The Final Fantasy Legend
Developer(s)	Square
Publisher(s)	Square (re-released in 1998 by Sunsoft)
Designer(s)	Akitoshi Kawazu
Series	SaGa series Final Fantasy Legend series
Release date(s)	JPN December 15, 1989 (GB) NA September 30, 1990 (GB) 1998 (US re-release) 2002 (WSC, Japan)
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	Game Boy, Wonderswan Color
Media	2 megabit cartridge, 32 megabit cartridge (Wonderswan Color version)

The Final Fantasy Legend (魔界塔士Sa・Ga; Makai Tōshi Sa•Ga in Japan - roughly translated as "SaGa of the Demon Tower") is a Game Boy video game. The first game in a three-part SaGa series on the Game Boy, it was released in 1989 by Square, and remade for the Japanese-exclusive Wonderswan Color. The original Game Boy version was released worldwide by Sunsoft, leading some to mistakenly believe that Sunsoft developed the game. Final Fantasy Legend operates on a turn based RPG system, in which the game's characters battle monsters using a variety of weapons. The game follows the story of four heroes that attempt to scale a tower at the center of the world, which supposedly leads to paradise. The four heroes controlled by the player may be one of three character classes, two of which may have different genders and one of which contains many subsets. Image File history File links FFLegendUSBox. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Square Co. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Square Co. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... Sunsoft is a video game development company founded in 1985 as a division of Sun Corporation, itself a division of Sun Electronics, or Sun Denshi (サン電子) in Japan (its U.S. subsidiary operated under the name Sunsoft of America, though games they published showed a logo that read only SUNSOFT). ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Akitoshi Kawazu (河津秋敏) is a Japanese game producer. ... Look up saga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up saga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Anthem: Kimi ga Yo(君が代) Imperial Reign Capital (and largest conurbation (population))  Tokyo1 Official languages Japanese Government Constitutional monarchy  - Emperor HIM Emperor Akihito  - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (LDP) Formation  - National Foundation Day Feb 11, 660 BC2   - Meiji Constitution November 29, 1890   - Current constitution May 3, 1947   - Treaty of San Francisco April... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 1989 in games 1988 in video gaming 1990 in video gaming Notable events of 1989 in video gaming. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 1990 in games 1989 in video gaming 1991 in video gaming Notable events of 1990 in video gaming. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... 2002 2002 in games 2001 in video gaming 2003 in video gaming Notable events of 2002 in video gaming. ... Video games are generally categorized into genres. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Role-playing game (video games). ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ... The WonderSwan Color is a handheld game console designed by Bandai. ... In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... The WonderSwan Color is a handheld game console designed by Bandai. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ... Look up saga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Square Co. ... In the video game subculture, an enhanced remake (also called updated classics) is an updated version of a video or computer game that was originally developed for a less advanced system. ... The WonderSwan Color is a handheld game console designed by Bandai. ... Sunsoft is a video game development company founded in 1985 as a division of Sun Corporation, itself a division of Sun Electronics, or Sun Denshi (サン電子) in Japan (its U.S. subsidiary operated under the name Sunsoft of America, though games they published showed a logo that read only SUNSOFT). ... A turn-based game, also known as turn-based strategy, is a game where each participant plays in turn. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Role-playing game (video games). ...

Gameplay

The Final Fantasy Legend uses a simple turn-based battle system. Battles take place inside dungeons, and on the overworld map, a large area which represents the entire scope of Final Fantasy Legend. From the overworld, the game's four characters can enter towns and dungeons. Enemies will appear randomly; when a monster appears, the game shifts to a screen showing the monsters that have appeared. The player then has the option to either fight or run; however, fighting is an essential part of Final Fantasy Legend, as the abilities and money earned in battle are needed in order to progress past the game's later areas. Running is not always successful, and if it fails, the enemies receive a free round of attacks. There is no time limit and the order of gameplay does not have to be 100% linear. In computer and video games, the overworld generally refers to an out-door or world map section of the game, as opposed to a dungeon or level. In a typical RPGs, the player can usually save their game whenever they like, and will usually have a different appearance (to reflect... A random encounter is a feature commonly used in hack and slash role-playing games and computer and video games whereby encounters with non-player character (NPC) enemies or other dangers occur sporadically and at random. ...

