Final Fantasy II Part 2: Journey to Phin

Exploring My New Surroundings

New game mechanic alert! After my first random battle, I remember that there is no experience in this game. At the end of battle, I just get money. Looking at stats, I notice my sword and shield proficiency have gotten numbers by them. The first number must be the level, and the second number must be the amount of experience. A staple of the SaGa series is that characters don’t gain levels. Instead, they get stat increases based on how they fight in battle. It seems random and arbitrary, so I proceed with caution and the probability that I will be grinding in this entry too.

I know it's missing Guy, but that's because of the flicker. Look, though! I can cast on everybody now instead of just one person!

Graphically the world map looks nicer. The water actually moves now instead of being static! I try to use the select B trick, but nothing happens. Come to think of it, nobody told me where Phin is, but since I know that Palm is to the east, I will need to go anywhere but there!

While fighting some hornets, my characters become poisoned, but it goes away after a round! Is that lucky of me? Then Maria gains magic power, probably because I cast Cure on Firion. Naturally, I’ll want to play my characters the way I want them upgraded, but poor Maria has only 5 MP! At the end of the fight, my characters cheer and make their way across the enemies’ side of the screen. That’s a cute gimmick that never returned. 

Then I enter the town of Gatea, across the lake from Phin. An old man tells me to be careful in Phin because there are strong guards moving around. Another man tells me that there is a dying man who escaped the Empire being housed in the bar at Phin, definitely worth investigating when I get there. The Empire also appears to be constructing a Warship.

Look! I can buy revival items now…if only I could afford them.

After buying a leather armor for Maria (I also notice I can give any character any piece of equipment!), I continue my journey to Phin. I fight some goblins, and Maria loses some intelligence! I guess this is going to be one of those games where I have to be really careful how I play my characters.

In the next fight, Firion missed for the third time in a row (Somehow he is gaining agility after each of these kinds of fights.), while Maria and Guy take care of the threats (What is a Leg Eater anyway? It looks like a thorny plant.). After getting the crap kicked out of him, Guy gains HP. As I approach Phin, an airship approaches and flies by. It’s a really neat addition to what is becoming a more dynamic world map. Even though the others are getting hit every now and then, Guy gains more HP and vitality. I should have named him Tank because I am starting to see his role develop.

The Rescue Mission in Phin

Upon entering Phin, a captain recognizes me as a rebel and kills me with no effort. I can’t even run.

Good thing I saved. Why didn’t they tell me this was a fight I had to survive? Wasn’t like that in the intro!

The soldiers in town are everywhere, but I can walk in front of them without any problem—as long as I don’t talk to them. The town is completely abandoned, and I decide to make my way to the pub to find this wounded character.

The shops suck in Phin. Nobody's around to take my order!

Wait, a random encounter in a town? This place really sucks! Listen closely, Hornets. Do you work for the Empire?

There is a guard in my way to the pub, but I find a place in the back of town to walk behind some trees and grass to walk around the guard and make it there. It really is easier to sneak around in this game than it is in Metal Gear. I wonder if he feels asleep?!

Then a gang of leg eaters attacks me, and Firion joins the HP up club, leaving Maria in the dust. Guy still dominates with 70 HP. After a couple more random encounters, I reach the pub. If this were a stateside NES release, it probably would have been called a café.

AAAAHHH! They're everywhere! Keep those rounds coming, Barkeep!

The barkeep is angry that I approached him behind the counter but then completely changes his attitude when I utter Wild Rose. He tells me to investigate behind the wall to find the dying soldier. Under the pub, I find three potions and a man in bed. The man is Scott, Gordon’s brother from before, though he doesn’t look distinctive compared to the other men in hats I’ve found before.

I like that hat! Are you a red mage?

Scott tells us that he is dying, and he gives me a laundry list of people to talk to when I return to Altea.

I would have told him the same thing if I weren’t in such a hurry before!

I also have to tell the King that Phin was taken because Duke Borgan gave Phin up to the Empire to become a General! When Maria asks him if he knows what happened to Leon, he has no idea.

Oh, what a tease!

He gives me the ring that he was going to present to propose to Princess Hilda and then dies in bed. The game just started, and I already have one dead NPC; not good, people! With nothing else to do in town but pick fights with overpowered soldiers, I return to Altea to report the grim state of affairs.

