I'll never understand this meme with so many people claiming spells are worthless in FF1. Spells are the only way you can hit several enemies at once and you can fight up to 9 enemies at once. Without spells in those circumstances the fights drag on absolutely fucking forever and the risk of getting some nasty status ailments (Zombies, Cockatrice, etc) or getting hit by a group spell yourself (Dark Wizards who often come in group) just increases the longer the fight lasts.

As for items that cast spells for free sure they're nice, but they come in later in the game AND they're the weaker versions of the spells, so no they can't replace spell useage entirely.¨

I wonder if the complainers played the same game or maybe they played some shitty modern remake (GBA/PSP onwards) and/or used fast forward