Summary
TheFinal Fantasyseries is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed franchises out there with dozens of games, tie-ins, and spin-offs. It stands out as one of the longest running and most successful video game series of all time. WhileFinal Fantasyhashad tons of different changes and new ideasthroughout the years, it has always remained true to its identity, and always produced excellent games.
The series has a ton of popular mainstream entries,such asFinal Fantasy VIIandFinal Fantasy XV,which usually grab the attention of the entire video game world. Unfortunately, and as is the case with any franchise this massive, there are some underrated games which slip through the cracks and barely get played or talked about. Most games under theFinal Fantasymoniker are excellent, which makes it a shame that the following games are so underrated, as they definitely deserve more attention.
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of The Lionsis recognized asone of the best turn-based strategy gamesaround, yet when it comes to theFinal Fantasypantheon, it seems to be forgotten. This is one of the best games in the entire franchise, featuring a compelling narrative centered around war, class divide, and friendship. With the story following around Ramza and Delita, the game captures the two friends' different journeys and how they deal with the conflict encapsulating their nations.
The game has a robust class system and offers tons of player choice in terms of equipment, abilities and how a they shape their roster. The gameplay is standard turn-based strategy but executed to near perfection. WhileWar of the Lionsisstill revered by strategy gamefans, it doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the mainstreamFinal Fantasyfranchise and deserves it for sure.
When it comes to mainlineFinal Fantasygames,Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Ageis oft forgotten, and for no good reason.FF12was a trailblazer, the first in the franchise to introduce an open world for players to explore. Ivalice was a vast sprawling world embedded with diverse terrain which players can navigate on their airship or on foot. The game also introduced tons of new gameplay changes, pivoting the franchise from the traditional turn-based combat to a more fast-paced version where players can set up gambits for their units. This allows characters to react to different actions in combat with certain responses.
Beyond this, the game included changes to the loot system, and how the characters level up. The story was more mature than some of the previous entries, andVayne Solidor was a fantastic villain. It didn’t feature a singular standout protagonist, instead there were six different characters in the spotlight. WhileFF12received a mixed reception at launch due to the dramatic changes to the franchise formula, players have now warmed up to it and its merits are more apparent.
3Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Light-Hearted Yet Intricate Strategy
Final Fantasy Tactics Advanceis one of the most underrated, and oft forgotten, turn-based strategy games out there, normally losing the spotlight to the likes ofFire EmblemandTactics Ogre. Nevertheless,Tactics Advanceis a charming and endearing game with intricate strategic gameplay. The story, while cookie-cutter, is fun and feels like a fantasy novel adventure. The character sprites are crafted exceptionally well, and it can clearly be seen that a lot of love went into this game.
Tactics Advancealso has a unique law system, whereby player actions are judged by an arbitrator who may card them, resulting in them being jailed. This happens when forbidden weapons or abilities are used, adding some nuance to the gameplay; use the powerful weapon and risk going to jail. The game also has a ton of different classes for players to use, and the equipment system and how it ties into in-game abilities is a welcome addition too.
2Final Fantasy Dimensions
Underrated, Yet Solid Mobile Game
Final Fantasy Dimensionsis one of the best RPGs on mobile platforms. While most players may discountFinal Fantasy Dimensionsby virtue of it being a mobile game, they shouldn’t; this is an incredible game.Dimensionsfeatures a classicFinal Fantasystory based around the struggle between the forces of good and evil for control of the crystals. The game has an expansive, episodic story and the clash between the Warriors of Light, the Warriors of Darkness, and the Avalon Empire is told masterfully and would hold up against most console and PC games too.
The gameplay is classicFinal Fantasy,similar toFF4, and players control a rotating team of up to five party members. It’s simply solid, refined JRPG gameplay, with some cool additions such as Fusion Abilities, which allow players to merge different abilities. Overall, this is a great game, and holds up against any classic JRPG. Consequently, it should not be ignored simply for being a mobile game. Everything from the art, to the music, plot, and combat holds its own in the genre.
Final Fantasy Type-0might not be one of the best games in the franchise, but it is easily one of, if not the most underrated.Type-0is one of the more unique games under theFinal Fantasymoniker, it features a group of main characters based in a magical training academy. The game leans heavily on themes of politics, violence, and sorrow, with a key feature of the game being regret and holding onto memories of the past. While other games in the franchise also feature darker elements,Type-0is at the forefront, especially its extremely tragic climax. Moreover, it doesn’t have as fantastical a setting as most games in the series, and lacks comedic relief too.
The game play is what truly setsType-0apart. Similar toCrisis Core Final Fantasy,another fellow PSP release, it leans more on action rather than turn-based combat. Players can swap on a whim betweena roster of characters,and can summon monsters to fight with them. The game has a unique combat system, and thenew weaponry and progressionelements that might take getting used to, but all in all, this game is well worth a playthrough.
