Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

 PlayStation 5
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 457 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 299 out of 457
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 457
  3. Negative: 100 out of 457
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  1. Traumvita
    Sep 6, 2023
    7
    It’s decent. Visuals kinda meh. Has a charm to it but honestly at times reminds me of a good looking PS3 game. Overall plays alright. Story kinda sucks. Characters suck except for Jack. Jack is hilarious. The best way to play this game is to not take it serious and play it co op. Very fun co op game.
  2. ArcZ7
    Sep 1, 2023
    7
    Stranger of paradise is a strange game. On one hand the game had tons of potential on the other in many ways it feels very rushed. It seems like a lot of focused went into combat rather then making a interesting story which FF franchise is know for. There is plenty of classes and combination to go with but all falls apart once you start looking into the loot system which is so over bloatedStranger of paradise is a strange game. On one hand the game had tons of potential on the other in many ways it feels very rushed. It seems like a lot of focused went into combat rather then making a interesting story which FF franchise is know for. There is plenty of classes and combination to go with but all falls apart once you start looking into the loot system which is so over bloated its ridiculous.

    This game could really do with some more development time and fine tuning all systems to make more of a cohesive game. Overall I enjoyed my time with stranger of paradise but its not a game I would go back to again.    … Expand
  3. Killerpummkin
    Aug 10, 2023
    8
    It's true that technically it's not perfect, but it's fun and the characters are well designed in every way. The combat system is the best part of the game, I love it and it's spectacular. Another very good point is the soundtrack, which is great. Without having the excellence of other Final Fantasies, it is a good game that I think has been unfairly criticised by the critics.
  4. Marioku
    Aug 8, 2023
    10
    El juego me sorprendió que cada vez se vuelve más adictivo sin sumar sus DLC que complementan aún más esta historío
  5. n-swidan
    Aug 3, 2023
    8
    I had a blast playing this! Great combat, loot, and bosses! Needs more enemy variety, but it was still pretty fun and challenging.
  6. Steyraus
    Jul 11, 2023
    0
    I'm done with Team Ninja. Once again it's a gain with loose impressive combat massive difficulty spikes and it just frustrating, not fun...Why can't they just make a fun hack and slash, why is every game a bad souls clone...The worst thing about their games in the confusing convoluted levelling system. So you never really know how to get stronger..
    It sux that Team Ninja are so bad these    I'm done with Team Ninja. Once again it's a gain with loose impressive combat massive difficulty spikes and it just frustrating, not fun...Why can't they just make a fun hack and slash, why is every game a bad souls clone...The worst thing about their games in the confusing convoluted levelling system. So you never really know how to get stronger..
    It sux that Team Ninja are so bad these days as I like their graphics and character design. It's balancing and combat that's a mess.    … Expand
  7. CapitanQwark
    Jul 9, 2023
    10
    Awesome game. It recieved lot of hate, but it's an incredible idea to explore another stories of the final fantasy Series.
  8. swin
    Jun 25, 2023
    8
    I'm primarily a JRPG player, and I rarely play games with high difficulties or high skill ceilings. As such much of my time was getting used to the controls and actually using the block button. Having a souls-esque game for a series known for low skill ceilings is certainly a choice. That said, I loved playing as Jack as I got to see the how and why of the final villain of FF1. I playedI'm primarily a JRPG player, and I rarely play games with high difficulties or high skill ceilings. As such much of my time was getting used to the controls and actually using the block button. Having a souls-esque game for a series known for low skill ceilings is certainly a choice. That said, I loved playing as Jack as I got to see the how and why of the final villain of FF1. I played FF1 a couple of years earlier and the time-travel aspect seems like a difficult thing to write around, but I think they did a great job with the material given.

    It took me approx. ~35 hours to complete the game playing primarily in Story Mode difficulty.

    Pros:
    * Dialogue is very enjoyable (CHAOS)
    * Gameplay is very fun and challenging (even at lower difficulties)
    * Story was surprisingly enjoyable
    * Music is great, as expected for Final Fantasy
    * Characters are very likeable
    * Standalone title - doesn't require playing others in the series

    Cons
    * Equipment management: limited storage and constant drops are a noxious combo
    * Exploration isn't really incentivized because all you get is equipment from chests - something you can find literally anywhere
    * The story can be confusing, although playing FF1 beforehand helps    … Expand
  9. Tintler
    Jun 25, 2023
    7
    Nioh, Final Fantasy ile buluşursanın cevabı. Çok fazla class var, çok çeşitli buildler yapabiliyorsunuz. Çoğu kişi tarafından sevilmese de güzel bir spin-off olduğunu düşünüyorum.En azından sıkılmadan 50-60 saat geçirebilirsiniz.
  10. juniortiger
    May 17, 2023
    10
    You need check game out one the best game and lot open world and action game and excellent graphic and good music and good day
  11. dreamnight
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    I recommend pick one up lot action and also song beautiful and excellent graphic and good day
  12. LetterboxParrot
    Apr 22, 2023
    8
    Let's be real. The game is about the combat. Flashy, satisfying combat.
    Nothing makes me want to jump off a bridge more than Master Tonberries.
  13. CKaedhan
    Apr 11, 2023
    9
    Expected memes, got a very good game.

    Stranger of paradise has been closer to "Final Fantasy" than FF XII, XIII or XV. Gameplay loop is very fun and can be challenging, bosses are unique, jobs really matters and change the way you'll play. Game has been fun from start to finish with no interruption. Very good game for something that isn't a AAA. Just keep Nomura out of the next game,    Expected memes, got a very good game.

    Stranger of paradise has been closer to "Final Fantasy" than FF XII, XIII or XV. Gameplay loop is very fun and can be challenging, bosses are unique, jobs really matters and change the way you'll play. Game has been fun from start to finish with no interruption. Very good game for something that isn't a AAA.

    Just keep Nomura out of the next game, shake keys in front of his face or something.
    I'll gladly buy the next FF by Koei Tecmo.

    9/10, would kill Chaos again.    … Expand
  14. benthesodaman
    Mar 27, 2023
    8
    Liked: Fast-paced action combat, a breadth and depth of build options as you progress the game, soundtrack and nods to Final Fantasy series, and three player co-op for most of the game and DLCs. The difficulty options if you just want to play story and if you invest in the RPG mechanics, even though the DLC is on a higher difficulty - you will be on even footing.

    Disliked: The 3rd DLC    Liked: Fast-paced action combat, a breadth and depth of build options as you progress the game, soundtrack and nods to Final Fantasy series, and three player co-op for most of the game and DLCs. The difficulty options if you just want to play story and if you invest in the RPG mechanics, even though the DLC is on a higher difficulty - you will be on even footing.

    Disliked: The 3rd DLC had little in the way of build expansion compared to the 1st and 2nd DLCs, UI QoL that did not get implemented, number of lingering bugs, the Rift Labyrinth's penalty system, Rift Labyrinth lacking a co-op save, story pacing, character animations during story sequences

    To address the DLC difficulty: The game is fair if you don't rush by neglecting mechanics. Which is what some players citing Souls NG+++ and Nioh Abyss 999 players do/did. The game gives you multiple ways to increase your stats, but a number of players only focus on one way. Use them all and you could be clearing bosses in under 60 seconds or face tanking even without grinding. And if do grind or grind efficiently, you could achieve faster clears or be so sturdy you can go pee, wash your hands, come back, and still be alive (not exaggerating, especially the wash hands part).

    For players that don't want to invest time learning the game, but do want to see the story first-hand, there is a lore friendly Extra Mode. You can also still practice and experience the combat in this way, but if you neglect your stats, you may have boss encounters longer than 2~3 minutes.

