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Two classic RPGs are reborn!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 147 / 158
Date: November 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn Of Souls (2004.)

In the glory days of the NES, there were two major RPG series that reigned supreme on the system - Enix's Dragon Warrior and Squaresoft's Final Fantasy. The latter series clearly has come out the fan favorite over the years. And in 2004, Squaresoft decided to do gamers a real favor, and rerelease the first two games in the series on the Game Boy Advance! Read on for my review of Dawn Of Souls.

PROS:
-YOU GET TWO CLASSIC RPGS FOR ONE LOW PRICE. These are excellent games, and either one is worth the price of admission alone. Once you start playing these games, you'll see how they earned their classic reputation.
-FINAL FANTASY II IS FINALLY AVAILABLE IN AMERICA ON A NINTENDO SYSTEM! This game had never been released in America before on a Nintendo system, so it's great to finally have it on one - especially a portable one!
-TONS OF BONUS MATERIAL! You don't just get the games here. You also get bonus stuff. If you played the Playstation reissue, you may be familiar with some of it already. The game (FF1) even includes bonus dungeons where you can battle bosses from other FF games!
-FF1 IS EASY TO LEARN. Unlike other RPGs, which take a LONG time to learn, you can pick the first installment up pretty fast.
-SAVE ANYWHERE! This is a great convenience. Not even the DS version of Final Fantasy III included this option, making your life much easier.
-IMPROVED GRAPHICS AND SOUND. This game is based on the Wonderswam Color port that was never released stateside, and as such, definitely looks better than the NES releases.

CONS:
-THESE GAMES ARE VERY SIMPLISTIC BY MODERN STANDARDS. More likely than not, die-hard RPG fans aren't going to give this package the respect it deserves. Sometimes simplicity is a package's greatest strength, but some people just don't get that.
-FINAL FANTASY I DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A STORYLINE AT ALL. Essentially, you pick four characters - and they have no background story whatsoever. A highly-involved storyline is one of the best parts of later FF games - too bad the first installment doesn't have that. And you can't change their classes, either. What they start as, they're stuck as.
-FF2 IS WEIRD, AND IT'S NOT GONNA APPEAL TO EVERYONE. There is no standard "level up" system in this game, instead you level up attributes of your character a number of different ways in a battle. Thank god this was the only game in the series to use this system. The weird "key word" system doesn't help things either.
-SOME BONUSES MISSING THAT WERE ON THE PLAYSTATION REISSUE. NOT a big deal, and this was to be expected given the PS is a stronger system. Still worth mentioning though.

OVERALL:
Overall these are very good classic RPGs. I just wish these old-school games got more credit than they do, because in their day and age, they were truly revolutionary. If you're a GBA owner and a classic RPG fan, don't hesitate to purchase this package.

Final Fantasy I and II for Gameboy...5/5

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 49 / 58
Date: November 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you know Final Fantasy I and II, this new release doesn't need much explanation because it is exactly what you remember from the old NES days. The only changes are graphics and sound that aren't that greatly improved. These two games are classics. Final Fantasy I is still great to play, but is a lot easier now. Final Fantasy II was the first FF to feature a complex story with real character development and proves to be a strangely entertaining and fun experience. Even if you haven't played FF, you should still get this game if you have a gameboy; because this game will provide the staying value that your old pokemon games and pinball will not. Oh, and it has few new dungeons that will be a nice suprise ... BUY THIS GAME

Back and better than ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: February 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

FF: Dawn of Souls is the ORIGINAL FFI and II crammed into one cartridge--only one--with improved graphics, sound and bonus levels and dungeons and a detailed bestiary. Imagine--taking two of the most important games to the RPG genre with you anywhere. I remember wishing I could do that when I was in elementary school!

Let me start off with graphics. Now, I've read a review or two commenting on the graphics for these games, noting that they're nothing special, if not downright disappointing. Let me say that I've played the original FF and these graphics are head and shoulders above that. Considering that it's a GBA, the sprites are bright and crisp, and as my wife likes to point out "cute," and there's also beautiful cutscenes at various points in the story. Then, consider the depth and scope of this game with all the added improvements, and this becomes quite the accomplishment. The music, also, is an upgrade, with orchestral MIDI sounds, as opposed to the 8-bit sound of the original. You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into remaking this classic.

But the real meat of this game is gameplay. The FFI lacks the deep storyline that most gamers are used to, but it's still a compelling, fun game. And it's FFII where the idea of story and character development comes into play, and it makes for an fun, nostalgic experience on the GBA. This game will take away hours of your life and, if you enjoy RPGs, it will be worth it.

