When you start Final Fantasy you are greeted with the story rather than the title screen. It tells you that the elements have gone crazy and the world has gone to hell. It tells of a prophecy stating that the Light Warriors will arrive to fix things. You are trying to restore light to the 4 orbs, but in the Japanese version they are crystals. This tradition of crystals is continued on to FF5 and makes a comeback in 9. The WSC version has a longer opening sequence showing the locations of each fiend while telling the story, and has a real title screen at the beginning:
The Japanese FF1&2 cart greets you with a title screen of sorts, to choose which game to play:
This is the first time you'll hear the Prelude, a song that has been in all the Final Fantasies. It is arranged differently in each game, and went thru a significant change in part 4(2 US) and on. I think my favorite version is 4 or 6 (they are pretty similar) but I still love the classic. The WSC version has an extra opening song that ends with a short version of the Prelude.
You are then called upon to make the all important decision of the RESPOND RATE. You should start around 4 or 5, I use 8. I find 1 to be unbareably horrible. Figure out what you like best and go with it. The WSC version has this setting in the in-game menu instead, there are only 4 settings.
Next choose CONTINUE or NEW GAME. Unfortunately there is only one save slot for this game. That's why I bought a second copy way back when. Playing on an emulator also solves this problem. The WSC version also has the option to Resume from a quick save, and has 8 save slots instead of 1. The PSX version has a Memo File instead of the quick save, and you can have as many save slots as you have space on your memory card(s).
Don't need help choosing a party? Skip ahead to THE BEGINNING.
