Final Fantasy (NES, 1990)

Final Fantasy is the most famous console RPG franchise in the world, and possibly the most popular. With 14 installments in the main franchise, and numerous ports, remakes, and spin-offs, Square's best-selling series has moved over 97 million units to date. The title itself is misleading, as people have often asked me, "Why is it called Final Fantasy when they just keep making more??"

How's about you stop asking me that question?!

As the story goes, back in the late 80's, Square was failing as a company. On the verge of bankruptcy, they assigned a small team led by young developer Hironobu Sakaguchi to put out a new type of game, different from what Square had been doing up until that point. Sakaguchi knew that if the game failed, the company would most likely go under, and he swore he would quit the game industry and go back to school to learn something else. Thus, he called the game "Final Fantasy" to describe his delicate situation.

The mustachioed man himself. Sadly, he's no longer with
Square-Enix but has his own studio, Mistwalker.

The game was obviously a smashing success, and not only saved Square (and Sakaguchi's job) but also popularized the RPG genre. It laid the groundwork for future installments in the franchise, introducing things like crystals and airships. But does it stand the test of time?

1987-era NES programming glitch = 1987-era NES Invisible Lady.

Sort of. Final Fantasy plays like your traditional RPG. You start off the game by choosing four characters (The "Four Heroes of Light") and assign a job class to each one. What you choose will determine your characters' stats and abilities. A well-rounded party may consist of a Fighter, a Black Mage, a Black Belt, and a White Mage, for example. For someone who wants a tougher challenge, you could create a party of only White Mages. This small amount of customization was unusual back in the NES days, and certainly added to the game's appeal.

The adventure begins!

Each of your party members carries a darkened orb, representing a different element. Their quest is to revitalize the orbs by defeating the Four Fiends who are bring chaos and destruction to the world. When each Fiend falls, the orb is returned to light, and peace comes a little closer. Along the way, you'll experience several misadventures, such as rescuing a princess, fighting pirates, and hunting down a vampire.

Four fiends, but not the Four Fiends.

While wandering the overworld map and exploring dungeons, you'll experience lots of random encounters, which would become a staple of the Final Fantasy series. Battles themselves are turn-based, and when you win, you gain experience points which will level your characters' stats. Unfortunately, this is where two of the game's most glaring flaws come into play: First, there is no auto-targeting -- for example: you are fighting a group of enemies, and you instruct your entire party to focus on Enemy A. The Fighter manages to defeat Enemy A in one turn. Rather than the next party member going on to attack Enemy B, the team will continue to attack the empty space that Enemy A once occupied. This is highly annoying, as you're constantly having to estimate how many attacks it will take to kill one enemy before you can direct attacks to the next one. Second, this game does require quite a bit of mindless level grinding to proceed: the first installment of Final Fantasy is generally considered by fans to be the most difficult.

Be ill-prepared and die!!

Despite these flaws, Final Fantasy set a precedent for further installments and is definitely worth a playthrough. It's really great to see the groundwork of a million-dollar franchise, and despite being originally released in Japan back in 1987, Final Fantasy fans will feel a sense of familiarity upon playing. It may not live up to today's RPGs, with their endless customization, colorful casts, and epic stories, but it's impossible to call yourself a retro gamer without this game in your repertoire.

Final Fantasy has been remade, re-released, and ported multiple times. Luckily, the targeting issue was fixed for each port, so the battle experience has definitely improved. The first remake for the United States was found in Final Fantasy Origins (a still-in-print PSOne title), which has updated graphics and is paired with the previously Japan-only title, Final Fantasy II. There is also Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls for Game Boy Advance and the simply-named Final Fantasy for PSP. It's also available on Wii's Virtual Console service for 500 Wii Points. And if that's not enough, you can even download Final Fantasy for Apple devices and mobile phones. But if you're really not into the new-fangled technologies, well, then there's always Amazon, where you can find Final Fantasy new and used for NES at varying prices.

Retro Releases - Week of 3/28/11

Due to technical difficulties, there will be no update on retro releases this week. Check back next week!

Awesome Retro Finds of the Week 10: Not This Week

Nothing this week. :)

The Sims (PC, 2000)

After two decades of simulation games about cities, societies, theme parks, zoos, ancient civilizations, farming, and even ant colonies, you'd think The Sims would have come out much sooner than it actually did. It's amazing that it took so long to develop a simulation game that just about anyone would want to play: one in which you run other people's lives.

Work it baby!

I can't even describe the countless hours I spent on this game, designing sims that looked like me and my friends, building us all designer houses, accidentally setting our sim kitchens on fire, and feeling awkward whenever my best buddy went to go sit on the john. This is the ultimate "playing God" game as you have direct control over practically every aspect of your sims' lives.

