(This is the English translation of my Spanish review of this game)
I understand why most people say this is the worst Final Fantasy. Released in 1988, I feel like people might not have expected such a different sequel. I strongly believe that it was actually just a game somewhat ahead of its time
Note: rereading this I think I might be a bit too biased since I've only played the Pixel Remaster version. The original one was way more flawed than this
Final Fantasy II is a game that takes many risks. It changes the classic crystals narrative for something much more "M Rated." The game is a bit more serious and not really lighthearted, and more akin to Game of Thrones than Legend of Zelda (I was already expecting a "You’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you?")
Everyone dies haha. Character you meet, character that bites the dust. It makes a lot of sense because the plot deals with the fall of a kingdom but its context is much more grounded. Most of the events have to do with the establishment of a ruthless empire and how the members of the resistance fight against it. Very Star Wars.
I see that what most people hated about this entry is that the leveling and the combat system seem quite rigid. There are no character levels per se, but what levels up are the specific types of weapons and spells you use. Moreover, there’s a level cap depending on where you are in the world, so the classic RPG grind to cheese the game is achieved differently. You have to be very intentional with everything, and I think that its greatest weakness is actually its greatest advantage. I understand the fighting system is just actually the baby form of the job system that gets introduced in Final Fantasy III, but I feel that the current state of it on this game gave me the freedom to create my party however I wanted. Everyone can use any spell and any weapon; it’s just a matter of training each one to be relevant in monster encounters. I ended the game with a double-wielding swordsman/poison spell user, an archer/healer, a double-wielding axeman/aggro spell user, and a spear dragoon person (unofficial names haha).
I like that as the games start to iterate, the characters increasingly take the center stage. This time, instead of using 4 generic heroes of light, there are 3 main characters with a bit of personality. Firion, the main protagonist, is even kinda revered as one of the coolest characters in the pixel era.
Although the game has pretty average dungeons and a downgrade in the bestiary (compared to the first), I always appreciate and celebrate when games take chances and try to do weird and different things. The payoff is usually very cool.
Anyway, I'd like to give this game 4 duel-wielding, spell-casting, world-trotting, airship-flying, boat-rowing, Pandemonium-defeating heroes out of 5 🧝♂️🧝♂️🧝♂️🧝♂️
I understand why most people say this is the worst Final Fantasy. Released in 1988, I feel like people might not have expected such a different sequel. I strongly believe that it was actually just a game somewhat ahead of its time
Note: rereading this I think I might be a bit too biased since I've only played the Pixel Remaster version. The original one was way more flawed than this
Final Fantasy II is a game that takes many risks. It changes the classic crystals narrative for something much more "M Rated." The game is a bit more serious and not really lighthearted, and more akin to Game of Thrones than Legend of Zelda (I was already expecting a "You’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you?")
Everyone dies haha. Character you meet, character that bites the dust. It makes a lot of sense because the plot deals with the fall of a kingdom but its context is much more grounded. Most of the events have to do with the establishment of a ruthless empire and how the members of the resistance fight against it. Very Star Wars.
I see that what most people hated about this entry is that the leveling and the combat system seem quite rigid. There are no character levels per se, but what levels up are the specific types of weapons and spells you use. Moreover, there’s a level cap depending on where you are in the world, so the classic RPG grind to cheese the game is achieved differently. You have to be very intentional with everything, and I think that its greatest weakness is actually its greatest advantage. I understand the fighting system is just actually the baby form of the job system that gets introduced in Final Fantasy III, but I feel that the current state of it on this game gave me the freedom to create my party however I wanted. Everyone can use any spell and any weapon; it’s just a matter of training each one to be relevant in monster encounters. I ended the game with a double-wielding swordsman/poison spell user, an archer/healer, a double-wielding axeman/aggro spell user, and a spear dragoon person (unofficial names haha).
I like that as the games start to iterate, the characters increasingly take the center stage. This time, instead of using 4 generic heroes of light, there are 3 main characters with a bit of personality. Firion, the main protagonist, is even kinda revered as one of the coolest characters in the pixel era.
Although the game has pretty average dungeons and a downgrade in the bestiary (compared to the first), I always appreciate and celebrate when games take chances and try to do weird and different things. The payoff is usually very cool.
