Editing Final Fantasy (section)

=== Graphics and technology ===
Because of graphical limitations, the first games on the NES feature small [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] representations of the leading party members on the main world screen. Battle screens use more detailed, full versions of characters in a side-view perspective. This practice was used until ''Final Fantasy VI'', which uses detailed versions for both screens. The NES sprites are 26&nbsp;[[pixel]]s high and use a [[Palette (computing)|color palette]] of 4&nbsp;colors. 6&nbsp;[[Film frame|frames of animation]] are used to depict different character statuses like "healthy" and "fatigued". The SNES installments use updated graphics and effects, as well as higher quality audio than in previous games, but are otherwise similar to their predecessors in basic design. The SNES sprites are 2 pixels shorter, but have larger palettes and feature more animation frames: 11 colors and 40 frames respectively. The upgrade allowed designers to have characters be more detailed in appearance and express more emotions. The first game includes [[non-player character]]s (NPCs) the player could interact with, but they are mostly static in-game objects. Beginning with the second game, Square used predetermined pathways for NPCs to create more dynamic scenes that include comedy and drama.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iv-final-fantasy/23185 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part IV | publisher = [[GameTrailers]] | date = August 5, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611203037/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iv-final-fantasy/23185 | archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref>

In 1995, Square showed an [[Final Fantasy VI#Legacy|interactive SGI technical demonstration of ''Final Fantasy VI'']] for the then [[History of video game consoles (fifth generation)|next generation of consoles]]. The demonstration used [[Silicon Graphics]]'s prototype [[Nintendo 64]] workstations to create 3D graphics.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Related">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4.html|title=Related Final Fantasies|work=The History of Final Fantasy|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|first=Andrew|last=Vestal|access-date=August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714232545/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4.html |archive-date=July 14, 2006}}</ref> Fans believed the demo was of a new ''Final Fantasy'' game for the Nintendo 64 console. 1997 saw the release of ''Final Fantasy VII'' for the Sony PlayStation.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Related"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG">{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/634/634965p1.html |title=State of the RPG: GameCube |first=Matt |last=Casamassina |website=IGN |date=July 19, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173031/http://cube.ign.com/articles/634/634965p1.html |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The switch was due to a dispute with Nintendo over its use of faster but more expensive [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s, as opposed to the slower and cheaper, but much higher capacity [[compact disc]]s used on rival systems.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref>{{Cite magazine | date=September 2007 | title=10 Years of PlayStation Through the Eyes of PSM | magazine=[[PlayStation: The Official Magazine]] | publisher= [[Future plc|Future Publishing]] | issue=127 | pages=34–43}}</ref> ''VII'' introduced [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] with fully [[Rendering (computer graphics)|pre-rendered]] backgrounds.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;VII (PS1) - Review |url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3111181&p=27&sec=REVIEWS |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=May 9, 2004 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104085304/http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-vii_2 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was because of this switch to 3D that a [[CD-ROM]] format was chosen over a cartridge format.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref name="IGN-N64week">{{cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/914/914568p1.html |title=Nintendo 64 Week: Day Two |first=Levi |last=Buchanan |website=IGN |date=September 30, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726163234/http://retro.ign.com/articles/914/914568p1.html |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The switch also led to increased production costs and a greater subdivision of the creative staff for ''VII'' and subsequent 3D games in the series.<ref name="ArtOfGameWorlds"/>

[[File:FFVIIInavigation.png|thumb|left|''Final Fantasy VIII'', along with ''VII'' and ''IX'', used pre-rendered backgrounds.]]

Starting with ''Final Fantasy VIII'', the series adopted a more photo-realistic look.<ref name="development2">{{cite journal|language=ja |title=Interview with ''Final Fantasy VIII'' developers |date=June 5, 1998 |journal=Famitsu Weekly |url=http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/ff8iview2.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717103530/http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/ff8iview2.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |format=Translation by Coxon, Sachi |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVI">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vi-final-fantasy/23726 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VI | publisher = [[GameTrailers]] | date = August 20, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604180803/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vi-final-fantasy/23726 | archive-date=June 4, 2009}}</ref> Like ''VII'', [[full motion video]] (FMV) sequences would have video playing in the background, with the polygonal characters composited on top. ''Final Fantasy IX'' returned to the more stylized design of earlier games in the series, although it still maintained, and in many cases slightly upgraded, most of the graphical techniques used in the previous two games.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVI"/> ''Final Fantasy X'' was released on the PlayStation 2, and used the more powerful hardware to render graphics in real-time instead of using pre-rendered material to obtain a more dynamic look; the game features full 3D environments, rather than having 3D character models move about pre-rendered backgrounds. It is also the first ''Final Fantasy'' game to feature [[voice acting]], occurring throughout the majority of the game, even with many minor characters.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII"/> This aspect added a whole new dimension of depth to the character's reactions, emotions, and development.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII"/><ref>{{cite web | year = 2001 | title = Behind The Game The Creators | url = http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFX/btg/creators.html#1 | publisher = [[Square Enix]] | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805012633/http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFX/btg/creators.html | archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref>

Taking a temporary divergence, ''Final Fantasy XI'' used the PlayStation 2's online capabilities as an MMORPG.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359081p1.html |title=Final Fantasy XI – Big Plans, Big Money |website=IGN |date=May 10, 2002 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525060509/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359081p1.html |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Initially released for the PlayStation 2 with a PC port arriving six months later, ''XI'' was also released on the Xbox 360 nearly four years after its original release in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shippin' Out 4/17-4/21: Final Fantasy XI Online, Brain Age |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/news.html?sid=6147765 |website=[[GameSpot]] |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |date=April 17, 2006 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210132150/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/news.html?sid=6147765 |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was the first ''Final Fantasy'' game to use a free rotating camera. ''Final Fantasy XII'' was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and uses only half as many polygons as ''Final Fantasy X'', in exchange for more advanced textures and lighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3112825&p=2 |title=Final Fantasy XII (PS2) Previews |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=November 9, 2003 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153212/http://www.1up.com/previews/final-fantasy-xii_19 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/index.html |title=Final Fantasy XII - Preview First Look |publisher=RPGFan |last=Winkler |first=Chris |date=December 4, 2003 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813140103/http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/index.html |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also retains the freely rotating camera from ''XI''. ''Final Fantasy XIII'' and ''XIV'' both make use of [[Crystal Tools]], a [[middleware]] engine developed by Square Enix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6149412 |title=E3 06: Square Enix announces trio of Final Fantasy XIII games |last1=Shoemaker |first1=Brad |last2=Tochen |first2=Dan |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=May 8, 2006 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118164237/http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6149412 |archive-date=November 18, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-square-enix-unveils-crystal-tools-engine/ |title=GDC08: Square Enix unveils Crystal Tools engine |last=Yoon |first=Andrew |work=[[Joystiq]] |date=February 22, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165104/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-square-enix-unveils-crystal-tools-engine/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>