View source for Final Fantasy II

{{Short description|1988 video game}}
{{For|the North American release of the 1991 Super NES game|Final Fantasy IV}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Final Fantasy II
| image = Ff2cover.jpg{{!}}border
| caption = Cover art featuring main protagonist [[#Characters|Firion]]
| developer = [[Square (video game company)|Square]]
| publisher = Square
| engine=[[Unity (video game engine)|Unity]] (Pixel Remaster)
| director = [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]]
| producer = [[Masashi Miyamoto|Masafumi Miyamoto]]
| designer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Hiromichi Tanaka]]
* [[Akitoshi Kawazu]]
* [[Koichi Ishii]]
}}
| programmer = [[Nasir Gebelli]]
| artist = [[Yoshitaka Amano]]
| writer = {{Plainlist|
* Hironobu Sakaguchi<ref name="famitsusakaguchi" />
* [[Kenji Terada]]
}}
| composer = [[Nobuo Uematsu]]
| series = ''[[Final Fantasy]]''
| platforms = {{collapsible list|title=[[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]]|
{{Plainlist|
* [[WonderSwan|WonderSwan Color]]
* [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
* [[Game Boy Advance]]
* [[i-mode]]
* [[EZweb]]
* [[PlayStation Portable]]
* [[iOS]]
* [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
* [[Windows]]
* [[Nintendo Switch]]
* [[PlayStation 4]]
* [[Xbox Series X/S]]
}}}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title=December 17, 1988<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Final Fantasy VII: In the Beginning... |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=93|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=April 1997|page=72}}</ref>|
{{Plainlist|
* '''Famicom'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|December 17, 1988}}
* '''WonderSwan Color'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|May 3, 2001}}
* '''PlayStation'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|October 31, 2002|EU|March 14, 2003|NA|April 8, 2003}}
* '''Game Boy Advance'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|July 29, 2004|AU|November 18, 2004|NA|November 29, 2004|EU|December 3, 2004}}
* '''i-mode'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|February 4, 2005}}
* '''EZweb'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|December 15, 2005}}
* '''Yahoo!'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|December 1, 2006}}
* '''PlayStation Portable'''
* {{vgrelease|JP|June 7, 2007|NA|July 24, 2007|EU|February 8, 2008}}
* '''iOS'''
* {{vgrelease|WW|February 25, 2010}}
* '''Android'''
* {{vgrelease|WW|December 21, 2012}}
* '''''Pixel Remaster'''''
* '''Android, iOS, Windows'''
* {{Video game release|WW|July 28, 2021<ref>{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=June 30, 2021 |url=https://www.polygon.com/22557810/square-enix-retro-final-fantasy-pixel-remake-steam |title=Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster's first three games come to PC and mobile in July |publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630213604/https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/22557810/square-enix-retro-final-fantasy-pixel-remake-steam |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
* '''Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4'''
* {{Video game release|WW|April 19, 2023}}'''Xbox Series X/S'''{{vgrelease|WW|September 26, 2024}}
}}}}
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Final Fantasy II'''''|ファイナルファンタジーII|Fainaru Fantajī Tsū|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha <!-- See [[WP:JFN]] -->}} is a 1988 [[role-playing video game]] developed and published by [[Square (video game company)|Square]] for the [[Family Computer]] as the second installment of the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. Like other ''Final Fantasy'' sequels, the game is set in its own world, and does not follow its predecessor's story. The game's story follows Firion, Maria, and Guy, three youths who join the resistance against the empire of Palamecia after their parents were killed during an invasion. ''Final Fantasy II'' introduced many elements that would later become staples of the ''Final Fantasy'' franchise, including [[chocobo]]s and the recurring character [[Cid (Final Fantasy)|Cid]]. It also eliminated the traditional [[experience point]] leveling system of the previous and later games in the series, instead introducing an [[Experience point#Activity-based progression|activity-based progression]] system where the characters' statistics increase according to how they are used or acquired; the progression system later became a staple of the ''[[SaGa]]'' series of role-playing games.

Upon its release, ''Final Fantasy II'' received highly positive reviews in Japan; retrospective reviews have noted the game as having a stronger story than ''Final Fantasy'', but have described it as among the most divisive entries in the series due to its progression system. Although it was intended to have a North American release in 1990 as '''''Final Fantasy II: Dark Shadow Over Palaki''''', Square ultimately decided to release ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]''{{Efn|Initially released in North America as '''''Final Fantasy II'''''.}} instead. ''Final Fantasy II'' has received [[video game remake|enhanced remakes]] on numerous consoles, including the [[WonderSwan|WonderSwan Color]], the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], the [[Game Boy Advance]], and the [[PlayStation Portable]], as well as mobile devices and personal computers; it was re-released in 2021 as part of the ''[[Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster]]'' series. The game has sold over 1.4 million copies worldwide.

==Gameplay==
''Final Fantasy II'' features gameplay similar to that of its predecessor, ''Final Fantasy''. The player can freely roam an [[overworld]] containing several towns and dungeons. A menu-based system allows the player to outfit each character with equipment and up to two—often disposable—items for battle. Magic spells are assigned to the character from the item menu, and certain spells, such as "Cure" can be used outside of battle.<ref name="Origins1">{{cite book | year=2003 | title=Final Fantasy Origins instruction manual | page=17 | publisher=Square Enix | id=SLUS-05141}}</ref> The player can also [[saved game|save]] their progress on the overworld. Weapons, armor, items, and [[Final Fantasy magic|magic spells]] can be purchased at shops, and townspeople provide useful information for the player's progression through the game. One new feature is the "Word Memory" system: when in [[Dialog tree|conversation]] with [[non-player character]]s (NPCs), the player can "ask" about and "memorize" special keywords or phrases, which can later be repeated to other NPCs to gain more information or unlock new actions. Similarly, there exist a handful of special items that can be shown to NPCs during conversation or used on certain objects, which have the same effect.<ref name="Origins">{{cite book | year=2003 | title=Final Fantasy Origins instruction manual | pages=15, 22 | publisher=Square Enix | id=SLUS-05141}}</ref> Characters and monsters are no longer separated into separate windows in the battle screen as they were in the first ''Final Fantasy'', and players can see their current and total hit points below the battle. Players can also fight with less than four characters in their party, which was not possible in the first game. ''Final Fantasy II'' introduced the [[chocobo]], the signature ''Final Fantasy'' mascot, which lets characters ride to a location at great speed without being attacked by enemies. The recurring character Cid was also introduced, and a character of the same name has appeared in every main-series game since.<ref name="FFII"/>

[[Image:Final Fantasy II JAP Battle.png|thumb|left|The ill-fated opening battle in the Famicom version|alt=Four small human figures stand in a staggered line on the right side of the image facing a square of four blue monsters resembling men on horseback on the left side. A line of trees is displayed above the battle scene, and two white-rimmed black boxes cover the bottom of the image, with one displaying the HP and MP of the four characters and the other displaying their whacky water weasels in Japanese.]]

