For the FF collector/enthusiast
598542
Burton C. Bell's voice really strikes hard during these three live performances. Drones, Slave Labor, Cyberwaste. The former is rare to hear Live on youtube, Cyberwaste, there's an odd video or two from the '04 - '06 tours.  Drones sounds amazing and strikes me as the best sounding on this Live EP. Definitely worth shedding out a few bucks for this little disc.
2654650
I purchased this cd at Anime Central 2001 in Chicago..I almost wish I had purchased another Final Fantasy soundtrack, but I do enjoy this album. The music for the game is beautiful anyway, and the sleeve art is real nice!
The only bad thing about imports, is that I cannot read the sleeve or anything. I only recommend this for the most hardcore of fans..
663469
Considering this is the only book in the known universe containing almost all woodblock prints by Kawase Hasui I had to give it 5 stars......"Resistance is Futile".
I would like to say that I think this 2 volume set was created mostly with the collector and dealer in mind. Volume 1 is not an art book, it is almost all text(English/Japanese)containing the type of information of which some may not necessarily be of interest, to a general audience. Volume 2 has all the beautiful works in color accompanied only with the title and date. The woodblock images are photographed unmatted showing the margins, and are presented in a variety of sizes in various combinations. The largest single image per page is approximately 9.5"x 6.5". There are also numerous 1/2&1/4 page size images and a small 2.5"x 3.5"-4.0"size that is used often. I would also like to add that there are no across page images so you do not feel compelled to chop the book in half! The 1st printing of this 2 vol. set was in 2003, apparently in 2008 this set was re-released, accompanied with a dvd update.
The 2003 set was expensive right from the start, but if you want all that there is for now, this is pretty much it.
2562972
I was very surprised by just how great the quality is on these. A lot of game artbooks I've received have been pretty flimsy, but this has a beautiful velvety box that you open by pulling a ribbon containing very durable and good looking hardcovers. Tons of art, definitely the best collectors piece for final fantasy I've bought.
678267
As a Fan of the FF series, it understandable why I was excited to see a thirteenth entry to the series added. Overall there is just too much to talk about to properly put it in one review, but I think the best I can say is, if your a fan of FF's complex story, and overall great gameplay mechanics, then I highly reccomend it, especially for those who were fans of the FFVII universe! ]
2105218
This collection of art is INCREDIBLE. It's a must buy for any die hard fan of the art of Final Fantasy 1 though 10.

No text, just hundreds of pages of hand drawn art by one of the best video game artists ever. Book 1 showcases Final Fantasy 1-3. Book 2 is the thickest one, showcasing (in my opinion) all of Amano's best work from Final Fantasy IV through VI. Book 3 is the lightest one because Nomura was doing a lot of the art by then but there are still some amazing sketches of Cloud and Sephiroth that were hand drawn by Amano. All 3 books come in a beautiful box that is definitely worth putting up on display.

If you're even the slightest Final Fantasy fan you owe it to yourself to pick this up. At this price you'd be crazy not to.
1079436
Good collection for the Fan of the original series. I like that there are Save-Load functions, Auto Fire, and Button Re-Map in all games. The Challenges that open up when you beat the games are a fun and different take on the original game. I also enjoyed all the art and additional info released after beating each game. I give it a 4 start, because I really wish they had developed and included 7-10, there is really no reason I can think of on why this could not have been proposed and achieved. - but to the game's benefit, I knew this before buying.
4752162
This soundtrack is wonderful! And a must-have for you video game music fans out there! I have many other Final Fantasy soundtracks in my collection, and think this one is one of the best!

