Summary
- Final Fantasy 5's revolutionary job system is addictive and continues to be a fun gameplay element.
- Different versions of Final Fantasy 5 have their pros and cons, so players should research to find the best version.
- The Pixel Remaster of Final Fantasy 5 is considered the best version by many fans, offering a great experience with no major complaints.
A lot of people who consider Final Fantasy 5 to be one of the most underrated games in the series decided to settle for a rather threadbare plot and focus more on the gameplay instead. The game's take on the job system is truly revolutionary and continues to be quite addictive to mess around with even now, as players figure out the best combinations to max out AP gain and deal with the many tough foes they'll encounter in this adventure.
Main Villains From The Final Fantasy Series, Ranked
The Final Fantasy games have introduced many iconic heroes, but every hero needs a compelling antagonist. We're ranking the games' best villains.
Final Fantasy 5, just like most other entries in the series on the SNES, has received so many ports that some players may find it slightly challenging to figure out which version of the game they can check out to enjoy the most optimal experience. While each version has its positives, players who don't want to face any issues while trying to enjoy this classic entry in the Final Fantasy series are better off doing their research to figure out the best version they can get their hands on.
5 Final Fantasy 5 (Port)
PlayStation
- Release Date: March 19, 1998
There's no denying that the PlayStation ports of the SNES Final Fantasy games were a great initiative to let new players experience the magic of these games, some of which hadn't been localized until now. However, the poor nature of these ports caused so many issues to crop up that players couldn't enjoy the experience all that much.
Perhaps the worst part of this port was the egregious loading times and noticeable lag during battles. This made it a chore to get through Final Fantasy 5 on the PlayStation, and the two FMVs added to the game didn't make up for the wealth of annoyances that players had to deal with to reach the game's ending.
4 Final Fantasy 5 (Mobile Remake)
Mobile, PC
- Release Date: March 28, 2013
Final Fantasy fans have a lot of disagreements that crop up from time to time. So, it's clear that Square Enix must've done something truly horrible with the mobile ports if the entire fanbase unites to complain about the horrid art style of these games. The ports of many beloved Final Fantasy games on mobile devices could've been a great initiative, but it only took one look at the horrid character sprites for players to lose their minds over this uninspired, flat art style that took away any character the original sprites had.
The art style in the mobile remake of Final Fantasy 5 is all over the place, feeling too flat and uninspired for players to accept. It doesn't help that the UI and interface aren't all that great either, especially on the PC. Thankfully, this version was sent to the Shadow Realm with the launch of the Pixel Remaster, meaning that players don't have to suffer these ugly sprites anymore.
3 Final Fantasy 5 Advance
Game Boy Advance
- Release Date: October 12, 2006
The idea of playing a fully-fledged Final Fantasy game on portable devices may not sound like a huge deal right now, but there was a time when players couldn't fathom the idea of playing a title so complex on portable hardware. However, the Game Boy Advance dispelled this notion by showing just how powerful handheld consoles could be, allowing Square Enix to develop Advance ports of beloved SNES games.
Final Fantasy 5 Pixel Remaster: The 7 Best Jobs To Master For Beginners
The iconic Jobs system of Final Fantasy 5 is back in Pixel Remaster. Here's which Jobs are ideal for beginners to master.
These titles feature additional post-game content that is a blast to get through if players have the right build. However, in an attempt to go portable, some of the best parts of Final Fantasy 5 had to suffer serious compromises. The music is the biggest casualty here, with the inferior sound chip of the Game Boy Advance causing most of the soundtrack to sound a bit too compressed for most people's liking.
2 Final Fantasy 5
Super Famicom
- Release Date: December 6, 1992
Sometimes, players can't go wrong with the original. Sure, Final Fantasy 5 on the Super Famicom may not have an official translation, but a mod is all it takes to fix this minor issue. Players who want to experience the magic of Final Fantasy 5 in its original iteration will love what this title brings to the table.
The game may lack a lot of the modern refinements that most people have come to expect from the genre, but it more than makes up for it with its old-school charm, a beloved aesthetic that's aged like a fine wine, and compelling gameplay that holds up so well that it hasn't been changed in later versions. It's the best version of the game that fans can pick up if they want to enjoy a truly authentic experience with this title.
1 Final Fantasy 5 Pixel Remaster
Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Mobile
- Release Date: November 10, 2021
The announcement of the Pixel Remasters of all the beloved Final Fantasy games was met with great excitement from fans, who relished the opportunity to experience these amazing games once again. While the ugly text and Square Enix's sketchy past with re-releases caused some fans to worry, it didn't take long for the Pixel Remaster of each title to become the best version of each Final Fantasy game in the eyes of many.
Final Fantasy 5 is no exception to this golden rule. The game looks and feels great to play, and fans can't find any complaint that can take away something meaningful from the experience. What's left behind is a solid JRPG with hours upon hours of content as players unlock new jobs and make their party as strong as possible to deal with Exdeath's nefarious plans.
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