The only negative for this game is difficulty level. FFI is easier and faster than the original (at least as far as I remember), with level increases coming along quite quickly, with stats rising at a very fast rate. Not a deal-breaker by any means, though. For first-time players to this game or this genrre, it's a welcome improvement, as it is a portable game, and having the long, drawn-out battles that I remember, would make it difficult to play on-the-go.

With that said, the inclusion of being able to save any time, any place, as opposed to needing a tent or an inn, is a welcome, necessary improvement for this GBA version.

Overall, I'm in love all over again. While the graphics aren't "Golden Sun," the gameplay is much the same, and I fully recommend this great game.

Just like I remember it...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: December 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Last year saw the release of Final Fantasy Origins on PSOne. A compilation pack of the first two Final Fantasy titles, the second of which had been previously unavailable in America, Origins gave gamers the chance to play through the first two entries in the series with a new coat of paint. Featuring updated graphics, full motion video cutscenes, several optional gameplay tweaks and more, Origins carefully walked the fine line of pleasing both veterans and newcomers to the games. With Dawn of Souls, Square continues to refine the old classics.
As with Origins, the versions of Final Fantasy 1 & 2 present in Dawn of Souls are based off the Japan-only WonderSwan Color remakes. This time around, the scripts were re-written and numerous additions and tweaks to the games themselves were made. Most noteworthy of these changes is the ability to save anywhere outside of battle, an important feature in a handheld RPG.The focus of Final Fantasy 1 is less on the story and more on exploration and fighting. Those that have played prior versions will note that the GBA edition is more balanced in that it doesn't require players to stop and level up their characters to survive the next dungeon, resulting in a much more streamlined experience. The flipside is that the revamped FF1 ends up lacking the challenge of past iterations, a virtual cakewalk for those familiar with the game. The only real challenge is in the form of the four new dungeons. These randomly generated dungeons, which feature bosses from Final Fantasy 3-6, reward players with rare and powerful items once cleared. With each dungeon unlocked after the defeat of the respective Chaos, some may find themselves questioning if it's even worth the time and effort to reach the new content. Of course, it's this lack of difficulty that makes the title perfect for handheld gaming, as you can fight a few battles, save and then restart where you left off hours, days, weeks or even months later without worrying too much about having to start over. The other major change in FF1 comes in the form of spell use. Previously dependant upon a character's level, magic now utilizes the more popular MP system, helping to make the game more accessible to newcomers. Spells, much like weapons, must be purchased and require a user to be a specific level before they can be equipped.Notorious for its unique leveling system, Final Fantasy 2 has also undergone several alterations. While characters still gain strength as they use an ability, you'll no longer need to rely upon attacking members of your own party to increase their hit points as this aspect has been more carefully balanced. A brand new epilogue, entitled "Soul of Rebirth," has also been added.
Of the two games, Final Fantasy 2 is the more story-driven, with a greater emphasis on character development. The stories seem a little tired and cliched, though that's mostly due to their age and influence on the role-playing genre. Fighting is handled by a traditional turn-based battle system, with random encounters occurring every so often outside of towns.It's also worth noting that Dawn of Souls includes some of the most impressive music on the Game Boy Advance to date, ranking right up there with Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. With two games and a bestiary on the cartridge, it's a testament to Square's prowess that they were also able to accommodate such rich and detailed sound.Though they may lack the depth and complexity of the modern games they inspired, Final Fantasy 1 & 2 are still quite enjoyable, and definitely worth playing if you're a fan of RPGs.

A GREAT improvement over previous versions.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: October 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

These versions of Final Fantasies 1 and 2 are by far the best of these two titles, and remedy the many shortcomings of the PS1 remakes on which they are based, namely the obnoxious level of difficulty. They also add new dungeons and items, where you fight bosses from other games in the series.

Despite these changes, the games retain the feel of the originals very well, particularly the first game. While the first one is not too in depth when it comes to story, it's very, very fun.

The second one, much less known in the U.S., is more unappealing to most players due to its highly innovative character building system, which is difficult to master. The roots of characters that can be molded in to anything, fighters, mages, etc., are found in Final Fantasy 2. The story is not too bad, and overall the game is enjoyable. Part 2 also introuces a huge number of recurring elements for the first time. Chocobos, Cid, Mysidia, Dragoons, Ultima, and many weapons, spells, and other elements are seen here for the first time.

This collection is a must have for anyone.

Dramatically easier than the original

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 16
Date: December 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you're a purist (which I'm not) you'll probably be irritated by how much easier the game is than the original (I'm referring to FF1 here, haven't played the second one yet). Here's a breakdown of the changes as far as I'm aware of them:

1.) Leveling up is much faster. Stats increase at a greater rate per level. Also, the maximum level has been raised from 50 to 99.

2.) You can save everywhere, at any time, not just at Inns or with the tent or whatever.

3.) The magic system has been altered so that instead of certain spells having a fixed number of uses, they have a casting cost that is deducted from your character's MP.

