Summary
TheFinal Fantasygames are some of the best JRPGs players can get their hands on. This legendary series has wowed fans with its focus on fun combat mechanics, epic stories, anda wealth of memorable characters. Many games boast high levels of quality and are worth checking out for anyone who’s interested in what this franchise has to offer.
A huge part of what makes eachFinal Fantasygame a joy to play through are the monsters that players battle in their journey. These iconic monsters have made a name for themselves by featuring in the vast majority ofFinal Fantasygames, with this familiarity making it oddly endearing to encounter these monsters in battle. The best games in the series are known for featuring iconic monster designs that will elicit a ton of feelings in players as they power through these amazing adventures.
Final Fantasy 6is of the greatest games in the series, and players can’t get enough of it to this day. The shift to a futuristic fantasy setting was a breath of fresh air for a series that had pushed its medieval fantasy roots to their limit. Thedark and gritty aesthetic ofFinal Fantasy 6helped its story stand out even more, and the monster designs felt more impactful as a result.
The linework is astounding, giving each sprite a foreboding presence that stretches to the easier enemies as well. Players can gauge the threat of each enemy based on their design. They will either feel a sense of relief at encountering an easy enemy, or find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when a particularly tough enemy comes their way. The monsters ofFinal Fantasy 6are arguably the best that the 2D era of this genre could afford players. It was the perfect time for these monster designs to peak before the franchise shifted to 3D.
It speaks to the pride thatFinal Fantasy 12takes in its monster designs that a major part of the gameplay loop is engaging in monster hunts. These let players encounter a wide variety of enemies who are designed immaculately. The monster variety inFinal Fantasy 12is impressive to this day.The designs help convey their dangerous natureand how players must customize their Gambits to employ effective strategies against their enemies.
The epic adventure ofFinal Fantasy 12feels unique whenever players explore other zones and encounter a wealth of memorable monsters, which have become a staple of the series. Despite its departure from most of the series' conventional trappings, a few combat encounters are all it takes for players to marvel at the amazing enemy designs ofFinal Fantasy 12.Players will want to check out as many unique monsters as possible by taking on numerous hunts and the like.
To this day, gamers can’t stop singing the praises ofFinal Fantasy 10. The franchise’s PS2 debut was a resounding success that implemented a unique isekai story with memorable characters anda new take on the turn-based combat systemeveryone knows and loves. Of course, the biggest reason why players love this game is the monster designs, which offer classicFinal Fantasycreatures with a fresh coat of paint.
Every monster in the series oozes personality and is memorable from the moment players encounter these foes. It’s easy to progress through the Sphere Grid and make quick work of these enemies, but the game has the ability to throw a curveball and force players into a tough-as-nails encounter against a difficult monster that looks the part. Square’s pride in these designs can be seen with the inclusion of a Monster Arena that lets players encounter numerous tough foes.
The graphical upgrade ofFinal Fantasy 8over its predecessor blew the minds of many fans back in the day. Animations were enhanced extensively, with enemies displaying unique idle states, as well as conveying the damage they’re suffering. The game also featured a death animation for the first time in theFinal Fantasyseries. All of this leads to a combat system that is bursting with personality.
The gameplay mechanics ofFinal Fantasy 8may be a bit too experimental for their own good, but the monster designs ensure that combat never ceases to be engaging. The fact that a simple Tyrannosaurus rex looks like one of the most threatening enemies in the game is a testament toFinal Fantasy 8’s amazing monster design andhow it made up for most of the game’s problems.
There’s no denying that the developmental problems ofFinal Fantasy 15hampered the quality of the end product. Players had to see an anime and a movie to get the full gist of the title’s epic narrative. This, coupled with a combat system that is often too easy, should have led to the game being derided by the masses. However, it only takes a few hours to see thatFinal Fantasy 15is a labor of love that has a lot of things going for it. Listing all of them may be a bit too much, but one thing that this game must be lauded for is its variety of enemies.
The sheer number of enemy types that players can encounter inFinal Fantasy 15is astounding. Every corner of the world hides a unique enemy that’s a joy to engage in battle with. Each enemy is painstakingly designed to convey its threat with a unique moveset, ensuring that players get to witness the most awe-inspiring versions of their favoriteFinal Fantasyenemies. Even if the vast majority of these enemies are relatively easy to take out, that doesn’t take anything away fromthese amazing monster designs. Players are compelled to fill up the entire bestiary and check out the painstaking work put into every detailed 3D model.
