Mobius Final Fantasy

Mobius Final Fantasy, titled early in development as Mevius Final Fantasy, is a free-to-play role playing game for iOS and Android, produced by Yoshinori Kitase. The game is said to take the "classic road" with features like map exploration–although moving across the map will be automated–tactical battles, and a leveling system. The game focuses on Wol. The scenario is written by Kazushige Nojima and is said to be on par with a numbered game, featuring refined plot twists. Since the game has the Warriors of Light as a theme, it pays homage to the first Final Fantasy with inclusion of a variety of references to it, but it is not a remake and has a new story and setting.

The game released in the west on August 3, 2016. The game was ported to PC through Steam in Japan on November 1, 2016. The PC version was released worldwide on February 6, 2017.

Gameplay
Mobius Final Fantasy uses a hybrid turn-based card battle system, unique for a spin-off title in the series. The player assumes control of Wol in a series of first-person battles against waves of enemies. The player must set Wol's skills as a deck of cards, the first being his job that determines his base stats. The remaining four cards determine his abilities and any stat bonuses to be applied on top of the base job. As Wol attacks physically, he will draw element orbs from the enemy to fill a drive gauge. Each card in Wol's deck will draw a set number of orbs from the drive gauge to use its indicated ability; or, Wol may draw orbs in toward himself to create a shield, halving potential damage from the element drawn in. Although the player selects the places to go on the map and is automatically transported there, the exploration of the fields, strategic battles and leveling systems conform to the orthodox Final Fantasy games. The game features a job system.

The battle system follows the traditional smartphone controls: they are simple and fighting happens by tapping the screen. Players can also use magic. Some enemy types have elemental weaknesses: by casting a blizzard spell on fire-elemental monsters they will become weakened. Similar to the Final Fantasy XIII saga, Mobius Final Fantasy uses the stagger system, where increased damage can be done to staggered enemies. By defeating these mighty beasts, the player will gather elements as loot.

Similar to other Final Fantasy games, there is a summon system where the player can use eidolons, such as Shiva, Onion Knight and Fat Chocobo as abilities.

Multiplayer Mode was introduced in the Japanese release in February 2016 along with the announcement of Final Fantasy Record Keeper collaboration.

Playable characters

 * Wol - A foreigner from an unknown planet that drifted his way into Palamecia. He lost his memories and doesn't remember how he arrived in Palamecia. Detached from reality, he fights on to continue living.
 * Wol's Echo - A mischievous faerie bonded to Wol on his quest to restore Palamecia. Local legends say an encounter with any of her kind could lead to great fortune, or certain doom. An assist character, she offers a variety of buffs to keep Wol in fighting form. She often plays the over-enthusiastic foil to Wol's icy sarcasm.
 * Meia - The Azure Witch, referenced in local lore. Fights to avenge the loss of a previous Warrior of Light candidate with whom she fell in love. Frequently challenges Wol with her access to powerful magic and feminine guile. Was once a princess, but becomes a Warrior of Light candidate when chosen by the crystal.
 * Meia's Echo - An Echo with a dark and cruel disposition who serves as Meia's companion.
 * Sarah Cornelia - Princess of the kingdom that bears her name. Naive to a fault, she trusts firmly in Palamecia's law and prophecy, doing whatever she can to make it a reality. Believes her true destiny lies with the prophesied Warrior of Light.
 * Sophie
 * Graff

Development


During the Famitsu interview with Sakaguchi and Kitase where Mobius Final Fantasy was unveiled, Sakaguchi was impressed with the game's graphics and asked Kitase if the player can zoom in on the world map. Kitase replied that currently that was not possible, but Sakaguchi urged them to add the feature, as well as a moon. Kitase argued that if the game has a moon players will want to go there and Sakaguchi retorted that being the point.

The interviewer suggested Kitase and Sakaguchi do a collaboration of Sakaguchi's Terra Battle and Kitase's Mobius Final Fantasy. Both were on board with the idea.

