Ultimate Fantasy is now 35 years outdated, and that feels a bit of bit bizarre to say. Whereas not the primary RPG sequence to ever grace a house console and even the primary Japanese-developed RPG, Ultimate Fantasy is, arguably, the JRPG. Everybody is aware of it, and everybody has performed not less than one.
There’s a variety of debate about what Ultimate Fantasy as a franchise actually is, and over the past 20 years, lots of people have felt upset by large overhauls to fight or setting. However there is no such thing as a one form of Ultimate Fantasy. I can’t actually consider every other sequence that has modified as a lot and as typically as Ultimate Fantasy has. Proper again to its origins, Ultimate Fantasy has all the time managed to innovate, iterate, and reinvent.
Ultimate Fantasy has all the time managed to innovate, reiterate, and reinvent
And the place did all of this creativity begin? The unique Ultimate Fantasy on the Famicom in 1987. Now-legendary sequence creator Hironobu Sakaguchi had lengthy needed to make an RPG for Sq., however following Dragon Quest’s runaway success in 1986, he seized the chance and pushed by way of the chances to make Ultimate Fantasy occur.
To rejoice this momentous thirty fifth anniversary, I wish to look again on the unique six Ultimate Fantasy titles and see how every one innovated and reinvented the wheel, paving the best way for different RPGs, in addition to forging a path forward to proceed to create distinctive masterpieces.
Ultimate Fantasy I – A Class Act
“The enjoyable in an RPG begins while you create a personality, in my thoughts,” designer and battle director Akitoshi Kawazu instructed Jeremy Parish in 2012. Impressed by Ultima, Wizardry, and Dungeons & Dragons, the unique Ultimate Fantasy was the results of a workforce of seven folks at Squaresoft, headed up by Sakaguchi. The sequence creator “made a concerted effort to be completely different” from Dragon Quest, and the sport’s job system is probably the defining a part of that distinction.
Stylistically Ultimate Fantasy was fairly completely different from different RPGs of the time. It wasn’t completely medieval and it was extra “fantasy”, therefore the identify. However with the crystals, the 4 parts, and the in-game class and job designs, it felt very completely different. Wizardry had finished lessons and jobs earlier than, however Ultimate Fantasy simplified issues, and your 4 chosen lessons all acquired an improve as a part of the narrative within the sport’s most memorable second – assembly Bahamut, the King of the Dragons.
Warrior, Thief, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage, and Pink Mage. These are the six unique jobs. You’re not enjoying as a warrior hero in Dragon Quest or the shipwreck-prone Adol in Ys, nope – you’re whoever you wish to be.
the sport’s job system is probably the defining a part of that distinction.
The job system is among the most iconic components of any RPG, and you may make a reasonably sturdy case for Ultimate Fantasy popularising it. Ultimate Fantasy III (no, not the SNES one) improved upon it tenfold by including extra jobs to the sport like Summoner, Ranger, Darkish Knight, and Dragoon, with Ultimate Fantasy V introducing much more iconic roles like Blue Mage and Samurai. Each video games make different enhancements to the system, however that is the place it began.
Additionally, ending a time loop? That’s acquired to be a reasonably vital second in video video games again in 1987. Hey, not less than in 2022 all of us (learn: these with a PS4 or PS5) acquired to kill Chaos.
Ultimate Fantasy II – That is our story
Actually, Ultimate Fantasy IV (sure, the SNES quantity II) is the sport that popularised the story-heavy facet of Ultimate Fantasy. However Ultimate Fantasy II (the NES one – sustain!) is the one that basically began the pattern.
In a variety of earlier RPGs, the story was both barebones or the hero was a anonymous character that was left so that you can superimpose your self upon. Right here, you begin off with 4 distinct characters (you can provide them names, however their defaults are Firion, Maria, Man, and Leon) and, earlier than you even discover your toes, you’re thrust into an unwinnable battle and compelled to observe your get together die in entrance of you.
Loss of life permeates Ultimate Fantasy II’s story, which focuses on a revolt military who’re preventing towards the Emperor and an evil empire. Character’s jobs are set in stone, and the forged all have personalities and motives – fundamental, positive, however they’re there. However the success of the unique Ultimate Fantasy opened up the sequel to much more experimentation and a a lot darker story the place many named characters die (together with get together members).
