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"They may look old, but they sure as hell don't play old."

This review is a little slow on the uptake I suppose, but better late than never, right? Back in the 90's, Playstation owners were given some very nice little treats from Squaresoft. We had Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy Tactics… and other games that I don't really know of because they don't have the two “F” words in them. Many of the series' new fans, however, missed out on some great beginnings to the FF universe. FF6 had been released for the SNES a long time ago, for example, but not all PS owners had gotten the chance to play it. Even less were the Americans who played FF5, which was only released in Japan. By 1999, a Playstation version of FF5 and FF6 were very much desired by old and new fans alike. And so voila! Here they are, in all their 2-D kick-ass glory! I'll review each game separately, just because I feel like it. M'okay?

FINAL FANTASY 5
STORY:
The last FF to truly follow the same basic “Four Crystals” blueprint from previous FFs, FF5 still manages to bring plenty of new elements to the story. Instead of having four cookie-cutter characters (FF1), three semi-involved characters with a fourth guest filling in every now and then (FF2), or a bazillion different characters, half of whom are killed (FF4…and yes that's an exaggeration), FF5 brings us four completely original individuals who happen to stumble into each other and end up dealing with some crazy crystal madness!

It begins when the Wind Crystal shatters in front of King Tycoon and a meteor suddenly crashes into the ground at the same time. These events will bring together Bartz, Princess Reina, Faris, and Galuf. I must say that these four characters are quite an improvement for the FF series. FF4 had so many different personalities that it was a bit hard to keep track of all of them, so FF5 focuses in on four, which is quite a treat. While the protagonist is just a wee bit boring, all of their stories mesh with one another in ways you really wouldn't expect. It's quite a leap forward, and just talking about it makes me want to play it again!

Nevertheless, we have seen the Four Crystals at least three times before, so at this point it may be a bit redundant for some. But other than that minor gripe, FF5's story delivers surprisingly well. It provides scenes both entertaining and heartbreaking…and all with tiny little sprites!
STORY: 9.5/10

GRAPHICS:
The graphics in FF5 are nearly identical to its predecessor. The sprites are very cute looking, and outside of battle they are far less detailed. In-battle, sprites are larger and their outfits are different depending on their job class, which is very cool. Still, I need to be fair here…they aren't so hot by PS1 standards. So while there really isn't a problem with them, they obviously aren't up to par with other PS1 titles.
GRAPHICS: 5/10

SOUNDS:
Do you hear that? It's that classic old school RPG music you just can't get out of your head! FF5 might have my favorite music out of all the SNES FFs, with its contagious and upbeat tracks both new and old. FF5 seems to be the first one in the series whose music really plays an important role in the situation, and there are tons of different tracks.
SOUNDS: 9.5/10

GAMEPLAY:
So you know I love this game, but do you know why? The Job System, of course! With dozens of different job classes, the possibilities for your four characters are endless. So if having only four characters was a turn-off to you at first, the Job Systems will more than make up for it because now it's like you can have literally hundreds of different types of characters to choose from. Go with the basic strength and defense of a fighter, or obliterate anyone standing in your way with the uncontrollable berserker (just hope he/she doesn't get confused!). There are also the many mage types, all of which are useful in their own ways. Then there are completely out-there jobs, such as the sorcerer (one of my personal favorites), the geomancer, the trainer, the mime, and the dancer. All jobs have their pros and cons, so it not only provides tons of innovation; it also requires lots of strategy. Do you want four mages? It might be worth a shot, but remember that they have terrible defense. Four physically powerful jobs? You've got the brute strength, but you'll have trouble healing only with items.

Then again, just because, say, Bartz is a fighter doesn't mean he can only use fighters' abilities. If he's had experience as other jobs, he can add some of their skills too. For example, if he was a blue mage before, he may also be able to have a blue mage's abilities when he's a fighter—you simply give him the Blue Magic command to use during combat. Hell, the possibilities are endless. I love this game!

In addition to the skills, the equipment is also different depending on the job. Thieves equip knives, hunters use a bow and arrow, etc. Of course, enough job experience will allow different weapons in different classes.

Of course there is one problem with this game that plagues many other SNES RPGs—there are way too many battles. It's not as bad as FF1 or 2, but you'll still be fighting a LOT. So of course you'll get sick of it, but just remember that every battle has its reward.

There are thousands of different ways to play FF5, and its depth really can't be put into words. This is actually my favorite SNES RPG ever, and even if it's not the same for you, you can probably appreciate my reasoning.
GAMEPLAY: 9.5/10

LASTING APPEAL:
With limitless battle options this game will definitely keep your interest for a long time, especially if you're a completionist (which is a word I just made up). Not to mention the many sidequests you can go on (summons, playing piano, etc.). Once you beat it you'll be worn out, but I assure you you'll come back eventually.
LASTING APPEAL: 10/10

OVERALL:
Final Fantasy 5 is one of my personal all-time favorites. It's got the captivating story and the engrossing gameplay, but it still manages to provide you with that good old-school feeling.
OVERALL: 9.6/10

FINAL FANTASY 6
STORY:
FF6's story begins with a mysterious girl riding a gigantic mechanical monstrosity with two soldiers. But who am I kidding? You most likely already knew that. Terra is one of the most memorable characters in the FF universe, and the **** she goes through is truly moving.

