.  In an attempt to recapture lost Nintendo fans who they'd left when Final Fantasy jumped to the Playstation, they released several DS, Gamecube, and Wii exclusives, however, these games were...different.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

As Final Fantasy moved through the PS2 era, it also found a welcome home on portable markets through the Gameboy advance and digital services.  Today, we take a look at the successor to the Final Fantasy Tactics game and return to Ivalice with, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings

Following the success of Final Fantasy 12, Square decided to release a sequel...but in the most unusual way and on the most unusual platform.  Taking an rpg for Sony and the Playstation, they made a port for the Nintendo DS that was an RTS.  The hell...?!  It's actually pretty good.  Listen and find out why.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 12

Square Enix tried to revitalize their flagship series by moving it online.  This plan had originally been to make all subsequent games online, but it quickly fell through, leaving Square with a choice of backstepping to a more traditional RPG or going in a new direction.  And, for good or for ill, they took the risk and tried to use what they'd learned in Final Fantasy 11 and use it to make Final Fantasy 12, an offline title.  This is the beginning of where their era of change begins to crumble into failure and shortcoming.  But not quite yet.  For all it's faults, Final Fantasy 12 does have some strong merits.  Watch to find out what those are.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 11

Alright everyone, back on schedule, hopefully, with History of Final Fantasy.  This time, we close in on controversy as we talk about the biggest change to date for the series and what influenced every game after it, for good and for ill.

Today, we discuss Final Fantasy 11.  Final Fantasy online.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 10-2

So, SquareEnix has released Final Fantasy 10 to widespread praise and despite the clunky voice acting, the game is as polished, as beautiful, and as fun as it has ever been.  So, they decide to make their first ever direct sequel.  And they change almost everything about the game, save for the characters and the graphics.  It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but if you can get over the foolish marketing choices and some sexism, the game is an incredible experience, with truly inspired design, paying homage to previous games, while still trying to be its own thing.

Final Fantasy 10-2 has no right to be a good game based solely on its looks and legacy.  And yet it is.  It is a damn good game.  Watch on to find out why.

Just a heads up to anyone who sees this.  I will be taking a short break, maybe a week or two, from History of Final Fantasy and game reviews because I'm a bit behind.  In those times, we'll be doing more Sunless Sea Stories, which I've already got recorded and rendered.  I hope people enjoy.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 10

So, the Playstation era has ended and Square-enix is ready to wow the world once again with the mighty Final Fantasy series on the PS2.  However, something is different.  Never has a game been more mechanically strong, yet divisive amongst the fans than their entry into the PS2.  Final Fantasy 10.

History of Final Fantasy: The Era of Change

Well, we're about to cross into the region of "terrible" Final Fantasy games, born out of the PS2 era and beyond.  Before that, however, we need to talk about the evolution of the series and how it changed to welcome the PS2 and how it began to expand and, in many ways, collapse in on itself.  This week, we're talking about the era of change surrounding Final Fantasy and how it went from a classic JRPG to...something totally different.  Enjoy.

History of Final Fantasy: Chocobo games and other related titles

Forgive me, everyone, I missed last week due to sickness...which I still have.  Either way, I managed to get another video made in time for this week.  This time, we discuss how Square expanded its brand through spin off titles like Chocobo Racing, Chocobo Dungeons, and other games that made use of their Final Fantasy characters.  So, stick with me as we delve into the strange, the surreal, and the often adorable.  These are the Chocobo and other related Final Fantasy titles.

History of Final Fantasty: Final Fantasy Tactics

Today, we explore a side series of Final Fantasy.  While the numbered titles were dominating the charts as traditional JRPGs, there was a small little game that appeared with the Final Fantasy name, blending both turn based and tactical gameplay together in a smooth, creamy blend of fun.  This game called Ivalice its home and soon its name would be synonymous with excellent tactical combat.  This is the story of Final Fantasy Tactics.

History of Final Fantasy: FInal Fantasy 9

Near the end of the PS One era, we had a return to form for Final Fantasy, where the design was very reminiscent of the golden era of Final Fantasy.  It was the swan song of an era and proved to be an excellent title besides.  However, it seems to be somewhat forgotten compared to other entries into the series.  The graphics are some of the only things remembered because of their oddity.