Or you can choose no control. Sims aren't very motivated on their own.

You can start the game with a pre-existing family, or you can design your own. Obviously, everyone chooses the latter, because what fun is it playing with the pre-designed family? The selection of heads, hair, clothing, etc. is all pretty limited, but luckily a Sims Creator was eventually released which allowed you to make custom designs for your sims' appearance and decor. Designing skins for The Sims became an extremely popular hobby; a woman I once worked with actually purchased an entire Lord of the Rings household to play with. I myself enjoyed toying around with the Creator, my greatest achievement being a set of Resident Evil skins.

Design your own home.

Once you have a family, you move them into a lot: either an empty lot of land that you can build a house upon, or a pre-existing home that just needs to be furnished to make it your own. Once you move the family in, it's time to find a job so you can pay the bills. There are multiple career paths available, from law enforcement, to business, to even criminal. In addition to fulfilling your sims monetary needs, you also need to make sure their base needs are being covered: a kitchen full of food to feed them with, a comfortable bed to sleep in, a clean shower and a toilet that isn't broken. While Sims will generally take care of these physiological needs on their own, you may need to assist them once in awhile: for example, if your sim wants to use the bathroom, another sim seems to have no problem waltzing right in while they're in the middle of doing their "business" - you will often need to shoo sims out of the way on various occasions.

Chaos ensuing.

Of course, letting sims run amok is part of the fun of this game. Sims who possess zero cooking skill will often set the kitchen on fire, and if the firemen don't get there on time, they'll die. The Livin' Large expansion pack introduces the Grim Reaper, who will come to collect them. Sometimes sims will get into arguments, particularly when you have a total slob and a neat freak living in one house. It's fun to watch them get into fist fights. When you create sim versions of your friends, watching the mayhem that ensues has often spurred me to tell stories about the game to the real-life versions. It's fun times! Got someone you don't like in real life? Create a sim and let the aggression fly! "You stole my boyfriend, huh? How would you like to take a dip in my swimming pool? Oh, WHAT? The ladder mysteriously vanished?!?! Enjoy sleeping with the fishes, bitch!!"

Take away the ladder and there's no escape!

Ahem.

Okay, I'll be good.

There are some flaws in the game, which are resolved in the next two installments: basically things like non-existent weekends, the fact that sims don't age (aside from infants) and family links. I can't tell you how many times I put a male and a female sim in one household with the intention of them being brother and sister, only to find them making out a week later. Eww, come on guys!! 

Bobby Joe, stop looking at your sister like that!

Despite these flaws, with seven expansion packs to build off the game, The Sims provides hours and hours of entertainment. This game shattered the best-selling PC game record back in 2000, and it's easy to see why. Although you might find more value in the improvements made in the Sims 2 and 3, this is still a great game that most anyone can enjoy.  

The Sims is available on PC and Mac, as well as multiple consoles. As highly as I recommend the computer games, I can't say the same for the console ones - the gameplay as limited due to the space restrictions of console-based games. If you're interested in The Sims, it's available on Amazon new and used for varying prices.

Retro Releases - Week of 3/21/11 - The World is Square

Square-Enix brings yet another PSOne RPG offering. Not only that, but Final Fantasy III was just released for Virtual Console in Europe, which means North America can't be far behind.


Nintendo Virtual Console:
Natsume Championship Wrestling (SNES, 1994)
Enter the ring as one of twelve different wrestlers. With over 50 moves, this is one of the few (if not only?) wrestling games currently available for Virtual Console. Also notable is the inclusion of a 4-player mode, and with the technological power of 2011, you don't even need a multitap to participate! Woohoo! It's available today for 800 Wii Points.


Sony Playstation Network:
Legend of Mana (Playstation, 2000)
You are the hero of Fa'Diel, a shapeless world that needs your help. The Great Mana Tree vanished years ago and you must restore magic to the land. Using artifacts that you find on your journey, you can shape your world and unlock new stories and adventures. This is an action RPG from Square where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Download it Tuesday for $5.99, or, if you're uncertain, check out Retro Awesome's retroview.



Xbox Live Arcade:
Coming Wednesday!

Other Releases:
- The Sims franchise continues with The Sims Medieval for PC and Mac.

- Nintendo's new handheld, the 3DS, may not be released until Sunday, but a few of the games will hit shelves a little early. Retro fans may be interested in Rayman 3D (a remake of Rayman 2), Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, and Ridge Racer 3D.


- Final Fantasy meets fighting games on the PSP with Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy. No, I don't know what the name is supposed to mean either.

