Final Fantasy Series Overview Part 1

As this current era of home-bound living continues video games are proving to be one of the most essential tools for maintaining mental health. Even a homebody like myself can get a bit stir crazy which makes adventures into digital worlds all the more meaningful. While I’ve recently been spending my time in fictionalized Tokyo via Judgment and the Yakuza Remastered Collection I am eager as a pup for the oncoming remake of Final Fantasy VII, or at least part 1 of it anyways. That anticipation means I’ve finally decided to break the seal and talk about one of my favorite franchises and share a lot of love, a little shade, and some advice to those of you who haven’t dug in to this massive franchise. Plus I owe you all a good article series after school thwarted my previous statement of increased posting.

As for where my love affair with this series began I was actually introduced to it at an early age. We had the original game on NES and I would try my hand at it despite being too young to read, which probably wasn’t the best idea. I also witnessed my brothers rent and fight their way through IV and VI (uses old man voice) which in those days were called II and III. It wasn’t until the Playstation that the combo of Suikoden and Final Fantasy VII instilled an unapologetic love for JRPGs which thrived in that golden era of classics like Grandia, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy Tactics, Parasite Eve, and Tales of Destiny. I was hooked on the genre to the extent that may games would overlap resulting in unfinished playthroughs as I devoured everything in sight. Even then this series remained the focal point of my obsession that has absorbed enough hours of my life that I likely could have used to learn an important skill or built lasting relationships. All that shit’s overated anyway.

Rather than focus solely on the history of VII I’d like to use the current hype to work through the entire core series, numbered entries alongside direct sequels and spin-offs. I might take a detour to discuss side series like Tactics, Crystal Chronicles, or Vagrant Story but there’s enough to cover as is. So if you’ll join me, let’s journey back to the 80s and get on with the show.

Final Fantasy (1987) Dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

Despite being a landmark title that, along with Dragon Quest and Ys, changed the world of gaming the very first game in modern terms is downright quaint. The story of four chosen warriors battling a time-traveling evil never delves into deep matters of characterization or meaningful symbolism. The gameplay is similarly straightforward. Players apply names and roles to four characters and set out to grind levels in turn-based combat and explore dungeons. It could almost be considered as a prototype for everything that would follow such as the core concepts of crystals, a job system, and airships. For as a barebones as it is the game remains enjoyable, a testament to its initial quality. The lack of anything to truly set it apart however means this isn’t likely to be anyone's favorite installment. On the plus side nearly anyone can play it thanks to countless reworkings and revisions over the decades. For those who decide to embark on the original quest both the PSP version and Dawn of Souls release for the Game Boy Advance are considered to be the best iterations.

Final Fantasy II (1988) Dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

For most installments of the franchise there is seemingly a choice between elevating the story of the gameply. Part II tries to do both with little success and the result is undoubtedly the worst numbered entry in the series. That’s not to say this is a totally worthless game as there are some notable improvements in the realm of storytelling with an actual cast of characters rather than blank vessels. The problem comes with the new method by which players earn experience. Much like some western RPGs each character earns or losses stats based on the actions they take in battle. Problem is no one made sure this system was balanced which results in a myriad of exploits and headaches like attacking your own party to boost their health. Worst of all is that some versions lack a defend command meaning you always have to do something. So should your magic user constantly use up their stash of MP? Or maybe they should physically attack an enemy and end up losing some of their magical power? Some of the later revisions help to smooth out these issues with the PSP and Game Boy Advance versions once again being the recommended options. On a historical note some of the gameplay concepts presented here maintained a presence in the Saga franchise. Personally I still have yet to actually sit down and finish this one which may change once I find a preferred version. It’s a sloppy creation which is likely why it wasn’t released stateside for over a decade. This one should largely be avoided by all but the most devout of fans.

