Dynasty of an Emperor and Final Fantasy are very different approaches to RPGs. One is a standard approach to the genre, and the other is more imaginative. I have fond memories of these two games, but I really like one more than the other.
I played both of these games when I was a kid, but in different ways. We borrowed Final Fantasy from one of our neighbors, and I later played Destiny of an Emperor on my computer after finding the ROM online. Most RPG fans know about Final Fantasy, while Destiny of an Emperor is rather obscure.
None of Destiny of an Emperor’s sequels were released outside of Japan, and Final Fantasy is still going today. There isn’t too much more I can say about it. Let’s go over the two games and see which one I like more.
Game Descriptions/Overviews
These two games have similarities in gameplay, but that is about it. They take different approaches to the RPG genre, and both can be a lot of fun. Their settings are similar, but Final Fantasy is a high fantasy game with science fiction elements, and Destiny of an Emperor is a historical fiction with no monsters or magic.
Final Fantasy is a high fantasy RPG with a dark setting. The player creates a party of four characters who go on a quest to save a princess, restore light to four orbs, and eventually defeat a final boss. It is a fairly standard RPG for the NES.
Destiny of an Emperor is a historical fiction game, based on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The player takes control of the Five Tiger Generals and tries to unify China under Liu Bei. It is a unique RPG that isn’t like anything else on the NES.
There are a lot of differences between these two games. While they’re both turn-based RPGs, they take different approaches to the genre. Let’s go over the main differences between these games.
Main Differences
While these are both turn-based RPGs, they take very different approaches to their setting, combat, and graphics. In both games, the player has a party of characters, but Destiny of an Emperor has a unique approach to that system. Final Fantasy is less realistic and has more science fiction and high fantasy elements to its story and gameplay.
The combat systems are very different. This ties into the graphics a little, but there are more differences. Final Fantasy has more going on with its battle screen. The enemies are better looking, and the screen is more visually appealing.
You only fight human enemies in Destiny of the Emperor, and those enemies don’t look too different from the other sprites in the game. I like them, but I can’t pretend that it is better than Final Fantasy.
Their magic systems are very different. Final Fantasy uses a magic system with magic points. You’ll see spells like Fire, Ice, and Lightning, as well as the standard buff and debuff spells that are in most fantasy games. Destiny of an Emperor has military tactics that are, unfortunately, Romanizations of Chinese or Japanese words. This makes it a little hard to know what you’re doing unless you have the manual or have learned what each one does through trial and error.
At their core, they’re both turn-based RPGs that require a degree of strategy in each fight. You have to find key items, fight bosses, and eventually restore peace to the world. These were just the main differences between the two games. Let’s compare some of the core mechanics.
Comparing Core Mechanics (Combat, Story, Visuals, etc)
This is where the games take different approaches to things. I’ve talked about some of this already, so I’ll try not to repeat myself too much. We’re going to compare the story, combat, and graphics.
Final Fantasy has a straightforward fantasy story where the player leads a party of characters on a quest to defeat fantastical monsters. Destiny of an Emperor follows this to a degree, but doesn’t have the fantasy setting. You fight other warlords and random human enemies, such as bandits, brigands, and pirates.
There are two main differences between the combat in these two games. In Destiny of an Emperor, instead of having hit points, a character’s health is a representation of how many soldiers are in their army, because you’re technically leading five armies into battle. The magic is also totally different.
Final Fantasy has its mages and wizards learn a variety of spells that are fairly standard for an RPG. Destiny of an Emperor has the player appoint one of the seven generals in the traveling party as a tactician. This lets you use different tactics while fighting.
It is a more grounded approach that fits the game’s setting. This is similar to how Final Fantasy is set up. While there are similarities to these two systems, they’re fundamentally different in their execution.
The graphical styles are very different. Destiny of an Emperor appears to draw inspiration from Dragon Quest. The character sprites for the player’s characters, NPCs, and enemies look like they would fit right in with the Dragon Quest games. Final Fantasy employs a darker fantasy theme, incorporating elements of science fiction, with robots that the player must fight.
What Does Final Fantasy do Better?
Final Fantasy does a bunch of things better than Destiny of an Emperor. It has better graphics, the magic system is easier to understand, and the party system is less complicated. It is a much simpler game and has many of the mechanics that fans of RPGs will be comfortable with.
The magic system is much better in Final Fantasy, even if I don’t like the way this game does magic points. The spells are easier to identify, and there is never an instance where something simple doesn’t work because of where you’re fighting. It is also easier to customize what spells you have and which spells are going to be available to the player.
