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Square looked down on us and smiled when it decided to release the Final Fantasy Anthology in American. Before I say anything more about it, let me clear up the mystery behind the numbering of the Final Fantasy series.

On the left will be listed the Japanese game. To the right of it will be the American version, if there was one.

Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II - Not released in America
Final Fantasy III - Not released in America
Final Fantasy IV Easy Type - Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy IV - Not released in America
Final Fantasy V - Not released in America
Final Fantasy VI - Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy VII - Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII - Final Fantasy VIII

The Final Fantasy Anthology includes two games numbered according to the Japanese release lineup: Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy VI. I was really excited about the inclusion of Final Fantasy V because I never played the translated ROM file that was floating around the net. I also looked forward to the chance to replay VI and see how well it translated to the PSX. One added bonus of the Playstation 2 being compatible with the PSX is that these games will last a good number of years into the future, whereas I sold my SNES long ago.

The Anthology offers something different to those who were introduced to the Final Fantasy series with number VII. It gives them a chance to play two of the classic games that lead up to the creation of the Playstation installments of the series.

What is most impressive about these games is that they are not shovelware. They had been written for the Super Famicon/Nintendo, and had to be modified to work on the Playstation. I can't imagine this was much fun, as console games often take advantage of special hardware features that aren't available on any other platform. This shows a real commitment to the games on Square's part, as is evident by the new introductory movies and special features on the Final Fantasy VI disc. Oh yes, and before I forget, there is also a soundtrack CD featuring some of the classic tunes that enthralled us as we journeyed through the world of Final Fantasy.

I really wasn't sure how to write this review. In order to have the review show up, I have to assign numbers to different sections. I came to the conclusion that I would number everything according to my experience with Final Fantasy VI back when I played it on my Super Nintendo. Therefore, when you see that I give the graphics a 9, don't expect the same thing that you'd hope to see from a PSX game with a 9 in graphics.

Gameplay:

Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI look like they were made by different companies. The level of sophistication in the graphics, sound, and story telling are so different between them even though they were made for the same system. Final Fantasy V was what we had come to expect from an excellent RPG, but Final Fantasy VI blew the minds of everyone who played it.

The gameplay is similar in both games, but there are some major differences. First, the similarities. Both use a top-down view of the world in which you control your group of characters. You can walk around talking to people and investigating scenery.

Events typically happen around you outside of user control, and then you must work to fix the mess they made. In general, everything is more shallow in FFV. Problems get cleaned up more quickly and easily, and everything seems to have the feeling of being glossed over compared to FFVI. Despite this, it is still a lot of fun.

Another important aspect of the game is the battle system. The graphics in VI are better, but overall battles are pretty much the same in both. In fact, the system is very much like the battle system in Final Fantasy VII and VIII. You have the option to fight and use items, plus other options based on that character's skills.

Final Fantasy V uses a job system for these other skills. Your characters have a number of different jobs they can choose from such as knight, thief, black sorcerer, white sorcerer, monk, etc. By fighting, your characters can advance in whatever profession they are currently employed in, then once they acquire a skill they can change professions if you wish. For example, you can choose knight as your profession and black magic as your ability, so you have a knight who can cast spells.

In Final Fantasy VI, orbs from espers are used to learn new spells and summonings, a bit like in Final Fantasy VII.

Longevity:

Final Fantasy games are known for their epic story lines, and these two are no exception. Not only will they take a while to get through the first time, but you will probably want to play them again to relive the story from the beginning once you know the end. Two games means twice the fun!

Controls:

The controls aren't revolutionary, but these are roleplaying games. The most important thing in an RPG is that everything be easy to access and all functions be easy to perform. The menu system in FFV and FFVI is exactly that. Quick, easy, and efficient.

Graphics:

The graphics in FFV were nice, but the graphics in FFVI were nothing short of extraordinary. The special mode in FFVI allows you to view all of the monsters and their statistics, so you can sit and stare at the pretty pictures without worrying about dying.

The battle sequences in both games feature large enemies full of detail. FFVI has more detail than FFV, but that is to be expected. You shouldn't expect anything near the amazing special effects we see in FFVIII when summoning or casting spells, but what's there is sufficient. One thing that did disappoint me when I looked back at FFVI was that the enemies are completely static. I remember back in the day when Phantasy Star 2 had animations all over the place for their monsters.

People are probably tired of hearing this from me, but I really believe that people do their best work under constraints. The Super Nintendo was a major constraint to telling a compelling story and relaying emotion. FFVI succeeds brilliantly with its little characters. In fact, if you ask me it succeeds a whole lot better than FFVIII with its big budget and amazing technology!

Sound:

The music in FFV consists of a lot of the classic Final Fantasy tunes we've grown up with and love. Unfortunately, the instruments used sound a little bit like an 8 bit Nintendo game. FFVI is another matter, entirely. The music is beautifully composed, and the instruments used are of the highest quality found on the Super Nintendo. The battle sound effects aren't terribly spectacular, but the music carries an enormous amount of emotion.

Overall:

If you have never played FFVI, this is a must have. If you want to check out the new special features and play FFV, this is also for you. Most importantly, if you can put aside the modern expectations of graphics and full motion video, then you should pick this package up because it contains two excellent games. It's too bad so much reprogramming has to be done, because it would have been great to see a Square Anthology containing all of the Super Nintendo Final Fantasy games, Chrono Trigger, and Secret Of Mana. Unfortunately, it would have been necessary to put a lot of work into that, and it wouldn't have paid off. Maybe some bored programmer will write a SNES emulator for the Playstation 2, but until then relive your old memories or make some entirely new ones with this excellent pair of games.