Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is an action RPG and a spin-off title in the Final Fantasy franchise developed by Koei Tecmo Games and Team Ninja, and published by Square Enix, released March 18, 2022. Revealed on June 13, 2021 at the Square Enix Presents digital presentation for that year's E3, Stranger of Paradise follows Jack, Ash, Jed, Neon and Sophia in their quest to defeat Chaos as Warriors of Light.[1]
A limited time demo, titled Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version, was released the same day as the reveal, exclusively on PlayStation 5.[1] However, the demo was "corrupt and unplayable" at the time of release, with Square Enix promising they would resolve the issue.[2] Two days later the issue was resolved with a patch and the demo time was extended to compensate for it.
A second limited time demo, titled Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version 2, was released on October that same year for both PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S. This was released alongside more previews of the game accompanying a new TGS trailer and a release date.[3][4]
A third and final demo, titled Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Demo Version, was released on March 9, 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This demo is an initial portion of the full game, up to the Western Keep, with its save data carrying over to the final release.[5]
The game received a season pass containing three DLC episodes: Trials of the Dragon King, Wanderer of the Rift, and Different Future.
Gameplay[]
Stranger of Paradise features an action heavy battle system, that is said to "link to the story".[1] The player controls Jack, who can change Jobs and equip 8 different kinds of weapons and features a party that consists of 3 characters at a time. Party members' equipment can be changed and customized.[6][7] Additionally, players can take on levels in multiplayer, with up to 3 people, each controlling a different party member.
Job system[]
Jack and his companions can change jobs, with the player controlled one being able to switch between two jobs on the fly. Jobs can be upgraded using job points across a job tree.
| Basic Jobs | Advanced Jobs | Expert Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Swordsman | Warrior | Dark Knight |
| Duelist | Knight | Breaker |
| Pugilist | Thief | Tyrant |
| Mage | Monk | Sage |
| Lancer | White Mage | Void Knight |
| Swordfighter | Black Mage | Paladin |
| Ronin | Red Mage | Ninja |
| Marauder | Dragoon | Assassin |
| Pilgrim1 | Berserker | Liberator |
| Marksman3 | Samurai | Cyclic Warrior |
| ― | Evoker1 | Summoner1 |
| ― | Hunter3 | Blue Mage2 |
| ― | ― | Gambler3 |
1: Obtained in Trials of the Dragon King.
2: Obtained in Wanderer of the Rift.
3: Obtained in Different Future.
Map Screen and missions[]
Most interactions in the game begin from the map screen, which allows the player to choose locations to visit, equip their characters, access the smithy, and perform the "Talk" action with the people of Cornelia. Talk allows the party to interact with people located in Cornelia, with the conversations changing depending on the current story mission.
The game is split into missions which can be accessed from the world map. Locations have story missions, bookended by cutscenes, and side missions that grant additional items and experience. Although they use the same maps and geometry, side missions have remixed enemy encounters and different available paths.
Synopsis[]
Set in a "dark fantasy world" version of the setting of the original Final Fantasy, simply named Cornelia, Jack and his companions claim to be Warriors of Light, though they harbor doubts about their place in the prophecy.[1]
Setting[]
Final Fantasy takes place in an unnamed fantasy world with three large continents. The world's elemental powers are determined by the state of four glowing crystals that each govern one of the four classical elements: earth, fire, water, and wind. Despite the similarities, it is not the same world as depicted in first Final Fantasy game.[6][7] Additionally, various locations in the world are based on settings from other Final Fantasy games.[8] The "Fool's Missives" logs in the Archives section refer to other games in the series as "Dimensions".
- Chaos Shrine, a shrine that appeared suddenly, sent from some unknown future to the present. Based on the Chaos Shrine from Final Fantasy.
- Pravoka Seagrot, captured by pirates led by the captain Bikke. Based on the Sastasha Seagrot from Final Fantasy XIV.
- Western Keep, an ancient, war scarred castle where the dark elf king Astos resides. Based on Castle Palamecia from Final Fantasy II.
- Refrin Wetlands, a land in which there exists something that can cause "distortions" in the world and propagate darkness. Based on the Sunleth Waterscape from Final Fantasy XIII.
- Crystal Mirage, an ancient translucent tower in the middle of a forest. Based on the Crystal Tower from Final Fantasy III.
