Final Fantasy: The Story of Hironobu Sakaguchi (And How He Saved Square)

[@AndersonTenecela]

Just has it seem like darkness would make Squaresoft fade away and turned into a distant memory, Hironobu Sakaguchi gave everything he got and in turn, Final Fantasy I became the power of light that saved Squaresoft and Sakaguchi himself and in turn 35 years later gave birth to millions of fans in the genre and incredible memories we will keep in our hearts

[@danieldavies3105]

Guy was determined, ff7 one of the best games ever created

[@nemoisnobody]

I never get tired of this story. It's actually pretty inspiring.

[@auroninja]

All hail the true Warrior of Light!

[@Forever_Zero]

I owe that man a lot, sure, he didn't make Final Fantasy by himself, but he went against the odds and found the perfect storm to make it possible

[@RoninXDarknight]

The gaming world would be a very different place if he had given in and left Square before making Final Fantasy.

[@hunger4wonder]

It would have been a tragedy. I feel sorry for the dark alternate universe where that's a reality.

[@Enharmony1625]

Sakaguchi's magnum opus will always be FF6 -- the best game ever made!

[@rleeton1]

Really loved this format and would definitely enjoy more videos focusing on specific people involved in the series. Would especially love to see one of these on Nobuo Uematsu

[@ultrawan88v2]

Just realized...the background music is FFVIII succession of the witches? Wow...

[@Fwuffles]

I love all of your videos thanks to the flawless presentation, impeccable research, and Daryl's smooth-as-silk narration. I do prefer longform documentaries, such as what you have been tackling with the History of Square - but I fully understand what an undertaking such a project has been. If bite-sized versions of that work better for y'all, please continue that trend! Take care of yourselves, thanks for everything!

[@zosowon]

dude is a legend and genuinely hilarious i love final fantasy more than any other game

[@trigunner6968]

I have a personal project I've been wanting to do for the longest time now. This story of Hironobu Sakaguchi-san is my Go-To story when I wanna be inspired in seeing my project through to the end.

[@ViperliciousOG]

*Excellent video!* I would genuinely love more of these bite sized mini-docs about the talent behind our beloved franchise :3 Their struggles, triumphs, epiphanies and miracles behind the scenes both obscure & well known. I think it'll be a refreshing way to expand y'all's (lol) content without resorting to 50 Top whatever lists. Nothing wrong w/countdown videos but behind each Square game is a team of people all giving pieces of themselves up for a project. Their stories should be well researched/documented, presented & preserved for their international audience to appreciate. Why not go _beyond_ product to discuss ways cultures/fandoms/the industry/etc have been impacted by a release? So much to explore! I'd even be happy to help with research 😇 *TLDR* More of this video format for any+all developer tales regarding Final Fantasy

[@flamuralaj3302]

I have deep appreciation for Sakaguchi-san for creating Final Fantasy and for his team that helped him realize this series. This is partly because of Kingdom Hearts being a thing, too. Without FF, there would be no KH. I hope his Apple Arcade game, Fantasian, makes its way to PlayStation.

[@khazadmann]

9 will always be my favorite.

[@stuartgauld6767]

Just to see the God of Final Fantasy. Getting his Rap star on. Worth every second

[@onewingedslayer6983]

My first Final Fantasy was 7, but it got me hooked hard. Now as I have played through all but X on stream from mainline-games, I'd like to arrange Sakaguchi's first 5 Final Fantasies in following order for my favourites: FFIII, FFI, FFII,FFV, FFIV. Aside from 4, all the mentioned are pretty close to one another in my book. Maybe I am a strange one since everyone keeps hating 2. But if only thing I hated was easy bosses and stupid dungeons, I'd say it's not that dealbreaking. Story was cool and keyword-mechanic was so awesome. As a roleplayer I loved the way it helped narrative to instruct player. All the glory to the man and his legacy. I decided long ago to be the fan till the day of my demise and my love for it(or card game based on the franchise) will never diminish.

[@mfntonberry]

The ff15 ost is exquisite.

[@SoloWan_XIII]

Thanks for doing this interesting documentary. Sakaguchi-sama story is inspiring and I'm really glad that he and his team was able to create my favorite game franchise :).

[@EnochBP]

One of the few people who change everything in their field and have their work present in at least some small amount of the DNA in everything after. The term legend doesn't do the man justice.

[@ErakirPompop]

Just commenting to say yes, I did enjoy this short history kind of format! I'll always stick around for things like this!

