hoooo boy i was kind of afraid i'd have this opinion

whenever a game in a really big franchise like this is well liked by some hardcore fans but never really picked up by audiences at large it makes me concerned, because you know there's a reason why that entry never took off. final fantasy v is that game and now i get why it isn't more popular.

obv there's a lot to enjoy here. music is gorgeous, story is fun, there's a few EXCELLENT characters, and the game is massive in scope compared to every game before this. still, ultimately you have a game with a worse story, cast, setting, and general visuals than the game which precedes it. what is the draw here exactly? gameplay! lets talk about it lol

final fantasy v is defined by its job system and sometimes it works, too often for me it felt lacking though. there's just so much trial and error gameplay where you'll enter encounters which have very specific requirements for what sort of abilities you need to clear them with no way of knowing until the encounter begins. if things go well then cool, otherwise instant game over or potentially prepare for a long and obnoxious struggle to victory. and on that note, more than any other final fantasy game i've played, the amount of shit going on in this game which imposes no challenge or test other than that of my patience is obnoxious. idk why half of every monster formation towards the game's conclusion needed a confuse ability goodness gracious. anyway, there are certainly times when it can be fun to figure out some killer job abilities that just obliterate whatever the task at hand is, and i'm sure whenever i replay this game with all the information i know now i'll have a quite different experience, but i think a lot of the game design here was a little too trial-and-error-y for my tastes

i think final fantasy xii and x-2 spoiled me with their job systems. random note but i was surprised how easy the final boss was here, after all the nonsense to get to him lol.

anyway when in doubt remember to fall in love or something you might learn a thing or two about yourself

The best one I have played so far. Loved the music, and the party members. Especially Galuf, and Faris. Gilgamesh is a really funny and cool villian. The job system and the addition of the abilities adds a cool way to combine and make awesome set ups. The optional content was great but it should not be majority of the 3rd world. The story wasn't the greatest, Exdeath is a nobody villian really, I did like the void stuff. But, I don't want my villians to be an evil tree. Overall awesome game really underated and I see why square enix developers love and reference 5 in the newer titles especially 14. Can not wait to play 6 and finish off the pixel remasters with a BANG! The FF rabbit hole continues!

Final Fantasy V era la espina clavada que año tras año me iba escociendo de la franquicia por ser el único que no había jugado nunca (a excepción de Final Fantasy XI, pero ni tenía internet, ni dinero para pagar una suscripción mensual); y siendo como soy de fan de los FF clásicos, no tenía ningún tipo de sentido que no le hubiese dado una oportunidad aún... Y cuanto me arrepiento de haber tardado tanto.

Siempre se le critica por ser un FF con una historia muy básica, que repite de nuevo los tropos que llevamos viendo constantemente en la saga, que el villano es malo porque es malo y quiere destruir el mundo... Y sí, es cierto que FFV usa los mismos clichés que la propia saga ha creado para sí misma, pero los ejecuta excelentemente bien y, como digo siempre, si un cliché está bien ejecutado, no importa que estén usando ese cliché. Además, tiene una serie de factores y de inclusiones en este título, que le hacen diferenciarse de los cuatro primeros por varias razones.

Para empezar, el tono. Final Fantasy V sabe que es otra aventura con los cristales, sabe que vamos a controlar a los héroes de la luz, sabe que el villano es malo maloso porque sí, y es por ello por lo que cambia la perspectiva y la usa a su favor. El juego, a pesar de ser muy turbio y visceral en algunos puntos, tiene un constante tono humorístico, casi paródico, es como si el propio juego estuviese parodiando la saga al mismo tiempo que se toma en serio. Esto es muy similar a lo que hace Disney en sus películas actuales, en las que se critica a sí mismo rompiendo los clichés que ellos mismos instauraron años atrás. Aquí no los llegan a romper, pero sí que los parodian, e incluso, gracias a darnos una trama tan previsible, nos consiguen colar un par de plot twists que no te los esperas.

Los personajes. A pesar de que algunos son más planos que una tabla de planchar, como es el caso de Bartz y Lenna, luego nos muestran a los maravillosos Galuf, Gilgamesh y, sobretodo, Faris. Y en ésta última es con la que reivindico lo anteriormente dicho de que un cliché bien ejecutado anula el hecho de que sea un cliché, dado que Faris no es más que otra princesa más que no se siente princesa y quiere dejar de serlo, pero en vez de hacerle disfrazarse de campesina o vivir como una viajera errante... Hacen que se convierta en una ♥♥♥♥♥♥ capitana pirata. Incluso también hacen que tenga que ocultar su verdadero sexo a su tripulación por el machisto implícito, pero ella se gana su título por puro derecho, un personaje maravilloso. Siempre suele haber alguien en cada juego de la franquicia que destaque y se convierta en mi favorito de ese título, en este ha sido Faris con mucha diferencia. Aunque no me gustaría dejar de lado al ya conocido por todos Gilgamesh. Este personaje es un emblema de la saga, aparece en prácticamente todos los Final Fantasy posteriores al V debido a su carisma, en lo que se basa su personaje y su maravillosa OST de combate. Ha sido un verdadero deleite disfrutar de su desarrollo como rival de Bartz y en Pixel Remaster han hecho que una ♥♥♥♥ obra maestra como es Battle On The Big Bridge, llegue a otro nivel. Que ese es otro punto a tener en cuenta...