    And then as a Final Fantasy name, no other game in the franchise has as much build customization as this game. For players that love that kind of stuff, this is a dream. For players that want something more streamlined and simplified, the DLCs will be a mini-nightmare.    … Expand
  15. bf_jeje
    Mar 11, 2023
    0
    The worst final fantasy ever made. Please sony, stop working with square. They make shtty games.
  16. NN010
    Jan 29, 2023
    8
    Before I get into the story, I would like to discuss this game’s biggest strength: the gameplay. Whilst I haven’t played the Nioh games, it is clear that Team Ninja did take a lot of cues from what they’d done in that series when designing this game. Subsequently, while Dark Souls & Elden Ring comparisons are inevitable, Stranger of Paradise is pretty different & much faster paced thanBefore I get into the story, I would like to discuss this game’s biggest strength: the gameplay. Whilst I haven’t played the Nioh games, it is clear that Team Ninja did take a lot of cues from what they’d done in that series when designing this game. Subsequently, while Dark Souls & Elden Ring comparisons are inevitable, Stranger of Paradise is pretty different & much faster paced than those games. Instead of mostly dodging until you can attack enemies from behind, Stranger of Paradise mostly encourages you to either block attacks or use the game’s Soul Shield ability to parry them and gain additional MP slots for using abilities (with the occasional attack you have to dodge, but those are signposted clearly). Stranger of Paradise also emphasizes running down an enemy’s stagger gauge to perform instant takedown moves. The default controls are reminiscent of other Souls-Likes, but you can switch to a more Nioh/Devil May Cry-esque control scheme in the options menu. My biggest issue with the combat really is just that the game is so generous with weapons & armour that in the late-game you have to dismantle a bunch of old gear every couple of missions. It’s a time consuming process & in my experience the auto-dismantle feature Team Ninja added in a post-release patch doesn’t work.
    Overall, unless you’re looking for a pure Souls-like experience, Stranger of Paradise offers a dynamic & fast-paced combat system that nevertheless takes inspiration from Dark Souls. And if you aren’t into the high difficulty of Souls-Likes (or are just here for the story and/or memes), the game does have lower difficulty settings to make the game more enjoyable for you.

    As for the story (co-written by Final Fantasy VII, FFVIII & Kingdom Hearts 2 writer Kazuhige Nojima), it is an… interesting experience. At first, it feels like so bad, it’s good edgy throwback to the 2000s wherein the protagonist seemingly drops more curse words than every character in the rest of the Final Fantasy series combined. But as you get closer to the end the story starts to become actually good. The edgy exterior starts to give way to an unexpectedly emotional story about the folly of anger & the importance of memory. Similarly, the dialogue also goes from meme-worthy to good as the game goes on (ex: the **** scene takes place in the first couple of hours). On a related note, the music (mainly composed by FFXIII-2 co-composer Naoshi Mizuta) is pretty good and calls back to previous Final Fantasy games in subtle, but appreciated ways.

    Speaking of references to previous Final Fantasy games, Stranger of Paradise, being the game released to mark the 35th anniversary of the Final Fantasy franchise, has numerous references & call backs to previous FF games. Most of them take the form of dungeons being inspired by (and implied in-universe to pulled from the worlds of) previous Final Fantasy games (ex: The Crystal Tower from FFIII (also a prominant location in FFXIV), Sunleth Waterscape from FFXIII, Sastasha from FFXIV & the Citadel from FFXV), but outside of that, there are plenty of classic Final Fantasy elements included (ex: Chaos, Warriors of Light & a Job system reminiscent of FFV & FFXIV). These references aren’t so all-consuming that they detract from the story being told, though.

    Moving on to the technical & visual aspects, Stranger of Paradise is a mixed bag. On one hand, the art direction is as good as should be expected from a Square Enix game. Sure Jack looks like a generic video game protagonist from the late 2000s-early 2010s, but that feels intentional given the direction the story goes in & the rest of characters do have designs that fit their characters. The only one I can really question is Neon wearing a school-girl outfit. Is it meant to signify how she’s younger than the rest of the cast? Maybe, but she’s supposed to be 18 according to the Final Fantasy Wiki (or at least her physical appearance is). Most likely explanation is that someone at Team Ninja and/or Square Enix wanted one of the characters to wear a school girl outfit and didn’t care how little sense it made.

    As for the technical side of things, this game is a mess. It’s been patched to improve performance, but the game’s visuals still aren’t up to par for a PS5 game. The anti-aliasing solution Team Ninja are using can’t keep up with this game’s environment design & causes the game to look like a shimmery, blurry mess at times (and this is with the game set to resolution mode!). And it’s not a case of Team Ninja not putting much effort into the PS5 version. The PS4, Xbox One & Series S versions are even worse in this regard & people found at launch that the PC version’s framerate tanks whenever there is fur or hair on s    … Expand
  17. signas
    Jan 25, 2023
    10
    it's like a mix between final fantasy xv, sekiro, ps2 era god of war, and devil may cry. It's so good that even though it borrows elements from those games it still feels like its own thing. As always Final Fantasy delivering quality games.
  18. xcylo
    Jan 25, 2023
    9
    I can say almost nothing positive about this game except that I enjoyed almost every moment I spent with it
  19. Mogmog000
    Jan 24, 2023
    0
    The main character and his friends are not attractive.
    Dungeons are too long. No mini-map.
    Bosses are too hard and strong.
  20. Naedeslus
    Jan 23, 2023
    8
    +Great combat that is well-paced, fast-paced, fun, and challenging.
    +Dialog is ‘so bad it's good’ It’s an unintentional satirical script most of the time that surprisingly wraps up very well at the end and has a great end twist. The last act is fantastic.
    + Loads of customization and great drop-in/out co-op. + Soundtrack is very good. - Battle theme is a bit overwhelming. As stated    +Great combat that is well-paced, fast-paced, fun, and challenging.
    +Dialog is ‘so bad it's good’ It’s an unintentional satirical script most of the time that surprisingly wraps up very well at the end and has a great end twist. The last act is fantastic.
    + Loads of customization and great drop-in/out co-op.
    + Soundtrack is very good.

    - Battle theme is a bit overwhelming. As stated in the pros, the soundtrack is good but it can be problematic if you can’t really hear most of it on your first playthrough.
    - Graphics are very dated, feels like a PS3 game.
    - Some levels can be a bit confusing. Could use a map.

    Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is one of my favorite spinoffs to come out of the series. It will not be for everyone but this is one I find myself coming back to multiple times. There is a certain charm with the tone that I absolutely love, and if you can not take it seriously and shut your brain off and even embrace the non-intentional satirical tone, it gets better and the story does actually work very well by the end.

    The combat is very good and has a good loot system with plenty of customization. The game does feel very dated, but if you don’t mind its shortcomings, you’ll probably love it as much as I do. It’s not perfect, but for the current price of 30 USD, if you’ve been sleeping on it, but like Final Fantasy and Team Ninja’s other games, give it a try. You'll probably like it.    … Expand
  21. Anactualgamer
    Jan 17, 2023
    8
    Finally got around to playing Stranger of Paradise and all I can say is wow. I always try to go into games I'm interested in without watching/reading reviews, because as you can see on this page itself, people just review bomb good games nowadays. Combat is fun and the job system is alot like ffxiv where you can play any job you want by changing the weapon. And you can have two jobsFinally got around to playing Stranger of Paradise and all I can say is wow. I always try to go into games I'm interested in without watching/reading reviews, because as you can see on this page itself, people just review bomb good games nowadays. Combat is fun and the job system is alot like ffxiv where you can play any job you want by changing the weapon. And you can have two jobs "equipped" at the same time to switch during combat. Combat has a nice flow switching between jobs and skills. A+
    Graphics are good on the Ps5. But in all honesty they could have done better. I don't think it's on the same level as say Ragnarok or Horizon but still beautiful and the level design is very "dark souls" esque. A-
    Sound is good. A little repetitive it feels like even if it's not the same song it just feels like "this sounds alot like......" B+
    Story isn't hard to follow. Some of the reviews on here say "there is no story" which is completely false. Some people obviously are skipping cutscenes or on the lower end of the IQ spectrum. In summary, Stranger of Paradise is well worth the price of 30.00 which you can get a used copy for now. It's a must play for fans of Final Fantasy and the souls like genre. Hope this review helps bring more people into the game. Cheers!    … Expand
  22. yangfanhong
    Jan 17, 2023
    8
    Although this game is officially denounced as the prologue of Final Fantasy 1 , I found it quite amazing and suitable as the origin of the Final Fantasy story.
  23. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this spin off game in the series.
  24. Zer0TheHer0
    Jan 7, 2023
    0
    Game is good until you get to endgame. If you want access to the DLCs it forces you to play and farm at the hardest difficulty which is WAY overtuned. Completely unfair and unfun battles. I am a big fan of souls games and completed all of them up to at least NG+++, every one of them. I have no problems with punishing gameplay. But SoP is bad on tuning difficulty and forcing you to play atGame is good until you get to endgame. If you want access to the DLCs it forces you to play and farm at the hardest difficulty which is WAY overtuned. Completely unfair and unfun battles. I am a big fan of souls games and completed all of them up to at least NG+++, every one of them. I have no problems with punishing gameplay. But SoP is bad on tuning difficulty and forcing you to play at higher diff for the DLCs is just plain disrespectful.… Expand
  25. wildest21
    Jan 5, 2023
    5
    Dude Seem like a challenging game to play interesting story for it to be the original fantasy game. I think the lead Role or character seems odd or to macho. Doesn't seem like a character to grivate towards but it's only the beginning.
  26. Calidade
    Dec 8, 2022
    9
    No esperes un Final Fantasy normal, esto es incluso mejor de lo que la gente dice y piensa sobre el.
    No hagas caso a la prensa, no hagas caso a los usuarios, prueba y disfruta este juego como merece.
    Tras mas de 300 horas jugadas puedo decir que es un gran juego, quizá no es un juego de 9 u 8, es un juego mas bien de 7 o 6, pero sería injusto calificar este juego con esa nota tras tantas    No esperes un Final Fantasy normal, esto es incluso mejor de lo que la gente dice y piensa sobre el.
    No hagas caso a la prensa, no hagas caso a los usuarios, prueba y disfruta este juego como merece.
    Tras mas de 300 horas jugadas puedo decir que es un gran juego, quizá no es un juego de 9 u 8, es un juego mas bien de 7 o 6, pero sería injusto calificar este juego con esa nota tras tantas horas de juego, tanto disfrute que he tenido con el.
    El juego no destaca por unos gráficos, pero su música es fantastica, no destaca en historia, pero merece la pena jugar y vivir la precuela de FFI, Jack Garland se ha convertido en un gran personaje y pese a los memes, el juego en su recta final gana un ritmo tremendo.
    Tras los 2 DLC que son de una gran calidad, el juego aún se sigue disfrutando mucho mas.