Although many of the unique workforce returned to make Ultimate Fantasy II, the sequel made some fairly main departures from the primary – and never simply in having outlined characters. I’m dancing round it, however Ultimate Fantasy II is probably the most divisive entry within the sequence. The primary cause for that is that it’s the one sport in the primary sequence that does away with expertise factors (EXP). Kawazu, once more in command of the battle system, changed EXP with a reactive form of levelling. If a personality makes use of a sword rather a lot, they’ll step by step get higher with it. And if a personality takes a variety of hits, their HP goes up.
It’s… finicky, to say the least, nevertheless it’s the one large a part of the early Ultimate Fantasy that Kawazu took with him when he went to develop the SaGa sequence.
However Ultimate Fantasy II might need established probably the most Ultimate Fantasy issues – chocobos, Cid, the Ultima spell, the Genji armour, the Blood Sword weapon, Leviathan, and the theme of evil empires…
Not each innovation has to stay, which might be a part of the explanation why Ultimate Fantasy has by no means revisited this type of levelling (that and the above with Kawazu) or the key phrase system hasn’t actually returned. However Ultimate Fantasy II additionally established a quantity Ultimate Fantasy staples – chocobos, Cid, the Ultima spell, the Genji armour, the Blood Sword weapon, Leviathan, and the theme of evil empires all got here from II.
Regardless of its rocky place within the sequence’ historical past, Ultimate Fantasy II was a showcase of the workforce’s creativity and progressive concepts, and whereas many sequence hallmarks have come from this sport alone, others had been deserted.
Ultimate Fantasy III – I summon thee
Ultimate Fantasy III – which was really the final ‘lacking’ Ultimate Fantasy sport to get an official English model, due to a 3D DS remake in 2006 – is a bizarre one to speak about right here. Its defining characteristic is that it expanded massively on FFI’s job system; there are actually 20 jobs as a substitute of simply six, and you possibly can swap between them exterior of battle. In some ways, Ultimate Fantasy III was a return to what made FFI work so properly whereas bettering on these elements. As FFI was a response to the unique Dragon Quest, III was a response to Dragon Quest III, which had a stable class system itself. Ultimate Fantasy needed to do it higher.
Ultimate Fantasy needed to do it higher.
If there are two jobs that really feel distinctive and distinctive to Ultimate Fantasy, I believe they had been fashioned right here – the Dragoon and the Summoner. So the Dragoon technically was launched in FFII as an ally named Ricard Highwind, however FFIII is the place it actually comes into its personal, all due to one phrase: ‘Bounce’. Spears and lessons that use spears have appeared earlier than in different video video games, however the Dragoon is a specific form of class, one which assaults from the skies and may keep secure from enemy assaults, all with a bonus towards aerial enemies.
Summoners, nonetheless, are much more vital. Summons, Aeons, Espers, Eidolons, Astrals, Eikons – Ultimate Fantasy is the sequence for summoning large, ethereal creatures. And whereas different RPGs like Namco’s Tales sequence or loads of Western RPGs have had summoners or summon spirits, Ultimate Fantasy’s model of summons feels particular. These creatures are sometimes plot-critical, depend on an unlimited quantity of energy, and make you are feeling superior when calling an enormous picture of an outdated, wizened man onto the battlefield simply to rain thunder upon the sector.
why would you battle an enormous fowl with a knife and never as an armoured, leaping, spear-wielding professional?
The sport definitely inspired you to swap between jobs, however Ultimate Fantasy III additionally hints to make use of sure jobs at sure occasions. There’s a boss that just about requires you to play as 4 Dragoons (it’s attainable to win as different jobs, nevertheless it’s not enjoyable, let me inform you!). And whereas issues like which might be annoying, I believe it’s a reasonably fascinating method of creating what a job is with out the characters having outlined personalities.
In spite of everything, why would you battle an enormous fowl with a knife and never as an armoured, leaping, spear-wielding professional?
Ultimate Fantasy IV – Actively Timed
That is it – arguably, Ultimate Fantasy IV (the primary 16-bit SNES entry) is the sport that basically put Ultimate Fantasy on the map. At the very least earlier than that pesky eco-warrior Cloud Strife got here onto the scene and truly acquired the Ultimate Fantasy sequence into Europe…
Ultimate Fantasy IV has, for its time, a reasonably lovely character arc for its essential hero, Cecil. A darkish knight employed by an evil empire, Cecil spends a lot of the primary a part of the sport going by way of an ethical dilemma, realising he’s slaughtering innocents all for the sake of his king, culminating in a scene the place Cecil, atop the aptly-named Mount Ordeals, atones for his sins and fights his personal reflection to turn out to be a Paladin.
