Quicklinks to each journal entry! Entries represent games that have been played for the Marathon. Entries are ordered roughly by release date, favouring the North American in case of conflicts, though the system isn’t perfect.
Journals
Final Fantasy – Main Directory pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3
Final Fantasy – Game originally released in Japan on December 17, 1987. Played Dawn of Souls re-release (orig. 2004) using GBA Player, with replay on 20th Anniversary Edition (orig. 2007) on PSP for bonus content.
- Manga – Manga adaptation released directly to trade in on December 30, 1989.
Final Fantasy II – Game originally released in Japan on December 17, 1988. Played Dawn of Souls re-release (orig. 2004) using GBA Player.
The Final Fantasy Legend (SaGa / Mystic Quest EU) – Game originally released in Japan on December 15, 1989. Played original release using GBA Player.
Final Fantasy III – Game originally released in Japan on April 27, 1990. Played 2011 release on iPad, with input from abbreviated Solo Marathon attempt using 2006 release on Nintendo DS.
- Legend of the Eternal Wind – Manga adaptation originally serialized in Maru Katsu Famicom from 1991-1992. Read tankoban release by Dragon Comics.
Final Fantasy I・II・III: Memory of Heroes – Prose adaptation of the stories from the first three games. Originally released in Japan on October 25, 2012. Read Yen Press translation.
Final Fantasy Legend II (SaGa II) – Game originally released in Japan on December 14, 1990. Played original release using GBA Player.
Final Fantasy Adventure (Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden; Mystic Quest EU) – Game originally released in Japan on June 8, 1991. Played original NA release using GBA Player.
Final Fantasy IV – Game originally released in Japan on July 19, 1991. Played The Complete Collection release (2011) using PSP.
- Final Fantasy IV: Interlude – Game originally released in Japan on March 24, 2011. Played original release (The Complete Collection) using PSP.
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years – Game originally released in Japan beginning February 18, 2008. Played The Complete Collection (2011) release using PSP.
Final Fantasy Legend III (SaGa III) – Game originally released in Japan on December 13, 1991. Played original release using GBA Player.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (Mystic Quest Legend EU) – Game originally released in North America on October 5, 1992. Played original NA release using Wii Virtual Console.
Final Fantasy V – Game originally released in Japan on December 6, 1992. Played 2013 release on iPad.
- Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals – OVA originally aired in Japan starting March 21, 1994.
Final Fantasy VI – Originally released in Japan on April 2, 1994. Played 2014 release on iPad.
Final Fantasy VII – Game originally released in Japan on January 31, 1997. Played 2013 Steam release on PC.
- Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- – Game originally released in Japan on September 13, 2007. Played original release on original hardware.
- Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- – Commentary based on a longplay by HATOSUKE, fan-subtitled by Grimoire Valentine. Game originally run in Japan from September 24 2004-2007 on mobile phones.
- On the Way to a Smile – Short story collection, the first of which was initially released in Japan on September 5, 2005. Read English translation by Yen Press.
- “The Maiden Who Travels the Planet” – Short story released as part of Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega, on September 9, 2005. Read fan-translation by TheLifestream.net.
- The Kids are Alright – Novel, originally released in Japan on December 15, 2011. Read English translation by Yen Press.
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children – Film originally released internationally to theatres September 14, 2005. Watched original release on DVD. Complete version released April 16, 2009.
- Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- – Game originally released in Japan on January 26, 2006. Played original NA release on original hardware. Includes commentary based on a longplay of the Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode, and on the defunct multiplayer storyline and the Extra Missions derived from it.
Final Fantasy Tactics – Game originally released in Japan on June 20, 1997. Played The War of the Lions release on PSP.
Final Fantasy VIII – Game originally released in Japan on February 11, 1999. Played 2013 Steam release on PC.
- Chocobo World – Game originally released in Japan on February 11, 1999. Played 2013 Steam release on PC.
Final Fantasy IX – Game originally released in Japan on November 13, 2000. Played 2016 Steam HD release on PC.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within – Film originally released internationally to theatres July 11, 2001. Watched original release on DVD.
Final Fantasy X – Game originally released in Japan on July 19, 2001. Played 2013 Steam HD release on PC.
- Eternal Calm – Promotional video originally released in Japan on January 31, 2002 as a pack-in with FFX International. Played 2013 Steam HD release on PC.
- Final Fantasy X-2 – Game originally released in Japan on March 13, 2003. Played 2013 Steam HD release on PC.
- Final Fantasy X-2.5: ~Price of Eternity~ – Light novel originally released in Japan on December 26th, 2013. Read fan translation.
- Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission – Game originally released in Japan on February 9, 2004 as a part of Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission. Played 2013 Steam HD release on PC.
- Final Fantasy X -Will- – Game originally released in Japan as a part of Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster on December 26th, 2013. Listened to English release on PC.
Final Fantasy Unlimited – TV series originally aired internationally from October 2, 2001 – March 26, 2002
- “Season Two” – Collected coverage of Final Fantasy Unlimited After, Final Fantasy Unlimited Before, Final Fantasy Unlimited After Spiral, and Final Fantasy Unlimited After 2.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance – Game originally released in Japan on February 14, 2003. Played original release on Game Boy Advance.
