35 Years Later: Final Fantasy I is a Truly Timeless RPG
35 Years Later: Final Fantasy I is a Truly Timeless RPG
by RenanXIII
23 Comments
field_retro
I was so excited for this game. I remember waiting in line to play it at the Nintendo World Championships. This was the second longest line, SMB3 was the longest.
Not only was the game special, but the pack-ins were excellent. There was an instruction manual, a map, and a poster that had a chart of all the items and the effects.
It was on my second play through that I figured out how to use weapons and armor as items to cast low level magic spells (and not waste my spell slots). This let me go out and grind for EXP without having to stick close to a town.
The lack of auto-targeting, as you mentioned, did add a bit of strategy to the game. Especially when encountering enemy parties while sailing. But it was mitigated after learning ‘AOE’ spells/items.
I still love this game after the years as well, makes me appreciate the whole series and how far it’s come.
I prefer playing the psp anniversary version with the cut scenes, really brings the game to life.
UnknownHeroic
And we stll dont have this and the rest of pixel remaster on the switch i will never understand……….
davidbrit2
4 naked, unarmed black belts or GTFO.
152066eq
Has not aged well really. It’s honestly not as good as other classics out there.. If you really want to experience a timeless masterpiece from that era, then you need to play Chrono trigger.
shiggity80
I remember getting this game while on vacation visiting my grandparents. I was probably 6 or 7. We brought our NES with us and I didn’t really know how to play but watched my older brother play. The game pak came with an enemy chart that was so awesome back then. Loved this game!
ChezMere
Hmm. You say that, but its remakes significantly changed the gameplay, from a D&D-like system to a more typical JRPG MP system. So it doesn’t seem like Square Enix finds it all that timeless.
MysticalSword270
I need that Pixel Remaster for switch
Rhomega2
I first played it on GBA in 2004 after reading 8-bit Theatre. Despite being a basic RPG, I enjoyed it a great deal. I love the soundtrack for it too.
Ganache_Silent
To think that right out of the gate they went for a time loop is pretty impressive. And to think that they chose the Marsh Cave as the first dungeon is pretty sadistic.
vinternet
Counterpoint: Final Fantasy I was dated and difficult to enjoy only a handful of years after its release.
Yoyo8484
I played this on the psp years ago and I remember being extremely confused on where to go sometimes.
There was this woman in the first town that would give you hints, but eventually she stopped and I had to Google how to progress.
I did finish it though and that’s saying something considering I gave up on FF2 almost immediately.
megasean3000
Played the PSP version recently without guides. It was awesome!
KaelAltreul
The song from Matoya’s cave is still one of my favorites in franchise.
majinpuar
No it’s approximately 35 years old
Bryanx64
Had no real interest in playing it on NES cuz of how much of a chore those really old RPGs were, see also the first Dragon Warrior on NES. I did play it on GBA and it was alright but I don’t see myself going back to it. To me RPGs didn’t get really good til FFIV.
FenexTheFox
But only if you either played it at the time, or you’re playing one of the remakes.
magnuum
It was one of the first games I got on NES. I LOVED it. Played through multiple times. Have since played through many more times on emulation.
Sure, it did have MANY flaws. But it totally hooked me on turn based rpg.
Lord_Dimwit_Flathead
I love FF and DQ but I don’t understand why they get so much praise for being groundbreaking RPGs when all they did was the same thing Ultima had done but not as well.
KadeWad3
FF6: “Cute kid, real cute.”
PowerPlayer9
Played it using the Nintendo Power’s Guide… found out years later that most of the “tips” in it simply didn’t work in the game due to programming errors. The Maps and treasure chest content listing were nice though.
“Use the Dragon Sword against DRAGONS!” “Use the Giant Sword on Giants!”, “Equip The Rune Sword can defeat Spell Casting monster quickly!” Nope, none of that worked.
Lots of Spells didn’t work as advertised either, one of them actually backfired on you if used.
nerdgeekdorksports
This game honestly changed my life. I was OBSESSED with this game. I loved it. Got me into fantasy of all sorts…Tales of Earthsea, Tolkien, Magic: The Gathering…all of those things combined together after playing FF1 to make me love fantasy.
ekbowler
This is one of those great games where nostalgia is not required to appreciate. The story and world were surprisingly well thought out, more so than I was expecting.
