Final Fantasy Retrospective (Must-See Videos for FF Fans)

[Omega Amen]

Let's face it. Final Fantasy is big on CAA. It is one of the most discussed franchises on this board. Continuous debate on the strengths and weaknesses of each iteration occurs again and again....

But how much do you really know about your Final Fantasies? Do you know the key developers on each iteration? Do you know the specific aspects between their designs that were similar and different? Can you recall the critical moments of their plots? Cameos? Recognize specific musical themes?

No?

Then arm yourself with knowledge for the next Final Fantasy discussion on CAA by watching the fantastic Final Fantasy Retrospective videos on gametrailers.com. Click here to go to the Final Fantasy Retrospective webpage.

They are written well, nicely produced, and have a lot of content. Each video is around the ten minute range.

They will eventually cover all the Final Fantasy iterations. They have the first four parts which cover the sprite-based iterations, Final Fantasy I through VI.

When the next video arrives, I will post here to let you guys know.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ah yes, I've been keeping up with these (As well as the Metroid and the Zelda ones). Truly great stuff. I've been digging these videos.

[Fish and Chips]

Fish doesn't sleep, he waits for Final Fantasy IX.

[Kkun]

Considering I've been helplessly addicted to each iteration of Final Fantasy since VIII came out when I was twelve, these are a blast to watch. I've played through nearly every console Final Fantasy(which the exception of 3, which I'm still working on, and V, which I never got around to beating), so hearing the behind the scenes story gives me a new appreciation for all of the Final Fantasies I've played.

[Omega Amen]

The Part V Video is up, and its 15 minutes is completely devoted to Final Fantasy VII, the console RPG that nearly changed everything in the video game industry and marked the rise of uc pseudonym.

To demonstrate the interesting details presented in these videos, here are some questions to keep in mind while you watch the video:

1. Square was embarking on its most ambitious project when it started working on FFVII, giving it a team of over 100 developers. Consequently, it was given a very large budget (even by today's standards), and Sony intended to spread the word out over such a large title. How much was the game's budget? How much money did Sony put into advertising?
2. FFVII was the first time that artist Tetsuya Nomura designed the characters. The game's success and memorable characters helped catapult his career into being one of the major developers in Square-Enix today. There is a specific reason why he was given the role of character designer in this game. What was it?
3. Hironobu Sakaguchi was very concerned about a negative experience that is inherent when playing a disc-based game but is not present when playing a cartridge game. In-game cinematic cutscenes were used as a method of masking this experience. What was Sakaguchi trying to hide?
4. Sakaguchi was also wrestling with grief over a tragic personal event that occurred during the development of FFVII. This event had a major influence on certain story events and characters. What was this event?

Click here to see Part V.

The next part, Part VI, will finish the PlayStation One era of Final Fantasy, VIII and IX.

[Bobtheduck]

It's too bad FFXIII is seriously looking like Vaporware... Not saying they would hold back their best selling series, but that they don't trust the PS3 and aren't willing to be the driving force for its early success like they were (with Konami) with the PS2... The game companies have amnesia and are getting paranoid in their old age... Holding it back and ignoring it is a good way to avoid any agreements they may have made for exclusivity back in the day... That's why we've seen nothing on it... It's just a vague feeling I have, at least until Last Remnant, Haerisis, and Agito come out sans XIII and Vs... If that happens, it would pretty well confirm my fear.

[Omega Amen]

Ah... well, Bobtheduck, I see. Any comments on the videos?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

The Part V Video is up, and its 15 minutes is completely devoted to Final Fantasy VII, the console RPG that nearly changed everything in the video game industry and marked the rise of uc pseudonym.