La música. Si hay algo más que evidente por lo que jugar las versiones Pixel Remaster y no otras, es por el refinado apartado musical que han hecho. Han sabido reimaginar las maravillosas composiciones del gran Nobuo Uematsu y llevarlas a un nuevo nivel, implementando temas mucho más cañeros y que le sientan como anillo al dedo a estos rematers. Puesto que, a pesar de no haber jugado nunca FFV, su entera OST es lo único que conocía con profundidad.

El sistema de trabajos es algo bastante novedoso, porque aunque tuviésemos uno similar en el III, es en este donde se saca todo su esplendor y será el que futuros juegos de Square tendrán en referencia y llevarán incluso más lejos (las maravillosas franquicias de Bravely Default y Octopath Traveler). Además de ofrecer una gran libertad de plantear los combates como tú quieras e incluso a modo de coleccionismo, para poder tener todos los oficios completados y habilidades aprendidas, dando así más horas de juego a los que buscan completar todo al 100%

La dificultad. Este es, posiblemente, el Final Fantasy con mayor dificultad en su trama principal. Cada boss era un verdadero reto y nunca acababa los combates con los 4 personajes en pie. Si que es cierto, que si en la etapa final dominas ya el sistema de trabajos y habilidades, todo va a ser un paseo, PERO, no te descuides, que te pueden dar un susto hasta los monstruos salvajes. Y bueno, si tenemos en cuenta a Shin Ryu y Omega... Apaga y vámonos... Otro factor que debemos agradecerle a FFV, fue el que creo el concepto de "super bosses", ese tipo de jefes secundarios que están reservados a los jugadores que busquen más reto del que proporciona la aventura base.

En conclusión, es un Final Fantasy algo diferente, pero que mantiene la más pura esencia de la franquicia. Además, en esta versión dan una serie de facilidades (como podría ser el autoguardado entre salas) que hacen que la experiencia sea mucho más accesible y no tan injusta en algunos puntos. Recomendadísimo.

I wanted to quickly write this to keep riding on the high of the excitement in beating the game while I have all my thoughts in order. In general, every Final Fantasy game after FF3 feels like a natural evolution of the games should progress. FF3 took the job aspect of FF1 and made it more flexible in being able to change whenever, adding an element of preparation to dungeons and bosses. However, FF3 lacked a lot in the storytelling aspect so FF4 went balls deep in presenting a gripping narrative. In turn, FF5 is the next step of FF4 in combining an engaging narrative in the same level as FF4 while also implementing the classic job system FF3 had and expanding on that. With the implementation of job skills, customization for each character is so layered in how you want to tackle every single obstacle in the game. Moreover, this game nudges you on what to choose next with how expertly shops and chests give what you’re naturally going to be the next classes for your party members. And oh boy your party members.

Although Bartz is not necessarily as complex as Cecil, the overall cast makes up for it with how great their chemistry is from Faris’s feistiness to Galuf’s old man shenanigans. Exdeath is easily the best villain so far in how well defined his character is and how the game builds him up very early on while never pulling the rug in showing a twist-villain out of nowhere. There's also a lot of standout NPC characters like this iteration of Cid who’s more aware of the damage has caused because of his inventions, or Gilgamesh who has some incredibly great dialogue as a joke henchman. A small nitpick I have with the narrative is mostly that the scale doesn’t feel as high as it was in FF4 but the smaller scale honestly works in its favor with every plot thread actually being properly resolved.

One thing of note is that although I did use a guide to find some side stuff that I was advised to pay attention to, I have to praise this game with how clear it is in presenting the next objective as I have only once or twice gotten lost while playing this game compared to previous entries. Not only that, but this game also really pushes in finding the side content with the summons such as Bahamut challenging you after your first tablet find. It's hard to see FF6 top this but I also said that about FF5 when I completed FF4 so I am both hopeful and excited.

Final Fantasy V was the forgotten 16-bit FF game that never came to the west but got a cult following over the years. I never got around to playing this game even though I had the FF anthology way back when, the pixel remasters felt like a good time to give it a go. What I found is a FF game that doesn’t have the level of storytelling found in FF6 but it does have some deep RPG systems and a rich world to explore.

