The ''Final Fantasy'' Series

The ''Final Fantasy'' Series
An overview
Contents
1
Introduction
1.1
Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.1
Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.2
Common elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.3
Development and history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.5
Impact and legacy
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.6
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.8
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Final Fantasy character jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
1.2.1
History and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
1.2.2
Physical classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
1.2.3
Magical classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
1.2.4
Mixed classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
1.2.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
1.2.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
Character design of Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
1.3.1
Visual character design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
1.3.2
Recurring characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
1.3.3
Recurring species and races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38
1.3.4
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40
1.3.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
1.3.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
Gameplay of Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
1.4.1
Parties and battles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
1.4.2
Minigames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
1.4.3
Character growth and classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
1.4.4
Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
1.4.5
Airships and transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
1.4.6
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
1.4.7
Reception and legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
1.2
1.3
1.4
ii
CONTENTS
1.4.8
1.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
Music of the Final Fantasy series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49
1.5.1
Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49
1.5.2
History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
1.5.3
Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54
1.5.4
Public performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
1.5.5
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
1.5.6
Artists inspired by Final Fantasy music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
1.5.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
1.5.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
1.5.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
59
Main series
60
2.1
Final Fantasy (video game) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60
2.1.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60
2.1.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
61
2.1.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
2.1.4
Versions and re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
2.1.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63
2.1.6
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
2.1.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
2.1.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
2.1.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
Final Fantasy II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
2.2.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
2.2.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
2.2.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68
2.2.4
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69
2.2.5
Versions and re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69
2.2.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
2.2.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
2.2.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
2.2.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Final Fantasy III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
2.3.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
2.3.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73
2.3.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
2.3.4
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
2.3.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
2.3.6
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
2.3.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
2.3.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
2.2
2.3
CONTENTS
2.3.9
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
iii
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
Final Fantasy IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
2.4.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
2.4.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
2.4.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81
2.4.4
Re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
2.4.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
2.4.6
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
2.4.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
2.4.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
2.4.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
2.5.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
2.5.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
2.5.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
2.5.4
Releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
2.5.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
2.5.6
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
2.5.7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
2.5.8
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
Final Fantasy V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
2.6.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
2.6.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
2.6.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
94
2.6.4
Ports and remakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
95
2.6.5
Sequel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
95
2.6.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
2.6.7
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
2.6.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
2.6.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
Final Fantasy VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
2.7.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
2.7.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
2.7.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
2.7.4
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
2.7.5
Re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
2.7.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
2.7.7
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
2.7.8
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
2.7.9
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
2.7.10 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
iv
CONTENTS
2.8
2.9
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

2.8.1
Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
2.8.2
Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
2.8.3
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
2.8.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
2.8.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

2.9.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
2.9.2
Voice cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
2.9.3
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
2.9.4
Promotion and release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
2.9.5
Tie-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
2.9.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
2.9.7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
2.9.8
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
2.10 Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

2.10.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
2.10.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
2.10.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
2.10.4 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
2.10.5 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
2.10.6 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
2.11 Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
2.11.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
2.11.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
2.11.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
2.11.4 Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
2.11.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
2.11.6 Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
2.11.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
2.11.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
2.12 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
2.12.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
2.12.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
2.12.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
2.12.4 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
2.12.5 Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
2.12.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
2.12.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
2.12.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
2.13 Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
CONTENTS
2.13.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

2.13.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
2.13.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
2.13.4 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
2.13.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
2.13.6 Mobile phone tie-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
2.13.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
2.13.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
2.14 Last Order: Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
2.14.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
2.14.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
2.14.3 Cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
2.14.4 Production and release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
2.14.5 Response and cultural impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
2.14.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
2.14.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
2.15 Final Fantasy VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
2.15.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
2.15.2 Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
2.15.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
2.15.4 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
2.15.5 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
2.15.6 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
2.16 Final Fantasy IX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
2.16.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
2.16.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
2.16.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
2.16.4 Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
2.16.5 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
2.16.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
2.16.7 See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
2.16.8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
2.16.9 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
2.17 Final Fantasy X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
2.17.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
2.17.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
2.17.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
2.17.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
2.17.5 Versions and merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
2.17.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
2.17.7 Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
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CONTENTS
2.17.8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
2.17.9 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
2.18 Final Fantasy X-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
2.18.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
2.18.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
2.18.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
2.18.4 Versions and merchandise
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
2.18.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

2.18.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
2.18.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
2.19 Final Fantasy XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
2.19.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
2.19.2 Synopsis
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
2.19.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

2.19.4 Expansions and add-ons
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
2.19.5 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

2.19.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
2.19.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
2.19.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
2.20 Final Fantasy XII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
2.20.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
2.20.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
2.20.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
2.20.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
2.20.5 Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
2.20.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
2.20.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
2.20.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
2.21 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
2.21.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
2.21.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
2.21.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
2.21.4 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
2.21.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
2.21.6 See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
2.21.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
2.21.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
2.22 Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
2.22.1 Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
2.22.2 Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
2.22.3 Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
CONTENTS
vii
2.22.4 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

2.22.5 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
2.22.6 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
2.23 Final Fantasy XIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
2.23.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
2.23.2 Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
2.23.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
2.23.4 Versions and merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
2.23.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
2.23.6 Sequels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
2.23.7 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
2.23.8 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
2.24 Final Fantasy XIII-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
2.24.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
2.24.2 Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
2.24.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
2.24.4 Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
2.24.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
2.24.6 Sequel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
2.24.7 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
2.24.8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
2.24.9 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
2.25 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
2.25.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
2.25.2 Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
2.25.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
2.25.4 Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
2.25.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
2.25.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
2.25.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
2.26 Final Fantasy Type-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
2.26.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
2.26.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
2.26.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
2.26.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
2.26.5 Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
2.26.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
2.26.7 Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
2.26.8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
2.26.9 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
2.27 Final Fantasy XIV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
viii
CONTENTS
2.27.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
2.27.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
2.27.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
2.27.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
2.27.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
2.27.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
2.27.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
2.28 Final Fantasy XV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
2.28.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
2.28.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
2.28.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
2.28.4 Possible sequels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
2.28.5 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
2.28.6 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Compilations and re-releases

3.1
3.2
3.3
Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

3.1.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
3.1.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
3.1.3
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
3.1.4
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
3.1.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
3.1.6
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
3.1.7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
3.1.8
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Final Fantasy Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

3.2.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
3.2.2
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
3.2.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
3.2.4
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
3.2.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
3.2.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Final Fantasy VII (Famicom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301

3.3.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
3.3.2
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
3.3.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
3.3.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
3.3.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Spinos
4.1
296
304
Chocobo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
4.1.1
Character design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
CONTENTS
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
ix
4.1.2
Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
4.1.3
Appearances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
4.1.4
Cultural impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
4.1.5
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
4.1.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
4.1.7
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

4.2.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
4.2.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
4.2.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
4.2.4
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
4.2.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
4.2.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
4.2.7
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Final Fantasy Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

4.3.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
4.3.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
4.3.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
4.3.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
4.3.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
4.3.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Dissidia Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316

4.4.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
4.4.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
4.4.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
4.4.4
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
4.4.5
Release and merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
4.4.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
4.4.7
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
4.4.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
4.4.9
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

4.5.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
4.5.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
4.5.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
4.5.4
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
4.5.5
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
4.5.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
4.5.7
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Final Fantasy Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

4.6.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
CONTENTS
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.6.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
4.6.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
4.6.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
4.6.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
4.6.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

4.7.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
4.7.2
Characters
4.7.3
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
4.7.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
4.7.5
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
4.7.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

4.8.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
4.8.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
4.8.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
4.8.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
4.8.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
4.8.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

4.9.1
Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
4.9.2
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
4.9.3
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
4.9.4
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
4.9.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
4.9.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
4.10 Final Fantasy Tactics (series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

4.10.1 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
4.10.2 Common elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
4.10.3 Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
4.10.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
4.10.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
4.10.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
4.11 Mana (series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
4.11.1 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
4.11.2 Games
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
4.11.3 Common elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

4.11.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
4.11.5 Printed adaptations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
4.11.6 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
4.11.7 See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
CONTENTS
xi
4.11.8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342

4.11.9 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
4.12 SaGa (series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
4.12.1 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
4.12.2 Common elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
4.12.3 Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
4.12.4 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
4.12.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
4.12.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
4.12.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
4.13 Theatrhythm Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
4.13.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
4.13.2 Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
4.13.3 Development and release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
4.13.4 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
4.13.5 Sequel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
4.13.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
4.13.7 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
5
Appendix
5.1
353
List of Final Fantasy video games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353

5.1.1
Main series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.2
Main series-related games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.3
Spin-os . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.4
Compilations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.5
Collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.6
See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
5.1.7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
358
6.1
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
6.2
Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
6.3
Content license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Final Fantasy
larize console-based RPGs in markets outside Japan.
This article is about the video game franchise. For the

rst game in the series, see Final Fantasy (video game). 1.1.1 Titles
For other uses, see Final Fantasy (disambiguation).
Further information: List of Final Fantasy media
Final Fantasy ( Fainaru
Fantaj ) is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix
(formerly Square). The franchise centers on a series
of fantasy and science fantasy role-playing video games
(RPGs), but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise. The eponymous rst game
in the series, published in 1987, was conceived by Sakaguchi as his last-ditch eort in the game industry; the
title was a success and spawned sequels. The video game
series has since branched into other genres such as tactical
role-playing, action role-playing, massively multiplayer
online role-playing, racing, third-person shooter, ghting,
and rhythm.
Games
Main article: List of Final Fantasy video games
The rst installment of the series premiered in Japan on
December 18, 1987. Subsequent titles are numbered
and given a story unrelated to previous games; consequently, the numbers refer more to volumes than to sequels. Many Final Fantasy games have been localized for
markets in North America, Europe, and Australia on numerous video game consoles, personal computers (PC),
and mobile phones. Future installments will appear on
seventh and eighth generation consoles; upcoming titles
include Final Fantasy XV. As of January 2014, the series includes the main installments from Final Fantasy to
Final Fantasy XIV, as well as direct sequels and spin-os,
both released and conrmed as being in development.
Most of the older titles have been remade or re-released
on multiple platforms.* [1]
Although most Final Fantasy installments are stand-alone

stories with dierent settings and main characters, they
feature identical elements that dene the franchise. Recurring elements include plot themes, character names,
and game mechanics. Plots center on a group of heroes
battling a great evil while exploring the characters' internal struggles and relationships. Character names are frequently derived from the history, languages, pop culture,
and mythologies of cultures worldwide.
Main series Three Final Fantasy installments were released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Final Fantasy was released in Japan in 1987 and in North
America in 1990.* [2]* [3] It introduced many concepts
to the console RPG genre, and has since been remade on
several platforms.* [3] Final Fantasy II, released in 1988
in Japan, has been bundled with Final Fantasy in several
re-releases.* [3]* [4]* [5] The last of the NES installments,
Final Fantasy III, was released in Japan in 1990;* [6] however, it was not released elsewhere until a Nintendo DS
remake in 2006.* [5]
The series has been commercially and critically successful; it is Square Enix's best selling video game franchise,
with more than 100 million units sold, and one of the bestselling video game franchises. It was awarded a star on
the Walk of Game in 2006, and holds seven Guinness
World Records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's
Edition 2008. The series is well known for its innovation, visuals, and music, such as the inclusion of full motion videos, photo-realistic character models, and orchestrated music by Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy has been
a driving force in the video game industry, and the series
has aected Square Enix's business practices and its relationships with other video game developers. It has also
introduced many features now common in role-playing
video games and has been credited with helping to popu-
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) also

featured three installments of the main series, all of which
have been re-released on several platforms. Final Fantasy IV was released in 1991; in North America, it was
1
2
released as Final Fantasy II.* [7]* [8] It introduced the
"Active Time Battle" system.* [9] Final Fantasy V, released in 1992 in Japan, was the rst game in the series
to spawn a sequel: a short anime series titled Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals.* [3]* [10]* [11] Final Fantasy
VI was released in Japan in 1994, but it was titled Final
Fantasy III in North America.* [12]
The PlayStation console saw the release of three main
Final Fantasy games. The 1997 title Final Fantasy VII
moved away from the two-dimensional (2D) graphics
used in the rst six games to three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics; the game features polygonal characters
on pre-rendered backgrounds. It also introduced a more
modern setting, a style that was carried over to the next
game.* [3] It was also the rst in the series to be released
in Europe. Final Fantasy VIII was published in 1999,
and was the rst to consistently use realistically proportioned characters and feature a vocal piece as its theme
music.* [3]* [13] Final Fantasy IX, released in 2000, returned to the series' roots by revisiting a more traditional
Final Fantasy setting rather than the more modern worlds
of VII and VIII.* [3]* [14]
Three main installments, including one online game, were
published for the PlayStation 2 (PS2).* [15]* [16]* [17]
The 2001 title Final Fantasy X introduced full 3D areas
and voice acting to the series, and was the rst to spawn a
direct video game sequel (Final Fantasy X-2).* [18]* [19]
The rst massive multi-player online role-playing game
(MMORPG) in the series, Final Fantasy XI, was released on the PS2 and PC in 2002, and later on the Xbox
360.* [20]* [21] It introduced real-time battles instead of
random encounters.* [21] The twelfth installment, published in 2006, also includes real-time battles in large,
interconnected playelds.* [22]* [23] The game is also the
rst in the main series to utilize a world used in a previous
game, namely the land of Ivalice, which had previously
featured in Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story.* [24]
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
Final Fantasy has spawned numerous spin-os and
metaseries. Several are in fact, not Final Fantasy games,
but were rebranded for North American release. Examples include the SaGa series, rebranded The Final
Fantasy Legend, and its two sequels, Final Fantasy Legend II and Final Fantasy Legend III.* [34] Final Fantasy
Adventure is another rename, changed from its original
Japanese title, Seiken Densetsu (lit. Holy Sword Legend). Seiken Densetsu 2 was then re-branded as Secret
of Mana in the US Mana series.* [35] Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was specically developed for a United States
audience, and Final Fantasy Tactics is a tactical RPG
that features many references and themes found in the
series.* [35]* [36] The spin-o Chocobo series, Crystal
Chronicles series, and Kingdom Hearts series also include
multiple Final Fantasy elements.* [34]* [37] In 2003, the
Final Fantasy series' rst direct sequel, Final Fantasy X2, was released.* [38] Final Fantasy XIII was originally
intended to stand on its own, but the team wanted to explore the world, characters and mythos more, resulting
in the development and release of two sequels in 2011
and 2013 respectively, creating the series' rst ocial trilogy.* [28] Dissidia Final Fantasy was released in 2009, a
ghting game that features heroes and villains from the
rst ten games of the main series.* [39] It was followed
by a prequel in 2011.* [40] Other spin-os have taken
the form of subseriesCompilation of Final Fantasy VII,
Ivalice Alliance, and Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy.
Related media
Film and television Square Enix has expanded the Final Fantasy series into various media. Multiple anime
and computer-generated imagery (CGI) lms have been
produced that are based either on individual Final Fantasy games or on the series as a whole. The rst was
an original video animation (OVA) titled Final Fantasy:
Legend of the Crystals, a sequel to Final Fantasy V. The
story was set on the same world as the game, although
200 years in the future. It was released as four 30-minute
episodes, rst in Japan in 1994 and later in the United
States by Urban Vision in 1998. In 2001, Square Pictures
released its rst feature lm, Final Fantasy: The Spirits
Within. The lm is set on a future Earth invaded by alien
life forms.* [41] The Spirits Within was the rst animated
feature to seriously attempt to portray photorealistic CGI
humans, but was considered a box oce bomb and garnered mixed reviews.* [41]* [42]* [43]
In 2009, Final Fantasy XIII was released in Japan, and in

North America and Europe the following year.* [25]* [26]
It is the agship installment of the Fabula Nova Crystallis
Final Fantasy series* [27] and became the rst mainline
game to spawn two direct sequels (XIII-2 and Lightning
Returns).* [28] Final Fantasy XIV, a MMORPG, was released worldwide on Microsoft Windows in 2010, with
a direct sequel for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation
3, titled A Realm Reborn, released in 2013.* [29] At E3
2013, Final Fantasy XV (originally a spin-o titled Versus XIII) was ocially unveiled as an upcoming title
for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.* [30] Like XIII before
it, XV is part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series, al- In 2005, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, a theatrical
though in many other respects the game stands on its CGI lm, and Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, a non-canon
own.* [31]* [32]* [33]
OAV,* [44] were released as part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. Advent Children was animated by Visual
Works, which help the company create CG sequences for
Remakes, sequels and spin-os See also: Category: the games:* [45] the lm, unlike The Spirits Within, gained
Final Fantasy spin-os
mixed to positive reviews from critics* [46]* [47]* [48] and
has become a commercial success.* [49] Last Order on
1.1. FINAL FANTASY
the other hand was released in Japan in a special DVD

bundle package with Advent Children. Last Order sold
out quickly* [50] and was positively received by Western critics,* [51]* [52] though fan reaction was mixed over
changes to established story scenes.* [53]
A 25-episode anime television series titled Final Fantasy:
Unlimited was released in 2001 based on the common elements of the Final Fantasy series. It was broadcast in
Japan by TV Tokyo and released in North America by
ADV Films.
Other media Several video games have either been
adapted into or have had spin-os in the form of manga
and novels. The rst was the novelization of Final Fantasy II in 1989, and was followed by a manga adaptation of Final Fantasy III in 1992.* [54]* [55] The past
decade has seen an increase in the number of non-video
game adaptations and spin-os. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within has been adapted into a novel, the spin-o game
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has been adapted into a
manga, and Final Fantasy XI has had a novel and manga
set in its continuity.* [56]* [57]* [58]* [59] Seven novellas
based on the Final Fantasy VII universe have also been released. The Final Fantasy: Unlimited story was partially
continued in novels and a manga after the anime series
ended.* [60]
Final Fantasy V is typical of the series in that the heroes must attempt to retrieve crystals to save the world from an ancient evil.
Shown is King Tycoon approaching the Wind Crystal, which controls wind currents and is one of four elemental crystals linked to
the world's creation.
Two titles, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fanthe protagonists taking part in the rebellion. The heroes
tasy: Unlimited, have been adapted into radio dramas.
are often destined to defeat the evil, and occasionally
gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions.* [3]* [63] Another staple of the series is the exis1.1.2 Common elements
tence of two villains; the main villain is not always who it
appears to be, as the primary antagonist may actually be
Although most Final Fantasy installments are indepensubservient to another character or entity.* [3] The main
dent, many gameplay elements recur throughout the seantagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not
ries.* [61]* [62] Most titles feature recycled names ofalways the nal enemy, and the characters must continue
ten inspired from various cultures' history, languages
their quest beyond what appears to be the nal ght.* [63]
and mythology, including Asian, European, and MiddleEastern.* [63] Examples include weapon names like Stories in the series frequently emphasize the interExcalibur and Masamunederived from Arthurian leg- nal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters,
end and the Japanese swordsmith Masamune respectively and the main plot often recedes into the background
*
*
as well as the spell names Holy, Meteor, and Ul- as the focus shifts to their personal lives. [23] [64]
tima.* [62]* [63] Beginning with Final Fantasy IV, the Games also explore relationships between characters,
*
main series adopted its current logo style that features the ranging from love to rivalry. [3] Other recurring situsame typeface and an emblem designed by Japanese artist ations that drive the plot include amnesia, a hero corYoshitaka Amano. The emblem relates to a title's respec- rupted by an evil force, mistaken identity, and self*
*
*
tive plot and typically portrays a character or object in the sacrice. [3] [65] [66] Magical orbs and crystals are restory. Subsequent remakes of the rst three games have curring in-game items that are frequently connected to
*
replaced the previous logos with ones similar to the rest the themes of the games' plots. [63] Crystals often play
a central role in the creation of the world, and a majorof the series.* [62]
ity of the Final Fantasy games link crystals and orbs to
the planet's life force. As such, control over these crysPlot and themes
tals drives the main conict.* [63]* [67] The classical elements are also a recurring theme in the series related
The central conict in many Final Fantasy games focuses to the heroes, villains, and items.* [63] Other common
on a group of characters battling an evil, and sometimes plot and setting themes include the Gaia hypothesis, an
ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world. Sto- apocalypse, and conicts between advanced technology
ries frequently involve a sovereign state in rebellion, with and nature.* [63]* [65]* [68]
4
Characters
Further information: Character design of Final Fantasy
Character names are another recurring theme. Since the
release of Final Fantasy II, including subsequent remakes
of the original Final Fantasy, a character named Cid has
appeared in dierent capacities: as a non-playable ally,
a party member, and a villain. Though Cid's appearance
and personality dier between titles, the character is normally related to the in-game airships. Biggs and Wedge,
inspired by two Star Wars characters of the same name,
appear in numerous titles as minor characters, sometimes as comic relief.* [23]* [62] The later titles in the
series feature several males with eeminate characteristics.* [69]* [70] Recurring creatures include Chocobos
and Moogles.* [23] Chocobos are large, often ightless
birds that appear in several installments as a means of
long-distance travel for characters. Moogles, on the other
hand, are white, stout creatures resembling teddy bears
with wings and a single antenna. They serve dierent capacities in games including mail delivery, weaponsmiths,
party members, and saving the game. Chocobo and
Moogle appearances are often accompanied by specic
musical themes that have been arranged dierently for
separate titles.* [3]* [23]* [62]
who worked on X,* [75] was meant to have an actionoriented feel, emulating the cinematic battles in Final
Fantasy VII: Advent Children.* [76]
Like most RPGs, the Final Fantasy installments use
an experience level system for character advancement,
in which experience points are accumulated by killing
enemies.* [77]* [78]* [79]* [80] Character classes, specic
jobs that enable unique abilities for characters, are another recurring theme. Introduced in the rst game, character classes have been used dierently in each title.
Some restrict a character to a single job to integrate it
into the story, while other games feature dynamic job systems that allow the player to choose from multiple classes
and switch throughout the game. Though used heavily in
many games, such systems have become less prevalent in
favor of characters that are more versatile; characters still
match an archetype, but are able to learn skills outside
their class.* [23]* [62]* [63]
Magic is another common RPG element in the series.

The method by which characters gain magic varies between installments, but is generally divided into classes
organized by color: White magic, which focuses on
spells that assist teammates; Black magic, which focuses on harming enemies; Red magic, which is a
combination of white and black magic, Blue magic
, which mimics enemy attacks; and Green magic
which focuses on applying status eects to either allies or enemies.* [3]* [62]* [71] Other types of magic freGameplay
quently appear such as Time magic, focusing on the
themes of time, space, and gravity; and Summoning
Main article: Gameplay of Final Fantasy
magic, which evokes legendary creatures to aid in battle and is a feature that has persisted since Final Fantasy
In Final Fantasy games, players command a party of III. Summoned creatures are often referred to by names
characters as they progress through the game's story like Espersor Eidolonsand have been inspired
by exploring the game world and defeating oppo- by mythologies from Arabic, Hindu, Norse, and Greek
nents.* [3]* [63] Enemies are typically encountered ran- cultures.* [62]* [63]
domly through exploring, a trend which changed in Final
Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XII. The player issues com- Dierent means of transportation have appeared through
bat orderslikeFight,Magic, andItemto in- the series. The most common is the airship for long range
dividual characters via a menu-driven interface while en- travel, accompanied by chocobos for travelling short disgaging in battles. Throughout the series, the games have tances, but others include sea and land vessels. Following
and futuristic vehicle deused dierent battle systems. Prior to Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy VII, more modern
*
signs
have
been
included.
[63]
battles were turn-based with the protagonists and antagonists on dierent sides of the battleeld. Final Fantasy IV
introduced theActive Time Battle(ATB) system that
augmented the turn-based nature with a perpetual time- 1.1.3 Development and history
keeping system. Designed by Hiroyuki Ito, it injected urgency and excitement into combat by requiring the player Origin
to act before an enemy attacks, and was used until Final
Fantasy X, which implemented the Conditional Turn- See also: Development of Final Fantasy (video game) and
Based(CTB) system.* [3]* [23]* [71] This new system Development of Final Fantasy II
returned to the previous turn-based system, but added In the mid-1980s, Square entered the Japanese video
nuances to oer players more challenge.* [19]* [72] Fi- game industry with simple RPGs, racing games, and
nal Fantasy XI adopted a real-time battle system where platformers for Nintendo's Famicom Disk System. In
characters continuously act depending on the issued com- 1987, Square designer Hironobu Sakaguchi chose to cremand.* [73] Final Fantasy XII continued this gameplay ate a new fantasy role-playing game for the cartridgewith the Active Dimension Battlesystem.* [74] Final based NES, and drew inspiration from popular fantasy
Fantasy XIII 's combat system, designed by the same man games: Enix's Dragon Quest, Nintendo's The Legend of
1.1. FINAL FANTASY
Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series
Zelda, and Origin Systems's Ultima series. Though often

attributed to the company allegedly facing bankruptcy,
Sakaguchi explained that the game was his personal lastditch eort in the game industry and that its title, Final
Fantasy, stemmed from his feelings at the time; had the
game not sold well, he would have quit the business and
gone back to university.* [81]* [81]* [82]* [83] Despite his
explanation, publications have also attributed the name
to the company's hopes that the project would solve its
nancial troubles.* [82]* [84]
5
For the original Final Fantasy, Sakaguchi required a
larger production team than Square's previous titles. He
began crafting the game's story while experimenting with
gameplay ideas. Once the gameplay system and game
world size was established, Sakaguchi integrated his story
ideas into the available resources. A dierent approach
has been taken for subsequent titles; the story is completed rst and the game built around it.* [88] Designers
have never been restricted by consistency, though most
feel each title should have a minimum number of common elements. The development teams strive to create
completely new worlds for each title, and avoid making
new games too similar to previous ones. Game locations
are conceptualized early in development and design details like building parts are eshed out as a base for entire
structures.* [61]
The rst ve games were directed by Sakaguchi, who
also provided the original concepts.* [63]* [89] He drew
inspiration for game elements from anime lms by Hayao
Miyazaki; series staples like the airships and chocobos are inspired by elements in Castle in the Sky and
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, respectively.* [90]
Sakaguchi served as a producer for subsequent games
until he left Square in 2001.* [63]* [89] Yoshinori Kitase took over directing the games until Final Fantasy
VIII,* [91]* [92]* [93] and has been followed by a new director for each new title. Hiroyuki Ito designed several
gameplay systems, including Final Fantasy V 's "Job System", Final Fantasy VIII 's "Junction System" and the
Active Time Battle concept, which was used from Final
Fantasy IV until Final Fantasy IX.* [63]* [91] In designing
the Active Time Battle system, Ito drew inspiration from
Formula One racing; he thought it would be interesting if
character types had dierent speeds after watching race
cars pass each other.* [94] Ito also co-directed Final Fantasy VI with Kitase.* [63]* [91] Kenji Terada was the scenario writer for the rst three games; Kitase took over as
scenario writer for Final Fantasy V through Final Fantasy VII. Kazushige Nojima became the series' primary
scenario writer from Final Fantasy VII until his resignation in October 2003; he has since formed his own company, Stellavista. Nojima partially or completely wrote
the stories for Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy X-2. He also worked
as the scenario writer for the spin o series, Kingdom
Hearts.* [95] Daisuke Watanabe co-wrote the scenarios
for Final Fantasy X and XII, and was the main writer for
the XIII games.* [96]* [97]* [98]
The game indeed reversed Square's lagging fortunes, and

it became the company's agship franchise.* [42]* [82]
Following the success, Square immediately developed a
second installment. Because Sakaguchi assumed Final
Fantasy would be a stand-alone title, its story was not designed to be expanded by a sequel. The developers instead chose to carry over only thematic similarities from
its predecessor, while some of the gameplay elements,
such as the character advancement system, were overhauled. This approach has continued throughout the series; each major Final Fantasy game features a new setting, a new cast of characters, and an upgraded battle
system.* [5] Video game writer John Harris attributed
the concept of reworking the game system of each installment to Nihon Falcom's Dragon Slayer series,* [85]
with which Square was previously involved as a publisher.* [86] The company regularly released new titles in
the main series. However, the time between the releases
of Final Fantasy XI (2002), Final Fantasy XII (2006),
and Final Fantasy XIII (2009) were much longer than previous titles. Following Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix
stated that it intended to release Final Fantasy games either annually or biennially. This switch was to mimic the
development cycles of Western games in the Call of Duty, Artistic design, including character and monster creAssassin's Creed and Battleeld series, as well as maintain ations, was handled by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano
from Final Fantasy through Final Fantasy VI. Amano also
fan-interest.* [87]
handled title logo designs for all of the main series and the
image illustrations from Final Fantasy VII onward.* [89]
Tetsuya Nomura was chosen to replace Amano because
Design
Nomura's designs were more adaptable to 3D graphics.
He worked with the series from Final Fantasy VII through
See also: Category: Final Fantasy designers
Final Fantasy X;* [63]* [89] for Final Fantasy IX, how-
includes non-player characters (NPCs) the player could
interact with, but they are mostly static in-game objects.
Beginning with the second title, Square used predetermined pathways for NPCs to create more dynamic scenes
that include comedy and drama.* [102]
Final Fantasy VI artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, who provided

designs for much of the series
In 1995, Square showed an interactive SGI technical

demonstration of Final Fantasy VI for the then next generation of consoles. The demonstration used Silicon
Graphics's prototype Nintendo 64 workstations to create
3D graphics.* [102]* [103] Fans believed the demo was
of a new Final Fantasy title for the Nintendo 64 console; however, 1997 saw the release of Final Fantasy VII
for the Sony PlayStation.* [103]* [104] The switch was
due to a dispute with Nintendo over its use of faster
but more expensive cartridges, as opposed to the slower
and cheaper, but much higher capacity Compact Discs
used on rival systems.* [105]* [106] Final Fantasy VII
introduced 3D graphics with fully pre-rendered backgrounds.* [105]* [107] It was because of this switch to 3D
that a CD-ROM format was chosen over a cartridge format.* [105]* [108] The switch also led to increased production costs and a greater subdivision of the creative
sta for Final Fantasy VII and subsequent 3D titles in
the series.* [61]
ever, character designs were handled by Shuk Murase,

Toshiyuki Itahana, and Shin Nagasawa.* [99] Nomura is
also the character designer of the Kingdom Hearts series, Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, and Fabula Nova
Crystallis: Final Fantasy.* [100] Other designers include
Nobuyoshi Mihara and Akihiko Yoshida. Mihara was
the character designer for Final Fantasy XI, and Yoshida
served as character designer for Final Fantasy Tactics,
the Square-produced Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy
XII.* [36]* [101]
Graphics and technology
Final Fantasy VIII, along with VII and IX, used pre-rendered
backgrounds
Because of graphical limitations, the rst titles on the

NES feature small sprite representations of the leading
party members on the main world screen. Battle screens
use more detailed, full versions of characters in a sideview perspective. This practice was used until Final Fantasy VI, which uses detailed versions for both screens.
The NES sprites are 26 pixels high and use a color palette
of 4 colors. 6 frames of animation are used to depict different character statuses like healthyand fatigued
. The SNES installments use updated graphics and effects, as well as higher quality audio than in previous
games, but are otherwise similar to their predecessors in
basic design. The SNES sprites are 2 pixels shorter, but
have larger palettes and feature more animation frames:
11 colors and 40 frames respectively. The upgrade allowed designers to have characters be more detailed in
appearance and express more emotions. The rst title
Starting with Final Fantasy VIII, the series adopted a

more photo-realistic look.* [109]* [110] Like Final Fantasy VII, full motion video (FMV) sequences would have
video playing in the background, with the polygonal characters composited on top. Final Fantasy IX returned to
the more stylized design of earlier games in the series,
although it still maintained, and in many cases slightly
upgraded, most of the graphical techniques used in the
previous two games.* [110] Final Fantasy X was released
on the PlayStation 2, and used the more powerful hardware to render graphics in real-time instead of using prerendered material to obtain a more dynamic look; the
game features full 3D environments, rather than have 3D
character models move about pre-rendered backgrounds.
It is also the rst Final Fantasy game to introduce voice
acting, occurring throughout the majority of the game,
even with many minor characters.* [19] This aspect added
1.1. FINAL FANTASY
a whole new dimension of depth to the character's reac- fare, a theme that has become one of the most recognized
tions, emotions, and development.* [19]* [111]
pieces of music in the series. The basic theme that acTaking a temporary divergence, Final Fantasy XI companies Chocobo appearances has been rearranged in
used the PlayStation 2's online capabilities as an a dierent musical style for each installment. A piece
MMORPG.* [112] Initially released for the PlayStation called Prologue(and sometimes Final Fantasy),
2 with a PC port arriving six months later, Final Fantasy originally featured *in the rst game, is often played during
XI was also released on the Xbox 360 nearly four the ending credits. [62] Although leitmotifs are common
years after its original release in Japan.* [113] This in the more character-driven installments, theme music is
typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot
was the rst Final Fantasy game to use a free rotating
*
camera. Final Fantasy XII was released in 2006 for elements. [42]
the PlayStation 2 and uses only half as many polygons
as Final Fantasy X, in exchange for more advanced
textures and lighting.* [114]* [115] It also retains the
freely rotating camera from Final Fantasy XI. Final
Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIV both make use of
Crystal Tools, a middleware engine developed by Square
Enix.* [116]* [117]
Nobuo Uematsu was the chief music composer of the

Final Fantasy series until his resignation from Square
Enix in November 2004.* [42] Other composers include
Masashi Hamauzu, Hitoshi Sakimoto* [118]* [119] and
Junya Nakano. Uematsu was allowed to create much of
the music with little direction from the production sta.
Sakaguchi, however, would request pieces to t specic
game scenes including battles and exploring dierent areas of the game world.* [120] Once a game's major scenarios were completed, Uematsu would begin writing the
Music
music based on the story, characters, and accompanying
artwork. He started with a game's main theme, and deMain article: Music of the Final Fantasy series
veloped other pieces to match its style. In creating charThe titles in the series feature a variety of music, but
acter themes, Uematsu read the game's scenario to determine the characters' personality. He would also ask the
scenario writer for more details to scenes he was unsure
about.* [121] Technical limitations were prevalent in earlier titles; Sakaguchi would sometimes instruct Uematsu
to only use specic notes.* [120] It was not until Final
Fantasy IV on the SNES that Uematsu was able to add
more subtlety to the music.* [102]
The opening four notes of the Final Fantasy victory theme
spell a letter V in Morse Code, similar to the opening notes of the rst movement of Symphony No. 5
(Beethoven).
1.1.4 Reception
Nobuo Uematsu, composer of most of the Final Fantasy soundtracks
frequently reuse themes. Most of the games open with a

piece calledPrelude, which has evolved from a simple,
2-voice arpeggio in the early games to a complex, melodic
arrangement in recent installments.* [23]* [62]* [83] Victories in combat are often accompanied by a victory fan-
Overall, the Final Fantasy series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, though each installment has seen dierent levels of success. The series
has seen a steady increase in total sales; it sold 45 million
units worldwide by August 2003, 63 million by December
2005, and 85 million by July 2008.* [183]* [184]* [185] In
June 2011, Square Enix announced that the series had
sold over 100 million units.* [186] Its high sales numbers have ranked it as one of the best-selling video game
franchises in the industry; in January 2007, the series
was listed as number three, and later in July as number
four.* [42]* [187]
Several games within the series have become best-selling
titles. At the end of 2007, the seventh, eighth, and ninth
best-selling RPGs were Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy
VIII, and Final Fantasy X respectively.* [188] Final Fantasy VII has sold more than 9.5 million copies worldwide, earning it the position of the best-selling Final Fan-
8
tasy title.* [189] Within two days of Final Fantasy VIII
's North American release on September 9, 1999, it became the top-selling video game in the United States, a
position it held for more than three weeks.* [190] Final
Fantasy X sold over 1.4 million Japanese units in preorders alone, which set a record for the fastest-selling console RPG.* [188]* [191] The MMORPG, Final Fantasy
XI, reached over 200,000 active daily players in March
2006* [192] and had reached over half a million subscribers by July 2007.* [42] Final Fantasy XII sold more
than 1.7 million copies in its rst week in Japan.* [193]
By November 6, 2006one week after its releaseFinal
Fantasy XII had shipped approximately 1.5 million copies
in North America.* [194] Final Fantasy XIII became the
fastest-selling game in the franchise,* [195] and sold one
million units on its rst day of sale in Japan.* [196] Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, in comparison to its
predecessor, was an runaway success, originally suering from servers being overcrowded,* [197] and eventually gaining over one million unique subscribers within
two months of its launch.* [198]
The series has garnered some criticism however. IGN
has commented that the menu system used by the games
is a major detractor for many and is a signicant reason why they haven't touched the series.* [23] The site
has also heavily criticized the use of random encounters in the series' battle systems.* [212]* [213] IGN further stated the various attempts to bring the series into
lm and animation have either been unsuccessful, unremarkable, or did not live up to the standards of the
games.* [11] In 2007, Edge criticized the series for a number of related titles that include the phrase "Final Fantasy" in their titles, which are considered inferior to previous titles. It also commented that with the departure
of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the series might be in danger of
growing stale.* [42]
Several individual Final Fantasy titles have garnered extra attention; some for their positive reception and others
for their negative reception. Final Fantasy VII topped
GamePro's 26 Best RPGs of All Timelist,* [214]
as well as GameFAQs Best Game Everaudience
polls in 2004 and 2005.* [215]* [216] Despite the success of Final Fantasy VII, it is sometimes criticized as
being overrated. In 2003, GameSpy listed it as the
Critical response
seventh most overrated game of all time, while IGN
presented views from both sides.* [217]* [218] Dirge of
The series has received critical acclaim for the qual- Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII shipped 392,000 units in
ity of its visuals and soundtracks.* [42] In 1996, Next its rst week of release, but received review scores
Generation ranked it as the 17th top game series of all that were much lower than that of other Final Fantime, speaking very highly of its graphics, music and sto- tasy games.* [219]* [220]* [221] A delayed, negative reries.* [199] It was awarded a star on the Walk of Game view after the Japanese release of Dirge of Cerberus
in 2006, making it the rst franchise to win a star on from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu hinted at a conthe event (other winners were individual games, not fran- troversy between the magazine and Square Enix.* [222]
chises). WalkOfGame.com commented that the series Though Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was praised for
has sought perfection as well as having been a risk taker its visuals, the plot was criticized and the lm was considin innovation.* [200] In 2006, GameFAQs held a contest ered a box oce bomb.* [41]* [42]* [43]* [223] Final Fanfor the best video game series ever, with Final Fantasy tasy Crystal Chronicles for the GameCube received overnishing as the runner-up to The Legend of Zelda.* [201] all positive review scores, but reviews stated that the use
In a 2008 public poll held by The Game Group plc, Final of Game Boy Advances as controllers was a big detracFantasy was voted the best game series, with ve titles ap- tor.* [104]* [224] The predominantly negative reception
pearing in theirGreatest Games of All Timelist.* [202] of the original version of Final Fantasy XIV caused thenMany Final Fantasy games have been included president Yoichi Wada to issue an ocial apology during
in various lists of top games.
Several games a Tokyo press conference, stating that the brand had been
*
have been listed on multiple IGN Top Gamesgreatly damagedby the game's reception. [225]
*
*
*
*
*
*
lists. [203] [204] [205] [206] [207] [208]
Eleven
games were listed on Famitsu's 2006 Top 100 Favorite
Games of All Time, four of which were in the top ten, 1.1.5 Impact and legacy
with Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII coming rst
and second, respectively.* [209] The series holds seven The Final Fantasy series and several specic games
Guinness World Records in the Guinness World Records within it have been credited for introducing and popularGamer's Edition 2008, which include the Most Games izing many concepts that are today widely used in console
in an RPG Series(13 main titles, seven enhanced RPGs.* [3]* [104] The original title is often cited as one of
titles, and 32 spin-o titles), the Longest Development the most inuential early console RPGs, and played a maPeriod(the production of Final Fantasy XII took ve jor role in legitimizing and popularizing the genre. Many
years), and the Fastest-Selling Console RPG in a console RPGs featured one-on-one battles against monSingle Day(Final Fantasy X).* [188]* [210] The 2009 sters from a rst-person perspective. Final Fantasy introedition listed two titles from the series among the top duced a side view perspective with groups of monsters
50 consoles games: Final Fantasy XII at number 8 and against a group of characters that has been frequently
Final Fantasy VII at number 20.* [211]
used.* [3]* [83]* [104] It also introduced an early evolv-
1.1. FINAL FANTASY

ing class change system,* [226]* [227] as well as dierent methods of transportation, including a ship, canoe,
and ying airship.* [228] Final Fantasy II was the rst
sequel in the industry to omit characters and locations
from the previous title.* [5] It also introduced an activitybased progression system,* [229] which has been used in
later RPG series such as SaGa,* [230] Grandia,* [231] and
The Elder Scrolls.* [229] Final Fantasy III introduced the
job system, a character progression engine allowing the
player to change character classes, as well as acquire new
and advanced classes and combine class abilities, at any
time during the game.* [232] Final Fantasy IV is considered a milestone for the genre, introducing a dramatic
storyline with a strong emphasis on character development and personal relationships.* [233] Final Fantasy VII
is credited as having the largest industry impact of the series,* [105] and with allowing console role-playing games
to gain mass-market appeal.* [234]
9
ocial soundtracks have been released for sale as well.
Numerous companion books, which normally provide indepth game information, have been published. In Japan,
they are published by Square and are called Ultimania
books.* [242]* [243] In North America, they take the form
of standard strategy guides.
1.1.6 See also

Dragon Quest Initially a competing series from
Enix, continues to be produced alongside Final Fantasy after their merger with Square
Granblue Fantasya 2013 video game featuring key
sta from Final Fantasy
The Last Storya 2012 video game featuring key
sta from Final Fantasy
The series aected Square's business on several lev Final Fantasy series Wikipedia book
els. The commercial failure of Final Fantasy: The
Spirits Within resulted in hesitation and delays from
Enix during merger discussions with Square.* [43]* [83] 1.1.7 References
Square's decision to produce games exclusively for the
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*
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The series' popularity has resulted in its appearance and
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[200] 2006 Walk of Game Inductees. Walk of Game.
Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved
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August 6, 2011.
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August 6, 2011.
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[218] Buchanan, Levi (March 3, 2009). Is Final Fantasy VII
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GameRankings. Archived from the original on August 6,
16
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[239] Final Fantasy Retrospective Part III. GameTrailers.
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July 30, 2007. Archived from the original on August 6,
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[240] Nobuo Uematsu's Prole. Square Enix. Archived from
[223] Ebert, Roger (July 11, 2001).Final Fantasy: The Spirits
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[241] The Black Mages-Darkness and Starlight(in Japanese).
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[224] Reviews: FF: Crystal Chronicles. 1UP.com. January
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1.1.8 External links

Square Enix's ocial Final Fantasy website
(Japanese)
Final Fantasy Games at DMOZ
IGN Presents the History of Final Fantasy
1.2 Final Fantasy character jobs

In several installments of the Final Fantasy series of roleplaying games by Square Enix, classes (jobs) are roles
assigned to playable characters that determine the character's prociencies.* [1] Classes can be loosely categorized
into physical classes, which specialize in using weapons
and techniques; magical classes, which are procient in
magic; and mixed classes, which combine elements of
both classes in addition to other special abilities.
This article summarizes the most common character
classes; many games in the series have featured unique
classes that have not reappeared in subsequent games. For
information on those classes, see the article regarding the
game in which the class appeared. Job classes in Final
Fantasy XI are featured in Final Fantasy XI character
classes; those in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are featured in List of jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
1.2.1 History and development

1. In Final Fantasy, the player allocates permanent
class selections to the four playable characters at
the beginning of the game. Each of the six starting classes can be upgraded to a corresponding advanced class midway through the game.* [2]
1.2. FINAL FANTASY CHARACTER JOBS
17
8. Final Fantasy VIII adopted a similar system as Final Fantasy VII, Although here it is linked the
development of the game's Summoned Monsters
(called Guardian Forces), by choosing which abilities they learn through combat and boosting character stats, damage and resistances by equipping spells
to those abilities through a system called Junctioning.* [8]* [9]* [10]
9. In Final Fantasy IX, characters have predetermined
dormant abilitiessimilar to Final Fantasy IV; however, the characters in Final Fantasy IX learn abilities by wearing equipment instead of gaining levels.* [11]
The job system in Final Fantasy V
2. Characters in Final Fantasy II are molded according

to their performance in battle.* [3] However, while
jobs are not part of the game mechanics, they are
part of the setting; the playable characters include a
White Mage, a Dragoon and a Dark Knight, and the
town of Mysidia is populated mostly by Black and
White Mages.
3. Final Fantasy III changed the formula by allowing
the player to change a character's class, as well as
acquire new and advanced classes.* [4]* [5]
4. Final Fantasy IV introduced characters already
locked into a class; abilities related to the character's
class are learned as the character gains experience
points.* [6]
5. Final Fantasy V returned to the system used in Final
Fantasy III, allowing players to change a character's
class and acquire new and advanced classes. Furthermore, Final Fantasy V added ability slots, allowing a character with one class to use abilities learned
with another class.* [4]* [5]
6. In Final Fantasy VI, each playable character has
a locked class from the beginning of the game,
and a signature command, such as Dance, Lore or
Mimic.* [7] However, the magicite system lets every
character learn almost every magic and summoning
spells.
7. In Final Fantasy VII, characters were designed
around traditional classes which aect base stats,
stat growth and weapon type of the character (ex:
Tifa was designed around the Monk class, giving
here strong physical stats, low hp growth and hand
to hand weapons). Due to the materia system letting
the player assign any magic or special command (ex:
Steal, Mimic) to any character, they can all be customised to play the same in battle; nevertheless, each
character is dierentiated by their stats and unique
limit breaks.* [8]* [9]* [10]
10. Final Fantasy X introduced thesphere grid"; characters began at certain areas of the grid, which represent traditional character classes by their statistical bonuses and abilities. Character classes were reintroduced in Final Fantasy X-2 as dresspheres";
these classes are gradually acquired and can be
changed at any point, including battle mode.* [12]
11. The classes that appeared in Final Fantasy XI, the
rst MMORPG title in the series, have certain
unique implementations that more closely follow
MMORPG convention.* [13] Notably, in Final Fantasy XI a player can equip a secondary job, called a
subjob, and have half the abilities of that class.
Extensive backstories are often given to the games'
job classes to add to the setting's lore.
12. In Final Fantasy XII, abilities are unlocked through
theLicense Boardsystem, which allows the player
to mold characters into anything, without restriction of traditional classes.* [14]* [15] However, in
the game's international version and in Final Fantasy
XII: Revenant Wings, the growth system is modied
to have more clearly dened classes.
13. In Final Fantasy XIII, characters can switch class
mid-battle and in the eld, utilizing the Paradigm
system. Final Fantasy XIII-2, in addition to Serah
Farron and Noel Kreiss using a modied Paradigm
system from the prior game, players can recruit
monsters into their Paradigm Pack, where they ght
along the player characters in battle in one of the
Paradigm roles. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy
XIII uses the Schema system, where the player assigns and customizes three Schemata to use in battle.
14. In Final Fantasy XIV, player classes vary by what
weapon they are wielding (i.e. wielding a sword
turns that player into a Gladiator, while wielding
knuckles turns the player into a Pugilist etc.). Additionally, abilities learned from other classes may
be junctioned onto the player's current class (i.e. a
Pugilist may use Red Lotus from the Gladiator class)
18
15. In Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, classes are chosen by the player
from one of several starting classes; however, characters must meet prerequisites before changing
classes.* [16]* [17]
16. In Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light all characters can use any piece of equipment or magic spell
available at one point in time. However, equipping
a dierent crown alters a character's battle performance to a certain extent, raising the power of some
weapons, spells and abilities and decreasing those of
others, as well as providing special abilities unique
to that crown, so the concept of classes can still be
used in this case.
Many Final Fantasy installments deviate from the class
system by allowing exibility in character growth, or featuring pre-determined jobs. In Final Fantasy VI, Final
Fantasy VII, and Final Fantasy VIII, for example, characters begin with equipment and attack prociencies similar to character classes, but the player can allocate magic
and statistical bonuses.* [7]* [8]* [9] Final Fantasy character classes have also made cameo appearances as hidden
players in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Mario Sports Mix and as
enemies in Kingdom Hearts II.
the Warrior class,* [2]* [4] but later games in the series
began to use the two terms interchangeably.* [18] Recurring abilities shared by the Warrior/Fighter and Knight
classes include various special attacks, the most common
of which are the variousbreakorrendabilities, each
of which can either inict specic stat-lowering debus
or destroy a specic piece of enemy equipment. Recurring abilities of the Knight class include the ability to cast
some lower level white magic spells andCover, which
intercepts attacks against wounded allies. The Warrior
has appeared in Final Fantasy,* [2] Final Fantasy III,* [4]
Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance,* [17]
and Final Fantasy XI;* [13] the Knight has appeared in Final Fantasy,* [2] Final Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy IV,
Final Fantasy V,* [18] Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy Tactics.* [16] Though she is not ocially categorized
as a Warrior, Final Fantasy XIII protagonist Lightning
ghts and attacks enemies with a sword-like gunblade
whenever she takes on the Commandorole. In Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, the two-handed axe
wielding Marauder class can equip the Warrior job soul
crystal, becoming a powerful tank class with some selfhealing and increased mitigation granted through special
attacks. Many games in the series also feature specialized sword-wielding classes, such as Dark Knight, Paladin, Samurai, or Holy Knight.* [4]* [16]
Summary Table
The following table summarizes the names of the jobs in
the various Final Fantasy video games. The columns are
sorted from pure physical (Fighting) jobs on the left to
pure magical (Healing) classes to the right. Since jobs
names can vary slightly between dierent versions of the
same video game, the version where names are taken
from is written under the video game title in the rst column.
1.2.2
Physical classes
Physical classes are able to inict damage through a variety of weapons and job-specic techniques. In general, these jobs have access to heavier weapons and armor than magical or mixed classes, giving them superior
attack power and physical defense.
Warrior
See also: Warrior (character class)
The Warrior ( Senshi), formerly translated as the
Fighter, is portrayed as an expert of the sword and/or
axe who uses some of the most powerful armors and
weaponry.* [2]* [4] As such, it is a well-rounded physical
combatant with high attack and defense statistics.* [12]
Initially, the Knight was treated as an upgraded form of
Monk
See also: Monk (character class)
The Monk ( Monku) is a master of martial arts
who favors barehanded ghting,* [2]* [4]* [18] sometimes
supplemented with claws. In some games, they can
use meditative techniques, which improve their power or
heal their wounds.* [16]* [18] They can often counterattack against physical attacks as well.* [18] In early English localizations of the series, the Monk was known
as the Black Belt;* [19] in Final Fantasy III, the Black
Belt is an upgraded form of the Monk.* [4] The Monk
has appeared as a class in Final Fantasy,* [2] Final Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy IV (Yang Fang Leiden),* [6]
Final Fantasy V,* [18] Final Fantasy VI (Sabin Rene Figaro),* [20] Final Fantasy IX (Amarant Coral), Final Fantasy XI,* [13] Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job
System, Final Fantasy Tactics,* [16] Final Fantasy Tactics
Advance,* [17] and Hataraku Chocobo. In addition, Josef
(Final Fantasy II), Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII), Zell
Dincht (Final Fantasy VIII) and Snow Villiers (Final Fantasy XIII) all ght hand-to-hand (Tifa can also use claws),
as well as having hand-to-hand limit breaks or special attack (Snow'sSovereign Fist), in-keeping with the tradition of the monk class. Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes of Light
also has the monk class, though it is called the Fighter
crown, granting increased barehanded attack prociency
and some traditional abilities.
19
Samurai
Samurai ( Samurai) are Japanese-styled ghters who
ght primarily with katana.* [16] Some abilities often associated with Samurai areCoin Toss(sometimesGil
Toss,GP Rain, orZeninage) which uses Gil to
damage enemies,Fast Draw(also referred asFdraw
,Iainuki,ZantetsuorOblivion"/"Cleave) which
is an attempt to defeat the enemy in a single attack, and
Blade Catch
( Shirahadori), a supplementary evasion
skill.* [21] In Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XI,
they can hold their weapons with both hands for increased
damage. Samurai are featured as classes in Final Fantasy
V,* [21] Final Fantasy VI (Cyan Garamonde), Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI,* [22] and Final Fantasy Tactics. In Final Fantasy Tactics, Samurai can unleash the
spirit
of certain katana with theirDraw Out
skill.* [16]
In Final Fantasy X, the character Auron uses the abilities
of both a samurai and a ghter. Also in Final Fantasy X,
Yuna can summon Yojimbo, a samurai who when given
the right amount of gil can attack withZanmato(an instant kill move). In Final Fantasy Tactics A2, the Paravir
class can be obtained for Humes. This Class very closely
resembles the Samurai class, and uses a katana, as well as
having many of the same support abilities as the Samurai class in the original Final Fantasy Tactics. Samurai is
also a type of enemy in Kingdom Hearts II, with similar Kain Highwind, a dragoon-class character from Final Fantasy
powers and appearance.
IV
Dragoon
The Dragoon ( Rykishi) (also known as Dragon
Knight or Lancer) uses spears and their Jumpability and usually wears heavy armour.* [4]* [18] Unlike
their armor, the design for the Dragoons' helmets remain
fairly constant from game to game. Jumptypically
does double damage when the user is wielding a spear,
and removes the Dragon Knight from combat for one
round.* [6]* [18] While jumping, Dragoons either thrust
downward with their spears to skewer enemies,* [6]* [16]
or toss the weapon at the foe from above. In Final Fantasy VI, theJumpskill is a special ability conferred by
the Dragoon Bootsrelic. The English localizations
of Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance refer to Dragon Knights as Dragoons,* [22] and the English localization of Final Fantasy Tactics refers to them as Lancers.* [16] In addition,
the characters Ricard Highwind (Final Fantasy II), Kain
Highwind (Final Fantasy IV),* [6] Cid Highwind (Final
Fantasy VII),* [23] Freya Crescent (Final Fantasy IX),
and Llyud (Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings) are identied as Dragoons. Alexander Highwind Tycoon (Final
Fantasy V), though not specically stated to be a Dragoon, shares the common Highwind surname and wears
armor resembling the traditional Dragoon garb. Ward
Zabac (Final Fantasy VIII) is similar to a Dragoon because he ghts with harpoon-style weapons and features
an aerial limit break
( Jump"-like attacks).* [24] Kimahri
Ronso (Final Fantasy X) uses spears for weapons and features an overdrive calledJump.* [25] Final Fantasy XI
*
[26] features the Dragoon as a playable job class; players are able to utilize several signature jump techniques,
as well as summon a wyvern as support in combat. Oerba
Yun Fang from Final Fantasy XIII also possesses characteristics of a Dragoon, as she wields a spear and can
even perform a full ATB attack called Highwind, a
powerful Jump attack. In the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance series, only Bangaa characters can become Dragoons. During chapter 9 aboard The Palameciain
Final Fantasy XIII, a soldier-type enemy called PSICOM
Dragoons appears, wearing the characteristic PSICOM
armor with an additional hi-tech jetpack strapped to the
back of the suit. Lightning can equip Dragoon garb in
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, giving her access
to the job's traditional Lancet ability. Dragoon is also a
type of enemy in Kingdom Hearts II, with similar powers
and appearance. In Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn,
this class is the epitome and upgraded Job of the Lancer
Class which specializes in devastating spear attacks which
include Jumpingwith and throwing their spear. This
is one of the most powerful single target DPS roles in the
game.
20
Thief
See also: Thief (character class)
dealing items like shuriken and weapons from the inventory at the enemy.* [16]* [18] In many games, Ninja possess the ability to hold a weapon in each hand, sometimes
known asDoublewieldorTwo Swords.* [16]* [18]
There are various "Ninjutsu" eects that, depending on
the game, appear as magic,* [6] throwable items, or commands. In the original Final Fantasy, the Ninja class is
a class change of the Thief. This association between
the Thief and Ninja classes is a constant trend in latter
Final Fantasy games. Edge in Final Fantasy IV has the
Stealskill as well asNinjutsuabilities; in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, mastering skills in the Thief jobclass is a prerequisite to acquiring the Ninja class.* [2]
Ninja also appear in Final Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy
V,* [18] Final Fantasy VI (Shadow),* [20] Final Fantasy
Tactics,* [16] and Final Fantasy XI.* [22] Specic to Final
Fantasy XI,Ninja shares more in common with a spellcaster than a physical job with the line of Ninjutsu spells.
Current trends in Final Fantasy XI, however, have seen
players emphasize both the Ninja's iconic dual-weapon
focused melee expertise as well as its Ninjutsu magic's
ability to debu and avoid damage; therefore, the game's
incarnation of the Ninja is more of a Tank than in any
previous game. In Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn,
the Ninja job takes the role of DPS, using dual daggers,
the ability to poison, and a line of Mantra abilities that
will have to be used in specic successful combinations
in order to provide additional eects. Yue from Final Fantasy VII has certain Ninja characteristics, although
she is primarily a Thief. Amarant Coral from Final Fantasy IX possesses the Ninja signature move,Throw, but
also possesses many characteristics of the Monk character class. Hope Estheim from Final Fantasy XIII has some
characteristics of a Ninja, as he ghts with boomerangs
that he throws to attack enemies whenever he takes on
the Commando role. The Ninja class is also available in
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. As standard, someone with the Ninja crown helps the party evade monster
encounters and can create copies of themselves. They can
also learn Counter, allowing them to use counterattacks if an attack misses and Lightning Fists, which
acts like a classic Hunter ability. This crown is therefore
hard to obtain. Ninja has also appeared in Mario Sports
Mix.
The Thief ( Shfu) is generally a swift and nimble ghter whose main weapon includes daggers or short
swords.* [2] They usually have very high speed, accuracy
& evasion but moderate strength, health & defense.* [12]
Stealis their trademark ability; it allows them to transfer an item or piece of equipment held by an enemy to the
player's inventory.* [12]* [16] Sometimes, they can attain
the skill Captureor Mug, which allows items to
be stolen during an attack. They can also disarm traps
and detect hidden passages.* [18] The Thief has appeared
as a class in Final Fantasy,* [2] Final Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy V,* [18] FInal Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy X,
Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI,* [13] Final Fantasy Tactics,* [16] Final Fantasy Tactics Advance,* [17]
and Hataraku Chocobo. The pirate Leila in Final Fantasy II joins the party attributes and weapon skills akin
to a Thief's, in addition to fair magical ability and the
Thunder spell. Locke Cole (Final Fantasy VI) and Zidane
Tribal (Final Fantasy IX) were stated to be Thieves in
their respective games, although Locke insists that he is a
treasure hunter.* [27]* [28] Yue Kisaragi (Final Fantasy VII) is identied as a "materia hunter,and she does
steal the party's materia at one point during the game, as
well as coming equipped with theStealmateria when
she joins the party. In Final Fantasy X, Rikku can learn
various theft-related moves, such as Steal, Pilfer
Giletc., whilst in Final Fantasy X-2, she starts o with
Thief as her default dressphere.* [12] In Final Fantasy XI,
the thief has a unique ability, Sneak Attack,that enables a single, enhanced strike when hitting the enemy
from behind; Trick Attackwill pin the attention of
the enemy on an ally, if the ally stands between the thief
and the enemy. Often, Sneak Attack and Trick Attack
are combined (called SATA), in order to focus the
enemy's attention on atank,such as a Paladin or Ninja.
This gives the Thief a unique role in the MMO environment of Final Fantasy XI, known ashate control.The
thief class also appears in Final Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of
Light as the Bandit crown. Party members with this can
learn several theft abilities and an assassination move in
Deadly Blow": which might cause attacks to inict instant death. Since they also possess strength and intellect Dark Knight
on par with the Hero crown, they are a more combat oriented class than they normally are.
Dark Knights ( Dku Naito, lit. Darkness
Knight) (also Ankoku Kishi) class tends to focus on dark magic which targets the health of an enemy.
Ninja
Their special attacks usually involve draining their own
health or, in some cases, sacricing themselves to inThe Ninja ( Ninja, lit. Assassin) is generally both ict extremely heavy damage.* [6] Dark Knights are usufast and powerful; however, to achieve this level of dex- ally among the most powerful damage dealers in their reterity, Ninja are unable to wear heavy armor. They can spective titles, but also typically suer from a notable lack
equip Ninja-specic weapons, such as katanas, knives, in defense, though this is often circumvented by their life
and boomerangs. Ninja usually possess the Throw absorbing abilities and heavy armor. Dark Knights are
ability, which allows them to throw powerful, damage- typically portrayed as either warriors of evil, or tortured

gures who draw upon their own torment and suering in
order to power their abilities. Some of the most notable
Dark Knights in the series include Leon (Final Fantasy
II), Cecil Harvey (Final Fantasy IV), Goard Gafgarion
(Final Fantasy Tactics) and Zeid (Final Fantasy XI). Dark
Knights are also found in Final Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy X-2, and Final Fantasy XI. In Final Fantasy XI, they
are a damage dealing class with the highest base attack
in the game, but have relatively weak black magic spells
other than their dark magic.* [22] They do not appear in
Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX, but their trademark Darksideability is learnable, by Steiner in the
latter game. In Final Fantasy XII, theSoul Eaterability and the Arcaneclass of magic are learnable. In
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, characters
can use the Dark Knight class, although it is referred to as
Fell Knight.* [29] Dark Knights are also available in Final
Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of Light though the crown is called
Dark Fencer. This crown grants increased sword prociency and the Dark Knight's classicDarksideability:
characters with this crown can also learn an upmarket version calledDarker Sidewhich hurts all enemies and the
vengeance ability Eye for an Eye which increases attack
power the lower the user's HP is.
21
. Also, in Final Fanatsy VI Celes Chere learns many support spells as she levels up, and her Runic ability lets her
direct most magic attacks away from her allies, restoring
her own MP and resulting in her teammates not taking
any damage, though it will only work if she has a sword
equipped. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light features
the Paladin crown, which grants the Cover ability and increased shield prociency as standard, as well as tremendous HP and strength. Party members with this crown
can also learn the Viking's Provokeability (though it
is called Bait) allowing them to direct damage away
from their teammates, Avenge, an ability that raises
the user's attack power the more the user is targeted for
enemy attack andLast Stand, which allows the paladin
to hang on for several rounds with 1 HP. While inFinal
Fantasy XIV: A Realm Rebornpaladins epitomize the
role by having thecoverability. They are found wearing heavy plate armor, wielding a sword and shield (granting them the ability to block partial damage on physical
attacks), and using some white magichaving access
to a few Conjuror spells (being far less eective than a
White Mage or Scholar), giving them formidable defensive power. Taking on the role of a tank, a paladin in
FFXIV:ARR focuses on mitigating damage while protecting allies.
Paladin
Hunter
See also: Paladin (character class)
See also: Ranger (character class)
Paladins ( Paradin), the opposites of Dark
Knights, are virtuous knights devoted to the good of the The Hunter ( Kariudo, lit. Hunter) (sometimes
people; these knights in shining armortend to wield called Archer,* [16] Ranger,* [22] or Gunner* [12]) is a
low-level white magic. The Paladin can use Coverto physical class specializing in long-ranged weaponssuch
temporarily redirect damage from an ally to itself. No- as bows, crossbows and occasionally guns.* [16] The class
table Paladins in the series include Cecil Harvey (Final frequently possesses the Aimcommand, which perFantasy IV), General Beatrix (Final Fantasy IX), Agrias forms an attack with greatly increased accuracy,* [21] and
Oakes, and Delita Hyral (both of whom are referred to as a command localized as Barrage, Rapid Fireor
Holy Knights in Final Fantasy Tactics). In Final Fantasy X-Fight, which makes several attacks for reduced damIII they are simply referred to as Knights, but they do still age, generally against random targets. Aside from their
possess the Coverskill and have access to low rank bow attacks, some Hunters have personal bu abilities,
white magic. In Final Fantasy XI, they rely on curative such as Charge, which increases the damage that armagic and high defense bonuses to aid their parties in bat- rows inict.* [16] They can cause status eects with spetle, they also have the highest sword and shield skills.* [22] cialized arrows, and sometimes can detect, capture, or
Sentinels in Final Fantasy XIII fulll a role of protecting hide from enemies. They have appeared as a class in Fiallies from enemy attacks; Snow Villiers, the character nal Fantasy III,* [4] Final Fantasy V,* [21] Final Fantasy
who is most procient in the Sentinel Role, has a coat XI,* [22] Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job SysnamedPaladinwhich improves his Sentinel guard abil- tem, Final Fantasy Tactics,* [16] and Final Fantasy Tactics
ities. Final Fantasy XIII-2 has the Paladin role exclusive Advance.* [17] There are many variations on this class.
to Lightning in theRequiem of the GoddessDLC as an Some White Mages and Warriors throughout the series
enhanced version of the Commando role. Paladins also can also use bows. Rosa from Final Fantasy IV, for exappear in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance in which they ample, is a White Mage with theAimability.* [6] The
can master the powerful Holy Bladeability, which Hunter class is not present in Final Fantasy VI, however
deals extreme Holy-based damage to a single target, of- theirX-Fightcommand can be learned. In Final Fanten resulting to an instant kill. The Coverability is tasy Tactics, the Engineer, Mediator, and Chemist classes
also available in two games which don't feature Paladins; have the ability to shoot long-range guns. The Sniper is
in Final Fantasy VI through a Relic calledTrue Knight an upgraded class of the Archer in Final Fantasy Tactics
, and in Final Fantasy VII through the Covermateria Advance, and can use more advanced moves like Dou-
22
bleshot. Barret Wallace and Vincent Valentine from
Final Fantasy VII ght with a gun-arm and a gun, respectively, like Hunters, and theDouble Cutmateria can be
used to gain theBarrage"/"Rapid Fire"/"X-Fightcommand, which is localized as 4x Cut. Irvine Kinneas
from Final Fantasy VIII wields a variety of ries, and his
Limit Break,Shot, allows him to re a volley of a variety of bullets with various eects. Laguna Loire, also
from Final Fantasy VIII, wields a machine gun and his
Limit Break, Desperado, has him swing from a rope
and unleash a barrage of gunre, followed by an explosion
from a hand grenade, which deals damage to all enemies.
In Final Fantasy X-2, Yuna starts o with the Gunner as
her default dressphere. Wakka from Final Fantasy X is
another variation on the class, as he ghts with a blitzball
he can throw to attack enemies from long distances rather
than the usual bow, crossbow, or gun, and he, too, can use
the Aimability. The playable race known as Gria in
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift are able to
become Hunters, whilst the Seeq have the Ranger class
available to them. Sazh Katzroy from Final Fantasy XIII
has some characteristics of the Hunter, as he uses guns
to attack enemies from long distances whenever he takes
on the Commandorole, in which he majors. Ranger
is also a character class in Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes
of Light but without multi-attack capabilities. However,
they do possess the Targetcommand, a Covering
Fireability that damages all opponents in the following
round and even an assassination ability called Smashing
Blow which deals heavy damage to one target and may
kill minor enemies, with lower accuracy and a high cost
of 4 Action Points. In Final Fantasy XIV, the Archer is a
starting class and can be turned into the Bard job. Both
use a bow to deal damage, that is also a harp used to play
songs to benet team members.
Viking
The Viking ( Vaikingu) class is a very rare
class that has only appeared in Final Fantasy III (both the
original Famicom version and the Nintendo DS remake)
and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. It consists of characters who wield axes and hammers as their
weapons, which they can swing with great ease. Vikings
possess great physical strength and typically have a large
amount of health. In the DS version of Final Fantasy
III, the class comes with the special ability Provoke,
which increases the chance of a targeted enemy attacking the Viking. All characters may take on the Viking
job class in both versions of Final Fantasy III, while only
Seeq can be Vikings in Final Fantasy Tactics A2. In addition, while there are no ocial Vikings in Final Fantasy
X, Tidus may learnProvokeon the Sphere Grid. In Final Fantasy XI, the Warrior class learnsProvokeat level
5. Characters who take on the Sentinelrole in Final
Fantasy XIII (such as Snow Villiers and Oerba Yun Fang,
who initially major in the role) can also learn powerful
defensive moves like the Provokeability to take the
focus o their allies, who then heal them as Medics, and
they can even immediately counterattack their enemies
after defending against their attacks. In Final Fantasy
Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Vikings also have access
to a few stealing abilities, and some Thunder and Waterelemental magic as well. In Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm
Reborn, the Provoke ability is learned by the Gladiator
class, but the Marauder class is this roles current incarnation. Able to wield heavy axes with deadly force as their
Pirate/Viking fore-bearers, Marauders provide the second tanking class. They have no access to magic without
using spells from other classes (which becomes impossible once upgraded to Warrior) and their defense is less
than a Gladiator/Paladin. However, a Marauders damage
output is far better and they have a greater ability tokeep
aggrothrough their increased damage and multi-target
attack Overpower. Warriors later train in abilities to
use the damage they do to their opponents to heal them
slightly while they ght.
Berserker
See also: Berserker (character class)
The Berserker ( Bsk) is a pure physical
class focusing on high strength to defeat their opponents.
Typically, Berserkers, like the Vikings of Final Fantasy
III, use axes and hammers, though some use their bare
hands. In most appearances, the Berserker, unlike the
Viking, is in a permanent Berserkstatus, and as such
not able to use commands other thanAttack. They rst
appeared in Final Fantasy V, as a job class which became
available after acquiring the pieces of the Water Crystal. Umaro from Final Fantasy VI is a Berserker. In Final Fantasy VII 's Vincent Valentine's Limit Breaks place
him into a Berserker state, as he morph him into a powerful, yet uncontrollable creature. Final Fantasy VIII 's
Rinoa Heartily attains a limit break that also places her in
a similar state, but here she will only cast spells with their
eects amplied. In Final Fantasy X-2 the Berserker is
represented by the Berserker dressphere. Berserkers are
controllable this time, but can use the Berserkcommand to increase their power in exchange for less control.
The Berserker class is also available as a job for the Seeq
race in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
Berserker is also a type of enemy in Kingdom Hearts II,
with similar powers and appearance.
Mystic Knight
Mystic Knights ( Mahkenshi, lit. Magic
Fencer) are warriors that can cast magic on their swords
to perform attacks with the power of the spell for several rounds. They have also been called Magic Knights,
Mageknights, Biskmatars, and Sorcerers.* [21] Although
their magic power is weaker than that of Mages, Mystic Knights tend to use less magic points (and generally

pierce Reect, which can hinder certain Mages' offense). In Final Fantasy V, the Mystic Knight can use
any magic previously learned on their sword.* [21] The
skill itself is called Magic Swordin Final Fantasy V
and Spellbladein Final Fantasy V Advance. In Final
Fantasy VII, the Added Eectmateria can be used
in a combo slot with a Magic materia such as Bioor
Transform, and the Elementalmateria with other
magic Materia such asIceorFireto give the players' weapon those attributes. Likewise, the same eect
can be obtained in Final Fantasy VIII through the use of
the Junction system, adding elemental or status-inicting
spells to their respective attack junctions. The Mystic
Knight's ability appears in Final Fantasy IX in the form
of the combo between Adelbert Steiner and Vivi Orunitia,
where Vivi casts a spell on Steiner's sword, who attacks
the enemy at the same time. In Final Fantasy X-2, the
Warrior dressphere carries elemental physical attacks that
use magic points. In Final Fantasy XI, Red Mages have
En-" spells, which imbue their weapons with the properties of elements, similar to the Mystic Knight's ability.
Lightning, Snow Villiers, Sazh Katzroy, and Oerba Yun
Fang from Final Fantasy XIII can physically attack enemies with their weapons while causing elemental damage with some of their attacks whenever they take on the
Ravagerrole. The same is true of Serah Farron and
Noel Kreiss when they likewise take on the Ravager role
in Final Fantasy XIII-2. Mystic Knights also appear, albeit under the name Spell Fencer, in Final Fantasy:
The 4 Heroes of Light where they can imbue their weapon
with the attribute of an elemental spell in their command
list (though light or darkness attributes cannot be added).
The character Krinjh features as a Spell Fencer in this
game, though his class is unchangeable.
Onion Knight
The Onion Knights ( Onion Naito) are
warriors with distinctive, onion-like helmets. In Final
Fantasy III, they have an initially low stat growth rate
which steeply increases as they approach the maximum
level of 99. In the original version of Final Fantasy III,
they are the starting class, can use all equipment, and
cannot cast spells or use other special abilities. In the
Nintendo DS remake, they are an optional class obtainable through a sidequest and have gained the ability to use
black and white magic of all levels. However, they cannot
use other classes' new, class-specic equipment. In Final
Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, the Onion Knight
can use any weapon, its stats are initially low, but increase
based on the number of other jobs a character has mastered. In Dissidia Final Fantasy, the Onion Knight character can use sword-based attacks and black magic spells.
23
Machinist
The Machinist ( Karakurishi), Gadgeteer,
Tinker or Engineer job is focused on using mechanical
devices. In Final Fantasy IV, Cid carries tools and can
use the Peepcommand. In Final Fantasy VI, Edgar
Figaro, has theToolcommand, which allows him to use
tools to damage and/or debu enemies. In Final Fantasy
XII International Zodiac Job System, the Machinist job
can wield guns and measures, wear light armor and cast
some high level time spells and low level green spells. In
Final Fantasy Tactics, Engineers can wield guns and have
theAimed Shotcommand, which includes three attack
abilities:Arm Shot, which prevents attacks and spells,
Leg Shot, which prevents movement, andSeal Evil
, which can petrify undead targets. The Engineer job is
exclusive to the recruitable character Mustadio Bunansa
and the NPC Barich Fendsor. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance includes a Gadgeteer job and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift includes a Tinker job; Gadgeteers have thePandoracommand and Tinkers have
the similar Clockworkcommand. Each Pandora
or Clockworkability performs a specic eect, such
as healing, applying a specic bu or bus or applying
a specic debu, and randomly targets either all members of the enemy team or all members of the Engineer's
own team. Both jobs use st and claw weapons and are
exclusive to the Moogle race.
Freelancer
The Freelancer ( Suppin, roughly translates as
face without makeup), also localized as Bare or Natural, is usually the default job in the games in which it
appears. In Final Fantasy V, the Freelancer can use any
piece of equipment, and starts out with no stat bonuses
or penalties and no special abilities. However it inherits
the highest stat bonuses and most passive abilities from
other jobs a character masters, and, unlike other jobs, it
has two slots for commands or special abilities. Lightning, Snow Villiers, Oerba Dia Vanille (Vanille acts as a
freelancer at the beginning despite already being a l'Cie),
Sazh Katzroy, and Hope Estheim from Final Fantasy XIII
take on the Freelancer job until they are made into l'Cie.
In the Nintendo DS remake of Final Fantasy III, the Freelancer has replaced the Onion Knight as the default job.
Freelancers have average stats, can use most equipment
and can cast rst level black and white magic spells. In
Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission, characters change to the Bare job if all available Dresspheres
have been disabled in the Yadonoki Tower bonus dungeon. Bare characters have low stats and no special abilities. In Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon, the
Natural job has average stats and learns mostly oenseoriented, chocobo-themed abilities. In Final Fantasy III
and Final Fantasy V, characters with the Freelancer job
wear their default outts. In Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission, characters with the Bare job are un-
24
armed and in their underwear. In Final Fantasy Fables:

Chocobo's Dungeon, Chocobo, the protagonist, wears a
red pouch around his neck while using the Natural job.
In Final Fantasy: the 4 heroes of Light, Freelancer is the
default class: in this case it has no special abilities and
cannot be upgraded but doesn't cause the party to lose
gems upon defeat.
Black Wizard lacked the hat and obscured face that became the dening features of the Black Mage in later
games. However, in the WonderSwan remake and Final
Fantasy Origins his appearance was altered so that he
looked like a traditional Black Mage.* [2] In Final Fantasy
IX, the Black Mage Village is a forested hamlet where
many mass-produced Black Mages have become selfaware. Final Fantasy IX is the only game that features
Black Mages as a distinct race, although the Yukes of
Gunner
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles are very similar in their
inhuman appearance and magical ability. In the English
The Gunner ( Jyuutsukai), sometimes localized as localization of Final Fantasy Tactics, Black Mages were
Fusilier, is a class focused on the use of rearms. Each called Wizards.* [16]
version of the class includes a command for performing
special attacks with a gun. The class was rst introduced The Black Mage is available as a class in:
to the series in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and has
Final Fantasy* [2]
also been featured in Final Fantasy VII (Barret Wallace
and Vincent Valentine), Final Fantasy VIII (Laguna Loire
Final Fantasy III * [4]
and Irvine Kinneas), Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy
XIII (Sazh Katzroy) and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Gri Final Fantasy IV (Rydia, who is also a Summoner
moire of the Rift. In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and
and loses the ability to cast White Magic halfway
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, the special
through the game, and Palom)* [6]
command is Gunmanship, and the attacks deal ele Final Fantasy V * [21]
mental damage, or have a chance of inicting a specic
debu on the target. In Final Fantasy X-2, the class's
Final Fantasy IX (Vivi Orunitia)* [30]
signature command is called Gunplay, and most of
the special attacks deal physical damage to a single tar Final Fantasy X (Lulu);* [25]
get, with bonuses such as debus or extra damage against
certain monster types. In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy X-2 (Lulu)* [12]
and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, the
Final Fantasy XI * [13]
class is exclusive to the Moogle race.
Final Fantasy XII
1.2.3
Magical classes
Magical classes specialize in casting magic, including traditional white and black magic, as well as more esoteric
forms of magic, such as geomancy. Magical classes are
generally restricted to lighter equipment, such as rods,
staves and robes, giving them weak attack power and
physical defense, however their armor often provides
high magical defense, and their equipment often provides
bonuses to magic-related stats.
Black Mage
One of the most iconic classes of the Final Fantasy series,
the Black Mage ( Kuromadshi) is a magic user
specializing in attack magic, or Black Magic,* [2]* [21]
generally focusing on re, ice and lightning. Their
weapons are generally restricted to rods and daggers.
They are usually depicted wearing distinctive costumes
consisting of a blue or black robe and a large conical,
wide-brimmed hat which obscures their face, with two
yellow eyes shining from within the shadow.* [2]* [21] The
outt of the Black Mages is similar to the generic appearance of a wizard (female characters sometimes have
bows on their hats). In the original Final Fantasy, the
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (Kytes)

Final Fantasy XIII (any character who takes on
the role of Ravager possess the qualities of Black
Mages, using oensive magic on their enemies)
Final Fantasy Tactics;* [16]
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance;* [17]
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light(here, anyone
who equips the Black Mage crown can use black
magic for one less Action Point and with greater
power thanks to a high Intellect stat: they can also
learnMagic Might, an attack that resembles Ultima and damages all opponents heavily and Mirror, which basically imbues everyone with Reect, breaking the tradition a little bit)
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
In Kingdom Hearts, some of Donald Duck's rods have the
gurehead of a Black Mage. Statues of Black Mages are
seen in various places at the magic academy in Geo in
Legend of Mana. A Black Mage is a playable character
in Chocobo Racing. Black Mages also appear in Dice de
Chocobo, Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice, Mario Hoops
25
3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix, while enemy Black Mages

appear in Chocobo's Dungeon 2. The Black Mages was
the name of Final Fantasy music composer Nobuo Uematsu's band, who play remixes of Final Fantasy music.
Final Fantasy IX (Garnet Til Alexandros XVII and

Eiko Carol incorporate characteristics of the White
Mage class and the Summoner class; Garnet also
dons the classic White Mage garb as a disguise near
the beginning of the game)
White Mage
Final Fantasy X (Yuna's area of the Sphere Grid

almost exclusively contains abilities normally attributed to white mages)
A White Mage ( Shiromadshi) uses White

Magic,* [2] which emphasizes defensive spells such as
replenishing party members' health with spells such as
Cure, reviving the fallen with spells such as Raise
or Life, and curing status conditions with spells such
as Esuna.* [21] Typically having a weak and limited repertoire of attack spells and an inability to use
heavy weaponry or armor, their primary use is support
for other members of a battle party. However, when
faced with a considerable number of Undead enemies,
White Mages become even more useful, as their curative spells deal heavy damage against them rather than
healing. White Mages' weapons are generally restricted
to staves, maces, and similar weapons such as ails and
hammers; the relic weapon for the White Mage in Final Fantasy XI is the mythical hammer Mjlnir. Usually
their only oensive skill is the magic Holy, which
deals heavy damage to a target, regardless of whether
or not the target is undead. They often cast Holy"element spells, which are typically eective against undead or demonic enemies. Because of the limited use
of the class in combat, the White Mage has occasionally
been integrated with the Summoner class. The White
Mage is typically depicted as wearing a white cloak or
robe, which has long sleeves, and a hood that covers the
Mage's hair.* [2]* [4]* [22] Another feature of the robe is
the red, triangular patterns on the cus of the sleeves and
bottoms of the robes.* [2]* [4]* [22] In some games, female White Mages wear the hood over their hair, while
male White Mages normally do not wear the hood at all.
In Final Fantasy XI, the hood is a separate piece from the
robe and they can be worn independently, regardless of
gender.
White Mages have appeared as a class in:
Final Fantasy* [2]
Final Fantasy II (Minwu)
Final Fantasy X-2* [12]

Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XIII (any character who takes on the
role of Medicor Synergistmay use white
magic spells)
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy Tactics (in the English localization
White Mages are referred to as Priests)* [16]
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance* [17]
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light In this case, the
White Mage crown grants a high Spirit stat, abilities
that allow recovery spells to aect everyone at once
for one time, the Bard'sHideability,Miracle
, which heals everyone at once and removes status
ailments and allows white magic to be used for one
less Action Point.
Some White Mage NPCs appear in various towns in Final Fantasy IV, and Shelinda from Final Fantasy X and
Final Fantasy X-2 is also a White Mage NPC. Shirma, a
pink-haired female White Mage, is the partner of Boco
in Chocobo's Dungeon 2, a playable character in Chocobo
Racing and makes another appearance in Final Fantasy
Fables: Chocobo Tales. She is also one of the central characters in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. A White Mage is also playable in Dice de Chocobo,
Chocobo Land: A Game of Dice, Mario Hoops 3-on-3,
and Mario Sports Mix.
Devout
Final Fantasy IV (Rosa Farrell and Porom are referred to as 'White Mage' in the original English A Devout or Seer ( Shisai) is the natural evolution
of a White Mage as they gain higher levels of healing and
translation)* [6]
white magic likeSealandHoly. Like White Mages,
Devouts typically wield weapons such as staves, maces,
Final Fantasy V * [21]
hammers and ails, typically wear light armour such as
Final Fantasy VII (Aerith Gainsborough's defensive robes and hats, and generally cannot use shields. Devouts
and restoring limit breaks, and her sta place her in have appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy Dimensions and Bravely Default: Flying Fairy.
the White Mage tradition)
26
Final Fantasy VII (any character can become a Summoner by equipping materia)* [24]
Magus
A Magus or Warlock is a black magic based version of
the Devout which uses higher levels of black magic with
FlareandDeathbeing good examples. They virtually have the same armor choices as Devouts, but tend to
have lower maximum HP: they also use rods and daggers
just like a Black Mage. Magi have appeared along with
Devouts in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy Dimensions
and Bravely Default: Flying Fairy.
Final Fantasy VIII * [32]

Final Fantasy IX (Garnet Til Alexandros XVII and
Eiko Carol)* [25]
Final Fantasy X (Yuna)* [25]
Final Fantasy XII * [33]
Summoner
Summoners ( Shkanshi), also localized as Caller,
use Summoning Magic, which calls on powerful entities
known as Call Beasts(Final Fantasy IV), Espers
(Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy XII), Guardian
Force(Final Fantasy VIII),Eidolons(Final Fantasy
IX, Final Fantasy XIII, and the DS version of Final Fantasy IV), Aeons(Final Fantasy X), Avatars(Final Fantasy XI),Primals(Final Fantasy XIV), or
simply Summon Monsters(most other games in the
series). These entities attack enemies, protect the party,
or render other forms of aid. Summoners often use commands such asSummon,but in the original translation
of Final Fantasy IV, the command was instead known as
Call. As a magic-using class, summoners are typically shown to be physically frail as a trade-o for high
magical potency, and can traditionally equip only light
armaments such as clothing and robes. Summoners often use staves or rods as weapons,* [16] although in some
games they can also use whips; their potential in the use
of melee weaponry is downplayed signicantly in favor
of their ability to use magic. Many summoners feature
a horn on the forehead and green robes.* [22]* [31] Rydia of Final Fantasy IV, Garnet Til Alexandros XVII and
Eiko Carol of Final Fantasy IX, and Yuna of Final Fantasy X are identied as Summoners,* [25] though there is
usually also a strong White Mage element to the character. In some games that lacked Summoners, various
means of equipping the summon ability are provided. In
Final Fantasy III, the lower-class name for a Summoner
is Evoker.* [4] Notable recurring Summonsinclude
Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, Bahamut, and Odin. It should be
noted that Bravely Default's summoned beasts are an entirely new set with none of the recurring ones appearing
in this case.
Summoners have appeared in:
Final Fantasy XIII (Eidolons live within the brands

of the l'Cie who summon them, and each l'Cie has
an Eidolon unique only to him or her)
Final Fantasy Tactics* [16]
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Summons become available after defeating them. They are represented much smaller, and act as pets in combat.)
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
Time Mage
See also: Chronomancy
The Time Mage ( Tokimadshi) is a specialized wizard with the ability to manipulate the space-time
continuum so as to speed up, slow down, or completely
halt the passage of time, control celestial bodies, and inuence the pull of gravity.* [31] In actuality, the Japanese
version specically calls these magesTime Mages(
, tokimadshi). Time Mages can typically wield
rods and/or staves. They are commonly depicted wearing tall, pointed wizard hats adorned with star and moon
decorations.* [31]
Time Mages have appeared as playable jobs in:
Final Fantasy XII: International Zodiac Job System
Final Fantasy Tactics* [16]
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy IV (Rydia) [6]

*
Final Fantasy V [31]

*
Final Fantasy VI (any character can become a Summoner by equipping Espers)* [20]
Hataraku Chocobo
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
Time magic has also appeared in:
27
Final Fantasy IV, Rosa is able to learn Slow and

Haste as she levels up, and Rydia has learned Stop
upon returning to the party. Tellah and Fusoya can
also wield these spells.
against all units on the eld, whilst other Lorespells

includeMad Science, which inicts a random bu on
a single target, and Study, which reveals the target's
equipment, treasure and gil. Four Heroes of Light sees a
dierent take on this: scholars are skilled with books and
Final Fantasy VII, any character can cast Time learn abilities that allow them to attack an enemy's status
Magic equipping the Time Magic Materia.
attributes (such as attack strength and physical defense)
Final Fantasy IX, Haste can be cast by Eiko and directly.
Slow, Stop, Demi and Meteor can be cast by Vivi. Scholars are included as a job option for the Arcanist class
Interestingly by equipping an Emerald as Eiko's Ac- in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, where the implecessory Item, her Eidolon Carbuncle, will cast Haste mentation is again very dierent. These Scholars, who
on the entire party rather than Reect.
trace their origin to the ruined city-state of Nym, are primarily a healing and support class who will rely onfairy
Final Fantasy X, in which a variety of Time Mage pets. Scholars will focus on damage mitigation and other
spells in Tidus's section of the Sphere Grid.
supportive abilities, as opposed to thestraight healsnature
of the Conjurer/White Mage. Though, when spec'ed
Final Fantasy XII, which includes seven levels of
correctly
can be a potent source of long term damage with
Time Magick [sic] is divided into seven levels.
their early Arcanist abilities (i.e. Bio, Miasma, etc).
Final Fantasy XIII, in which the Haste spell is avail Final Fantasy XI
able to 5 of the 6 playable characters through the
Synergistrole, and 4 of the 6 playable characters
Final Fantasy XIV
have access to at least one spell from the Slow series
through the Saboteurrole.
Green Mage
Scholar
Although inicting negative status eects is typically the

province of Black Mages and providing protective status eects is typically the province of White Mages, the
Green Mage ( Midori Madshi) is occasionally
a separate class specializing in both, with spells such as
Protect, Shell, Sleep, Silence and Blind. They can cast single/multiple variants of spells such asPoison,Sleep
and Blindand their reversals, as well as newer effects such asLeap(increasing mobility). Green Magic
does not include spells that cause hit point damage, with
the exception of someDamage Over Timespells; nor
does the class typically include curative spells. Like most
magic users they have relatively low HP (though higher
than that of a Black Mage in general) but greater attack
power than other caster classes, as they wield maces and
hammers. As can be expected, the typical uniform for a
Green Mage is dyed green.
Scholar ( Gakusha) is a magic-based class introduced in Final Fantasy III, which use 'books', physical weapons with element-based damage and which are
equally powerful from the front or back rows. In the original version of Final Fantasy III, Scholars can check an enemy's hit points or weakness. In the Nintendo DS remake,
they can cast low level Black and White Magic spells, the
eects of any items they use in battle are doubled, and
their Studyability allows them to check an enemy's
hit points and weakness, as well as removing the target's
bus. In Final Fantasy XI, Scholars have access to both
the curative White Mage spells and the elementally powerful Black Mage spells, but do not have access to most of
the enfeebling or enhancing spells from either job's spell
line (although many of these can be acquired depending
on the sub-job selected). They have spells that inuence
the weather eect that a character is under, and can cast Green Mages or Green Magic appear in:
powerful elementalDamage Over Time(DOT) spells
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (exthat inict small amounts of damage over regular interclusive to the Viera race)
vals for a period of time. They also build up charges
which are used to power eects that cause spells to be
Final Fantasy XII (Although not technically a class,
cast more eciently or more powerfully. While books
Green Magick can be acquired through the licence
cannot be equipped in Final Fantasy XI, the book theme
board)
from Final Fantasy III is retained, as a book appears oating before the Scholar whenever a charge is used.
Additionally, similar classes and / or abilities are present
In Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, the in other games in the series:
Scholar class is exclusive to the Nu Mou race and func In Final Fantasy XIII, the Saboteur role focuses on
tions substantially dierently from previous implementaweakening enemies by applying harmful status eftions. Scholars have theLoreability, which allows them
fects, while the Synergist role focuses on strengthento cast a number of spells. Many Lorespells inict a
ing allies by applying benecial status eects.
specic type of damage, such as Iceor Thunder,
28
Final Fantasy Tactics and its remake, Final Fantasy
Tactics: The War of the Lions, include the Oracle or
Mystic class, which specializes in casting negative
status eects and dispelling positive ones.
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light allows characters to change to the Shaman job by wearing the
Shaman crown. In this game, spells that inict status
ailments such as poison or sleep are classed as 'dark
magic', which is the Shaman's specialty. Party members with the Shaman crown can use these spells for
one less Action Point and can learn special abilities such as Ritual, which expends an action point
to make the next Dark spell target all enemies, Hex,
which expends two action points to make the next
Dark spell target all enemies at increased power, and
Spellbound, which prevents anyone, friend or foe,
from taking actions for several turns.
Sage
The Sage ( or Kenja or Sji) is a combination
mage who can cast both black and white magic spells, like
Red Mages (and often share their drawbacks of smaller
magic point pools and / or lower magical stats than black
or white mages). Unlike Red Mages, however, Sages eschew physical combat in favor of increased spellcasting
prociency, and while they tend to have better magic stats
and maximum MP than Red Mages, they are also usually
restricted to light armor and weak weapons such as staves,
wands and occasionally maces.
Sages appear in:
Final Fantasy III, in which they can cast any black,
white or summon spell. In the original Famicon
version, they have the highest MP growth of any
class, and their stat growth rates match the higher
of the two rates for the Devout and Magus jobs,
and they cast the same version of Summon spells as
the Summoner job. In the DS and iOS remakes,
their stats and MP growth rates are lower, particularly for higher level spells (however they still have
more mid to high level MP than the Black or White
Mage jobs, and more low level MP than the Devout
or Magus jobs), and they cast the (random and generally weaker) Conjurer versions of Summon spells
instead of the Summoner versions (which produce
xed, and generally more powerful, eects).
Final Fantasy IV (Tellah the Sage can learn and use
most white and black magic spells, and can even use
some rather potent spells of his own in the DS version if he uses Recall, and Fusoya the Lunarian
shares a lot of the characteristics of a Sage, eschewing heavy weapons and armor and casting all white
and black magic spells. Both have low stats and MP
compared to mages and summoners of similar levels.)
Final Fantasy VIII (Selphie Tilmitt's Limit Break
Slot allows the player to cast any random spell from
the game, excluding Blue Magic, numerous times
as well as certain magic used exclusively in her limit
break. Selphie's stats also reect those typical of a
sage, versus more focused Mage like a Sorceress.)
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Sages are exclusive
to Nu Mou. They wield maces, and can cast the following spells with the Sagacity skill: Drain, Blind,
Water, Aero, Raise, Giga Flare, Bio (a powerful poison spell) and Ultima Blow (a powerful mace attack).
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (Sages
wield maces and share some spells with the Green
Mage, White Mage and White Monk classes, as well
as having some exclusive spells; the class is exclusive
to the Nu Mou race. They have lower MP and magic
stat growth rates than black or white mages.)
Final Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of Light.: Sages have intellect stats and oensive magic skill ratings nearly
as high as those of black mages, and spirit stats and
recovery magic skill ratings nearly as high as those
of white mages. Sages have four exclusive special
abilities: Spell Again, which allows the Sage to expend all AP (action points) to cast several spells
in quick succession (similar to Dualcast), Diligence
and Betterment, bus which reduce the AP cost of
Black Magic and White Magic spells respectively,
and Good and Evil, which summons beams of light
to simultaneously heal the party and inict heavy
holy-elemental damage upon foes. The temporary
party member Torte is also a Sage, however, unlike
the four permanent party members, his job cannot
be changed.
Alchemist
The Alchemist ( ( ) Renkinjyutsushi (Seirenjyutsushi)), or Chemist (/
Yakushi/Aitemushi, lit. Dispenser/Item User) class
is generally focused on consumable restorative items. In
Final Fantasy V, Chemists possess the passivePharmacologyability, which doubles the potency of consumable restorative items such as Potions and Ethers, and the
Drinkcommand, which allows a Chemist to use special
drinks for personal bus. Chemists can gain three more
commands during the game:Mix, which combines two
items to generate various eects depending on the items
used,Recover, which removes debus from the party,
andRevive, which revives the party with a small number of health points. Final Fantasy X has Rikku's Overdrive use the Mixcommand, which mixes two items
to produce a great number of oensive, defensive and
restorative eects. In Final Fantasy X-2, Alchemists also
possess theMixcommand, which functions much like
it does in Final Fantasy V. Alchemists can also learn abilities used through the Stashcommand, which mimic

the eects of consumable restorative items without consuming them; and can learn the Chemist, Elementalistand Physicistpassive abilities, which double
the potency of restorative, elemental damage and nonelemental damage items respectively. In Final Fantasy
Tactics, Chemists possess theItemscommand, which
makes it possible to use various consumable restorative
items, and the Throw Itemsability, which increases
the range of these items. The ability to use each type of
item must be learned separately. In Final Fantasy Tactics
Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the
Rift, the Alchemist job is exclusive to the Nu Mou race.
Alchemists can learn powerful damaging non-elemental
damage spells such as Flare, as well as other spells,
such asRasp(which reduces the target's magic points),
Astra(which prevents the next status ailment from affecting the target), Poison(which poisons the target),
andToad(which transforms the target into a toad). Final Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of Light takes the following approach: Alchemists and Chemists (called Salve Makers)
are separate classes, but both deal with items. Alchemists
can use attack items to great eect, can create many effects with their Smeltability, change one item into
another type through Experiment, or even create an
attack item mid-battle with Forge. The Salve Maker
crown deals with recovery items: characters with it can
use recovery items without worrying about AP costs and
can useDispensaryto use these items without aecting
stock either. They can also use the abilityLevel Serum
to raise the party's level by one for the battle and Poison Pillto make recovery items damage their enemies
(seeq Rangers in Final Fantasy Tactics A2 have an action
ability called Mirror Items which provides this eect and
status ailments as well, depending on the item used).
1.2.4
Mixed classes
29
trait, signicantly shortening the period of time required
to cast any magic spell. They are also able to access the
special ability Chainspell,which allows the player to
both cast and recast spells instantly for a short period of
time. In dress, Red Mages are usually recognizable by a
distinctive red hat tipped with a white feather.* [22]
Red Mages have appeared in:
Final Fantasy* [2]
Final Fantasy II (Scott wears a red outt and joins
with high sword skill and white and black magic
spells)
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (Genesis is often considered as a Red Mage. He wields a Rapier, can cast
low-mid tier magic and employ swordplay. He also
wears a red coat, and his sword has the red color)
Final Fantasy IX (Vivi Orunitia and Eiko Carol's
trance abilities allow them to double cast black and
white magic respectively, and Freya Crescent, although actually a Dragoon, wears a red hat tipped
with a white feather. Non playable characters called
Red Mages, donning the traditional red outt with a
hat, appear throughout the game.)
Final Fantasy XI;* [13]
Final Fantasy XII;
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (as a Viera job class)
Hataraku Chocobo
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (as a
Viera job class)
These classes can use both adequate physical attacks

and magic or magic-related attacks. Generally, these
classes can equip heavier weapons and armor than mag- Red mages do not appear in Final Fantasy IV (DS),
ical classes, although their selection tends to be limited Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII or Final Fancompared to that of pure physical classes.
tasy X, although their signature X-Magic"/"WMagic"/"Doublecastability appears in all three games,
and characters can use both Black and White magic in
Red Mage
the latter two games.
Red Mages ( Akamadshi) are members of
a hybrid class, able to cast spells associated with either
Black or White Mages, as well as wield swords. However,
the jack-of-all-trades quality of their profession makes
them less powerful at each individual skill than the classes
which specialize in them. In general, they are only able
to cast low-mid level spells,* [4] but make up for this deciency by casting more quickly. For example, they are
often associated with the ability to cast two spells in a single combat round (called Dualcastor Doublecast
).* [31] Final Fantasy XI continues this tradition by granting players who play as Red Mages a Fast Castjob
Blue Mage
The Blue Mage ( Aomadshi) is a mage who
is able to replicate the special attacks of his/her opponents.* [31] The precise extent of and mechanism for this
capacity diers from game to game. Most Final Fantasy games require that an enemy use the ability at least
once during combat before the Blue Mage is able to use
it. For example, Blue Mages in Final Fantasy V must
be targeted by the ability to learn it; once the ability has
been learned, however, any Blue Mage in the party may
30
use it.* [34] Strago in Final Fantasy VI does not have to
be targeted by the spell, but he does have to see it in action in order to learn the spell. Players who adopt the
Blue Mage job in Final Fantasy XI have a random chance
to learn abilities executed during combat, by absorbing
the essence of felled opponents. Typically, Blue Mages
learn a variety of abilities, making them very versatile.
The Final Fantasy XI incarnation is also highly skilled in
swords, making them a potentially deadly melee ghter,
while having an arsenal of powerful spells at their disposal which can either be damaging, enfeebling, enhancing, or healing, making the Blue Mage potentially one of
the most powerful and well rounded classes in the game.
Some games in the series which do not explicitly oer the
Blue Mage as a job class feature abilities or characteristics generally associated with Blue Mages.
Blue Mages have appeared in:
refers to Chinese geomancy or feng shui. The signature
attack of a Geomancer has been called Terrain(Final Fantasy III),* [4] Gaiaor Earth(Final Fantasy V),* [36] Elemental(Final Fantasy Tactics) and
Geomancy(Final Fantasy Tactics A2).* [16] In the two
rst games, the Geomancers are depicted wearing green
or blue fur-lined clothes and a fur-lined cap.* [21]
They appear in:
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI (the moogle Mog can use dances
that have similar eects to the Geomancer)
Final Fantasy XI (Seekers of Adoulin expansion)
Final Fantasy XII (a member of the Garif tribe is

identied as a Geomancer and grants access to a sidequest later in the game)
Final Fantasy VI (Strago Magus)
Final Fantasy Tactics* [16]* [36]
Final Fantasy VII (any character may copy certain

abilities onto an equipped Enemy Skillmateria,
and cast them as magic)
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (Geomancer is a job class for the Gria race)
Final Fantasy VIII (Quistis Trepe)* [35]
Bard
Final Fantasy IX (Quina Quen devours enemies to

Bards ( Gin'yshijin) use songs to cause efgain their abilities)
fects, often bung the party or debung the opposition
*
*
*
Final Fantasy X (Kimahri Ronso may absorb skills via the Singcommand. [4] [12] [36] They generally
*
equip harps as weapons. [36] Some Bard incarnations,
via his Lancetability)* [25]
including Edward Chris von Muir from Final Fantasy IV,
Final Fantasy X-2 (via the Gun Mage dressphere)
have the ability toHidefrom the enemy.* [6] This command is mainly used due to the Bard's low physical abil Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan expan- ities. Bards in Final Fantasy XI have MP regeneration
sion pack
songs and stat boosting songs. In Final Fantasy Tactics,
Final Fantasy XII (lacks Blue Mage as a formal Bard *is the only male-exclusive class available to generic
class, but the game's Technicksbranch of abili- units. [16] InFinal Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the
ties include several spells typically classied as blue Rift, the Bard job is exclusive to the Moogle Hurdy. In
Final Fantasy Type-0, Deuce plays the ute in battle and
magic)
acts as a bard, aiding her allies and debilitating her en Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (only available to hu- emies using the melodies from her ute. Strangely, in
Final Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of Light, one of the White
mans)
Mage's special abilities is Hide, which is normally seen
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift with bards.
(Available only to humes)
The Bard class is seen in:
Geomancer
Geomancers ( Fsuishi) channel the powers of

the surrounding environment;* [4] therefore, their abilities dier depending on their location. If in a forest, they
will attack with vines and forest animals, if in a cave with
rockslides, if in a desert with quicksand, and so on. Geomancers are featured either as a class or in loose association with a character's powers. In the Japanese versions,
Geomancers are " (fsuishi),which specically
Final Fantasy IV (Prince Edward Chris von Muir of

Damcyan)* [6]
Final Fantasy X-2 (does not have a Bard class, however its Songstress class combines aspects of the
Bard and Dancer classes, with both a Singcommand and a Dancecommand)* [12]

Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (Only
Hurdy has access to it)
31
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (restricted to the Nu
Mou race)* [17]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (see
above)
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (as a hidden

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (with separate
crown: whips are not available here)
Bard and Musician classes: bards have increased
harp prociency and musicians become stronger if
Dancer
a bard is one of their teammates)
Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn (As a damage Dancers ( Odoriko) use special Dances to
dealer and support mix. The bard's bow is also a cause status eects or damage enemies on a battle
harp, and can use attacks while playing songs.)
eld.* [12]* [16] In Final Fantasy V, there are four oensive dances, each with a single eect, one of which is
Final Fantasy Type-0 (as Deuce)
performed randomly when theDancecommand is selected. In Final Fantasy VI, the Dancecommand allows Mog to perform one of eight dances, each of which
Beastmaster
causes the player to lose control of the character, who
Beastmasters ( Majtsukai) (also known as will randomly perform one of the specic dance's four
Tamer or Trainer) can control or even capture and train special abilities each turn. In Final Fantasy Tactics, Fimonsters.* [36] Typically, the class wields whips. In Final nal Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift and Final
Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, whips are Fantasy X-2, the Dancecommand allows one of sevnot an available weapon type, instead, the Beastmaster eral dances to be selected, each dance performs a single
xed eect. In 4 Heroes of Light, Rekoteh features as a
classes specialize in axes and instruments, respectively.
Dancer. Like Torte, however, her class can't be changed.
The class (or a variation thereof) has appeared in:
The Dancer crown also features increased dagger prociency and many abilities to do with the party's Action
Point scores, allowing them to recharge faster for a few
rounds (Danceand Perform) or provide an on Final Fantasy VI (the Fake Mustacheaccessory
the-spot boost (ApplaudandOvation) making this
allows Relm Arrowny to use the Controlcoma potent class in that game.
mand in place of her usual Sketchcommand)
The Dancer class appears in:
Final Fantasy VII (any character can control certain
enemies using the Manipulatemateria)
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VIII (Rinoa Heartilly's pet dog Angelo will perform random attacks when summoned
as her Limit Break, which are learned from reading
in-game books and traveling with Rinoa in the active
party)
Final Fantasy X Although monsters cannot be used
to battle. Weapons can be given the capture ability
to allow the player to capture monsters to sell to the
owner of the monster arena. Through this the player
can gain access to several optional superbosses and
easy grinding for a price.
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Serah Farron has the ability to
tame monsters to have them ght alongside her and
Noel)
Final Fantasy Tactics (the ability is adjusted for the
job Mediator as learning an ability to communicate
with and manipulate monsters)* [16]
Final Fantasy VI (Mog possesses theDancecommand, which functions similar to a Geomancer's

abilities)
Final Fantasy X-2 (no specic Dancer class, however its Songstress class combines aspects of the
Bard and Dancer classes, learning both songs and
dances)* [12]
Final Fantasy XI: WIngs of the Goddess expansion (Dancer uses TP (Tactical Points) to carry
out dances which have varying eects and can be
used as a front-line healer because of its restorative
dances)
Final Fantasy Tactics (Dancer is the only femaleexclusive class available to generic units)* [16]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (exclusive to Penelo)
Hataraku Chocobo
Final Fantasy: the 4 Heroes of Light
32
Gambler
The Gambler ( Gyanbur) uses a Slots
system in battle. When the player selects the Slots
command, three slots like those of a slot machine are presented on screen. Each slot is then stopped by the press
of a button. Certain combinations produce benecial effects such as healing the party or dealing great damage, or
even death, to the enemies. However, this is usually balanced with combinations that have disadvantageous effects, such as reducing the party's health, or instant game
over.
The Gambler class has appeared in:
Final Fantasy VI (Gogo is a Mimic who possesses

the class' signatureMimiccommand, and can be
given up to three other commands)* [20]
Final Fantasy VI (Setzer Gabbiani)* [20]

Final Fantasy VII (Cait Sith's Limit Break attack
features a slot machine or dice. Additionally, Tifa
Lockhart's Limit Break used a slot system to determine which techniques in a string of powerful moves
hit or miss)
Final Fantasy VIII (Selphie Tilmitt uses Slotas
her Limit Break* [35]
Final Fantasy
slots)* [25]
(Wakka's
Overdrive
Final Fantasy V (Mimes can equip most types

of equipment, but they are restricted to lighter
weapons, such as rods, staves, knives and
boomerangs. Like Freelancers, they automatically inherit most passive special abilities and
all stat bonuses from other jobs the character
has mastered.* [36] In addition to replacing their
Fightcommand with the Mimiccommand,
they also sacrice their Itemcommand for an
extra custom ability slot, for a total of 3, 1 more
than Freelancers and 2 more than any other job in
the game.)
uses
Final Fantasy X-2 (the Lady Luck dressphere uses

dierent Dice and Slots attacks)
Final Fantasy XI (features the class Corsair, which
uses a dice based game similar to Blackjack to enhance party members' prociency in battle)
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (the Gadgeteer class
bears resemblance to the Gambler because it uses
techniques that have an equal chance of aecting
the party or the enemy (e.g., Green Gearhas an
equal chance of poisoning the player's party or the
enemy's party). However, Gadgeteers do not use a
slot system.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (theDMWis a slotreel system in battle; matching number or character
panels can activate a variety of special eects, such
as Limit Breaks and Invincible)
Gambler is also a type of enemy in Kingdom Hearts II,
with similar powers and appearance.
Final Fantasy VII (characters equipped with the

Mimemateria can mimic the most recent action
performed by another party member)
Final Fantasy X (players can learn a miming move
called Copycat)
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Mime has very high
pre-requisites, requiring a character to gain levels
in most of the game's other jobs. Mimes have the
Mimic special ability, which prevents them from being controlled directly. Instead, they automatically
attempt to copy the movements and commands of
all other party members (with a small chance of
failure). Movement and abilities use relative twodimensional co-ordinates, for example, if a Black
Mage casts a spell centered on a square three squares
north and one square west, the Mime will cast the
same spell, targeted three squares north and one
square west of the Mime (as opposed to targeting
the same tile). Mimes cannot Mimic certain special
abilities (specically, those restricted to characterspecic special jobs), cannot engage in impossible
actions (such as walking over impassable terrain, using abilities on invalid targets, or engaging in actions
prohibited by status ailments), cannot mimic reaction abilities, and cannot mimic other Mimes. Mimics cannot use any equipment.
Dissidia Final Fantasy (the hero representing Final
Fantasy V, Bartz Klauser, uses the other player's attacks as his own, and his general appearance is based
on the Mime job class)
Puppet Master
Mime
Puppet Masters employ a toy puppet in combat. The puppet itself can have various skills, usually from other jobs,
Mimes ( Monomaneshi, lit. Mimic) can repli- such as Paladin, Black Mage, White Mage and Ranger.
cate the previous action of another party member with Usually these skills are modied to t with the Puppet
the Mimic command.* [36]
Theme. Puppet Master was not a specic class in any
They appear in many dierent versions throughout the games previous to Final Fantasy XI, although some abilseries:
ities and characters do t under the basic description of

Puppet Master, for example Lulu from Final Fantasy X
uses a puppet toy as a weapon, and to assist in her spell
casting; In something of a twist in Final Fantasy IV: the
interlude and Final Fantasy IV: the After Years feature
Calca and Brina. Rather than being in control of a doll or
puppet, they are dolls.
Memorist
33
[8] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (1997). Final Fantasy VII

North American instruction manual. Square Electronic
Arts. pp. 3234. SCUS-94163.
[9] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy VIII
Arts. pp. 2435. SLUS-00892GH.
[10] The Evolution of Final Fantasy. IGN. Retrieved February
11, 2006.
The Memorist job was introduced in Final Fantasy Di- [11] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (2000). Final Fantasy IX
mensions. Memorists are somewhat similar to FreeArts. pp. 1619. SLUS-01251.
lancers and Mimes. Memorists have two special abilities: The Memorandom command temporarily allows the [12] Square Enix Co., ed. (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 North
Memorist to choose from a randomly selected set of four
American instruction manual. Square Enix Co. p. 13.
commands which the character has already unlocked by
gaining levels in other jobs, and Recollect is a passive abil- [13] Final Fantasy XI Ocial Site. Playonline.com. Retrieved
February 9, 2007.
ity which allows the player to assign and distribute the
Memorist's attribute points.
1.2.5
Reception

[15] Final Fantasy XII introduces a new way to experience
In a review of the Final Fantasy Anthology compilation,

RPGs. CBS News. Retrieved February 11, 2006.
IGN praised Final Fantasy V's incredibly engrossing
job system.* [39] The gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics [16] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (1997). Final Fantasy Tactics North American instruction manual. Square Electronic
Advance was lauded for retaining elements from Final
Arts. pp. 2426. SCUS-94221.
Fantasy Tactics while oering freedom to players to develop characters as they wish;* [40]
[17] Final Fantasy Tactics Ocial Website Square-Enix.com.
Retrieved February 18, 2007.
However, some reviewers thought the character jobs in
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are too many and overlap [18] Square Enix Co., ed. (1999). Final Fantasy Anthology
one another, reaching a point where certain abilities are
North American instruction manual. Square Enix Co. p.
rendered redundant.* [41]
19. SLUS-00879GH.
1.2.6
References
[19] Final Fantasy Origins review. IGN. Retrieved February

11, 2007.
[1] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (1997). Final Fantasy Tactics North American instruction manual. Square Electronic
Arts. pp. 13, 24. SCUS-94221.
[20] Square Enix Co., ed. (1999). Final Fantasy Anthology

North American instruction manual. Square Enix Co. pp.
4446. SLUS-00879GH.
[2] Square Enix Co., ed. (2003). Final Fantasy Origins North
SLUS-01541.

20. SLUS-00879GH.
SLUS-01541.
[22] Final Fantasy XI Ocial Website: Job Descriptions.

PlayOnline. Retrieved February 10, 2006.
[4] Final Fantasy III Ocial Website. Square Enix. Retrieved

February 17, 2007.
1718. SLUS-00879GH.
[6] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy Chronicles North American instruction manual. Square Electronic Arts. pp. 69. SLUS-01360.
4748. SLUS-00879GH.
[23] Knight, Sheila (2003).

Tetsuya Nomura 20s.
FLAREgamer. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
Arts. pp. 711. SCUS-94163.
[25] Final Fantasy X Ocial Site. Square Enix.com. Retrieved
February 10, 2006.
[26] http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Dragoon
[27] Terra: You're Locke, right? Edgar told me about you.
Is it true you're a thief? / Locke: That's TREASURE
HUNTER! (Final Fantasy VI)
34
[28] Amarant: Listen to you. I lost to some spineless thief. /

Zidane: The sly eagle doesn't kill at whim. (Final Fantasy
IX)
characters while Toshiyuki Itahana was the nal character designer for Final Fantasy IX, and Akihiko Yoshida
was the character designer for Final Fantasy XII.

1.3.1 Visual character design
[30] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (2000). Final Fantasy IX

Arts. p. 18. SLUS-01251.
21. SLUS-00879GH.
Arts. p. 25. SLUS-00892GH.
Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. p. 44. ISBN 0-74400837-9.
[34] Final Fantasy Jobs: Blue Mage. Ffcompendium.com.
Arts. p. 21. SLUS-00892GH.
The Emperor of Palamecia is an example of a male character

with eeminate characteristics.
The series has often featured male characters with slightly

eeminate characteristics,* [1]* [2] as well as female characters with slightly tomboyish, but still feminine, characteristics. This trend has generally increased as the series
evolved.* [3] These characters are usually teenagers,* [4]
[37] http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Bard
which some critics have interpreted as an eort on the
[38] http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Beastmaster
part of the designers to ensure the players identify with
them.* [5] At the same time, some female characters have
[39] Reyes, Francesca (1999).Final Fantasy Anthology IGN
been increasingly designed to wear very revealing outReview. PSX.IGN.com. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
ts. Square Enix has stated that a more rugged look[40] Kasavin, Greg (2003-09-08).Final Fantasy Tactics Ad- ing hero had been considered for Final Fantasy XII but
vance Review. GameSpot.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24. had ultimately been scrapped in favor of Vaan, another
eeminate protagonist. The developers cited scenaristic
[41] Metts, Jonathan (2003-10-13). Final Fantasy Tactics
reasons and target demographic considerations to explain
Advance Review. Nintendoworldreport.com. Retrieved
their choice.* [3] For Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix set2007-07-24.
tled on a female main character, described as a female
version of Cloud from FFVII.* [6] This aspect of FiFantasy can also be seen in Sora, the protagonist of
1.3 Character design of Final Fan- nal
Kingdom Hearts, a crossover series featuring Final Fantasy and Disney characters.* [4]
tasy
22. SLUS-00879GH.
Although each installment of the Final Fantasy series

is generally set in a dierent ctional world with separate storylines, there are several commonalities when it
comes to character design, as certain design themes repeat themselves, as well as specic character names and
classes. Within the main series, Yoshitaka Amano was
the character designer for Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy
II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V
and Final Fantasy VI, Tetsuya Nomura was the character designer for Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII,
Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIII,
Yoshitaka Amano created and did the concept art for the
1.3.2 Recurring characters

Biggs and Wedge
The names Biggs and Wedge (
Biggusu & Wejji) are given to two related characters in
several Final Fantasy games. They are speculated to be
an homage to the Star Wars characters Biggs Darklighter
and Wedge Antilles.* [7] Their rst appearance is in Final
Fantasy VI withBiggsmistranslated toVicks
as a pair of soldiers accompanying Terra Branford in an
1.3. CHARACTER DESIGN OF FINAL FANTASY
35
attack on Narshe to claim an Esper. They are playable for hart. This chicobo possesses its own minigame; Chocobo
a short period, but are soon killed by the Esper.
World. A chocobo named Bobby Corwen appears in FiFollowing their rst appearance, Biggs and Wedge have nal Fantasy IX in the Black Mage Village; his initials in
appeared in several games. In Final Fantasy VII, they Japanese katakana characters form the wordBoko, and
are members of AVALANCHE, an eco-warrior organi- there is a Tetra Master card also named Bokowhich
zation. They are killed after a failed attempt to stop one features a depiction of an eight-bit chocobo. In Final Fanof Midgar city's support pillars from being destroyed by tasy XI, Boko appears as a black chocobo in various races.
Shinra. In Final Fantasy VIII, Biggs and Wedge are Galbadian soldiers who engage in battle with the protagonists
twice, (once in Dollet, and again in D-District Prison).
They eventually retire from the Galbadian forces. In Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, they are guards at
the Luca Blitzball stadium, and can be scouted by the
player to participate in Blitzball. In Final Fantasy XII,
two Archadian guards named Gibbs and Deweg (variation of Biggs, anagram of Wedge) stand at Nalbina Town,
and provide comic relief in several optional scenes. Biggs
and Wedge are also featured in Final Fantasy XIII, as the
name of a shop; B&W Outtters.
Biggs and Wedge have also appeared in several Final Fantasy spin o games. Final Fantasy Tactics features a form
of the names (ViggsandWezale), where they are
members of a raiding party, without speaking roles and
who die while descending Orbonne Monaster. In Final
Fantasy Tactics Advance, Biggs is a former business subordinate of Cid. In Final Fantasy IV: The After Years,
they appear as Red Wings soldiers who die protecting Cecil's son, Prince Ceodore, from an attack led by the Mysterious Woman. The game reveals that Biggs and Wedge
were actually the two soldiers who questioned Cecil about
stealing the Water Crystal of Mysidia at the beginning of
Final Fantasy IV. In Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Biggs
and Wedge are enemies in a sniping minigame.
Biggs and Wedge are also common names in other video
games by Square and Square Enix. In Chrono Trigger,
Vicks and Wedge, along with a third character named
Piett (who likewise shares a name with a Star Wars character), are sideshow attractions at Norstein Bekkler's Lab
at the Millennial Fair. Biggs retains his original name
in the Nintendo DS re-release of Chrono Trigger. In
Kingdom Hearts II, Biggs and Wedge are storekeepers
who own armor shops. Chocobo's Dungeon 2 features
them as two Black Mages who may assist the player.
Boco also appears in Final Fantasy Tactics as a chocobo

owned by Wiegraf Folles, which is later lost in a forest
and can be saved and recruited by the protagonist Ramza
Beoulve. In Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, a pilot
in the Shera airship mentions that she is raising a chocobo
named Boco.
Chaos
Chaos ( Kaosu) is the nal boss in the original Final Fantasy game. He is a relatively large, winged
demonic gure who uses his hatred to create the Four Elemental Fiends, the antagonists of the game.* [8] Originally, he was Garland ( Grando) an evil
knight who kidnaps the princess of Cornelia. His plot
is foiled by the Warriors of Light. However, seemingly
killed, Garland was actually sent back through time into
the distant past by the four Crystals, siphoned by the
Four Elemental Fiends, becoming Chaos and sending the
Fiends into the present to cause mass destruction in World
A. This in turn creates a time-loop and allows Garland to
live forever. The Warriors of Light return to the Chaos
Shrine ruins to travel two thousand years into the past,
where they meet Garland as he assumes his demon form.
After the Warriors of Light defeat Chaos, they return to
their own time with the Garland of a new reality waiting
for them.* [8]
Chaos appears as the God of Discord and is also the main

antagonist in Dissidia Final Fantasy, where he is voiced
by Norio Wakamoto in Japanese and Keith David in English. In the storyline, Chaos was created as a perfect
Manikin, malformed from the memories of multiple people used in his creation, and raised by his creator as a son.
Later used as a weapon of war, Chaos destroyed all the
summons of World A before he, his creator, and Cosmos
(the God of Harmony) arrived in World B. There, Chaos
Biggs and Wedge are an important duo in FFXIV as well,
became the God of Discord and was supported by Garaiding the protagonist through the storyline and assisting
land, who accepted his predestined fate to become the
Cid in piloting airships. Biggs and Wedge also appear in
Chaos of Final Fantasy.* [9]* [10] In the prequel to DisLightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
sidia, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, a new form of Chaos
called Feral Chaos is introduced. This incarnation of
Chaos also appears as the nal boss of Theatrhythm FiBoko
nal Fantasy.
A chocobo named Boko or Boco () appears in several installments of the series. Boko rst appears in Final Fantasy V as Bartz Klauser's mount. Boko also appears in Final Fantasy VII as a chocobo in the races at
the Gold Saucer. In Final Fantasy VIII, a chicobo (young
chocobo) named Boko can be obtained by Squall Leon-
The nameChaosalso appears in other Final Fantasy titles. In Final Fantasy VII, Vincent's fourth and nal Limit
Break causes him to take the form of a black, winged
demon called Chaos; this concept is explored further in
the sequel, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. In Final
Fantasy XII, Chaos appears as an Esper, bearing the title
36
Walker of the Wheel.Also, the agship of the antiImperial Resistance eet bears the name Garland. The
main antagonist and nal boss of Final Fantasy: The 4
Heroes of Light is also named Chaos.
Cid of the Lufaine) becomes more involved in Dissidia
Final Fantasy, serving as the game's non-physical narrator and the one who began the conict itself after arriving
in the mirror dimension of World B.* [13] Furthermore,
Cid also created the Manikins, with only three being perfect: Cosmos (modeled after his wife), Chaos (an earlier
creation he took in as a son), and the Warrior of Light (a
clone of himself).* [14]
In the anime series Final Fantasy: Unlimited, Chaos is an

otherworldly being that consumes entire worlds, feeding
on the negative energy of others. Last but not least, Chaos
appears in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns:
Final Fantasy XIII as a dark force.
In Final Fantasy II, Cid is a non-playable character and
a freelance airship pilot. He reappears in the Soul of
Rebirthsection of Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls
Cid
and in the 20th Anniversary version of Final Fantasy II,
which takes place during the nal parts of the main game.
He appears in Final Fantasy III as Cid Haze, a nonplayable character.
In Final Fantasy IV, Cid Pollendina is a playable character, the rst playable Cid in the series.
In Final Fantasy V, Cid Previa is a non-playable character and elderly inventor. In the OVA sequel to Final
Fantasy V, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, the late
Cid's brain has been stolen by Ra Devil to be used in the
villain's plans.
In Final Fantasy VI, Cid del Norte Marguez is a nonplayer character who is a researcher for the Empire and
the adoptive grandfather of Celes Chere.
Cid of Final Fantasy II.
In Final Fantasy VII, Cid Highwind is a spear-wielding

airship pilot, and for the rst time in the series, a major
playable character. He also appears in the game's prequel
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII and the sequels, the OVA
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and the game Dirge of
Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Cid Highwind also appears
in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. A memory version of Cid appears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which takes place between the two main games.
He also appears in the Chain of Memories PS2 remake,
Kingdom Hearts: Coded, and the Coded NDS remake.
In Final Fantasy VIII, Cid Kramer is a non-playable

Cid ( Shido) is a character who appears, or is at least character and the headmaster of Balamb Garden, which,
mentioned, in every Final Fantasy installment since Final at one point in the game, turns into an airship. He is the
Fantasy. According to Hironobu Sakaguchi, Cid was ini- husband of Edea Kramer, who appears initially as the antially conceived as a character that could appear in all of tagonist of the game.
the games in dierent forms.* [11] Although he is rarely In Final Fantasy IX, Cid Fabool is the ruler of Lindblum
the same age, and never the same individual in each of the and is briey playable. He is also married to Lady Hilda.
main series, he is usually presented as an owner, creator, Appropriately, his full name is Cid Fabool the 9th.
and/or pilot of the various airships in each game, and pro- He designed two airships that the party uses throughout
vides transportation to the main characters and their party the game (both of which are named after his wife), and
members at various points. In Final Fantasy II, he has a plays an important political and personal role in relation
friendly relationship with a woman named Hilda; he also to various other characters in the game.
has a close relationship with a woman of the same name
In Final Fantasy X and its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, Cid
in both Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XI.
is the leader of the Al Bhed tribe, the father of Rikku and
Cid does not appear in the Nintendo Entertainment Sys- Brother, and Yuna's uncle. He is the captain of the rst
tem version of the original Final Fantasy, but he has been game's only airship, although he was not the creator of the
retroactively inserted in subsequent versions (from 2003's machine; rather, he led the Al Bhed in restoring a broken
Final Fantasy Origins onwards), where he is mentioned as airship that had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
the creator of the party's airship.* [12] This Cid (known as
37
In Final Fantasy XI, Cid is featured prominently in the Gilgamesh

world of Vana'diel as a non-playable character. He is the
chief engineer of The Republic of Bastok who created
*
the airships and plays a major role in many of the game's Gilgamesh ( Girugamesshu) [15] is
a character rst introduced in Final Fantasy V. He is
missions and quests.
characterized by having a grey complexion, amboyFinal Fantasy XII is notable for being both the rst Final antly colorful battle armor, and multiple (usually eight)
Fantasy with more than one Cid, and the rst in which arms wielding multiple weapons at once. He has a erce
Cid is a villain. Doctor Cidolfus Demen Bunansa is a faade, but this masks his own childlike personality.
non-playable character as an enemy boss. He is the fa- The name Gilgameshcomes from the Sumerian king
ther of the sky pirate, Balthier, a playable character. In Gilgamesh, the main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
keeping with the airship theme, he is the one who designs He has been shown as both a hero and villain throughmany of the enemies' airships, including the sky fortress out the games. In Final Fantasy V, he is shown to be
Bahamut. There is also a character by the name of Al- good natured, such as when he is seen to sadden upon
Cid Margrace, who is the heir of Rozarria and friend of hearing of Galuf Baldesion's death, as well as sacricing
Larsa Solidor.
himself for the party when ghting Necrophobe. HowFinal Fantasy XIII continues the portrayal of a villainous ever, his arrogance, occasional stupidity, and thirst for
Cid in the form of Cid Raines, who is the youngest Cid battle have generally pitted him against the party, usually leading to a boss battle. Gilgamesh is commonly
to appear in the main game series.
known to carry the powerful Genji equipment set, conFinal Fantasy XIV Cid's full name isCid Garlond. He
sistently composed of the Genji Gauntlet, Genji Shield,
is a former member of the Garlond Imperial Army & his
Genji Helm, and Genji Armor. In many game appearAliation: Garlond Ironworks. He is part of the Story
ances, Gilgamesh uses a variety of weapons, some being
line (thus far) and can also be interviewed by any of the
parodies of signature swords from the Final Fantasy se3 nations' newspaper.
ries.
The name Cid also appears in Final Fantasy games outGilgamesh's rst appearance is in Final Fantasy V, as
side the main series. In Final Fantasy Tactics, Cidolfas
a major villain who the party encounters several times
Orlandu, known within the game asThunder God Cid
before he is banished to the Rift by Exdeath for his re, is a playable character, a powerful general described
peated failures. As revealed in Dissidia 012: Final Fanas the only man that Ramza Beoulve's father, Balbanes,
tasy, Gilgamesh ended up traveling to various planes of
could truly trust. An optional side task that can be taken
existence since then. These appearances appear to inby members of Ramza's party involves raising a sunken
clude Gilgamesh being a Guardian Force summon in Fiship named the Highwind. In Final Fantasy Tactics Adnal Fantasy VIII after Seifer killed Odin, provided the
vance, Cid Randell is the leader of the Judges who upplayer got Odin, an optional boss in Final Fantasy XII
hold law in Ivalice, and can be acquired as a player charand Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, accompanied by
acter. In the spin-o, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire
his animal companion Enkidu, and a downloadable boss
of the Rift, there is a dierent playable character named
that can be recruited in Final Fantasy XIII-2, and a side
Cid, who belongs to the race of Revgaji (the rst clearly
quest character in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
non-human Cid in the series) and is the leader of the Clan
Gilgamesh also appeared in Final Fantasy IV: The After
Gully. Al-Cid Margrace from Final Fantasy XII also apYears and Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls as a boss,
pears in Grimoire of the Rift.
and in Final Fantasy VI as a summon. Other versions
Cid also appears in the CGI feature lm Final Fantasy: of Gilgamesh include one in Final Fantasy IX who is a
The Spirits Within (as Dr. Sid), the anime TV series Final self-proclaimed great treasure hunter with four arms and
Fantasy: Unlimited (as a scientist), Final Fantasy Crystal goes by the alias Alleyway Jack; the player encounters
Chronicles: My Life as a King (as Mogcid), Final Fantasy this four-armed man multiple times during the journey,
Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (as Professor until Zidane Tribal reveals his true identity. There is also
Cid), Chocobo Racing, Chocobo's Dungeon 2 and Final the Gilgamesh of Final Fantasy XI, a legendary swordFantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales. Outside of the Final smith who is leader of the Tenshodo pirating organizaFantasy series, he appears in Treasure of the Rudras and tion in Norg. Players run into him while attempting misDragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (as Ducktor Cid).
sions from the rst expansion pack, Rise of the Zilart, as
well
as the quest to unlock Samurai as a playable job, for
Cid takes on the main role in a Final Fantasy game for the
which
the character also receives a two-handed katana.
rst time with Cid and Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon:
Gilgamesh
is also the name of one of Final Fantasy XI 's
the Labyrinth of Forgotten Time for the Nintendo DS, a
world
servers.
remake of the Wii game Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's
Dungeon.
Gilgamesh makes numerous appearance in spin o games

as well. He appears as a secret, unlockable character in
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, which marks his rst appearance as a playable character. Continuing his story from
38
Final Fantasy V, upon entering the Rift, Gilgamesh began

traveling to other worlds, as he still sought to settle things
with Bartz Klauser. However, he was able to escape from
the Rift in search of Bartz, encountering a group of protagonists from the games he has made appearances in
(Squall from Final Fantasy VIII, Zidane from Final Fantasy IX, and Vaan from Final Fantasy XII). After nding,
ghting and losing to Bartz (who had lost his memories of
him), Gilgamesh disappears back into the Rift, swearing
to return. In Final Fantasy Type-0, Gilgamesh appears
as a l'Cie from the country of Lorica. His appearance in
this game was released as a Japanese-exclusive DLC for
Gilgamesh in Dissidia 012.
In Final Fantasy IX, Ultima is Zidane Tribal's ultimate

weapon. In Final Fantasy X, both Omega and Ultima reside in the Omega Ruins, the most dicult dungeon in
the game, where Ultima exists as Omega's shadow. In
Final Fantasy XI, they appear as bosses in the Chains
of Promathiaexpansion pack and again as Proto-Omega
and Proto-Ultima as bosses of the Limbus areas. In Final Fantasy XII, Ultima appears as an Esper in addition
to lending its name to a sword called the Ultima Blade,
whereas Omega appears as an optional boss in the form
of a giant Mimic named Omega Mark XII. In Final Fantasy XIII, the main character can equip powerful
lightning-elemented weapons called Ultima Weapon and
In the English versions of Final Fantasy XII and Final Omega Weapon. Like Gilgamesh, Omega appears as an
optional DLC boss in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and can be reFantasy XIII-2, Gilgamesh is voiced by voice actor John
*
DiMaggio, and in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy by Keith cruited after battle. [16]
Szarabajka. In Japan, Gilgamesh was originally voiced by In theSoul of Rebirthbonus storyline in Final Fantasy
Daisuke Gri for Final Fantasy XII, with Kazuya Nakai I & II: Dawn of Souls, a boss called the Ultima Weapon
taking over after his predecessor's passing since Dissidia guards the Ultima Tome. In Dirge of Cerberus: Final
012.
Fantasy VII Omega is the main antagonist, and is being
used by Weiss to destroy the earth. Ultima appears as the
nal boss of Final Fantasy Tactics and is also a spell cast
Mog
by various monsters, including Ultima herself.
Moogles with the name Mog have appeared various times
throughout the series.
Mog was rst introduced as a major playable character
in Final Fantasy VI, where his special technique was to
cause various eects by dancing. In Final Fantasy VII,
Mog appears riding a Chocobo as a summon and also
appears in an arcade game in the Gold Saucer. In Final Fantasy IX a female moogle named Mog serves as
Eiko Carol's guardian, although she ultimately proves not
to be a moogle, later becoming the Summon Madeen or
Guardian Mog. In Final Fantasy XIII-2 a male moogle
named Mog joins Serah and Noel in their quest, he is
able to transform into a 'bowsword' which Serah uses as
her weapon and he is able to reveal time gates and objects
phased out of time to his companions.
In the spin-o games Chocobo's Dungeon, Chocobo's
Dungeon 2, and Chocobo Racing, a Moogle named Mog
is friends with the main character Chocobo.
Ultima and Omega
Ultima and Omega are recurring names that have appeared throughout the Final Fantasy series, often appearing as optional bosses towards the end of the game, as
they are far more formidable than the average monster.
1.3.3 Recurring species and races

Chocobo
Main article: Chocobo
A Chocobo ( Chokobo) is a large, normally
ightless galliforme/ratite bird capable of being ridden
and has been a staple of the Final Fantasy series since they
were introduced in Final Fantasy II. The onomatopoeia
for a chocobo's call is Kweh( Kue), although
Kwehis sometimes replaced withWarkin English
translations. Most chocobos dwell in forests. While timid
in the wild, and vicious if threatened, they tame easily
and make good transports. They are occasionally used as
lightly armored war mounts, where they can assist their
riders with their beak and claws. Most often chocobo can
be caught in the wild and ridden without fear of random
encounters, escaping after the player dismounts. While
ordinary Chocobos are yellow, certain rare breeds are of
dierent colors and have special abilities, such as crossing
mountains or ight. An even rarer, more extreme variant
is the Fat Chocobo (or Chubby Chocobo), which resembles a morbidly obese yellow chocobo.
In Final Fantasy II the most powerful tome in the game

is called the Ultima Tome. Omega rst appeared as an
optional boss near the end of Final Fantasy V. Ultima
rst appeared in Final Fantasy VI, and again appears in
Final Fantasy VII (under the name Ultima Weapon
) as a main storyline boss. In Final Fantasy VIII, both
Ultima Weapon and Omega Weapon are optional bosses.
The Chocobo signature theme is an upbeat ditty that is

present in one form or another in every game in the main
series since Final Fantasy II. Chocobos also have a series
of games dedicated to them, and they appear in several
other Square Enix games, notably the Mana series.

Moogle
Moogles ( Mguri) are small creatures that appear in several Square Enix game series, including the
Final Fantasy series, the Mana series, the Chocobo series, and the Kingdom Hearts series. The Japanese name
is a portmanteau of the Japanese words mogura (mole)
and kmori (bat).
39
lock, Chocobo Knight, and Moogle Knight.
Moogles also appear as summoned creatures in Final
Fantasy VII, where a Moogle appears riding a Chocobo,
and Final Fantasy VIII, where the player can summon a
young Moogle called MiniMog.
Apart from Mog, other notable named Moogles in the

series include Stiltzkin from Final Fantasy IX and Final
Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, and Montblanc from Final
Moogles have small, black eyes (often closed), and red, Fantasy Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Gripink, black, or purple bat-like wings. A single black moire of the Rift and Final Fantasy XII.
antenna sticks up from their heads, with a small colorOutside Final Fantasy, Moogles have appeared in the
ful ball (usually red, yellow or pink) at the end called a
Mana series as a race and/or as a status condition (compompom. Their ears are usually shaped like a cat's
monly referred to as being moogled) in Final Fanand their fur is white or light pink. Variations can be seen
tasy Adventure, Secret of Mana and Seiken Densetsu 3, and
in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series, where they
they are mentioned in Sword of Mana. They make an aphave a dierent body shape, lacking a distinct head and
pearance in the Chocobo series in Chocobo's Dungeon,
torso. Also, in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final
Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Chocobo Racing, and Chocobo
Fantasy XII they have longer, rabbit-like ears and beige to
Land: A Game of Dice. They also appear in all four
gray fur. When they rst appeared, in Final Fantasy III,
games of the Kingdom Hearts series, which includes
Moogles generally ended their sentences with the word
Moogles named after many famous characters from the
nya, the Japanese equivalent of a cat's meow. In
series. Moogles also appear as shop clerks in Dissidia Fithe later games, they use the word kupoinstead, and
nal Fantasy and the sequel, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, in
some games briey mention a Moogle language formed
which they created their own network, called the Mognet,
out of various permutations of kupo.
to communicate with players. A Moogle also appears in
Moogles rst appeared in the Final Fantasy series in Final Egg Monster Heroes, while one is an unlockable character
Fantasy III, a Japan-only release, and have been present in in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. A Moogle can also be unlocked
all subsequent numbered installments except Final Fan- in Mario Sports Mix.
tasy IV. They have also appeared in Final Fantasy Tactics,
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the Final Fantasy Crystal
Chronicles series, and the anime TV show, Final Fantasy:
Monsters
Unlimited. They appear as stued dolls in Final Fantasy
VII Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy
VII, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, in addition to See also: Summoned monsters in Final Fantasy
Yuna's version of the Mascot dressphere being a moogle
in Final Fantasy X-2.
Certain ctional monsters reappear frequently throughout
The Moogles perform various functions in the games the series, including Goblins, Oni/Ogres/Gigas/Giants,
throughout the Final Fantasy series. They run an in-game Bombs, Behemoths, Tonberries, Malboros, Flans and
message delivery service in Final Fantasy IX and the Fi- Cactuars (Sabotendersin the Japanese version, afnal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series. In the Final Fan- tersaboten, the Japanese word for cactus, and named
tasy III Nintendo DS remake, their message delivery ser- Pampa in the French version). The series borrows
vice allows players to send real e-mails to other players' four creature types directly from the original version of
games using the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi function. Final Fan- Dungeons & Dragons: Beholders, Mindayers, Otyughs
tasy VII features a character named Cait Sith, which is and Sahuagin. Other monsters are based on creatures in
essentially a cat sitting atop a giant stued Moogle. They the real world, such as wolves, wasps, piranhas, and othare used as Save Points in Final Fantasy IX. In Final Fan- ers have amplied, deadlier versions appearing throughtasy XI, a Moogle is assigned to each player to take care out the series. Other creatures are not necessarily harmful
of their house and change their jobs (hence it is called and may provide benets to the player, such as the Magic
a Mog House), and FestiveMoogles run the holiday Pot.
events in the game. In Final Fantasy XII, the Moogles are
known to be skillful in mechanics and engineering; they
were the rst pioneers of airship construction. In Final
Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2,
the Moogles have a variety of dierent jobs to master in
the clan. Some of the standard jobs include Thief, Animist and Black Mage. After they master a certain number
of abilities, new jobs become available for the Moogles,
including the Juggler, Tinker, Time Mage, Fusilier, Flint-
Summoned monsters, such as Bahamut and the elemental monsters Shiva (ice) and Ifrit (re), have appeared in
almost every title in the series. The lightning elemental
has been represented by a variety of creatures, principally
Ramuh, but also Quetzalcoatl and Ixion. Odin is another
re-occurring character, rst appearing as an optional summon in Final Fantasy III. Odin then makes an appearance
as a summon in Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII,
40
the latter being replaced by Gilgamesh on the fourth disk.

Odin is also the Thunder Eidolon in Final Fantasy XIII,
able to transform into Sleipnir, his mythical horse. In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the elemental monsters represent spells cast by Summoners (either the player's own,
or those of rivals). In Final Fantasy XII the traditional
summon monsters were changed, but still made a cameo
of sorts as the names of Archadian airships.
Several entries in the series provide backstories on the
origins and motives behind monsters. The backstory of
the ends and monsters given in-game was rst established in Final Fantasy VII, where monsters are animals
and humans who have been exposed to a high degree of
Mako, or descendents of the Ancients, via exposure to
Jenova's 'Virus'.* [17] In Final Fantasy VIII, monsters are
sent to the game world from one of its moons via a burst
of energy called theLunar Cry.* [18] In Final Fantasy
IX, monsters are spawned from the Mist, which is made
up of the souls of the dead unable to pass on.* [19]* [20] In
Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, the hostile monsters are better known as ends, which are manifested
from the restless spirits of the dead and driven by malice to devour the living.* [21] In Final Fantasy X-2, these
Fiends are classied by type.* [22] In Final Fantasy XII,
the monsters have diering origins; however, most of the
more powerful variants (namely the particularly powerful 'Rare Game') are the result of a mutation caused by
exposure to the Mist.* [23]* [24]
1.3.4
Notes
[1] Cork, Je (2007-02-28).Ten Gaming Clichs. Game

Informer. Archived from the original on October 10,
2007. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
[2] IGN Sta (2003-11-20). Final Fantasy XII Q&A.
IGN. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
LIGHT WARRIORS are returning.. As they travel in

time, the world returns to normal. Sara and Jane wait for
them.. Of course, Garland does too..
[9] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Report 12: I
often think of the start of the cycle. I as Chaos summon
me from the future; once summoned, I become Chaos.
[10] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Chaos: It was
just as I thought... You were the beginning. / Garland:
No, Chaos... for myself...you are the beginning. Before
the Great Will led me to this realm, when I was on the
edge of death, it was you who sent me two thousand years
into the past. You are me... and I...am you.
[11]EGM". August 1997. Hironobu Sakaguchi :There really isn't any deep meaning to it, we just wanted to make
a character that would appear in various forms in all the
games. I guess I've always had a soft spot for that kind
of character. Cid is like Yoda from the Star Wars series-very intelligent and wise.
[12] Square Enix (2004-11-29).Final Fantasy I&II Dawn of
Souls. Game Boy Advance. Lufenian: You use a vessel
you call an airship... It was built by one of our ancestors...
a man by the name of Cid.
[13] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cid of the
Lufaine's biography: He created the cycle of conict to
have Chaos increase his powers and use them on this world
to open the Interdimensional Rift.
[14] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Warrior of
Light's biography: Holding no prior memories of his
past, the Warrior of Light behaves as other warriors summoned by Cosmos, but he himself was not summoned by
the goddess. In truth, he is the only warrior created in this
realm by the Great Will.
[3] Final Fantasy XII Q&A - PlayStation 2 News at IGN

[15] Final Fantasy Summons: Gilgamesh.
Ffcom. ign.com. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
pendium.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
[4] Because Women DO Play. WomenGamers.Com.
Archived from the original on 2007-09-09. Retrieved [16] Simmons, Brice. Final Fantasy XIII-2 To Have DLC
2010-04-06.
Enemies, Starting With Omega Weapon [Updated]". Retrieved 29 December 2012.
[5] Nerd Heroes: The Phenomenon of Loser Protagonists in
Modern Japanese Games. GameCritics.com. Retrieved [17] Ifalna The Cetra were attacked by the virus and went
2010-04-06.
mad, transforming into monsters. Then, just as he had at
[6] FFXIII Interview: Nomura, Kitase, Hashimoto and
Toriyama: News from. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2010-0406.
[7] Final Fantasy, Star Wars, Biggs and Wedge - Playstation
3. Bellaonline.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
[8] Square (1990-07-12). Final Fantasy. Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo. Game ending: Garland's
hatred burned for 2000 years. That hatred led the Four
Powers to this world. CHAOS was created from those
Four. Evil dominated the world and covered it in darkness. But, it is over now, wrong has been set right!! The
knowlespole...he approached other Cetra clans, infecting

them with the virus.(Final Fantasy VII)
[18] Controller: The lunar world is a world of monsters.
Didn't you learn that in school? As you can see, the monsters are gathering at one point. History's starting to repeat
itself. The Lunar Cry is starting. (Final Fantasy VIII)
[19] Steiner: Surely even you must know something about the
Mist! The vicious monsters it spawns! (Final Fantasy IX)
[20] Garland: The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls
of Gaia. (Final Fantasy IX)
1.4. GAMEPLAY OF FINAL FANTASY
[21] Lulu: The dead need guidance. Filled with grief over
their own death, they refuse to face their fate. They yearn
to live on, and resent those still alive. You see, they envy
the living. And in time, that envy turns to anger, even
hate. Should these souls remain in Spira, they become
ends that prey on the living. Sad, isn't it? The sending
takes them to the Farplane, where they may rest in peace.
(Final Fantasy X)
41

Gilgamesh article at the Final Fantasy wiki
1.4 Gameplay of Final Fantasy
Although each installment of the Final Fantasy series is

generally set in a dierent ctional world with separate
[23] Sage Knowledge 09: Mist: Naturally occurring energy, storylines, there are several commonalities from game to
found in almost all regions of the world, aecting all living game when it comes to gameplay, many aspects of which
things, the climate, and even the land itself... The high- have remained relatively consistent throughout the series.
[22] Final Fantasy X-2 Guide, 315
est concentrations of Mist can even do damage, leading to

over-rapid changes in the environment, and violent behavior among animals and those more sensitive to the Mist's
eects. (Final Fantasy XII)
1.4.1 Parties and battles
[24] Sage Knowledge 63: Nabreus Deadlands: [D]ense

Mist has given rise to all manner of bizarre ora and fauna
of an invariably vicious temperament. (Final Fantasy XII)
1.3.5
References
Birlew, Dan (2000). FINAL FANTASY IX Ocial

Strategy Guide. Brady Publishing. ISBN 0-74400041-6.
Birlew, Dan (2001). Final Fantasy X Ocial Strategy Guide. BradyGAMES Publishing. ISBN 07440-0140-4.
Birlew, Dan (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 Ocial
Strategy Guide. BradyGAMES Publishing. ISBN
Screenshot of Final Fantasy VI's Active Time Battle (ATB) sys0-7440-0285-0.
tem.
Boyce, Mary (1975). History of Zoroastrianism,

Vol. I. Leiden: Brill.
Throughout the Final Fantasy series, the most basic element of the gameplay has been that players command
Cassady, David (1997). Ocial FINAL FANTASY a party of characters during battle. The maximum size
VII Strategy Guide. Brady Publishing. ISBN 1- of the party has been as low as two and as high as seven,
56686-714-2.
depending on the game. Players must face a variety of
enemies who continually try to damage the player,* [1] as
Cassady, David (1999). Ocial FINAL FANTASY well as aict "status ailments" upon the characters, such
VIII Strategy Guide. Brady Publishing. ISBN 1- as poisoning them or putting them to sleep.* [2] Many of
56686-903-X.
the games feature a random encounter system,* [3] where
the player is randomly drawn into battle with enemies
Ong, Alicia (March 22, 2001). The Religions Be- that are not visible on the map.* [4] This remained true
hind Final Fantasy. Archived from the original on of the numbered entries in the series until Final Fantasy
2007-03-17.
XI changed to a system where all enemies are visible as
the player explores the game world.* [3]
Schmidt, Ken (2006). Final Fantasy III Ocial
Strategy Guide. BradyGAMES Publishing. ISBN In battle, the characters can select a variety of commands
from a menu, such as Fight, Magic, Item,
0-7440-0848-4.
as well as other special skills such asSteal,Throw
Spoors, Glen (January 2005). Meaning and Emo- or Summon.* [3] The battle is won when all enemies
tion in Squaresofts Final Fantasy X: Re-Theorising are defeated, whilst the game ends if all player characters
'Realism' and 'Identication' in Video Games. p. are unable to ght (either by losing all of their health, or
96. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
if they are stuck in a state which requires another ally to
42
cure them in order to continue ghting, such as petrication). In some, but not all battles, the player may attempt
to ee. While Final Fantasy VI introduced Desperation Attacks,where characters very low on hit points
had the chance to use a much stronger attack than usual,
with each Desperation Attack unique to each character,
Yoshinori Kitase created an improved system in Final
Fantasy VII called Limit Breaks. These were powerful attacks that gained strength as the player took damage,
and were accompanied by a sophisticated animation.* [5]
Since then, games in the series allow characters to perform special moves when they ll up a power meter,* [4]
and this gameplay component has become synonymous
with the series.* [6]
As the series has gone on, the battle system has evolved
from the basic turn-based combat system used in the
original Final Fantasy to incorporate more real-time elements. The original turn-based system, with the player
characters on the right and the enemies on the left, has
been imitated by numerous RPGs.* [1] A major departure from this system came in Final Fantasy IV, when
Hiroyuki Ito introduced theActive Time Battle(ATB)
system,* [7] where the time-keeping mechanism does not
stop whilst the player selects commands.* [8] Square led
a Japanese patent application related to the ATB system
on July 16, 1991 and a corresponding US application
on March 16, 1992. One Japanese patent (JP2794230)
and two US patents (US5390937 and US5649862) were
granted based on these applications.* [9]* [10]* [11] On
the battle screen, each character has an ATB meter that
gradually lls, and the player is allowed to issue a command to that character once the meter is full.* [12] Because enemies can attack at any time, and the player can
lose his turn if he doesn't attack quick enough, urgency
and excitement are injected into the combat system.* [8]
When designing the ATB system, Ito was inspired by
Formula One racing. According to Final Fantasy IV's
lead designer, Takashi Tokita, the planner, Hiroyuki
Ito, was watching a Formula One race. Seeing all the
cars pass each other, we thought of an interesting idea
where character speed would dier depending on, I suppose, the type of character it is. So, that's where the initial
idea came from.* [13]
divided into segments and commands can take up from
one segment to the entire bar, so dierent commands can
be mixed and matched as the player sees t. The ATB
bar can also be upgraded to have more segments via the
game's Crystarium leveling system. This version of the
ATB system returns in Final Fantasy XIII's sequel, Final
Fantasy XIII-2.
1.4.2 Minigames
Comparison of the Snow Game minigame in Final Fantasy VII

(left) and Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding on mobile phones
(right).
Final Fantasy has become known for its inclusion of one

or more minigames as part of its core gameplay, beginning mainly with Final Fantasy VII. Participation and progression in these minigames generally does not aect the
main game, but can often oer many items or power
upsthat are either very rare, or simply otherwise unavailable. However, in some Final Fantasy installments,
such as Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X, certain
minigames are sometimes necessary in order to progress
the storyline.
The earliest origins of these minigames were in the form
of simple easter eggs which could be unlocked by pressing
special button combinations in a particular location. For
example, in the rst Final Fantasy, a sliding puzzle can
be unlocked while on board the ship. In Final Fantasy II,
a matching game can be unlocked while boarding the ice
sled and meeting a certain requirement. However, Final
Fantasy VII was the rst game to feature a large number
of 'proper' minigames. A number of minigames appear
occasionally throughout the main storyline and at various
locations, many of which can later be played at the Gold
Saucer theme park within the game, along with various
other minigames exclusive to the Gold Saucer. These include, amongst others, a chocobo racing game, chocobo
breeding, motorbike racing, a snowboarding game, an
arm wrestling game, a martial arts game, and a basketball
game. A port of the snowboarding minigame was released in Japan and North America in 2005 as a separate game for mobile phones, entitled Final Fantasy VII
Snowboarding.* [18]
The ATB system remained the norm until Final Fantasy

X implemented aConditional Turn-Based(CTB) system, which slowed gameplay while making it important
for the right characters to square o against the right monsters.* [14] Its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, used a faster
paced variant of the ATB system. Final Fantasy XI altered the system further by instituting a real-time system, where characters continuously attack unless issued
another command.* [15] Final Fantasy XII introduced the
Active Dimension Battlesystem,* [16] where the player
may issue commands to the characters, or allow them to
act automatically with certain behavioral triggers.* [17] Final Fantasy VIII introduced the card game Triple
In Final Fantasy XIII, a completely new version of the Triad. It was not considered an essential part of the
ATB system was introduced. Here, the ATB gauge is game, but instead served to provide light relief to the storyline and allow the player to interact with minor charac-
43
ters in a dierent way. Through the use of aCard Mod

ability, the player is able to create rare items by converting cards earned by defeating various competitors.* [19]
Final Fantasy VIII was the rst of the series to introduce a
side-game with such interaction. Triple Triad was praised
by GameSpot as amore-than-worthy RPG minigame.
*
[19] Following the release of the game, Japanese games
company Bandai produced a full set of collectible Triple
Triad cards. The set was made up of the 110 cards, as
seen in the game, along with 72 artwork cards and a collector's edition playing mat.* [20]
of the game if they wish. In Final Fantasy X, the player

controls the individual players on the team, while in X2 they act as manager and coach. X-2 also has a game
called Sphere Break, a mathematical game using numbered coins that possess several dierent attributes which
can help the player in the Sphere Break minigame itself or
gain items that can help in the various battles throughout
the main game.* [26] GameSpot were unimpressed with
blitzball, commenting thattrivial minigames have been
creeping into the Final Fantasy games at an alarming rate
over the last few years, and in this regard, X-2 is denitely
*
Another major minigame in Final Fantasy VIII is the most egregious oender in the series. [27]
Chocobo Worldwhich was released as a handheld
electronic game for the PocketStation (a peripheral for
1.4.3 Character growth and classes
PlayStation). The game could be played exclusively, or
as a minigame.* [21] The game was present in all localMain article: Final Fantasy character jobs
izations of Final Fantasy VIII, but the PocketStation itThe Final Fantasy series is like many role-playing video
self was only released in Japan.* [22] In 2000, Chocobo
World was ported to the Windows version of Final Fantasy VIII.* [23] The game allows players to control Boko,
a chicobo (young chocobo), on his quest to save his friend
Mog from the clutches of an evil demon. The game's
screen consists of black and white pixel graphics and is
presented in a manner similar to the "virtual pet" concept
conceived by Bandai's Tamagotchi. To play in conjunction with Final Fantasy VIII, the player must nd Boko
in the world of the main game. Once accomplished, the
player receives a user interface for communicating with
the minigame. At any time, the player may send Boko
into Chocobo World to gain experience and collect special items, which are transferred back for use in the main
game. In addition, Boko may be used as a summon in
Final Fantasy VIII.* [24]
Similar to Triple Triad, Tetra Masteris a card game
found in Final Fantasy IX. Unlike most of the minigames
in the series, a few Tetra Master games must be played,
one at the beginning of the game, and several closer to
the end. Tetra Master was seen by GameSpot as inferior and confusing compared to Triple Triad, as the rules
were only vaguely explained in the game, and there were
very few rewards earned from playing it despite its extensiveness.* [25] Final Fantasy IX also had an additional
minigame named Chocobo Hot and Cold. Upon the
acquisition of a chocobo, the player is able to access the
game inside of Chocobo Forest. No games ofChocobo
Hot and Coldare required to progress through the main
game, although items received through the game could be
used in the main game, including both regular game items
and clues towards discovering more items.
In Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, the main
minigame is Blitzball, an underwater sport featuring six-man teams that combines the physicality of rugby
and soccer for scoring, and the hand passes of water polo.
The game is played in a large sphere pool suspended in the
air. Although blitzball is a crucial element to Final Fantasy X 's plot, only one game must be played, although the
player has the option of playing through an entire season
The job system in Final Fantasy V
games in that it uses a level-up system,* [28] where players gain experience points and raise their character's experience level by killing enemies.* [29]* [30]* [31] Players
may have diculty defeating an enemy until they reach
a higher experience level, although Final Fantasy VIII reduces the need to level-up by making the enemy's experience level always match that of the player's.* [32]
Each character class in a Final Fantasy game has unique
abilities which develop as the player's level increases. In
some titles, the player can assign a character with a specic class at the start of the game, while others allow
characters to combine and learn abilities from a number
of classes.* [7] In addition to other abilities, a character's
class usually determines the types of weapons and armor
that they can use.* [7] Some of the more traditional classes
include the Warrior/Fighter, the Dragoon, the Thief and
the dierent Mages/Wizards.* [3]* [33] Mage classes have
included Black Mages (who use oensive spells), White
Mages (who cast healing magic), Red Mages (who use
both), Blue Mages (who use enemy spells and attacks cast
against them), and Time Mages (who cast spells which
44
speed up or slow down time). More original classes have
appeared throughout the series, such as Bards, Scholars,
and Summoners. Due to the series' popularity, they have
become staples of RPGs since they debuted in Final Fantasy III.* [33]
The complexity of the class system varies from game to
game.* [3] In the original Final Fantasy, the player allocates permanent class selections to the four playable characters at the beginning of the game, and each of the six
starting classes can be upgraded to a corresponding advanced class midway through the game.* [34]
Characters in Final Fantasy II are molded according
to their performance in battle.* [35] Final Fantasy III
changed the formula by allowing the player to change a
character's class, as well as acquire new and advanced
classes and combine class abilities.* [36]* [37]
In Final Fantasy IV, the characters are assigned a job class
that reects their personality in the storyline,* [3]* [8] and
in some cases the character's classes are not explicitly
stated;* [3] abilities related to the character's class are
learned as the character gains experience points.* [38] Final Fantasy IV also introduced the concept of characters joining or leaving the party throughout the storyline,
which requires players to adjust their battle plans constantly.* [8]
In Final Fantasy V, each character can be assigned and
reassigned one of 22 'jobs', gaining attributes in that job
as they win battles. Many praised the game for the freedom this system aorded, although some considered the
system highly complex, and it has been speculated that
this may have been one of the reasons the game was not
initially released in North America.* [33]
In Final Fantasy VI, characters are locked into specic
classes from the start of the game, and each has a signature command, such asDance,LoreorMimic.
*
[39] In Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, characters lack classes, and they all play the same in battle;
nevertheless, each character has one or more unique limit
breaks, and particular characters statistically support the
informal adoption of class roles.* [39]* [40]* [41]
equip a secondary job, called asubjob, and have half
the abilities of that class. Extensive backstories are often given to Final Fantasy XI 's job classes to add to the
setting's lore.
In Final Fantasy XII, the player can mold characters into anything, without restriction of traditional
classes.* [45]* [46] However, in the game's international
version and in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, the
growth system is modied to have more clearly dened
classes. In Final Fantasy XIII, characters can switch class
mid-battle and in the eld, utilizing the Paradigm system.
In Final Fantasy XIV, player classes vary by what weapon
they are wielding (i.e. wielding a sword turns that player
into a Gladiator, while wielding knuckles turns the player
into a Pugilist etc.). Additionally, abilities learned from
other classes may be junctioned onto the player's current
class (i.e. a Pugilist may use Red Lotus from the Gladiator class)
In Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, classes are once again chosen by the player from
one of the starting jobs; however, characters must meet
prerequisites before changing classes.* [47]* [48]
1.4.4 Magic
Like many role-playing games, the titles in the Final Fantasy series feature a system of magic. While the rst
game in the series had eight levels of spells with one to
eight uses per level, later games jettisoned this concept
for a common pool of magic points that all spells consume.* [1] Magic in the series is generally divided into
classes, which are usually organized by color.* [4] The
actual magic classes vary from game to game, but most
games includeWhite Magic, which is focused primarily on spells that help teammates, and Black Magic,
which is focused on harming enemies.* [1] A character
who is procient in White or Black magic is often known
as a White Mage or Black Mage, respectively.* [1]* [49]
Other games include other types of mages and spells, such
as Geomancers, who can cast spells based on the terrain,
Blue Mages who can cast spells that are learned from enemies in battle, and Red Mages who can cast both white
and black magic.* [49] In most games, the most powerful
oensive White Magic spell is Holy, while the most
powerful black magic spell is often Ultima(a White
Magic in Final Fantasy II), Meteor, or Meltdown
.
In Final Fantasy IX, characters have predetermineddormant abilitiessimilar to Final Fantasy IV; however, the
characters in Final Fantasy IX learn abilities by wearing
equipment instead of gaining levels.* [42] Final Fantasy
X introduced the sphere grid"; characters began at certain areas of the grid, which represent traditional character classes by their statistical bonuses and abilities. Character classes were re-introduced in Final Fantasy X-2 as How magic is acquired in the series tends to dier radidresspheres"; these classes are gradually acquired and cally from game to game. For example, in Final Fantasy
can be changed at any point, including battle mode.* [43] VI, magic spells are obtained from a magiciteremThe classes that appear in Final Fantasy XI, the nant of a god-like creature called an Esperwho had
rst massively multiplayer online role-playing game died; this also allows for the ability to summon the Esper
(MMORPG) title in the series, have certain unique im- during battle when the magicite is equipped by a charplementations that more closely follow MMORPG con- acter. In Final Fantasy VII, materia works similarly to
vention.* [44] Notably, in Final Fantasy XI a player can Final Fantasy VI 's magicite, but unlike in Final Fantasy
VI where magic learned by a character is permanently at

their disposal, magic in Final Fantasy VII is attached to
the materia and not the character.
Summoning Magic
Another recurring class of magic is Summoning Magic,
which calls forth magical creatures to attack enemies
and/or heal or protect party members.* [3]* [7] These entities have been known by dierent names throughout the
series;Call Beasts(Final Fantasy IV),Espers(Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy XII),Guardian Force
(Final Fantasy VIII), Eidolons(Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy XIII, and the DS version of Final Fantasy IV),
Aeons(Final Fantasy X),Avatars(Final Fantasy XI),
or simply Summon Monsters.They were rst introduced in Final Fantasy III, with eight dierent summons,
and hit a peak of 51 dierent summons in Final Fantasy
XII: Revenant Wings.* [7] These summoned creatures often draw their names from classic mythology, or derivations thereof. For example, Ifrit and Bahamut come from
Arabian mythology, though Bahamut is more akin to the
draconic deity from Dungeons & Dragons. Carbuncle
and Quetzalcoatl come from The Mesoamerican mythology. Shiva, Garuda, and Lakshmi come from Hindu
mythology. Ramuh is also a Hindu-inspired summon,
drawn from Indra and Rama.* [7] Meanwhile, the serpent
Leviathan is inspired by the Old Testament, and Phoenix
is drawn from Egyptian mythology.* [7] Greek mythology
inspired Titan, Hecatonchires, Hades, Typhon, Cerberus,
and Siren, while Norse mythology was the source for
Odin the warrior, Fenrir the wolf, and Midgardsormr
the serpent.* [7] Doomtrain's Japanese name, GlasyaLabolas, is taken from the grimoire of demons, The
Lesser Key of Solomon. Cait Sith is derived from the
Celtic Cat Sth or Cat Sidhe (pronounced cat shee), a
black cat with a white patch on its chest.
45
However, in Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, and Final Fantasy XII, ight is abstracted with a short cutscene,
and essentially allows the player to teleport between locations. The impossibly fast 'Nautilus' in Final Fantasy III
was dubbed the fastest airship in the whole series, travelling across the world map in less than 10 seconds.* [7]
1.4.6 Inventory
Crystals
Elemental orbs or crystals have appeared in more than ten
of the fourteen main titles in the series. They usually drive
the plot as an essential link to the planet's life force, and
thus the player must often nd or collect these crystals to
advance the plot.* [7]
Currency
All Final Fantasy games allow players to purchase various
items and equipment from shops,* [50] using a currency
known as Gil ( giru).* [51]* [52] Final Fantasy IV is
the only game to explain the origin of the word; in that
game, the word Gil is derived from Gilbart, a common
name for members of the royal family of Damcyan, and
was originally used as the currency of Damcyan.* [53] The
most common way to earn gil in the series is from random
battles, although Final Fantasy VIII is a notable exception
where gil is earned as a regular stipend from an academy
for mercenaries,* [32] and in Final Fantasy XI, where it is
dropped less from monsters (only Beastmen drop gil, and
it's a very small amount), and more from the in-game auction house in which players can sell goods to other players
for a more substantial amount of gil.
Weapons
1.4.5
Airships and transport
Although some Final Fantasy games have featured unique

vehicles such as a spaceplane or hovercraft, many vehicles
are common to several games in the series. Many games
in the series allowed players to pilot a ship over oceans and
seas, with some even allowing players to pilot a submarine
underwater. Trains also appear in several games in the
series. The rst three games allowed players to ride a
canoe through rivers. All games since Final Fantasy II
have featured a chocobo, a species of ctional bird which
often acts as a mode of transport.* [7]
Numerous weapons have seen recurring use throughout the series; others have been inuenced by a variety of mythological and fantasy concepts. For example, the Excalibur, named after the King Arthur legend, and Masamune, named after the Japanese swordsmith, have been top-tier blade weapons since the rst
Final Fantasy.* [7] As the series has progressed, other
weapons, such as the Ultima Weapon, the Blood Sword,
Sasuke's Katana and the Ragnarok, have been introduced.* [7]* [49] Interspersed between unique weapons
are a graded scale of other, more common weapons, usually sold in shops. They are typically labeled according
to the following progression, from weakest to strongest:
Bronze, Iron, Steel, Mythril/Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crystal, Adamantite (found in Final Fantasy), and
Adamantine.Woodenweapons andLeatherarmor
are also often seen throughout the series.
One of the most iconic modes of transport in the Final

Fantasy series is the airship, which has appeared in every game. The visual style of each airship varies between
games. In several games, they are repaired and improved
during the story, allowing the player to access new areas. In many games, they have built in weapons for ran- Swords are commonly seen throughout the series, and
dom encounters, which attack at the beginning of a battle. come in various forms. Elemental swords, which include
46
a certain element, such as re or wind, are seen in almost every installment in the series. Some elemental
swords launch an additional magical attack during battle,
such as the Lightbringer in Final Fantasy VI. Elemental swords have had many names, re-elemental swords
are usually named 'Flame Saber' or 'Flametongue', iceelemental swords are named 'Blizzard' or 'Ice Brand', and
thunder-elemental swords are named 'Thunderblade' or
'Coral Sword'. A water-elemental sword hasn't been used
often, but in Final Fantasy X the main character obtains
one called 'Brotherhood', and in Final Fantasy X-2, the
Warrior dresssphere has a water-elemental sword attack
called 'Liquid Steel'.
There are also various stas/rods featured in many of the
games, which often use special actions, many of do not
directly damage (or deal very low damage) and are often
benecial, such as theHealing Stafound in Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy V. Additionally, some weapons
can be used from the items menu, and can produce a variety of eects, such as dealing damage to an enemy, placing a negative status eect on an enemy, healing the user
or an ally, or placing a positive status eect on the user
or an ally.
The Final Fantasy installments also feature several types
of projectile weapons, including bows, balls, guns,
boomerangs, and launchers. Gunblades have a gun-like
handle which contains a ring mechanism, but are not
considered projectile as the ring mechanism only makes
the blade vibrate causing extra damage, and does not
re any actual shells, with the exception of Yazoo's gunblades from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Weiss's
twin gunblades from Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy
VII, and Lightning's gunblades from Final Fantasy XIII.
In some installments, such as Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV, ammunition (bullets and arrows) is limited; others, like Final Fantasy XII, require the player to
carry a stock of ammunition that can never be depleted.
Other installments, like Final Fantasy VII, omit ammunition completely. Some of the common recurring projectile weapons include Yoichi's Bow, and the Full Moon
boomerang.
mor and accessories used in the series consist of bracers,
shields, rings, bangles, shoes, helmets, body armor, robes,
and dresses. However, not all games in the series have
an armor system; for example, Final Fantasy X-2 uses
the equipping of dressspheres instead of armor. Final
Fantasy VIII uses stat increases from equipping Guardian
Forces, a form of summoning in the game, rather than the
use of armor.
Several individual pieces of armor and accessories recur
throughout the series. Two of the most common are the
Aegis shield and the Protect Ring, which provide various
eects for the character, depending on the game. The
Golden Hairpin almost always benets the spellcasters in
the party. For example, in Final Fantasy V and Final
Fantasy VI, it was an accessory that reduced spell costs
by half; in Final Fantasy Tactics, it was head armor that
gave a signicant boost to the maximum MP value and
nullied the silence status eect. The Ribbon is also an
accessory in most Final Fantasy games, which allows the
equipped user to become immune to most or all status
ailments.
Items
Phoenix Downredirects here. For The Unguided song,
see Hell Frost.
Itemsare collected objects that may aect the status or
health of a character or enemy. Many objects are one-use
and include a limit to how many are stocked in the party's
inventory. In every installment, the basic HP-recovering
item is some form of potion. The items' names varies in
earlier games, such as being calledHeal Potionsin the
rst game, Cure Potionsin the English translation of
Final Fantasy IV, andTonicsin the English translation
of Final Fantasy VI. Other variants, which heal more HP,
include the mid-level Hi-Potion, the high-level XPotion, and the multi-target Mega Potion.
Since Final Fantasy IV, the lead MP-recovering item has

been the "Ether". The name is derived fromAether, a
classical term used in medieval times to describe a possiIn addition to the types of weapons above, the series has ble substance between air, earth, re, and water. The Enalso included whips, dice, lances, axes, knives, daggers, glish language localization of Final Fantasy VI renamed
the Ether Tincture,and also featured a second-level
hammers, claws and other common weapons.
MP-restoration item, Hi-Ether, which was renamed
simplyEther. The Turbo Ether (also known asDry
Ether) has appeared in numerous games and restores
Armor and accessories
either a signicant or complete portion of a character's
Armor typically follows the same alloy progression as MP.
swords. A common type of armour in the series is the The "Elixir", which appears in most Final Fantasy games,
Genjiarmor, which is seen in Final Fantasy II, Final is both a HP and MP recovery item. Some games include
Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fan- theMegalixir(orLast Elixir), which fully restores
tasy VII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy the party's HP and MP. Other items recover both HP and
Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. The Genji armor consists MP at specic locations. Tentsare often used on eld
of a shield, helmet, body armor, and sometimes gloves. maps or at Save Points as replacements for an Inn, as they
Some armor featured in the series is named after met- completely restore the party's HP and MP. Variants such
als or stones; others are based on colors or spells. Ar- as Cabin, Cottage, and Sleeping Bagrestore
47
the down feathers of a bird, the undercoat of feathers beneath the visible layer on top. Other representations of
Phoenix Down include theBottled Tearsof a Phoenix,
Bolted QuiversandBead Necklaces.Variants of this
item include thePhoenix PinionandMega Phoenix
, which revive all party members. Final Fantasy XI is
the exception to this, using instead theRegain Feather
(grants 100% HP, 100% MP and 300% TP), Rebirth
Feather(Reraise III),Revive Feather(Reraise I),Fire
Feather(Enre), and Blaze Feather(Blaze Spikes).
There are other basic items seen throughout the Final
Fantasy series, including Gysahl Greens, which can
be used for a variety of eects; to summon Fat Chocobo,
an item storage service, at specic locations in Final Fantasy IV; to catch, feed and race chocobos in Final Fantasy
VII; to summon a pet chocobo in Final Fantasy VIII; to
ride a chocobo in Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X and
Final Fantasy XII. TheRename Cardrenames characters that have already been named. This rst appeared in
Final Fantasy VI, though the character Namingway had
a similar function in Final Fantasy IV. In Final Fantasy
VIII, a Rename Card renames Guardian Forces, and Pet's
Nametag renames Rinoa's dog's name. In Final Fantasy
IX, the Namingway Card had the eect of renaming the
characters in Daguerreo, and in Final Fantasy X, it was
used to rename Aeons.
All Final Fantasy games also have key items, which

must be acquired to further the game's story or complete
a sidequest. Key items are usually kept in their own special inventory separate from the player's stock of usable
items. Examples of key items include the Nitrofrom
the original Final Fantasy, theHuge Materiafrom Final Fantasy VII, and the Supersoftfrom Final Fantasy IX. A key item is typically received shortly before the
player reaches the point where it is needed. After a key
item is used, it usually remains in the player's inventory
The Final Fantasy XII Potiondrink.
permanently, but serves no further purpose. Some items
or key items are/may be almost completely useless, like
Tissue
from the American release of Final Fantasy VII.
more or less HP and MP; sometimes to only one character. In Final Fantasy IX, Tents can be used during battle,
although there is chance of being inicted with abnormal
1.4.7 Reception and legacy
status eects when used.
Status eect-curing items are also recurring. For example, Antidoteheals poison and venom, Echo
Screen"/"Echo Herbs"/"Echo Dropsremoves silence,
Eye Dropscures blindness, and Soft(originally
Golden Needle) cures petrication.Phoenix Down
(also translated as Phoenix Tail) is used in most Final Fantasy games to revive an unconscious party member with a small portion of their HP. In some of the earlier games, the word was translated asFenixDownbecause of size issues with tting English letters in the space
previously occupied by Japanese characters. Phoenix
Down often instantly kills or inicts maximum damage
on undead and other creatures harmed by curative spells.
The item is supposed to be the feather of a Phoenix a
common symbol of life and rebirth; downrefers to
The Final Fantasy series is credited with dening the

structure of subsequent role-playing games.* [54]
1.4.8 References
[1] Andrew Vestal (1998-11-02).The History of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy. Gamespot. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
[2] Greg Kasavin (2007-11-12). Final Fantasy XII.
CNET. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
[3] Patrick Kolan (2007-01-18). The Evolution of Final
Fantasy. IGN. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[4] David Jenkins (2007-02-28). "(Never the) Final Fantasy
. Virgin Media. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
48
[5] IGN Presents: The History of Final Fantasy VII. IGN.