Reporting to Base

On my way back to Altea, I stray a little too far, and a pack of werewolves kill Guy with one hit! Thankfully Maria makes the escape (and it’s funny to watch because the party slowly backs away from the screen.)! I stop at Gatea and step up to the altar again, and it lets me revive Guy for free, but now he’s back with 1 HP and poisoned (Weird! Was he poisoned before he died?), so I go to the inn and rest. Unfortunately, the poison is still there! Three rounds into the next random encounter, Guy still has not recovered from his poison, and I think I may need to buy an antidote back in Altea! When I see that Guy’s antidote will cost him 200G, I say no thanks and just decide to keep curing him when he gets low on HP! Never have I dipped so low in a console RPG.

In the rebel base, I hand the ring to Hilda, who hands it back to me. Firion does not mention that Scott loved her.

No really, Hilda. I insist! Otherwise, I sincerely hope that you will not be wasting my inventory space with this ring!

Then she tells me that I am (suddenly) strong enough to search for the legendary mithril to make better equipment for the army. I need to find Josef in Salmando because he knows where to find mithril.

Then wouldn't you want something better than mithril?

I walk over to Minh, who tells me that he will join my party and bring his canoe along. I open up the menu to find that Minh is quite the magician, and I use Heal on Guy to rid him of that pesky poison. I knew it paid off to be cheap! I look forward to having Minh in my party, but knowing how powerful sidekicks go, I know that I won’t have him forever. I notice that spells cost as many HP as the level. So the more I use a spell, the stronger the spell gets, the more expensive it becomes to use.

Does he hold the canoe in his turban?

I speak with Hilda one more time, and she reveals that the prisoners in Phin are being forced to buy the Warship, which is larger than Cid’s airship. When I ask about the airship, I learn that the white knight Cid lives in Poft and offers charter flights (Hey that was my idea!). A man with a hat outside of the meeting room tells me that the Warship is being built in Bofsk.

First game in the series with Cid in it! A Final Fantasy staple!

On my way out of town, I stop by the inn, where I find it costs 28G to restore my HP and MP. I perform an experiment by having Maria heal the party with Cure (I want it to become stronger!), and afterwards, the inn costs only 8G a night! Apparently, it’s based on how much HP and MP I need to recover! I show Gordon the ring, and although he reacts, nothing happens out of it. Leaving Gordon to his thoughts, I walk to the magic shop, where I still can’t afford any magic. I decide on my next run, I will get enough money to purchase Fire, Ice, and Lightning!

I'm not sure, but I think Minh is a white mage...

Coming next time! No, really, where DOES he keep that canoe?

Thanks for reading, and leave your comments below!

Final Fantasy II Part 1: Introduction--The Nightmare Begins!

Enter Final Fantasy II.

The infamous, the only, the true Final Fantasy II.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Final Fantasy IV, the game that Square CLAIMED was Final Fantasy II back in the day. But this game’s reputation holds a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s the same reason I also like Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA version) and The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. It’s because it’s different from its predecessor (However, I don’t have the same liking for Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest.). It’s not afraid to be different, and while it suffers for it, I respect it. At the very least, it lays down the foundation for the SaGa series that follows in the footsteps of Final Fantasy II.

A little about the game. Final Fantasy II was slated to make it to the States on the NES. However, Square cut translation efforts. Final Fantasy was published first in 1987 but didn’t make it here until 1990, when Japan already had Final Fantasy III for Famicom (the Japanese NES). By the time Final Fantasy II was being translated, Square was ready to bring over Final Fantasy IV for Super Famicom, so we got it here as Final Fantasy II (assuming there would be no need for continuity...whoops!).

Confusing huh? I think it’s also very interesting, and you can read more about it at http://www.lostlevels.org/200312/200312-ffan2.shtml. Thanks for the great read, Chris Collette!

Final Fantasy II didn’t make it to us until 2002 with Final Fantasy Origins for PlayStation. I played through it and was intrigued, though at the time I didn’t really play it well. The game kicked my butt, but kicking and screaming, I made it through the very end and was proud of myself.

This time around, I’m going to teach this game a lesson, and I’m pleased that you’ll be joining me on this notorious adventure. I have chosen to play on a NES fan translation this time to get a different experience than I did when I played it on PlayStation. Many thanks to the group Neo Demiforce for providing the translation, and may God have mercy on us all!