Final Fantasy III (1990) Dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

Here’s where things become a bit more complicated. Unlike the previous two games that have seen multiple revisions part III exists in the original state along with a much improved remake. For the western market that remake is the only one we got but with either version the primary focus was on delivering better gameplay and man does it ever provide. Returning to a traditional experience system while greatly expanding on the original concept of job selection. Each character was now capable of changing jobs throughout the adventure, gaining new skills and proficiency as they advanced. Summon spells would also come into play for the first time. The only aspect that wasn’t further advanced was the storytelling which was reduced back down to blank heroes versus great evil fare. I won’t deny the remake is the way to go with this one thanks to better balance, more sensible difficulty, and a better story. Not the most unique game in the series but a lot of fun and easily the best of the first three.

Final Fantasy IV (1991) Dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

With the jump to to the Super Nintendo/Famicom Squaresoft took the opportunity to focus on story and presentation and the end result was a huge upgrade for the series. Finally we had properly developed characters with their own unique contributions to both the story and battles. Where once we were content to play random knights and mages we were now treated to a tale of redemption for a former dark warrior who joins forces with all manner of strange folk ranging from a ninja prince to a damn moon man. And while gameplay wasn’t the main point of interest this is where the ATB system first appears, removing the drudgery of turn-based battles. This was the turning point when Final Fantasy become a fully featured event instead of just a solid RPG. The popularity of this entry proved to be so great that it has received far too many remakes and revisions. The original version is good on its own but there’s also the somewhat improved, and very easy, Game Boy Advance version. Then there’s the 3DS remake which was actually the one I took on despite a much higher difficulty. What is considered the best however is the Complete Collection version for the PSP which not only improved the game but properly paired it with its direct sequel complete with new connective tissue. Speaking of the sequel.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (2008) Dir. Toshio Akiyama

While not the first installment to garner a direct follow-up IV is thus far the only 2D entry to receive its own dedicated sequel. Originally released as an episodic mobile game, The After Years has also see revisions like the aforementioned Complete Collection. Sadly I cannot say much on the matter of this game as I still have yet to play it. Talk about a source of embarrassment for a major fan of the series but I have a good reason. I’m waiting for the time and money to properly indulge in the PSP release and that opportunity hasn’t come just yet.

Final Fantasy V (1992) Dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

Even though part IV was a big hit stateside, Nintendo neglected to bring the next installment stateside which meant U.S. fans wouldn’t get their hands on it until a late nineties release on the original Playstation. What a shame as V is the hidden gem of the series that uses the leap in production quality from the previous game while pushing the job system to new heights. Yes this one is more focused on gameply but there’s still enough story to keep players hooked. The plot is something closer to a Saturday morning cartoon with over the top villains and goofy character interactions which turn some players off. They should really stick with it though as it plays like a dream. The developers took the systems from part III and expanded them even further with more complex jobs and new methods to mix commands. Oddly this one hasn’t been touched for quite some time as I think even the phone ports are largely based on the game boy advance edition. No matter how you approach it this is an outstanding game that doesn't receive anywhere near enough love. Likely this is due to both the delayed release and the overdone nostalgia for our next installment.

Final Fantasy VI (1994) Dir. Yoshinori Kitase and Hiroyuki Ito

I’m gonna tell you all a big secret. Everyone who declares Final Fantasy VI to be the finest entry in the series is lying to you. When the game was first released it was a massive leap forward in presentation and storytelling within the video games medium which lends itself to a lot of blind nostalgia, creating a fan base that remembers the finer points of the game while ignoring a good deal of issues. And that’s not to say this is a bad game, far from it. But for all of the interesting set-pieces and fun characters there is a slew of underdeveloped nonsense to accompany it. Just look at the list of playable characters if you don’t believe me. For each one with fun abilities and cool story moments like Shadow or Edger there’s a Gau or Umaro who serve no purpose whatsoever. Much of the story suffers from this problem as well. Sure Terra has a terrific backstory but can anyone explain what Cyan really has to offer? The brand new Esper system for enhancing your parties magical abilities works fine but does little to midigate how many boss battles operate on novelties and cheap tricks. I have no problem with someone claiming it as their favorite, but to say it’s the best one is just nonsense. It’s a bloated and messy game that still manages to be very good. There aren’t too many versions of this installment so the only advice I can offer is to avoid the awful Playstation edition.

