Other Game Boy RPGs
Final Fantasy Legend
Released: September 1990 in USA. Rereleased August 1998 in USA. December 1989 in Japan as Makaitoushi SaGa.
Developer/Publisher: Square.
Publisher (Re-release): Sunsoft
A tower in the center of the world is said to lead to paradise... but does it? A party of four adventurers climb the tower, floor by floor, seeking answers. Four unique worlds, each based on one of the four elements (Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire), lie between Base Town and the top of the tower. Unique character classes are drastically different: Humans purchase power-ups, mutants' abilities randomly change after battles, and monsters evolve by eating the "meat" of defeated opponents. The biggest twist comes at the end of the game, when the final opponent, Ashura, is defeated... and the party tumbles down the tower to Base Town! Climbing the tower again reveals that the true opponent is none other than God himself... the Creator of the world. Your entire adventure has been a "game" of his devising, to test your faith and amuse him. Needless to say, your party wipes that smirk off his face, permanently.
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Final Fantasy Adventure
Released: November 1991 in USA. Rereleased August 1998 in USA. June 1991 in Japan as Seiken Densetsu.
Developer/Publisher: Square.
Publisher (Rerelease): Sunsoft
This excellent action RPG is actually the precursor to Square's SNES Secret of Mana (known as Seiken Densetsu 2 in Japan). Seiken Densetsu, roughly translated as Legend of the Holy Sword, tells of an escaped slave who discovers his destiny: Only he can stop the Emperor Julius' immortal ambitions. It also reveals the origins of the Mana Tree. A variety of weapons, spells, and items, each with its strengths and weaknesses, are at our hero's disposal. A revolving posse of sidekicks, each with a unique skill, accompanies the hero throughout his quest. The quest is lengthy and worthy of any fan of the genre. A historical tidbit for Square nuts: Chocobos and Moogles both made their first stateside appearance in this title. But the most important feature this game introduced was the ability to kill annoying townspeople who got in your way. Even many of today's so-called "state-of-the-art" titles lack this important innovation.
Final Fantasy Legend III
Released: September 1992 in USA. Rereleased August 1998 in USA. December 1991 in Japan as Jikuuno Hasha SaGa.
Developer/Publisher: Square.
Publisher (Rerelease): Sunsoft
Think of it as Chrono Trigger "lite." The third game in the Final Fantasy Legend series increases the emphasis on linear narrative and downplays the unbridled freedom of the previous SaGa games. An unknown Entity is flooding the past, present, and future; turning entire continents into oceans. Three children - Arthur, Curtis, and Gloria - are sent back in time to stop the waters. Together with the past's Sharon, these four may be the last, best hope of mankind. Your party time-travels between three different periods, their actions in the past influencing results in the future. Eventually, you discover the evil force, Xagor, that lies behind the destruction.
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