Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 50

Days

Hours

Minutes

Skip It

Despite a bewildering story, absurd writing, and a host of technical issues, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin mostly fails upwards.

Skip It

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 50

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 50

Despite a bewildering story, absurd writing, and a host of technical issues, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin mostly fails upwards.

Where to Play

** VSG may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Rate and Review

What did you think of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin?

Player Reviews0 Votes

Critic Reviews for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Critic Reviews

Distribution

50

Reviews

High Score - 90/100

90%

Average Score - 74/100

74%

Low Score - 50/100

50%

8/10

Jada Griffin (IGN)

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin’s story doesn’t come together until the final hours, but when it does it pairs nicely with a solid and engaging action combat system and a strong dose of FF nostalgia.

March 14, 2022 |

Full Review

There’s a half-decent time to be had bashing your way around Stranger of Paradise’s dungeons, but routine level design, rough edges and messy narrative delivery stop the experience evolving into a compelling adventure. Despite its efforts to create ordered systems, chaos has the final word.

March 14, 2022 |

Full Review

2.5/5 stars

Jon Bailes (GamesRadar+)

70/100

Álvaro Alonso (Hobby Consolas)

‎We are not sure if she will be remembered as a complete disaster or as a hooligan with a lot of personality. What we do have clear is that Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins is pure and absolute chaos.‎

March 14, 2022 |

Full Review

Jada Griffin (IGN)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Jon Bailes (GamesRadar+)

2.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

Álvaro Alonso (Hobby Consolas)

70/100 - (Read Review)