2008-04-30. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[25] Vestal, Andrew (July 19, 2000). Final Fantasy IX Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
[6] Interview with Final Fantasy creator. GameAxis Unwired.

November 2006. p. 24.
[26] Final Fantasy X-2 Review. IGN. Retrieved 2006-1208.
[7] Final Fantasy Retrospective Part XIII. GameTrailers.

2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
[27] Shoemaker, Brad (2003).Final Fantasy X-2 for PlayStation 2 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
[8] Andrew Vestal (1998-11-02).The History of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy IV. Gamespot. Retrieved 2008-1231.
[28] Bill Loguidice, Matt Barton (2009). Vintage Games. Focal Press/Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-240-81146-8.
[9] List of patent family members for US Patent No.

5390937. espacenet. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
[10] US Patent No. 5390937. The United States Patent
and Trademark Oce.
[11] US Patent No. 5649862. The United States Patent
and Trademark Oce.
[12] US granted 5390937, Video game apparatus, method
and device for controlling same, published February 21,
1995, issued February 21, 1995, assigned to Square Co.,
Ltd
[13] Jeremy Parish. 30 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know
About Final Fantasy. 1UP.com. p. 6. Retrieved 201104-27.
[14] 1UP Sta (2000-01-01). Final Fantasy X (PS2)". 1up.
[15] Tom Bramwell (2002-01-02). Final Fantasy XI. eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. pp. 3536. ISBN 978-07440-0837-1.
Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-74400837-1.
[18] Buchanan, Levi (2005). Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding. IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
[19] Vestal, Andrew (February 24, 1999).Final Fantasy VIII
for PlayStation Review. GameSpot. Archived from the
[29] Final Fantasy Anthology Ocial Strategy Guide.

BradyGames. 1999. ISBN 978-1-56686-925-6.
[30] Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese).
BentStu. 2004. ISBN 978-4-7575-1243-6.
Studio
[31] Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega (in Japanese).

Square-Enix. 2004. ISBN 978-4-7575-1161-3.
[32] Andrew Vestal (1998-11-02).The History of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy VIII. Gamespot. Retrieved 200904-02.
[33] Andrew Vestal (1998-11-02).The History of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy V. Gamespot. Retrieved 2008-1231.
SLUS-01541.
SLUS-01541.
[36] Final Fantasy III Ocial Website. Square Enix. Retrieved
February 17, 2007.
1718. SLUS-00879GH.
[38] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy Chronicles North American instruction manual. Square Electronic Arts. pp. 69. SLUS-01360.
4748. SLUS-00879GH.
[20] Final Fantasy VIII: Triple Triad. Board Game geek.


Arts. pp. 3234. SCUS-94163.


[22] IGN sta (July 15, 1999). FFVIII PocketStation Opens

Up Chocobo World. www.ign.com. Retrieved 200607-18.
[42] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (2000). Final Fantasy IX

Arts. pp. 1619. SLUS-01251.
[23] Dan Calderman (2000). Chocobo World Playable on

PC. www.rpgamer.com. Retrieved 2006-07-18.
[43] Square Enix Co., ed. (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 North
[24] IGN Sta (2000-01-28). IGN: Final Fantasy VIII Review. IGN. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
[44] Final Fantasy XI Ocial Site. Playonline.com. Retrieved

February 9, 2007.
1.5. MUSIC OF THE FINAL FANTASY SERIES

Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. pp. 1819. ISBN 978-07440-0837-1.
[46] Final Fantasy XII introduces a new way to experience
RPGs. CBS News. Retrieved February 11, 2006.
[47] Square Electronic Arts, ed. (1997). Final Fantasy Tactics North American instruction manual. Square Electronic
Arts. pp. 2426. SCUS-94221.
[48] Final Fantasy Tactics Ocial Website Square-Enix.com.
[49] Andrew Vestal (1998-11-02).The History of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy Series. Gamespot. Archived from
the original on 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[50] Steve Watt. Final Fantasy XI (Square Enix)". UGO.
Archived from the original on 2008-10-29. Retrieved
2009-04-02.
[51] Louis Bedigian (2006-08-14).Dirge Of Cerberus - Final
Fantasy VII Review. GameZone. Retrieved 2009-0402.
[52] Justin Calvert (2007-06-01).Final Fantasy Anniversary
Edition Hands-On. GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
[53] RACapowski (2007).
Translation of Final Fantasy IV documents on Settings Book/Settei Shiryou
Shuu/Compendium/What Have You. Archived from the
original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
[54] GameSpot's 15 most inuential. GameSpot. 2000.
1.5 Music of the Final Fantasy series

Final Fantasy is a media franchise created by Hironobu
Sakaguchi and owned by Square Enix that includes video
games, motion pictures, and other merchandise. The series began in 1987 as an eponymous role-playing video
game developed by Square, spawning a video game series
that became the central focus of the franchise.* [1]* [2]
The music of the Final Fantasy series refers to the
soundtracks of the Final Fantasy series of video games, as
well as the surrounding medley of soundtrack, arranged,
and compilation albums. The series' music ranges from
very light background music to emotionally intense interweavings of character and situation leitmotifs.
The franchise includes a main series of numbered games
as well as several spin-o series such as Crystal Chronicles and the Final Fantasy Tactics series. The primary
composer of music for the main series was Nobuo Uematsu, who single-handedly composed the soundtracks
for the rst nine games, as well as directing the production of many of the albums. Music for the spin-o series
and main series games beginning with Final Fantasy X
was created by a variety of composers including Masashi
49
Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, Hitoshi Sakimoto, and Kumi
Tanioka.
The majority of Final Fantasy games, including all of the
main series games, have received a soundtrack album release. Many have also inspired orchestral, vocal, or piano
arrangement albums. In addition to the regular albums,
a number of compilation albums of tracks from multiple games have been produced both by Square Enix and
outside groups. Music from the original soundtracks of
the games has been arranged as sheet music for the piano and published by DOREMI Music Publishing, while
sheet music from the piano albums have been published
by Yamaha Music Media. The franchise's music has been
performed numerous times in concert tours and other live
performances such as the Orchestral Game Music Concerts, Symphonic Game Music Concerts, and the Play! A
Video Game Symphony and Video Games Live concert
tours, as well as forming the basis of specic Final Fantasy concerts such as the Dear Friends and Distant Worlds
concert tours.
1.5.1 Themes
Although each game in the Final Fantasy series oers
a variety of music, there are some frequently reused
themes. Most of the games open with a piece calledPrelude, which is based on a short piece by Bach that has
evolved from a simple, two-voice, arpeggiated theme in
the early games to a complex melodic arrangement in recent installments.* [3]* [4]* [5] It has been described as beingas recognizable in gaming circles as the Super Mario
Bros. theme or Sonic the Hedgehog 's title screen pop
.* [4] Battle victories in the rst 10 installments of the series were accompanied by a victory fanfare; this theme
has become one of the most recognized pieces of music
in the series.* [6]* [7] Chocobos and moogles, two mascots for the series, each have their own themes. The basic
theme for chocobos is rearranged in a dierent musical
style for each installment, and usually has a title ending
in de Chocobo, while moogles have a theme entitled
Moogle's Theme, which rst appeared in Final Fantasy V.* [3] The chocobo inspired the spin-o Chocobo
series, and many of the pieces from the soundtracks of
that series are stylistically based on the main chocobo
theme.* [8] A piece called Prologueor Final Fantasy, originally featured in the rst game, has appeared
in some form in every game in the main series, with the
exceptions of Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy X, and Final
Fantasy XIII; originally appearing in the prologue of the
games. It sometimes appears as a full arrangement and
surfaces other times as a theme played during the nale
track.* [3]* [9] Although leitmotifs are often used in the
more character-driven installments, theme music is typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot elements.* [1]
50
1.5.2
History
Main series
19871994: Famicom era When Nobuo Uematsu was
working at a music rental shop in Tokyo, a woman working in the art department for Square, which would later
become Square Enix, approached him about creating music for some of their titles in development, and he agreed.
Uematsu considered it a side job and was skeptical it
would become any sort of full-time position. He said it
was a way to make some money on the side, while also
keeping his part-time job at the music rental shop.* [10]
Before joining Square, he composed music for television
commercials.* [11] The rst score he produced for Square
was the soundtrack for the role-playing video game Cruise
Chaser Blassty. While working at Square, he met Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who asked him
if he wanted to compose music for some of his games,
which Uematsu agreed to.* [10] Sakaguchi gave him a
few instructions for the soundtrack of Final Fantasy, UeRegular series composer Nobuo Uematsu
matsu's 16th score,* [5] such as the need forbattleand
townmusic, but left the remainder of the composing to
Uematsu, aside from informing him of the specic tech- bum.* [14]
nical limitations of the Famicom system. The game was
In 1994, Square released Final Fantasy VI (1994), the last
released in 1987.* [12]
for the Super Famicom, and the accompanying soundAfter the success of Final Fantasy I, Uematsu remained track has been considered one of the greatest video game
with the series to compose the soundtrack to Final Fan- soundtracks ever composed.* [18] The game's discogratasy II (1988). Although I and II were composed sepa- phy also includes orchestral and piano arrangement CDs,
rately, music from the two games have only been released as well as EPs of unreleased tracks and character themes.
on albums together. These albums include a sound- The soundtrack included the rst attempt in the Final
track album and two arranged albums. Final Fantasy III Fantasy series to include a vocal track, Aria di Mezzo
(1990) was released two years later and featured a sound- Carattere, which has been described as one of Uetrack from Uematsu that has been lauded as one of the matsu's greatest achievements.* [9] This track features
best soundtracks of any NES game.* [13] The soundtrack an unintelligible synthesized voicethat harmonizes
spawned two soundtrack albums, as well as a disc of vocal with the melody, as technical limitations for the SPC700
and orchestral arrangements.* [14]
sound format chip prevented the use of an actual vocal
track.
The rst actual vocals in a piece appeared in Final
Final Fantasy IV (1991) was the rst game in the series
Fantasy
VII.* [14]
to be released for the Super Famicom, and the resultant
changes in the sound technology resulted in a composition
process that Uematsu noted was excruciating.* [15]
Uematsu has stated that, beginning with this soundtrack,
he started to move away from the idea that the soundtrack
had to be solely an orchestral score.* [16] In addition to
the soundtrack album, the music of IV was arranged and
released in the style of Celtic music, performed by Mire
Breatnach. It also sparked the release of an album of piano arrangements, something which would be repeated
for every subsequent main-series game to date.* [14]
Having now gained experience with the Super Famicom
sound chip, Uematsu felt that the sound quality of the
soundtrack for the next game in the series, Final Fantasy
V (1992), was much better than that of IV. He named
this as the primary reason that the soundtrack album was
two CDs long, a rst for the series.* [17] Like IV, the
discography of Final Fantasy V included an arranged
and a piano album in addition to the main soundtrack al-
19972000: PlayStation era Beginning with Final

Fantasy VII (1997), the series moved platforms to the
PlayStation. While the media capabilities of the PlayStation allowed for CD quality music, Uematsu opted instead to use Sequence format.* [19] The soundtrack album ran a record four discs, and Uematsu has stated that
the move into the PlayStation era, which allowed
video game composers to use sounds recorded in the studio rather than from synthesizers, had denitely been
the biggest changeto video game music.* [20] VII was
the rst game in the series to include a track with digitized vocals,One-Winged Angel, which has been described as Uematsu's most recognizable contribution
to the music of the series.* [21] The piece, described as
a fanfare to impending doom, is said to not follow
any normal genre rulesand has been termed possibly
the most innovative idea in the series' musical history.
51
[19] The lyrics of the piece, a Latin choral track which

plays at the climax of the game, were taken from the
medieval poetry on which Carl Or based his Carmina
Burana, specically the songs Estuans Interius, "O
Fortuna", Veni, Veni, Veniasand Ave Formosissima.* [22] There was a plan to use a famous vocalistfor the ending piece as a theme songfor the
game, but the idea was dropped due to time constraints
and thematic concerns.* [21]* [23] The idea of a theme
song would be resurrected in the following installment of
the series. In 2006, IGN ranked VII's music the best Final Fantasy soundtrack to date and cited the gripping
character tracks andOne-Winged Angelin particular
as contributing factors.* [9] The discography of the original game only includes soundtrack, best of, and piano
albums.* [14] However, beginning in 2005 Square Enix
produced a collection of media centered on the game and
world of Final Fantasy VII entitled the Compilation of Hitoshi Sakimoto was the main composer of Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy VII. This collection has produced ve ad- and Final Fantasy Tactics.
ditional soundtrack albums, each for a dierent game or
animation.* [14]
The soundtrack of Final Fantasy VIII (1999), unlike that
of VI and VII, did not include character themes, as Uematsu felt they would not be eective.* [24] In response
to a question by IGN music stating that the music of Final Fantasy VIII was very dark and perhaps inuenced by
the plot of the game, Uematsu statedthe atmosphere of
music varies depending on story line, of course, but it's
also my intention to put various types of music into one
game.* [25] Although the idea had not been used in the
previous game, he thought a ballad would closely relate to
the theme and characters of VIII, and composed Eyes
on Me, performed by Faye Wong.* [24] The song was
released as a single, while Square produced soundtrack,
orchestral, and piano albums for the game's music.* [14]
and Nakano contributed 18 tracks to the game.* [30]

The two new composers were chosen for the soundtrack
based on their ability to create music that was dierent
from Uematsu's while still working together.* [31] The
discography for the game includes the soundtrack album,
piano, and vocal arrangement albums, and an EP of tracks
by Uematsu inspired by the game. The theme song for the
game,Suteki da ne, which translates toIsn't it Wonderful?", was written by Nobuo Uematsu and Kazushige
Nojima and was sung by Japanese folk singer Ritsuki
Nakano, known as "RIKKI", whom the music team contacted while searching for a singer whose music reected
an Okinawan atmosphere.* [32] Suteki da neis sung
in its original Japanese form in both the Japanese and EnThe music of Final Fantasy IX, (2000), was based around glish versions of Final Fantasy X, and was released as a
*
a theme of Renaissance music, and was heavily inspired single. [33]
by previous Final Fantasy games, incorporating themes Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Kumi Tanioka composed
and motifs from earlier soundtracks. Uematsu felt previ- Final Fantasy XI (2002). It was the last Final Fantasy
ous games VII and VIII had a mood of realism, but that soundtrack that Uematsu was a main composer for until
Final Fantasy IX was more of a fantasy, so a serious Final Fantasy XIV, as he resigned from Square Enix in
piece as well as silly, fun pieces could t in.* [26]* [27] November 2004.* [1] The expansion packs were mostly
Uematsu has claimed several times that the music of IX scored by Mizuta alone. The opening of the game feais his favorite work, as well as the one he is most proud tures choral music with lyrics in Esperanto. According
of.* [28]* [29] Like Final Fantasy VIII, IX included a vocal to Uematsu, the choice of language was meant to symtheme, Melodies of Life, which was sung by Emiko bolize the developers' hope that their online game could
Shiratori. The game's discography includes albums of the contribute to cross-cultural communication and cooperaoriginal soundtrack, a selection of the best tracks, a piano tion.* [34] The game and each of its four expansion packs
arrangement album, an album of unreleased tracks, and have produced a soundtrack album; the discography for
a single of Melodies of Life.* [14]
the game also includes two piano albums, an album of unreleased tracks, two arranged albums, and a single for its
2001present: other composers Final Fantasy X vocal theme,Distant World, which was composed by
(2001) marked the rst time in the series' history that Uematsu* and performed by Japanese opera singer Izumi
Uematsu was not the sole composer for the soundtrack. Masuda. [14]
Released on the PlayStation 2, the score was also cre- Final Fantasy XII (2006) was mainly composed by
ated by Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano. Uematsu Hitoshi Sakimoto, although six compositions were concontributed 51 tracks, Hamauzu contributed 20 tracks tributed by his fellow composers Hayato Matsuo and
52
XIII the rst game in the main series to not have any work
by Uematsu.* [40] The game has sparked the release of a
soundtrack album, an arranged album, two gramophone
record albums of music from the soundtrack, a piano album, and a single of the game's theme song Because
You're Here( Kimi ga Iru Kara), sung by
Sayuri Sugawara.* [14]* [41] The international versions of
XIII feature the songMy Handssung by British singer
Leona Lewis from her second album Echo.
The latest game in the series, Final Fantasy XIV (2010)
was composed by Uematsu through his Smile Please
studio, and is the rst Final Fantasy since IX to have
a score completely composed by him at release.* [42]
The theme song Answers was sung by Susan Calloway.
Since original launch, and for the A Realm Reborn relaunch, additional in-game music has been composed
by Naoshi Mizuta, Ryo Yamazaki, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and
Masayoshi Soken.* [43] The full ocial soundtrack with
all 104 tracks from the original version of Final Fantasy
XIV was released on August 14, 2013 in a single Bluray disc compilation.* [44] Titled Before Meteor: FINAL
FANTASY XIV Original Soundtrack, the disc contains all
of the music composed by Nobuo Uematsu for the initial
release, as well as music added on subsequent patches by
Uematsu, Mizuta, Yamazaki, Sekito and Soken.
Spin-os
Masashi Hamauzu was the main composer of Final Fantasy XIII.
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

Music of the Final Fantasy VII series
Main article:
Masaharu Iwata. Uematsu only contributed the theme

song, "Kiss Me Good-Bye", sung by Angela Aki.* [35]
Violinist Taro Hakase also contributed a piece named
Symphonic Poem 'Hope'", featured during the game's
ending credits. Sakimoto was brought in to compose the
soundtrack to the game by Yasumi Matsuno, the producer
of the game, ve months before the game was ocially
announced.* [36] Sakimoto experienced diculty following in Uematsu's footsteps, but he decided to create a
unique soundtrack in his own way, although he cites Uematsu as his biggest musical inuence.* [37]* [38] Sakimoto did not meet with Uematsu for direction on creating the soundtrack and tried to avoid copying Uematsu's
style from previous Final Fantasy soundtracks. However,
he did attempt to ensure that his style would mesh with
Uematsu'sKiss Me Good-Byeand the overall vision of
the series.* [36] The current discography, while originally
limited to the soundtrack album and singles for Kiss
Me Good-ByeandSymphonic Poem 'Hope'", was late
in 2012 given an album of piano arrangements like most
prior soundtracks in the series.* [14]
The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is the formal title

for a series of games and animated features developed
by Square Enix based in the world and continuity of Final Fantasy VII. Spearheaded by Tetsuya Nomura and
Yoshinori Kitase,* [45]* [46]* [47] the series consists of
several titles across various platforms, all of which are
extensions of the Final Fantasy VII story. The rst announced element of the series was Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, an animated sequel to the original game,
though the rst to be released was the mobile phone
game Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII. Before Crisis's
soundtrack was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto, while
Advent Children was scored by Nobuo Uematsu, Keiji
Kawamori, Kenichiro Fukui, and Tsuyoshi Sekito. Other
titles in the series are Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy
VII, the soundtrack of which was composed by Masashi
Hamauzu, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, which was primarily composed by Takeharu Ishimoto with a few tracks
provided by Kazuhiko Toyama, and Last Order: Final
Fantasy VII, also composed by Ishimoto.* [14]
Final Fantasy XIII (2009) was composed by Masashi

Hamauzu.* [39] Although its main theme was originally
announced to be composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Uematsu
instead gave it to Hamauzu to compose after being selected as the composer for Final Fantasy XIV, making
Advent Children featured a song by former Japanese

rock band Bowy's singer Kyosuke Himuro in its ending
credits, the Dirge of Cerberus soundtrack contained two
songs by Gackt, including its theme song "Redemption",
and Crisis Core's theme song, "Why", was performed

by Ayaka. Each element of the series sparked its own
soundtrack album except for Before Crisis and Last Order, which had their soundtracks released together in one
album.* [14] Dirge of Cerberus also had a download-only
soundtrack album for its Japan-only multiplayer mode,
while Redemptionand Whyeach had a single release by their respective artists.* [48]* [49]
Final Fantasy X-2
Fantasy X-2
Main article:
Music of Final
Final Fantasy X-2 (2003), was the rst direct video game
sequel to any Final Fantasy game. Despite having composed the majority of the soundtrack for Final Fantasy
X, Nobuo Uematsu did not contribute any music to the
project. No tracks from X or other games in the series
were used in the game. In an attempt to make a dierent
style of music for the game than previous franchise titles,
Square brought Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi on
board to compose the music for X-2, as the developers felt
they were theperfect tto incorporate apopstyle
into the music.* [50] The game includes two songs with
vocalized elements, one of which, the J-Pop song real
Emotion, was written by Ken Kato and composed by
Kazuhiro Hara. The other, J-Pop ballad 1000 Words
, was written by scenario writers Kazushige Nojima and
Daisuke Watanabe. Matsueda and Eguchi composed and
arranged the track. Both songs were sung by Jade Villalon from Sweetbox in the English version of the game,
and are available as bonus tracks on the Japanese release
of her album Adagio.* [51] In the Japanese version of the
game both the songs were sung by Kumi Koda and were
released as a single entitled real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba.
Koda also released her own English versions of the songs
on her CD single Come with Me, with slightly dierent
versions of the lyrics than Jade. In addition to Come with
Me, the collection of music for Final Fantasy X-2 includes
the two-disc soundtrack album, a piano album, a soundtrack album for the Final Fantasy X-2 International +
Last Mission version of the game, a single for the song
Eternity ~ Memory of Lightwaves, and a set of three
singles themed around the three main characters of the
game.* [14]
53
tasy XII: Revenant Wings (2007), Final Fantasy Tactics:
The War of the Lions (2007), Final Fantasy Tactics A2:
Grimoire of the Rift (2007), and Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System (2007).* [52]
The music of these games has been primarily composed
by Hitoshi Sakimoto, who also composed the main-series
game set in Ivalice, Final Fantasy XII. Masaharu Iwata
shared compositional duties with him for Tactics; Sakimoto composed 47 tracks for the game while Iwata composed the other 24.* [53] Sakimoto composed almost all
of the music for Tactics Advance, while Uematsu contributed the main theme and Kaori Ohkoshi and Ayako
Saso composed additional battle tracks.* [54] Both games
have a soundtrack album, while Tactics Advance inspired
an arranged album. Sakimoto again was the composer for
Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, though this time he was
supported by composers from his studio Basiscape, and it
too sparked a soundtrack album release. He also scored
Revenant Wings, though it primarily consisted of arrangements of his previous work and has not been released as
a separate album, and his work on Tactics was used as the
score for the spino series Crystal Defenders.* [55]
Crystal Chronicles Main article: Music of the Final

Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series
Another spin-o of the main series, the Final Fantasy
Crystal Chronicles series consists of Crystal Chronicles
(2004), its sequel Ring of Fates (2007), and their spinos My Life as a King (2008), Echoes of Time (2009),
My Life as a Darklord (2009), and the newest title The
Crystal Bearers (2009). Kumi Tanioka is the main composer for the series, having composed the music for all
of the released games. Her only work on the main series
to date has been as one of the co-composers for Final
Fantasy XI.* [56] She did not compose the soundtrack for
The Crystal Bearers; Hidenori Iwasaki composed it instead.* [57] Tanioka is known for using an eclectic mix of
instruments in her albums; she has described the musical style for the soundtrack to Crystal Chronicles as being
based on ancient instruments. The soundtrack has
extensive use of many medieval and Renaissance musical
instrumentssuch as the recorder, the crumhorn and the
lute; creating a distinctively rustic feeland also follows
the practices and styles of medieval music.* [58] For the
soundtrack to Ring of Fates, Tanioka purposefully did not
Tactics and Ivalice Alliance Main article: Music of focus onworld music, instead focusing oncreating
the Final Fantasy Tactics series
a new landscape containing the same atmosphere.* [59]
Echoes of Time also incorporates a variety of instruments,
oboes, xylophones, marimbas, and Latin guiThe Final Fantasy Tactics series is a spin-o of the main including
*
tars.
[60]
Final Fantasy series, consisting of primarily tactical roleplaying games with heavy thematic similarities to the Of the released games, Crystal Chronicles, Ring of Fates,
main series. After Final Fantasy XII was set in the same and Echoes of Time are the only ones to have a released
world, Ivalice, as the two games in the series Final Fan- soundtrack. Crystal Chronicles also has sparked a sintasy Tactics (1997) and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance gle of its theme song, Sound of the Wind(
(2003), Square Enix announced that all future games set Kaze no Ne), composed by Kumi Tanioka and perin the game world would be part of the new Ivalice Al- formed by Fujimoto Yae.* [61] Ring of Fates also has an
liance subseries. These games to date include Final Fan- associated single of its theme song, A World Without
54
spired an orchestral arrangement album also composed
by Hamauzu.* [64] The soundtrack of Chocobo's Dungeon
2 was composed by Kumi Tanioka, Yasuhiro Kawakami,
Tsuyoshi Sekito, Kenji Ito, and Nobuo Uematsu.* [65]
The games whose soundtracks were primarily composed
of previous Final Fantasy and Chocobo tracks were Final
Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon, which was arranged
by Yuzo Takahashi of Joe Down Studio, Chocobo Racing, whose original tracks were composed by Kenji Ito,
and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales. The sequel to
Chocobo Tales, Chocobo and the Magic Picture Book: The
Witch, The Maiden, and the Five Heroes, contains mainly
original works, and the two games were scored by Yuzo
Takahashi. Unlike the other Chocobo games, they had a
joint soundtrack album release, while Chocobo Tales had
a previous download-only best ofalbum.* [66]
Others Other spin-os of the main Final Fantasy series include Final Fantasy Adventure (1991), a spin-o
game later also considered as the rst game in the Mana
series, which had references to Final Fantasy removed in
its remake, Sword of Mana.* [67] It was scored by Kenji
Ito, with one track by Uematsu. Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest (1992) is an SNES game scored by Ryuji Sasai
and Yasuhiro Kawakami.* [68] Final Fantasy: Legend of
the Crystals (1994) is an animated sequel to Final Fantasy V, and was scored by Masahiko Sato. Final Fantasy:
The Spirits Within (2001), a computer animated science
*
Kumi Tanioka was the main composer of the Crystal Chronicles ction lm, was scored by Elliot Goldenthal, [69] and
Final Fantasy: Unlimited (2001), a 25-episode anime seseries.
ries, was scored by Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi,
and Akifumi Tada.* [70] The soundtracks to The SpirStars( Hoshi no Nai Sekai), written and its Within and Mystic Quest were released as separate
performed by Aiko.* [62] Echoes of Time did not have a albums, while Unlimited had two soundtrack album retheme song.* [60]
leases.* [68]* [69]* [70] Final Fantasy Adventure saw the
release of a soundtrack album, an arranged album, a release which compiled both previous albums together, and
a soundtrack album for its remake.* [67]
Chocobo Main article: Music of the Chocobo series
The Chocobo series is a spin-o series of games rst
developed by Square and later by Square Enix, featuring a super deformed version of the Final Fantasy series mascot the chocobo as the protagonist. These
games include Mystery Dungeon installments and a variety of minigame collections over a wide variety of video
game consoles. The series includes over a dozen games,
most of which have been released only in Japan.* [63]
The soundtracks to the games have been composed by a
wide variety of composers, and many of the soundtracks
are composed primarily of arranged versions of tracks
from previous Final Fantasy soundtracks, especially the
chocobotheme.* [8]
Only some of the games have led to separate soundtrack
releases. The rst of these was Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon (
Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon), which was scored by Masashi Hamauzu and in-
1.5.3 Merchandise
The majority of games in the franchise, including all of
the main series games, have led to a soundtrack album
release. Many have also inspired orchestral, vocal, or piano arrangement albums as well. These albums have been
produced and reprinted by a number of dierent companies, including DigiCube, NTT Publishing, Square Enix
itself, and many others. Additionally, many albums have
been made available at the iTunes Music Store.* [71] In
addition to the regular albums, a number of compilation
albums of pieces from several Final Fantasy games have
been produced both by Square Enix and outside groups,
both ocially and unocially. These albums include
music directly from the games, as well as arrangements
covering a variety of styles. Square Enix produced the
rst album, Final Fantasy 19871994 (1994) and has
since produced 13 albums, leading up to Final Fantasy

Remix (2008). The rst compilation album produced by
an outside group was The Best of Final Fantasy 1994
1999: A Musical Tribute, released in 2000 by Sherman
F. Heinig; the newest is Voices of the Lifestream, an unlicensed download-only album from OverClocked ReMix
released in 2007.* [72]
55
date as well as the Play! A Video Game Symphony world
tour from 2006 onwards, for which Nobuo Uematsu composed the opening fanfare that accompanies each performance.* [77]* [78] Final Fantasy music was played at the
Symphonic Game Music Concert series, a series of annual German video game music concerts notable for being the rst of their kind outside of Japan, from 2003 to
2007.* [79]* [80] The music made up one fourth of the
Symphonic Fantasies concerts in September 2009 which
were produced by the creators of the Symphonic Game
Music Concert series.* [81] It has also been played by the
Australian Eminence Symphony Orchestra, an independent symphony orchestra specializing in classical music
from video games.
Music from the original soundtracks has been arranged

for the piano and published by DOREMI Music Publishing.* [73] Books are available for every main series game
except for Final Fantasy V, as well as for Advent Children and Crystal Chronicles. All piece in each book have
been rewritten by Asako Niwa as beginning to intermediate level piano solos, though they are meant to sound as
much like the originals as possible.Best ofcollections
and arrangements for guitar solos and piano duets are also Music from the series has also been played in specic Fiavailable.* [74]
nal Fantasy concerts and concert series. After the success
Additionally, the actual piano sheet music from each of of the 20020220 Music from Final Fantasy concert in
the ten Final Fantasy Piano Collections albums has been 2002, a recording of which was produced as an album, the
published as ten corresponding music books by Yamaha Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy, was launched
Music Media.* [75] Each book contains the original muin Japan in 2004. It was followed by the Dear Friends
sic, exactly as arranged and performed on the albums. -Music from Final Fantasy- tour in the United States that
to be a single
Unlike the Original Score arrangements, these pieces are same year, which was originally scheduled
*
concert
but
grew
into
a
year-long
tour.
[82]
In 2005, a
intended only for advanced players as they are generally
concert
entitled
More
Friends:
Music
from
Final
Fantasy
more dicult. Sheet music for the Final Fantasy XI Piwas
performed
to
coincide
with
the
one-year
anniversary
ano Collections album included in the Final Fantasy XI
and also had an album
OST Premium Box Set was included in that box set, and, of the rst Dear Friends concert
*
published
of
the
performance.
[83]
The latest Final Fanlike the album itself, is unavailable for purchase elsetasy
tour
is
the
worldwide
Distant
Worlds:
Music from
*
where; [76] sheet music for the identically named stanFinal
Fantasy
tour,
which
began
in
Sweden
in
2007 and
*
dalone piano album is published by Yamaha. [75]
still continues to date.* [84] A recording of its rst performance was released as an album. Nobuo Uematsu additionally plays with The Black Mages, a band which per1.5.4 Public performances
forms Final Fantasy music in a rock music style. They
have performed music live in concert, as well as with orSee also: Final Fantasy concerts
Music from Final Fantasy has been performed numer- chestras as part of various concert tours. They have released three albums to date, as well as DVDs of their live
performances.* [14]
From November 2003 to April 2004, Square Enix U.S.A.

launched an AOL Radio station dedicated to music from
the series, initially carrying complete tracks from Final
Fantasy XI in addition to samplings from VII through
X.* [85] The station was relaunched in July 2006 and still
remains on the site. In the 2004 Summer Olympics, the
American synchronized swimming duo consisting of Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova were awarded the bronze
medal for their performance toLiberi Fatalifrom Final
Fantasy VIII.* [86]
1.5.5 Sales
Rinoa Heartilly shown at the Los Angeles Dear Friends concert
Albums
ous times in concert tours and other live performances.
Music from the series was played in the rst four con- The sales gures for the various Final Fantasy music alcerts of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra's Orchestral bums in Japan are as follows:* [87]
Game Music Concerts series from 1991 to 1994, and each
Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version (1994) concert has been released on an album. It has also been
175,000* [88]
played in the Video Games Live concert tour from 2005 to
56
Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack (1997) 148,260
At least eight of these soundtrack albums debuted in

the top ten of the Oricon albums chart: Final Fantasy
VI Original Sound Version, Final Fantasy VII Original
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Original Soundtrack, Final Fantasy VIII Original Soundtrack, Final
Soundtrack (2005) - 38,904
Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack, Final Fantasy X Origi Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Original nal Soundtrack, Final Fantasy X-2 Original Soundtrack,
Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack, and Final Fantasy
Soundtrack (2006) - 14,361
XIII Original Soundtrack, the latter debuting at #3 on the
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Original Sound- chart.* [88] The sales gures for albums released before
track (2007) - 13,321
Final Fantasy VI are currently unknown. The only Fi Final Fantasy VIII Original Soundtrack (1999) - nal Fantasy albums that failed to reach the top 30 of the
Oricon albums chart were the soundtracks for the Final
300,000* [89]
Fantasy Tactics series and Crystal Chronicles series.* [87]
Final Fantasy VIII: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
(1999) - 7,540
Singles
Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack (2000) The sales gures for the various Final Fantasy vocal sin101,520
gles in Japan are as follows:* [87]
Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS
(2000) - 4,180
"Eyes on Me" (vocals by Faye Wong, for Final Fantasy VIII, 1999) - 500,000
Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack (2001) 140,380
"Melodies of Life" (vocals by Emiko Shiratori, for
Final Fantasy IX, 2000) - 100,000
Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection (2001) 11,762
Final Fantasy X Piano Collections (2002) 2,900
"Suteki Da Ne" (vocals by Rikki, for Final Fantasy

X, 2001) - 130,000
Final Fantasy X-2 Original Soundtrack (2003)

- 82,350
"Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba" (vocals by Kumi

Koda, for Final Fantasy X-2, 2003) - 280,000
Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission

OST (2004) - 9,879
"Redemption" (vocals by Gackt, for Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, 2006) - 125,000
Final Fantasy POTION: Relaxin' With Final Fantasy

(2001) - 6,550
"Kiss Me Good-Bye" (vocals by Angela Aki, for

Final Fantasy XII, 2006) - 60,000
Square Vocal Collection (2001) - 4,550
"Why" (vocals by Ayaka, for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, 2007) - 60,000
Final Fantasy & Final Fantasy II Original Soundtrack (2002) - 3,900

Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack (2002) 13,250
"Hoshi no Nai Sekai" (vocals by Aiko, for Final

Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, 2007) 110,000
20020220 Music from Final Fantasy (2002) - 7,610 My Hands, the Leona Lewis theme song for the North
American and European versions of Final Fantasy XIII,
The Black Mages (2003) - 23,526
was never released as a single, though the album it was
taken from, Echo (2009), sold over 1 million copies in
The Black Mages II: The Skies Above (2004) - Europe,* [90] including over 600,000 in the United King11,890
dom.* [91]
Final Fantasy III Original Soundtrack (2006) 17,843
1.5.6 Artists inspired by Final Fantasy music

Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack (2006) 31,547
Final Fantasy XIII Original Soundtrack (2010) 16,000 (rst-day sales)* [88]
Owen Pallett
Piano Squall
1.5.7
See also
1.5.8
References
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59
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Chapter 2
Main series
2.1 Final Fantasy (video game)
FF1redirects here. For other uses, see FF1 (disambiguation).
Final Fantasy ( Fainaru
Fantaj ) is a fantasy role-playing video game created by
Hironobu Sakaguchi, developed and rst published in
Japan by Square (now Square Enix) in 1987. It is the
rst game in Square's Final Fantasy series. Originally released for the NES, Final Fantasy was remade for several video game consoles and is frequently packaged with
Final Fantasy II in video game collections.
The story follows four youths called the Light Warriors,
who each carry one of their world's four elemental orbs
which have been darkened by the four Elemental Fiends.
Together, they quest to defeat these evil forces, restore
light to the orbs, and save their world.
ful information, while others own shops that sell items

or equipment. Dungeons appear in areas that include
forests, caves, mountains, swamps, underwater caverns
and buildings. Dungeons often have treasure chests containing rare items that are not available in most stores.
The game's menu screen allows the player to keep track of
their experience points and levels, to choose which equipment their characters wield, and to use items and magic.
A character's most basic attribute is their level, which can
range from one to fty, and is determined by the character's amount of experience. Gaining a level increases the
character's attributes, such as their maximum hit points
(HP), which represents a character's remaining health; a
character dies when they reach zero HP. Characters gain
experience points by winning battles.* [3]
The game received generally positive reviews, and it is regarded as one of the most inuential and successful roleplaying games on the Nintendo Entertainment System,
playing a major role in popularizing the genre. Critical
praise focused on the game's graphics, while criticism
targeted the time spent wandering in search of random
battle encounters to raise the player's experience level.
By March 2003, all versions of Final Fantasy have sold a
combined total of two million copies worldwide.
2.1.1
Gameplay
Final Fantasy has four basic game modes: an overworld

map, town and dungeon maps, a battle screen, and a menu
screen. The overworld map is a scaled-down version of
the game's ctional world, which the player uses to direct
characters to various locations. The primary means of
travel across the overworld is by foot, but a canoe, a ship,
and an airship become available as the player progresses.
With the exception of some battles in preset locations or
with bosses, enemies are randomly encountered on eld
maps and on the overworld map when traveling by foot,
canoe, or ship, and must either be fought or ed from.* [3]
The Light Warriors battle Lich, Fiend of Earth
Combat in Final Fantasy is menu-based: the player selects an action from a list of options such as Fight, Magic,
and Item. Battles are turn-based and continue until either side ees or is defeated. If the player's party wins,
each character gains experience and gold; if it ees, it
is returned to the map screen; and if every character in
the party dies, the game is over.* [3] Final Fantasy was
the rst game to show the player's characters on the right
The game's plot develops as the player progresses through side of the screen and the enemies on the left side of the
towns and dungeons. Some town citizens oer help- screen, as opposed to a rst-person view.* [4]
60
2.1. FINAL FANTASY (VIDEO GAME)

The player begins the game by choosing four characters
to form a party, and is locked into that choice for the duration of the game.* [5] Each character has anoccupation
, or character class, with dierent attributes and abilities
that are either innate or can be acquired.* [5] There are
six classes: Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, White
Mage, and Black Mage.* [5] Later in the game, the player
has the option to have each character undergo a class
upgrade"; whereby their sprite portraits mature, and some
classes gain the ability to use weapons and magic that they
previously could not use.* [3] The game contains a variety of weapons, armor, and items that can be bought or
found to make the characters more powerful in combat.
Each character has eight inventory slots, with four to hold
weapons and four to hold armor. Each character class has
restrictions on what weapons and armor it may use. Some
weapons and armor are magical; if used during combat,
they will cast spells. Other magical artifacts provide protection, such as from certain spells. At shops, the characters can buy items to help themselves recover while they
are traveling. Items available include potions, which heal
the characters or remove ailments like poison or petrication; Tents and Cabins, which can be used on the world
map to heal the player and optionally save the game; and
Houses, which also recovers the party's magic after saving. Special items may be gained by doing quests.* [3]
Magic is a common ability in the game, and several character classes use it. Spells are divided into two groups:
White, which is defensive and healing, and Black, which
is debilitating and destructive. Magic can be bought from
White and Black magic shops and assigned to characters
whose occupation allows them to use it. Spells are classied by a level between one and eight, with four White
and four Black spells per level. Each character may learn
only three spells per level. White and Black Mages can
potentially learn any of their respective spells, while Red
Mages, the Ninja and the Knight cannot use most highlevel magic.* [3]
2.1.2
Plot
Setting
Final Fantasy takes place in a fantasy world with three
large continents. The elemental powers on this world
are determined by the state of four orbs, each governing
one of the four classical elements: earth, re, water, and
wind. The world of Final Fantasy is inhabited by numerous races, including Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Mermaids,
Dragons, and Robots. Most non-Human races have only
onetownin the game, although individuals are sometimes found in Human towns or other areas as well. Four
hundred years prior to the start of the game, the Lefeinish people, who used the Power of Wind to craft airships
and a giant space station (called the Floating Castle in the
game), watched their country decline as the Wind Orb
went dark. Two hundred years later, violent storms sank a
61
massive shrine that served as the center of an ocean-based
civilization, and the Water Orb went dark. The Earth Orb
and the Fire Orb followed, plaguing the earth with raging
wildres, and devastating the agricultural town of Melmond as the plains and vegetation decayed. Some time
later, the sage Lukahn tells of a prophecy that four Light
Warriors will come to save the world in a time of darkness.
Story
The game begins with the appearance of the four youthful
Light Warriors, the heroes of the story, who each carry
one of the darkened Orbs. Initially, the Light Warriors
have access to the Kingdom of Coneria and the ruined
Temple of Fiends. After the Warriors rescue Princess
Sara from the evil knight Garland, the King of Coneria
builds a bridge that enables the Light Warriors' passage
east to the town of Pravoka. There the Light Warriors
liberate the town from Bikke and his band of pirates, and
acquire the pirates' ship for their own use. The Warriors
now embark on a chain of delivery quests on the shores
of the Aldi Sea. First they retrieve a stolen crown from
the Marsh Cave for a king in a ruined castle, who turns
out to be the dark elf Astos. Defeating him gains them
the Crystal, which they return to the blind witch Matoya
in exchange for a herb needed to awaken the Elf Prince
cursed by Astos. The Elf Prince gives the Light Warriors
the Mystic Key, which is capable of unlocking any door.
The key unlocks a storage room in Coneria Castle which
holds TNT. Nerrick, one of the Dwarves of the Cave of
Dwarf/Dwarf Village, destroys a small isthmus using the
TNT, connecting the Aldi Sea to the outside world.* [4]
After visiting the near-ruined town of Melmond, the
Light Warriors go to the Earth Cave to defeat a vampire
and retrieve the Star Ruby, which gains passage to Sage
Sarda's cave. With Sarda's Rod, the Warriors venture
deeper into the Earth Cave and destroy the Earth Fiend,
Lich. The Light Warriors then obtain a canoe and enter Gurgu Volcano and defeat the Fire Fiend, Kary. The
Floater from the nearby Ice Cave allows them to raise an
airship to reach the northern continents. After they prove
their courage by retrieving the Rat's Tail from the Castle
of Ordeal, the King of the Dragons, Bahamut, promotes
each Light Warrior. A kind gesture is repaid by a fairy,
receiving special liquid that produces oxygen, and the
Warriors use it to help defeat the Water Fiend, Kraken,
in the Sunken Shrine. They also recover a Slab, which allows a linguist named Dr. Unne to teach them the Lefeinish language. The Lefeinish give the Light Warriors access to the Floating Castle that Tiamat, the Wind Fiend,
has taken over.* [4] With the Four Fiends defeated and
the Orbs restored, a portal opens in the Temple of Fiends
which takes them 2000 years into the past. There the
Warriors discover that the Four Fiends sent Garland (now
the archdemon Chaos) back in time and he sent the Fiends
to the future to do so, creating a time loop by which he
62
CHAPTER 2. MAIN SERIES
could live forever.* [6] The Light Warriors defeat Chaos,

thus ending the paradox, and return home. By ending the
paradox, however, the Light Warriors have changed the
future to one where their heroic deeds remain unknown
outside of legend.* [4]
ada, based on a story by Sakaguchi.* [1]* [11] Ishii heavily

inuenced the game's setting with his idea of the crystals.* [8] He also suggested illustrator Yoshitaka Amano
as character designer, but Sakaguchi declined at rst as
he had never heard the artist's name before. When Sakaguchi showed Ishii some drawings on magazine clippings
and told him that this was the art style he was looking
2.1.3 Development
for, Ishii revealed to him that these were actually created by Amano, hence leading to his involvement in the
game.* [8] The music for Final Fantasy was composed
by Nobuo Uematsu and marked his 16th video game
music composition.* [4] Iranian-American programmer
Nasir Gebelli was hired to code the game. He initially
tried to understand all aspects of the gameplay but was
soon advised by Sakaguchi to just program the design
concepts so he did not have to explain everything to
Gebelli in detail.* [8] Among the other developers were
graphic designer Kazuko Shibuya, programmers Kiyoshi
Yoshii and Ken Narita, as well as debugger Hiroyuki
Ito.* [12]* [13]* [14]* [15]* [16] When the project started
to show promise, designer Hiromichi Tanaka and his
B-Teamjoined to aid development.* [8]* [10] The lack
Hironobu Sakaguchi thought that Final Fantasy would be his - of faith in Sakaguchi's team as well as its unpopularity
within the company motivated the sta members to give
nal game.
their best.* [10]
Hironobu Sakaguchi had intended to make a role-playing Sakaguchi took an in-development ROM of the game
game (RPG) for a long time, but his employer Square to Japanese magazine Famicom, but it would not review
refused to give him permission as it expected low sales it. Video game magazine Famitsu, however, gave the
of such a product.* [7] Moreover, only three of his col- game extensive coverage. Only 200,000 copies were to
leagues volunteered to join this project headed by him be shipped, but Sakaguchi pleaded with the company to
because he was thought of as a rough bossin spite of make 400,000 to help spawn a sequel, and the managehis unsuccessful creations.* [8] However, when the RPG ment agreed.* [10] Following the successful North AmerDragon Quest was released and proved to be a hit in ican localization of Dragon Quest, Nintendo of America
Japan, the company reconsidered its stance on the genre translated Final Fantasy into English and published it in
and approved Sakaguchi's vision of Fighting Fantasy, an North America in 1990. The North American version
RPG inspired by Ultima and Wizardry.* [7]* [8] The ti- of Final Fantasy met with modest success, partly due to
tle was later changed to Final Fantasy as the game was Nintendo's then-aggressive marketing tactics. No version
thought to be the company's nal project under the threat of the game was marketed in the PAL region until Final
of bankruptcy.* [9] Sakaguchi also explained that the new Fantasy Origins in 2003.* [17]
title stemmed from his personal situation: had the game
not sold well, he would have quit the games industry and
gone back to university.* [10]
Final Fantasy was developed by a team of seven core
sta members within Square referred to as the ATeam.* [10]* [11] Sakaguchi convinced fellow game designers Koichi Ishii and Akitoshi Kawazu to join the
project. Kawazu was mainly responsible for the battle
system and sequences, which he based heavily on the
tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons and the RPG Wizardry. For example, enemies' weaknesses to elements
such as re and ice had not been included in Japanese
RPGs up until that point. Kawazu had grown fond of
such aspects of Western RPGs and decided to incorporate them into Final Fantasy. He also advocated the
player's option to freely choose their own party member
classes at the beginning of the game as he feels the
fun in an RPG begins when you create a character.* [7]
The scenario was written by freelance writer Kenji Ter-
2.1.4 Versions and re-releases
Final Fantasy has been remade several times for dierent

platforms, and has frequently been packaged with Final
Fantasy II in various collections.* [4] While all of these
remakes retain the same basic story and battle mechanics,
various tweaks have been made in dierent areas, including graphics, sound, and specic game elements.
Final Fantasy was rst re-released for the MSX2 system and was published by Microcabin in Japan in June
1989.* [19] It had access to almost three times as much
storage space as the Famicom version, but suered from
problems not present in Nintendo's cartridge media, including noticeable loading times. There were also minor graphical upgrades, much improved music tracks and
sound eects.
63
Japan and North America in 2007,* [32] and in PAL territories in 2008.* [33] The PSP version features higherresolution 2D graphics, full motion video sequences, a
remixed soundtrack, and a new dungeon as well as the
The WonderSwan Color remake was released in Japan on bonus dungeons from Dawn of Souls. The script is the
December 9, 2000,* [19] and featured many new graphi- same as in* the Dawn of Souls version, aside from the new
cal changes. The 8-bit graphics of the original Famicom dungeon. [34]
game were updated, battle scenes incorporated full back- Square Enix released the original NES version of the
ground images, and character and enemy sprites were re- game on the Wii's Virtual Console service in Japan on
drawn to look more like the ones from the Super Fami- May 26, 2009,* [35] in North America on October 5,
com Final Fantasy games.* [21]
2009* [36] and in the PAL region as an import on May
*
In Japan, Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II were re- 7, 2010. [37]
In 1994, Final Fantasy III, a compilation of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II, was launched for the Famicom.* [20] This version was only released in Japan and
had very few graphical updates.
released both separately and as a combined game for the

PlayStation. The collection was released in Japan in 2002
as Final Fantasy I & II Premium Package and in Europe and North America in 2003 as Final Fantasy Origins. This version was similar to the WonderSwan Color
remake* [22] and featured several changes such as more
detailed graphics, a remixed soundtrack, added full motion video sequences, art galleries of Yoshitaka Amano's
illustrations and a memo save function.* [23] On December 18, 2012 the port was re-released as part of the Final
Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box release.* [24]
On February 25, 2010, Square Enix released the iOS version of Final Fantasy, based on the PSP port with touch
controls, worldwide.* [38] On June 13, 2012, Square Enix
released the Windows Phone version, which is based on
the iOS version.* [39]* [40] On July 27, 2012, Square Enix
released an Android port, largely based on the iOS version though lacking the new dungeons of the 20th anniversary edition.* [41]
2.1.5 Reception
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls is, like Final Fantasy
Origins, a port of the rst two games in the series and
was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. The
Dawn of Souls version incorporates various new elements,
including four additional dungeons, an updated bestiary,
and a few tweaks.* [25]
Final Fantasy has been well received by critics and commercially successful; the original release sold 400,000
copies.* [10] As of March 31, 2003, the game, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1.99 million
copies worldwide, with 1.21 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 780,000 abroad.* [48] As of
Square Enix released a version of Final Fantasy for November 19, 2007, the PlayStation Portable version has
two Japanese mobile phone networks in 2004; a version shipped 140,000 copies.* [49]
for NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series was launched in
Editors at IGN ranked Final Fantasy the 11th best game
March under the title Final Fantasy i* [26] and a subon the NES, calling the game's class system diverse, and
sequent release for CDMA 1X WIN-compatible phones
praising its convenient use of vehicles as a means of travwas launched in August.* [27] Another titular version was
eling across the world map.* [50] GamesRadar ranked it
released for SoftBank Yahoo! Keitai phones on July 3,
the eighth best NES game ever made. The sta felt that
2006.* [28] Graphically, the games are superior to the
while Dragon Warrior introduced gamers to the genre, Fioriginal 8-bit game, but not as advanced as many of the
nal Fantasy popularized it.* [51] In 2004, readers of Retro
more recent console and handheld ports.
Gamer voted Final Fantasy 93rd top retro game, with the
Square Enix planned to release this version for North sta noting that despite poor visuals and a relatively
American mobile phones in 2006,* [29] however, it was simple quest, many still consider the original to be the
2010 before it was released, in collaboration with Namco. best (with the exception of FFVII).* [52] In 2006, FiIt retains the game diculty and MP System from the nal Fantasy appeared in the Japanese magazine Famitsu 's
original Famicom version. Other elements such as up- Top 100 games list, where readers voted it the 63rd best
dated graphics, spell names, monster names, bosses, game of all time.* [53] GameFAQs users made a similar
items and areas are borrowed from the Game Boy Ad- list in 2005, which ranked Final Fantasy at 76th.* [54] It
vance / Wonderswan Color versions (however this version was rated the 49th best game made on a Nintendo system
does not feature additional areas and monsters present in in Nintendo Power 's Top 200 Games list.* [55] In 2008,
the GBA version). Game data is saved as in the origi- Nintendo Power ranked it the 19th best Nintendo Enternal Famicom version (by using Tent, Sleeping Bag and tainment System video game, praising it for setting up the
Cottage or by going into an inn). However there are now basics of console role-playing games, along with Dragon
three save game slots and a Temporary Saveoption Warrior, and citing examples such as epic stories, leveling
available in the game.* [30]
up, random battles, and character classes.* [56]
For the 20th anniversary of Final Fantasy, Square Enix Final Fantasy was one of the most inuential early conremade Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II for the sole role-playing games, and played a major role in lePlayStation Portable.* [31] The games were released in gitimizing and popularizing the genre.* [57] According
64
to IGN's Matt Casamassina, Final Fantasy 's storyline

had a deeper and more engaging story than the original
Dragon Quest (known as Dragon Warrior in North America).* [58] Modern critics have pointed out that the game
is poorly paced by contemporary standards, and involves
much more time wandering in search of random battle encounters to raise their experience levels and money than it
does exploring and solving puzzles. Other reviewers nd
the level-building and exploration portions of the game
as the most amusing ones.* [23] In 1987, Famitsu initially
described the original Final Fantasy as one of many
that imitated the Dragon Quest formula.* [59] The game
is considered by some to be the weakest and most dicult
installment of the series.* [21]
quels on the PlayStation Portable: Dissidia Final Fantasy

and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. Warrior of Light, based
on Yoshitaka Amano's design of the lead character, and
Garland are the respective hero and villain representing
Final Fantasy. Warrior of Light is voiced by Toshihiko
Seki in the Japanese version and Grant George in the English version, while Garland is voiced by Kenji Utsumi in
the Japanese version and Christopher Sabat in the English
version.* [67] Both games add background information to
the world of Final Fantasy. For instance, Dissidia 012
Final Fantasy names the world of Final FantasyWorld
Ain order to distinguish it from World B, the world of
Dissidia.* [68]
The subsequent versions of Final Fantasy have garnered

2.1.7 See also
mostly favorable reviews from the media. Peer Schneider
of IGN enjoyed the WonderSwan Color version, praising
its graphical improvements, especially the environments, 2.1.8 References
characters, and monsters.* [21] Famitsu scored this version a 30 out of 40.* [60] Final Fantasy Origins was gen- [1] Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi. Shkan Famitsu.
ASCII Corporation. 1998-06-05. Archived from the origerally well-received; GamePro said the music was faninal on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
tastic, and that the graphics had asuitably retro cute*
ness to them. [61] Reviews for Final Fantasy I & II: [2] " ". Sony. Sony. Retrieved
Dawn of Souls were generally positive, with Jeremy Dun2010-08-26.
ham of IGN giving particular praise to the improved English translation, saying it was better than any previous [3] Final Fantasy Explorer's Handbook (instruction manual).
Square. 1989. NES-FF-USA.
version of the game.* [62] The PlayStation Portable version was not as critically successful as the previous re[4] Final Fantasy Retrospective: Part I. GameTrailers.
leases; GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd cited the visuals as its
2007-07-15. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
strongest enhancement, but stated that the additional random enemy encounters and updated graphics did not add [5] Final Fantasy Explorer's Handbook (instruction manual).
much value.* [63] The Dawn of Souls package was rated
Square. 1989. p. 80. NES-FF-USA.
76th in Nintendo Power 's Top 200 Games list.* [55]
2.1.6
Legacy
[6] Square (1990-07-12).Final Fantasy. Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo. Garland: Remember me,
Garland? Your puny lot thought it had defeated me. But,
the Four FIENDS sent me back 2000 years into the past.
/ From here I sent the Four FIENDS to the future. The
FIENDS will send me back to here, and the Time-Loop
will go on. / After 2000 years, I will be forgotten, and the
Time-Loop will close. I will live forever, and you shall
meet doom!!
A soundtrack album was released together with the score

of Final Fantasy II in 1989.* [64] Some of the game's
tracks became mainstays to the Final Fantasy series:
the Prelude, the arpeggio played on the title screen;
the Opening Theme, which is played when the party
crosses the bridge early in the game and later referred to [7] Parish, Jeremy (2012-10-15). What's the Deal with
as the Final Fantasy theme; and theVictory Fanfare,
Square Enix's Akitoshi Kawazu?". 1UP.com. Retrieved
which is played after every victorious battle. The opening
2013-07-06.
motif of the battle theme has also been reused a number
of times in the series.* [4] The theme song that plays when [8] Giord, Kevin (2011-12-21). Hironobu Sakaguchi
on Final Fantasy I's Roller-Coaster Development.
the player characters rst cross the bridge from Coneria
1UP.com. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
has become the recurring theme music of the series, and
has been featured in most numbered Final Fantasy titles [9] Kohler, Chris (2009-07-23).Why's It Called 'Final Fanexcept Final Fantasy XIII. Final Fantasy was also the batasy'? Uematsu Explains. Wired. Retrieved 2013-09sis for the series nale of a video game-themed cartoon
02.
series Captain N: The Game Master entitled The Fractured Fantasy of Captain N.* [65] 8-Bit Theater, a sprite- [10] Fear, Ed (2007-12-13). Sakaguchi discusses the development of Final Fantasy. Develop. Intent Media.
based webcomic created by Brian Clevinger, parodies the
game, and has become very popular in the gaming com*
munity since it started in March 2001. [66]
The video game has spawned two direct cross-over pre-
[11] Square (1990-07-12).Final Fantasy. Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo. Scene: opening sta credits.
[12] Square (2003-04-08).

Final Fantasy Origins.
PlayStation. Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. Scene: Final Fantasy sta credits.
[13] Job. Creator's Voice: Final Fantasy III. Nintendo.
Archived from the original on 2006-08-31.
[14] Sato, Yoshi (2007-12-19). More Details on Final Fantasy IV's Sequel. 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Retrieved
2011-02-06.
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[33]Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition for PSP. GameSpot.

[34] Masae, Nakamura (2007-04-23). Final Fantasy Preview. GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
[35] VC " [VC Final Fantasy].
Nintendo. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
[36] Discover New Worlds, Hidden Words and the First Final
Fantasy". Nintendo of America. 2009-10-05. Retrieved
2009-10-05.
[15] Bozon, Mark (2009-01-13). Interview With a Legend
. IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
[37] Final Fantasy on Virtual Console
[16] Studio BentStu.
Final Fantasy IX Ultimania (in
Japanese). Square Enix. pp. 578582.
[38] Lanxon, Nate (2010-02-25).Final Fantasy now available

on iPhone. Wired. Retrieved 2010-02-25.

Square-Enix. TeamXbox. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[39] Acevedo, Paul (2012-06-13). At last, Final Fantasy appears on the Windows Phone Marketplace. WPCentral.
[18] http://www.siliconera.com/2014/09/17/
final-fantasy-1-coming-nintendo-3ds-eshop-3d-support/ [40] Final Fantasy xBox Live Windows Phone Game.
BestWP7Games. 13 June 2012.
[19] Final Fantasy Tech Info. GameSpot. Retrieved 200812-23.
[41] Gray, Nick (2012-07-27). Final Fantasy for Android now Available on Google Play for $6.99. An[20] Final Fantasy I & II [pre-owned]". Play-Asia. Retrieved
droidandMe. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
2008-12-22.
[42] http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/
[21] Schneider, Peer (2001-02-12).Final Fantasy (Import)".
522595-final-fantasy/index.html
[43] Final Fantasy. GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Re[22] Shoemaker, Brad (2003-04-08). Final Fantasy Origins
trieved 27 November 2012.
Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
[44] Final Fantasy. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved
[23] Dunham, Jeremy (2003-04-15). Final Fantasy Origins
28 November 2012.
Review. IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[45] Final Fantasy. Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved
[24] Gantayat, Anoop (August 31, 2012). Full Final Fantasy
28 November 2012.
25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Game List. Andriasang.
[46] Final Fantasy. Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved
Retrieved September 2, 2012.
28 November 2012.
[25] Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls Developer Interview. GameSpot. 2004-11-29. Retrieved 2008-12-22. [47] Final Fantasy. IGN. IGN Entertainment Games. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
[26] Tsukioka, Aki (2004-02-24). Square Enix to Launch
DoCoMo Sites for World-Famous Game Titles. Japan [48] Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies. Square Enix. p. 27. Retrieved
Corporate News Network. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
2008-10-16.
[27] KDDI Announces Three New CDMA 1X WIN Models
[49] FY2007 First-Half Period Results Brieng Session.
. KDDI. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
Square Enix. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
[28] " for MOBILE (in
[50] 11. Final Fantasy Top 100 NES Games. IGN. ReJapanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
trieved 2010-03-22.
[29] Square Enix to Showcase All Encompassing Line-up at
[51] Best NES Games of all time. GamesRadar. 2012-04E3 2006. Square Enix. 2006-04-24. Retrieved 200816. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
10-16.
[52] Retro Gamer 8, page 60.
[30] Namco Games - Final Fantasy mobile. Namco. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
[53] Edge Sta (2006-03-03). Japan Votes on All Time Top
100. Edge. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[31] Lumb, Jonathan (2007-01-17). Final Fantasy Remakes
Coming to PSP. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
[54] Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest - The 10 Best
Games Ever. GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[32] Square Enix ships remastered edition of Final Fantasy
to retail. Square Enix. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2008- [55] Michaud, Pete (January 2006).NP Top 200. Nintendo
10-16.
Power 199: 4243.
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14. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved
2006-08-12.

Quotations related to Final Fantasy at Wikiquote
Final Fantasy guide at StrategyWiki
2.2 Final Fantasy II

For the North American release of the 1991 Super NES
game, see Final Fantasy IV.
Final Fantasy II (II Fainaru

Fantaj Ts) is a fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1988
Fox, Fennec (2003-04-07). Final Fantasy Origins. for Nintendo's Famicom as the second installment of the
GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Final Fantasy series. The game has received numerous
enhanced remakes for the WonderSwan Color, the Sony
PlayStation, the Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation
Dunham, Jeremy (2004-11-30). Final Fantasy I & II: Portable, and multiple mobile and smartphone types. As
Dawn of Souls. IGN. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
neither this game nor Final Fantasy III were initially released outside of Japan, Final Fantasy IV was originally
VanOrd, Kevin (2007-06-25). Final Fantasy Anniverreleased in North America as Final Fantasy II, so as not
sary Edition Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-12to
confuse players. The most recent releases of the game
22.
are enhanced versions for the iOS and Android, which
Schweitzer, Ben; Gann, Patrick. All Sounds of Final was released worldwide in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
[60] - . Weekly
Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.112. 30 June 2006.
[61]
[62]
[63]
[64]
Fantasy I - II. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
The game's story centers on four youths whose parents

[65] Final Fantasy Retrospective - Part X. GameTrailers. were killed during an army invasion by the empire of
Palamecia. Three of the four main characters join a re2007-09-25. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
bellion against the empire, embarking on missions to gain
[66] Maragos, Nich (2005-11-07). Will Strip For Games: new magic and weapons, destroy enemy superweapons,
Gaming Comics Online. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008- and rescue leading members of the resistance. The Game
12-23.
Boy Advance remake adds a bonus story after the game
is completed.
[67] Niizumi, Hirohiko (2008-08-06). Dissidia: Final Fantasy Hands-On. GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
Final Fantasy II introduced many elements that would

later become staples of the Final Fantasy franchise, in[68] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fan- cluding chocobos and the recurring character Cid. It also
tasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Report 7: eliminated the traditional experience point leveling sysWorld: A / Place: Town on the Hawk's Wing / Forgotten
tem of the previous and later games in the series, instead
Memories 07- So what you just told is all memory
introducing an activity-based progression system where
you have inherited?" / Yes. Memory succession is a dying
art. In order to preserve this memory for a longer time, I the characters' statistics increase according to how they
thought it best to leave it in writing. /Do you think there are used or acquired. Despite being a sequel to Final Fanis any relation between your memory and the Five Fiends tasy, the game includes no characters or locations from
wreaking havoc on our world now?" / That, I cannot say the rst game. Final Fantasy II received little attention
with any certainty. But there are curious similarities as at the time from non-Japanese reviewers, though its reto where things happened. / Where the rip in time-space makes have garnered favorable reviews.
occurred, and where the Four Fiends now dwell... The
scenery in both locations match with what remain in my
memory. /Thank you for sharing your story. It shall be
passed on as recorded./ Lukahn, please let me ask you
one question before we nish. The Warrior of Light, the
one you predicted would save the world from this calamity
with crystal in hand, is he really coming? / I am called
an oracle, but I am actually a historian./History must
always converge. I feel faint signs of it coming from the
distant worlds. / The Warrior of Light shall come indeed.
/ And he shall liberate this world... no, the people of this
world from the cycle of positivity.
2.2.1 Gameplay
Final Fantasy II features gameplay similar to that of its
predecessor, Final Fantasy. The player can freely roam
an overworld containing several towns and dungeons. A
menu-based system allows the player to outt each character with equipment and up to twooften disposable
items for battle. Magic spells are assigned to the character
from the item menu, and certain spells, such as Cure
2.2. FINAL FANTASY II

, can be used outside of battle.* [3] The player can also
save their progress on the overworld. Weapons, armor,
items, and magic spells can be purchased at shops, and
townspeople provide useful information for the player's
progression through the game. One new feature is the
Word Memorysystem: when in conversation with nonplayer characters (NPCs), the player canaskabout and
memorizespecial keywords or phrases, which can later
be repeated to other NPCs to gain more information or
unlock new actions. Similarly, there exist a handful of
special items that can be shown to NPCs during conversation or used on certain objects, which have the same effect.* [4] Characters and monsters are no longer separated
into separate windows in the battle screen as they were in
the rst Final Fantasy, and players can see their current
and total hit points below the battle. Players can also ght
with less than four characters in their party, which was not
possible in the rst game. Final Fantasy II introduced the
chocobo, the signature Final Fantasy mascot, which lets
characters ride to a location at great speed without being
attacked by enemies. The recurring character Cid was
also introduced in II; a character of the same name has
appeared in every main-series game since.* [5]
67
points (MP) increase with their use; a character who
takes a heavy amount of damage in a battle might earn
an increase in maximum HP, while a character who
uses a lot of MP during battle might increase their
maximum MP.* [6] This experience system had several
unintended consequences that allowed characters to gain
much more experience than intended, such as players
having their characters attack each other and repeatedly
cast spells, thus causing their HP and abilities to grow
extensively.* [5] Final Fantasy II uses the same turnbased battle system seen in the original Final Fantasy,
with battle parties consisting of up to four characters at
a time. The game introduces a back rowin battle,
within which characters or enemies are immune to most
physical attacks, but can be harmed with bows and
magical attacks.* [3]
2.2.2 Plot
Characters
Yoshitaka Amano's artwork of the main characters Leon, Firion,

Maria, and Guy
The ill-fated opening battle in the Famicom version
On the overworld and within dungeons, random encounters with enemies can be fought to improve each
character's attributes.* [6] Unlike the original Final
Fantasy, players could not upgrade their characters'
classes. The game is also one of the few games in the
series to not use experience-based levels. Instead, each
character participating in battle develops depending
on what actions they take. For instance, characters
who frequently use a particular type of weapon will
become more adept at wielding a weapon of that type,
and will also increase in physical strength and accuracy.
Attributes include hit points, magic points, magic power,
stamina, strength, spirit, agility, intelligence, and evasion.
Players can also increase their ability to wield certain
types of weapon, and repeated use in combat causes the
ability to level up.* [5]* [6] Hit points (HP) and magic
Final Fantasy II features four playable characters as well

as several secondary characters who are only briey controlled by the player. Primary characters include Firion
( Furionru, Frionielin the Japanese
release), a resident of the country of Fynn and the main
hero; Maria ( ), a soft-spoken archer and dedicated enemy of the Empire; Guy ( Gai, Gus
in the remake for the PlayStation), a simple monk who
communicates with animals; and Leon (
Reonharuto, Leonhartin the Japanese release),
a conicted dark knight who is missing for most of the
game.* [5]* [7] Five playable characters temporarily join
the party to assist Firion, Maria, and Guy in their missions
for the rebellion. These are Gordon ( Gdon),
the prince of Kas'ion and a member of the rebellion; Josef
( Yzefu), a villager in the town of Salamand;
Leila ( Reira,Reilain the Japanese release), a
pirate; Minwu ( Min'u, Minduin the PlayStation remake and Ming-Wuin the Japanese release),
who is a White Mage with the rebellion, and Ricard Highwind ( Richdo Haiuindo,
68
Garethin the PlayStation remake and Richardin Hilda on board is captured by the Dreadnought. When
the Japanese release), who is the rst dragoon to appear the Dreadnought lands to stock up on supplies, the party
in the series.* [5]
rescues Hilda and throws the Sunre into the airship's enWhile Final Fantasy was mostly focused on gameplay, gine. Before escaping from the explosion, the party enHironobu Sakaguchi decided for the second installment counters a dark knight whom Maria thinks she recognizes
to put more emphasis on character development. Care as Leon.
was taken to make the characters feel like real human beings, able to experience various emotions that the player
could similarly feel, such as sadness or happiness.* [8] Final Fantasy II also had playable characters die as part of
the normal storyline. Music composer Nobuo Uematsu
was initially opposed to the creation of these death scenes,
but eventually agreed with Sakaguchi's ideas. In terms of
gameplay, once a guest character would die in a scripted
event, the player would have no means to revive them or
recover their equipment and weapons.* [8]
Firion and the Emperor of Palamecia (
Paramekia Ktei) (named Mateus ( Matiusu)
in Kenji Terada's novelization of the game) are the respective hero and villain representing Final Fantasy II in
Dissidia Final Fantasy, a ghting game featuring characters from across the series. Firion is voiced by Hikaru
Midorikawa in the Japanese version and by Johnny Yong
Bosch in the English version; Mateus is voiced by Kenyu
Horiuchi in the Japanese version and Christopher Corey
Smith in the English version. In the PlayStation's opening FMV of Final Fantasy II, Firion is also voiced by
Yukimasa Obi, while Maria is played by Noriko Shitaya, Guy by Kenta Miyake, and Leon by Takayuki Yamaguchi.
On his deathbed, the King of Fynn tasks the party to seek

the help of the seemingly extinct dragoons of Deist. In
Deist, the party nds only a mother with her son, learning that all but one of the Dragoons are dead, partly as
a result of Imperial poison. After placing an egg of the
last wyvern in a cavern, the party returns to Altair and
rescues Hilda from the Empire a second time, before successfully reclaiming Fynn from the Imperial forces. They
then travel west in search of a powerful magic item, joining forces with the last surviving dragoon on the way. The
party returns to Fynn and sees that many towns have been
destroyed by a cyclone summoned by the Emperor. The
party calls upon the newly born last wyvern to take them
to a castle inside the cyclone, where they confront and
kill the Emperor. Back at Fynn, everyone celebrates the
Empire's defeat, but a mortally wounded Fynn soldier arrives and reveals that Leon has taken the throne and plans
to destroy the Rebels with the Imperial army.
The party enters the castle of Palamecia and confronts

Leon. However, the Emperor reappears in the throne
room in a new demonic form, revealing he has returned
from Hell with the intention of destroying the entire
world. The party and Leon escape Palamecia Castle with
the wyvern, as the castle is replaced with the palace of
Hell, Pandaemonium. Leon agrees to help the group seal
the Emperor away. The party travels to the Jade Passage,
an underground passage to the underworld, and nds the
Story
portal to Pandaemonium, where they nally defeat the
Final Fantasy II begins as Firion, Maria, Guy and Leon Emperor.
are attacked by Palamecian Black Knight soldiers and left The Dawn of Souls remake of the game for the Game Boy
for dead. Firion, Maria, and Guy are rescued by Princess Advance includes an additional mission that takes place
Hilda, who has established a rebel base in the town of Al- after the game, called Soul of Rebirth. The story
tair after her kingdom of Fynn was invaded by the Em- of the bonus mission follows several characters who died
peror. Hilda denies their request to join the rebel army during the story of the game as they travel through alterbecause they are too young and inexperienced. The three nate versions of several locations in the game and defeat
set o for Fynn in search of Leon; there they nd a dy- another version of the Emperor.
ing Prince Scott of Kashuan, Hilda's anc, who informs
them that a former knight of Fynn, Borghen, betrayed
the rebellion and became a General in the Imperial army. 2.2.3 Development
The party returns to Altair to inform Hilda. She allows
the group to join the rebellion and asks them to jour- During the development of the rst installment in the
ney north to nd mythril, a metal which could be used series, Square's management decided to manufacture
to create powerful weapons. The party makes its way 400,000 copies of the game to make a sequel possinorth to the occupied village of Salamand, saves the vil- ble.* [9] As there were no concrete ideas for Final Fantasy
lagers forced to work in the nearby mines, and retrieves II from the start, it was eventually taken in a new directhe mythril.
tion and included none of the previous game's characters
For their next mission, the party is sent to the city of Bafsk
to prevent the construction of a large airship known as
the Dreadnought; however, it takes o just as they arrive.
After retrieving the Sunre, a weapon which can blow up
the Dreadnought, they watch helplessly as an airship with
or locations.* [5]* [9] Hironobu Sakaguchi, who had previously served as the main planner for Final Fantasy, assumed the role of director to accommodate for the larger
development team.* [1] Using the experience gained from
the rst installment, which focused more on tting story

ideas into their new gameplay system and game world,
the developers fully crafted the story of Final Fantasy
II rst. The gameplay was then built around the narrative.* [10] The experience system was designed to be a
more realistic advancement system than that of the rst
game. Several members of the original sta from the rst
game reprised their jobs for Final Fantasy II. Sakaguchi
again created the plot for the title, with the actual scenario written by Kenji Terada.* [1]* [11] Nobuo Uematsu
composed the music, as he had for the rst game, while
Yoshitaka Amano was again the concept artist.* [5] As
with the original, Final Fantasy II was programmed by
Nasir Gebelli.* [12] Midway through the development of
the game, Gebelli was forced to return to Sacramento,
California from Japan due to an expired work visa. The
rest of the development sta followed him to Sacramento
with necessary materials and equipment and nished production of the game there.* [13] The game was released
one day less than a year after the rst game came out.* [5]
In April 1989, the game was novelized by its original scenario writer Kenji Terada under the title Final Fantasy II:
Muma no Meiky (lit. The Labyrinth of Nightmares
). It was published in Japan exclusively by Kadokawa
Shoten.* [14]
2.2.4
Music
The music for Final Fantasy II was later arranged by

Tsuyoshi Sekito for the WonderSwan Color, PlayStation,
and Game Boy Advance remakes. Although the two
soundtracks were composed separately, the soundtrack to
II has only been released as a combined album with the
soundtrack to Final Fantasy I. They were rst released as
All Sounds of Final Fantasy III in 1989, which was then
republished in 1994.* [15] An arranged album of music
from the two soundtracks titled Symphonic Suite Final
Fantasy was also released in 1989, while Final Fantasy &
Final Fantasy II Original Soundtrack, a combined soundtrack album for the PlayStation versions of the games,
was released in 2002 and re-released in 2004.* [16]* [17]
The music of Final Fantasy II has also appeared in various ocial concerts and live albums, such as 20020220
music from Final Fantasy, a live recording of an orchestra performing music from the series including several
pieces from the games.* [18] Additionally, several songs
from the game were performed as part of a medley by
the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for the Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy concert tour,* [19]
while a dierent medley of songs from the game were
performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in
the Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy concert series.* [20]
2.2.5
Versions and re-releases
69
Unreleased English version
Following the successful North American release of the
original Final Fantasy by Nintendo in 1990, Square Soft,
Square's North American subsidiary, began work on an
English language localization of Final Fantasy II, to be
called Final Fantasy II: Dark Shadow Over Palakia. Assigned to the project was Kaoru Moriyama, whose later
work included script translations for Final Fantasy IV and
Secret of Mana (known as Seiken Densetsu 2 in Japan).
Although a beta version was produced, and the game was
advertised in several Square Soft trade publications, the
long development time, the age of the original Japanese
game and the arrival of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the NES's successor console, led Square
Soft to cancel work on the Final Fantasy II localization
in favor of the recently released Final Fantasy IV (which,
to avoid confusing North American players, was retitled
Final Fantasy II to reect the jump in releases).* [5]* [21]
Although a prototype cartridge of the NES Final Fantasy II was produced (with the subtitle Dark Shadow over
Palakia), the project was, by Moriyama's own admission,
still far from complete;We had so very limited memory
capacity we could use for each game, and it was never really translatingbut chopping up the information and
cramming them back in... [Additionally] our boss had
no understanding in putting in extra work for the English
version at that time.* [21] In 2003, when the game was
nally released to English-speaking audiences as part of
Final Fantasy Origins, it was released with a brand new
translation under the supervision of Akira Kashiwagi. A
fan translation of the game was also created prior to the
release of Origins, and makes use of an original translation as the existence of the prototype cartridge was not
common knowledge at the time.* [21]
Re-releases
In addition to its original Famicom release, Final Fantasy
II was re-released on the WonderSwan Color in 2001,
and both singularly and as part of a collection with Final Fantasy I for the PlayStation in 2002. It was released
on the Game Boy Advance in 2004 as part of Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, on the PlayStation Portable in
2007, and for the Japanese Wii Virtual Console on June
16, 2009.* [22]
The Final Fantasy III collection included the original
game with only minor changes. The WonderSwan Color
remake of the game was rst released on May 3, 2001,
and later included as a bundle with a special Final Fantasy II edition of the console.* [23] It included completely
redone graphics in the manner of the 16-bit generation Final Fantasy games and includes larger character sprites,
remixed music by Tsuyoshi Sekito, and full graphical
backgrounds in battle mode.* [24] The PlayStation version featured even more graphical updates over the WonderSwan version, and the soundtrack was again remixed
70
by Tsuyoshi Sekito to a higher quality so as to utilise the

audio capabilities of the PlayStation. Sekito also composed a few new tracks to be used in the new cutscenes.
It was published both individually (in Japan only) and
alongside Final Fantasy I in a collection entitled Final
Fantasy Origins (or Final Fantasy I+II Premium Collection in Japan); this was the rst release of the game outside of Japan.* [25] On December 18, 2012 the port was
re-released as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary
Ultimate Box package.* [26]
A typical battle scene from the Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of
Souls remake
Final Fantasy II was again released in a new format in

2004 for the Game Boy Advance as part of Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. The primary change for
this version was the addition of a bonus storyline entitled Soul of Rebirth accessible to the player after completing the game.* [27] In 2004 and 2006, Square Enix
released a version of Final Fantasy II for three Japanese
mobile phone networks.* [28] To celebrate the Final Fantasy series' 20th anniversary, the game was released in
Japan for the PlayStation Portable in 2007.* [29] The
remake features improved graphics, the cutscenes and
soundtrack from Final Fantasy Origins, and the bonus
quest and dungeons from Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of
Souls. It additionally includes two new dungeons in which
more character-specic equipment can be found, alongside powerful enemies and a new boss.* [30] The release
for the Japanese Virtual Console on June 16, 2009 for the
Wii, December 11, 2013 for the Wii U and on February
12, 2014 for the Nintendo 3DS is identical to the original Famicom release, incorporating none of the updates
of the later versions.* [22] On February 25, 2010, Square
Enix released a port of the PSP version modied with
touchscreen controls for the iOS platform.* [31] Following this, a touchscreen port was brought to Android in
2012 through the Google Play store.* [32]
and 200,000 abroad.* [33] Despite having only been released in June of that year, as of September 2007 the
PlayStation Portable version had shipped 90,000 copies in
Japan and 70,000 in North America.* [34] Despite these
high sales, the game had sold the least copies of any of
the rst ten main Final Fantasy series.* [33]
The game's re-releases have been more heavily reviewed.
Famitsu magazine scored the WonderSwan version of the
game a 30 out of 40,* [35] and GameSpot noted the Dawn
of Souls ' mostly outdated graphics but praised its length
and bonus content.* [36] IGN noted the great improvement in the translation of the story over Final Fantasy I
and the addition of later Final Fantasy features, such as
being able to save anywhere in the overworld map without a tent or cabin.* [37] The Dawn of Souls release was
named the IGN Game Boy Game of the Monthfor
March 2004, and the package was rated 76th in Nintendo
Power 's Top 200 Games list.* [38]* [39] The dialogue system was thought to be time consuming and stilted, but was
still a milestone for interactivity. The story was considered to be much more involved and deep than the rst
Final Fantasy, as it involved romance and the death of
characters. The game's plot was thought by some reviewers to mirror elements of Star Wars: A New Hope in its
use of an orphan joining a rebellion against an empire
that was building a massive ship, with a captive princess
inside.* [5] GameSpy praised the addition of the ability
to save the game at any time, calling the feature crucial
for a game on a handheld game console, and in contrast
to GameSpot, praised the graphics, saying that while they
were primitive, they werewell-suitedto the Game Boy
Advance.* [40]
The PSP version was met with average reviews.
GameSpot called the level up systemchaoticand noted
that unlike previous versions, this was shipped without a
version of Final Fantasy I. IGN also complained about
the gameplay, saying, If you're the type of player who
puts a higher emphasis on more satisfying gameplay experiences [...] then FF2 denitely isn't the upgrade it
appears to be.Both sources praised the graphics, however.* [41]* [42] GameSpy, however, while echoing similar complaints about thequirky and sometimes confusingleveling system and praises for the graphics, also applauded the supposed decrease in diculty of the game,
which in the reviewers' opinion eliminated the necessity
to abuse the leveling system in order to progress in the
game as the player had to do in the original game.* [43]
2.2.7 See also

2.2.8 References
2.2.6
Reception
As of March 31, 2003, the game, including all re-releases

at the time, had shipped 1.28 million copies worldwide,
with 1.08 million of those copies being shipped in Japan
[1] Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi. Shkan Famitsu.

