Which version of Final Fantasy I & II do you prefer?

[Ted Zanarukando]

Final Fantasy I and II have been remade several times. They were originally developed for the Famicom/NES. Over 10 years later, they were remade for Wonderswan Color, which serves as the base for later versions. The Wonderswan Color version not only improved the graphics, but it also streamlined the gameplay, eliminating the need to mash the button repeatedly to get a large quantity of an item. The Final Fantasy Origins version is based on the Wonderswan Color and it gave Final Fantasy I and II a soundtrack makeover, from chip music to synthesized orchestral music. The GBA version once again streamlined the gameplay of Final Fantasy I and II, making it more in line with the modern Final Fantasy games. In time for the 20th anniversary of the inception of Final Fantasy franchise, there is the PlayStation Portable (PSP) version. This is the definitive version of the game. It features high-resolution 2D graphics. The soundtrack and FMVs are borrowed from the Final Fantasy Origins version.

The original version of Final Fantasy II, the Wonderswan Color versions of Final Fantasy I and II, and the cellular phone version of Final Fantasy I were Japan-only. The other versions of Final Fantasy I and II were released in

For the save slots, the original version of Final Fantasy I only has one save slot, hence it would be a bad version to share with. The GBA version has three save slots. The Wonderswan Color version has eight save slots. The Sony versions have 15 save slots per memory card.

In the original, Wonderswan Color, and Final Fantasy Origins versions of Final Fantasy I, the party begins with 400 gil. In the GBA and PSP versions, the party begins with 500 gil. The default party in the original version of Final Fantasy I is Fighter, Thief, Monk, and Red Mage. The default party in the remakes is Fighter, Thief, White Mage, and Black Mage. I usually use the original version's default party in all versions of Final Fantasy I.

Clearly, I am most pleased with playing the PlayStation Portable version of Final Fantasy I and II. It has everything I wanted in the game. It has the soundtrack of the Final Fantasy Origins version and the gameplay and content of the Dawn of Souls version and something more. It is also the only version that I actually own. I played all versions except the cellular phone versions and the MSX version of Final Fantasy I. I played the PSP version in authentic form, but I played the previous versions through emulation. I am currently playing the PSP version now. I am displeased with playing the original version of Final Fantasy I and II, but sadly, some established Final Fantasy fans prefer it out of nostalgia. I am not only displeased with the horribly archaic graphics and chip music, but I am also displeased with the gameplay, bugs, glitches, and the poor English translations. The original version is the only version that I already played through. I can slightly tolerate playing the Wonderswan Color versions, but I hate chip music.

[Silver]

Ah, I loved the original Nes versions myself. Sure it was great playing latter versions with updated graphics and sound and the like, but when it came to it, I still preferred the originals. Hell I don't understand a word of Japanese and I still loved FF2 on it. Never did finish it due to not really knowing what was going on until I got origins though...

Give me my horribly archaic graphics and chip music, and awesome gameplay any day...
No real bugs and glitches stood out to me though...
As for translations, even the professionals stuff up occasionally...
*hums to chip music nostalgically*

[Maridia]

I played part of FFI for the NES and it's a good game, but I wasn't too hot on it compared to the others. So I played Dawn of Souls, which I realised isn't my thing, since it takes up the whole screen and I get tired of a giant screen of 2D graphics with midi music. Now I think the PSP would be best since it's on the newest system with new things added. But I overall beat Dawn of Souls. I just like how it's portable, and you can keep it simple since you can half watch tv as you play it and it's more fun that way since the game isn't the most gripping of the series. That goes for both 1 and 2, 2 especially.

[postalblowfish7]

Having played the US FFI and a hacked cart with a translated FFII both on the NES, i'd say i much preffer those versions. No lame run mode, no guitared-up remakes of the soundtracks, no cake-walk nerfing of the harder level/skill grinding elements, firrion doesn't have that stupid bandana on his head, etc. etc. In fact, FFIIj on the NES is my favorite final fantasy experience to date - not only for it's retarded difficulty, but also how incredible it is that they were able to tell such a sweepingly epic story so well on such a limiting format.