For a smartphone game the staff for Mobius Final Fantasy is bigger than any previous title of that sort and it is mostly developed in-house. The staff consists of people who work on the numbered Final Fantasy games. Mobius Final Fantasy is the first Final Fantasy mobile game of this scope, although parts of the illustrations and graphics are outsourced. Kitase explained that even though it is possible to make games like on dedicated game console also on smartphones, they didn't seem to exist and that's why they wanted to make one. He also added that players spend most of their gaming time on smart devices.

Mobile
The game was released August 3rd, 2016 in the west. From launch until August 31, Square Enix awarded players with special in-game items, including Brotherhood, Tidus's signature weapon from Final Fantasy X, a Yuna character card, extra Ability Tickets, Summon Tickets, and more. Daily login rewards including extra Bronze Openers, Ability Tickets and Elixirs, will also be available through August 12.

Steam
Mobius Final Fantasy was released on Steam in Japan in November 2016. It was released worldwide in February 2017.


 * Minimum requirements
 * OS: Windows 7, 64 bit.
 * CPU: Intel/AMD Dual Core CPU 1.6GHz or more.
 * Memory: 2GB or more.
 * Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT or GeForce GT 240 / ATI Radeon HD 4770 512MB.
 * DirectX： Version 9.0c
 * Storage: 10GB or more free of space.
 * Open GL 2.0.
 * Network connection: Required


 * Recommended system requirements
 * OS: Windows 7 64bit/Windows 8.1 64bit/Windows 10 64bit.
 * CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66GHz or Core i5 2.4GHz.
 * Memory: 3GB or more.
 * Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460/GeForce GTX 750/ATI Radeon HD 5770 512MB.
 * DirectX: Version 9.0c
 * Storage: 10GB or more free of space.
 * Sound card: DirectSound compatible soundcard (DirectX 9.0c)
 * Open GL 2.0
 * Network connection: Required.

Special
Emiko Takeguchi, Katsuhiro Tokuishi, Yuki Yonai, Takaaki Uchino, Yuta Odagaki, Yu Okano, Hinata Tadokoro, Keita Tada, Norihito Hase, Kozue Harashima, Misa Ishii, Nene Hieda, Yurie Mikami, Himari Mochida, Live Mukai, Yurina Amami, Rina Onodera, Yuna Kamakura, Aiko Ninomiya, Asumi Yoneyama, Mariko Kono, Mao Amatuka, Riyo Fukuoka, Megumi Tomomichi, Siho Hirai, Kohei Sugesawa, Taiji Seki, Daiki Soeda, Siyouichi Sino, Yuuki Yosino, Daisuke Takenaka, Takuya Fukuda, Sinya Nakamura, Jingo Houjiyo, Naoki Takeoka
 * Additional Voices - Japanese

Yuri Lowenthal, Amelia Gotham, Briana Knickerbooker, Salli Saffioti, Stephanie Panisellc, Erin Fitzgerald, Joe Hernandez, Jay Preston, Shane Stevens, Greg Chun, Chris Tergliafera, Eliah Mountjoy, Julie Nathanson, Nicholas Roye, Sean Chiplock, Max Mittelman, John Bentley, Jason Van del Brake, Ben Carroll, Bill Holmes, Bill Rogers, Brody Hessin, Bruce Thomas, Cam Clarke, Chandni Parekh, Chris Smith, Clayton Froning, Fryda Wolff, Jason Mabie, Jason Miller, Kane Jungbluth-Murry, Kristen Scoles, Mela Lee, Michael Greco, Paloma Rodriguez, Walt Grey, Matthew Watterson
 * Additional Voices - English

Allusions
Mobius Final Fantasy makes references to other Final Fantasy games.

Etymology
The game is named after the Möbius strip. The "8"-shaped figure in the logo can also be seen as a variation on the Möbius strip. Thus it can be considered that the name "Mobius" refers to the concept of how many elements from other games in the series are incorporated into Mobius and make a harmonic whole.