FFVs claim to fame is the job system, often claimed to be the best FF RPG system. It does live up to the high praise, the amount of customization and freedom this system gives to the player is impressive. With the push of a button I can change my white mage into a beasttamer who can capture enemies and learn to control them. I can go from a ninja to a bard, all stats adjust instantly to fit that job. The genius part is how as you level up the jobs you learn new abilities not just for the job you are using but certain command abilities once learned can be added to an ability slot on any other job. Now you are mixing and matching abilities from multiple jobs while using the stats of the base job you want. It also for so much control over every single class and ability the game has to offer.

The flip side to this is that the game only has a party of four. I prefer large diverse parties in my FF games but these four party members are so mailable that can be every single class. I did specialize each of the four, so that they each would cover 3 or 4 different classes that would compliment each other. For instance my white mage was also the summoner so that she would have powerful spells I could use when no healing was needed. Certain classes weren’t all that useful as a base class but have one or two abilities well worth getting so I would make sure to use them until I gained the ability then switch back. There are over 15 jobs to learn, they are unlocked as the story goes so it doesn’t throw them all at you at once. It’s paced extremely well to open the layers of depth in a way that never overwhelms.

FFV tells the story of four characters that happen to meet as the world is having cataclysmic events. Bartz is the standard young man from a small town that discovers has a secret heritage and leads the group to save the world. There are princess and a former king that form the party, each are well fleshed out and have small character journeys but it’s not close to drama in 6 or any of the later FF games. The overall story is the standard evil dude wants to break some crystals to absorb the power and take over the world, the twist in this one is there are multiple dimensions of the world.

I love world maps in old FF games and this one is really cool. You will gain multiple ways to traverse the map, each allowing you to reach certain areas but not all. Towns and dungeons are uncovered at a great pace creating a great gameplay loop where it feels you are always growing and have something new to discover. At the mid point the world is shaken up and you enter a whole other dimension which is similar to the first world but all the inhabitants and locations have changed. FF games should feel big, epic journeys and this game captures that grand scale.

The narrative never really reaches the proper heights to really grip me. There are stand out moments, but ultimately I felt I was going through the motions by the end. A lot of RPGs face this issue, it has a reverse difficulty curve where it’s tougher at the start than the end. The first half or even two thirds I was enjoying all that experimentation. Boss battles tested each of my builds. Dungeons had enough tough enemies to keep me engaged in fights. As I got really powerful and found the optimal team setup most of the standard battles became trivial. If not for the creative boss battles that fill the game, the last part of the game would have been a total snooze fest. Usually the stories hold the game if the combat is getting stale but this one didn’t have that. So it doesn’t end as exciting as I’d hope, but the majority of the game was a blast.

The pixel remaster makes all the sprites and environments pop with beautiful colors. There seem to be a few quality of life enhancements with the world map, how sprinting works and balance adjustments. Musically you can use the original 16-bit soundtrack or an all new updated version which I used, another stellar FF soundtrack.

Final Fantasy V is another great entry in this legendary franchise. It’s more focused on the actual character build process than most, and easily the most customizable of the series. While the story is still fun with memorable characters and locations it doesn’t come close to the highs most of the games in this series reach. That and some difficulty balance issues toward the end hold it back from being a FF classic, but it’s still a great old school RPG.

Overall Score: 8.3

Tonally this has been my favourite in the series so far, I just really enjoyed these characters and many of the comedic moments. I feel like I'll actually remember character names, which I can't say about many from Final Fantasy 1-4.

On top of that, there's a more developed story and the now iconic job system. Overall, this is really fantastic game and pretty close to 5/5 from me.

I also enjoyed the step up in difficulty here, with Gil Turtle, Omega, and Shinryu being more challenging than anything thus far.

Wife’s Reaction:
“The increasing ridiculousness of the villain names is the only way I can track your progress through your multitude of pixelated games.”

Breaking the Crystal Ceiling:
I’m happy to say the Job System in Final Fantasy V lives up to the hype; it helps make the combat better than ever because of all the options available. I spent so much time swapping Jobs and optimizing each character. The Job System needs to return!

Final Fantasy is one of the top 3 formative gaming series for me next to Mario and Zelda. FFV may be the first game in the series to capture the same sense of adventure that I felt playing the original FF on NES as a kid. The writing was quite charming, never takes itself too seriously, yet still delivers a really compelling narrative that belies its SNES roots. The music is also a high point, (spreading grand wings / home, sweet home / battle at big bridge)

The job system feels great, and is a natural iteration on the class selection of the OG FF. The game rewards experimentation and had so much fun seeing what combinations of abilities and equipment can basically break the game.