And, well, I adore chip music - all synthesizer music in general. Call me crazy but I prefer to hear Uematsu compositions on the platforms that they were originally intended for.

EDIT: i've played through the NES versions, Dawn of Souls, and checked out the PSX remakes. I'm extremely tempted to buy a PSP just for the FFI and FFII remakes...

[Phantom]

FFI NES was my very first FF game, I prefered and liked the NES version because of the harder gameplay compared to the remastered versions. I never played FFII for NES so I can't really comment on that. Sadly I lost my NES and my FFI for NES game in a flood a very long time ago, a few years ago I picked up FFI & II Dawn of Souls and I fell in love them all over again. I don't own a PSP and probarly never will since I always seem to be broke. But I love the GBA version alot, especially since you get some extra action in FFII after you beat the game, but I must say I prefer the GBA verion, its makes me miss my old NES one.

[Cain Highwind]

I'm going to have to vote Original NES version as well. I just have so many fond memories playing it. Loved the little map/weapons chart it came with.

The PSX version is my next choice. I really do like the Enhancements, ESPECIALLY the music. The new Chaos Temple/Temple of Fiends music gives me goosebumps whenever I listen to it. But the gameplay seemed to take quite a hit, it simply felt too easy, but not as bad as later incarnations where they decided to throw out the Charge system entirely making it a total cakewalk.

[Ted Zanarukando]

I am disappointed that the majority on this poll nostalgically prefer the original version, which I do not like. The original version is overrated, mainly for nostalgia's sake. I hate chip music. I do not like hard, archaic gameplay. The original version's gameplay is also time-consuming and not too fun. I no longer own an NES. I just bought the PSP versions of Final Fantasy I and II, and I have been playing them in legal form. The gameplay of the original version of Final Fantasy I and II is not that great, and it is not in line with the rest of Final Fantasy series. The original version's gameplay is mediocre, and it is slow. Final Fantasy IV was my first Final Fantasy, and the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II did not fit in with my Final Fantasy experiences. I also like the atmosphere of the PSP versions. It is the only version with an atmospheric effect on the town and dungeon maps. I prefer the Sony versions over the Nintendo versions anyway. A new reason is that I have lost respect for Nintendo, because of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I do not like Nintendo platforms as much as Sony platforms. However, I do not like Final Fantasy I or II as much as the other Final Fantasy games. Like female beauty, gameplay quality is in the eye of the beholder.

The Final Fantasy I and II soundtracks were composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Uematsu later remixed the Final Fantasy I soundtrack for Final Fantasy Origins. The Final Fantasy II soundtrack was remixed by Tsuyoshi Sekito.

[postalblowfish7]

woah ted, you're in dangerous waters...

it's not just about nostalgia for us lovers of vintage gaming. chip music, difficult gameplay, and blocky graphics are the very things that I find so apealing about the older versions of the first final fantasy games. remakes are for the most part just a quick cash in for SE - and while the spoiled fanboy in me still eats up any fan-service packed remake that comes my way, only the originals have that "authentic" feel. to me, only the famicom versions are true final fantasy games - true canon.

[Ted Zanarukando]

Originally Posted by postalblowfish7

woah ted, you're in dangerous waters...

it's not just about nostalgia for us lovers of vintage gaming. chip music, difficult gameplay, and blocky graphics are the very things that I find so apealing about the older versions of the first final fantasy games. remakes are for the most part just a quick cash in for SE - and while the spoiled fanboy in me still eats up any fan-service packed remake that comes my way, only the originals have that "authentic" feel. to me, only the famicom versions are true final fantasy games - true canon.