- Radio Edition – Radio drama originally broadcast in Japan starting January 3, 2003. Listened to “Complete” CD release.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles – Game originally released in Japan on August 8, 2003. Played original release on GameCube with Game Boy Advance controllers.
Final Fantasy XII – Game originally released in Japan on March 16, 2006. Played The Zodiac Age release on Steam (2018).
- Manga – Manga adaptation originally serialized in Gangan Powered in 2006.
- Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings – Game originally released in Japan on April 26, 2007. Played original release on DS.
- Fortress – Unreleased game that was under development circa 2009.
Final Fantasy Flash Games – Assorted games released largely from 2006 to 2009. Played surviving releases via offline Flash player.
Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm – Game originally released worldwide on May 13, 2009. Played original release on iPhone.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King – Game originally released in Japan on March 25, 2008. Played original release on WiiWare.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord – Game originally released in Japan on June 30, 2009. Played original release on WiiWare.
Dive II Hunt: The Adventures of Sorbet – Game originally released in Japan on April 8, 2008, however the game itself is currently lost. Instead, played the game’s original form, Dive II Hunt, originally released in Japan in 2008. Played original release via Flashpoint.
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade – Game originally launched in Japan starting January 6, 2012. Played original release on iPhone.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy – Game originally released in Japanese on February 16, 2012. Played original release on original-model 3DS.
- Theatrhythm Curtain Call – Game originally released in Japanese on April 24, 2014. Played original release on original-model 3DS.
- Theatrhythm All-Star Carnival – Game originally released in Japanese on September 27, 2016. Arcade exclusive, unplayed.
Chocobo Games
Chocobo’s Dungeon – Game originally released in Japan on December 23, 1997. Played original release on PSX.
Chocobo’s Dungeon 2 – Game originally released in Japan on December 23, 1998. Played original release on PSX.
Chocobo World – See Final Fantasy VIII.
Chocobo Racing – Game originally released in Japan on March 18, 1999. Played original release.
Final Fantasy – Related Games
Bahamut Lagoon – Game originally released in Japan on February 9, 1996. Played 2021 translation patch.
Super Mario RPG – Game originally released in Japan on March 9, 1996. Played 2023 remake for the Marathon, and have also played the original in the past.
Mega Man
Mega Man Classic
Mega Man – Game originally released in Japan on December 17, 1987. Played Anniversary Collection version on Wii (using the GameCube release).
Mega Man Zero
Mega Man Zero – Game originally released in Japan on April 26, 2002. Played Legacy Collection version on PC.
Mega Man Legends
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne – Game originally released in Japan on July 22, 1999. Played original release on PlayStation.
Mega Man Legends – Game originally released in Japan on December 18, 1997. Played original release on PlayStation.
Mega Man Legends 2 – Game originally released in Japan on April 20, 2000. Played original release on PlayStation.
- Mega Man Legends 2: Episode 1 – Demo originally released in Japan on July 22, 1999. Played both original release on PlayStation and PSP release.
Mega Man Battle Network
Mega Man Battle Network – Game originally released in Japan on March 21, 2001. Played original release on Game Boy Advance.
- Mega Man Network Transmission – Game originally released in Japan on March 6, 2003. Played original release on GameCube.
Mega Man Battle Network 2 – Game originally released in Japan on December 14, 2001. Played original release on Game Boy Advance.
Mega Man Battle Network 3 – Game originally released in Japan on December 6, 2002. Played original release of Battle Network 3 Blue on Game Boy Advance.
Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge – Game originally released in Japan on August 8, 2003. Played Battle Chip Challenge release on Game Boy Advance.
Mega Man Battle Network 4 – Game originally released in Japan on December 12, 2003. Played original release of Battle Network 4 Blue Moon on Game Boy Advance.
Mega Man Battle Network 4.5 – Game originally released in Japan on August 6, 2004. Played using the TREZ English patch on Game Boy Advance.
Mega Man: Phantom of the Network – Game originally released in Japan beginning on September 24, 2004. Played using the TREZ English patch on Docomo.
Mega Man Battle Network 5 – Game originally released in Japan on December 9, 2004. Played Double Team release on Nintendo DS.
Mega Man: Legend of the Network – Game originally released in Japan beginning on October 2, 2006. Played using the TREZ English patch on Docomo.
Mega Man Battle Network 6 – Game originally released in Japan on November 23, 2005. Played Legacy Collection release on PC.
A History of The Marathons, and also Original Classic Run Brief Notes – Limited coverage. Including Mega Man 1-10, Mega Man Powered Up, Mega Man: The Wily Wars, Mega Man & Bass, Mega Man I-V (I-IV run Solo), Mega Man X1-8, Mega Man X Command Mission, and Mega Man Zero 1.
Persona – Main Directory
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona – Game originally released in Japan on September 20, 1996. Played 2009 release on PSP.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin – Game originally released in Japan on June 24, 1999. Played 2011 release on PSP.