However we’re not likely right here to speak in regards to the story, as impactful or iconic because it really is. We’re right here to speak about maybe a very powerful factor Ultimate Fantasy has ever finished for the turn-based RPG – the Lively Time Battle system (ATB).
Hiroyuki Ito, who would later direct Ultimate Fantasy VI, IX, and XIII, got here up with the ATB system when watching System One (as lead designer Takashi Tokita instructed 1Up in an interview in 2013). Earlier turn-based RPGs meant inputting your whole character’s actions one after the opposite earlier than the motion performed out. In FFIV, although, every character and enemy has an (invisible) bar that fills up over time. When it maxes out, the participant can inform that character what to do. The pace of the ATB bar is set by the character’s pace stat, and you possibly can affect it with time-based spells like Haste.
Hiroyuki Ito, who would later direct Ultimate Fantasy VI, IX, and XIII, got here up with the ATB system when watching System One
The inclusion of this formed the sequence going ahead – not each single Ultimate Fantasy sport has used it (see Ultimate Fantasy X, XV, and the upcoming XVI), however this was a momentous improvement in RPGs as a result of it sped up the motion whereas nonetheless remaining fastened to the style’s roots. You would plan battles extra precisely and manipulate character pace to your benefit.
That is nonetheless one of the Ultimate Fantasy issues on the market right now, and never many different RPGs have used the ATB system – Chrono Set off, Parasite Eve, Grandia, and Baby of Mild are examples (and two of these are Squaresoft titles). However many 3D Ultimate Fantasy video games have used an iteration of it – XII’s Gambit system depends on order and forged time, and X-2 has different-length ATB bars relying on the job you’re enjoying as. If something, the ATB system allowed different RPG builders to experiment with the turn-based system that had been lengthy established at that time.
Ultimate Fantasy V – Journey and experiment
The center youngster of the SNES trilogy could be the least progressive of the unique six, however Ultimate Fantasy V continues to be a reasonably particular – and fairly vital – addition to the style.
Earlier than Ultimate Fantasy IX, Ultimate Fantasy V is probably the most iterative entry within the sequence – once more returning to I and III’s job system, however as a substitute letting you play as a bunch of established, named characters. It’s additionally possibly probably the most humble entry within the sequence, provided that the primary character Bartz isn’t some grand hero (although there are some heritage issues happening) however is simply an adventurer having enjoyable along with his finest pal, Boco the Chocobo.
Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, Fantasy Life, and lots of extra video games owe Ultimate Fantasy V for his or her glorious job methods.
Let’s return to the job system once more, although, as a result of if I established it and III improved on it, then V is the definitive job system within the sequence. Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, Fantasy Life, and lots of extra video games owe Ultimate Fantasy V for his or her glorious job methods. Even 30 years after its launch, Ultimate Fantasy V’s degree of customisation and freedom with its job system is great, permitting you to not solely swap between lessons every time but in addition enabling you to cross-equip expertise between lessons as you degree them up. So this time, in the event you actually needed to, you possibly can play the sport with 4 Geomancers, and it will be completely viable. Earth bells for days, proper?
Actually, although, for the primary half of the sport, Ultimate Fantasy V is fairly cosy. Dragon Quest all the time felt (and nonetheless does) just like the cosier sequence, although that franchise just about discovered its footing right here. Ultimate Fantasy V turns away from the darker narratives of II and IV and swaps them for a heartfelt sport about exploration and journey. At the very least till you need to battle the large tree on the finish.
Ultimate Fantasy VI – However what if we misplaced?
Okay, my goodness, the place do I begin with Ultimate Fantasy VI?
There’s nonetheless nothing actually like Ultimate Fantasy VI on the market. An RPG with no actual definable essential character (although it’s completely Terra Branford). An enormous playable forged, every of whom (*coughcoughUmarocough*) has a robust backstory. A JRPG the place there are selections that may completely alter your get together make-up? Oh, and also you lose about midway by way of the sport.
It is all about conquer adversity, and hope prevailing over despair.