Awesome Retro Finds of the Week 09: Quickie

Busy week! Didn't have much time, so I stopped at one thrift store and luckily found this on the first try. I was in and out and gone! And now I own my first platformer for PSOne. 

It's Rayman! It was $2. All of my PSOne games are action games or RPGs, so this is a nice addition. 

Eventually I'll compile a "most wanted" list. For PSOne platformers, I would love to find Tomba! and Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. I owned both at one point and sold them while I was in college. That's practically the story of my life. Sigh. 

Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis, 1991)

Back in the late 1980's, Nintendo had become a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. No other company could compete, as the Atari 2600 dwindled in popularity, and couldn't produce a console as successful as the NES. Sega was new to the gaming scene with their Sega Master System, which, while popular in Europe and Brazil, couldn't gain prominence in the U.S. and Japanese markets. When the Genesis was first launched, it had the upper-hand in terms of graphical capability and processing power over the NES, and yet, Sega still failed to move Genesis units at a competitive rate. What was a failing game company to do?

SE~GAAAA

The answer was found in the form of a little blue hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog debuted in 1991 as Sega's new mascot, intended to compete with Nintendo's Mario. Although the Genesis was originally bundled with Altered Beast, Sega eventually decided to swap that to Sonic the Hedgehog. The plan paid off, big time. By bundling Sonic with the Genesis, Sega managed to grab almost 50% of the home console market from Nintendo.

The first of many successful titles for Sega.

So what made Sonic so great? Well, he was a mean-looking blue hedgehog who could move really, really fast. This was way cooler than a slow, fat plumber who hopped on things. Also, the game was characterized by lush, bright environments and a techno-driven soundtrack. This wasn't your average platformer. This was your platformer on speed.

Go faster!

Sonic popularized the anthropomorphic mascot in platforming. Originally named "Mr. Needlemouse", Sonic the Hedgehog revolves around Sonic as he frees his forest friends from Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik (later known as "Eggman") is turning the forest creatures into mindless robot slaves to help him obtain the six Chaos Emeralds. He'll use the Emeralds' powers to take over the world, that is, unless Sonic can stop him.

At the end of each level, you face Robotnik one-on-one.

As Sonic, you'll traverse through six levels, broken into three acts each, to stop Robotnik. Along the way, you'll find yourself traversing loop-de-loops, springs, and slopes, which if you use properly, will maximize your speed. The most satisfying thing about a Sonic game is when you get good at a level: basically, when you know where everything is and you can just blow through it like it's a piece of cake. This led to the ever-popular speed runs on YouTube that you see floating around.

Unlike other platformers at the time, Sonic did not follow the "three hits and you're dead" rule. In Sonic the Hedgehog, you can collect rings. If you are hit by an enemy, then your rings explode away from you, but grab 'em quick, because as long as you are holding at least one ring, it is impossible to die. Collect 100 rings, and you earn an extra life. Sonic also had checkpoints mid-level, and bonus stages where you could try to collect the Chaos Emeralds.

Bonus stage!

Finally, I know I mentioned it before, but I have to again: I absolutely love the soundtrack to this game, and really, most Sonic games. It's upbeat and really drives the action.

Sonic the Hedgehog is, to this day, one of my favorite franchises, even though it's had its ups and downs over the past decade. This first game led the groundwork to some very successful and much-improved on sequels, and if nothing else, deserves some accolades for being able to stand up to Mario in a time when he seemed invincible. 

Sonic the Hedgehog is available in numerous compilations, the most recent being Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Mega Collection Plus, Sega Genesis Collection, Sonic Classic Collection and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. It is also available for download on Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, Steam, and Apple's App Store. Finally, if you want the old Genesis cartridge, it's available new and used at varying prices from Amazon.com. 

Retro Releases - Week of 3/14/11 - Birthday Girl

Hey, do you like mitochondria?


Nintendo Virtual Console:
No retro releases this week.

Sony Playstation Network:
Parasite Eve (Playstation, 1998)
Just in time for The 3rd Birthday, Square brings Parasite Eve to PSN. This action RPG stars NYPD rookie cop Aya Brea as she investigates a woman who causes people to spontaneously combust. With elements borrowed heavily from survival horror, this game was far different from anything else Square had attempted back in the day. Parasite Eve is available for $5.99 on PSN.




Xbox Live Arcade:
No retro releases this week.

Awesome Retro Finds of the Week 08: Broke!

Sorry folks, but no retro finds this week! I had to change the tires on my car and replace my brake pads and rotors to get my vehicle in tip-top shape! I definitely dropped some money on that, so I decided this week I should be prudent and pinch my pennies.

