Help me understand the Final Fantasy/Mana/Chrono/Dragon/etc Series?

[TyrannicalFascist]

So, I'm a total Square noob.  The only square game that I've really played through all the way is Super Mario RPG. And I've played some of Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2.

For the casual gamer like me who wasn't introduced to Square early on, I am thoroughly confused by all the Final Fantasy, Mana, Chrono, Dragon Warrior/Quest etc series, their releases, lack of releases, re-releases, compilations, remakes and spin-offs. I mean, I thought it was confusing enough that there are two different Super Mario Bros. 2, but that's pretty straight-forward compared to these series. Some of these games have Game Boy games named Final Fantasy that are later re-released as Mana games. 

So, as someone who would eventually like to experience all these games that I've always heard are so great, can someone explain the basic release history on these games, the proper order (though I know the FF games are mostly independent of each other), and the ideal releases I should consider tracking down?

I've done a little research and I kind of understand how, for example, Square released FF1 in the US, but didn't release II and III, so IV ended up being named II. But I just want to make sure I understand all of it properly, and can pick out an ideal selection to eventually put next to my other games on my shelf.  I'm also curious whether individual or compilation versions are preferred. I'm not really a purist, so if a version has enhanced graphics, I'd probably prefer that.

I'm primarily only interested in the main series for each....series. So no Tactics, Crystal Chronicles, etc. Just Final Fantasy, Mana, Chrono, Dragon Warrior/Quest and anything else I should know about.

Sorry for the tall order, but I've observed that a lot of you guys seem to know your stuff on these series. 

[FFXIK]

As far as Square Enix game release info goes. it's definately convoluted.  It is also dependent on what systems you may have to play the re-re-releases.  I'll try to cover just the US releases.

Final Fantasy (NES) (Playstation) (GBA) (PSP)
Final Fantasy II (Playstation) (GBA) (PSP)
Final Fantasy III (DS)
Final Fantasy IV (SNES) (Playstation) (GBA) (DS) (PSP)
Final Fantasy V (Playstation) (GBA)
Final Fantasy VI (SNES) (Playstation)
Final Fantasy VII (Playstation) (PC)
Final Fantasy VIII (Playstation) (PC)
Final Fantasy IX (Playstation)
Final Fantasy X (Playstation 2)
Final Fantasy X-2 (Playsatation 2)
Final Fantasy XI (Playstation 2) (Xbox 360) (PC)
Final Fantasy XII (Playstation 2)
Final Fantasy XIII (Playstation 3) (Xbox 360)
Final Fantasy XIII - 2 (Playstation 3) (Xbox 360)
Final fantasy XIV (Playstation 3) (PC)

Now Final Fantasy XI and XIV are both MMOs. The ones listed for the PSX are the compilations Final Fantasy Anthology, Final Fantasy Origins, and Final Fantasy Chronicles < that one is FF IV and Chrono Trigger.

The Game Boy games FInal Fantasy Legend, Legend II, and Legend III are actually from the SaGa series they just bear the Final Fantasy Name in the US.  Final Fantasy Adventure I believe was a Mana game.  I just consider them spin-offs in the same vein as Crystal Chronicles andTactics.

Also like to point out that Final Fantasy IV on the PSP has the original and The After Years

THe ones for the DS and PSP shpould be the toally updated ones concerning graphics and such.

[TyrannicalFascist]

I have a SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, PS1 and Xbox 360. I also plan to get a NES of some sort soon.

[FFXIK]

Chrono series

Chrono Trigger (SNES) (Playstation) (DS) released on PS1 in FF Chronicles.
Chrono Cross (Playstation)
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Dragon Quest/Warrior

Dragon Warrior (NES) (Game Boy Color)
Dragon Warrior II (NES) (GBC)  Note on the GBC it's Dragon Warrior I & II both games same cart
Dragon Warrior III (NES) (GBC)
Dragon Warroir IV (NES) Released as Dragon Quest IV on DS
Dragon Quest V (DS)
Dragon Quest VI (DS)
Dragon Warrior VII (Playstation)
Dragon Quest VIII (Playstation 2)
Dragon Quest IX (DS)

[Pikmin Overlord]

I just thought I would point out that both Final Fantasy VII and VIII were also released on the PC. That is how I played them, actually.

[FFXIK]

Mana series

Secret of Mana (SNES)
Legend of Mana (Playstation)
Sword of Mana (GBA)
Dawn of Mana (Playstation 2)
Children of Mana (DS)
Heroes of Mana (DS)

[FFXIK]

I just thought I would point out that both Final Fantasy VII and VIII were also released on the PC. That is how I actually played them.

Fixed, thanks for pointing that out I had forgotten about their PC releases.

[Pikmin Overlord]

Nice work, FFXIK.

If I'm not mistaken, Sword of Mana (GBA) is an updated version of Final Fantasy Adventure (GB).

[TyrannicalFascist]

This is all very helpful, thanks! So if I follow correctly, my best bet is to probably play these:

Final Fantasy I & II - Origins [PS1] or Dawn of Souls [GBA]
Final Fantasy III - DS remake
Final Fantasy IV - FFII [SNES] (original version) or FF Chronicles [PS1]/FFIV Advance [GBA] (enhanced version) and there's also a DS "3D" remake like III
Final Fantasy V - FF Anthology [PS1] or FFV Advance [GBA]
Final Fantasy VI - FFIII [SNES] or FF Anthology [PS1]/FFVI Advance [GBA] (enhanced version)
Final Fantasy VII and on - Playstation (or PC for some)

Chrono Trigger - SNES or FF Chronicles [PS1] or DS
Chrono Cross - PS1

Dragon Warrior/Quest, I'd probably just stick with the Game Boy and DS versions.

