With Ultimate Fantasy XVI on the horizon, many individuals are trying on the Ultimate Fantasy franchise for the primary time. So let’s attempt to clarify what Ultimate Fantasy is and the place to start out.
Taking part in the Prelude
The outplayed joke right here is how can it’s a Ultimate Fantasy if there are such a lot of of them. However contemplating that the franchise is gonna have a good time its thirty fifth anniversary this 12 months let’s imagine that Sq.-Enix had a superb run with it to date. There are numerous Ultimate Fantasy titles there, a few of them ceaselessly make the highest 10 lists of the best video video games of all time and we will say with certainty that it left fairly a legacy behind.
However lately Ultimate Fantasy is one thing that quietly went away, they nonetheless make these video games. A number of a 12 months really, however within the common dialogue, it feels prefer it’s been taken as a right. So in the event you’ve by no means had any contact with the sequence, this text is for you. In the event you’ve fallen out with the sequence, possibly this will function a reintroduction. Earlier than we get into all these humorous suggestions, let’s do a fast historical past lesson!
Origin
Ultimate Fantasy is the brainchild of Hironobu Sakaguchi and was born from his love for traditional pc RPGs like Ultima and Wizardry. In response to mythos the title Ultimate Fantasy was chosen as a result of it was his last-ditch effort earlier than he went again to school. And whereas the reality might be someplace between there and the truth that the title Preventing Fantasy was already taken, it’s that first story that will get informed. Ultimate Fantasy was launched on December 18, 1987, and was a large success a sequel was ordered.
The factor with the primary Ultimate Fantasy is simply, it was by no means meant to have a sequel. So the second recreation took some concepts from the primary and rebuild itself from the bottom up. A brand new story, new characters, and a world to discover. This development would result in 15 mainline entries and several other spinoffs which can be both their very own factor or use a number of the numbered titles as a jumping-off level.
Right now it’s actually arduous to outline what Ultimate Fantasy is as a result of Ultimate Fantasy may be no matter its makers need it to be. If you’re not towards the concept of Ultimate Fantasy there must be one title on the market you may most likely love. You may discover the whole lot from extraordinarily technical JRPGs to hack n slash motion video games or MMORPGs. Tales which can be homages to traditional fairy tales to cyberpunk dystopia. The one sure factor is the magical chime of Nobuo Uematsu’s Crystal Prelude.
So let’s make a listing of all of the Ultimate Fantasy video games you possibly can try! Usually, most of them are price taking part in however some will most likely come off as dated by right this moment’s requirements.
Ultimate Fantasy V
I’ll admit, the primary 5 Ultimate Fantasy titles should not that a lot completely different from one other. In the event you play them in launch order right this moment, you may see the groups behind it toying round with completely different concepts and slowly determining what works and what does not. Of these video games, Ultimate Fantasy V might be the very best. Not solely is the Job system and fight on this recreation superb, however it’s also a clear and enjoyable journey throughout.
Not like the later video games, Ultimate Fantasy V retains issues easy. You play a gaggle of heroes led by the adventurer Bartz to slay the evil Exdeath. It’s most likely the closest to Tolkien the sequence ever bought. Good vs. unhealthy, proper vs. improper, the darkish facet towards the sunshine. However what stood out even in 1992 is the standard of writing behind the characters. Everyone seems to be a fleshed-out particular person and there’s a enjoyable group dynamic between all of the characters.
However Ultimate Fantasy V’s standout function was the job system. Which allowed all of the characters to change their fight job to the gamers liking. As a substitute of simply leveling up your characters, you are leveling up your character’s jobs. Rising the extent of a job can even grant extra bonuses that you just get to maintain endlessly and carry over into different jobs. That may be further standing factors or new talents. There are 22 jobs in complete within the recreation that each character has entry to, which suggests you will get artistic with the setup of your social gathering. Simply now {that a} full social gathering of Blue Mages is objectively your best option.
Ultimate Fantasy V was most lately made obtainable as a part of Pixel Remaster with upscaled visuals and the orchestral soundtrack for PC and Cell. If you wish to play it on a contemporary system, this will probably be your best option.