**Read all 50 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (50 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Euyen Esquefa Pons	80 / 100	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is a remarkable game with an excellent combat system that serves to cover up some of the shortcomings in the title. Who knows what he is going to, I doubt he will end up disappointed. Of course, the game could have been much more.	Read review
ACG	Jeremy Penter	Not Recommended	03-14-2022	Video Review	Read review
Atomix	Rodolfo León	80 / 100	03-18-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin does a fantastic job on the gameplay department, but fails at almost everything else. The combat is fun, and the class system gives the player an immense amount of freedom to play however they want, but the lackluster graphics and pretty straightforward levels certainly ruin some of its most epic moments.	Read review
Bazimag	Sina Golabzade	8 / 10	03-18-2022	From pure gameplay standpoint, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is one of the best action/rpgs ever which gives the players so many options to experiment with almost infinite number of builds and possibilities. Plot-wise and the use of music also feels like a love letter to not only the first Final Fantasy but the whole history of this franchise so it is very unfortunate that the game’s outdated visuals may turn off some of the audience from even trying it.	Read review
Daily Mirror	Eugene Sowah	4 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is basically the best of both worlds with the combination of Square Enix’s RPG elements merging with Team Ninja’s fighting mechanics to create a whole new experience for the series. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is still very much a Final Fantasy game, but it's great to see Square Enix take a risk with this title which has been fantastically executed.	Read review
Daily Star	Tom Hutchison	3 / 5 stars	03-17-2022	There’s not much by the way of emotional connection to this game. It’s old-fashioned, cliched in its storytelling and I found myself constantly hitting the skip button to get to the actual fighting.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	8.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.	Read review
Digital Trends	Tomas Franzese	3.5 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Final Fantasy Origin will enthrall players with its dumb, but awesome story and approachable Soulslike gameplay.	Read review
Eurogamer	Alan Wen	Not Recommended	03-14-2022	Baffling writing aside, default story difficulty makes this the breeziest Soulslike ever, while combat still carries depth.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Antonello Bello	7 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a partially successful experiment. The deficient script and the anachronistic technical sector, without forgetting a listless artistic direction, are in this case counterbalanced by a layered combat system and largely borrowed from Nioh.	Read review
Fextralife	Reiku	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise was a game that many of us were unsure of when it was initially revealed in E3 2021. However, Team Ninja proved to be capable in terms of interweaving the good parts that made Final Fantasy and the Soulslike genre well-known and loved by many. Not only is the combat the heart and soul of this satisfying Action RPG but it also evokes the right amount of nostalgia and familiarity to fans who have been wanting to experience Final Fantasy in another light, making it a must-play game in 2022!	Read review
Game Informer	Andrew Reiner	7 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise is the strangest Final Fantasy game yet, bounding wildly between awful and fantastic. If you can tolerate Jack (and that’s a big ask), the excellently crafted combat is worth a look. You may be coming to this game for the story and Final Fantasy experience, but it’s all about combat and little else.	Read review
Game Rant	Denny Connolly	3.5 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin seems to prove that the Final Fantasy franchise can thrive in the action game scene with this first franchise venture from Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo. The title isn't a true home run, but it is an exciting adventure that expands the franchise lore in a unique direction. The Final Fantasy Job system is as interesting and exciting as ever and adds a unique twist on the action game format as players grind through each challenging dungeon and fill in all the Job talent trees one by one.	Read review
Gameblog	Joniwan	7 / 10	03-16-2022	Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is an action-oriented RPG whose gameplay mechanics are almost entirely based on those of Nioh, one of the most prominent Dark Souls clones. The game is a bit outdated in its layout and it seems to come from another age.	Read review
GameGrin	Neil 'Wedge' Hetherington	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Certainly a title for Final Fantasy fans to dive into, even if it's just to experience the story and read up on the lore, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin has something for many gamers to enjoy.	Read review
GamePro	Michael Cherdchupan	75 / 100	03-15-2022	Trashy Final Fantasy spinoff with a boring story, but one that scores with an ingenious combat system and online co-op.	Read review
Gamersky	深夜诗人老阿吽	8.3 / 10	03-14-2022	Final Fantasy: Origins is an orthodox Final Fantasy series game with a benevolent king shell.	Read review
GamesBeat	Mike Minotti	80 / 100	03-14-2022	It’s far from the best Final Fantasy game. It certainly isn’t the best action game. But it’s still a fast-paced and enjoyable playthrough.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Take its unfortunate performance issues in your stride – which will hopefully be ironed out by Team Ninja post-launch – and you’ll have a hell of a lot of fun with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Its story may be ridiculous and not particularly easy to follow, but you’ll enjoy trying. And besides, the real draw here is the combat, which is not only highly entertaining but so, so deep thanks to the brilliant job system. This is a new type of Final Fantasy game, one that puts action at the front and centre, and it’s a blast from beginning to end.	Read review