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment – Game originally released in Japan on June 29, 2000. Played original release via PS3 PlayStation Network.
Marathon Look-Backs
Look-Back #1: Re-Reviews, Top 5/Bottom 5
Look-Back #2: Re-Reviews, Top 5/Bottom 5
- The Worst Dungeons (circa FFVIII)
Look Back #3: Final Fantasy Re-Reviews, Mega Man Re-Reviews, Top 5/Bottom 5
Retrospectives
Kingdom Hearts Retrospective
Kingdom Hearts (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on March 28, 2002. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMix release (2013) on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on November 11, 2004. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMix release (2013) on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts II (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on December 22, 2005. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix release (2014) on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on May 30, 2009. Retrospective playthrough completed via original release on 3DS and Cinematic release on Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMix (2013) on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on January 9, 2010. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix release (2014) on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts coded (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan starting November 18, 2008. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts Re:coded release (2011) on DS and Cinematic release on Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix (2014) on PS4.
- Kingdom Hearts Mobile – The original, Docomo coded’s companion game, released alongside it.
Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on March 29, 2012. Retrospective playthrough completed via Kingdom Hearts 2.8 HD ReMix release (2017) on PS4.
Kingdom Hearts χ (Directory) – Game originally launched in Japan on July 18, 2013. Commentary based on a longplay by Everglow with fan-subtitles.
Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (Directory) – Film originally released as a part of the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection, worldwide on January 12, 2007. Retrospective rewatch on PlayStation 4 version.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 (Directory) – Game originally released as a part of the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection, worldwide on January 12, 2007. Retrospective playthrough on PlayStation 4 version.
Kingdom Hearts 3 (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on January 25, 2019. Retrospective playthrough on PS4 release.
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (Directory) – Game originally released in Japan on November 11, 2020. Retrospective playthrough on PS4 release.
Kingdom Hearts Union χ (Directory) – Game originally launched in Japan on September 3, 2015. Screenshots from the offline version’s “Theatre Mode.”
Kingdom Hearts V-CAST (Directory) – Game originally launched in North America on February, 2005. Retrospective playthrough on original (salvaged) release.
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road (Directory) – Game originally launched (in its online incarnation) worldwide on June 22, 2020. Screenshots from the offline version.
The Top 123 Kingdom Hearts Worlds (Directory) – A ranking of every world that has appeared in Kingdom Hearts to date.
Trauma Center Retrospective – Main Directory
Trauma Center: Under the Knife and Trauma Center: Second Opinion – Under the Knife originally released in Japan on June 16, 2005, Second Opinion in Japan on November 19, 2006. Retrospective playthrough completed via Second Opinion release on Wii.
Trauma Center New Blood – Originally released in Japan on November 20, 2007. Retrospective playthrough on original release.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 – Originally released in Japan on July 1, 2008. Retrospective playthrough on original release.
Trauma Team – Originally released in North America on May 18, 2010. Retrospective playthrough on original release.
Dracula Retrospective – Main Directory
Dracula: Resurrection – Also known as Dracula: The Resurrection. Game originally released in Europe in October, 1999. Retrospective playthrough completed via original (GOG.com) release on PC.
Dracula: The Last Sanctuary – Game originally released in Europe on September 25, 2000. Retrospective playthrough completed via original (GOG.com) release on PC.
Dracula: The Path of the Dragon – Game originally released in Europe on March 30, 2008. Retrospective playthrough completed via original (GOG.com) release on PC, and Steam port on PC.
Dracula: The Shadow of the Dragon – Game originally released in internationally on June 18, 2013. Retrospective playthrough completed via GOG.com release on PC.
Dracula: The Blood Legacy – Game originally released in internationally on November 2, 2013. Retrospective playthrough completed via GOG.com release on PC.
Related Title: Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness – Also known as: Necronomicon: The Gateway to Beyond. Game originally released in France on November 10, 2000. Retrospective competed via GOG.com release on PC.
Miscellaneous Retrospectives
Bloody Wolf / Battle Rangers – Game originally released in Japan in 1988. Played Western arcade release and TG-16 release.
Classic Marathons
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star – Classic Journal. Game originally released in Japan on December 20, 1987. Played original release on The Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009) for Xbox 360.
Phantasy Star 2 – Classic Journal. Game originally released in Japan on March 21, 1989. Played original release on The Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009) for Xbox 360.
Phantasy Star Adventure – Classic Journal. Game originally released in Japan in 1992. Played fan-translated release from Aeon Genesis.
Castlevania
A History of The Marathons – Limited coverage. Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, played in that order.
Marathon Recaps 
where are you now that this site is no longer updated? Is there a continuation or some alternate site I can read more of these on? Love the mix of info and laughter
The site is still being updated! There are updates on Sundays (Kingdom Hearts) and Thursdays (Final Fantasy or Mega Man).
I am so happy to see that this is still being updated! I was afraid I had fallen in love with a dead site! I will continue to read your retrospectives as they are both funny and informative! Thanks so much~