On the overworld and within dungeons, [[random encounter]]s with enemies can be fought to improve each character's [[Statistic (role-playing games)|attributes]].<ref name="Origins2">{{cite book | year=2003 | title=Final Fantasy Origins instruction manual | page=22 | publisher=Square Enix | id=SLUS-05141}}</ref> Unlike the original ''Final Fantasy'', players cannot upgrade their characters' classes. The game is also one of the few games in the series to not use [[experience point|experience-based levels]]. Instead, each character participating in battle develops depending on what actions they take. For instance, characters who frequently use a particular type of weapon will become more adept at wielding a weapon of that type, and will also increase in physical strength and accuracy.<ref name="FFII"/><ref name="Origins2"/> Attributes include hit points, magic points, magic power, stamina, strength, spirit, agility, intelligence, and evasion. [[Hit point]]s (HP) and [[magic point]]s (MP) increase with their use; a character who takes a heavy amount of damage in a battle might earn an increase in maximum HP, while a character who uses a lot of MP during battle might increase their maximum MP.<ref name="Origins2"/> This experience system had several unintended consequences that allowed characters to gain much more experience than intended, such as players having their characters attack each other and repeatedly cast spells, thus causing their HP and abilities to grow extensively.<ref name="FFII"/> ''Final Fantasy II'' uses the same [[Turn-based strategy|turn-based]] [[Conditional Turn-Based Battle System|battle system]] seen in the original ''Final Fantasy'', with battle parties consisting of up to four characters at a time. The game introduces a "back row" in battle, within which characters or enemies are immune to most physical attacks, but can be harmed with [[Bow and arrow|bows]] and magical attacks.<ref name="Origins1"/>

==Plot==
===Characters===
[[Image:Final Fantasy II party.jpg|thumb|[[Yoshitaka Amano]]'s artwork of the main characters Leon, Firion, Maria, and Guy|alt=A watercolor painting of four warriors. The leftmost is a pale man with dark gray hair facing left, the next one is a white-haired man with a billowing red cape holding a sword and facing the viewer, the third is a black-haired woman looking to the right in three-quarters view and holding a bow, and the rightmost is a large man with a helmet holding up his fists and facing right. Clouds and an airship are in the background.]]

''Final Fantasy II'' features four playable characters as well as several secondary characters who are only briefly controlled by the player. Primary characters include {{nihongo|Firion|フリオニール|Furionīru|"Frioniel" in the Japanese release and English NES prototype}}, a resident of the country of Fynn and the main protagonist; {{nihongo|Maria|マリア}}, a soft-spoken archer and dedicated enemy of the Empire; {{nihongo|Guy|ガイ|Gai|"Gus" in the remake for the PlayStation}}, a simple monk who communicates with animals; and {{nihongo|Leon|レオンハルト|Reonharuto|"Leonhart" in the Japanese release and English NES prototype}}, a conflicted dark knight who is missing for most of the game.<ref name="FFII"/><ref name="OriginsCharacters">{{cite book | year=2003 | title=Final Fantasy Origins instruction manual | page=15 | publisher=Square Enix | id=SLUS-05141}}</ref> Five playable characters temporarily join the party to assist Firion, Maria, and Guy in their missions for the rebellion. These are {{nihongo|Gordon|ゴードン|Gōdon}}, the prince of Kashuan and a member of the rebellion; {{nihongo|Josef|ヨーゼフ|Yōzefu}}, a villager in the town of Salamand; {{nihongo|Leila|レイラ|Reira|"Reila" in the Japanese release and English NES prototype}}, a pirate; {{nihongo|Minwu|ミンウ|Min'u|"Mindu" in the PlayStation remake and "Ming-Wu" in the Japanese release and English NES prototype}}, who is a [[White Mage (Final Fantasy)|White Mage]] with the rebellion, and {{nihongo|Ricard Highwind|リチャード・ハイウインド|Richādo Haiuindo|"Gareth" in the PlayStation remake, Edward in the English NES prototype and "Richard" in the Japanese release}}, who is the first dragoon to appear in the series.<ref name="FFII"/>

Firion and the  {{nihongo|Emperor of Palamecia|パラメキア皇帝|Paramekia Kōtei}} (named {{nihongo|Mateus|マティウス|Matiusu}} in Kenji Terada's novelization of the game) are the respective hero and villain representing ''Final Fantasy II'' in ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy|Dissidia 012]]'' and ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|Dissidia NT]]'', fighting games featuring characters from across the series. Firion is voiced by [[Hikaru Midorikawa]] in the Japanese versions and by [[Johnny Yong Bosch]] in the English versions; Mateus is voiced by [[Kenyu Horiuchi]] in the Japanese versions and [[Christopher Corey Smith]] in the English versions. In the PlayStation's opening FMV of ''Final Fantasy II'', Firion is also voiced by Yukimasa Obi, while Maria is played by [[Noriko Shitaya]], Guy by [[Kenta Miyake]], and Leon by [[Takayuki Yamaguchi (voice actor)|Takayuki Yamaguchi]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

===Story===
Firion, Maria, Guy, and Leon are attacked by Palamecian Black Knight soldiers and left for dead. Firion, Maria, and Guy are rescued by Princess Hilda, who has established a rebel base in the town of Altair after her kingdom of Fynn was invaded by the Emperor. Hilda denies their request to join the rebel army because they are too young and inexperienced. The three set off for Fynn in search of Leon; there, they find a dying Prince Scott of Kashuan, Hilda's fiancé, who informs them that a former nobleman of Kashuan, Borghen, betrayed the rebellion and became a general in the Imperial army. The party returns to Altair to notify Hilda. She allows the group to join the rebellion and asks them to journey north to find [[Mithril|mythril]], a metal that could be used to create powerful weapons. The party makes its way north to the occupied village of Salamand, where they save the villagers forced to work in the nearby mines, kill Borghen, and retrieve the Mythril.