    Vive, disfruta Final Fantasy.    … Expand
  27. Badgerryan27
    Nov 3, 2022
    6
    It was alright. I didn’t expect much and it wasn’t the greatest. But I did like the perspective from the villain of the first game. So it gives us a little of insight. I did appreciate that but overall it didn’t do it all for me.
  28. fced
    Sep 29, 2022
    2
    This game is not a final fantasy, it is very poorly made, graphics are awful on PS4, story is absent, it is an action game (sort of), with very few content. Gameplay is ok... You will spend hours grinding in corridors levels because when you died -> lost your mana - and need to recover your max mana back before you fight a boss. Even a trash mob can kill you in two shots.
    I spend 90 euros    This game is not a final fantasy, it is very poorly made, graphics are awful on PS4, story is absent, it is an action game (sort of), with very few content. Gameplay is ok... You will spend hours grinding in corridors levels because when you died -> lost your mana - and need to recover your max mana back before you fight a boss. Even a trash mob can kill you in two shots.
    I spend 90 euros in it with season pass because i saw Final Fantasy, but I wouldn't recommand it unless +-20euro.    … Expand
  29. iplayedvr42long
    Sep 21, 2022
    2
    Game is an absolute joke. Everything about this game feels 60% complete. Only about 24 equipment models and 12 of them a recolors of the previous. Every attack has a little too much weight to ever be used properly in a boss fight. Combat also weighs very heavy on the parry mechanic. Base game is palatable for new players to the "Nioh/Soulsborn" style titles. However all of the DLC requiresGame is an absolute joke. Everything about this game feels 60% complete. Only about 24 equipment models and 12 of them a recolors of the previous. Every attack has a little too much weight to ever be used properly in a boss fight. Combat also weighs very heavy on the parry mechanic. Base game is palatable for new players to the "Nioh/Soulsborn" style titles. However all of the DLC requires you to play on the highest difficulty which kinda alienated the previous difficulty settings (Let alone the new player base they were trying to sell to). The story is an absolute joke. barely 20 minutes collectively worth of story cutscenes. The game play loop got stale after the first play through. Only 2 post game missions to do which are for an equipment grind and nothing else. And Square/Team Ninja want SIXTY WHOLE DOLLARS FOR THIS.

    Completed the story and all difficulties within the day of purchase. First run on normal difficulty I was finished with the main story in about 8-10 hours.

    Do not pay premium for half baked titles. Wait for the game to drop to $20 or lower.

    On the topic of the DLC. they are locked behind a $30 Season Pass. (Scum marketing for content not worth your time and effort).

    Finished the first DLC in under 2 hours. Added 2 new boss fights. one you do off rip, the other is locked behind a material grind. (As mentioned earlier this content is locked behind the highest difficulty.)

    Team Ninja did a great Job with Nioh 1 due to the amazing unfinished writing of Kurosawa.

    Nioh 2 did not have Kurosawa's writing involved and it showed in the lack luster story and ending.

    In the end I don't think this game is worth $60 let alone $90 if you buy the season pass.

    If you like the gameplay loop more power to you. But in the end this entire experience felt less than half baked. And people need to stop praising cheap development like this.    … Expand
  30. Aashir52970
    Sep 16, 2022
    8
    Well, if you can keep the weird visuals aside, this is great game in my opinion.

    Pros 1. Combat is addictive and fast paced 2. Boss designs are shockingly good 3. The 'jobs' mechanic is cool 4. The game doesn't take itself too seriously....all that matters is that it is loads of fun Cons 1. Don't go looking for a story... you won't find one 2. Graphically unimpressive 3. No character    Well, if you can keep the weird visuals aside, this is great game in my opinion.

    Pros
    1. Combat is addictive and fast paced
    2. Boss designs are shockingly good
    3. The 'jobs' mechanic is cool
    4. The game doesn't take itself too seriously....all that matters is that it is loads of fun

    Cons
    1. Don't go looking for a story... you won't find one
    2. Graphically unimpressive 3. No character development whatsoever 4. Not a big fan of endgame content as it gets repetitive Let there be CHAOS....    … Expand
  31. Duncs12345
    Sep 3, 2022
    8
    Excellent gameplay with satisfying mechanics and well thought out boss fights. The job system creates great variety and the level nostalgia for a final fantasy fan was nice. The loot system is not good and I would have enjoyed more character dialogue/ back story.
  32. ViviEnjoyer
    Aug 29, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awful game, the marketing ruined the gaarland ''twist'', bad combat system, bad bosses, dont ever dare to touch final fantasy again, team ninja.… Expand
  33. Carter478
    Aug 22, 2022
    4
    This game is an embarrassment to the franchise. I started it up with 2 other friends thinking it might be somewhat decent or average but it is nonsense. The story and character interactions are pitiful. We had hoped this would be fun coming from the devs of Nioh but it felt like it was made by interns who didn't know what they were doing.
    It feels so very poorly designed and unfinished in    This game is an embarrassment to the franchise. I started it up with 2 other friends thinking it might be somewhat decent or average but it is nonsense. The story and character interactions are pitiful. We had hoped this would be fun coming from the devs of Nioh but it felt like it was made by interns who didn't know what they were doing.
    It feels so very poorly designed and unfinished in parts. It makes me wonder if anyone back at Square Enix even looked at this game to approve it.
    I really wouldn't recommend this game even to hardcore fans of the series.    … Expand
  34. Daniel0809
    Aug 18, 2022
    6
    Im very new to the FF series and have only played ff7 remake , ff15 and now this game. This game has to much customization and the menu is to overwhelming. The battles get very clustered on the screen and can barely see what you're doing. Graphics look good but im forcing myself to play through it.
  35. VajraEnki
    Aug 3, 2022
    5
    Se lleva un 5 porque valoro que experimenten y prueben cosas nuevas, pero, lo experimental puede salir bien o muy mal, y en este caso fue lo segundo. He entrado con muchas ganas, pero tras acabar el juego la conclusión es que es un mal Nioh, un terrible Final Fantasy, la peor historia de la saga, y un gameplay aceptable que se sostiene mal: tu nivel se calcula haciendo la media del nivelSe lleva un 5 porque valoro que experimenten y prueben cosas nuevas, pero, lo experimental puede salir bien o muy mal, y en este caso fue lo segundo. He entrado con muchas ganas, pero tras acabar el juego la conclusión es que es un mal Nioh, un terrible Final Fantasy, la peor historia de la saga, y un gameplay aceptable que se sostiene mal: tu nivel se calcula haciendo la media del nivel de armas y armaduras que lleves, no existen estadísticas ni puntos de experiencia, el 90% de las clases y oficios son inútiles y parecen estar ahí solo por el lore y aparentar una progresión que no existe.

