Currently right now I'm going through Final Fantasy 1 on the new GBA "Dawn of Souls". It's been 12 years since I played FF 1 on the NES and I ask myself one thing, Was this game THAT FAST to go through? Already in a small amount of time I have level 15 characters just annihilating dungeons and fiends that crosses my path. To be honest the energy of the game was something I wasn't expecting. It was one of the first Christmas gifts I was handed but I actually refrained from playing till quite some time. I was going to expect LONG dialog, slow walks down repetitive cities, towns, dungons and landscapes and dull fighting mechanics. That's due to the fact that I've grown tired of the current FF titles and all the insecurities I had for the current games have been passed down to the original game. I was just all wrong, instead the game is deeply stimulating after 14 years, and like I said, everything seems to have an update for the better.

It's just easy to pick up at your own leisure, go into a small battle or quest, quick save, shut off the GBA, go back to the analog world, then turning the GBA back on and then going back into the game easily. Honestly this is what I desire in my portable games and the reason why Tetris has been by my side for over 14 years. You don't really expect that coming from an RPG game... But then again I heavily question if I should call this an RPG?

It's really something I've been thinking about since the introduction of FF1 and Dragon Quest brought in this new style of Japanese RPG that's far limiting then the classic paper and dice RPG here in the US. Much like popular music or film it's really brain washed a lot of newbies gamers to believing that this digital system of Role Playing is the official definition of RPG. Although now with Star Wars KotoR, Neverwinternights, Worlds of Warcraft, Grand Theift Auto and even First Person Shooters have really been re-defining the whole idea of entering a role of a character by giving the gamer so much freedom and immersion that no other medium can provide. I don't think I can ignore FF1 as being a part of the Role Playing Game genre, in fact I think this new GBA port does improve the whole portable gaming medium.

Now, I don't think I can give a fair review of the game just yet. I mean I firmly believe that a good review is given by someone who's spent a long time digesting the game and has been able to really observe what the game really is.... But we've had over 17 to 14 years to do that with Final Fantasy 1. Right now it's the best game I have, and I recommend it to anyone who needs a long game that they can pick up and go if it's a simple bus trip or even a bathroom break.

I do wonder if Square-Enix have plans for any more GBA re-releases of classic Final Fantasy titles. I know that FF3 is coming the Nintendo DS, but do they have any plans for 4,5 and 6? I would definitely LOVE to see FF4 get this kind of attention to detail on a port. On the same topic, is Square Enix also planing on releasing Dragon Quest 1 for the GBA as well? Replaying FF1, just reminded me how much fun it was playing Dragon Warrior when I got it for free when I renewed my Nintendo Power magazine subscription.