Editing Final Fantasy (section)

== Legacy ==
''Final Fantasy'' has been influential in the [[history of video games]] and game mechanics. ''Final Fantasy IV'' is considered a milestone for the genre, introducing a dramatic storyline with a strong emphasis on character development and personal relationships.<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web|last=Kasavin |first=Greg |title=Final Fantasy IV Advance Review |date=December 12, 2005 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/finalfantasyiv/review.html |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234445/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/finalfantasyiv/review.html |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1992, [[Nintendo]]'s [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] noted the impact of ''Final Fantasy'' on [[Japanese role-playing games]], stating ''Final Fantasy''{{'}}s "interactive cinematic approach" with an emphasis on "presentation and graphics" was gradually becoming "the most common style" of Japanese RPG at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Future of RPGs – Developer Interviews |magazine=The Super Famicom |date=27 November 1992 |volume=3 |issue=22 |pages=89–97 |lang=ja |url=https://archive.org/details/thesuperfamicom1992no.22hq/TheSuperFamicom%201992%20No.22%20HQ/page/n91/mode/2up |access-date=14 October 2021}}
* {{cite web |title=The Future of RPGs – 1992 Developer Interviews |website=Shmuplations |url=https://shmuplations.com/futureofrpgs/ |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127115802/http://shmuplations.com/futureofrpgs/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy VII'', having been the first title of the series to be officially released in the PAL territories of Europe and Oceania, is credited as having the largest industry impact of the series,<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-v-final-fantasy/23449 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part V | publisher = [[GameTrailers]]| date = August 13, 2007 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611163946/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-v-final-fantasy/23449 | archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref> and with allowing console role-playing games to gain global mass-market appeal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-29-dirge-of-cerberus_x.htm |title='Dirge of Cerberus' defies expectations, for better and worse |first=Alex |last=Kraus |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=August 30, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629090116/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-29-dirge-of-cerberus_x.htm |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''VII'' is considered to be one of the most important and influential video games in the series.<ref name="GameSpot-Influential">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p15_01.html|title=15 Most Influential Games of All Time|last1=Satterfield|first1=Shane|last2=Fielder|first2=Lauren|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CNET]]|date=2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520043957/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p15_01.html|archive-date=May 20, 2007|access-date=April 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GamePro2007">{{cite magazine | author1=Boba Fatt | author2=GamePros | title=Feature: The 52 Most Important Video Games of All Time (page 4 of 8) | url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ | magazine=GamePro | date=April 25, 2007 | access-date=April 25, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913085022/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ | archive-date=September 13, 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GamePro2009">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/167229/20_games_that_changed_gaming_forever.html#slide8 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[PC World]] |title=20 Games That Changed Gaming Forever |date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314091900/http://www.pcworld.com/article/167229/20_games_that_changed_gaming_forever.html#slide8 |archive-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Loguidice |first1=Bill |last2=Barton |first2=Matt |chapter=Final Fantasy (VII): It's Never Final in the World of Final Fantasy |title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time |date=2012 |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |isbn=978-1-136-13758-7 |pages=77–92 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801201329/https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The series affected Square's business on several levels. The commercial failure of ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' resulted in hesitation and delays from Enix during merger discussions with Square.<ref name="FFMovie-RPGamer"/><ref name="FF-Retro-1"/> Square's decision to produce games exclusively for the Sony PlayStation—a move followed by Enix's decision with the ''Dragon Quest'' series—severed their relationship with Nintendo.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG"/> ''Final Fantasy'' games were absent from Nintendo consoles, specifically the Nintendo 64, for seven years.<ref name="UltimateHistory"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/> Critics attribute the switch of strong third-party games like the ''Final Fantasy'' and ''Dragon Quest'' games to Sony's PlayStation, and away from the Nintendo 64, as one of the reasons behind PlayStation being the more successful of the two consoles.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG"/><ref name="IGN-N64week"/> The release of the Nintendo GameCube, which used optical disc media, in 2001 caught the attention of Square. To produce games for the system, Square created the [[Shell corporation|shell company]] [[The Game Designers Studio]] and released ''[[Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]'', which spawned its own [[Media franchise|metaseries]] within the main franchise.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXI"/> ''Final Fantasy XI''{{'}}s lack of an online method of subscription cancellation prompted the creation of legislation in [[Illinois]] that requires internet gaming services to provide such a method to the state's residents.<ref name="GWR09-RPG">{{cite book | title= Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition | series= [[Guinness World Records]] | date= February 3, 2009 | publisher= Guinness | isbn= 978-1-904994-45-9 | pages= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/174 174–175] | chapter= Record Breaking Games: Role-Playing Games | chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/174}}</ref>

