FF1 Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Wiki

Final Fantasy I, the inaugural entry in the iconic franchise, introduces players to a fantasy world of crystals and elemental fiends, challenging them to lead a party of diverse characters on a heroic journey to restore balance and thwart the forces of chaos.

by Indhu

Updated Aug 22, 2023

FF1 Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Wiki
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Final Fantasy 1 Walkthrough

Getting Started

  • Customize your party with four character classes.
  • Choose from Fighter, Black Belt, Thief, Black Mage, White Mage, and Red Mage.
  • Acquire evolved forms for classes later in the game.

Cornelia & Equipping

  • Start outside Cornelia.
  • Visit town, talk to NPCs, and buy gear.
  • Gain levels around Cornelia.
  • Head to Chaos Shrine.
  • Engage in a boss fight with Garland.
  • Get the Lute and rescue Princess Sarah.

Witch Matoya & Pravoca

  • Cross the new bridge.
  • Explore Matoya’s Cave for items.
  • Proceed to Pravoca.
  • Defeat the Pirates and acquire a ship.

Sailing to Elfheim

  • Explore with the ship.
  • Access a mini-game for gold.
  • Reach Elfheim.
  • Help townspeople, buy gear, and spells.

Marsh Cave & Crown

  • Head west to the Marsh Cave.
  • Defeat enemies, retrieve the Crown.
  • Heal and restock in Elfheim.

Crystal Eye, Jolt Tonic, Mystic Key

  • Obtain the Crystal Eye.
  • Return to Matoya, get Jolt Tonic.
  • Unlock class promotions with the Mystic Key.
  • Collect optional items using the Mystic Key.

Mt. Duergar & Melmond

  • Access Mt. Duergar.
  • Blast a hole using Nitro Powder.
  • Reach Melmond, buy equipment.
  • Proceed to Terra Cavern.

Cavern of the Earth & Lich

  • Explore the Cavern of the Earth.
  • Defeat enemies, acquire the Earth Rod.
  • Encounter the boss Lich and secure the Earth Crystal.

Crescent Lake & Airship

  • Get the Canoe from the Sages.
  • Access Gaia, buy equipment.
  • Obtain Class Promotions.
  • Acquire the Levistone and summon the airship.

Sunken Shrine & Kraken

  • Visit Onrac, gather items.
  • Access the Sunken Shrine.
  • Defeat Kraken and acquire the Rosetta Stone.

Trading Quest & Bell

  • Obtain the Bottled Faerie.
  • Trade for Oxyale.
  • Reach Onrac and acquire the Bell from an NPC.

Tower of Mirage & Flying Fortress

  • Enter the Tower of Mirage.
  • Obtain the Warp Cube.
  • Use the Rosetta Stone in Melmond.
  • Get the Bell in Lufenia.
  • Access the Tower of Mirage and Flying Fortress.
  • Defeat Tiamat and progress.

Temple of Chaos

  • Return to the Temple of Chaos.
  • Time travel 2000 years into the past.
  • Face rematches with the Fiends of Elements.
  • Confront Chaos, the final boss.

Final Fantasy 1 Guide

Final Fantasy 1 guide will take you through the journey of the Light Warriors as they set out to save the world from chaos and darkness. Each chapter covers key events, challenges, and strategies to help you navigate the game.

Chapter 1: The Journey Begins

Starting from the opening cinematic and leading up to the reconstruction of the North Bridge. Learn about the equipment needed to face Garland, explore the Chaos Shrine for treasure, and understand the recommended levels for success.

Chapter 2: Ahoy Landlubbers!

In this section, you'll visit the witch Matoya, defeat pirates, and awaken a sleeping prince. It covers purchasing equipment at Pravoka and Elfheim and earning Gil for your purchases.

Chapter 3: Astos and the Dark Elf

The action picks up as you find a lost crown, confront the Dark Elf King, assist an old lady's vision, and revive a prince. You'll also utilize dwarves to accomplish tasks and discover powerful weapons and armor.

Chapter 4: The Rotting Earth

The Earth is decaying near Melmond, and the Cavern of Earth is the source. Face Earth Elementals, tackle the Hall of Giants, and acquire a Star Ruby to combat the undead.

Chapter 5: Warriors in the Sky

Obtain the Earth Rod, destroy Lich, and reignite the Crystal of Earth. Traverse the Cavern of Earth again to tie up loose ends and challenges.

Chapter 6: Class Change

Gain new transportation methods—river traversal and air travel. Escape the Cavern of Ice and upgrade your party's abilities.

Chapter 7: Out of the Frying Pan…

With the airship, explore new lands. Prove your courage by conquering the Citadel of Trials and obtaining the Rat's Tail to undergo a class change.

