Introduction
Basic information
Developer: Team Ninja
Full name: Stranger of Paradise : Final Fantasy Origins
Release date: 2022
Released on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SÂ
Cross play: no
Genre: Action, Role-playing.
This is the full name, but I have also seen it called Stranger’s Paradise Final Fantasy. But I believe this is the official full name.
Initial thoughts
I have played the original Final Fantasy, a very long time ago. The trailer got me with the idea it was a more difficult Final Fantasy. It was supposed to be gritty, dark, and bloody. Well, I am up for a Final Fantasy like that. I believe this entry is about Jack, and he must slay Chaos. He said it a lot in the trailer. This was one of the first games I played on the PlayStation 5.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story starts with Jack and his companions Jed and Ash. They have lost their memories but believe themselves to be the warriors of light. Thus, they seek to destroy Chaos, only to find a girl named Neon. She has another crystal and wanted to take on the darkness to become Chaos, but she does not believe in Chaos. Jack, on the other hand, does, the king of Cornelia sends them on a journey to purify the four crystals as the warriors of light.
World building and immersion
This game is set in the same universe as Final Fantasy 1. This game manages to create some kind of multiverse. My headcannon on this is this, all Final Fantasy worlds are connected. There is this race named the Lufenians who have a giant hub with all kinds of universes. I think those are the other games, but the same of the Final Fantasy games do take place in the same universe, but either later or earlier. All the Lufenians fear is chaos, they want order and balance by ensuring each station, or world is in a perfect time loop.
Character development
There is a lot of character development over the game. Jack slowly realizes what his real goal is. And his companions too. They slowly become into great warriors as they learn more about themselves and adapt to the situation.
Emotional impact
The emotional impact of this game is insane. It had me going, what in the actual fuck? That is not something that happens a lot. Many plot twists that I did not see coming that even my wife was like, oh my god! The story is just, excellent, and the ending, top-notch!
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 10.
If there is something this game does perfectly, it is the story.Â
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
While the story is immersive and superb, the gameplay is fun but not very good. Yes, the difficulty is higher, and indeed there is a lot of gore. Ripping off heads, snapping the neck of a horse. Not something you would expect. But the core is the job system. You can choose two jobs and switch at will. Playing with a job will level it up and earn you skill points.
With these skill points, you can earn new abilities or even unlock expert jobs. Some jobs are good at staggering enemies, this allows a fast kill to be performed. You can switch jobs very frequently. All jobs also have their own equipment and gear. You will be finding those in droves. There is no need to ever upgrade your gear. Your companions can also be given a few jobs. All jobs have a special attack, you can also order your friends to be aggressive.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty is indeed high, but it does feel balanced. Each new level will give better gear which can be equipped. You will be switching gear a lot. There is only one point of the game with an intense difficulty spike that also feels unfair and unbalanced. That is near the end when you don’t have your companions to back you up. You can only carry a maximum of nine potions at once, but resting will only refill five of them. Others need to be found from slaughtering monsters.
Pacing of the game
The pacing of the game is good, there are many missions to clear and if you want to slow down a bit, there are also side quests to clear. The game never feels rushed and takes it time to build up the climax, and the end is worth it!
Innovation and uniqueness
I never expected to see such a brutal and unique Final Fantasy. They have gone many ways, but I have had yet to see an asshole of a protagonist who tells the monsters to go fuck themselves. Only to proceed to brutally slaughter them by ripping off their limbs or worse. The gameplay also gives you the ability to steal enemy abilities and use them at will. Yes, even abilities from a tonberry.
Controls and user interface
The controls are very slick and smooth. The only problem I had was with slinging spells, but that was mostly because I played a melee focused build and did not practice slinging spells. The skill point system can be overwhelming at first, but as you slowly progress in the game, all will be made clear. The user interface during levels is very clean, as is the menu.
Microtransactions
Microtransactions available: No
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 7.0
The gameplay might not be the best ever, but it is intense and brutal!
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics on the PlayStation 5 are wonderful. It looks almost as if you are watching a movie. The gameplay is not as good as the cutscenes, but still great. Fighting the monster is fun, brutally slaughtering them in a Final Fantasy game is insane. But it all has a reason, a perfectly good reason. I love the gore and brutality that is shown on screen. It is what in the first place drew me to this game.
Technical performances
I did not have any technical issues or problems.
Environment and design uniqueness
While the environment is the standard as in many Final Fantasy games. All the way up to an alien tower, this game did an impressive job in representing these environments. One of the best designs must be the wheat fields. What is this place with all the stations? Why are the Lufenians monitoring everything?
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 9.5.
I have to admit that the graphics kind of blew me away.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
There are many soundtracks in this game. All the way from chilling music, to haunting eerie music that sets the tone of the current scene. You can hear the ambiance from monsters roaming around, streaming rivers and normal wildlife. Everything is perfectly attuned to the soundtrack.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are good and do not get bothersome after a while. Ripping those enemies apart has a fun sound. They also get turned into crystals and shatter into pieces. Yep, fun.
Voice Acting
I have to give a lot of props to the voice actors. They all did a splendid job. But I have to hand it to the one who voice acted Jack in this game. There is so much emotion and anger in his voice. It all fits his character in every possible way. All the way from when he gets emotional and teary.Â
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 10.
