Minigames
Final Fantasy has become known for its inclusion of one or more minigames as part of its core gameplay, beginning mainly with Final Fantasy VII. Participation and progression in these minigames generally does not affect the main game, but can often offer many items or "power ups" that are either very rare, or simply otherwise unavailable. However, in some Final Fantasy installments, such as Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X, certain minigames are sometimes necessary in order to progress the storyline.
The earliest origins of these minigames were in the form of simple easter eggs which could be unlocked by pressing special button combinations in a particular location. For example, in the first Final Fantasy, a sliding puzzle can be unlocked while on board the ship. In Final Fantasy II, a matching game can be unlocked while boarding the ice sled and meeting a certain requirement. However, Final Fantasy VII was the first game to feature a large number of 'proper' minigames. A number of minigames appear occasionally throughout the main storyline and at various locations, many of which can later be played at the Gold Saucer theme park within the game, along with various other minigames exclusive to the Gold Saucer. These include, amongst others, a chocobo racing game, chocobo breeding, motorbike racing, a snowboarding game, an arm wrestling game, a martial arts game, and a basketball game. A port of the snowboarding minigame was released in Japan and North America in 2005 as a separate game for mobile phones, entitled Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding.
Final Fantasy VIII introduced "Triple Triad", a card game designed by battle designer Hiroyuki Ito. It was not considered an essential part of the game, but instead served to provide light relief to the storyline and allow the player to interact with minor characters in a different way. Through the use of a "Card Mod" ability, the player is able to create rare items by converting cards earned by defeating various competitors. Final Fantasy VIII was the first of the series to introduce a side-game with such interaction. Triple Triad was praised by GameSpot as a "more-than-worthy RPG minigame." Following the release of the game, Japanese games company Bandai produced a full set of collectible Triple Triad cards. The set was made up of the 110 cards, as seen in the game, along with 72 artwork cards and a collector's edition playing mat.
Another major minigame in Final Fantasy VIII is "Chocobo World" which was released as a handheld electronic game for the PocketStation (a peripheral for PlayStation). The game could be played exclusively, or as a minigame. The game was present in all localizations of Final Fantasy VIII, but the PocketStation itself was only released in Japan. In 2000, Chocobo World was ported to the Windows version of Final Fantasy VIII. The game allows players to control Boko, a chicobo (young chocobo), on his quest to save his friend Mog from the clutches of an evil demon. The game's screen consists of black and white pixel graphics and is presented in a manner similar to the "virtual pet" concept conceived by Bandai's Tamagotchi. To play in conjunction with Final Fantasy VIII, the player must find Boko in the world of the main game. Once accomplished, the player receives a user interface for communicating with the minigame. At any time, the player may send Boko into Chocobo World to gain experience and collect special items, which are transferred back for use in the main game. In addition, Boko may be used as a summon in Final Fantasy VIII.
Similar to Triple Triad, "Tetra Master" is a card game found in Final Fantasy IX. Unlike most of the minigames in the series, a few Tetra Master games must be played, one at the beginning of the game, and several closer to the end. Tetra Master was seen by GameSpot as inferior and confusing compared to Triple Triad, as the rules were only vaguely explained in the game, and there were very few rewards earned from playing it despite its extensiveness. Final Fantasy IX also had an additional minigame named "Chocobo Hot and Cold". Upon the acquisition of a chocobo, the player is able to access the game inside of Chocobo Forest. No games of "Chocobo Hot and Cold" are required to progress through the main game, although items received through the game could be used in the main game, including both regular game items and clues towards discovering more items.
In Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, the main minigame is "Blitzball", a underwater sport featuring six-man teams that combines the physicality of rugby and soccer for scoring, and the hand passes of water polo. The game is played in a large sphere pool suspended in the air. Although blitzball is a crucial element to Final Fantasy X's plot, only one game must be played, although the player has the option of playing through an entire season of the game if they wish. In Final Fantasy X, the player controls the individual players on the team, while in X-2 they act as manager and coach. X-2 also has a game called Sphere Break, a mathematical game using numbered coins that possess several different attributes which can help the player in the Sphere Break minigame itself or gain items that can help in the various battles throughout the main game. GameSpot were unimpressed with blitzball, commenting that "trivial minigames have been creeping into the Final Fantasy games at an alarming rate over the last few years, and in this regard, X-2 is definitely the most egregious offender in the series".
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