|
This game isn't good, so why do I keep playing it?
This is the question I ask myself over and over again, yet with each new release of it, I keep playing it. Even in this case when it isn't bundled with the first Final Fantasy. That's right, someone at Square Enix made the conscience decision to release it on the PSP as a stand alone title. I really have no idea why they would do this, and definitely no idea why I would buy it, but I did, and I guess thats what Squeenix was betting on.
So what's changed? What makes this version different than the last three that have been released? It looks slightly more pretty; it got a slight graphical upgrade for the PSP. Other than that, it's pretty much the same version as the one found on Dawn of Souls for the Gameboy Advance. The one found on Final Fantasy Origins for the Playstation is actually the closest thing to the original NES game, which really is not something to be proud of.
Final Fantasy II was actually ahead of it's time. It offered character customization that was pretty much unheard of in an NES RPG. The game does away with experience and levels, and is pretty much completely skill based. Your actions in battle determine how your character develops. You raise strength by physically attacking, and intelligence by casting magic, and so forth. In the NES version your stats could lower as well, so if you used magic too much your strength might go down. Thankfully the GBA and PSP versions removed that.
Overall I do not like the system though. If there is one thing in an RPG that I hate changes being made to, its the experience and leveling systems. I like having levels that tell me how far along my character is. It's not so bad if you have a character that is a warrior type, you swing a weapon, get strength and get better at whatever weapon you are using. Magic users are the same way, cast spells and your intelligence rises. However it is a major pain in the ass, cause every spell has its own level. It would have been better if there was just a general Black/White magic stat, and you got better by casting spells from those groups. So I find myself using magic only for healing.
Also, the system is somewhat broken, as you can just go into a battle with low level monsters, beat the crap out of your own party, and raise your stats. As long as they are alive at the end of battle, they will receive stat increases. It becomes even more ridiculous when you get the Swap spell. It lets you trade HP and MP with monsters. So just cast it on low level monsters, and by doing so you'll quickly raise your HP, MP and Stamina.
The story is pretty basic, but it was the first Final Fantasy to have actual characters and not just nameless heroes. While there isn't a whole lot in the line of character development, they do at least have personalities. Final Fantasy II is a story about war, and the rebellion against an evil empire. It's a story that's been done many times, but you have to remember this game originally came out in 1988, so its gonna seem a little dated. It is also the Final Fantasy with the highest hero mortality rate. So much so, that there is a bonus story at the end of the game that wasn't in the original version where you play as the heroes who died fighting their way through what is basically hell.
So with all this working against it, why do I keep playing it? I figure it could be a form of Stockholm Syndrome. Or maybe deep down I do like it, and just can't bring myself to admit it. Either way it's not really a game I would recommend to everyone. Heck, I have a hard time even recommending it to die hard fans of the series. There are much better games in the Final Fantasy series, go play them.
|
System: |
Sony PSP
|
|
| Genre: |
RPG |
| Experience: |
Finished the Game
|
|