To demonstrate the interesting details presented in these videos, here are some questions to keep in mind while you watch the video:

1. Square was embarking on its most ambitious project when it started working on FFVII, giving it a team of over 100 developers. Consequently, it was given a very large budget (even by today's standards), and Sony intended to spread the word out over such a large title. How much was the game's budget? How much money did Sony put into advertising?
2. FFVII was the first time that artist Tetsuya Nomura designed the characters. The game's success and memorable characters helped catapult his career into being one of the major developers in Square-Enix today. There is a specific reason why he was given the role of character designer in this game. What was it?
3. Hironobu Sakaguchi was very concerned about a negative experience that is inherent when playing a disc-based game but is not present when playing a cartridge game. In-game cinematic cutscenes were used as a method of masking this experience. What was Sakaguchi trying to hide?
4. Sakaguchi was also wrestling with grief over a tragic personal event that occurred during the development of FFVII. This event had a major influence on certain story events and characters. What was this event?

Click here to see Part V.

The next part, Part VI, will finish the PlayStation One era of Final Fantasy, VIII and IX.

I know the answers! 8D

Anyway, I can't wait for the next one. I'm pretty big on FF9 now. XD Though I will say that Part IV was my favorite. =p Omega, I highly recommend you check out the Metroid and Zelda retrospectives as well.

[Bobtheduck]

Ah... well, Bobtheduck, I see. Any comments on the videos?

Yes, they're awesome... or the first one is, didn't have time to watch all of them. I thought it was on topic since a retrospective would no doubt lead up to FFXIII.

[Nate]

I found a slightly untrue fact in one of the videos, because I'm a Final Fantasy nerd. XD

They stated that the "Bridge Theme" as it's come to lovingly be called (because it played when you crossed the bridge in FF) has become the series' main theme and has been in the Final Fantasy games ever since.

That is untrue, as the Bridge Theme is not in FFX. And that made me mad, honestly.

EDIT: He pronounced Yuffie's name wrong! BOO.

[Rocketshipper]

I'm not surprised about the Yuffie mis-pronunciation. I have several friends who insist on pronouncing it the same way he did; It's almost as bad as getting people to pronounce Tidus' name right ^^ (I'll be interested to see if this narrator can get that name right)

I'm wondering how this is going to be 13 episodes. part 6 is 8 and 9. even if they devote a whole video to each of the remaining main games (X, X-2, XI, and XII), that would still leave 3 (and I'd be surprised if all 4 of those got full videos). It doesn't look like they'll be covering the ports or the other FF7 related games, so seems like Tactics and Crystal Chronicles would be all that's left. Is one of these going to focuse on the anime series and movies? The upcoming FF XIII? I wonder

I have to say that these videos are AWESOME! They're getting me all fired up to play these games again. I'm even getting the urge to revist 6 ^^.

And I must admit that I had tears come to my eyes when Aeris' theme started playing at the end of the 4th video. "...the Final Fantasy game that needs no introduction" *melts*

[Omega Amen]

I know the answers! 8D

Hmm... maybe I should post the answers... see if I remember them.

Anyway, I can't wait for the next one. I'm pretty big on FF9 now. XD Though I will say that Part IV was my favorite. =p

I must admit I liked the analysis put in Part IV about pixel "theatrics" and why Kefka was rather unique as a FF main villain. It is very thoughtful and I thought FF fans would eat up that type of stuff.

Omega, I highly recommend you check out the Metroid and Zelda retrospectives as well.

Thanks for the recommendation though I am not much of a Metroid or Zelda fan... in fact I only have played a little bit of Zelda in my life.

I'm not surprised about the Yuffie mis-pronunciation.

I am not surprised either. In fact, I think it is quite understandable to run across such a mispronunciation. The spelling closely resembles yuppie, and the narrator based his pronunciation on that.

I'm wondering how this is going to be 13 episodes. part 6 is 8 and 9.

Good point. Weren't there some FFs on the Gameboy? My guess we might have some coverage on that. As for FFXIII... if they have a video on that... either it is complete speculation or they have some exclusive knowledge that no one else knows in the industry.

And I must admit that I had tears come to my eyes when Aeris' theme started playing at the end of the 4th video. "...the Final Fantasy game that needs no introduction" *melts*

Yeah, I got moved by that line and the Aeris theme. I also felt it again in Part V, with the Aeris theme playing, when he mentioned Spielberg's comment that the measure of true storytelling through games is where the player cried at a certain level, and then the narrator stated that Spielberg never played FFVII.

