The latest demo forStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originoffers players a unique opportunity that many don’t see often in modern gaming. Considering thedepth of classes inStranger of Paradiseand the difficulty that comes with adopting Team Ninja’s gameplay style, this look into the game could be the best way to introduceFinal Fantasyfans.
One thing that also makes this demo unique, especially for a title in a franchise likeFinal Fantasy, is how rare they have seemingly become. With most games opting out of any kind of trial version at all, news about any kind of demo - from open and closed betas toStranger of Paradise’s latest demo- is often cause for celebration.
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The Stranger of Paradise Demo Lets Players Test Team Ninja’s Difficulty
Developer Team Ninja isn’t new to brutally difficult games, with the recentNiohseries being a notable take on the deliberately slow and punishing action of theSouls-like genre and theNinja Gaidenfranchise being a staple for video game difficulty. With Team Ninja taking a leading role in development, players can expectStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originto be one of the most difficult games in theFinal Fantasyseries. For fans that might not be as familiar with previous Team Ninja titles or theSouls-like genre in general, this difficulty may be intimidating.
Of course, certain builds andjobs inStranger of Paradisecould limit the difficulty, but that type of meta analysis isn’t going to be available for fans who pre-order the game and start playing on day one. There is an easy mode that could help players who are more interested in the story than collecting powerful gear or being challenged by the toughest bosses. Regardless of whether players choose to jump in at Story mode or Hard mode, getting the chance to see what to expect from the game’s difficulty could ease some worries for potential buyers who are on the fence.
The brand of difficulty Team Ninja has made a name for itself with has become more mainstream in modern gaming, but is still niche when looking at the gaming sphere as a whole. Many players who are casually interested inclassicFinal Fantasytitlesmight not be the same ones that would jump at aSouls-like version. So, this demo could go a long way toward showing fans thatStranger of Paradise, while difficult at times, could have exactly the kind of action gameplay they want out of modernFinal Fantasy.
Stranger of Paradise is a Fresh Coat of Paint on an Old IP
New things can be difficult to commit to, both for developers looking to expand out into new IPs and for fans looking for what games and franchises they want to invest their time and money into. WhileStranger of ParadisehasclassicFinal Fantasycontentat its core, both the new mechanics and story make it something that could appear unfamiliar to fans at the start. This means that while it does have the namesake, it can’t ride on that namesake alone.
If Square Enix wantsStranger of Paradiseto succeed, the developer is going to need to make sure that players have an easy introduction into everything new coming with thisrevamped version ofFinal Fantasy Origin. In that case, a limited demo that gives fans a chance to see this fresh coat of paint up-close and personal is exactly what this new title needs.
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Repeating Levels Puts Stranger of Paradise’s Jobs at the Forefront
Pulling away from atmosphere and leaning into the more technicaldetails ofStranger of Paradise’s jobsand combat, the demo puts these new classes at the head of the trial. Since the demo is limited in how much content it can show, that means those who want more out of the experience will have to look beyond story progression to find new things to explore. This leaves leveling jobs as the primary focus for anyone who wishes to continue on after they’ve reached the end of the general content.
Many classes are already locked behind finding the appropriate gear for them, or leveling through the more basic jobs on the way to the advanced ones. It isn’t likely that anyone playing through the story itself is going to make it to the end of any single job tree by the time they fight the final boss of the demo. This could give players a unique opportunity to try out classes likeStranger of Paradise’s Red Mageover multiple runs of the early levels, so they can find their favorite job before getting into the full game where the incentive to grind will be lower.
The Stranger of Paradise Demo is Fun
FromSouls-like fans toFinal Fantasyfans, there is a ton in theStranger of Paradisedemoto enjoy. The Story and Casual difficulty settings give the game a low skill floor, but the Hard mode gives it an impressive skill ceiling. So, the whole demo really does have a little for everyone, regardless of preferred play-style or the level of difficulty and challenge any one individual might be interested in.
Now with story content front-loading the current demo over previous ones, fans can get a whole new look atStranger of Paradise’s Garlandand the world he threatens. It has all the grandiose, epic fantasy that someone might expect from a franchise calledFinal Fantasy, and the brutal combat players have come to enjoy about theSouls-like genre. For anyone who might still be on the fence about whether to pick upStranger of Paradise, this latest demo is the best chance to try it out firsthand and decide based on the feel of the gameplay instead of just screenshots and cinematics.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originis set to release March 18 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
