Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest Overview
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest is a role-playing game where the player controls a young hero named Benjamin. His quest begins after his village is destroyed, leading him to meet an old man who reveals Benjamin's destiny to restore balance to the world. This involves retrieving four elemental crystals taken by monsters and securing keys to enter the Focus Tower, a central structure whose disruption has caused widespread disasters.
The game world is organized into distinct areas such as towns, dungeons, and battle zones, which can be selected freely from a world map. Navigation within towns and dungeons uses an overhead perspective, allowing the character to jump, interact with objects and people, and engage visible enemies directly. A notable departure from many RPGs of its time is the complete absence of random encounters; all foes are either seen on the map or confronted in designated battle areas.
Combat is turn-based, though it does not use the Active Time Battle system found in other Final Fantasy titles. The player issues commands like Attack or using spells and items. The party is limited to two characters: Benjamin and a single companion who can be controlled manually or by the computer. Equipment customization is restricted to Benjamin, who can outfit four body parts with armor and use various weapons, while his partner's gear remains fixed.
Progression involves exploring maze-like dungeons and completing specific battle areas, which may reward special items. The game's structure and mechanics, such as the ability to save anywhere and retry lost fights at the cost of consumed items, contribute to a fair level of challenge. The ultimate goal is to prevent the corruption of a fifth crystal, the Crystal of Life, by defeating a final monster within the Focus Tower.
