Final Fantasy 5/V - Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy V (5) is the fifth instalment of the flagship series Final Fantasy, released in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super Famicom). The game was later released on multiple platforms including iOS, PlayStation, Gameboy Advance, and others. It was produced by Hironobu Sakaguch, who stated the game was his favorite final fantasy. Yoshitaka Amano was responsible for character, image, and logo design.
This particular game forms the basis for the anime Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, a sequel that takes place 200 years after the game.
Prologue
Fire, Water, Wind, Earth. The peace and prosperity of the world is thanks to the power of these crystals. However...that power is nearing its limit. Not far off is the day when the wind slows...the water stills...and the earth trembles and quakes...and yet, everyone remains blissfully unaware...and the grave secret hidden within the crystals remain untold...
Final Fantasy V Plot
Final Fantasy V starts as the world’s winds begin dying down. King Tycoon rides a drake to the wind shrine and once there witnesses the wind crystal shatter. During a rest Bartz witnesses a meteorite strike near the castle and investigates the site to find Lenna lying unconscious. Once there, Bartz encounters several characters and learns about the danger facing the crystals that control the world’s elements. These Crystals act to contain Exdeath, an evil sorcerer who influences others to destroy the crystals and break his seal. The mission of Bartz and his companions is to prevent Exdeath's influence and stop him from destroying the crystals and return peace to the world.
Gameplay
Final Fantasy V continues and builds upon many of the same design concepts introduced in the first games. Players control their characters from a birds eye vantage point through a traversable overworld connected by various towns, dungeons, and other impasses, collecting items, loot, and gaining experience along the way.
The game uses the “Active Time Battle” from Final Fantasy IV whereby a gauge fills up and once it reaches capacity, allows players to attack or cast spells. Taking an action empties the gauge and the cycle of recharging continues. The new system allows more flow to battle and less waiting, adding urgency and requiring the use of more strategy in battles. In battle, players may control up to four players, and, unlike the previous version, the player will know which character will attack next. During battle, a player can attack, use an ability or item, or change positions. In the case of death, players can revive with spells phoenix down, raise, or arise.
Players can travel the world by foot, wind drake, Chocobo, airship, or hydra-guided ship, depending on the situation. Players interact with friendly and enemy NPCs and enter battle at random moments and fight bosses. In towns, players are able to buy items, recharge their strength, and find clues about their missions. In inns, players can sleep to regain HP, which can also be restored by using potions and spells.
Character Jobs
Party members are able to potentially master up to twenty-two jobs. In the beginning, the player’s characters are "Freelancers", and while travelling to new Crystal locations, the characters acquire new jobs. In Final Fantasy V, players may assign skills learned from other jobs to the character regardless of that character’s current job. Mastering any job would give the character all of the job's passive skills and stat boosts when switched back to "freelancer/bare".
Active skills such as magic would still need to be equipped. This was the first version of the job system that allowed skills to be "learned" from other jobs to transfer the character regardless of his or her current job. That is, mastering a job imparted to the character all of the job's passive bonuses and level boosts when switched to "freelancer/bare". However, active skills such as magic still needed to be equipped.
Final Fantasy V uses an experience system whereby players improve and gain new abilities upon defeating monsters and bosses. Character’s weaknesses and strengths depend on their job category. For example, a fighter may have weak agility and a mage may have low defense, but strong spellcasting power. Magic is divided into white, black, Summoning (Rydia), and a special magic used by Edge (“Call” in SNES) named ninjitsu.
Characters
- Bartz Klauser- A wanderer usually accompanied by his chocobo, Boko that turned into a warrior. The main protagonist of Final Fantasy V.
- Galuf Doe- An old man whose memory is failing due to amnesia. He can’t remember his full name but only a memory in which he must save the crystals.
- Faris Scherwiz- A pirate captain that travels in a pirate ship with his crew. He joins the group for personal reasons after the party tries to hijack her ship.
- Lenna Charlotte Tycoon- Daughter of King Tycoon (and heir to the throne of Tycoon) that meets Bartz at the meteorite. When the King did not return from his trip, she went out in search of him.
- Krile Mayer Baldesion- The granddaughter of Galuf who helps the party many times. She has the ability to talk to moogles and chocobos. Also, tame and befriend wind drakes.