Final Fantasy Lost Stranger, Vol. 1 (Volume 1) (Final Fantasy Lost Stranger, 1)

The isekai trope is quickly becoming overwrought in Japanese entertainment such as anime, manga, and light novels, but as a fan of Final Fantasy video games, I'm really enjoying the way this author uses the trope as a means to bring in references to many past Final Fantasy games while creating something entirely new and entirely shounen as well as a means of pushing the story along and giving it emotional weight.The story feels at once very fresh and at the same time very in-line with classic Final Fantasy games. Thus far, I'd say it leans more toward the classics than to the Final Fantasy games, such as many of the PlayStation entries and onward, that showcase to some extent or another a more modern setting, but this is not a complaint by any means and is likewise a potential necessity for the story being told.Final Fantasy: Lost Stranger showers love on fans of the Final Fantasy games with reinterpretations of characters, items, and ideas from throughout the series, and I especially love how each chapter is named after a music track from a Final Fantasy game. The book even tells you where each track comes from in the translation notes at the end.Final Fantasy: Lost Stranger is a wonderous and wonderful adventure into the world, or a world, of Final Fantasy that implements many elements which fans will find familiar yet entirely unique while also infusing a very shounen-manga feel to it's protagonist and story, which will feel right at home to anyone who enjoys anime, and I will be reading this series to its conclusion. It's been wonderful so far, and I hope for my friends out there averse to reading that it one day gets the anime treatment it deserves. For everyone not afraid of words on a page or of storytelling via sequential images, it is a fantastic read. Let your imagination run wild.

I enjoyed how the story brings in different aspects from the different games. Been a long time fan of FF and this is another great example of the story writing the team has.

I absolutely love this series! I've never been interested in anime or manga and I'm not the biggest gamer. Still, the book piqued my interest because I am a huge Final Fantasy fan and have been playing since the NES days. I may have just become a manga fan!First, the art is just amazing! The illustrations alone are worth purchasing this book. A dragon in book is amazingly detailed and well drawn. What’s also great is all of the references to past FF titles that you come across. Each chapter is named after a music title from one of the games.The story itself was very enjoyable to me. I know nothing about anime tropes and what is or isn’t overdone, but I liked this just fine. You already see character development and it’s only the first volume. You see Shogo start to “find himself” and figure out a way to do what has to be done. I like all the characters, but I gotta say Duston is my favorite. :) The ending leaves you hanging though. If you’re like me you might pick up your phone and order the next volume immediately. It did take me a little while to get used to reading the opposite way, but I got used to it about half way through. I would keep reading the sections out of order. :)I don’t want to give away too much, but I’m absolutely hooked and looking forward to what this series has in store in the future!

Got it for my ex since she liked the game.Book has a good story to it and is a good spin off of the game. .

Came right to my door in perfect condition. Great add to anyones manga library.

I was unsure weather or not this would be a mindless cash-in. Yes, it’s another Isekai, but if you’re an FF fan this is still a really fun adventure, and feels like such a love-letter to fans and the series as a whole.Volume 1 does a pretty good job of setting things up before the plot really gets going. It also heavily focused on FFXIV nods, but that balances out and other games in the series get represented too as the volumes continue.If you’re open to a fun adventure and don’t mind something that’s not gonna be super deep, this manga will be a good time.I will say my main complaint is that occasionally the set gets super busy and made me wish it was all printed on a larger format to make it easier to figure out what was going on. However this was only in a few instances and it was not something there hindered my enjoyment of the manga.I’ve read up to volume 8 now and can’t wait for volume 9.

Man, when I learned there was a Final Fantasy manga, I was super excited and a little worried, considering how much of a flip FF Unlimited was. But this one is something else entirely! I absolutely adore everything about this series so far; the story, the characters, and the callbacks to the games especially! I can't wait to get the rest of the volumes! 🧡

My first time reading this manga and it has me on edge I'm addicted to it and I'm already buying the next volume

The most amazing gift for my nerdy partner, it’s a classic and has amazing illustrations and a good amount of pages. It’s even enjoyable for non nerds. Thank you !

Came in perfect condition and a worthy read from Square Enix

Really good fun

So I love the concept of a jaded Square Enix employee being sent into another world, but I feel like the plot twist with the sister was too rushed. It didn't give me enough time to grow to like her, which made her feel a bit like a plot device for the protagonist Shogo's goals and ambitions (which is a bit sad).Besides that, the world is interesting and I love how the mc is so passionate about FF! His ability is also awesome, I cannot wait to see him and his oddball party become super strong one day. I like when isekai stories start the characters as weak rather than strong, because it gives ample space for character growth and improvement. I love their picnic scenes, that guy is an awesome cook and the random comedy bits were quite good too.

As a Final Fantasy fan I thought this was going to be amazing. I was wrong. Mediocre at best. Such a shame.