    (Me olvidaba añadir también que el diseño de mapeado es de cero, lineas rectas en entornos con poca personalidad, cuesta creer que esto sea producto de Ninja Theory.)

    Una propuesta interesante en el papel que luego en la practica es un desastre de todas las maneras posibles. Le tenía muchas ganas y he hecho lo posible por encontrarle cosas buenas, pero lo cierto es que es malo, y representa un coste de tiempo que podría haber invertido mejor en cualquier otro soulslike barato o indie random.    … Expand
  36. LouisJ
    Jul 31, 2022
    10
    Strangers is a very creative retelling of FF1. It is also an incrediblely for game. I unlcked and played every job. One of the game’s greatest strengths is the way it seamlessly translated both the job system and also each job's unique playstyle from the first few Final Fantasy games to a modern action rpg
  37. Phabyo
    Jul 25, 2022
    10
    I was worried about this game, first impressions make me believe it would be a disaster combat system as FF 15 was. Then I played the demo. LOVED IT. This game has EVERYTHING a final fantasy game should have: amazing story, great characters, awesome game play. It has stunning graphics and performance (PS5). The story starts confusing, but as you play and starts understanding what is goingI was worried about this game, first impressions make me believe it would be a disaster combat system as FF 15 was. Then I played the demo. LOVED IT. This game has EVERYTHING a final fantasy game should have: amazing story, great characters, awesome game play. It has stunning graphics and performance (PS5). The story starts confusing, but as you play and starts understanding what is going on, it blows your mind. The combat is very responsive and feels like a souls game, but faster. Expect about 60 hours of story and 200+ hours doing end-game content. The new DLC makes the game even better.… Expand
  38. Bart27
    Jul 25, 2022
    0
    Worst game of the year. Absolute trash, garbage, a cash grab named Final Fantasy. Boring, dull, uninteresting with bad graphics, and lacks everything that can be called Final Fantasy in a good way. Waste of time and money.
  39. alanjackson
    Jul 24, 2022
    5
    Couldnt get into it. The voice acting felt flat and combat was underwhelming (for me). I had high hopes but didnt finish the game.
  40. Rasecnort
    Jul 24, 2022
    10
    Chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos chaos
  41. guyza123
    Jul 21, 2022
    8
    I'm only an hour on, but so far so good
    It's very strong, and is great considering the state of 2022 (bad)
    Typical FF strengths (great music, really good graphics) I like the characters, it's just a nice game. It was worth the money, which is fair. The combat is awesome, big step forward for the series IMO. This game shows that final fantasy can keep up with the competition and still deliver.
  42. Tomplexthis
    Jul 7, 2022
    1
    I give this game a 1 out of 10, for the Chaos, but other than that, no, its a huge pass.
  43. oytunck
    Jun 30, 2022
    4
    Worst FF game I've ever played. This is not FF , this is something else ...
  44. Splinter
    Jun 25, 2022
    8
    It's a really good game. Not amazing, but really good. It has a lot of enjoyable gameplay. It's fun. There are plenty of rough aspects, but a game not being perfect is not a good reason to whine all day long about it. Disregard any review under a 5.
  45. Lord_Sunday
    Jun 12, 2022
    8
    I wasn't going to buy this game because of the low review scores, but after finding out it was made by team ninja, creators of Nioh 1 and 2, I dove in. In short, I enjoyed this game. The negatives are right in that the story isn't deep, and the graphics are ps4, but the gameplay well made up for it. If you like Nioh, you'll likely enjoy this game.
  46. spartantv
    Jun 9, 2022
    9
    It's a very funny game. The plot isn't the Best but you'll have a Goodyear time playing
  47. Vosgy
    Jun 7, 2022
    8
    Solid fun game, combat is really fun, difficulty is there.
    No idea about the english VAing, but the JP is good, even when you can't speak the language you can tell the localizes ruined it ha ha.
  48. guitarpete987
    Jun 3, 2022
    8
    This game WAY exceeded my expectations. I'm a huge fan of the From Software style of games including Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Now, I wouldn't want the entire franchise to become a copy of this style of game but I think Square Enix did a really nice job adapting that formula to the Final Fantasy story. I really enjoyed the gameplay nuances and the challenge and pace of the combat. That'sThis game WAY exceeded my expectations. I'm a huge fan of the From Software style of games including Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Now, I wouldn't want the entire franchise to become a copy of this style of game but I think Square Enix did a really nice job adapting that formula to the Final Fantasy story. I really enjoyed the gameplay nuances and the challenge and pace of the combat. That's the most important thing in a game like this, and it TOTALLY delivered. Really nice graphics, too, on PS5. I didn't love the character dialogue all the time but the story overall was well drawn up.

    Way better than I was expecting it to be and I'm glad I didn't avoid it because of some bad commentary surrounding it.    … Expand
  49. TRgdgk
    May 26, 2022
    10
    I haven't had this much fun for a long time. After the update the game looks even better than before
  50. Peanutbutler0
    May 20, 2022
    8
    This is honestly one of the most enjoyable final Fantasy games I've played since crisis core, and the combat reminds me of that one a lot, although faster paced. Cons: the story is pretty dull
    Dialogue is completely skippable (as in boring and unimportant)
    You don't care about any of the characters There is no side exploration or world map action Some art assets are poorly designed and    This is honestly one of the most enjoyable final Fantasy games I've played since crisis core, and the combat reminds me of that one a lot, although faster paced. Cons: the story is pretty dull
    Dialogue is completely skippable (as in boring and unimportant)
    You don't care about any of the characters There is no side exploration or world map action Some art assets are poorly designed and repetitive Pros:
    Combat is fast paced and extremely satisfying
    Much customization in equipment and jobs and skills Did I mention incredibly fun combat ? Great combat    … Expand
  51. mrroyals
    May 15, 2022
    8
    Despite the zero story, this game is a great pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting this game to be a elden ring type of game but it was really hard but i loved the combat. It's definitely smaller scale than other souls games but i honestly had so much fun playing this game.

    What you won't like is the voice acting, game dialogue, and story.
  52. saltyengineer
    May 13, 2022
    8
    Its definitely not a 1/10 like many of the reviews that were written by players that failed to watch a single gameplay trailer.

    Its not the best final fantasy out there and I would have given it a 7 normally ,but the step they took adding in elements from different game genres was a great move and if refined I think it can produce a really fun ARPG set of FF games. I don't think they    Its definitely not a 1/10 like many of the reviews that were written by players that failed to watch a single gameplay trailer.

    Its not the best final fantasy out there and I would have given it a 7 normally ,but the step they took adding in elements from different game genres was a great move and if refined I think it can produce a really fun ARPG set of FF games. I don't think they should adopt this formula for all their games but it can definitely be refined for non-canon FF games.

    Pros:
    +Job system is amazing and something I've missed dearly from FF classics.
    +Combat is fun and interactive, lots of experimenting is possible and fights feel fresh.
    +Difficulty options

    Cons:
    - Story is weak (but to be fair it is based off FF1 which did not have a great story either)
    - Character design is bland, looks like a set of boy band rejects.
    - Script is tacky and feels rushed, like they just wanted them to finish cutscenes as fast as possible.
    -No exploration, super linear and zones feel repetitive
    -Difficulty options are nice but the hard difficulty is clunky and still needs to be refined.

    I gave it an 8 because I did not treat it like a triple A release, it is a side release that was 100% rushed. However, they should have priced the product accordingly.

    If you like FF. you should play this game but not for 60$.    … Expand
  53. susoloy
    May 8, 2022
    9
    This game is a recommended option if you want to join the final fantasy universe and you like the hack and slack genre. The gameplay is very enjoyable, it's not very difficult to learn but is very funny. The plot at the beginning will look strange but it's an story that you can love it.
  54. Holly_Marie
    May 4, 2022
    7
    I score this 7.5/10 although I’d like to give it an 8. I am a huge FF fan and I enjoyed this a lot but it’s not without it’s problems. Let’s start with the bad. Sadly there’s some issues like bad graphics, bland npcs, a bad loot system and some repetition of enemies and things. I think it is fair to expect a PS5 game to look better than this. It’s not just a case ofI score this 7.5/10 although I’d like to give it an 8. I am a huge FF fan and I enjoyed this a lot but it’s not without it’s problems. Let’s start with the bad. Sadly there’s some issues like bad graphics, bland npcs, a bad loot system and some repetition of enemies and things. I think it is fair to expect a PS5 game to look better than this. It’s not just a case of the graphics not being great but there’s also a real problem with the HD brightness/darkness. The walls look like they’re glitching and you sometimes see reflections where you shouldn’t. While I haven’t had performance issues, the graphics themselves often feel very shaky which is strange as they aren’t super detailed or anything.

