The very existence of "Strangers of Paradise" is a mystery: "Final Fantasy Origins" is, well, a mystery. When Square Enix announced its remake of the beloved Final Fantasy 7, it was understandable. After all, this is the game that put the world's most ironically named series on the map, a game that many JRPG fans still hold dear. And since there are so many other fascinating games in the series, it's an odd choice to make a spin-off inspired by a 35-year-old, largely forgotten original. The games themselves are even stranger.

"Strangers of Paradise" is a new interpretation of the gritty, dotty story of its predecessor, with developer Team Ninja injecting an edgier tone into the series. Or at least that's what they tried to do, but the tiresome dialogue delivered by over-the-top characters sends the game barefoot through cool territory and straight into the cheese fields. The plot is almost nonsensical, with the heroes, led by Jack Garland, restoring crystals and exterminating an evil ruler named Chaos. Each of the characters in this game can be summed up with one adjective. Jolly Jed, stern Ash, wistful Neon, and Jack, who is driven by only one desire: to be the best he can be. He can only be described as driven by one desire. To kill chaos. Despite its absurdity, the story is entertaining, and each level is punctuated by short cutscenes that never get in the way of the action.

Though more forgiving than "Niou," "Strangers of Paradise" has more in common with the samurai-inspired "Souls Like" than with the "Final Fantasy" series. The various aspects of combat are overwhelming at first, but the mechanics are surprisingly quick to grasp. The job system offers a wealth of combat options and accommodates a variety of play styles. Enemies come at you one after another, and the ability to switch between classes and switch in and out of abilities makes encounters solid and satisfying. In keeping with the series' roots, players can also face off against popular Final Fantasy characters such as the Cactus Dweller, Marlboro, and Tombelli.

Soul Shield is an alternative to regular blocking that reduces an enemy's break gauge. The Soul Burst is a flashy finisher that causes the enemy to become crystal-like and shatter spectacularly into pieces. This is clever and undeniably satisfying. The Soul Shield can also be used to temporarily absorb certain skills and use them on the enemy. Final Fantasy fans who have long been on the receiving end of this spiky specialty will be more than happy to return the "1000 Needles" special move of Cactus Der with a bouncy menace.

As solid as Stranger of Paradise's combat is, it is not without its flaws. Magic does not transfer as well to the game's fast-paced combat as it does to melee combat. In the days of turn-based battles, casting spells was no problem if you just sat back and waited for the enemy to take an elemental-based attack, but you are effectively a sitting duck as you are held in place for a fairly long casting time. And staying still for any length of time is a surefire way to abruptly end a chaos-killing quest. Also, the only option is to switch between the two job classes on the fly. To change styles any further, you have to interrupt the action and enter the menu. This is a curious limitation and at odds with the ample freedom the game offers.

Indeed, it is the game's loot system that could use less variety. New weapons and equipment are available at every encounter and from treasure chests. The drops are so frequent that it becomes pointless to constantly scour the menu to equip yourself with a slightly pointed sword or a slightly nicer bandana. Another thing, there is too much chatter between teammates. Every time I hear a party ask a question about what's in the treasure chest or say they found a save point, I immediately wish I had a muffling potion to help me get the next high-ticket treasure.

The ability to choose the difficulty level also adds to the game's approachability. In the story mode, the difficulty level is significantly reduced, while the casual mode allows you to crunch through the battles. There is also a higher difficulty mode, which offers an experience that is best described as brutal. The standard "action" setting provides quite a challenge, perfectly bridging the gap between mindless victory and frustrating repetition. The threats are not insurmountable as long as you become familiar with the boss's attack patterns and learn when to block, evade, and retaliate with the vast array of abilities at your disposal. The levels are linear yet intricate, with many light puzzle elements and sneaky shortcuts.

Inspired by past Final Fantasy titles, these locations look pretty, at least in bright light, but in the darker areas of the game you may not see anything, even after switching display settings. The game runs smoothly at 60 fps, but when cranked up to 120 fps, the speed becomes snail-like, especially when performing enemy-crushing soul bursts.

While not without its problems, Stranger of Paradise is undeniably a stylish, engaging, and silly adventure. Solid, engaging combat, varied environments, and a way to tailor the game to your preferred play style and difficulty level make this a Final Fantasy title that shines despite its rather dark style. While it has one of the most dynamic combat systems in the series, the sketchy storyline and half-baked cast make this one of the most shallow entries in the series. This B-movie-style adaptation of the series is a bit rough around the edges, but it is nonetheless an enjoyable and engaging reimagining of that time-honored escapade that started it all.