Chapter 8: Marilith's Domain

Enter Mt. Gulg, home of Marilith, the Fiend of Fire. Unearth treasure as you journey through this fiery realm.

Chapter 9: Preparations

Complete various tasks before proceeding, including amassing wealth, aiding a fallen robot, and releasing a captured faerie. Visit locations like the Desert Caravan and Waterfall Cavern.

Chapter 10: The Little Mermaid

Explore the Sunken Shrine, gain items, decipher ancient language, and face the fiend Kraken to restore the Crystal of Water.

Chapter 11: The Sky's the Limit

Climb the Mirage Tower, warp to the Flying Fortress, and decipher the Rosetta Stone. Obtain the key to the Mirage Tower and prepare for the final battles.

Chapter 12: Soul of Chaos

Venture into optional dungeons like Earthgift Shrine, Hellfire Chasm, Lifespring Grotto, and Whisperwind Cove for extra challenges and rewards.

Chapter 13: The Final Showdown

Use the four crystals to open the seal in the Chaos Shrine, travel back in time, and defeat the elemental fiends and Chaos to prevent their corruption of the world.

Final Fantasy 1 

Final Fantasy,  a fantasy-themed role-playing video game, was developed and published by Square in 1987. This game holds the distinction of being the inaugural entry in Square's renowned Final Fantasy series, conceived by Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Originally intended for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Final Fantasy underwent subsequent remakes for various gaming consoles. Often bundled with "Final Fantasy II" in game collections, it has maintained its legacy.

The central narrative of the first Final Fantasy centers on four young protagonists, referred to as the Warriors of Light. Each of these individuals bears a responsibility for safeguarding one of their world's elemental crystals.

However, these crucial crystals have been tainted by malevolent forces known as the Elemental Fiends. In response, the four Warriors of Light embark on a noble quest. Their mission involves not only confronting these sinister entities but also purifying the tainted crystals and ultimately rescuing their imperiled world from darkness.

The game's original title was initially designated as "Fighting Fantasy." However, this appellation encountered complications arising from trademark issues. Additionally, the game's development coincided with challenging circumstances that Square, as well as its creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, faced.

As a result, the game underwent a change in name to become the now-familiar "Final Fantasy." Despite these early challenges, the game achieved remarkable commercial success, garnering positive reviews from critics and players alike. Its triumph laid the foundation for a prolific series of sequels and supplementary titles, forming the expansive and enduring legacy of the Final Fantasy franchise.

Regarded as a trailblazer in the realm of role-playing games, Final Fantasy holds a special place in the history of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Its graphics, particularly for the time, were a notable highlight and earned praise from reviewers and players.

However, some critique was directed at the necessity of spending considerable time wandering the game world in pursuit of random battle encounters—a mechanism intended to enhance the characters' experience levels.

Regardless, by March 2003, the collective sales of all versions of Final Fantasy had reached an impressive two million copies worldwide. This accomplishment solidified its status as an influential and successful precursor to the role-playing game genre, leaving an indelible mark on gaming history.

Final Fantasy 1 Gameplay

Final Fantasy encompasses four fundamental game modes that contribute to its gameplay experience: the overworld map, town and dungeon maps, the battle screen, and the menu screen. Each of these components plays a crucial role in guiding players through the game's immersive world and engaging them in its mechanics.

The overworld map serves as a scaled-down representation of the game's fictional universe, enabling players to navigate their characters to different locations. While initial travel is by foot, progress unlocks various modes of transportation, including a ship, canoe, and airship. During overworld travel by foot, canoe, or ship, enemies are randomly encountered, prompting battles that must be either confronted or evaded.

The game's narrative unfolds as players advance through towns and dungeons. Townsfolk provide valuable information, and shops owned by citizens offer items and equipment for purchase.  Dungeons are situated in diverse settings such as forests, caves, mountains, swamps, underwater caverns, and structures. Within dungeons, treasure chests harbor rare items that cannot be found in regular stores.

The menu screen is a hub where players manage their characters' experience points, levels, equipment, and items. Each character's level, ranging from one to fifty, directly correlates with their experience and determines their attributes.

Gaining a level enhances attributes like maximum hit points (HP), which represent a character's health; if HP reaches zero, the character perishes. Experience points are earned through victorious battles. Combat in Final Fantasy operates through a menu-based system. Players select actions such as Attack, Magic, or Item from a list of options. Battles are turn-based, continuing until one side flees or is vanquished.

A triumph yields experience points and Gil (the in-game currency), fleeing returns players to the map screen, and the death of all characters results in game over, erasing unsaved progress. Unlike first-person views in earlier RPGs, Final Fantasy introduced character portraits on the right and enemies on the left side of the screen.

