World of Final Fantasy Reviews
As the 30th anniversary of Final Fantasy approaches, there’s no better way to celebrate the adventures that we’ve treasured than World of Final Fantasy. Even though the game is a huge crossover event, by making everything make sense in its own world of Grymoire, the game doesn’t rely exclusively on nostalgia to hook players. Even though you’ll see Sephiroth, Squall, and other friends in your quest, even those who somehow don’t know these iconic characters can get enjoyment out of the great gameplay and light-hearted story of World of Final Fantasy.
Even then, World of Final Fantasy manages to be an entertaining game. Its combat system is the highlight of the show, combining classic turn-based qualities with a spoonful of strategy gameplay. For this reason the game will be welcomed by some JRPG fans. Though, chances are they won’t be the same Final Fantasy veterans that World of Final Fantasy was hoping to attract in the first place.
The fan service is off the scale, in terms of the number of returning characters and references, but importantly this is also a fun and unique role-player in its own right.
World of Final Fantasy is a great example of how an omage should be done: a solid infrastructure and a lot of passionate work. It's not a perfect game and it lacks in building enough around its core, but it's a really good Final Fantasy game, and it should be enough for all fans.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Square Enix comes back with World of Final Fantasy, a brand new RPG adventure that features some very fresh gameplay mechanics that are new in the saga. A game worth the try and very enjoyable.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
When Square Enix announced World of Final Fantasy at E3 2015, many of us in the audience and watching at home thought this game would be a complete joke. This would be yet another wasted effort when they should have focused on other more anticipated titles. The dialogue may be funny, but the game is far from being a joke. It’s in the running for RPG of the year, if not game of the year and is, by far, the best Final Fantasy title the company has put out in several years.
Building a game around nostalgia can often backfire, but the classic style battle mechanics mixed with the capturing and stacking of Mirages make World of Final Fantasy a trip down memory lane that any fan of the franchise should check out.
World of Final Fantasy rightly represents the series' 30 years of history, with a classic JRPG gameplay experience modernized by an excellent presentation, very good writing and several well-crafted gameplay mechanics. As the simple dungeon layouts and low difficulty level suggest, the game is mostly aimed towards a younger, less experienced audience, but veterans of the Final Fantasy series shouldn't be put off by this, as the well-implemented fan service more than makes up for it. Highly recommended to all JRPG enthusiasts.
Following on from I Am Setsuna earlier in the year, Square Enix has produced another RPG with traditional elements for the current generation, and it's once again found success. World of Final Fantasy offers a polished and pretty adventure through a lovingly made world, and even though its story is let down by some poor writing, the addictive process of capturing and training monsters is enough to keep you playing. All in all, this is a great little spin-off.
In the end, World of Final Fantasy feels like an RPG aimed at children or people that are as experienced with RPGs. At the same time, there is enough here as far as customization goes to keep the veterans busy for a nice long time as well. It took me by surprise, and I think RPG fans will really enjoy this hybrid mix of Final Fantasy and Pokémon.
World of Final Fantasy is a surprisingly unique and entertaining addition to the Final Fantasy franchise that uses its cuteness, humor, and accessibility to draw you in.
While playing World of Final Fantasy, all I wanted to do was jump into the world of Grymoire just so I grab and hug the adorable characters. Sure it may not look like your typical Final Fantasy but it’s got the depth of a Final Fantasy. In a way, World of Final Fantasy is a celebration of the franchise, and I personally feel like it’s a thank you from Square Enix to its fans.
World of Final Fantasy is probably the best Final Fantasy in the last few years with lots of gags, sometimes silly sense of humor, almost perfect role-playing system and careful treatment of favorite characters. Hunt elements with the local pokemons only adds freshness to the gameplay. The only thing that might confuse is a low level of difficulty. However, the sense of simplicity instantly disappears during fights with secret bosses. If you missed the World of Final Fantasy due to strange humor and art design or just finished Final Fantasy XV, it's time to change your mind and buy the game.
Review in Russian | Read full review
If you can handle the game's slow pacing, World of Final Fantasy provides a good experiment to the classic formula. Given that Tose handles so many of Square Enix's ports, it's nice to see them be thrown a bone with an original title. I'd suggest this one while waiting for the eventual release of Final Fantasy XV.
Square Enix has another winner of a spin-off this year.
World of Final Fantasy is a impressive work, complex and overflowing with content. Despite of a couple of sections slightly less successful than others, the game world has proved incredibly rich in surprises, beautiful to experience and explore.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Story pacing issues aside, World of Final Fantasy is an absolute joy to play through. The game may look tiny, but it has a massive heart.
Square Enix celebrates three decades of its marquee franchise with a nostalgia-filled love letter in “World of Final Fantasy.” Featuring wonderful visuals, classic turn-based fighting plus cameos of beloved characters from series lore, the game hits a lot of the right spots for Final Fantasy fans. Add a monster-capturing mechanic and you’ve got something that will interest fans both young and old. The kiddie presentation and focus on two young protagonists who act their age might turn off some gamers. Monster management on the field also can be a bit of pain. If you’re pining for old-school Final Fantasy with stellar production values and a big serving of Pokemon, however, this is one world you’ll definitely want to visit.
I vastly enjoyed my time with World of Final Fantasy. The stacking system is one of the most innovative additions the studio has made to Final Fantasy’s traditional turn-based combat, and your hoarder compulsion could kick in if you choose to delve into Mirage collection.
Yet despite it’s problems World of Final Fantasy isn’t a bad game, just a frustrating one. There are some interesting ideas here and it’s undeniably charming but with just a few tweaks to the gameplay, a more imaginative story and greater variety to the dungeons, this could have been something truly great. While I’m sure die hard fans will find a lot to like, this is definitely a game that I think many will struggle to complete. If you’re desperate for a traditional RPG with cameos from some familiar faces, this will fit the bill. For everyone else, you’re better off picking up Dragon Quest Builders or waiting a bit longer for Final Fantasy 15.