Final Fantasy Video Game Series

Premiere Final Fantasy VII (1997) was at the same time one of the most important events in the history not only of the series, but also of the entire video game industry. The title was a spectacular artistic and commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the best productions of all time. Another important moment was the release of the thirteenth installment of the series - Final Fantasy XIII. Released in 2009, the game opened the series Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy, which - although it included many diverse worlds and characters - was essentially based on a common mythology, with the central theme of powerful crystals linked to specific deities. Due to its size, the production was divided into three separate games, but the developed cosmogonic base was also used by later installments of the series.

In 2016, the fifteenth full-fledged installment of the series was released - Final Fantasy XV. On the one hand, this was the first production under this banner intended for eighth-generation consoles (Xbox One and PlayStation 4); on the other hand, the development team decided to introduce a number of innovations in gameplay mechanics. In the game in question, RPG elements were simplified and the turn-based combat system (characteristic of earlier installments ) was abandoned in favor of clashes of a more dynamic and arcade nature.

In 2020, however, we lived to see the first episode of the remake of the seventh part of the series, titled Final Fantasy VII Remake. Although the goal of the creators was to preserve the spirit of the original (which was made possible by filling the most important production positions with the creators of the original, headed by Yoshinori Kitase), at the same time they decided to replace outdated mechanics (led by the combat system) with more up-to-date solutions. In addition, the authors did not fail to make some changes to the storyline. Dividing the title into several episodes was motivated by the desire to develop all the elements known from the 1997 version, which significantly lengthened the creative process.

The following games deserve a separate mention Final Fantasy XI (2003) and Final Fantasy XIV Online (2013). Although the main parts of the series are productions designed for single-player play, the aforementioned items are full-fledged (and at the same time - successful) MMORPGs. As an interesting fact, it should be added that the first version of the fourteenth installment of the series debuted much earlier (2010), but due to its disastrous condition, it had to go back to the drawing table; it took the developers as much as three years to make the necessary improvements.

The common denominator of the games in the series Final Fantasy is the mixing of fantasy themes with science fiction elements. The main games in the series are not directly connected, presenting completely separate worlds, stories and characters. As befits the jRPG genre, the story layer can be very complex, and many of the plots and motives behind the characters are explained only at the very end.

Initially, games in the series Final Fantasy were characterized by simple, two-dimensional graphics and action presented from a bird's eye view. As technical capabilities increased, it featured more complex animations and, in time, fully three-dimensional visuals. One of the hallmarks of the series became numerous pre-rendered cinematic interludes, which, especially in the latest installments of the series, make a photorealistic impression.

The brand has also seen many adaptations in the form of cinematic animated films (also in computer animation technique, such as Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within) and manga. To celebrate the release of Final Fantasy XV an exceptionally large media campaign was organized: the anime then debuted Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV and a CGI-made film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. Both productions expanded on the themes explored in the game, depicting events preceding its story campaign.