Ultimate Fantasy VI
After Ultimate Fantasy V was the peak of the clean-cut JRPG, Ultimate Fantasy VI was when the sequence actually honed in on its means to inform tales. The enjoyable fantasy sci-fi gave solution to a grim steampunk dystopia. The second you boot up the sport for the primary time, you may discover it’s one thing particular. A cinematic intro during which the music slowly swells whereas we get launched to the primary playable character, Terra. Whereas Ultimate Fantasy VI scrapped the job system from Ultimate Fantasy V, it beefed up its playable solid of characters. There are 14 characters in complete that’ll be part of your social gathering as you go on a globe-trotting journey to avoid wasting the world.
In comparison with earlier titles, Ultimate Fantasy VI feels much more mature. It takes place in a world during which magic died out utterly and an evil empire is slowly taking up the world. However what makes Ultimate Fantasy VI so particular and why it is going to ceaselessly prime finest Ultimate Fantasy lists is its solid of characters. The group has a dynamic that shifts because the story progresses, characters have usually very tough relationships with each other and Ultimate Fantasy VI takes its candy time exploring that.
Fight can also be a step up from Ultimate Fantasy V, each character has an outlined job and their very own gameplay gimmicks to work with. Typically you may must deploy a number of events of characters, unfold throughout a city or dungeon. And you will have to determine how finest to pair them up. Additionally, did I point out that you could German Suplex a practice on this one?
Ultimate Fantasy VI was additionally a part of the Pixel Remaster and acquired a slight visible overhaul in addition to the orchestral soundtrack from the Distant Worlds concert events. It’s at present obtainable for PC and Cell.
Ultimate Fantasy VII
Even in the event you had by no means a lot expertise with Ultimate Fantasy, chances are high that you realize about Ultimate Fantasy VII. It’s palms down one of the crucial influential video games of all time, it was literally one of the first triple-A video games and even essentially the most hardened of critics will admit that it is transcendent. Okay now that I’ve completed the required gushing, let’s get to it. Ultimate Fantasy VII was the primary 3D Ultimate Fantasy and Sq. Enix’s final effort to deliver the JRPG style to the west.
By right this moment’s requirements, its presentation comes off as a bit long-winded and self-indulgent. However for a recreation launched in 1997, this was like nothing anybody had ever seen earlier than. And for essentially the most half, its beautiful pre-rendered backgrounds and quirky fight maintain up. It is without doubt one of the early examples of a online game being really ‘cinematic’.
What makes Ultimate Fantasy VII above and past is its tales, themes, and characters. There’s a purpose why you possibly can search for 1000’s of Youtube video essays and written homages in magazines like GQ. A clever man as soon as stated that Ultimate Fantasy VII visited us and left its baggage in our lounge and 25 years later, persons are nonetheless unpacking that baggage. It is the sort of recreation that might solely be created as a substitute and time, and in some way all its unrefined touches by a improvement group that was determining how you can make a 3D Ultimate Fantasy make it much more endearing.
I am gushing once more, aren’t I? Anyhow! The story of Ultimate Fantasy VII revolves across the mercenary Cloud Strife who groups up with a gaggle of environmental terrorists to take the combat to his former employer, the mega-corporation Shin-Ra. Who’s harvesting the planet’s life pressure as a way to create power and stomp out everybody who opposes them. That is just about all I am keen to inform at this level as a result of assembly the solid of characters and exploring the world of Ultimate Fantasy VII is considered one of its finest features. Go play it. Even you probably have little interest in Ultimate Fantasy, you owe it to your self.
Ultimate Fantasy VII in its authentic kind (as an HD upscale) is on the market on just about each fashionable system. The sport can also be at present being remade with considered one of three components being out proper now. The Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake is on the market on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC with the second half coming to PlayStation 5 in later 2023. Personally, I might advocate taking part in the unique first as a result of the remake is technically a remake however can also be a reenvisioning of the unique and one thing you may respect extra after taking part in the unique.
Ultimate Fantasy X
Whereas not as transcendent as Ultimate Fantasy VII, Ultimate Fantasy X might be as vital to the franchise. It was the primary time the sequence got here to the PlayStation 2 and Sq. Enix actually introduced their A recreation when it comes to presentation and design. Whereas the opposite two PlayStation One titles nonetheless experimented with visible kinds and construction, Ultimate Fantasy X got here out with unmatched confidence and a sure sort of mastery in these features. And in the event you take a look at the HD variations of the sport right this moment, you possibly can see that they nonetheless maintain up. It simply exhibits how timeless its model is.
