Final Fantasy

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: RPG
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Platform: Wireless
Price: $9.99

Reviewer: Eric

Final Fantasy is finally making its way to the iPod Touch/iPhone. With the App store hitting new heights in 2009 it would only make sense to start releasing one of the best RPG series on what some might call the Shining Apple of the handheld game.

The games plot is simple and plain. You have to remember though when this was released and at that time the only thing RPGs were doing is bringing out titles where you save the princess, nothing more, and nothing less. The four Light Warriors must save the princess at the start of the game but when they save her something else happens. Now the Light Warriors are facing a new evil to save the world and that is Chaos.

What was kind of cool at the time and still to this day is how you create your Light Warriors. You can pick from six characters: Fighters, Thief, Monk, Black Mage, White Mage, and Red Mage. At the half-way point in the game your characters will evolve into much stronger characters so that might motivate you into playing the game more than once to see how their looks change.

This version of the game is a port of the flawless PSP version. If you were able to play that version then you know how Square Enix enhanced the graphics by making everything bold and bulkier. Final Fantasy looks a lot better and having everything look this way now makes this old game look like it was made in modern times.

The actually quality of the port is good. Like most games I have played on my iPod Touch if you shut it off or decided to do something else the game will auto save! I personally hate doing auto saves just in case but it is nice to know if I mess up and hit a wrong button on my iPod Touch that my game will be saved, even if in battle.

Final Fantasy isn’t actually your touch and click adventure. To move around the world of Final Fantasy you’ll need to use the d-pad on the bottom left side. At first it feels a little weird to use but after a good 5 or so minutes you will start to get a hand of things. There is a button on the bottom right side for your dash/action usages.

Also on the bottom right side there is a small screen that shows all of your characters health points. I thought this was a neat little thing to add in the game. As cool of an idea this is I found it straining on the eyes to read how much health is left. The developers did at least let you touch that portion and pull up your option screen so at least that way you can get there easy and see your health points much better.

Inside of the menu context though I found small text again…what the fuck is up with this small text? Alright so maybe gaming on the iPod Touch/iPhone isn’t bulletproof but I do think the text could have been made bigger and still have the same look. I know my way around the menus any way from playing this game so many times but what about new gamers?

As good as Final Fantasy looks some might think this game will kill your battery really fast. I was able to play this for a good hour or two and still have a ton of battery life left.

Like I said before, this is a direct port from the PSP version with touch screen game mechanics. So that means you have the two new dungeons, Soul of Chaos and Labyrinth.

The touch screen mechanics for the battle system is a bit on the messy side. Touching icons for attack, magic, items, and so forth is nice. However when you have to go ahead and click an enemy to attack it doesn’t always seem to work. I had times where I was clicking on a goddamn Imp for 10 fucking seconds. The Imp is there and my finger is touching it. Alright I am an American so my fingers are bigger but the red circle is telling me that I touched that enemy. Why must I get pissed off just to attack that Imp?

Same thing happens when equipping shit. I have the most problems when I try to do it by hand so I just have the game put on the best equipment for my guys. That way I cannot get angry and I can save my bitching at the Magic Shop. Don’t ask me why I have the most problems at the Magic Shop, it puzzles me as well.

One thing that I won’t complain about, other than the graphics, is the music. To put it in simple terms I love the classic music in Final Fantasy. Something about the music in this game is much better than even some of the newer games in the series. You can’t beat a classic and iPod Touch/iPhone owners should be thanking Square Enix right now.

Final Verdict
Gaming has been a huge part of the iPod Touch/iPhone right now. Original titles are coming out weekly and classic titles are finally making their way onto the new up-and-coming portable. Square Enix has already released a few games but this is the first time they are porting over a true masterpiece, Final Fantasy. RPG fans should buy this right away. It is worth the $8.99 asking price.

Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 6 out of 10
    + It is a fun, classic RPG that never gets old.
    - The touch screen controls are not too responsive.
Graphics: 8 out of 10
    + The update has been seen on the PSP but that doesn't mean it stinks.
    - No minor tweaks guys? That's lazy.
Audio: 7 out of 10
    + Same updated music from the PSP version.
    - The iPod Touch speakers kill the games music at times. Use headphones.
Replay Value: 8 out of 10
    + This is one RPG that never gets old.
    - Nothing extra really, you depend on the gameplay really for replay value.

Overall
7.25 out of 10