One of the aspects of theFinal Fantasyfranchise that has helped it endure for over 30 years is the drastic change in story and RPG systems that occurs between each entry. Beginning with 1988’sFinal Fantasy 2, which arrived just a year after the successful launch of the first game in the franchise, eachFinal Fantasytitle sheds what came before in the previous game to offer a new tale of world-saving importance along with a fresh spin on the mechanics the series is known for.Final Fantasy 2made some critical missteps, but also has features that deserve a second glance through a new perspective.
Final Fantasy 2stands out compared to other early games in the franchise due to its willingness to take great risks regarding its character progression and skill systems. Often seen as a “black sheep” of the franchise as well as arguably the most difficult of the originalFinal Fantasygames released for the Famicom,Final Fantasy 2intentionally departed from the original gamein order to establish the formula that has kept the series aloft as the gold standard of JRPG design for three decades. In looking to the series' future followingFinal Fantasy 16’s release, there’s value to usingFinal Fantasy 2as inspiration.
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The Only Final Fantasy With Skill-Based Progression Similar to Elder Scrolls
Instead of having characters gain levels from accrued experience that correlate to increases in stat numbers,Final Fantasy 2has a system that sees party members gain skill through actions in battle. In other words, if a character uses magic, they will gain boosts to intellect; similarly, characters that use melee weapons gain skill points specific to that weapon. This was the foundation of the same RPG systems that went on to beused in Square Enix’sSaGaseriesbut was a significant departure of the more beginner-friendly approach taken by the originalFinal Fantasy. The concept of character action being tied to skill progression is also used in another popular RPG franchise:Elder Scrolls.
While theElder Scrollsgames do feature character levels that increase through gained experience and the allocation of points toward health and mana, certain skills are tied directly to actions and require players to regularly use those actions to improve the correlating skill. While the execution of this system inFinal Fantasy 2left some players confused as to how they were supposed to strengthen their party, it’s an excellent and unique approach to character progression that could be implemented with improved mechanics infutureFinal Fantasytitles.
A Constantly Rotating 4th Party Slot May Have Influenced Final Fantasy 16
One of the many departures from series tradition featured in the upcomingFinal Fantasy 16is the abandoning of theparty systemFinal Fantasygames are known for. While each game in the series features a key protagonist, they are typically accompanied by a diverse cast of characters that usually each fulfill one of the classic RPG class archetypes.Final Fantasy 2was the first title in the series with a predetermined protagonist and party, but the 4th member slot was constantly rotated out with characters that players met along their journey.
The confirmation that Clive will be the only playable character inFinal Fantasy 16came with the added acknowledgment that he will be regularly accompanied by 1 to 2 companions that come and go throughout various stages of his journey. The use of a continually rotating cast of characters inFinal Fantasy 16indicates that the developers may have already looked atFinal Fantasy 2as inspiration in determining how they could shake up the series' formula in the latest entry. Thechoice ofFinal Fantasy 16’s developersto chart a new direction echoes the same spirit of what Square did withFinal Fantasy 2in the early years of the series, and in looking to the franchise’s future the developers should not forget that innovative spirit and willingness to take risks.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remasterwas re-released for consoles on July 08, 2025, and is available on PS4 and Switch.