- Flying Fortress, a highly advanced fortress in the clouds full of mechanical contraptions that houses Tiamat. Based on the Tower of Babil from Final Fantasy IV.
- The Wicked Arbor, a dense forest shrouded in miasma. Based on Evil Forest from Final Fantasy IX.
- Mt. Gulg, an active volcano that is difficult to traverse that houses Marilith. Based on the Fire Cavern from Final Fantasy VIII.
- Hallowed Massif, a frost laden mountain prone to avalanches. Based on Mt. Gagazet from Final Fantasy X.
- Cavern of Earth, an ancient tomb that houses Lich. Based on the Tomb of Raithwall from Final Fantasy XII.
- Ruins of Machina, a long abandoned mechanized facility still guarded by a Soul Cannon. Based on Ronka Ruins from Final Fantasy V.
- Sunken Shrine, a technologically advanced shrine that houses Kraken. Based on the Junon Underwater Reactor from Final Fantasy VII.
- The Ancients' Tower, a white tower filled with trap mechanisms. Based on Delkfutt's Tower from Final Fantasy XI.
- Vigilia Court, a twin-headed tower of modern design. Based on the Citadel from Final Fantasy XV.
- Terra Tortūra, a landscape filled with floating islands, monsters and traps. Based on the Floating Continent from Final Fantasy VI.
Story[]
Jack and his party enter the Shrine of Chaos and seemingly defeat Chaos, only to reveal that the person they fought is a young girl named Neon, who similarly possesses a black crystal. She explains that she had also sought out to destroy Chaos ten years ago, but realized that Chaos is simply a myth created by humans to rationalize the existence of darkness. She had originally planned to absorb all the world's darkness to become the singular entity of Chaos that could be defeated by a band of heroes, but failed. Jack is skeptical of her story, and maintains that Chaos does exist and he will find it. Neon decides to accompany Jack's party as the fourth Warrior of Light. As they return to Cornelia, they muse about how all four of them have lost their memories, and Jack reasons it's to prevent them from making personal attachments that could interfere with their duty. The King then tasks the Warriors with restoring the Crystals of Wind, Fire, Earth, and Water to save the world.
To find the crystals, the Warriors meet with Astos, the King of the Dark Elves, who points them in the direction of the Wind Crystal. While searching for the Wind Crystal, the Warriors are transported to the Flying Fortress, a space station orbiting the planet. They defeat the Fiend of Chaos guarding the Wind Crystal, Tiamat, who reverts to another defeated hero named Sophia. The Wind Crystal is restored and Sophia decides to join the Warriors. As they make their way to the Earth and Fire Crystals, the Warriors begin to recover fragments of their memories by defeating powerful monsters and absorbing the dark mist they expel into their crystals, and remember they all come from a faraway land beyond Cornelia. They subsequently find the Earth and Fire Crystals, defeating the respective Fiends Lich and Marilith. On the way to the Water Crystal, Neon admits to the Warriors that unlike them, she was born in Cornelia and now remembers that she was given her crystal by Astos. They then proceed to defeat the Fiend Kraken and restore the Water Crystal.
With the four Crystals restored, the Warriors return to Cornelia, only to find the darkness more prevalent than before. They are welcomed coldly and accused of being servants of Chaos just as monsters and darkness-infected pirates attack. After repelling the assault, the Warriors confront Astos, who reveals he is an observer left behind by the Lufenians, a highly advanced civilization capable of interdimensional travel, tasked with reporting the balance of light and darkness in Cornelia. Astos then attacks the Warriors, and upon his defeat, they begin to recover more of their memories, with Jack and his friends remembering that they are in fact "Strangers", otherworldly agents tasked with traveling to Cornelia to destroy the darkness that Lufenia disposed there. Jack and his friends have in fact been sent to Cornelia many times before, though their memories are erased on every deployment and stored within the crystals they carry. When the Strangers fail to destroy the darkness, Lufenia simply resets the world. Disgusted by Lufenia's manipulation of Cornelia, Jack and his friends secretly plotted with Astos to find a way to break Lufenia's hold over it. Astos reveals that Lufenia fears the darkness because if it combines with human emotion, it creates chaos, which is the one force they cannot control. He also reveals that upon his death, the darkness he has stockpiled in his body will be released and cover the entire world, and this darkness quickly spreads to Cornelia.
