A while ago I got a request for this post and while this is probably common knowledge for many long time fans of the series, I also want to provide some information for people that just found their way into the franchise.
The request was to explain the confusing Japanese and US numbering of the first NES and SNES games.
Here we go:
Final Fantasy I was released in 1987 in Japan and three Years later with few minor changes due to censorship also in the US.
Final Fantasy II and III were originally only released in Japan for the Famicom and didn't find their way into the west until release as part of FF Origin for PlayStation (FFII) and as a 3D remake for NDS (FFIII).
Final Fantasy IV was the first SNES release and also one released not only in Japan but also in the US under the name Final Fantasy II. While Square experimented with the previous Japan exclusives titles (FFII&FFIII), the lack of experience of the western audience, could make it too hard for the players, so they lowered the difficulty, named it FFII and this way declared it a follow-up to the first game.
Final Fantasy V was another entry that didn't find its way to the US and was Japan exclusive until the remake that was part of the FF Anthology and was released for the PlayStation. The original game took too long to be translated, was also considered too difficult and was in the end canceled.
Final Fantasy VI was the last contribution to the naming chaos and was also released in the US. To continue the numbering used in the States, this was the game finally named Final Fantasy III.
The first title that was finally released worldwide with the same number was Final Fantasy VII.
You know how they solved all those problems in Europe? They simply didn't release a game at all until Mystic Quest and then FFVII.. 🙃 The first games were released for the first time in Europe in form of the PlayStation remakes FF Origin and FF Anthology.
For questions, feel free to leave a comment!
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