Ben-DutkaOkay, Final Fantasy fans, time to celebrate like it's 1987.
Believe it or not (time sure flies), the legendary franchise is celebrating its 25th year of existence and to commemorate this landmark occasion, Square-Enix has revealed the Final Fantasy Ultimate Box Collection.
Unveiled as part of the 25th Anniversary gallery opening ceremony, this unbelievable package will include the PS1 versions of Final Fantasy I , Final Fantasy II , Final Fantasy III , Final Fantasy IV , Final Fantasy V , and Final Fantasy VI , the original PS1 iterations of Final Fantasy VII , Final Fantasy VIII , and Final Fantasy IX , and the PS2 versions of Final Fantasy X , Final Fantasy XI , and Final Fantasy XII . And oh yes, Final Fantasy XIII .
The package will also boast a special anniversary disc of some kind, Crystal Artworks (an anniversary art book), a two-disc music selection CD, a FFXIV Mogu Mogu Earring item code, and a mini replica of the FF 25th Anniversary visual logo drawn by Yoshitaka Amano. The reason they featured the PS1 versions of the old games is because those titles remained mostly the same when they released on the PS1 in the Final Fantasy Origins , Final Fantasy Chronicles , and Final Fantasy Anthology collections. They were just better, with a few new things.
I'm just not sure why Final Fantasy X-2 isn't included…maybe they consider it a spin-off, like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for the GameCube. Anyway, the Ultimate Box Collection will be available on December 18 in Japan, which just so happens to be the original launch date for the very first Final Fantasy on the Famicom. Will it come to any other territories…?
Holy! Too bad im not into FF.
PS1 version of FFIII? Hmm they made that for PS1 in Japan did they? I'm assuming that's not a typo. Do you know if it was a stand-alone game? It had to of came with something, right? Like Chronicles with Chrono Trigger.
I don't really know. That list can be confusing…essentially, their FFXIII was our FFVI, or so I had heard back in the day. And we never got FFV until it came out with the Anthology (or was it Chronicles?) on the PS1.
*Deep breath*
The official numbering: We got FF One and Two on PS1 as "Final Fantasy Origins" as complete remakes. We got Final Fantasy five and six as "Final Fantasy Anthology" with almost no makeover. Both had the proper numbers by their names.
In the United States our SNES "Final Fantasy II" is actually Final Fantasy IV and our SNES "Final Fantasy III" is actually Final Fantasy VI. Sony bucked the trend of lying about the numbers when they released Final Fantasy VII under its actual number.
To my knowledge FFIII was never released in the United States under any name, though I've seen fan translations for NES emulators.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/31/2012 11:40:11 AM
Surely we've all got past that confusion by now…
FFIII has been released on DS (I think) and definitely on mobile phones stateside.
Not 100% on the DS part, but I definitely own FFIII on my phone.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 8/31/2012 6:20:37 PM
Once upon a time when I followed it, there was supposed to be a Final Fantasy Origins II with 3 and 4, but to my recollection, it was never released. I never was able to add it to my collection and that gap will probably be there until I get the money for this if it is still available for purchase by then…
FFIII (Japan) was never done on the PS1. FFIII(USA) is Japan's FFVI and FFII(USA) is Japan's FFIV. We didn't get FFII(Japan) or FFV(Japan) until the releases of Origins(FFI&II) and Anthology(FFV&FFVI) for the PS1. We never got FFIII(Japan) until 2006 on the DS. I know confusing, but if they have a PS1 version of FFIII in there its something they just did. Doesn't make much sense though since FFIII on DS is the definitive version.
Last edited by Lenoxseer on 8/31/2012 11:03:27 AM
The version of Final Fantasy III (Not VI…) is the PSP version they have recently been working on. It's essentially a port of the DS version.
I'm more surprised about XI, do people still play that on their PS2 in Japan?
I bet they do Ultima, right after FFXIV made them dropkick their PCs across the street.
FFXI is definitely still well populated.
I'm surprised no one has heard of the FFIII mobile phone version.
What's this mobile phone thing you speak of? I play games on gaming consoles =)
Phone games? Great for you got a bad poo at work that's gonna take some time.
A fantastic collection worth owning.
I doubt we will see this stateside since there is likely no official translation of FFIII anywhere.
Still, I think FFX-2 should have been there. It could be considered a spinoff but it does have the capability (depending on your ending) of finally closing out the Tidus story arc.
It's sort of sad to see FFXIII at the end of that list because it really hits home as to how far the series fell SO fast with this kind of bizarre uncomfortable new direction. It was probably a good idea to leave FFXIII-2 off as it managed to drag the series to even lower lows by entirely ditching any focus on narrative.
I'll always have my fond memories at least 🙂
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/31/2012 11:46:02 AM
I have all of these expect XI obviously, but If this is released in the UK I'll sell an organ just to get it – or at least a toe.
The package looks beautiful, each game presented in a booklet case with art from Amano S-E are the masters of presentation.
Last edited by Vivi_Gamer on 8/31/2012 12:20:32 PM
Wow, when and if the collection comes here. I will pre order in a heartbeat.
It costs almost $450! I want this but…
I… umm… wow, holy… Okay. I don't have a PS1 or a PS2 anymore, but I'm going to have to buy this.
Wow, what a collection. Dec 18th is my birthday too! I really hope this comes to North America, I want.
I own most of those games, but if they bring this state side, I'll probably still buy it. Then I can do nothing for a year but play straight through every final fantasy, sounds like a good year to me.
is this for ps3 or pc? because id be shocked if they finally released a version of final fantasy xi that works on non BC PS3s
PS3. They don't condone people using their PCs to play PS1 games =)
This is exciting, but I'm still waiting for someone to come out and say, "oh by the way, this is an Xbox exclusive" lol….
day 1 preorder for me if it comes into the States…
Wow!! If I am back to work before then I will surely have to import this, and then buy it again if it comes stateside. This is just to perfect to pass up as a collector.
I'll stick with my street fighter 25th anniversary collection set. I don't want to put down another 150.
I already have all except ff3 which I have on ds.
The improvement they made on the early FF remade on ps1 made them easier sadly…I wish I didn't kill my NES so I could still play my original FF.
HOT DAMN-YEAH!!!!