    Also while I love love love the main characters, SE do the same things with npcs that they did in FF7 remake.. trying to make them so lifelike and they’re very bland. A woman keeps saying she is the mom of light and her kids are the kids of light and they need to tidy their room... I just hate this style, it’s a fantasy world, should be fantasy people not my next door neighbour.

    That being said just a really fun game, fun main characters, a very good story that made me cry (it could be executed better in some ways but I do adore Jack), not too long, some good bosses - I played on hard and I did die a bit. Some fantastic music particularly the battles.

    The job system is a lot of fun although I found that I didn’t regen MP quick enough on any job so most of them came down to just pressing the normal attack. They clearly expect you to use the ‘lightbringer’ mechanic to deal with groups but you rarely have enough MP to use it when you need to. But it was fun to level the different jobs and build Jack unique to me - a mage turns into a white mage, a swordsman turns into a knight, a knight and a white mage becomes a paladin etc. Dungeons can be a bit linear and repetitive but generally it’s a really fun gameplay experience. I especially liked catching the enemies skill and using it back against them.

    I would compare this to a movie that you had a great time watching but you know it’s not the best written or the best acted film. It’s kinda like the ghostbusters 2 of final fantasy! I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun action story game on a sale.. people who are big fans of FF should give this a try for sure. For me it was worth full price. For you it will come down to if you think you will enjoy it. Most gamers would enjoy playing this to some level (like if it was a PS plus game it would be a no brainer to download this) but don’t set your expectations super high - if you just go in looking for a fun time and don’t take it too seriously then if anything you could be pleasantly surprised.    … Expand
  55. Campos1444
    May 2, 2022
    10
    Ok, I have to make this review to tilt the scales a bit and make sure people don't pass it up just on the bad reviews.

    While the ending from a standpoint of who Jack is is fairly predictable it gives a huge new perspective into his why. The characters are shallow at the start of the game, but as the game progresses this is explained by the story, and the same goes for Jack's    Ok, I have to make this review to tilt the scales a bit and make sure people don't pass it up just on the bad reviews.

    While the ending from a standpoint of who Jack is is fairly predictable it gives a huge new perspective into his why.

    The characters are shallow at the start of the game, but as the game progresses this is explained by the story, and the same goes for Jack's obsession with killing Chaos, he hammers it for logical reasons.

    Graphics-wise, yeah it is about a generation behind, it has a Nioh/DMC5 look to it, but a lot of work seems to have been put into customization, throughout the whole game you will be constantly changing your look, and while there are some recolors they aren't overwhelming

    On the point of gameplay, It is not a turn-based game, which has put off some FF players, it is a mix of Nioh combat and FF Jobs with some more extra, the jobs system is pretty good, each job while not unique(weapon types and move sets are shared by some classes) offers a nice variety, with the job-specific-skills and passives.

    While not a 10 out of 10 it is a pretty cool side story that fleshes out some characters from the numbers games and adds something new to the FF repertoire.    … Expand
  56. psan
    Apr 27, 2022
    10
    Was entertained from start to finish and what a ride it was. The ending is so much gold too, you have to play this game now.
  57. RetrogamingFTW
    Apr 16, 2022
    0
    Absolutely atrocious video game. Bland gameplay, dire lack of checkpoints, etc.
  58. jELeeoo
    Apr 14, 2022
    0
    Genuinely Testuya Nomura's worst work. I can't believe they needed to complicate Final Fantasy 1 this much, and now I can never play FF1 and think of it the same way.
  59. rikthechief
    Apr 13, 2022
    2
    Almost unplayable. Terrible. Big fan of the Final Fantasy franchise but this one isn't for me.
  60. midniteNinja
    Apr 8, 2022
    0
    As "amusing" as the dialog can be at times, the gameplay is annoying and as a fan of previous final fantasies, I can't recommend this to fans of the series. It really does feel like it's mocking anyone who had enjoyed classic final fantasy games.
    It's just a mobile Game with really poor budget and very bad visuals. I can't believe I bought at release day.
    So if you want a mediocre    As "amusing" as the dialog can be at times, the gameplay is annoying and as a fan of previous final fantasies, I can't recommend this to fans of the series. It really does feel like it's mocking anyone who had enjoyed classic final fantasy games.
    It's just a mobile Game with really poor budget and very bad visuals. I can't believe I bought at release day.
    So if you want a mediocre soulslike with cringy dialog, then go for it. Otherwise it's not worth your time or money.    … Expand
  61. kairadan
    Apr 7, 2022
    0
    Seriously, This game is really boring, no story, no exploration, and the fight system is repetitive and Graphycs is bad. I don't know how they can call this game "final fantasy"..
  62. ryimhof94
    Apr 7, 2022
    10
    Very good! Would love to see more Final Fantasy entries like this! Haven't enjoyed an FF title this much in years
  63. SonyBroWhirrrr
    Apr 7, 2022
    9
    I cannot help but cachinnate (in my deep, basslike voice, mind you) at these FF peasants who got filtered by the first FF game that has actual gameplay. Go "play" your interactive movies and leave the slaying of Chaos to the real strangers of this beautiful paradise.
  64. Retardedgamer
    Apr 5, 2022
    0
    Shortly this game is a meme template, annoying as hell and the bloody story make no sense at all also the combat sucks
  65. ASSASSIN_TRISTA
    Apr 4, 2022
    8
    CHAOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I CAN SMELL CHAOS. pretty fun game the combat was really entertaining and the story was very aware which was funny at times. does get a bit weird near the end but fun all the same. 8/10 fun throwback good prequel thing. I can still smell chaossssssss
  66. GDwyvern
    Apr 2, 2022
    10
    As a big fan of Nioh I really dig the gameplay of this game. Combat is fast and fluid, and the job system keeps everything fresh. Story is quite confusing at first but by the end of the game I loved it.
  67. doubledd1403
    Apr 2, 2022
    0
    I am not a graphics guy and I also play games just for the gameplay but the graphics here are just a joke. First I thought its the art style but its just the worst I have seen in a long time. The characters and story is boring and the battle system some people highlight is actually also no fun and not smart at all.

    I am deeply disappointed, I played almost all Final Fantasy games. This    I am not a graphics guy and I also play games just for the gameplay but the graphics here are just a joke. First I thought its the art style but its just the worst I have seen in a long time. The characters and story is boring and the battle system some people highlight is actually also no fun and not smart at all.

