Playing more modern JRPGS such as Blue Dragon, I wanted to see some of the more classic models. I went in knowing FF2 was one of the more unpopular installments. Though I thought this was through it being so "different" from the normal formula, not the broken game mechanics. While there is many exploits as far as how to cheat the leveling system, etc. I don't really want to get into that as I want to talk about how well the game holds up on it's own. Putting yourself in the position of someone who knows nothing about the game, or maybe even about Final Fantasy.


Graphics: 8.
For an 8-bit the graphics are pretty impressive. This is what drew me into wanting to play FF2. There are many old jrpgs, but I really liked the vibrant colors and unique styles of every monster. Every monster does feel different, and the graphic designers truly got the most out of the 8-bit capabilities.

Sound: 7.
Sound is another good one. The music is noteworthy even in random encounters where you'll get bored of it quickly. While the sound is both well done and clear, most of it is taken directly from it's predecessor.


Addictiveness: 1.
This is where we start to see why no Final Fantasy fan likes to speak of FF2. I knew going in there was a stat system over a class system, I also knew going in that it was poorly done when it ends up being a class system anyway when excess strength or power reduces intelligence so you can't go around doing mage things and fighter things at the same time.

That foreknowledge could not prepare me for even MORE contradictory, ridiculously unexplained hardships that lied ahead. For example, something as simple as learning a spell made me have to break the mold I use to judge a good game and look up online how to "learn" a spell. I still don't know. If it's what I think it is and a spellbook is a one time use tome, than why even have magic in the game? The first magic shop you see has overpriced tomes with the black magic stuff being 400 gold and cure at 200. Which again... is counter-intuitive. Cure is a universal status ailment reliever. This much I know, and while it won't cure everything right away, as you level your skill with it you pretty much can. This is the cheapest spell as compared to ice, fire, etc is just the rock, paper, scissors game of mage DPS.

Clearly they sought to balance magic against martial characters, I get that. But this was not the way to do it. Plenty of bosses have spell resistance, if the random encounters had some as well than it would have made weapons the more linear and thereby attractive choice. The whole fact MP is an issue means it'll be an investment to pour gold into mana potions every so often. Much more so when inventory space is limited.


Story: 3.
Unlike many, I actually don't mind your first battle being rigged against you for plot. However when there's no explanation, and it's not like rebelling against a totalitarian monarch... to reinstall the former totalitarian monarch is all that engaging of a story, it's just not going to captivate an audience and justify all the flaws this game has. The learning of key-words is an interesting take, encouraging you to interact with NPCs and than using those key-words later.

...And your punished for it if you speak to a knight. Which kind of makes sense, in fact spies could have even been incorporated to really make you paranoid about who you talk too. However, if you're going to do that, it would make sense not to make the difficulty curve several levels higher than that of what you expect the player to be facing there. That happens more often than just here though (so too much) as I just walk a little upward past the invisible line of imps and hornets and all of a sudden there's hill giants and giant turtles who are a sponge for punishment ready to wreck me and teach me never to leave the game's backyard. Games back when were not known for holding your hand. You're not going to have an NPC come and tell you there's orcs with giant axes of death and that's why we built our town here where it's just annoying mosquitoes or whatever... but the point is if you're going to make that line, make it obvious. FF2 didn't do that... EVER.



Depth: 6.
There are probably a lot of interesting monsters and combos for me to unleash upon said monsters. If I was willing to endure a shady college style hazing. The steep threat curves, the pitfall magic system, and the stats replacing classes are just the tip of the ice berg. Even the most simplest things like buying items which are way more costly than the wealth you will generate from random encounter combat, to the fact that even the most universal healing method the Inn burns a hole in your pocket because cost is relative to HP recovery, not some flat rate.

I'm sure the developers were thinking "Why give the inn a flat rate? That would make it strictly better than potions and heals." If this were economics class that might apply... but in the real... final fantasy world, Inns aren't very practical anyway. They're a couple miles back, and I got a quest to complete. When has backtracking ever been worth it? And whose to say you wouldn't all die from a cheap critical from that point on?



Difficulty: 10.
Final Fantasy 2 is hard in the sense why all games back then tend to be hard and for all the wrong reasons. Poor explanation, bad design elements, zero freedom, and intense combat when clearly you don't want to give the player equal footing.

Final Fantasy 2 is more like a jrpg's attempt at Nethack. Granted those games are intentionally designed to be cruel, leave you in the dark, and leave everything to chance/exploits. They want you to find them and win by "cheating". Supposedly Final Fantasy 2 was not meant to be that, and in reality... when you get past all the other factors of presentation, combat mechanics, etc. What really decides whether or not a game is good is WHY are you using cheat codes, hacks, or anything?

This reminds me of as a kid when my mom did not want to give me a Game Genie as she did not believe in cheating even when it was in the privacy of our home. I told her the Game Genie was not intended to be a cheating tool, but a hacking tool. Something designed to enhance the experience. Sure you COULD use it that way, but you could also use it to make things harder, or just... different. That's really what hacks should be about, making a difference and giving people the fun and entertainment they deserve.

If they're hacking to win, then it's no longer a game, it's a competition. But you're not competing against anyone but the programming... so it's just punishment. Senseless punishment to the fan, the gamer, and for many of us growing up in the 80s and 90s... the children.

Perhaps I am getting a little too deep. Turning a "why this is a bad game" review into some exercise in philosophy. "What is a game developer? A little miserable pile of secrets." But as a game designer myself, I find all these flaws could have been flat-lined in the beta. I mean heck... you could just ask random people on the street if they thought some of these variables were a good idea. And if two out of three say no, it's probably not a good idea.


Overall: 2.8.
Final Fantasy 2 is a bad game. Maybe not the worse, but it does not live up to many people's expectations and for good reason. Regardless of whether or not you're a a Final Fantasy fan.

But in a way... it did us a favor. It shows us an example of where gaming used to be, and how far we've come. (Though we have just as many if not more flaws in gaming today, but that's a rant for another day.) Final Fantasy 2 is the unadulterated abyss of classic gaming that is not subject to the usual Nostalgia that over encompasses most reflections upon it. Which is very unusual for a game that has "Final Fantasy" in the title.

That's a good quality... I guess.

This is a good review and I am a big final fantasy fan and Final Fantasy 2 for the SNES was one of my favorites. I grow up playing it and it was the first game I ever played I hope you make some more reviews I would be happy to read some more of yours.

How or why you made a review which isn't attached to a game page is kinda aggravating. I'll go ahead and attach it to the game page now... not sure if it will show on the page though.