 Like any other cd, the FFX soundtrack, has many up's, and some downs. Songs like "Underwater Ruins" and "Between Ordeals" can get really annoying, real fast. But songs like "To Zanarkand", "Suteki De Na", and the "Ending Theme" make up for it. Before you buy this soundtrack, you should ask yourself if you like the "Song of Prayer", because if you don't, you may want to re-think ordering this item. After all 11 of the tracks are versions of the song, and there are many other tracks with bits and pieces of the song mixed in.
 This soundtrack may not have the best Final Fantasy battle themes, but it does have one of the better love themes, that is used in many ways, through out the cd's. My biggest complaint, is the fact that, half of the soundtrack is just other versions of one song. Although, this is true of many game soundtracks, this one seems to do it more.
 Not only does this collection have four great cd's of music, but it also comes with a slip cover, and a booklet that includes track names, and pictures. I believe true Final Fantasy fans will love Final Fantasy X's score, and should buy it their interested. Others who are unsure should probably play or replay the game to hear the music, and to make sure they want it, before investing so much money.
4181069
I love it when companies re-release classic games on newer systems for those of us who grew up with them and like to walk down memory lane, and FF Chronicles collects 2 great games in one. I have many blissful memories of playing FF 4 (2 at the time) when I was much younger and it was newly released. My obsession with Final Fantasy started with number 1, and was established without doubt after playing 2. It is a phenomenal, albeit very dated game. The characters and storyline are among the best in FF history, and the gameplay (though straightforward) remains very fun. The graphics and sound of the game were top notch when released. The graphics remain very colorful and appealing even now, and the music is good if rather "cheap" sounding compared to modern games. I sometimes wish they would have spiffed these games up a bit (improving the instrumentation of the music, adding some bonus features, etc.), but I can also respect getting the games in their original form without alteration (except for the CG scenes, of course).

That is one area of major disappointment for me, the CG movies they added to FF 4. They exhibit the worst graphics I have ever seen on the PS1. A big disappointment, especially coming from the masters at Square. It looks like someone with no experience just threw them together at the last minute. I would rather they just not added them. Furthermore, I wish they could have maybe spliced them into the game instead of just having them at the beginning and end. That really misled me.

Still, a great, faithful remake of a wonderful game from the days of old.

I never played Chrono Trigger on the SNES, so it was a new experience for me, and I did wish once playing it that I had played it in my youth, as it is a phenomenal game that, although I enjoyed it, I would have appreciated much more when I was younger. Great graphics for the time, and about the best music I've ever heard in a video game. The story and game play really pull you in, and the world is one, like any great fictional place, where you find yourself wishing you could just become part of it.

Also, in contrast to FF 4, I really enjoyed the CG movies they added. They are in the anime style by the guy who did Dragonball Z, are spliced into the game at the appropriate parts,  and are really very good.

I am disappointed however, as many others on here have stated, that this game has painfully long load times that really decreased my enjoyment of the game. Every time you get into a battle or bring up the status screen, there is about a 3-5 second wait, which may not seem like a big deal, but believe me, it gets annoying real fast. Still, if you're patient, it is a good game.

I find myself wishing that they had released FF 3 on this compilation instead of Chrono Trigger, though. I mean, it is FF Chronicles. If they had put 3 on here, we could have had the entire FF series on the PS. As it is, 3 will likely never be available in a form I'm willing to acquire and play, and thus it will eternally remain a hole in my FF experience. If they had put FF 3 on here, maybe they could have done another 2 disc compilation with Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana. Now that would have been awesome.

Sadly, I can only give this 4 stars overall, and thats me being realistic as opposed to overly nostalgic. They are both great, classic games, and I'm glad to have them, and I did enjoy them. But, this collection is flawed in several ways that just a little bit more work from Square could have prevented, and made this truly worthy of 5 stars.
2197670
If you are a fan of FF, you will enjoy this game. However, after having finished it a few months ago, I am finding it difficult to remember what was unique about this game versus other FF games. There are games like Final Fantasy IV and VII that had sensational piques that will never be forgotten. File FFII in the canon of fun, but somewhat regrettable.

Hey, if it's easy to forget, then maybe it's easier to pick up a couple years later and play like new!
1222330
Final Fantasy has the best thing going.  They are great as a video game and on TV.  Hopefully more TV / Movie releases will come.
1406857
i like this game, but i haven't played yet but its from square so i know it will be good. and its from the sage of FF :D
4576608
A beautiful 2 book set with a DVD, this is a great item for serious fans of Chie Shinohara's work. A point of note, though, is that this is mostly a series of what seems to be short manga works as opposed to the art book the description might lead you to believe. Both volumes do contain a selection of nicely colored key art, but this is not a coffee table book compilation of this talented artist's work. Besides that, it's a lovely piece, and will go nicely next to the recipient's full collection of Red River.
4513489
AWESOME!! Great game just like the PS2 version, some images are better not very many thou, still I think this is the best idea from them....hope they do the same for FF 12... if your thinking about getting this game ...DO IT!
1194370
No real difference from the regular edition and this one other than the art book. Playing the series in HD made me feel like expiriencing it for the first time, a good collection for any FF fan.
2030440
These are the first comics I ever bought of the shelf..
I thought they were magic!
Inspired me to complete my FF collection!
4765295
Awesome, a must have for a collector. Includes several amazing extras