    I am deeply disappointed, I played almost all Final Fantasy games. This one is the worst.    … Expand
  68. PaleNielsen
    Apr 2, 2022
    7
    gameplay is really really satisfying and better than Nioh for me. The story is confusing at first but it gets really interesting and understandable near the end. overall Nioh 1 & 2 is probably better. I just don't like the loot system in this game cause you get a lot of stuff you don't really need same in Nioh.
  69. carlosmponce25
    Apr 2, 2022
    0
    Final Fantasy ya es una vaca sagrada en la historia de los videojuegos, hagan lo que hagan, siempre habrá gente que defienda sus juegos, aquí no es la excepción, por favor, vean la realidad, Stranger Of Paradise es basura, ni para memes sirve, por favor ya corran a Nomura, todo lo que toca en Square lo hace mal.
  70. Oscarin
    Mar 30, 2022
    9
    A lot of fun and a lot of heart. Not perfect, but a fun romp throughout with great combat. Wish they had built out the world and the characters more and given us more of the story and time spent with the characters. Loved them, but didn't get enough there... Had fun playing though and would definitely reccomend!
  71. AgooNoct
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    Jack's story was incredible; the final 2 hours of this game made me cry a lot. The gameplay is top-notch, and while the game does have performance issues and a clunky beginning, the core concept, narrative and essence of the game really shine through.
    Jack did it his way. I'm going to remember his story for the rest of my life.
  72. kerihobo
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    This game is tonnes of fun! Really cool battle-system, a full range of unique jobs to play as, interesting ways to approach combat, cool places to explore, cool monsters, and the story is quite nice too.
  73. Chronos84
    Mar 29, 2022
    0
    Just tried the demo and could not go further. Played 1h30. Repetitive game and graphics are awful (seems like a PS3 game). Not sure what SE is trying to do with this game…
  74. Swclark777
    Mar 23, 2022
    10
    I adore this game. It’s not Nioh or Ninja Gaiden, but it is a breath of fresh air. No one does combat like Team Ninja. Many of those reviews, from critics and players alike, criticizing story elements are misguided, as the “flaws” they cite are often purposeful. I find the combat to be more varied, more responsive, and require more skill at higher levels than that of Elden Ring. ThoseI adore this game. It’s not Nioh or Ninja Gaiden, but it is a breath of fresh air. No one does combat like Team Ninja. Many of those reviews, from critics and players alike, criticizing story elements are misguided, as the “flaws” they cite are often purposeful. I find the combat to be more varied, more responsive, and require more skill at higher levels than that of Elden Ring. Those claiming this game is terrible are merely review bombing it, and either haven't played it, or had preconceived notions about it prior to playing it. Anyone telling you that this isn't a blast to play is lying to you.… Expand
  75. LordNus
    Mar 29, 2022
    0
    Worst game ever
    It is unplayable, almost 90% of the time u have to loot everything, bad level and HUD desing
  76. ff9alex
    Mar 29, 2022
    6
    there are a ot of bad things to say and some good, i will begin with the bad Im usually not that judging of a game graphics but damn this looks bad, Final fantasy 13 came out 13 years ago and its looks way better than this.

    Putting that aside the Corny dialogues and bad script the awful taste of the director its looks tacky one moment when you beat a boss and then jack says **** and    there are a ot of bad things to say and some good, i will begin with the bad Im usually not that judging of a game graphics but damn this looks bad, Final fantasy 13 came out 13 years ago and its looks way better than this.

    Putting that aside the Corny dialogues and bad script the awful taste of the director its looks tacky one moment when you beat a boss and then jack says **** and puts some rock cheesy music you now the guy that did this has zero taste.

    the character design, the scenarios, its not like they dont have the artist or talent to make it this look ok its more like a design choice at moments i have non seen someone with such a bad taste in a while please dont let this director direct anything else, put him do something else.

    The music its meh, the characters are very unlikely and sometimes even annoying to withstand.

    Now on the positve the gameplay its so fun, the battles and the job system its look like they got a good idea for a gameplay they made a demo and someone say if we add more stuff we could sell this and thats what happened, everything bad i just said before its true but for some reason the gameplay its fun enough to make you tolerate the other bad stuff that are in this game and there is a lot of bad stuff.

    most scenarios looks empty, still and with repetitive props and objects, the boss fights are good, this game needed more love care, budget and a better director, this is not worth the full price my advice wait till it drops significally then play it.    … Expand
  77. telichope
    Mar 20, 2022
    7
    Graphic is last gen. Especially when comparing to other games released recently like Horizon.
  78. Vincetheshadow
    Mar 27, 2022
    9
    First off I just want to say the combat in this game is really fun. The class system was a joy to mess around with. I did not have a dull moment with the combat system of this game. This is definitely not a perfect game. The story was okay definitely not its strong point. I did not run into any issue so the game performed well. The graphics is not what you would expect from "Next Gen" andFirst off I just want to say the combat in this game is really fun. The class system was a joy to mess around with. I did not have a dull moment with the combat system of this game. This is definitely not a perfect game. The story was okay definitely not its strong point. I did not run into any issue so the game performed well. The graphics is not what you would expect from "Next Gen" and the "PS5" but it is not the worst PS5 game I have seen so I will give it a pass. If this game is ever on sale in the future it is definitely worth picking it up. The dialogue in this game is a meme but it definitely made this game more enjoyable.… Expand
  79. Graphic-Outrage
    Mar 27, 2022
    6
    I believe this is a slightly above average game. If this didn't have "final fantasy" in the name no one would care about this game. The combat and dual job system is its saving grace. It's repetitive and grindy just for the purpose of constantly upgrading your gear. There is no story here. The main character Jack is an absolute Chad and is probably the least likeable main character of anyI believe this is a slightly above average game. If this didn't have "final fantasy" in the name no one would care about this game. The combat and dual job system is its saving grace. It's repetitive and grindy just for the purpose of constantly upgrading your gear. There is no story here. The main character Jack is an absolute Chad and is probably the least likeable main character of any final fantasy I've ever played. No open world, just mission select screens. Random "talk" options for NPCs that literally have no purpose or add to the game. They dropped the ball with this game, but like I said the combat is pretty fun. Not worth 60$ wait for a sale… Expand
  80. Morgan35
    Mar 27, 2022
    0
    Only combat is nice, map and graphics are awful!! Also, it's easy to guess how's gonna end. Rest of the game is TRASH & AWFUL!
  81. Gavrielix
    Mar 27, 2022
    9
    It is Fun! This game provides gamer who want to play a casual, stylish fast paced combat, with lot of varieties of skills and class. After finishing Elden Ring, this game provides me lot of refreshment & enjoyment, sure it has lot of mementos from Final Fantasy. Lets take example of the soundtrack. So many ost from final fantasy series are included and arranged further ib this game
  82. Freesteff
    Mar 26, 2022
    5
    Habe es nach knapp über 30 Stunden durch gespielt und nein es ist kein Souls like was für mich auch nicht der negativ punkt ist das spiel spiel ist sehr Eintönig man reist über ne overmap von ein Dungon in den nächsten so wie bei Marvels Avenger die Nebenquest bestehen auch wie die
  83. Xanthos
    Mar 26, 2022
    8
    As someone who's not a huge fan of the soulslike genre, I found this game to be rather enjoyable.

    The combat and boss fights felt good, the job changing definitely added to the combat and allowed some customization and planning for how you would approach situations. The cutscenes at the beginning were a little odd but as the game went on, they grew on me and frankly, I appreciate that    As someone who's not a huge fan of the soulslike genre, I found this game to be rather enjoyable.

    The combat and boss fights felt good, the job changing definitely added to the combat and allowed some customization and planning for how you would approach situations.

    The cutscenes at the beginning were a little odd but as the game went on, they grew on me and frankly, I appreciate that Square decided to add some backstory to Final Fantasy 1.    … Expand
  84. WallCrouton
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    Short version: Good story, bland gameplay. It has an identity crisis about whether it wants to be its own unique thing or a Final Fantasy themed Soulslike.

    Long version: Everything that's Final Fantasy about it is good. The world-building, music, job system, enemy designs; they're all high quality. The story bravely went in a direction that rarely happens in any game, which I was hoping    Short version: Good story, bland gameplay. It has an identity crisis about whether it wants to be its own unique thing or a Final Fantasy themed Soulslike.

    Long version: Everything that's Final Fantasy about it is good. The world-building, music, job system, enemy designs; they're all high quality. The story bravely went in a direction that rarely happens in any game, which I was hoping for and was rewarded with by suffering through the bulk of the gameplay.

    It's the same stuff the whole way through, areas are linear and forgettable. Side missions are just the same areas again but in reverse with small variations. One zone in particular comes up multiple times, and involves just simply reaching the end of the area with no roadblocks and no reason to fight any of the enemies.

    Most job skills were a total waste of time to get because if you were up against more than one enemy, you'd get swarmed and couldn't charge anything. Picking a melee weapon with super armour for their R2 skill is the only thing you need to steamroll the whole game. MP acquisition and limitations were also irritating.

    The loot system is fun at first but you just get loaded up with gear you don't need anymore, and modifying them is a waste of time because you'll just randomly find a better one. It's probably better suited for post-game, but why keep playing at that point?

    The movement of this game and other Soulslikes like Nioh suffer from something I can only describe as being sticky. FromSoftware games can feel a bit sluggish sometimes so challenging movement isn't new to me, but the problem here is that you move quite quickly, yet there's this strange stickiness between moving, dodging, and attacking. It's hard to understand without seeing or playing it yourself, but you'll have to trust me. Perhaps it's not as noticeable in other games because of input queuing, but in this game you'll find yourself reacting to things mid-action, pressing the input, and getting no result. So you fail a block, counter, or heal because you were stuck. I hope that makes sense.