Character classes

While The Final Fantasy Legend contains only three character classes (two of which have Male or Female sub-classes), the development and operation of the classes is relatively complex for role-playing games of its time.

When a new game file is created, the player may choose the name and class of a main character. The classes are Human (Male or Female), Mutant (Male or Female), and Monster. Monsters do not have a gender, although the player may initially choose between several Monster types. The main player appears in the game's central town, and then recruits (or simply creates) three more players into his or her party, choosing among the same initial set of classes. The main character is identical to other members of his or her class, although in the case of Humans and Mutants, the main character begins with more Hit Points ("HP"): Human main characters begin with 60 HP, while later-selected Humans begin with 40; Mutant main characters begin with 40 HP, while later-selected Mutants begin with 20. Monsters' HPs are determined solely by the type of Monster: the initial group of selectable monsters possess between 20 and 60 HP. Each party member has four different statistics - Strength, Agility, Hit Points, and Mana - which are leveled up as the game progresses. Strength is physical strength, or how much damage a given party member can inflict on enemies when using Strength-based weapons and skills, such as Swords and Axes. Agility determines a character's ability to dodge and land attacks, the damage meted out when using Agility-based weapons, such as Sabres, and projectile weapons, such as guns and missiles, and also the character's attack priority (i.e., the order in which he or she gets to attack, relative to fellow party members and enemies). Hit Points gauge how much damage party members can withstand until they die. Finally, Mana determines a character's skill with magic.

The three character classes differ in their general characteristics and the manner in which they become more powerful by increasing their four attributes. Final Fantasy Legend differs from what may be considered the "traditional" model of role-playing character advancement. This model, used by both the original Dragon Quest/Warrior and Final Fantasy games for the NES console, is also known as the "level-building model." The level-building model, in its basic form, consists of each party member accruing a number of experience points ("EXP" or "EP") following each battle in which all enemies are defeated and the party member survives. This amount of EXP, which varies based on the difficulty of the enemy defeated, is added to a cumulative total, and at certain pre-set points, the player "gains a level," and all attributes, such as HP, MP, and secondary attributes such as Strength and Agility increase. The players' attributes remain constant until a new level is reached.

By contrast, all three of the character classes in Final Fantasy Legend advance their attributes through different means, and differ in other ways as well:

The pre-battle screen in Final Fantasy Legend

Image File history File links Finalfantasylegend. ...

Humans

Humans (male or female) are archetypical "fighters." Humans begin with higher Strength and HP than Mutants, but with lower Agility. They possess the maximum number of inventory spaces: eight. Inventory spaces can be filled with as many weapons as space permits. If a Human equips multiple weapons, he or she can choose among them during battle, but the damage dealt will always simply be a function of that weapon's power and the Human's strength (i.e., equipping multiple weapons does not lead to a global increase in a Human's attack power). Humans can also increase their resistance to enemy attacks by equipping Helmets, Armor, and Gauntlets. Shields may be equipped, but in Final Fantasy Legend, the shield is not a strictly defensive item, but is used in battle in lieu of a weapon-based Attack in order to raise the odds of dodging an enemy attack entirely. Humans cannot use Magic, and do not gain resistance or vulnerability to types of spells or enemy attacks. They are best suited for heavy weapons such as broadswords and axes. Because Humans may only use weapons, vigilance over equipment is especially important for that character class, and the carrying of multiple weapons is especially useful.