The Prologue

Oh dear lord! Hellspawn?! Can I have Garland back please?

I begin the game with four dark knights chasing my party down. Before I get a chance to snap a shot, the crew takes out two of my characters with one hit apiece! Good thing that the old you-miss-when-you-target-the-air mechanic is still around, because now I have a fighting chance….nevermind!

I have to survive! They're RPG heroes!

Minh and Hilda bring Firion (who looks suspiciously like Arek/FF Fighter and nothing like his Amano drawing) back to his feet. He steps outside to find two of his companions.

Go on...?

He asks Maria if Leon (I know his official name is Lionheart, but since I can’t fit his name in the spaces, he gets to be Leon!) is around, and we find out that he has been lost. The party reunites and goes to speak with Princess Hilda, where they demand her attention.

Like they’d hire you. The Empire left you for dead!

Oh thank God. She's a smart one!

New game mechanic alert! Key word system. By the way, didn't you just tell me you wanted me to stay safe in Altea?

In Final Fantasy II, you can learn key phrases surrounded by brackets. When speaking with certain people, by telling them the key phrase, you can progress the story or get additional information. When the window comes up, you can also use a key item to the same effect. When you hear a tone and see the words in brackets, don’t forget to learn it! In this castle, I learn the phrase Wild Rose, which is the password and crest of the town of Phin, the town from which Firion’s party fled. When I mention the phrase right back to her, Hilda tells me that I can search for Leon in Phin, but I have to be careful because it’s occupied now.

Only potential party members and enemies say that to one another. Which one will you become, Minh?

While in the rebel hideout (seems like a vast place to be just a hideout if you ask me), I also learn that Palm is to the east but I can’t reach it without a canoe (Oh boy! Is it coming back?) I'm also pleased that the music does not cut off and switch when I enter the menu screen.

Look! Character portraits and real MP! And I can save outside now without a tent! One year sure does make a difference!

I walk over to the King’s bedroom (I love castles with full access!). He was harmed in the attack on Phin, and when I mention Wild Rose, he looks at me confused. Apparently nobody has kept His Majesty informed.

I guess they didn't want to program that the King is an avid Newsweek reader!

As I walk around, I speak with many of the rebels and learn more about Hilda's new responsibilities since the attack on Phin.

Let's not get too hasty now; the King is still alive!

 I repay the rebel forces by plundering their hideout! Unfortunately, all I find is a potion, but I notice something new after I open the treasure chest.

Oh my word! The chests actually look open now!

Exploring Altea

I step outside of the rebel base (Empire and rebels? I do love Star Wars!) into the town of Altea, where I talk to what looks like a ninja! 

Can you steal a Wild Rose?

As I walk around the town, I notice that when I enter shops and inns, I can actually walk inside now and not be in a black vortex with just the owner and the counter!

Only 0G a night? That's amazing! Must be a recover as needed kind of Inn.

I also encounter an odd fellow north of the rebel base, but I'm not sure if I believe his story or not.

I didn’t know Chef Ramsey was a Prince! Although I don’t think it’s really him. Would he really call himself a coward?

When I speak with Gordon, he tells me that his brother Scott was captured by the Empire. I learn a lot more about people I walk by when I use the key word, so I’m automatically pleased with the system. Not bad for 1988 console RPGs. NPC’s (non playable characters for the uninitiated) can also use more than one text box if they have more to say, so it’s not crammed like it was in Final Fantasy. After having read the web page about the original prototype, I wonder if the original translators also used multiple screens.

I enter a house without any labeling to find an altar and a statue. In the background, the familiar Prologue song plays. I try to interact with the statue, but nothing happens. I must need to come back to these statues later.

Maybe I could if you let me try!

I find a magic shop in the east side of town, where I buy Cure. I’ll have to buy Fire later on. It’s a spell book, so I try to use it and learn it. In the item menu, when I click on Cure, I have the option of teaching it, so I teach it to Maria since I have pre-designated her as the party's healer.

I wonder what the number next to the spell means.

Next to the weapon shop, I learn that there is a blacksmith named Tobul that has been in hiding since the Empire attacked (So much for being a reliable blacksmith. Just when you would need one too!)

That was really easy. Good thing I knew to say Wild Rose or I would have thought he was just an old man!

