Overview
Final Fantasy saved Square from bankruptcy and launched a dynasty. The company pushed RPG presentation forward with each entry—Mode 7 airships, pre-rendered backgrounds, full-motion video, orchestral scores. From NES origins to PlayStation dominance, Square defined what Japanese RPGs could achieve before merging with Enix in 2003.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1986.
- Breakthrough: Final Fantasy (1987).
- Merger: Square Enix (2003).
- Legacy: JRPG standards.
Major franchises
| Series | First entry |
|---|
| Final Fantasy | 1987 |
| SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend) | 1989 |
| Mana (Seiken Densetsu) | 1991 |
| Chrono | 1995 |
| Kingdom Hearts | 2002 |
Final Fantasy evolution
| Entry | Year | Innovation |
|---|
| I | 1987 | Saved the company |
| IV | 1991 | ATB combat, story focus |
| VI | 1994 | Ensemble cast, Mode 7 |
| VII | 1997 | 3D, mainstream success |
| VIII | 1999 | Realistic characters |
| IX | 2000 | Return to fantasy |
| X | 2001 | Voice acting, linear design |
Technical innovation
| Achievement | Title |
|---|
| Mode 7 usage | Final Fantasy VI |
| Pre-rendered backgrounds | Final Fantasy VII |
| FMV integration | Multiple titles |
| Real-time 3D | Final Fantasy VII onwards |
Key people
| Person | Contribution |
|---|
| Hironobu Sakaguchi | Final Fantasy creator |
| Nobuo Uematsu | Composer |
| Yoshitaka Amano | Character/logo designer |
| Tetsuya Nomura | Character designer (VII+) |
SNES era
| Title | Year | Note |
|---|
| Final Fantasy IV | 1991 | Story-driven RPG |
| Final Fantasy V | 1992 | Job system |
| Final Fantasy VI | 1994 | SNES peak |
| Chrono Trigger | 1995 | Dream team collaboration |
| Secret of Mana | 1993 | Action RPG |
PlayStation dominance
| Factor | Impact |
|---|
| Nintendo split | Moved to PlayStation |
| CD-ROM | Enabled FMV, music |
| FF VII success | Mainstream JRPG moment |
See also