The 10-Best Video-Game Franchises

Each Final Fantasy game has its own unique combat system; in VIII, the Guardian Forces played a key role.

Each Final Fantasy game has its own unique combat system; in VIII, the Guardian Forces played a key role.

3. Final Fantasy
Developed by Square Soft

Back in the 1980s, the small company Square Soft was on the verge of bankruptcy. After a string of unsuccessful games, their last-ditch make-or-break project was called Final Fantasy, a role-playing game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The game was a smash hit and it not only saved the company, but it brought the genre into the gaming mainstream. Unlike action games, RPGs are slower-paced and rely less on twitch-finger skills and more on thought and strategy. The story also plays a key role-not only to keep interest, but also to further submerge the player in the events.

Final Fantasy VI (III in the U.S.) was the last 16-bit game in the series and one of the finest in the genre.

Final Fantasy VI (III in the U.S.) was the last 16-bit game in the series and one of the finest in the genre.

But every Final Fantasy is remarkable and highly anticipated in that each one that bears a sequential numeral is a completely new adventure narrative with original characters-and ones that you actually care about at that. The play mechanics are also overhauled between entries, with new and innovative ways to learn and cast spells, gain experience, and acquire extraneous powers. The turning point was Final Fantasy VI (Released in the U.S. for SNES in 1994 as Final Fantasy III)-a monster hit that made RPGs a force in the industry and proved the genre didn't only appeal to a limited underground audience. The epic game was notable for several unforgettable events: the world seemingly coming to an end, the opera house scene, the villain and his insidious laugh, and the almost non-linear narrative where no one character dominated the story. It was a beautiful and engaging game from start to finish, and one of the best in the genre.

Square planned to bring their next title to a Nintendo platform, until the company realized the PlayStation's CD-based format could do a better job of bringing Final Fantasy VII to life than Nintendo's cartridge-based console-especially with the allure of CG cinemas to help tell the story. Expectations were high, and Final Fantasy VII delivered on all counts-as did VIII and IX. Final Fantasy X marked a first: it was the series debut on the PlayStation 2, and it had characters that spoke with voice-actor supplied dialogue. Final Fantasy XI brought the series to the MMORPG arena, but with mixed reception from fans.--Major Mike

One of the many memorable characters created by Square--Yuna in Final Fantasy X.

One of the many memorable characters created by Square--Yuna in Final Fantasy X.

Key Entries in the Final Fantasy Series

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