Summary
Final Fantasyis a series that continues to remain relevant to this day, with a string of mainline games, spin-offs, and remakes doing a great job of keeping long-time fans satisfied while newcomers can enjoy the series and learn about its legacy. Square Enix may have had its fair share of issues, but there’s no denying that the way they’ve handled theFinal FantasyIP makes it clear that the series responsible for turning them into a major force in the industry is held in high regard.
Fans of theFinal Fantasyserieslove the dungeons and how imaginative they can be. While there are some by-the-numbers dungeon crawls in these lengthy games, fans love the moments when Square shows off what it’s capable of with amazing art design, engaging encounters, interesting puzzles, and unique mechanics that serve as a breath of fresh air in games that can be rather formulaic at times.
Final Fantasy 15may have faced a rough time in development, but fans were glad to see that this game featured a ton of heart despite some aspects of the title being unfinished. Thankfully, the Royal Edition covered up a lot of the game’s faults, with players getting further invested in the series after watching theKingsglaivemovie and theBrotherhoodanime. The dungeons inFinal Fantasy 15vary in quality, and one particular hidden dungeon players can access holds the honor of being the most creative and off-beat location players can find in the series.
The Pitioss Ruins canonly be traversed by Noctisand features no combat. Instead, players need to complete platforming challenges, avoid traps, and complete puzzles if they want to gain the Black Hood accessory.
Many aspects ofFinal Fantasy 10are worthy of praise, with most people arguing that this is where the series peaked. However, the formulaic dungeons in this game were one aspect that some people singled out. Thankfully, fans who love the optional content inFinal Fantasygames were treated to one of the best end-game dungeons in the entire series that houses some of the most iconic enemies and allows players to develop their Sphere Grid in no time.
The Omega Ruins features a wealth of unique side mechanics, some amazing lore that enhances the allure of Spira’s world, and two tough encounters that are perfect for players who want to take onsome tough foes. Players must be wary of every encounter in the Omega Ruins, with the Great Malboro being particularly fearsome and using its Bad Breath characters to punish players who don’t take this dungeon seriously.
Final Fantasy 9isone of the best games in the seriesthat fans can’t get enough of. After theFinal Fantasygames preceding this entry shifted their focus to a futuristic perspective, fans were glad to seeFinal Fantasy 9go back to its charming fantasy routes with some medieval influences scattered along the way. Numerous dungeons in this game deserve their time in the spotlight, but one particular area that stands out is the Iifa Tree, with the events of this dungeon having major ramifications on the plot.
Traversing the roots, trunks, and branches of a massive tree makes for a great time, with the visuals of this dungeon being highly unique. Memoria may be a memorable final dungeon as well, but there’s something about traversing the Iifa Tree and taking on Soulcage that makes for one of the best moments in a video game known for its many mesmerizing highlights.
Final Fantasy 6features one of the most effective tonal shifts in a video game, with the heroes failing to stop Kefka from disturbing the Warring Triad on the Floating Continent. This leads to the entire world being decimated as a beautiful, tranquil world is thrust into a state of ruin. This leads to players gaining control of Celes and gathering all the heroes back together once again, with the Phoenix Cave being one such area that players should ideally explore after accumulating a sizeable party.
This is because Phoenix Cave is one of the few dungeons in the game where players must split up their party and complete certain puzzles to ensure that both teams can move through the dungeon. Aside fromthe powerful Red Dragon, this cave houses the Phoenix Magicite and serves as the final stop in Locke’s quest to revive Rachel, with the party acquiring the services of this beloved thief not long after.
Out of all the final dungeons players must traverse in theFinal Fantasyseries, many people considerthe eighth mainline entryto have the most fantastical ones of the lot. Ultimecia’s Castle is a time-compressed mess that’s as unique as can be, with the main group being split into two parties to lend to the epic feel of exploring this area.
The trek to the final fight against Ultimecia is memorable, with a wealth of challenging bosses standing in the player’s way. Not only can players fight against the toughest superboss in the entire game here, but they are rewarded for their grit and determination with one of the most cinematic final clashes inFinal Fantasyhistory.