In the weapon shop, I can’t afford much of anything, so I check my menu and find that my characters are already equipped! So even though they lost early on, they’re automatically better than my Light Warriors from the first game. I buy a buckler and notice that when I equip a shield, my attack decreases, and my defense does not increase! On the other hand, maybe they are more likely to block. I don’t know, so I buy a leather helmet and leather gauntlets and move out. Upon stepping out on the world map, I save my game using the new save feature (no more Inn saves for me!).

Might be hard to accomplish that in Windows!

Coming next time! Journey to Phin!

Thanks for reading, and leave your comments below!

Final Fantasy Part 15: Finale

After two weeks, I proudly present to you the finale of Final Fantasy. In this series of videos, VforExtreme12, Mr. M, and LadyB356 join me as I make my way into familiar territory and become reacquainted with some old friends (and by friends, I mean enemies!). At the end, we make a shocking discovery and then proceed to enjoy (?) the very long, Nintendo-styled ending. Check out all four parts below:

I had fun reliving the excitement of Final Fantasy, and the end turned out to be quite simple thanks to a bit of extra level grinding. While basic and archaic, I think there is beauty in simplicity, and I know that one day I will try to break sequence in this game and clear it with a different party.
Before I close out, I leave you with a link to a speed run I found of Final Fantasy. It takes the player three hours and fifty minutes during a single session to clear what took me about two weeks (and maybe 18 hours of game time and multiple sessions). Amazing! Check it out at http://speeddemosarchive.com/FinalFantasy.html.

Coming soon! Final Fantasy II: The Game, The Nightmare Begins!

Thanks for reading, and leave your comments below!

Final Fantasy Finale Coming Soon

We recorded the video finale of Final Fantasy last night. We had several laughs, and recording was a breeze. 

Once I finish processing the video, you'll get to see the results online!

Many thanks to VforExtreme12, Mr. M., and LadyB356 for attending and contributing their comments. Also thanks to Mr. M. for hosting the recording.

Final Fantasy Bonus Round: Becoming the Beast!

Dreaming of a Four-Man-Army: Confessions of a Level Grinder


When I play RPG's, I typically don't go that extra step to be ultra powerful. When I'm not strong enough to take out the enemies of the next area, I tend to stick right outside of town and fight just enough enemies to be a little stronger. This is usually because of the challenge factor. Even though it's a game with experience points and leveling, I still want to feel like it is a little difficult. In many games, I also subscribe to the belief that it's the equipment that makes all the difference, so I also work just hard enough to get good equipment and continue on my journey.

But that's not always the case.

In Final Fantasy, I spent A LOT OF TIME grinding (the act of leveling up from random encounters)! In other RPG's, I can usually take care of the level grinding from side quests (for instance, the Sphere 211 in Star Ocean: Till the End of Time or the Hunter Marks in Final Fantasy XII.). Yet in Dragon Quest and the first Final Fantasy, I would walk repeatedly back and forth fighting random encounters until I became strong enough to take out my enemies with some more ease. Maybe this is because in these titles, gaining a level actually meant a big difference in stats.

Let's talk Final Fantasy. When you gain a level, you gain some stats that make you stronger. When you gain five levels, it's like gaining ten levels in other games of the series. This is because the level cap in the first title is 50! Granted I am now at a point where I have great equipment, a complete spell book, and enough items to stock a warehouse, I wanted to make sure that the end of the game would be a breeze (As you'll see in the finale, the final dungeon is a long one filled with dangerous encounters, bosses, and no save points or revival items!).

How did become the beast in Final Fantasy? I did a lot of research on the best areas to level up. During the Floating Castle run, I thought it would be a good idea to return to fight those enemies over and over again with the chance to score some serious experience with the occasional War Mech battle. But I also remembered how difficult and unstable those conditions were, as well as how long it took to reach that part of the castle.

General consensus from FAQs and forums across Wikia and GameFAQs seemed to agree the best places to level up were using the spots in front of treasure chests where enemies would always re spawn. I call these tiles "hot spots", and according to my research, the best spots were with the Zombie Dragons in the Ordeals Castle and the Eyes in the Ice Cave (both mentioned in Part 10). Even though they do not give as much experience as other formations of enemies in the game, the Eye is a very quick kill. As long as you have the Aegis Shield or Ribbons equipped on your characters to prevent instant death, each Eye will take a few seconds to kill, giving you a huge amount of experience over a short amount of time.