[@javib2978]

Hironobu Sakaguchi is a legend and genius who created Final Fantasy. Along the likes of Go Nagai, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, Hideaki Anno, and Alan Moore.

[@Gregoroth_Durai]

Absolutely loved this. Bring on Itou and Matsuno!

[@sephiroth21347]

Love this style of video, def would love more 🎉

[@Hot_Dog_Jones]

I fucking loved that you used his video with Mega64 for the silly parts of his story he is such a legend for that video

[@shindoko]

I have to give ff4 the biggest influence of all JRPG it wasn't the first game to have a character driven story but it was the first big game to do it and it's the driving float made square a world wide powerhouse for JRPS all over the world along with almost all of today's standards for what an RPG is In depth story Individual character arcs Expansive world/s Custom character battle skills/classes Plot driven side quests (chrono trigger did it better) The music was masterful and added a lot to the story (the first time I watched "Cecil I'll save you... the door is locked from the inside...BOOM..." scean along with the music I cried it was so heartfelt and completely gut renching because for the last sevral hrs you grow to know him then... even after 20+years makes me tear up a little SNES vs best for that because of its simplicity ha no spoilersfor thoes not in the know) The first real challenge modes on forums like the Cecil only run and lowest lv runs The how fast can you beat the game no glitches no tool assist speed runs (back when it was purely skill based and not all AI and hacks) Then one of the biggest plot twists to hit the gaming world at that time and still one of the best ( you decide out of the which of them is best Fire ring Fabol Cristal fight Kain and Rosa Cecil brother After Demon Wall Truth of Fol So Ya to Cecil I have my fave I say who the brother is but what's yours and if without spoilers even better all of you who know this game know each of the ones I listed

[@jamesmcgowan8898]

I mean any of the ffs he worked on could be a favorite. They are all masterpieces.

[@hexshadowman]

Happy 35th Anniversary to my favorite video game series of all time. Here's to 35 more!

[@kermitwithamustache3885]

He created Final Fantasy because he wanted at least one based game where we kill CHAOS

[@TheSteelers4190]

1a) FFVII 1b) FFIX Those are his greatest games in my opinion in regards to the question asked at the end

[@neoshadowdukeofgames8223]

I like all your videos, whether long or short, I feel like you could probably break down the history of square videos and convert them into history’s of the key players like ya do with your FF character & job origins.

[@broson2480]

I must've had so much fun during FFXIV DT's latter half with all the IX stuff going on.

[@Nevermind_Oblivion]

This again! I guess I have to watch this now!

[@WinspearUltima]

Sakaguchis greatest game that he has ever created is definitely final fantasy IX, it is the true definition of final fantasy and it’s his favourite final fantasy game.

[@elknolasshrineofraja3966]

🌸❤️The tale of one of the greatest visionaries to ever Grace the gaming landscape, and to ever live❤️🌸

[@seanpope1890]

a great series indeed! one of my top favs

[@first-law-fantasyabercromb7308]

similiar vids about Matsuno, Ito and Uematsu would be great!

[@WillStutler]

kings knight!!! that brings me back

[@stevemanart]

I liked this video format, and please do one for YoshiP

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

He saved Square during the late 80s and enable square to grow which resulted in the hiring of more staffs. By the mid 90s final fantasy was develop by Nomura. Sakaguchi tried to bring square to new height in the late 90s but end up in failure with the movie commercial flop project. Square went into financial crisis and merge with enix. Sakaguchi resign and went to form his own studio mistwalker and become a free man from then til now. He's old now. I wish him peace,freedom and happiness.

[@najeejenkins7070]

I don’t remember Nomura developing anything in the 90s, he was a character designer that’s all I remember.

[@ColinKatz]

Yeah, this is pretty revisionist. Nomura was a character designer in the 90s, with a few other contributions. He didn't direct a game until Kingdom Hearts (2002). He didn't direct Final Fantasy until the Advent Children movie and didn't produce until 2007 with Crisis Core. Yoshinori Kitase on the other hand was a Director in the 90s, for FF 6 (along with Ito) as well as 7 and 8.

[@Sairiui]

I would've honestly loved to know the full story of Final Fantasy II from the NES. I don't think any of the remasters really went into more detail, and just ended up being graphic enhancements or bug fixes. All of this new content shown throughout Dissidia really makes me feel like there is a much better story that was never able to be fully told. I would love to know the life Firion, Maria, Guy, and Leon had before the empire arrived, how Guy learned to speak with animals, Firion's rivalry with Leon, and maybe Leon's leadership tested through his lack of strength that he seeks. Seeing scenes from Opera Omnia led me to believe that Maria might have a form of autism, but also feels lost without her brother Leon. I would've loved to know more about their quest to help the rebels, whether it be through guidance of Minwu acting as a teacher, to the party helping Gordon with the confidence he needs to fulfill his duties. Not to mention Josef and his daughter, among others. I know people will prefer remakes to Final Fantasy IX or VI, but these already have their stories told well. Fix II, please. Not IV, but II.

