On 18th December 1987, the RPG landscape would change forever. The very first Final Fantasy launched in Japan on the Famicom, and in 2022, the franchise is one of the most popular video game series worldwide.
We're fast approaching the franchise's 35th anniversary, so naturally, Square Enix has launched a website to celebrate, complete with a very swish-looking Yoshitaka Amano-designed logo.
There's not much to peruse right now, but there is a hub for all anniversary-related news. Right now, only two titles are under that banner — the upcoming chaos-slaying Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin and, on the very opposite end of the spectrum, the adorable and colourful Chocobo GP, which you can pick up very soon!
There's also a message from Final Fantasy VII Remake producer Yoshinori Kitase (who also directed Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, the original Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, and much, much more):
V=30, VII=25, XI=20
What do you think these numbers mean?
They are actually the anniversaries of FINAL FANTASY titles this year. Every year a number of titles celebrate their anniversaries, but if you think about it so many from one series lining up in such a way is pretty unusual.
This is only possible because of the long-lasting passionate support for each game in the FF series from fans like you. Thank you so much.
And this year, the FINAL FANTASY series itself celebrates its 35th anniversary.
We will continue to work hard making each FINAL FANTASY game one that you will remember for a long time to come.The FF 35th site will support new releases, sharing info on upcoming titles and merchandise. I hope you're excited for what's on the way for FINAL FANTASY!
Final Fantasy VII also got a shiny new logo for its 25th anniversary, but Final Fantasy V and the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI also having significant anniversaries this year just makes us feel old! Hopefully they'll get some love this year, too.
Perhaps we'll get those Pixel Remasters on Switch this year? We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate.
In the meantime, if you're looking to celebrate Final Fantasy, then there's perhaps no better way to do it this weekend than investigating Chocobo GP. We reviewed the game very recently and called it "one of the most polished and entertaining kart racers currently available on Switch". There's also a free-to-play 'demo' version, so no need to shell out on this kart racer before taking it for a test drive.
What would you like to see from the Final Fantasy series' 35th anniversary? And what are your fondest memories from the games? Let us know in the comments!
- Further reading: Best Final Fantasy Games Of All Time
Comments 53
If it isn’t a FF6 Remake or HD-2D …. I’m not interested
Somehow I'm not really expecting much for Switch despite Square having dropped a good amount of games on Switch already. At most I expect those pixel remasters for Switch.
Speaking of, to anyone who's played both the originals and the pixel remasters, how do they hold up to the originals? Are they a good way to play these games? I'd like to know in case they do come to Switch.
I just want a new "Tactics" spin off...
@Coxula
Triangle Strategy is a perfect substitute. It's actually more serious and better.
@AlanaHagues V was 30 years ago, VII was 25 years ago, XI was 20 years ago? Other than the five-year milestone, I'm not sure what the significance of those games would be? All I know is that I want confirmation of Final Fantasy Tactics Remastered and Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters for current consoles.
@Coxula Triangle Strategy! Doesn’t have monsters and such, but it’s a darn good tactics game.
Even accounting for how much game development has changed in those years, it's sort of illuminating that in two whole decades we haven't yet limped from 11 to 16. The HD era has been extremely rough for the franchise—they allowed themselves to get bogged down in spinning more out of a 13th entry that nobody really loved and somehow made two entirely different versions of 14 in quick succession.
16 seems like a genuinely exciting prospect, but if it doesn't hit there's definitely a feeling that the series will just keep remixing what we used to love about the first 15 years or so in perpetuity.
@Ear_wiG @Bydlak I can't play it because - in my eyes - it just looks ugly. I know most people don't agree to this. But - for me - it's just unsharp and hurting my eyes when playing more then half an hour.
Q : What would you like to see from the Final Fantasy series' 35th anniversary?
Me : Nothing. 😐
SquareEnix (from Squaresoft side) was already irrelevant since FF XIII era.
Don't care with Roman number Final Fantasy games after FF XIII. Their Kingdom Hearts games also became sucks with nonsense Organization XIII inclusion. I pretend they don't exist, their Roman number series are not exist anymore.
Plot twist: Here's your Cloud NFT
@kupocake yeah, they went from 7 to 11 in 5 years, then took 6 years to go from 14 to 15…
Amazingly FFXI is still up and running on PC on official Squaresoft servers!
Ff 9 remake please!
Hoping they announce the pixel remaster collections at the Sony Direct later today. Obviously for all consoles though.
@shineget64 I hope so; I want this SE content shared across all the systems. Hope Sony doesn’t go and pay for more timed BS on any more of these upcoming projects.
More mobile games is what we get I bet. Or a quick way to make a few million, remaster something so it looks slightly better! People love throwing money at things they already have/had.
@Coxula
I like how it looks, but I see your point. This is the reason why I play it almost entirely on a big screen, it hurts your eyes less that way. A great game, anyway.
There’s a State of Play today focused on Sony’s “third party friends in Japan.” I would expect we’re getting an update of sorts on something there today.