Jack and his friends rush back to Cornelia, but are unable to save the townsfolk, including Princess Sarah, the daughter of the King of Cornelia. As Princess Sarah dies in his arms, Jack recovers more memories and remembers that he and Princess Sarah had fallen in love with each other. Jack is filled with despair and, seeing their chance, Ash, Jed, Neon, and Sophia attack Jack, forcing him to kill them in self defense and absorb their collected darkness so he can become Chaos. Jack then forces open a portal back to Lufenia and absorbs Lufenia's Darkness Manifest, a manifestation of chaos-imbuded darkness, to finally become Chaos himself. Fearful of chaos infection, Lufenia severs their connection with Cornelia, but warn Jack that Warriors of Light will rise to resist him. This gives Jack the epiphany that he can use his power to create conditions on Cornelia that will cause true Warriors of Light native to the land to rise. The Warriors of Light will not only eliminate the darkness he and his allies used to drive off the Lufenians, but also make it so that Cornelia will no longer have to rely on him or the Lufenians for protection. Jack is then transported 2000 years into Cornelia's past by Ash, Jed, Neon, and Sophia, who have become his Four Fiends. As his friends lay the groundwork to create the Warriors of Light, Jack embraces his family name Garland and waits in his throne room as the Warriors of Light arrive to challenge him.Characters[]
- Jack's party
- Jack Garland, the player character, whose goal is to kill Chaos; he carries a darkened crystal orb that resonates with others who have them.
- Ash, one of Jack's companions, who also carries a crystal orb.
- Jed, one of Jack's companions, who also carries a crystal orb.
- Neon, a warrior whose party fell in their quest to defeat Chaos, who took the form of Chaos Advent to give the world a chance to strike them down. She carries a crystal orb and joins Jack in his quest.
- Sophia, a woman who, much like Jack, wants to see Chaos purged from the world. She carries a crystal orb and joins Jack in his quest.
- NPCs
- Chaos Advent, a figure who resembles the knight Garland and journeyed to the Chaos Shrine prior to the party with the same goal before claiming to have become Chaos.
- The King of Cornelia, who entrusts Jack's party with defeating Chaos.
- Queen Jayne of Cornelia, who cares much for her children and the people of her kingdom.
- Princess Sarah, a princess who plays the Lute and was in love with Jack.
- Princess Mia, Sarah's younger sister.
- Bikke, a pirate captain that's taken over Pravoka.
- Astos, the Dark Elf prince, who has a history with Jack.
- Lufenians, a mysterious advanced civilization whose machinations still affect the present day. Lufenian Reports provide insight into their role in Cornelia.
- Nil, an ambitious Lufenian who is connected to Jack and his past.
- Chaos and the Four Fiends
- Lich, a Fiend of Earth that faces Jack's party in battle.
- Tiamat, a Fiend of Wind that faces Jack's party in battle.
- Kraken, a Fiend of Water that faces Jack's party in battle.
- Marilith, a Fiend of Fire that faces Jack's party in battle.
- Chaos, a being that may be more myth than creature, its existence fuels Jack's quest.
- Others
- Warrior of Light, one of the true Warriors of Light that Garland arranges to save Cornelia.
- Bahamut, the king of dragons from another dimension who helps Garland in aiding the true Warriors of Light.
- Gilgamesh, a dimensional wanderer whom the Lufenians use to restore their connection to Cornelia.
- Moogle, a time traveler who aids Garland in stopping the Lufenians’ attempt to restore their connection to Cornelia.
- The Emperor, a despot from another dimension who stalked Mog over to Jack Garland's realm to conquer it.
- Omega, a living weapon from the rift summoned by the Lufenians to deal with Garland.