You just have a very unique opinion, and that is just your opinion and is not set in stone. You sound like a purist. The proverb is "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Therefore, you consider my trash your treasure, and all of that is also nostalgia. Again, gameplay quality is in the eye of the beholder. I do not like the 'very things you find so appealing about the older versions of the first Final Fantasy games.' I hate chip music, unreasonably difficult gameplay, bugs and glitches, and magnified blocky graphics. All of that is also nostalgic content, and not many consider it appealing. Your treasure is the majority's trash. I do not consider remakes to be just a quick cash in for Square Enix. They make the first two Final Fantasy games in line with the later ones. Some of the spells in Final Fantasy I did not work at all in the original version, thus worked only in the remakes. The original NES versions of Final Fantasy I and II are out of line with the later Final Fantasy games. To me, difficult gameplay is tedious and unreasonable. The difficult gameplay in the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II are due to the technical limitations of the NES, though the original NES version of Final Fantasy III that was remade for DS showed all what the NES could really do with gameplay within Final Fantasy. To me, only the latest versions are true Final Fantasy games and true canon. The original versions have no authentic feel to me. The English translation of the NES version of Final Fantasy I is not a true Final Fantasy game, because it is inconsistent with the Japanese versions and suffered from Nintendo of America's censorship regime. The English translation of the NES version of Final Fantasy II is also a poor translation and it is unlicensed. To me, the NES's technical limitations prevented Final Fantasy I and II from reaching true canon. Your opinion seems to be the opposite of my opinion within Final Fantasy circles. Another reason is that I am fan of Sony, and I have lost respect for Nintendo. Final Fantasy II is my least favorite Final Fantasy game ever.

[Brachioraidos]

Even though i only played nes and gba, i would like to play it on the psp because it has more stuff and better graphics + new bosses

[Ted Zanarukando]

I already beat the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II. I am currently playing the PSP versions. The PSP version has new content that is not found in the previous versions. The GBA versions also has content that is not found in the versions before it. Postalblowfish7's treasure is my trash. The original version of Final Fantasy I and II is only for NES fans and the ancient fans of these games. It is the worst version of the game, and it is appealing only to people like postalblowfish7 and those who were introduced to the game when it first came out. It is not for anyone who is new to these games.

[Cain Highwind]

Originally Posted by Ted Zanarukando

I am disappointed that the majority on this poll nostalgically prefer the original version, which I do not like

Le GASP! People have different opinions! You really should get used to disappointment.

The original version is overrated, mainly for nostalgia's sake. I hate chip music. I do not like hard, archaic gameplay. The original version's gameplay is also time-consuming and not too fun.

You OPINION, NOT fact

I no longer own an NES.

Irrelevant.

The gameplay of the original version of Final Fantasy I and II is not that great, and it is not in line with the rest of Final Fantasy series. The original version's gameplay is mediocre, and it is slow.

Again, your opinion, NOT fact. I could understand what you mean with certain Gameplay and translation aspects that were fixed and improved like the annoying "Buy Potions 1 at a time" bit. Yes, that WAS tedious and annoying. Plus updating names and terms to fit with the other games, is fine. But just because there were a few rough edges made mostly because of limited technology, DOES NOT make it any less of a Final Fantasy than later installments. That's like saying Star Wars on VHS is less true to the series than Star Wars on DVD. They fix a few things here and there, but owning the VHS copy is just as much a Sci Fi monument as owning the DVD. With Final Fantasy, it was simply the first steps of what would be a great series with a theme of evolution.

I prefer the Sony versions over the Nintendo versions anyway. A new reason is that I have lost respect for Nintendo, because of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I do not like Nintendo platforms as much as Sony platforms.

Well there's your crazy ass logic again It's as dumb as racism, but with Consoles.

Oh and I seriously think of this when I see you type this:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/09/05

If you think that's funny, that's SERIOUSLY how you come across and act. No joke.

[Ted Zanarukando]

Also, postalblowfish7 prefers the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II on unorthodox grounds compared to other fans of those two games. That is just his opinion, not fact. His review logic is incredibly flawed. Facts are set in stone, opinions are not. You think partiality against Nintendo is like racism? Why that?

VHS is most finished going the way of the dodo. As of now, DVD is the dominant format, and Blu-Ray is getting to takeover. Preferring the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II for the same reasons as postalblowfish7 is like preferring calling the continuity errors and visual and audio defects of the original version of the Star Wars original trilogy as the very thing one finds appealing to that version. Stating that the original versions of Final Fantasy I and II is true canon is like stating that the original version of the Star Wars original trilogy as canon. LucasArts states the DVD version of the Star Wars original trilogy is canon, because it was meant to be consistent with the prequel trilogy. Likewise, the PSP versions of Final Fantasy I and II are consistent with the modern Final Fantasy games.