[Nate]

[color="Black"]It's almost as bad as getting people to pronounce Tidus' name right ^^ (I'll be interested to see if this narrator can get that name right)[/color]

Ten bucks says he pronounces it "Tie-dus," which is the wrong way.

As for the remaining episodes, I'm gonna guess that most of the others will get full episodes, except maybe X-2.

They'll probably also cover Tactics and CC like you said. Also remember Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Can't forget about Mystic Quest! Since Adventure was actually the first Seiken Densetsu game, and the Legends games were actually the SaGa games, I'd be willing to bet that they'll get mentioned, but not covered.

They'll probably also devote an episode to the non-game FF stuff, like Unlimited, Advent Children, Legend of the Crystals, Spirits Within, Last Order, and all that other fun stuff.

They'll also probably make the last one focus a bit on XIII and Crisis Core as well.

[Fish and Chips]

Ten bucks says he pronounces it "Tie-dus," which is the wrong way.

As for the remaining episodes, I'm gonna guess that most of the others will get full episodes, except maybe X-2.

VIII and IX are already going to be shoehorned into a single episode, though I imagine X gets its own featurette merely for the novelty of talking in a Final Fantasy game.

[Azier the Swordsman]

This series is awesome. I've now restarted my Final Fantasy marathon because of it.

[Rocketshipper]

I wonder if any of the future videos will bother to mention Kingdom Hearts?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I must admit I liked the analysis put in Part IV about pixel "theatrics" and why Kefka was rather unique as a FF main villain. It is very thoughtful and I thought FF fans would eat up that type of stuff.

Yes! It was indeed thoughtful. Being the major FF6 fan I am, I learned a thing or two.

Thanks for the recommendation though I am not much of a Metroid or Zelda fan... in fact I only have played a little bit of Zelda in my life.

Well that's the more reason to watch them. =D They're rather intriguing, and I think you'll get a kick out of it.

[Bobtheduck]

Good point. Weren't there some FFs on the Gameboy? My guess we might have some coverage on that. As for FFXIII... if they have a video on that... either it is complete speculation or they have some exclusive knowledge that no one else knows in the industry.

There were NOT FF games on the gameboy...

"Final fantasy Adventure" was not final fantasy at all, but Seiken Densetsu... The first game in the Mana series. The first game was ok, but the real brilliance hit in SD2, also known as "Secret of Mana" on SFC (SNES). The best game in the series was SD3, which never saw a US release, and all the games since then sucked... Although I sorta liked the remake of SD1 on GBA called Sword of Mana...

"Final Fantasy Legend" was not final fantasy, but actually the first 3 games in the saga series, which went to SFC (SNES) days as Romancing Saga, PS1 days as Saga Frontier, and PS2 days as Unlimited Saga, then reviving the Romancing Saga arc, though Unsuccessfully I heard... The best game in the series (out of the ones I've played, anyhow) was Romancing Saga 3 on SFC (SNES)

They may cover those, though... And their sequels...

[Rocketshipper]

Well, it seems movie 7 is going to be X AND X-2. Now I'm even more curious as to how they're going to make this 13 episodes.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well...

There is Chocobo Racing, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Chocobo Tales, and a plethora of other random titles which nobody really cared for.

[Tommy]

Ten bucks says he pronounces it "Tie-dus," which is the wrong way.

Nate, which track is the Bridge theme?
Is that the one that plays in IV, when Kain and Cecil leave the castle? (I've only seen the retro for I).

And BTW, I think "Tee-dus" sounds ridiculously stupid and was just the way Wakka pronounced it with his accent in KHI.
Only because in KHII, Kairi and Selphie refered to him as "Tie-dus."

That was FFX's biggest flaw.
They shouldn't have let you choose Tidus' name because the way Yuna refers to Tidus in games X and X-2 as Him is really poor.

Anyways, I can't wait until they explain in the next one how Zell Dincht was the first comic relief character in FF to actually be funny.

I barely play RPGs anymore, but I still love Zell.