Anyway, I'd like to give this game 4 duel-wielding, spell-casting, world-trotting, airship-flying, boat-rowing, Pandemonium-defeating heroes out of 5 🧝♂️🧝♂️🧝♂️🧝♂️
13 Comments
@RedBackLoggd Thanks! I had no idea that happened lol. And yeah I'm from Costa Rica (:
Nice dude, your English is exceptional - would never have guessed it was a second language.
@RedBackLoggd Aww dude thanks so much! I gotta thank videogames for helping me perfect the way I speak and write haha.
Also I know that translating stuff results in some of the phrasing sounding awkward - the reviews written in English from scratch read way better lol. Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to read this!
Also I know that translating stuff results in some of the phrasing sounding awkward - the reviews written in English from scratch read way better lol. Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to read this!
LOL, I had a friend who learned perfect English through listening to heavy metal haha.
Anyway, good review, interesting to hear how it doesn't have a conventional leveling system. Was hoping the Pixel Remaster (which you appeared to play?) fixed some of the qualms that the original had.
Anyway, good review, interesting to hear how it doesn't have a conventional leveling system. Was hoping the Pixel Remaster (which you appeared to play?) fixed some of the qualms that the original had.
@RedBackLoggd Yes! I just finished playing the whole pixel remaster series. Maybe I should have included that in the review lol 🤔The hole series was amazing. They definitely did a great job modernizing the whole thing without losing the essence of the games. Highly recommended. I'm still trying to figure out If I wanna write more rounded and complete reviews with more complete info and stuff.
Interesting about your friend learning english through heavy metal! I never thought that would have been a thing haha
Interesting about your friend learning english through heavy metal! I never thought that would have been a thing haha
He's from Colombia tbf, so they prolly do things differently xD
Yeah, I tried playing the first one on the NES Classic and unfortunately the grind was just WAY too much. I'm planning on buying the series during the Steam summer sale.
Yeah, I tried playing the first one on the NES Classic and unfortunately the grind was just WAY too much. I'm planning on buying the series during the Steam summer sale.
@RedBackLoggd haha i bet there's a huge metal scene in Colombia. They're super nice people.
How brave playing the original! I've read that the grinding is indeed way too intense. That is definitely super patched up on the pixel remaster series, although the encounters are still way too many for my own taste (good thing is you can turn them off if you want lol)
Good luck with getting it in the summer sale!
How brave playing the original! I've read that the grinding is indeed way too intense. That is definitely super patched up on the pixel remaster series, although the encounters are still way too many for my own taste (good thing is you can turn them off if you want lol)
Good luck with getting it in the summer sale!
It's the coffee, keeps them happy xD
That's great to hear about the QOL changes man. My question is, since you're a big fan of this series, is the OG FF5 worth playing, or is it also poorly aged to the point of needing the Pixel remaster?
That's great to hear about the QOL changes man. My question is, since you're a big fan of this series, is the OG FF5 worth playing, or is it also poorly aged to the point of needing the Pixel remaster?
@RedBackLoggd HAHA that makes sense because our coffee ain't bad too and we seem to be pretty happy as well lmao
And well, I am just recently a huge fan hahah. Prior to writing these reviews I had only played FFXII, FFXV and FFXVI. I've only play small sections of the original ones on emulators and idk... for me it's hard to not take advantage of our modern comfort and decide to play the OG vs a remaster. That and I don't really have the nostalgia factor since I never played any of the original ones when i was a kid like a lot of people did. So in my case it doesn't seem like it's worth it
And well, I am just recently a huge fan hahah. Prior to writing these reviews I had only played FFXII, FFXV and FFXVI. I've only play small sections of the original ones on emulators and idk... for me it's hard to not take advantage of our modern comfort and decide to play the OG vs a remaster. That and I don't really have the nostalgia factor since I never played any of the original ones when i was a kid like a lot of people did. So in my case it doesn't seem like it's worth it
LOL
I appreciate the objectivity mate. Yeah, you bring up a lot of great points. I ask b/c FFVI is available on the SNES mini I have, but I wouldn't want to play it if the grind is excessive.
I appreciate the objectivity mate. Yeah, you bring up a lot of great points. I ask b/c FFVI is available on the SNES mini I have, but I wouldn't want to play it if the grind is excessive.
@RedBackLoggd no prob! FFVI is not really grindy, so if you have the chance already def give it a go!
Thanks man!
RedBackLoggd
5 days ago
Also, you're Latino?