Boss Battle - Adamantoise

Technically the first boss that you'll face in FF2 is the Sergeant that confronts you in the Semite Falls Mines, but much like your encounter with Garland at the beginning of FF1 the Sergeant is really just an idiot proof test. If you can find the attack button you can defeat him, especially with Mindu in your party offering you the full range of white magic. Adamantoise, the snapper turtle with a Wolverine-esque shell awaits you at the end of your quest for the Goddess Bell, however, and the unwary adventurer could easily lose a finger or two to his snapping maw.

You may have noticed that when Mindu first joined your party he brought with him a valueable ether. The savy player will have taken said either away from Mindu before he has a chance to leave your group, and if you've arrived at the battle agains the Adamantoise without any remaining MP that ether may be your life saver, as the hungry turtle takes virtually 0 physical damage. He also hits like a two ton truck, and needs to go down fast if you want all of your warriors to survive the fight. Fortunately he's extremely vulnerable to ice, so open up with a few spells and he should go belly up, and everyone knows turtes can't roll over.

FF2 - A Beginning

I've spent about 8 hours with FF2 so far and I can scarecely believe the incredible difference between this game and its predecessor. Gone is the rigid class system that dominated FF1 (though it will continue to crop up in later games throughout the series,) and in its place is are crisp, distinct characters with unique personalities and a detailed history.

The opening sqeuence that follows starting a "new game" clearly explains the primary story concept, that the empire of Palamecia has conquered and razed the kindgom of Fynn, and establishes the characters personal relationships as childhood friends who grew up living on the outskirts of the city. After their parents are killed in the fires that destoryed the city the kids are quick to enlist in the Wildroses, a rebel faction made up of remnants from Fynn and sympathizers from the nearby kingdom of Kas'ion.

This clear conception of what's at stake in the game is something that was sorely missing from the first installment, and the character's interpersonal relationships (they actually talk to each other this time) adds a welcome depth. Toss in the introduction of Chocobos, the first appearance of the air pilot Cid, and the origns of a combat system that requires players to actually use their skills in order to become stronger and we've got the foundations for a great game.

FF2 much more closely resembles my expectations based on my experience with the series, and I'm more than a little excited to see what else it the game has to offer.

FF2 Game History

When Squaresoft first released Final Fantasy 1 in 1987 they had no plans for a sequal, but the game's huge success virtually demanded otherwise, and Final Fantasy 2 was released in Japan less than a year after its predecessor. Sadly North American fans were not to get their hands on the title until many years later. Though Square began a localization in 1990 the project was scrapped in favor of the release of the SNES, for which they had recently completed a local version of Final Fantasy 4. Said game was renamed to cover the gap and the story of Cecil the dark knight became North America's version of Final Fantasy 2. Firion and his friends from the original Final Fantasy 2 didn't reach US shores until 2003, as part of the Playstation compilation know as Final Fantasy Origins, which is the version I'm currently playing.

Final Fantasy 1 - An Ending

According to the game clock it took me just over 32 hours to beat Final Fantasy 1. After you factor in the many, many times that I reset the game, it was probably closer to 36 hours. By today’s standards 36 hours is an eye blink for a well made RPG, but I imagine that it was a record breaking achievement in 1987, and one that I’m proud to have experienced.

Having played most of the other games in the series, I have to admit that I expected a richer storyline and was initially confused by the lack of the usual story arch that forms a background for your actions in later games. In the course of playing the game I often felt adrift, aware of the larger scope of my actions only through the meager connection created by the opening cut scene. That said the game is challenging, more than, in some cases, and short enough that the lack of story is acceptable in the pursuit of game completion. It also provides the very first look at the story of the elemental crystals, a subject that will grow and evolve throughout the entire series.

Two of my three roommates have begun their own journey through Final Fantasy 1, bringing with them little or no previous experience with the series. Whether or not they will complete the game I can’t say for sure, but I consider their interest to be both flattering and a moderate success in achieving some of my own goals with this project.

I leave FF1 behind with a renewed sense of respect for my subject matter and of the value of the project before me. I am a Master's student studying English Literature and Creative Writing, and I feel that I must approach this endeavor with the same sincerity and depth of intention present in my approach to my studies. The Final Fantasy series does have immense value as a story telling medium and people should be encouraged to experience it. I’m happy to spend the rest of the year proving those points.

Mythology - Tiamat

Tiamat is part of the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation myth. Amidst the primordial chaos of the universe existed the God Apsu, depicted as an endless body of fresh water, and his wife Tiamat, a body of salt water. From the mixture of these two waters came a line of gods representing the core elements of earth and sky.

