FINAL FANTASY I

Final Fantasy I is the game that started it all. Originally released on home computers and the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan and later in America, the game focuses on four Warriors of Light trying to rid the world of Chaos. Despite the simplicity, the game is still cherished for being a simple yet engaging early JRPG. 

When considering what version to play, there are three main versions to consider: the original version on NES, the PSP version, and the recent Pixel Remaster version. 

The NES

The original release of Final Fantasy was full of unintentional bugs that caused the game to differ greatly from the original intentions, and in a lot of ways can hamper the enjoyment of the game. Still, as it is the original release, it can be interesting to go back and experience it, bugs and all.

The PSP

The PSP release of Final Fantasy is essentially an extended version of a prior release on the Game Boy Advance, which added a new bonus dungeon and completely reworked the magic system. The original game had a “charge” system, most similar to the magic system seen in Dungeons and Dragons, where a magic user can only learn up to three spells of any given level, and each level of magic can only be cast a certain number of times. This version replaces the charge system with an MP system more common to other JRPGs, where magic users have a pool of MP in which they can spend to cast any magic. 

The Pixel Remaster

The Pixel Remaster series as a whole aims to try and be a polished up version of the original games, and Final Fantasy I may have one of the more faithful remasters in that regard. All of the new content from the PSP version is absent because of this, but in return the game has been rebalanced, graphics have been improved, and bugs from the original have been fixed. Most importantly,  the original charge system does return. This version is best suited for people who want to experience the original game in a more playable and polished state.