Thanks for indulging me in some gaming nostalgia. I rarely get to share my love for these titles but their current use as a tool for maintaining mental health makes this the perfect time to encourage others to enter the fold. You all have a good night out there. Me thinks it’s time for a good ole nap.

Ultra Q Series Review

If you would have told me that the 2020s would begin with most of the world huddled up like lice in a burning wig I'd say you were nuts, entirely correct, but nuts all the same. Yes like, I assume, a good many of you out there I'm doing my best to stay housebound in order to keep older family members safe. Classes have shifted to being entirely online and I now have the perfect excuse to sit on my ass & play video games all day. Still; each of us is supposed to do whatever they can to make life a bit more livable so I'm gonna try to pick up the blogging pace and share some different items to help you all stay festive during this dull time. Given how we're living in the perfect conditions to binge entertainment I thought we might begin with a new feature reviewing the various installments of the Ultra series starting with Ultra Q.

Unlike other tokusatsu brand names Ultra has multiple formats for the different shows, almost like different branches of the same tree. The most prominent is of course the Ultraman line of shows with a giant hero battling alien invaders. Mega Monster Battle shows, as far as I can tell, are what would happen if you threw Star Trek, Godzilla, and Pokemon in a blender. Then there are the biography series which function as serialized clip shows. The original branch is comprised of the Q shows that function more as weekly supernatural mysteries.

Much like later shows in this field, think Friday the 13^th The Series, Ultra Q often functions like an anthology only with a primary cast to hold it all together. Still; it’s not uncommon for the core group to largely sit out an episode while something else fills the time. This format makes for a lot of wiggle room when it comes to the overall tone with some installments feeling like classic universal horror pictures while others make attempts at surreal comedy, by and large those comedy episodes stink. Overall quality as a whole can swing wildly which made it tougher to get into this particular show than its superhero successors. Eventually it won me over with enough time left over to make the short span of only 28 episodes a little melancholy.

There's little point in discussing a primary plotline as there is none. The world presented here is simply unbalanced which allows for the emergence of ancient monsters, interdimensional shenanigans, or alien invasions at a moments notice. Our core trio of characters along with some supporting players are our only anchor. Jun Manjome is the closest thing to a classic hero. He's a pilot with a love for science-fiction and some mean fighting skills. His close friend and co-wroker Ippei Togawa serves as the young goofy guy. The pair are frequently hired out to help reporter Yuriko Edogawa, played by Hiroko Sakurai who would return to the franchise the following year as Akiko Fuji in Ultraman. As one might guess with this being a 60s series her character can change from one episode to the next as she goes from spunky and reliable to the trope of an overemotional woman.

As the series lacks an overarching narrative or deep character development the real quality comes down to individual episodes which means the viewer is in for a roller coaster with some fantastic heights and miserable lows. Like other shows I've covered I'm gonna give you a list of some favorites but it is vital to understand that for all the decent entertainment on hand there are also embarrassments like the truly painful, Grow Up! Little Turtle. The sixth episode of the show, Grow Up! Feels like what would happen if David Lynch decided to make a whacky kids comedy and no one had the good sense to stop him. Long, pointless, powerfully unfunny, and downright irritating, this singular installment ranks among the worst stand-alone bits of tokusatsu I’ve ever seen. Should you dive into this series do consider skipping that episode. With that outta the way let’s talk about the good stuff.

Open Up.

The final installment of this series is a bit of an odd duck that serves as a sort of head-trip drama about a flying train that whisks people away from their current lives and transports them to another dimension. There’s little in the way of traditional narrative here, nor are there many satisfying answers. Most of the usual aspects of the show are missing as will with nary a single giant monster or explosive military confrontation to be seen. Instead we get to witness something quieter that asks questions about the risks of wishing for a different life while neglecting what we already have.

