Final Fantasy Legend
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| Final Fantasy Legend | |
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| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | Square (re-released in 1998 by Sunsoft) |
| Designer(s) | Akitoshi Kawazu |
| Release date(s) | JPN December 15, 1989 (GB) NA September 30, 1990 (GB) 1998 (US re-release) 2002 (WSC, Japan) |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy, Wonderswan Color |
| Media | 2 megabit cartridge, 32 megabit cartridge (Wonderswan Color version) |
Final Fantasy Legend (魔界塔士Sa・Ga; Makai Tōshi Sa•Ga in Japan - roughly translated as "SaGa of the Demon Tower") is a Game Boy video game. As the first game in the SaGa series, it was released in 1989 by Square, and remade only in Japan for the Wonderswan Color. The original Game Boy version was also re-released in the US in 1998, this time distributed by Sunsoft, leading some critics of the game to mistakenly believe that it was Sunsoft that made the game rather than Square. Final Fantasy Legend operates on a turn based RPG system, in which the game's characters battle monsters using a variety of weapons. The game follows the story of four heroes that attempt to scale a tower at the center of the world, which supposedly leads to paradise. The four heroes controlled by the player may be one of three character classes, two of which may have different genders and one of which contains many subsets.
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[edit] Gameplay
Final Fantasy Legend uses a simple turn-based battle system. Battles take place inside dungeons, and on the overworld map, a large area which represents the entire scope of Final Fantasy Legend. From the overworld, the game's four characters can enter towns and dungeons. Enemies will appear randomly; when a monster appears, the game shifts to a screen showing the monsters that have appeared. The player then has the option to either fight or run; however fighting is an essential part of Final Fantasy Legend, as the abilities and money earned in battle are needed in order to progress past the game's later areas. Running is not always successful, and if it fails, the enemies receive a free round of attacks.
[edit] Character classes
When a new game file is created, the player may choose the name and class of his own character, and then recruits (or simply creates) three more into his or her party. Each party member has four different statistics - Strength, Agility, Hit Points, and Mana - which are leveled up as the game progresses. Strength is physical strength, or how much damage a given party member can inflict on enemies when using Strength-based weapons and skills such as Swords and Axes. Agility determines a character's ability to dodge and land attacks, their damage potential when using Agility-based weapons such as Sabres, as well as when he or she gets to attack. Hit Points gauge how much damage party members can withstand until they die. Finally, Mana determines a character's skill with magic.
- Humans (male or female) can carry up to eight weapons at a time. All weapons have a usage number, which indicates how many times it can be used in battle. When an item's usage drops to 0, it breaks, and cannot be used any more. Some weapons have no usage number (and said number is replaced by a "-" symbol), and thus can be used forever without breaking. For a human character to increase his or her stats, he or she must drink a specific potion, depending on the desired stat increase. There are potions that increase Strength and Agility by two points immediately upon usage, and three different potions that increase Hit Points, each one working for a higher range of maximum Hit Points. In contrast to Strength and Agility potions, the amount of HP can vary randomly.
- Mutants (which can also be male or female) can only carry four weapons at a time, in contrast to the human which can carry eight. As opposed to drinking potions in order to increase stats, Mutants gain stats simply by fighting. Using certain types of weapons will increase the likelihood of gaining Strength and Agility, such as swords and martial arts for Strength and knives and firearms for Agility. Mana is increased by using magic, and Hit Points are upgraded randomly by finishing fights. Also, mutant characters will randomly learn special abilities. These abilities have usage numbers, like normal weapons, but they can be refilled by staying at an Inn. Mutants throughout the game will learn and lose their special abilities.
- Monsters are the most unique of the three character classes. After defeating an enemy, it leaves behind meat. If a monster eats said meat of an enemy, it transforms into a different monster, calculated by a formula involving your current monster type and the type that of which you ate. Usuaully, stronger monsters yield better meat, although this is not always true, as meat quality varies on the eater. Boss monsters are known to drop potent meat, which may be the only way to become some monsters. Meat of later bosses is required to become a top-tier monster. Monsters can not wield weapons or learn special skills; they only gain statistics and attacks through eating.
[edit] Story
Once, there was a tower in the center of the known world that supposedly led to Paradise. Although many people tried to climb this tower, none were ever heard from again. The player controls a party of adventurers who will attempt to climb this tower. This is the world the hero starts out in. Three kings in this world are fighting for three legendary pieces of equipment, the King Sword, Shield and Armor respectively. First visiting King Armor, the heroes find out he's love sick over a girl. The heroes find out she is a slime-type monster in another village and she loves King Armor, but is afraid of a bandit leader who wishes to marry her. The heroes track down the bandit and demand he give her up. He refuses, but is defeated by the heroes. He begs for mercy, but is given none. King Armor is so overjoyed that he gives his armor to the heroes. King Sword defiantly tries to kill the heroes when they ask for the King Sword, but is killed himself by them. Finally, King Shield is murdered by his own Steward and after a short fight against him, the heroes have all three legendary items. They place these on a statue of a great hero, which causes a Black Sphere to appear. As they take the Sphere, Gen-bu, one of the four fiends (based on the Su Ling) appears to kill them. They vanquish him, however and use the power of the Sphere to enter the tower.
The main enemies underneath their leader, Ashura, are four demons: Gen-bu the turtle, Sei-ryu the dragon, Byak-ko the tiger and Su-zaku the phoenix. The tower is a long and perilous journey where the heroes encounter three more worlds, along with a few side quests along the way, including the fates of some of those that ultimately failed to make it to the top of the tower. The first world discovered by the heroes after entering the tower is a tropical ocean. The second, a world situated in the sky, on top of the clouds. The third is a burned-out, seemingly post-apocalyptic city.
Eventually, they learn that the fiends of the world are controlled by the evil Ashura. Ashura offers them the opportunity to rule over the world with him. They refuse, leading to a fight with him. After beating Ashura, they fall into a pit which takes them back to the starting world. They climb the tower once more, fighting each of the demons once again. Reaching the top, they learn that this was all a test by the Creator himself. The Creator is the final boss of the game. After defeating the Creator, the heroes discover a door behind him. They debate about going through it before deciding to instead return home.
