Final Fantasy has always been a franchise with a large fan base. But even then it’s crazy to hear that the series is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It is such a successful series that Square Enix is still making new games set in this universe, consisting out of mobile, handheld and AAA titles. Not all of those games have been received well, some of them are even considered as some sort of betrayal towards the fans. Square Enix hopes to fixes that with its newest title: World of Final Fantasy.
#World
I can’t call myself a fan of Final Fantasy, at least I don’t think so. While I respect its status in the video game industry, I just haven’t played that many titles of the franchise. The only one that I have completed is Final Fantasy VI on the SNES. Aside of that, I’ve tried to play FFVII and FFXIII but both of them couldn’t keep my attention. So I don’t know that much about the entire franchise, which made me worry about playing World of Final Fantasy since this title is clearly made for the fans. But I’m happy to tell you that this game can be enjoyed by everyone, even by those who don’t know one single thing about Final Fantasy.
Fanservice made with care
World of Final Fantasy basically takes you to an alternate universe which combines well-known locations from already existing Final Fantasy games. You start the game in a new world, called Nine Wood Hills which acts as the main hub throughout the game. Here, you can buy items in the shop to use while traveling, take on side quests or fight in the Coliseum. Once you leave this world, you enter Grymoire where you’ll spend most of your time fighting enemies and leveling your characters. While exploring Grymoire you’ll come across some areas that may seem familiar to those who’ve played multiple Final Fantasy titles. Think of areas like Cornelia (Final Fantasy), Figaro Castle (Final Fantasy VI) and Besaid (Final Fantasy X). But locations aren’t the only things that have been brought over from already existing games in the FF franchise. Lots of characters and creatures can be found in Grymoire, such as Cloud (Final Fantasy VII) and Lighting (Final Fantasy XIII). World of Final Fantasy is filled with references and cameos that still feel like they belong in this world, instead of forced in. Fans of the franchise will keep smiling at every new bit of fanservice, while newcomers will never feel alienated for lacking the knowledge of the already existing lore. This is how fanservice should be handled.
Lightly written plot
The story begins with you taking control of Lann and Reynn, twin siblings who have lost their memories and were banished to Nine Wood Hills. A mysterious woman named Enna Kros introduces the twins to a fox-like Mirage called Tama. Mirages are basically creatures that can be caught and fought with, like Pokemon. After the introduction, the twins then set out on a journey in Grymoire, in search of the ones who banished them and made them lose their memories. They come across multiple characters from previous Final Fantasy games who become allies (or foes) and aid them during battles. Eventually, the twins have to save Grymoire from a ruthless opponent, the Bahamut Army.
The story of World of Fantasy is lightly written and easy to follow. But the world building itself is impressive. Like mentioned before, this game features a lot of elements from previous Final Fantasy games, although a little different. The design of everything is colourful and cute. Even fearsome creatures like the Behemoth look like they’re taken straight from a Disney movie. Lann and Reynn themselves look like they could belong in a Kingdom Hearts game. If they’re in their normal form, that is. Most of the characters in World of Final Fantasy are designed in a chibi style, which raises the cuteness factor. The twin siblings can switch between their regular size and their chibi size when they are in Grymoire. At first, this may seem like nothing interesting, but this mechanic is important while fighting enemies.
Classic battle system with a few tweaks
Combat in World of Final Fantasy uses the classic system that is used in most Final Fantasy games. The turn-based system allows you put in commands that are then executed by your party. However, Square Enix has implemented an addition to the classic battle system. Mirages that you’ve caught during your journey can be put in your party and fight with you against your enemies. These Mirages can also level up, making them stronger and sometimes even evolve them in stronger Mirages. You can also ‘stack’ them onto each other to combine their strength and health. Be careful though, because stacking them also combines their weaknesses, so this mechanic is not always the best way to deal with your enemies. This is why Lann and Reynn can change their size, so that they also can stack onto a Mirage, or let a Mirage stack on them. The battle system is solid, especially with the addition of the Mirages and stacking mechanic. It hooks you in and keeps you engaged in the fights, although they can become quite easy near the end of the game.
Multiplayer
What surprised me about this title is that the PS4 version features some form of multiplayer, one that is actually pretty fun to play. In Nine Wood Hills, you can enter the Coliseum. This arena sets you up against other players and lets you battle against them. You can also trade Mirages with them, in case you have duplicates or need stronger ones the get past a difficult enemy in the main story. The multiplayer is obviously not the main focus of the game, but it does give you another way the acquire items or Mirages.
Conclusion
World of Final Fantasy is a great game, for both fans and newcomers. It takes the world design that Final Fantasy is acclaimed for and combines it with a great art style and a solid battle system, resulting in a wonderful experience. A must-have for fans, especially if you’re looking for something to kill time with while waiting for the upcoming Final Fantasy XV.