23 Comments
I was so excited for this game. I remember waiting in line to play it at the Nintendo World Championships. This was the second longest line, SMB3 was the longest.
Not only was the game special, but the pack-ins were excellent. There was an instruction manual, a map, and a poster that had a chart of all the items and the effects.
It was on my second play through that I figured out how to use weapons and armor as items to cast low level magic spells (and not waste my spell slots). This let me go out and grind for EXP without having to stick close to a town.
The lack of auto-targeting, as you mentioned, did add a bit of strategy to the game. Especially when encountering enemy parties while sailing. But it was mitigated after learning ‘AOE’ spells/items.
I also felt the [Nintendo Power Strategy Guide](https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Strategy_Guide_Final_Fantasy_Nintendo_Power_017_1990) was helpful without giving away too much of the game.
I still love this game after the years as well, makes me appreciate the whole series and how far it’s come.
I prefer playing the psp anniversary version with the cut scenes, really brings the game to life.
And we stll dont have this and the rest of pixel remaster on the switch i will never understand……….
4 naked, unarmed black belts or GTFO.
Has not aged well really. It’s honestly not as good as other classics out there.. If you really want to experience a timeless masterpiece from that era, then you need to play Chrono trigger.
I remember getting this game while on vacation visiting my grandparents. I was probably 6 or 7. We brought our NES with us and I didn’t really know how to play but watched my older brother play. The game pak came with an enemy chart that was so awesome back then. Loved this game!
Hmm. You say that, but its remakes significantly changed the gameplay, from a D&D-like system to a more typical JRPG MP system. So it doesn’t seem like Square Enix finds it all that timeless.
I need that Pixel Remaster for switch
I first played it on GBA in 2004 after reading 8-bit Theatre. Despite being a basic RPG, I enjoyed it a great deal. I love the soundtrack for it too.
To think that right out of the gate they went for a time loop is pretty impressive. And to think that they chose the Marsh Cave as the first dungeon is pretty sadistic.
Counterpoint: Final Fantasy I was dated and difficult to enjoy only a handful of years after its release.
I played this on the psp years ago and I remember being extremely confused on where to go sometimes.
There was this woman in the first town that would give you hints, but eventually she stopped and I had to Google how to progress.
I did finish it though and that’s saying something considering I gave up on FF2 almost immediately.
Played the PSP version recently without guides. It was awesome!
The song from Matoya’s cave is still one of my favorites in franchise.
No it’s approximately 35 years old
Had no real interest in playing it on NES cuz of how much of a chore those really old RPGs were, see also the first Dragon Warrior on NES. I did play it on GBA and it was alright but I don’t see myself going back to it. To me RPGs didn’t get really good til FFIV.
But only if you either played it at the time, or you’re playing one of the remakes.
It was one of the first games I got on NES. I LOVED it. Played through multiple times. Have since played through many more times on emulation.
Sure, it did have MANY flaws. But it totally hooked me on turn based rpg.
I love FF and DQ but I don’t understand why they get so much praise for being groundbreaking RPGs when all they did was the same thing Ultima had done but not as well.
FF6: “Cute kid, real cute.”
Played it using the Nintendo Power’s Guide… found out years later that most of the “tips” in it simply didn’t work in the game due to programming errors. The Maps and treasure chest content listing were nice though.
“Use the Dragon Sword against DRAGONS!” “Use the Giant Sword on Giants!”, “Equip The Rune Sword can defeat Spell Casting monster quickly!” Nope, none of that worked.
Lots of Spells didn’t work as advertised either, one of them actually backfired on you if used.
This game honestly changed my life. I was OBSESSED with this game. I loved it. Got me into fantasy of all sorts…Tales of Earthsea, Tolkien, Magic: The Gathering…all of those things combined together after playing FF1 to make me love fantasy.
This is one of those great games where nostalgia is not required to appreciate. The story and world were surprisingly well thought out, more so than I was expecting.