But as you also probably know, FF6 doesn't only focus on Terra. Indeed, there are 13 other main characters who join her, each with his or her unique personality! Take Edgar and Sabin, two brothers of royal blood, one whom embraces his lineage and the other who rebels against it. Yet despite their differences, they have a bond that cannot be broken. It's actually quite touching when you think about it. Then you've got the old man Strago and his granddaughter Relm. While the former thinks Relm needs taking care of, she may actually be the one who protects him. And who can forget the powerful yet insecure Celes and her new rebel friend Locke? And believe me, there's a lot more where that came from. It's the characters and their bonds with one another that make all of FF6's fans so obsessed with this game. And I think that's a pretty damn legit reason.

But what about the main plotline? Well, with the discovery of a new Esper (a legendary monster, in short), an evil force here and there may be just a teensy bit interested. A terrible war is about to occur involving man-made abominations and terrifying magic, lead by perhaps the biggest maniac of all the FF villains—the infamous Kefka. And it's up to Terra and the gang to stop him.

While it may not have been executed as well as later FFs, 6's story was the first original tour de force given to us by Squaresoft. Memorable characters (both playable and non-playable) and a potentially earth-shattering war are what makes us players so captivated to play through this game in its entirety. A true masterpiece.
STORY: 10/10

GRAPHICS:
Only slightly better than 5's, 6's in- and out-of-battle sprites are actually nearly identical. But for their small sizes, they sure do have a large amount of animations. Add in some nice magic effects and you've got some good SNES-quality visuals.
GRAPHICS: 5.5/10

SOUNDS:
Seriously, if you're reading this, it's a for sure thing that you know FF6's battle theme, the boss music, Terra's theme, and “the Veldt.” Because I'm pretty sure almost all of GameFAQs users have had their own experience with this game. And as popular as this game is, it only makes the music that much more unforgettable. For this one, I honestly don't care if it's SNES-quality or not. It's Final Fantasy 6! Come on!
SOUNDS: 9.5/10

GAMEPLAY:
14 COMPLETELY different characters means a LOT of different ways to play the game. One thing they do have in common is their ability to equip relics and Espers. Espers are summoned monsters, and while equipped they also will eventually teach a character magic spells. Relics are accessories that provide different benefits for characters (protection from poison, etc.).

But the best thing about the gameplay is no doubt each different character's unique talent. For example, Cyan can use his Sword Techniques. When you choose this option, a bar slowly fills up. Once it reaches a certain number, Cyan will use that particular technique. The higher the number, the better the skill. But it's a pain to wait for the bar to fill up, see? Each ability has its pros and cons. Sabin requires you to input a combination of buttons for him to use a martial arts move, but you may do these incorrectly, resulting in a wasted turn. Edgar's ability (Tool…heh) is perhaps the most useful, but it requires you to spend money or to go out of your way to get the tools you want. Those are just three of the 14, and they alone made a pretty lengthy paragraph! While some characters' abilities will turn off many gamers (Gau and Umaro, for example), they may also provide an additional challenge. And you've always got your magic to cast, which is a good bet for any character (well, except Umaro…). And if you REALLY hate training Gau, just use a damn Gameshark to get all his monsters—he actually kicks ass if you know what to select, and it makes it more fun and less tedious.

So yeah, with each individual character's unique personality there is a unique way for him/her to battle. It provides endless fun and lots of time—a pretty good combination if you've got nothing more better to do!
GAMEPLAY: 10/10

LASTING APPEAL:
Much like FF5, this will last you awhile. The story will definitely need to be revisited for you to absorb everything, and the many characters will also give you lots of different reasons to replay FF6 over and over again. Not to mention the many sidequests. Unfortunately, the chocobos just missed the cut with their own sidequests in FF6, but there are dozens of other things to do. Buy this game and cherish it forever.
LASTING APPEAL: 10/10

OVERALL:
What can be said that hasn't been said already about Final Fantasy 6? I can't think of anything. It's a classic in every way possible. I think that will have to do.
OVERALL: 9.9/10

FINAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY OVERALL
Some little things to discuss first about the differences in the PS1 versions versus the originals. Loading times are kind of a pain, but you'll learn to deal. FF5 may be a little glitchy on the save screen for PS2 users, but it's easy to overcome. And we get the ability to run now? Thank the heavens. There's also the new “Memo Save” option, which is great when you're in a tight spot.

Two of my all-time favorites in one package? This is a damn dream come true. And the little bonus music CD? A nice little cherry on top of the best hot fudge sundae of all time.
OVERALL: 9.8/10 (10/10 when rounded)

Thanks for reading =)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/08

Game Release: Final Fantasy Anthology (US, 09/30/99)