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Final Fantasy Anthology - PlayStation
About this item
- Combines two full RPGs that provide over 30 hours of gameplay each
- Includes computer generated movie sequences created exclusively for this release
- Both games incorporate monster summoning magic later used in Final Fantasy 7
- The variety of "job" skills allows players to mix and match many different abilities to create custom characters
- The "Esper" magic system allows characters to cast over 90 different magic spells
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Product information
ASIN | B00002R28C |
---|---|
Release date | June 30, 2003 |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #21,887 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #57 in PlayStation Games |
Product Dimensions | 5 x 5.75 x 0.98 inches; 5.6 ounces |
Type of item | Video Game |
Rated | Teen |
Item model number | 9759 |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Item Weight | 5.6 ounces |
Manufacturer | Square Enix |
Date First Available | October 2, 2001 |
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Product Description
Product Description
Final Fantasy Anthology incorporates two of the most beloved FINAL FANTASY titles ever published. First released as FINAL FANTASY III in the U.S., FINAL FANTASY VI brings back all of the qualities that made it the best selling RPG of its time, and adds a few bonuses unique to this re-release. The second title in this compilation, FINAL FANTASY V, is seeing its first ever release in the U.S. Featuring an innovative 'Job' system and a story that will take the player to different worlds, this title will finally show U.S. gamers what they have been missing. If you are new to the FINAL FANTASY universe, pick up Anthology as way of getting to know the series that has garnered the praise of millions. If you are already a fan, pick it up to relive the magic once again.
Amazon.com
Showcasing two installments of SquareSoft's wildly popular role-playing game (RPG) series, Final Fantasy Anthology features the U.S. debut of Final Fantasy V, and reintroduces one of the best RPGs of all time, Final Fantasy VI, originally released as Final Fantasy III on the Super Nintendo gaming system.
Both games are straight Super Nintendo conversions, so their 2-D graphics and 16-bit sounds are admittedly subpar by PlayStation standards. However, SquareSoft has added brand-new, beautifully animated movies for both titles, and has given Final Fantasy VI the star treatment it deserves by adding a bonus mode where gamers can access loads of supplementary material, such as artwork and data files on the game's monsters and items.
While Final Fantasy V is one of weaker entries in the series, Final Fantasy VI alone is totally worth the price of Final Fantasy Anthology. Endearingly melodramatic characters, a genuinely epic story line, and rock-solid gameplay make Final Fantasy VI just as absorbing today as it was when it was Final Fantasy III. --Joe Hon
Pros:
- Brand-new animated movies
- Reissues Final Fantasy VI, one of the best RPGs ever
- Lots of supplementary material for Final Fantasy VI
- Dated graphics and sounds may bother some gamers
- The previously unreleased Final Fantasy V may as well have stayed unreleased
Review
When Square re-released classic SNES Final Fantasy titles for the PlayStation in Japan, the more cynical minded accused the company of milking its core franchise; after all, the titles were repackaged with negligible gameplay enhancements and extras. But when Square announced the US release of Final Fantasy V and VI - combined as Final Fantasy Anthology - well, that's a horse of a different color, isn't it? After all, the series didn't hit it big in the US until Final Fantasy VII, and many gamers never played the Super Nintendo installments. Moreover, one of the titles, Final Fantasy V, is coming to the US for the first time ever. So how does the Anthology stack up? As a historical monument of two genre landmarks, it is fantastic; as two individual RPG titles, each is a masterpiece of gameplay and storytelling; but as a modern collection of classic titles, the package falls unfortunately short.
Before its arrival in the anthology, Final Fantasy V was announced and canceled for a US release no fewer than three times. The fourth announcement was the charm, however, and many gamers' favorite Final Fantasy has finally hit the States. So what was the big fuss about? Certainly not the storyline. Unlike the more "modern" Final Fantasies - VI, VII, and VIII - Final Fantasy V features paper-thin characters, a trite and clichéd plot, and hours of fetch quests uninterrupted by character development or plot twists. The endearingly poor translation doesn't help things, either; it reads like a cross between early-'90s shoddiness and late-'90s "attitude." Think Working Designs without the proofreading - or the humor - and you're close. Making matters worse is that since the game's original nonrelease in 1993, there have been two separate fan translations of the entire game - and both are vastly superior to Square's "official" effort. Yet despite the mediocrity of plot, dialogue, and everything else modern RPGs are so dependent on, there's something that keeps gamers coming back to Final Fantasy V time and time again: rock-solid gameplay.