    One thing that was a glaring problem for me was about 3/4 into the game, I was suddenly way underleveled/undergeared, despite doing every side mission, and exploring every corridor in the game. I didn't miss a single thing up to that point, yet somehow I was level 68 while the lowest level mission (a side mission) was level 84. On Action difficulty, I didn't stand a chance, and I often play Souls games; I don't mind a challenge. Being undergeared and fighting against the core game mechanics made it infuriating. I couldn't progress. I had to lower the difficulty to do the lowest side mission to get better gear, then turn it back up again. There was no reason for me to be that far behind, and there was no other way for me to get better equipment.

    Basically, it seems that the game struggles with being a unique concept while also being familiar genre-wise. Because of this it ends up a muddled mess. I was really excited for this game since it was first announced and we could play the demo. I preordered it. I had fun for about a day and a half and then just wanted to get to the end. I enjoyed the story, but I'm almost happy I don't have to play it anymore.

    If you liked the gameplay style of Nioh, then you should be able to tolerate this game. Same goes for if you like unique stories. If neither interest you, I'd say to skip this one.    … Expand
  85. ImperialKnight
    Mar 25, 2022
    4
    The nicest thing I can say about this is that it's an unfinished piece of s**t. It's like a PS2 game in terms of graphics and game play
  86. Fogkin
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    Addicting and fun game play. Interesting take on the build up to the first Final Fantasy.
  87. abowman
    Mar 24, 2022
    6
    This game has some clever ideas but ultimately falls short of Team Ninja's previous titles.

    Positives; - The job system is fantastic. This is by far the games best attribute and it really picks up in the second half. - The combat is also pretty solid, particularly once you get abilities from multiple jobs. - The gear system is also great and it compliments the job system. The    This game has some clever ideas but ultimately falls short of Team Ninja's previous titles.

    Positives;

    - The job system is fantastic. This is by far the games best attribute and it really picks up in the second half.
    - The combat is also pretty solid, particularly once you get abilities from multiple jobs.
    - The gear system is also great and it compliments the job system.

    The Negatives

    - The story is virtually non existent, and the story that is there rarely makes any sense. Half the time I have no idea what the characters are even talking about. The lines they characters say are essentially nonsensical

    - The level design is horrific. Nioh wasn't great either, but somehow this is much worse.

    - The jobs are unbalanced. The game heavily favors caster classes. Its very difficult to get any sort of melee combo off on the vast majority of bosses. Most bosses are venerable to specific elements, and this heavily favors black mage or sage because you have access to every element.

    - The parry / break system is terrible. Holding down circle allows you to parry an enemies attack, but this same bar is used for the enemy to stagger you. A successful parry doesn't restore your bar, and in fact it will actually drain it. The parry will also rarely stagger the enemy so very often you will parry one ability, only to get hit by the next and be instantly staggered, which is almost a certain death from most bosses. Again this system heavily favors casters. The parry bar also takes WAY too long to start to regenerate.

    - The party member AI is absolutely HORRIFIC. You will watch your party members literally stand right next to the enemy and do NOTHING for 30+ sounds. It actually astounding how terrible the party AI is.

    - Just like Nioh, this game drops way too many items. You will be spending a tremendous amount of time managing your inventory for space to pick up more worthless items.

    Wrap Up

    Overall I love games that use the FF job system, and this remains true for Strangers of Paradise. I would probably even pick up a sequel to this game if they improved on the numerous flaws that are in this one. It's just so rare that we get a game with a good mix and max job system.

    Edit:

    I just finished the game on hard and I felt the need to lower the score from a 7 to a 6. The break bar system is just so terribly designed and frustrating that it was worth deducting another point. There is no diminishing returns for enemy stuns, the bar degrades from SUCCESSFUL counters, and it takes way too long to regenerate. The bar also doesn't regenerate while dodging, meleing, or casting.

    There were so many moments in this game where I would successfully counter multiple attacks only to run out of break bar meter and be stunned for from the next attack because there was nothing I could do. What's worse is there are no diminishing returns for stuns in this game, and enemies often will hit you right through your combos. This system is just so insanely poorly designed.    … Expand
  88. Darkysk
    Mar 24, 2022
    3
    Pc port...Such a blurry...not rightly visible game...for the first time in my life I was considering a refund.....anyway as a huge fan of SE this is big down and no for me....
  89. Jikario
    Mar 23, 2022
    9
    Recommendations out of the way first: If you're a fan of Nioh looking for more of that tight, engaging combat and toying around with RPG style loot Build-crafting, or Final Fantasy fan looking for a fresh spin on the franchise, this game is a must-have. Check the footnote at the bottom for an expanded price/play related recommendation after I explain why.

    Now for the straight dope: This    Recommendations out of the way first: If you're a fan of Nioh looking for more of that tight, engaging combat and toying around with RPG style loot Build-crafting, or Final Fantasy fan looking for a fresh spin on the franchise, this game is a must-have. Check the footnote at the bottom for an expanded price/play related recommendation after I explain why.

    Now for the straight dope: This was a brilliant crystal glowing against the backdrop of the final fantasy pedigree in nearly every respect. Staunch purist FF fans and action fans that got funneled in from the souls games or (Or more likely Nioh) will be torn, but the worlds of these two studios coming together were a match made in heaven on the whole, and this game stands rightfully and proudly as a spinoff because of it. It starts as a hilarious romp that cleanly breaks the mold of the traditional final fantasy narratives and plot beats, even poking fun at them at times, into a letter penned with a loving hand to the norms and themes of the franchise as it takes those ideas in a refreshing direction, culminating in a flooring ending that left the final fantasy fans heart in me soaring. All this is carried and bolstered by unsurprisingly top tier combat and gameplay mechanics from our boys at team ninja, serving up a feast of variety they've come to be known for glazed in that iconic final fantasy flavor. While the narrative and combat culminate to carve out this gem rather valiantly, they aren't without their individual imperfections of course. Luckily they are few and far between and don't meaningfully detract from the overall glowing experience. All my handy normal adjectives like amazing, phenomenal, and fantastic are failing to service me here to describe the experience. The best way to condense it concisely is that its a welcome breath of fresh air for FF, and another proof of quality from TN. I've ranked it a 9 in fairness of it being markedly iterative (Particularly on the gameplay front) rather than entirely innovative. Though the wheel wasn't re-invented here, it spun my soul with absolute joy, and I suspect this game will only grow in fondness in my heart as an experience, and value as a videogame as it slowly becomes more and more of a steal to those with patience to wait to get it even cheaper. This one's gonna turn into some very fond memories years from now.

    Footnote: Here I'll further my recommendation based on my playtime for how you like to spend and your level of patience. I hit credits around 30 hours with only a few side missions left. If that suits for your dollar then don't hesitate to buy this ASAP. I don't think it spoilerish to tell you there is a postgame here, and If you liked the postgame of Nioh 1 and 2 you can similarly expect to get a lot more hours out of it than that. If you're not into post-games and that doesn't seem like a good playtime/price ratio for you, or If you're tight for money and can wait, I'd wager there will be a "Complete edition" packed WITH the DLC in a year or so for the standard 60/70 USD. With that oncoming DLC, Its a safe bet that when all is said and done this can easily be a 100+ hour game. Though this shouldn't deter from getting this game if you're even SLIGHTLY interested based on what you read me put at the top. Don't let purists or CHAOS you read here distract you from that, you will NOT be disappointed if you play this, whenever or however you decide to.    … Expand
  90. Antobianco98
    Mar 23, 2022
    1
    vote less than zero, I put one only because it is called "Game" as soon as I try it I do not find anything of the final fantasy but above all nothing beautiful. Yes, including jagged and non-optimized nioh graphics, on PS5 a real slap in the face. You can't see it, I'm surprised that certain productions can really like it.
  91. Galbro
    Mar 22, 2022
    1
    Sorry, just. NO

    And i wanted it so much to be a great FF spin-off....