Development[]
Tetsuya Nomura came up with the concept for Stranger of Paradise, an action game where one conquers dungeons, around the time after the release of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, and united that concept with a series of Final Fantasy games he was ideating that were focused around "the story of an angry man", being Garland from the first Final Fantasy. Nomura considered it a challenge to find a middle ground for the title, between "mature" and "stylish".[1][8] Although Nomura has stated that the game was merely “inspired by” the first Final Fantasy, main scenario writer Kazushige Nojima believes that being a prequel is "one possible interpretation".[9]
Around the time Stranger of Paradise was ideated, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT was in development, in collaboration with Team Ninja. Due to their pedigree in action games, the team at Square Enix looked to collaborate with them again for this title.[8]
During development the team was unsure if they should allow players to direct party members and influence their growth, but would make that decision based on feedback from the demo.[6][7] There was a thought among the development team of having only Jack in combat, but it was decided against as they felt the concept of a party was integral to the Final Fantasy series.[6][7] The game itself can be played in online cooperative multiplayer, with other players being able to take control of companions. This was done in an effort to balance the game out for people that do not regularly play action games, allowing them to team up to decrease the difficulty of the game.[8]
The team took efforts to attempt to fit the game as an "authentic Final Fantasy" title, ensuring the vocabulary and systems fit with what was previously established, while also finding that the differences are part of what make each title feel like one. Game director Daisuke Inoue was told by various developers that worked in older Final Fantasy titles that the willingness to take new ideas characterized the Final Fantasy series. When thinking of the different locales for the game to explore, the team took inspiration from other Final Fantasy titles and added areas from multiple games, though adjusted from their original setting to fit with the tone of the game.[8]
Following the feedback from the first Trial Version, the team focused on improving certain aspects of the game, including graphical improvements, better lighting, combat and difficulty adjustments, AI improvement and frame rate consistency.[4]
Release[]
The game released on March 18, 2022, in both physical and digital formats, excluding PC where it released exclusively digitally through the Epic Games Store. The PC version later released on Steam on April 6, 2023. Additionally a Digital Deluxe Edition of the game launched the same day and includes access to a digital artbook, digital mini soundtrack and access to the Season Pass, including upcoming DLC Trials of the Dragon King, Wanderer of the Rift and Different Future. Pre-ordering either digital edition received early access to the game as well as the Braveheart weapon and the Lustrous Shield. All purchases were similarly eligible to obtaining the early purchase bonus weapon Rebellion.[3]
The first DLC expansion called Trials of the Dragon King was released on July 20, 2022 and the second one called Wanderer of the Rift was released on October 26, 2022. The third and final DLC expansion called Different Future was released on January 27, 2023. They include a continuation of the story of the base game, as well as new features such as new jobs, new weapon types, and the introduction of accessories as equipment.[10][11]
Reception[]
Upon the release of its reveal trailer, Stranger of Paradise received mockery for its dialogue, particularly the repetition of the word Chaos,[12] with publications citing its tone as "super-edgy"[13] and "so bad it's good".[14]
Seemingly as response to the mockery, the second trailer distanced itself from using the word "Chaos" in the English version,[15] with producer Jin Fujiwara mentioning in an interview that the team was not particularly pleased with the initial reception, citing the initial mystery as part of the reason the word was repeated so much.[16] Despite this, the game received further mockery for a scene in the second demo, with publications comparing Jack's attitude to "a stubborn child who doesn’t want to listen to their mom"[17] and "the demeanor of a moody teenage boy",[18] though others hoped the game was "in on the joke"[19] and "self-aware."[20] Despite the tone, the game's demo was generally praised for its combat options and scope.[19][21]
After release, the game was noted for erratic performance, which was attributed to unoptimized models and shaders, with models for singular regular enemies alone reaching 30 MB in geometry,[22] and PC mods that disabled hair drastically increasing performance.[23]
Production credits[]
| Concept & Creative Producer & Character Design | Tetsuya Nomura |
|---|---|
| Logo illustration | Yoshitaka Amano |
| Story & Scenario | Kazushige Nojima |
| Director (Square Enix) | Daisuke Inoue |
| Producer (Square Enix) | Jin Fujiwara |
| Executive Producer (Square Enix) | Shinji Hashimoto |
| Executive Producer (Square Enix) | Ichiro Hazama |
| Executive Producer (Square Enix) | Yoshinori Kitase |
| Director (Koei Tecmo Games) | Hiroya Usuda |
| Director (Koei Tecmo Games) | Nobumichi Kumabe |
| Producer (Koei Tecmo Games) | Fumihiko Yasuda |
| Executive Producer (Koei Tecmo Games) | Yosuke Hayashi |
