Final Fantasy II (1988)

Final Fantasy II (1988)

Square
Release date: 1988-12-17 | Platforms: NES, PLAYSTATION1, WII, IOS, PSP, WII_U, NINTENDO_3DS.

Final Fantasy II is a fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1988 for the Family Computer as the second installment of the Final Fantasy series. The game has received numerous enhanced remakes for the WonderSwan Color, the PlayStation, the Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation Portable, and multiple mobile and smartphone types. As neither this game nor Final Fantasy III were initially released outside Japan, Final Fantasy IV was originally released in North America as Final Fantasy II, so as not to confuse players. The most recent releases of the game are enhanced versions for the iOS and Android, which were released worldwide in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
The game's story centers on four youths whose parents were killed during an army invasion by the empire of Palamecia, who are using hellspawn to conquer the world. Three of the four main characters join a rebellion against the empire, embarking on missions to gain new magic and weapons, destroy enemy superweapons, and rescue leading members of the resistance. The Game Boy Advance remake adds a bonus story after the game is completed.
Final Fantasy II introduced many elements that would later become staples of the Final Fantasy franchise, including chocobos and the recurring character Cid. It also eliminated the traditional experience point leveling system of the previous and later games in the series, instead introducing an activity-based progression system where the characters' statistics increase according to how they are used or acquired. Despite being a sequel to Final Fantasy, the game includes no characters or locations from the first game. Final Fantasy II received little attention at the time from non-Japanese reviewers, though its remakes have garnered favorable reviews.

Background

DEVELOPERS

Background for Masafumi Miyamoto
Masafumi Miyamoto

Masafumi Miyamoto

producer

Masafumi Miyamoto is a games producer. Miyamoto has been working with Square Enix and Square. Miyamoto's first published game was Final Fantasy 2 released in 1988. Then, Masafumi Miyamoto went on to work on Final Fantasy II (1988) as the producer. Later, Miyamoto also was part of the team who developed Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls published by Square Enix for Game Boy Advance. Most recently, Masafumi Miyamoto was involved in the development of Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition.

Background for Kenji Terada
Kenji Terada

Kenji Terada

writer

Kenji Terada is a games writer and director. Terada has been working with Square Enix, SEGA, Square and Matrix Software. Terada's first game was Final Fantasy (1987) published by Nintendo for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation and Wii U in 1987. Next, Kenji Terada worked on Final Fantasy 2 taking on the role of writer. Terada also worked on Final Fantasy II (1988) developed by Square for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation and PSP. Most lately, Kenji Terada worked on Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia.

Background for Nasir Gebelli
Nasir Gebelli

Nasir Gebelli

programmer

Nasir Gebelli is a games programmer. Gebelli has been working with Square Enix and Square. Gebelli's first published game was The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner released in 1987. Then, Nasir Gebelli went on to work on Rad Racer as the programmer. Gebelli also worked on Final Fantasy II (1988) developed by Square for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation and PSP. Most recently, Nasir Gebelli was involved in the development of Secret of Mana.

Background for Yoshitaka Amano
Yoshitaka Amano

Yoshitaka Amano

artist

Yoshitaka Amano is a games artist. Amano has been working with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Capcom and Atlus. Amano's first game was Final Fantasy (1987) published by Nintendo for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation and Wii U in 1987. Then, Yoshitaka Amano went on to work on Final Fantasy 2 as the artist. Later, Amano also was part of the team who developed Final Fantasy Origins published by Square Enix for PlayStation 3, PlayStation, PS Vita and PSP. Most lately, Yoshitaka Amano worked on Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force.

Background for Hiromichi Tanaka
Hiromichi Tanaka

Hiromichi Tanaka

designer

Hiromichi Tanaka is a games writer, director, producer and designer who started the games industry career in 1900. Since then, Tanaka has been working with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Square and Square Product Development Division 3. Tanaka's first game was Crystal War published by TongFang HongKong for PC. Then, Hiromichi Tanaka went on to work on Final Fantasy (1987) as the designer. Tanaka also worked on Final Fantasy Origins developed by Square Enix for PlayStation 3, PlayStation, PS Vita and PSP. Most lately, Hiromichi Tanaka worked on Trials of Mana (2020).

Background for Akitoshi Kawazu
Akitoshi Kawazu

Akitoshi Kawazu

designer

Akitoshi Kawazu is a games writer, director, producer and designer. Kawazu has been working with Square Enix, Square, ArtePiazza and M2 Co. Kawazu's first game was Final Fantasy (1987) published by Nintendo for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation and Wii U in 1987. After that, Akitoshi Kawazu took part as the designer of Final Fantasy 2. Kawazu also worked on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers developed by Square Enix for Wii. Most lately, Akitoshi Kawazu worked on Legend of Mana. Currently, Kawazu is developing Unlimited Saga. The release date is yet to be announced.

Background for Koichi Ishii
Koichi Ishii

Koichi Ishii

designer

Koichi Ishii is a games writer, director, artist and producer who started the games industry career in 1900. Since then, Ishii has been working with Square Enix, Square, Grezzo and Brownie Brown. Ishii started as the director of Crystal War. Then, Koichi Ishii went on to work on Final Fantasy (1987) as the designer. Ishii also worked on Circle of Mana. Most lately, Koichi Ishii worked on Legend of Mana.

Background for Hironobu Sakaguchi
Hironobu Sakaguchi

Hironobu Sakaguchi

writer,director,producer,designer

Hironobu Sakaguchi is a games writer, director, producer and designer. Sakaguchi has been working with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Square and SquareSoft. Sakaguchi's first game was The Death Trap in 1984. Next, Hironobu Sakaguchi worked on Cruise Chaser Blassty taking on the role of designer. Later, Sakaguchi also was part of the team who developed Final Fantasy III (1990) published by Square for NES. Most recently, Hironobu Sakaguchi was involved in the development of Fantasian. Currently, Sakaguchi is developing ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat. The release date is yet to be announced.

Background for Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo Uematsu

composer

Nobuo Uematsu is a games composer who started the games industry career in 1900. Since then, Uematsu has been working with Square Enix, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Activision and Square. Uematsu's first published game was Crystal War. After that, Nobuo Uematsu took part as the composer of The Death Trap. Uematsu also worked on Granblue Fantasy Relink developed by Cygames for PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Most recently, Nobuo Uematsu was involved in the development of Fantasy Life i. Now, Uematsu has joined the team of Sakura Note: Ima ni Tsunagaru Mirai as the composer.