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STORY-TELLING IN VIDEO GAMES: FINAL FANTASY

One of the most iconic video game franchises to date, this series exemplifies the movement towards a more storytelling-centered approach to video games.  The video game, along with the Legend of Zelda (1986), and Dragon Quest (1980), were among the earliest video games associated with the popularization and legitimization of the role-playing video games, following it’s fiscal and critical success after it’s release in 1987. The role-playing genre itself is one that is particularly involving as the player immerses himself or herself in the world of the character, is as such very much entrenched in the idea of storytelling.

The earliest versions of game in this genre began with “pen and paper” role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons in1974, and with the growing technologies that were presented by the video gaming world, it became increasingly possible to make the genre even more immersive as the world only imagined by players before was given the opportunity to become increasingly tangible first with computer games in 1980 and then with consoles in 1982.

A view of the world map of Final Fantasy I

The game takes place in an alternate fantasy reality, inhabited by a number of races including; humans, mermaids and dragons. It follows four 'Light Warriors', tasked with restoring balance to a world devastated by the darkening of the world’s four elemental orbs by the four ‘Elemental Fiends’. The plot of the game develops as the player moves through the game, interacting with citizens residing in towns to gain information and visiting shops to buy equipment to enrich the gaming experience and strengthen the characters adds a touch of reality to the game that provides a relatability that makes the game even more immersive and involving, making it considerably less linear than the side-scrolling platform games that came before.

Screenshot of Light Warriors (Right) battling an Elemental Fiend

The game also featured a variety of weapons, armor and other special items that can be found or bought throughout the game in order to make the character more powerful. Each character is classified into six classes: Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, White Mage and Black Mage. These classes influence the way each character can navigate throughout the game. Depending on the class, there are restrictions on which weapons and armor are available for use, and as such how effective each character is in battle. Characters also develop organically as game experience is amassed; the player is then given the option to undo a class upgrade. These features, typical of an RPG, are examples of how the game is given complexities and details in order to make the gaming and storytelling experience all the more vivid, convincing and engaging.

Even today, the game is widely regarded as one of the pioneers in RPG video game field, and with it's series about to spawn it's 14th title, it is clear that the lasting impression that was made  with it's innovations in gaming will be continued for a while to come.