Final Fantasy (NES Classic Edition)

Deja Vu

I've just been to this place before

Higher on the street and I know it's my time to go

... I feel like I'm stuck in a time-loop! Again!

So I played through the Ys X: Nordic Demo in wait for the full release of the game on Switch, but I beat that and my copy of the Tintin Reporter game was late so I thought I could fire up the NES Classic Edition and play through the original Final Fantasy. I tried to mod the console to fix the bugs and make it a bit more working and faster, but my Mac didn't want to play with me on that regard so it was what I had in the box.

Somehow I feel that I can understand why people still play this version even though all the bugs and non-working things in it. It's just fun. Especially when I know a couple of things like Peninsula of Power, where to find the magical items and how to properly use some of the classes, like Monk where no weapons and armour is the way to go and what magic to go for. Still fighter, monk, black mage and white mage. 

Now, using the save state function on the console elevates a lot of the stress if you play it as intended. Pause in dungeons, restart directly beside bosses to try if luck is with you the second time (used that for every encounter in the Ice Caverns) and skip the problem with the house bug where they save before replenishing spell charges so in the normal game you have to use another tent or cottage (houses cost 3000 gil so no) to save after healing up. Funny enough I actually changed class at level 19 and beat the game on level 28-29. Don't enjoy having to buy a single item at a time.

I can actually recommend playing as is if you want too. I know some mention the guide in the manual as a necessity, but I actually think the game does decent at explaining what to do and you hardly need maps (I used them to speed up everything, I guess I would have a bit higher level if I wandered around a bit more). And with that I only have the Wii Virtual Console left to play of these versions and that one doesn't have save states so I guess when I play that version that will be the most legit run I will do, and maybe Switch it up with a fighter, monk, red mage and white mage party.

So, recommended over other versions? I like the graphics, but I miss the cut scenes they added in later versions. A bit hard getting what happened after giving the TNT to the dwarf that blew up the canal. This also enforces my thought that 1/2 EXP on the Pixel Remaster would be the better option (would have to try since they changed the stats for Chaos and maybe making a low-level run around 30 levels makes it a bit harder). Would I play this version again? Maybe if I mod the console to get a working version with all the bugs and such just to experience it. It's not unplayable by any means, the player just have to change perspective for a much slower and more methodic combat. Especially when you use people to heal with the heal helmet and heal staff to save on the potions while the damage dealers just wreck havoc on the enemies.