| The Final Fantasy Legend | |
|---|---|
 Box art of the North American Game Boy release, titled The Final Fantasy Legend | |
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | Game Boy Square WonderSwan
Square Enix |
| Director(s) | Akitoshi Kawazu |
| Designer(s) | Akitoshi Kawazu |
| Programmer(s) |
|
| Artist(s) |
|
| Writer(s) | Akitoshi Kawazu |
| Composer(s) | Nobuo Uematsu |
| Series | SaGa[a] |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy, WonderSwan Color, i-mode, EZweb, SoftBank Mobile, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows |
| Release | Game Boy WonderSwan Color
|
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Final Fantasy Legend, originally released in Japan as Makai Toushi Sa・Ga[b] is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Game Boy. It was originally released in Japan in December 1989 and North America in September 1990. It is the first game in the SaGa series and the first role-playing video game for the system. Square translated the game into English for worldwide release and renamed it, linking it with the Final Fantasy series to improve marketing. Sunsoft re-released it in North America during 1998; Square followed with a Japan-exclusive remake released for the WonderSwan Color and mobile phones in 2002 and 2007 respectively, it was also ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2020 and later ported to Android, iOS and Microsoft Windows in 2021.
The Final Fantasy Legend operates on a turn-based system similar to that of Final Fantasy II. The game's characters battle monsters and fiends using a variety of weapons, armor, and skills that develop through the player's actions. The game follows the story of four heroes who attempt to scale a tower at the center of the world that supposedly leads to paradise. The four heroes may belong to one of three character classes, each housing a unique customization path.
The Final Fantasy Legend was conceived by Nobuyuki Hoshino and developed under director Akitoshi Kawazu; renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu wrote its score. The game is Square's first million seller with 1.37 million units shipped. Though released to mixed reception, it has since been described as one of the Game Boy's greatest games and cited as an influence for series such as the Pokémon franchise.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
KawazuUSGwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The History of SaGa". Retro Gamer (180). Imagine Publishing: 80–85. April 19, 2018.
- ^ Gann, Patrick (May 4, 2015). "The Uematsu You Never Knew". Original Sound Version. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
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