Final Fantasy is a classic RPG with great music, solid game mechanics, and a lot of places to explore; however, the game's biggest achievement is bringing together all of these features to provide an overall great experience. Most of the classic Final Fantasy tropes are present. There is an airship, gaining experience and leveling up, random encounters, restoration items, and magic. There is not however, a character named Cid. The game was revolutionary for its time-- this may not seem like much today, but seeing your party on one side of the screen and the enemies on the other was a big deal for its time, and something many other RPGs have done since. Final Fantasy is one of the more balanced RPGs on the NES, as gear and level progression tends to keep in line with your enemies for most of the game. I can only recall one place where I had to grind for a bit before I could progress. The story in the game is pretty standard for its time, essentially boiling down to a collection quest where one must collect four orbs, battle evil and save the world, all of which was pretty standard for this game's time. In short, Final Fantasy is a product of its time, and while it can be hard for many to go back to it, those who do will find great music, a surprisingly deep battle system, and a world which is surprisingly large.
The Good:
- A surprisingly deep battle system.
- One of the most balanced RPGs on the NES with gear and level progression that mostly keeps in line with your enemies.
- A large expansive world to explore.
- Great music.
The Bad:
- Game hasn't aged well and can be difficult to go back to.
- There is no character named Cid in the game.