⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣹⠿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⢶⣤⡠⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠈⠛⠳⠦⣄⣤⣤⣼⣴⡿⡏⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠋⢿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣅⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡟⣯⢻⣟⠏⠛⠳⢤⣄⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡿⣿⡾⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠓⠷⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣔⣱⡃⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠴⢜⡢⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣛⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⠷⣻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⢿⣾⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡜⠁⢾⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⡿⠃⡜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⢯⡷⡰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢏⡾⡷⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⢀⣄⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⢉⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠺⠍⠁⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⣋⠀⠀⠀⣼⣴⣻⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⡆⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⠀⠀⢃⠄⣸⣿⠿⡗⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⡀⣰⣿⢭⡝⠁⠈⠛⠁⠰⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠘⠈⣠⡅⢀⠰⠀⣦⡏⢛⠦⠃⡀⠀⠀⠜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⠙⠀⠐⡈⡠⠌⠀⠼⠉⣵⢼⠛⠀⠁⡠⠂⡀⠶⠂⠀⠒⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠔⠣⠁⢀⠢⠂⠣⠄⣀⣉⢨⠰⠁⠀⡅⠔⠀⠄⢀⠀⠀⠀⠚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣆⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠈⡀⠈⠅⡀⠀⡆⠀⣸⢃⠃⠢⠃⠀⠈⠀⠀⠷⠔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠄⠉⠁⢂
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡐⢤⠃⠘⡋⠐⠁⠼⢞⠈⡞⠁⠴⠖⢠⡘⠀⠈⠏⠀⠤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⡕⡂⠃⠠⠠⠈
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠏⠘⠀⠀⠀⠆⡠⣄⠜⢀⡀⣁⡀⠁⠈⠀⣀⠀⠥⠀⠒⠒⠂⠀⠀⠭⠉⠙⣻⣿⣶⠄⠠⠠⠤⠤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠒⠒⠚⢒⠚⠛⠻⠽⠛⠛⠒⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣠⠐⣶⠂⠈⢳⢄⡠⠉⢠⠀⢰⠀⠜⠅⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢨⠀⠊⣸⠞⣠⠘⣧⢸⠘⡀⠘⠃⠤⠀⠈⢌⠨⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠀⠀⠐⢠⣎⠪⢀⣁⠒⠳⢸⠠⣗⢶⠂⢀⠀⡀⠀⡈⠀⠀⠈⠀⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠐⠇⠀⠀⠀⠈⠠⠀⠈⢈⣯⠖⣞⠃⠀⠀⢸⠀⢠⠘⢀⠁⢀⠂⠢⠁⠀⠀⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⡠⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠊⠁⣠⢃⠁⠶⢠⢸⠀⠆⠈⠀⠣⠁⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⢀⣯⣧⡞⠁⡌⠀⠀⣦⢸⠀⢀⠀⢁⠀⢀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠑⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⠟⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⠀⠀⠀⠈⢁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⢮⠗⠒⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⢘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⣴⡀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠄⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡏⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

absolute banger of a video game worth the 100%

Final Fantasy 2 is often reviewed as one of the worse entries in the series, but it may very well embody the true spirit of Final Fantasy more than any other game, and be therefore one of the most important entries in the history of the franchise. As an experimental title, it takes bold risks and offers a narrative-driven experience that set it apart from the first Final Fantasy. It was the first game in the series to truly focus on storytelling, a pioneering move for its time.

In terms of monster design, instead of relying on the standard Dungeons & Dragons-inspired creatures, Final Fantasy 2 introduced a host of original creatures. It also marked the debut of iconic characters like the Chocobos and Cid, elements that would go on to become staples of the franchise. The story itself carries a darker tone, perfectly matched by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that reinforces the game's melancholic atmosphere. For the first time, the protagonists, and even more some of the secondary characters, start to show more depth, even if still rudimentary by today’s standards.

From a narrative standpoint, Final Fantasy 2 was groundbreaking, bringing new concepts of story-telling to the genre. However, not all of its innovations panned out. The new combat system and character progression, for example, were frustrating and left much to be desired. The encounter rate is excessively high, and the game’s dungeons are often confusingly designed, filled with dead-ends and empty rooms that waste the player's time on needless random battles. Some features, such as the password system and the temporary party members who would join for short stints only to be abandoned, felt like missed opportunities.

That said, the Pixel Remaster edition of Final Fantasy 2 does a fantastic job of addressing many of the most frustrating aspects of the original title. It offers a much better experience compared to the original, especially with the option to temporarily disable random encounters. While the game’s progression still has its flaws, with sudden difficulty spikes that can feel jarring, the remaster makes it easier to enjoy the experience overall. The ability to break the game and become overpowered early on is also a notable quirk, though it can be fun to exploit in certain situations.

The final boss remains one of the most difficult and perplexing in the entire series. Beating it requires relying on game mechanics and statistics that are not explained at all within the game itself, meaning players are forced to look up guides—an unfortunate design choice that, in my opinion, is a big miss.

Despite its flaws, Final Fantasy 2 is undeniably an important part of the franchise's history. It was a daring experiment, and in many ways, it paved the way for the series’ continued spirit of innovation—an ethos that has been maintained throughout the entire franchise, with both triumphs and missteps along the way. In many respects, the reception of this game mirrors that of Final Fantasy 8, another title that was experimental but ultimately had a divisive yet unforgettable impact.

As a long-time fan of the series, I’m genuinely thrilled to have played Final Fantasy 2 in its Pixel Remaster form. It may have its flaws, but it's still an essential piece of Final Fantasy history, and the remaster makes it much more accessible and enjoyable for modern players.