One gamer had a bit of trouble determining exactly which Final Fantasy game they were getting ready to play after coming across a Super Nintendo cartridge with a label that featured elements from multiple entries in Square Enix’s long-running RPG series. No longer a single-player-only franchise, Square Enix recently announced that the MMO series entry Final Fantasy 14 is receiving long-overdue upgrades to its servers.
Debuting in Japan in 1987 with the first Final Fantasy game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Square Enix’s RPG series would grow to become one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming and serve as an entry point to the genre for millions of players. With nearly every entry in the long-running franchise featuring an entirely new setting and cast of characters, Final Fantasy games have featured worlds ranging from high fantasy kingdoms to steampunk-inspired cityscapes. While some titles like the massively successful Final Fantasy 7 managed to gain a larger following than others, nearly every entry in the franchise has managed to establish a dedicated fanbase.
In a new post on the r/gaming subreddit, user Ecalafell1996 shared an amusing picture of what just might be the most confusing Final Fantasy cartridge ever. The Super Nintendo cartridge has a label that features Final Fantasy 9 protagonist Zidane Tribal front and center, with the logo artwork for Final Fantasy 8 nestled behind a title advertising the game as Final Fantasy 3. Making matters even more confusing, the post states that the title that loads up when the game is inserted into a console is Final Fantasy 6.
Redditors were amused by the mishmash of different Final Fantasy games featured on the unusual cartridge’s cover. Making a clever quip about the cartridge’s identity crisis, one quick-witted commenter simply stated, “Final Fantasy Whatever.” Another reply pointed out that the label was even more confusing than it appeared at first glance since it featured a Super Famicom logo on what is ostensibly a Super Nintendo game. At least the game’s title text proved to be accurate, with one Redditor helpfully pointing out that Final Fantasy 6 was released as Final Fantasy 3 in the US.
With its unexpected blend of elements from some of the most iconic entries in the franchise’s long history this unique - and almost certainly bootleg - Final Fantasy cartridge is sure to elicit a chuckle from fans of Square Enix’s sprawling RPG series. And after seeing Zidane gracing a video game cover again after over 20 years since his last starring appearance, it might leave some fans wishing for Square to hurry and release an updated version of Final Fantasy 9.