For their next mission, the party is sent to the city of Bafsk to prevent the construction of a large airship known as the Dreadnought; however, it takes off just as they arrive. After retrieving the Sunfire, a weapon that can blow up the Dreadnought, they watch helplessly as an airship with Hilda on board is captured by the Dreadnought. When the Dreadnought lands to stock up on supplies, the party rescues Hilda and throws the Sunfire into the airship's engine. Before escaping the explosion, the party encounters a dark knight Maria recognizes as Leon.

On his deathbed, the king of Fynn tasks the party to seek the help of the seemingly extinct dragoons of Deist. There, the party finds only a mother with her son, learning that all but one of the dragoons are dead, partly as a result of imperial poison. After placing an egg of the last [[wyvern]] in a cavern, the party returns to Altair and finds the Hilda they rescued is a [[lamia]] in disguise. The party slays the imposter and rescues the real Hilda before successfully reclaiming Fynn from the imperial forces. They then travel west, searching for a powerful magic item, joining forces with the last surviving dragoon. The party returns to Fynn and sees that many towns have been destroyed by a [[cyclone]] summoned by the Emperor. The party calls upon the newly born last wyvern to take them to a castle inside the cyclone, where they confront and kill the Emperor. Everyone celebrates the Empire's defeat until a mortally wounded Fynn soldier arrives and reveals that Leon has taken the throne and plans to destroy the rebels with the Imperial army.

The party enters the castle of Palamecia and confronts Leon. Still, the Emperor reappears in the throne room in a new demonic form, revealing he has become the ruler of Hell and returned to destroy the entire world. The party and Leon escape Palamecia Castle with the wyvern as the castle is replaced with the palace of Hell, Pandaemonium. Leon agrees to help the group seal the Emperor away. The party travels to the Jade Passage, an underground passage to the underworld, and finds the portal to Pandaemonium, where they finally defeat the Emperor. Afterward, Leon chooses to leave in response to the trouble he caused, though Firion assures him that he will be welcomed back if and when he returns.

====''Soul of Rebirth''====
The ''Dawn of Souls'' remake of the game for the [[Game Boy Advance]] includes an additional storyline after the game, which follows the four party members who died during the game's story.

Following his sacrifice to unseal the door guarding the Ultima Tome, Minwu awakens in a new area and sees someone resembling Gordon fight off Imperial soldiers. Minwu assists him, and the man soon explains he is Scott, Gordon's brother. Minwu informs him of the events up to his demise, and the two surmise they are in the Jade Passage since they both died. They find Josef and, subsequently, Ricard, eventually emerging in Machanon, a village in the mirror image of Poft where the citizens are dead victims of the Emperor's conquest, including Cid and Tobul, with the former asking the group to find out where they are and why they have been called here.

The four enter the teleporter at the north edge of town and enter what Minwu believes is Pandaemonium. Climbing to the highest floor, the party meets the Light Emperor, who explains that when Firion and his allies killed him, his soul was split, with the Emperor's "dark half" falling to Hell and acquiring more power, while his light half—the Emperor they now see—ascended to Heaven. He then explains they are in Arubboth, the palace of Heaven, and the cave they traveled through was Raqia. In this place, fallen angels are cast down to become demons, and he called them here to ask for forgiveness on behalf of his dark half and offers them eternal life with him in Arubboth if they forgive his sins.

Though the offer tempts the four, apparitions of their loved ones show them a vision of Firion and his allies battling the Dark Emperor in Pandaemonium. Realizing this Emperor is just as evil as the original, the four reject his offer and defeat the Light Emperor just as Firion and his allies vanquish the Dark Emperor. As the rebels in the world of the living celebrate their victory, the four specters watch them and wish them well before fading away into peaceful rest.

==Development==
During the development of the first installment in the series, [[Square (video game company)|Square]]'s management decided to manufacture 400,000 copies of the game to make a sequel possible,<ref name="developmentFF">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/28960/Sakaguchi-discusses-the-development-of-Final-Fantasy |title=Sakaguchi discusses the development of Final Fantasy |author=Fear, Ed |date=December 13, 2007 |magazine=Develop |publisher=Intent Media |access-date=October 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005246/http://www.develop-online.net/news/28960/Sakaguchi-discusses-the-development-of-Final-Fantasy|archive-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref> then the original Famicom (NES) version successfully shipped 520,000 copies in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gamez.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0912/17/news104.html|title=もっとも売れたのはどれ？ 歴代「Ff」シリーズの出荷本数をまとめてみました|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214164315/http://gamez.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0912/17/news104.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As there were no concrete ideas for ''Final Fantasy II'' from the start, it was eventually taken in a new direction and included none of the previous game's characters or locations.<ref name="FFII" /><ref name="developmentFF" /> [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]], who had previously served as the main [[video game design|planner]] for ''Final Fantasy'', assumed the role of [[Video game producer|director]] to accommodate for the larger development team.<ref name="famitsusakaguchi">{{cite magazine|title=Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi |url=http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/Sakaguchi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717103402/http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/Sakaguchi.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |date=June 5, 1998 |magazine=[[Famitsu|Shūkan Famitsu]] |publisher=[[ASCII (company)|ASCII]] |access-date=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Using the experience gained from the first installment, which focused more on fitting story ideas into their new gameplay system and game world, the developers fully crafted the story of ''Final Fantasy II'' first. The gameplay was then built around the narrative.<ref name="UltimateHistory">{{cite book | title = [[Ultimate History of Video Games]] | first = Steven | last = Kent | authorlink=Steven L. Kent | pages = 541–542 | chapter = The Mainstream and All Its Perils | publisher = [[Three Rivers Press]] | isbn = 0-7615-3643-4 | year = 2001}}</ref> The experience system was designed to be a more realistic advancement system than that of the first game. Several members of the original staff from the first game reprised their jobs for ''Final Fantasy II''. Sakaguchi again created the plot for the title, with the actual scenario written by [[Kenji Terada]].<ref name="famitsusakaguchi" /><ref>{{cite video game |title=Final Fantasy II |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square Co., Ltd. |platform=[[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]] |date=December 17, 1988 |scene=staff credits}}</ref> [[Nobuo Uematsu]] composed the music, as he had for the first game, while [[Yoshitaka Amano]] was again the concept artist.<ref name="FFII"/> As with the original, ''Final Fantasy II'' was programmed by [[Nasir Gebelli]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Lau, John | publisher=University of Hawaii | title = The Secret of Nasir | url = http://www2.hawaii.edu/~johnlau/nasir.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070716125605/http://www2.hawaii.edu/~johnlau/nasir.html | archive-date = July 16, 2007 | date = January 22, 2005 | access-date = July 14, 2008}}</ref> Midway through the development of the game, Gebelli was forced to return to [[Sacramento, California]] from Japan due to an expired work visa. The rest of the development staff followed him to Sacramento with necessary materials and equipment and finished production of the game there.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mielke |first=James |author2=Hironobu Sakaguchi  |title=A Day In The Life Of Hironobu Sakaguchi |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|EGM]] |issue=232 |quote=[...] So for ''Final Fantasy II'' and ''III'', our staff actually brought all the equipment, everything that was necessary to finish those games, to Sacramento, because (Gebelli) couldn't come back to Japan. [...] We finished ''Final Fantasy II'' and ''III'' in Sacramento, California. [''Laughs''] |author2-link=Hironobu Sakaguchi}}</ref> The game was released one day before the one-year anniversary of the first game's release.<ref name="FFII">{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy Retrospective: Part II | url=http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/zz0eu7/gt-retrospectives-final-fantasy-retrospective--part-ii | date= July 23, 2007 | publisher=[[GameTrailers]] | access-date=August 30, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704042042/http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/zz0eu7/gt-retrospectives-final-fantasy-retrospective--part-ii | archive-date=July 4, 2015}}</ref>

