Out of all the games that Square Enix has lined up for next year, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a curious beast that holds quite the reputation. Many fans were surprised that Square Enix's Final Fantasy Origin project will be a souls-like action-rpg by Team Ninja, with many elements indicating that it will be a prequel as well. The intial trailer and formal showing of Final Fantasy Origin was during E3 2021, complete with a trailer showcasing off what to expect.
This trailer however received an immediate mixed reaction, where fans and critics harpooning the game's very edgy aesthetic and character design. The protagonist of the game, Jack, was the biggest target of mockery. From the character clashing tonally with the game to a piece of footage from Final Fantasy Origin's demo that went viral, there was no shortage of laughs. There were fans however who were willing to give the game a shot, either due to the interesting souls-like mechanics introduced, the other party members introduced, or even some of the multiplayer components.
Last month, Square Enix showed off screenshots of new characters introduced in Final Fantasy Origin, such as Mia, the younger sister of Princess Sarah. The latest screenshots from the game show off more of these new characters such as the king of the dark elves, Astos. He provides Jack and his companions the location of the crystals they are searching for, though he gives off an air of mystery, considering he also already knows who the party are.
These screenshots also reveal the fifth member of Final Fantasy Origin's growing party, a woman known as Sophia. Much like Jack, she also really wants to kill Chaos. A screenshot shows Astos showing this party the way to the Wind Crystal, although they have been attacked by the multi-headed fiend, Tiamat. It pits the players against this boss who can attack with deadly wind-elemental attacks and their multiple heads.
Some of the locations were also shown off, such as the Western Keep that Astos resides in. This place in particular is an ancient castle ravaged by war, where players will be attacked with flying arrows as they make their way through the dungeon. Other locations include the beautiful tower known as the Crystal Mirage, along with a Flying Fortress where the Wind Crystal is kept.
The final details revealed include the job and skill system that Final Fantasy Origin will have. As players defeat enemies, characters will level up and obtain job points, which can be spent to unlock new skills. Some of the jobs available include Jack's initial Swordsman job, the elemental-magic Mage, and the fisticuffs warrior known as Pugilist.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin launches for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, on March 18, 2022.