ASCII (company). 1998-06-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
[2] " II. Sony. Sony. Retrieved
2010-08-26.
[3] Final Fantasy Origins instruction manual. Square Enix.
2003. p. 17. SLUS-05141.
2003. pp. 15, 22. SLUS-05141.
[5] Final Fantasy Retrospective: Part II. GameTrailers.
2007-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
2003. p. 22. SLUS-05141.
71
[22] VC II (in Japanese).

Nintendo. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
[23] Wonderswan Gamer (2006-01-19). Final Fantasy II
Boxset. Wonderswan Gaming. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
[24] fastbill1. Final Fantasy II. PortableReview.com.
2006-09-04.
[25] Triche, Stephen (2002). Final Fantasy Origins.
gamevortex.com. Retrieved 2006-03-08.

2003. p. 15. SLUS-05141.

[8] DeWoody, Lucas (2005-08-12). The Fantasy BeginsHistory of Square Vol. 2. Advanced Media Network.
Advanced Media. p. 2. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
[27] Gantayat, Anoop (2004-07-02). Final Fantasy Pushed

Back. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
[9] Fear, Ed (2007-12-13). Sakaguchi discusses the development of Final Fantasy. Develop. Intent Media.
[28] Final Fantasy mobile. Square Enix. Retrieved 200703-20.
[13] Mielke, James; Hironobu Sakaguchi. EGM (232). [...]

So for Final Fantasy II and III, our sta actually brought
all the equipment, everything that was necessary to nish
those games, to Sacramento, because (Gebelli) couldn't
come back to Japan. [...] We nished Final Fantasy II
and III in Sacramento, California. [Laughs]
[33] Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies. Square Enix. 2004-02-09. p.
27. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
[14] Yahoo! Japan sta (N/A). "

2 ". Yahoo! Japan: Books. Retrieved 201001-12. Check date values in: |date= (help)
[35] - II.
Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.112. 30 June 2006.
[29] Final Fantasy for PSP. Famitsu. Retrieved 2007-0320.

[10] Kent, Steven (2001).The Mainstream and All Its Perils
. Ultimate History of Video Games. Three Rivers Press.
[30] Square-Enix to remake FF I and II for anniversary.
pp. 541542. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.
[11] Square (1988-12-17). Final Fantasy II. Famicom.
[31] Lanxon, Nate (2010-02-25).Final Fantasy now available
Square Co., Ltd. Scene: sta credits.
on iPhone. Wired. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
[12] Lau, John (2005-01-22).The Secret of Nasir. University of Hawaii. Archived from the original on 2007-07-16. [32] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.
square_enix.android_googleplay.finalfantasy2
[15] Gann, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben. All Sounds of Final

Fantasy I - II. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
[16] Gann, Patrick.Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
[17] Final Fantasy I II Original Soundtrack. RPGFan.
[18] 20020220 - Music from FINAL FANTASY. RPGFan.
[19] Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy - Album Information. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved 200802-22.
[20] Album Information - Tour de Japon: Music from Final
Fantasy DVD. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved
2008-02-22.
[21] Collette, Chris.
Spotlight: Final Fantasy II.
LostLevels.org. Retrieved 2006-08-25.
[34] FY2007 First-Half Period Results Brieng Session.

Square-Enix.com. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
[36] Massimilla, Bethany (2004-11-29). Final Fantasy 1 &

2:Dawn of Souls. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-08-31.
[37] Dunham, Jeremy (2004-11-30). Final Fantasy I & II:
Dawn of Souls. IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-31.
[38] IGN Sta (2004-11-30). GBA Game of the Month:
November 2004. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
[39] Michaud, Pete (January 2006).NP Top 200. Nintendo
Power 199: 4243.
[40] Vassar, Darryl (2004-12-01).Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn
of Souls. GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
[41] VanOrd, Kevin (2007-08-03).Final Fantasy II Review
. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
[42] Dunham, Jeremy (2007-07-26). Final Fantasy II Review. IGN. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
[43] Graziani, Gabe (2007-07-26). Final Fantasy II.
GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
72
2.2.9
External links
Quotations related to Final Fantasy II at Wikiquote
2.3 Final Fantasy III

For the North American release of the 1994 SNES
game, see Final Fantasy VI.
Final Fantasy III ( III
Fainaru Fantaj Sur ) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1990 for the Famicom
as the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. It is
the rst numbered Final Fantasy game to feature the jobchange system.
The battle screen, showing the party battling three monsters. Like
The story revolves around four orphaned youths drawn
to a crystal of light. The crystal grants them some of its
power, and instructs them to go forth and restore balance
to the world. Not knowing what to make of the crystal's
pronouncements, but nonetheless recognizing the importance of its words, the four inform their adoptive families
of their mission and set out to explore and bring back balance to the world.
The game was originally released in Japan on April 27,
1990. It had never been released outside of Japan until a remake was released on the Nintendo DS on August 24, 2006. At that time, it was the only Final Fantasy game not previously released in North America or
Europe.* [14] There had been earlier plans to remake the
game for Bandai's WonderSwan Color handheld, as had
been done with the rst, second, and fourth installments
of the series, but the game faced several delays and was
eventually canceled after the premature cancellation of
the platform. The Nintendo DS version of the game was
positively received internationally, selling over one million copies in Japan.
It was also released for the many other systems: the
Japanese Virtual Console version (Famicom version) on
July 21, 2009 (Wii) and January 8, 2014 (Wii U), an iOS
port of the Nintendo DS remake on March 24, 2011,
an Android version on March 12, 2012, a PlayStation
Portable version on late September 2012 (Downloadable
only version outside of Japan via PlayStation Network)
and Android-based Ouya console on April 2013.
2.3.1
Gameplay
The gameplay of Final Fantasy III combines elements of

the rst two Final Fantasy games with new features. The
turn-based combat system remains in place from the rst
two games, but hit points are now shown above the target
following attacks or healing actions, rather than captioned
as in the previous two games. Auto-targeting for physical
attacks after a friendly or enemy unit is killed is also fea-
earlier games in the series, Final Fantasy III displays battle messages in text windows, such as theMissdisplayed in the central
box. Like later games in the series, animated messages or symbols
are also shown on the character in question.
tured for the rst time. Unlike subsequent games in the

series, magical attacks are not auto-targeted in the same
fashion.* [15]
The experience point system featured in Final Fantasy
makes a return following its absence from Final Fantasy
II. The character class system featured in the rst game
also reappears, with some modications. Whereas in the
original game the player chooses each character's class
alignment at the start of the game and is then locked
into that class for the duration of the game, Final Fantasy III introduces thejob systemfor which the series
would later become famous. Jobs are presented as interchangeable classes: in the Famicom version of the game,
all four characters begin as "Onion Knights", with a variety of additional jobs becoming available as the game
progresses. Any playable character has access to every
currently available job and can change from job to job
at will.* [16] Switching jobs consumescapacity points
which are awarded to the entire party following every battle, much like gil. Dierent weapons, armor and accessories, and magic spells are utilized by each job. A character's level of prociency at a particular job increases
the longer the character remains with that job. Higher
job levels increase the battle statistics of the character
and reduce the cost in capacity points to switch to that
job.* [15]
Final Fantasy III is the rst game in the series to feature
special battle commands such as Stealor Jump,
each of which is associated with a particular job (Steal
is the Thief's specialty, whilst Jumpis the Dragoon's
forte). Certain jobs also feature innate, non-battle abilities, such as the Thief's ability to open passages that would
otherwise require a special key item.* [17] Final Fantasy
III is also the rst game in the series to feature summoned
creatures, which are called forth with the Summon
2.3. FINAL FANTASY III
73
skill.* [16]
they defeat the Cloud of Darkness.
2.3.2
Story
Plot
Setting
One thousand years before the events in the game, on a
oating continent hovering high above the surface of an
unnamed planet, a technologically advanced civilization
sought to harness the power of the four elemental crystals
of light. They did not realize that they could not control such fundamental forces of nature. This power of
light would have consumed the world itself had the light
crystals not had their natural counterparts: the four dark
elemental crystals. Disturbed by the sudden interruption
of the careful balance between light and dark, four warriors were granted the power of the dark crystals to recapture the power of the light crystals. These so-called Dark
Warriors succeeded in their quest, and restored harmony
to the world. But their victory came too late to save the
doomed civilization, whose culture was reduced to ruin,
though their oating continent remained. On that continent, the circle of Gulgans, a race of blind soothsayers
and fortune-tellers, predicted that these events will ultimately repeat.* [18]
Characters
An earthquake opens up a previously hidden cavern in Altar Cave near the village of Ur on the oating continent.
Four young orphans under the care of Topapa, the village
elder, explore the earthquake's impact and come across a
crystal of light. The crystal grants them a portion of its
power, and instructs them to go forth and restore balance
to the world. Not knowing what to make of the crystal's
pronouncements, but nonetheless recognizing the importance of its words, the four inform their adoptive family
of their mission and set out to explore an overworld outside the area in which they were brought up, in order to
bring balance back to the world.* [18]
Their adventures lead them to discover that there lies a
whole world beyond the boundaries of the oating continent upon which they were living. In the world below,
they discover a warlock named Xande, one of three apprentices to the legendary Archmage Noah, is trying to
possess the crystals of light, so as to bring forth chaos and
disorder. The four warriors eventually arrive at the Crystal Tower where they discover that the Cloud of Darkness
is the source of the recent events. The Cloud attempts to
create a similar situation to the Flood of Light a millennia
earlier so that the world is pulled into the void. The Light
Warriors traverse into the domain of the dark crystals to
free the imprisoned Dark Warriors and defeat the Cloud
of Darkness, thereby restoring the crystals and balance to
the world. In the DS remake, there are also severalside
queststhat can also be completed.* [18]
Final Fantasy III focuses around four orphans from the remote village of Ur, each starting o as an Onion Knight in
the original game, but as Freelancers in the Nintendo DS
remake, which also individualized the party members,
giving them unique appearances (designed by Akihiko The story is virtually the same in the DS version, but with
Yoshida), backstories, personalities and names:
some major dierences in the introductory sequence:
Luneth ( Rnesu) who symbolizes courage, an Luneth goes to the Altar Cave alone, but while exploring
adventurous orphan boy raised in the village of Ur; Arc he trips and falls into a hole created by the earthquake. He
( Aruk) who symbolizes kindness, Luneth's is then beset by goblins, and while he is frantically searchchildhood best friend and a timid yet intelligent young ing for a way out, he comes upon the wind crystal. It tells
man; Rea () who symbolizes aection, a girl him that he has been chosen as a Warrior of Light, desraised in the village of Kazus who tires of her father's tined to restore balance to the world, and there are three
blacksmith training and often runs away from home; and others like him, but before Luneth can ask it to elaborate,
Ingus ( Ingusu) who symbolizes determination, he is teleported to the surface. He returns to Ur, but Elder
a loyal soldier serving the King of Sasune, with a (mutual) Topapa does not elucidate much on the matter. Going to
a corner of town, Luneth nds his friend Arc being bulsoft spot for the princess Sara.* [19]
Xande ( Zande) is the antagonist the party seeks lied by some of the kids. When Luneth intervenes, Arc
to stop for most of the game, though he is eventually re- runs away, heading for the village of Kazus.
vealed to merely be a pawn of the Cloud of Darkness (
Kurayami no Kumo): a malevolent and vicious
deity who wishes to push the world into a state of chaos
and destruction by upsetting the balance between light
and darkness, allowing the Void to consume the world.
Appearing in a female-like form, the Cloud of Darkness
refers to herself in rst-person plural because her two tentacles have minds of their own. Although she initially defeats the Light Warriors, they are resurrected with Unei
and Doga's help, and, with help from the Dark Warriors,
Luneth chases Arc to Kazus and, upon reuniting with Arc,

discovers that the rumors of a curse on Kazus are not
false. The people there are see-through, and one such person, Cid of Canaan, instructs the two boys to take his airship and look for Rea, the mythril smith Takka's adoptive daughter. They nd her on the airship, and accompany her to Castle Sasune as per her suggestion. There,
they meet Ingus, a soldier of Sasune who has somehow
escaped the curse. He joins the trio after an audience
with the king, who instructs them to nd his daughter,
74
Sara. They catch up to her in the Sealed Cave, and with

her, battle the monster who cast the curse: the Djinn. Just
as Sara seals the Djinn away, however, Luneth, Arc, Rea and Ingus all disappear before her eyes. As it transpires, the wind crystal had summoned the four youths
in order to grant them a portion of its power. After this,
Luneth's party reunites with Sara at Castle Sasune. She
completes the process of dispelling the Djinn's curse, but
becomes depressed when Luneth reveals that he and his
companions must leave at once. After Sara stops crying long enough to see them o, they go back to Kazus,
where Takka drags Rea home. The three boys consult
with Cid, and then Takka, who builds a mythril ram on
the ship. It should be noted that Rea is not with him
when he returns, and when the party once more nds her
aboard Cid's airship, the player would be able to piece together why: she had told Takka that she is a Warrior of
Light like the boys, and therefore has to leave. The new
introductory sequence ends with the airship being used to
demolish the boulder in Nelv Valley.
2.3.3
Development
Director and story writer Hironobu Sakaguchi, designer Hiromichi Tanaka, character designer Yoshitaka
Amano, scenario writer Kenji Terada, and music composer Nobuo Uematsu returned from the two previous Final Fantasy games to contribute to the development of Final Fantasy III.* [2]* [20] As with the previous two installments of the series, Final Fantasy III was programmed
for the Famicom by Nasir Gebelli. It was the last original
Final Fantasy title on which Gebelli worked.* [21] Midway through the development of the game, Gebelli was
forced to return to Sacramento, California from Japan
due to an expired work visa. The rest of the development sta followed him to Sacramento with necessary
materials and equipment and nished production of the
game there.* [22] At 512k, the completed game was one
of the largest ever released for the Famicom/NES.* [23]
Like many console role-playing games of the era, Final
Fantasy III is noted for its diculty.* [23]
Square developed and released Final Fantasy III during
the same period that Nintendo released its 16-bit Super
Famicom console, intended as the successor to the original 8-bit Famicom. Designer Hiromichi Tanaka said that
the original game was never released outside of Japan because Square was focused on developing for Nintendo's
new console.
Square planned to localize and release the game outside Japan, but the game's localization's plans were
scrapped.* [24]
Cancelled WonderSwan Color remake
Bandai unveiled their WonderSwan Color handheld system in 2000 and had immediately headed up a deal with
Square to release enhanced remakes of their rst three

Final Fantasy titles on the new console.* [25] Although
Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II were both released
within a year of the announcement, Final Fantasy III was
ultimately delayed from its late 2001 release date, even
after Bandai picked up the game's publishing rights.* [26]
While a port of Final Fantasy IV was eventually released
for the WonderSwan Color, Square remained silent regarding Final Fantasy III. Although the game was never
formally cancelled, the ocial website was taken ofine once production of the WonderSwan Color consoles
ceased in 2002.* [27]
In 2007, Hiromichi Tanaka explained in an interview that
the WonderSwan Color remake had been abandoned because the size and structure of the coding of the original
Famicom game was too dicult to recreate on the WonderSwan Color:
3D remake
Following the failure to remake the game for the WonderSwan Color, and Square's merger with former competitor
Enix to form Square Enix in 2003, the company posted
assurance that the game's promised remake would not
be completely forgotten, and there was speculation that
it might nd its way to Sony's PlayStation or Nintendo's
Game Boy Advance as its predecessors had.* [28] Square
Enix considered porting the game to the PlayStation 2,
but was eventually convinced by Nintendo to develop the
title for their new handheld system, the Nintendo DS, a
decision that would later be positively reinforced by the
commercial success of the Nintendo DS.* [29] The Final
Fantasy III remake was rst announced on October 24,
2004, but detailed information did not emerge for a year.
Hiromichi Tanaka headed the project as both the executive producer and director. His guidance and supervision
were needed because the remake was not a mere graphical update as Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II 's remakes were, but a total overhaul using the Nintendo DS's
3D capabilities. Along with 3D graphics, a full motion
video opening scene was produced for the game, similar
to those found in the ports of the 2D Final Fantasy games
for the PlayStation. Programming was handled by developer Matrix Software.* [1]
The remake was produced by Tomoya Asano and codeveloped by Square Enix and Matrix Software. Ryosuke
Aiba (Final Fantasy XI) served as art director, and
Akihiko Yoshida (Final Fantasy XII) redesigned the original characters for use in 3D, and designed the look of the
new playable characters.* [30] The formerly generic and
nameless party characters were replaced with more concrete characters with new personalities and background
stories, and additional scenes were added to develop their
individuality; however, the main storyline was not altered
signicantly.* [31] Along with these four, additional characters (calledsub-characters) also join the party temporarily, like in the original. Unlike the original, however,
75
released on September 20, 2012 although it was to be a
downloadable only version outside of Japan where it was
released later that month. In April 2013, Square Enix
released a high-denition port of the remake for the Ouya
console, as a launch title.* [37] A Windows Phone version
was also released on December 27, 2013. Square Enix
also announced an HD release based on the Nintendo DS
version for Steam, which released on May 27, 2014.* [38]
2.3.4 Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy III
Hiromichi Tanaka and Tomoya Asano
these characters may randomly participate in battle.* [32]

The remake features a redesigned job system, which rebalances the classes, adds new abilities and adds a new
Freelancerclass which replaces the Onion Knight
as the default job at the beginning of the game (Onion
Knight is retained as a secret class). It also includes new
events, a new crystal and dungeon, and the removal of capacity points. Unlike the original Famicom version, most
of the jobs remain useful for the entire game. The ultimate jobsthe Ninja and the Sageand some of the
lesser-used jobs, like the Geomancer, were redesigned to
have the same level of abilities as the Warrior. Another
addition are special job-specic items available only if a
character has fully mastered a certain job.* [33]
In place of capacity points, each character incurs a small
temporary penalty for switching jobs. This penalty decreases the character's statistics for the next zero to ten
battles. This period is called a Job Transition Phase
and its length is based on how similar the new job is to
the old job, and how procient the character already is at
the new job.* [33]
The remake takes advantage of the Wi-Fi feature of the
Nintendo DS in the form of a Mail/Mognet system similar
to Final Fantasy IX. Various moogles in the game allow
the player to send email to others. Players are also able
to send mail to various characters in the game as well as
to other players.* [19] Side quests can also be unlocked
using this system, such as the quest to unlock the Onion
Knight.* [34] An interruption-save option is also available
that lets the player turn o the DS and continue when
turning it back on. Like in the original, there is no way to
make permanent saves while inside a dungeon.* [35]
An iOS port of the DS remake was released on March 24,
2011 on the App Store. Both the gameplay and graphics
were improved, and the sound was remastered. However,
the Mail/Mognet to other players was removed, with the
Onion Knight job available via another quest.* [36]* [36]
The music of the Final Fantasy III was composed by regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy III
Original Sound Version, a compilation album of almost
all of the music in the game, was released by Square/NTT
Publishing in 1991, and subsequently re-released by NTT
Publishing in 1994 and 2004.* [39] A vocal arrangement
album entitled Final Fantasy III Yky no Kaze Densetsu,
or literally Final Fantasy III Legend of the Eternal Wind,
contains a selection of musical tracks from the game, performed by Nobuo Uematsu and Dido, a duo composed of
Michiaki Kato and Shizuru Ohtaka. The album was released by Data M in 1990 and by Polystar in 1994.* [40]
Selected tracks the game were featured in various Final
Fantasy arranged music compilation albums, including Final Fantasy: Pray and Final Fantasy: Love
Will Grow (with lyrical renditions performed by singer
Risa Ohki),* [41]* [42] and the second and third albums
from Uematsu's progressive metal group, The Black
Mages.* [43]* [44] Several tracks from the game were subsequently remixed and featured in later Square or Square
Enix titles, including Chocobo Racing* [45] and Final
Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon.* [46] Several pieces
from the soundtrack remain popular today, and have been
performed numerous times in Final Fantasy orchestral
concert series such as the Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy concert series and the Distant Worlds - Music
from Final Fantasy series.* [47]* [48]
The score was arranged for the Nintendo DS remake by
Tsuyoshi Sekito and Keiji Kawamori, working under Uematsu's supervision.* [49] The soundtrack was released as
an album by NTT Publishing in 2006 as Final Fantasy
III Original Soundtrack, with revamped versions of the
tracks plus some additional tracks.* [50]
2.3.5 Reception
The Famicom version Final Fantasy III was considered a

typical RPG of its day, with a high degree of diculty
requiring a signicant amount of grinding.* [23] In 2006,
readers of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu voted
An Android port of the DS remake was released in June the original Final Fantasy III the eighth-best video game
2012 on Google Play. A PlayStation Portable version was of all-time.* [62] As of March 31, 2003, the game had
76
shipped 1.4 million copies in Japan.* [63]

The DS remake met with high sales. IGN notes thatinterest in FFIII should come as no surprise given...the popularity of the DS.* [64] The game sold 500,000 units
within the rst week in Japan, beating Square Enix's original prediction that they would only sell 350,000.* [65] As
of August 6, 2007, the game has sold 990,000 units in
Japan and 460,000 units in North America.* [66] As of
August 8, 2008, it has sold 480,000 units in Europe.* [67]
Reviews of the DS remake of Final Fantasy III have been
mostly positive, with the game holding an aggregate score
of 77% on GameRankings.* [51] 1UP.com described the
gameplay as an RPG for dedicated RPG enthusiasts,
and noted that while the job system had been heavily improved over the original title, it still felt at times very
limiting.The review however stated that it was important to remember Final Fantasy III as a slice of history and a missing piece of a blockbuster series,citing
that hardcore RPG playersmay enjoy the title more
than other Final Fantasy games and calling itone of the
best portable RPGs to date.* [53] GameSpy argued that
one's enjoyment hinged entirely on your desire to play
a game with decidedly archaic game mechanics that may
seem primitive and uninvitingcompared to other recent
Square Enix titles, noting the game wasquite challengingand adding that some people live for this stu,
but others may be annoyed at the game's often unfriendly
nature.* [58]
GameTrailers noted that while the plot was simple and the
party members generic, the game's scenarios were top
notch.It additionally noted that while players should expect to have to do some grinding, the game oers lots
of little areas to explore.* [51] IGN described the game
as one that may be amazingly frustrating for the now
mainstream Final Fantasy fan,and noted that while the
unique concept of the job system was one that simply blew gamers' mindsat the time, in the contemporary environment, comparing it to Final Fantasy XII 's
license board system was literally no contest.The review additionally argued that the remake hampered the
game, citing that battles that would takemere seconds to
scroll throughwere nowlengthened to nearly a minute.
Another complaint was in the game's presentation on the
Nintendo DS, noting that the handheld's top screen was
inactive for 75% of the game,and that even displaying only artwork on the screen during those periods would
have been a preferable outcome. However IGN described
the game asgraphically phenomenal and...set to a simply
beautiful musical score.They also stated that the transition from 2D to 3D was a good call.* [60]
2.3.6
Legacy
Fantasy III (
III Yky no Kaze Densetsu Fainaru Fantaj Suryori), a manga serialization of Final Fantasy III illustrated
by Yu Kinutani. Based on the original story by Kenji
Terada, the manga chronicles the events that take place
throughout the course of the game. It was subsequently
collected into three tankbon under Kadokawa Shoten's
Dragon Comics imprint: Legend of the Eternal Wind 1,
2, and 3.* [68]
The Onion Knight and the Cloud of Darkness are the respective hero and villainess representing Final Fantasy
III in Dissidia Final Fantasy, where they are voiced by
Jun Fukuyama and Masako Ikeda, respectively, in the
Japanese version, and by Aaron Spann and Laura Bailey,
respectively, in English.* [69] The characters reprise their
roles in the sequel, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.* [70]
2.3.7 See also

2.3.8 References
[1] Creator's Voice - Final Fantasy III (in Japanese).
Nintendo. 2006-08-10. Archived from the original on
2006-08-13. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
ASCII Corporation. 1998-06-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
[3] Final Fantasy III(in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved
2008-07-11.
[4] Spencer (2009-06-26). Final Fantasy III Heads To Virtual Console In July. Siliconera. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
[5]
" III
DS Lite ". Famitsu (in Japanese). 2006-0712. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
[6] Gantayat, Anoop (2006-08-24). FIII Mania in Japan.
[7] Final Fantasy III. Nintendo. 2007. Archived from
[8] Final Fantasy III Conrmed for Australia. IGN. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
[9] Final Fantasy III for DS. GameSpot. Retrieved 201003-26.
[10] Final Fantasy III Now Available On iPhone/iPod Touch
. IGN. 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
[11] FINAL FANTASY III - Android Apps on Google Play
. Google Play. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
[12] Moriarty, Colin (2012-06-12).Final Fantasy III Coming
to... PSP?!". IGN. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
[13] Ouya launching with Final Fantasy III. Gamespot.
From 1991 to 1992, Kadokawa Shoten's Famicom gaming magazine, Maru Katsu Famicom ( [14] Gantayat, Anoop (2004-10-07). Miyamoto Speaks to
Final Fantasy Producer. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
) published Legend of the Eternal Wind, from Final
[15] Square Enix (1990). Final Fantasy III instruction manual.

[16] Roschin, Oleg; Vitaglione, Erik.Final Fantasy III. The
World of Final Fantasy. UGO.com Games. Retrieved
2008-07-11.
[17] Final Fantasy III Cheats. GameSpy. Retrieved 200807-11.
[18] Square (1990-04-27). Final Fantasy III. Nintendo
Famicom. Square.
[19] Final Fantasy III Instruction Book. Square Enix. 2006. p.
51.
[20] Square (1990-04-27). Final Fantasy III. Famicom.
[21] Lau, John (2005-01-22).The Secret of Nasir. University of Hawaii. Archived from the original on 2007-07-16.
77
[36] "IIIiPhone
". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 201102-24. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
[37] Karmali, Luke (2012-07-31).Final Fantasy III Launching on Ouya - IGN. IGN. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
[38] http://www.destructoid.com/
final-fantasy-iii-coming-to-steam-with-achievements-and-enhanced-graphic
phtml
[39] Gann, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben (2006-06-17). Final
Fantasy III OSV. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
[40] Gann, Patrick (2000-05-06). Final Fantasy III Yky
no Kaze Densetsu. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
[41] Gann, Patrick.Final Fantasy Vocal Collections II [Love
Will Grow]". RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
[42] Gann, Patrick. Final Fantasy Vocal Collections I -Pray". RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
[22] Mielke, James; Hironobu Sakaguchi. EGM (232). [...]

So for Final Fantasy II and III, our sta actually brought
all the equipment, everything that was necessary to nish
those games, to Sacramento, because (Gebelli) couldn't
come back to Japan. [...] We nished Final Fantasy II
and III in Sacramento, California. [Laughs]
[43] Jones, Jesse. Final Fantasy ~ The Black Mages II: The
Skies Above. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
[23] Rob Fahey (2007-03-13).

Fantasy Reborn.
Eurogamer. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
[45] Kie. Chocobo Racing Original Soundtrack: Review by

Kie. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
[44] Castonguay, Logan. Final Fantasy ~ The Black Mages

III: Darkness and Starlight. RPGFan. Retrieved 200807-14.
[46] Jeriaska (2008-03-14).Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon

~Labyrinth of Forgotten Time~ OST. RPGFan. Reflyer-shows-square-planned-on-localizing-final-fantasy-iii-for-the-nes-too/
trieved 2009-02-26.
[25] Harris, Craig (2000-09-08). Final Fantasy Goes Won[47] Album Information - Tour de Japon: Music from Final
derSwan Color. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
Fantasy DVD. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved
2008-02-22.
[26] Joseph Witham (2003). Final Fantasy III Still WonderSwan Bound. RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
[48] Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy - Album Information. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved 2008[27] Eve C. (2002). WSC FFIII Vanishes, FFI-II Remake In
02-22.
The Works. RPGFan. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
[28] Andrew Long and Jesse Kanda (2003). Final Fantasy
III Finally On Deck. RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
[49] Final Fantasy III. Square Enix. 2006-01-01. Retrieved

2006-08-31.
[29] Nix (2006-09-24). TGS 2006: Square on Final Fantasy

III. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
[50] Gann, Patrick (2006-10-05). Final Fantasy III OST.

RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
[30] Square Enix; Matrix Software (2006-11-14).Final Fantasy III. Nintendo DS. Square Enix Co., Ltd. Scene:
sta credits.
[51] Final Fantasy III - DS. GameRankings. Retrieved

2008-07-16.
[52] Final Fantasy III. Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
[31] Final Fantasy III Review. PALGN. Retrieved 200807-16.
[53] Parish, Jeremy (2006-11-10). Final Fantasy III (Nintendo DS)". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
[32] Final Fantasy III Review. Eurogamer. 2006-12-14.

[54]30 Point Plus: III. Weekly

Famicom Tsshin (299): 38. 1994-09-09.
[33] Schmidt, Ken (2006-11-15). Final Fantasy III Ocial

Strategy Guide. Brady Games. ISBN 0-7440-0848-4.
[55] Final Fantasy - famitsu Scores Archive. Famitsu Scores

Archive. Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
[34] Shoemaker, Brad (2006-07-20). Final Fantasy III Update. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-08-31.
[35] Final Fantasy III. Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
[56] Gaming Everything Blog Archive Famitsu review

scores (9/11/12) LittleBigPlanet Vita, Final Fantasy III
PSP. Gaming Everything. 2012-09-11. Retrieved
2012-10-22.
78
[57] Review: Final Fantasy III. GamePro. 2006-11-14.

2008-07-16.
[58] Final Fantasy III (DS)". GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-0715.
since been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modications. The game was re-titled Final Fantasy
II during its initial release outside of Japan as the original Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy III had not been
released outside of Japan at the time. However, later localizations used the original title.
[59] Final Fantasy III. GameTrailers. Retrieved 2008-0715.
The game's story follows Cecil, a dark knight, as he

tries to prevent the sorcerer Golbez from seizing pow[60] Bozon, Mark (2006-11-14). Final Fantasy III Review erful crystals and destroying the world. He is joined on
this quest by a frequently changing group of allies. Fi. IGN. Retrieved September 2009.
nal Fantasy IV introduced innovations that became sta[61]Final Fantasy III review. Nintendo Power: 103. January ples of the Final Fantasy series and role-playing games in
2007.
general. Its "Active Time Battle" system was used in ve
[62] Carless, Simon (2006-03-03).Famitsu Reveals Top 100 subsequent Final Fantasy games, and unlike prior games
Reader-Voted Games of All Time. Gamasutra. Re- in the series, IV gave each character their own unchangeable character class.
trieved 2008-07-16.
With its character-driven plot, use of new technologies
and critically acclaimed score by Nobuo Uematsu, Final
Fantasy IV is regarded as a landmark of the series and
the role-playing genre. The various incarnations of the
[64] FFIII Mania in Japan. IGN. 2006. Retrieved 2007- game have sold more than four million copies worldwide.
01-31.
An enhanced remake, also called Final Fantasy IV, with
3D graphics was released for the Nintendo DS in 2007
[65]Final Fantasy Tops Half Million. IGN. 2006. Retrieved
and 2008. A sequel, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years,
2007-01-31.
was released for Japanese mobile phones in 2008, and
[66] Annual Report 2007. Square Enix. 2004-08-06. worldwide via the Wii Shop Channel on June 1, 2009. In
Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2011, both Final Fantasy IV and The After Years were
2008-12-20.
released for the PlayStation Portable as part of the compilation Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, which
[67] Annual Report 2008. Square Enix. 2008-08-08.
Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved also included a new game, set between the two; Final Fantasy IV: Interlude. Ports of the Nintendo DS remake were
2008-12-20.
released for iOS in 2012, for Android in 2013 and for
[68] Windows in 2014.
27. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
(in Japanese). eBook Japan Initiative. Archived from the

[69] Square Enix (2009-08-25). "Dissidia Final Fantasy".
PlayStation Portable. Square Enix.
2.4.1 Gameplay
[70] Square Enix (2011-03-22). "Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy".

PlayStation Portable. Square Enix.
2.3.9
External links
Ocial North American website

Ocial European website
Ocial Japanese website (Japanese)
2.4 Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV ( IV
Fainaru Fantaj F) is a role-playing video game devel- A battle scene from the Super Nintendo version of the game: the
oped and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1991 party engages a Blue Dragon on the Moon
as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has In Final Fantasy IV, the player controls a large cast of
2.4. FINAL FANTASY IV

characters and completes quests to advance the story.
Characters move and interact with people and enemies
on a eld map, which may represent a variety of settings,
such as towers, caves, and forests. Travel between areas occurs on a world map. The player can use towns
to replenish strength, buy equipment, and discover clues
about their next destination.* [2] Conversely, the player
ghts monsters at random intervals on the world map and
in dungeons. In battle, the player has the option to ght,
use magic or an item, retreat, change character positions,
parry, or pause. Certain characters have special abilities.* [2] The game was the rst in the series to allow the
player to control up to ve characters in their party; previous games had limited the party to four.* [3]
Player characters and monsters have hit points (HP),
with the characters' HP captioned below the main battle screen. Attacks reduce remaining HP until none are
left, at which point the character faints or the monster
dies. If all characters are defeated, the game must be
restored from a saved game le.* [2] The player can restore the characters' hit points by having them sleep in an
inn or use items in the party's inventory, such as potions,
as well as using healing magic spells. Equipment (such
as swords and armor) bought in towns or found in dungeons can be used to increase damage inicted on monsters or minimize damage received.* [2] The player can
choose whether characters appear on the front line of a
battle or in the back. A character's placement impacts
damage received and inicted depending on the type of
attack.* [2] The game's story is linear; the player can usually advance the game through only one path, although
limited side quests are available.* [4]
Final Fantasy IV introduced Square's Active Time Battle
(ATB) system, which diered from the turn-based designs of previous RPGs. The ATB system centers on the
player inputting orders for the characters in real time during battles.* [5] The system was used in many subsequent
Square games.* [3]
Each character has certain strengths and weaknesses; for
instance, a strong magic user may have low defense, while
a physical ghter may have low agility. Like other Final
Fantasy games, characters gain new, more powerful abilities with battle experience. Magic is classied as either
Whitefor healing and support; Blackfor oense;
or Summon(or call) for summoning monsters to
attack or carry out specialized tasks.* [2] A fourth type,
"Ninjutsu,consists of support and oensive magic and is
available to only one character. Magic users, who account
for eight of the twelve playable characters, gain magic
spells at preprogrammed experience levels or xed story
events. The game includes balanced point gains, items,
and rewards to eliminate long sessions of grinding.* [6]
Due to the Super Nintendo's greater processing power,
Final Fantasy IV contains improved graphics when compared to previous Final Fantasy titles, all of which were
released on the NES. The game employs the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 technology to give enhanced magic spell
79
visuals and to make airship travel more dramatic by scaling and tilting the ground for a bird's eye view.* [7]
2.4.2 Plot
Setting
Most of Final Fantasy IV takes place on Earth, also
known as the Blue Planet,* [8] which consists of a surface world (or Overworld), inhabited by humans, and
an underground world (or Underworld), inhabited by the
Dwarves. An articial moon orbits the planet, upon
which the Lunarians live. The Lunarians are a race of
beings originally from a world which was destroyed, becoming the asteroid belt surrounding the Blue Planet, and
are identied by a moon-shape crest on their foreheads.
They created the articial moon, resting until a time when
they believe their kind can co-exist with humans.* [3] A
second, natural moon orbits the Blue Planet as well, although it is never visited in the game.
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy IV series
Final Fantasy IV oers twelve playable characters, each
with a unique, unchangeable character class. During the
game, the player can have a total of ve, or fewer, characters in the party at any given time. The main character,
Cecil Harvey, is a dark knight and the captain of the Red
Wings, an elite air force unit of the kingdom of Baron.
He serves the king alongside his childhood friend Kain
Highwind, the commander of the Dragoons. Rosa Farrell is a white mage and archer, as well as Cecil's love
interest. The Red Wings' airships were constructed by
Cecil's friend, the engineer Cid Pollendina.* [3]
During his quest, Cecil is joined by others, including
Rydia, a young summoner from the village of Mist;
Tellah, a legendary sage; Edward Chris von Muir, the
prince of Damcyan and a bard; Yang Fang Leiden, the
head of the monks of Fabul; Palom and Porom, a white
mage and a black mage, twin apprentices from the magical village of Mysidia; Edward EdgeGeraldine, the
ninja prince of Eblan; and Fusoya, the guardian of the
Lunarians during their long sleep.
Zemus is the main antagonist of the game. He wishes to
destroy the human race so that his people can populate
the earth. He uses Golbez to do this by controlling him
and Kain with his psychic powers to activate the Giant of
Babil, a huge machine created to carry out the genocide.
Story
Final Fantasy IV begins as the Red Wings are attacking
the city of Mysidia to steal their Water Crystal. When Ce-
80
cil, Captain of the Red Wings, afterwards questions the
king's motives, he is stripped of his rank and sent with
Kain, his friend and Captain of the Dragoons, to deliver
a package to the Village of Mist.* [9] There, Kain and
Cecil watch in horror as monsters from inside the package destroy the village. A young girl, Rydia, is the only
survivor and summons an earthquake in anger, separating
Cecil and Kain.* [10] Cecil awakens afterward and takes
the wounded Rydia to a nearby inn. Baron soldiers come
for Rydia but Cecil defends her,* [11] and she joins him
on his journey.
It is revealed that Rosa, Cecil's love interest, had followed
him and is extremely ill with a fever. Soon after this, Cecil and Rydia meet Tellah, who is going to Damcyan Castle to retrieve his eloping daughter, Anna.* [12] However,
Anna is killed when the Red Wings bomb the castle. Edward, Anna's lover and the prince of Damcyan, explains
that the Red Wings' new commander, Golbez, did this to
steal the Fire Crystal for Baron as they had stolen the Water Crystal from Mysidia.* [13] Tellah leaves the party to
seek vengeance on Golbez for Anna's death.* [14] After
nding a cure for Rosa, the party decides to go to Fabul to
protect the Wind Crystal. Here they meet Master Yang, a
warrior monk serviced to the kingdom and the protection
of the crystal. The Red Wings attack, and Kain reappears
as one of Golbez's servants. He attacks and defeats Cecil;
when Rosa intervenes, Golbez kidnaps her and Kain takes
the crystal.* [15] On the way back to Baron, the party is
attacked by Leviathan and separated.
Cecil awakes alone near Mysidia. When he enters the
town, he nds that its residents hold him in utter contempt
for the prior attack on their town. Through the Elder of
Mysidia, he learns that to defeat Golbez, he must climb
Mt. Ordeals and become a Paladin.* [16] Before embarking on his journey, he is joined by the twin mages, Palom
and Porom. On the mountain he encounters Tellah, who
is searching for the forbidden spell Meteor to defeat Golbez.* [17] Casting aside the darkness within himself, Cecil becomes a Paladin, while Tellah learns the secret of
Meteor. Upon reaching Baron, the party discovers an
amnesiac Yang and restores his memory. The party then
confronts the King, only to discover that he had been replaced by one of Golbez's minions.* [18] After defeating
him, Cid arrives and takes them to one of his airships, the
Enterprise. On the way, the party enters a room boobytrapped by Cagnazzo, where Palom and Porom sacrice
themselves to save Cecil, Tellah, Cid, and Yang.

to Baron.
In Baron, Kain reveals that Golbez must also obtain four
subterraneanDark Crystalsto achieve his goal of reaching the moon.* [21] The party travels to the underworld
and encounter the Dwarves, who are currently ghting
the Red Wings. They defeat Golbez thanks to a sudden
appearance by Rydia, now a young woman due to her
time spent in the Feymarch, the home of the Eidolons.
However, the party ultimately fails to prevent Golbez
from stealing the Dwarves' crystal. With the help of the
Dwarves, they enter the Tower of Babil in order to obtain the crystals Golbez has stored there, only to nd that
they have been moved to a surface portion of the tower.
Yang later sacrices himself in order to stop the tower's
cannons from ring on the Dwarves. After escaping a
trap set by Golbez, the party ees the underworld aboard
the Enterprise, with Cid sacricing himself to reseal the
passage between the two worlds and to prevent the Red
Wings from continuing their pursuit.* [22] The party, now
joined by Edge, the prince of Eblan, travels back to the
Tower of Babil in order to take back the stolen crystals.
Upon reaching the crystal room, however, the party falls
through a trap door to the underworld. Meeting with the
Dwarves once again and nding Cid to be alive, the party
sets out to retrieve the eighth crystal before Golbez can.
When the crystal is obtained, Golbez appears and reveals
he still has control over Kain, while taking the crystal for
himself.* [23] After learning of the Lunar Whale, a ship
designed to take travelers to and from the moon, the party
is rejoined by Cid. They travel to the surface and board
the Lunar Whale.* [24]
On the moon, the party meets the sage Fusoya, who explains that Cecil's father was a Lunarian.* [25] Fusoya
also explains that a Lunarian named Zemus plans to destroy life on the Blue Planet so that the Lunarians can
take over, using Golbez to summon the Giant of Babil, a colossal robot.* [26] The party returns to Earth and
the forces of the two worlds attack the Giant, including
Palom and Porom, who have been revived. After the
party breaks the robot, Golbez and Kain confront them,
only to have Fusoya break Zemus' control over Golbez,
in turn releasing Kain. Cecil learns that Golbez is his
older brother.* [27] Golbez and Fusoya head to the core
of the moon to defeat Zemus, and Cecil's party follows.
In the moon's core, the party witnesses Golbez and Fusoya kill Zemus, but then quickly fall to his resurrected
form, the spirit Zeromus.* [28] Cecil and his allies defeat
Fusoya and Golbez opt to
On the airship, Kain appears and demands Cecil retrieve Zeromus. Following the battle,
*
leave
Earth
with
the
moon.
[29]
*
the nal crystal in exchange for Rosa's life, [19] which
the party obtains with assistance from a bedridden Ed- During the epilogue, the majority of the cast reunites to
ward. Kain then leads the party to the Tower of Zot, celebrate Cecil and Rosa's wedding and their coronation
where Rosa is imprisoned. At the tower's summit, Gol- as Baron's new king and queen, while Kain is seen atop
bez takes the crystal and attempts to ee. Tellah casts Mt. Ordeals, having vowed to atone for his sins.
Meteor to stop Golbez, sacricing his own life in the process. However, the spell only weakens Golbez, ending
his mind control of Kain.* [20] Kain helps Cecil rescue
Rosa, who teleports the party out of the collapsing tower
2.4.3
Development
After completing Final Fantasy III in 1990, Square

planned to develop two Final Fantasy games one for
the Nintendo Entertainment System and the other for
the forthcoming Super Nintendo Entertainment System,
to be known as Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy V
respectively.* [30] Due to nancial and scheduling constraints, Square dropped plans for the NES game and continued development of the SNES version, retitled Final
Fantasy IV. A mock-up screenshot of the cancelled title
was produced for a Japanese magazine, but little other
information exists about it.* [30] Final Fantasy IV director Hironobu Sakaguchi has stated that the NES version
was approximately 80% complete and certain ideas were
reused for the SNES version.* [31]
Final Fantasy IV was lead designer Takashi Tokita's rst
project at Square as a full-time employee. Before this,
Tokita wanted a career as a theater actor, but working on
the game made him decide to become agreat creatorof
video games.* [32] Initially Hiromichi Tanaka, the main
designer of Final Fantasy III, was also involved in the development of the game. However, Tanaka wanted to create a seamless battle system that had no separate battle
screen and was not menu-driven, and since Final Fantasy
IV was not going in that direction, he changed development teams to work on the action RPG Secret of Mana
instead.* [33] The development team of Final Fantasy IV
contained 14 people in total, and the game was completed
in roughly one year.* [34]
Initial ideas were contributed by the game's director,
Hironobu Sakaguchi, including the entire story and the
name of Baron's royal air force, the Red Wings
.* [1]* [35] The Active Time Battle (ATB) system was
conceived and designed by Hiroyuki Ito when he was inspired while watching a Formula One race and seeing racers pass each other at dierent speeds. This gave him the
idea of dierent speed values for the individual characters.* [36]* [37] The system was developed by Kazuhiko
Aoki, Ito and Akihiko Matsui.* [38] As the game's lead
designer, Tokita wrote the scenario and contributed pixel
art.* [39] He stated that there was a lot of pressure and
that the project would not have been completed if he did
not work diligently on it. According to Tokita, Final Fantasy IV was designed with the best parts of the previous
three installments in mind: the job system of Final Fantasy III, the focus on story of Final Fantasy II, and the
four elemental bosses acting as symbols for the game
as in the rst installment.* [34] Other inuences include
Dragon Quest II.* [40] The themes of Final Fantasy IV
were to go from darkness to lightwith Cecil, a focus on family and friendship among the large and diverse
cast, and the idea thatbrute strength alone isn't power.
*
[35] Tokita feels that Final Fantasy IV is the rst game
in the series to really pick up on drama,* [34] and the rst
Japanese RPG to featuresuch deep characters and plot.
*
[41]
81
The game's script had to be reduced to one fourth of its
original length due to cartridge storage limits, but Tokita
made sure only unnecessary dialoguewas cut, rather
than actual story elements. As the graphical capacities of
the Super Famicom allowed Yoshitaka Amano to make
more elaborate character designs than in the previous installments, with the characters' personalities already evident from the images, Tokita felt the reduced script length
improved the pacing of the game.* [34]* [42] Still, he acknowledges that some parts of the story were unclear
or were not looked at in depthuntil later ports and
remakes. One of the ideas not included, due to time and
space constraints, was a dungeon near the end of the game
where each character would have to progress on their own
this dungeon would only be included in the Game Boy
Advance version of the game, as the Lunar Ruins.* [34]
Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy IV
The score of Final Fantasy IV was written by longtime
series composer Nobuo Uematsu. Uematsu has noted
that the process of composing was excruciating, involving trial and error and requiring the sound sta to spend
several nights in sleeping bags at Square's headquarters.
His liner notes were humorously signed as being written at
1:30 AM in the oce, naturally.* [43] The score was
well received; reviewers have praised the quality of the
composition despite the limited medium.* [4]* [44] The
trackTheme of Lovehas even been taught to Japanese
school children as part of the music curriculum.* [45] Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces in his Final
Fantasy concert series.* [46]
Three albums of music from Final Fantasy IV have been
released in Japan. The rst album, Final Fantasy IV:
Original Sound Version, was released on June 14, 1991
and contains 44 tracks from the game. The second album, Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon, was released on October 24, 1991, and contains a selection of tracks from
the game, arranged and performed by Celtic musician
Mire Breatnach. Lastly, Final Fantasy IV Piano Collections, an arrangement of tracks for solo piano performed
by Toshiyuki Mori, was released on April 21, 1992 and
began the Piano Collections trend for each successive Final Fantasy game. Several tracks have appeared on Final
Fantasy compilation albums produced by Square, including The Black Mages and Final Fantasy: Pray. Independent but ocially licensed releases of Final Fantasy IV
music have been orchestrated by such groups as Project
Majestic Mix, which focuses on arranging video game
music.* [47] Selections also appear on Japanese remix albums, called djin music, and on English remixing websites such as OverClocked ReMix.* [48]
82
North American localization
1999, this version was released a second time in Japan

as part of the Final Fantasy Collection package, which
Because the previous two installments of the Final Fan- also included the PlayStation versions of Final Fantasy V
tasy series had not been localized and released in North and Final Fantasy VI.* [55] Fifty-thousand limited edition
America at the time, Final Fantasy IV was distributed as copies of the collection were also released and included a
Final Fantasy II to maintain naming continuity.* [49] This Final Fantasy-themed alarm clock.* [56]
remained the norm until the release of Final Fantasy VII The PlayStation port was later released with Chrono Trigin North America (after the release of Final Fantasy VI ger in North America as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles
under the title of Final Fantasy III) and subsequent re- in 2001 and with Final Fantasy V in Europe and Australia
leases of the original Final Fantasy II and III on various as part of Final Fantasy Anthology in 2002.* [57] The
platforms. Final Fantasy II has since gone under the title English localizations feature a new translation, although
Final Fantasy IV.
certain translated lines from the previous localization by
The English localization of Final Fantasy IV retains the
storyline, graphics, and sound of the original, but the
developers signicantly reduced the diculty for beginning gamers.* [50] Square were worried that western fans
would nd it dicult to adjust to the game's complexity due to not having played the previous two entries,
so decreased the overall depth considerably.* [51] Other
changes include the removal of overt Judeo-Christian religious references and certain potentially objectionable
graphics. For example, the magic spell Holywas renamedWhite, and all references to prayer were eliminated; the Tower of Prayers in Mysidia was renamed the
Tower of Wishes. Direct references to death were also
omitted, although several characters clearly die during the
course of the game.* [52] The translation was changed in
accordance with Nintendo of America's censorship policies (at a time before the formation of the ESRB and its
rating system).* [53]
2.4.4
Re-releases
See also: Final Fantasy Chronicles, Final Fantasy IV (3D

remake) and Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
In addition to its original release, Final Fantasy IV has
been remade into many dierent versions. The rst of
these was Final Fantasy IV Easytype, a modied version
of the game which was released for the Super Famicom
in Japan. The Easytype was designed to be even easier
than its North American counterpart. In this version, the
attack powers of weapons have been enhanced, while the
protective abilities of certain accessories and armor are
amplied.* [50]
A PlayStation port debuted in Japan on March 21, 1997.
Ported by Tose and published by Square, it was designed
and directed by Kazuhiko Aoki, supervised by Fumiaki
Fukaya, and produced by Akihiro Imai.* [54] This version
is identical to the original game, although minor tweaks
introduced in the Easytype are present. The most notable
changes in the PlayStation release are the inclusion of a
full motion video opening and ending sequence, the ability to move quickly in dungeons and towns by holding the
Cancel button, and the option of performing a memo
save anywhere on the world map.* [54] On March 11,
Kaoru Moriyama, such as You spoony bard!", were

kept, as they had become fan favorites.* [58] A remake
for the WonderSwan Color, with few changes from the
PlayStation version, was released in Japan on March 28,
2002. Character sprites and backgrounds were graphically enhanced through heightened details and color shading.* [59]
Final Fantasy IV was ported again by Tose for the Game
Boy Advance and published as Final Fantasy IV Advance
(IV Fainaru
Fantaj F Adobansu). It was released in North America
by Nintendo of America on December 12, 2005; in Japan
by Square Enix on December 15, 2005; in Australia on
February 23, 2006; and in Europe on June 2, 2006. In
Japan, a special version was available which included a
limited edition Game Boy Micro with a themed face plate
featuring artwork of Cecil and Kain.* [60] The enhanced
graphics from the WonderSwan Color port were further
improved, and minor changes were made to the music.
The localization team revised the English translation, improving the ow of the story, and restoring plot details
absent from the original.* [50] The abilities that were removed from the original North American release were
re-added, while spells were renamed to follow the naming
conventions of the Japanese version, changing Bolt2
toThundarafor example.* [52] A new cave at Mt. Ordeals was added featuring powerful armor and stronger
weapons for ve additional characters, as was the Lunar Ruins, a dungeon accessible only at the end of the
game.* [50]
The game was remade with 3D graphics for the Nintendo
DS as part of the Final Fantasy series' 20th anniversary,
and was released as Final Fantasy IV in Japan on December 20, 2007, in North America on July 22, 2008, and in
Europe on September 5, 2008.* [61] The remake adds a
number of features not present in the original, such as
voice acting, minigames, and some changes to the basic
gameplay. The game was developed by Matrix Software,
the same team responsible for the Final Fantasy III DS remake, and was supervised by members of the original development team: Takashi Tokita served as executive producer and director, Tomoya Asano as producer and Hiroyuki Ito as battle designer. Animator Yoshinori Kanada
storyboarded the new cutscenes.

The original version of the game was released on the Wii
Virtual Console in Japan on August 4, 2009, in North
America on March 8, 2010 and in PAL regions on June
11, 2010.* [62] An enhanced port for i-mode compatible
phones was released in Japan on October 5, 2009. It retains features introduced in the Wonderswan Color and
Game Boy Advance ports, while incorporating enhanced
character graphics on par with those found in The After
Years, as well as an exclusive extra dungeonavailable
after completing the game.* [63]
Along with Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, the game
was released for the PlayStation Portable as part of the
compilation Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection.
This version used updated 2D graphics, as opposed to the
3D graphics seen in the DS remake. The collection also
includes a new episode called Final Fantasy IV: Interlude,
which takes place between the original game and The After Years. Masashi Hamauzu arranged the main theme
for the game.* [64] It was released in Japan on March
24, 2011, in North America on April 19, 2011, in Europe on April 21, 2011, and in Australia on April 28,
2011.* [65] On December 18, 2012 the PlayStation port
was re-released as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Japanese package.* [66]
In December 2012, the Nintendo DS version of Final
Fantasy IV was released for the iOS and Android(June
2013) mobile platforms, introducing an optional easier
diculty level.* [67] On September 17, 2014, with no
prior advertisement, Final Fantasy IV was also released
for Microsoft Windows.* [68]
2.4.5
Reception
83
and battles.On the other hand, Martin Alessi, who disliked role-playing games, gave it a 7. They gave the game
an award for 1991's Best RPG Video Game, stating that
theMode 7 is great here and Square does a spectacular
job in using it to zoom in and away from the planetand
that the quest is huge and also one of the most dicult
ever attempted in a video game.* [81]
GamePro rated it a perfect 5 out of 5 score in its March
1992 issue.* [69] The reviewer Monty Haul stated that
it truly redenes the standards for fantasy adventure
games,proclaiming that one-dimensional characters,
needless hack 'em combat, and linear gameplay will be
things of the past if other RPGs learn a lesson or two from
this cart,concluding that itis one small step for Square
Soft, and one giant leap for SNES role-playing games.
*
[81] In the November 1993 issue of Dragon, Sandy Petersen gave it an Excellentrating. He criticized the
stylizedcombat system and the graphics asinferiorto
Zelda, but praised how every spell has a dierent onscreen eectand the diculty for being just about
rightwhere bossesnearly beat you every timeunlike
other RPG's such as Ultima where enoughadventuring
makes it possible to trashenemies with ease.He
praised thegreatmusic, preferring it over Zelda, stating what itlacks in graphics, it more than makes up for
in sound.He praised the story in particular, noting that,
in a departure from other RPGs where the party always
sticks together through thick and thin,the characters
have their own motives for joining and leaving the group,
with one that even betraysthem. He stated that it is
likefollowing the storyline of a fantasy novel,comparing it to The Lord of the Rings and Man in the Iron Mask,
concluding that, because the characters often spoke up
for themselves,he got much more attachedto the
party than in any other computer game.* [73]
The game was critically acclaimed upon release.* [81]

Famitsu 's panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 9, 9,
10, and 8, adding up to an overall score of 36 out of 40,
one of the highest scores it awarded to any game in 1991,
second only The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.* [76]
In its November 1991 issue, Nintendo Power proclaimed
it set a new standard of excellencefor role-playing
games.* [85] They praised the battles as being more
interesting than in previous RPGsbecause the player
must make snap decisionsand theenemies don't wait
for you to make up your mind,and concluded that the
story, graphics, play and sound will keep fans riveted.
*
[81] Electronic Gaming Monthly ' panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 8, 9, 7, and 8, out of 10, adding up
to 32 out of 40 overall.* [74] In its December 1991 issue,
Ed Semrad, who gave it a 9, stated thatSquare has just
redened what the ultimate RPG should be like,noting
the spectacular Mode 7 eects, outstanding graphics
and a quest unequalled in a video game,concluding that
it makes use of all the Super NES has to oerand
is the best made to date!" Ken Williams (as Sushi-X),
who gave it an 8, stated that it is a totally awesome
RPG,the storyline is actually coherent and the plot
moves along with a combination of speaking sequences
Retrospectively, major reviewers have called Final Fantasy IV one of the greatest video games of all time, noting that it pioneered many now common console roleplaying game features, including the whole concept of
dramatic storytelling in an RPG.* [86]* [87] Reviewers have praised the game for its graphics, gameplay and
score,* [50]* [86] and have noted that Final Fantasy IV
was one of the rst role-playing games to feature a complex, involving plot.* [6]* [44] However, retrospective reviews have heavily criticized the game's original SNES
release for the poor quality of its English-language translation.* [44]* [50]
It has been included in various lists of the best games of
all time. Nintendo Power included it in the 100 Greatest Nintendo Gameslists, placing it ninth in 1997's issue 100,* [88] and twenty-eighth in 2005's issue 200.* [89]
IGN included it in its top 100 lists of the greatest games
of all time, ranking it #9 in 2003, as the highest-ranking
RPG,* [90] and at #26 in 2005, as the highest rated Final Fantasy title on the list.* [91] In 2007, it was ranked
at #55, behind Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy Tactics.* [92] Famitsu released a reader poll in 2006 ranking
84
it as the sixth best game ever made.* [93] It was also list 2.4.7 See also
among the best games of all time by Electronic Gaming
Monthly in 2001* [94] and 2006,* [95] Game Informer in 2.4.8 References
2001* [96] and 2009,* [97] GameSpot in 2005,* [98] and
GameFAQs in 2005,* [99] 2009* [100] and 2014.* [101]
Final Fantasy Collection sold over 400,000 copies in
1999, making it the 31st best selling release of that year
in Japan.* [102] Weekly Famitsu gave it a 54 out of 60
points, scored by a panel of six reviewers.* [56] The Game
Boy Advance version, Final Fantasy IV Advance, was met
with praise from reviewers,* [70] although a few noted the
game's graphics do not hold up well to current games, especially when compared to Final Fantasy VI.* [50]* [103]
Reviewers noted that some fans may still nitpick certain
errors in the new translation.* [86] The Nintendo DS version of the game was praised for its visuals, gameplay
changes and new cutscenes.* [104]* [105]* [106] It was a
nominee for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS in IGN's 2008
video game awards.* [107]
[2] Square Co., ed. (1991). Final Fantasy II instruction manual. Square Co. p. 74. SFS-F4-USA-1.
[3] Final Fantasy Retrospective: Part III. GameTrailers.
2007-07-30. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
[4] Review of Final Fantasy IV. AllRPG. 2003-06-14.
2006-09-12.
[5] Final Fantasy Advance instruction manual. Square Enix.
2005. p. 22. AGB-BZ4E-USA.
[6] Alley, Jake (2001-10-29).Birth of the plot-driven RPG
. RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-09-10.
[7] Palley, Steve (2005-09-09). Sail to the Moon: Final
Fantasy II. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-03-07.
2.4.6
Legacy
In Japan, 1.44 million copies of Final Fantasy IV 's Super

Famicom version were sold.* [108] By March 31, 2003,
the game, including the PlayStation and WonderSwan
Color remakes, had shipped 2.16 million copies worldwide, with 1.82 million of those copies being shipped in
Japan and 340,000 abroad.* [109] As of 2007 just before
the release of the Nintendo DS version, nearly 3 million
copies of the game had been sold around the world.* [3]
By May 2009, the DS version of the game had sold 1.1
million copies worldwide.* [110]
[8] Fusoya: Long ago, the world that lay between the Red
Planet and the Great Behemoth stood at the verge of destruction, both terrible and complete. The last survivors
of that devastation boarded a ship and escaped to the Blue
Planet. / Cecil: Blue Planet? / Fusoya: The one that you
call home. But your planet was still in the midst of its evolution, you see. And so those travelers created a second
moon for the planet, and there they settled into a long and
quiet slumber. Square Enix (2008-07-22).Final Fantasy
IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
[9] King of Baron: This is most unfortunate, but I can place
no trust on one who oers none in return. I hereby relieve
you of command of the Red Wings. / Cecil: My liege!
/ King: You will go now to the Valley of Mist instead.
There is a task I would have you do. A phantom creature haunts the borders of that land-the Eidolon of Mist.
You will slay it and deliver this ring to the village that lies
beyond they will know its meaning. Be gone by rst
light in the morning! Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final
Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, the sequel to Final

Fantasy IV, is set seventeen years after the events of the
original. The rst two chapters of the game were released
in Japan in February 2008 for NTT DoCoMo FOMA
903i series phones, with a release for au WIN BREW
series phones slated for Spring 2008. The game revolves [10] Rydia: Mother, you can't die! Just because your dragon
did... Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV DS
around Ceodore, the son of Cecil and Rosa, with most
. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
of the original cast members returning, some of whom
are featured in more prominent roles than before, among [11] Ocer of Baron: Our orders come directly from His
other new characters.* [111]* [112] After the mobile reMajesty's own mouth. Surrender the girl, and he will parlease, it was hinted that The After Years would be redon all you've done. The inhabitants of Mist represent a
leased outside of Japan.* [113] On March 25, 2009, an
threat to us all. They must not be allowed to live! Square
Enix (2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo
announcement was made by Satoru Iwata during NinDS. Square Enix.
tendo's GDC 2009 Keynote speech that the U.S. would
see The After Years released later that year on the Wii's [12] Tellah: My daughter Anna was tricked by a silver-tongued
WiiWare service.* [114] The rst two chapters were rebard. He's taken her to Damcyan Castle. I fear I've little
leased on June 1, 2009 in North America and June 5,
time. I sense something sinister. Square Enix (2008-072009 in PAL territories, with the additional chapters be22).Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
ing released in the following months.* [115]* [116]
A two-volume novelization of Final Fantasy IV was released in Japan on December 25, 2008.* [117]* [118]
[13] Edward: The Red Wings laid siege to us, led by a man
named Golbez. Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
[14] Tellah: Tears do not bring back the dead, boy! Anna's
death must be avenged. I'll nd this Golbez! Square Enix
(2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS.
Square Enix.
85
was hoping I'd get to see your kids someday, but, well-someone's got to keep Yang company! You get yourselves
back to Baron. Talk to my boys there! / Rydia: But Cid!
You'll die! / Cid: And so young, too! Square Enix (200807-22). Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square
Enix.
[15] Kain: It's been some time, Cecil. / Cecil: Kain! You're
alive! / Kain: I am. / Cecil: You'll ght, then? / Kain: Of
course. That's the very reason I've come. But, Cecil...The [23] Golbez: Kain...Return to me, my pawn...Deliver to me
the Crystal... / Cecil: Golbez! / Cecil: Kain! / Rosa:
one I'll ght is you! / Cecil: Kain!? / Kain: A duel,
Don't listen! Resist him! / Kain: It's alright. I...I'm back
Cecil! / Cecil: What do you mean? / Kain: Draw your
in control of myself. / Edge: You lthy double-crosser! /
blade! Square Enix (2008-07-22).Final Fantasy IV DS
Rosa: Kain. What are you doing!? /Golbez: You under. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
estimate the strength of my abilities. I had but slackened
[16] Elder: First you must ascend the mountain and trade your
your friend's leash, waiting for the proper moment to pull
dark sword for one of light. Should the hallowed light
it taut. With this nal Crystal, the Tower of Babil will be
deem you worthy, you will be made a paladin--a warrior
made complete. Come, Kain. / Cecil: Kain! Don't listen
of virtue. But know it will be no easy trail. Many are the
to him! Kain! / Kain: The Crystals are all assembled.
man who have scaled the mountain, but not one has reWe can open the way to the moon at last! Square Enix
turned. Will you try where all others have failed? / Cecil:
I will! Square Enix (2008-07-22).Final Fantasy IV DS
Square Enix.
. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
[24] Elder: She is risen! The promised Ship of Light... The
[17] Cecil: Weren't you planning to go after Golbez?. /Tellah:
Lunar Whale! Square Enix (2008-07-22).Final Fantasy
Yes, but my magic is no match for a man of his strength.
IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
I've been searching for the legendary magic of Meteor. It
has been long sealed away, and I know not where. But [25] 'Cecil: And the Lunar Whale, where did it come from?
/ Fusoya: Ah, the ship...My younger brother Kluya built
I feel a powerful aura radiating from this place. I believe
that vessel long ago, and ew it to the Blue Planet. He took
the spell I seek may well rest within this mountain. Square
with him several of our secrets, such as the ones employed
in your Devil's Road and in airships--a gift to your people.
DS. Square Enix.
Kluya was fascinated by your planet and wished to know
[18] Cecil: What have you done with the king!? / King of
more about it. And while he was there, he fell in love
Baron: Would you like to go and see him, that king of
with a woman of your planet. Square Enix (2008-07-22).
yours? You best not mistake me for another Scarmiglione.
Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
How one as weak as he came to be crowned an archend
is something I will never know. Mwa ha ha! / Cecil: Then [26] Fusoya: He thought it t that we should simply raze all
existing life on the Blue Planet and claim it as our own. /
you're one of them! / King of Baron: Behold! I am the
Rydia: That's horrible... / Fusoya: Yes. And so I used
Drowned King, Cagnazzo--archend of water and sworn
my powers to force him into hibernation with the others.
servant of Golbez! Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final
But as he slept, his will grew stronger and took on a conFantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
sciousness all its own. It reached out to men with tainted
[19] Cecil: Where's Rosa? She's safe, I trust. / Kain: Heh.
hearts on your planet, twisting them into beings yet darker
Worried about her, are you? If you wish to see Rosa alive,
still. And through them, he began to gather the Crystals.
fetch me the Earth Crystal from the land of Troia.Square
/ Cecil: So he was manipulating Golbez! / Edge: Does
this guy have a name? / Fusoya: His name is Zemus. The
DS. Square Enix.
Crystals function as a source of energy you see. I fear he
has gathered them in order to activate the interdimenional
[20] Golbez: So, the old man's interference severed my hold
elevator within the Tower of Babil. With it, he will be able
over you. No matter. Your purpose is served. Do not
to transport the Giant of Babil to your planet and use it to
think this aront will be forgiven. / Cecil: Why...why now
extinguish all life there.Square Enix (2008-07-22).Final
stay your hand?/Golbez: You're--You..But--how?...? We
Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
will nish this another time. Square Enix (2008-07-22).
Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
[27] Golbez: My father... His name was Kluya. / Rosa: That
you're Cecil's own... / Edge: Brother!? Square Enix
[21] Cecil: Kain, we've lost the Earth Crystal. Golbez holds
all them now. / Kain: No. he holds four. / Rosa: You
Square Enix.
mean to say there are more? / Cid: Come to think it, I've
heard tales of others! You speak of the Dark Crystals? / [28] Zeromus: I am the wellspring of darkness, fed by ZeKain: I do. / Kain: There is more. He said when all of
mus's unbridled hate. I am He who is called Zeromus...
the Crystals were gathered, the way to the moon would be
I am He who know naught but hate! Square Enix (2008opened. Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV
07-22). Final Fantasy IV DS. Nintendo DS. Square
DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
Enix.
[22] Cid: Once you breach surface, I'll seal o that hold for
good--with this! / Rosa: No! Not you too! / Cid: I
[29] Golbez: I cannot return. Not after I have done. And I

would very much like to meet my father's people. At least
86
one time. Square Enix (2008-07-22). Final Fantasy IV

DS. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
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[117] Final Fantasy IV Novel Vol.1 (in Japanese). 2008-12-25.
p. 240. ISBN 4-7575-2458-7.
tales as a new villain appears, setting into action a mysterious chain of events that threatens the fate of the Blue
Planet.* [3] Largely utilizing assets, locations, and mechanics from its predecessor, the title nevertheless incorporates higher quality character graphics and several new
gameplay systems.* [7]* [8]
2.5.1 Gameplay
[118] Final Fantasy IV Novel Vol.2 (in Japanese). 2008-12-25.

p. 256. ISBN 4-7575-2459-5.
2.4.9
External links
Nintendo Final Fantasy IV Advance Ocial Website. Archived from the original on 2008-01-29.
Square Enix Final Fantasy IV Advance Ocial
Website (Japanese)
Square Enix Final Fantasy IV for Mobile Ocial
Website (Japanese)
2.5 Final Fantasy IV: The After

Years
A battle from the WiiWare version of the game, showcasing the

Age of the Moonsystem with four party members. The text
colors of the abilities shown in the lower part of the screenshot
indicate their eectiveness: white abilities remain unchanged, red
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is an episodic role- abilities are weaker and green abilities are stronger than normal.
playing video game co-developed by Matrix Software and

Square Enix, and the sequel to the 1991 title Final Fantasy IV. Originally released in Japan as a mobile game in
2008, an enhanced WiiWare port of the title was released
in North America, Europe and Japan in 2009.* [3]* [4]* [5]
In 2011, the game was bundled with Final Fantasy IV
as the PlayStation Portable compilation Final Fantasy IV:
The Complete Collection, which also included a new game;
Final Fantasy IV: Interlude, which served as a bridge between the original game and The After Years. Using the
same style as the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy
IV, this game was remade for Android and iOS platform.* [6]
Its initial mobile release in 2008 for Japanese feature
phone users were under the title Final Fantasy IV the After: Tsuki no Kikan (IV
- - Fainaru Fantaj F Ji Afut -Tsuki
no Kikan-, lit. Final Fantasy IV the After: Return of
the Moon). The Japanese WiiWare port and PlayStation Portable compilation Final Fantasy IV: The Complete
Collection later adapted the Western title, renaming the
game to Final Fantasy IV the After Years: Tsuki no Kikan
(IV
- - Fainaru Fantaj F Ji Afut Iyzu -Tsuki
no Kikan-).
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years uses most of the gameplay features of Final Fantasy IV, including random encounters and the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which
originated with Final Fantasy IV. It also retains a number of the graphical enhancements from the WonderSwan
Color and Game Boy Advance versions of Final Fantasy IV, while further improving the quality of character
sprites to a level comparable with those of Final Fantasy
VI.* [7]
The battle system uses a new feature called the Age of
the Moon, reecting the game's lunar phases changing
with each rest at an inn, or over a set period of in-game
time. The altering phases change physical and magical attack powers for both player characters and enemies. Certain rare monsters also only appear during certain lunar
phases.* [8] The game also introduces a new type of combination attack known as a Bandability. Similar to
the Double and Triple Techs of Chrono Trigger, these allow two or more characters to coordinate separate commands into a single new attack at the cost of MP from
all involved. Band abilities are extremely powerful, and
there are over 70 dierent combinations in all.* [8]
Set 17 years after Final Fantasy IV, The After Years fol- 2.5.2
lows the original cast and their descendants in episodic
Plot
2.5. FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS

Setting
Following the events of the original Final Fantasy IV, the
second moon leaves the Blue Planet's orbit, and a period
of peace begins as Damcyan, Eblan, and the Village of
Mist are rebuilt, while the Kingdom of Baron comes under the rule of Cecil and his wife, Rosa. However, seventeen years later, the second moon reappears, much closer
to the planet than it was the rst time, and the unchanging
Crystals begin to emit a soft light. The meaning behind
these events, however, remains unknown.* [3]
Most of the cast from the original game return, with many
of Final Fantasy IV 's NPCs now playable. A number of
entirely new characters are also introduced.* [7] Amongst
these new additions are Ceodore Harvey, Prince of Baron
and son to Cecil and Rosa; the Hooded Man, a wandering swordsman enshrouded in purple robes who seems
strangely familiar with Cecil's previous adventure; the
Mysterious Woman, a female antagonist able to summon Eidolons, who attacks the kingdoms in search of the
Crystals,* [3] and theMan in Black, a man with powerful black magic who refuses to reveal his past. The
storyline of the game unfolds through episodic chapters,
released roughly once a month, each primarily focused
on a specic character. These chapters utilize foreshadowing, clihangers, ashbacks, and a nonlinear narrative structure to build the world setting and both explore
and expand upon the mysterious events befalling the Blue
Planet. The nal chapter, which is considerably longer
than all others, draws all of the chapters together, linking
them up into one unifying narrative.
89
tacked by a group of monsters, and is about to be killed
when he is rescued by a Hooded Man. As the two head towards Mysidia, the game intercuts to Mt. Ordeals, where
Kain is heading out towards Baron. Along the way, he
gathers the Crystals of Air, Earth, Fire and Water at the
request of the Mysterious Woman. Eventually, he kidnaps Rosa as well, stating that he is planning to kill Cecil
so he can have Rosa for himself. Meanwhile, Ceodore,
the Hooded Man, and Edward intercept Kain in front of
Cecil's throneroom. At this point, it is revealed that the
Hooded Man is in fact the real Kain, and the Kain that
has taken the crystals and Rosa is Kain's dark half.
After their duel, the true Kain wins and becomes a Holy
Dragoon. Kain, Ceodore, Rosa and Edward continue on
their way to meet Cecil as the rst episode ends.
The second episode begins with Rydia, Luca and Edge

on board an airship in the subterranean world. The Man
in Black mysteriously appears from nowhere and takes
control of the airship, directing it towards Baron. As the
party approaches the castle, they witness meteors from
the second moon bombard the world. They return to
Baron Castle to nd it sealed by a magical force eld.
The four travel the world searching for their lost friends,
encountering the Mysterious Woman again, and helping
Rydia search for her missing Eidolons. After breaking
the Mysterious Woman's control over Titan, Shiva, Ramuh, and Ifrit, the party are able to enter Baron Castle
and nd Cecil threatening Ceodore, Rosa and Kain. After freeing Cecil from the Mysterious Woman's control,
the Man in Black reveals himself to be Golbez, Cecil's
brother. By this stage, the second moon is getting closer
to the Blue Planet and the party realize they have to nd
a way to stop it. Boarding the Lunar Whale they land
Synopsis
on the second moon and descend into its depths. During
the descent, the party encounters several bosses from the
The story begins as characters from the original game be- other Final Fantasy games. Eventually, they encounter
gin to notice the re-appearance of the second moon. This Cecil's evil side, the Dark Knight. Once the Dark Knight
is of great concern to Cecil and Rosa who remember their is defeated, Cecil returns to the Light.
previous ordeal. Meanwhile, Ceodore sets out with Biggs
and Wedge, members of the Red Wings, as part of his Once the party reach the lowermost depths of the second
initiation into the famous air force. Ceodore is a nervous moon, they discover the Mysterious Woman is not a sinyoung man who is afraid he will never step out of the gle individual. Each Mysterious Woman was part of a
shadow of his famous parents. As his test begins, he de- group of beings created to retrieve the crystals. Venturscends into a cave to obtain the Knight's Emblem, which ing further, they encounter an entity known as The Creturns out to be a rat's tail. Wedge and Biggs explain that ator. He reveals that his race died out due to a failure to
the purpose of the test was to show him that he already evolve. The Creator decided that the universe should not
had what it takes to be a Red Wing, he just needed to be allowed to be overrun with inferior species so he creprove it to himself. As the Red Wings set o, the game ated the crystals and sent them to various life-sustaining
cuts to Baron, where Cecil, Rosa, and Cid are defend- worlds as a way to monitor the progress of life on each
ing the city from an onslaught of monsters. After sur- planet. He determined if the world did not evolve to its
viving several waves of attacks they meet the Mysterious fullest potential it must be destroyed, which is what is curWoman. Cecil asks Cid to take Rosa to safety as he con- rently happening to the Blue Planet. After the party defronts the intruder. The woman summons Bahamut and feats the Creator, the moon starts to break apart. The
Mysterious Women turn on their fatherand defeat
defeats Cecil.
the Creator so the party can escape. As the Creator dies
Meanwhile, the airship carrying Ceodore also encoun- he thanks the party for defeating him, indicating he may
ters monsters. The airship crashes killing everyone but have felt some regret for his actions. Once the party reCeodore. Realizing he is now the last of the Red Wings, turns to the Planet, they return to their various homes to
he sets out on the long journey home. However, he is at-
90
resume their lives. Cecil informs Ceodore that he shall male characters in order to make their clothing less reserve in the Red Wings under the command of Kain. Ce- vealing.
cil also orders all of Baron's airships to be disarmed and
instead be used to help the other kingdoms rebuild after
2.5.4 Releases
the devastation caused by the second moon.
2.5.3
Development
First announced shortly before the release of the

enhanced remake of Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo
DS, executive producer Takashi Tokita stated that while
directing the remake, there was talk of creating an after story, as well as discussion about working on a new
mobile title. Tokita, who had grown attached to the characters, having also previously worked as scenario writer
for the original game, decided that releasing the sequel
in mobile format would be a good idea, as it would allow
players to access the game only a short while after completing the DS remake. By releasing it in episodic format,
he also hoped that players would anticipate future chapters in much the same way as an anime or manga series,
rather than tiring of the game after completing it all at
once.* [9]
Although the look and feel of the game has remained
largely unchanged from that of the original Final Fantasy IV, new gameplay elements were incorporated, and
Kazuko Shibuya, 2D sprite artist for the rst six Final
Fantasy games, returned to create new, higher quality
character graphics. Yoshitaka Amano also returned as
image illustrator, with character designs by Akira Oguro,
a previous colleague of Tokita's and storyboard artist for
Square Enix. Much of Nobuo Uematsu's original musical for Final Fantasy IV is also included, although new
compositions are also used.* [10]
After the mobile release, sta involved in the development of the game hinted that the title could get a release
outside of Japan.* [11] A rating by the ESRB for a Wii
game titled Final Fantasy IV: The After Years was discovered in late February 2009, leading to speculation regarding a North American localization of the game distributed via WiiWare.* [12] This was ocially conrmed
at the 2009 Game Developers Conference.* [4] Square
Enix also trademarked The After Years in Europe, hinting at a release in that territory as well.* [13] This was
conrmed with the opening of the ocial site, which provided a PEGI rating for the title.* [14]
Originally released to the Japanese mobile phone market as Final Fantasy IV the After: Tsuki no Kikan, the
rst two installments of the episodic game, Prologue
and Ceodore's Tale, were published simultaneously
for each individual platform. A series of eight supplemental tales were then released in intervals of about four
weeks. These were followed by a seminal installment,
Shketsu Hen 'Tsuki no Inryoku'" (lit.Gathering Tale:
Gravitation of the Moon), which required that the player
has completed the supplemental Kain's Tale. The
game's nale was released in two parts as Shsh Zenpen 'Shingetsu'" (lit. Last Chapter Part One 'The True
Moon'") and Shsh Khen 'Hoshikui'" (lit. Last
Chapter Part Two 'The Planet Eater'").
An enhanced port of the game was published through
the WiiWare service in 2009. Although it retained the
episodic format used in the mobile version, the release
structure was modied. The player purchases the main
story consisting of the Prologue, Ceodore's Tale
and Kain's Tale, while the additional supplemental
installments were subsequently released as add-ons. The
penultimate episode and the two-part nale were combined into a single nal installment called The Crystals: The Planet Eater. In both versions, the player is
able to save their settings as well as their characters' status and equipment at the end of gameplay, and can also
further explore each tale to discover new items and complete special tasks. The complete game was bundled with
Final Fantasy IV and a new scenario (Final Fantasy IV:
Interlude) as the PlayStation Portable compilation Final
Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, released in 2011. A
3D remake in the same vein as the 3D remake of Final
Fantasy IV was released for iOS and Android on November 24, 2013.
2.5.5 Reception
On August 1, 2008, Square Enix issued a press release

announcing that Final Fantasy IV: The After Years had
reached a benchmark of one million downloads (not including downloads of the free prologue chapter) in the
*
The WiiWare port of the game features several graphical rst ve months following its initial release. [15] As of
enhancements over the mobile version, including larger March* 25, 2009, it has exceeded three million paid downscreen resolution, clearer menu screens and fonts, and im- loads. [4]
proved character portraits. The English localization fol- Reviews of the WiiWare port of the game have been genlows the precedents set by the DS remake of Final Fan- erally positive, with an overall score of 75% at Gamtasy IV, featuring similar writing and making use of the eRankings.com.* [16] IGN gave the game an 8 out of
same translations of names and terminology. A few ed- 10, calling the story engrossing but mysteriousand
its have been made to the English version, including the stating that the gameplay, graphics, and presentation,
modication of Ceodore's ocial character artwork to whiledated,arepart of the charm.* [17] However,
Westernize his face, as well as alterations to several fe- GameSpot gave the game a score of only 5.5 out of 10,
2.6. FINAL FANTASY V
91
saying that it had a disjointed, poorly constructed nar- [17] Jeremy Dunham (2009-06-17). Final Fantasy IV: The
After Years Review. IGN. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
rativeand an excessively high encounter rate, and criticized recycledcontent such as the music, graphics,
environments, and story.* [18] Jason Schreier of Kotaku [18] Lark Anderson (2009-06-17). Final Fantasy IV: The
After Years Review for Wii. GameSpot. Retrieved
also gave the game an extremely negative review, calling
2009-06-21.
*
itthe worst Final Fantasy game. [19] The After Years
was nominated for Game of the Year by Nintendo Power, [19] http://kotaku.com/5924569/
as well as WiiWare Game of the Year.* [20]
forget-mystic-quest-this-is-the-worst-final-fantasy-game
2.5.6
See also
2.5.7
References
[20] Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. p. 73.
[1] http://dlgames.square-enix.com/ff/ff4tay/en/
[2] Yin-Poole, Wesley (26 September 2013). FF4: The
After Years iOS and Android port out this winter.
Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 29 September
2013.
[3] A new tale about the moon is spun on mobile phones
Final Fantasy IV the After: Tsuki no Kikan[Interview
and Pictures]". 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
[4] Square Enix Announces New Downloadble Titles for
Nintendo's Wii (Press release). Square Enix. 2009-0325. Retrieved 2009-03-25.

