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Final Fantasy II Review
by Levi Buchanan - IGN.com | 25 February 2010 12:00The one where Cid shows up.
Final Fantasy II has a special place in the pantheon of RPG classics for a handful of reasons. Due to Square's skittishness to bring Final Fantasy II stateside, this adventure went unplayed by Western audiences for years as the Final Fantasy II we got received was really Final Fantasy IV. Plus, Final Fantasy II is the game that introduced fan-favorite Cid Highwind to the cast and rolled out the first chocobos.
The iPhone edition of Final Fantasy II is based on a 2007 PlayStation Portable remake, which features updated visuals and audio as well as a new dungeon. The old-school 8-bit graphics have been completely refreshed, but thanks to the high-res 16-bit aesthetic, maintain their retro charm. On the iPhone, the sharp sprites and bright colors look outstanding. The remixed themes also sound great, especially to ears that think Final Fantasy II remains a highlight in composer Nobou Uematsu's extensive career. (And if that name means zero to you, no worries. Just know that this is some great, classic game music.)
Final Fantasy II benefits from an improved narrative over the original adventure. There are essentially two teams of heroes, though you stick with one set for the majority of the quest. You are in search of Leon, a hero with a dark core seen in the opening scene. On your journey, you must bring down a giant airship called the Dreadnought, help the last surviving dragon, and enter a hellish underworld. If you downloaded Final Fantasy I and found its story lacking, there is a little more drive to this sequel.
Bow before me, behemoth.
Final Fantasy II also uses an awkward learning system. When you speak to other characters and important words or phrases are uttered, you need to tap a button to learn it. Memorizing words gives you the option to use them later as passwords and whatnot, or bring them up with a character as a way to glean additional information. It's clunky but effective as an early indication of where conversation in RPGs might go with a few years of evolution.
Final Fantasy II uses the touchscreen to control the action. Just like Final Fantasy I, this system is slow but entirely workable. You touch an action icon and then tap the enemy you want to attack. Because of the proficiency system and excessive random battles (really, it gets a little silly when you cannot take seven steps without being attacked), battle scenes played during your skill- and HP-grinding phases take a lot of time. Hours, in fact. If you aren't ready for this – meaning, you aren't already a Final Fantasy II fan – this may drive you crazy and right back into the arms of a breezier game.
Closing Comments
Final Fantasy II is indeed one of the odder entries in the main canon. The proficiency system can seriously frustrate, as you are actually punished for trying new things rather than sticking to set patterns. But this lengthy adventure certainly has a better narrative than the original Final Fantasy. I recommend Final Fantasy II primarily to existing fans that will enjoy seeing one of their favorites all dressed up and looking good on the iPhone. Newcomers are likely to be put off by the slower pace and proficiency system.
Supplied by IGN.com