In April 1989, the game was novelized by its original scenario writer Kenji Terada under the title ''Final Fantasy II: Muma no Meikyū'' (lit. "The Labyrinth of Nightmares"). It was published in Japan exclusively by [[Kadokawa Shoten]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ファイナルファンタジー2 夢魔の迷宮 |url=http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAD37156/ |work=Yahoo! Japan: Books |access-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221106/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAD37156/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref>

==Music==
The [[Music of Final Fantasy I and II|music for ''Final Fantasy II'']] was later arranged by [[Tsuyoshi Sekito]] for the WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, and Game Boy Advance remakes. Although the two soundtracks were composed separately, the soundtrack to ''II'' has only been released as a combined album with the soundtrack to ''Final Fantasy I''. They were first released as ''All Sounds of Final Fantasy I•II'' in 1989, which was then republished in 1994.<ref name="RPGFAS">{{cite web|author1=Gann, Patrick |author2=Schweitzer, Ben |title=All Sounds of Final Fantasy I – II |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff1&2/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=July 9, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116215146/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff1%262/index.html |archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> An arranged album of music from the two soundtracks titled ''Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy'' was also released in 1989, while ''Final Fantasy & Final Fantasy II Original Soundtrack'', a combined soundtrack album for the PlayStation versions of the games, was released in 2002 and re-released in 2004.<ref name="RPGFSSFF">{{cite web|author=Gann, Patrick |title=Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ffss/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=July 9, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116214253/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ffss/index.html |archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="RPGFFF12REreview">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy I • II Original Soundtrack |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff1&2-remake/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=September 14, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116213840/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff1%262-remake/index.html |archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> The music of ''Final Fantasy II'' has also appeared in various official concerts and live albums, such as ''[[List of Final Fantasy compilation albums#20020220 Music from Final Fantasy|20020220 music from Final Fantasy]]'', a live recording of an orchestra performing music from the series including several pieces from the games.<ref name="RPGF20020220review">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/20020220/index.html |title=20020220 – Music from FINAL FANTASY |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=April 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065018/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/20020220/index.html |archive-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref> Additionally, several songs from the game were performed as part of a medley by the [[Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra]] for the ''Distant Worlds – Music from Final Fantasy'' concert tour,<ref name="SEMOFFDinfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/f/ffdistantworlds.shtml |title=Distant Worlds – Music from Final Fantasy – Album Information |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=February 22, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409215604/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/f/ffdistantworlds.shtml |archive-date=April 9, 2012}}</ref> while a different medley of songs from the game were performed by the [[New Japan Philharmonic]] Orchestra in the ''[[Final Fantasy concerts#Tour de Japon|Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy]]'' concert series.<ref name="SEMOTDJinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/dvds/tourdejapon.shtml |title=Album Information – Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy DVD |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=February 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065505/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/dvds/tourdejapon.shtml |archive-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Versions and re-releases==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2025}}
''Final Fantasy II'' has been remade several times for different platforms, and has frequently been packaged with the first ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' in various collections. While all of these remakes retain the same basic story and battle mechanics, various tweaks have been made in different areas, including graphics, sound, and specific game elements.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chronology of ''Final Fantasy II'' versions and remakes
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Release
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | System
! scope="col" | Developer
! scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 1988 || Japan || [[Family Computer]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || The original version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy I・II'' || 1994 || Japan || [[Family Computer]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || A few graphical updates.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2001 || Japan || [[WonderSwan|WonderSwan Color]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || Background images in battle scenes, re-drawn sprites.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy Origins'' || 2002<br />2003<br />2003 || Japan<br />USA<br />EUR || [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] || [[Tose Co., Ltd.|Tose]] || [[Square (video game company)|Squaresoft]] || All-new, more detailed graphics, remixed soundtrack, [[Full motion video|FMV sequences]], art galleries, memo save function.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls'' || 2004 || Japan<br />USA<br />EUR || [[Game Boy Advance]] || [[Tose Co., Ltd.|Tose]] || [[Nintendo]] || Four additional dungeons, updated bestiary, a few tweaks.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2005<br />2006<br />2011 || Japan<br />Japan<br />USA || [[Mobile phone]] ||  || Square Enix<br />Namco Bandai Games || Superior to the 8-bit original but less advanced than recent ports.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2007<br />2007<br />2008 || Japan<br />USA<br />EUR || [[PlayStation Portable]] || [[Tose Co., Ltd.|Tose]] || [[Square Enix]] || Higher-resolution 2D graphics, FMV sequences, remixed soundtrack, bonus dungeons and script from ''Dawn of Souls''.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2009 || Japan || [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] ||  || [[Square Enix]] || Virtual Console release of the original Famicom version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2009<br />2012 || Japan<br />USA || [[PlayStation Store]] [[Lists of PSone Classics|PSOne Classics]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square Co.]] ||  || PlayStation version was released as PSOne Classics.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2010 || worldwide || [[iOS]] || [[Square Enix]] || [[Square Enix]] || Based on the PSP version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2011 || Japan<br />EUR || [[PlayStation Store]] [[List of downloadable PSP games|downloadable PSP games]] || [[Square Enix]] ||  || PlayStation Portable version was released as downloadable PSP game.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2012 || worldwide || [[Android (operating system)|Android]] || [[Matrix Software]] || [[Square Enix]] || Based on the iOS version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2012 || Japan || [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console]] ||  || [[Square Enix]] || Virtual Console release of the original Famicom version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2013 || Japan || [[Wii U]] [[Virtual Console]] ||  || [[Square Enix]] || Virtual Console release of the original Famicom version.
|-
|''Final Fantasy I & II Advance'' || 2016 || Japan || [[Wii U]] [[Virtual Console]] || [[Square (video game company)|Square]] || [[Square Enix]] || Virtual Console release of the GBA version.
|-
| ''Final Fantasy II'' || 2021, 2023, 2024 || worldwide || [[Android (operating system)|Android]]<br />[[iOS]]<br />[[Windows]] (via [[Steam (service)|Steam]])<br /> [[Nintendo Switch]]<br />[[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]]|| [[Square Enix]] || [[Square Enix]] || 2D remaster based on the original game.
|}