Ultimate Fantasy VI is usually hailed as probably the greatest within the sequence, and for a lot of, many causes. It is all about conquer adversity, and hope prevailing over despair. The world is actually ripped aside in entrance of your eyes on the midway level, and also you (Celes Chere) are left to fend for your self and discover your mates. Pals who you’ve spent 15 or so hours with, who you suppose you perceive and know every thing about. However you don’t. The second half of the sport is about exhibiting you that, and then you definately’ll perceive every thing that they did within the first half of the sport much more than earlier than.
That’s if you need. What makes Ultimate Fantasy VI so distinctive is that it’s about freedom and selection. The primary half of the sport splits you between three completely different events (for probably the most half) till all three sides come collectively to affix The Returners, a insurgent group trying to take down the Empire. However while you take management of Celes within the World of Destroy, you’re solely required to fulfill up with two different get together members. In actual fact, in the event you actually need, you possibly can go and tackle the ultimate boss with simply Celes, Edgar, and Setzer. However then you definately’d miss out on Terra’s existential disaster. Or the explanation why Locke desires to avoid wasting everybody. Or that the beast youngster Gau’s father continues to be alive. Squaresoft created a sport the place everybody feels vital. Each single character has weight to them – and what number of different video games are you able to say have that?
What makes Ultimate Fantasy VI so distinctive is that it’s about freedom and selection.
Not solely are you able to go wherever you need and recruit whoever in what order within the World of Destroy, the Magicite system means which you can customise characters greater than ever earlier than. Edgar could be a proto-Machinist armed with a crossbow, a chainsaw, and a drill, however he will also be a magician who specialises in debuffing enemies. Or what about Locke, a super-fast thief who can mug the enemies and heal the get together?
Anybody may be something, even with their pre-established roles, and for the primary time within the sequence, you possibly can decide your personal get together and never simply depend on the characters you’re given. You may mould the workforce to suit your preferences. Quietly, that’s the largest factor Ultimate Fantasy VI brings to the desk – not solely is it a sport about hope, selection, and alter, nevertheless it enables you to expertise and do all of these issues your self.
The Ultimate (Fantasy)
Ultimate Fantasy’s improvements might need been extra delicate within the NES and SNES days, however they had been completely there. You may see how every of those six entries has not solely influenced this sequence, but in addition different RPGs – despite the fact that it was by way of dialogue with Enix’s Dragon Quest sequence for a time.
no two entries are completely alike, even after they’re bettering on each other
Dragon Quest, now below Sq. Enix, definitely settled right into a rhythm across the time Ultimate Fantasy actually began branching out. I personally play Dragon Quest to really feel one thing very specific – one thing very heat and charming, and one thing that’ll make me smile. However Ultimate Fantasy has so many various variations below its umbrella that it actually is dependent upon my temper. No two entries are completely alike, even after they’re iterating and bettering on each other (I and III, for instance).
These days, Ultimate Fantasy isn’t seen as a ‘Nintendo’ franchise – which is unusual as a result of it was for therefore lengthy. Squaresoft leaping ship to the disc-based PlayStation labored out properly for the corporate, and Europe (and NA for some) ultimately acquired all of these NES and SNES video games that initially didn’t launch in English because of this. In order that’s acquired to be a win, proper?
Nintendo, at this level, has turn out to be the house of spin-offs or the traditional turn-based Sq. Enix video games like Bravely and Octopath. Heck, even Dragon Quest feels very at dwelling on Swap. This makes the Swap a pleasant little console to get into the sequence – both by choosing up one of many many Swap remasters, or by trying out a cute spin-off like World of Ultimate Fantasy (which, hey, if you need turn-based Ultimate Fantasy, there you go!). And the arrival of the Pixel Remaster assortment has lastly been confirmed, too.
Innovation is a part of Ultimate Fantasy’s identification. That’s very true now provided that the PS5’s Ultimate Fantasy XVI is an motion RPG, nevertheless it has additionally all the time been true. What’s constant, although? Properly, Cid, chocobos, moogles, sure weapons, armour, and a handful of different issues. Writing for Kotaku, Jason Schreier put it superbly: “Ultimate Fantasy is outlined by the way it sounds… The chime of a menu cursor. The squeal of an NPC’s dialogue field. The thunderous jolt of a random encounter”. Theatrhythm Ultimate Bar Line ought to assist drive that time dwelling.
Ultimate Fantasy is no matter it desires to be. It all the time has been, and it all the time might be. What quantity will we be at in one other 35 years? Who’s to say (in all probability XXX!), however nobody can predict what course Sq. Enix will go in subsequent.
Here is to there by no means being a closing Ultimate Fantasy.