Ambitious is an easy word to describe Square Enix overall. After Square and Enix merged in 2003, it was like they became the dominant RPG maker in Japan almost like a monopoly. Even before the merger, Square always tried new things with the mainline games from fresh story beats to gameplay mechanics. Whether these ideas were successful or not is up to interpretation.
Things got even wilder when theFinal Fantasyspinoffs started appearing. There is seemingly no end to what Square Enix will try and these games certainly stand out. From games datingback to the 90sto recent examples, things have certainly been interesting for fans over the years.
RPGs were not as popular in the 80s and 90s on consoles as they are now. In a struggling market, Square wanted to make an RPG specifically with Western audiences in mind. That’s whereFinal Fantasy Mystic Questfalls into place which was eventually renamed to Final Fantasy USA in Japan. Instead of an open-world map, players went from level to level akin toSuper Mario World.
The hero, Benjamin, can be joined by a variety of party members throughout the adventure but the team never goes beyond two characters. Players received equipment that replaced old gear automatically instead of allowing players to swap like in atraditionalFinal Fantasyentry. Dungeons were kind ofZelda-like in nature with puzzles but nothing was ever that challenging. It was pretty easy overall and this downplay was a gamble that did not result in sales thus leading to Square abandoning the very idea of marketing specifically to Westerners again.
Final Fantasy 10-2was the first mainline sequel in the series and after this, the floodgates broke loose. It was a big gamble for Square Enix butFinal Fantasy 10was a huge game on the PS2. Also, the ending did leave some fans sad andconfused about Tiduswhich may be why they chose this one first to seemingly address the mysteries.
This might be why they decided to have Yuna look for him throughout the game. Thankfully, the sequel was well-received even if it was a goofier RPG about dressing up for combat. While the game never received a third installment, although there have been rumors, it did give Square Enix the push to make direct sequels to their mainline entries.
By 2008, Square Enix had 12 mainlineFinal Fantasygames under their belt on top ofFinal Fantasyspinoffs. This gave them a lot of characters to work with from heroes to villains. It was enough to justify a fighting game spinoff on the PSP viaDissidia Final Fantasy.
It wasn’t just a fighting game akin toStreet Fighterthrough. One-on-one fights were epic like players were going through a cutscene they loved watching growing up. Heroes and villains could equip gear, and level up, and there was a complete story too. The PSP was never a huge success in North America but Square Enix was overall happy withDissidia Final Fantasyenough to make two more games.
Final Fantasy 11was the first MMO in the seriesand it seemed to go off without a hitch. It was enjoyed by those who played it even though the cost was high from the game to the subscription to the accessories needed for the PS2. Square Enix knew they needed to make a sequel and they planned on making it even bigger and better than before.Final Fantasy 14was released in 2010 and it was beyond a disaster.
Reviews from fans and the press tore it apart from the gameplay loop to the glitches. It just wasn’t a complete game and Square Enix pulled it off the market to fix it. The game remained live until 2012 then they took it down and reopened servers again in 2013 under the new nameFinal Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, fans enjoyed it a lot more. Square Enix was so happy with the team that they gave this division, Square Enix Creative Business Unit 3, the right to make a non-MMO entry viaFinal Fantasy 16. So while things started terribly, Square Enix, to their credit, made good on their word.
Final Fantasy 15began as a side project toFinal Fantasy 13asFinal Fantasy Versus 13. After several delays, eventually Square Enix decided to make it a mainline entry but it took a decade after its first announcement as a side project to come out. It seemed like the powers that be also decided that they needed to make the launch ofFinal Fantasy 15a big event. Instead of just releasing the game as is, they decided to put the cart before the horse and made a bunch of tie-in content.
There wasA King’s Tale: Final Fantasy 15,Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy 15, andFinal Fantasy 15: Pocket Editionfor the game releases. Then there was a CG movie and anime and they planned a massive amount of DLC. The reception was a mixed bag which seemingly gave Square Enix cold feet to cancel at least half of the DLC.Final Fantasy 15was messy from start to finish which is unfortunate because the core game has a lot to offer fans, especially withthe hero, Noctis, and his weapon abilities.
To date,Final Fantasy 7 Remakeseems like the most ambitious game Square Enix has ever attempted. The PS1 original is well-regarded as the best entry in the series by many fans so much so that Square Enix even created a mini-universe surrounding it. From game spinoffs to a CG movie, they tried a lot but never a full-on remake despite teasing one for years. At long last,Final Fantasy 7 Remakewas released in 2020 with Square Enix promising to make at least three games in total.
Taking one game and expanding it to three could not have been an easy decision considering the cost. Also, if they messed up the execution and fans didn’t like it, they may have still felt beholden to finish the job and lost even more money. While some lament thechanges found inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, others think they are great. There’s only one more game now, so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for it to come out and if Square Enix can stick the landing.
