Is Stranger of Paradise a FF1 Remake? No – But An Original Prequel Spin-Off

Let‘s establish this upfront – Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is not a remake of 1987‘s Final Fantasy 1 (FF1). While bearing the Final Fantasy name and being promoted as telling the "unknown story of the Warriors of Light," Stranger of Paradise does not faithfully reimagine FF1‘s setting, characters or progression.

Instead, it‘s an original spin-off and prequel with a new, darker interpretation of the FF1 universe. It takes liberties in remixing iconic elements from the first game to craft its own unique narrative and gameplay experience.

Stranger of Paradise Key Art – does this look like a FF1 remake to you? (Source: PlayStation Blog)

Connections To FF1 – Setting The Stage As A "Origin Story"

Producer Jin Fujiwara stated Stranger of Paradise aims to depict "the unknown story of the Warriors of Light" – lending credence to its position in the FF1 timeline before the hero‘s adventures against Chaos. So there are intentional narrative and aesthetic links.

The game takes place in familiar FF1 locations like Cornelia kingdom, the Chaos Shrine, and Castle of Trials. Princess Sarah, the royal family of Cornelia and their protector Garland play key roles. Your party fights iconic FF monsters like goblins, mariliths and tiamat. The overarching quest has echoes of FF1‘s story – defeat Chaos and bring the world back into balance.

So at first glance, with the cadre of "Warriors of Light" and these nods to FF1, it‘s understandable some may mistake Stranger of Paradise as a faithful remake. But peek beneath the surface, and the backstories and interpretations given to these characters and events differ radically from source material.

Is The Storyline Canon Though? Creative Liberties Call That Into Question

Stranger of Paradise has found controversy among hardcore FF fans due to just how many liberties it takes in ‘reimagining‘ FF1 lore. Producer Ryota Aomi said it occurs in a different universe separate from FF1‘s world:

“I actually consider Stranger of Paradise to be an alternate universe, separate from the world of the original Final Fantasy. It’s another interpretation of that universe, while acknowledging the elements from the original.”

So from story and canon perspective, branding it as a genuine FF1 prequel is debatable based on key backstory changes:

• Garland was a noble knight – here he starts off as rogue mercenary Jack, who later becomes Chaos
• The Warriors of Light are meant to be heroic prophesized saviors. But Stranger of Paradise casts them as dark, ruthlessly violent and of questionable methods
• Major retcons like Princess Sarah becoming the first Queen of Cornelia

Such radical changes have made some fans decry it as disrespectful to FF1‘s legacy. Though the debate continues on whether it "counts" as a legitimate origin story.

Gameplay And Mechanics Differentiate It Further From A Remake

Looking beyond narrative to gameplay and mechanics – Stranger of Paradise sets itself apart from FF1‘s turn-based RPG roots, to the point of bearing little resemblance to remaking FF1‘s actual core game experience:

• Full-fledged action RPG with challenging Souls-like real-time combat
• Combo-driven battles and movesets unique to your changeable jobs/classes
• Tons of weapons/gear to collect and crafting/upgrade systems more akin to Nioh
• Level-based progression and multiplayer functions simply not present in the FF1 era

So from a mechanical perspective, Stranger of Paradise eschews traditional Final Fantasy tropes in favor of blending the series‘ lore and themes into a gritty, high-octane action-RPG mold.

So in summary – Stranger of Paradise is fundamentally NOT a Final Fantasy 1 remake, neither in terms of storyline accuracy to lore nor in gameplay elements.

Who Should Play Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin?

We‘ve established Stranger of Paradise does not qualify as a FF1 remake, but who is this spin-off prequel good fit for? Here‘s my recommendations from spending 30+ hours battling through the dungeon depths as a Warrior of Light:

For Action RPG Fans

If you enjoy tough-as-nails action RPGs that test your combat abilities, Stranger of Paradise delivers satisfyingly brutal melee-focused gameplay enhanced by Final Fantasy lore trappings. Those fond of the genre pioneered by FromSoftware‘s Souls series will feel right home with the tense, high-risk battles.

For Job Class Customization Lovers

With unlockable job classes spanning iconic Final Fantasy favorites like Red Mages, Dragoons and Black Mages alongside new wild cards like Pugilist and Samurai, fans of job systems enabling unique class playstyles have much to tinker with.

For The Final Fantasy Fanservice Moments

While its storyline stands apart from FF1, Stranger of Paradise weaves in enough references to seminal Final Fantasy touchstones (character cameos, locations, abilities, music and more) to excite series veterans through the 30-40 hour dark odyssey.

NOT Good For Those Seeking a Faithful FF1 Re-Telling

As highlighted earlier, those entering Stranger of Paradise expecting a tightly accurate Final Fantasy 1 origin story or a recreation of its gameplay may leave disappointed or outraged at liberties taken with established elements. Approach aware it‘s an alternate, stylized spin.

So enter this stranger‘s paradise understanding you‘re signing up for a daring remix declining to play purely to nostalgia. An intense action-RPG borne not out of mimicking FF1 but celebrating Final Fantasy essence: courageous warriors of light overcoming chaos (with some winking fanservice). Its brazen reimagining of the classic framework pays bold dividends rather than just retreading old ground.