Ocial Japanese website (WiiWare version)
Ocial Japanese website (feature phone version)
Ocial Japanese website (smart phone version)
Final Fantasy Wiki page
2.6 Final Fantasy V
[5] Dprez, Rgis (2009-07-08). FFIV The After Years:

new images. Gamekyo. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
Final Fantasy V (V Fainaru

Final Fantasy 4: The After Years coming to iOS, Android Fantaj Faibu) is a medieval-fantasy role-playing video
game developed and published by Square (now Square
this winter [Update]
Enix) in 1992 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The
V-Jump Magazine, February 2008 Issue
game rst appeared only in Japan on Nintendo's Super
Famicom
(known internationally as the Super Nintendo
Famitsu Magazine, March 2008 Issue
Entertainment System). It has been ported with minor
Famitsu.com (2007-12-28). Takashi Tokita Talks Fi- dierences to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Game
nal Fantasy IV the After: Return of the Moon". Retrieved Boy Advance. An original video animation produced in
2008-03-20.
1994 called Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals serves
as
a sequel to the events depicted in the game. It was reYoshi Sato (1up.com) (2007-12-19). More Details on
leased for the PlayStation Network on April 6, 2011 in
Final Fantasy IV's Sequel. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
Japan. An enhanced port of the game, with new high resO'Connor, Michael (2008-09-20). Final Fantasy IV se- olution graphics and touch-based interface, was released
quel coming to the west?".
for iPhone and iPad on March 28, 2013 with Android
Hateld, Daemon (2009-02-27). Final Fantasy IV Se- released on September 25, 2013.
quel Heads to Wii. IGN. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
[13] Spencer (2009-02-23). FFIV Sequel Coming Here As

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years?". Siliconera. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
[14] Ocial United Kingdom Final Fantasy IV: The After
Years site
[15] Square Enix (2008-08-01).i EZweb
IV
5 100
" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-08-03.
The game begins as a wanderer named Bartz investigates

a fallen meteor. There, he encounters several characters,
one of whom reveals the danger facing the four Crystals
that control the world's elements. These Crystals act as
a seal on Exdeath, an evil sorcerer. Bartz and his party
must keep the Crystals from being exploited by Exdeath's
inuence and prevent his resurgence.
Final Fantasy V has been praised for the freedom of

customization that the player has over the characters,
achieved through the greatly expanded Job System. Despite being released only in Japan, the Super Famicom
version sold more than two million copies. The PlaySta[16] Final Fantasy IV: The After Years for Wii. tion version has earned "Greatest Hits" status, selling
GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
more than 350,000 copies.
92
2.6.1
Gameplay
Final Fantasy V includes many standard role-playing elements as well as renovated features introduced in earlier Final Fantasy games. Players navigate from a topdown perspective; a traversable overworld connects the
various towns, dungeons, and other points of interest.
The player can traverse the overworld by foot, Chocobo,
hydra-guided ship, wind drake, or airship, depending on
the situation. Most towns contain scattered inns for resting, shops for purchasing equipment, and people from
whom the player can gain information. The player may
also embark on several side quests that become available
as the story progresses.* [6] Characters grow in strength
by gaining experience points from random encounters
with monsters on the overworld or in a dungeon. Experience culminates in a level up, in which character The Job System is a dening feature of Final Fantasy V
attributes, such as hit points or magic power, increase.
A menu-based management system allows the player to
equip, heal, and change each character's selected job out- points.* [7] Characters gain job levels after accumulating
side of battle as well as to save the game's progress.* [7] AP; as with regular levels, the required amount of expeFinal Fantasy V is the second Final Fantasy game to use rience increases after each job level. AP and job levels
the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, in which time ows do not transfer from class to class. As job levels increase,
continuously for both the player and enemies during com- new skills become available for the character to use in a
bat.* [7] This system was rst established in Final Fantasy new form of customization; characters learn job-specic
IV, but in that game there was no way to visibly anticipate abilities that may be transferred to a new job. For examwhich character's turn would come up next.* [8] In Final ple, a character with the Knight job who has also earned
Fantasy V, the player can see which playable character's job levels as a Black Mage may set Black Magic as a secturn is next in battle, in the form of a time gaugeor ondary command, enabling both Black Mage and Knight
ATB Barwhich lls according to a character's speed. abilities in battle. The nature of these abilities varies;
When the selected character's turn arrives, the player can while some serve as special commands in battle, others
execute one of several commands, such as attacking the may be innate to the class or activated automatically when
enemy with an equipped weapon, using a special ability conditions are met, such as the Thief's Cautionskill,
*
sysor item, or changing the character's row position.* [9] The which prevents rear attacks from enemies. [11] This
*
tem
allows
for
deeper
customization
of
characters.
[12]
ATB mechanic with a gauge, as seen in Final Fantasy V,
is used in four of the following titles in the series.* [1]
2.6.2 Plot
Job System
Setting
See also: Final Fantasy character classes
The main feature of the gameplay of Final Fantasy V
is the Job System. Players can freely select jobs (also
called classes) for their characters to master, allowing each character to gain special abilities and potentially
master all 22 jobs (26 in the Game Boy Advance version).
Each character begins with only the Freelancerclass;
to gain access to new jobs, players must acquire crystal
shards.* [7] This system is basically an improved version
of the one in Final Fantasy III; several older jobs were either reused or revamped for Final Fantasy V, such as the
Black Mage and Thief. The game also introduces several classes to the series, including the Blue Mage, Time
Mage, and Mime.* [10] Each of these classes has been
featured in numerous Final Fantasy installments since.
The backstory of Final Fantasy V is revealed in phases

through cutscenes and interactions with non-playable
characters. One millennium before the events of the main
story, a powerful mage named Enuo imperiled the world
using the power of an evil entity called theVoid. The
people retaliated by using twelve legendary weapons to
vanquish Enuo; however, the Void itself could not be destroyed. Consequently, the people split the world's four
elemental Crystals into two sets, eectively creating two
worlds. The Void then became sealed in a dimensional
cleft between the two worlds.* [13]
Nearly a thousand years passed without incident, and

both worlds prospered due to the powers of their Crystals of Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth. New kingdoms
Once the player gains access to the job system, char- and towns ourished, and travel by ship acted as a critiacters begin to earn a separate form of experience cal means of commerce and communication. However, a
Ability Points in conjunction with regular experience sinister force was stirring in the second worldever since

the Void incident, malicious demons had been sealed inside a tree in the Great Forest of Moore. The corrupted
amalgamation of spirits emerged as Exdeath, the game's
primary antagonist. When Exdeath attempted to claim
the world for himself, a group of heroes called theFour
Warriors of Dawn(Galuf, Xezat, Dorgann, and Kelger)
sealed him within the rst world using its Crystals, and
peace returned for another thirty years.* [14]
93
Story
Final Fantasy V begins on a day when the world's wind
currents begin to slow and stale. Deeply troubled by this
occurrence, the king of Tycoon makes ready to travel to
the Wind Shrine on the back of his drake, quelling the
worries of his daughter, Princess Lenna. Upon arriving
at the Shrine, the king bears witness to the Wind Crystal
shattering before his eyes.
Meanwhile, a young traveller named Bartz, resting in the

woods near Tycoon, witnesses a meteorite plunge to the
planet's surface just outside the castle. Bartz promptly investigates, discovering Lenna lying unconscious from attack. After rescuing her, they discover an old man in the
debris with partial amnesia named Galuf. Lenna explains
that she had been on her way to the Wind Shrine after her
father. Galuf suddenly recalls that it was his original destination as well, opting to accompany her. Though the
trio part ways, Bartz soon encounters Lenna and Galuf
again assaulted by monsters in a quaking valley. The three
travel together, nding all land routes blockaded by the
upheavals caused by the meteorite's fall. Exploring an
underground cavern, they encounter a den of pirates and
their leader, Faris. With the help of the pirate captain, the
Concept art of the playable characters of Final Fantasy V by group makes its way to the Wind Shrine to discover the
Yoshitaka Amano; from left, Bartz, Krile, Lenna, and Faris
shattered Crystal, but no sign of the missing king. The
shards react to their presence, however, and an image of
that they must proFinal Fantasy V features ve player characters, though Tycoon appears, explaining to them
*
tect
those
Crystals
that
yet
remain.
[18]
only four of which are playable at a given time. Bartz
Klauser is a traveling adventurer who becomes involved Eventually, the party comes to discover that the Crystals
in the story when he investigates the site of a meteorite formed a seal upon Exdeath; with them destroyed, not
strike. Lenna Charlotte Tycoon is a princess of Tycoon only would the dark essence be released, but over time
who follows her father to investigate the Wind Shrine's the planet itself would become uninhabitable.* [19] The
Crystal. Early on, Bartz nds her unconscious and saves party attempts to save the crystals of Water, Fire, and
her from goblins. Galuf Doe is a mysterious old man Earth; but by the machinations of human folly or the
who was discovered unconscious near the meteorite with inuence of the sealed Exdeath, they fail. Having been
a case of amnesia. Faris Scherwiz is a pirate captain who freed, Exdeath defeats the party and returns to his homecaptures Bartz, Lenna, and Galuf when they try to steal world. Galuf's granddaughter Krile arrives by meteorite,
her ship; she is revealed to be Sarisa Scherwill Tycoon in restoring Galuf's memory completely; he recalls he origidisguise. Krile Mayer Baldesion is the granddaughter of nated from the same world as Exdeath, pursuing him back
Galuf who journeys with him to the planet and receives home with Krile. Bartz and the others resolve that the
ght is not Galuf's alone, together traveling to the distant
his abilities.* [15]
Most of the main characters were involved with or re- planet world, where Exdeath is already wreaking havoc
lated to the original Four Warriors of Dawn, such as Dor- in pursuit of that world's Crystals. The trio is captured,
gann Klauser (Bartz's father), Kelger Vlondett, and Xezat but Galuf rescues them and defeats Exdeath's lieutenant,
Matias Surgate; Galuf was the fourth warrior. The game Gilgamesh, in the process. They are blown to a distant
also contains several supporting characters, including en- continent when a magical barrier is activated during their
but make their way to Val Castle, Galuf's kinggineer Cid Previa, his grandson Mid Previa, and turtle escape,
*
dom.
[20]
sage Ghido. One of Exdeath's henchmen, Gilgamesh, is
Characters
a recurring mini-boss in the second half of the game. Gilgamesh has also appeared in newer Final Fantasy titles,
such as Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XII,* [16]* [17]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 as downloadable content, and Final
Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Concept art for the characters was designed by Yoshitaka Amano; he has oered
such artwork for every main Final Fantasy installment
since the original.
The party meets Xezat, one of Galuf's companions and a

former Warrior of Dawn, and learn that Bartz's father was
part of their group. Joining forces, they deactivate the
barrier around Exdeath's castle, but at the cost of Xezat's
life. They then learn of Exdeath's origins, traveling to the
Guardian Tree to dispel the seals. Exdeath anticipates the
party's actions and torches Moore Forest, ensnaring the
group. Krile arrives to help, but is herself trapped by the
94
warlock's powers. At the sight of his granddaughter's capture, Galuf frees himself and battles Exdeath to the point
of death, refusing to fall until the creature ees. Collapsing from his wounds, Galuf dies despite the party's efforts to save him, imparting his abilities to Krile.* [21]
The party pursues Exdeath to his tower and defeats him,
but the remaining Crystals shatter and the worlds are reunited.
tal, Square employed a team of 45 people to create the

game, and 16 MB of space were used to accommodate
for the sprites, animations, and detailed background. According to GamePro in a May 1993 issue, the Japanese
authorities had asked Square not to release the game during a school day because schoolchildren would skip class
to wait in line for the game.* [30]
For a time, it seems Exdeath has been truly destroyed,

and the party celebrates in Tycoon. Bartz, however, is
contacted by the sage Ghido. Meeting with him, a thorn
suddenly leaps from Faris' palm, manifesting as Exdeath,
now resurrected and fully in command of the Void. With
it, he removes entire towns and kingdoms from existence,
tossing them into a tear in reality.
Fortunately for the party, the reunication of worlds has
opened the pathways to ancient sites where weapons and
powers used to quell Enuo's rise a thousand years past
lay in wait. So armed, the party enters the Rift, seeking out Exdeath at the center of the inter-dimensional
nexus where they, too, fall prey to the Void. With help
from their fallen allies, the party survives and is returned
before Exdeath, now manifested as a demonic sylvan,
battling him until he weakens and is swallowed by his
own power. He then transforms into Neo Exdeath, intent on destroying the very essence of reality, himself
with it.* [22] Exdeath is ultimately defeated, and, using
the power of the Crystal shards, the heroes seal the Void
once more and restore the reunied world and its Crystals. The game's ending varies based on how many party
members are still alive at Neo Exdeath's defeat, detailing
the events after the world's resurrection. At the end, the
remaining group visits the Guardian Tree, and nd that
the fallen party members have returned to life.* [23]
2.6.3
Development
Final Fantasy V was one of the rst games to be fan-translated

in its entirety
The ocial English translation of Final Fantasy V began shortly after the release of the Japanese version. The
game was to be titled "Final Fantasy III" in North America, but the project fell through.* [31] Square then announced that due to its diering tone and much higher
diculty from the rest of the series, they would be releasing it in North America as a standalone game with
a yet-to-be-determined title, rather than part of the Final Fantasy series.* [32] This plan was quickly aborted.
Translator Ted Woolsey explained in a 1994 interview,
"[Final Fantasy V is] just not accessible enough to the
average gamer.* [33] Rumors circulated that a second
attempt at localization would be made and that the game
would be titled Final Fantasy Extreme, but this attempt
was also canceled. A third attempt was made to port the
game to Microsoft Windows-based personal computers
for North American release by developer Top Dog Software, but this was canceled.* [31] Another attempt to port
the game to Windows for North America was handled
by Eidos Interactive" circa 1998 (but it is unclear whether
this is the same version Top Dog Software was working
on or an actual fourth attempt).* [34] The continual canceling of the localization angered fans and led to Final
Fantasy V becoming one of the rst games to receive a
complete fan translation.* [31]
Final Fantasy V was directed by Final Fantasy series

creator Hironobu Sakaguchi who, prior to the release
of Final Fantasy IX, called it his favorite Final Fantasy game.* [24]* [25] The character, image, and title
logo designs were created by series illustrator and image designer Yoshitaka Amano, while the actual character sprites were designed by Kazuko Shibuya.* [26] The
monsters were designed by Tetsuya Nomura.* [24]* [27]
Amano has stated that he counts his depictions of both
Faris from Final Fantasy V and Terra from Final Fantasy VI among his favorite Final Fantasy designs.* [28]
The writing of the scenario text was a collaborative eort
between Sakaguchi and Yoshinori Kitase.* [3] Sakaguchi
conceived the plot and was in charge of it, while Kitase
tried to include more humor to lighten up the relatively
serious story.* [3]* [29] The Job System was designed by
Hiroyuki Ito, who worked on the game as a battle planner Music
alongside Akihiko Matsui.* [1]* [2]* [24] Mode 7 eects
were used in the airship sequences, which moving in the Main article: Music of Final Fantasy V
airship would cause the planet to rotate on its axis. In to-

The game's soundtrack was composed by Nobuo Uematsu and consists of 56 tracks.* [35] A two-disc album
was released alongside the game totaling 67 tracks.* [36]
Uematsu had originally calculated that the game would require more than 100 pieces of music, but he managed to
reduce the number to 56.* [37] The songDear Friends
would become the title piece in the 2004 concert tour
Dear Friends -Music from Final Fantasy-, chosen to reect Uematsu's appreciation for his music's worldwide
fan support.* [38] The song Clash on the Big Bridge
would later be arranged by Hitoshi Sakimoto for the Final
Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack in 2006.* [39]
The album Final Fantasy V: 5+1 was released in 1992
and contained ve songs from the original score as well as
a previously unreleased Super Famicom version ofMatoya's Cavefrom the original 1987 Final Fantasy for the
Nintendo Entertainment System.* [40] A collection of arranged tracks, Final Fantasy V Dear Friends; a 13-track
disc, Piano Collections Final Fantasy V; and a short series
of remixes, Final Fantasy V: Mambo de Chocobo, were
all released in 1993.* [41] Finally, many of the original
songs were included on the North American Final Fantasy Anthology Soundtrack, together with the two-game
compilation.* [42]
2.6.4
Ports and remakes
Final Fantasy V was ported by Tose to the Sony

PlayStation and re-released in Japan on March 19, 1998;
it was included in the 1999 release of Final Fantasy Collection, alongside Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy
VI.* [43]* [44] The PlayStation version boasted two new
full motion video opening and ending sequences and a
memo-savefeature, but the game otherwise remained
unchanged.* [7]* [45] Square released 50,000 limited edition copies of the collection which included a Final Fantasy-themed alarm clock.* [44] In the same year, Square
released the PlayStation compilation Final Fantasy Anthology in North America, which included Final Fantasy V, as well as the PlayStation version of Final Fantasy VI. This would mark the rst time the game was
published outside Japan, nearly seven years after its initial release.* [46] In 2002, Square released this version of
the game in Europe and Australia, this time alongside
Final Fantasy IV.* [47]* [48] The English version of the
game received changes from its original format - most
notably, Faris was given a Cornish pirateaccent and
there was a dierent interpretation of character names,
such as the names Bartzas opposed to Butzand
Gillas opposed to Guido, the ocial romanizations in Japan.* [49] On December 18, 2012 the port was
Ultimate Box Japanese package.* [50]
95
to save their games, a graphical error would occur.* [51]
Square then released a statement that only the look of the
save screen was corrupted, and saving was still possible,
and if players wished, repeatedly going into and out of
the save screen would make a normal screen eventually
appear.* [51] This incompatibility was xed for the PAL
and Greatest Hits releases of Final Fantasy Anthology.
Final Fantasy V was ported a second time by Tose to
the Nintendo Game Boy Advance as Final Fantasy V
Advance, which was released on October 12, 2006, in
Japan, November 6, 2006, in North America, and April
20, 2007, in Europe.* [52] Similar to the Game Boy Advance re-releases of its predecessors, this version features updated graphics, though the changes are very subtle.* [53] Additional features include four new jobs (Gladiator, Cannoneer, Necromancer, and Oracle), a new dungeon called The Sealed Temple, and a new optional
boss from the back story of Final Fantasy V, Enuo, which
was designed by Tetsuya Nomura, the monster designer
of the original game.* [53]* [54] In addition, the game included a bestiary, a quick save function, music player, and
additional equipment in the style of previous Game Boy
Advance re-releases.* [55] Like the remakes of its predecessors, Final Fantasy V Advance featured a new English
translation.* [53]
The original version of the game was released on the
Virtual Console in Japan in January 2011 for the Wii and
in March 2014 for the Wii U, and the PlayStation version
of the game was re-released on the PlayStation Network
as a PSone Classic in Japan on April 6, 2011, in Europe
on April 13, 2011 and in North America on November
22, 2011.
On April 27, 2010, Square Enix producer Shinji
Hashimoto stated that the development of a remake of
Final Fantasy V for the Nintendo DS is at present undecideddue to technical issues.* [56] However, on
June 24, 2010, he added that a remake for the Nintendo
3DS is being considered, but he would rst have tolook
and see how 3DS does, how it evolves, and then make a
decision. In December 2012 Square Enix announced
that an updated version of the game will be released on
the IOS AppStore.* [57] The enhanced port, which was
developed by Matrix Software, was released on March
28, 2013 on iOS devices, with an Android release on 26
September.* [58] The game features new high resolution
graphics with sprites designed by Kazuko Shibuya, who
did the original game's artwork, new gameplay features
such as movement in eight directions and auto-battle, and
contains the Sealed Temple and super-boss Enuo from the
Game Boy Advance release.* [58]
2.6.5 Sequel
Following the release of the PlayStation 2, Sony reported

that the new system had compatibility issues with the Main article: Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals
Final Fantasy V half of Final Fantasy Anthology.* [51]
The game experienced a bug where if players attempted In 1994, Square released an original video animation se-
96
quel to Final Fantasy V, simply titled Final Fantasy. Produced by animation studio Madhouse, the anime was released in four 30-minute VHS tapes in Japan and was set
two hundred years after the game.* [59]* [60] The story
focuses on four warriors, one of them the descendant of
Bartz,* [61] protecting the Wind Crystal from the villain
Deathgyunos, who pursues it to achieve godhood.* [62] It
was localized by Urban Vision in 1998 and released in
two VHS volumes for North America under the title Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals.* [63]
2.6.6
Reception
Final Fantasy V has sold 2.45 million units on the Super

Famicom,* [73] (including 2 million copies during its rst
two months of release* [30]) while the Japanese Game
Boy Advance version has sold nearly 260,000 copies as of
December 2007.* [74] Final Fantasy Collection sold over
400,000 copies in 1999, making it the 31st best selling
release of that year in Japan.* [75] The North American
release of Final Fantasy Anthology sold 364,000 copies
as of 2004.* [72]* [76]
features. They further stated that while the game's characters seemed unlikable and that the plot feltpredictable
or trite, they felt the game was still more sophisticated
than most games at the time, giving the game a score of
8.5.* [70] Nintendo Power stated thatwhile playing Final
Fantasy V is a chore on the PlayStation, it's good fun on
the GBA because of the vastly improved translation and
new features, further calling it thedenitiveversion
of one of the series' best titles.* [80] IGN gave the game a
score of 8.5, calling it amust-ownfor the portable system and describing it further as always an entertaining
and surprisingly deep role-playing game.* [81] 1UP.com
stated the port of the game from the Super Famicom to
the Game Boy Advance was rock solid, and added
that while the game's story started o at a slow pace, it
gradually improved. The review further praised the addition of features and removal of questionable ones that had
been added to the Anthology version of the game.* [66]
GameDaily gave the game a score of 7/10, noting that
while enjoyable, the high encounter rate, the necessity to
constantly engage in battle to gain abilities through the job
system, and other aspects made the game feel repetitive
at times.* [71]
While not initially released in North America, the

game received mixed reception from import reviews. 2.6.7 Notes
1UP.com's sta stated that while the game's story was
very weak, the gameplay was another story, heav- [1] Unless otherwise noted, review scores are for the Game
Boy Advance version.
ily praising the job system and the feature to combine
abilities from dierent job classes, and gave it a score of
B-.* [25] Allgame's review shared similar sentiments re2.6.8 References
garding the storyline and job system, adding praise for
the addition of hidden events and items for players to [1] Boulette, Bryan. Square Enix's Finest. RPGamer.
search for, giving the game a score of 3.5 out of 5.* [67]
CraveOnline. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
RPGamer found that the game improved on the visual
presentation, menu system, and overall eld navigation of [2] Coxon, Sachi (2000-03-22).Interview with Square: Part
1. RPGamer. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
Final Fantasy IV, but the maddeningly high encounter
rate,average sound selection, andwashed outcolor [3] Parish, Jeremy (2010-02-24). Final Fantasy: Kitase's
Inside Story. 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Retrieved
palette hurt the game's presentation, giving it a score of
September 11, 2010.
5/10.* [77]
Critics likewise gave mixed reviews of the Anthology version of the game. GameSpot criticized the game for havingpaper-thin charactersand a cliche plot, augmented
by a lack of character development during the game's
fetch quests. They went further to say that the translation was terrible and overshadowed by the two previous
fan eorts.* [12] IGN called Final Fantasy V's graphics
datedbut citedincredibly engrossingjob system as
the game's highlight and praised its music.* [78] Electronic
Gaming Monthly repeated the sentiments towards the job
system, adding that while the game suered from long
load times periodically, Final Fantasy V was the main
reason to buy the collection.* [79]
In comparison, reviews of the Game Boy Advance rerelease of the game were mostly positive. GameSpot's review regarded the game more favorably than its PlayStation counterpart, calling it better than everand citing
the strong localization of the script and extensive special
[4] Charles McCarter (November 3, 2011). Announcing

Square Enix's Winter of RPGs Campaign. PlayStation
Blog. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
[5] Spencer (May 28, 2011). Final Fantasy V Masters Job
As PSN Download In North America. Siliconera. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
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[8] Falcon, Jade (2006-01-01).Final Fantasy IVReview
[9] Meyers, Andy (2006). Final Fantasy V Advance: The
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ISBN 1-59812-017-4.
[11] Meyers, Andy (2006). Final Fantasy V Advance: The Ofcial Nintendo Player's Guide. Nintendo. pp. 17, 20.
ISBN 1-59812-017-4.
[12] Vestal, Andrew (1999-09-30). GameSpot Review.
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Square Electronic Arts. Gill: A thousand years ago the
evil presence Enuo held the power of the Void. A long
battle ensued, and nally the people defeated Enuo with
the twelve legendary weaponsbut the Void could not be
destroyed. As a last resort they split the crystals, which in
turn split the two worlds. They then sealed the Void in the
N-zone between the two worlds.
Square Electronic Arts. Galuf: I am not from this earth! I
came by meteorite from another planetTo stop the evil
spirit wed sealed up 30 years earlierFrom reviving
itself
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ISBN 0-7440-0837-9.
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If it does, it will turn all to darkness
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. Game Boy Advance. Square Electronic Arts. Narrator: In the beginning, there was only the Void... But from
the Void came four essences. They formed the crystals,
and the world was born. Hope blessed the earth. Courage
blazed into ame. Care and devotion turned water into
the seeds of life. The passion for knowledge spread intelligence and wisdom on the winds. If ever the Void threatens to engulf the world, so long as the four essences still
exist in man, light will be born anew. The four essences
shall rise from the Void and weave light once again.
[24] Square Co., Ltd. (1992-12-06). Final Fantasy V.
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FF FINAL
FANTASY TRIBUTE THANKS
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[19] Square Co (1999-09-30). Final Fantasy V. PlayStation. Square Electronic Arts. Lenna: For a while, nothing would changebut gradually, the earth would decay
and the waters would stagnate. Fire would grow cold, and
the earth would become uninhabitable.
[32]An RPG Dilemma. Electronic Gaming Monthly (59)

(EGM Media, LLC). June 1994. p. 14.

Square Electronic Arts. Bartz: Thought you were just
some old geezerbut a king?! / Galuf: Yeah, well/
Bartz: What a surprise!
[34] Davison, John (July 1998). It's Hip to be Square. Electronic Gaming Monthly. p. 128.
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power of Elder's Tree, which protected the crystals for
1000 years. Now I give that power to you
[36] Gann, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben. Final Fantasy V Original Sound Version. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
[33] West, Neil (September 1994). Interview with Ted

Woolsey. Super Play (23). Retrieved 2009-07-02.
[35] Square Enix Music. Square Enix. 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
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N33D-013~4.
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Exdeath: I am Neo Exdeath! All memoriesdimensions [38] Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. Public Relations Team. Dear
existenceall that is shall be returned to nothing! Then
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I, too can disappearforever!
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2.7. FINAL FANTASY VI
[77] Long, Andrew. Final Fantasy VImport Retroview.

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[80]Quote from Chris Homan. Nintendo Power (212)
(Future US). p. 99.
99
instance, it was ranked as the number one RPG of all time
by IGN.* [7] Its Super Nintendo and PlayStation versions
have sold over 3.48 million copies worldwide to date as a
stand-alone game, as well as over 750,000 copies as part
of the Japanese Final Fantasy Collection and the North
American Final Fantasy Anthology. Final Fantasy VI has
won numerous awards since its release.
2.7.1 Gameplay
[81] Dunham, Jeremy (2007-01-08). Final Fantasy V Advance. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
Like previous Final Fantasy installments, Final Fantasy VI consists of four basic modes of gameplay: an
overworld map, town and dungeon eld maps, a battle
screen, and a menu screen. The overworld map is a
scaled-down version of the game's ctional world, which
the player uses to direct characters to various locations.
Ocial Final Fantasy V website (US Anthology ver- As with most games in the series, the three primary means
sion)
of travel across the overworld are by foot, chocobo, and
Nintendo's Ocial Final Fantasy V Advance website airship. With a few plot-driven exceptions, enemies are
randomly encountered on eld maps and on the overworld
Ocial Final Fantasy V Advance website (Japanese) when traveling by foot. The menu screen is where the
player makes such decisions as which characters will be
in the traveling party, which equipment they wield, the
magic they learn, and the conguration of the gameplay.
2.7 Final Fantasy VI
It is also used to track experience points and levels.* [8]
Final Fantasy VI ( VI
Fainaru Fantaj Shikkusu, also known as Final Fantasy
III for the SNES version) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for
the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) platform. Released in 1994, it is the sixth title in the mainline Final Fantasy series. Set in a fantasy world with a
technology level equivalent to that of the Second Industrial Revolution, the game's story focuses on a group of
rebels as they seek to overthrow an imperial dictatorship.
The game features fourteen permanent playable characters, the most of any game in the main series.
It was ported by Tose with minor dierences to Sony's
PlayStation in 1999 and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance
in 2006, and it was released for the Wii's Virtual Console
in Japan in March 15, 2011, followed by the PAL region
on March 18, 2011 and North America on June 30, 2011.
The game was known as Final Fantasy III when it was rst
released in North America, as the original Final Fantasy
III had not been released outside of Japan at the time.
However, most later localizations used the original title.
Final Fantasy VI was the rst game in the series to be
directed by someone other than producer and series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi; the role was lled instead by
Yoshinori Kitase and Hiroyuki Ito. Yoshitaka Amano,
a long-time contributor to the Final Fantasy series, returned as the image and character designer, while regular
composer Nobuo Uematsu wrote the game's score, which
has been released on several soundtrack albums.
The game's plot develops as the player progresses through

towns and dungeons. Town citizens will oer helpful
information and some residents own item or equipment
shops. Later in the game, visiting certain towns will activate side-quests. Dungeons appear as a variety of areas, including caves, sewers, forests, and buildings. These
dungeons often have treasure chests containing rare items
that are not available in most stores. Some dungeons feature puzzles and mazes, which require the player to divide
the characters into multiple parties.* [8]
Combat
Final Fantasy VI was released to critical acclaim and is

seen as a landmark title for the role-playing genre; for A battle in Final Fantasy VI
100
Combat in Final Fantasy VI is menu-based, in which the

player selects an action from a list of such options as
Fight, Magic, and Item. A maximum of four characters
may be used in battles, which are based on the series' traditional Active Time Battle (ATB) system rst featured in
Final Fantasy IV. Under this system, each character has
an action bar that replenishes itself at a rate dependent
on their speed statistic. When a character's action bar is
lled, the player may assign an action. In addition to standard battle techniques, each character possesses a unique
special ability. For example, Locke possesses the ability
to steal items from enemies, while Celes' Runic ability allows her to absorb most magical attacks cast until her next
turn.* [9]
Another element is a powerful attack substitution that occasionally appears when a character's health is low. Similar features appear in later Final Fantasy titles under a variety of dierent names, including Limit Breaks, Desperation Moves, Trances, and Overdrives.* [10] Characters
are rewarded for victorious battles with experience points
and money, called gil (Gold Piece (GP) in the original
North American localization). When characters attain a
certain amount of experience points, they gain a level,
which increases their statistics. An additional player may
play during battle scenarios, with control of individual
characters assigned from the conguration menu.* [9]
Customization
Characters in Final Fantasy VI can be equipped with a
wide variety of weapons, armor and accessories (known
asRelics) to increase their statistics and obtain special
abilities. Most of this equipment can be used by several
dierent characters, and each character may equip up to
two Relics. Relics have a variety of uses and eects, some
of which alter basic battle commands, allow characters to
use multiple weapons, provide permanent status changes
during battle or use protective magical spells in response
to being near death.* [11]
Although only two characters start the game with the ability to use magic, almost every character can learn to do
so. Characters may equip magicite, which enables the
summoning of espers, this game's incarnation of summoned monsters (including several recurring summons
such as Ifrit, Shiva, Bahamut and Odin, along with many
new summons exclusive to Final Fantasy VI), as well as
that of specic magic spells. If a character has a piece of
magicite equipped, he or she will gain Magic Acquisition Pointsafter most battles. As a character gains magic
AP, he or she gradually learns spells from the magicite
equipped and will gain additional statistic bonuses when
leveling up, depending on the magicite.* [12]
2.7.2
Plot
Setting
Final Fantasy VI takes place on a large, unnamed world.
During the course of the game, its geography and landscape change due to various developments in the game's
plot. During the rst half of the game, the world is divided into three major continents and referred to as the
World of Balance. The northern continent is punctuated
by a series of mountain ranges and contains many of the
locations accessible to the player. Most of the southern
continent has been taken over by the Empire, while the
eastern continent is home to a large patch of land called
the Veldt where monsters from all over the world can be
found. Halfway through the game, the world's geographical layout is altered, resulting in its three large continents splitting into several islands of various size situated
around a larger continent at their center. This altered layout of the game's locations is referred to as the World of
Ruin.
In contrast to the medieval settings featured in previous Final Fantasy titles, Final Fantasy VI is set in a
steampunk environment. The structure of society parallels that of the latter half of the 19th century, with opera
and the ne arts serving as recurring motifs throughout
the game,* [13] and a level of technology comparable to
that of the Second Industrial Revolution. Railroads and
steamships are in use, and a coal mining operation is run
in the northern town of Narshe.* [14] Additionally, several examples of modern engineering and weaponry (such
as a chainsaw, drill and automatic crossbow) have been
developed in the Kingdom of Figaro. However, communication systems have not reached signicant levels of development, with letters sent by way of carrier pigeon serving as the most common means of long-distance communication.
A thousand years before the events of the game, three
entities known as the Warring Triad initiated a conict
that would come to be called the War of the Magi. This
quarrel grew to catastrophic proportions, unleashing magical energy into the world which transformed aicted humans into espersmagical beings who themselves were
used as soldiers in the war. Eventually realizing the horric calamity wrought by their hands, the Triad returned
free will to the espers and sealed their own powers, becoming stone statues. Their only request was that the espers ensure their power remain locked away so it might
never be used again.* [15] The espers carried their stone
gods to a hidden land, sealing both the statues and themselves o from the realm of humans. The concept of
magic gradually faded to legend and myth as mankind
built a society extolling science and technology.* [14] At
the game's opening, the most advanced nation is the Empire, a cruel and expanding dictatorship led by Emperor
Gestahl and his clownish general Kefka. Approximately
eighteen years before the events of the game begin, the
barrier between the espers' land and the rest of the world
weakened. Soon after, Gestahl takes advantage of this

and attacks the espers' land, capturing several of them.
Using the espers as a power source, Gestahl initiated
a research program to combine magic with machinery
and infuse humans with magical powers, the result being a craft known as Magitek. Kefka became the
rst experimental prototype of a line of magically empowered soldiers called Magitek Knights, drastically impairing his sanity.* [16] Magitek innovations have allowed
the Empire to supplement its forces with mechanical infantry, armed with Magitek-powered weaponry.* [17] At
the opening of the game, the Empire is on the verge of rediscovering the full potential of magic by reopening the
gateway to the world of the espers. However, Gestahl's
military dominion is opposed by the Returners, a rebel
organization seeking to overthrow the Empire and free
its territories.
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI features fourteen permanent playable
characters, the most of any game in the main series,
as well as several secondary characters who are only
briey controlled by the player. The starting character, Terra Branford, is a reserved half-human, half-esper
girl who spent most of her life as a slave to the Empire, thanks to a mind-controlling device, and is unfamiliar with love.* [18] Other primary characters include
Locke Cole, a treasure hunter and rebel sympathizer with
a powerful impulse to protect women; Celes Chere, a former general of the Empire, who joined the Returners after being jailed for questioning imperial practices; Edgar
Figaro, a consummate womanizer and the king of Figaro, who claims allegiance to the Empire while secretly
supplying aid to the Returners;* [19] Sabin Rene Figaro,
Edgar's brother, who ed the royal court in order to pursue his own path and hone his martial arts skills; Cyan
Garamonde, a loyal knight to the kingdom of Doma who
lost his family and friends as a result of Kefka poisoning the kingdom's water supply; Setzer Gabbiani, a habitual gambler and thrill seeker and owner of the world's
only airship; Shadow, a ninja mercenary, who oers his
services to both the Empire and the Returners at various stages throughout the game; Relm Arrowny, a young
but tough artistic girl with magical powers; Strago Magus, Relm's elderly grandfather and a Blue Mage; Gau, a
feral child surviving since infancy in the harsh wilderness
known as the Veldt; Mog, a Moogle from the mines of
Narshe; Umaro, a savage but loyal sasquatch also from
Narshe, talked into joining the Returners through Mog's
persuasion; and Gogo, a mysterious, fully shrouded master of the art of mimicry.
101
with Emperor Gestahl. The supporting character Ultros
serves as a recurring villain and comic relief throughout
the game. A handful of Final Fantasy VI characters have
reappeared in later games, such as Secret of Evermore.
Additionally, Final Fantasy SGI, a short tech demo produced for the Silicon Graphics Onyx workstation, featured polygon-based 3D renderings of Locke, Terra, and
Shadow.* [20]
Story
Final Fantasy VI begins with Terra Branford participating in an Imperial raid on Narshe in search of a recently
unearthed frozen esper (later identied as Tritoch; Valigarmanda in the GBA retranslation) found in the city's
mines. The esper kills her controllers and the Imperial
control over her is broken, but she is unable to remember anything about her past.* [21] Locke Cole, a treasure hunter, promises to protect her until she can regain her memories and helps her escape to the hideout
of the Returners, a group of militants opposing the Empire. Along the way, they pass through the Kingdom of
Figaro and meet Edgar Roni Figaro, the king, and his
estranged brother, Sabin Rene Figaro, who join them.
Banon, the leader of the Returners, asks for Terra's help
in their struggle against the Empire, and she agrees.* [22]
Just as the resistance is preparing to return to Narshe to
investigate the frozen esper, the Empire attacks South Figaro. Locke heads to the besieged town to slow the Empire's advance, while the rest of the group makes their
way via rafting down the nearby Lethe River. However,
Sabin is separated from the group after a battle with Ultros, self-proclaimed octopus royaltyand a recurring
antagonist, forcing the various members of the Returners
to nd their own ways to Narshe in three dierent scenarios controlled by the player. In Locke's scenario, he
must escape the imperial occupied town of South Figaro
without detection. Sabin has been swept to a distant continent and must nd a way back while Terra, Edgar, and
Banon will continue to oat down the Lethe River back
to Narshe.
Eventually, the original party reunites in Narshe. Locke
brings with him Celes Chere, one of the Empire's own
generals, whom he saved from execution for defying the
Empire's ruthless practices. Sabin brings with him Cyan
Garamonde, whose family was killed during the Empire's
siege of Doma Castle when Kefka ordered the water supply poisoned, and Gau, a feral child he befriended on the
Veldt. In Narshe, the Returners prepare to defend the
frozen esper from the Empire. After the player successfully thwarts the Imperial invasion, Terra approaches the
frozen esper, prompting her to transform into an esperlike form herself. She ies away, confused and horried
by her own transformation.* [23]
Most of the main characters in the game hold a signi- The Returners set out to search for Terra and eventually
cant grudge against the Empire and, in particular, Kefka, trace her to the city of Zozo, though they are still shocked
who serves as one of the game's main antagonists along by her apparent existence as an esper. There, they also
102
meet the esper Ramuh, who tells them that if they free
various other espers from the Magitek Research Facility
in the Empire's capital, Vector, they may nd one who can
help Terra.* [24] Vector is on the southern continent, to
which the Empire does not allow maritime access, so the
Returners go to the Opera House and recruit Setzer Gabbiani, who is believed to be the owner of the Blackjack,
the only airship in the world. They then travel to Vector
and attempt to rescue several espers, including Maduin,
who is revealed to be Terra's father. However, the espers are already dying from the experiments at Vector,
and choose instead to give their lives to transform into
magicitethe crystallized remains of the espers' essences
that form when they die and allow others to use their powers.* [25] The dying espers bestow their magicite upon the
Returners.* [26] Before the group can then escape, Kefka arrives and causes the Returners, including Locke, to
momentarily doubt Celes' loyalty, much to her anguish.
However, she provides proof to them of her support by
covering for the group while the rest escape.* [27] The rest
of the group then returns to Zozo, where Terra reacts to
the magicite of her father, prompting her to gain knowledge of her past and accept herself as the half-human,
half-esper child of Maduin and a human woman.* [28]

forts, they are unable to prevent Kefka and Gestahl from
gaining the power of the statues. Now empowered, Kefka promptly kills Gestahl and moves the statues out of
their proper alignment, upsetting the balance of magical
power and causing the destruction of most of the surface
world. In the disaster, the Returners are separated from
one another as Setzer's airship is torn apart.
One year later, Celes awakens from a coma on a deserted

island and learns that the world has been devastated by
Kefka. Much of its human population has died and its
plant and animal life are slowly being killed by sickness
to punctuate humanity's despair.* [33] Celes sets out from
the Solitary Island to try to reunite with as many of her
friends as she can nd. One by one, in a series of mostly
optional side-quests, the player has the opportunity to reunite the group, all still alive, as well as new allies Umaro
and Gogo. Together, the reunited Returners launch a new
oensive against Kefka, using the Falconan airship that
belonged to a deceased friend of Setzer'sto reach Kefka's Tower and inltrate it. Inside, the Returners battle
their way through Kefka's defenses and destroy the three
statues, the source of Kefka's newfound power. When destroying the statues, once the source of all magic, does not
cause any noticeable reaction, the party realizes that KeAfter reuniting with Terra, the Returners decide that it is fka has successfully drained the Warring Triad of power
time to launch an all-out attack on the Empire, and Banon and has become the source of all magical power.
asks Terra to attempt contacting the espers' land in or- Making a nal stand against Kefka, the characters deder to gain their support.* [29] Terra succeeds in making stroy him, but since the gods' power had come to reside in
contact, and when the espers learn that the others cap- him all magicite begins to shatter and Kefka's magicallytured by the Empire previously have now perished, they
maintained tower begins to crumble. Terra leads the charbecome infuriated and enter the human world, where they acters out as she begins to weaken due to her half-esper
destroy much of Vector. When the Returners arrive in the
heritage.* [34] However, before her father's magicite shatcapital, they nd Emperor Gestahl claiming to no longer ters, his spirit informs her that by holding to the human
have the will to ght, inviting the Returners to a banquet
side of herself, she may survive the passing of magic. In
to negotiate peace. Gestahl asks Terra to deliver a truce the end, the party escapes Kefka's Tower aboard the Falto the espers on his behalf, to which she agrees.* [30] Accon. Terra survives, and the group observes the world's
companied by Locke, Shadow (a ninja mercenary hired communities rejuvenating themselves.
by the Empire for the mission), Generals Celes and Leo,
the player must then guide Terra to the remote village
Thamasa in search of the espers, where they meet Strago 2.7.3 Development
Magus and his granddaughter, Relm Arrowny, who also
accompany them.
Creation
Soon, they nd the espers and Terra convinces them to
accept a truce with Gestahl. However, during the negotiations, Kefka attacks the espers, killing each of those
still alive and capturing the magicite that remains from
their essence. Additionally, he kills General Leo, who is
appalled by Kefka's dishonorable tactics and attempts to
defend the espers. The Returners reunite, now aware that
the peace was a ploy for Gestahl to obtain magicite and
the stone statue remains of the Warring Triad within the
espers' now-unsealed land.* [31]* [32] Kefka and Gestahl
travel through the open gate to the esper world, nd the
Warring Triad, and prompt the island on which the esper
world is located to detach and y in the sky as an ominous Floating Continent. The Returners attempt to stop
them from causing further damage, but despite their ef-
Final Fantasy VI entered development after the release of

its predecessor Final Fantasy V in December 1992.* [1]
The development of the game took just one year to be
completed.* [35] Series creator and director Hironobu
Sakaguchi could not be as intimately involved as in previous installments due to his other projects and his promotion to Executive Vice President of the company in
1991.* [1]* [36]* [37] For that reason, he became the producer and split director responsibilities for Final Fantasy VI up between Yoshinori Kitase and Hiroyuki Ito:
Kitase was in charge of event production and the scenario, while Ito handled all battle aspects.* [1]* [38] Sakaguchi supervised Kitase's cutscene direction and ensured that the project would coalesce as a whole. The
idea behind the story of Final Fantasy VI was that every
103
character is the protagonist. All members of the development team contributed ideas for characters and their
episodesfor the overall plot in what Kitase described
as a hybrid process.* [1] Consequently, Terra and
Locke were conceived by Sakaguchi; Celes and Gau by
Kitase; Shadow and Setzer by graphic director Tetsuya
Nomura; and Edgar and Sabin by eld graphic designer
Kaori Tanaka.* [1]* [38] Then it was Kitase's task to unite
the story premise provided by Sakaguchi with all the individual ideas for character episodes to create a cohesive
narrative.* [1]* [39] The scenario of Final Fantasy VI was
written by a group of four or ve people, among them Kitase who provided key elements of the story, such as the
opera scene and Celes' suicide attempt, as well as all of
Kefka's appearances.* [36]* [40]* [41]
tured several changes from the original Japanese version.

The most obvious of these is the change of the game's
title from Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy III; because
only two games of the series had been localized in North
America at the time, Final Fantasy VI was distributed
as Final Fantasy III to maintain naming continuity. Unlike Final Fantasy IV (which was rst released in North
America as Final Fantasy II), there are no major changes
to gameplay, though several changes of contents and editorial adjustments exist in the English script. In a January
1995 interview with Super Play magazine, translator Ted
Woolsey explained thatthere's a certain level of playfulness and ... sexuality in Japanese games that just doesn't
exist here [in the USA], basically because of Nintendo
of America's rules and guidelines.* [47] Consequently,
Yoshitaka Amano, a long-time contributor to the Final objectionable graphics (e.g. nudity) were censored and
Fantasy series, returned as the image and character de- building signs in towns were changed (such as Bar being
allusions (e.g. the
signer. His concept art became the basis for the mod- changed to Caf), as well as religious
*
[48]
spell
Holy
was
renamed
Pearl).
els in the full motion videos produced for the game's
PlayStation re-release.* [42] Tetsuya Takahashi, one of Also, some direct allusions to death, killing actions, and
the graphic directors, drew the imperial Magitek Ar- violent expressions, as well as oensive words have been
mors seen in the opening scene. By doing so, he dis- replaced by softer expressions. For example, after Edgar,
regarded Sakaguchi's intention to reuse the regular de- Locke and Terra ee on chocobos from Figaro Castle,
signs from elsewhere in the game.* [38]* [43] The sprite Kefka orders two Magitek Armored soldiers to chase
art for the characters' in-game appearance was drawn by them by shouting Go! KILL THEM!", in the Japanese
Kazuko Shibuya.* [44] While in the earlier installments, version. It was translated asGo! Get them!" Also, when
the sprites were less detailed on the map than in battle, Fi- Imperial Troopers burn Figaro Castle, and Edgar claims
nal Fantasy VI's had an equally high resolution regardless Terra is not hidden inside the castle, Kefka repliesthen
of the screen. This enabled the use of animations depict- you can burn to deathin the Japanese version, which
ing a variety of movements and facial expressions.* [45] was replaced in the English version by Then welcome
Though it was not the rst game to utilize the Super Nin- to my barbecue!". Similarly, as Magitek soldiers watch
tendo's Mode 7 graphics, Final Fantasy VI made more ex- Edgar and his guests escape on Chocobos, one swears in
tensive use of them than its predecessors. For instance, Japanese,Son of a bitch!", which was translated by Ted
unlike both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy V, the Woolsey asSon of a submariner!".* [48] The localization
world map is rendered in Mode 7, which lends a some- also featured changes to several names, such as Tina
what three-dimensional perspective to an otherwise two- being changed to Terra. Finally, dialogue text les
dimensional game.* [46]
had to be shortened due to the limited data storage space
available on the game cartridge's read-only memory.* [47]
As a result, additional changes were rendered to dialogue
Localization
in order to compress it into the available space.* [47]
The PlayStation re-release featured only minor changes
to the English localization. The title of the game was reverted to Final Fantasy VI from Final Fantasy III, to unify
the numbering scheme of the series in North America and
Japan with the earlier release of Final Fantasy VII. A few
item and character names were adjusted, as in the expansion ofFenix DowntoPhoenix Down. Unlike the
PlayStation re-release of Final Fantasy IV included in the
later Final Fantasy Chronicles compilation, the script was
left essentially unchanged.* [42] The Game Boy Advance
re-release featured a new translation by a dierent translator, Tom Slattery.* [49] This translation preserved most
Graphics for the North American releases were edited to cover of the character names, location names, and terminology
up minor instances of nudity. From left to right: Japanese SFC from the Woolsey translation, but changed item and spell
and GBA, North American SNES, and Western GBA releases.
names to match the conventions used in more recent titles
in the series.* [50] The revised script preserved certain
The original North American localization and release of quirky lines from the original while changing or editing
Final Fantasy VI by Square for the Super Nintendo fea-
104
others, and it cleared up certain points of confusion in the has been performed at Play! A Video Game Symphony
original translation.* [51] The Wii Virtual Console release in Stockholm, Sweden on June 2, 2007, by the group
used the Final Fantasy III name of the SNES game.
Machinae Supremacy.* [59]
Nobuo Uematsu's rock band, The Black Mages, released
a progressive metal version of Dancing Mad on their
2.7.4 Music
eponymous rst album in 2003. Their 2008 album, subtitled Darkness and Starlight, is so named after its
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy VI
premiere track: a rock opera version of the entire opera
from FFVI, including the Aria di Mezzo Carattere perThe soundtrack for Final Fantasy VI was composed by formed by Etsuyo Ota.
long-time series contributor Nobuo Uematsu. The score
consists of themes for each major character and loca- In 2012 a Kickstarter for OCRemix.org with an original
tion, as well as music for standard battles, ghts with goal of $30,000 was funded at $153,633 for the creation
boss enemies and for special cutscenes. The extensive of a multiple CD album of remixes of the music from
use of leitmotif is one of the dening points of the au- FFVI. Andrew Aversa directed the creation of the album
dio tracks. The "Aria di Mezzo Carattere" is one of which contains 74 tracks from 74 artists, each with its
the latter tracks, played during a cutscene involving an own unique*style. The album is free and available at its
opera performance. This track features an unintelligible homepage. [60]
synthesized voicethat harmonizes with the melody,
as technical limitations for the SPC700 sound format
2.7.5 Re-releases
chip prevented the use of an actual vocal track (although
some developers eventually gured out how to overcome
PlayStation
the limitation a few years later). The orchestral album
Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale features an arranged verFinal Fantasy VI was ported to the Sony PlayStation by
sion of the aria, using Italian lyrics performed by Svetla
Tose and re-released by Square in Japan and North AmerKrasteva with an orchestral accompaniment. This verica in 1999. In Japan, it was available both by itself
sion is also found in the ending full motion video of the
and as part of Final Fantasy Collection, while in North
game's Sony PlayStation re-release, with the same lyrics
America it was available only as part of Final Fantasy Anbut a dierent musical arrangement. In addition, the
thology. In Europe it was sold by itself. Fifty thousand
album Orchestral Game Concert 4 includes an extended
limited-edition copies of the Japanese version were also
version of the opera arranged and conducted by Ksuke
released in Japan and included a Final Fantasy-themed
Onozaki and performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchesalarm clock.* [61]
tra, featuring Wakako Aokimi, Tetsuya no, and Hiroshi Kuroda on vocals.* [52] It was also performed at the Final Fantasy VI 's PlayStation re-release is very simiMore Friendsconcert* [53] at the Gibson Amphitheatre lar to the original Japanese release as seen on the Super
in 2005 using a new English translation of the lyrics, an Famicom. With the exception of the addition of two full
album of which is now available.* [54] "Dancing Mad", motion video opening and ending sequences and new efaccompanying the game's nal battle with Kefka, is 17 fects used for the start and end of battles, the graphics,
minutes long and contains an organ cadenza, with varia- music and sound are left unchanged from the original
tions on Kefka's theme. TheEnding Themecombines version. The only notable changes to gameplay (in adevery playable character theme into one composition last- dition to loading times not present in the cartridge versions) involve the correction of a few software bugs from
ing over 21 minutes.* [55]
the original and the addition of a new memo save
The original score was released on three Compact Discs
feature, allowing players to quickly save their progress
in Japan as Final Fantasy VI: Original Sound Verto the PlayStation's RAM.* [62] The re-release included
sion.* [55] A version of this album was later released in
other special features, such as a bestiary and an artwork
North America as Final Fantasy III: Kefka's Domain, this
gallery.* [63] On December 18, 2012 the port was reversion of the album is the same as its Japanese counterreleased as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary
part, except for dierent packaging and small dierences
in the translation of some track names between the album
and newer releases.* [56] Additionally, Final Fantasy VI:
Grand Finale features eleven tracks from the game, ar- Game Boy Advance
ranged by Shir Sagisu and Tsuneyoshi Saito and performed by the Ensemble Archi Della Scala and Orchestra Final Fantasy VI was ported a second time by Tose and
Sinfonica di Milano (Milan Symphony Orchestra).* [57] re-released as Final Fantasy VI Advance by Square Enix
Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI, a second arranged al- in Japan on November 30, 2006, by Nintendo in North
bum, features thirteen tracks from the game, performed America on February 5, 2007, and in Europe on July 6,
for piano by Reiko Nomura.* [58] More recently,Danc- 2007,* [65] for the Game Boy Advance. This was the last
ing Mad, the nal boss theme from Final Fantasy VI, Game Boy Advance game released in Asia. It includes

additional gameplay features, slightly better visuals, and
a new translation that follows Japanese naming conventions for the spells and monsters. It does not, however,
have the full-motion videos from the PlayStation version of the game. Four new espers are in this re-release:
Leviathan, Gilgamesh, Cactuar, and Diabolos. Two new
areas include the Dragons' Den dungeon, which includes
the Kaiser Dragon, a monster coded but not included in
the original, and a Soul Shrine, a place where the
player can ght monsters continuously. Three new spells
also appear, and several bugs from the original are xed.
In addition, similarly to the other handheld Final Fantasy
re-releases, a bestiary and a music player are included. Interestingly, even in the Japanese version, the music player
is in English and uses the American names, e.g. Strago
over Stragus.* [66] The package features new artwork by
series veteran and original character and image designer
Yoshitaka Amano.* [67]
Virtual Console
The original Super Famicom version was released for the
Wii Virtual Console in Japan on March 15, 2011,* [68]
in PAL territories (Europe and Australia) on March 18,
2011, and in North America on June 30, 2011.* [69] The
game was released in the West with its original North
American title of Final Fantasy III.* [70] The game is also
available on the WiiU Virtual Console in Japan.
PlayStation Network
Final Fantasy VI was released as a PSone Classic in Japan
on April 20, 2011, and in PAL territories on June 2,
2011.* [71] It was released in North America on December 6, 2011.* [4]
Android and iOS
Takashi Tokita, a director and producer at Square Enix,
announced on October 10, 2013 that the company will
be releasing a mobile-optimized version of Final Fantasy
VI for iOS and Android operating systems in the winter
of 2013.* [72]* [73] The versions include remade graphics.* [74] The game was released on Android on January
15, 2014,* [75] while the iOS version was released on
February 6, 2014.* [6]
2.7.6
Reception
Final Fantasy VI received critical acclaim and was commercially successful upon releaseit is now considered
to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and on
many major gaming sites such as IGN, the best in the Final Fantasy series. As of March 31, 2003, the game had
shipped 3.48 million copies worldwide, with 2.62 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 860,000
105
abroad.* [93] Final Fantasy Collection sold over 400,000
copies in 1999, making it the 31st-best-selling release of
that year in Japan.* [94] Final Fantasy Anthology has sold
approximately 364,000 copies in North America.* [95]
The game garnered rave reviews upon its original release. GamePro rated it as 5 out of 5, stating that characters, plotlines, and multiple-choice scenarios all combine to form one fantastic game!"* [90] Electronic Gaming
Monthly granted it an overall score of 36 out of 40,* [84]
or 9 out of 10 average, and named it game of the month,
commenting that RPGs with this much depth and realism come once in a blue moon.* [96] It won several
awards from Electronic Gaming Monthly in their 1994
video game awards, including Best Role-Playing Game,
Best Japanese Role-Playing Game, and Best Music for
a Cartridge-Based Game.* [92] Additionally, they later
ranked the game ninth in their 1997 list of the 100 greatest console games of all time.* [97] Famitsu scored it
37 out of 40, making it one of their two highest-rated
games of 1994 (along with Ridge Racer).* [87] For their
part, Nintendo Power declared the game the RPG hit
of the decade, noting its improved sound and graphics over its predecessors, and the game's broadened thematic scope.* [98] Moreover, they suggested that with
so much story and variation of play ... fans may become
lost in the world for months at a time.* [99] In 1997,
they ranked it as the eighth greatest Nintendo game, saying it had everything you could wantheroes, worldshattering events, magic, mindless evil plus Interceptor the wonder dog!"* [100] In 2010, Nintendo Power
listed the ending to Final Fantasy VI as one of the best
nales, citing the great character moments that cement
them as some of the most memorable Final Fantasy protagonists ever; they also listed the opera scene as being a demonstration of how touching and emotional roleplaying games can be.* [101]
The game was still earning rave reviews after the release
of its PlayStation version, with GamePro and Electronic
Gaming Monthly rating it 4 out of 5 and 9.5 out of 10, respectively.* [97] Final Fantasy Collection received 54 out
of 60 points from Weekly Famitsu, scored by a panel of
six reviewers.* [61] In 1999, IGN described the graphics
of the PlayStation re-release asbeautiful and stunning
, reecting that, at the time of its release, "Final Fantasy III... represented everything an RPG should be,
inspiring statistic growth systems that would later inuence titles like Wild Arms and Suikoden. Moreover, they
praised its gameplay and storyline, claiming that these aspects took all ... preceding RPG concepts and either
came up with something completely new or rened them
enough to make them its own, creating an atmosphere
in which "[players] won't nd it dicult to get past the
simplistic graphics or seemingly out-dated gameplay conventions and become involved ....* [102] RPGamer gave
a perfect rating to both the original game and its PlayStation re-release, citing its gameplay as self-explanatory
enough that most any player could pick up the game and
106
customize their characters' equipment, while praising
its music asa 16-bit masterpiece. Alternatively, they
describe the game's sound eects as limited and the game
itself as lacking in replay value due to havingone ending,
one [fundamental] path through the plot, and ... [mandatory] sidequests. Additionally, they regarded the game's
English translation as unremarkable, being better
than some but worse than others, and oered similar
comments for its gameplay diculty. However, they referred to the game's storyline as its "... most unique aspect, citing its large cast of characters, nearly all of
whom receive a great deal of development, and thesurprisingly large number of real world issues, the vast majority of which have not been addressed by any RPG before or since, ranging from teen pregnancy to suicide.
Overall, RPGamer regarded the game as anepic masterpieceandtruly one of the greatest games ever created
.* [103]* [104]
The game's release for the Game Boy Advance also garnered praise. In 2007, the Game Boy Advance re-release
was named eighth best Game Boy Advance game of all
time in IGN's feature reecting on the Game Boy Advance's long lifespan.* [105]
Final Fantasy VI is often regarded as one of the best titles in the series and one of the best role-playing video
games ever created. In 2005, IGN placed Final Fantasy VI 56th on their list of the 100 greatest games, as
the second highest ranked Final Fantasy title on the list
after Final Fantasy IV.* [106] In 2006, Nintendo Power
ranked it as the 13th top 200 game on any Nintendo platform, suggesting that it might be the bestFinal Fantasy ever.* [107] That same year, readers of the Japanese
magazine Famitsu voted it as the 25th best game of all
time.* [108] In 2008, Final Fantasy VI took the #1 spot
on G4 TV'sTop Must Own RPGslist.* [109] That same
year, ScrewAttack named Final Fantasy VI the third best
SNES game, beaten only by The Legend of Zelda: A Link
to the Past and Super Metroid.* [110] In 2009, Final Fantasy VI was inducted into the IGN Videogame Hall of
Fame, becoming the second Final Fantasy game to do so
(the only other Final Fantasy to do so was the original
Final Fantasy).* [111] In 2012, also IGN put Final Fantasy VI as number one on their list of the top role-playing
video games, stating: There are too many moments in
Final Fantasy VI worthy of celebration to name them all.
Biggs and Wedge leading Terra through the snow. The
poisoning of Doma. Sandy boots. The destruction of the
world. A tragic opera. Ultros! We hold these close to
our hearts, and that's not even including Espers and the
most poignant character themes in the series to date. So
cheers, Final Fantasy VI. May your name follow us as we
all tumble towards the future of art, entertainment, narrative, and everything that keeps us gaming.* [7] In an updated version of theTop 100list in 2007, IGN ranked
Final Fantasy VI as the ninth top game of all time, above
all other Final Fantasy games in the series. They continued to cite the game's character development, and espe-

cially noted Kefka as one of the most memorable bad
guys in RPG history.* [112] In 2009, Game Informer
put the SNES version of Final Fantasy III eighth on their
list of the top games of all time, opining that it perfected the 2D role-playing game.* [113] It fell from its
seventh place ranking the sta gave it in 2001.* [114] In
2012, the sta of GamesRadar ranked it as the ninth best
SNES game, stating that for it to remain so eective
and so moving for so long after its 1994 release means it
is a true work of art, and demands to sit high atop any list,
regardless of platform (we did already name it the 14th
best game of all time).* [115]
2.7.7 Legacy
Final Fantasy VI: The Interactive CG Game (also known
as the Final Fantasy SGI demo, or Final Fantasy x, not
related to the actual 10th game in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy X) was a short game demo produced
by Square using characters and settings from Final Fantasy VI. Produced using new Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI)
Onyx workstations acquired by Square, the demo was
Square's rst foray into 3D graphics, and many assumed
that it was a precursor to a new Final Fantasy title for
the Nintendo 64 video game console, which also used
SGI hardware.* [20] Square, however, had not yet committed to Nintendo's console at the time of the demo's
production, and much of the technology demonstrated in
the demo was later put to use in the rendering of FMV
sequences for Final Fantasy VII and subsequent games
for the PlayStation. The demo itself featured Terra Branford, Locke Cole, and Shadow in a series of battles. The
game was controlled largely through mouse gestures: for
example, moving the cursor in the shape of a star would
summon a dragon to attack.* [20]
On April 27, 2010, Square Enix producer Shinji
Hashimoto stated that the development of a remake of
Final Fantasy VI for the Nintendo DS was undecided
due totechnical issues.* [116] Later, however, Square
discussed remaking VI as well as V for the Nintendo
3DS.* [117]
2.7.8 See also

2.7.9 References
[1]The Making Of... Final Fantasy VI. Edge (Future Publishing) (251): 124127. March 2013.
[2] Nintendo Web Site. Nintendo. 2006. Archived from
[3] News Final Fantasy VI and Parasite Eve II now available on European PlayStation Store. EL33TONLINE.
[4] Announcing Square Enix's Winter of RPGs Campaign
. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
[5] Final Fantasy VI. play.google.com. Square Enix Co.,

Ltd. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
[6] Final Fantasy VI on the App Store. 2014-02-06. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
[7] Final Fantasy VI#1 RPG. IGN. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
[8] Square Enix sta, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy Anthology instruction manual. Square Enix. p. 39. SLUS00900GH.
[9] Final Fantasy VIBattle Systems. Square Enix. 2002.
2006-07-21.
[10] IGN Presents: The History of Final Fantasy VII. IGN.
2008-04-30. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[13] Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super
Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. (NPC in
Jidoor) You like art? No? Philistines!
Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. (Game
opening) Long ago, the War of the Magi reduced the
world to a scorched wasteland, and magic simply ceased
to exist. 1000 years have passed... Iron, gunpowder and
steam engines have been rediscovered, and high technology reigns...
[15] Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. Left
statue: The birth of magic... three goddesses were banished here. In time they began quarreling, which led to
all-out war. Those unlucky humans who got in the way
were transformed to Espers, and used as living war machines. / Right Statue: The goddesses nally realized
that they were being laughed at by those who had banished them here. In a rare moment of mutual clarity, they
agreed to seal themselves away from the world. With their
last ounce of energy they gave the Espers back their own
free will, and then transformed themselves... ...into stone.
Their only request was that the Espers keep them sealed
away from all eternity. / Center Statue: The Espers created these statues as a symbol of their vow to let the goddesses sleep in peace. The Espers have sworn to keep the
goddesses' power from being abused.
Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. (NPC in
Vector) That guy Kefka? He was Cid's rst experimental Magitek Knight. But the process wasn't perfected yet.
Something in Kefka's mind snapped that day...!
Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. (Soldier)
Open up! Give us back the girl and the Empire's Magitek
Armor!
107

Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. Wedge:
Not to worry. The Slave Crown on her head robs her of
all conscious thought. She'll follow our orders.
[19] Locke: On the surface, Edgar pretends to support the Empire. The truth is, he's collaborating with the Returners,
an organization opposed to the Empire. I am his contact
with that group... The old man you met in Narshe is one
of us. Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III.
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[20] Final Fantasy SGI Demo. RPGamer. Retrieved 200608-10.
[21] Terra: You... saved me? / Locke: Save your thanks
for the Moogles! / Terra: Uhh... I can't remember anything... past or present... / Locke: You have amnesia!?
Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super
Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft.
[22] Banon: Have you made a decision? Will you become
our last ray of hope? ... / Terra: I'll do it! Square Co
(1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft.
[23] Locke: ...Where's Terra? / Celes: She changed into
a...something, and...took o. She looked like... She
looked like...an Esper... Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Square Soft.
[24] (Unidentied character) Terra looks like she's in pain.
/ Ramuh: Her very existence strikes fear into her own
heart. / (Unidentied character) How can we help her?
/ Ramuh: When she accepts this aspect of herself, I think
she'll be all right. / (Unidentied character) We have to
help her! / Ramuh: Then free those of my kind imprisoned in Gestahl's Magitek Research Facility. One of them
can surely help her. Square Co (1994-10-11).Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square
Soft.
[25] Ramuh: Gestahl's method is incorrect. You can't drain
a live Esper of all its power. It is only when we are reduced to Magicite that our abilities can be transferred in
total... / Unspecied character: Pardon!? / Ramuh:
When we transform into Magicite, our power can be relocated. / Unspecied character: Magicite...!? / Ramuh:
That's what's left of us when we... pass away. Square Co
(1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft.
[26] (An Esper) Our friends are all gone... We haven't much
time left... We have no choice but to entrust you with
our essences... / Esper: You want to help me... But...
I haven't long to live. Just as Ifrit did before me, I'll give
to you my power... Square Co (1994-10-11).Final Fantasy III. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square
Soft.
[27] Kefka: So that's it! Magicite... ... / Kefka: General Celes!! The game's over. Bring me those Magicite shards! /
Locke: Celes! You... deceived me!? / Celes: Of course
not! Have a little faith! / Kefka: G'hee, hee, hee! She has
tricked you all! Celes, that's so... YOU! / Celes: Locke...
108
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
Please believe me... / Locke: I... ... ... / Kefka: NOW!! [34] Celes: Terra! What's wrong? The Magicite... Magic is
/ Kefka: Exterminate all of them! / Celes: Locke... Let
disappearing from this world... / Edgar: The Espers...
me protect you for once... Maybe now... Now you'll beThey no longer exist... / Celes: You mean Terra, too? /
lieve me... / Kefka: Celes! W... What are you doing?
Terra: Come with me. I can lead you out with my last
Stop it!!! Square Co (1994-10-11). Final Fantasy III
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[36] Parish, Jeremy (2010-02-24). Final Fantasy: Kitase's
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Inside Story. 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Retrieved
Arvis: I see... Your plan would combine Narshe's money
2010-09-11.
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USA. Archived from the original on 2000-05-11.
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/ Arvis: We'll never beat the Empire without them. /
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the north. No way around it. We MUST get the Espers
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tween humans and Espers. Only one person can do this...
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Terra... / Terra: Half human, half Esper... My existence
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[41] Kitase, Yoshinori (2009-08-27). The Making of Dissidia Final FantasyFinal Words from the Producer.
Gestahl: I've lost my will to ght... ... / Gestahl:
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I've ordered this war to be over! Now I must ask for a
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Edgar: I got to know the gal who brought us tea. After a
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I... feel like I've been sleeping forever... / Cid: For one
year, actually... ... / Cid: We're on a tiny, deserted island.
After the world crumbled, I awoke to nd us here together
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(English)
2.8 Compilation of Final Fantasy

VII
The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is a metaseries

produced by Square Enix. A subseries stemming from
the main Final Fantasy series, it is a collection of video
[105] Harris, Craig (2007-03-16).Top 25 Game Boy Advance games, animated features and short stories based in the
Games of All Time. IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
world and continuity of Final Fantasy VII. Ocially an[106] IGN's top 100 games of all time. IGN. Archived from nounced in 2003 with the reveal of Final Fantasy VII:
Advent Children, the series' core products are three video
games and one movie release. Alongside these are tie[107] NP Top 200. Nintendo Power 200. February 2006. pp. in products and spin-os including books, mobile games
5866.
and an original video animation. Advent Children and the
mobile title Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII and are se[108] Campbell, Colin (2006). Japan Votes on All Time Top
100. Next Generation Magazine. Retrieved 2006-03- quel and prequel to VII, respectively focusing on Cloud
Strife, the original game's main protagonist, and covert
11.
operatives known as the Turks. Crisis Core: Final Fan[109] Top 5 Must-Own RPGs. X-Play. Retrieved 2009-10- tasy VII follows the story of Zack Fair, an important mi13.
nor character in VII, while Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, which acts as a sequel to Advent Children follows
[110] Top 20 SNES Games (101)". Gametrailers. April 7,
Vincent Valentine, one of the original's optional charac2008. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
ters.
[104] Lewis, Zachary. Final Fantasy VI Retroview.
RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-07-01.
[111] The Video Game Hall of Fame Final Fantasy III (US)".
IGN. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
The series was conceived by Yoshinori Kitase, the original game's director, and Tetsuya Nomura, the main character designer. Nomura would become the main designer
[112] IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time. IGN. 2007. for each entry in the Compilation. Other returning sta
Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved include writer Kazushige Nojima, art director Yusuke
2014-04-28.
Naora, composer Nobuo Uematsu. The video games belong to dierent genres, with none of them being tradi[113] The Game Informer sta (December 2009). The Top
tional role-playing games due to production pressures re200 Games of All Time. Game Informer (200): 4479.
lated to the genre. While the rst title revealed was AdISSN 1067-6392. OCLC 27315596.
vent Children, it ran into delays during post-production,
[114] Cork, Je (2009-11-16). Game Informer's Top 100 so the rst Compilation title to be released was the moGames of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. bile game Before Crisis.
[115] Best SNES games. GamesRadar. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
Of the core titles, Before Crisis is the only one still unreleased in the west due to issues with overseas platform
compatibility and sta changes. Reception of titles in the
2.8. COMPILATION OF FINAL FANTASY VII

Compilation has been mixed, with Advent Children being
praised for its visuals and criticized for its confusing nature. Before Crisis and Crisis Core have received praise,
while Dirge of Cerberus garnered a mixed response. The
presentation of the Compilation as a whole has met with
a mixed response. The series inspired the creation of
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy, a similar subseries
of linked video games.
2.8.1
Titles
Video games
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII is an action
role-playing video game split into 24 episodes,
with episode delivery working via a monthly
subscription-based distribution system.* [1]* [2] After going through beta testing in 2004, it was released on September 24, 2004 for NTT DoCoMo's
FOMA iMode, and on January 30 and April 5,
2007 for SoftBank Mobile and EZweb respectively.* [2]* [3] While planned for a western release,
this never came to pass.* [1]
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is an action
game featuring both rst and third-person shooter
elements. There was originally a multiplayer mode,
but this was removed in the western version.* [4]* [5]
It was released on January 26, August 15, and
November 17, 2006 in Japan, North America and
Europe respectively. The localized version received
an overhaul before release, as developers were not
pleased with the game as it has been released in
Japan.* [5] An International version, featuring the
improvements made to the localized version, was released in Japan on September 11, 2008 as part of
Square Enix's Ultimate Hits lineup.* [6] A mobile
spin-o taking place during the events of the game,
Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode: Final Fantasy VII,
was released on August 22, 2006 in North America
and July 26, 2007 in Japan.* [7]* [8]
111
April 24 and 25, 2006 for Europe and North America respectively.* [12]* [13]* [14] It received a single special western cinema screening on April 3,
2006, at the Arclight Theatre in Los Angeles.* [15]
A director's cut of the lm, Advent Children Complete, was also produced, featuring graphical retouches, extra footage and rerecorded voice work
for the English and Japanese versions.* [16]* [17] A
Blu-ray exclusive, Advent Children Complete was released on June 2, 2009 in North America, on July
27, 2009 in Europe, and on October 7, 2009 in Australia.* [18]* [19] A demo for Final Fantasy XIII was
included in the package.* [20]
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, an original video
animation detailing the destruction of the town of
Nibelheim, a key event in VII. Last Order was packaged with a limited edition of Advent Children called
Advent Pieces, released on September 14, 2005
in Japan and February 6, 2007 in North America.* [13]* [21] Advent Pieces was limited to a quantity of 77,777 copies. The OAV is no longer available to purchase.* [22]
Related media
Multiple pieces of tie-in media have been created for the
Compilation, nearly all relating to Advent Children. To
promote Advent Children Complete, a series of short stories were written by Kazushige Nojima under the umbrella title On a Way to Smile.* [18]* [23] The stories were
later collected into a single paperback volume and released on April 16, 2009.* [24] An animated adaptation
of one story,Case of Denzel, was included in all copies
of Advent Children Complete.* [16] Nojima also wrote Final Fantasy VII Lateral Biography: Turks ~The Kids Are
Alright~, a novel set a short time before Advent Children.
The novel was illustrated by Shou Tojima.* [25]
A mobile racing game based on a mini game from VII,
Final Fantasy VII: G-Bike, was released on October 30,
2014 for iOS and Android. A western release for the title is planned.* [26] It was developed by Japan-based developer CyberConnect2 as part of a planned subseries of
mobile games based on VII 's mini games.* [27] While related to VII and the Compilation due to its nature, the developers conrmed that it was not related to nor aected
the Compilation itself.* [28]
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is an action roleplaying game. Crisis Core has the player controlling Zack Fair in a real-time combat system enabling
the player to move Zack around, activate abilities
and attack or block attacks from enemies.* [9] It was
released on September 13, 2007 in Japan, and on
March 24 and June 20, 2008 in North America and
Europe respectively.* [10]* [11]
2.8.2
Films
Setting
See also: Final Fantasy VII characters and Plot of Final

Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the rst title

conceived for the Compilation, the second to be re- The setting of Final Fantasy VII is a world that has
leased, and a direct-to-DVD sequel to VII. It was been described as an industrial or post-industrial science
released in Japan on September 14, 2005, and on ction milieu.* [29] It is referred to as the Planet
112
by the series characters, and was retroactively named

Gaiain some Square Enix promotional material and
by game sta.* [30]* [31] The planet's lifeforce is called
the Lifrstream, a ow of spiritual energy that gives life to
everything on the Planet. Its processed form is known as
asMako.* [32]* [33]* [34] During VII and its prequels,
the Lifestream is being used by the megacorporation
Shinra as an energy source. This is in turn causing
the Planet to dangerously weaken, threatening the existence of everything and everyone on the planet.* [35] The
main narrative of VII focuses on an eco-terrorist group
known as AVALANCHE, chronicling their conict with
Shinra president Rufus Shinra and his subordinates, including the covert Turks, and SOLDIER, an elite ghting
force created by giving humans raw Mako.* [36] Eventually, all come under threat from Sephiroth, a member of
SOLDIER created through Shinra experimentation and
driven mad when he learns the truth about his origins,
and Jenova, an alien lifeform which seeks to destroy all
life on the Planet.* [37]* [38] Among the main characters
are Cloud Strife, an mercenary and self-proclaimed exSOLDIER, Aerith Gainsborough, a ower seller and last
member of an ancient tribe known as the Cetra,* [39] Tifa
Lockhart, Cloud's childhood friend, and Vincent Valentine, a former Turk who was made immortal by Shinra experimentation. During the conict, Sephiroth summons
a destructive spell called Meteor to mortally wound the
Planet. When Aerith attempts to summon Holy, a defense mechanism that can stop Meteor, she is killed by
Sephiroth. Eventually, the party are successful in defeating Sephiroth, and the Lifestream reinforces Holy, successfully stopping Meteor.* [40]
The Compilation titles act as continuations and expansions on the core narrative, with them focusing on various
characters. Advent Children begins two years after VII,
when people across the world are succumbing to a disease called Geostigma and Cloud, suering from guilt,
is forced to confront Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo, avatars of
Sephiroth's will.* [18]* [41] Before Crisis begins six years
prior to the events of VII, and follows the confrontations between the Turks and the original incarnation of
AVALANCHE.* [42] Crisis Core takes place in a similar
time period, but follows events from the point of view
of Zack, a SOLDIER who befriended Cloud and was
killed by Shinra troops after turning against the company.
Among the characters who interact with Zack is Genesis
Rhapsodos a member of SOLDIER who successfully
rebels and eventually decides to protect the Planet.* [43]
Dirge of Cerberus is set a year after Advent Children,
and focuses on Vincent's conict against Deepground, a
sect of SOLDIER that was trapped beneath Midgard during Meteor's descent. Last Order takes place during the
events at Nibelheim, where Jenova was originally stored
and Sephiroth rst found out about himself.
2.8.3
Production
Creation
The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII was created by
Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura, the respective director and character designer for Final Fantasy VII. It was
at one point dened by Square Enix as their rst step towards polymorphic content, a marketing and sales
strategy to "[provide] well-known properties on several
platforms, allowing exposure of the products to as wide
an audience as possible.* [44] Speaking on why VII had
been chosen for such a project, Kitase explained that the
ending left far more development opportunities open for
characters and setting than other games in the series.* [45]
The rst title to be conceived was Advent Children, original envisioned as a short lm presentation created by Visual Works, the animation studio behind CGI cutscenes
for the company's games. Early in pre-production, plans
to make Advent Children a video game rather than a lm
were considered, but due to several factors including Visual Works' lack of experience with actual game production, it remained a lm.* [46]* [47] One of the main conditions for the project's launch was to reunite the original
sta members of Final Fantasy VII; Nojima, art director
Yusuke Naora, composer Nobuo Uematsu. After Advent
Children began development, it was decided by the team
that one title was not enough to fully explore the VII universe. In response, Before Crisis, Dirge of Cerberus and
Crisis Core were conceived so as to embrace more aspects
of the world and characters.* [46] Nomura himself was
surprised at the creation of the games, having originally
assumed that the lm would be the sole product of the
project.* [48]
Development
Each title had a dierent impetus fueling its creation and
development: Before Crisis was thought up by Hajime
Tabata, a new employee at Square Enix's mobile division, when asked by Nomura to create a video game featuring the Turks.* [49] Dirge of Cerberus was inspired by
Vincent's choice of weapon, Kitase's love of rst-person
shooters, and the challenge it would provide developers.* [50]* [51] Prior to the series solidication and the
release of Advent Children and Before Crisis, the team
had considered other gun-wielding Final Fantasy protagonists for such a game.* [52] Crisis Core originated
simply as a Final Fantasy spin-o for the PlayStation
Portable, and after talks with Kitase and Nomura, it was
decided to make it another title in the Compilation, although it was originally going to be a remake of Before
Crisis.* [53]* [54] The creation of Before Crisis after Advent Children began a lettering formula for the series later
used by the sta as common abbreviations: 'AC' stood
for Advent Children, 'BC' for Before Crisis, 'CC' for Crisis
Core and 'DC' for Dirge of Cerberus. The sequence was
nearly disrupted when Crisis Core 's title was considered
as Before Crisis Core, but the "Before" part of the title was
soon dropped, coincidentally creating the sequence.* [55]

Before Crisis began development in 2002.* [31] The Compilation was rst unveiled in 2003 with the announcement
of Advent Children.* [56] None of the video game titles in
the series are traditional role-playing games like the original. The explanation for this was that traditional RPGs
took long production periods and a large sta, which
would have made the project stand out a bit too much.
One of the other considerations for the team was not to
make the titles lightweight as X-2 had been, due to backlash from parts of the fanbase. Conversely, making X2 reminded the team that they did not need to stick to
completely serious traditional RPGs, enabling the original creation of the Compilation.* [46] While Advent Children was the rst Compilation title to begin production, it
ran into problems during post-production, resulting in the
rst released title being Before Crisis, despite it being the
second title to begin development.* [56]* [57] Before Crisis was also originally planned for release in North America, but the mobile phones available in North America
at the time were not able to handle the game. In addition, the producer Kosei Ito left Square Enix in 2008 and
Tabata moved on to other projects, leaving its localization
unlikely.* [58] Japanese animation studio Madhouse created a commercial to promote Before Crisis. Due to its
success and sta feelings that important scenes from VII
represented in Advent Children had been needlessly disjointed, the studio was chosen to produce an animated
lm: this eventually became Last Order.* [59] Yoichi
Wada, then the president of Square Enix, has stated that
the Compilation could remain an active franchise until
2017, the twentieth anniversary of Final Fantasy VII 's release.* [60] After nishing work on Advent Children Complete, the team decided to take a break from the series,
although they stated that they still have various ideas for
future titles.* [61]
2.8.4
Reception
Compared to the original VII, which received nearuniversal critical acclaim and later cult status as a classic
game, the entries in the Compilation have often garnered a
mixed reception, and the Compilation as a whole has been
critiqued by some. In July 2007, Edge magazine stated
that the titles could be of a high quality, but there is
also a perversion of the original.* [68] RPG Site's Alex
Donaldson, during a review for Crisis Core, said that the
Compilation was too far detached from the lore of Final Fantasy VII.While critiquing Advent Children and
Dirge of Cerberus, and faulting Before Crisis 's lack of the
original game's characters, he felt that Crisis Core was the
Compilation 's rst classic FF7 spino.* [69] RPGFan 's Stephen Meyerink said that the Compilation titles
prior to Crisis Core had expanded, extended, and retconned [the story] into what some would call an unrecognizable mess.* [70] Alexa Ray Corriea, writing for
Polygon, was highly critical, saying that few of the Compilation titles were good, and only served tocheapen the
113
1997 [PlayStation] original.* [71]
Reviews for Advent Children have been mixed to positive: while critics have praised the presentation, graphics
and fan appeal, all reviews agree that the story's context
and delivery were confusing for people new to the series.* [72]* [73]* [74] While western critics were positive
about Last Order, the OAV received heavy fan criticism in
Japan due to its retconning of key events, which prompted
the team to ensure that the event was faithfully recreated
in Crisis Core.* [54]* [75]* [76] Before Crisis, due to remaining in Japan, has received limited attention in the
west, but previews have been highly positive, with many
praising the gameplay and graphics as being impressive
for a mobile game.* [22]* [77]* [78] Opinions for Dirge of
Cerberus were decidedly mixed. While many praised the
story and characters, with many praising the focus on
Vincent's character and development, were mixed to negative about the graphics and gameplay. Japanese magazine Famitsu notably gave the game a delayed a highly
critical review.* [79]* [80]* [4]* [81]* [82] Crisis Core was
generally praised, with many enjoying the story's intimate presentation of the characters and action-oriented
gameplay, despite some criticism for it being aimed at
fans of VII.* [83]* [84]* [85]* [86] Critics of the Compilation have generally cited Crisis Core as the best title of the
series.* [69]* [70]* [71]
Sales
Many of the titles have received strong sales. Through
2006, Advent Children met with high sales, with 1 million units sold in Japan, 1.3 million in North America, and
100,000 in Europe, making a total of 2.4 million copies
sold worldwide.* [87] The original version went on to sell
four million copies worldwide by 2009.* [18] Advent Children Complete also met with strong sales, selling 100,000
copies on its rst day of release in Japan,* [88] Advent
Children Complete was cited as a reason for the increase
in sales of the PlayStation 3 console.* [89]* [90] Before
Crisis registered 200,000 users on launch day, making it
the best-selling mobile game up until that time, and was
accessed 1.6 million times by June 2006.* [1]* [91] Dirge
of Cerberus shipped 392,000 units in its rst week, and
went on to sell 460,000 units were sold in North America and 270,000 units in Europe.* [92]* [93] Crisis Core
sold 350,000 copies in Japan on its release date, while it
sold 301,600 copies in its rst month of release in the
United States.* [94]* [95] It went on to sell 3.1 million
units worldwide.* [96]
Legacy
The process of thought behind the Compilation would
later inspire the creation of Fabula Nova Crystallis Final
Fantasy, a subseries of games linked by a common
mythos, and would use lessons learned from the Compilation production process.* [97] On an individual level,
114
Before Crisis 's popularity would inspire the creation of [17] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Dated For
America. Kotaku. 2006-05-12. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
another mobile title within the Fabula Nova Crystallis
subseries: originally titled Final Fantasy Agito XIII, it
[18] Advent Children Complete North American Release
would later change platforms and be renamed Final
June. Square Enix. 2009-05-12. Archived from the
Fantasy Type-0.* [98]* [99]* [100]
2.8.5
References
[19] Yin-Poole, Wesley (2009-05-09). Kitase: No plans for

Blu-ray FFXIII demo outside Japan. VideoGamer.com.
[1] Buchanan, Levi (2006-06-06). Interview with Square

Enix Mobile: Kosei Ito. IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
[20] Tanaka, John (2008-08-01). Final Fantasy XIII Demo

Announced. IGN. Archived from the original on 200808-22. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
[2] Chris Pereira (2012-09-20). Japanese Cell Phone Treasures: 5 Mobile Games We Won't Be Seeing. 1UP.com.
2013-03-31.
[21]Calling FF Fans: Pieces of Advent Children. 1UP.com.

