Dead Head Fred

Hironobu Sakaguchi created the first Final Fantasy role-playing game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in an effort to save developer Square from bankruptcyhence the name. That was back in 1987. Over twenty years later, the Final Fantasy series has become one of the most beloved franchises in video game history, with fourteen main titles and at least an equal number of spin-offs. PSP gamers in particular have their pick of the litter when it comes to delving into this iconic series.If you’ve never experienced the original games before, but are a fan of long quests, expansive exploration, and engaging stories, check out the PSP remakes of Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II. These special 20^th anniversary editions include remixed graphics and soundtracks, along with full-motion-video scenes. The first title includes dungeons that first appeared in the Dawn of Souls port for the Game Boy Advance. In addition, hardcore gamers will appreciate the new Labyrinth of Time dungeon, which is a timed area full of brutally powerful enemies in which your characters’ health is constantly drained.Final Fantasy II, the first sequel to the original, was originally unreleased in America, and the later Japanese game Final Fantasy IV was originally released as FF2 on the North American continent. It first appeared in America on the Playstation, but it’s still worth a look for PSP players, as it introduces many characters that recur throughout the franchise, including the chocobo mounts and the airship pilot Cid. This game again features never-before-seen dungeons with new equipment and enemies.The PSP is also home to an entirely new sub-franchise in the Final Fantasy series, which started with 2009′s Dissidia: Final Fantasy. This game contains elements of fighting and action-RPG gamesno taking turns here. However, players can also use special skills and utilize traps around the battlefield to get the upper hand on their opponent. Players in Western countries have the option of choosing to remove all RPG features and playing the game as a pure fighting title. Dissidia is available both on UMD and on the Playstation Network for download via wireless internet service. The title has proven so popular that a sequel, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, is set for release in 2011.The PSP also features some games that delve deeper into the stories of previous FF titles. For a long time, each Final Fantasy was unrelated to the one that came before, but the 2003 game Final Fantasy X-2 (a sequel to 2001′s Final Fantasy X) opened the door to revisit other titles in the series. The first such PSP game was released in North America in 2007.Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a remake of a 1997(JP)/1998(US) title for the Playstation, and is set in the land of Ivalice, which is also the setting of the 2006 title Final Fantasy XII. FFXII‘s character Balthier is an unlockable character in The War of the Lions. Gameplay is similar to the original Playstation title, in that it is a tactical role-playing game that requires players to strategically move “units” across an isometric battlefield. The game also includes two new classes, a widescreen aspect ratio, and added cutscenes, and a new wireless multiplayer mode for co-op and competitive play.Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII was released in North America in 2008, and is a prequel to the 1997 title Final Fantasy VII. FFVII is often considered one of the finest titles in the franchise, as well as one of the greatest games of all time. Crisis Core puts players in control of Zack Fair, a previously unplayable-character in the title, in an action-RPG adventure. Unlike other FF titles, combat is in real-time, and players only control one character. However, players can tailor the game to their own playing style by equipping Zack with different materia, which give him special skills, spells, or bonuses.