Maybe the one flaw I can find is that the MC is more of a proxy than a character, but even then all of the characters (playable and otherwise) have that extra attention to detail that adds to the game’s overall immersion. Ultimately I feel like the smaller cast plays to the strength of the writing. Few games give that ‘gamer high’ after experiencing a really fulfilling story, and this was not something I expected going into it.

Phenomenal game; hopefully people who are only going into the pixel remasters for IV and VI check this out.

Final Fantasy 5 -- the unreleased SNES titan beloved by the likes of FF16 director Hiroshi Takai -- is now available in a nifty translation with this pixel remaster.

The first 8 hours of FF5 are pure joy. There's a great sense of adventure and experimentation lovingly stitched into this beautful game. Four motley friends embark on a directionless adventure to save Lenna Tycoon's father from Something. You are given a wonderful combat system that is designed explicitly for creating White Mage Monks with every character. The music, combat, and narrative impart the feeling of a limitless adventure. You are undefeatable. You can do anything. You will get to hang out with Galuf because he is the best one. You will have a good time watching Bartz and Galuf fall in love with Faris. You will think "I'm glad that Sakaguchi got to remake Faris with Seth Balmore in Lost Odyssey." You will enjoy every encounter with Gilgamesh because he understands that Galuf is the best one.

Then something terrible occurs. You will meet a character named Mid. The game will, for some reason, lose all faith in your ability to do things for yourself and will force you to talk to Mid every half-hour to progress the story. Gone is the experience of FF 1 through The First 25% of 5 where you are trusted to explore and take notes for yourself in order to progress. You must talk to Mid to explore the places you have found on your travels. You must talk to Mid so he can tell you its ok to go exploring. The consequences of creating this character have had an unfathomably negative impact on the future of this franchise and perhaps society at large.

Eventually, Mid will go away, and the game will be very fun again. However, the cohesion of the first 8 hours is gone. The pacing will begin to slow, and it never returns. The more time you put into it, the less the world feels less like a living environment to explore. You should finish it though. The questions "why are the first 8 hours of FF5 so good" and "why are the last 20 hours of FF5 so sleep-inducing" are both worth exploring. This title borrows a lot from FF3. While the job system is very fun, I found myself having more fun with FF3's job system. FF3's story is simple, but it's paced like a roller coaster and leaves you feeling satisfied. FF5 will try to make you care about Bartz, but no matter how many times he reminds you that his dad is gone or he is scared of heights, your heart will harbor no affection for him because he talks too much like an 8-year-old's conception of how Sonic the Hedgehog would talk if he was their friend in real life.

You could play the pixel remasters for Final Fantasy 1 through 3 in the time it takes to play 5. You should play this one though. The first quarter of the game is truly spectacular. However, as great as the battle system is, I'm not sure if the latter portion of the game is thoughtful enough to warrant several replays. After all, Dragon Quest 5 was released a few months earlier.

One of my all-time favorites. The main theme has the power to unlock a cascade of memories that always makes me deeply emotional. Final Fantasy V is a gem. It weaves a simple yet heartfelt story with remarkable composure. It boasts one of the most enjoyable gameplay systems ever seen in the Final Fantasy with a huge array of combinations and features charming characters like Ghido, the original warriors, Gilgamesh, and even its villain.

In my opinion, Final Fantasy V is often underestimated due to its perceived lack of 'complexity' compared to other entries in the FF franchise and other JRPGs. However, it possesses a subtle elegance and lightheartedness reminiscent of the best Dragon Quest games. While the second world/arc may feel like a bit of a downtime, everything else in the game is simply outstanding. The bigger and bigger stakes after each crystal (and world!), the battle on the big bridge, the exploration of new worlds, the epic confrontation of Galuf against Exdeath, and the captivating library segment and many, many more all exude charm and brilliance.

Easily the best of the pixel games I've played so far.

Gripes I want to get out of the way: while the gameplay is excellent, going for the Platinum meant some unfun grinding and some specific plays (to learn all the blue magic, a few spells require you to be a specific level, etc.). The superbosses can be trivialized with certain team builds, but the initial shock of getting instantly killed by them hit me like a train (I'm certain that was the intention).

That stuff aside, what did I think of the game? I adored it. My favorite cast of characters thus far, I absolutely loved the whole team (and I finally understood the "bad jokes will be PUNished" reference my old friend from high school referenced), Exdeath might be my favorite villain out of all the games I've played, he's sinister but felt actually intimidating. The story is also the best thus far, combining that with characters I felt emotionally invested in made it even better.

The job system is mostly great (aside from the superboss builds requiring some busywork), it takes time to max them out and get the perks, but it's honestly worth maxing out every job you get since it pays dividends by the endgame.

Second favorite FF so far (sorry, the action lover has it for 16).

9/10

And now it's time for what most consider to be the magnum opus of the series, 6.