Hironobu Sakaguchi's best games

death trap is a text-based adventure game released in 1984. It was the first game Hironobu Sakaguchi helped design at Squaresoft, and the first game for the company as a whole. The company and Sakaguchi were not at their peak until then. final fantasy In 1987, things changed for the better.

Sakaguchi is one of the most influential creators of all time, helping Squaresoft rise to the top. He allowed Squaresoft to create a dime-a-dozen studio to direct the film. Final Fantasy: The Soul Withinand all future films within that space. Sadly it failed and Sakaguchi remained with that studio to this day, soon after leaving to create a new studio, Mistwalker. So to celebrate his latest achievement, Fantasian NeodimensionLet's take a look at the most important and best games in which Sakaguchi participated.

8 last story

Action-packed Final Fantasy re-enactment

• Credits: Director/Writer

last story It was a bit like Sakaguchi. final fantasy For Mistwalker, it's more than just a similar name. This seemed like the last chance to make a console game, and Mistwalker and other collaborating studios took several chances. Rather than a turn-based RPG last story It was an action RPG. Players primarily controlled one character through a cavalcade of dungeons that came to life thanks to the party system. It was one of the last big games to hit the Wii and the last console game that Mistwalker worked on. Fantasian Neodimension After about 10 years, so last story It's definitely important in Sakaguchi's career.

7 blue dragon

reunion of great minds

blue dragon Mistwalker was the first game produced after Sakaguchi left Square Enix to start the studio. This was a huge win for the Xbox 360, as Microsoft's previous generation lacked turn-based JRPGs. It was like a mini after all.Chrono Trigger Reunited with the legendary Akira Toriyama dragon ball Creator in charge of character design, Nobuo Uematsu final fantasy A composer also joined. Although it hasn't reached the heights of Final Fantasy, Chrono Triggeror even dragon quest It looks the most similar, but it was a solid first effort with quite a bit of legacy. There were two DS sequels and an anime, and those interested can play it. blue dragon Through backward compatibility for current Xbox consoles.

6 parasite eve

Fear comes to JRPG

parasite eve It is an important title that helped Sakaguchi bridge the gap between Western and Japanese cultures. It was a turn-based RPG about horrific supernatural events set in New York City. They were both following along. final fantasy and resident evil And the combo worked well.

It may be a niche title in the hearts of fans now, but it remains an important title even if the subsequent two sequels weren't as well received. With horror currently at an all-time high, perhaps Square Enix will revisit the game at some point. Maybe Sakaguchi will make a new horror RPG in Mistwalker too.

5 final fantasy 4

light born from darkness

• Credits: Director/Writer

final fantasy 4 It was an important entry in the series because it took storytelling to a new level rarely seen in NES games. The tone also becomes darker as hero Cecil begins the game doing villainous things for the kingdom he loves but ultimately questions. It is a journey to see the other side. final fantasy 4There will be no era of over-the-top cutscenes on PS1 and above. It's also one of the few games where five members take turns forming a large party during combat, which is still a cool idea. As serious as it was, it wasn't afraid to get silly, like the immortal “Spoony Bard” line.

4 Final Fantasy Tactics

War Through Religion and Chocobos

Before PS1, there weren't many spinoffs that took a chance on PS1. final fantasy This is a brand that is creating a new world for Ivalice. Final Fantasy Tactics It was one of the larger spin-offs that expanded turn-based gameplay into tactical territory. As a fan of the genre, Sakaguchi had a hand in making that dream come true as a kind of spiritual successor. ogre franchise. It was a mature story that dealt with religion and politics without belittling the audience. It also expanded on the idea of ​​a job system with different abilities, allowing players to switch between classes to create the ultimate army with tremendous replay value.

3 final fantasy 9

A swan song for his first years

• Written by: Producer/Writer

Afterwards, Sakaguchi faced many matches, but final fantasy 9 It was something of a swan song for both the company and the brand he helped build. It was a return to the realm of high fantasy storytelling with minimal technological impact beyond airships. If just called final fantasy As a reboot, it would have made sense because it included much of what began with the NES.

There were kingdoms, crystals, characters with specific jobs, pirates, etc. There's a reason fans are excited about the idea of ​​a remake, and it would be great to see Sakaguchi work with Square Enix again to help get it right.

2 Chrono Trigger

dream project

Chrono Trigger The ultimate crossover game from iconic creators. Sakaguchi enjoyed his heyday as a collaborator, as did Nobuo Uematsu. final fantasy. Then there was Hori Yuji, basically. dragon quest Sakaguchi's version and Toriyama Akira were also on board. These are just a few of the greatest creators of their time who went on to do incredible things. Chrono Trigger It was ahead of the game with its no-random-encounters design, combo attacks, dynamic music, and a magic system that included time travel. It's hard to believe that this turn-based dream project started with so many people working together. Because these collaborations can lead to clashes of egos.

1 final fantasy 7

The beginning of mainstream JRPGs

final fantasy 7 It changed the landscape of RPGs forever, plain and simple. Even non-RPG fans got to participate in a cinematic event that no one had attempted before. Sakaguchi is credited with coming up with the basic plot, using much of the material surrounding Aerith. Her death was influenced by the death of Sakaguchi's mother, so this project literally took a lot of his mind, but he was not alone. This was a big project, with director Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura, one of the artists at the time, coming up with the idea behind it. Kingdom Hearts. final fantasy 7For many, Square Enix has become a household name after several decades, and Sakaguchi was a big part of that.