===Unreleased English version===
Following the successful North American release of the original ''Final Fantasy'' by Nintendo in 1990, [[Square Soft]], Square's North American subsidiary, began work on an English language [[Internationalization and localization|localization]] of ''Final Fantasy II'', to be called ''Final Fantasy II: Dark Shadow Over Palakia''. Assigned to the project was Kaoru Moriyama, whose later work included script translations for ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' and ''[[Secret of Mana]]'' (known as ''Seiken Densetsu 2'' in Japan). Although a [[beta version]] was produced, and the game was advertised in several Square Soft trade publications, the long development time, the age of the original Japanese game and the arrival of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], the NES's successor [[video game console|console]], led Square Soft to cancel work on the ''Final Fantasy II'' localization in favor of the recently released ''Final Fantasy IV'' (which, to avoid confusing North American players, was retitled ''Final Fantasy II'').<ref name="FFII"/><ref name="Cancelled">{{cite web|author=Collette, Chris |title=Spotlight: Final Fantasy II |url=http://www.lostlevels.org/200312/200312-ffan2.shtml |publisher=LostLevels.org |access-date=August 25, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902172158/http://www.lostlevels.org/200312/200312-ffan2.shtml |archive-date=September 2, 2006}}</ref>

Although a prototype cartridge of the English NES ''Final Fantasy II'' was produced, the project was, by Moriyama's own admission, still far from complete: "We had so very limited memory capacity we could use for each game, and it was never really "translating" but chopping up the information and cramming them back in... [Additionally] our boss had no understanding in putting in extra work for the English version at that time".<ref name="Cancelled"/> In 2003, when the game was finally released to English-speaking audiences as part of ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)#Versions and re-releases|Final Fantasy Origins]]'', it was released with new graphics, music, and a brand new translation under the supervision of Akira Kashiwagi. A [[fan translation]] of the original game was also created prior to the release of ''Origins'', and makes use of an original translation as the existence of the prototype cartridge was not common knowledge at the time.<ref name="Cancelled"/>

===Re-releases===
In addition to its original Famicom release, ''Final Fantasy II'' was re-released on the WonderSwan Color in 2001, and both singularly and as part of a collection with ''Final Fantasy I'' for the PlayStation in 2002. It was released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004 as part of ''Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls'', on the [[PlayStation Portable]] in 2007, and for the Japanese [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] on June 16, 2009.<ref name="VCFF2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_ff2/index.html |title=VC ファイナルファンタジーII |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |language=ja |access-date=November 30, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225121142/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_ff2/index.html |archive-date=February 25, 2010}}</ref>

The ''Final Fantasy I•II'' collection included the original game with only minor changes. The WonderSwan Color remake of the game was first released on May 3, 2001, and later included as a bundle with a special ''Final Fantasy II'' edition of the console.<ref name="bundle">{{cite web |author=Wonderswan Gamer |date=January 19, 2006 |title=Final Fantasy II Boxset |url=http://www.wonderswan.co.uk/2006/01/final-fantasy-ii-boxset.html |publisher=Wonderswan Gaming |access-date=September 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106103809/http://www.wonderswan.co.uk/2006/01/final-fantasy-ii-boxset.html |archive-date=January 6, 2007}}</ref> It included completely redone graphics in the manner of the 16-bit generation ''Final Fantasy'' games and includes larger character sprites, remixed music by [[Tsuyoshi Sekito]], and full graphical backgrounds in battle mode.<ref name="Buttons">{{cite web | author=fastbill1 | title=Final Fantasy II | url=http://import.portablereview.com/review211.html | publisher=PortableReview.com | access-date=September 4, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225054434/http://import.portablereview.com/review211.html | archive-date=December 25, 2007}}</ref> The PlayStation version featured even more graphical updates over the WonderSwan version, and the soundtrack was again remixed by Tsuyoshi Sekito to a higher quality so as to utilise the audio capabilities of the PlayStation. Sekito also composed a few new tracks to be used in the new [[cutscene]]s. It was published both individually (in Japan only) and alongside ''Final Fantasy I'' in a collection entitled ''Final Fantasy Origins'' (or ''Final Fantasy I+II Premium Collection'' in Japan); this was the first release of the game outside Japan.<ref>{{cite web|author=Triche, Stephen |title=Final Fantasy Origins |publisher=gamevortex.com |year=2002 |url=http://www.psillustrated.com/psillustrated/soft_rev.php/1283/final-fantasy-origins-playstation.html |access-date=March 8, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102194012/http://www.psillustrated.com/psillustrated/soft_rev.php/1283/final-fantasy-origins-playstation.html |archive-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref> The port was re-released as part of the ''Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box'' package in December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/con2j5/ff_ultimate_box_game_list/ |title=Full Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Game List |publisher=Andriasang |author=Gantayat, Anoop |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=September 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060243/http://andriasang.com/con2j5/ff_ultimate_box_game_list/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2021, it was re-released as part of the ''[[Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster]]'' series.<ref name="Pixel Remaster" />