If you want the math, each character gets 806 experience from killing the Eye, and at this point in the game, it takes about 31,000 experience to gain a level. This means that for every 39 fights, you gain a level for each character. Now before you say that's insane, each fight only takes a few seconds (Make sure your message speed is high to make the battles flow faster.).

How did I have the patience to put up with gaining ten additional levels this way? Easy. I watched a lot of TV while leveling up. It was a great way to catch up on some shows I missed out on. If I didn't have the TV on, I'll be honest. I probably wouldn't have done it.

But now that I have, I can't really say I REGRET becoming the four-man-army. While I will miss the challenge and fear that comes from heading down a difficult dungeon a little under powered, there's just something to say about being able to strike down enemies with little to no problems.

And now I leave you with a little comic I drew about the subject. I hope you've enjoyed the first Bonus Round.

Coming next time! Final Fantasy Finale!

Thanks for reading, and leave your comments below!

FF World Tour Announcements

Announcements


First off, I would like to thank everybody who has visited this blog so far. It's encouraging to see people checking out my new venture, and I can't wait to get a crew together to create the video for the final segment of Final Fantasy for NES! That should be published and on the site in a couple weeks.

In the meantime, I am planning the next part of my World Tour by playing the infamous Final Fantasy II. Let's just get the confusion out of the way. This is NOT the American Final Fantasy II starring Cecil that would later be revealed as Final Fantasy IV. This is the Final Fantasy II that was originally skipped over that stars the notorious stat leveling system and is the first Final Fantasy game with established player characters instead of blank slates.

Coming up next time...Final Fantasy Bonus Round--Becoming the Beast!

Thanks for reading, and be sure to comment below!

Final Fantasy Part 14: Look to the Skies

Cracking the Code

With the slab in hand, I rush over to Melmond to hand it over to Dr. Unne. He teaches me the Lefeinish language faster than a copy of Rosetta Stone, and I’m off to Coneria, Pravoka, and Elf Land.

Totally didn’t notice that Arek can use white magic up to level 3 now!

While on my shopping trip, I sell old equipment, and Arek becomes the model for Opal Men’s Wear, wearing only armor and accessories made from opal. I also buy for him the following spells: CURE, FOG, RUSE (even though it doesn’t work according to the magic FAQ, I can’t buy HARM and it’s only 100G), ALIT, MUTE, INVS, CUR2, and AFIR (I get mad at Elf Land because Arek can only learn two of the level 3 spells). After declaring a grudge on Elf Land, he says good bye to the town YET AGAIN to head for the town of the Sky Warriors. Unfortunately, I have to leave my airship far away again as I take the trek to the town.

Remember where we parked!

When I enter the town, Dr. Unne’s research pays off, and I can understand everything the Lefeinish say.

Here, let me refer you to the Coneria Law of Finder’s…

 The townspeople tell me about how they used to control the wind 400 years ago from a castle that still floats among the stars. However, the Lefeinish were exiled from their castle when the fiend Tiamat took the power of wind from them. I also learn that the Mirage Tower in the desert is the entrance to the Floating Castle. That’s great, but how do I get into the Mirage Tower? A resident hands me a chime that I can play to gain access to the Mirage Tower.

If only I could tell him to get to the waterfall, but he’s so far away. 

How morbid…Were these the bats in the Chaos Temple?

Before leaving town, I notice a gap in one of the fences, so I walk through to the right and find a combination black and white magic shop (the next best thing to a combination Taco Bell and Pizza Hut!)! In the white magic shop, I buy LIF2 (restores life with all HP; I do not know if it works in battle yet), and in the black magic shop, I buy NUKE (also known as the non-elemental spell Flare in later entries and harms all enemies in this one)! Before heading back, I take my airship to Gaia to purchase some more level 7 and 8 spells. I buy Jule WALL and FADE, and I buy Vic STOP. I decide to buy Jule HEL3 when I can afford it for when things get tough at the end (After all, I have strong warriors and magic spells, so HRM3 should be as powerful of an anti-undead spell as I need.). It seems that no matter how much money I have, it’s never enough for magic!

Why does one need an inn inside an isolated town? Is it a bed and breakfast?

The Mirage Tower

Inside the Mirage Tower, I am greeted with that terrible noise they call the Marsh Cave song. 

