10 Famous Video Games That Started Out As Something Else Entirely
7. The Final Fantasy Adventure/Secret Of Mana
What's in a name? As Final Fight demonstrated, quite a bit. In the case of Final Fantasy Adventure, though, what it used to be is quite a bit more interesting than what it became. Marketed in the west as a Final Fantasy game, the Japanese title was Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden. What makes this interesting is that while it was indeed a Final Fantasy spin-off, it's the other part of the title that would hold greater significance with time, as it marks the first game in what would come to be known in the west as the Mana series. Thus, when players in the west got their hands on Secret of Mana on the Super NES, few (if any) at the time likely knew that what they were playing was actually a sequel to a Final Fantasy game which had already arrived in the years prior. Since then, the total number of Seiken Densetsu/Mana games has risen to 11, with most making it out of Japan, but only the most well-read fans of the series know where it truly began.
Former Nintendo Power writer, current Nintendo Force writer. Wrote the book on Mega Man (The Robot Master Field Guide). Was once fired by Vince McMahon. Dabbles in video games, comic books, toys, and fast food curiosities. Once had a new species of exotic bird named after him. It died.
You can find more of his writings, musings, and other such things on his websites at Nyteworks.net.