The series' popularity has resulted in its appearance and reference in numerous facets of popular culture like anime, TV series, and [[webcomic]]s.<ref>{{cite book | first = Timothy J. | last = Craig | title = Japan Pop!: Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture | publisher = M.E. Sharpe | year = 2000 | page = [https://archive.org/details/japanpopinsidew00crai/page/140 140] | isbn = 0-7656-0561-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/japanpopinsidew00crai/page/140}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2006/05/4078.ars |first=Ben |last=Kuchera |title=Robot Chicken pokes fun at Final Fantasy |website=Ars Technica |date=May 23, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806123115/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2006/05/4078.ars |archive-date=August 6, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ |title=Adventure Log |publisher=[[VG Cats]] |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418045027/http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ |archive-date=April 18, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Music from the series has permeated into different areas of culture. ''Final Fantasy IV''{{'}}s "Theme of Love" was integrated into the [[Education in Japan|curriculum of Japanese school children]] and has been performed live by orchestras and metal bands.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iii-final-fantasy/22905 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part III | date = July 30, 2007 | publisher = [[GameTrailers]] | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609180025/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iii-final-fantasy/22905 | archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> In 2003, Uematsu co-founded [[The Black Mages]], an [[Hard rock|instrumental rock]] group independent of Square that has released albums of [[arrangement|arranged]] ''Final Fantasy'' tunes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/profile/index.html |title=Nobuo Uematsu's Profile |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808175956/http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/profile/index.html |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dogearrecords.com/tbm3/ |title=The Black Mages-Darkness and Starlight |publisher=[[Dog Ear Records]] |language=ja |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728172412/http://www.dogearrecords.com/tbm3/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bronze medal]]ists [[Alison Bartosik]] and [[Anna Kozlova]] performed their [[Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's duet|synchronized swimming routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics]] to music from ''Final Fantasy VIII''.<ref name="GWR08-RPG"/> Many of the soundtracks have also been released for sale. Numerous companion books, which normally provide in-depth game information, have been published. In Japan, they are published by Square and are called ''[[List of Square Enix companion books|Ultimania]]'' books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/097/097559p1.html |title=Final Fantasy X Ultimania Guide |date=August 20, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604124249/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/097/097559p1.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ult/index.html |title=Square Enix Game Books Online |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |language=ja |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831123347/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ult/index.html |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The series has inspired numerous game developers. ''[[Fable (video game series)|Fable]]'' creator [[Peter Molyneux]] considers ''Final Fantasy VII'' to be the RPG that "defined the genre" for him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Molyneux: Final Fantasy VII Defined the RPG Genre |url=https://gematsu.com/2008/09/molyneux-final-fantasy-vii-defined-the-rpg-genre |work=Gematsu |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030302/https://gematsu.com/2008/09/molyneux-final-fantasy-vii-defined-the-rpg-genre |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[BioWare]] founder [[Greg Zeschuk]] cited ''Final Fantasy VII'' as "the first really emotionally engaging game" he played and said it had "a big impact" on BioWare's work.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (54 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Witcher 3]]'' senior environmental artist Jonas Mattsson cited ''Final Fantasy'' as "a huge influence" and said it was "the first RPG" he played through.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kamen |first1=Matt |title=How The Witcher III deals with art and sex in games |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/witcher-iii-interview |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=January 29, 2015 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030433/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/witcher-iii-interview |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Mass Effect]]'' art director Derek Watts cited ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' as a major influence on the visual design and art direction of the series.<ref>{{cite web |title=BioWare: Final Fantasy movie influenced Mass Effect |url=https://gematsu.com/2011/06/bioware-final-fantasy-movie-influenced-mass-effect |website=Gematsu |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030250/https://gematsu.com/2011/06/bioware-final-fantasy-movie-influenced-mass-effect |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> BioWare senior product manager David Silverman cited ''Final Fantasy XII''{{'}}s gambit system as an influence on the gameplay of ''[[Dragon Age: Origins]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Totilo |first1=Stephen |title=You Can Play Dragon Age: Origins Sort Of Like Four Other Games |url=https://kotaku.com/5385022/you-can-play-dragon-age-origins-sort-of-like-four-other-games |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=October 19, 2009 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107182159/https://kotaku.com/5385022/you-can-play-dragon-age-origins-sort-of-like-four-other-games |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ubisoft Toronto]] creative director Maxime Beland cited the original ''Final Fantasy'' as a major influence on him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (7 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Media Molecule]]'s Constantin Jupp credited ''Final Fantasy VII'' with getting him into game design.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (30 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tim Schafer]] also cited ''Final Fantasy VII'' as one of his favourite games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (32 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''Final Fantasy'' [[fandom]] includes large fan organizations like Final Fantasy Union. In 2023, Final Fantasy Union collaborated with British indie publisher [[Lost in Cult]] on the sixth volume of the imprint's art journal, ''Lock-On'', which focused on the art of ''Final Fantasy'' and ''[[Legend of Zelda]]'' and featured an exclusive cover illustration of Terra Branford by Yoshitaka Amano alongside interviews with Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Matt Mercer.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In October 2007, a fan-made [[web series]] of CG action films called ''Dead Fantasy'' was created by late web-based animator and writer, [[Monty Oum]]. ''Dead Fantasy'' featured ''Final Fantasy'' characters competing against ''[[Dead or Alive (franchise)|Dead or Alive]]'' characters in [[Battle royal|battle royale-style]] brawls.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kietzmann|first=Ludwig|date=October 3, 2007|title=Haloid creator mashes up Final Fantasy and Dead or Alive {{!}} Joystiq|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/13/haloid-creator-mashes-up-final-fantasy-and-dead-or-alive/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912080441/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/13/haloid-creator-mashes-up-final-fantasy-and-dead-or-alive/|archive-date=September 12, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=Joystiq}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamingdead.com/2009/07/07/gd-at-ax-interview-with-monty-oum|title=GD at AX: Interview with Monty Oum|publisher=Gaming Dead|first=Meredith|last=Sweet|date=2009-07-07|access-date=2011-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202221728/http://gamingdead.com/2009/07/07/gd-at-ax-interview-with-monty-oum|archive-date=2015-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nag.co.za/2015/02/02/monty-oum-creator-of-rwby-dead-fantasy-has-died/|title=Monty Oum, creator of RWBY, Dead Fantasy, has died|publisher=NAG|first=Rick|last=de Klerk|date=2015-02-02|access-date=2023-02-14}}</ref>