At the outset, players assemble a party of four characters, constituting their companions for the entirety of the game. Each character possesses an occupation or class, endowing distinct attributes and innate or attainable abilities. Six classes include Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, White Mage, and Black Mage. Later, a class upgrade option matures sprite portraits and expands weapon and magic use for certain classes.

The game offers a range of weapons, armor, and items to bolster characters' combat prowess. Each character can wield up to eight items, split between weapons and armor. Weapon and armor choices are influenced by class restrictions.

Magical weapons and armor can cast spells in battle, offering both offensive and defensive advantages. Shopping at stores allows players to procure items for recovery during travels. Potions, Tents, Cabins, and Houses serve various healing and saving purposes, while special items can be earned through quests.

Magic holds a significant role in the game, mainly for specific character classes. Spells are categorized as White (defensive and healing) and Black (offensive and debilitative). Magic is acquired through shops and assigned based on occupation.

Spells are classified by level (one to eight), with character class limitations on spell acquisition. The magic system contributes depth and strategy to the gameplay experience, enhancing the tactical choices players must make in battles and exploration.

Final Fantasy 1 Release Date

Final Fantasy I, the inaugural installment of the iconic franchise, made its debut on December 18, 1987, captivating the Japanese gaming audience with its unique blend of fantasy storytelling and role-playing gameplay. This inaugural release set the foundation for what would become a beloved series known for its epic adventures.

Two and a half years later, on July 11, 1990, North American gamers were finally able to experience the magic of Final Fantasy I. The game's arrival on the North American shores marked a significant moment in gaming history, introducing players to a rich world filled with intricate narratives and strategic battles.

Expanding its global reach, Final Fantasy I reached European gamers on December 8, 1990. The release in Europe extended the game's influence and garnered an even broader fan base on the continent. Since its initial releases, Final Fantasy I has not faded into obscurity; instead, it has enjoyed a series of re-releases that have kept its legacy alive and introduced it to new generations of players.

The game's timeless appeal and groundbreaking mechanics have ensured its place in gaming history. These re-releases have spanned multiple platforms, showcasing the game's adaptability and enduring charm. From the PlayStation to handheld devices like the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita, Final Fantasy I has found a home on a variety of gaming systems.

The game's transition to modern platforms, including availability on digital distribution platforms like Steam, has made it accessible to a wider audience than ever before. These re-releases have breathed new life into the classic title, allowing players to revisit or discover for the first time the roots of a legendary franchise.

With each re-release, Final Fantasy I continues to captivate players with its enchanting world, engaging story, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Its journey through time and technology showcases the game's enduring impact and the lasting legacy it has left on the gaming landscape.

Final Fantasy 1 PC

Final Fantasy I has found a new home on platforms that provide accessibility and convenience to players. The game's enchanting narrative and strategic battles are now available on the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation Portable (PSP), adding to the list of systems that have embraced its enduring charm.

The Nintendo Switch, a versatile and widely popular gaming console, has welcomed Final Fantasy I into its library. This move ensures that players can experience the classic adventure whether they are at home or on the go.

The Switch's unique capabilities, including both handheld and TV modes, allow players to immerse themselves in the world of Final Fantasy I in a way that suits their preferences and lifestyle. Additionally, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) offers yet another platform for fans to enjoy Final Fantasy I. This handheld device allows players to delve into the game's captivating story and engage in its strategic battles anywhere and anytime.

The portable nature of the PSP grants players the freedom to experience the fantasy world of the game without being tethered to a specific location.

These platforms, the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation Portable, have played a crucial role in keeping Final Fantasy I accessible to modern gamers. By embracing new technology and adapting to evolving gaming preferences, the game has maintained its allure and relevance. As players continue to discover or revisit the origins of the Final Fantasy franchise, the legacy of Final Fantasy I lives on through these contemporary platforms.

Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Site.

Final Fantasy 1 Walkthrough - FAQs

1. What is Final Fantasy I?  

Final Fantasy I is the first installment in the renowned Final Fantasy video game series. It was released in 1987 and is a classic role-playing game (RPG) known for its fantasy storytelling, turn-based combat, and exploration of a rich game world.

2. What platforms can I play Final Fantasy I on?  

Final Fantasy I has been re-released on various platforms over the years. Some of the platforms you can play it on include the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, and more.

3. What are the character classes in Final Fantasy I?  

In the original game, you can choose from six character classes for your party members: Fighter, Black Belt, Thief, Black Mage, White Mage, and Red Mage. Each class has unique abilities and strengths.

4. What is the main objective of the game?  

The main objective is to save the world from darkness and chaos. As the Warriors of Light, you must restore the crystals and defeat the elemental fiends threatening the world.

5. Are there multiple endings in Final Fantasy I?  

No, Final Fantasy I features a single ending that concludes the story of the Warriors of Light saving the world from chaos.