[@NAzo.]

They did do a retropestive on FInal Fantasy II for the NES alongside I and III in case you've never seen it: watch?v=jYD-m5KYtjw They're currently on FF5 just released days ago and have recently did FF4.

[@eliotwildermann]

God I wish he would create something like lost odyssey again that game was a goat 🐐

[@BlazingCosmos]

7 and 9 are my top two faves

[@ElricSowrd]

Those clips from Mega 64. LOL 😆

[@DarttheLegend]

Final Fantasy 9 is truly Sakaguchi's Magnum Opus

[@seankkg]

I almost think FF4 is his best work just because of how well they made what they learned on FF3 next gen and truly story oriented.

[@georgehouliaras7239]

A real life Warrior of Light.

[@Lamasis2]

It's Lost Odyssey for me.

[@stormranger528]

I will never stop. Please do a video about the ELEMENTS!!! 🔥⚡❄🌪💧🪨

[@hotcoldman9793]

SakaGUCHI!!

[@usvidragonslayer3091]

What an interesting story

[@Malacite]

He's an absolute legend and has worked on many, MANY of my favorite games. But I gotta go with FFXI, because it's my favorite game of all-time so yeah, heavily biased there. But just look at the list - Parasite Eve, Xenogears, FF1-12.... in fact I think his only misteps really were Lost Odyssey and The Last Story.

[@Coyt415]

I believe VI or VII was his final one he developed. Someone can get the right one for me.

[@1jidion]

cruise chaser...blassty, both references to the alexander raid, blassty is what the goblins call cruise chaser

[@1jidion]

i love this story

[@Thelastjoka]

I was the 1000 th like ! Just needed to point this out !

[@Terranigma23]

Now it's how Yoshi P is handeling all Square Enix on his back. I can't imagine Square Enix without all the money from FFXIV. 😅

[@dytgyfgyffuh243]

Please Please please make a final fantasy 13 facts video

[@tonytom5242]

What's the bg music playing?

[@FirithPanda]

The music is always put in the top left along with the artist and mentioned in the description of the video, but the list is: - Wanderlust from Final Fantasy XV - The Stage Is Set from Final Fantasy VIII -Cid's Theme from Final Fantasy VII (The artist is TPR)

[@leyonneh]

I love 15 with a passion lol

[@Lofoten2223]

Bring Lost Odyssey to Steam!

[@kueapel911]

Sakaguchi's greatest? FF9.

[@leonardogsperin]

Now say about enix legacy

[@mallontommy]

1ff10 2ff7 3 ff8 4ff6 5ff4 6ff9 7ff5

[@Sdragoon1]

Comment for engagement

[@trainerwsm]

Unfortunately this is a wildly incorrect video, if you’d like to see a more factual video about Sakaguchi, please watch Mega64’s.

[@VncentValntine]

@Mryuu mm its a joke, check out the vid (its where the clips of sakaguchi at his desk are from).

[@first-law-fantasyabercromb7308]

so much went downhill when Sakaguchi left Square, Ito, Matsuno, Uematsu and Sakaguchi are legends, just like Takahashi (now Monolith/Xenoblade). i feel these were far greater men than Kitase/Nomura/Toriyama: sadly these three are now calling the shots at Square, Yoshi P. and the Amano division (Octopath) is a notable exception, but otherwise Square had its best days behind it...

[@Krizzah47]

Poor video with no new information. Probably because of the complete history of square videos…

[@josephreed8047]

Hey uhm u hated your comments on butz and terraanyhie they said you were fired before7 but maybe that is so then again yoir there with all that gay shit which made it the best i personaly am going to make you if still alive i havent checked into the best modern age video game producer for rpgs and adventurer titles bar none this isnt toyou its to all the lames watching this is whqt i am going to do within 5 years just listen and wtach as i did say;) ratger then i

[@137cloud]

Except this time, again, Square enix is on the verge of a sinking ship.

[@daviddavidson6289]

Dude no, FF died as a series after 9 was the last good one, 8 was a total dogshit garbage fire. Glad that dude hung on tho, he made some fucking great bangers.