Final Fantasy V delivers one of the series' most in-depth and detailed game systems: the job system. Each character can be assigned one of 22 possible jobs or classes. Choices range from traditional classes, like knights, wizards, lancers, and thieves, to more esoteric ones, such as chemists, dancers, sorcerers, and trainers. Each class has certain innate skills and abilities (ninjas can use two swords, thieves have high agility, wizards can cast their variety of magic, and so forth). Ability points earned from battle increase the job's level and you'll eventually gain secondary abilities. Each class can then "equip" a single earned ability. This flexibility can lead to powerful combinations: A knight can use the ninja's "equip two swords" ability and then wield a heavy sword in each hand. A monk can use the knight's "wear heavy armor" skill to become a defensive powerhouse. This level of flexibility and ability to customize is what has endeared the job system to many players.
Final Fantasy VI was many gamers' first entry to the world of traditional Japanese RPGs. Even today, its characters and storyline are a high mark for the entire genre. Final Fantasy VI marks the series' turn towards more mature storylines and well-developed characters; the super-deformed graphics mask an exceedingly well-formed story. Over 14 characters join your party - the most of any Final Fantasy game - and they have their own story, motivations, and side quests. Final Fantasy VI is an absolutely massive RPG, and even a skilled player will take 40 to 50 hours to uncover all of its secrets.
Final Fantasy VI lacks the detailed system of Final Fantasy V but more than compensates with its large number of unique characters. Each party member has a special technique to use in battle. Sabin the bruiser has Street Fighter-style button combinations; Cyan has his sword techniques; Terra the half-Esper can morph into a more-powerful form, and so forth. You are encouraged to frequently switch party members and sample everything the characters have to offer.As mid- to late-generation 16-bit titles, these games' presentations have slightly suffered. The gameplay remains rock solid, but the graphics appear dated and old-fashioned. Players used to Final Fantasy VIII's six-head-tall characters may be initially put off by the SNES games' squat sprites; players drawn to Final Fantasy VII and VIII for the eye candy will be more than disappointed. Open-minded gamers who understand what they're getting into should have no trouble slipping into the retro-groove, however. Even today, the games stand as masterworks of 2D design.The music, amazingly, has only improved with time. Hearing series composer Nobuo Uematsu's masterworks is a revelation; that such orchestral majesty was wrought from the Super Nintendo's primitive sound hardware is mind shattering. Unfortunately, the emulation process has slightly garbled some of the instruments and sound effects; careful listeners can discern an overall tinniness not present in the SNES versions.In their haste to bring these classic titles to market, Square has skimped slightly on the presentation. Unlike most classic compilations, there is very little in the way of extras. Final Fantasy V and VI both feature a brief rendered introduction and ending, and Final Fantasy VI features an "omake" mode with a monster encyclopedia, battle history, and art gallery. The games themselves are untouched from their original SNES incarnations; aside from the bit of load time here and there, you might as well be playing the original cartridges. The one included extra is an OSV soundtrack of songs reportedly culled from a survey of Square Soft fans. Unfortunately, the survey results posted at Square's web site show that fans' votes were entirely ignored, and the music disc contains as many stinkers as it does glaring omissions.Mediocre packaging and emulation quirks aside, it's hard not to like Final Fantasy Anthology. Gamers get two of the deepest, greatest RPGs ever created for less than the price of a single new game - it's hard to argue with that sort of value. Whether you've waited five years for Final Fantasy V or just finished your first Final Fantasy, the Final Fantasy Anthology is sure to entertain. --Andrew Vestal
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the graphics, quality, value, and characters of the physical video game software. They mention that it has a great price, and is a fun game with interesting and entertaining characters. They appreciate the story, and condition. That said, some complain about the long load times and lag during the loading screens.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the quality of the game great, fun, and worth the purchase. They also say the gameplay is really good, and the class building is fun. Customers also mention that the game is pretty cheap and a great re-visit for fans of the series.