[[Image:Final Fantasy II GBA.png|thumb|A typical battle scene from the ''Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls'' remake]]

''Final Fantasy II'' was again released in a new format in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance as part of ''Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls''. The primary change for this version was the addition of a bonus storyline entitled ''Soul of Rebirth'' accessible to the player after completing the game.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gantayat, Anoop |date=July 2, 2004 |title=Final Fantasy Pushed Back |website=IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/02/final-fantasy-pushed-back |access-date=September 3, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009054756/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/02/final-fantasy-pushed-back |archive-date=October 9, 2013}}</ref> In 2005 and 2006, Square Enix released a version of ''Final Fantasy II'' for three Japanese [[mobile phone]] networks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20050204/ff2.htm |title=スクウェア・エニックス、iモード「ファイナルファンタジーII」を「P901i」にプリインストール。配信版も2月下旬登場 |website=GAME Watch |access-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128235601/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20050204/ff2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20051215/ff2.htm |title=スクウェア・エニックス、iモードに続いてEZwebでも「ファイナルファンタジーII」を配信 |website=GAME Watch |access-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413010153/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20051215/ff2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0609/19/news107.html |title=ドラクエ2やFF2など、ソフトバンク端末向けアプリ投入──スクウェア・エニックス |website=ITmedia Mobile |access-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-date=August 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806002513/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0609/19/news107.html |url-status=live }}</ref> To celebrate the ''Final Fantasy'' series' 20th anniversary, the game was released in Japan for the PlayStation Portable in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2007/02/06/103,1170729727,66700,0,0.html |title=Final Fantasy for PSP |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |access-date=March 20, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401192028/http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2007/02/06/103%2C1170729727%2C66700%2C0%2C0.html |archive-date=April 1, 2007}}</ref> The remake features improved graphics, the cutscenes and soundtrack from ''Final Fantasy Origins'', and the bonus quest and dungeons from ''Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls''. It additionally includes four new dungeons in which more character-specific equipment can be found, alongside powerful enemies and two new bosses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Square-Enix to remake FF I and II for anniversary |website=IGN |date=January 17, 2007 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/more-final-fantasy-updates-set-for-psp |access-date=January 18, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009054911/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/more-final-fantasy-updates-set-for-psp |archive-date=October 9, 2013}}</ref> The release for the Japanese Virtual Console  for the Wii on June 16, 2009, for the Wii U on December 11, 2013, and for the Nintendo 3DS on February 12, 2014, is identical to the original Famicom release, incorporating none of the updates of the later versions.<ref name="VCFF2"/> On February 25, 2010, Square Enix released a port of the PSP version modified with touchscreen controls for the iOS platform.<ref name="IPHONErelease">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-02/25/final-fantasy-now-available-on-iphone.aspx |title=Final Fantasy now available on iPhone |date=February 25, 2010 |last=Lanxon |first=Nate |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=February 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227012346/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-02/25/final-fantasy-now-available-on-iphone.aspx|archive-date=February 27, 2010}}</ref>  Following this, a touchscreen port was brought to Android in 2012 through the Google Play store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.square_enix.android_googleplay.finalfantasy2 |title=FINAL FANTASY II – Android Apps on Google Play |author=SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd. |work=google.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105023120/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.square_enix.android_googleplay.finalfantasy2 |archive-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=August 2025}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = PSP: 65%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/psp/937910-final-fantasy-ii/index.html |title=Final Fantasy II for PSP |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030063715/http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/937910-final-fantasy-ii/index.html |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| OC = Pixel Remaster: 81%<ref name="Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Reviews">{{cite web |title=Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Reviews |url=https://opencritic.com/game/11747/final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster |website=[[OpenCritic]] |access-date=May 20, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
| MC = PSP: 63/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |title=Final Fantasy II for PSP Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=June 9, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029153423/http://www.metacritic.com/game/psp/final-fantasy-ii |archive-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref><br />iOS: 73/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Final Fantasy II for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118001742/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/final-fantasy-ii |archive-date=November 18, 2015}}</ref><br />Pixel Remaster: 77/100<ref name="Pixel Remaster">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref>
| Fam = Famicom: 9/10, 9/10, 9/10, 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu|Famicom Tsūshin]]|date=December 23, 1988|language=Japanese|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|title=新作ゲーム クロスレビュー|trans-title=New Games Cross Review|first1=Famibo|last1=Tofuya|first2=Bucho|last2=Mizuno|last3=Morishita|first3=Mariko|author4=Taco•X|issue=64|location=Japan|p=19}}</ref><br />WonderSwan: 8/10, 7/10, 8/10, 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine|title=WonderSwan|magazine=ファミ通クロスレビュー2001パーフェクトガイド|trans-magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu Cross Review 2001 Perfect Guide]]|year=2002|publisher=[[Enterbrain]]|language=Japanese|location=Tokyo|ref=WS-rev|author=''Famitsu'' staff|p=176}}</ref><br />PS: 27/40<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ファイナルファンタジーII (PS) |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2549 |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041551/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2549 |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
| GSpot = PSP: 6/10<ref name="GSPSPreview"/>
| GSpy = PSP: {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="GSpy"/>
| IGN = PSP: 6.1/10<ref name="IGNPSPreview"/><br />iOS: 6.8/10<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy II Review: The one where Cid shows up |website=IGN |author=Levi Buchanan |date=February 25, 2010 |url=http://ign.com/articles/2010/02/25/final-fantasy-ii-review-2 |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112133305/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/25/final-fantasy-ii-review-2 |archive-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref>
| NWR = Pixel Remaster: 6.5/10<ref name="Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Review" />
| RPGFan = Pixel Remaster: 72/100<ref name="Final Fantasy II (Pixel Remaster) Review" />
| PSQ = Pixel Remaster: 6/10<ref name="Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster (PS4) - The Best Version of a Flawed Final Fantasy">{{cite web |last1=Ramsay |first1=Robert |title=Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster (PS4) - The Best Version of a Flawed Final Fantasy |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster |website=[[Push Square]] |access-date=May 20, 2025 |date=April 19, 2023}}</ref>
| TA = iOS: {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2010/02/24/final-fantasy-and-final-fantasy-ii-excellent-ports-of-rpg-classics/ |title='Final Fantasy' and 'Final Fantasy II' – Excellent Ports of RPG Classics |last=Hodapp |first=Eli |website=[[TouchArcade]] |date=February 24, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141952/https://toucharcade.com/2010/02/24/final-fantasy-and-final-fantasy-ii-excellent-ports-of-rpg-classics/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br/>Pixel Remaster: {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="‘Final Fantasy II’ Pixel Remaster Review – The Emperor Strikes Back" />
| award1Pub = ''[[Famitsu|Famicom Tsūshin]]'' (1989)
| award1 = Best Scenario<ref name=Famitsu1989/>
}}

