Final Fantasy began with a straightforward story in 1987. Four heroes were brought together to collect magical crystals and prevent a powerful being named Chaos from wiping out the world. Chaos wasn’t connected to any country or power-hungry leader; it was a force from another realm.
As the Final Fantasy series continued, the storylines became more intricate, often featuring conflicts between entire countries. If you enjoy political dramas centered around clashing kingdoms, these games offer a deep dive into that experience – similar to watching Game of Thrones. Even a beloved title like Final Fantasy 7 didn’t fully explore this theme, so let’s examine which installments did it well.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Let The Battles Commence!
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, a remastered version of the classic Final Fantasy Tactics, is set after a fifty-year conflict between warring kingdoms. The game starts during a period of relative calm, though tensions remain between the wealthy nobles and the struggling common people as they fight over land, possessions, and privileges. However, this peace is short-lived, as a new conflict-known as the Lion War-erupts due to disagreements over faith and ancestry, thus kicking off the game’s central storyline.
As a huge fan, I think this is the absolute best tactical game in the whole series. It really gets into the details of what it’s like to be a soldier at war. And honestly, with the improved voice acting and writing, The Ivalice Chronicles is the perfect way to play this tactical RPG and enjoy everything it has to offer. It’s just brilliant!
Final Fantasy 16
The War Of The Summons
I’m really into Final Fantasy 16, and the world-building is awesome. Basically, the game starts with a bunch of nations trying to keep the peace – it’s like a Cold War situation where everyone’s trying to avoid conflict. The reason? Each country has these incredibly powerful beings called Eikons – think of them as nuclear weapons. But of course, that peace doesn’t last. I’m playing as Clive, and he’s driven by revenge after his family and kingdom were destroyed years ago. It’s a pretty compelling story so far, and the Eikon battles are insane! You can learn more about the game here.
That’s when other nations and forces attempt to seize control, but Clive steps in to create a balance. He’s a Dominant of Ifrit, which allows him to harness Ifrit’s incredible power and even absorb abilities from other Eikons and their Dominants. With Eikons being central to the gameplay of Final Fantasy 16, it delivers a truly spectacular and action-packed role-playing experience.
Final Fantasy 9
Preventing Genocide
Released as the final traditional installment on the PlayStation, Final Fantasy 9 strikes a balance between lightheartedness and serious themes. The Queen of Alexandria is driven by a thirst for power and aims to conquer neighboring kingdoms – even those that are supposed to be her allies – by collecting powerful Summons. Her ambition extends to the near-total destruction of an entire people. Disgusted by her mother’s warmongering, Princess Garnet flees with a thief called Zidane, and together with their companions, they attempt to prevent as much suffering as possible.
One of the most compelling aspects of the game is that events often happen after you arrive, even if it means witnessing the decline or recovery of towns and kingdoms. You’ll experience these locations at their peak, during their fall, and as they rebuild. The game also frequently splits the party, allowing you to see how each character feels about specific events. Featuring traditional turn-based combat, Final Fantasy 9 stands out as a fantastic conclusion to the series’ time on the PlayStation 1.
Final Fantasy 12
Another Ivalice Tale
As a huge fan, I always loved that Final Fantasy 12 takes place in the same world as Final Fantasy Tactics – Ivalice! The story starts with two kingdoms at war, and you actually play as a character who isn’t part of the main group for a little while. Then, the game jumps forward in time, and it looks like things have finally calmed down. But, you know how it always is, another country gets greedy and wants more power. That’s when the awesome heroes of Final Fantasy 12 get together with other nations to try and stop a new war from breaking out.
One of the best features of this game is the exciting aerial combat, featuring epic battles between airships. The battle system combines the fast-paced action of real-time combat with the strategic thinking of turn-based gameplay – similar to what you’d find in an MMO. This blend creates a more realistic and immersive feel to the fights as players journey through expansive environments.
Final Fantasy 4 (Remake)
A Classic Reimagined
As a long-time fan, I think Final Fantasy 4 was the first game in the series where the story *really* started to take center stage. And it kicks off with a pretty dark opening, honestly. You play as Cecil, and basically, you’re part of a team that bombs a kingdom with airships – all to steal their Crystal! It’s all in the name of the Kingdom of Baron and their ruler, who’s obsessed with collecting all the Crystals so they can control the world. It was a bold move for the series at the time, and it totally hooked me.
Cecil has reached his breaking point. However, after challenging his superior, he’s lost most of his status and must redefine his purpose outside of the Baron’s estate. He now faces a choice: continue his service to the king, or fight for justice for everyone else? The story is best enjoyed in its 3D remake, which features voice acting. The remake initially launched on the DS, but is now available on PC through platforms like Steam.
Final Fantasy Type-0
School-Based Tactics
Final Fantasy Type-0 isn’t remembered by many fans, largely because the first version was only released in Japan for the PSP. It eventually came to North America with an updated version for consoles. Like Final Fantasy 8, the story centers around a special school that trains soldiers to fight in a never-ending war.
The game focuses on completing missions. Before starting, players select a team. Each character operates on their own, making each playthrough feel new and different. Players could choose to fight using cards, guns, or even a scythe – there were many options. What really stood out were the smaller games within the main chapters. These involved strategically placing soldiers on a world map, much like a real-time strategy (RTS) game, and really emphasized the feeling of being at war.
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2025-10-03 17:05