GameSpot	Phil Hornshaw	7 / 10	03-14-2022	There's a lot of meme potential in Stranger of Paradise thanks to its willingness to be aggressively confusing, but fun, varied combat carries its most WTF moments forward.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Jon Bailes	2.5 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	There's a half-decent time to be had bashing your way around Stranger of Paradise's dungeons, but routine level design, rough edges and messy narrative delivery stop the experience evolving into a compelling adventure. Despite its efforts to create ordered systems, chaos has the final word.	Read review
God is a Geek	Mick Fraser	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a decent action RPG, but it's occasionally weighed down by unnecessary mechanics and inconsistent difficulty.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Chris Shive	3.5 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins re-imagines the earliest Final Fantasy in a manner befitting of a popcorn action film and for the most part succeeds.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Álvaro Alonso	70 / 100	03-14-2022	‎We are not sure if she will be remembered as a complete disaster or as a hooligan with a lot of personality. What we do have clear is that Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins is pure and absolute chaos.‎	Read review
IGN	Jada Griffin	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's story doesn't come together until the final hours, but when it does it pairs nicely with a solid and engaging action combat system and a strong dose of FF nostalgia.	Read review
IGN Italy	Alessandro Digioia	6.2 / 10	03-14-2022	An action RPG with several technical and structural problems, fun at times but too immature to achieve the objectives it sets itself.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Jamie Kirk	3.5 / 5 stars	03-17-2022	Will Final Fantasy diehards get a kick out of Stranger of Paradise? It's hard to say. There are multiple enjoyable nods to past games throughout the levels, enemies and pieces of lore. The soundtrack is excellent, featuring remixed or remastered themes of multiple games. The combat is fast paced and the extensive job system takes the Final Fantasy system of old and thoroughly modernises it. Yet the game is decidedly un-Final Fantasy. Exploration is minimal, the story takes far too long to get going, the dialogue is often laughable and the characters are mostly bland blank slates. As an over the top action cheese-fest, the game puts points on the board. Just don't expect it to compete with the greatest hits.	Read review
JVL	Kikitoès	6 / 10	03-14-2022	We expected nothing and we are still disappointed. With a studio with a rather nice track record and such a strong license, full of opportunities, how is it possible to have such a classic game, not surprising, with a messy history and simply outdated?	Read review
LevelUp	Pedro Pérez Cesari	7 / 10	03-18-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin will go down in history for being memorable for better and for worse. Many of its sections are a mess, but if you can get past its flaws and learn to enjoy them you'll find a game that will entertain you immensely. Especially if you love action RPGs with rewarding combat and progression systems.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	6 / 10	03-18-2022	Enjoyable Souls-lite combat can't make up for the tedious loot system and laughably bad storytelling, in this misconceived Final Fantasy spin-off.	Read review
NoobFeed	Adam Siddiqui	70 / 100	03-18-2022	All leading to an ending that long-time fans will appreciate but newcomers will leave confused. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a mixed bag of highs and lows that collide together for an average adventure.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Jason Faulkner	7.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is a wacky game that will end up being a cult classic. The devs were not afraid to march to the beat of their own drum, and the result is the type of slightly messy, unique AA game that we used to get in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It’s goofy, flawed, and fabulous, and I hope Square Enix continues to lean into publishing more experimental titles like this.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Garri Bagdasarov	6.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise is the perfect example of gameplay towering above the sum of its parts. I loved the combat and job system, which allows for dynamic battles and strategy. It's just a shame that the rest of the game feels low budget and unfinished. If you're looking for an origin story to the original Final Fantasy, you'll get it here, but chances are you may want to forget it as soon as you're done.	Read review
Polygon	Ana Diaz	Recommended	03-17-2022	I didn’t expect to enjoy smashing the heads of monsters like this. I also didn’t expect to enjoy a story about a hyper-masculine man like Jack. But what I’ve come to learn in my time with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is that Jack isn’t a knight in shining armor. He’s better.	Read review
PowerUp!	James Wood	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Push through the desire to cringe in its face and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin delights with gauche earnestness and one of the most rewarding action combat loops on the market.	Read review
Press Start	James Mitchell	8.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Underneath cringeworthy writing and a nonsensical story, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin leverages storied Final Fantasy fanservice with a fast and deep combat system to offer up fans a celebration of the franchise like no other. While the presentation is inconsistent and the equipment system sorely lacks focus, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is great fun from beginning to end.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Eric Oliveira	90 / 100	03-14-2022	Delivering a cohesive game with addictive gameplay and mechanics, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin brings back classic characters in an honorable way. It is a good choice for fans of the franchise and lovers of the genre.	Read review