The young gods were wild and disruptive and Apsu plotted to kill them. Ea, son of the sky God Anu, overheard Apsu’s plot and slew him instead. Enraged, Tiamat leads a war against the younger Gods only to be slain herself by Ea’s son, Marduk. Marduk fashions the world and all of its peoples from Tiamat’s blood and bones.

Tiamat in FF1

While Bahamut has always appeared as an ally to the warriors, Tiamat, sometimes in direct opposition, has always appeared as an enemy. In FF1 she makes her appearance as the fourth and final elemental fiend, the wind demon who’s captured the Flying Fortress from the Sky People. She is easily the strongest of the elemental fiends and her ferocity will only grow throughout the series.

Mythology - Bahamut

Bahamut is certainly one of, if not the most frequently reoccurring “characters” in the Final Fantasy series. I put characters in quotation marks because his appearance takes different forms throughout the series and the word does not always apply, but in the large majority of the games he is depicted as the king of dragons or as a heavenly body that takes the form of a dragon.

It might surprise you, then, to learn that the original Bahamut was depicted as an immense fish with a head that resembled that of an elephant. The mythological origins of Bahamut are about as old as mythology gets, which makes it difficult to translate and to sort through the many references that could or do mention him, but it's generally accepted that he first appeared in ancient Arabic stories about the nature of the universe. The stories suggest that Bahamut was a massive fish swimming through an endless sea. Atop Bahamut’s back was a massive bull, and atop the bull’s head was a mountain on which rested the Earth and a varying number of heavens and hells.

Today’s impression of Bahamut as a dragon has been attributed to Wizards of the Coast, who gave the name to one of the dragon deities from their popular Dungeons and Dragons game series.

Bahamut in FF1

I was thoroughly pleased to see that Bahamut, who I’ve adored in so many other games, is in fact present in the very first Final Fantasy that Square ever produced. True, you can’t harness his power the way that you will in later games, but his role is far from negligible.

Bahamut is the king of the dragons that inhabit the island caves to the north and in him resides the power to recognize your true potential as a warrior. Bring him a token of your courage from the Citadel of Trials and he’ll reward you by upgrading your character classes.

Mythology - Excalibur

The history and mythology surrounding the legendary Excalibur has been explored and re-explored hundreds of times by both laymen and scholars, and I claim neither the expertise nor the desire to open that door yet again in search of even a semi-definitive explanation. Suffice to say that Excalibur was the sword of Arthur, potentially historical, definitely legendary King of Britain. Scholars believe the sword originated in Welsh legend and that the current spelling evolved after British historian Geoffery of Monmouth included the sword in his book, The History of the Kings of Britain.

The Excalibur in FF1

The Excalibur is the second strongest sword available in FF1. To obtain it you’ll need to have acquired the adamantite ore, located on the second floor of the Flying Fortress. Take the ore to the home of the dwarves and Smyth the dwarven smith will use it to forge the sword. The Excalibur is usable only by the Knight class.

Mythology - Masamune

If memory serves, the Masamune is one of the few reoccurring elements in the Final Fantasy series that does not take different forms in different games. The Masamune is always a sword, though in FF8 it's wielded by Gilgamesh, rather than by a party member. It's also one of the only items with a clear, verifiable history--Masamune truly did exist, though not quite in the way the games portray him.

Goro Nyudo Masamune was a Japanese sword smith who lived and worked c. 1264 – 1343 CE. He is largely considered Japan’s greatest sword artisan and his surviving works are among some of the country’s most prized national treasures.

In a number of stories and legends, Masamune’s work has been connected with that of another Japanese blacksmith, Muramasa, whose name has also appeared on swords in the Final Fantasy series. In reality Muramasa, who dated his swords, was working around 1500 CE, and as such could not have known Masamune, but the legends about the two still exist.

One of the more popular legends involves a contest between the two sword smiths. Each man forged a sword and then dipped its blade into a stream. Leaves floating downstream swerved unerringly into the path of Muramasa’s blade and were cut in half. In contrast, leaves that were on track to be cut by Masamune’s blade swerved aside and were spared. A passing monk approached the two and described that in Muramasa’s blade he sensed a deep blood thirst, as the sword would not spare even a leaf. Masamune’s blade, said the monk, possessed the calm consideration of a true warrior and would not harm an innocent. This legend helps to set up the idea that Masamune’s swords were superior to Muramasa’s, an idea that is preserved in the Final Fantasy series.

The Masamune in FF1

The Masamune is the strongest weapon available in FF1 and the only item that can be used by any class. It is located on the Air floor of the Temple of Chaos, on which the warriors must face their second battle with Tiamat. It's described in game as the “mightiest sword of all” and its graphic resembles are large katana.