You're never too old to "level up."

As a thirty-something gamer it's difficult to believe that it has been twenty years since the debut of Final Fantasy I. To commemorate the title that jumpstarted one of the greatest series in the history of gaming, Square Enix is offering up an anniversary edition to show a new generation of gamers just how the magic began.

And make no mistake, the Final Fantasy franchise is as magical as it gets. Who could have foreseen that from such humble beginnings, a twenty year love affair would ensue between gamers and Square, spanning nearly thirty Final Fantasy related games. So, what is that magical quality that launches a brand name and sells millions upon millions of copies?

All developers and publishers pray for such a formula, but the Final Fantasy brand goes beyond a simple "add this, subtract that," method of creating games. In my estimation it all starts with two individuals, without whom I truly believe this series would not have become such a global success. The first is Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. His vision and talent in those early years were a driving force behind the success.

Equally artistic in the realm of music, Nobuo Uematsu's compositions were a delight to the ears and blended beautifully with Amano's creative art style in such a way that few other developers have been able to duplicate. In this twentieth anniversary edition of Final Fantasy I, gamers can peer into the past and experience the magic with the title that started it all.