RPGs were notorious in the early days of gaming for taking an incredibly long time to complete. Given that the target age was children, a lot of their game time was likely spent reading and trying to understand the mechanics. Final Fantasy 1 was certainly not an easy game for NES gamers in the 1980s, although they had guides like those in Nintendo Power readily available.
Nowadays, older 2D RPGs are understood to be quite a bit more simple than they seemed to gamers at the time. With exposure to more modern games with fast-paced combat, this begs the question: How long should it take the gamers of today to beat Final Fantasy 1?
Version Differences
The most important question to be asked first is which version of Final Fantasy 1 is being tackled. As perhaps the most frequently ported and remade game in the franchise, you have over a dozen choices of platforms with many content differences. Each game contains the same core story, but with different features and hardware, the base gameplay runs differently.
Versions like the Pixel Remaster feature an option to speed up the battle while playing on the original NES hardware will see some of the slowest gameplay. Some versions let you run outside of battles while others do not. Additionally, some versions have extra content that changes the nature of a 100% playthrough.
Average Game Times
The website “How Long To Beat” gives us a look at some average numbers listed for the game. It lists the main story as taking fifteen and a half hours, with a completionist playthrough pushing up to nineteen and a half. This seems rather short and likely refers to players who know what they’re doing.
A first playthrough will be spent wandering and learning the game’s mechanics, which could at least double that length. We also see longer times reported for the older versions of the game, like the NES or Gameboy Advanced versions. Modern consoles running the Pixel Remaster see a substantial shortening due to the aforementioned battle speed-up features.
Completionist or Not
Like most games in the franchise, Final Fantasy 1 has things to do beyond the core story. They can complete an optional dungeon to level up their jobs, find rare equipment, or play extra hard content included in later releases. For one’s first time playing the game, it is recommended to take it slow and enjoy your time. There is a world map to explore and a story to experience, however simple.
The Pixel Remaster mostly just resembles the original release, while tackling the Gameboy Advanced or PSP versions will see lots of extra content that might be difficult for a newcomer. Regardless, pick the version that is most readily available and dive in.
Final Thoughts
Later games in the franchise would certainly grow longer and more involved. From intricate plotlines, multiple world maps, and deeper combat, the series is no stranger to long play times. Final Fantasy 1 can benefit from being from a simpler era with a more straightforward experience.
A first playthrough will certainly not be short, but it will not drag like the multi-disc experience of a game like Final Fantasy 9. Whether you focus on the story or search for all the hidden treasures, the original Final Fantasy is a classic for a reason. It’s a great opportunity to give the franchise a start and see where it all began.
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