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Publisher: SquarSoft
Category: Role-Playing
Platform: PS1
ESRB Rating: Teen Release Date: September 1999
Overall Rating:
3 Stars out of 4
Review by Tom Allen
4 Stars out of 4
I love Square. And Square loves gamers. A collection of Final Fantasy 5 and 6, Final
Fantasy Anthology is more fun than Final Fantasy 7 and 8 combined. While Anthology
does not have the benefit of modern technology, the old-school style is strangely
soothing. The simple graphics of the overworld are far more appealing than the 3-D
overworld of Final Fantasy 7 and 8. Exploring a two-dimensional landscape gives you
the feeling of using a map. Also, the directly overhead view is more appropriate for
navigation.
That aside, the fighting is also more fun in these classics. The lack of fancy camera
angles and 10-minute spell animations is important for two reasons. One, battles are
shorter. Two, the tension is greater because of the higher overall speed. I propose that
the GF spell animations seen in the 8th game should only be seen once, and then
shorter versions should be shown thereafter. Of course, there could always be an
option to always show the animation in full.
I am amazed at how well the stories hold up, considering that we can't see detailed
facial expressions or full motion video. The animators are able to convey feelings
through exaggerated, expressive movements whose cartoony quality works here but
fails in Final Fantasy 7.
If Final Fantasy 8 is like a great film experience, Final Fantasy Anthology is like the best
in Broadway. The music is more effective in this title, and Square wisely compiled a
music CD which is included with the game. Of course, it would have been nice if they
included ALL music. The tracks selected from Final Fantasy 6 are poor choices for the
most part. I was shocked at this. Who made these gross decisions?
(Note: Square asked gamers to send in their choices before the game's release, but
surely these were not all top choices. Our music picks would have been Terra, Cyan,
Gau, Celes, and Forever Rachel. Terra is the only one included. What was Square
smoking when it omitted Forever Rachel?)
New CG scenes have been added to this collection. Final Fantasy 5 now has an
opening and ending sequence; Final Fantasy 6 has an opening, an ending, and an
opera montage with a re-mixed version of the Oh, Maria theme. This stunning rendition
of the classic tune is enough to bring a nostalgic tear to one's eye.
Considering a modest $40 price tag, I implore all gamers to purchase Final Fantasy
Anthology, or else Square will hesitate to ever do something like this again. We can
only pray for updated versions of Final Fantasy 4 and Chrono Trigger.
Review by CJ2K
2½ Stars out of 4
This re-print of two FF games was, in my opinion, not that great. Usually,
when you make a remade game, you usually add something to it. Squaresoft,
on the other hand, did not add anything new or exciting to these, only
the FMVs at the beginning. I'll admit that I am glad Square brought 5
to PSX format.But in my opinion the FF3 for Super was better than the
remade (poorly if I may) FF6 for the PSX. My advice to Square, if you remake
another game, update it to the formats standards, don't leave it as it
is. give it FF8 graphics and FMVs. Don't just add a FMV or two and let it be.
To purchase Final Fantasy Anthology from Amazon.com use the button below, or use the
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