The voice acting is just too good to give it a lower rating.
Multiplayer components
Online gameplay experience
Not applicable.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game is longer than I had anticipated, you will end it when your gear is around level 120. If you clear all the missions and grind a few skill points, you can easily sink 40 hours into this game. There is also a bit of postgame content that takes place before the final mission.Â
Extra Content
There is a season pass with a lot of bonus content. I have not played it myself, I was too eager to move on, but I might revisit this game and take a good look at the DLC, maybe even review it if there is enough different material. I expect the DLC to be large as well.
Replay value
There is actually quite some replay value in this game. You can play numerous side quests or revisit older levels to become stronger. While not the best replay value that exists in the gaming world, there is enough to keep you entertained for a while.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin with a 7.
There is quite some content to go through, and a lot of extra content as well!
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
I noticed a few flaws in this game, for example the gear system. The game bombards players with a plethora of gear, leading to frequent inventory management that can disrupt the flow of gameplay. Implementing a more streamlined inventory system, such as an auto-sort feature or better filters, could alleviate this issue.Â
While the high difficulty is part of the game’s charm, certain spikes, especially towards the end, can feel overly punishing. Adjusting these sections to maintain a challenging yet fair difficulty curve would improve the experience. Providing more accessible options for replenishing potions or slightly reducing enemy damage in these critical moments could help. For example, adjusting the balance when you are alone instead of having enemies remain at strength for a party.
Comparisons
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin stands out in the Final Fantasy series due to its dark and gritty atmosphere. This is a stark contrast to the often whimsical and fantasy-driven tones of previous entries. For example, Final Fantasy IX or the vibrant world of Final Fantasy X. While Final Fantasy XV also explored a more realistic and somewhat somber world, this game pushes the envelope with its brutality and mature themes.
This game can also be compared to FromSoftware’s titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne due to its challenging gameplay and dark atmosphere. The difficulty level and the need for strategic planning during combat are common traits. However, Stranger of Paradise : Final Fantasy Origins diverges with its unique job system and the ability to switch classes on the fly, adding a layer of flexibility not typically found in FromSoftware’s games.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
I had a lot of fun, but one of the most worrisome and yet awesome moments was when I encountered a unicorn—like monster. After staggering it, Jack grabbed it by its neck and snapped it. You heard this loud snap and I actually winched back, and I was like, Fuck, that must be painful. My wife was sitting there like, What the hell did you do to that poor unicorn!? Yes, I repeated it when I came across another unicorn.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, I give it a personal rating of 9.
Just because of the brutality and the outstanding story.
Last words
Pros
- The game offers a compelling narrative with significant character development, emotional impact, and plot twists
- The story ties into the original Final Fantasy universe and explores a multiverse concept
- The job system allows for versatile gameplay, with the ability to switch between jobs
- High difficulty and intense combat add to the game's challenge, appealing to players who enjoy tough, brutal gameplay
- Impressive graphics on the PlayStation 5, with detailed environments and well-executed cutscenes
- The game's brutal and gory art style sets it apart from other entries in the Final Fantasy series
- Strong voice acting, particularly for the protagonist, adds emotional depth to the characters
- A substantial amount of content, including side quests and postgame activities
Cons
- The gear system can be overwhelming, with constant inventory management disrupting the flow
- The game has notable difficulty spikes, particularly near the end, which can feel unfair and frustrating
- Spell casting controls can be clunky, especially for players focusing on melee builds
- Side quests, while plentiful, may not always be compelling enough to distract from the main storyline
If you are looking for a different Final Fantasy experience than you have ever had. Something brutal and gory, then this is the perfect game for you. I promise you, you will not be disappointed!
Final Rating
8.7
Please let me know what you think of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
If you liked reading this review, maybe you would like to share this review with your friends.
fano23
Not sure if this game is less know, but looks like a good Final Fantasy one
supersven
It was a fun Final Fantasy!
Silentrets
Actually i like to play side quests. Anyway 8.7 enough for me.
Twigas_Hobbes
Looks intersting. I only know the old ones. (<= 6) 😅
supersven
Those are indeed old!
vitalikboykiller
I like this review and maybe i will buy this game.
Delicious Bacon
Yes, this one was on my radar already, and I will surely get it on a discount one day, probably among the next purchases.
I love how brutal the fights in it are, and absolutely love the 10/10 rating on the music and voice action.
supersven
I am glad you liked the review!
Alamar
Yep i already followed in on steam, however technically ps5 version is better i heard. Your reviews shows it is a good part from Final Fantasy franchise. Going to see your video now. I'm particulary fan of jrpg (i prefer crpgs, btw you missed category "genre:" at start of review) but you got me interested 🙂 Nice to see good story and flexible leveling system.
supersven
The leveling system was fun to use!
Vibe
Nice review 🙂
Have to play through the series sometime
Myr
All Final Fantasy worlds are connected? Wow I guess I learned something new today. I thought the just create a new setting/universe with every new game.
supersven
Yep, it is indeed a multiverse and in the new FF7 games they are going insane with this knowledge!