4.) There are a couple of new potions that make things a lot easier, namely Phoenix Down and Ether, the former reviving a dead character and the latter restoring MP. These make it pretty unnecessary to truck back to town frequently to go to the church or inn.

That said, it doesn't bother me that much, as I don't have the patience for old-school style RPGs. Remember what a nightmare Dragon Warrior was? Overall I like the changes, but I think they went a little too far. If they'd left out just one of the new "enhancements" I think enough of the challenge would still be there. 3.5 stars.

If you liked Final Fantasy II, Watch Out!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 17
Date: December 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a cleaned up version on Final Fantasy I, for the GBA. Mostly everything you loved from the original RPG that started it all is here, with improved graphics and sound. Even the original's impressive music is enhanced, not changed. HOWEVER, if you buy this game hoping to get Final Fantasy II, the adventure of Cecil the Dark Knight of Baron, you'll be disappointed. USA's Final Fantasy II (for the SNES) was released in Japan as Final Fantasy IV! This game pack does not include that game! Which is unfortunate, as it remains a masterpiece. Instead, you'll get a translated version of Japan's Final Fantasy II, which is very dissapointing in comparison, though a fine game in and of itself. In short, if you LOVED FF I, buy this game for hours of fun on your Game Boy Advanced. Who knows, you'll probably like FF II. But if you want FF IV (USA - FF II), either call Sqare Enix (the game developer), or dust off your old Super Nintendo.

Hawesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is old school RPG at its best. Two for the price of one! You can save anywhere, perfect for those fleeting moments where you need a gaming fix. I keep this in my gameboy sp in my pocket all day and any time I can just pop it open for a quickie 5 or 10 minute fix, and I can still make progress because the save system is so flexible. I play this game while watching my DVR episodes. It's great, i love the turn-based combat, and the fact that you don't have to be that skilled to play it. Sure, better games have come out since these, but they still have a lot of charm. Go for it!

"But the people who believe in prophecy patiently await its fulfillment"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 12, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Well, I started playing Final Fantasy after I finished Golden Sun and Golden Sun The Lost Age, so the game was at a disadvantage from the start. I was used to the superior graphics and music of Golden Sun. I was also confused about how to equip my characters (it's actually very easy) and the White Mage / Black Mage powers were different from the psynergy I was used to. After playing the game with the help of a walkthrough, however, I really ended up enjoying it. Since it is an older game than Golden Sun, it must have been quite a remarkable game when it first came out. Being two games in one, it is quite a bargain now (shop around, you can find it cheap).

I completed Final Fantasy I and am almost finished with II. The graphics and music to the sequel are definitely an improvement. The differences between the two games mainly concern the use of magic. In the first game, you buy magic of increasing power as you progress in the game. You can have several of the same power but at different levels (i.e. Cure, Cura, Curaja, or Thunder, Thundara, Thundaga). In Final Fantasy II, you buy, find, or win in battle certain tomes and build up their levels by using them. The higher the level, the more times you have to use the power to increase to the next level. Training is, therefore, more important in Final Fantasy II as you need to build up HP, MP, and Magic levels. You do not conserve Magic like in Final Fantasy I. Train in an area that gives you decent gils next to a town so you can heal up at an inn and go right back out and resume training. Also, all your characters can have any Tome. Powers are not reserved for just White Mages or Black Mages. Learning and asking about certain terms that you store is another difference. They help you interact with characters who guide you through the game but, with a walkthrough, those things are explained to you anyway. The storyline to II is a little hard to follow but, with the walkthrough, it doesn't matter if you understand it or not.

One thing I do not care for in Final Fantasy II is that your fourth character keeps changing. You'll build up your 4th man's (or woman's) fighting skills and HP and he leaves or is lost or killed. Then, when another character joins you, you have to train all over again. Hint: DO NOT de-equip Minwu, Ricard, or Josef (he'll just have defensive items because he fights better with his hands) if you plan on carrying over to the Soul of Rebirth game which is a bonus that unlocks after beating FFII. Anyway, if you are just starting out on role-playing games, this two-game cartridge is an excellent way to start. You can save at almost any place in the game (except during battles, of course) and can buy plenty of Hi-Potions, Ethers, and Phoenix Downs to keep you alive. The games are not nearly as long and involved as more recent rpgs and, with a walkthrough (I used an excellent guide by Dark Vortex for both games available on gamefaqs), you should have a month or two of fun! P.S.: There is an odd scene in FFII where the Empress seemingly tries to seduce your main character, Firion. Watch for it.

Fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: November 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This was definitly one of the most interesting games I have ever seen. This game has nearly done the unbelieveable. This game has taken 2 old school games, merged them into one, then improved it with upgraded battle systems and better graphics. Like I said Unbelievable.

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