Baron Spider

I mentioned earlier how some of the show has that classic universal monster feel. Nowhere is that more evident than this spooky tale where our cast along with some friends are sidetracked during a road trip and must seek shelter within an old manor that may be home to a massive spider.

Much like the film The Living Skeleton which I reviewed a few years back, Baron Spider is just oozing with classic horror atmosphere to the extent that it’s gurateed to get replayed come October. The sights, sounds, and extra characters all feel like a decent late night flick smashed down to fit inside a half-hour. Loads of fun for classic horror fiends.

Gift From the Sky

The third episode was the first I found genuinely interesting as it tackles the notion of alien objects that may have been sent to deal with the growing threat humans pose to the galaxy. The fact that this interplanetary squabble involves a giant slug beast only makes things better. More than any of the others on this list, Gift From the Sky is the most traditional installment of Ultra Q but it offers such a fine balance of character interactions and crazy monsters as to flow almost perfectly. Oh and the ending is something else.

The Undersea Humanoid Ragon

Once again veering towards universal monster territory we’re treated to fish people on the prowl. There’s just so much good in this one that it could easily take the top spot. The Ragon creature is a total joy to watch terrorize a fishing village populated by interesting characters. Our core trio has a lot to do here as well with Manjome luring a monster with the power of classical music. It’s the sort of effortless entertainment that makes us love these sort of genre shows.

Challenge from the year 2020

For as much as the Ragon episode rocked this immediate predecessor is the winner in my heart. The story concerns how a rash of disappearances may be linked with the insane ramblings of a missing author. Already a decent set-up but what makes this one soar is how the entire crew just seem to be firing on all cylinders. The scary parts are crazy atmospheric, the acting is better than the norm, the visuals are awesome, and those bits of unintentional comedy are somehow all the better for being part of such a great production. If you’re only willing to check out one episode as a test viewing I’d absolutely take this one over everything else. If you have a massive admiration for fish people however you know what to do instead.

If I’ve managed to peak your interest in this or any of the other Ultra series then you’re in luck as they’ve recently become much easier to obtain. After decades of poor dubs and scattered low-quality home video release the whole franchise was picked up by Mill Creek Entertainment. Since last fall they’ve been pushing out some nifty blu-rays of these shows which is what has inspired me to make this a recurring feature as I work through each individual series. This show in particular wont appeal to everyone, even some sci-fi fans, due to the wild changes in quality and tone. However; a low asking price alongside plenty of fun episodes means there’s enough here to make it worth a shot. And if you’re currently stuck indoors with like-minded folks you’ve got real viewing party potential.

The Ultra releases aren’t the only recent push for tokusatsu as a streaming channel dedicated to the genre kicked-off this past week and Toei is starting a new youtube channel to upload some of their classic material. As a fan of this sort of storytelling it is downright heartwarming to see our side of the pacific start to catch on to what a wonderful genre this is.

That’s all for today but as I mentioned at the start of this post I plan to pick up the pace on posts for a little while. Figure that’s the best way to help keep the days from running together and if it helps everybody out there keep there butt in one spot then all the better. Keep it together out there everyone. Before long we’ll be back to staying indoors by choice rather than social responsibility.

Ryusoulger Episodes 46-48 Review

For quite some time I have held the belief that the new year doesn't truly strike until roughly March, which makes the current seasonal switch for Super Sentai all the more fitting. We're finally getting into the first real bite of this new decade, which is starting off pretty damn lame in many respects, and with it we say goodbye to Ryusoulger and the Heisei era of this massive franchise. Soon we will meet a new group of gem powered heroes and see what the Reiwa era has to offer in full but for now it's time to decide whether this fourth dinosaur themed sentai proved to be a worthwhile endeavor. For those of you pressed for time I'll throw you a bone, it's pretty damn good actually.

Story:

The first of these final three installments begins with Pricious killing off the traitorous Yabasword before pleading with Master Eras to explain such betrayal. Her answer comes in the form of a vision-inducing shockwave which the meaning of will be revealed later.

