From Coffee Truck to Critic: How Final Fantasy Marked Every Stage of My Life

I was amazed when my friend let me borrow his PlayStation 2 to play Final Fantasy 10. He’d been urging me to try it for ages so we could discuss it, and I was shocked to see his save file had over 120 hours of gameplay. But once I started playing, I quickly understood why. Spira was a beautifully immersive world with incredible emotional depth – the kind I’d always hoped to find in a game. It wasn’t long before I realized why someone would happily lose themselves in it for so long. Final Fantasy completely changed my expectations for gaming, and I became instantly hooked, wanting nothing more than to keep playing.

Over the past twenty years, Final Fantasy has become a constant presence in my life. From the ups and downs of high school to the challenges of being an adult, I’ve always loved this series. It’s brought me immense joy, but also a few sleepless nights – many late-night gaming sessions led to early mornings with marching band! It was the perfect escape after stressful studying, and sometimes made me want to skip class altogether. Even during quiet moments, the games’ stories always stuck with me. Looking back at how much has changed, it’s amazing that Final Fantasy has been there throughout it all, growing with me every step of the way.

Major Final Fantasy Spoilers Ahead

A Roadmap Through Twenty Years of Final Fantasy

Before I talk about the games that meant the most to me, let me explain how I got into the series. It wasn’t an instant thing; it happened slowly over time. Each game arrived at a different point in my life and became a little memory. I don’t recall every detail, but I remember when I played each one, and that tells a story in itself.

Final Fantasy 10 was my first
Final Fantasy 7 showed me games could make me cry
Final Fantasy 8 and 9 filled long summer nights
Final Fantasy 1 through 6 were tackled when life slowed down
Final Fantasy 12 arrived during one of my most difficult seasons
Final Fantasy 13 and its sequels gave me comfort in the midst of collapse
Final Fantasy 15 lived in the coffee truck with my wife and me
Final Fantasy 16 tied my entire history together through writing

I’ve played most of the core Final Fantasy games, but four really stand out. They connected with me during important times in my life and ended up defining entire periods for me. It all started with Final Fantasy 10, followed by FF7, FF13, and FF16.

Final Fantasy 10: My First Escape Into Something Bigger

“Memories are nice, but that’s all they are” – Rikku

It was 2 a.m. on a school night, and when I heard my parents’ bedroom door open, I instantly paused my video game and froze. I quickly checked the towel under my door to make sure the TV light wouldn’t shine into the hallway. I listened to my dad’s footsteps as he walked through the kitchen to get a drink, and waited—it felt like forever—until he finally went back upstairs. Then I resumed playing. This happened often, all because I was completely hooked on the classic game, Final Fantasy 10.

I first experienced a PlayStation 2 at a friend’s house, and I was instantly hooked. As a 14-year-old with limited funds, I saved every penny I could and finally traded it for my own console at a local pawn shop. I knew I needed to experience this amazing game for myself, and I didn’t want to rely on borrowing it. I was determined to get my first PlayStation, along with what I believed was the best game ever created.

I arrived late to the Final Fantasy party, but it was definitely worth attending, even if I was behind schedule. Final Fantasy 10 completely captivated me during my freshman and sophomore years of high school – I just couldn’t stop playing! I was obsessed with everything about it: the immersive world, the compelling characters, the beautiful music, and the captivating story. It felt like I was living a whole other life whenever I played late into the night.

I discovered that game at a crucial time in my life. As a fourteen-year-old, I was still trying to understand myself and the world around me – it often felt overwhelming, then strangely confining. Final Fantasy 10 offered an escape and something more. I connected with Tidus because he felt lost and unsure, just like me, and he challenged everything. Yuna, however, really resonated with me in a way I couldn’t quite articulate then. She carried a huge burden with grace and kindness, and I admired her strength and patience, even if I didn’t fully understand why at the time.

I often felt lost and stressed during school, like I didn’t belong. That’s when Final Fantasy 10 became my refuge. It was a place where I could escape judgment and experience life through the brave and inspiring characters like Auron and Wakka. The game’s music was a huge part of that, and I loved the soundtrack so much I even imported a copy from Japan. I played it constantly on my CD player, probably until it broke! Looking back, Final Fantasy 10 was a safe haven where I could take a break from everything else going on in my life.

It’s amusing to think about how much that one game influenced that period of my life. Final Fantasy 10 gave me something to anticipate when school was tough or life felt overwhelming. Okay, it sometimes distracted me from my homework, but I don’t think any Final Fantasy fan would judge me for that! Tidus and Yuna’s story really resonated with me, and even now, I strongly associate those years with all the hours I spent exploring the world of Spira. It was the first game that truly felt epic, and it established the kind of immersive storytelling I’ve been searching for ever since, even twenty years later.

