Everything Is Final Fantasy

We begin Final Fantasy VI. This is the game that began our love of the series and it is nearly perfect in our eyes. Meet Terra, Locke, some moogles, and a truly magical steampunk world!

Ira and Drew wrap up their conversation on Chrono Trigger with a look at the biggest ideas and questions it presents. How gray can morality get on a long enough timeline? How fragile is civilization? And how great of a piece of art is Chrono Trigger especially when compared to the best of its genre and medium?

Ira and Drew discuss the event, battle, and scene music from Chrono Trigger. We take a listen to some of the most beloved video game pieces ever composed and try to offer some overall analysis of the entire soundtrack and its place among the greats.

Chrono Trigger has one of the best soundtracks of all time regardless of medium. We begin by listening to some CLASSIC character themes for Crono, Frog, Ayla, Magus, Robo, Schala and more. How do these themes add to the story and lore and why have they persevered through the years?

From the world-renowned stylings of Akira Toriyama to the still-engaging battle system and the innovative New Game Plus, we get into some of the most enduring elements of an all-time classic.  

Ira and Drew conclude the plot of Chrono Trigger. We learn of the tragedy of Schala and the surprising fate of Crono. Smaller side stories emerge as their own fascinating fables. And the final confrontation with Lavos brings a satisfying conclusion to the story while plenty of questions remain.  

We meet classic and beloved characters in Robo and Ayla, ponder what we can derive from the distant future and ancient past, learn about the Masamune, and discover the truth behind the man named Magus and his desire to summon the destroyer of the world, Lavos.

Chrono Trigger is quite simply one of the greatest games ever made. We begin our journey with this timeless classic, meet Crono, Lucca, and Marle and see right away why those who made CT are called the Dream Team.

Ira and Drew discuss the music of Final Fantasy V. Featuring a few standout classics from Dear Friends to Home Sweet Home to Battle on the Big Bridge, and some timeless melodies found in Music Box, Lenna's Theme, and Tenderness in the Air, is this one of Nobuo Uematsu's greatest achievements?

First, we have to give credit to the incredible talent that turned Yoshitaka Amano art into gorgeous pixels, Kazuko Shibuya. Then we dive into one of the best and most customizable JRPG systems in history.

We take a look at the character archetypes for Krile and ExDeath and defeat the odd villain in the final battle. The conversation then moves to the ultimate legacy of a game that is brimming with charm and has scores of fans but is still not considered (by consensus) among the best in the franchise.

We continue our conversation on Final Fantasy V. The ties to the rest of the franchise grow deeper and more interesting, the plot of ExDeath is revealed, and noble sacrifices are made including the death of a beloved main character.

We start on the plot, themes, and characters of Final Fantasy V. In a brighter story with a bit more humor, whimsy, and color, we are introduced to Bartz, Lenna, Galuf, and Faris and once again set out on a magical adventure to understand the power of the crystals and uncover a deeper plot at work.

We review the history, impact, and legacy of Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. A lost game in the series, it has an awesome soundtrack but mostly did not hit with fans.

Ira and Drew rank their Top 10 Cids. Plus, what makes a great Cid? Why did the Final Fantasy creators decide that they needed this type of character? What does he represent? And must there be a Cid?

We review the impact and legacy of Final Fantasy IV as a piece of art. We examine the big themes and characters one last time then dive into it's social commentary, industry impact, craft, and discuss how it stacks up with other Final Fantasy games.

From the stellar battle music to the unmistakable Celtic influence, to enduring character themes and a first foray into electronic/industrial tones, this soundtrack from Nobuo Uematsu stands as a masterpiece 27 years after it's release. W/ excerpts from Celtic Moon.

The invention of the active time battle system is one of the more intriguing moments in franchise history while almost all of the FFIV character designs have stood the test of time. We embark on a space whale and journey through a world of watercolor and ephemeral melancholy.

Our heroes go to the moon, uncover an alien plot, discover deep family ties, and bring the world together in climactic triumph. The discussion turns to the merits of speculative fiction, the strength of the themes embodied by the characters and events of the story, and what the adventures of Cecil, Kain, Rosa and the gang can tell us about who we are.

Final Fantasy IV continues as our characters begin to make heroic sacrifices, none more heartbreaking than Palom & Porom. Plus Rydia becomes one of the best characters in franchise history. 

We begin Final Fantasy IV which introduces us to the twin moons, global themes, an expansive new Celtic-inspired world and soundtrack and loveable cast. We meet Rosa, Kain, Cid, and Rydia, and witness a great FF moment when Cecil, the dark knight, becomes a paladin. 

Ira and Drew explore the many remakes, compilations, spinoffs, and adaptations of the Final Fantasy series. There are some treasured greats in Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics... and some less celebrated games like All The Bravest. Has Final Fantasy XV set a disturbing trend or is it blazing the trail for an innovative new way to tell stories? Is the Compilation of FFVII a cynical cash gra...

Is there merit in using cynicism or is it inherently mutually exclusive to criticism? From a famous laughing scene to dramatic reactions each time the games shifted tone or aesthetic, we look at a myriad of ways in which "contempt prior to investigation" acted as a shield to experiencing excellence in the arts.

Another lost game in the franchise, we talk about the difficulties of a game that has no definition version but still had a massive impact on the franchise. Of course, we couldn't talk about this game without getting into the job system. Then we dive into some of Nobuo Uematsu's best individual compositions and look into the deeper meaning behind its social commentary.

We meet Desch, Doga, Unei, and face off against the almighty Xande. We come across Moogles for the first time and need more than a few airships to get to the end. Inside a bit of a jumbled experience thanks to differing versions, we find a heart-warming tale about the preciousness of mortality and an important balance between light and darkness.