Attribute Building: The method of gaining attributes for Human characters is another unique aspect of Final Fantasy Legend gameplay. All Human attributes: HP, Strength, and Agility, are not gained through battle but are purchased as items at shops. For a human character to increase his or her stats, he or she must drink a specific potion, depending on the desired stat increase. As with all character classes, the Human scale for Strength and Agility ranges from 0 to 99, although the game keeps track of further stat increases up to 254, after which the stat resets back to 0. Since the number shown only goes up to 99, you will need to keep track of the stat creases beyond that manually. Each of these potions increases the appropriate stat by 3. The Human Hit Point scale, also shared by all classes, ranges up to a maximum of 999. Hit Points are gained by the use of 3 different potions: HP200, HP400, and HP600. HP200 grants between 5 and 20 HP until the character reaches 200 HP, after which only 1 HP is added per use; the same model applies with the other two potions, with the cutoff occurring at 400 and 600 HP, respectively.

Mutants

Mutants (male or female), are primarily users of light swords and projectile weapons. General Characteristics: While Mutants also possess eight inventory spaces, only four are manipulable by the player. Therefore, a Mutant character must choose between some combination of Weapon, Helmet, Armor, Gauntlet, Shield, and Magic Book. The remaining four spots are occupied by naturally-occurring spells or special abilities, as well as resistances and vulnerabilities to types of enemy spells or attacks. Naturally-occurring spells are usable in battle, and often (though not always) mimic the effects of purchasable spell books (although often possess a different name). Naturally-occurring spells typically possess a low Use Count, often 5, 10, or 15. However, Mutants may randomly gain the same ability and thus refresh the Use Count, or randomly lose the ability even if Uses remain. Abilities are grouped into three categories: Attack abilities (such as Flame) that operate much as regular spells and deal damage to one or more enemies; Defensive abilities, which may be used to increase the Agility of the caster or entire party), and Triggered abilities (such as P-Skin), which will deal heavy damage on an enemy that attacks that character, but will have no effect if the caster is not attacked after using the spell. Mutants may also use purchased magic (in the form of Magic Books), which typically possess a higher Use Count than naturally-occurring spells: most often 20 or 30.

Attribute Building: As opposed to drinking potions in order to increase stats, Mutants gain stats simply by fighting. The gain is not announced to the player. The gain of status attributes (Strength, Agility, and Mana) can be somewhat influenced by the player by using certain types of weapons, such as swords and martial arts for Strength; knives and firearms for Agility; and magic for Mana. Hit Points are upgraded simply by finishing fights, but the odds of attaining are random from fight to fight; they do not increase based on completing a certain number of fights.

Monsters

Monsters are the most unique of the three character classes. Monsters are playable versions of many of the enemies encountered throughout the game. They cannot equip weapons, but their inventory slots contain one or more naturally-occurring abilities and often also contain resistances or vulnerabilities to types of attacks. A Monster character is initially selected as a member of the original party, out of a choice of four "entry-level" Monsters. Monsters are not so much upgraded as transformed: after a successful battle, there is a random chance that an enemy will leave "meat" behind. The Monster may choose or decline to eat the meat. If the meat is eaten, the monster will change into a different type of monster based on the existing monster type and the type of monster that left the meat. Eating the meat is a calculated risk. Generally, eating the meat of a more powerful enemy will create a more powerful monster and a less powerful enemy will lead to a less powerful monster. However, some combinations will lead to unexpectedly weak monsters, and some may lead to a monster that is not necessarily more or less powerful but may feature abilities that are more or less effective against enemies in a particular area. Boss monsters are known to drop potent meat, which may be the only way to become certain monsters. Meat of later bosses is required to achieve some top-tier monsters.

Weapons

Unique to the Final Fantasy Legend battle system, weapons typically possess a finite number of uses, indicated as a number next to the weapon. Most heavy weapons possess a relatively high number of uses: typically 40 or 50. When a weapon's Use Count drops to 0, it breaks, and disappears forever from the inventory. Some rare weapons have no usage number (and said number is replaced by a "-" symbol), and thus can be used forever without breaking. These weapons, however, are generally usable only during certain portions of the game.