In Ultimate Fantasy X you tackle the function of Tidus, knowledgeable athlete who finds himself in a wierd world attempting to make sense of all of it. Not like earlier entries that drew inspiration from western fantasy, Ultimate Fantasy Xs mythos attracts heavy inspiration from every kind of japanese religions, spiritualism, and cultures. As a lot as I wish to gush about Ultimate Fantasy VII, Ultimate Fantasy X was the sport that set a brand new commonplace for storytelling, visuals, and presentation. One thing that you’re going to nonetheless see in video games to at the present time.
In fact, Ultimate Fantasy is nothing with out its fight system and Ultimate Fantasy X boasts a timeless one. Its turn-based fight that enables the participant to control the order of assaults with sure talents. That is mixed with the power to vary social gathering members out on the fly throughout fight and that very character as an outlined function inside the fight system. All of that is solely enhanced by the sphere grid which replaces the leveling system. Consider it as a talent tree but additionally a board recreation. Sounds bizarre however it permits for fascinating selections and the power to customise your social gathering to your liking.
Ultimate Fantasy X is on the market on all fashionable platforms with an HD remaster. That additionally included the sequel Ultimate Fantasy X-2 which additionally acquired a visible overhaul.
Ultimate Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Do not like single-player video games? Effectively, there may be the second critically acclaimed MMORPG within the franchise, Ultimate Fantasy XIV. Presently one of the crucial common MMORPGs available on the market right this moment and deep into its 4th growth Endwalker. If you’d like a recreation that can take over your life, Ultimate Fantasy XIV is the sport for you.
Whereas individuals often do not affiliate MMORPGs with nice storytelling, I am completely happy to let you know that Ultimate Fantasy XIV is simply constructed completely different. Since its story is designed to go on for a protracted, very long time Ultimate Fantasy XIV will get to stretch its wings and actually go into world-building and characters. Taking part in by way of one growth seems like watching a complete season of prime TV solely that it by no means ends. One in every of its largest strengths is the way in which it weaves its gameplay into its narratives, each single piece of facet content material is contextualized and grounded inside the world of Ultimate Fantasy XIV.
That simply comes on prime of it being an excellent MMORPG with a whole lot of stuff that may preserve you occupied for the remainder of your pure and unnatural lifespan. XIV is usually likened to a theme park and it’s positively a Ultimate Fantasy theme park earlier than anything. Not like different video games of the franchise, Ultimate Fantasy XIV likes to bask in references and callbacks to its franchise. This may vary from reenvisioning iconic areas all the way in which to recasting various variations of fan-favorite characters inside their very own mythos.
And the factor can also be, regardless that Endwalker wrapped up Ultimate Fantasy XIVs ongoing story, the sport is not over but. The tip of 1 journey is only the start of a brand new one. So in the event you play by way of the whole lot of Ultimate Fantasy XIV you may get one of the crucial realized worlds in all of gaming and top-of-the-line tales ever informed in a online game. The one factor you might want to sacrifice in return in an off-the-cuff 300-500 hours of your life. Belief me it is price it.
Ultimate Fantasy XIV is on the market on each PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Mac OS. In the event you’re unsure concerning the time dedication but, don’t fret. There’s an prolonged free trial that lets you play all the way in which as much as degree 60, together with the Heavensward growth. That is round 100ish hours price of content material without cost! Apart from giving up in your social life that’s.
Wrapping up
If I’ve completed my job right here appropriately, you now have a bunch of Ultimate Fantasy titles to check out or not less than check out. Usually, all of the titles in the principle sequence are effectively price taking part in however I attempted to maintain this record to what I might take into account important entry factors. In the event you like one, chances are high excessive that you’re going to love the opposite titles simply as a lot. If a few of these aren’t to your liking, nevertheless.. play Ultimate Fantasy IX? Oh or you possibly can get into the spin-off titles, I actually hope they’re going to remake Ultimate Fantasy Techniques Advance someday an-
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