The main Mana series looks pretty straight-forward, I'd probably go with the GBA Sword of Mana over the GB Final Fantasy Adventure version. I'd probably also want to treat the original/enhanced FFIV and the DS remake as two separate games, because the experience would be different.

So my real decision for Final Fantasy I-VI and Chrono Trigger is whether to go with the Playstation versions or the Nintendo versions...

[irvgotti452]

For Chrono Trigger the only difference is that the PS version has fmv while the SNES ver does not. Heck you can even play it on DS, but they added a small little side thing to it as to say its "updated". Still pretty cool.

[TyrannicalFascist]

What I'd probably want to do is kind of go all-or-nothing so to speak on the Final Fantasy choices.

It looks like I could potentially have FF I-XI all on Playstation, except for III which would be on DS, or I could have I-VI on Nintendo handhelds and VII-XI on Playstation. I also read that FFIV and Chrono Trigger from the Final Fantasy Chronicles collection has really bad load times, which would kind of deter me a bit honestly.

And on yet the other hand, SNES is one of my favorite systems.... Decisions, decisions....

What's everyone's opinion on PS1 vs GBA/DS for FF I-VI and Chrono Trigger?

Currently I'm inclined to lean this way unless someone knows of why it might be better to go for the alternatives:

Final Fantasy I & II - Dawn of Souls [GBA]
Final Fantasy III - DS remake
Final Fantasy IV - FFII [SNES] AND the DS remake
Final Fantasy V - FFV Advance [GBA]
Final Fantasy VI - FFIII [SNES] AND FFVI Advance [GBA]
Final Fantasy VII and on - Playstation

Chrono Trigger - SNES (or maybe DS)
Chrono Cross - PS1

[FFXIK]

Nice work, FFXIK.

If I'm not mistaken, Sword of Mana (GBA) is an updated version of Final Fantasy Adventure (GB).

Thanks, that's pretty much from memory.  Shows how much of a nerd I really am. 
Yes, Sword of Mana is an updated version of Final Fantasy Adventure.  I was hesitant to include it in the Final Fantasy list.  Thats why I just made mention of it.

What I'd probably want to do is kind of go all-or-nothing so to speak on the Final Fantasy choices.

It looks like I could potentially have FF I-XI all on Playstation, except for III which would be on DS, or I could have I-VI on Nintendo handhelds and VII-XI on Playstation. I also read that FFIV and Chrono Trigger from the Final Fantasy Chronicles collection has really bad load times, which would kind of deter me a bit honestly.

And on yet the other hand, SNES is one of my favorite systems.... Decisions, decisions....

What's everyone's opinion on PS1 vs GBA/DS for FF I-VI and Chrono Trigger?

Currently I'm inclined to lean this way unless someone knows of why it might be better to go for the alternatives:

Final Fantasy I & II - Dawn of Souls [GBA]
Final Fantasy III - DS remake
Final Fantasy IV - FFII [SNES] AND the DS remake
Final Fantasy V - FFV Advance [GBA]
Final Fantasy VI - FFIII [SNES] AND FFVI Advance [GBA]
Final Fantasy VII and on - Playstation

Chrono Trigger - SNES (or maybe DS)
Chrono Cross - PS1

Which ever way that make you the happiest without breaking the bank. I wish you lots of happy times with these games.  A lot of my favorites are all over these lists.

I'm going to add this again, just because. Final Fantasy XI & XIV are both Pay to Play MMORPGs.  So I don't know if that will work out for you.  I played XI for 5 years, as long as your on an active server it's great, otherwise. It's meh.  FF XIV is just a broken mess not really worth wasting time on.

[TyrannicalFascist]

Thanks for the heads up. I probably wouldn't get to those anytime soon anyways, as I don't even have a PS2 and I'd want I mostly play in order. One of my friends has played both MMOs and has told me about them, so  I would probably skip them when I eventually get to them.

Now to figure out Mega Man... 

[Beastman1975]

the good news ty is most of the final fantasy games have nothing to do with each other except for recurring names, monsters, and chocobo's so playing order is not nessessarily needed , only a few games in the series are true sequels/prequels, still for fun id play older titles first .

final fantasy VII crisis core on psp is a prequel and the movie advent children is a sequel to the original  game
Final fantasy IV on PSP came with after years which is a sequel to the original game  originally released on cell phone in japan i believe
Final fantasy X-2 is a sequel to X

not sure if im forgeting any others that are sequels


never played the dragon quest series other than 8  even though i do own 1 lol but been thinking of gettin repros of the snes releases , I and II were rereleased on the snes in japan with a facelift

[Maben]

I have some experience here as I recently worked to get the Final Fantasy series.  I don't have any handheld systems so Final Fantasy III is currently unavailable to me.  I have the rest on Playstation 1/2 though, disregarding the MMOs (and I got FFXIII and XIII-2 for the 360).  If you have a backwards compatible PS3 you could get all the games on the same platform (except III).   I'm just not really a handheld guy.

Based on your systems, I would recommend the Playstation releases just for consistency (unless that doesn't matter to you).  And you really need to pick up a PS2 for X, X-2, and XII.  There's a million different opinions but Final Fantasy X is definitely my favorite one.

Just pretend 11 and 14 don't exist, that's what I do.  And since 10 and 13 have sequels it basically fills in the "gaps" for you.  Also, I would recommend bouncing around perhaps through the series, that's what I'm doing (still haven't played them all).  There is no necessary order, and I like to get some of the new graphics and voice acting once in awhile.  If you want to play through from the beginning though, be my guest