‘I Like a Challenge!’: 35 Years Later, Final Fantasy Is Anything But Final

FInal Fantasy is a JRPG franchise currently developed and published by Square Enix. The mainline Final Fantasy games function more as an anthology than a continuous series, with each installment set in a different time period and world. For example, one of the most iconic entries, Final Fantasy VII, is set in a cyberpunk world with a distinctly futuristic tone. Each setting introduces its own challenges for players and their party to overcome. It’s a complex formula, but one that has attracted millions of fans worldwide.

Today, Final Fantasy stands as one of the biggest franchises in gaming, but ironically, that wasn’t always the case. The series began not as a visionary concept, but out of desperation. Back when Square (before merging with Enix) was struggling financially due to a string of failed titles, the company decided to take one last shot with a fantasy-themed role-playing game. They had no idea what kind of story they’d end up telling, or the impact it would eventually have on the industry.

Square Was in Dire Straits Before Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy Needed to Be Their Miracle

Square Enix formed in 2003 through the merger of two older companies: Square and Enix. Square was established in 1986, just a year before the release of Final Fantasy in Japan, though earlier incarnations of the company date back to 1983. Enix, by contrast, was the older of the two, originally founded in 1975 as a tabloid publisher before transitioning into video games.

From the start, Square focused exclusively on game development. Their first title was The Death Trap, released for Japanese home computers of the era. Even before Final Fantasy, role-playing games were their specialty, though they occasionally branched out into other genres. One notable example is Rad Racer for the NES, one of the best retro racing games.

Square had a rough start. Following its formal incorporation in 1986 and a subsequent relocation of its headquarters, the company faced serious financial strain. A string of commercial failures, many of which were released on Nintendo’s ill-fated Famicom Disk System, only worsened the situation. Things looked so dire that the possibility of shutting down loomed over everyone at Square.

Determined not to go out quietly, Square committed to developing one final game: Final Fantasy. Drawing inspiration from their chief rival Enix’s successful Dragon Quest series, Square hoped to capture a similar audience. The plan was simple: create a fantasy role-playing game that could generate some quick revenue before the company folded. What they didn’t anticipate was that Final Fantasy would not only succeed but become the foundation of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.

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Final Fantasy Told an Amazing Story

Square Set the Stage for an Amazing JRPG Series

The first Final Fantasy game, released thirty-five years ago in the United States on July 12, 1990, is more faithful to its title than many of its successors. The game is set in a classic fantasy world with a distinctly medieval atmosphere. This world spans three continents, all of which are powered by four elemental forces: Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind. These elements are deeply woven into the lives of the many races that inhabit the land, ranging from traditional fantasy creatures like dragons to more unexpected additions, such as robots.

The presence of an advanced space station added a layer of science fiction to the otherwise medieval setting, setting the stage for future entries in the series. While not nearly as sci-fi-driven as later entries like Final Fantasy VII, the blend of fantasy and futuristic elements gives the original game a unique charm that sets it apart.

The first Final Fantasy game is set roughly 200 years after a catastrophic event that caused the elemental crystals of the world to corrode and vanish. These crystals were once connected to a central shrine, now left unrecognizable due to centuries of storm damage. A group of young magical warriors, known as the Warriors of Light, is tasked with recovering the crystals and restoring the shrine to its former glory.

With help from Princess Sarah, who must first be rescued from a rogue knight, and support from the King of Coneria, the Warriors of Light set out to face powerful enemies in their quest. Along the way, they’ll explore new locations and forge alliances, each playing a role in their long, perilous journey to repair the shrine and restore the world’s lost magic. It’s not necessarily the Final Fantasy game with the best story, but it was enough to capture the imagination of players.

Final Fantasy Had Turn-Based Combat and a Job System

The Original Final Fantasy Introduced Gameplay Elements That Showed Up in Later Installments

A little-known fact about the first Final Fantasy game is that it drew heavily from a variety of tabletop RPGs, most notably Dungeons & Dragons, as well as early PC RPGs like Wizardry. In addition to those influences, it was also inspired by earlier role-playing video games, including the Dragon Quest series. These inspirations are clearly reflected in the game’s world design, character classes, and playable races.

At its core, the game is classic role-playing fare, typical of 1980s Japanese RPGs. Players are expected to build a well-balanced party, selecting members with distinct abilities that either aid in combat or provide support, such as healing. In that sense, the structure isn’t so different from modern Final Fantasy games, where party building and unique character abilities remain central to gameplay.

It’s also possible to see the roots of future Final Fantasy games in the battle system and its intricate combat mechanics. Like many RPGs of the time, the system is turn-based, with each party member taking an action until one side is either defeated or flees. For the player’s party, defeat means the death of every member, a full wipe.

Each character’s special abilities depend on their class, or «occupation» as it’s often referred to in the Final Fantasy series. Mages can cast spells to aid allies or damage enemies, while fighters and black belts rely on physical strength to deal powerful attacks. Over the years, Final Fantasy‘s gameplay has shifted from turn-based to action combat, but the foundation of the series is still there.

I want to make it a difficult game!

Interestingly, future Final Fantasy games could have taken a different direction. Akitoshi Kawazu, who worked as the battle designer for the first two Final Fantasy games, has said he would have liked to see the series become more difficult. «I like difficult games myself. I like a challenge,» he explained in an interview. «The more players say let’s make it a little easier, the more I want to make it a difficult game!»

Final Fantasy Spawned a Long Line of Sequels and Spinoffs

Square's Game Became One of the Biggest JRPG Series

The first installment in the Final Fantasy series was released on December 18, 1987, for the Nintendo Family Computer in Japan. Despite Square’s belief that it might be its final venture into video games, Final Fantasy became a resounding critical and commercial success, helping to pull the company out of the financial troubles it had faced for years.

However, the game’s success in Japan would be eclipsed by its performance in the United States. Released on the Nintendo Entertainment System on July 12, 1990, Final Fantasy sold around 700,000 copies in the U.S., surpassing the 600,000 it sold in Japan. This strong American reception helped establish Final Fantasy’s foothold in the U.S., which remains the series’ largest market to this day. For Square, it was a massive relief and the beginning of a franchise they were now eager to expand.

It has been thirty-five years since Final Fantasy’s release in the United States and thirty-eight since its debut in Japan, and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. This longevity is due in part to how the original game changed the JRPG genre forever, but also because later installments consistently built on its foundation, introducing new mechanics and expanding the series in bold directions.

Whether through the innovative entries on the Super Nintendo, the blockbuster titles on the PlayStation, or the enduringly popular modern games across nearly every platform, Final Fantasy has remained remarkably fresh. Few video game franchises, even Dragon Quest, have managed to evolve and reinvent themselves with such consistency across both sequels and spin-offs. The original Final Fantasy deserves full credit for helping to shape the JRPG genre into what it is today.

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Final Fantasy (1987)

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