Squaresoft and Enix came back to Nintendo consoles once the merger between the two companies was finalized. It was more like a triumphant return for Squaresoft because Enix was still pumping out Dragon Quest games on the Game Boy. Their output for Nintendo was still low during this generation regarding the Final Fantasy series compared to PlayStation consoles.
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They made one GameCube game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which was good but not what fans had expected. For the Game Boy Advance, they made six Final Fantasy games and one of them never made it to the West. That remains true to this day, so here's a look at what the library looked like in the early 2000s.
6 Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice
Metacritic Score: N/A
Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice
- Released
- December 13, 2002
- Developer(s)
- Squaresoft
- Publisher(s)
- Square
Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice is a remake of a game that was planned to be released on the WonderSwan in Japan but it was instead included on a PlayStation collection of Chocobo-themed games. Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice, even in this remade state, never made it out of Japan. It’s not surprising given that most board game-like titles from Squaresoft or Enix have rarely made it over here.
Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice isn’t part of the Itadaki Street series officially, but it plays like one. It’s best to think of this game as a more RPG version of Monopoly but with Chocobo and other cute critters from the series. Funnily enough, the Final Fantasy franchise would eventually get three official Itadaki Street spinoffs on various PlayStation consoles. Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special, for example, was the one on PS2.
5 Final Fantasy 1 And 2: Dawn of Souls
Metacritic Score: 79
Final Fantasy 1 and 2: Dawn of Souls is a collection of the first two games if that wasn’t obvious enough already. This was not the first time they were paired together or even remade. On the PS1 there was Final Fantasy Origins which redid the graphics in a more 16-bit fashion. That same aesthetic was used on the GBA and the graphics even look marginally better on the handheld comparatively.
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That PS1 collection was also the first time players outside of Japan got to enjoy Final Fantasy 2. That one had more of a story and an odd battle system which would then go on to influence the SaGa series. The original game is a more classic RPG adventure wherein players could focus on the gameplay rather than the story.
4 Final Fantasy 5 Advance
Metacritic Score: 83
Like Final Fantasy 2, Westerners got to enjoy Final Fantasy 5 for the first time on PS1. That collection was called Final Fantasy Chronicles and it came bundled with Final Fantasy 6. The game was left virtually untouched as it was more of a port from the SNES. Final Fantasy 5 Advance upgraded the graphics a little bit, not that Square Enix had to as SNES games generally hold up graphically over time.
The great thing about this entry was the Job system. All four characters could change Jobs outside of battle and combine their skills together to make interesting battle strategies. From standard Jobs like the Black Mage to wilder Jobs like the Chemist, players had a lot to play with.
3 Final Fantasy 4 Advance
Metacritic Score: 85
Final Fantasy 4 was originally the first game to hit the SNES. It moved the franchise forward narratively, giving more depth to the characters. Cecil, for example, began as a Dark Knight devoid of feelings before evolving into a mighty Paladin. Moments like Cecil’s transformation or watching two young twins sacrifice themselves stick out to fans to this day.
Final Fantasy 4 Advance is a good version of this game, adding a few things and touching up the graphics like the previous mentions. It’s not the best port though as there was a full remake on the DS which is still the definitive edition most fans would recommend. Still, the GBA version was the for a time.
2 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Metacritic Score: 87
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is the second game in the series and like franchise tradition, it is not a direct sequel. It’s far from it as the game is more akin to an anime-based Isekai. A bunch of young school kids get sucked into a book that is presumed to be based on Final Fantasy 12’s version of Ivalice. It’s kind of a meta-based Isekai but the concept works overall.
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While the story is more lighthearted and the graphics are more colorful compared to the darker PS1 game, it’s still a tactical RPG many would stand by. Players could choose classes for their story characters or recruit random NPCs to join the guild. With tons of maps to play, quests to navigate, and Jobs to master, this was a must-own for GBA owners.
1 Final Fantasy 6 Advance
Metacritic Score: 92
Final Fantasy 6 will often rise to the top of most Final Fantasy or Square Enix-based lists. It’s a favorite among fans that was the swan song for the SNES which paved the way for its sequel, Final Fantasy 7. As previously mentioned, it was already ported on the PS1 but Final Fantasy 6 Advance was a more thoughtful port that enhanced what was already a well-regarded RPG.
From the opera scene to viewing the destruction of the world, everyone has a favorite moment from this game. One of the coolest new things in the GBA version though was the Kaiser Dragon quest. This boss was cut content from the original, making it more enticing for fans to jump back into this classic. Of the original six mainline games, this is the one to beat and the GBA iteration is still the best version to track down.
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