If you think JRPG, one of the first franchises that will pop into your head isFinal Fantasy. Spanning decades, the series and its multiple iterations, movies, spinoffs, and inspirations prove just how much of an impact the franchise has had in pop culture media and the gaming space.
From song lyrics to authors citing the titles as their inspiration, to merch and concerts for the astounding music and more, you really can’t get away from the success of Final Fantasy. Through its originality and approach, Final Fantasy has changed the industry several times over its decades of leading the JRPG charge.
9Changing The Perception Of The JRPG In The West
Final Fantasy 7 is rightfully credited as the title that proved to the Japanese market that JRPGs could succeed in the West. Once it was in the hands of Western audiences, the number of JRPG releases after Final Fantasy 7 increased.
It was the first time so many people understood what a JRPG was and what the stories could be. Final Fantasy 7’s breakout success in 1997 paved the way for many more JRPGs to succeed, and it’s a testament to why people are so in love with this original title.
8Requiring Multiple Discs For A Single Game
Final Fantasy eventually made its way to the Compact Disc (CD), and while it’s not the only series to do so, it’s notably one of the most famous to need to. The amount of data from the FMVs to the sprawling worlds we would eventually play was just too much to include on a single disc.
The pivotal moments chosen when you’d need to swap discs in Final Fantasy became part of the wonder, being stuck on a cliffhanger while switching discs to continue the journey. This industry-changing decision proved that much more could be done with stories and visuals in the gaming space.
7Swapping From Nintendo To PlayStation
A huge industry switch-up happened when Final Fantasy switched over to the PlayStation due to limitations on Nintendo cartridges. This switch allowed for lower costs and more data to be included. This paved the way for 3D models and FMVs and eventually led to its widespread popularity.
The PlayStation was a big contender in the gaming scene at the time, and its success allowed it to be a platform that would drive players to try the now-JRPG giant. Thanks to this change and its impact on gaming, Final Fantasy would eventually go on to become synonymous with the PlayStation.
6Becoming A Console Seller
From the introduction of 3D models to iconic fully voice-acted scenes straight out of movies, Final Fantasy cemented itself as the game to show what graphics could do on every new system. With the launch of each PlayStation, we all waited to see Square Enix show off the power of this system with the FMVs from the newest Final Fantasy title.
Final Fantasy quickly became the flagship title that showed fans what to expect from the next console. With its popularity and involvement, some would even consider it a console seller. Everyone remembers seeing Lightning use her antigravity in the trailer for Final Fantasy 13 and the iconic laugh and dramatic voice acting in Final Fantasy 10. Every new game shakes up the industry while pushing technical limitations.
5The Death And Rebirth Of Final Fantasy 14
The notoriety revolving around the spectacular failure that was Final Fantasy 14 in its initial launch was thought to be a crippling hit to Square Enix at the time. Well, it actually was. An unfinished game that let down its player base from a lack of content to complete issues with optimization and an overall terrible player experience. The release of A Realm Reborn stands as a moment in gaming history where a complete overhaul of an MMO brought to life a brand new and critically acclaimed game.
The transition proved that listening to your player base and addressing community concerns could prove lucrative, as Final Fantasy 14: ARR has completely shed its embarrassing past in a move that we’ve now seen with other games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky.
4Active Time Battle Implementation
While a majority of the Final Fantasy titles in the series are turn-based, the introduction of the Active Time Battle was a welcome innovation that made turn-based combat even more active. Gone were the days of just waiting and planning, as the active time battle (ATB) system put a sense of urgency into your moves.
While most JRPGs were passive, giving you as much time as you needed to make a decision, the ATB system added a new motivating factor, making you feel a lot more involved in the battle process. This, of course, would lead to even more innovation in the genre regarding the turn-based aspect.
3Constant Evolution
While not a specific moment, the gaming industry would note how prolific certain Final Fantasy titles were because they all had a brand new system. Every game was an innovation, a new iteration of what was before, or a complete overhaul into what would become the next Final Fantasy title. While the experimentation didn’t always work, each new entry showed a significant shift in gaming for a long time.
From the Sphere Grid of Final Fantasy 10 to the return of fantasy in FF9, each iteration was game-changing. Final Fantasy 12’s MMO andStar Wars style and storytelling, Final Fantasy Tactics' tactical gameplay, or Type-0’s tons of unique attack styles prove how every entry completely changes the landscape with its launch.
2Final Fantasy 7 Remake Defines What Remake Means
Before Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the word remake had an easy definition. There was no real confusion about what a remake could be when older titles were redone, but the updates were more significant than just a remaster. Then all of a sudden, Final Fantasy 7Remake completely changed the definition of what a remake is. A significant moment in gaming, the long-awaited remake caught old fans off guard and introduced new fans to a world in a new and expanded way.
The changes made to this remake proved that there’s more than just a reskin when it comes to a remake. Keeping the original game and story intact while completely expanding the world and lore and even adding some significant changes to shock audiences, Remake became the epitome of what the word “remake” could mean when it comes to redoing classics.
1A Permanent Death No One Saw Coming
The death heard in all of gaming, one of the most significant character deaths in gaming history actually, Final Fantasy 7 threw fans into a complete shock. This was one of the mosttalked-about plot twistsand character deaths in gaming even to this day. If you were on the playground when the game released, you’d know what it was like at that time.
The impact of the game alone was one thing, but the theories about keeping Aerith alive, the disbelief of permanently losing a party member, and the devastation of losing her in the first place made a huge cultural impact on gaming. We all shared in this genre-defining moment that still stands as one of the most prolific deaths in gaming years later.