| Executive Producer (Koei Tecmo Games) | Hisashi Koinuma |
| Chaos Design | Takayuki Takeya |
| Main Composer | Naoshi Mizuta |
| Music | Hidenori Iwasaki, Ryo Yamazaki |
Voice cast[]
| Character | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Garland | Kenjiro Tsuda | Mocean Melvin |
| Ash | Atsushi Miyauchi | Mark Neely |
| Jed | Yusuke Suda | Alejandro Saab |
| Neon | Kana Okazaki | Alejandra Reynoso |
| Sophia | Mayumi Asano | Laura Post |
| Princess Sarah | Yume Miyamoto | Cherami Leigh |
| King of Cornelia | Mugihito | Fred Tatasciore |
| Queen Jayne | Miyuki Ichijou | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn |
| Minister Lagone | Akio Harose | Tom Taylorson |
| Mia | Natsuki Inaba | Isabella Crovetti |
| Astos | Yoji Ueda | Todd Haberkorn |
| Bikke | Kousuke Goto | Jake Eberle |
| Nil | Kimiko Saito | Mari Weiss |
| Chaos Advent | Koji Ishii | Christopher Sabat |
| Warrior of Light (Archived audio) | Toshihiko Seki | Grant George |
| Gilgamesh | Kazuya Nakai | Keith Szarabajka |
| Moogle | Sumire Morohoshi | Bailey Gambertoglio |
| The Emperor | Ken'yū Horiuchi | Christopher Corey Smith |
Gallery[]
- Artwork
- Renders
- Promotional screenshots
- Box art
Allusions[]
Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy took much influence from other Final Fantasy games.
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Square Enix (2021, June 13). "STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 RELEASE ON PLAYSTATION®5, PLAYSTATION®4, XBOX SERIES X|S, XBOX ONE AND PC". Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ↑ Baird, Scott (2021, June 13). "Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Demo Is Corrupt And Unplayable". From Screenrant. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Square Enix (2021, October 1). "STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN TO LAUNCH ON MARCH 18, 2022". Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Square Enix (2021, October 2). "SQUARE ENIX AND KOEI TECMO GAMES PARTICIPATE IN STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN PANEL AT TOKYO GAME SHOW". Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Square Enix (2022, March 9). "STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN DEMO AVAILABLE LATER TODAY". Archived from the original on 9 March 2022.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Professor Tsutsumi; Sugihara, Takahiro (2021, June 17). "『FFオリジン』開発スタッフインタビュー！ 『FFI』に絡んだ世界観やジャックたちの秘密、バトルなどについて直撃【E3 2021】". From Famitsu. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Square Enix Team (2021, June 18). "STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN – the Famitsu interview". From Square Enix Blog. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Heaney, Duncan (2021, October 13). "“Please forgive us for killing the cactuar!” - FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN interview". From Square Enix Blog. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ (n.d.) . Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin writer breaks down 2022's best ending. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
- ↑ Square Enix [Fantasy @Final Fantasy] (2022, July 14). "STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN EXPANSION - TRIALS OF THE DRAGON KING" [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Zwiezen, Zack (2021, June 13). "Chaos? Chaos??? ...Chaos!!!!!!". From Kotaku. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ↑ Minotti, Mike (2021, June 13). "Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise is super-edgy and hard". From VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ↑ Messner, Steven (2021, June 13). "This newly revealed Final Fantasy game is so bad it's good". From PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ↑ Walker, Ian (2021, October 4). "New Final Fantasy Origin Trailer 100% Chaos-Free After Last One Got Memed". From Kotaku. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Pelliccio, Meg (2021, October 1). "Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Interview: Daisuke Inoue, Jin Fujiwara, And Fumihiko Yasuda". From TheGamer. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Diaz, Ana (2021, October 1). "Final Fantasy Origin’s Jack feels like he’s trolling us". From Polygon. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Kratky, Otto (2021, October 1). "Stranger Of Paradise Confirms That Butt Rock Is Part Of Final Fantasy's Canon". From GameSpot. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Donaldson, Alex (2021, October 1). "Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin brings a little FF13 to its world - hands-on". From VG247. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Parrish, Ash (2021, October 4). "Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin has a new demo, and it’s awesome". From The Verge. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ Hornshaw, Phil (2021, October 1). "Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Lets You Take The Right Job For The Job". From GameSpot. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
- ↑ de Meo, Francesco (2022, March 22). "Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Performance Issues May Be Caused by Unoptimized Character Models; Simple Bat Enemy Has 300K Polygons". From Wccftech. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022.
- ↑ Taylor, Mollie (2022, March 22). "Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's luscious hair is ruining the game". From PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022.