    Neither Graphics nor story ar worth to be called a Final Fantasy Game. Sorry guys :(
  92. Junior_Santos
    Mar 22, 2022
    0
    Lixo de jogo! No modo Qualidade é cheio de serrilhados, texturas de baixa qualidade, e frame rate baixíssimo e instável. No modo Desempenho fica com aspecto visual de jogo de Playstation 2 e o frame rate caí do mesmo jeito que no Qualidade! Square Enix e Koei Tecmo pode dar as mãos e ir para o inferno juntas!
  93. GameReviewerES
    Mar 22, 2022
    8
    Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a title with many lights and shadows, although it is so highly addictive that you can enjoy it for hours without even realizing it, becoming a game that you want to complete from start to finish in one sitting. It stands out enormously in its excellent hack n' slash combat with which each confrontation is a fun challenge with any of the classesStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a title with many lights and shadows, although it is so highly addictive that you can enjoy it for hours without even realizing it, becoming a game that you want to complete from start to finish in one sitting. It stands out enormously in its excellent hack n' slash combat with which each confrontation is a fun challenge with any of the classes or equipment, but it falters in a graphic section that does not quite live up to the generation. The duration of the missions is so well balanced that it always invites you to complete one more. Its entry price should be lower.… Expand
  94. CheeserPleaser
    Mar 22, 2022
    0
    As a long time master of the Final Fantasy series i was most thoroughly disappointed. The Character selection was both Shallow and Pedantic. Plebian really. The lack of support for more popular AAA Characters has me distraught. Some i thought that should have been added and where hinted at at the first speaking of this game are Marcus fenix, Yoshi, Sack boy from the titular title littleAs a long time master of the Final Fantasy series i was most thoroughly disappointed. The Character selection was both Shallow and Pedantic. Plebian really. The lack of support for more popular AAA Characters has me distraught. Some i thought that should have been added and where hinted at at the first speaking of this game are Marcus fenix, Yoshi, Sack boy from the titular title little big planet, seven up dot Spot, and pacman. I would rather avoid the noid then spend another 15 hours playing this game. With that being said. The color pallet they chose for the game was one of the best ive seen in recent history.… Expand
  95. Jt0429
    Mar 22, 2022
    7
    Good-
    The action gameplay is really solid and enjoyable. It runs well and I didn't run into any stutters. The progression in the game is steady and satisfying.
    Bad- The characters are bland at best and can get really annoying after a while. The story is boring and I found myself bored through most of it. The graphics are really disappointing. I expected a bit more in terms of graphics    Good-
    The action gameplay is really solid and enjoyable. It runs well and I didn't run into any stutters. The progression in the game is steady and satisfying.

    Bad-
    The characters are bland at best and can get really annoying after a while. The story is boring and I found myself bored through most of it. The graphics are really disappointing. I expected a bit more in terms of graphics and its a bit disappointing

    Thoughts-
    Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin will likely go down as a bit of an oddball for the Final Fantasy series. Those that are looking for something more akin to the high quality and well-roundedness of other recent entries might be left a bit wanting with Stranger’s repetitive environments and obscenely trite characters, but at the same time it does nail its action and light RPG stuff pretty well. I wouldn’t quite say it’s a game where you should “turn your brain off” to enjoy it, but it does accommodate that mentality pretty well if you want to play it like that while also providing a good amount of depth for those who want to dig deeper. Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin does manage to take a lot of modern action game and RPG ideas and put them to good use.    … Expand
  96. remilink
    Mar 22, 2022
    0
    Je suis vraiment navré de cette négativité,
    mais le jeu est une Bouse Royale avec un R majuscule,
    des le début ont sent que le scenario est éclaté, jack à 0 charisme comme le reste des personnages d'ailleurs, le gameplay est vraiment le seul point positif du jeu, mais le reste histoire éclaté et niaise, graphisme d'un jeu bas de gamme ps4, les zones '' des couloirs, des couloirs et    Je suis vraiment navré de cette négativité,
    mais le jeu est une Bouse Royale avec un R majuscule,
    des le début ont sent que le scenario est éclaté, jack à 0 charisme comme le reste des personnages d'ailleurs, le gameplay est vraiment le seul point positif du jeu,
    mais le reste histoire éclaté et niaise, graphisme d'un jeu bas de gamme ps4, les zones '' des couloirs, des couloirs et encore des couloirs,
    ok ce n'est pas un Triple A mais comment peut ont créer un jeu si mauvais et dénuer de charmes,
    autant rien proposer au public que cette M '' vous avez compris''.

    Je ne suis pas contre le Fan service, mais la ont en fait une indigestion j'en ai encore des ballonnements j'en reviens pas ,
    absolument toutes les zones du jeu sont des reprises de zone d'autres Final Fantasy,
    Jack est un recolor de Cor de ffxv, et les autres personnages ont dirait qu'ils ont été créer avec l'outil de création de personnage de FFXV Comrades.
    Bref impossible de s'immerger dans un univers qui est un gros copié collé de plusieurs univers FF,
    Conclusion ce jeu est une honte totale, et comme ils ont voulu sortir un jeu à la va vite ils ont fait 99.9% de recyclage sur la licence FF mais c'est juste pire qu'un raté .    … Expand
  97. MosesUnspoken
    Mar 21, 2022
    9
    It's rough around the edges and probably needed another year of dev time but Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is undeniably something special. Even though it's heavily influenced by the likes of Nioh, Dark Souls, and Devil May Cry, at it's core, it still feels like a true Final Fantasy game. It also feels like a tribute to the series as a whole. You gather a party of uniqueIt's rough around the edges and probably needed another year of dev time but Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is undeniably something special. Even though it's heavily influenced by the likes of Nioh, Dark Souls, and Devil May Cry, at it's core, it still feels like a true Final Fantasy game. It also feels like a tribute to the series as a whole. You gather a party of unique individuals, each with their own specific jobs, and set out on an adventure, battling classic monsters and bosses in even more classic locations spanning the entire FF franchise. Add in the amazing soundtrack and intriguing story, it all culminates into chaotic mess that I can't stop playing.… Expand
  98. FayButterfly
    Mar 21, 2022
    9
    Though the graphics and framerate are quite atrocious, the gameplay is amazing and pure fun, even on higher difficulties and the optional Chaos mode you unlock after clearing the game. The story started out as a complete miss to me until it all clicked after one of the final missions and everything suddenly made sense. I even had to pink away a tear here and there because it got quiteThough the graphics and framerate are quite atrocious, the gameplay is amazing and pure fun, even on higher difficulties and the optional Chaos mode you unlock after clearing the game. The story started out as a complete miss to me until it all clicked after one of the final missions and everything suddenly made sense. I even had to pink away a tear here and there because it got quite feelsy, something I didn't expect at all from a masculine manly men game about FIGHTING CHAOS.

    The multiplay is fun too. You take over another's party member while keeping your own singleplayer stats and it works really well. Sadly it's not super seamless as the host disconnects during their cutscenes.

    All in all, a super fun game. Worth full price to me.    … Expand
  99. Lord_Biggington
    Mar 21, 2022
    7
    The music is cool, combat is fun, the dialogue is filled with cheesy action-movie like lines. If you don't take the game too seriously, like it seemingly doesn't itself then you'll have a far better time.

    The game isn't perfect by any means, but if you have a friend to play with there is potentially a lot of fun to be had.
  100. Corrosion
    Mar 21, 2022
    1
    One of the worst Souls i've ever played. And to say that i was looking forward to it since it was made by Team Ninjia. Square Enix manged to ruin even another saga. Pathetic.
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Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022
20
#20 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 91 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 91
  3. Negative: 1 out of 91
  1. RPGamer
    Jul 12, 2022
    70
    Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin attempts to fuse the original’s sensibility into a fast-paced action RPG. For the most part, it is successful with intense action gameplay and beautiful music. Adjustable difficulty options and online co-op make the game accessible to a myriad of gamers without diminishing challenge or sacrificing replayability. It’s somewhat fitting that in this topsy-turvy action spin-off, the only thing that’s truly upside-down is the presentation of the original game’s story. Even as the narrative stumbles, the core gameplay is strong enough to motivate to see this story through to completion, no matter how chaotic.
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  2. Oyungezer
    Jun 26, 2022
    75
    Although the action is extremely enjoyable, game stumbles in other areas. It's a direct purchase for the fans of the series, but others can wait for discounts.
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  3. Het Nieuwsblad
    May 17, 2022
    60
    Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin constantly balances between homage to the series and bombastic kitsch. The new gameplay - it feels more like a soulslike game than your typical action-RPG - is refreshing at times, but not spectacular enough to make the game rise above mediocrity.
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