Overall, Final Fantasy has better graphics than Destiny of an Emperor. The enemies look better, the bosses are more detailed, and the battle screens are more interesting to look at. There is also more variety in the towns, dungeons, and castles that you explore.
Final Fantasy has a simple four character party system. It is easy to understand, and you don’t have to juggle dozens of characters. While I like that Destiny of an Emperor has you go on a quest for your main party, having to deal with all of the other generals you recruit along the way can be annoying.
You also do more exploring in Final Fantasy. The game’s world feels much bigger than it is. While it can be a linear game if you want it to be, it doesn’t have to be.
These are some of the things that I think Final Fantasy does better. I’m sure that there are others, but off the top of my head, these are the bigger ones.
What Does Destiny of an Emperor do Better?
There are a few things that I think Destiny of an Emperor does better than Final Fantasy. Most of these have to do with how unique the game is when it comes to retro RPGs. I think the story and quests are better. It also has some unique twists when it comes to the party and gameplay.
I enjoy the story of Destiny of an Emperor more. This is a take on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. Liu Bei is often portrayed as a heroic figure in games that are based on this novel, and this is no exception. It is a fun story that gives you reasons for doing what you do.
The quests are a little more fun than in Final Fantasy. Part of this is because I enjoy what is happening in the game, and it is a nice switch from the standard fantasy quests. You have to go on a quest to find three of the five members in your party, and to find some of the optional items that you can use to recruit enemy generals.
This is where the more unique things can come into the game. Its approach to creating a party is a little better than Final Fantasy, even if the game gives you too many options early on. When you defeat a named general, there is a chance you can recruit them to your side. This helps out a lot early on when you only have two characters who gain levels.
One of your characters can be appointed as a tactician. This lets you use different tactics in battle, which act as your magic. Five of your characters are in the main party, and two of them are in reserve. It is an interesting way to do things.
I couldn’t think of anything else that Destiny of an Emperor does better than Final Fantasy. These two games are so different that it really comes down to a personal preference.
Which is Better Overall and Why?
Overall, I think the first Final Fantasy is the better game. Destiny of an Emperor is a unique game, and that might cause some problems for people who are new to it. The first Final Fantasy is a fairly standard RPG with a formula that most people are used to.
It has more creative enemies, and easier to understand magic system, and fewer characters to keep track of. The story isn’t anything amazing, but it is very entertaining. I also enjoy that it isn’t all that linear.
The combat screens are also much better than those in Destiny of an Emperor. This goes along with having more creative enemies, but there is also more going on with Final Fantasy’s battles. The graphics are also better overall.
Final Fantasy has a dark setting with a few science fiction elements. This creates a fun setting where machines and magic are side-by-side in the same world. It isn’t over the top or anything like that, but it is noticeable.
If you’re looking for a classic RPG, you can’t do much better than this one. It is a more user-friendly game when compared to the other turn-based RPGs on the NES. While I prefer other games, this is one of the better RPGs on the NES.
Which Would I Rather Play?
I would rather play Destiny of an Emperor. Some of this comes down to nostalgia and my desire to play something different. As I’ve said before, while I like Final Fantasy, I’ve played the game too much over the years. It feels a little stale at this point.
Destiny of an Emperor has a story and setting that I find more interesting than the high fantasy and light science fiction of Final Fantasy. I also enjoy the gameplay more because the game has some interesting ideas. There is something about this game that I find infinitely fascinating.
The combat system can be frustrating at times, but that is something I enjoy about it. Being able to recruit enemy generals to your side made this game a lot of fun. It is like taking a bad guy off the battlefield so you won’t have to fight him later.
Using the setting of China’s Three Kingdoms period really stood out to me. This game, along with the Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, got me very interested in this moment in history. There are so many games based on this time, and I love playing them.
There isn’t anything like this RPG on the NES. That is part of the reason why I like it so much. Finding it back in the 1990s was like discovering something only I knew about. I miss that time before the internet when you could do something like that, and Destiny of an Emperor feels that way when I play it.
Conclusion
It is very hard to compare games like this. They’re both RPGs, but they have very different approaches in terms of gameplay, story, and setting. There aren’t too many similarities between the games after I got past the basics.
Between these two games, I would rather play Destiny of an Emperor. It is one of my favorite games on the NES, and it is a very unique RPG. I wish Capcom had brought the sequels over to the US.
Both of these are grind heavy games, which is something that you could say about every RPG from this period. The core mechanics are essentially the same, but they take different approaches. They’re both good, but I prefer the approach that Destiny of an Emperor takes.
If you liked this post, please check out my other reviews of retro RPGs, such as Wild Arms or Dragon Quest.