This Week in Defunct Games - January 13, 2012

What Is It? In 2011, Square Enix came out as a strong supporter of the PSone Classics. Between Vagrant Story, Xenogears, Parasite Eve and Chrono Cross, this RPG giant managed to release some of their best games in the last twelve months. Apparently that support isn't going anywhere, as this week's PSone Classic update is Final Fantasy Origins. Originally released in 2003 (three years after the release of the PlayStation 2), this PSone classic is nothing more than a compilation of Square's first two Final Fantasy games in all their glory.

Unlike the PlayStation versions of Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Origins offers slightly upgraded graphics and sound. You won't find polygonal graphics like other recent Final Fantasy remakes, but both Final Fantasy I and II have been given a beautiful 16-bit makeover. There are also new cinemas added throughout both games, plus some minor loading that I will try to not make a huge deal over.

Even though it seems archaic by today's standards, the original Final Fantasy holds up surprisingly well. You'll have to put up with random battles and a simplistic combat interface, but you probably knew that going in. Final Fantasy II, on the other hand, still remains the horrible follow-up it has always been. Mind you, this is the original Famicom version of Final Fantasy II and not the 16-bit Super NES game that Nintendo renamed for American audiences all those years ago. Fans of the role-playing series will definitely want to check it out, though I doubt many will actually finish the quest. Either way, at ten dollars, this is a solid value worth considering.

Does It Still Hold Up? Believe it or not, I was surprised by Final Fantasy Origins' updated visuals. This is exactly what these games would have looked like had Square released them on the 16-bit Super NES, which is an upgrade over the NES/Famicom versions. The real problem with this game has nothing to do with the presentation, new cinemas or occasional load times. The problem with Final Fantasy Origins is that only one of these games holds up. Thankfully they're both worth owning, even if you never put more than ten minutes into Final Fantasy II.

Is It Worth The Money? There are better versions of both games currently available on the PSP, which makes this a dicey choice if you prefer your RPGs portable. On the other hand, fans of the series will finally be able to play these two adventures on the PlayStation 3, which may be enough to warrant the ten dollar asking price. Either way, I say this is a good deal for one great game (and its weird sequel). It may not be the most energetic recommendation I have, but the original Final Fantasy is a game worth owning in one form or another.