Summary
A lot of people who considerFinal Fantasy 5to be one of the most underrated games in the series decided to settle for a rather threadbare plot and focus more on the gameplay instead. Thegame’s take on the job systemis truly revolutionary and continues to be quite addictive to mess around with even now, as players figure out the best combinations to max out AP gain anddeal with the many tough foesthey’ll encounter in this adventure.
Final Fantasy 5, just like most other entries in the series on the SNES, has received so many ports that some players may find it slightly challenging to figure out which version of the game they can check out to enjoy the most optimal experience. While each version has its positives, players who don’t want to face any issues while trying to enjoy this classic entry in theFinal Fantasyseries are better off doing their research to figure out the best version they can get their hands on.
5Final Fantasy 5 (Port)
PlayStation
There’s no denying that thePlayStation ports of the SNESFinal Fantasygameswere a great initiative to let new players experience the magic of these games, some of which hadn’t been localized until now. However, the poor nature of these ports caused so many issues to crop up that players couldn’t enjoy the experience all that much.
Perhaps the worst part of this port was the egregious loading times and noticeable lag during battles. This made it a chore to get throughFinal Fantasy 5on the PlayStation, and the two FMVs added to the game didn’t make up for the wealth of annoyances that players had to deal with to reach the game’s ending.
4Final Fantasy 5 (Mobile Remake)
Mobile, PC
Final Fantasyfans have a lot of disagreements that crop up from time to time. So, it’s clear that Square Enix must’ve done something truly horrible with the mobile ports if the entire fanbase unites to complain about the horrid art style of these games. The ports of many belovedFinal Fantasygames on mobile devices could’ve been a great initiative, but it only took one look at the horrid character sprites for players to lose their minds over this uninspired, flat art style that took away any character the original sprites had.
The art style in the mobile remake ofFinal Fantasy 5is all over the place, feeling too flat and uninspired for players to accept. It doesn’t help that the UI and interface aren’t all that great either, especially on the PC. Thankfully, this version was sent to the Shadow Realmwith the launch of thePixel Remaster, meaning that players don’t have to suffer these ugly sprites anymore.
3Final Fantasy 5 Advance
Game Boy Advance
The idea of playing a fully-fledgedFinal Fantasygame on portable devices may not sound like a huge deal right now, but there was a time when players couldn’t fathom the idea of playing a title so complex on portable hardware. However, the Game Boy Advance dispelled this notion by showing just how powerful handheld consoles could be, allowing Square Enix to develop Advance ports of beloved SNES games.
These titles feature additional post-game content that is a blast to get through if players have the right build. However, in an attempt to go portable,some of the best parts ofFinal Fantasy 5had to suffer serious compromises. The music is the biggest casualty here, with the inferior sound chip of the Game Boy Advance causing most of the soundtrack to sound a bit too compressed for most people’s liking.
2Final Fantasy 5
Super Famicom
Sometimes, players can’t go wrong with the original. Sure,Final Fantasy 5on the Super Famicom may not have an official translation, but a mod is all it takes to fix this minor issue. Players who want to experience the magic ofFinal Fantasy 5in its original iteration will love what this title brings to the table.
The game may lack a lot of the modern refinements that most people have come to expect from the genre, but it more than makes up for it with its old-school charm, a beloved aesthetic that’s aged like a fine wine, andcompelling gameplay that holds up so wellthat it hasn’t been changed in later versions. It’s the best version of the game that fans can pick up if they want to enjoy a truly authentic experience with this title.
1Final Fantasy 5 Pixel Remaster
Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Mobile
The announcement of thePixel Remastersof all the belovedFinal Fantasygames was met with great excitement from fans, who relished the opportunity to experience these amazing games once again. While the ugly text and Square Enix’s sketchy past with re-releases caused some fans to worry, it didn’t take long for thePixel Remasterof each title to become the best version of eachFinal Fantasygame in the eyes of many.
Final Fantasy 5is no exception to this golden rule. The game looks and feels great to play, and fans can’t find any complaint that can take away something meaningful from the experience. What’s left behind is a solid JRPG with hours upon hours of content as players unlock new jobs and make their party as strong as possible todeal with Exdeath’s nefarious plans.
