Final Fantasy 2
Reviewed by Brandon Smith
Final Fantasy 2 is the saga of a Dark Knight named Cecil, who is the
captain of the baronian Red Wings. You follow Cecil through his many
adventures after he is removed from his position by the King of Baron
for questioning his orders. The plot has many twists and turns along
the way, not to mention a few surprises. By the time this epic tale is
over, Cecil and his loyal followers will have traveled from the farthest
reaches of the globe all the way to the far distant moon.
Graphics 9 out of 10
The graphics and animations in this game, though not as good as some
of the later SNES games, were revolutionary for their time. The use of
Mode 7 is put to good use as you fly through the sky in your airship, or
when you are bombarded by the many enemies that lurk in forest and
plain. The animation on the spells are amazing, and the special
techniques of the various characters are fun to watch.
Music and Sound 9 out of 10
From the chilling, evil notes that accompany the entrance of the
mysterious Golbez, to the blood-boiling thrill of adrenaline in the
heat of battle, the music and sounds of Final Fantasy II grab on to
you, and never let go. You can look forward to fully orchestrated
interludes, and the fun, bee-bop hop of the Chocobo Rock.
Game Challenge 8 out of 10
The hardest part of this game is putting it down! The essential skill
here is to build your experience levels, otherwise the bosses can be
nearly impossible. If you're a whiz at RPG's, 15-20 hours should be
more than sufficient to get through this baby. But, if you like to
take your time, or you want to find every single item in the game,
Squares got a treat of about 40-60 playing hours waiting for you.
Are you up to the challenge?
Game Play-Fun 9 out of 10
The characters are well rounded, and work well as a team. The
melodramatic quality of this RPG thriller makes it fun to watch the
story unfold. There are all kinds of hidden items and treasures to
seek out, which adds a bit of mystery to this already incredible game.
Frustration
The only complaint this reviewer has with the game is that you never
get a choice as to the members of your party. The characters will
come and go, but at their choosing, not yours. Despite this minor flaw,
the game keeps you on your toes. It was, after all, a step up from the
original Final Fantasy, which left you with the same 4 characters for
the entire game. A little variety is always nice.
Replayability 6 out of 10
Like most RPG's of the time, Final Fantasy II has only one ending. It's
still a blast to play, and there's always the challenge to see if you
can find every single item, but it does tend to lose a bit of steam
after the first time through. But I still cram it into my SNES now
and then for a few hours of Sword-swinging, Spell-casting meyham!
Game Value 8 out of 10
Released in 1992, Final Fantasy 2 is still about the same price it was
at the release time...for a REASON. This game is a must-have for any
RPG fan, especially anyone who knows the quality of games that
Squarsoft makes.
Overall 9 out of 10
From the moment you plug it into your system, this game grabs you and
refuses to let go. The graphics and sounds are outstanding by any measure,
and the story will always keep you guessing. This game goes in my list of
top ten games. A must-have for any player!!!