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