Melee

These weapons are ones that require physically hitting the target. They are divide into two types, strength and agility. The difference between the two is which stat is used to calculate the damage. Strength types include heavy swords and axes, such as Long and Broad Swords. Agility types are lighter blades such as Rapier and Sabers. Human rely heavily on these types.

Range

These are weapons that used from a distance such as bows, arrow, guns, and other ballistics. Damage is dealt between set range for that weapon, where better weapons have ranges in higher numbers. E.g. a Bow deals 20-50 while a Grenade Bow is from 250-300. Also some range weapons such as SMGs and Grenades can attack a group of monsters.

Skills

These are physical attack moves such as Punch, Kick, or Judo. Damage dealt is inversely proportional to the remaining number of usages. Better skills start with low usage count so they don't have to be "practiced" as long to deal decent damage.

Story

WonderSwan Color box art

Once, there was a tower in the center of the known world that supposedly led to Paradise. Although many people tried to climb this tower, none were ever heard from again. The player controls a party of adventurers who will attempt to climb this tower. This is the world the hero starts out in. Three kings in this world are fighting for three legendary pieces of equipment, the King Sword, Shield and Armor respectively. First visiting King Armor, the heroes find out he's love sick over a girl. The heroes find out she is a slime-type monster in another village and she loves King Armor, but is afraid of a bandit leader who wishes to marry her. The heroes track down the bandit and demand he give her up. He refuses, but is defeated by the heroes. He begs for mercy, but is given none. King Armor is so overjoyed that he gives his armor to the heroes. King Sword defiantly tries to kill the heroes when they ask for the King Sword, but is killed himself by them. Finally, King Shield is murdered by his own Steward and after a short fight against him, the heroes have all three legendary items. They place these on a statue of a great hero, which causes a Black Sphere to appear. As they take the Sphere, Gen-bu, one of the four fiends (based on the Su Ling) appears to kill them. They vanquish him, however, and use the power of the Sphere to enter the tower. Image File history File links SaGa1WSCBox. ... Image File history File links SaGa1WSCBox. ... The WonderSwan Color is a handheld game console designed by Bandai. ... Paradise, by Jan Bruegel The word paradise is derived from the Avestan word pairidaeza (a walled enclosure), which is a compound of pairi- (around), a cognate of the Greek peri-, and -diz (to create, make), a cognate of the English dough. ...

The main enemies underneath their leader, Ashura, are four traditional eastern spirits:Gen-bu, Sei-ryu, Byak-ko and Su-zaku. The tower is a long and perilous journey where the heroes encounter three more worlds, along with a few side quests along the way, including the fates of some of those that ultimately failed to make it to the top of the tower. The first world discovered by the heroes after entering the tower is a tropical ocean. The second, a world situated in the sky, on top of the clouds. The third is a burned-out, seemingly post-apocalyptic city. // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... A black land tortoise in Oriental mythology, known as Bixi (贔屭) in China and genbu in Japan. ... Seiryu as it is called in Japanese culture is also known as Qin Long in Chinese culture which translates to mean roughly Green Dragon or Holy Dragon. ... Byakko as it is called in Japanese culture is also known as Bai Hu in Chinese culture, which roughly translates to White Tiger or Jade Tiger. ... Suzaku can refer to: Emperor Suzaku of Japan, the 61st Emperor of Japan. ...

Eventually, they learn that the fiends of the world are controlled by the evil Ashura. Ashura offers them the opportunity to rule over the world with him. They refuse, leading to a fight with him. After beating Ashura, they fall into a pit which takes them back to the starting world. They climb the tower once more, fighting each of the demons once again. Reaching the top, they learn that this was all a test by the Creator himself. The Creator is the final boss of the game. After defeating the Creator, the heroes discover a door behind him. They debate about going through it before deciding to instead return home.

External links

• The Final Fantasy Legend at MobyGames