One of the most surprising E3 2021 announcements so far (though it had been rumored already) is Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. This game was revealed at Square Enix’s showcase and is being developed in conjunction with Team Ninja. The title is something we never knew we wanted so bad: a Final Fantasy Souls-like. This game isn’t an exact retelling of Final Fantasy 1, but it’s the best way to revisit that story in a modern game.
Is Final Fantasy Origin a remake of FF1?
Final Fantasy Origin seems to be a pseudo-retelling of Final Fantasy 1. The trailer introduced a lot of familiar faces like Garland, but it also shows three “Warriors of Light” we’ve never met before. The description on the Square Enix website states, “Jack and his allies, Ash and Jed, burn with resolve to defeat Chaos as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Yet doubts remain—are they truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold?” Though the lore of FF1 is rather simplistic compared to later entries in the series, it’s unknown if this title will enter the Final Fantasy canon or is more of a “what-if” scenario.
Those familiar with Final Fantasy history can probably guess the setting of Origin from the title. The name harkens back to the PS1 compilation of Final Fantasy 1 and 2 called Final Fantasy Origins. While this game isn’t a direct retelling of the original Final Fantasy, its story does take place at the same time the four Warriors of Light are making their way toward Garland. We may even cross paths with them at some point.
Final Fantasy Origin will receive a PS5-exclusive demo today. The full game will release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2022.