(Aside from that, the only place I went to this week was a store that I had been to only once previously, only to find them charging outrageous prices for their games! $5 for an Atari cartridge of Pac-Man? $10 for Coolboarders???)

So with that... until next week folks!

Resident Evil: Code Veronica (Dreamcast, 2000)

After three successful installments on the Sony Playstation, Capcom surprised us all by announcing that the next entry in their Resident Evil franchise would be exclusive to the Sega Dreamcast. They also touted more horror, more puzzles, and a more complex plot, with a hint-hint of a possible character's return.

But did Capcom deliver? Answer: hell yes.

Hint-hint.

The first game in the Resident Evil series introduced us to survival horror. Resident Evil 2 brought in more varied and interesting environments. Resident Evil 3 elaborated on Raccoon City's story and ultimate fate. Resident Evil: Code Veronica brings us the next chapter, and there's more than a few twists on the way.

We need to get off this island!

You start the game as Claire Redfield (last seen escaping the zombie-infested Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2) who is searching for her brother, Chris (last seen escaping the zombie-infested Spencer Mansion in Resident Evil). Her search brings her to an Umbrella facility in Paris, where she is quickly caught and imprisoned on Rockfort Island. No sooner than she arrives, does a T-Virus outbreak overtake the island, and Claire now has to escape from more hoards of zombies and monsters. On the way, she meets Steve Burnside, the love interest.

Code Veronica features a softer side to zombie-slaying.

Love interest? Yes, that's right. When Capcom told us about it, we felt strange too. Love and zombies? Does it really go together? Surprisingly, this subplot turns out to be rather sweet, even with some of the more awkward, corny moments. Steve comes off as annoying at first, but he grows on you as the game progresses. Meanwhile, while Claire and Steve are getting it on and getting off the island, we also get to play as Chris -- who is incidentally looking for Claire, catching wind that she was imprisoned.

Like previous Resident Evil games, you have the opportunity to play as two characters.

All the while, the trio are being pursued by an eccentric man named Alfred Ashford, as well as none other than Albert Wesker, who has seemingly returned from the dead with crazy pyro powers and is hellbent on ruining the Redfields' lives. There's a lot going on here, and some surprising revelations about the Ashford family, but I won't spoil anything further. Of all the Resident Evil games, Code Veronica probably has the strongest storyline.

The blond guy's got issues. Lots of them.

If you're not into story, then don't worry: Code Veronica keeps what made the Resident Evil franchise so successful to begin with. The atmosphere is genuinely creepy, and you'll feel on edge as you sneak through the Ashford Mansion. The puzzles are here too, as is the limited ammunition which will force you to decide whether to fight or flee. Conserving ammo is key, as there is a mid-level boss in this game who will be absolutely impossible to beat without doing so.

Unlike the current-gen Resident Evil games,
enemies do not drop ammo -- so don't be too trigger-happy!

Combat is largely unchanged from Resident Evil 3, but there are a few new weapons that make zombie-killing more exciting then ever. One such weapon is the Bow Gun, which, though not being very effective, will get you by better than your handknife. Also introduced are dual-wielding pistols, which are lots of fun, as you can target and take down two enemies at once. Tank controls remain in effect, which is always frustrating for newbies; I actually recommend running circles around a table for a few minutes to get a feel for things.

Dual pistols. Nice.

Code Veronica's appeal isn't so much in the gameplay: it's nothing we haven't seen before. Rather, it's a continuation of a formula that works, paired with a more developed plotline, and the return of some great characters. It's cool to see the Redfield siblings together, and the return of Wesker with superhuman abilities was great for long-time fans. For fans today, Code Veronica is what we consider the last "true" Resident Evil game - meaning, it was the last game in the franchise to maintain the creepy atmosphere and complex puzzles of previous installments, before Resident Evil 4 came along and completely revamped the franchise. To newer fans, Code Veronica's tank controls and fixed-camera angles may seem slow, clunky, and off-putting at first, but I say to them: if you work past that you'll discover how truly fantastic this game is. 

As for Dreamcast exclusive - well, obviously the Dreamcast didn't live up to its massive expectations and production was shut down shortly after launch. Resident Evil: Code Veronica was then ported to Nintendo Gamecube and re-released for PS2 as Code Veronica X, containing a few more cutscenes and "Wesker's Report" - a short video that explains what Wesker was up to since the original Resident Evil and how he survived the Tyrant attack that originally killed him. If you want the Dreamcast version though, it's available new and used on Amazon for varying prices. It's also bundled with Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Outbreak as part of the Resident Evil Essentials Collection for PS2.