Summary
Square Enixhas made tons of sequels in their biggest franchises, likeFinal FantasyandDragon Quest. None of them were direct sequels, though. For example,Final Fantasy 7did not act as a direct sequel toFinal Fantasy 6. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the company started to make direct sequels to some of these games.
One of the first ones wasFinal Fantasy 10-2,which directly continued theadventures of Yuna. That’s one example of a sequel, but Square Enix has also made several prequels to further expand on original games. Many Square Enix franchises feature prequel games, but some stand out for being slightly better than others.
Dragon Quest Treasuresis a prequel adventure toDragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, starring one of the party members, Erik. InDragon Quest 11, Erik talks about adventuring with his sister, Mia, when they were younger and before she was cursed to a motionless hell. It’s a dark backstory, butDragon Quest Treasuresis a more whimsical game without a lot of heartache.
Players will dive into dungeons, fight monsters in real-time, andget tons of lootin the process. It’s not going to answer any huge questions about Mia, but it is nice to have a game wherein Erik can be seen happily questing with his sister. Of the many spin-offs in the series, this one is still worth picking up on Switch even if players have not touchedDragon Quest 11.
Star Ocean: The Last Hopetakes place in the near future of Earth when it is plagued by a third World War. Resources are bad, so a mandate to explore the cosmos is set forth, kicking off the entire series. The game takes place hundreds of years before the first game on the SNES, and it is the only game in the series to be set this far back in the timeline.
Players can think oftheStar Oceanseriesas a more anime-inspired Japanese take onStar Trek, where exploration and communication between worlds is key to humanity’s survival. This knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoyStar Ocean: The Last Hope, though, as it is yet another fine action RPG that blends fantasy and sci-fi tropes together. It has received various editions and upgrades over the years, most recently in 2017 with a big 4K remaster on consoles like the PS4.
Life Is Strange: Before the Stormwas the first game that Deck Nine worked on for Square Enix after they reformed from Idol Minds. This was also the start of Deck Nine taking over the series primarily for Don’t Nod Entertainment. It was a prequel to the first game, showcasing what Chloe was up to beforeMax returned to town.
It featured a good story that illustrated how Chloe was much more than just a victim. She was a person with strong feelings for a love she lost, mirroring the journey Max went through in trying to save her in the originalLife is Strange. There aren’t many weird powers to speak of in this title, but the game does feature a quirky dialogue-choice system that allows for a deeper look into what makes Chloe who she is.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleeptakes place approximately ten years prior to the story of the debut game and does a great deal to set up the events that are destined to transpire later in the series. It tells the tale of three Keyblade wielders who are trying to become Masters of their craft. Terra, Aqua, and Ventus aretraining under Master Eraqus, but the only one to move on is Aqua. The game is divided into three campaigns, with each character uncovering different secrets and engaging in unique activities throughout each world they visit.
It was a good prequel to show how things got muddled in the first place, showcasing how Master Xehanort was always the big bad behind the shadows,even as Sorawas taking flight in the first game. It does retcon a few things, like how Riku and Sora are touched with Keyblade magic, but a lot of prequels do similar things to some degree. The gameplay featured is similar to that of the console games. It is an action RPG, but it features a new engaging mechanic that allows players to combo skills together and craft new forms of magic, allowing for a lot of experimentation.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7showcased how good of a character Zack was in the original game. The entire prequel takes place seven years beforeFinal Fantasy 7, and it takes a look at how Zack rose through the ranks within the SOLDIER program at Shinra. He goes through a lot of heartache following the betrayal of multiple mentors, like Angeal and Sephiroth. Despite his low points, Zack was always able to keep a grin on his face and a positive attitude in his mind. Zack isa genuinely caring personwho does not go out of his way to seek power.
The game ends on a sour note, however, as Zack is gunned down by Shinra officers, but this heroic act was all to save Cloud, setting up the events ofFinal Fantasy 7in the process. It was a bittersweet end for a genuinely engaging action RPG on the PSP, which still looks great natively to this day. That said, theCrisis Core -Final Fantasy 7- Reunionremaster is currently the best way to experience Zack’s story.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeriatakes place hundreds of years before the first game and is not directly tied to anything besides the wider Norse mythology. Ragnarok is on the brink of eruption, and a young girl, Alicia, is the only one standing in its way. Inside her are warriors who form a Persona-like bond with Alicia’s soul, which is a bit hard to explain, but that’s essentially the gist of it.
The game is set on a 2D plane, and there are puzzle platforming segments to engage with, too. Battles have a tactical edge to them, as players can run around the battlefield to avoid attacks while planning their own stationary counters. It’s one of thehardest tactical gamesSquare Enix has ever produced, and only the strongest of strategic minds will be able to get through it.
