Final Fantasy (2000). Play online

Summary

The WonderSwan Color version of Final Fantasy feels like a polished snapshot of the classic 1987 RPG. Its 32‑bit graphics replace the original 8‑bit sprites with crisp, colorful designs that echo later Super Famicom entries, and battle screens now display full background images instead of bare static frames.

The soundtrack was upgraded to higher‑quality MIDI, letting the familiar Prelude and Victory Fanfare resonate with clearer instruments. New cinematic scenes flesh out the world a bit more, giving longtime fans fresh visual hooks without breaking the original's spirit. Critics noticed the boost; Famitsu scored it 30/40 and IGN gave it an 8.6‑point rating.

I later discovered that this enhanced version finally made it abroad as part of the Final Fantasy Origins collection, so the handheld polish could be appreciated alongside its PS‑one companions. For anyone curious about the series roots, the WonderSwan remake serves as a surprisingly modern gateway.

Storyline

Final Fantasy begins with four Warriors of Light who each bear a darkened crystal—earth, fire, water, and wind. Unaware of their purpose, they set out to restore the crystals’ light.

They rescue Princess Sarah from the evil knight Garland in Coneria, then sail east to Pravoka, free the town from pirate Bikke, and claim his ship.

Next they retrieve a stolen crown in Marsh Cave, defeat the dark elf Astos for the Crystal Eye, trade it to the blind witch Matoya for a herb, and awaken a cursed elf prince who gives them the Mystic Key.

They slay the Earth Fiend Lich in Earth Cave, the Fire Fiend Kary in Gurgu Volcano, raise an airship with a Levistone from Ice Cave, and defeat the Water Fiend Kraken in the Sunken Shrine. With the Wind Fiend Tiamat gone in the Floating Castle, the crystals are restored.

A portal in the Temple of Chaos sends them 2,000 years into the past, where they confront Chaos, the creator of the loop. After defeating Chaos they return, their deeds becoming legend.