Final Fantasy V Remake for the 30th Anniversary?
Ff VII Ever Crisis release date perhaps?
@fafonio I'd take that XI port that has been in development hell for years.
Or maybe a new Tactics.
I really want a Chrono Trigger remake... preferably a 2D one and not PS5/PS4 exclusive
can we just get the darn pixel remasters? I refuse to play on my phone
I'll take those Pixel Remasters, thank you.
Been playing FF6 on my phone/tablet, and honestly the remastered music alone made the purchase worth it.
I just want Switch ports of the pixel remasters. Preferably in a cartridge-based collection.
I'm betting that the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters are getting a console release for the 35th Anniversary.
It makes too much sense.
Of course console and mobile would betatest the Pixel Remasters for the eventual audience release, since this is what Square Enix did for Final Fantasy VII and IX.
Final Fantasy VIII-2
Final Fantasy X-3
this is what I want!
@Mando44646 Play it on PC since even a toaster can play them.
And the mods can make the experience even better.
You can even play in ultrawide (whether with an actual ultrawide monitor natively or with custom resolutions and letterboxing) which you cannot do on PC.
Meh they're probably just gonna give fans a bunch of Final Fantasy NFTs. Anniversary nowadays are just lame. So far only Nintendo, Capcom, and Sega knew how to make em and even those were mostly lackluster. If Square really wants money like the greedy snob they are, just remake FF1-6, Tactics in HD 2D for modern consoles.
@Yosher I'd say they're much better in every regard. Improved visuals that add so much without detracting from game's original style, overworld maps, beastiarys and diagonal movement!!!!!!
Plus, many of the "cinema" scenes are greatly improved and given a much more epic approach. For example, the leviathan attack on FFIV is way more intense and menacing. The size of leviathan, the whirlpool and storm effects are big and bad compared to the original. But it doesn't look out of place for the game's style though.
Oh, and all the music is orchestrated. Purists might prefer the original midis, but the orchestra music is top notch.
Just as long as we don't get another FF13 I'll be happy. You just walked in a straight line going from A to B on the map, no exploration at all.
Pixel Remasters on Switch or bust.
A remake of V would be pretty cool, it gets overlooked but I really enjoyed playing V. In all honesty if they port the pixel remasters to consoles I'd be OK with that too.
We'll also see some news on FFVII remake part 2 I'm guessing.
Hopefully they handle this better than the Dragon Quest anniversary in which they announced really cool stuff that we we still haven’t heard another peep about almost a year later…
@FX29 The combat and job class system in V were amazing. The storyline on the other hand, not so much… 😕
I would be down for a remake of V though. I really enjoyed the 3D remake of III on DS.
@RubyCarbuncle I loved 13. Currently playing through XIII-2 on series X (my same save file from 2012 or whenever it was released) and finding it such a slog. Exploration is good when it’s done well but it’s not always done well. I feel like there is a place for both types.
Can we please have the new pixel remasters on switch? PLEASE?!
@KimBread Sounds great to me! Thanks very much for the info, I'll definitely get them on Switch them if they do come to the system.
@K1LLEGAL Godda agree with that. I too found XIII-2 a terrible slog to get through and don't get me started on the time travel mechanic. As confusing as XIII-2 was at least XIII was straightforward and regardless of it flaws it had great music too.
they are all gonna be sony exclusive
@RubyCarbuncle yea the music is beautiful and it’s still a good looking game to this day. FFXIII-2 actually looks worse. I will try Lightning Returns at some point. And yea hate the time travel mechanic!
@Coxula don't even need a spin off, just give me the psp Tactics War of the Lions and I'll be set
I need that FF6 pixel remaster on Switch so badly!
@Ear_wiG
No monsters, but it’s got giant freaking hawks
It's unfortunate that Nintendo will most likely never get a new numbered final fantasy again as long as they are way behind on hardware. Not even remakes or stranger of paradise. Thought they would atleast put them on as cloud versions
@RushDawg Sounds terrifying!
I want FF Tactics Remaster,Chrono Trigger Remake.
@fafonio I gave up on that hope when they did ff6 pixel remaster. I can't see them doing another release.
@Hydra_Spectre I have zero interest in playing JRPGs on my PC. Portable experience is always better for me
@Bydlak Triangle Strategy is great, I'm having a good time with it so far. My only criticisms would be a lack of side quests/repeatable content and unit customization is basically non-existent.
@Bravesteel
You're right, we could use some side quests instead of read-only side episodes. I'm also not a fan of these cheesy voices. And I could use a full customizable equipment mechanics, I mean fully changeable weapons and clothes instead of barely 2 trinkets. Btw. SE just announced another isometric turn based tactics game during the State of Play, I wonder what that'll be like.
@Bydlak I hadn't heard that. I don't really pay attention to non-Nintendo stuff unless it has industry ramifications. I'll look into that announcement, thanks for letting me know.
@Coxula I have the same problem with the style of octopath and triangle. Especially on the big screen, it looks fuzzy and out of focus to me.
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