What's the best version of Final Fantasy?

[DMKA]

I really want to give this game another shot, but I was trying to choose which version to do it with, as I've only ever played the original NES version and wanted to check out one of the updates.

I don't even know how many versions there are anymore. I know there's the PS1 "Origins" version, then there's the PSP remake, and there's recently been iOS, Windows Phone, and Android releases. I was tempted to purchase the Android one but I've incidentally heard bad things about it.

So which release would you say is best, EoFF?

[Raistlin]

Of the non-NES versions I've played, the PS1 remake (Origins) is definitely the best, which is generally faithful to the original in terms of gameplay (at least compared to the others), but is nicely polished up. I have also heard good things about the PSP version, which also has some new content (bonus dungeons), but I have no personal experience with it. The GBA remake (Dawn of Souls) is supposedly a joke in terms of difficulty, and all of the added content in that is on the PSP version anyway.

So if you just want the same FF1 with neater graphics, I'd go with Origins for the PS1. If you want some new dungeons to explore, I'd go with the PSP remake.

[Gamblet]

I played the Origins version and I loved it. So you should go for Origins + you will get FF II.

[Quindiana Jones]

I'm finding the fast forward function of emulators to be hugely useful, given my time constraints, so I play the original version, myself. I have played Origins, though, and can confirm everything said about it here. Very faithful and a lot easier to look at.

[ReloadPsi]

You really have to play Origins. It's just as simple as that. Any difficulty you like, but preferably Normal. Go into the menu, turn off Auto-Target, Battle Support and all those other things that slightly decrease the difficulty level of the game.

Origins has the same difficulty level as the NES version and a fantastic new menu system to pretty much eliminate all of its clunkiness. It truly is the best version of the game. Well technically the WonderSwan Colour version is (Origins is just a translated port of it) but that's Japan only.

[Jowy]

I like the iOS port/cash in. I just wish I could minimize the app without the game going back to the startup menu.

[Mercen-X]

I personally don't approve of Origins. I own it. It's barely compatible with the PS and really not at all compatible with the PS2, though it appears to try. I owned FF1&2 for PSP, but sold them for funds to Canada. If I had a time machine, I go back and shoot myself in the foot hoping the insurance policy would be enough to afford the trip without selling my "soul".

[ReloadPsi]

I personally don't approve of Origins. I own it. It's barely compatible with the PS and really not at all compatible with the PS2, though it appears to try. I owned FF1&2 for PSP, but sold them for funds to Canada. If I had a time machine, I go back and shoot myself in the foot hoping the insurance policy would be enough to afford the trip without selling my "soul".

Both your PS and PS2 obviously need replacing. I have no problem running this game on either system.

[VeloZer0]

Ditto to that. Runs fine on my PS3 as well.

[Mercen-X]

I saved somewhere in FF (some cave), and now I can't exit. The game freezes.

[VeloZer0]

That sounds a bit more like a bad disk than the whole port being faulty....

[Mercen-X]

Brand new.

[ReloadPsi]

Yeah, it's just you then.

[Wolf Kanno]

Origins is the best due to being the most faithful to what the original was suppose to be, and it's a bit easier on the eyes. My second choice would actually be the original NES versions cause it's bugs actually make it one of the most challenging games if you don' wuss out and just build a grindfest Fighter party.

If you are looking for a more casual playthrough though and want to avoid lots of grinding and lots of Game Overs, I would recommend any version of the game post-Origins as SE pretty much lobotomized the difficulty in every port since.

[Tsuris]

The original if nothing else hurts for those who want to upgrade, the items (without guide) contain no information about who can equip what, that alone makes origins my choice. The graphics and gameplay are fine, but to grind hours just to waste my earnings :(.

[Axem Titanium]

I'm partial to the GBA Dawn of Souls port myself. Two games for the price of one, plus Soul of Chaos is actually legitimately interesting to me, from a twink standpoint.

[Bubba]

I like the iOS port/cash in. I just wish I could minimize the app without the game going back to the startup menu.

This is the only version I've played of the game and I thought it was pretty slick too. It was a great game for on the go.

[espritduo]

Depends on what you want.

If you want the original experience, you have to play the original game, which can still be bought and played on the Wii's Virtual Console. This is as simple a game as it gets, interface-wise, and unless you're used to playing NES-era games, this will not be your cup of tea.

If what you want is the closest thing to the original experience without all the 8-bit retro clunkiness of the most primitive of RPG's, then you want the Origins version for the PS1, which is a nice graphical and musical update to the game's interface with only the most minimal changes to gameplay.

If you're looking for the full package, then the PSP version's the only way to go. It has the highest graphical updates and tons upon tons of extras that will keep you playing the game virtually forever (really! I'm still trying to get every single item from the bonus dungeons and fight all the different forms of Chronodia). This version of the game is almost the de facto best version, save one thing that old-time games have already pointed out - the game is much easier than the original NES version, due to levelling being made much easier and items being sold for much cheaper prices, as well as all those bugs being fixed so spells like Temper actual are uber useful now. But if you're not looking for the most exteme version of FFI, and just the most complete version, the the PSP Anniversary edition is for you.

It should also be noted that the Android version is basically the original NES game. The iOS version is the same as the PSP version, with a slightly different phone-friendly interface. The DS version is somewhere in the middle of the PS1 and PSP versions. There's really no reason to get the DS version anymore, unless all you have is a DS, since the PSP version is better in every way.

[Heath]

I feel like I missed out on FFOrigins, and I bypassed it in favour of Dawn of Souls. I think if I ever decide to replay FFI, I'll have to give Origins a whirl.

I actually didn't mind Dawn of Souls. I absolutely agree that it made the game a cakewalk and that it changed a lot about the game to make it (in some respects) unrecognisable from the original. Having said that, I thought it made FFI a much more enjoyable game on the whole. Graphically it's much nicer and in terms of gameplay it's much more user friendly. I appreciate the NES version for what it is, which is a brilliant game by 1987's standards. However I don't think it holds up so well by today's standards. I certainly prefer playing FFI DoS, even if I think the original is probably a better game for its time.

[Chzn8r]

Origins, and the choice isn't too hard. Cleaned up version of the original game if you want it, or easier version with modified prices, levels, and magic if that's more your style as well. Being a console game it also has the best overall presentation (audio/visual) compared to the various portable remakes.

I've still played the NES and WSC versions the most, though.

[Dragonfire]

I'm kinda partial to the MSX version

[Andio]

I play on the PS3 origins port and it works fine so.....

[KentaRawr!]

I'm very partial GBA version.

[Spooniest]

I'd say get Origins and the PSP or iOS version, then you can play Final Fantasy whenever you want.

I miss my PSP.

[qwertysaur]

The one you have the most fun playing. :p

[VeloZer0]

I don't play FF game for fun, only to gather material to complain about them online with.

[qwertysaur]

I don't play FF game for fun, only to gather material to complain about them online with.
But if you have fun doing that, then the version you get the most material to complain about brings you the most fun. ~~p = p. :p