"...I have tested both discs on my PlayStation and they both work perfectly." Read more
"...I have to say I strongly disagree...I think its a great FF game. If you enjoyed FF 4 and 6, I think you'll definitely like 5...." Read more
"...The gameplay on FF5 is absolutely enchanting! The class building is so much fun if even just to find out all the different amazing weaponry you..." Read more
"...is transparent and childish do not go unfounded, the gameplay itself is entertaining enough to make up for that.Pros:..." Read more
Customers like the condition of the video game software. They mention that it works fine, comes with manuals, and is in pristine condition. Some say that the case, manual, and both discs are in perfect condition. Overall, customers are happy with the quality and condition of this solid package.
"The case, manual, and both discs were in pristine condition. I have tested both discs on my PlayStation and they both work perfectly." Read more
"...The games are what matters, and they are quality, faithful ports of the originals...." Read more
"...is bought in stores, which I don't necessarily like, but the game itself is solid...." Read more
"...Upon looking inside the package envelope itself, I saw the broken pieces of the case sitting in there...." Read more
Customers generally like the story of the game. They mention that it has an excellent storyline, great characters, and atmosphere. Some say that the gameplay is absolutely enchanting, and one of the most difficult Final Fantasy games they have ever played.
"...game does have an excellent cast of characters, and one of the better storylines in the series...." Read more
"...The storyline is AMAZING. Magic has been outlawed, but there are some who would like to bring it back and replace technology with it...." Read more
"...The plot is really good in this FF game, and it is easily in my personal top 5 of video games I've ever played...." Read more
"...Its a game which includes great characters and an even greater story...." Read more
Customers find the characters interesting, entertaining, and excellent. They also appreciate the unique abilities and weapons that make for great variety. Customers also say the game has more characters and a better plot than FF7 or FF8. They say the story is fantastic and the villain is great. Customers say the games involve the player in amusing stories and captivate them with their stories.
"...Each character has unique abilities and weapons, which makes for great variety. A very fun old school RPG...." Read more
"...The character development is OUTSTANDING. Most novels would be hard-pressed to come up with such an interesting group...." Read more
"...(though the class building is gone) with multiple characters with different attributes available...." Read more
"...+The job system is fun to play with+The characters are interesting and entertaining..." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the physical video game software. They say it has classic titles at good prices.
"...Great games and the price is more than generous." Read more
"...This is a deal you cannot miss, especially for such a fantastic price. If you're a Final Fantasy or RPG fan, this is a must have." Read more
"...The price was too good to be true. The wrapping was not even fully on the case...." Read more
"...'m in the process of completing V, but overall this is an excellent package at a low price...." Read more
Customers find the graphics in the video game software great, colorful, and SNES-style. They also say the summon monsters are really cool.
"...The espers, the first real summon monsters, are really cool, and theres somewhere around 30 of them, much more than any other game, which I like...." Read more
"...I just wish to get the point across on how elegant and wonderful this game plays out to be, it can lead to myself feeling a mix of different emotions." Read more
"...Colorful and simple but not as simple as say Mystic Quest the baby RPG of yesterday decade. Great gift as well." Read more
"...Game play and graphicsThe game play is old fashioned, graphics are SNES style.RPG style game..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the sound quality of the video game. Some mention it has ground-shaking sound and an incredible soundtrack, while others say it doesn't have the sound track and has a tiny SNES sound.
"If you want unreal graphics, ground shaking sound, and an incredible soundtrack, move along kids...." Read more
"...It's tinny SNES sound, taken directly from the games...." Read more
"...FF5, which has never before been released in the U.S. The music CD is very cool as well...." Read more
"...Some people say that the music is not all that great. I disagree...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the long load times and lag during the loading screens. They also mention that the disc-acces times are at times unbearable. Customers also mention the game comes slightly late and in poor packaging.
"...That 1 or 2 second additional load time is very noticeable and can be an annoyance especially to those who have played the original SNES version...." Read more
"It came slightly late and in poor packaging. It worked but there was a noticeable scratch on it...." Read more
"...I removed a star for that. Loading times are a little slower. I noticed that these PS1 discs don't have the typical black coating." Read more
"...Only complaint is it runs slower due to it being on playstation and not the original cartridge...." Read more
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As far as collections go, this is a very good one. Final Fantasy 6, originally 3, is a classic game, and considered by some to be the best FF ever. I can't say I think it's the best, but it is definitely an exceptional game that was even more remarkable when it was first released. It does already seem dated in many ways. At the same time, this is the final game in the series where you can experience the classic, 2D FF that many fans of the series have grown up with.
