Parents' Guide to

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

By Dwayne Jenkins, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Chaos reigns proudly in mature, bloody, violent adventure.

Game Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 2023
Stranger of Paradise Cover: Features the protagonists' faces artfully stacked on top of each other.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Sam M.
Sam M. Parent of 4-year-old
April 20, 2023
age 14+

Underrated game ok for young teens.

Non graphic fantasy violence where you rarely fight enemies that bleed; and when you do, blood is heavily stylized and immediately turns to crystals after a millisecond spurt; completely overwhelmed by particle effects. Enemies immediately disappear upon death so there is no graphic aftermath. There is no gore on human enemies (most Japanese games dont allow it). Only beast tentacles can be not expicitly severed. Finishing moves are very superhero-like rather than visceral. Only a small handful of cutscenes (mostly just the intro one) show somewhat graphic human violence (again with intruding crystals).
1 person found this helpful.
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What’s It About?

In STRANGER OF PARADISE: FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN, darkness has spread across the land of Cornelia. Jack is tasked by the king to find and destroy Chaos, which Jack believes is an elusive dark entity that's the cause of all Cornelia's problems. Along the way, Jack will meet fellow warriors who are destined to defeat Chaos, but there's one major issue: None of the main characters can remember their past. Not only will you have to find Chaos in a world besieged by its followers, but you'll unlock more of the truth of Jack and his ragtag group -- and the truth is often ugly and unpredictable. Perhaps Chaos is closer than anyone could've possibly imagined ...

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This game, somehow, is simultaneously an amazing game and a rough take on the start of the Final Fantasy series. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin defies most of the conventions of the franchise it's a part of. There's no exploration of any towns, nor are there many characters to share meaningful interactions with. The world-building is also at a minimum, opposite of the rich surroundings and stories crucial to the Final Fantasy franchise. That being said, despite the notable flaws aligning it with the series as a whole, very few games are as utterly perfect when it comes to gameplay. Every second spent in one of the game's many vibrant, unique areas is an absolute joy, as you can essentially customize your play style in whatever way you see fit. Guns, axes, hammers, swords, lances, magic -- there's a host of different "jobs" players can occupy that all feel drastically different from one another.

Additionally, the game's mechanics work hand in hand to offer the most optimal experience imaginable. You're able to parry an enemy's attack to gain the upper hand, and some specific attacks even allow players to absorb an enemy's skill and use it against them. This leads to satisfying moments where you could absorb one enemy's elemental attack and immediately use it against an enemy that's vulnerable to it. Each enemy also has a special takedown animation, making you feel powerful as you triumph over your foes. The boss encounters are the perfect tests of skill, and it's here where you'll be able to exploit specific context-sensitive weaknesses if you're able to find them. If you do, it makes each fight feel like an epic back-and-forth with new ways to come out on top. The story is immensely silly, with over-the-top voice acting, and despite the overall intrigue within the plot, the characters aren't quite deep enough to make the most of its premise. But Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a great time that will keep players invested from beginning to end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin affected by the fact that you're fighting enemies in a fantasy setting? Does it matter that the game is set in a world divorced from our real world? Would the impact be the same if there was less blood and gore?

  • If a game in a long-established franchise is inherently different from the others, is that necessarily a bad thing? What makes such a game worthwhile in the long term? Or should all the games in a series play similarly to make players more comfortable?

Game Details

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