Push Square	John Cal McCormick	6 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin thinks that it's Daniel Craig's James Bond but it's actually Austin Powers. There's barely a moment in the game that isn't stretching credulity, be it the absurd writing, bewildering story, or inane characters. There's a host of technical issues, too. But somehow, despite everything, it manages to fail upwards and be a pretty good time. Maybe we've lost the plot but we liked it.	Read review
Screen Rant	Scott Baird	4 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	True to its name, Stranger of Paradise is a bizarre game. The combat is so much fun that it carries the rest of the disjointed process to the finish line. Those looking for an easier Soulslike experience with a lot of Final Fantasy fanservice will find a lot to love in Stranger of Paradise, as will those who found Elden Ring unnecessarily punishing. Stranger of Paradise is a lot of fun, so long as the player takes on Jack's mindset, and only focuses on killing Chaos and doesn't think too hard about anything else.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Adrian Morales	8 / 10	03-19-2022	Team Ninja nails the gameplay. Killing classic Final Fantasy monsters has never been more fun than it is as Jack Garland. If you can dive into Stranger of Paradise knowing that you’re in for a chaotic mess with a solid gameplay foundation, you’re in for a good time.	Read review
SpazioGames	Unknown	7.2 / 10	03-14-2022	on like classes and monsters. Is a step backward due to an unispired level desing and a shallow story.	Read review
Stevivor	Matt Gosper	6.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Overall, I would say that you should play Stranger of Paradise for its combat and not its story. While there are nuggets available for series fans, this isn’t the pinnacle of storytelling by any means. It’s best to dive into the gore rather than the lore; fight for fun, be like Jack and focus on the Chaos. Certainly don’t expect this to be a brilliant subversion of the original Final Fantasy’s narrative.	Read review
The Games Machine	Majkol Robuschi	8 / 10	03-14-2022	Narratively speaking, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin would be a badly written JRPG, but luckily Square Enix and Koei Tecmo's latest game is more than anything a very engaging action game that is very faithful to its source. Not perfect by any means but still enjoyable, the Nioh "soulslike" formula applied to the epic of Final Fantasy gives flesh to an interesting action game with a suprisingly deep learning curve and accessibility options that welcome any kind of player to the party.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Jim Hargreaves	7 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise is one of "those" games	Read review
Twinfinite	Cameron Waldrop	4 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise is a peanut butter and chocolate combination of Final Fantasy XV and Nioh. The beauty of it is that you don’t even have to be a fan of Final Fantasy I to enjoy Stranger of Paradise. The story explains everything you need to know and anything you bring into it from previous knowledge is just extra. The combat is just spicy enough that you can feel like a powerhouse, but lets the players somewhat tweak the difficulty to their own desires if they’d rather face a tougher challenge. If this is the way that Square Enix will be remaking the early Final Fantasy games I am entirely in. This iteration takes modernization to the best possible level.	Read review
VG247	Dom Peppiatt	Not Recommended	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a B-movie game. It’s loud, dumb, and full of fun. You have to ignore a lot – a lot – of issues if you want to extract the joy from its chaotic heart, but once you commit, toy around with the weapons, penetrate its poorly-explained mechanics and forgive Jack for his one-dimensional personality, you’re left with a game that’s part Devil May Cry, part Nioh, and part Face/Off. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to play that?	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	8.5 / 10	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin might be as dumb as Limp Bizkit’s lyrics, but damn if it isn’t as fun as Wes Borland’s riffs.	Read review
Wccftech	Unknown	8.2 / 10	03-14-2022	Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise is a chaotic alternative retelling of the very first Final Fantasy, following story beat by beat until it transforms into something unique in its own way.	Read review
Windows Central	Miles Dompier	2.5 / 5 stars	03-14-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin isn't the strongest outing from Team Ninja, but players will likely enjoy the compelling job system and engaging combat... when performance issues aren't hampering them, that is.	Read review
Worth Playing	Chris "Atom" DeAngelus	8 / 10	03-15-2022	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins is a strange, ridiculous, and largely delightful game. You have to accept a game that is almost painfully free of irony and self-awareness, but if you do, you'll find one of the most enjoyable spin-offs to carry the Final Fantasy name. The combat is fast, frantic, and fun, and the customization options are through the roof. The only thing that holds it back is if players enjoy the story in the same campy way as Resident Evil 4 or only find it to be frustratingly unfun.	Read review

** Learn more about how to become a MetaMeter-approved Critic.

Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Jack and his allies, Ash and Jed, burn with resolve to defeat Chaos as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Yet doubts remain—are they truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold? Step into a world of dark fantasy and revel in the exhilarating, action-packed battles!

RELEASE DATES:

DEVELOPER(S):

PUBLISHER(S):

GENRES:

SERIES/FRANCHISE:

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

LINKS:

AGE RATING:

Detailed Information

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

Developed by Team Ninja. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.