So, I want to encourage people to remember this entry into the series because it has some of my favorite characters, music, and villains.  Let me tell you about Final Fantasy 9...and the Black Waltzs.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 8

Final Fantasy 8 was a game which, while popular on its initial release, received rather harsh criticisms from fans years later.  In particular, the Spoony One was very critical of changes to the games formula, especially involving magic and the progression systems.  However, despite its changes, the game still felt distinctly Final Fantasy and remains a favorite of fans.  Today, we look at why the game was good and some of the changes the game made which earned it its criticisms.

History of Final Fantasy: Compilation of Final Fantasy 7

Final Fantasy 7, despite its problems, became arguably one of the most popular Final Fantasy games in the entire series.  So, to try and make more money off it, and to appease fans clamoring for a remake, Square-Enix decided to release some sequels and tie-ins to the game after the Playstation 2 had hit.  These games were direct sequels but dealt with side characters and sub plots that the original game never got a chance to tackle.  So, how were these games?  While most were reviled by fans for being clunky and not what they wanted, many of them are actually quite interesting and even fun to play.  So, please, join me, as we take a look at the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7 and find out just how crazy this game and its sequels could get.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 7

Here we come to one of the most iconic games in Final Fantasy.  Final Fantasy 7 is heralded by many as the greatest game in the series and has changed the face of the RPG genre for close to two decades.  It's certainly an amazing game, but is it as good as everyone says?  What is the history surrounding the game everyone wants to remake?  Stay tuned and find out.

History of Final Fantasy: The Art of Final Fantasy

Video game growing pains is back, this time with another Final Fantasy video.  We're talking about the art of Final Fantasy, because it changed quite a bit in the jump from the 16-bit to the 3-d.  It's important that we recognize the differences in art and how they affected the franchise and the fans before moving on to talk about Final Fantasy 7.

So, let's do that.  Enjoy!

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

Brand new year, same old retrospectives.  What better way to ring in 2015 than with MORE Final Fantasy?  Well, I can think of a few ways, however it's time I got back to regular releases, so I'm releasing the last of the 16-bit Final Fantasy games.  The game so hated and reviled that it took Final Fantasy 13 to unseat it.  Final Fantasy Mystic Quest?  So, is it as bad as all that?  Watch and find out.

I intend to try and release videos a bit more regularly now.  At least once a week, if not more, but this is a side project, not a job, so...yeah, bear that in mind.

History of Final Fantasy: A Bravely Default Rant

So, I've started playing Bravely Default and...I feel angry.  Not with the game, the game is great, but with Square.  So, I put my anger into words and tried to explain why Bravely Default is good and why it shows how fare Square Enix and Final Fantasy have fallen.  Check it out.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 6

So, in spite of much illness and a project to prove how video games have the potential to educate, I have continued work on this series.  Today, we are going to look at the longest video I have ever made, my favorite Final Fantasy game, and quite possibly, the best game in the series.  It's not perfect, and I will discuss the many problems it faces, but it captured a kind of magic from both the series and the 16-bit generation that has never since been replicated.  And with this, we end the golden age of RPGs, even though I will still talk about a game that was in the golden age next time, which was not terribly good.

Anyway, without further ado, Final Fantasy 6, ladies and gentleman.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 5

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but I am not getting much editing done lately so I have to space out my videos.  I'm planning a presentation on how video games can be used as an educational tool, the Christmas episode of Video Game Growing Pains, and I've got a test in a few days.  Yes, even teachers take tests.

Anyway, enough complaining.  This week, we examine Final Fantasy 5.  It takes a little of the old, a little of the new, and makes an experience that, at the time, was wholly unique and utterly unforgettable.  Give it a look and see what makes this game so special.

History of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy 4 After Years

So, following the release of Final Fantasy 4, there were many other Final Fantasy titles, but in the late 2000s, Square began to tinker with the idea of a sequel.  A remake for the DS was already planned, so it only seemed natural to release a sequel to one of the greatest RPGs of all time.  And it was released on the mobile phone.

Oh dear.

Then, the Wii, PSP, IOS, and many other systems...Final Fantasy 4 After Years is a reviled game for many reasons, from the price gouging approach it took to gaming, to the retreaded ground, to the mobile platform, but is it really bad?  Stay tuned to this blog and find out.