[3] " -FFVII- EZweb

" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2007-0405. Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved
2013-04-23.

Adam (December 2005). The Legacy of Final Fantasy
VII. AnimeFringe Online Magazine. p. 4. Archived
[4] Mueller, Greg (2006-08-15). Dirge of Cerberus: Final

Fantasy VII. GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
[23] Gantayat, Anoop (March 4, 2009). Square Enix details FFVII Advent Children bonus content. Andriasang.
Archived from the original on 2012-08-21. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
[5] Shoemaker, Justin (2006-05-11). E3 06: Dirge of Cerberus Localization Update. GameSpot. Retrieved 201007-20.
[6] Winkler, Chris (2008-07-11).Dirge of Cerberus, Drakengard Become Ultimate Hits. RPGFan. Retrieved
2013-09-30.
[7] Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode -Final Fantasy VIIbreaks down mobile gaming boundaries(Press release).
[8] What's New (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved
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[9] Gantayat, Anoop (2006-12-17). Hands On: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core. IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
[10] Cordeira, Jim (2007-12-17). Square Enix announces
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[83] VanOrd, Kevin. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for PSP
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2.9 Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Japanese:

VII
[84] Clements, Ryan (2008-03-19). IGN: Crisis Core: Final Hepburn: Fainaru Fantaj Sebun Adobento Chirudoren)
Fantasy VII Review. IGN. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
is a 2005 Japanese computer-animated science fantasy
[85] Villoria, Gerald (2008-03-19). GameSpy: Crisis Core: lm directed by Tetsuya Nomura, written by Kazushige
Nojima, and produced by Yoshinori Kitase and Shinji
Final Fantasy VII. GameSpy. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
Hashimoto. Developed by Visual Works and Square
[86] Simon, Parkin (2008-06-23).Crisis Core - Final Fantasy Enix, Advent Children is part of the Compilation of Final
VII Review (PSP)". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
Fantasy VII series, which is based in the world and continuity
of the highly successful 1997 role-playing video
[87] Flash: Advent Children is Popular. Anime News Netgame Final Fantasy VII. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Chilwork. 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
dren was released on DVD in Japan on September 14,
[88] Report: Final Fantasy VII ACC Sells 100K+ BDs on 1st 2005, and a year later in North America and Europe.
Day. Anime News Network. 2009-05-20. Retrieved
2009-08-04.
The lm stars Takahiro Sakurai, Ayumi Ito, Kenichi

Suzumura, Showtaro Morikubo, Maaya Sakamoto,
[89] Jenkins, David (2009-04-24). Japanese Hardware: Ad- Toshiyuki Morikawa and Shgo Suzuki. Advent Children
vent Children Pushes PS3 To Top. Gamasutra. Re- takes place two years after the events of the original game
trieved 2010-08-23.
and focuses on the appearance of a trio that kidnaps chil[90] Ashcraft, Brian (2009-04-22).Final Fantasy VII Advent dren infected with an unknown disease. Former Final
Children Complete Gave PS3 A Sales Bump. Kotaku. Fantasy VII hero Cloud Strife goes to rescue the children
while suering from the same disease.
2.9. FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN

The lm received mixed to positive reviews, with critics
praising its animation and CGI work, but criticizing how
non-Final Fantasy VII gamers would not understand the
plot. It received the Maria Awardat the Sitges Film
Festival in 2005 and the Best Anime Featureat the
2007 American Anime Awards. As of May 2009, the
DVD and UMD releases had sold over 4.1 million copies
worldwide.
2.9.1
Plot
See also: Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series and

Final Fantasy VII Plot
Setting
Advent Children takes place two years following the
events of the 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII, during which the antagonist Sephiroth attempted
to absorb the Lifestream (the lifeblood and soul of the
planet) and be reborn as a god.* [1] He was defeated by
Cloud Strife and his companion but his nal spell, Meteor
destroyed the city of Midgar.
117
rives to rescue them, he is overpowered by Kadaj's gang,
but is rescued by his old comrade Vincent Valentine. Demoralized by his failure, Cloud asks if sin can ever be
truly forgiven, to which Vincent nonchalantly replies that
he has never tried to forgive. Cloud decides to keep
ghting and returns to the city, where Kadaj has summoned Bahamut SIN* [4] and other monsters to terrorize
the population. With the help of his companions from Final Fantasy VII, Cloud engages and defeats the monsters.
Kadaj confronts Rufus Shinra, who reveals he possesses
the box containing Jenova's remains. He attempts to destroy it, but Kadaj manages to save it and ees the city
with his companions. Yazoo and Loz are apparently destroyed along the way by an explosive planted by Shinra's
agents. Cloud chases Kadaj down and engages him in battle, ultimately subduing him. Outmatched, Kadaj opens
Jenova's box and fuses with its contents, transforming into
Sephiroth who then tells Cloud that he will be able to
use the life essences of Geostigma suerers to achieve
complete domination over the planet.* [5] He and Cloud
then ght, and throughout the whole encounter Sephiroth appears to have the upper hand, inging Cloud repeatedly into walls and nally impaling him through the
shoulder. He asks Cloud to tell him what he most cherishes, so that he can have the pleasure of taking it away.
To this, Cloud replies that he cherishes everything, then
pulls out Sephiroth's sword and deals him a hail of devastating blows. Sephiroth's spirit departs, leaving behind
the mortally wounded Kadaj. As he lies dying in Cloud's
arms, a healing rain starts falling across the land, curing
the people of their Geostigma. However, Yazoo and Loz
confront Cloud. Cloud charges at the two, who sets o a
massive explosion engulng the three.
The survivors of Midgar founded the new city of Edge

where Cloud and his childhood friend Tifa Lockhart now
run a courier service and are the caretakers of Denzel
and Marlene, both of whom are orphans. Cloud is still
haunted by his role in the death of Aerith Gainsborough,
who was killed on his watch by Sephiroth. In addition,
both he and Denzel are infected with a mysterious new
ailment known as Geostigma, which has no known
Cloud later has a vision of his deceased friends Aerith
cure. Recently, Cloud has moved out of the house and
and Zack Fair, who say that his time to join them has
isolated himself from his friends.
not yet come. He then awakens in the church, healed of
his injuries and surrounded by his friends. Behind them,
he sees Aerith and Zack leaving the church and hears
Story
Aerith's voice say, You see, everything's all right.He
agrees:
I know. I'm not alone... not anymore.
Cloud is contacted through Tifa and summoned to a
meeting with the Shinra Company's former president
Rufus Shinra, who was presumed killed in Final Fantasy
2.9.2 Voice cast
VII.* [2] Rufus asks for Cloud's help to stop Kadaj, Loz,
and Yazoo. The trio are physical manifestations of Sephi Takahiro Sakurai/Steve Burton as Cloud Strife. The
roth's surviving spirit, and are seeking to resurrect him usformer hero of Final Fantasy VII who has been ining the remains of the extraterrestrial villain Jenova.* [3]
fected with the new disease. Sakurai and Burton had
Cloud refuses to help and leaves.
already performed the role in the video game Kingdom Hearts.* [4] Nomura wanted Cloud and Vincent
Meanwhile, Kadaj and his colleagues are recruiting chilto have noticeably dierent voices because the chardren infected with Geostigma. Denzel falls in with the
acters were otherwise quite similar.
group, attracted by their promises of a cure for the disease. Loz follows Tifa and Marlene to Aerith's church,
Ayumi Ito/Rachael Leigh Cook as Tifa Lockwhere they had gone looking for Cloud, and attacks them.
hart.* [6] Nomura felt that Ito'shuskyvoice would
Tifa is knocked unconscious in the ght and Loz abducts
oer a good contrast with Maaya Sakamoto.* [7]* :22
Marlene for Kadaj. All the kidnapped children are taken
to the ruins of the mystical Forgotten City, where Kadaj
Maaya Sakamoto/Mena Suvari* [8] as Aerith Gainsembraces them as brethren and announces his intention
borough.
for them all to be reunited with Jenova. When Cloud ar-
118
Shgo Suzuki/Steve Blum as Vincent Valentine.

Since Vincent was older and more mature than
Cloud, his role was given to Suzuki, who has a very
low voice.* [7]* :49
Shotaro Morikubo/Steve Staley as Kadaj. Morikubo
had diculties voicing him because of the character's unstable personality and needed time to adjust
to the role.* [7]* :2631
Kenji Nomura/Fred Tatasciore as Loz. Nomura was
told by the sta to voice Loz as an idiotcharacter.* [7]* :5457
Yji Kishi/Dave Wittenberg as Yazoo.* [7]* :5457
Works had no experience with making a full game. The

creators had no prior experience working on lms, so they
fell back on their knowledge of in-game movies.* [12]
The lm was planned to focus on the characters of Cloud
and Tifa in a similar way to how other titles from Compilation of Final Fantasy VII centered on certain characters; for example, Before Crisis focuses on the Turks,
Crisis Core on Zack Fair, and Dirge of Cerberus on Vincent.* [11] Nomura says the lm was, in its rst manifestation, only going to be 20 minutes long. The original
story featured someone requesting a message to be sent
to Cloud; the message is then relayed to Cloud through
several children, and, when the message nally reaches
Cloud, it is revealed who the messenger is. Nomura
very much liked the original script, and it became the
foundation of the nal version. He decided to make the
project longer and more grand in scope when early word
of the lm generated great interest amongst Final Fantasy VII fans, the majority of whom wanted something
feature length. The lm's length was expanded to 100
minutes.* [13]
Toshiyuki Morikawa/George Newbern as Sephiroth.* [9] Morikawa was instructed to pronounce

Sephiroth's lines in such a way that his words would
convey his feelings of superiority. In tandem with
this, the voice director and Morikawa agreed to
make Sephiroth's voice sound always calm, as if he Takeshi Nozue and Nomura, who had rst worked tonever fears the slightest possibility of defeat.* [7]* :22 gether on the video game Kingdom Hearts, split the role
of directing, as Nomura felt this would add depth to the
lm. In designing the battle scenes they rst discussed
Yumi Kakazu/Christy Carlson Romano as Yue
the setting and layout, and then went to the sta with
Kisaragi.* [8]
their ideas, deciding which were the best and developing them further. The battle between Cloud's group and
Masahiro Kobayashi/Beau Billingslea as Barret Bahamut was the most dicult to design due to the size
Wallace.* [7]* :44
of the area and the number of objects the sta had to add
to the scene to keep it realistic. The alternating positions
of the characters, including Bahamut itself, took the sta
Keiji Fujiwara/Quinton Flynn as Reno.* [8]
a long time to complete in order to give the scene a sense
of ow.* [14] Nomura stated that the team decided not to
*
Taiten Kusunoki/Crispin Freeman as Rude. [8]
worry about making the ght sequences realistic, as they
felt this would restrict their ability to give the lm acool
Tru kawa/Wally Wingert as Rufus Shinra.* [8]
look. Therefore, they worked by creating their own
rules. Motion capture was used for many of the lm's
Kenichi Suzumura/Rick Gomez as Zack Fair.* [8]
battle scenes; maneuvers that were not physically possible
for live actors to perform were constructed digitally.* [15]
2.9.3
Production
Advent Children began as a short lm by Visual Works,

a company used by Square to develop CGI scenes for
their video games, based on Final Fantasy VII. Kazushige
Nojima, who had written the script for the game, was
brought on to write a 20-minute script, and he decided
to write a story about Cloud and Tifa and the kids
.* [10] The lm was developed as a part of the Compilation
of Final Fantasy VII, a set of dierent media content
intended to expand upon the world of Final Fantasy
VII.* [11] Square's research and development department
worked with Visual Works on the piece, and VII 's director Tetsuya Nomura joined the crew after VII 's producer
Yoshinori Kitase called him. Early in pre-production, the
team thought about making Advent Children into a game,
but Nomura decided against it, partially because Visual
While designing the characters, the sta discovered that

it was impossible to directly translate the Final Fantasy
VII designs into the lm, and thus some identifying characteristics had to be discarded.* [16] Cloud's redesign was
a combination of eight dierent designs, from his super
deformed appearance in the game to his more realistic
appearance in the lm. The diculties in making Sephiroth led the sta to reduce his appearances in the lm, as
it took them two years to develop and rene his look.* [14]
Nozue also had diculty developing a framework for
Tifa's body that was balanced, yet showed o her feminine qualities.* [7]* :24 In April 2003, it was decided
that Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo would be manifestations of
Sephiroth's spirit his cruelty, strength, and allure respectively.* [7]* :2631 In contrast to Sephiroth, the trio
was meant to be younger than Cloud, so as to focus on
the next generationtheme.* [15] By October 2003,
119
Nomura said that the lm was 10% complete, stating that and Sound, by Kyosuke Himuro and My Chemical Rowhile the script was written, not all the characters were mance singer Gerard Way.* [21] Waterwas replaced
designed.* [16]
with a new song,Anxious Heart.* [20] Tracks on the alNomura felt that Advent Children diered from bum included new versions of The Chase of Highway
Hollywood lms where the meaning of most scenes tends , Those Who Fight Further, Sign, Advent:
Angel, and On the Way to a Smile
to be explained. With Advent Children, however, the sta One-Winged
*
.
[22]
A
larger
album, Final Fantasy VII Advent Chilwanted viewers to be able to interpret scenes themselves,
dren
Complete:
Reunion Tracks, was released with 21
*
allowing them to come to dierent conclusions. [14]
tracks on September 16, 2009. This album contains the
Nojima described the theme of the lm as survival
.* [16] Other themes with which Nomura and Nojima tracks from the mini-album, as well as several pieces that
were lengthened for the Complete lm version but not rewere concerned include Cloud's feelings of guilt and
*
regret for not being able to save his friends Zack and arranged. [23] Reunion Tracks appeared* on the Oricon
charts for a single week at position #108. [24]
Aerith. These feelings are symbolized by a grey wolf
that appears whenever Cloud thinks about them. The
wolf disappears at the end of the lm as Cloud comes to
terms with his feelings.* [7]* :86 The word children 2.9.4 Promotion and release
was used in the title to refer to the lm's children, as they
Advent Children was the rst title announced in the Comrepresent the next generation.* [15]
pilation of Final Fantasy VII series, having been unveiled
at the 2003 Tokyo Game Show.* [7]* :74* [25] Its rst
trailer was featured in an updated version of the video
Music
game Final Fantasy X-2.* [26] However, the trailer used
*
Main article: Music of the Final Fantasy VII series a motion capture that was altered in the nal lm. [16]
Originally scheduled for a September 13, 2005 release
Advent Children
in North America and a September 14, 2005 release in
Japan,* [27]* [28] Square Enix changed the US release
The music of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children was com- date to a tentative November 2005 date, a move many felt
posed by Nobuo Uematsu, Keiji Kawamori, Kenichiro was an attempt on the part of the company to capitalise
Fukui, and Tsuyoshi Sekito, and arranged by Fukui, on the lucrative holiday market,* [29]* [30] although the
Sekito, Kawamori, Shir Hamaguchi, and Kazuhiko website The Digital Bits stated that the delays were due
Toyama. Upon hearing each track, Nomura would make to the extra time required to complete the bonus supplesome changes, and have the composers re-record the ments on the special edition DVD. The North American
piece.* [7]* :8890 The end theme,Calling, was writ- release date was again changed in early November, this
ten and performed by former Bowy vocalist Kyosuke time to January 2006. When fans noted that the 2005
Himuro. The soundtrack includes both pieces original E3 trailer had conrmed the simultaneous September reto the lm and arrangements of works from Final Fan- leases, Square Enix stated that the trailer was not the real
tasy VII, originally composed by Uematsu. Some of E3 trailer and was possibly a fake.* [31]
the arrangements, includingAdvent: One-Winged Angel, are performed by The Black Mages, a rock band An IGN article on February 13, 2006, revealed that April
25, 2006 was the new ocial North American release
formed by Uematsu, Fukui, and Sekito.* [17] Both the
*
pieces original to the lm and the lm arrangements date. [32] Later the same day, an article on 1UP.com
conrmed this date and the entire English voice cast.* [8]
cover a variety of musical styles, including orchestral,
then conrmed the information on their US
choral, classical piano, and rock music; Variety noted that Square Enix
website.* [33]
the styles vary between sparse piano noodlings, pop
metal thrashings and cloying power ballads.* [18] The Prior to the lm's release in Japan, Panasonic produced a
2005 soundtrack album Final Fantasy VII Advent Chil- cell phone identical to the one Cloud uses in the lm; the
dren Original Soundtrack collects 26 tracks of music from phone contained several features related to Advent Chilthe lm on two discs. It was published by Square Enix on dren such as wallpapers and ringtones.* [26] On the same
September 28, 2005. In addition to the regular release, a date the lm was released, Shueisha published a 118-page
limited edition was produced containing alternative cover guidebook titled Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Proart and a booklet of credits and lyrics.* [17] The sound- logue Book.* [34] In 2006, SoftBank Creative published a
track album reached position #15 on the Japanese Oricon guidebook entitled Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Remusic charts, and stayed on the charts for 10 weeks.* [19] union Files, which contains interviews with the lm's sta
*
A mini-album entitled Final Fantasy VII Advent Children and information regarding development of the lm. [35]
Complete Mini Album was released on April 10, 2009,
to coincide with the release of the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete version of the lm.* [20] This version of the lm included a new ending theme, Safe
A limited edition of the lm entitled Final Fantasy VII

Advent Pieces was released in Japan at the same time as
Advent Children; only 77,777 sets were produced. The
edition contains various pieces of merchandising, a copy
120
of the script, the original Final Fantasy VII game, and
a strategy guidebook for the game. Another disc was
included in Advent Pieces containing the original video
animation Last Order: Final Fantasy VII.* [26] Nomura
stated that the reason for the name Advent Pieces was becauseadventmeansthe recognition and commemoration of something,whilepieceswas added in order
to bring special meaning to the release.* [7]* :101
A special one-time-only theatrical screening of the English version of the lm took place on April 3, 2006, at
the Arclight Theatre in Los Angeles. The event was promoted via email to those who subscribed to the Square
Enix mailing list.* [36] The screening included trailers
of Kingdom Hearts II and Dirge of Cerberus, and featured appearances from the English language cast and the
Japanese developers.
The European, Australian, and North American DVD release of the lm is a 2-disc set that contains several bonus
features, including Last Order. Sony later announced Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set) for release in North America on February 20,
2007.* [37] The set included more bonus material than
the previous DVD releases, including a copy of the script,
several postcards with imagery from the lm, and the rst
three stories from the On the Way to a Smile series.* [38]
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete

in mid-2007, but Square announced at the 2007 Tokyo
Game Show that they would postpone the product until
2008.* [39] At the 2008 Square Enix DK3713 Party, it
was announced that Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Complete would be released in March 2009 in Japan, although it didn't actually go on sale until April 16. A
separate bundle was sold that included a demo of Final
Fantasy XIII. Both editions included the rst HD trailers of Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII. On April 11 and 12, 2009, days before its release, Square Enix held four special screenings of Advent
Children Complete at the Ginza Sony Building in Tokyo.
There were 800 seats, but to be eligible, fans had to have
reserved the Blu-ray or the PlayStation 3 bundle at the
Square Enix e-store and be members of Square Enix's
online website.* [40]
Advent Children Complete is 25 minutes longer than the
original cut of the lm and also contains roughly one thousand revised scenes.* [41] Themes expanded in Advent
Children Complete include Cloud's development, Denzel's
background, and a more in-depth view of the Turks and
Rufus Shinra. As various titles from Compilation of Final Fantasy VII were released after the original lm's release, the sta wanted to add links to other titles in the
series. There is more violence in this version, specically more blood during the ghts, as the sta wanted
to bring a dirtierlook to the lm, with characters'
faces and clothes getting darker and dirtier throughout the
battles.* [42] Additionally, the ght between Cloud and
Sephiroth was expanded by several minutes, and includes
a scene in which Sephiroth impales Cloud on his sword
and holds him in the air, mirroring the scene in the game
where he performs the same action.* [43]
Advent Children Complete was released in North America on June 2, 2009,* [44] in Europe on July 27, 2009,
and in Australia on October 7, 2009. The North American and European versions do not come with the playable
demo of Final Fantasy XIII. Instead, they come with a
new trailer for the game.* [45] All Blu-ray disc also feature an animated piece entitledOn the Way to a Smile Episode: Denzel, as well as the story digestsReminiscence of Final Fantasy VII" andReminiscence of Final
Fantasy VII Compilation". The actors had to return for
additional dialogue recording. Nomura stated there were
no major problems with this process, noting that Sakurai
and Morikawa were already used to their characters from
voicing them in other media. However, some of the child
characters, most notably Denzel and Marlene, had to be
recast, as the original performers' voices now sounded too
old.* [43] For the English, the performers also returned to
In addition to new scenes, the director's cut added new details. In record the English release of Advent Children Complete,
this example, director's cut (above) adds a wound across Cloud's with the exception of the voice actors for some of the chilleft cheek and blood smears on his right arm.
dren (most notably Denzel and Marlene), who needed to
be recast because (like the original Japanese version) the
At the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix showed a original performers' voices now sounded too old.* [46]
trailer of a director's cut of the lm, entitled Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete, for release on the Blu- Although Nomura stated that Advent Children Complete
ray format. Initially, the cut was expected for release did not represent the end of Compilation of Final Fantasy
121
VII, as the sta still had more ideas, he said it marked 2.9.6
the end of the Advent Children sagaas there would be
no more re-releases or extended versions.* [47]
Sales
2.9.5
Tie-ins
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII

Main article: Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII is an OVA directed by
Morio Asaka, written by Kazuhiko Inukai, and animated
by Madhouse.* [7]* :9495* [48] It was originally released
in Japan on the Advent Pieces: Limited DVD, on September 14, 2005.* [49]* [50] It was released in North America on the Limited Edition Collector's Set on February
20, 2007.* [51] Thus far, it has not been released on any
DVD editions of the lm outside Japan or North America. There is currently no English dub for the lm, and
the North America version is subtitled.* [52]
On the Way to a Smile

On the Way to a Smile is a series of short stories that take
place between the time of Final Fantasy VII and Final
Fantasy VII Advent Children. Written by Kazushige Nojima, the rst story (Case of Denzel) was released
in episodic form on the ocial Japanese Advent Children
website. Case of Denzelis told indirectly from the
perspective of Denzel, who has requested an interview
with Reeve Tuesti in the hopes that he may become part
of Reeve's newly formed World Regenesis Organization,
an army devoted to rebuilding the planet. Denzel tells his
life story, including how he became an orphan, the events
leading up to his becoming aicted with Geostigma, and
how he came under the care of Tifa and Cloud.Case of
Denzelwas adapted into On the Way to a Smile - Episode:
Denzel, a short OVA that was released with Advent Children Complete.* [34]* [53]
The second short story is Tifa's account of the events
following Meteor's destruction, overlapping in part with
Denzel's story and her life with Cloud. A third On the
Way to a Smile story, Case of Barrettwas released
with the North American Limited Edition Collector's Set
of Advent Children. It involves Barret and his struggles
to try to nd a new energy source for the people of the
world.
To coincide with the release of Advent Children Complete in 2009, four more stories were written, Case of
Yue", Case of Red XIII, Case of Shinraand
Case of Lifestream - Black & White. All the stories
were released together as a separate product from Advent
Children Complete at the same time as the lm was released.* [54]
Reception
The DVDs releases of Advent Children sold over 410,000

copies in Japan during the rst week.* [55] Combined
with the UMD release, over 700,000 units were sold in
the rst three weeks.* [56] The DVD ranked a surprise#2 during its rst week in Nielsen VideoScan.* [57]
Nielsen's survey Top Selling Anime Releases of 2006
had Advent Children ranked at the top.* [58] In an Oricon
poll from 2005, the regular edition of the DVD ranked
twelfth on the best seller list in Japan, with a total of
209,759 copies sold. The limited edition ranked fteenth with 202,793 copies sold.* [59] In a 2006 survey by the Japan External Trade Organization, the DVD
ranked as the best-selling Japanese anime DVD in the
United States. In the 2007 poll, the DVD stayed at
tenth spot.* [60] The English language DVD sold 963,023
units, which translated to $14,860,534 in revenue, by the
fth week of release.* [61] In 2006, Square Enix and Sony
announced that the English language DVD and UMD releases combined had sold over 2.4 million units worldwide, with 1 million units sold in Japan, 1.3 million in
North America, and 100,000 in Europe.* [62] Without
giving specic numbers about the UMD sales, Square
Enix stated that it had enjoyed good sales, performing
better in North America than in Japan.* [63] By May
2009, sales had increased to over 4.1 million copies.* [64]
The English version of the lm achieved various bestseller ranks on Amazon.com.* [51] In ICv2's Top Ten
Anime Properties from 2006, Advent Children was featured at the top,* [65] and was one of the top three properties during 2007.* [66]
On its rst day of release, over 100,000 Blu-ray copies of
Advent Children Complete were sold in Japan.* [67] During its initial week, the Blu-ray was #2 on the bestseller
list,* [68] with 274,774 units sold.* [69] During 2009, the
regular version of Advent Children Complete sold 49,000
units in Japan, ranking second in the category Animation/Special Eects Blu-ray Discsfrom Oricon's survey 2009's Top-Selling Blu-ray Discs in Japan (Overall).* [70] It ranked eighth in the category Overall
Blu-ray Discs, by Yenwith 310 million yen (US$3.4
million) sold in 2009.* [71] Gaming sites Gamasutra and
Kotaku cited Advent Children Complete as one of the main
reasons why sales of the video game console PlayStation
3 radically increased during the lm's rst week of release.* [69]* [72]
Critical response
Advent Children has received mixed to positive reviews.
1UP.com's James Mielke, who scored it an A-", said
the quality and clarity of the CG visuals was genuinely
amazing.Mielke called itthe real Final Fantasy movie,
nding it more appealing than the rst CGI lm Final
122
Fantasy: The Spirits Within. However, he criticized the battle against Sephiroth. He still called the bonus fealm's music, calling ita bit sappy.* [73] While Anime tures disappointing however, claiming the label ComNews Network writer Carlo Santos praised the animation, pletewas misleading. However, he found the new OVA
calling itoutstanding, he criticized the lm's plot, ar- (On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel) and the trailer
guing that people who had not played Final Fantasy VII of Final Fantasy XIII to be welcome additions.* [84]
would not understand the story. Santos also found the Kotaku writer AJ Glasser spoofed the director's cut verstory digest Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII" to be sion in an article called "Final Fantasy VII Advent Chiljust as confusing as the movie and is more of a refresher dren Complete in 15 Minutes, claiming that the direcfor those who have played Final Fantasy VII.* [74] Ma- tor's cut failed to explain aspects of the lm that were not
nia Entertainment's John Eriani agreed, commenting that explained in the original version.* [85]
anybody who had not played Final Fantasy VII should
search for information about the game to understand the
lm's storyline.* [75] Fellow writer Dani Moure agreed Legacy
with Eriani, although he added that he liked how the
characters were further explored in the lm.* [76] Chris Advent Children received the Honorary Maria Award
Carle from IGN shared similar opinions, giving the sec- at the Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya
tionThe Moviea seven, the lowest number he gave. He on October 15, 2005.* [86] The lm was also awarded
praised the sound and the English voice acting, but crit- best anime featureat the 2007 American Anime
icized the lack of commentary in the DVDs extras.* [77] Awards.* [87] IGN placed it second in the Top 10
He gave the lm an overallOutstandingscore of nine Straight-to-DVD Animated Movies.* [88] In 2007, the
" (Sonata of
out of ten.* [78] Todd Douglass Jr. from DVD Talk com- music video for the song "
mented that Advent Childrenis pretty much the lm that Temptation) by Korean singer Ivy recreated the ght
fans all over the world have been waiting for.Besides between Tifa and Loz. The director of the video stated
praising the animation and the appearances from vari- that it was just a parody of the lm but could not get in
ous Final Fantasy VII characters, Douglass felt Cloud's contact with Square Enix to get ocial permission.* [89]
character development was a highlight.* [79] RPGamer's The video was subsequently banned from airing on
Michael Beckett gave the lm a 4 out of 5, praising the Korean television after a copyright lawsuit by Square Enix
plot's tone, the characters' redesigns, and the setting. He cited plagiarism.* [90] OverClocked ReMix's four disc
also lauded the lm's ghting scenes, stating that the Final Fantasy VII unocial tribute album, Voices of the
lm feels very much like a love letter to the fans of Final Lifestream, has a disc entitled Advent, a name chosen
Fantasy VII.* [80] Conversely, Leslie Felperin of Variety to coincide with the release of the lm, with the music
had a negative opinion of the narrative, called some battle themed after the movie.* [91] Final Fantasy XIII director
sequencesirritating, and noted that the last battles have Motomu Toriyama stated that the lm showed battles
more ferocious antagonists.* [18] About.com's Roger Al- that have not been achievable in FF so far,and as such,
tizer also gave a more negative review, giving it 2 and a he created battles for Final Fantasy XIII that were similar
half stars out of 5, citing its plot and dialogue asweak to the ones in the lm.* [92]
and citing the visuals as one of its few pros.* [81]
The director's cut, Advent Children Complete, received an
overall 4.5 out of 5 by Blu-ray.com's Dustin Somner, who 2.9.7 References
argued that the plot is emotionally dense, the action is
explosively over-the-top, and the world in which the story [1] Square Co (September 7, 1997). Final Fantasy VII.
PlayStation. SCE America. Aeris: How do you intend
enfolds is rich with creativity.Somner highly recomto become one with the Planet? / Sephiroth: It's simple.
mended the Blu-ray to people who had already seen the
Once the Planet is hurt, it gathers Spirit Energy to heal
lm and fans of Final Fantasy VII, while non-fans would
the injury. The amount of energy gathered depends on
do best to rent it rst; I'd remind you to consider the
the size of the injury. ...What would happen if there was
near-perfect audio/video quality and perhaps take a leap
an injury that threatened the very life of the Planet? Think
of faith in adding the disc to your collection.* [82] In
how much energy would be gathered! Ha ha ha. And at
contrast to the original release, Joystiq's Andrew Yoon
the center of that injury, will be me. All that boundless
energy will be mine. By merging with all the energy of
found Advent Children Complete a better lm, feeling it
the Planet, I will become a new life form, a new existence.
was more accessible to people who had not played Final
Melding with the Planet... I will cease to exist as I am
Fantasy VII. Yoon also felt that the new scenes helped give
now. Only to be reborn as a 'God' to rule over every soul.
more depth to Cloud's development, to the point ofhu/ Aeris: An injury powerful enough to destroy the Planet?
manizing [him].Nevertheless, he found that Complete
Injure... the Planet? / Sephiroth: Behold that mural. The
contained some aws not present in the original version,
Ultimate Destructive Magic... Meteor.
such as the pacing of scenes that made the plot dicult
to follow.* [83] DVD Talk's Todd Douglass Jr. stated that [2] Square (June 24, 1998). "Final Fantasy VII". Microsoft
Complete wasthe best version of the lmdue to its auWindows (v1.0). Eidos Interactive. Scene: Diamond
dio quality, the new scenes, and the expansion of Cloud's
Weapon attack. Level/area: Disc 3.
123

[20] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Mini Album. Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved April 21,
2009.
[4] Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania (Revised

Edition) (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2009. ISBN 9784-7575-2560-3.
[21] Gerard Way co-produced ending theme to Final Fantasy: Advent Children Complete. Destructoid. ModernMethod. 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
[5] Sephiroth: What I want, Cloud, is to sail the darkness

of the cosmos with this planet as my vessel. Just as my
Mother did long ago. Then one day we'll nd a new planet,
and on its soil we'll create a shining future. (Final Fantasy
VII Advent Children)
[22] Chris. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete

Mini Album :: Review by Chris. Square Enix Music
Online. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
[6] Final Final Fantasy VII Advent Children DVD Rachael

Leigh Cook. IGN. IGN Entertainment. April 7, 2006.
[23] Gann, Patrick (2009-09-30). Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Reunion Tracks. RPGFan. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
[24] Reunion Tracks/Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Complete(in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2014-12-17.

Reunion Files (in Japanese/English). Square-Enix. ISBN
4-7973-3498-3.
[25] TGS 2003: Final Fantasy VII: The Movie?". IGN. IGN
Entertainment. 2003. Retrieved August 11, 2006.
[8] FFVII Advent Children. 1UP.com. February 13, 2006.


VII. AnimeFringe. p. 3. Archived from the original on
June 13, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
[9] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children DVD Interview

Steve Burton (voice of Cloud)". IGN. IGN Entertainment.
April 7, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
History of Final Fantasy VII. IGN. IGN Entertainment.
[11] Stone, Courtney (September 1, 2005).Kitase Discusses
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. RPGamer. Retrieved
August 5, 2010.
[12] Kingdom Hearts II's Tetsuya Nomura Q & A.
GameSpot. CBS Interactive. 10 October 2003.
[13] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set) (DVD). Japan: Square Enix. February 20,
2007.
[14] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Prologue (in Japanese).
Square-Enix. 2005. ISBN 4-08-779339-7.
[15] Tetsuya Nomura (Director) (April 25, 2006). Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Distance: The Making of Advent
Children (DVD). Square Enix.
[27] Advent Children Release Announced. Anime News

Network. March 5, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
[28] Advent Children Release. Anime News Network.
March 18, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
[29] Advent Children Delayed. Anime News Network. August 5, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
[30] Advent Children Delayed, Possible Theatrical Release
. Anime News Network. November 10, 2005. Retrieved
August 1, 2010.
[31] 3rd Advent Children Trailer. Anime News Network.
December 14, 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
[32] Ocial Final Fantasy VII Release Date News. IGN.
IGN Entertainment. February 13, 2006. Retrieved June
6, 2007.
[33] Steven Burton, Rachael Leigh Cook and Mena Suvari
Lend Their Voices to the CG-Animated Action-Packed
Feature Film Based on the Best-Selling Playstation Game
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. February 13, 2006.
Retrieved June 6, 2007.
[16] Kingdom Hearts II's Tetsuya Nomura Q & A.

GameSpot. CBS Interactive. October 10, 2003. Retrieved August 1, 2010.

June. Square Enix. May 29, 2009. Retrieved January
28, 2010.
[17] Gann, Patrick (October 30, 2005). Final Fantasy VII

Advent Children OST. RPGFan. Retrieved July 28,
2008.
[35] VII
~Reunion Files~ ( BOOKS) (in Japanese).
Amazon.com. ISBN 4797334983.
[18] Felperin, Leslie (September 1, 2005).Final Fantasy VII

Advent Children Review. Variety. Retrieved January 14,
2009.
[36] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Special Screening.

Anime News Network. March 26, 2006. Retrieved August
1, 2010.
[19]
(in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
[37] McCutcheon, David (December 15, 2006). Further Final Fantasy VII DVDs Due. IGN. IGN Entertainment.
124

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set)". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
[57] Advent Children #2 on VideoScan. Anime News Network. May 4, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
[58] Top Selling Anime Releases of 2006. Anime News
Network. June 14, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
[39] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Blu-Ray

edition postponed. Newlaunches. Retrieved June 6,
2007.
[59] Top Japanese DVDs of 2005. Anime News Network.

[40] Ashcraft, Brian (March 9, 2009).Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Special Screening For 800 People. Kotaku. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
[60] N. America's 2007 Anime Market Pegged at US$2.8

Billion (Update 3)". Anime News Network. April 1, 2009.
[41] My Chemical Romance Founder Co-Produces FFVII

ACC Song. Anime News Network. March 27, 2009.
[61] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children DVD Sales.

The Numbers. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
[42] Yoon, Andew (March 9, 2009). TGS07: Advent Children gets dirty on Blu-ray. Joystiq. Retrieved August
22, 2010.
[43]Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete. Famitsu
(in Japanese) (Enterbrain and Tokuma Shoten): 2930.
March 2009.
June. Square Enix. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
[45] Yin-Poole, Wesley (May 5, 2009). Kitase: No plans for
Blu-ray FFXIII demo outside Japan. VideoGamer.com.
[46] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Dated For
America. Kotaku. May 12, 2006. Retrieved August 4,
2010.
[47] Yoon, Andew (March 25, 2009). Advent Children may
be done, but Final Fantasy VII isn't. Joystiq. Retrieved
August 22, 2010.
[48] Otakon Hosts Nana, Chobits Director Morio Asaka.
Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
[49] Calling FF Fans: Pieces of Advent Children. 1UP.com.
[62] Flash: Advent Children is Popular. Anime News Network. June 6, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
[63] Gantayat, Anoop (January 15, 2006). Final Fantasy VII
Reaches Platinum in Japan. IGN. IGN Entertainment.
[64] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete. Square
Enix. May 12, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
[65] ICv2's Ten Most Powerful. ICv2. July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
[66] ICv2: North American Anime DVDs Were Down 20%+
in 2007. Anime News Network. February 13, 2008.
[67] Report: Final Fantasy VII ACC Sells 100K+ BDs on 1st
Day. Anime News Network. April 20, 2009. Retrieved
August 4, 2009.
[68] Final Fantasy VII ACC Was #2 U.S. BD in First Week
. Anime News Network. June 18, 2009. Retrieved August
4, 2009.
[69] Jenkins, David (April 24, 2009). Japanese Hardware:
Advent Children Pushes PS3 To Top. Gamasutra. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
[50] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Advent Pieces: Limited. Play-Asia. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
[70] 2009's Top-Selling Blu-ray Discs in Japan (Overall)".

Anime News Network. December 24, 2009. Retrieved
December 25, 2009.
[51] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (Limited Edition

Collector's Set) (2005)". Amazon.com. Retrieved March
4, 2009.
[71] 2009's Top-Selling Blu-ray Discs in Japan (Continued)".

Anime News Network. December 26, 2009. Retrieved
December 27, 2009.
[52] Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (DVD). Square Enix.

February 20, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
[72] Ashcraft, Brian (April 22, 2009). Final Fantasy VII

Advent Children Complete Gave PS3 A Sales Bump.
Kotaku. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
[53] Square Enix details FFVII Advent Children bonus content. Andriasang. March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 1,
2010.
[73] Mielke, James (September 16, 2005). Final Fantasy

VII Advent Children review. 1UP.com. Archived from
the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved February 25,
[54] On the Way to a Smile
2008.
VII (in Japanese). Amazon.com. ISBN 4757524625.
[74] Santos, Carlo (April 28, 2006). Anime News Network:
[55] Top Japanese DVDs of 2005. Anime News Network.
Network. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
[56] Maragos, Nich (January 18, 2006). Round-Up: 1M
Advent Children Sales, Nintendo At GDC, Telephia Signs
Jamdat. Gamasutra. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
[75] Eriani, John (May 25, 2006). Mania Entertainment:

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children review. Mania Entertainment. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
2.10. BEFORE CRISIS: FINAL FANTASY VII
[76] Moure, Dani (June 2, 2006). Mania Entertainment: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children review (2)". Mania Entertainment. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
[77] Carle, Chris (April 17, 2006).Final Fantasy VII Advent
Children review. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved
January 17, 2008.
[78] Final Fantasy VII Advent Children DVD. IGN. IGN
Entertainment. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
[79] Douglass Jr., Todd (April 21, 2006). DVD talk: Final
Fantasy VII Advent Children review. DVD Talk. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
[80] Beckett, Michael. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Sta Review. RPGamer. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
[81] Altizer, Roger. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Sta Review. About.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
[82] Sommer, Dustin (May 27, 2009).Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Blu-ray Review. Blu-ray.com. Retrieved
August 3, 2010.
[83] Yoon, Andrew (May 29, 2009). Review: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete. Joystiq. Retrieved
August 4, 2010.
[84] Douglass Jr., Todd (June 12, 2009). DVD talk: Final
Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete (Blu-ray)". DVD
Talk. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
[85] Glasser, AJ (May 25, 2009). Final Fantasy VII Advent
Children Complete in 15 Minutes. Kotaku. Retrieved
August 3, 2010.
[86] Festival Ocial Presentation. Sitges Film Festival.
April 10, 2005. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
[87] Carle, Chris (February 24, 2007).NYCC 07: American
Anime Award Winners Revealed. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
[88] Top 10 Straight-to-DVD Animated Movies. IGN. IGN
Entertainment. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
[89] Ashcraft, Brian (March 3, 2007). Clip: Korean Video
Rips-O FF VII. Kotaku. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
[90] Ashcraft, Brian (April 10, 2007). Clip: Square Cracks
Down On Korean Video. Kotaku. Retrieved June 5,
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[91] Tracks: Voices of the Lifesteam. OverClocked ReMix.
Retrieved March 10, 2009.
125
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children at the Internet
Movie Database
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children at AllMovie
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (anime) at
Anime News Network's encyclopedia
2.10 Before Crisis: Final Fantasy

VII
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII (
- VII- Bifoa Kuraishisu
-Fainaru Fantaj Sebun-) is an action role-playing mobile video game developed and released by Square Enix
for FOMA iMode, SoftBank Mobile and EZweb mobile phones. It was rst released for FOMA on September 24, 2004, and for SoftBank and EZweb on January
30 and April 5, 2007. Before Crisis is a prequel to the
1997 video game Final Fantasy VII, and forms part of the
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, a metaseries expanding on and continuing the story established in VII. It It
takes place six years prior to the events of VII, and focuses
on the adventures of the Turks, a group of covert operatives working for the Shinra Electric Power Company,
and their ghts against both rebel group AVALANCHE
and their corrupt employers.
Before Crisis, the second title created for the Compilation,
was developed by Square Enix as a gameplay and multiplayer experience unique to mobile devices. The company's rst original Final Fantasy title for mobiles, it was
directed by Hajime Tabata as his rst major for Square
Enix. The initial concept was created by him at the request of Tetsuya Nomura for a game that had the Turks
as protagonists. The music was composed by Takeharu
Ishimoto, originally a sound arranger at the company. It
was highly successful upon release, registering 200,000
users and being accessed over one million times. Western critics have generally praised the title, but due to issues involving the capacity of mobile devices in the west,
it has not been released outside Japan.
2.10.1 Gameplay
Before Crisis is a real-time action role-playing game. The

[92] Bramwell, Tom (June 7, 2006). FF to look like Ad- game uses 2D graphics as the player moves along in a
*
vent Children?". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved side-scrolling manner. [1] The player begins the game
by selecting their character, which can be a man or a
August 22, 2010.
woman, along with their name.* [2] Gameplay is divided
up between several modes of play. Episode Modein2.9.8 External links
volves the player playing through the game's main storyline, completing various objectives in order to continue
Advent Children website (Japanese)
on in the game. Free Modeallows players to roam
the town and speak with the townspeople. Players can
Advent Children Complete website (Japanese)
also play extra missions to gain Experience points (XP)
Advent Children Complete website (English)
and items, some of which are exclusive to Free Mode
126

slot.* [6] In later versions of the game, an Easy Mode
was added, with the player able to switch between this
and the normal diculty in the game menu.* [7]
2.10.2 Plot
Setting and characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series
A screenshot of Before Crisis showing one of the playable characters (left) and the on-screen display.
Before Crisis is set six years prior to the events of Final

Fantasy VII. The world on which Before Crisis is set,
calledthe Planetin-game andGaiaby game sta,* [8]
is divided into multiple regions run by a megacorporation called the Shinra Electric Power Company. Shinra
uses the energy of the Planet, known as the Lifestream,
to power the world, and as such is endangering the Planet
and its people. The events of Before Crisis frequently
overlap with those of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The
exact setting is shortly after the end of a war between
Shinra and the people of Wutai. With Wutai defeated,
and the people of the world now dependent on Shinra's
energy, the company becomes the dominant economic,
military and political power in the world. Rising against
them is AVALANCHE, a rebel group who rightly believe
that Shinra's energy extraction is slowly killing the planet.
.* [1] Characters have hit points and magic points, and can
level up upon acquisition of experience, at which point
they can equip new weapons and armor.* [1] Players can
choose to manually attack an enemy during combat or
press the action key to automatically attack the nearest
enemy.* [3]
The playable characters and main protagonists are the
The Materia Generation Systemallows players to ac- Turks, a group of covert operatives working for Shinra.
quire Materia, objects tied to the game's magic system, The playable characters in-game are eleven new Turks:
by taking a picture with their camera phone. The game ten of them are designated by their weapon or ghting
synthesizes the picture down to its base color. Depending style and their gender, while the eleventh is known as
upon the dominant color, lighting, and other factors, the Legend (Male). Their true name can be selected by
game produces a Materia of a certain type. For exam- the player. One of the characters, Shuriken (Female),
ple, a dark green picture results in a Bio Materia, a blue later turns up in Crisis Core under the name Cissnei
picture results in a Cure Materia, etc. Once acquired, . The Turks are led by Veld, a veteran of the group, and
Materia can be leveled up as in Final Fantasy VII.* [1] later Tseng, a character who plays an important role in
Under certain circumstances, assistance in the form of other VII stories. Their primary antagonists all belong
summoned monsters, recurring gures in the Final Fan- to AVALANCHE. The three important AVALANCHE
tasy series, can be called in via the Materia system to deal characters are Elf, the leader of AVALANCHE and
damage to multiple enemies.* [4] Rank Points (RP) are Veld's daughter; Fuhito, a scientist who acts as the planawarded during the completion of objectives in all three ner for the group; and Shears, AVALANCHE's secondmodes of play. After a certain amount of RP has been in-command. Multiple characters from VII make appearacquired, special bonuses are unlocked, such as stronger ances either as cameos or supporting characters, such as
armor and weapons, and extra Materia slots. The player protagonists Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Aerith Gainsis also given a rank, based upon how long they have been borough, and Zack Fair; and originals antagonists Rufus
playing the game. The higher their rank, the better the Shinra, son of the company president; and Sephiroth, a
SOLDIER who would go rogue.
bonuses the player gets.
The game oers several online features between characters. Players can trade Materia with other players via
email.* [1] Players can summon a friend to cast magic by
lling the Materia aidmeter.* [5] Players can battle
each other 1-on-1 in Battle Squarearena located in
the Gold Saucer location. Players can collect battle points
(BP) in order to battle higher ranked players. In Battle
Tournamentmode, players can choose to use a handicap,
however the handicap will be determined randomly by a
Story
Before Crisis opens with the trainee Turks on a mission
in the city of Midgar to investigate AVALANCHE activities. With help from Reno, AVALANCHE retreat.
However, the attack proves to be a diversion for a greater
strike at the town of Junon, where President Shinra is
set to give a speech. President Shinra is shot, but sur-
2.10. BEFORE CRISIS: FINAL FANTASY VII

vives, and calls in Sephiroth. However, it transpires
that even the attack on the President was a diversion,
and AVALANCHE's real target was a weapon called the
Mako Cannon, which they planned to re at Midgar, destroying the city. Elf and Sephiroth do battle at the cannon, but the ght ends inconclusively, and AVALANCHE
withdraw. AVALANCHE next target Rayleigh a professor carrying data on the SOLDIER members and their
creation. The Turks are sent to protect Rayleigh, accompanied by several Shinra guards, including Cloud. Fuhito,
a scientist working for AVALANCHE, is able to corrupt
Rayleigh's data when the Turks disobey orders and save
Rayleigh instead of protecting the information. Using the
SOLDIER data, Fuhito develops an elite unit known as
the Ravens, using them to capture two SOLDIERs, Essai
and Sebastian. The Turks succeed in rescuing the pair,
and are then sent to destroy AVALANCHE, accompanied by Zack. Essai and Sebastian, however, are captured
once again, and turned into Ravens. Even though Zack is
able to bring them back to their senses, he is unable to
save them.
Meanwhile, President Shinra becomes suspicious of the
Turks activities, believing that someone within the organization is leaking sensitive information. He concludes
that it must be Veld, and removes him from command,
instead placing the company's security leader Heidegger in charge. In his rst operation however, Heidegger
nearly destroys Junon, and the President reinstates Veld.
In his rst mission back in command, Veld plans to defeat
AVALANCHE. An assault is launched at a Mako Reactor, during which Rufus Shinra is revealed to be the
traitor supporting AVALANCHE. He is captured by the
Turks and placed under house arrest. At the same time,
Shears defects to the Turks in an eort to save the gravely
ill Elf. Veld discovers that Elf is his daughter Felicia,
whom he thought dead in a botched Shinra operation, and
resigns from the Turks. With Elf continuing to weaken,
Fuhito takes over the command of AVALANCHE. It is
revealed that a Materia owned by Elf is Zirconiade, an
ancient and powerful summoned monster that Fuhito intends to use to destroy humanity and stop them harming
the planet. However, the Materia is broken, and is slowly
draining Elf's life energy. To save her, the four Support
Materia must be found. Fuhito holds one, and the Turks
and Shears hold another.
Meanwhile, not wishing that Rufus' betrayal become
known, the President orders the Turks' destruction. Despite this imminent threat, the Turks manage to nd two
more Support Materia. Under Fuhito's control, the remainder AVALANCHE is turned into a vicious army of
uncontrollable Ravens. In the nal battle, Fuhito summons Zirconiade, fusing the summon with his own body,
and Shears sacrices himself to save Elf. Fuhito transforms into a monster, but he is defeated by the Turks.
After the battle, Tseng falsely claims that both Veld and
Elf are dead, so as to protect them from being hunted
down by Shinra. The Turks are then reorganized, with
127
Tseng reinstated as their immediate leader, but they are
now sworn to loyalty to Shinra as part of the bargain for
their survival. The original Turks nd new lives for themselves in hiding, and are later seen helping in the evacuation of Midgar during the events of VII.
2.10.3 Development
Before Crisis was created as part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, a multimedia series based in and on the
world and characters of VII. While the lm Final Fantasy
VII: Advent Children was originally to be the only product of the Compilation, the production team agreed that
one title was not enough to explore the world of VII in
full, so more titles were decided upon, including Dirge of
Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core.* [9] Before
Crisis was originally conceived by Tetsuya Nomura, one
of the creative minds behind Final Fantasy VII and the
Compilation. His initial idea was for a game focused on
the Turks. He approached Hajime Tabata, who had only
recently joined the company's mobile games division, and
asked if the division could create a mobile game with
that premise. Nomura would end of designing the game's
characters.* [8]* [10] Production began in 2002.* [8] The
game's title was thought up by Tabata, and would go on
to establish a system of letter-based abbreviations used
by sta for titles in the Compilation.* [11] To help solidify their goal, the sta created a timeline for the world of
VII. Since there was little denite information concerning events prior to VII, they had a relative amount of creative freedom, including creating an early, more violent
incarnation of rebel group AVALANCHE.* [8] While the
second title created for the series, it was the rst to be
released when Advent Children was delayed during postproduction.* [12]
Before Crisis was the rst original video game developed by Square Enix exclusively for mobile phones, originally released on NTT DoCoMo's FOMA mobile devices.* [13]* [14] Their rst major mobile title, also in collaboration with NTT DoCoMo, was a remake of the original Final Fantasy. Using lessons learned from the development of the Final Fantasy port, the team worked hard
to make Before Crisis a uniquely mobile experience, with
gameplay features built to exploit mobile functions such
as the camera and network capacity.* [14] The camera
function used to generate Materia was based on a simple image recognition that species the Materia generated based on the picture's general color.* [14] One of the
challenges during development was to keep the framerate smooth during moments of high action, especially as
no two mobiles would have identical components.* [8] To
promote the game, Madhouse created a promotional animation featuring the various main characters.* [15] The
original version's beta test started in August 2004.* [1]
Following an announcement at the Tokyo Game Show in
2006, the game was released for two additional Japanese
mobile carriers: SoftBank Mobile in January 2007, and
128
EZweb in April 2007.* [16] In 2010, Tabata voiced an
interest in fully remaking Before Crisis for the Nintendo
3DS, revamping the narrative delivery and incoporating
the ability for a substantial number of players to enter
missions. This suggestion was positively received by Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase, but at the time Tabata was
busy developing Final Fantasy Type-0 (then Agito XIII)
and The 3rd Birthday.* [17]
Music
Main article: Music of the Final Fantasy VII series
The composer for Before Crisis was Takeharu Ishimoto,
who would go on to compose music for Crisis Core. Originally joining the company as a music arranger, he was
one of many sta who participated in a competition set
up by the game developers to nd a composer for Before
Crisis. His task was to create a piece of music that was
related to the world of VII, but still distinctive. It was
one of Ishimoto's rst jobs as the main composer for a
title.* [18] The music of Before Crisis was commercially
released along with the music from the original video animation Last Order: Final Fantasy VII in an album titled
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII & Last Order: Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack. The majority of the tracks
of the album were composed by Ishimoto, apart from a
few reorchastrated themes from VII, the music of which
was written by regular Final Fantasy composer Nobuo
Uematsu.* [19]
2.10.4 Reception
Despite not being reviewed, Before Crisis has garnered
generally positive feedback from critics in previews and
features. AnimeFringe commented that the visuals
seemed remarkable goodand praised the game for
choosing to reverse the good and bad guy roles,by
making the Turks protagonists, and AVALANCHE antagonists.* [24] Cara Lee Haslam of RPGamer previewed
the game at E3 2006 and stated that the graphics are
really great, especially for a cell phone game,although
she also noted that the animation isn't the best.* [25]
GameSpot's Bethany Massimilla also previewed the game
at E3, calling itperfectly digestible in delivery,with its
use of episodic storytelling that comes in small bursts
in between action periods.She also stated that the game
had well-dened and detailed character portraits and
lean, lanky character models running around the city and
mako reactor, which had a simple layout but still looked
nice.Massimilla praised the animation assmoothand
felt thatthe controls were easy to learn and were responsive.Additionally, she thought the demo phone's vibrating function, set o when the player receives a call from
Tseng,was a really nice touch.* [5] Levi Buchanan of
IGN was generally positive, praising the dark art style,
and nding the short mission-based structure ideal for
mobile gameplay.* [3]
The game registered 200,000 users, making it the bestselling mobile game up until that time, and was accessed
1.6 million times.* [22]* [26] 1UP.com listed the game
as one of ve classic Japanese mobile games unlikely
to come to North America.* [13] Outside its immediate
reception, Before Crisis had an eect on other projects
within the Final Fantasy series. After the positive reception of Madhouse's animated commercial, they were choLocalization
sen by Square Enix to animate Last Order.* [15] The high
The game's release in the west was announced at the 2006 popularity of Before Crisis in Japan led Tabata to direct
Electronic Entertainment Expo, two years after its release Type-0, part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy
*
*
*
in Japan. At the announcement, the localization was said subseries and then a title for mobiles. [27] [28] [29]
*
to be coming along nicely. [20] The stated reason
for the delay between the original and projected western
release was that mobile phones in the west were not yet 2.10.5 References
advanced enough for the game.* [21] One of the things
[1] Gantayat, Anoop (31 August 2004). Hands On: Before
planned for the western release was to bring the entire exCrisis Final Fantasy VII. IGN. Retrieved 16 December
perience over as quickly as possible, with plans for one to
2014.
three chapters released each month, and ne-tuning to be
done using the planned two-year gap between the original [2] "BC -FFVII- 2 10 16 !" (in
Japanese). ITmedia. 15 October 2004. Archived from the
and western releases. It formed part of a push by the comoriginal on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December
*
pany into the western mobile game market. [22] Despite
2014.
these announcements, no further progress has been made
and Before Crisis was never released in the west. The o- [3] Buchanan, Levi (9 May 2006). E3 2006: Before Crisis
cial reason for this, as stated by head of mobile operations
Hands-On. IGN. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
Keiji Fujita, was that mobile phones in the west were too
low-spec for Before Crisis, which could only run on high- [4] BEFORE CRISIS -FINAL FANTASY VII- Index(in
Japanese). ITmedia. Archived from the original on 14
end phones in Japan, making a port impossible. Another
May 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
possible reason suggested by Fujita was Ito's move from
Square Enix to Capcom in 2008, leaving no-one to man- [5] Masimilla, Bethany (10 May 2006). E3 06: Beage any future localization and porting eorts.* [23]
fore Crisis: Final Fantasy VII Hands-On Impressions.
2.11. FINAL FANTASY VII
129
[20] Palley, Stephen (1 November 2011). Final Fantasy

VII: Before Crisis bound for US mobiles. Gamespot.
" -FFVII-"
Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Re" " (in Japanese). Famitsu. 28 April 2006.
trieved 16 December 2014.
Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved
4 April 2013.
[21] Hong, Quang; Sheeld (Business/Marketing), Brandon
(18 June 2006). Q&A: Kosei Ito Talks Mobile Final
i -FFVII-
Fantasy. Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 10
" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 28 April
November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
[22] Buchanan, Levi (6 July 2006). Interview with Square
Enix Mobile: Kosei Ito. IGN. Retrieved 11 August
Interview: Kosei Ito Q&A (in Japanese). ITmedia.
2006.
[23] Spencer, Yip (4 April 2010). After Square Enix Announced It, What Ever Happened To Before Crisis: Final
Stone, Cortney (1 September 2005). Kitase Discusses
Fantasy VII?". Siliconera. Archived from the original on
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. RPGamer. Archived
10 October 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 2
September 2007.
Leo, Jon (1 November 2011). Fantasy Star: TalkVII. AnimeFringe. Archived from the original on 6
ing to Final Fantasy Scenario Director Hajime Tabata.
October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
Gamespot. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
Retrieved 13 July 2014.
[25] Haslam, Cara Lee (12 May 2006). E3 Impression Final
Fantasy VII: Before Crisis. RPGamer. Retrieved 17
Studio BentStu, ed. (September 13, 2007). Final FanAugust 2010.
tasy VII 10th Anniversary (in Japanese). Square Enix.
pp. 813. ISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3.
[26] Winkler, Chris (14 October 2004). Before Crisis: FiGameSpot. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]

Children Reunion Files (in Japanese). SoftBank. p.
74. ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
nal Fantasy VII Registers 200,000 Users on Day One.

RPGFan. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
[27] " " XIII"".

Dengeki Online. 2 June 2006. Archived from the original
[13] Pereira, Chris (20 September 2012). Japanese Cell
on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
Phone Treasures: 5 Mobile Games We Won't Be Seeing.
1UP.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. [28]Square Enix Presents: DK3713 Private Party 2008 -
Retrieved 31 March 2013.
: ". Famitsu
PS3 (Enterbrain) (XIII): 29. 22 August 2008.
[14] Ito, Kosei; Diamante (Designer), Vincent (8 March 2005).

Postcard from GDC Mobile 2005: Final Fantasy for
Mobile: A Case Study. Gamasutra. Archived from the
original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December
2014.
[29] Gantayat, Anoop (28 January 2011). Kitase and

Toriyama Talk FFXIII-2 and Fabula Nova Crystallis.
Andriasang.com. Archived from the original on 29 June
2014. Retrieved 12 December 2012.

9495. ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
[16] " -FFVII- EZweb

" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 5 April 2007.
Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 23
April 2013.
[17] Pigna, Kris (30 September 2010).Square Enix Producer
Mulls Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII 3DS Remake.
1UP.com. Archived from the original on 31 December
2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
Ocial website (Japanese)
2.11 Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII ( VII

Fainaru Fantaj Sebun) is a 1997 role-playing video game
developed by Squaresoft. It is the seventh installment in
[18] " the Final Fantasy series and the game is the rst in the se". Famitsu. 23 March 2013. ries to use 3D computer graphics, featuring fully rendered
Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 16 characters on pre-rendered backgrounds, and was the
December 2014.
rst game in the main series to be released in Europe.
[19] Gann, Patrick (2008-03-14). Before Crisis -Final Fan- Final Fantasy VII follows protagonist Cloud Strife, a
tasy VII- & Last Order -Final Fantasy VII- OST. RPG- mercenary who initially joins the eco-terrorist rebel orFan. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Re- ganization AVALANCHE to stop the world-controlling
trieved 2008-07-29.
megacorporation Shinra from draining the life of the
130
planet for use as an energy source. As the story progresses, Cloud and his allies become involved in a larger
world-threatening conict, facing o against Sephiroth,
the game's main antagonist.
cally scaled environments, consisting of 2D pre-rendered

backgrounds which represent locations such as towns or
forests.* [5] Initially, the player is restricted to the city
of Midgar, but as the game progresses the entire world
*
Development of Final Fantasy VII began in 1994. The becomes accessible. [4] Progression through the game's
game was originally intended for release on the Super storyline is largely developed by way of scripted sepre-rendered cinematic cutscenes are
Nintendo Entertainment System, but was moved to quences, although
*
[6]
also
used.
the Nintendo 64. However, since the Nintendo 64's
cartridges lacked the required storage capacity, Square
decided to release the game for the CD-ROM based Battle system
PlayStation instead. Final Fantasy VII was directed by
Yoshinori Kitase, written by Kazushige Nojima and Kitase, and produced by Hironobu Sakaguchi. The music
was composed by Final Fantasy veteran Nobuo Uematsu,
while the series' long-time character designer, Yoshitaka
Amano, was replaced by Tetsuya Nomura.
Helped by a large pre-release promotional campaign, Final Fantasy VII became an immediate critical and commercial success. It was originally released in 1997 for the
Sony PlayStation, in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based
personal computers, in 2009 on the PlayStation Network,
in 2012 on PC Digital Download, and in 2013 on Steam.
In 2014, the game was released for Android and iPhone
devices through the Japan-only streaming service Dive
In.* [3] On December 6, 2014, it was announced that
Final Fantasy VII would be released on the PlayStation 4,
with upscaled graphics.* [2] It has continued to sell solidly
10 million copies were sold by May 2010, making it
the best-selling title in the series. Final Fantasy VII was
praised for its graphics, gameplay, music and story. Criticism primarily pertained to its English localization.
It has retrospectively been acknowledged as the game that
popularized the Japanese role-playing video game style
outside of its home market, and has frequently ranked
highly on various top game lists. The popularity of the title led Square Enix to produce a series of prequels and sequels under the collective title Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.
2.11.1
Gameplay
See also: Gameplay of Final Fantasy

As with previous installments of the Final Fantasy series,
Final Fantasy VII consists primarily of three major areas:
an overworld map, eld maps, and a battle screen. The
overworld map is a 3D model, featuring a scaled-down
version of the game's ctional world, across which the
player travels between the game's locations.* [4] As with
preceding games in the series, the world map can be traversed by foot, on chocobos and in an airship or sea vessel (in this case, a submarine and a plane used as a boat).
It also includes an additional means of transportationa
buggy.* [4]
On eld maps, characters are directed across realisti-
Battle gameplay in Final Fantasy VII
The battle screen is a 3D representation of an area, such

as a building's interior or an open grassland, in which the
player commands the characters in battles against CPUcontrolled enemies.* [7] While characters are super deformed on maps, the character models are more realistic
and normal-scaled in combat.* [6] Final Fantasy VII is the
rst game in the series to have character models with fully
rendered polygons, rather than 2D sprites. During battle sequences, the game uses the series' traditional Active
Time Battle (ATB) system rst featured in Final Fantasy
IV. Unlike previous games in the series, which allow 4-5
playable characters to participate in battle, Final Fantasy
VII only allows three characters per battle.* [8]
Final Fantasy VII 's skill system is built around the use
of |Materiamagical orbs composed of condensed life
energy from the planet, that are placed in special slots on
weapons and armor, allowing players to customize their
party's ability to use magic, summons, and special abilities. However, most magic-based Materia also lowers an
equipped character's physical attributes. In addition, certain types of Materia can be combined in a xed number
of ways to enhance their eects or produce other abilities.* [9] Summon spells feature in the game, equippable
as Materia, with elaborately animated attacks. A modied form of Final Fantasy VI 's Desperation Attacks
appears in Final Fantasy VII as the Limit Break.Every playable character has a bar that gradually lls up
as they suer damage in battle. When the bar is completely lled, the character is able to unleash his or her

Limit Break, a special attack which generally inicts signicantly more damage on enemies than normal attacks,
or otherwise aids the party in battle.* [6] Unlike Materia,
each character has their own unique set of Limit Breaks,
which are divided into four levels of strength, although
one character, Cait Sith, has only two levels.* [10]
2.11.2
Plot
Setting
The game's setting is similar to that of Final Fantasy VI
insofar as it is a world with considerably more advanced
technology than the rst ve games in the series. Overall,
the game's technology and society approximates that of
an industrial or post-industrial science ction milieu.* [11]
The world of Final Fantasy VII, referred to in the game as
The Planet, but retroactively namedGaia, is composed of three main land masses. The eastern continent is
home to the city of Midgar, an industrial metropolis that
serves as the capital city and hosts the headquarters of the
Shinra Electric Power Company, which operates as the
planet's de facto world government. Other locations on
the eastern continent are Junon (Shinra's major military
base), Fort Condor (a fort with a huge condor covering up
a Mako reactor on top of it), a chocobo ranch, and Kalm
(a small town inspired by medieval Europe).
The western continent features the Gold Saucer (an
amusement park with Corel Prison below), Costa Del Sol
(a seaside resort), Gongaga (a small town containing the
remains of a destroyed Mako reactor), Nibelheim (a town
residing at the base of Mt. Nibel), Rocket Town (the location of Shinra's failed space rocket launch), and Cosmo
Canyon. The tribe inhabiting Cosmo Canyon emphasize
living in harmony with nature and dedicating themselves
to the planet's well-being.* [12] Their settlement features
an observatory and serves as a research facility for those
who wish to participate in a philosophy known as the
Study of Planet Life, a lifestyle that encourages deference for nature and teaches that the planet has a life and
energy of its own.* [12]
Wutai, a village inspired by pre-modern Japan and China,
is located on a large island o the western continent.
The northernmost continent is a heavily glaciated landmass, and its few settlements include Bone Village (an
excavation site), Icicle Inn (a ski resort town), the mythical City of the Ancients, and the Northern Crater,
where the game's climax takes place. There are also underwater locations accessible only by submarine; for example, a sunken Shinra plane transporter.
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series
The nine main playable characters in Final Fantasy VII
131
are Cloud Strife, an unsociable mercenary who claims
to be a former 1st Class member of Shinra's SOLDIER
unit;* [13] Barret Wallace, the leader of the anti-Shinra
rebel group AVALANCHE; Tifa Lockhart, a martial
artist and a member of AVALANCHE, also a childhood
friend of Cloud's; Aerith Gainsborough,* [14] a ower
merchant who has been pursued by Shinra's special operations unit, the Turks, since childhood;* [15] Red XIII,
a wise lion-like creature who was experimented on by
Shinra scientists; Cait Sith, a fortune-telling robotic cat
who rides an animated moogle doll;* [16] Cid Highwind,
a pilot whose dreams of being the rst man in outer space
were not realized;* [17] Yue Kisaragi, a young ninja and
a skillful thief; and Vincent Valentine, a former member of Shinra's Turks unit, who was experimented on
30 years prior to the start of the game.* [18] The game's
main antagonist is Sephiroth, a former member of SOLDIER who reappears several years after he was thought
dead.* [19]
Story
The game begins with Cloud Strife, working as a
mercenary for hire, helping the eco terrorist group
AVALANCHE in a raid against the Mako reactors surrounding the Shinra-governed city of Midgar. Barret, the
group's leader, believes the Mako energy the reactors consume to be the planet's lifeblood, and Shinra's reactors
are killing the planet. Cloud's childhood friend, Tifa, is
also in the group. Although the rst mission is successful,
AVALANCHE is ambushed at the next reactor during a
subsequent raid. When the reactor explodes, Cloud drops
down into Midgar's slums. He is found by Aerith (aka
Aeris), a girl he briey met selling owers after his rst
mission with AVALANCHE.* [20] Prompted by the arrival of the Turks, who have been sent to capture Aerith,
Cloud agrees to act as her bodyguard and defends her
from their assault.* [21] Meanwhile, Shinra learns the location of AVALANCHE's hideout in Sector 7, and subsequently destroys it by dropping the upper plate of Sector
7 onto the slums, killing its population.* [22] The Turks
also capture Aerith, who is revealed to be the last surviving Cetra, an ancient near-dead tribe closely attuned
with the planet.* [23] President Shinra and Professor Hojo
believe Aerith is the key to nding thePromised Land,
a mythical land of fertility they see as an abundant source
of Mako.* [24] The remaining AVALANCHE members Cloud, Barret and Tifa - inltrate Shinra to rescue Aerith,
in the process encountering a specimen simply labeled
Jenova. Joined by Red XIII, a sentient tiger-like creature on whom Hojo had been conducting experiments, the
party rescues Aerith, but is captured by the Turks while
trying to escape and detained within the building. In the
morning, they nd their cells open and most of the personnel, including President Shinra, killed: the perpetrator appears to be Sephiroth, a legendary SOLDIER leader
who was presumed dead several years ago.The group discovers that the Jenova specimen is also missing,* [25] pre-
132
sumed stolen by Sephiroth.
Sephiroth killing Aerith. The scene was referred to by GameSpot

as the most shocking moment in video games.* [26]
While the president's son, Rufus Shinra, assumes control of the company, the party leaves Midgar and pursues
Sephiroth across the planet. They are joined by Cait Sith,
a cat-robot secretly controlled by repentant Turk Reeve
Tuesti;* [27] Yue Kisaragi, a teenage ninja from Wutai;
Vincent Valentine, a former Turk; and Cid Highwind, a
chain-smoking pilot. At a Cetra temple, the party encounters Sephiroth, who reveals his plan: if the world
is signicantly damaged, the Lifestream, made of pure
Mako energy, will gather in an attempt to heal the wound.
Sephiroth intends to use the legendary Black Materia to
cast a spell called Meteorto cause a massive injury,
enabling him to merge with the planet's Mako energy and
be reborn as a god.* [28] The party drives o Sephiroth,
acquiring the Black Materia, but Sephiroth manipulates
Cloud into giving him the Materia. While the party recovers from the encounter, Aerith sets o to stop Sephiroth on her own, following him to an ancient Cetra city.
The party follows, and nds Aerith praying to the planet
for aid. Just as they reach her, Sephiroth kills her. Cloud
and his allies track Sephiroth to the North Crater. During their journey, they nd out that Jenova is an interstellar creature who crashed on the planet roughly two thousand years ago, intent on taking over completely.* [29] Attempting to defend itself, the planet created giant monsters called Weapons. While most humans ed, the Cetra
managed to defeat Jenova and entomb its remains.* [30]
A few decades before the present, the remains of Jenova were unearthed by Professor Gast, a researcher for
Shinra. Mistaking Jenova for a Cetra, Gast attempted
to clone Jenova, assisted by Hojo. Even though Gast
abandoned the project, Hojo successfully managed to use
his assistant's unborn child for the experiment: the baby
was Sephiroth.* [31] Approximately ve years before the
present day, while on a Shinra mission with Cloud to
Cloud's and Tifa's hometown of Nibelheim, Sephiroth
encountered Hojo's failed test subjects and learned of his
origins. Mistakenly believing that Jenova and he were
Cetra, he was driven insane and destroyed Nibelheim as
an act of vengeance on the normal human population.