Final Fantasy 7: When Games Became Emotional

“There ain’t no gettin’ offa this train we’re on” – Barret

I discovered Final Fantasy 7 when I was 16 and starting to have more independence. I had just gotten my driver’s license and my mom only asked that I get to school on time, which meant I could stay up late playing. That newfound freedom felt perfectly timed with starting the game. I played with the typical teenage confidence, feeling like I could face anything as long as I saved my progress before falling asleep!

A friend of mine had let me borrow his PlayStation 2 previously, and he always raved about how Final Fantasy 7 was the greatest game in the series. He claimed Sephiroth was the most compelling villain ever created and that the story was incredible. He turned out to be right. Final Fantasy 7‘s story became my all-time favorite, and it was the first game to ever make me cry – I hadn’t realized games could have that kind of emotional impact.

From the beginning, Final Fantasy 7 simply felt unique. While it didn’t have the same polished look as Final Fantasy 10, the story was surprisingly engaging. Cloud seemed distant and moody, but underneath that exterior, he was a confused character—something I really connected with, as I was also trying to discover who I was at age sixteen.

Playing Final Fantasy VII made me reflect on my own relationships. Tifa’s unwavering support for her friends inspired me to be a better family member and friend. Barret, despite his tough exterior and jokes, showed me a model of maturity and strength – a man who truly cared, even though he carried a lot of hidden pain. And Aerith was simply one of the most kind and gentle characters I’d ever encountered, in any medium. I think a lot of teenage boys, myself included, imagined what it would be like to build a life with someone like her.

A defining moment for me – and for many others – was when Aerith died in Final Fantasy 7. I remember just sitting there, stunned, not knowing what to do next. I’d never experienced that level of shock from a game before. It was incredible to me that a video game story could be so emotionally powerful. That’s why Final Fantasy 7 remains so special to me. It proved that games – despite being dismissed as silly by some – could tackle serious themes and have the same impact as any film or book.

I spent a huge amount of time playing the original Final Fantasy 7, and then continued with Final Fantasy 8 and 9. I even played the first six games whenever I could. The series became a constant companion throughout high school. Whenever I felt stressed about school, experienced changes in friendships, or worried about the future, the worlds of Final Fantasy offered a comforting escape and a sense of calm.

I remember when Final Fantasy 12 came out – it was sophomore year of college, and honestly, I was going through a really tough time. My best friend from high school suddenly left school, and I got my heart broken pretty badly. I felt completely alone and like I wanted to give up on everything. But that game… it was a constant companion, a source of stability when I really needed it. Thankfully, a few amazing friends also helped me through it with movie and game nights. Fast forward just three years, and things were looking up! That’s when Final Fantasy 13 came out, and it felt like the perfect game to celebrate with, marking a really positive new chapter in my life.

Final Fantasy 13: Collapse, Comfort, and Coming Back Up

“The only way to move forward is to keep moving” – Lightning

When Final Fantasy 13 was released in 2010, I was completely unaware of the negative feedback it received. I was happily lost in my own world, really enjoying the game without knowing how many long-time fans disliked it. My friends always knew I could find something to enjoy in almost anything – a reputation I still have – but a lot of that came down to what was happening in my life back then. Ultimately, it just proves that a game doesn’t need to be a critical success to be meaningful. What truly matters is how a game connects with you during a particular time in your life.

I was incredibly happy at 22, having just moved to a new city to build my own life. I had a good job, my own place, and was studying film, dreaming of becoming a famous director like Christopher Nolan. I was fully immersed in making movies – acting, writing, and producing short films. But in between all of that, I found escape in Final Fantasy 13, losing myself in its story, music, and world, and especially in its main character, Lightning, who I still think is one of the best protagonists in the entire Final Fantasy series.

During that time, I even made a couple of trips to Houston, Texas, specifically to see the Houston Symphony perform music from the Final Fantasy series on their Distant Worlds tour. I still love the battle music from Final Fantasy 13, especially the song “Blinded By Light” – it’s right up there with the iconic battle theme from Final Fantasy 7. Hearing those pieces, and many others, performed live in concert was an incredible experience, and I felt like everything was perfect.

The release of Final Fantasy 13-2 in 2012 marked the start of a really difficult period in my life. Everything I’d worked for over the previous two years began to fall apart, and I lost almost everything, including many friendships. I felt isolated, depressed, and was facing financial hardship. Surprisingly, Final Fantasy 13-2 provided some comfort during that time. Thankfully, that difficult season didn’t last, and I was able to get back on my feet with the help of my supportive mother.

You don’t need a game to be a masterpiece for it to be special. What truly counts is how it connects with what’s happening in your life at the time you play it.

When Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 came out in 2014, things started looking brighter for me personally. It’s funny because I really connected with Lightning and her journey, and watching her character develop, disappear, and reappear throughout the three games felt like a reflection of the ups and downs I was experiencing in my own life.

My wife and I had been friends for two years before we started dating in 2013. Knowing we wanted to get married, we decided to start a coffee truck and bring better coffee to our city. Interestingly, our business seemed to inspire others, and soon several new coffee shops opened with a similar focus on quality beyond what Starbucks offered. But more than anything, working together in that small space brought my wife and I even closer, and we were finally married in May 2014.

Working in the coffee truck was demanding, with long, busy days, but there were also moments of quiet. My wife used those slower times to read, bringing books with her to the shop. I, on the other hand, brought a TV and my Xbox, and spent the downtime playing Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13. The game’s music – which I still think is fantastic – often played while she read, and she actually started to feel like she needed it on to get into her books! I was more than happy to leave it playing, because it meant I could keep enjoying one of my favorite video game series.

Years passed, and both our marriage and business continued to thrive. When Final Fantasy 15 came out in 2016, I brought a copy to enjoy at the coffee truck. I especially loved it for its open world and compelling main character, Noctis. My wife had also become a big fan of the music, so we went to see the Houston Symphony perform the Final Fantasy soundtrack together. Everything felt wonderful, and things just kept getting better.

Final Fantasy 16: When Everything Came Full Circle

“If fate dictates our paths, then we shall carve our own” – Clive

It felt like no time at all, but suddenly it was 2022. Our daughter was two years old, and I had finished my mass communications and media studies degree three years prior, in 2019. College wasn’t a straight path – I changed majors several times and even took a couple of years off – but I eventually graduated. I’d always been a strong writer, and even in college, a professor pointed out I might be in the wrong field while studying music education. She thought my writing talent would be better suited to philosophy, telling me I had a gift for persuasion.

I initially dismissed the kind words about my writing as simple flattery, never imagining I’d actually become a writer. But by December 2022, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. It wasn’t the best time to enter the field, as it was undergoing huge changes, and still is. Still, I decided to go for it, starting with entry-level positions rather than aiming for something more senior right away. With my wife’s support and a plan to gain experience, I applied for a Gaming Features Writer position at CBR.com, and within days I was contacted by HR, marking the beginning of my journalism journey.

I joined the CBR team in January 2023 and quickly became fully immersed in the work. I spent many late nights editing, playing games to capture my own screenshots, and creating featured images, all while learning the ropes of journalism as a new team member – even though I didn’t meet my colleagues in person. This hard work paid off quickly; just three months later, my editors asked me to review Dead Island 2.

I was thrilled to be asked to review Dead Island 2 so early in my journalism career – it was a real honor, and pushed me to work even harder. While playing, I constantly brainstormed ideas for guides and articles, sharing them with my editors before the game launched so we’d be prepared. When my review finally went live on April 18, 2023, it was a fantastic day, and I shared it with everyone I knew. But I had no idea what was about to happen a month later.

Playing Final Fantasy 16 really brought home how deeply the series has become a part of my life.

I received a message from one of my editors, and my first thought was that something had gone wrong. Instead, it was fantastic news! They asked if I wanted to review Final Fantasy 16. I was incredibly excited – I immediately typed “Absolutely!” and ran to tell my wife. It was a huge opportunity, especially since I’d only been a journalist for five months, and this was for a game I’d been following for over 20 years.

I can honestly say I’ve never felt anything like it. Sitting in my office, playing a new Final Fantasy game before anyone else, I was struck by how much 14-year-old me would have loved this moment. It wasn’t just the excitement of early access or reviewing the game; it was the incredible feeling that all my years playing Final Fantasy had led to this. Every late night spent immersed in its stories, every emotional experience, had all mattered. Finally, I was able to do something I truly cared about – contribute to something I’d loved for years.

Writing that review unlocked a side of myself I hadn’t realized existed. It wasn’t just about being a fan, or remembering being a young, late-night player, or even a 22-year-old escaping into the music. It was about finally getting to write about something I loved. I could really delve into a game that meant a lot to me and explain why it was so special, and that made all the hard work completely worthwhile.

Final Fantasy: A Constant in My Story

Playing Final Fantasy 16 really highlighted how deeply the series has impacted my life. It began as a way to escape, then offered comfort, and eventually felt like a constant companion. Ultimately, it even led me to the career I’d always dreamed of but didn’t know how to pursue. I’ve realized that some stories don’t just entertain us – they become important milestones, chapters in our personal history, and ultimately, shape who we are.

And for me, Final Fantasy has done exactly that for over twenty years.

2025-12-02 20:13