Bat Man?

Wait, so I can walk around the entire room and go to the next floor, or I can go for treasure?

When I walk into the tower, I head right into the treasure room and find a cabin, Aegis shield, 2750G, 18010G, Vorpal sword (which does not raise my attack farther than the Defense sword, do I don’t equip it), 3400G, Heal helmet (sweet!), and 880G.

Darn right, I'm the master!

After raiding the first treasure room, I save with a tent outside and then head to the first staircase. This time, there is a maze along with a room in the middle, so I head towards the room looking for more treasure. When I get to the treasure room, I find 8135G, Thor’s Hammer (He’s going to feel like a dork when he can’t save the day in The Avengers because he didn’t bring his hammer!), 7900G, 12350G, 13000G, house, Sun Sword, 7690G, 10000G, and Dragon Mail. I give Mighty Thor’s hammer to Jule, who needs the attack power boost (and can also use the heal staff when not fighting!), and since it does more attack damage, Arek equips the Sun Sword. Oddly, the Dragon Mail has the same exact defensive properties as the opal armor, so I equip it. Thor’s Hammer also shoots lightning at enemies, and I discover that the mage staff I pooh-poohed earlier seems to have different elements than just fire. When combined, Jule and Vic make a pretty good crowd controlling pair even without using their own MP!

Sweet, even more treasures!

After finding all the treasures on this floor, I speak with a robot who tells me there was a robot with a cube to enter the Floating Castle who fled to the west. Thankfully I already met this robot, but I decide to cast EXIT and leave the tower to sell off my excess equipment and fill out my spell books. I decide to buy HEL3 and ZAP! Here are my complete spell books.

Here is Jule’s. Oddly enough, he/she makes a rather good attack mage too. 

Here is Vic’s. Obviously a powerhouse along with the all-important FAST to power up my attackers.

The Floating Castle

At the top of the tower, I find a robot standing next to a platform. Before I can reach it, I encounter a Blue Dragon, but it’s no threat as Arek and Lee take it down before it can fight. The robot tells me I need the cube, and I walk right by and teleport to the Floating Castle without a word.

Looks rather futuristic!

To the south, I find the Bane Sword (Casts BANE? Yes please!! Since it doesn’t raise Arek’s attack power, I hand it to Vic who will hold onto it for him and cast BANE for free.) To the west, I find another treasure room with 7900G, 4150G, healing potion, and 9900G. As I step out, I find another EYE, and before I can freak out, Lee kills it in one hit before he gets a chance to cast XXXX! He gets another chance two steps over, and he misses hitting Arek with XXXX, but that doesn’t stop Vic from killing him with BANE (thanks, Bane Sword!). To the east, I find a third treasure room with 180G, another heal helmet, 6720G, ProRing, and 5000G.

To the north, I find an elevator that takes me to the next floor, which is laid out in multiple directions. To the northwest, I find a house and a silver helmet. To the west, I find 880G and 13000G. I see the elevator to the next area to the south, and when I reach the southwest, I find an important item.

You can cancel that call to Wolverine. We have it covered!

To the southeast, I find a white robe (I guess? Maybe it’s just a t-shirt. In either case, I dropped a silver helmet to pick it up! It casts INV2 on the party.) and a black robe (I guess? Maybe it’s just a t-shirt. In either case, I dropped Vic’s cap to get it. It casts some black magic spell on all enemies). Although they do not increase my defense any, they have good effects, so I keep them without equipping them. In the east room, I find a ribbon and an opal shield. Finally, in the northeast corner, I find an opal bracelet. Pleased with my progress, I cast EXIT to save outside.

Saw these guys on my way back up after saving. I knew that other vampire wasn't one of a kind!

On the third level, I find a green robot who tells me to look out the window and see the world from the Floating Castle. When I look I see a menacing sight.

Something tells me I'll be returning to the Chaos Temple soon.

At this point in the game, I’m starting to dread getting treasure. I strongly dislike having to rearrange my inventory and drop things before I know what’s in the chest!

In the treasure room to the east, I find 6400G, soft, 9500G, cloth (See?!), 8135G, and ProCape (At least I got to drop that useless cloth this time.). I give Jule the ProCape so that he/she is safe. When I move to the west, I find an elevator going up and a treasure room with soft,4150G, 3400G, and a katana (Which none of my characters can equip, so I know what’s going to be sold!). When I walk north, I find 9000G, another healing potion, 5450G, and another ProRing!