Back at the base our heroes heal up from the past few rounds of battle and decide it is time to return to the ruins and make their stand against Eras. The issue is not knowing how to accomplish anything more than sealing it away like before, a plan that doesn't sit well as it would also seal away the dinoknights. This leads to a sequence between Koh and Tyramigo that is far more touching than anything featuring a plastic talking dinosaur should be wherein the T-Rex accepts the likelihood of being sacrificed in order to save his friends.

The kids set out, leaving Master Black behind as he isn't fully recovered from having his heart returned to him. What ensues is mostly the kind of action and humor one expects from this series, seemingly to hit the expected notes before the more melancholy tone of the following episodes. The team is briefly joined in battle by a Setoh possessed Mr. Tatsui who dons a brown version of the Gaisorg armor. His send final bits in this scene are so comical that they almost don't work. Thankfully the last part makes up for that.

While confronted by her enemies, Pricious reveals the truth given to her by Eras. The Ryusoul Tribe was created by Eras to serve as protectors of the Earth. Eventually the tribe lost their way and started the war that has been mentioned previously. This caused Eras to create Druidons as a means of defending Earth from the Ryusoul Tribe. They too became unruly and now the master seeks to destroy both creations and remake the world. During this revelation Wyzul reveals himself to be, somehow, still alive as he encourages Pricious to give up on this pointless conflict and enjoy life instead. His platitudes do nothing as Eras kills Pricious before emitting a blinding light.

Episode 47 begins in a new peaceful world where nearly everyone is off doing their own thing. Canalo is getting married, Asuna is eating record amounts of food, Melto is a chick magnet. Koh has a little more going on as he still lives with the Tatsui’s and hangs out with a still living Nada. Kreon shows up to wake them all from this fantasy world and they discover that in reality Eras has placed everyone in a deep sleep and is beginning to destroy the world in order to remake it.

Much of the episode focuses on the emotional reactions our characters have to this situation. Asuna, Melto, and Kreon are temporarily eaten by Eras until the latter two create a minusaur to break free. During this time the others hang out in a cave and contemplate the fate of the world. When facing the last battle there are two major emotional outbursts. The first comes from Canalo who has struggled with the reason for fighting this whole time. He wonders if perhaps the global population would be better off living in a peaceful dream rather than struggle to repair this damaged world. That’s when Asuna gets her chance to shine with a big tearful speech about how the dreamworld lacked the personal connections her friends have shared this whole time. She wants friendships to continue, for people to grow and make mistakes. This allows the whole group to understand that one reason for fighting is to cultivate the connections between each-other. Pretty heady stuff for a kids show, huh? With that the last fight begins.

Episode 48 exists in two halves. The first is the big final battle witch plenty of dramatic moments. The dinoknights give up their energy in order for Koh to seal Eras away, only the maneuver just manages to shrink her down to human size before failing. Eras then kills the red ranger, though his spirit is absorbed inside of her via a Ryusoul left behind during the previous installments captivity sub-plot. While the others fight on bravely Koh speaks with Eras on matters of friendship and emotional experiences, things she knows nothing of. The combination of this conversation, wounds from the diniknight attack, and continuing pressure from the team finally destroy Eras. Koh is brought back from the brink of death and we flash ahead slightly.

As time passes we see the group move on to new things. Melto and Oto work alongside Mr. Tatsui in his archaeology. Asuna opens a school for Ryusoul tribe children as a place where her and her friends can always gather. Koh spends some time with the tribal elder whose business ventures went bust, and also visits the spirit of Nada. Towa goes backpacking on his own while Bamba tries to learn how to relax alongside his old master. Canalo spends a lot of time around Asuna’s school having developed feelings for her though she hasn’t caught on. At last everyone gathers again at the Tatsui household to welcome Ui back from Hollywood as we close with a wall of photos showcasing their connections to each-other.

Heroes:

As in years past let’s look at the best and worst character beats across the entire length of the series. Without a doubt Bamba wins the MVP award this season. Both the character and actor were solid from the get-go and never wavered. However the most improved characters proved to be Melto and Asuna who grew from shaky and sometimes unlikable early-on to nearly the emotional core of the team.

