For years, fans have playfully pointed out that the series’ name feels less relevant with every new game released. The franchise has a long history, with many games and side stories appearing since the 1980s, but a lot of them have been largely forgotten over time.
Square Enix has done a great job making older Final Fantasy games available to today’s players through updated versions, remasters, and even complete remakes. However, there are still many lesser-known Final Fantasy titles that most fans haven’t experienced.
Final Fantasy Easy Type Had A Unique End Boss
As a big Final Fantasy fan, it always confused me that the first time we got Final Fantasy 4 here in North America, it was actually called Final Fantasy 2! And it wasn’t just the name that was different. A lot of the game was changed to make it easier, and some scenes were even altered because of what Nintendo allowed back then. Interestingly, those same changes later showed up in a special Japanese version of Final Fantasy 4 called Easy Type.
This update wouldn’t usually be worth mentioning, since it included the same changes as the North American version. However, it featured a unique visual design for the boss Zeromus. In Final Fantasy 4 Easy Type, Zeromus appears as a skeletal centaur with a female elf emerging from his torso. This distinct version of the boss later returned in Final Fantasy 4 Advance as a challenging superboss called Zeromus EG.
The Original Final Fantasy 14 Died So Eorzea Could Live
Final Fantasy 14 had a rocky start, receiving negative reviews and disappointing fans when it first launched. However, it made an incredible comeback thanks to a complete overhaul. Under the leadership of Naoki Yoshida, the game was essentially rebuilt from the ground up as A Realm Reborn, becoming one of the most popular and highly-rated games ever made.
The original Final Fantasy 14 is no longer playable. It received very negative reviews when it first launched, which meant not many people tried it, and even fewer continued playing due to its technical issues. While the developers had to essentially rebuild the game to save it, that meant the original world and its content are now gone forever.
Final Fantasy 7 International Gave Japanese Fans A Taste Of Ruby & Emerald Agony
The English version of Final Fantasy 7 was a big improvement over the initial Japanese release. The original was riddled with bugs, included an unintended debug battle, and lacked several features, such as boss fights against Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald Weapon, and a unique animation sequence.
Final Fantasy 7 International is an updated version of the original game, combining the content from both the Japanese and North American releases, plus a few additional improvements. The most exciting part is the included fourth disc, packed with exclusive artwork and details about the game’s world that you won’t find in any other version.
Final Fantasy 2 Almost Made It Overseas As Dark Shadow Over Palakia
Square Enix was slow to release its games in English. By the time they got to Final Fantasy 2, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was becoming popular. This caused them to skip Final Fantasy 2 and 3 altogether, and instead release Final Fantasy 4 as Final Fantasy 2 in the West.
A North American version of Final Fantasy 2 for the NES was planned, and playable prototypes have surfaced online. Known as Final Fantasy 2: Dark Shadow over Palakia, this version features a complete, though rough, English translation and some censorship of religious imagery by Nintendo. While Dark Shadow over Palakia allows fans to play Final Fantasy 2 in English, fan-made translations offer a better experience.
The Original Final Fantasy Has A Port Almost No One Knows About
The original Final Fantasy is a hugely important game in video game history. Though it seems simple by today’s standards, it was incredibly innovative when it first came out. Square Enix has repeatedly re-released and updated it, making it easily accessible for both longtime fans and new players.
The very first version of Final Fantasy was created for the MSX2, a popular home computer in Japan. This version had brighter colors and better sound than later releases, but it ran a bit slower. It also had a different arrangement of monsters on the game map compared to other versions, due to some changes in how random encounters were handled.
Final Fantasy All The Bravest Is A Dark Mark On The Series’ History
It’s often best to forget certain things, and when it comes to the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy All The Bravest is one title many wish they could. This mobile game received overwhelmingly negative reviews from both players and critics when it first came out.
Final Fantasy All The Bravest was a simple tapping game, but lacked engaging gameplay. It mostly involved repeatedly tapping the screen, with classic Final Fantasy characters and locations serving as mere background elements. While the game itself wasn’t terrible, it was heavily criticized for its microtransactions. Players had to pay 99 cents for a random chance to unlock characters, rather than being able to choose them directly. This angered many fans, and Square Enix eventually stopped supporting the game.
Final Fantasy 15 On Google Stadia Had Unique Content That’s Lost To Time
Google Stadia once looked like it could revolutionize gaming. Instead of needing an expensive gaming computer, you could simply stream games to almost any device. To get started, Google needed support from game developers, and Square Enix agreed to bring a version of Final Fantasy 15 to the platform.
The Google Stadia version of Final Fantasy 15 featured special minigames within its ‘Crazy Challenge’ menu, offering racing and combat trials for players. Unfortunately, when Stadia closed in 2023, this unique content was lost and is now considered lost media.
FF:U on PC Meikyū – Kuroki Yume Noki Oku Finally Gave Unlimited A Video Game
Final Fantasy: Unlimited was a TV show created to adapt the popular Final Fantasy series, but it took a very different approach – it didn’t follow any of the existing games, only including a few minor connections. While some people enjoy it, it’s not a particularly well-known installment in the Final Fantasy universe, especially for viewers who didn’t see it when it originally aired.
A video game based on Final Fantasy: Unlimited called FF:U on PC Meikyū – Kuroki Yume Noki Oku was released, but it was a simple visual novel/card game featuring characters from the anime. Because the game was never translated into English, it’s largely unavailable to fans, although a fan translation project is currently underway.
Dissidia Final Fantasy: Universal Tuning Improved The Balance
A benefit of delayed English releases for Japanese games is that developers get extra time to polish them, fixing bugs and making gameplay fairer. This is particularly helpful, although less critical when players from different regions compete in tournaments.
Dissidia Final Fantasy: Universal Tuning was the final release of the game. It originated as the North American version but was later re-released in Japan with content from all regions, primarily balancing the characters’ strengths and weaknesses. What makes it special compared to the standard English version? Universal Tuning allows players to choose between English and Japanese voice acting during battles, making it a favorite among fans of Japanese culture.
Before Crisis Is A Lost Final Fantasy 7 Spin-Off Begging For A Remake
With how popular Final Fantasy 7 is, Square Enix usually releases English versions of any related games or stories, though sometimes fans have to be patient. A notable exception was Before Crisis, a mobile prequel to Final Fantasy 7 that focused on the Turks and an early version of Avalanche. This game recently became available in North America through Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
It’s understandable why Before Crisis wasn’t released in English – it was originally designed for a particular type of mobile phone. However, it’s always been a mystery why it hasn’t been remade, particularly since the original game is no longer available even in Japan and is considered lost. Final Fantasy fans will get a glimpse of the story through a limited release, but a complete remake is still needed.
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2026-05-16 03:41