According to Square, the original Famicom release sold 800,000 copies.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Final Fantasy III|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=63|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=October 1994|page=172}}</ref> As of March 2003, the game, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1.28 million copies worldwide, with 1.08 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 200,000 abroad.<ref name="2003sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |title=Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies |date=February 9, 2004 |access-date=March 1, 2008 |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |page=27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109063558/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf |archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref> As of September 2007 the PlayStation Portable version had shipped 90,000 copies in Japan and 70,000 in North America.<ref>{{cite web|title=FY2007 First-Half Period Results Briefing Session |date=November 19, 2007 |url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/20071119en_20.pdf |work=Square-Enix.com |access-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922083039/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/20071119en_20.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref>

Upon release, ''[[Famitsu|Famicom Tsūshin]]'' (now ''Famitsu'') gave the original Famicom version a score of 35 out of 40, based on a panel of four reviewers giving it ratings of 9, 9, 9 and 8 out of 10. This made it one of their three highest-rated games of 1988, along with ''[[Dragon Quest III]]'' (which scored 38/40) and ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' (which scored 35/40). It was also one of the magazine's five highest-rated games up until 1988, along with ''[[Dragon Quest II]]'' (which scored 38/40) and ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'' (which scored 36/40).<ref name="geimin">{{cite web|title=Famitsu Hall of Fame |url=http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review/ |work=Geimin |access-date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204020438/http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review |archive-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> The 1989 "All Soft Catalog" issue of ''Famicom Tsūshin'' included ''Final Fantasy II'' in its list of the [[List of video games considered the best|best games of all time]], giving it the Best Scenario [[List of Game of the Year awards|award]].<ref name=Famitsu1989>{{citation|magazine=[[Famitsu|Famicom Tsūshin]]|issue=All Soft Catalog '89|year=1989|title=Best Scenario Award: Final Fantasy II}}</ref> Retrospectively, [[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]] described the stat-building system as an "Innovation", noting that "computer RPGs took the "level" system wholesale from [[Role-playing game|tabletop role-playing games]] and made it a genre staple, but ''FF2'' eliminated levels altogether", but that what "sounds novel at first wound up being a huge mess".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Innovation of Final Fantasy – Hits and Misses |publisher=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]] |author=G4 Staff |date=March 16, 2012 |url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/721825/the-innovation-of-final-fantasy-hits-and-misses/ |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112133953/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/721825/the-innovation-of-final-fantasy-hits-and-misses/ |archive-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref>

''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine scored the WonderSwan version of the game a 30 out of 40,<ref name="Famitsu915">''ワンダースワン – ファイナルファンタジーII''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.112. June 30, 2006.</ref> and [[GameSpot]] noted the ''Dawn of Souls''{{'}} mostly outdated graphics but praised its length and bonus content.<ref name="spot">{{cite web |last=Massimilla|first=Bethany |date = November 29, 2004| title=Final Fantasy 1 & 2:Dawn of Souls| website=[[GameSpot]]| url=http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-iii/reviews/final-fantasy-i-and-ii-dawn-of-souls-review-6114260/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026142452/http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-iii/reviews/final-fantasy-i-and-ii-dawn-of-souls-review-6114260/| archive-date=October 26, 2012| access-date=August 31, 2006}}</ref> [[IGN]] noted the great improvement in the translation of the story over ''Final Fantasy I'' and the addition of later ''Final Fantasy'' features, such as being able to save anywhere in the overworld map without a tent or cabin.<ref name="revIGN">{{cite web|author=Dunham, Jeremy |date=November 30, 2004 |title=Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls |website=IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/30/final-fantasy-i-ii-dawn-of-souls |access-date=August 31, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917024836/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/30/final-fantasy-i-ii-dawn-of-souls |archive-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref> The ''Dawn of Souls'' release was named the IGN Game Boy "Game of the Month" for March 2004, and the package was rated 76th in ''[[Nintendo Power]]''{{'}}s Top 200 Games list.<ref>{{cite web|author=IGN Staff |date=November 30, 2004 |title=GBA Game of the Month: November 2004 |website=IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/gba-game-of-the-month-november-2004 |access-date=September 3, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009054705/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/gba-game-of-the-month-november-2004 |archive-date=October 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |first=Pete |last=Michaud |date=January 2006| title=NP Top 200 |volume=199 |pages=42–43}}</ref> The dialogue system was thought to be time-consuming and stilted, but was still a milestone for interactivity. The story was considered to be much more involved and deep than the first ''Final Fantasy'', as it involved romance and the death of characters. The game's plot was thought by some reviewers to mirror elements of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars: A New Hope]]'' in its use of an orphan joining a rebellion against an empire that was building a massive ship, with a captive princess inside.<ref name="FFII"/> [[GameSpy]] praised the addition of the ability to save the game at any time, calling the feature crucial for a game on a [[handheld game console]], and in contrast to [[GameSpot]], praised the graphics, saying that while they were primitive, they were "well-suited" to the Game Boy Advance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/final-fantasy-gba-rumored/569939p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222912/http://uk.gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/final-fantasy-gba-rumored/569939p1.html|archive-date=October 4, 2013|title=Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls|last=Vassar|first=Darryl|date=December 1, 2004|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|access-date=December 2, 2009}}</ref> The game's leveling system was re-used in the ''[[SaGa]]'' series.<ref name="Parish2009a">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8987032&publicUserId=5379721 |publisher=[[UGO Networks]] |work=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=2009-11-17 |date=2009-04-28 |author=Parish, Jeremy |title=8-Bit Cafe: Game Boy Essentials, 1989 Edition |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409120946/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8987032 |archive-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>

