Final Fantasy Collection released

[03.11.99] » Square's anthology of Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI is released in Japan. A few readers offer their impressions.

   Square of Japan today released their highly anticipated Final Fantasy Collection, a special anthology combining their three Super Famicom titles -- Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI -- all remade for the Sony PlayStation. While Final Fantasy IV and V have been re-released previously for the PlayStation (and indeed, there are no differences within these games in the Final Fantasy Collection), Final Fantasy VI is being released for the PlayStation for the first time.

   The Final Fantasy Collection comes packaged with a manual 95 pages long, packed with full-color artwork, guides, spells, maps, and instructions for all three games. Within the games themselves, each features extensive CG intro and ending movies. A few reader reports have described the Final Fantasy VI CG intro as spectacular, amazing, stupendous, and various other descriptive adjectives. Despite the impressive visuals, several readers have noted that the game contains some minor Mode 7 and slowdown problems. Final Fantasy VI also includes a variety of "Omake" (extra) options -- full descriptions of the extras are available here.

   According to import retailers such as NCS, the limited-edition Final Fantasy Collection Anniversary Package is a rare commodity at the moment, especially since Square has cut a number of pre-orders. Only 50,000 units of the Anniversary Edition have been manufactured over in Japan. The special package contains the Final Fantasy Collection in a special cardboard box, as well as a Citizen analog clock emblazoned with Yoshitaka Amano artwork. A separate stand-alone version of Final Fantasy VI is also being retailed.

   Be sure to check out our extensive Final Fantasy Collection coverage, including the just-released box art and a commercial touting Final Fantasy VI.