The Final Fantasy Legend
| Final Fantasy Legend | |
|---|---|
| File:FFLegendUSBox.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | Square (re-released in 1998 by Sunsoft) |
| Designer(s) | Akitoshi Kawazu |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy, Wonderswan Color |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Final Fantasy Legend (魔界塔士Sa・Ga Makaitoushi SaGa in Japan) is a Game Boy video game. As the first game in the SaGa series, it was released in 1989 by Square, and re-released only in Japan for the Wonderswan Color. Final Fantasy Legend operates on a turn based RPG system, in which the game's characters battle monsters using a variety of weapons. The game follows the story of four heroes that attempt to scale a tower at the center of the world, which supposedly leads to paradise. The four heroes controlled by the player may be one of eight character classes.
Gameplay
Final Fantasy Legend uses a simple turn-based battle system. Battles take place inside dungeons, and on the overworld map, a large area which represents the entire scope of Final Fantasy Legend. From the overworld, the game's four characters can enter towns and dungeons. Enemies will appear randomly; when a monster appears, the game shifts to a screen showing the monsters that have appeared. The player then has the option to either fight or run; however fighting is an essential part of Final Fantasy Legend, as experience is needed in order to progress past the game's later areas.
Character classes
When a new game file is created, the player may choose the name and class of his own character, and then recruits (or simply creates) three more into his or her party. Each party member has four different statistics - Strength, Agility, Hit Points, and Mana - which are leveled up as the game progresses. Strength is physical strength, or how much damage a given party member can inflict on enemies. Agility detirmines a character's ability to dodge and land attacks, as well as when he or she gets to attack. Hit Points gauge how much damage party members can withstand until they die. Finally, Mana detirmines a character's skill with magic.
- Humans (male or female) are the strongest character type in the game. They can carry up to eight weapons at a time. All weapons have a usage number, which indicates how many times it can be used in battle. When an item's usage drops to 0, it breaks, and cannot be used any more. Some weapons have no usage number (and said number is replaced by a "-" symbol), and thus can be used forever without breaking. For a human character to increase his or her stats, he or she must drink a specific potion, depending on the desired stat increase. There are potions for increasing Strength, Agility, Hit Points, and Mana. Most potions simply increase a given statistic, however Hit Point potions work slightly differently. The number of maximum HP for the character drinking the potion will effect the number of max HP added on after drinking it.
- Mutants (which can also be male or female) can only carry four weapons at a time, in contrast to the human which can carry eight. As opposed to drinking potions in order to increase stats, Mutants gain levels simply by fighting. Using certain types of weapons will increase Strength and Agility, such as swords and martial arts for Strength and knives and firearms for Agility. Mana is increased by using magic, and Hit Points are upgraded randomly by finishing fights. Also, mutant characters will randomly learn special abilities. These abilities have usage numbers, like normal weapons, but they can be refilled by staying at an Inn. Mutants throughout the game will learn and lose their special abilities.
- Monsters are the most unique of the three character classes. After defeating an enemy, it leaves behind meat. If a monster eats said meat of an enemy, it transforms into that enemy; monsters can gain a variety of attacks, as well as strengths and weaknesses, by eating the meat of different enemies. By eating the meat of a particularly powerful enemy (such as a boss character), the monster will gain powerful new strengths. On the other hand however, by eating the meat of a weak enemy, monsters will lose their strengths. Monsters can not wield weapons or learn special skills; they only gain statistics and attacks through eating.
Story
Template:Spoiler Once, there was a tower in the center of the known world that supposedly led to Paradise. Although many people tried to climb this tower, none were ever heard from again. The player controls a party of adventurers who will attempt to climb this tower. This is the world the hero starts out in. Three kings in this world are fighting for three legendary pieces of equipment, the King Sword, Shield and Armor respectively. First visiting King Armor, the heroes find out he's love sick over a girl. The heroes find out she is a slime-type monster in another village, and she loves King Armor, but is afraid of a bandit leader who wishes to marry her. The heroes track down the bandit and demand he give her up, he refuses, but is defeated by the heroes. He begs for mercy, but is given none. King Armor is so overjoyed that he gives his armor to the heroes. King Sword defiantly tries to kill the heroes when they ask for the King Sword, but is killed himself by them. Finally, King Shield is murdered by his own Steward, and after a short fight against him, the heroes have all three legendary items. They place these on a statue of a great hero, which causes a Black Sphere to appear. As they take the Sphere, Genbu, one of the four fiends (based on the Ssu Ling) appears to kill them. They vanquish him however, and use the power of the Sphere to enter the tower.