Cloud and Tifa confronted Sephiroth during the massacre, after which Sephiroth vanished, presumed dead
until his reappearance in the present day.
When the party reaches the Northern Crater to confront
Sephiroth for killing Aerith, they learn that Sephiroth was
one of multiple Jenova clones that Hojo had created from
both animals and humans. Upon reaching Sephiroth,
who has been killing and absorbing the Jenova clones
to instigate a Reunionof Jenova's cells, he manipulates Cloud into helping him cast Meteor, then states that
Cloud is one of Sephiroth's clones, showing him memories of the Nibelheim incident with a black-haired SOLDIER in Cloud's place.* [32] The summoning of Meteor
activates the planet's Weapons, and during the subsequent
earthquake, Cloud is separated from his companions and
falls into the Lifestream. The rest of the party and the
Turks that had followed them to the Crater escape on
the airship, the Highwind, where the party members are
placed under arrest. As Meteor approaches the planet,
the Weapons turn on humanity in an attempt to return as
much Mako energy to the Lifestream as possible to aid the
planet. Shinra focuses its eorts on protecting humanity
from the Weapons and attempting to destroy Meteor directly, which eventually costs the lives of the majority of
Shinra's personnel.* [33] Tifa, Barret and the others are
sentenced to be executed, but escape.* [34] They nd a
catatonic Cloud at a hospital in a tropical resort, where
he washed up following the events at the North Crater.
Tifa stays behind to help Cloud recover, while the rest of
the party continue their ght against Shinra. An attack by
the Weapons destroys the island, and Cloud and Tifa both
fall into the Lifestream. There, Tifa helps Cloud reconstruct his memories and learns the truth about his past.
It is revealed that Cloud was not accepted into SOLDIER, and that the SOLDIER in Sephiroth's visions was
Aerith's rst love and Cloud's friend, Zack Fair. The two
were present during the Nibelheim incident, with Cloud
managing to fatally wound Sephiroth, who only survived
through Jenova's cells: Zack and Cloud were severely
wounded and later taken and used by Hojo to perfect his
SOLDIER and Jenova experiments. Zack tried escaping
with Cloud but was killed by Shinra soldiers. Cloud recovered, took Zack's sword and made his way to Midgar:
Cloud's own aspirations to SOLDIER and Zack's memories and stories combined, with the help of the Jenova
treatment, to create a false personality.* [29] Realizing
and accepting his past, Cloud is able to recover. After
Cloud and Tifa emerge from the Lifestream, the party regroup and learn that Aerith, in her nal moments, was attempting to use the White Materia to cast the spellHoly
, the only means of opposing Meteor. It turns out she was
successful in casting the spell, but Sephiroth has been preventing its release. The group decides to rst stop the
rampage of the Weapons. Alongside this, the party confront Hojo, revealed to be Sephiroth's father,* [31] as the
scientist attempts to aid his son by feeding Mako energy
to him. After mutating himself with Jenova cells, he is

killed in combat. After this, they launch their nal assault
on Sephiroth, who is defeated by Cloud after a series of
battles. The party escapes from the crater as Holy is released. Holy attempts to block Meteor under Midgar, but
Meteor has drawn too close for Holy to combat it alone.
Just before Meteor's impact, the Lifestream rises from the
planet to aid Holy in destroying Meteor.* [35] Five hundred years later, Red XIII is seen with two cubs looking
out over the ruins of Midgar, which are now covered in
greenery, showing the planet has healed.
133
the CD-ROM format would suit the project's needs.* [41]
Nintendo, for whom Square had developed previous titles in the Final Fantasy series, had decided to continue
to use cartridges for its upcoming Nintendo 64 console.
This eventually led to a dispute that resulted in Square
ending its relationship with Nintendo. Instead, they announced on January 12, 1996 that they would be developing Final Fantasy VII exclusively for Sony's PlayStation
console.* [47]
Design
2.11.3
Development
For the rst time since working on Final Fantasy on the

Famicom, Sakaguchi made the gameplay systems a priority over the story, as the team's main concern during
the development of the game was how to implement the
3D.* [48] The transition from 2D graphics to 3D environments overlaid on pre-rendered backgrounds was accompanied by a focus on a more realistic presentation. While
the extra storage capacity and computer graphics gave the
team the means to implement more than 40 minutes of
full motion video (FMV) movies, this innovation brought
with it the added diculty of ensuring that the inferiority of the in-game graphics in comparison to the FMV
sequences was not too obvious. Kitase has described the
process of making the in-game environments as detailed
as possible to bea daunting task.* [41] The series' longtime character designer, Yoshitaka Amano, was opening
art workshops and exhibitions in France and New York,
which limited his involvement in the game. As a result,
Tetsuya Nomura was appointed as the project's character
designer, while Amano aided in the design of the game's
However, several of the sta members were working in
world map.* [6]
parallel on Chrono Trigger, and development for Final
Fantasy VII was interrupted when the other project be- Several of Nomura's designs changed during developcame signicant enough to require the help of Kitase and ment from their initial conceptions. For example, Cloud's
other designers. Some of the ideas originally considered original design of slicked-back black hair with no spikes
for Final Fantasy VII ultimately ended up in Chrono Trig- was intended to serve as a contrast to Sephiroth's long,
ger instead. Other ideas, such as the New York setting owing silver hair. Nomura feared, however, that such
and the sorceress character Edea, were kept unused un- masculinity could prove unpopular with fans, and theretil the later projects Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy VIII fore he changed Cloud's design to feature a shock of
spiky, bright blond hair. Vincent changed from rerespectively.* [40]
searcher to detective to chemist, and nally to the gure
Development resumed in late 1995,* [41] and required the
of a former Turk with a tragic past. Nomura has indieorts of approximately 120 artists and programmers,
cated that Cid Highwind's ghting style resembles that of
using PowerAnimator and Softimage 3D software.* [42]
a Dragoon Knight, a character class which was chosen
It was the most expensive video game of its time, with a
because his last name is the same as that of two previous
budget of around US$45 million,* [43] equivalent to $64
Dragoon Knights featured in the Final Fantasy series, Rimillion in 2012.* [44] Kitase was concerned the franchise
card Highwind of Final Fantasy II and Kain Highwind of
might be left behind if it did not catch up to the 3D graphFinal Fantasy IV.* [6]
ics being used in other games,* [45] and production began after the completion of a short, experimental tech
demo called Final Fantasy SGI for Silicon Graphics' Onyx Music
workstations. The demo featured polygon-based 3D renderings of characters from Final Fantasy VI in a real time The music for Final Fantasy VII was composed by Nobuo
battle.* [46] This experiment led the development team Uematsu. Instead of recorded music and sound eects
to integrate these design mechanics into Final Fantasy for the game, Uematsu opted for sequenced PlayStation
VII. However, as a result of the high quantity of mem- format audio (similar to MIDI), using the PlayStation's
ory storage required to implement the motion data, only internal sound chip.* [6] Final Fantasy VII was the rst
Planning sessions for Final Fantasy VII began in 1994

after the release of Final Fantasy VI. At the time, the
game was intended to be another 2D project for the Super
Nintendo.* [36] Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi originally planned for the story to take place in New York
in the year 1999, and as such, the original script of Final Fantasy VII, which was written by Sakaguchi, was
completely dierent from the nished product. Tetsuya
Nomura recalled how Sakaguchi wanted to do something like a detective story.The rst part of the story
involved a hot bloodedcharacter named Detective
Joewho was in pursuit of the main characters, after they
had blown up the city of Midgar, which had already been
developed for the story.* [37] The nal scenario was written by Kazushige Nojima and Yoshinori Kitase, based on
the story by Sakaguchi and Nomura.* [38] Masato Kato
was brought into the project later and wrote three scenes
for the game.* [39]
134
game in the series to include a track with digitized vo- of the game was downloaded 100,000 times during its
cals; specically in One-Winged Angel, which has rst two weeks of release, making it the fastest-selling
been described as Uematsu's most recognizable con- PlayStation game on the PlayStation Network.* [59]
tributionto the music of the Final Fantasy series.* [49]
Uematsu has said the soundtrack has a feel ofrealism,
which prevented him from using exorbitant, crazy music.* [50]
In early August 1996, a demonstration disc called
"Square's Preview" was released in Japan as a bonus packin with the PlayStation game Tobal No. 1.* [51] The
disc contained the earliest playable demo of Final Fantasy VII and previews of other upcoming games such as
Bushido Blade and SaGa Frontier. The demo allowed
players to play through the rst part of Midgar. However, there were some noticeable dierences from the nal version, namely that Aerith was featured in the initial
party and the ability to use Summons had not yet been
implemented.* [52]
Video Games Live rendition of the game's One Winged Angel
in 2009
2.11.4
Release
On July 4, 2012, Square Enix revealed that a PC rerelease was forthcoming. It was subsequently released on
August 14. The game features 36 new achievements to be
unlocked, Cloud Saves, and a Character Booster
feature. This remasterization for modern PCs was developed by DotEmu* [60]* [61] and is available exclusively
via the Square Enix store. The game can be played at
Full HD (1920x1080) resolution with upscaled original
graphics.* [62] The release is primarily aimed to port the
classic game into a downloadable game to be run on modern Windows OSs (XP/Vista/7) and DirectX 9.0c.* [63]
The game's release in North America was preceded by

a massive three-month marketing campaign, which consisted of three 30-second television commercials on major networks, a one-minute long theatrical commercial, a
holiday promotion with Pepsi, and printed ads in publications such as Rolling Stone, Details, Spin, Playboy and
comic books published by Marvel and DC Comics.* [53]
Several additions to gameplay and story were made
for the game's North American release, such as easier exchange of materia, arrows highlighting exits on
eld screens,* [5] and an extra cutscene, prompting a re- On July 4, 2013, the game was released on the Steam
release in Japan under the title Final Fantasy VII Inter- digital distribution platform for Windows PCs.* [64]
national.* [54] On December 18, 2012 this version was
Soundtrack
In 1998, Final Fantasy VII was ported to Windowsbased PCs. This re-release featured smoother graphics,
and also xed translation and spelling errors, as well as
gameplay-related glitches. However, the PC version suf*
fered from its own bugs, including errors in the display of The game's soundtrack was released on four CDs. [65]
A
single-disc
album
of
selected
tracks
from
the
Original
some FMVs when rendering in hardware mode on certain graphics chipsets.* [56] Since the original PC release Soundtrack and three arranged tracks, entitled Final Fan*
of the game, fans have created hundreds of mods for the tasy VII Reunion Tracks, was released separately. [66] Piano
Collections
Final
Fantasy
VII,
a
piano
arrangement
of
PC version of the game. The most prominent commu*
selected
tracks,
was
released
in
2003.
[67]
Several
tracks
nity being the Qhimm.com forum community, featuring
various mods including game patches (for better compat- from the game have been remixed in subsequent Square
ibility with modern Windows and graphics cards), PC- productions, including Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy
*
PS save game converter, save game editor, game train- VII: Advent Children, [68] Crisis Core: Final Fantasy
*
ers, character models, world map, cutscenes, music, and VII and Kingdom Hearts. [69] In 2012, music from the
soundtrack entered the Classic FM Hall of Fame at numbattle stages.* [57]
ber 16.* [70]
In addition to the PlayStation and PC releases, the game
was released onto the PlayStation Network in Japan on
April 10, 2009, in North America on June 2, 2009, and
in Europe and Australia on June 4, 2009. The Japanese 2.11.5 Reception
release is the International version.* [58] The PSN release
135
Initial reception and sales
Reviewers also praised the game's Windows conversion,

but criticized it for its lower-quality pre-rendered visuals and audio, and for its framerate and installation problems.* [87]* [89]* [105] Computer Games Magazine said
that "[no] game in recent memoryhad such a tendency to fail to work in any capacity on multiple [computers].* [90] Computer Gaming World complained that the
music, while beautifully composed, is butchered by being dependent on your sound card,* [89] and Next Generation Magazine found the game's pre-rendered backgrounds signicantly less impressive than those of the
PlayStation version.* [105] However, the latter magazine
found the higher-resolution battle visuals absolutely
stunning,* [105] and Computer Games Magazine said
that they "[show] o the power of [a] PC equipped with a
3D card.* [90] All three magazines concluded by praising the game despite its technical aws,* [89]* [90]* [105]
and PC Gamer summarized that, while Square apparently did only what was required to get its PlayStation
game running under Windows,Final Fantasy VII isstill
a winner on the PC.* [87]
Final Fantasy VII was both a critical and commercial success, and set several sales records. Within three days
of its release in Japan, the game had sold 2.3 million
copies.* [6] This popularity inspired thousands of retailers
in North America to break street dates in September to
meet public demand for the title.* [91] In the game's debut
weekend in North America, it sold 330,000 copies,* [92]
and had reached sales of 500,000 units in less than three
weeks.* [93] The momentum established in the game's
opening weeks continued for several months; Sony announced the game had sold one million copies in North
America by early December,* [94] prompting business
analyst Edward Williams from Monness, Crespi, Hardt
& Co. to comment, Sony redened the role-playing
game (RPG) category and expanded the conventional audience with the launch of Final Fantasy VII.* [94] As
of December 25, 2005, the game had sold over 9.8 million copies worldwide,* [95] making it the highest-selling
game in the Final Fantasy series.* [96] Final Fantasy VII
is credited asthe game that sold the PlayStation,as well
as allowing role-playing games to nd a place in markets
outside Japan. As of May 2010, it had sold 10 million
copies worldwide,* [97] making it the most popular title in
the series in terms of units sold.* [98]* [99]* [100]* [101]
Upon release, the game received widespread acclaim

from critics. It was referred to by GameFan asquite possibly the greatest game ever made,a quote which continues to feature prominently on the back cover of the game's
jewel case.* [102] GameSpot commented thatnever before have technology, playability, and narrative combined
as well as in Final Fantasy VII,expressing particular
favor toward the game's graphics, audio, and story.* [5]
IGN's Jay Boor insisted the game's graphics were light
years beyond anything ever seen on the PlayStation,
and regarded its battle system as its strongest point.* [8]
Computer and Video Games 's Alex C praised the story,
stating that the many characters that come and go
throughout the story are well developed, and players will
feel the ups and downs of the protagonists as if it were a
lm,and that thestructure of the story is such that, just
when you think you've seen it all, something even more
awesome comes along to totally knock your socks o.
*
[77] Edge noted,Theinteractive movie
has long been
a dirty term to anyone who values a playable videogame,
but FFVII succeeds in coming closer than any title yet,
with the highly complex, melodramatic story and excellently orchestrated chip musiccombining to make
players feel real empathy with the characters,a task
usually shied away from by the action/comedy-orientated
western graphic adventures.* [103] RPGamer praised
the game's soundtrack, both in variety and sheer volume,
stating that Uematsu has done his work exceptionally
wellandis perhaps at his best here.* [104] Electronic
Gaming Monthly 's panel of four reviewers gave the game
scores of 9.5 out of 10 each, adding up to a score of 38
out of 40 in total.* [79]
Final Fantasy VII has received some negative criticism

as well. Square's announcement that it would be produced for Sony rather than Nintendo and that it would not
be based on the Final Fantasy SGI demo was met with
discontent among some gamers.* [46]* [47] Ocial U.S.
PlayStation Magazine (OPM) and GameSpot questioned
the game's highly linear progression.* [5]* [86] OPM considered the game's translationa bit muddyand felt the
summon animations were repetitive.* [86] RPGamer
cited its translation as packed with typos and other
errors which further obscure what is already a very
confusing plot.* [106] GamePro also considered the
Japanese-to-English translation a signicant weakness in
the game,* [56] and IGN regarded the ability to use only
three characters at a time asthe game's only shortcoming.* [8]
Awards and accolades

Final Fantasy VII was given numerous Game of the Year
awards in 1997. It won in the Academy of Interactive
Arts & Sciences' rst annual Interactive Achievement
Awards in the categories Console Adventure Game
of the Yearand Console Role Playing Game of the
Year(it was also nominated in the categoriesInteractive Title of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in
Art/GraphicsandOutstanding Achievement in Interactive Design).* [107] In the Origins Award, it won in the
category Best Roleplaying Computer Game of 1997.
*
[108] It was also awarded theReaders' Choice All Systems Game of the Year,Readers' Choice PlayStation
Game of the Yearand Readers' Choice Role-Playing
Game of the Yearby EGM,* [109] which also gave it
other awards for Hottest Video Game Babe(for Tifa
Lockheart),Most Hyper for a Game,Best Ending
and Best Print Ad.* [110]
136
Since 1997, it has been selected by many game magazines as one of the top video games of all time, including
as 91st in EGM 's 2001 100 Best Games of All Time
,* [111] and as fourth in Retro Gamer 'sTop 100 Games
in 2004.* [112] In 2005, it was ranked as 88th in IGN's
Top 100 Games of All Time* [113] and as third in
PALGN's The Greatest 100 Games Ever.* [114] Final Fantasy VII was included in theThe Greatest Games
of All Timelist by GameSpot in 2006,* [26] and ranked
as second in Empire's 2006100 Greatest Games of All
Time,* [115] as third in Stu 's100 Greatest Gamesin
2008* [116] and as 15th in Game Informer 's 2009 Top
200 Games of All Time(down ve places from its previous best games of all time list* [117]).* [118] GameSpot
placed it at the top of its list of the most inuential games
ever made in 2001, and as second in 2002;* [119]* [120]
in 2007, GamePro ranked it 14th on the list of the most
important games of all time, and in 2009 it nished in
the same place on their list of the most innovative games
of all time.* [121]* [122] In 2012, Time named it one of
All-TIME 100 Video Games.* [123]
Technology.* [138] This port features the Final Fantasy

VII game scaled back to 2D, with some of the side quests
removed.* [138]
The game's popularity and open-ended nature also led
director Kitase and scenario writer Nojima to establish
a plot-related connection between Final Fantasy VII and
Final Fantasy X-2. The character Shinra from Final Fantasy X-2 proposes the concept of extracting the life energy from within the planet Spira. Nojima has stated
that Shinra and his proposal are a deliberate nod to the
Shinra Company, and that he envisioned the events of
Final Fantasy X-2 as a prequel to those in Final Fantasy VII.* [139] The FMV sequences and computer graphics used in Final Fantasy VII allowed Sakaguchi to begin production on the rst Final Fantasy lm, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.* [140] The game also introduced settings suused with modern-to-advanced technology into the Final Fantasy series, a theme continued
by Final Fantasy VIII and The Spirits Within.* [141]* [142]
Re-releases of Square games in Japan with bonus features would occur frequently after the release of Final
Fantasy VII International. Later titles that would be
re-released as international versions include Final Fantasy X (as "International"),* [143] Final Fantasy X-2 (as
"International + Last Mission"),* [144] Kingdom Hearts
(as "Final Mix"),* [145] Kingdom Hearts II (as "Final
Mix"),* [146] and Final Fantasy XII (as "International Zodiac Job System").* [147]
It has also appeared in numerous other greatest game lists.

In 2007, Dengeki PlayStation gave it the Best Story
, Best RPGand Best Overall Gameretrospective awards for games on the original PlayStation.* [124]
GamePro named it the best RPG title of all time in
2008,* [125] and featured it in their 2010 article The
30 Best PSN Games.* [126] In 2012, GamesRadar also
ranked it as the sixth saddest game ever.* [127] On the Several characters from Final Fantasy VII have also made
other hand, GameSpy ranked it seventh on their 2003 list
cameo appearances in other Square Enix titles, most noof the most overrated games* [128] (in 2011, Destructoid tably the ghting game Ehrgeiz and the popular Final
arguedwhy Final Fantasy VII is not overrated* [129]).
Fantasy-Disney crossover series Kingdom Hearts. AdFinal Fantasy VII has often placed at or near the top of ditionally, ghting video game Dissidia Final Fantasy
many reader polls of all-time best games. It was voted the includes Final Fantasy VII characters such as Cloud
Reader's Choice Game of the Centuryin an IGN poll in and Sephiroth, and allows players to ght with charac2000* [130] and placed second in theTop 100 Favorite ters from throughout the Final Fantasy series, and its
Games of All Timeby Japanese magazine Famitsu in follow-up, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, included Tifa as
2006 (it was also voted as ninth in Famitsu's 2011 poll of well. Aerith's death in the game has often been remost tear-inducing games of all time).* [131]* [132] Users ferred as one of the most emotional moments from any
of GameFAQs voted it theBest Game Everin 2004 and video game,* [26]* [148]* [149] while Sephiroth remains
in 2005,* [133]* [134] and placed it second in 2009.* [135] one of the most popular villains in video game hisIn 2008, readers of Dengeki magazine voted it the best tory.* [150]* [151]
game ever made,* [136] as well as the ninth most tearinducing game of all time.* [137]
Related media and merchandise
2.11.6
Legacy
In addition to the PlayStation and PC releases, the game

was released onto the PlayStation Network in Japan on
April 10, 2009, in North America on June 2, 2009,
and in Europe and Australia on June 4, 2009. The
Japanese release is the International version.* [58] The
PSN release of the game was downloaded 100,000 times
during its rst two weeks of release, making it the
fastest-selling PlayStation game on the PlayStation Network.* [59] The game has also inspired an unocial version for the NES by Chinese company Shenzhen Nanjing
Further information: Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is the formal title for a
series of games, animated features and short stories based
in the world of Final Fantasy VII. The series consists of
several titles across various platforms, all of which are
extensions of the original story.* [152] The rst title in
the Compilation is the mobile game Before Crisis: Final
Fantasy VII, a prequel focusing on the Turks' activities
six years prior to the original game, including their rst
encounter with AVALANCHE.* [153] The CGI lm se-

quel Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, set two years after the events of the game, was the rst title announced
in the series, but it was the second to be released. Special DVD editions of the lm included Last Order: Final
Fantasy VII, an original video animation that recounts the
destruction of Nibelheim.* [154] Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and its mobile phone counterpart, Dirge
of Cerberus Lost Episode: Final Fantasy VII, are thirdperson shooters* [155] set three years after the events of
Final Fantasy VII and one after the events of Advent Children. Dirge focuses on Vincent Valentine, and goes into
more detail regarding his backstory than the original Final Fantasy VII. The most recent title is the PlayStation
Portable game Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, an action
role-playing game that revolves around Zack's past.* [156]
Also included in the Compilation is On the Way to a Smile,
a collection of seven short stories written by Kazushige
Nojima, and set between the end of Final Fantasy VII
and the beginning of Advent Children. Originally only
three stories were released: Case of Barret, Case
of Tifaand Case of Denzel, but with the release of
Advent Children Complete, four more stories were written; Case of Nanaki, Case of Yue, Case of
Shinraand Case of Lifestream - White & Black.
137
As for a VII remake, all I can advise right now is to play
the PSN release that has come out for the time being.
Maybe we'll have some news for you at a later time. I'm
actually working on multiple projects right now, I don't
know exactly what new projects I'll be taking on after
XIII, but I am working on Final Fantasy Agito XIII, too.
Maybe I'll be able to focus a little more on that project
once XIII is complete.* [165] In January 2010, Tetsuya
Nomura said, Fans are looking forward to an oft rumored remake of FFVII, but I dont believe this will
happen for the time being.* [166] In February 2010, Kitase said that in order to give a PS3 port of Final Fantasy
VII a similar quality to Final Fantasy XIII, itwould take
as much as three or four times longer than the three and a
half years it has taken to put this Final Fantasy together!
So it's looking pretty unrealistic to happen!" Kitase also
commented that making games with the same style as Final Fantasy VII for the PS3 is very dicult, as it would
take the sta too much time to create the graphics; because of this, Final Fantasy XIII ismore linearthan previous titles.* [167] In a March 2010 interview, however,
Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama stated,If
we had the manpower and the time to work on a project,
if we were to remake Final Fantasy VII with the quality of
Final Fantasy XIII it would become a tremendous project.
If we can get the number of people we need by all means
that would be the one I would really want to remake.
*
[168] In March 2010, CEO Yoichi Wada revealed they
were exploring the possibility of a remake, following the
high demand.* [169] However, in June 2012, the company announced that "[we] will only consider this once
a brand new game in the franchise exceeds the quality of
that found in FF7.* [170]
Releases not under the Compilation label include, Maiden

Who Travels the Planet, which follows Aerith's journey
in the Lifestream after her death at the hands of Sephiroth, taking place concurrently with the second half of the
original game.* [157] Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding is a
mobile port of the snowboard minigame featured in Final
Fantasy VII,* [158] which contains dierent course than
the original minigame.* [159] The game is downloadable
on V Cast-compatible mobile phones, and was rst made
available in 2005 in Japan and North America.* [160]
Due to the number of questions GamesRadar received
about the game's remake they featured it in their article about the reasons to hate Final Fantasy", wishPossible remake
ing it could be released so that fans would stop asking
them about it.* [171] GamesRadar also published an arWith the announcement and development of the Com- ticle called The truth about the Final Fantasy VII repilation of Final Fantasy VII, speculation spread that an make, stating despite the sta's comments they will not
enhanced remake of the original Final Fantasy VII would produce a remake; interviews from mid-2009 onwards
be released for the PlayStation 3. This speculation was gave gamers hope that it is still possible a remake will be
sparked at the 2005 E3 convention by the release of a released.* [172] In 2011, GameTrailers ranked it second
video featuring the opening sequence of Final Fantasy on a list of the games that most needed remakes,* [173]
VII recreated using the PlayStation 3's graphical capabil- whilst Cheat Code Central ranked it fourth on a simities.* [161] Further speculation was raised due to thank- ilar list.* [174] In 2011, NowGamer ranked it as numyou notes forthe Final Fantasy VII PS3 testing teamin ber one on the list they would like to be remade.* [175]
the credits of both Advent Children and Crisis Core. How- PSU.com ranked it as number one on such lists twice, in
ever, it was pointed out that the notes could have been 2008 (games to be revived for the PlayStation 3) and in
aimed at the testers for the PSN release of Final Fantasy 2011 (PSone classics to be remade).* [176]* [177]
VII, or that Advent Children and Crisis Core used graphical
assets from the PS3 demo.* [162]* [163] The initial specu- In 2014 a port of the original game was announced for
than a full remake, sparking widespread
lation was put to rest when Square Enix president Yoichi the PS4 rather
*
*
[178]
[179]* [180]
criticism.
Wada explained the presentation was intended only for
technological demonstration purposes,* [161] and an ofcial statement from the company said that no remake
2.11.7 References
was in development as part of the Compilation.* [164]
In 2009, Yoshinori Kitase said at the Games Convention,
[1] Yamaha Corporation licenses its XG Soft Synthesizer
138
to Square Soft. Yamaha Corporation. 21 April 1998.

Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved
24 May 2010.

[2] Moser, Cassidee (December 6, 2014). PSX 2014: FINAL FANTASY 7 TO RELEASE ON PLAYSTATION
4. IGN. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

Arts. p. 10. SCUS-94163.
[3] Ashcraft, Brian (September 9, 2014). Square Enix Will

Stream Final Fantasy for Smartphones in Japan. Kotaku.
[4] Final Fantasy VII North American instruction manual.
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PlayStation. SCE America. Aerith: You okay? This is a
church in the Sector 5 slums. [You] suddenly fell on top
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came crashing down? / Aerith: The roof and the ower
bed must have broken your fall. You're lucky.
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you ever been a bodyguard? You DO do everything, right?
/ Cloud: Yeah, that's right. / Aerith: Then, get me out
of here.
PlayStation. SCE America. Don Corneo: Shinra's trying
to crush a small rebel group called AVALANCHE, and
want to inltrate their hideout. And they're really going to
crush them...literally. By breaking the support holding up
the plate above them. / Tifa: Break the support!? / Don
Corneo: You know what's going to happen? The plate'll
go PING and everything's gonna go BAMMM!! I heard
their hideout's in the Sector 7 Slums...
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Aerith? / Elmyra: Aerith is an Ancient Cetra. The sole
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ter's name was romanized asAerisdue to the Japanese
be Mako! / President Shinra: Exactly. That is why our
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the injury. The amount of energy gathered depends on
the size of the injury. ...What would happen if there was
an injury that threatened the very life of the Planet? Think
how much energy would be gathered! Ha ha ha! And at
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energy will be mine. By merging with all the energy of
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Melding with the Planet... I will cease to exist as I am now.
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this? / Sephiroth: Ha, ha, ha...... I want to take you back
to your real self. The one who gave me the Black Materia
that day... Who would have ever thought a failed experiment would prove so useful? Hojo would die if he knew.
/ Cloud: Hojo!? What does he have to do with me!? /
Sephiroth: Five years ago you were... ...constructed by
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143
on a scenario Kazushige Nojima had in mind when working on Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core enjoyed strong sales,
selling over three million units worldwide.* [4] Critical reception was generally positive.
2.12.1 Gameplay
Crisis Core is an action role-playing game in which the

player controls Zack Fair. The player moves Zack
[179] Leack, Jonathan (December 6, 2014). Square Enix An- through and between open areas, allowing him to talk
nounces Final Fantasy VII for PS4, But It isn
t a Remake with non-player characters, interact with the environment, and engage monsters in battle. At save points, the
. craveonline.co.uk. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
player may opt to take one of the available side missions,
[180] Shaikh, Sehran (December 6, 2014). Final Fantasy VII and if so, Zack is moved to a special area to complete
Announced For PS4, Not A Full Remake But Simple Port the mission, which usually involves defeating one or more
of PC Version, Debut Trailer Released. gamepur.com.
monsters. If the mission is successfully completed, the
player is rewarded with benecial items, and often new
missions become available. Whether the player is successful in the side mission or not, upon completion, Zack
is returned to the save point in the main game.
Ocial website (original release)
Ocial website (PlayStation Network release)
Ocial website (Windows digital release)
Final Fantasy VII at TV Tropes
2.12 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy

VII
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ( -
VII- Kuraishisu Koa -Fainaru
Fantaj Sebun-) is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation
Portable. First released in 2007, the game is a prequel to
the 1997 video game Final Fantasy VII and is a part of
the metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, which
includes other products related to the original game.
The game primarily focuses on Zack Fair, a young member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, who
is assigned to look for the missing SOLDIER Genesis
Rhapsodos. As he searches for Genesis, Zack discovers
Genesis' origin, Project G, and how it is related to two
other high ranking SOLDIERs; Sephiroth and Angeal
Hewley. The game's storyline takes the player from the
war between the megacorporation Shinra and the people
of Wutai to the events in Nibelheim, ending just before
the beginning of Final Fantasy VII.
The game was directed by Hajime Tabata, with
Tetsuya Nomura serving as character designer. Before
development, the Square Enix sta initially planned to
make a PlayStation Portable port of the mobile phone
game Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, but after discussion, they decided to create a new game. The plot is based
Zack in battle.
Crisis Core uses a real-time combat system in which the

player can move Zack around, initiate attacks, special
abilities and spells, use items, and block or dodge attacks.* [4]* [5] Zack's abilities in battle are set by what
materia he currently has equipped.* [6] Up to six materia can be equipped at any one time, which can impart
special attacks, magic spells, or passive bonuses such as
health increases or the ability to display the statistics of
the current foe in combat. Materia are gained throughout the game through exploration, as rewards from side
missions, as spoils of battle, or from shops. Materia can
be fused together to make more powerful versions with
improved bonuses; for example, fusing an attack materia
with an elemental magic materia can create a new attack
skill materia that inicts elemental magic damage in addition to physical damage. Special items collected in the
game can also be used in materia fusion to further increase the materia's power.
Crisis Core uses a slot machine-like mechanic to aect
the combat system. The Digital Mind Wave(DMW)
features two sets of three spinning wheels; one set with
the numbers one through seven, and another with pictures
of characters that Zack befriends during the game. The
144
DMW automatically spins as long as Zack has at least

10 Soldier Points, which are awarded to the player
by defeating foes. If the DMW stops with the same three
pictures lined up, Zack will then perform an appropriate Limit Break attack that can greatly harm an enemy or
signicantly heal Zack. Additionally, in this case, if the
number slots give two or more of the same number, the
materia in that slot will power up. Should the numbers
line up as 777, Zack will gain an experience level,
increasing his health, soldier points, and ability points. If
there is no match in the pictures, matching numbers on
the slots will grant temporary bonuses, such as limited
invincibility or zero-cost use of skills and abilities. The
chance of matching pictures is tied to the current Limit
level, which is raised by taking damage in battle and reduced upon successful battles, and after certain storyline
events. After collecting certain items in the game, the
pictures on the DMW may also randomly change to summonable creatures, which have more destructive and benecial Limit Breaks should the pictures match up.* [7]
Following completion of the game, the player will obtain
a New Game Plus option.* [8] The North American and
European releases of Crisis Core also have an added diculty mode, which increases the power and health of enemies.
2.12.2
Plot
Characters
class SOLDIER* [9] who is also friends with fellow SOLDIER members Sephiroth and Genesis, who ultimately
becomes the game's primary antagonist.* [10]* [11] The
SOLDIER operatives work under Director Lazard, the
illegitimate son of President Shinra. Zack is also friends
with the Turks, particularly their leader Tseng, and one
of their female operatives, Cissnei. During the course
of the game, Zack encounters and befriends Aerith, a
young woman tending owers from a ruined church in
the Midgar slums. He also befriends Cloud, a Shinra infantryman.* [12]* [13]
Story
SOLDIERs Zack Fair and Angeal Hewley are dispatched
to Wutai to support the Shinra war eort.* [14] However, during the ghting, Angeal disappears,* [15] and
Zack is appointed to nd both him and an already missing
SOLDIER, Genesis.* [16] Zack, accompanied by Tseng,
nds that Genesis and Angeal have betrayed Shinra,* [17]
and, as such, Zack and Sephiroth are assigned to kill
them.* [18] With help from Dr. Hollander, a scientist
with a vendetta against Shinra, Genesis creates an army
of clones to attack Shinra headquarters.* [19] After the
forces are defeated, Zack and Sephiroth track down Hollander's secret laboratory,* [20] and learn that Hollander
had used both Genesis and Angeal as part of Project G, an
attempt to create soldiers infused with Jenova cells.* [21]
Sephiroth faces o against Genesis, whilst Zack pursues
Hollander.* [22] However, Angeal is intent on keeping
Hollander alive as he wants to nd a way to return to normal, and so he prevents Zack from killing the doctor by
knocking Zack into the slums of Midgar.* [23]
Zack recovers to nd Aerith tending to him.* [24] After they spend some time together, Zack returns to
SOLDIER headquarters which is under attack by Genesis.* [25] On his way, Zack allies with Angeal, who has
developed doubts about his and Genesis' actions.* [26]
As Angeal, Zack and Sephiroth protect the headquarters,
Angeal confronts Genesis, but both disappear. Zack is
subsequently ordered to investigate Modeoheim, where
Genesis has been spotted.* [27] En route, Zack meets
Shinra infantryman Cloud, and they become friends.* [28]
Near Modeoheim, Zack encounters and defeats Genesis,
who appears to commit suicide by throwing himself into
the depths of a reactor. Zack travels on to Modeoheim
and nds both Angeal and Hollander. Angeal summons
Left to right, Genesis, Angeal, Zack, Sephiroth, Tseng, and Cloud. and fuses with his own clones, and mutates into a monster, forcing Zack to kill him. Before he dies, Angeal
Crisis Core begins seven years before the events of Fi- gives Zack his Buster Sword, telling him to protect his
nal Fantasy VII, and many characters from that game and honor.* [29]
other related works appear. However, the primary char- Whilst Shinra continues the pursuit of Hollander, it
acters in the game are from either SOLDIER (the private emerges that Genesis is still alive and still producing
army of Shinra), or from their elite branch of operatives, clones, some of which have appeared in Midgar, forcthe Turks.
ing Zack to return so as to protect Aerith.* [30] He leaves
The main protagonist is Zack Fair, a young and friendly her with an Angeal clone that seems to be protecting
SOLDIER. His mentor and friend is Angeal Hewley, a 1st her, and then travels with Sephiroth and Cloud to investi-

gate a Mako reactor near Nibelheim.* [31] While checking the reactor, Sephiroth learns from Genesis that he
was an experiment, implanted with cells of Jenova before he was born.* [32] Genesis explains that his body is
degrading, and he needs Sephiroth's cells to survive, but
Sephiroth refuses.* [33] Overcome with the recent revelations regarding his past, Sephiroth locks himself in
Nibelheim Mansion, and a week later, sets Nibelheim
ablaze and goes to the Mako reactor to take Jenova's body.
When Zack fails to stop him, Cloud throws him into
the Lifestream below the reactor. Zack awakes to nd
that Shinra has covered-up the Nibelheim incident and he
and Cloud have become part of Professor Hojo's experiments on Jenova cells and Mako exposure.* [34] However,
Zack is able to escape, taking the catatonic Cloud with
him. They immediately become high priority targets for
Shinra. While eeing, Zack learns that Genesis and Hollander are still trying to stabilize Genesis' mutation,* [35]
and they now plan to use Cloud's cells, as he is the only
one with Sephiroth's genes.* [36]
Hollander tries to get to Cloud, but is killed by Zack.
Zack then nds Director Lazard who, now mutated into
an Angeal clone, has turned against Shinra.* [37] Lazard
directs Zack to the remains of Banora to nd Genesis.
Zack defeats Genesis, but upon returning he discovers
that Shinra have located them, and killed Lazard. The
Angeal clone that was left guarding Aerith also arrives,
but he too is killed.* [38] Zack discovers a note he had
carried from Aerith, and learns he and Cloud had been
subjected to Hojo's experiments for four years. Zack and
Cloud are able to escape, heading towards Midgar, whilst
Genesis' body is collected by two soldiers.* [39]
145
the idea of a Before Crisis port was cancelled.* [43]
Kitase wanted to make sure the game exceeded fans' expectations, so he made sure that rather than making it
as a tributeto Final Fantasy VII, it shared important
links with other titles from Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.* [43] Similarly, Tabata explained that he and
the sta were very wary throughout production of altering the fans' perception of Final Fantasy VII's iconic
characters.For example, one of the main background
events from Final Fantasy VII, Nibelheim's destruction,
had been changed somewhat in the OVA Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, and due to negative fan reaction to these
change, the game sta decided not to make any major
changes in Crisis Core.* [43] However, they also operated
on the principal that this game dealt with those characters'younger days,so that new elements could be added
without changing the characters too much.* [42]
One of the primary reasons Zack was chosen as protagonist was because his fate was predetermined.* [42] Kitase stated that Zack's story had been cooking for 10
yearsas, despite being a minor character in Final Fantasy VII, Nomura had already developed conceptual artwork, and Kazushige Nojima had already worked out
a story. The game was originally meant to have more
scenes depicting Zack and Cloud's ight to Midgar, so
as to expand on their friendship and unrealized plans,
but these scenes were removed due to UMD limitations,
and so the sta focused more on Zack's background as
a formidable warrior.* [44] The addition of the character of Genesis to the story came about after discussions
between producer Hideki Imaizumi and the character's
Japanese voice actor, Gackt, as Imaizumi had been impressed with the characters' brief appearance in the secret
ending to Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, and felt
there was great room to expand the character.* [45] Sephiroth's role was specically written to give him a much
more human side.* [45] The game's logo represents various main characters; the blue sky symbolizes Zack; the
white feather symbolizes Angeal; and the water symbolizes Aerith.* [46]
Shinra pursue Zack and Cloud, and catch up with them

just outside Midgar. Leaving the still semi-conscious
Cloud hidden away, Zack ghts o an enormous number of Shinra troops, but is ultimately fatally wounded.
Cloud manages to crawl to Zack's body after Shinra has
left, and Zack, in his dying breath, bequeaths the Buster
Sword to Cloud, as Angeal had done to him.* [40] Cloud
then begins to walk to Midgar. The epilogue recreates the
opening scenes of Final Fantasy VII, as Cloud, his mem- Crisis Core was rst envisioned as an action game, but beories confused, claims to be a former SOLDIER.* [41]
cause almost all of the sta had more experience designing RPGs, they decided to modify it, making battles more
similar to the ones found in standard RPGs.* [44] How2.12.3 Development
ever, they also added more action orientated elements to
The idea of Crisis Core originated when Hajime Tabata the battles, resulting in the game becoming more of an acwas chosen as director for an upcoming Final Fantasy tion RPG than a traditional RPG. The Materia system was
title for the PlayStation Portable. After discussion with designed so that players could choose between RPGTetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase, Tabata decided oriented enhancementsand action-oriented enhancethat the game should be another installment in the Com- ments,as well as to help with the game's balance. Adpilation of Final Fantasy VII, feeling that the pressure of ditionally, the Digital Mind Wave system (DMW) was
of luck, as well as to
producing a game from a popular series would motivate added to give gameplay an element
*
*
[42]
Nomura and Kiprevent
combat
feeling
repetitive.
both the sta and himself. [42] The original idea was to
tase
wanted
to
include
this
in
the
game
because of their
make a PlayStation Portable port of Before Crisis: Final
*
pachinko
machines.
[43]
enthusiasm
for
Fantasy VII, as it had been released for mobile-phones
and the sta wanted to expand it. However, after decid- The game was rst announced at the 2004 E3, prior to
ing Zack was going to be the protagonist of the new game,
146
the release of the PlayStation Portable. Its rst trailer

consisted of clips from Last Order.* [47] In an interview
for Famitsu, Nomura stated that a playable demo of the
game would be ready by the end of 2006. However, there
was no mention of whether the demo would be openly
available to PSP owners.* [48] By May 2005, Nomura
announced that he had designed the concept art for the
game, with the gameplay set to beinterestingandpreviously unseen.* [49] In May 2007, both Nomura and
Tabata revealed that the game was 90% complete, and
that completing its story mode and all side quests would
take about 100 hours of gameplay.* [50] A playable demo
was made available at Jump Festa '06.* [50]
2.12.4
Audio
Main article: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Original

Soundtrack
The game's soundtrack was released on October 10,
2007, containing fty-ve songs on two discs. The music
was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto, with a few tracks
orchestrated by Kazuhiko Toyama. The soundtrack also
included remixes of various music from Final Fantasy
VII composed by Nobuo Uematsu and Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, which was also composed by Ishimoto.
The game's ending theme, "Why", was performed by
Ayaka.* [51] The addition of Whywas revealed by
Square Enix in May 2007, with Ayaka stating that she
was fascinated by Crisis Core 's story and felt shewould
like to deliverWhyalongside Zack's fate to the hearts
of many people.* [52] The singleWhywas released
in Japan on September 5, 2007.* [53]
2.12.5
Release
On September 13, 2007 Square Enix released a special

edition bundle for Crisis Core; a special silver colored
PlayStation Portable Slim and Lite with Final Fantasy VII
's 10th Anniversary insignia on the back and on one side.
As with many limited edition Final Fantasy VII-related
releases by Square Enix, the bundle was limited to 77,777
units.* [54]
On December 17, 2007 it was announced that Crisis Core
would be released in North America on March 25, 2008.
If pre-ordered from certain retailers, such as GameStop,
the buyer may receive a Shinra UMD case, depending
on how long supplies lasted; if pre-ordered from Best
Buy, the buyer may receive Crisis Core with a metallic
foil cover. Two versions of the game were released in Europe: a standard edition, and a limited edition, which was
only available online, and then only when pre-ordered.
This limited edition included special slipcase packaging
and a book of promotional CG artwork entitled The Art
of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.* [55] In Australia and
Europe, a bundle containing the game and the limited
edition Crisis Core-engraved silver PlayStation Portable

was released on June 20.* [56]* [57] As with several games
from the company, Square released an Ultimania guidebook in Japan, on October 18, 2007.* [58]
After Crisis Core 's release, Kitase expressed surprised at
the quality of the cutscenes, to the point where he felt it
could almost be a PlayStation 2 game. He also enjoyed
the game's ending, surprised by how moving Zack's story
became.* [59]
2.12.6 Reception
Crisis Core sold 350,000 copies in Japan on its release
date, including the 77,777 Limited Edition PSP/Crisis
Core bundles.* [74] In November 2007, Square Enix announced that Crisis Core was its best-selling game across
all regions from April through September, with 710,000
copies sold in Japan.* [75] Selling 790,705 units as of
August 2008, it became the third best-selling game for
the PSP in Japan.* [76] In March 2008, Crisis Core sold
301,600 copies in its rst month of release in the United
States,* [77] behind the sales of God of War: Chains
of Olympus, which sold 340,500 copies, making Crisis
Core the second best-selling game for the PSP during the
month of March and the sixth best-selling game overall.* [77] As of March 31, 2009, Square Enix announced
that Crisis Core had sold 3.1 million units worldwide, with
830,000 of those sales coming from Japan.* [78] About
840,000 units of the game, including 550,000 in Europe,
were sold during Square Enix's 2009 scal year.* [79] In
response to the game's sales, Square Enix labeled Crisis
Core their best PSP game of the year,* [80] calling itan
incredible success.Doug Bone, Square Enix's UK sales
director, called it the must-have PSP game of 2008.
*
[81]
Crisis Core has received generally positive reviews. At
GameRankings, the combined reviews for the game are
currently 82%,* [60] while the score at Metacritic is
83.* [61] With individual scores of 9/9/8/9, the game received an overall rating of 35 out of 40 from Japanese
gaming magazine Famitsu.* [65] GameSpot awarded it an
Editor's Choicelabel, praising its storyline, the combat
system and its presentation, and also stating that Crisis
Core is an exciting and poignant journey that every fan
of role-playing games should take.* [68] IGN's Ryan
Clements praised its dierences from other RPGs, due
to its focus on Zack's growth and his relationship with
the SOLDIERs. He stated Crisis Core is a great game
and, barring a few minor issues here and there, will not
disappoint.It also received a place amongst the Editor's Choicegallery of recommended games for the PSP
platform.* [7] GameSpy also gave it a good review, stating itis equal parts tribute and original, marrying classic
design choices with refreshingly new techniques, harmoniously bringing together something old with something
new.Gamespy also commented that although some players may dislike Zack, you'll have to be pretty jaded for
147
the character not to grow on you as you progress through

the adventure.* [69] VideoGamer.com gave an overall
score of 9, nding its ghting systemaddictive, and arguing that its CGI scenes had a similar quality to the ones
from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.* [72] Similarly,
GamePro gave it a positive review, calling it the best
looking PSP title,and praising how it incorporated elements from the Compilation, and at the same time created new aspects.* [66] GamesRadar's AJ Glasser stated
that with the DMW system, the gameplay could be easy,
causing therare gamerto try to play it in Hard Mode.
Glasser also found the game likeable enough so that even
gamers who dislike the Final Fantasy VII series may enjoy it.* [67] Play 's Samuel Roberts called it the best game
of 2008.* [82]
should play, one of the 31 best PSP titles in 2009, and

as the seventh best video game prequel.* [90]* [91]* [92]
It was also voted to third place in the Dengeki poll of
most tear-inducing games of all time.* [93] In 2011, it
was voted second place in the Famitsu readers' poll on
the same topic.* [94]
Many reviews also commented on the game's relationship

with Final Fantasy VII. 1UP.com called it one of the best
prequels of all time, arguing that it does a better job
of putting players in FFVII's world than even the original
game did.* [62] While GameTrailers stated that Crisis
Core doesn't take the easy way out and photocopy the
source,they found it, unlike Dirge of Cerberus, to be
appealing.* [70] Computer and Video Games mentioned
that despite the game's main story only lasting 12 hours,
the side-quests helped expand the game's length. They
further praised the battle system, claiming "[it] never becomes tiresome,and the fact that some of the weak
points from Final Fantasy VII (lengthy wandering, and
an overlong center) were not issues in this game.* [63]
[3] GAME UK: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core Special Edition. GAME UK. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
The game did receive some negative reviews, however.

Despite calling it the best Final Fantasy VII spin-o,
Eurogamer criticized that for the twenty-six, twentyeight, thirty-year-olds who it's aimed at, the game has little to oer beyond polished sentimentality.* [64] Although PALGN called the DMW system a handy tool
, they also felt it was the game's weakest point.* [71] XPlay gave the game a 2/5, complaining about the unskippable cutscenes, poor dialogue, repetitive gameplay, and
a weak plot.* [73] On April Fools' Day, in response to criticism for their original review, they decided to give the
game a second look and give it a re-review, this time with
a clear unbiased perspective,sarcastically dubbing over
the original and giving it an impossibly high 6/5.* [83]
[8] Game Grep - Crisis Core Review. Gamegrep. September 5, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2007.
2.12.7 References
[1] Crisis Core Conrmed for September. SquareInsider.
[2] Square Enix announces 2008 North American line-up
. Gaming Age. Archived from the original on October 21,
2011. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
[4] Gantayat, Anoop (2006). Hands On: Final Fantasy VII

Crisis Core. IGN. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
[5] Suzaku (2007).New Crisis Core details. Crisis-Core.
Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved
March 9, 2007.
[6] Suzaku (2007). New Crisis Core Scans from Famitsu
. Crisis-Core.net. Archived from the original on July 23,
2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
[7] Clements, Ryan. IGN: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Review. IGN. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
[9] Clements, Ryan.Crisis Core: Character Proles. IGN.

p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
[12] Clements, Ryan. Crisis Core: Character Proles Revisited. IGN. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
[13] Clements, Ryan. Crisis Core: Character Proles Revisited. IGN. p. 2. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
Crisis Core has also received a number of awards from

dierent publications. It was nominated by GameSpot [14] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: This war is curfor the Best of 2008awards, in the Best Story,
rently stuck in limbo. That's why we've decided to send
Best RPG Gameand Best PSP Gamecategories,
you. / Zack: Uh, to Wutai? / Lazard: Yes this war has
winning Best PSP Game. It was also listed as the
gone long enough.
*
tenth best PSP game of all the time by IGN. [84] Four
IGN articles concerning the game were in The Top 10 [15] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final FanPSP Stories of 2008, with the review article listed at
tasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Where is
number one.* [85] In IGN's Best of 2008, Crisis Core won
Angeal? / Zack: I thought he was ghting around here...
/ 'Sephiroth: Humph. So, he's gone, too.
in the categories Best RPGand Best Story for the
PSP.* [86]* [87] Videogamer.com placed it fteenth and
[16] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fanfourth in their articlesBest Games of 2008andTop 10
tasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: I want you to
*
*
PlayStation exclusives of 2008, respectively. [88] [89]
go to the hometown of our missing SOLDIER 1st Class,
GamePro featured it as one of the ve games PSP gamers
Genesis.
148
[17] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Tseng: There's no time.
We have to leave now /.../ Tseng: All evidence of misconduct must be erased. The company rules. An airstrike
will neutralize this town.
[18] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: The company
has decided eliminate Genesis and his cohorts. This includes Angeal as well. /.../ Sephiroth: They believe your
emotions will hamper your judgement. / Zack: Well, of
course! / Sephiroth: That's why I'm going too.
[19] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: The intruders are
Genesis copies. / Sephiroth: Hollander must be behind
this. /.../ Sephiroth: Hollander lost his bid for the leadership of the Science Department. He has born a grudge
against Shinra ever since. Revenge is most likely his objective.
[20] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Hollander's
secret laboratory is down this way, apparently.
[21] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Project G
gave birth to the man we know as Genesis.
[30] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: They've
been sighted in Midgar as well / Zack: I see. / Sephiroth: The slums too. Permission to return... granted.
[31] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: By the way, where
are we going? / Sephiroth: To Nibelheim.
[32] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Genesis: The Jenova
Project was the term used for all experiments relating to
the use of Jenova's cells. / Sephiroth: My mother's...
cells? /.../ Genesis: Jenova was excavated from a 2000year-old rock layer. She's a monster.
[33] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Genesis: Sephiroth...
I need your help. My body is continuing to degrade. /.../
Genesis: Therefore, your body cannot degrade. Share
your cells with me.
[34] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Cissnei: He... he's
the other example they collected at Nibelheim. /.../Zack:
Mako addiction. Severe case. / Cissnei: The experiment,
isn't it?
[22] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Genesis: You won't take
Hollander / Sephiroth: Zack! Go after Hollander!
[35] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Genesis: The gift of the
goddess... A pure S cell sample will stop the degradation
process.
[23] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Working for Hollander now? / ... / Angeal: I've become a monster. /.../
Angeal: Angels dream of one thing. / Zack: Please tell
me. / Angeal: To be human. /.../ Angeal: Defend yourself!
[36] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Hollander: That infantryman carries within his body the last pure S-cells in
the world.
[24] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Aerith: You fell from
the sky. Scared me. / Zack: So you saved me, huh?
[25] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Zack, return to the Shinra building now. Genesis has attacked us.
/ Zack: On my way. I'm sorry but duty calls.
[26] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Angeal: Zack, join my
battle. Our enemy is all that creates suering. / Zack:
All right... I'll help you.
[27] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Angeal: Genesis and
Hollander are in Modeoheim. /.../ Tseng: Zack, I need
you in Modeoheim.
[28] Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final
Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Good news,
Tseng! Me and... / Cloud: Cloud / Zack: Me and Cloud
here are both backwater experts. Oh yeah!
[29] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Angeal: Zack. You
have my thanks. This... is for you. Protect your honor,
always...
[37] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: I'm just and
Angeal copy... It's Lazard.
[38] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: Shinra attacked
us / Zack: Save your strength / Lazard: I got some help
from him... over there./.../ Zack: Director! Thank you.
[39] Square Enix (August 24, 2008).Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Aerith's letter: I wish
I knew where were you. It's already been four years now.
/.../ Zack: Aerith, wait for me.
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You are proof that I existed. My dreams and pride, I give
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February 14, 2009.
[62] Parish, Jeremy (March 19, 2008). Crisis Core: Final
Fantasy VII (PSP)". 1UP.com. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
[63] Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Review. Computer and
Video Games. November 28, 2007. Retrieved August 11,
2009.
[76] Snow, Jean (August 27, 2008). PSP Sales Top 10 Million in Japan. Wired.com. Retrieved August 30, 2008.
[77] Sinclair, Brendan (April 17, 2008). NPD: March game
sales skyrocket 57 percent. GameSpot. Retrieved May
22, 2008.
[78] Results Brieng: Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2009
. Square-Enix.com. May 19, 2009. Retrieved July 21,
2009.
[79] Spenser (May 21, 2009).What Square Enix Games Sold
Well Last Year?". Siliconera. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
[80] Ingh.am, Tim (June 13, 2008). Crisis Core 'biggest
PSP release of 2008'". Market for Home Computing and
Video Games. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
[81] Harker, Jonathon (August 29, 2008).Square Enix's Crisis Core reigns supreme over PSP chart. Market for
Home Computing and Video Games. Retrieved August
25, 2010.
[82] Roberts, Samuel. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII my
game of the year. Play. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
150
[83] X-Play rereviews Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.

G4tv.com. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on
July 4, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
[84] The Top 25 PSP Games of All Time. IGN. p. 4.
years after the events of the original game, and focuses on

one of the game's playable characters, Vincent Valentine.
In the story, Vincent is targeted by Deepground, a mysterious organization that plans to awaken a creature known
as Omega, with the ability to destroy the Planet.
As the rst shooter game in the Final Fantasy series, the

game's sta had various problems during development,
although producer Yoshinori Kitase found the experience
IGN PSP: Best RPG 2008. IGN. Retrieved July 25, challenging, and added role-playing elements in order to
make the game more entertaining for traditional fans of
2010.
the main series.* [3] When Dirge of Cerberus was released
IGN PSP: Best Story 2008. IGN. Retrieved July 25, outside Japan, several aspects of the gameplay were mod2010.
ied in order to make it more appealing. A mobile phone
Best Games of 2008. VideoGamer.com. December tie-in was also released in 2006, while in 2008, Square
republished the game in Japan with the updates made for
the Western versions. Although the game has sold 1.5
Top 10 PlayStation exclusives of 2008. million copies worldwide as of 2011, it has received a
VideoGamer.com. December 27, 2008. Retrieved
mixed critical reaction.
[85] The Top 10 PSP Stories of 2008. IGN. January 7,

[86]
[87]
[88]
[89]
August 26, 2010.
[90] Glasser, AJ; Rudden, Dave (March 24, 2010). Five

games you should play on PSP before the console's lifecycle ends. GamePro. Archived from the original on
2010-08-12. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
2.13.1 Gameplay
[91] Erickson, Trick (July 16, 2009). The 31 Best PSP

Games - 2009 Edition. GamePro. Archived from the
original on 2010-08-09. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
[92] Noble, McKinley; Shaw, Patrick (April 7, 2009).
Game Prequels: The 8 Greatest Video Game Prequels
. GamePro. Archived from the original on 2010-10-24.
[93]
?[(Survey results) Are There Emotional Games That Made You Cry?] (in Japanese). ASCII
Media Works. October 15, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
[94] Romano, Sal (December 29, 2011).Famitsu's top 20 list
of tear-inducing games. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
2.12.8
External links
Ocial Japanese website

2.13 Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (
-VII -Dju obu
Keruberosu -Fainaru Fantaj Sebun-) is an action roleplaying third-person shooter developed and published by
Square Enix in 2006 for the PlayStation 2.* [2] It is part of
the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII metaseries, a multimedia collection set within the universe of the popular
1997 video game Final Fantasy VII. The game is set three
Vincent using lightning materia to damage two opponents at the

same time.
Dirge of Cerberus is an action role-playing third-person

shooter. Battles occur in real-time, with the HUD displaying information such as Vincent's hit points and
magic points, the currently selected item and quantity
thereof, and a cross-hair to aid in targeting enemies. The
action is viewed from an over-the-shoulder perspective
similar to Resident Evil 4, although players can switch to
a rst-person perspective if they wish.* [4] Defeating enemies yields EXP, and at the end of each stage, the player
can either use that EXP to level up, increasing Vincent's
stats, or convert it to Gil (the in-game currency), which
can then be used to purchase items and equipment upgrades.
Unlike Final Fantasy VII, where a character could equip
three types of equipment (weapon, armor and accessory), Vincent's equipment consists solely of his weapon,
which can contribute to his armor rating and enhance his
stats through customization. Vincent has three basic gun
frames available to him; a three barrel handgun called
2.13. DIRGE OF CERBERUS: FINAL FANTASY VII
151
Cerberus, a rie called Hydra, and a machine gun called

Grion. There are also several dierent barrels available
throughout the game; short, regular and long, with longer
barrels allowing easier long-range targeting, but reducing
Vincent's movement speed due to their weight. Accessories, which can be attached to the weapons, include a
sniper scope, charms which can increase Vincent's defense and decrease the weight of the gun (among other
things), and materia, which enables magic shots with special properties that use up Vincent's magic points.* [5]
Ammunition capacity can also be increased through upgrades.
destroy all life on the Planet. Their highest-ranking members are known as the Tsviets ( Tsuvito),
and their leader is Weiss the Immaculate (
Junpaku no Tei Vaisu, lit. Weiss the Immaculate White Emperor). The second highest-ranking
member is Weiss' brother, Nero the Sable (
Shikkoku no Yami Nero, lit.Nero the Jet-black Darkness), who leads Deepground in the eld. Other members of the Tsviets include Rosso the Crimson (
Aka no Rosso), Shelke the Transparent (
Mushoku no Sheruku) and Azul the Cerulean (
Aoki Asru).* [6]
Vincent's Limit Breaks return from the original Final

Fantasy VII. Two forms are available in Dirge of Cerberus; the Galian Beast in which he transforms into a large
creature with enhanced speed and strength that last for 30
seconds. The second is Chaos, in which is Vincent's most
powerful form, it is only available in the nal stages of the
game and is not optional.
The online mode of the game, which is only available

in the Japanese version, also introduces a group called
the Restrictors, the former leaders of Deepground before
Weiss took over. The Restrictors' leader had implanted
microchips into the brainstems of all Deepground soldiers
so as to ensure they never turn against the group. However, Weiss was able to overcome this control method,
and the Tsviets wrenched control from the Restrictors.
Although Weiss was successful in overthrowing the Restrictors, however, the leader of the Restrictors was able
to implant a virus into Weiss' bloodstream.
2.13.2
Plot
Background
Story
The game begins during the climax of Final Fantasy VII.
As Vincent and Yue Kisaragi help to evacuate Midgar,
which is about to be destroyed by Sephiroth's Meteor
spell, Vincent nds the body of Professor Hojo slumped
at the controls of the Sister Ray cannon. After a ash
of lightning, Hojo's body seems to disappear, and before Vincent can investigate, the cannon explodes, forcing
Vincent to escape with Yue.
Three years later, Vincent is in the city of Kalm when it
is attacked by a group of mysterious soldiers. Vincent,
with the help of his former comrade, Reeve Tuesti of the
World Regenesis Organization (WRO), an organization
dedicated to helping the planet recover from the events of
Final Fantasy VII,* [7] ghts the soldiers and forces them
to retreat, but not before many of the citizens of the town
have been captured, and many more killed.* [8]
Characters featured in Dirge of Cerberus.
Dirge of Cerberus centers on Vincent Valentine, who is

the main playable character, although Cait Sith is also
playable for a single level. The game's main antagonists
are the members of an organization named Deepground,
who are planning to use a creature known as Omega to
Reeve explains to Vincent that the soldiers were members of Deepground, a military organization created as
part of a covert Shinra operation to create genetically enhanced super soldiers.* [9] Vincent soon learns that he is
one of Deepground's primary targets, as he is unknowingly in possession ofProtomateria, a substance which
he uses to control the Chaosgene hidden inside him.
Deepground claims they need the Protomateria to control
Omega.* [10] According to ancient tablets discovered
some years previously, Chaos and Omega have an unknown but important relationship, with Chaos described
asOmega's squire to the lofty heavens.The Chaos gene
was injected into Vincent over thirty years previously by
the scientist Lucrecia Crescent, Hojo's research assistant,
152
with whom Vincent was in love.* [11]* [12]
In an eort to nd answers, Vincent goes to the
town of Nibelheim where Lucrecia studied Omega and
Chaos.* [13] Whilst at Lucrecia's research lab, Vincent is
ambushed by Rosso the Crimson, who steals the Protomateria* [14] but is prevented from killing Vincent by the
arrival of Yue.* [15] As they return to the WRO headquarters, they nd that Deepground has launched an assault on the base. However, Deepground member Shelke
the Transparent has been captured by the WRO, and reveals that she is synaptically interconnected to Lucrecia's
memories, thus allowing the WRO to complete Lucrecia's research on Omega.* [16] Shelke's sister, Shalua Rui,
a high ranking scientist in the WRO, soon discovers that
Omega is a WEAPON, which activates when the Planet
senses that it is in mortal danger (like the WEAPONs
it activated in the original Final Fantasy VII). Omega's
function is to absorb the Lifestream from the Planet and
then move to another planet, leaving the inhabitants behind to die. Deepground plans to slaughter a huge number
of people at once so as to 'trick' the planet into activating
Omega prematurely.* [17]
Vincent and the WRO launch a full-scale assault on Deepground's headquarters in Midgar.* [18] While Reeve's
team battles the Deepground soldiers and attempt to destroy the Mako reactors which serve as a means to revive
Omega, Vincent heads to Deepground's centre of operations to confront Weiss.* [19] He is surprised to nd Weiss
slumped in his chair, dead.* [20] However, as Omega begins to manifest itself, Weiss seems to revive, and confronts Vincent.* [21] It is revealed that Weiss is possessed
by Hojo; before Hojo was killed in the Mako Cannon
three years earlier, he uploaded his consciousness into
the Worldwide Network, then took possession of Weiss's
body while he was online attempting to nd a cure for the
virus with which the Restrictors had infected him.* [22]
Hojo/Weiss and Vincent battle to a standstill. However,
Nero who had been defeated earlier by Vincent, emerges
from the Lifestream and destroys Hojo. Nero then merges
with Weiss in order to help him fuse with Omega, just as
Vincent is fused with Chaos.* [23]

In the secret ending of the game, "G", a legendary warrior with unexplained connections to Deepground,* [29]
awakes beneath the ruins of Midgar. He nds Weiss's
body, and picks it up. He tells the dead Weiss, It is not
yet time for slumber. We still have much work to do...
My brother.He then sprouts a large black wing and ies
into the night carrying Weiss with him. The Crisis Core
Ultimania, however, explains thatG(Genesis) has returned from his three-year slumber to protect the Planet.
2.13.3 Development
When Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children began development, the Square Enix sta agreed that one title from
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII was not enough to cover
the entire world, and so Before Crisis: Final Fantasy
VII, Dirge of Cerberus and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy
VII were conceived so as to embrace more aspects.* [30]
With no ocial word from Square on the genre of the
game, many publications and gamers speculated that it
would be an action game similar to the Devil May Cry
series. In 2004, however, character designer Tetsuya Nomura denied this, and stated that the genre would surprise
gamers.* [31] Producer Yoshinori Kitase decided the title to be a shooting game based on his love for rstperson shooters and the challenge provided for the developers that would eventually improve their skills. He
said that role-playing elements were added as the design
work on pure action games was less appealing to developers.* [3]* [32]
Vincent was chosen as the game's protagonist due to the

scope for expanding his backstory, which was left very
vague in Final Fantasy VII. The fact that his main weapon
was a gun also worked into the team's desire to create a
more action-oriented game. Prior to the solidication of
the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, the development
team originally considered using other gunghter characters from the Final Fantasy series, such as Final Fantasy
VII 's Barret Wallace, Final Fantasy VIII 's Irvine Kinneas
or Final Fantasy X-2 's Yuna. However, after the release
of Before Crisis and Advent Children, and with the exWhile the WRO continues to ght the remnants of Deep- pansion of the Final Fantasy VII mythos, they settled on
*
ground, Vincent transforms into Chaos in a desperate at- Vincent. [33]
*
tempt to defeat Omega Weiss. [24] Shelke dives inside The main character designer for the game, Tetsuya NoOmega to nd Lucrecia's Protomateria, and upon nding mura, had also worked on both Final Fantasy VII and Fiit, she gives it to Vincent, also telling him that his sur- nal Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The Tsviets were devival made Lucrecia happy.* [25]* [26] Vincent then takes signed with the idea of creating a sense of balance for
control of Chaos and battles Omega.* [27] Omega sprouts the warriors with which players would already be familwings and tries to ascend from the planet, but Vincent iar; primarily Vincent, Cloud Strife and Sephiroth. Nomanages to destroy it, disappearing in the process. A mura initially had doubts when designing Shelke's ordiweek later, he is seen visiting Lucrecia's crystalline tomb nary clothes for the end of the game, but he felt it was
in the Crystal Cave. He states that both Chaos and Omega important for her to appear out of uniform so as to inhave returned to the Planet, and he thanks Lucrecia for dicate she was truly free from Deepground. The charbeing the reason he survived. He is then found by Shelke acter of G was based on the Japanese singer and actor
outside the cave, and she tells him that everyone else is Gackt, who wrote and performed the two theme songs
waiting for him.* [28]
of the game, and voiced G in the Japanese-language version of the game.* [33] Hideki Imaizumi, the producer of
153
Crisis Core, liked the mysterious role of G so much, he

decided to expand his character in that game.* [34] The
character of Lucrecia Crescent, who features briey in
an optional quest in the original game, was redesigned so
as to give her a similar appearance to her son, Sephiroth,
based on portraits from guidebooks and in fan-art. Reeve
Tuesti was also redesigned, as he only appears briey in
the original game in his own persona (most of the time,
he is controlling Cait Sith behind the scenes).
Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack, was released on February 15, 2006 in Japan. Consisting of two
CDs, the soundtrack spanned 53 tracks. A limited edition
of the soundtrack includes aCerberus Complete Case
deluxe box designed to hold the soundtrack along with the
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII PS2 game and the
limited edition of Gackt's single for the game,Redemption.* [41] This single was released on January 25, 2006.
A limited edition was also released featuring two Redemption
video clips; Gackt's promotional music video,
Dirge of Cerberus was rst announced in Septemand an alternate video using clips from the game.* [42]
ber 2004, and was scheduled for release in Japan in
2005.* [35] The game's ocial site went online in April A supplemental soundtrack was released through the
2005.* [36] In May, Nomura stated that several snip- Japanese iTunes service and the Square-Enix Music
pets from the game would be revealed during that year's Download page on August 22, 2006. Titled Dirge of
E3.* [37] However, no demo was shown at E3, as the sta Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Multiplayer Mode Original
were still trying to x some issues with the controls in the Sound Collections, this album consists of 27 tracks, ingame.* [3] In September, the beta test program was post- cluding several songs from the single player game which
poned indenitely. Listed as 60% complete, the com- were not included in the ocial soundtrack, as well as all
pany stated if the beta test started with the game's cur- of the original music composed for the multiplayer mode,
rent state, they would not be able to fully utilize the beta and two new songs composed by Ryo Yamazaki for the
testers.* [38]
North American release of the game.* [43]
The North American and European releases of Dirge of
Cerberus received a major overhaul as the developers
were not completely satised with the nal Japanese version of the game. They also wanted to make the game
more single-player oriented, and as such, they removed
Online Multiplayer support, primarily due to the lack
of popularity of PlayOnline outside Japan, and lack of
PS2 HDD support in the U.S. Missions from the Multiplayer Mode were reworked into unlockable secret missions in the English-language versions of the game, although none of the additional storyline presented in the
Japanese Multiplayer Mode featured in the English versions.* [39] The Easy Mode, which was originally featured
in the Japanese version to assist gamers not overly familiar with shooter games, was also removed.* [33]* [39] On
September 11, 2008, the English-language version was
released in Japan as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
International ( -
VII- Dju obu
Keruberosu -Fainaru Fantaj Sebun- Intnashonaru), as
part of Square's Ultimate Hits lineup.* [40]
2.13.4
Audio

Dirge of Cerberus
The soundtrack for the game was composed by Masashi
Hamauzu. Japanese singer and actor Gackt wrote
and performed the two theme songs, Longingand
"Redemption". For the game's ending theme,Redemption, the sta originally planned for it to be a ballad, but
Gackt decided to make it a rock song instead. Upon hearing Gackt's ideas, the sta were pleased with the direction
in which he had gone.* [33] The CD soundtrack, Dirge of
2.13.5 Reception
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII shipped 392,000
units in its rst week.* [54] On August 31, 2008, Square
Enix announced that 460,000 units were sold in North
America and 270,000 units in Europe.* [55] As of
November 2008, over 513,000 copies of the game have
been sold in Japan alone.* [56] In July 2006, Dirge of Cerberus was in Sony's Gold category of top selling video
games (the Gold category includes games which have sold
anything from 500,000 units to 1 million).* [57]
Upon its release in Japan, the game received mixed reviews. Gaming magazine Dengeki PS2 rewarded the
game with a 313/400,* [58] while Famitsu scored it a
lower 28/40.* [49] Famitsu 's review of the title hinted at a
controversy between the magazine and Square Enix.* [59]
Dirge of Cerberus received similarly mixed reviews from
English critics. GameSpot stated that Dirge of Cerberus
does have a few interesting and even entertaining moments, but will ultimately leave action game fans and Final Fantasy fans feeling unfullled.* [5] Despite stating
Dirge of Cerberus is not the best use of the Final Fantasy VII universe,IGN called it a decent game with
a strong story and occasionally-engaging rie blasting.
*
[60] 1UP.com gave the game a D+, criticizing the enemies' intelligence and weak scenarios, and labeling the
storyboring.* [46] Reviewers from Electronic Gaming
Monthly gave it a C, with Shane Bettenhausen stating that
he found all of the titles in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to be unappealing.* [47] Eurogamer found that
Dirge of Cerberus was arisky gambleby Square Enix,
as their rst shooter, and he criticized the fact that most
of the main characters in the game were either optional in
Final Fantasy VII or had only small roles.* [48] GameSpy
154
awarded the game a fairscore of three stars out of

ve, calling its gameplay and plot interesting, but nding other aspects generic.* [50] GameTrailers praised the
game's storyline, calling it convoluted, but incredibly
impressive in its scope.They also praised the changes
Square had made to the Western versions, but found the
game to be very similar to Devil May Cry, and felt that
it didn't make good enough use of Vincent's abilities.
While the CGI cutscenes and designs also received positive comments, the lack of variety in enemy types was
criticized.* [51] G4's game review show, X-Play, gave the
game a negative review, with 2 stars out of 5, citing poor
level design, weak gameplay, too many cutscenes and bad
AI.* [53] At GameRankings, the game holds a score of
60%.* [44] The combined score from Metacritic is 57 out
of 100 based on 51 reviews.* [45]
2.13.6
Mobile phone tie-in
[7] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus:

Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. WRO Member:
With Jenova War hero Reeve Tuesti at its helm, our organization is dedicated to aiding the healing process of
the planet, as well as protecting it from any who attempt
further harm.
[8] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Reeve: Good work,
Vincent. The enemy is retreating. It seems they have nally begun their withdrawal from Kalm.
[9] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Vincent: Reeve. Who
were those men? / Reeve: Deepground soldiers. / Vincent: Deepground? / Reeve: Yes. The shadow of the
Shinra Company, constructed by the former president and
completely hidden from the rest of the world. / Vincent:
Constructed? / Reeve: His goal was to create an army
of superhuman warriors--not once letting morality interfere. The man you met earlier, Azul, is also a member of
Deepground. But, he belongs to an elite unit known as the
Tsviets.
Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode: Final Fantasy VII (

-
VII- Dju obu Keruberosu Rosuto
Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Rosso: So you're
Episdo -Fainaru Fantaj Sebun-) was co-developed by
Vincent Valentine. Keeper of the Protomateria. / VinSquare Enix and Ideaworks3D, and published by Square
cent: Protomateria? / Rosso: Yes. The key to controlling
Enix. Unveiled at the 2006 E3, the game was released
Omega. We know you have it.
on August 22, 2006 in North America* [61] and July 26,
2007 in Japan.* [62] Initially only available on Amp'd Mo- [11] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shalua: I carried you
bile phones, the game was subsequently made available
back
here from Edge after you collapsed during your ght
on Verizon's V Cast network. It was also unveiled as a
with
Deepground.
It seems like the beast inside you went
agship title for NTT DoCoMo's FOMA 903i handset at
a little wild back there. This happen often? / Vincent:
the 2006 Tokyo Game Show. The title initially contained
Went wild? Do you mean Chaos? / Shalua: Chaos?
only a single player mode, with a multiplayer function inYour body harbors the Chaos gene? So that explains your
troduced at a later date. Lost Episode involves a 'missing'
relationship with Dr. Lucrecia Crescent. Were you the
chapter of Dirge of Cerberus taking place between two
product of one of her experiments?
events of the main game.
IGN called itpassable, awarding it a score of 6.7 out of
10, arguing that the graphics did not t the mobile phone,
causing a sense of misbalance.* [63]
2.13.7
References
[1] . Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation 2)

Credits.
[2] Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus, RPGamer
[3] Cheng, Justin (May 19, 2005). E3 2005: Yoshinori
Kitase Interview. IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
[4] Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Siliconera.
[12] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shalua: Soul wrought
of terra corrupt, quelling impurity, purging the stream
to beckon forth an ultimate fate. Behold mighty Chaos,
Omega's squire to the lofty heavens. / Reeve: Where did
you...? / Shalua: A passage from Dr. Crescent's thesis.
But that's all I know. Unfortunately, I only saw a fragment
of the document. However, Chaos... Omega... And...
[13] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Reeve: Where are you...
/ Vincent: Nibelheim. / Reeve: Wait. Shinra Manor?
But that is where... Understood.
[14] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Rosso: I'm sorry. Were
you not expecting that? So, you cannot control the beast
without this. Well, there will be no need for it when I'm
done with you.
[5] Mueller, Greg. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

[15] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Fi. GameSpot. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
nal Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Yue: I was poking
around Nibelheim and I found you looking all corpselike
Edition) (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2009. pp. 100101.
in Shinra Manor. So I saved you. Imagine that--me, savISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3.
ing the great Vincent Valentine. Do I get any thanks?

Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shelke: Are you
speaking of Dr. Lucrecia Crescent's ndings? / Reeve:
Yes. But how did you...? / Shelke: A large quantity of
her mnemonic data fragments has been uploaded into my
neural network. It was my prime directive to use this data
to locate and retrieve the Protomateria. However, not only
was the data incomplete, but part of her consciousness began interfering with my own thought processes. It was believed that the missing fragments may have been the reason for this. I can attempt to upload the WRO's les on
the Omega Report. By combining it with the data I possess, you may obtain a clearer picture of what you will be
up against.
[17] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shelke: Omega is the
same type of life form as the WEAPONs we encountered
three years ago. The planet gave birth to these creatures
to protect itself just as the planet will ultimately give birth
to the nal Weapon, Omega, when the end of the world is
imminent. In essence, Omega is an elaborate safety mechanism designed solely to maintain and protect the ow of
life. Normally, Omega poses no threat to us. It only manifests when the planet has detected something that may
cause her danger. / Reeve: However, Deepground is attempting to awaken the beast early. Thus the kidnappings.
[18] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Reeve: Omega is being
revived deep beneath Midgar in Mako Reactor 0. To increase the output of Reactor 0, all the other reactors have
been tied into its mainframe. Our objective is to destroy
1 through 8 and slow the reanimation process.
[19] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Cid: Vince, don't worry
about the reactors. We'll take care of them. You work on
those four wackos. I don't like letting you have all the fun,
but you know I can't leave my baby here alone. Cloud and
the others will be shutting down the power, and there's no
way we're lettin' Yue go down there by herself.
[20] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Vincent: This is Weiss?
/ Yue: It's--he's--it's dead? / Nero: But not for long.
[21] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Weiss: My body is one
with Omega. Just as yours is with Chaos.
[22] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Weiss: Three years
ago, while I was still running about looking for Sephiroth, I took it upon myself to distribute my data--my mind,
my knowledge, my inner being, across the worldwide network. And even though my body had died, and the world
had been left in ruin, I survived in a virtual reality. When
the network was restored, the scattered data regrouped
and I was reborn. A neo-Reunion, you could say. / Vincent: You... / Weiss: That's right, boy. It's me. Hojo!
[23] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Nero: Let us become
one. Let us come together, so that none may ever tear us
apart. / Weiss: Yes. Let us... Let us go join him. / Nero:
155
Weiss... / Weiss: Nero... / Hojo: No! Stop it! You can't!

This is my body now! No!
[24] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shelke: Omega has
awoken. And Chaos has been drawn out of the shadows
to serve as a counterbalance. Or so it would seem.
[25] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Lucrecia: But I'm so
happy you survived. / Vincent: Lucrecia!
[26] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Shelke (as Lucrecia):
Take this... Vincent.
[27] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Cloud, Tifa, Barret,
Yue, Cid and Reeve: Vincent! / Vincent: Guess I
have no choice. It's time...to save the world.
[28] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. Vincent: Lucrecia. Everything's alright now. Omega and Chaos have returned
to the planet. Thank you. It was you. You were the reason
I survived.
[29] Square Enix (August 15, 2006). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation 2. WRO soldier: Sir. I've
been spending time analyzing the data retrieved from the
les of former weapons development administrator Scarlet. Deepground. It used to be a medical facility for injured SOLDIER troops. Military personnel would be sent
there for care and rehabilitation. However, over time, it
evolved into a laboratory for madmen content on ignoring
all laws of man and nature. And supposedly this evolution
took place because of the existence of one rogue SOLDIERa man known only as G.However, that's all
we were able to retrieve.
[30] Stone, Cortney (2005-09-01). Kitase Discusses Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. RPGamer. Retrieved
September 2, 2007.
[31] Young, Billy (December 1, 2004). Details Arise From
Tetsuya Nomura Interview. RPGamer. Retrieved July
19, 2010.
[32] Massimilla, Bethany (May 19, 2005). Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII E3 2005 Interview. GameSpot.
[33] Dirge of Cerberus Ocial Complete Guide (in Japanese).
Square-Enix. 2006. ISBN 978-4-7575-1622-9.
[35] Gantayat, Anoop (September 15, 2004).PS2 Gets Final
Fantasy VII Spino. IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
[36] Lewis, Ed (April 4, 2005). Final Fantasy VII Site Goes
Live. IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
[37] Lewis, Ed (May 4, 2005). Tetsuya Nomura on Everything. IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
156
[38] Gantayat, Anoop (August 31, 2005). E3 2005: Yoshinori Kitase Interview. IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
[39] Shoemaker, Justin (May 11, 2006). E3 06: Dirge of
Cerberus Localization Update. GameSpot. Retrieved
July 20, 2010.

2012-10-18. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
[60] Dunham, Jeremy (August 11, 2006).Dirge of Cerberus:
Final Fantasy VII review. IGN. p. 2. Retrieved July 21,
2010.
[40] Dirge of Cerberus, Drakengard Become Ultimate Hits

(in Japanese). RPGFan. Retrieved September 30, 2013. [61] Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode -Final Fantasy VIIbreaks down mobile gaming boundaries(Press release).
[41] Winkler, Chris (2006-03-26). Dirge of Cerberus -Final
Fantasy VII- OST. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
[62] What's New (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved
[42] Gackt: Discography (in Japanese). Gackt's ocial
2008-04-22.
website. p. 3. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
[43] Square Enix Music Download (in Japanese). Square
[44] Game Rankings: Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
. GameRankings. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
[45] of Cerberus Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII.
Metacritic. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
[46] Pster, Andrew (August 15, 2006). Final Fantasy VII:
Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)". 1UP.com. Archived from the
original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
[47] Bettenhausen, Shane (August 29, 2006). Final Fantasy
VII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)". 1UP.com. Archived from
the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 21,
2010.
[48] Fahey, Rob (November 16, 2006). Final Fantasy VII:
Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 21,
2010.
[49]
[50]
[51]
[52]
[53]
[63] Vasconcellos, Eduardo (December 4, 2006). Dirge of

Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII: Lost Episode Review.
IGN. Retrieved July 22, 2010.

