Final Fantasyisn’t just one of the longest-running video game series of all time, it’s also one of the most successful, especially now.Final Fantasy 14is more popular than ever,Final Fantasy 7 Remakesold well and received positive reception. With upcoming titles likeFinal Fantasy 16and the sequel toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeon the horizon, it’s a safe bet that the series' luck won’t run out any time soon, especially if recentrumors about aDark Souls-inspiredFinal Fantasygameare true.
The word is that a new, unannounced game titledFinal Fantasy Originis on its way to the PS5, and that it’s likely to take a few cues from the iconicDarkSoulsseries. As of yet, none of this has been confirmed by Square Enix. However, the prospect of the series going in a new direction, Team Ninja supposedly being attached to the project, and also its possible ties to the series' roots, have proven more than enough to get fans on board with this allegedly in-development title.
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Final Fantasy Origin: Based On Final Fantasy 1
The rumor claimsFinal Fantasy Originwill feature a setting and presumably characters inspired by the game that started it all — the very firstFinal Fantasy.Interestingly,Final Fantasy 1differs from the most recent entries in the series in more ways than just its turn-based gameplay. WhileFinal Fantasy 7 Remake,Final Fantasy 15,and theFinal Fantasy 13subseriesall feature technology ranging from modern to futuristic, the series' debut features a more pre-industrial, medieval setting, not unlike the one seen inFinal Fantasy 16’sreveal trailer.
However, it’s not known ifOriginwill simply be a rehash of the firstFinal Fantasy’sstory, or if it will be a sequel, prequel, or something else altogether. It’s worth noting, however, that Square Enix hasn’t exactly been shy about remaking several of its classic titles;Final Fantasy3and4were each remade in 3D, remakes of bothTrials of ManaandFinal Fantasy 7debuted last year, and anHD-2D remake ofDragon Quest 3was revealed to be in development late last month.
ShouldFinal Fantasy Originprove to be a retelling of the events ofFinal Fantasy 1, it’d hardly be shocking given Square Enix’s track record. The bigger surprise would arguably be its unconventional gameplay style.
A Dark Souls Twist On Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Originis rumored to featureSouls-style gameplay, which would not only be a first for the series, but also a significant departure from the originalFinal Fantasy’sturn-based combat.
Oddly enough, the pairing ofFinal Fantasy 1’ssettingandSouls-inspiredgameplay could be a rather successful one.Final Fantasy 1’slack of a defined main character, likeFinal Fantasy 7’sCloud orFinal Fantasy 8’sSquall, is also a trait seen in virtually everySoulsbornegame, barringSekiro.Demon’s Souls,Dark Souls, andBloodbornenotably asks players to select a class and customize a character at the beginning of each game. It’s easy to imagineFinal Fantasy Originimplementing a similar system for its four Warriors of Light.
However, whileOriginmay take after theSoulsseries, it’s not likely to be a carbon copy. Leaker SoulsHunt has indicated that the game could provide a similar offering toJedi: Fallen Order, which certainly has the bones of aSoulsgame, but is fleshed out with significantly different gameplay mechanics. It’s possible thatFinal Fantasy Origincould differentiate itself from otherSoulsgames by focusing on what makesFinal Fantasyunique.
For example, magic has always been a skill critical to success in mostFinal Fantasygames, but it’s more or less an afterthought in someSoulsbornegames; it’s easy to imagineFinal Fantasy Originmaking magic builds more viable and versatile than they are in otherSoulsbornetitles as a way to stand out from the competition.
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Final Fantasy Origin: Developed By Team Ninja
Final Fantasy Originis allegedly being developed by Team Ninja, which could be a pretty good sign. The developer has extensive experience creating high-quality third-person action games such as theNinja Gaidenseries, and more recentlyNioh 1andNioh2, which take afterSoulsbornegames themselves. But even beyond the developer’s expertise with Soulslikes, Team Ninja has another quality that could make it the perfect candidate to deliver a new type ofFinal Fantasy.
Team Ninja’s resume includes titles such asHyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, Metroid: Other M,as well as the aforementionedNinja Gaidenseries. Collectively, these games have one key element in common: They’re all unique takes on the franchises they’re a part of.Hyrule WarriorsandFire Emblem Warriorsoffer action-packed gameplay the likes of which have never been seen in either respective series.Ninja Gaiden’sjump to 3D added a new dimension to its gameplay while retaining its gut-busting difficulty. Lastly,Metroid: Other Mtried to creatively mesh together elements of new and oldMetroidgames.
Additionally, this wouldn’t be the developer’s first rodeo with theFinal Fantasyseries. Team Ninja previously createdDissidia Final Fantasy NT, a 3D three-on-three fighting game that incorporated elements across nearly the entireFinal Fantasyfranchise.Dissidiais arguably a larger departure from the series' roots thanFinal Fantasy Origin’srumored direction, and while it might not have been the most successfulFinal Fantasyspinoff, it’s yet another example of Team Ninja’s commitment to providing new experiences utilizing familiar characters and settings, which sounds exactly like whatFinal Fantasy Originswill do, should the rumors come to fruition.
Fortunately, fans ofFinal Fantasyprobably won’t have to wait too much longer for clarity on this alleged title, as it’s believed that this newFinal Fantasywill be announced at E3. However, it’s important to note that any rumors regardingFinal Fantasy Origin,including the question of its existence,should be taken with a grain of salt until confirmed by Square Enix. Those interested should keep an eye on Square Enix’s upcoming E3 conference on June 13 for any possible updates, but fans should remember to temper their expectations, as to not be too disappointed should the rumor prove to be a false lead.
Final Fantasy Originis rumored to be in development for the PlayStation 5.
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