The PSP version was met with generally average reviews. GameSpot described the "more intriguing" story and "key words" system as "notable" in "the evolution of the series and genre" but called the level up system "chaotic" and noted that unlike previous versions, this was shipped without a version of ''Final Fantasy I''.<ref name="GSPSPreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-ii-anniversary-edition/reviews/final-fantasy-ii-anniversary-edition-review-6176175/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105020234/http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-ii-anniversary-edition/reviews/final-fantasy-ii-anniversary-edition-review-6176175/|archive-date=November 5, 2012|title=Final Fantasy II Review|last=VanOrd|first=Kevin|date=August 3, 2007|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=November 25, 2009}}</ref> IGN described the "dialogue and story" as "much more interesting than" its predecessor and the "proficiency system not unlike what's found in ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]''" as a "semi-innovation" for its time, but also complained about the gameplay.<ref name="IGNPSPreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/26/final-fantasy-ii-review-3 |title=Final Fantasy II Review |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy |date=July 26, 2007 |website=IGN |access-date=November 25, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210032118/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/26/final-fantasy-ii-review-3 |archive-date=December 10, 2012}}</ref> Both sources praised the graphics, however.<ref name="GSPSPreview"/><ref name="IGNPSPreview"/> GameSpy, while echoing similar complaints about the "quirky and sometimes confusing" leveling system and praises for the graphics, also applauded the supposed decrease in difficulty of the game, which in the reviewers' opinion eliminated the necessity to abuse the leveling system in order to progress in the game as the player had to do in the original game.<ref name="GSpy">{{cite web|url=http://uk.psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/final-fantasy-ii/808381p1.html |title=Final Fantasy II |last=Graziani |first=Gabe |date=July 26, 2007 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716181544/http://uk.psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/final-fantasy-ii/808381p1.html |archive-date=July 16, 2008}}</ref>

The Pixel Remaster of ''Final Fantasy II'' received mostly positive reviews. It received a score of 77/100 on Metacritic,<ref name="Pixel Remaster" /> and on ''[[OpenCritic]]'', 81% of critics recommended the game.<ref name="Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Reviews" /> Jenni Lada of ''[[Siliconera]]'' gave the release a 7 out of 10, and felt it had aged the best out of the first three ''Final Fantasy'' games, citing it as "an entry that dared to be different" while praising its leveling system and story.<ref name="Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Still Feels Unique">{{cite web |last1=Lada |first1=Jenni |title=Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Still Feels Unique |url=https://www.siliconera.com/review-final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster-still-feels-unique/ |website=[[Siliconera]] |access-date=May 20, 2025 |date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> Conversely, Chris Shive of ''Hardcore Gamer'' described it as "one of the weaker titles in the franchise" and felt it "[suffered] from a bit of middle child syndrome", but praised the story as being "vastly expanded on from the first game".<ref name="Hardcore Gamer">{{cite web |last1=Shive |first1=Chris |title=Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster/407719/ |website=[[Hardcore Gamer]] |access-date=May 20, 2025 |language=en |date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> Audra Bowling of ''RPGFan'' gave the release a score of 72 out of 100. She described the game as "divisive" and "the eccentric cousin" of the ''Final Fantasy'' series, and bemoaned the dungeons as "extremely poor" and "nightmarish affairs", but praised the story as being "strong for the era".<ref name="Final Fantasy II (Pixel Remaster) Review">{{cite web |last1=Bowling |first1=Audra |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Final Fantasy II (Pixel Remaster) Review |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster/ |access-date=May 20, 2025 |website=RPGFan}}</ref> Robert Ramsay of ''[[Push Square]]'' gave the fame a score of six out of ten, describing it as the "best version of a divisive Final Fantasy".<ref name="Review: Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster (PS4) - The Best Version of a Flawed Final Fantasy" />

''Nintendo World Report'' writer Donald Theriault gave the game a score of 6.5 out of 10, and praised the release for including quality-of-life features that "make the game something I could finish without cursing the whole way".<ref name="Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Review">{{cite web |last1=Theriault |first1=Donald |title=Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/63678/final-fantasy-ii-pixel-remaster-switch-review |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=May 20, 2025 |date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Shaun Musgrave of ''[[TouchArcade]]'' gave the game 3.5 stars out of 5, calling it a "lovely remake of a game that people tend to either love or hate". He praised the game's story, but felt the Game Boy Advance version was superior due to the exclusion of the ''Dawn of Souls'' story from the Pixel Remaster.<ref name="‘Final Fantasy II’ Pixel Remaster Review – The Emperor Strikes Back">{{cite web |last1=Musgrave |first1=Shaun |title='Final Fantasy II' Pixel Remaster Review – The Emperor Strikes Back |url=https://toucharcade.com/2021/07/30/final-fantasy-2-pixel-remaster-iphone-ipad-android-review/ |website=[[TouchArcade]] |access-date=May 20, 2025 |date=July 30, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[SaGa]], which continued the leveling system used in ''Final Fantasy II''
* [[List of Square Enix video game franchises]]
{{Portal|Japan|Video games|1980s}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book | title=Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive | publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] | year=2018 | isbn=978-15-0670-644-3 | volume=1 | publication-place=Milwaukie}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline|2=''Final Fantasy II''}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline|Final Fantasy II|''Final Fantasy II''}}

{{Final Fantasy series|FF=FFI&II|state=expanded}}
{{Matrix Software}}
{{Authority control}}

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