The weakest character is still Towa who never had much going on to begin with and become more bland as time wore on. On the flipside the biggest waste of a character goes to Ui who provided so much early in the series when she acted as almost a junior member of the team. As more focus was spent on villains and larger story-arcs she was pushed aside and barely factored in the final third of the series. I still think it’d benefit the series greatly if in some upcoming video special or movie she got to pilot a dinoknight or become a ranger, something to fully solidify her link to the others.Koh, Canalo, and the other supporting cast all fared fairly well in the end, even if a few like Setoh and Oto weren’t really necessary to the overall plot.

Villains:

Master Eras turned out to be an odd yet thematically functional big bad. In essence she was like a lesser god who served as the planets defense system. As she lived a solitary life of duty she understood nothing of emotions or companionship which leads to her total disconnect considering what is best for us mere mortals. I've seen this sort of notion presented in other Japanese entertainment, Lightning Returns for example, and always love how they note that a god would understand nothing about being human which makes them dangerous. On the other hand our connections, feelings, and sheer numbers make us a threat to them. I do find it strange that while Eras takes responsibility for Ryusoul and Druidon life there's no mention of who created Humans.

In the realm of confusing last-minute revelations how did I not know that Kreon wasn't actually a Druidon? Was this ever mentioned previously? Wyzul mentions that the goober could be his own planets take on Eras given their shared ability to create new life. Seems like that could have been better developed. Still it was nice to see the greenie help out our heroes a few more times and regain his friendship with Wyzul.

Speaking of Wyzul, he may not have done much in these last few episodes but man was it ever nice to see him again. Plus he presented another aspect of the series mission statement to simply enjoy life while it lasts.

Pricious was far from the best villain this show had to offer. I do appreciate her few moments of dramatic depth in this last stretch though it would’ve been better to grow her personality earlier. As for her buddy, Gun-joji... I got nothing.

Overall:

I’ve been at this Sentai review gig for a few years now and have already seen series from across the quality spectrum from the surprising wonders of Zyuohger, to the well-meaning stupidity of Ninninger, and the outright embarrassment of Kyuranger. Ryusoulger was a tough show to measure as it moved along. Some portions like the end of the Nada arc rank among the best Sentai has to offer yet there were also portions where the show flopped around, accomplishing very little. So what’s the final verdict? Actually quite positive.

Like any of the recent Sentai series there were some definite missteps along the path. I’ve droned on about the flawed handling of Ui. For as good as the arc and character were, the whole Nada thing still felt like a side-trip. Not to mention the revelation about the origin of Druidons and Ryusoul Tribe came far too late to properly develop. Yet for all of the various flaws this series has been far more consistent than many recent series with the majority of its themes landing in the end. Consider the massive drag that occurred during the 30s of Lupinranger vs Patranger, the closest thing this series got to that sort of lull was very early and served the purpose of illustrating how much the heroes needed to grow. It never overloaded the audience with sub-plots or extra heroes, instead offering a variety of villains and story styles to keep us engaged. More than anything the theme of connection was expertly delivered with each hero searching for something in other people while showcasing the opposite issues with many villains, save for the two that built a lasting relationship. Perhaps this is due to my living in the middle of America and studying social issues but a show that features the importance of self-improvement to help those around you holds a lot of value in a time and place where everyone seems to push their own identity regardless of whether it infringes on anyone else.

If you’ve yet to dip your toes into the Super Sentai pool then Ryusoulger ain’t too shabby a place to start. I still place higher value on some of the older series like Kakuranger but for something with more modern sensibilities this has a solid cast coupled with a good message and strong presentation. All in all it makes a fine send-off for the Heisei era.

Of course there’s no rest for us tokusatsu fans as the next show is already on the air. As always you can expect yet another revamp to the review format in just a week or two when it comes time to discuss our newest batch of colorful heroes. Right now we can at least say we had a good run with Ryusoulger, and I’m glad we took the time to witness their adventures.