This game does have an excellent cast of characters, and one of the better storylines in the series. The espers, the first real summon monsters, are really cool, and theres somewhere around 30 of them, much more than any other game, which I like. Each character has unique abilities and weapons, which makes for great variety. A very fun old school RPG.
The graphics were amazing at the time, but already seem pretty dated. The sound as well. The music that was written for the game is some of Uematso's best, but the sound capabilities of the SNES are just too dated. If they improved anything, I wish they would have improved sound quality a bit. Also, the CG scenes they added were disappointing to me. They weren't that badly done, but I thought that they would be peppered throughout the game at the appropriate spots, which they weren't. They were only at the beginning and end, which I find disappointing. I guess they wanted the actual experience of playing the game to be identical to how it was on the SNES. I wouldn't have minded some small improvements, personally. Overall, they did a good job.
FF 5 was a real surprise, and it was great to play a brand new old style FF, never before released in the US. Lots of the reviews on Amazon say that it is really a sub-par game. I have to say I strongly disagree...I think its a great FF game. If you enjoyed FF 4 and 6, I think you'll definitely like 5. The graphics and sound are similar to FF 4. The gameplay is what makes the game so good though. You can switch your characters between the variety of job classes like in FF Tactics or FF X-2, and learn a large variety of different skills, then mix and match them. It's a very primitive form of the job class system, sure, but it's still really cool, considering the age of the game. I also really enjoyed the story of the game...it was about as good as FF 4. Theres a part where you're navigating through a graveyard of pirate ships infested with ghosts and zombies that is totally classic. I would definitely recommend giving FF 5 a chance. It is old and outdated, but definitely lives up to the quality of the FF series.
Now, a quick word about the music disc...it's pathetic. An absolute waste of time. If anyone could actually listen to that disc and get into the music on it, I'd say you have serious issues. It's tinny SNES sound, taken directly from the games. I can't imagine it would have been too much work to throw some real orchestrated versions (they are available in Japan) of the songs on here...that would have been great. Furthermore, they chose a bunch of the worst songs to include on the disc and left out many of the best. Terrible.
But, you won't be buying this collection for the music disc. The games are what matters, and they are quality, faithful ports of the originals. Highly recommended for people who want to walk down memory lane with some great old games.
What can I say about FF5 that hasn't been mentioned in the reviews. Yes it is what it is. It's not a great inventive story, it is just a good vs. evil boring straight forward unemotionally attachable RPG. I mean honestly one of the main characters dies and gets replaced and you hardly notice or feel anything. So now that the negative is out of the way... the positives! The gameplay on FF5 is absolutely enchanting! The class building is so much fun if even just to find out all the different amazing weaponry you can develop. Unfortunately they did not offer a lot of side enemies you could battle to truly use these epic battle techniques. Basically I did enjoy the game, but when it was over felt no need to go back and play again.
FF6... it's all been said, the best RPG ever. It all began and ended here. This is the last time a game truly had to attempt greatness before insane graphics took over. Gameplay is outstanding (though the class building is gone) with multiple characters with different attributes available. Story grabs you from the beginning and almost refuses to let go(seriously ditch the g/f and be prepared to miss classes or work). Warning: you will care about the characters, you may cry, and you will be appalled by the villain. This game is never boring, and has endless storyline that gets deeper and deeper. I have played this game more times than I can count and will continue to go back. Love it!
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Reviewed in Mexico on January 31, 2022
Purchased from Amazon at a great price and received in perfect condition, still sealed in plastic.
Although loading times can be a bit tedious, especially for anyone used to modern day console/games, the discs play fine and exactly how I remember.
Final Fantasy VI(originally 3) is my 2nd favorite of the series, behind FF VII. It's great vintage RPG which can be enjoyed over and over again.
Final Fantasy V is new to me, since it was not available in NA originally. This game is a little different as it has a "job/class system". Basically the characters can be a knight, ninja etc.. with each class having their unique set of skills. This gives the game tons of "replayability" as you can replay the game with entirely different team/class loadouts.
The games are great and a must have in any Final Fantasy fan's collection! ★★★★★
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Although I haven't personally played this myself, I'd highly recommend it, as watching my friend on it, I got fairly into the storyline. The characters are good, and the game play is fairly good!