On my way to the south end of the screen, I read important information on a slab.

Now which poor Lefeinish had to carve this before being executed?

Now how do you suppose THAT works? Is there a button on top of the helmet?

To lighten the load for the party, I give Vic the other heal helmet so that for easy fights, Jule and Vic can heal the party while Arek and Lee run the show. Up to this point, with the exception of using EXIT to leave, I have used absolutely no MP since entering the Mirage Tower and Floating Castle! Then I reach the far south end of the screen and find another breaking news story:

Oh wait, it’s the same! Tiamat must be very egotistical.

Looking for Trouble, but Trouble's Also Looking for Me!

When I reach the fourth floor, I heal my party. Conventional Final Fantasy lore speaks of the notorious War Mech, and I don’t want to be caught off-guard. When I originally played Final Fantasy, I avoided it, but this time, I’m ready to kick its butt! Read all about War Mech at http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Warmech. Thanks for the great read, guys!

But as I’m roaming the hall searching for War Mech, I encounter several sorcerers who take out Jule in one shot! I guess I don’t have the luxury to search for it now because it’s a race against time before my party is wiped out. I’ll say sayonara to the idea and search for Tiamat so I can leave and save (Oh, if only Arek could learn LIFE!).

When I make it to the top floor, I become freaked out as I walk across a long, narrow bridge. I thought it was the previous floor where I could fight War Mech, but now I remember that THIS is the floor. Things are getting tense, now! And then at the culmination of freak-out, War Mech actually appears right outside Tiamat’s door!

Let’s say right off the bat that this fight would be easier and more beneficial if Jule were alive. With that out of the way, I am one lucky bastard! It casts NUCLEAR on the party before the start of the video, which hurts me but doesn’t take me out, and then it physically attacks Arek and Lee, leaving Vic alone to buff up Lee. Lee’s steroid-induced rampage tears the War Mech apart. What a reward; I know where I will do my final level grinding! Now if I can nurse myself back to health and defeat Tiamat, this will become legendary. By the way, when Jule is dead, doesn’t he/she look similar to Luke from Tales of the Abyss?

Right after defeating War Mech, Tiamat is a screaming joke. I have absolutely no problems taking out the final fiend, and as you can see in the video, the first thing I do is run out and save (Heaven forbid I have to do that again!). With all four fiends defeated, I make my way back to Crescent Lake to revive Jule, heal up, and have another meeting with the Knowledgeable Old People’s Club!

Putting it All Together

Jule: “Hey guys! What did I miss?” Party: “…”

When I reach the circle of sages, I FINALLY learn some new things. The Temple of Fiends is in the middle of the four elemental altars (Again, is this the Temple of Chaos from the beginning of the game?). Then things get really confusing! Here is my understanding of it:

With the power of the four orbs shining once again, I can travel back in time through the Time Gate. Apparently, the true enemy is hiding 2000 years in the past (There’s always another bad guy isn’t there!). To make things even weirder, every 2000 years, time repeats itself, controlled by this mysterious enemy hiding in the past. This villain also sends the four fiends 2000 years into the present day to threaten the world at the same time he travels 2000 years into the past!

I DON'T GET IT!

For one thing, why would the villain want to repeat the cycle over and over again? Does he just want to experience destroying the world over and over again? Also, why would this need to happen more than once? If I’m a repeat scenario of a Time-Loop, that tells me that this plan is continuously not working for the villain. Confused or not, I head to the Temple of Chaos after selling and saving.

When I enter the Temple, I find the bats the Lefeinish spoke of. Since the orbs shine again, they can now speak, even though they are still bats. They are the original Sky Warriors who challenged the Fiend 400 years ago. I learn that the Fiend put the curse on them. To open the Time Gate, I have to place the four shining orbs over the black orb in the center of the room.

Even though I’ve reached the end, I still have some loose ends to tie up. For one thing, I still have to bring the Adamant to the dwarves to get a powerful sword. I also need to return to the Floating Castle to go for the final level up grind. After all, I want my characters to be powerful by the time I reach the Fiend.

 

Eek! Bats!

Coming next time! Final Fantasy: Finale (In Video Let’s Play Format!)

Thanks for reading, and leave your comments below!