Dirge of Cerberus:
Japanese website
Final Fantasy VII Ocial
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Ocial North

American website
2.14 Last Order:

VII
Final Fantasy
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (-

VII- Rasuto d -Fainaru FanJenkins, David (February 10, 2006). Japanese Sales
taj Sebun-), also abbreviated as Last Order or LO, is a
Charts, Week Ending February 5. Gamasutra. Retrieved
2005 Japanese anime original video animation (OVA)
July 16, 2010.
produced by Madhouse and released by Square Enix. It
Speer, Justin (August 14, 2006). GameSpy: Dirge of was directed by Morio Asaka and produced by Masao
Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. GameSpy. Retrieved July Maruyama, Jungo Maruta, and Akio Ofuji. Tetsuya No21, 2010.
mura acted as the supervising director. The OVA is an alGame Trailers: Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII ternate rendition of two ashbacks found within the 1997
video game Final Fantasy VII. Last Order was released in
. GameTrailers. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
Japan with Advent Pieces: Limited, a special edition reDunham, Jeremy (August 11, 2006).Dirge of Cerberus: lease of the lm Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and
Final Fantasy VII review. IGN. Retrieved July 16, 2010. as a bonus feature in the North AmericanLimited EdiOrlando, Greg. Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus tion Collector's Setrelease of Advent Children.
(PS2)". X-Play. Archived from the original on August

29, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
Last Order is associated with the Compilation of Final

Fantasy VII, a series of prequels and sequels to the origi[54] Top 10 Weekly Software Sales (January 2329, 2006)". nal Final Fantasy VII. Although not an ocial Compilation installment or canon within it, the OVA has nonetheArchived from the original on 2006-02-05.
less been included in ocial guidebooks. The Compila[55] Annual Report 2007. Square-Enix.com. August 6, tion of Final Fantasy VII includes the games Before Cri2004. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
sis: Final Fantasy VII, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy
[56] Sony PS2 Japanese Ranking. Japan-GameCharts.com. VII, and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, as well as the lm
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and the collection of
short stories On the Way to a Smile. Last Order's sound[57] Wyman, Walt (July 26, 2006). Sony honors Japanese
track was released with the music of Before Crisis, and
top sellers. GameSpot. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
select songs were later remixed for Crisis Core. The OVA
[58] Famitsu/Dengenki Review Scores - Dirge of Cerberus, was created due to the success of promotional commerTourist Trophy at Games Are Fun
cials for Before Crisis, with production lasting six months.
2.14. LAST ORDER: FINAL FANTASY VII

The plot of Last Order encompasses two events that occurred before the main events of Final Fantasy VII. One
storyline revolves around the Nibelheim scenario that focuses on Zack Fair, Cloud Strife, Sephiroth and Tifa
Lockhart. The other event follows Zack and Cloud as
they run from the megacorporation Shinra. The OVA
cuts back and forth between these two ashbacks, linked
by the narration of Turk leader Tseng and his reections
on the Nibelheim event. Originally meant to focus on
Zack, Last Order highlighted Tseng's feelings and position in the Shinra company, as well as his moral values.
157
ter discovering his origins, sets re to the village of Nibelheim. After killing many villagers, he proceeds to the
Nibelheim reactor where Jenova has been encased. Tifa,
a resident of Nibelheim, attacks him soon after he arrives. Sephiroth knocks her aside and continues to Jenova's body, preserved in a large glass tank lled with liquid. Zack follows Sephiroth into the reactor and they engage in combat, but Sephiroth is able to disarm and incapacitate him. Sephiroth returns to Jenova's body, but
does not notice Cloud approaching.
Although the 77,777 copies of Advent Pieces: Limited

that were released in Japan sold out months in advance of
the ocial release date, Last Order received a negative
fan response due to changes in content and presentation
from the original Final Fantasy VII game, and because of
this, the crew working on Crisis Core avoided recreating
certain scenes from Last Order.
2.14.1
Background
Last Order explores situations shown and referenced

within Final Fantasy VII and other Compilation titles.* [1]
The world of Final Fantasy VII, referred to as the
Planet", is dependent for its survival on a ow of spirit energy called the Lifestream.* [2]* [3] The megacorporation
Shinra eventually rises to power and begins extracting the
Lifestream through Mako reactors, killing the Planet.* [4]
Shinra uses the Mako as an energy source* [5] and to manipulate the strength and abilities of their paramilitary
organization, SOLDIER.* [6] Sephiroth, considered the
strongest member of SOLDIER, is sent to investigate a
Mako reactor in the secluded town of Nibelheim and is
accompanied by the SOLDIER Zack and two grunts, one
of whom is Cloud.* [7]* [8] While there, Sephiroth spends
most of his time reading in the Shinra Mansion, which
had previously been used by the Shinra scientist Hojo to
conduct experiments. Through Hojo's log books, Sephiroth comes to learn of his past, in which he was injected
with Jenova's cells. The Planet had once been inhabited
by the Cetra (or Ancients), who were almost completely destroyed by Jenova, an extraterrestrial lifeform
that crashed onto the Planet 2,000 years previously, and
began infecting the Cetra with a virus.* [9] When Jenova
was unearthed by a Shinra science team, it was mistakenly identied as a Cetra. This caused Sephiroth to believe he was also a Cetra, and that humans had betrayed
his ancestors.* [10]* [11]
2.14.2
Plot
Narrated by Tseng, leader of the elite espionage and

assassination division known as the Turks, Last Order
switches between the Nibelheim incident and Zack Fair's
escape to Midgar with his unconscious friend, Cloud
Strife. During the Nibelheim event, Sephiroth, insane af-
Cloud is impaled by Sephiroth and hung over the reactor core,

a scene also explored in other Final Fantasy VII series' titles* [1]* [12]* [13]
Cloud immediately impales Sephiroth with his sword,

cracking Jenova's glass tank. He returns to Tifa and the
two converse, while Sephiroth cuts o Jenova's head. He
carries the head with him towards Cloud and they engage
in battle. During the ght, Cloud is impaled through the
stomach and hung over the reactor's core. In a feat of
strength, he grabs Sephiroth's sword and moves himself
down the blade to solid ground and hurls Sephiroth aside.
Sephiroth abandons the battle and jumps into the reactor core with Jenova's head in an attempt to reach the
Promised Land. Although Zack and Cloud survive
the ordeal, they are taken to the Shinra Mansion by Hojo
for experimentation.
The other event detailed in Last Order illustrates Zack and
Cloud's escape from Shinra. While at the Shinra Mansion, Cloud had succumbed to Mako poisoning caused by
a surge of memories ooding through his mind,* [14] rendering him in an unconscious, non-reactant state. Zack
escapes with Cloud from the Mansion with the intention
of returning to Midgar, the headquarters of Shinra. However, Shinra orders their paramilitary and the Turks to
nd and eliminate the two escapees. Tseng decides to
capture them alive.
On a blu overlooking Zack and Cloud, who had hitched
a ride on a truck, Shinra operatives decide to ignore orders
to wait for the Turks. One takes aim at the incapacitated
Cloud. Zack jumps in front of Cloud, yelling at him to
escape.
158
2.14.3
Cast
Other roles include Keiji Okuda, Atsushi Imaruoka,

Ryji Mizuno, and Daisuke Kirii as members of Shinra's
Kenichi Suzumura voices Zack Fair,* [15] a 1st class military unit who attempt to apprehend Cloud and Zack.
SOLDIER who faces Sephiroth and is brutally de- Yhei Tadano and Katsuhisa Hki voice villagers at Nifeated. After being experimented on by Hojo, Zack belheim.* [15]
attempts to escape Shinra with his friend, Cloud.
The production crew used Last Order to portray Zack properlyas light-hearted and young.* [16] 2.14.4 Production and release
Suzumura noted that Zack felt morealivein Last
Order in comparison to his appearance in Advent
Children.* [17]
Takahiro Sakurai voices Cloud Strife,* [15] a Shinra
grunt who ghts against Sephiroth after seeing his
friends, Zack and Tifa hurt, and Nibelheim destroyed. Nearly dead due to his wounds, Cloud is
experimented on by Hojo and lapses into an unresponsive state.
Toshiyuki Morikawa voices Sephiroth,* [15] a 1st
class SOLDIER and a past friend of Zack. After
discovering his origins, Sephiroth goes insane and
betray[s] those who had believed in him.* [16]
He attempts to bring Jenova (his mother) and
himself to the Promised Land.
Junichi Suwabe voices Tseng,* [15] the leader of the
Turks who narrates the OVA. Originally, the OVA
was intended to focus on Zack, but Tseng became
thereal highlight.Last Order elaborates on Tseng's
changing feelings towards his job, as well as where
he places his moral values.* [16]
Ayumi Ito voices Tifa Lockhart,* [15] a resident of
Nibelheim and a childhood friend of Cloud. In a t
of rage, Tifa tries to kill Sephiroth, but he blocks her
Last Order was released in the collector's set of Final Fantasy
attack and wounds her.
*
VII: Advent Children in North America [18]
Hiroshi Fujioka voices Zangan, [15] Tifa's martial

arts instructor. After Tifa is injured by Sephiroth at Last Order: Final Fantasy VII was produced and scripted
the Mako reactor, Zangan retrieves her and carries by Madhouse* [16] and directed by Morio Asaka.* [19]
her to safety.
The decision to create Last Order arose from the positive reaction towards a popular promotional clip created
Keiji Fujiwara voices Reno and Taiten Kusunoki by Madhouse for the game Before Crisis. Madhouse was
voices Rude.* [15] They are both members of the chosen to produce the OVA partly because of their sucTurks under Tseng's command and operate as part- cess with the clip and because the president of Madhouse
ners.
was very enthusiastic about the project.* [16] However,
the main reason for choosing Madhouse was that the com Nachi Nozawa voices Professor Hojo,* [15] the head pany understood the signicanceof making a Final
of Shinra's science department. Hojo takes Zack Fantasy VII animation, as it was considered a large reand Cloud for experimentation, instantly dismissing sponsibility to animate the most popular game in the
Tseng's discontent about using them.
FF [Final Fantasy] series.* [16] Tetsuya Nomura, the
VII series and
Daisuke Namikawa voices Turk (Rod), Ginpei Sato character designer for the Final* Fantasy
*
*
[20]
[21]
[22] acted as
co-director
of
Advent
Children,
voices Turk (Two Guns), Hch tsuka voices
*
the
supervising
director.
[16]
He
had
the
right
to reject
Turk (Martial Arts), Mayuko Aoki voices Turk
or
accept
concept
drawings
for
Last
Order.
As
a result,
(Shotgun), and Megumi Toyoguchi voices Turk
Nomura
had
a
large
quantity
of
images
redrawn,
to the
*
(Gun). [15] These characters are all Turks under
*
[16]
extent
thatthe
entire
production
was
in
jeopardy.
Tseng's command that originally appeared in Before
*
Crisis.
Production lasted six months. The production crew con-
2.14. LAST ORDER: FINAL FANTASY VII

sidered the most challenging part of creating the OVA to
be makingNomura's drawings move on screen.* [16]
Because Last Order was hand-drawn, the crew faced difculties creating uniform lines. Another issue was the
overall feel of each scene; original drawings were done by
several artists, resulting in various scenes having dierent styles.* [16] Producer Akio Ofuji* [15]* [16] explained
that they wanted to make sure the nal product was
of very high quality, so [they] worked with the production company day and night, straight through to the deadline.* [16] Nomura and Ofuji agreed that many scenes
showing important events and feelings in Final Fantasy
VII had been fragmented and disjointed, and so they had
decided that those scenes would be the subject of Last
Order, giving the audience of Advent Children (the lm
Last Order was released with) a more enjoyable understanding.* [16] They used the lm as an opportunity to
portray Zackproperlyas ahandsome, light-hearted
man [who] was in everyone's memory.* [16] Last Order also details Tseng's growth and his feelings towards
his both job and events depicted, wherein he attempts to
get his own ideas of justice heardbut later abandons
his moral values in order to carry out a cruel mission.
Ofuji commented that those are the kind of scenes we
wanted people to be more aware of.* [16]
Last Order was originally released in Japan with the
Ultimate Editionof the Advent Children movie, Advent Pieces: Limited, on September 14, 2005.* [23] The
OVA was included in the North American Limited
Edition Collector's Setof Advent Children, released
by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on February 20,
2007.* [18]* [24] The North America release did not
come with an English dub and the OVA is subtitled.* [15]
Last Order was not included in the release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, a 2009 director's cut
of Advent Children with extra footage.* [25]
159
entitled Last Order.* [15] The music was combined
with the music from Before Crisis on a single soundtrack
and released in Japan on December 19, 2007.* [28] The
soundtrack was later made available in North America by
Square Enix.* [29] Tracks 13 through 27 on the disc contain the score from Last Order, while tracks 1 through 12
contain music from Before Crisis.* [28] Select tracks on
the soundtrack of Crisis Core contain music and remixes
of music from the OVA.* [30]
OverClocked ReMix's four-disc tribute album, Voices of
the Lifestream, has a disc entitled Order. The name was
chosen to coincide with Last Order, and the music is
themed after it.* [31]
2.14.5 Response and cultural impact

Only 77,777 copies of Advent Pieces: Limited were produced in Japan, and they are no longer available, having been sold out months in advance of its release.* [32]
They retailed for 29,500, or US$300, each* [32] while
the North American collector's edition retailed for
$49.95.* [33]
Overall, Last Order garnered positive feedback from
Western critics. Chris Carle of IGN noted that Last Order was the true meat of the new extras [in the Advent
Children collector's set]a traditionally animated chapter for FF [Final Fantasy] fans that centers on the story of
Zack and Cloudand thatit adds even more dimension
to the story [of Final Fantasy VII].* [18] Todd Douglass
Jr. from DVD Talk called Last Order the real reason
to check out the Limited Edition release for Advent Children" and commented that as a long-time anime fan
and lover of Final Fantasy,hewas enthralled by every
minute to be had in Last Order.* [34] However, Hideki
Imaizumi, the producer of Crisis Core, stated that they
had receivedconsiderable negative feedbackfrom fans,
who were displeased with changes made to the Nibelheim
event in Last Order. Due to this, the scene was redone for
Crisis Core, and the production crew was careful to avoid
making the same decisions.* [1]
The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is a series of

prequels and sequels to the original Final Fantasy VII
game. Last Order is not part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII and is considered an outside work.* [26]
However, it has been associated with the Final Fantasy VII series since its creation,* [27] and is mentioned
alongside ocial installments in ocial guidebooks and
Ultimanias.* [16]* [26] Compilation titles include the lm 2.14.6 References
Advent Children and games Before Crisis (mobile phone),
[1] McCarthy, Dave (April 28, 2008). Crisis Core: Final
Dirge of Cerberus (PS2), and Crisis Core (PSP). Like Last
Fantasy VII UK Interview. IGN. Retrieved March 8,
Order, Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode: Final Fantasy VII
2009.
(a mobile phone spin-o of Dirge of Cerberus) is an out[2] Bugenhagen: Lifestream... In other words, a path of
side work associated with the Compilation.* [26]
energy of the souls roaming the Planet. 'Spirit Energy' is
a word that you should never forget."(Final Fantasy VII)
Music
Main article: Before Crisis & Last Order Soundtrack
Last Order's score was composed, arranged, and produced by Takeharu Ishimoto, including the ending theme
[3] Cloud: If the Spirit energy is lost, our Planet is destroyed..."(Final Fantasy VII)
[4] Bugenhagen: Ho Ho Hoooo. Spirit energy is ecient
BECAUSE it exists within nature. When Spirit energy
is forcefully extracted, and manufactured, it can't accomplish its true purpose."/Cloud: You're talking about
160
Mako energy, right?"/Bugenhagen:Every day Mako reactors suck up Spirit energy, diminishing it. Spirit energy
gets compressed in the reactors and processed into Mako
energy. All living things are being used up and thrown
away. In other words, Mako energy will only destroy the
Planet..."(Final Fantasy VII)
[5] Marlene: The Shinra Electric Power Company discovered a way to use the Lifestream as an energy
source."(Advent Children)
[6] Sephiroth:Normal members of SOLDIER are humans
that have been showered with Mako. You're dierent from
the others, but still human."(Final Fantasy VII)
[7] Sephiroth: Our mission is to investigate an old Mako
reactor. There have been reports of it malfunctioning, and
producing brutal creatures. First, we will dispose of those
creatures. Then, we'll locate the problem and neutralize
it."/Cloud: Brutal creatures... Where?" /Sephiroth:
The Mako Reactor at Nibelheim."(Final Fantasy VII)
[8] Marlene: Anyway, there was one SOLDIER named
Sephiroth, who was better than the rest."(Advent Children)
[9] Ifalna:That's when the one who injured the Planet... or
the 'crisis from the sky', as we call him, came. He rst approached as a friend, deceived them, and nally...... gave
them the virus. The Cetra were attacked by the virus and
went mad... transforming into monsters. Then, just as
he had at the Knowlespole. He approached other Cetra
clans...... infecting them with... the virus..."(Final Fantasy VII)
[10] Sephiroth: "...an organism that was apparently dead, was
found in a 2000 year old geological stratum. Professor
Gast named that organism, Jenova...X Year, X Month,
X Day. Jenova conrmed to be an Ancient...X Year, X
Month, X Day. Jenova Project approved. The use of
Mako Reactor 1 approved for use..."(Final Fantasy VII)
[11] Sephiroth: You ignorant traitor. I'll tell you. This
Planet originally belonged to the Cetra. Cetra was a itinerant race. They would migrate in, settle the Planet, then
move on...At the end of their harsh, hard journey, they
would nd the Promised Land and supreme happiness.
But, those that disliked the journey appeared. Those
who stopped their migrations built shelters and elected to
lead an easier life. They took that which the Cetra and
the planet had made without giving back one whit in return! Those are your ancestors."/Cloud: Sephiroth...
/Sephiroth:Long ago, disaster struck this planet. Your
ancestors escaped... They survived because they hid. The
Planet was saved by sacricing the Cetra. After that, your
ancestors continued to increase. Now all that's left of the
Cetra is in these reports./Cloud: What does that have
to do with you?" / Sephiroth: Don't you get it? An
Ancient named Jenova was found in the geological stratum of 2000 years ago. The Jenova Project. The Jenova
Project wanted to produce people with the powers of the
Ancients...... no, the Cetra....I am the one that was produced."(Final Fantasy VII)
[12] Square Enix (March 25, 2008). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII". PlayStation Portable.
[13] Square Enix (September 7, 1997). "Final Fantasy VII".

PlayStation.
[14] Doctor: I'll say it again, he's got Mako poisoning.
I've never seen a case this bad...An immense amount of
Mako-drenched knowledge was put into his brain all at
once......"(Final Fantasy VII)
[15] Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (DVD). Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment. February 20, 2007. Retrieved
March 10, 2009.
9495. ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
Reunion Files (in Japanese/English). Square Enix. p. 59.
ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
[19] Otakon Hosts Nana, Chobits Director Morio Asaka.
Anime News Network. June 13, 2007. Retrieved August
24, 2008.
[20] McLaughlin, Rus (April 30, 2008).The History of Final
Fantasy VII (page 8)". IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
[21] Gantayat, Anoop (May 4, 2005). Tetsuya Nomura on
Everything: Kingdom Hearts II, Final Fantasy VII and
more.. IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
Fantasy VII (page 1)". IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
[23] Calling FF Fans: Pieces of Advent Children. 1UP.com.
[24] Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Limited Edition
Collector's Set) (2005)". Amazon.com. Retrieved March
4, 2009.
[25] Glasser, AJ. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete in 15 Minutes. Kotaku. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
[26] Studio BentStu, ed. (2008). Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario (in Japanese). Square
Enix. p. 226. ISBN 978-4-7575-2251-0.
Fantasy VII (page 9)". IGN. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
[28] Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- & Last Order -Final
Fantasy VII- OST. RPGFan. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
[29] Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- & Last Order -Final
Fantasy VII- Original Soundtrack. Square Enix. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
[30] Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- OST. RPGFan. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
[31] Tracks: Voices of the Lifesteam. OverClocked ReMix.
2.15. FINAL FANTASY VIII
161
which the player may navigate freely across a small-scale

rendering of the game world. Characters travel across
the world map in a variety of ways, including by foot,
car, Chocobo, train, and airship. The eld map consists
[33] Sony Double Dips With 'FF VII: Advent Children'".
of controllable 3D characters overlaid on one or more 2D
ICv2. December 19, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
pre-rendered backgrounds, which represent environmen[34] Douglass Jr., Todd (March 7, 2007). Final Fantasy VII tal locations such as towns or forests. The battle screen is
- Advent Children: Limited Edition. DVD Talk. Re- a 3D model of a location such as a street or room, where
trieved August 11, 2010.
turn-based ghts between playable characters and CPUcontrolled enemies take place. The interface is menudriven, as in previous titles, but with the typical weapon
and armor systems removed and new features present,
such as the Junction system. Also featured is a collectible
Advent Children Ocial Website (English)
card-based minigame called "Triple Triad".* [3]
Advent Children Ocial Website (Japanese)
Adam. The Legacy of Final Fantasy VII. AnimeFringe. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII at the Internet Movie Junction system
Database
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (anime) at Anime
News Network's encyclopedia
2.15 Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy VIII ( VIII
Fainaru Fantaj Eito) is a role-playing video game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and Windows-based
personal computers in 2000. The game became available
on PlayStation Network as a PSone Classics title in 2009.
It was developed and published by Square (now Square
Enix) as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, removing A battle against X-ATM092, an early boss; Zell will summon
magic point-based spell-casting and the rst title to con- Shiva when the blue bar that has replaced his ATB is drained.
sistently use realistically proportioned characters.
The game follows the story of a group of mercenaries, Final Fantasy VIII uses a battle system based on summonwho are part of an organization named SeeD. Their able monsters calledGuardian Forces, abbreviated inmain goal in the game is to stop a sorceress from the fu- game as GF.Assigning (junctioning) a GF onto
a character allows the player to use battle commands beture (named Ultimecia) from compressing time.
yond Attack with the main weapon, such as Magic, GF
The development of Final Fantasy VIII began in 1997, (to summon the junctioned GF and have it perform an acduring the English localization process of Final Fantasy tion), Item and Draw (to draw magic spells from an enemy
VII. The music was scored by Nobuo Uematsu, series reg- and store it, or immediately cast in battle). While previular, and in a series rst, the theme music is a vocal piece, ous Final Fantasy titles provided each character with a
"Eyes on Me", performed by Faye Wong. The game was limited pool of magic points that were consumed by each
positively received by critics and was a commercial suc- spell, in Final Fantasy VIII, spells are acquired (drawn
cess. It was voted the 22nd-best game of all time by read- ) either from enemies in battle, Draw Points distributed
ers of the Japanese magazine Famitsu. 13 weeks after its throughout the game's environments, or by rening items
release, Final Fantasy VIII had earned more than US$50 and cards. Spells are then stocked on characters as quanmillion in sales, making it the fastest-selling Final Fantasy tied inventory (up to 100 per spell and limited to 32 distitle of all time until Final Fantasy XIII, a multi-platform tinct spells per character) and are consumed one by one
release. The game had shipped 8.15 million copies world- when used. Characters can also junction these spells onto
wide as of March 31, 2003.
their statisticssuch as Strength, Vitality, and Luckfor
various bonuses, provided the character has junctioned a
Guardian Force.* [3] The junction system's exibility af2.15.1 Gameplay
fords the player a wide range of customization options.
Like any Final Fantasy before it, Final Fantasy VIII con- The use of summoned creatures for anything other than
sists of three main modes of play: the world map, eld a single devastating attack during battle was a signicant
map, and battle screen. The world map is a 3D display in departure for the Final Fantasy series. The junction sys-
162
tem also acts as a substitute for armor and accessories
used in previous titles to enhance the characters' statistics. Moreover, where earlier titles required weapons to
be equipped and tailored to the character, each major
character in Final Fantasy VIII features a unique weapon
which can be upgraded, aecting its appearance, power,
and Limit Break.* [4]
Limit Breaks
Characters in Final Fantasy VIII have unique special attacks called Limit Breaks, as in Final Fantasy VII.
While the Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VII are triggered
after sucient damage has been received, in Final Fantasy VIII, the availability of Limit Breaks depends on a
character's current healtha Limit Break is more likely
to be available to a character with low health. The magic
spell Aura increases the probability of Limit Breaks appearing, regardless of a character's remaining hit points,
while various status aictions can prevent Limit Breaks.
They are similar to the Desperation Attacks of Final Fantasy VI, as they are randomly triggered when a character's
health falls below a certain level and his or her Hit Points
are in yellow instead of white.* [5]

While levels in previous games required ever-increasing
amounts of EXP to surmount (e.g., getting to level 2
might require 200 experience points, level 3 might require
400, etc.), characters in Final Fantasy VIII gain a level after accumulating 1000 points. The enemies' levels around
the world, furthermore, scales depending on the average
level of the active party, as opposed to most RPGs where
enemies from previously-visited locations in the game are
often weak and easily defeated; however, some enemies
do not receive level-scaling, and remain at static levels.
Higher-level enemies are capable of inicting and withstanding signicantly more damage, may have additional
special attacks, and carry additional magic spells, allowing for Junctioning bonuses which themselves far exceed
the bonuses imparted by level-gain. Bosses do not give
any EXP, but do give signicant amounts of AP.
In addition to gaining levels, Guardian Forces earn Ability Points (AP) after battles, which are automatically allocated to special abilities that Guardian Forces can learn.
When a Guardian Force has learned an ability, that ability becomes available for any character that junctions the
GF or the character party, as is the case with eld abilities.
These abilities allow characters to attack more eciently,
rene magic spells from items, receive stat bonuses upon
leveling up, access shops remotely and use additional batFinal Fantasy VIII also introduced interactive elements to tle commands.* [3]* [4]
complement Limit Break animations. These interactive
sequences, which vary between character, weapon, and
Limit Break range from randomly selected magic spells
2.15.2 Story
to precisely timed button inputs. Successfully completing an interactive sequence increases the resulting attack's
potency.* [6]
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy VIII
Experience levels
Most of Final Fantasy VIII is set on an unnamed fantasy
world with one moon. The game primarily consists of
modern elements, but does contain some futuristic elements. The planet comprises ve major landmasses, with
Esthar, the largest, covering most of the eastern portion
of the map.* [7] Galbadia, the second-largest continent,
lies to the west,* [7] and contains many of the game's locations. The northernmost landmass is Trabia, an Arctic region. Positioned roughly in the middle of the world
map lies Balamb, the smallest continent,* [7] the island
on which the game begins. The remaining landmass is
small and mostly desolate, riddled with rough, rocky terrain caused by the impact of a Lunar Cry, an event
where monsters from the moon fall to the planet.* [8]* [9]
The southernmost landmass includes an archipelago of
An example of navigation on the eld map, displaying use of
broken sections of land that have drifted apart. Islands
pre-rendered backgrounds
and marine structures esh out the rest of the game world,
Final Fantasy VIII used an experience point and level and a handful of o-world locations round out the game's
system quite dierent from previous games in the se- playable areas.
ries. While EXP is awarded after battling and defeat- The six primary protagonists of Final Fantasy VIII are:
ing enemies, who are predominantly encountered ran- Squall Leonhart, a loner who keeps his focus on his duty
domly, and contribute to the continued strengthening and to avoid vulnerability; Rinoa Heartilly, an outspoken and
level-gaining of the characters, here the similarity ends. passionate young woman who follows her heart in all situ-

ations; Quistis Trepe, an instructor with a serious, patient
attitude; Zell Dincht, a martial artist with a passion for
hot dogs;* [10] Selphie Tilmitt, a cheerful girl who loves
trains and pilots the airship Ragnarok; and Irvine Kinneas, a marksman and consummate ladies' man.* [3]* [11]
Temporarily playable characters include Laguna Loire,
Kiros Seagill, and Ward Zabac, who appear in ashbacksequences, and antagonists Seifer Almasy and Edea
Kramer.
Plot
When the game begins, Squall and Seifer duel in a training session outside the Balamb Garden military academy,
scarring each other in the process. Meanwhile, Galbadia
invades the Dollet Dukedom, forcing Dollet to hire assistance from the Balamb Garden branch of SeeD,
Garden's elite mercenary force. SeeD uses the mission
as a nal exam for its cadets;* [12] with the help of his
instructor, Quistis, Squall passes the mission's prerequisite and is grouped with Seifer and Zell. Seifer disobeys
orders and abandons his team, forcing Selphie to accompany Squall and Zell for the duration of the mission.
After the mission, SeeD halts the Galbadian advance;
Squall, Zell, and Selphie graduate to SeeD status, while
Seifer is disciplined for his disobedience.* [13] During the
graduation party, Squall meets Rinoa, whose personality is apparently the opposite of his.* [14] When assigned
with Zell and Selphie to help Rinoa's resistance faction
in Galbadian-occupied Timber, Squall learns that a sorceress named Edea is behind Galbadia's recent hostilities.* [15] Under orders from Balamb and Galbadia Gardens, Squall and his comradesjoined by Rinoa, Quistis, and Irvineattempt to assassinate Edea.* [16] However, the sorceress thwarts the attempt, stabbing Squall
in the shoulder with an ice shard, and the party is detained.* [15] During the attempt, Squall's party also learns
that Seifer has left Garden to become Edea's second-incommand.* [17]
After the team escapes along with a conscious Squall,
Edea launches a missile attack on Trabia Garden.* [15]
Fearing that Balamb Garden is the next target of Edea's
plan, the team splits into two units. Squall's group returns to Balamb to warn of the attack, but must rst stop
an internal Garden conict incited by NORG, SeeD's nancier.* [18] Selphie's team travels to the Missile Base
to stop the launch, but fails.* [15] Squall inadvertently activates Balamb Garden's mobile fortressform, allowing the facility to evade the missiles; however, unable to
control the Garden, it collides with the docks at Fishermans' Horizon.* [19] While local technicians repair the
Garden, the Galbadian Army invade in search of a girl
named Ellone,* [20] who had been staying at Balamb Garden until recently. Ellone eventually escapes to Esthar,
the world's technological superpower. During Squall's
meeting with Ellone, he learns that she had been sendinghim and his allies into ashbacks set 17 years in the
163
past in a vain eort to alter the present.* [21] The scenes
center on Laguna and his two friends, Kiros and Ward.
During the ashbacks, Laguna changes from a Galbadian
soldier to the defender of a country village,* [15] then
moves from being the leader of a resistance movement
against Sorceress Adel to the President of Esthar.* [22]
Meanwhile, Squall confronts his personal anxieties fueled
by ongoing developments,* [23] such as Headmaster Cid
appointing him as SeeD's new leader,* [24] and his increasing attraction to Rinoa. While investigating Trabia
Garden's wreckage, Squall and his comrades learn that
they, along with Seifer and Ellone, were all raised (except for Rinoa) in an orphanage run by Edea;* [15] after
eventual separation, they later developed amnesia due to
their use of Guardian Forces.* [25] It is also revealed that
Cid and Edea had established Garden and SeeD primarily to defeat corrupt sorceresses.* [26] After these revelations, the forces of Balamb Garden and the Galbadian
Army, led by Squall and Seifer respectively, engage in
battle above the orphanage. After Balamb defeats Galbadia, the player learns that Edea is merely an unwilling
tool for "Ultimecia",* [27] a powerful sorceress from the
future who wishes to compress time into a single moment;
it is for this reason she has sought Ellone.* [28] Edea loses
a decisive battle against the SeeD, forcing Ultimecia to
transfer her powers to Rinoa; Edea survives, but Rinoa
enters a coma. Squall becomes obsessed with waking her
and goes to Esthar to nd Ellone, as he believes that she
can help save Rinoa.* [29]
While Rinoa is being treated on Esthar's space station,
Ultimecia uses her to free Sorceress Adel from her orbital prison. Ultimecia then orders Seifer to activate the
Lunatic Pandora facility, inciting a rain of creatures from
the moon that sends Adel's containment device to the
planet.* [30]* [31] Having selected Adel as her next host,
Ultimecia abandons Rinoa in outer space. Squall rescues
her, and they return to the planet on a derelict starship.
Upon their landing, delegates from Esthar isolate Rinoa
for fear of her sorceress abilities,* [32] forcing Squall to
rescue her. President Laguna apologizes for the incident
and announces Dr. Odine's plan to let Ultimecia possess
Rinoa, have Ellone send Rinoa (and thus Ultimecia as
well) to the past and then retrieve only Rinoa back to the
present, enabling Ultimecia to achieve Time Compression, as it would allow Squall's group to confront Ultimecia in her time.* [33] To do this, Squall's team inltrates
Lunatic Pandora, defeats Seifer and Adel, and has Rinoa
inherit Adel's sorceress powers.* [34] Time Compression
is thus initiated; Squall and his allies travel to Ultimecia's
era and defeat her.
With Ultimecia defeated, the universe begins returning to
normal; however, Squall is nearly lost in the ow of time
as he witnesses the origins of the game's story, ghostly,
sporadic apparitions of Rinoa, and a faceless portrait of
himself. When a dying Ultimecia travels back in time
to pass her powers to Edea, Squall informs Edea of the
concepts of Garden and SeeD that she will create.* [35]
164
Afterward, he is able to properly recollect his memories

and thus return to the present with Rinoa's help. The end
cinematic depicts the events after Squall's return to the
present. Seifer, no longer a Garden member, is once again
reunited with Raijin and Fujin; Laguna visits Raine's
grave (and remembers his proposal to her) along with Ellone, Ward, and Kiros; and a celebration takes place in
the Garden, with Squall and Rinoa sharing a kiss under
the moonlight.* [15]
2.15.3
Development
Development of Final Fantasy VIII began in 1997, during

the English language translation of Final Fantasy VII.* [1]
As with much of the production of Final Fantasy VII, series creator and veteran Hironobu Sakaguchi served as
the executive producer, working primarily on the development of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and leaving
direction of Final Fantasy VIII to Yoshinori Kitase.* [36]
Shinji Hashimoto was assigned to be the producer in Sakaguchi's place, while the game and battle system were designed by Kitase and Hiroyuki Ito, respectively.* [1]* [37]
Visual design
From the beginning, Kitase knew he wanted a thematic
combination of fantasy and realism. To this end, he
aimed to include a cast of characters who appeared to
be ordinary people. Character designer and battle visual
director Tetsuya Nomura and art director Yusuke Naora
strove to achieve this impression through the inclusion of
realistically proportioned characters a departure from
the super deformed designs used in the previous title.
Additionally, Naora attempted to enhance the realism of
the world through predominantly bright lighting eects
with shadows distributed as appropriate. Other measures taken included implementing rental cars for travel
in-game,* [1] and the use of motion capture technology
to give the game's characters lifelike movements in the
game's full motion video sequences.* [38]
In an interview with Famitsu, Naora described that the
game was generally designed to be a bright, fresh Final Fantasy.* [1] The designers felt a need to invert the
atmosphere of previous games in the series, which had
feelings of light emerging from darkness.* [1] This
decision was easy for the developers to make, because
most of them had worked on Final Fantasy VII and felt
that a new direction was acceptable.* [38] The world designs were also developed with the knowledge that most
of the sta were now used to computer graphics, which
was not the case with Final Fantasy VII.* [1] The developers also noted that with Final Fantasy VIII, they attempted to mix future, real life and fantasy.* [1] As
part of a theme desired by Kitase to give the game a
foreign atmosphere, various designs were given to its locations using the style of internationally familiar places,
while also maintaining a fantasy atmosphere. Inspiration

ranged from ancient Egyptian and Greek architecture, to
the city of Paris, France, to an idealized futuristic European society. Flags were also given to some factions, their
designs based on the group's history and culture.* [39] In
contrast, in an interview with the Ocial UK PlayStation
Magazine, it was stated that Triple Triad was added to the
game because cards were a popular hobby in Japan.* [38]
To maintain a foreign atmosphere, the characters of the
game were designed to have predominantly European appearances. The rst Final Fantasy VIII character created
was Squall. Desiring to add a unique angle to Squall's appearance and emphasize his role as the central character,
Nomura gave him a scar across his brow and the bridge
of his nose. As there was not yet a detailed history conceived for the character, Nomura left the explanation for
Squall's scar to scenario writer Kazushige Nojima. Squall
was given a gunblade, a ctional revolversword hybrid
that functions primarily as a sword, with an added damaging vibration feature activated by use of its gun mechanism,* [40] similar to a vibroblade.* [41] His character
design was complemented by a fur lining along the collar of his jacket, incorporated by Nomura as a challenge
for the game's full motion video designers.* [39] Additionally, some designs Nomura had previously drawn, but
had not yet used in a Final Fantasy game, were incorporated into Final Fantasy VIII. These were the designs of
Edea, Fujin and Raijin. The latter two had originally been
designed for use in Final Fantasy VII, but with the inclusion of the Turks characters in that game, it was felt
that Fujin and Raijin were unnecessary. Nomura had
designed Edea before the development of Final Fantasy
VII, based on the style of Yoshitaka Amano.* [39] For the
Guardian Forces, Nomura felt they should be unique beings, without clothes or other human-like concepts. This
was problematic, as he did not want them to become
the actual monsters, so he took great care in their design. Leviathan was the rst GF, created as a test and
included in a game demo. After it received a positive
reaction from players, Nomura decided to create the remaining sequences in a similar fashion.* [39]
Story development
The plot of Final Fantasy VIII was conceived by Kitase, with the stories for the characters provided by Nomura and the actual scenario written by Nojima.* [1]* [37]
During the game's pre-production, Nomura suggested the
game be given aschool daysfeel. Nojima already had
a story in mind in which the main characters were the
same age; their ideas meshed, taking form as the Gardenmilitary academies. Nojima planned that the two
playable parties featured in the game (Squall's present day
group and Laguna's group from the past) would be highly
contrasted with one another. This idea was conveyed
through the age and experience of Laguna's group, versus
the youth and navet of Squall's group.* [39] Nojima has

expressed that the dynamic of players' relationships with
the protagonist is important to him. Both Final Fantasy
VII and Final Fantasy VIII feature reserved, quiet protagonists in the form of Cloud Strife and Squall. With Final
Fantasy VIII, however, Nojima worked to give players actual insight into what the character was thinking; a direct
contrast with his handling of Final Fantasy VII, which encouraged the player to speculate.* [42] This approach to
Final Fantasy VIII is reected by the frequent use of dialogue that takes place solely within Squall's mind, allowing the player to read his thoughts and understand what he
is thinking or feeling even when he keeps those thoughts
to himself.
165
it will be a shame if we won't be able to cry as we play

our own game. He could not determine a character's
emotions solely based on the plot, instead using images
of appearance and attire"It's important to know when
their emotions are at their height, but it usually takes until a month before release for them to nish the ending
dialog...!"* [54] In response to a question by IGN music
stating that the music of Final Fantasy VIII was very dark
and perhaps inuenced by the plot of the game, Uematsu
stated the atmosphere of music varies depending on
story line, of course, but it's also my intention to put various types of music into one game.* [55] The absence of
character themes found in the previous two games was
due to Uematsu nding those of Final Fantasy VI and
Final Fantasy VII ineective. Uematsu considers it reaOther media
sonable to have character themes if each character has a
highlightin the game, but he found Final Fantasy VIII
In March 1999, one month after the game's release, Final only focused on Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly as a
Fantasy VIII Ultimania was published, a book that fea- couple, resulting in the Eyes on Metheme.* [55]
tures an in-depth guide to Final Fantasy VIII and interviews with the developers.* [43] An origami book was re- The original soundtrack was released on four Compact
leased in November 1999.* [44] On September 22, 1999, Discs by DigiCube in Japan on March 10, 1999, and by
a CD-ROM titled Final Fantasy VIII Desktop Accessories Square EA in North America as Final Fantasy VIII Mu*
was released. It contains desktop icons, computer wall- sic Collection in January 2000. [56] It was republished
*
papers, screensavers, and an e-mail application. It addi- worldwide by Square Enix on May 10, 2004. [57] An altionally features a stand-alone edition of the Triple Triad bum of orchestral arrangements of selected tracks from
minigame, which allowed players to compete against one the game was released under the title Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec Final Fantasy VIII on November 19, 1999 by
another via a local area network.* [45]
DigiCube, and subsequently published on July 22, 2004
Also in 1999, the ballroom dance scene of Final Fan- by Square Enix. The pieces were arranged and contasy VIII was featured as a technical demo for the ducted by Shiro Hamaguchi for a live orchestra.* [58] A
PlayStation 2.* [46] In 2000, a PC version was released collection of piano arrangements performed by Shinko
for Windows. This port featured smoother graphics, en- Ogata was released under the title Piano Collections: Fihanced audio, and the inclusion of Chocobo World, a nal Fantasy VIII by DigiCube on January 21, 2000 and
minigame starring Boko, a Chocobo featured in one of subsequently re-published by Square Enix on July 22,
the side-quests in Final Fantasy VIII.* [47] For most North 2004.* [59]
American and European players, the PC version of the
game was the only means of playing Chocobo World, as The score is best known for two songs: Liberi Fatali,
the game was originally designed to be played via the a Latin choral piece that is played during the introduction
PocketStation, a handheld console never released outside to the game, andEyes On Me, a pop song serving as the
Japan.* [47]* [48]* [49] In 2009, Final Fantasy VIII was game's theme, performed by Chinese singer Faye Wong.
added to the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation Net- Near the end of the production of Final Fantasy VII, the
developers suggested to use a singer, but abandoned the
work.* [50]
idea due to a lack of reasoning based on the game's theme
On December 18, 2012, the game was re-released as and storyline.* [60] However, Nobuo Uematsu thought a
part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box ballad would closely relate to the theme and characters of
Japanese package.* [51] A remastered PC version was an- Final Fantasy VIII. This resulted in the game's developers
nounced May 17, 2013 and was released on Steam De- sharingcountlessartists, eventually deciding on Wong.
cember 5, 2013.* [52]* [53]
Uematsu claimsher voice and mood seem to match my
image of the song exactly, and that her ethnicityts the
international image of Final Fantasy. After negotiations
Music
were made, Eyes on Mewas recorded in Hong Kong
with an orchestra.* [54] The song was released as a CD
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy VIII
single in Japan and sold over 400,000 copies,* [61] setting the record for highest-selling video game music disc
Regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu wrote the ever released in that country at the time. Liberi Fatali
soundtrack for Final Fantasy VIII. He tried to base the was played during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
songs o of the emotional content of when they would during the women's synchronized swimming event.* [62]
be played, asserting that expressing the emotions he desires is more important than improving skills: I think The music of Final Fantasy VIII has appeared in vari-
166
ous ocial Final Fantasy concerts. These include 2002's and something that RPG fanatics love to obsess over
20020220 Music from FINAL FANTASY, in which the .* [81] Ocial U.S. PlayStation Magazine claims that the
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra played Liberi Fatali, game's Junction system is a major aw due to repetitive
Don't Be Afraid,Love Grows, andThe Man with stocking of spells,* [103] while the video game magazine
the Machine Gun, the 2004 Tour de Japon series, which Edge commented that the battle system consists of abefeaturedThe Oath, the Dear Friends series that began wilderingnumber of intricate options and techniques
that same year and includedLiberi FataliandLove that most gamers will [...] relish.* [74] GameSpot
Grows, and the 2005 More Friends concert, which in- praised the game's battle system, commenting that the
cludedMaybe I'm a Lion.* [63]* [64]* [65]* [66] More possibilities for customization [with the Junction sysrecent concerts include the Voices Music from Final tem] are immense.* [78]
Fantasy 2006 concert showcasingLiberi Fatali,FishIn general, Final Fantasy VIII has been compared favorerman's Horizon, and Eyes on Meand the interna- ably to its predecessors. Though questioning the game's
tional Distant Worlds concert tour that continues to date,
lack of voice overs for its characters, Game Revolution
which includesLiberi Fatali,Fisherman's Horizon praised its storyline and ending.* [104] For their part,
, Man with the Machine Gun, and Love Grows
Edge labeled Final Fantasy VIIIa far more accomplished
.* [67]* [68] Several of these concerts have produced live game than FFVII". On the other hand, the magazine also
albums as well.* [69] Music from the game has also been felt that the game's length left its story unable to ofplayed in non Final Fantasy-specic concerts such as the fer consistently strong dialogue and sub-plots. AddiPlay! A Video Game Symphony world tour from 2006 on- tionally, it found some of the story's plot twists not...
wards, for which Nobuo Uematsu composed the opening suitably manipulated and prepared, leaving it hard
fanfare that accompanies each performance.* [70]
not to greet such... moments with anything but indier-
2.15.4
Reception
Final Fantasy VIII received positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful. Within two days
of its North American release on September 9, 1999, Final Fantasy VIII became the top-selling video game in
the United States, a position it held for more than three
weeks.* [89] It was also a bestseller in Japan* [90] and the
UK.* [91] It grossed a total of more than $50 million in
the 13 weeks to follow,* [92]* [93] making it the fastestselling Final Fantasy title.* [94] In Japan, it sold roughly
2.5 million units within the rst four days of release.* [95]
More than 6 million units were sold in total by the end of
1999.* [96] As of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped
8.15 million copies worldwide: 3.7 million in Japan and
4.45 million abroad.* [97] The opening cut scene in Final
Fantasy VIII was ranked second on Game Informer 's list
of Top 10 Video Game Openings,* [98] and rst by
IGN.* [88] GameSpy listed it as the 15th best cinematic
moment in video games.* [99] IGN additionally named
the game's ending the third best of any game for the
PlayStation,* [88] while UGO.com named it one of the
series' best and most memorable moments.* [100] Final
Fantasy VIII was voted by readers of Japanese magazine
Famitsu as the 22nd best game of all time in 2006,* [101]
and named one of the 20 essential Japanese role-playing
games by Gamasutra, stating "[t]here's a lot that Final
Fantasy VIII does wrong, but there's even more that it
does right.* [102]
Reviews of the gameplay have been mixed. IGN felt
that it was the weakest aspect of the game, citing its
Guardian Force attack sequences as incredibly cinematicbut tedious,* [81] sentiments echoed by Electronic
Gaming Monthly.* [75] They also regarded the battle system as intensely complicated, yet refreshingly innovative
ence. Overall, Edge considered Final Fantasy VIII to

be yet another outstanding edition of SquareSoft's farfrom-nal fantasies, summarizing it as aesthetically
astonishing, rarely less than compelling, and near peerless
in scope and execution.* [74] Electronic Gaming Monthly
oered similar comments, stating that the game's character developmentis the best of any RPG'sand that "Final
Fantasy VIII is the pinnacle of its genre.* [75] UGO.com
stated that while no other game in the series had stirred
the controversy that Final Fantasy VIII had and that it was
awed, Final Fantasy VIII was adaring, groundbreaking
game [...] decidedly the most original console-style RPG
ever created.* [105] In 2002, IGN named the game the
seventh best title for the PlayStation of all time, placing
higher on the list than Final Fantasy VII and described
as "[taking] all of its strong points, and [making] them
better.* [88]
The PC port received mixed reception. Maximum PC
praised the full motion video sequences as phenomenal, adding that while the gameplay took getting used
to, they enjoyed the teamwork emphasized by it, and that
the game's visual presentation added to its appeal.* [83]
GameSpy stated that while the game was not a huge
leap forwardfrom the previous title, its gameplay and
visual appeal worked for its benet, though that on a computer the pre-rendered backgrounds appeared blurry and
the controls at time dicult with a keyboard.* [80]* [106]
GameSpot criticized the game for not taking advantage
of the capabilities aorded to computers at the time,
describing the PlayStation version as both looking and
sounding superior, and recommending that the title was
not worth buying periodfor the PC.* [79] UGO.com
also described the port as inferior to its original counterpart, adding that its presentation was in turn detrimental to the reception the game received as a whole.* [105]
Computer Gaming World praised some of the changes
167
made to the game in light of previous titles and the in- [13] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Headmaster Cid: Seifer. You will be
clusion of the Triple Triad sub-game, though heavily critdisciplined for your irresponsible behavior. You must folicized the port aslazyanddisappointing, stating that
low orders exactly during combat. But I'm not entirely
it only served to emphasize the original game's aws.* [85]
without sympathy for you. I don't want you all to become
Despite their complaints however, they named it the
machines[;] I want you all to be able to think and act for
*
twentieth best game of 2000. [87]
yourselves.
2.15.5
References

[1] Interview with Nomura, Kitase and Naora. Shkan

Famitsu. ASCII Corporation. 1998-06-05. Archived
[15] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA.
[2] Final Fantasy VIII Coming February 4th | TheSixthAxis PlayStation PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360 And Nintendo News,
Reviews, Previews And Opinion
[16] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: Our next mission... This is no
ordinary mission. It's a direct order from both Balamb and
Galbadia Garden. We're to [...] assassinate the sorceress.

Arts. pp. 20, 24, 2836. SLUS-00892GH.
[4] Cassady, David (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Ocial Strategy Guide. BradyGAMES Publishing. p. 4. ISBN 156686-903-X.
[5] Studio BentStu, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube/Square Enix. p. 64. ISBN
4-925075-49-7.
[6] Cassady, David (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Ocial Strategy Guide. BradyGAMES Publishing. pp. 6, 11, 13, 14,
16, 1819. ISBN 1-56686-903-X.
[7] Final Fantasy VIII World. Square Enix. Retrieved
2007-03-24.
[8] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Centra Civilization - A civilization in
Centra 4000 years ago. These Centra people emigrated
to other continents and founded the Dollet Empire to the
west and Esthar to the east. Centra was destroyed 80 years
ago by the Lunar Cry.
[9] Studio BentStu, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube/Square Enix. p. 40. ISBN
4-925075-49-7.
[10] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Scan description: Zell Dincht - Loves
the hot dogs sold in the Garden cafeteria. Uses close
combat ghting skills to defeat enemies with punches and
kicks.
[11] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Scan description: Ivrine Kinneas An expert marksman. Can use specialized bullets to attack enemies. Doesn't perform very well under pressure.
[12] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Xu: Our client for this mission is the
Dollet Dukedom Parliament. A request for SeeD was
made 18 hours ago. Dollet has been under attack by the
G-Army since about 72 hours ago.
[17] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: So, you've become the sorceress' lap dog? / Seifer: I preferred to be called her knight.
This has always been my dream.
[18] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Raijin: I dunno. At rst, they were
sayin' somethin' 'bout roundin' up the SeeDs, ya know!?
Now, everyone's either sidin' with the Garden Master
[NORG] or the headmaster and ghtin' everywhere, ya
know!?
[19] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Level/area: Fishermans' Horizon.
Squall: I'm terribly sorry. It was inevitable... We lost
control of the Garden.
[20] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: Oh, and one more thing... It
appeared that the Galbadians were searching for Ellone.
That seemed to be their main objective in [Fisherman's
Horizon].
[21] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Ellone: People say you can't change the
past. But even still, if there's a possibility, it's worth a try,
right?
[22] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Laguna: A erce debate ensued about
who should govern this country after [Sorceress Adel] was
gone. I wasn't paying close attention while they made me
up to be this hero of the revolution, and I ended up being
president.
[23] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: (I hate having nothing to do. It
gets me thinking too much.) (I hope Selphie and the others are all right. Was it wrong for me to let them go? I
wonder how Quistis and Irvine felt about it.) (That sorceress... Who is she? Why re missiles at the Garden?
Is Seifer ever coming back? I'll get even with him next
time.)
[24] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Cid: This journey will involve many
168
battles. A well-qualied leader is needed for this. Therefore, I am appointing Squall as your new leader. [...] He
will decide our destination and battle plan.
[25] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: ...Why is it that we forgot?
We grew up together as kids... How's that possible...? /
Irvine: How about this? The price we pay for using the
GF. The GF provides us its power. But the GF makes its
own place inside our brain... / Quistis: So you're saying
that the area is where our memories are stored? No...!
That's just a rumor the GF critics are spreading. / Zell:
[You mean,] if we keep relying on the GF, we won't be
able to remember a lot of things?
[26] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Cid: [Edea] had been a sorceress since
childhood. I married her, knowing that. We were happy.
We worked together, the two of us. We were very happy.
One day, Edea began talking about building the Garden
and training SeeD. I became obsessed with that plan. But
I was very concerned with SeeD's goal, that one day SeeD
might ght Edea...
[27] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Edea: ...I have been possessed all this
time. I was at the mercy of Sorceress Ultimecia. Ultimecia is a sorceress from the future. A sorceress many generations ahead of our time. Ultimecia's objective is to nd
Ellone.
[28] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Rinoa: There was a sorceress inside
me. Ultimecia, a sorceress from the future. She's trying
to achieve Time Compression.
[29] Square Co. (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: Let's go, Rinoa. Let's go meet
Ellone. Ellone will bring us together.
[30] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Controller: The lunar world is a world
of monsters. Didn't you learn that in school? As you can
see, the monsters are gathering at one point. History's
starting to repeat itself. The Lunar Cry is starting.
[31] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Rinoa: But Edea's still...I can't guarantee anything, either, if Ultimecia possesses me again...
You saw me. She controlled me in outer space and made
me break Adel's seal.
[32] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Descendant 1: Sorceress Rinoa.
Hyne's descendant. / Descendant 2: Come with us. We
must seal your power for the sake of the world.
[33] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Doc Odine: There iz only one way to
defeat Ultimecia. You must kill her in ze future. [...]
Ultimecia probably needs to go back further in time to
achieve time compression. Only Ellone can take her back
further into ze past. [...] You will keep moving through
ze time compression toward ze future. Once you're out of
ze time compression, zat will be Ultimecia's world. It's all
up to you after zat.
[34] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Laguna: Adel will need to pass on her
powers before being defeated. Rinoa, will you be willing
to accept them?
[35] Square Co (1999-09-09).Final Fantasy VIII. PlayStation. Square EA. Squall: Both Garden and SeeD were
your ideas. Garden trains SeeDs[;] SeeDs are trained to
defeat the sorceress.
[36] Sta (5 June 1998). Coxon, Sachi (translator).
[Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi].
Famitsu Weekly (in Japanese). Retrieved 2006-07-15.
[37] Square Co., Ltd. (1999-09-09). Final Fantasy VIII.
Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. Scene: sta credits.
[38] Sta (February 2001). Final Fantasy VIII Kitase, Nojima, Naora and Nomura Interview. Ocial UK PlayStation Magazine (71). Retrieved 2009-11-15.
[39] Studio BentStu, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube/Square Enix. pp. 354355.
ISBN 4-925075-49-7.
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4-925075-49-7.
[41] Samoon, Evan (July 2008). Gun Show: A real military expert takes aim at videogame weaponry to reveal the
good, the bad, and the just plain silly. Electronic Gaming
Monthly (230): 49.
[42] Behind The Game The Creators. Square Enix North
America. 2001. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
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[44] Square, ed. (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Origami Book (in
Japanese). DigiCube. ISBN 4-925075-59-4.
[45] Sato, Yukiyoshi Ike (1999-09-01). New FFVIII CDROM Announced. GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
[46] Nelson, Randy (1999-03-02). PS2: Demos to Die For
. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
[48] Calderman, Dan (2000). Chocobo World Playable on
PC. RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
[49] Sta (2009-09-23). FFVIII PocketStation Opens Up
Chocobo World. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved
2006-08-10.
[50] Clements, Ryan. TGS 09: Final Fantasy XIII PS3 Bundle. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
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[52] Ashcraft, Brian.First Look at Hi-Res Final Fantasy VIII

for PC. Kotaku.
[73] Final Fantasy VIII for PlayStation Reviews. Metacritic.

[53] Final Fantasy VIII Returns to PC in HD. Anime News

Network.
[74] Sta (September 1999). Final Fantasy VII. Edge

(Future Publishing): 87.
[54] Maeda, Yoshitake (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Original

Soundtrack (Limited Edition). DigiCube.
[75]Final Fantasy VIII. Electronic Gaming Monthly (123):

188. January 2004.
[55] IGN Music. Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Nobuo

Uematsu Interview. IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
[76] -
VIII. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.6. 30 June 2006.
[56] Final Fantasy VIII Music Collection. RPGFan. 200006-23. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
[77] Ashcraft, Brian (Dec 8, 2009). Famitsu: Final Fantasy

XIII Misses Perfect Score [Story Spoiler!]". Kotaku. Retrieved
April 23, 2011.
[57] Schweitzer, Ben (2006-06-17).Final Fantasy VIII OST
[78] Vestal, Andrew (1999). Final Fantasy VIII for PlayStation Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
[58] Chandran, Neal (2009-07-27).Final Fantasy VIII Fithos
Lusec Wecos Vinosec. RPGFan. Retrieved 2006-04[79] Kasavin, Greg (2000-02-02). Final Fantasy VIII.
18.
[59] Bradley, Ryan; Gann, Patrick (2004-02-25).Piano Collections Final Fantasy VIII. RPGFan. Retrieved 2007- [80] Koltookian, Gary (2000-02-02). Final Fantasy VIII.
GameSpy. p. 2.
03-27.
Fantasy's Nobuo Uematsu. 1UP.com. Retrieved 200808-05.
[61] Sta. Nobuo Uematsu's Prole. Square Enix USA.
[62] Sullivan, Meghan (2008-12-18). Top Ten JRPG Composers. IGN. IGN Entertainment. p. 6. Retrieved 200911-24.
[63]20020220 Music from FINAL FANTASY. RPGFan.
[64] Album Information Tour de Japon: Music from Final
Fantasy DVD. SquareEnixMusic. Retrieved 2007-0401.
[65] Schneider, Peer (2004). Dear Friends: Music From Final Fantasy. IGN. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
[66] Gann, Patrick (2006-04-05). More Friends music from
Final Fantasy ~Los Angeles Live 2005~". RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
[67] VOICES Music from Final Fantasy. Square Enix
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[81] Lundigran, Je (1999). Final Fantasy VIII Review.

IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
[82] Lopez, Vincent (2000-01-28). Final Fantasy VIII Review (PC)". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 200911-25.
[83] Sta (April 2000). Final Fantasy VIII. Maximum PC
5 (4): 85.
[84] Ocial PlayStation Magazine issue 51, (October 1999)
[85] Wolpaw, Erik (November 2000). When Ports Go Bad
Final Fantasy VIII Is a Major Disappointment as a Port
and as a Game. Computer Gaming World.
[86] Sta (24 May 1999). IGN.com Announces 'Best of E3'
Awards Capcom, Microsoft, Midway and Rare Take Top
Honors. PR Newswire.
[87] Sta (December 2000). Top 40. Computer Gaming
World (196).
[88] Sta (2002-01-22). Top 25 Games of All Time: Complete List. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 200911-25.
[68] Concert Events- Music from Final Fantasy. Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on
2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
[89] Sta (1999-10-05).Final Fantasy VIII Tops Videogame

Charts. IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-0316.
[69] Bogdanowicz, Robert; Maas, Liz (2002-06-23).

20020220 Music from Final Fantasy. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
[90] Dengeki Playstation sales chart, May 1999, published in

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[70] Daiker, Brandon (2006-05-27). Play! A Video Game

Symphony. N-Sider. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
[91] UK Playstation sales chart, Christmas 1999, published in

Ocial UK PlayStation Magazine issue 53
[71] Final Fantasy VIII for PlayStation. GameRankings.

[92] Sato, Yukiyoshi Ike (1999-12-14).FFVIII Sells Six Million Copies Worldwide. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-0316.
[72] Final Fantasy VIII for PC. GameRankings. Retrieved

2009-10-29.
[93] Sta (1999-12-19). FF8 Breaks Sales Records. IGN.

IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-03-16.
170

joins with others to defeat Queen Brahne of Alexandria,
the one responsible for starting the war. The plot shifts,
however, when the characters realise that Brahne is working with an even more threatening person called Kuja.
Sta (1999-09-07). Final Fantasy VIII Is Out!". IGN.
IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-03-16.
Final Fantasy IX was developed alongside Final Fantasy
VIII, but took a dierent approach by returning to the
Sta (1999-12-09). Final Fantasy VIII Sells One Million. Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 2008- more traditional style of the early Final Fantasy games.
Consequently, Final Fantasy IX was inuenced signi04-21.
cantly by the original Final Fantasy game, and features
Titles of game software with worldwide shipments ex- allusions to other titles in the series. It was released to
ceeding 1 million copies (PDF). Square Enix. p. 27. critical acclaim and holds the highest Metacritic score of
all Final Fantasy installments. Final Fantasy IX was comSta (November 2008). The Top Ten Video Game mercially successful, selling 5.30 million units worldwide
as of March 31, 2003.
Openings. Game Informer (187): 38.

Square-Enix. TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[95]
[96]
[97]
[98]
[99] GameSpy's Top 25 Video Game Cinematic Moments

. GameSpy. April 16, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
2.16.1 Gameplay
[100] Sta. Best Moments of Final Fantasy. UGO.com.

UGO Networks. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
100. Next Generation Magazine. Retrieved 2006-0311.
[102] Kalata, Kurt (2008-03-19). A Japanese RPG Primer
Final Fantasy VIII. Gamasutra. p. 9. Retrieved 200911-25.
[103] Sta (2000-01-01). Final Fantasy VIII PS Review.
1UP.com. UGO Networks. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
[104] Liu, Johnny (1999). Game Revolution Review Page
Final Fantasy VIII. Game Revolution. Retrieved 200607-16.
The eld icon indicates an object can be inspected, as is the case

with this ticket booth.
[105] Sta. The World of Final Fantasy Final Fantasy VIII

. UGO.com (UGO Networks).
See also: Gameplay of Final Fantasy
[106] Koltookian, Gary (2000-02-02). Final Fantasy VIII.
GameSpy. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
2.15.6
External links
Ocial website
2.16 Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX ( IX
Fainaru Fantaj Nain) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Squaresoft (now Square Enix)
for the Sony PlayStation video game console. Originally
released in 2000, it is the ninth title in the Final Fantasy series and last to debut on the original PlayStation
console. In 2010 it was re-released as a PSone Classics
title on the PlayStation Network. The game introduced
new features to the series like the 'Active Time Event',
'Mognet', and a unique equipment and skill system.
In Final Fantasy IX, the player navigates a character

throughout the game world, exploring areas and interacting with non-player characters. Most of the game occurs
in towns and dungeons which are referred to as eld
screens.* [2] To aid exploration on the eld screen, Final Fantasy IX introduces the eld icon, an exclamation mark appearing over their lead character's head,
signalling an item or sign is nearby.* [2]* [3] Players speak
with moogles to record their progress, restore life energy
with a tent and purchase items* [4] a deviation from
previous installments, which used a save point to perform these functions. Moogles may request the playable
character deliver letters to other Moogles via Mognet,
playable characters might also receive letters from nonplayable characters.* [2]
Players journey between eld screen locations on the

world map, a three dimensional, downsized representation of Final Fantasy IX 's world presented from a topdown perspective.* [2] Players can freely navigate around
the world map screen unless restricted by terrain like bodFinal Fantasy IX 's plot centers on a war between nations. ies of water or mountain ranges. To overcome geographPlayers follow a young thief named Zidane Tribal, who ical limitations, players can ride chocobos, sail on a boat
2.16. FINAL FANTASY IX

or pilot airships. Like previous Final Fantasy installments, travel across the world map screen and hostile eld
screen locations is interrupted by random enemy encounters.* [2]* [5]
Final Fantasy IX oers a new approach to town exploration with the introduction of Active Time Events
(ATE). These allow the player to view events unfolding
at dierent locations, providing character development,
special items and prompts for key story-altering decisions.* [2] ATE are occasionally used to simultaneously
control two teams when the party is divided to solve puzzles and navigate mazes.
171
tle. However, two controllers must be plugged into the
PlayStation.* [6]
A character's performance in battle is determined by numerical values (statistics) for categories like speed,
strength and magical power. Character statistics are
driven by experience; when players win battles, they
are awarded "experience points", which accumulate until characters gain experience levels. When characters level up, the statistics for their attributes permanently increase, which may also be amplied by the types
of equipment the character is wearing. Winning battles
also awards the player money (Gil), Tetra Master playing
cards, items and ability points (AP).* [2]
Combat
Abilities and equipment
Final Fantasy IX deviates from the style of customisable
characters featured in the last two titles by reviving the
character class concept, which designates a character to a
certain role in battle.* [7]* [8] For example, Vivi is designated as a black mage and is the only character who can
use black magic, and Steiner is a knight and is the only
character who can use sword skills.* [2]* [6]
In this early boss battle, Steiner attacks the enemy while Zidane
awaits the player's input.
Whenever the playable character encounters an enemy,

the map changes to the battle screen. On the battle screen, the enemy appears on the opposite side of
the characters; each battle uses the familiar Active Time
Battle system that was rst featured in Final Fantasy
IV.* [5] The character's command list is presented in a
window opposite the ATB gauge list; while all characters
can physically attack the enemy or use an item from the
player's inventory, they also possess unique abilities. For
example, the thief Zidane can steal items from the enemy, Eiko and Garnet can summon eidolonsto aid
the party and Vivi can use black magic to damage the
opposition.* [2]
The basic function of equipment in Final Fantasy games

is to increase character attributes; arming Zidane with
a Mythril Vest, for example, increases his base defense
statistic. In Final Fantasy IX, weapons and armor include special character abilities, which the character may
use when the item is equipped (permitting the ability
matches their class). Once the character accumulates
enough ability points in battle, the ability becomes usable
without having to keep the item equipped.* [2] In addition to granting abilities the equipment in Final Fantasy
IX determines the statistical growth of the characters at
the time of level up. Armor not only raises base defense
or evasion statistics but raises defense and/or other statistics at level up.* [9]
Abilities are classied into action and support categories.

Action abilities consume magic points (MP) and include
magic spells and special moves that are used in battle.
Support abilities provide functions that remain in eect
indenitely and must be equipped with magic stones to
be functional. The maximum number of these stones inThese character-specic commands change when the creases as the characters level up.* [2]* [6]
player goes into "Trance mode, which is activated for
a short duration when an uncontrollable gauge lls as
character sustains damage in a style similar to the Limit Tetra Master
Breaks used in Final Fantasy VII. When the gauge is
full, the character's strength is amplied, and the player Tetra Master is a card-based minigame that can be inican select special attack commands.* [6] Zidane'sSkill tiated with various non-playable characters in the eld.
command list, for example, changes toDyne, allowing Players assemble a deck of ve cards, which can be obhim to execute powerful attacks; Vivi's Black Magic tained via chests, given as a reward, or earned from ghtcommand evolves into Double Black, allowing him ing monsters. Each card has various arrows which point
to cast two magic spells simultaneously.* [2] Through the to the four sides and four corners of the card, and various
Conguration screen, the player can change the Battle stats that vary between cards, with rarer cards being more
Style from Normal to Custom, which allows two play- powerful. Players take it in turns to strategically place
ers to control any combination of characters during bat- cards on a 5x5 playing grid based on the available direc-
172
tions. Battles can occur when players place a card next

to another card, depending on where the player places it.
If the defending card has no arrows whilst the attacking
card has an arrow pointing towards it, that card is placed
under the player's control. When two arrows meet with
each other, the cards do battle based on their point values,
with the losing card coming under the winning player's
control, sometimes triggering combos that put multiple
cards in the winner's control. After all cards are played,
the winner is the player who has the most cards under
their control, with a draw occurring if they have the same
number of cards. The winning player may choose a card
from their opponent's deck out of the ones they put under their control. If the winning player scores a perfect
win however, in which all ten cards are put under their
control, they will win all ve cards from the opponent's
deck.
2.16.2
Plot
Setting
in the Outer Continent, as well. The Genomes, an articial race of soulless vessels inhabit Terra; they will house
the once-dormant Terran souls when Terra assimilates
Gaia. Summoners are similar to other humans, but with
a horn on their forehead. In the story, only two summoners remain (Garnet and Eiko); the others were exterminated when the Terran warship Invincible destroyed their
homeland of Madain Sari. Lastly, the Qu are large, seemingly androgynous humanoids,* [10] who are recognised
as ne gourmands. They inhabit marshlands throughout
the world where they catch their main source of nutrition:
frogs.
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy IX
The eight main playable characters in Final Fantasy IX
are Zidane Tribal, a member of a group of bandits called
Tantalus masquerading as a theatre troupe; Garnet Til
Alexandros XVII (alias Dagger), the Princess of Alexandria who has a strange connection to Eidolons, Vivi
Orunitia, a young, timid, and kind black mage trying
to nd the meaning of his existence; Adelbert Steiner,
the Captain of the Knights of Pluto and loyal servant
of Alexandria and Princess Garnet; Freya Crescent, a
dragon knight from the city of Burmecia looking for her
lost love; Quina Quen, a Qu whose master wants him/her
to travel the world so that s/he will learn about cuisine;
Eiko Carol, a six-year-old girl living in Madain Sari, the
lost village of the eidolon summoners, and along with
Garnet, one of the last two remaining summoners; and
Amarant Coral, a bounty hunter hired to return Garnet to
Alexandria.* [10] Other main characters include Regent
Cid Fabool, the charismatic leader of Lindblum; Queen
Brahne, Garnet's mother and the power-hungry Queen
of Alexandria; General Beatrix, the powerful leader of
the female knights of Alexandria; and antagonist Kuja,
an arms dealer and enemy of Gaia. Other minor characters and groups also appear, such as Blank, Zidane's
good friend and band partner, but their signicance and
back-stories are revealed as the game progresses.
Final Fantasy IX takes place primarily on the four continents of a world named Gaia (homonymous with Final
Fantasy VII 's Gaia, but not the same world). Most of
Gaia's population reside on the Mist Continent, named so
because the entire continent is blanketed in thick Mist.
Lands outside the Mist Continentthe Outer, Lost and
Forgotten continents are uncharted territories not explored until midway through the game. Several locations
on the parallel world of Terra and the dream land of
Memoria round out the game's areas. The Mist Continent
features four nations: Alexandria, Lindblum, Burmecia,
and Cleyra. Alexandria is a kingdom to the northeast
of the Mist Continent ruled by a monarchy located in
Alexandria Castle. The technologically advanced Lindblum, ruled by a regent, is nestled on a plateau to the
southwest where airships regularly y by. The Kingdom
of Burmecia, whose capital is showered by eternal rain is
to the northwest and nearby to the isolated Cleyran civilisation, which is nestled in a giant tree in the desert, protected by a powerful sandstorm. Treno, a large, perpetually dark city, heavily populated by both aristocrats and
paupers, is located on the southeast part of the continent.
The Mist Continent is extremely mountainous resulting Story
in a natural barrier between many of the ruling nations.
Gaia is inhabited by humans and various non-human
races. Alexandria and Lindblum are both populated by
a mix of humans and anthropomorphic animals. The
Burmecians are anthropomorphic rats who value dance,
thus accounting for their general aversion to footwear,
and live in both Burmecia and Cleyra. The Cleyrans split
from the Burmecians when the latter started to appreciate
the art of war. The dwarves are short humanoid creatures who appear as inhabitants of the village of Conde
Petie on the Outer Continent. There is also a village of
black mages that have gained sentient thought, who reside
Final Fantasy IX begins with Zidane and the Tantalus

Theater Troupe kidnapping Princess Garnet during her
sixteenth birthday celebration. The group learns that Garnet, who is concerned about Queen Brahne's increasingly
erratic behavior, actually wanted to escape to Lindblum
to meet with Regent Cid,* [q 1] and had planned to stow
away on the theatre ship. The Troupe's airship, Prima
Vista, is damaged during the escape; it crashes in the Evil
Forest, prompting Zidane to continue the trek to Lindblum without the rest of Tantalus.* [q 2] Zidane and Garnet are accompanied by Vivi and Steiner, who became

entangled with Tantalus during their escape from Alexandria. During their journey, Garnet adopts the aliasDaggerand struggles to mingle with the locals.* [q 3] The
group learns of a factory inside the village of Dali that
manufactures soulless black mage warriors for Alexandria's use. Brahne dispatches three powerful ones called
Black Waltzesto retrieve Garnet by force, but their mission ends in failure.* [q 4]
Upon arriving in Lindblum, the party discover that Regent Cid has been turned into a bug-like oglop by his
wife Hilda for his womanizing behavior.* [q 5] Wishing
to protect Garnet from Brahne's newfound aggression, he
had ordered Tantalus to kidnap her.* [q 6] The party decide to rest in Lindblum, meeting up with Freya and participating in the Festival of the Hunt. When the group
learns that Alexandria has invaded Burmecia, Zidane investigates the situation with Freya and Vivi, while Garnet and Steiner head to Alexandria to ask Brahne to stop
the war.* [q 7] Zidane's party discover that Burmecia has
been conquered by both Brahne and a mysterious man
called Kuja, with many of its citizens seeking refuge in
the nearby city of Cleyra. The defence of Cleyra is organised by Zidane and his party whilst Garnet confronts
both her mother and Kuja about the invasion. They refuse
to listen to her and Queen Brahne has Garnet's eidolons
forcibly extracted from her body.* [q 8] Brahne, travelling
on her airship, uses one of Garnet's eidolons, Odin, to destroy Cleyra. Zidane and company, escaping on Brahne's
ship, head to Alexandria to save Garnet, only for Brahne
to attack Lindblum, destroying the Industrial district and
heavily damaging the Business and Theatre districts with
another of Garnet's stolen eidolons, Atomos.* [q 9]
Afterward, having arrived at Lindblum, the party are informed by Regent Cid about Brahne's enigmatic arms
dealer, Kuja.* [q 10] The party travels to the Outer Continent, the location of Kuja's headquarters, through an underground tunnel with the help of Quina.* [q 11] There,
the party meets a young summoner named Eiko, who
assumes herself to be the last survivor of Madain Sari.
They also discover a village inhabited by self-aware Black
Mages. Their pursuit of Kuja leads them to the nearby Iifa
Tree, an entity that dissipates a ghting-stimulant called
Mist.* [q 12] They learn that Kuja uses Mist to create the
Black Mages.* [q 13] The party defeats the Iifa Tree's core
and stops the Mist from owing. When the party returns
to Madain Sari, they confront Amarant, who was hired
by Brahne to apprehend Garnet. Impressed by Zidane's
strength, Amarant joins the party, whilst Garnet comes
to appreciate that she, like Eiko, is also a summoner from
Madain Sari. At the Iifa Tree, Brahne turns against Kuja
and attempts to kill him with the eidolon Bahamut.* [q 14]
However, Kuja uses the airship Invincible, controlled by
a mysterious old man, to gain control of Bahamut, killing
Brahne and defeating her army.* [q 15] Before she dies,
Brahne and Garnet have a brief reconciliation.
173
ever, on the very evening of her coronation Kuja assaults
Alexandria with Bahamut.* [q 16] Eiko and Garnet summon the legendary eidolon Alexander, who overpowers
Bahamut. Kuja attempts to control Alexander using the
Invincible, but is foiled by the mysterious old man whose
name is revealed to be Garland. Garland use the Invincible to destroy Alexander and parts of Alexandria.* [q 17]
Kuja, still intent on mastering a powerful eidolon to defeat Garland,* [q 18] shifts his attention to Eiko.* [q 19]
The party learns of Kuja's Desert Palace and attempts an
assault. However, Kuja imprisons the party and escapes
with Eiko to extract her eidolons. During the extraction attempt, Eiko's guardian moogle Mog uses Trance to
transform into her true form, the eidolon Madeen, disrupting the process.* [q 20] Learning of the powers of
Trance,* [q 21] Kuja escapes to further his aim of defeating Garland. The party rescues Eiko and also nds Hilda,
who turns Cid back into a human.* [q 22] He is now able
to design an airship for the party that does not need Mist
for power.
With Hilda's aid,* [q 23] the party pursues Kuja to a hidden place called Terra by opening a portal. In the Terran
town of Bran Bal, it is revealed that Terra is a parallel
world. The people of Terra had created Garland to orchestrate the process of assimilating Terra into Gaia, as
the Terran world was dying. Garland created Genomes
intelligent, sentient beings who lack soulsto become
future vessels for the souls of the Terrans.* [q 24] The Iifa
Tree's existence,* [q 25] the phenomenon of Mist,* [q 26]
the eidolon's destruction,* [q 27] and even Kuja and Zidane's true purpose of existence,* [q 28] were part of the
process. Angered by Garland's motives, the party confronts him. However, Kuja has now obtained enough
souls to achieve Trance.* [q 29] Trance Kuja ends Garland's life, but not before Garland warns him of his limited lifespan, and that Zidane was the ultimate 'Angel of
Death', designed to replace him.* [q 30] Enraged by this
revelation, Kuja destroys Terra while the party rescues
the Genomes and returns to Gaia on the Invincible.
The party discovers that Mist has returned and now envelops all of Gaia. Assisted by the combined forces of
Lindblum and Alexandria, they travel to the Iifa Tree,
where they are teleported to a mysterious location called
Memoria. The spirit of Garland guides the party to Kuja
as they aim to prevent his destruction of Gaia. When Kuja
is defeated, he uses his Trance abilities to target the Crystal, the source of life,* [q 31] prompting the appearance
of Necron, the Eternal Darknessbent on destroying
life.* [q 32] After Necron is defeated, Gaia is saved and
Memoria and the Iifa Tree dramatically collapse. Although Kuja teleports the party to safety, Zidane returns
to save him, and is later assumed to have died with Kuja
in the collapse.* [q 33]
Some time later, Alexandria has been rebuilt, and Tantalus arrives in Alexandria to perform I Want To Be Your
The party returns to Alexandria, and the city makes Canary for Queen Garnet. * [q 34] Early scenes reveal
preparations for Garnet to be crowned Queen. How- what has happened to many of the main characters.
174
Steiner and Beatrix have returned to their old posts as

royal bodyguards and have also become romantically
involved; * [q 35] Eiko has been adopted by Regent Cid
and Lady Hilda; * [q 36] Freya is attempting to start
over with her former love, Sir Fratley; * [q 37] Amarant
is reunited with Lani while on his way to Alexandria;
*
[q 38] Quina has now become the head chef of the
Alexandria Castle kitchen; * [q 39] and black mages
looking identical to Vivi are identied as Vivi's sons.
*
[q 40] In between these scenes a monologue is given
by Vivi where he reminisces about the adventures they
had together and bids farewell to everyone, implying
his death due to his limited lifespan.* [q 41] The game
reaches its nal moments with the play being performed.
During the performance, one of the performers removes
his robe and reveals himself to be Zidane, saved by
Kuja's barrier from the collapsing Iifa Tree.* [q 42]
Garnet rushes onto the stage, abandoning her dropped
Summoner pendant, and embraces Zidane.
2.16.3
Development
Final Fantasy VIII may have alienated audiences. This led

fans to speculate that it would be released as a "gaiden"
(side story) to the main series.* [15] By late 1999, however, Square had conrmed that the game would indeed
be published as Final Fantasy IX, and by early 2000, the
game was nearly nished. The developers made several
adjustments to the game, such as changing the ending
seven times.* [11] Director Ito had designed the battle system used in the game.* [16]
The game's developers sought to make the game's environment more fantasy-orientedthan its PlayStation
predecessors. Since the creators wanted to prevent the series from following a redundant setting, Final Fantasy IX
distinctly breaks from the futuristic styles of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII by reintroducing a medieval setting.* [5] In the game, steam technology is just
beginning to become widely available; the population relies on hydropower or wind power for energy sources,
but sometimes harness Mist or steam to power more advanced engines. Continuing with the medieval theme, the
game's setting is inspired by Norse and Northern European mythology. According to Ito, "[The development
team is] attracted to European history and mythology because of its depth and its drama.* [11] The main Final
Fantasy IX website says the development of the game's
world serves as a culmination of the series by blending
the successful elements of the past, such as a return
to the fantasy roots,with newer elements.* [10] The creators made the characters a high priority.* [11] The return
to the series' roots also aected the characters' designs,
which resulted in characters with comic-like looks
.* [11] Composer Nobuo Uematsu commented that the
design sta attempted to give the characters realism while
still appearing comic-like.* [11] To accomplish this, and
to satisfy fans who had become used to the realistic designs of Final Fantasy VIII, the designers stressed creating
characters with whom the player could easily relate.* [11]
Development of Final Fantasy IX began before Square

had nished development on Final Fantasy VIII.* [11] The
game was developed in Hawaii as a compromise to developers living in the United States.* [11] As the series' last
game on the PlayStation, Sakaguchi envisioned a reectionon the older titles of the series. Leading up to
its release, Sakaguchi called Final Fantasy IX his favorite
Final Fantasy game as it's closest to [his] ideal view
of what Final Fantasy should be.* [12] This shift was
also a response to demands from fans and other developers.* [11] Additionally, the team wanted to create an
understandable story with deep character development;
this led to the creation of Active Time Events.* [11] The
scenario for the game was written by Sakaguchi. He began early planning on it around July 1998.* [1]* [13] Director Hiroyuki Ito had the idea to make the protagonist 2.16.4
Zidane irtatious towards women.* [14]
Vivi, Zidane, Garnet, and Steiner in a full motion video sequence.
Release
Final Fantasy IX 's release was delayed to avoid a concurrent release with then rival Enix's Dragon Quest VII.
On October 7, 2000, a demo day for the North American version of Final Fantasy IX was held at the Metreon
in San Francisco, California.* [17] The rst American
release of the game was also at the Metreon; limited
edition merchandise was included with the game, and
fans cosplayed as Final Fantasy characters in celebration of the release.* [18] In Canada, a production error
left copies of Final Fantasy IX without an English version of the instruction manual, prompting Square to ship
copies of the English manual to Canadian stores several
days later.* [19]
The game was heavily promoted both before and after

In the game's conceptual stage, the developers made it its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, Final Fantasy
clear that the title would not necessarily be Final Fantasy IX characters were used in a line of computer-generated
IX, as its break from the realism of Final Fantasy VII and Coca-Cola commercials. Figurines of several characters

were also used as prizes in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign.* [20] That same year, IGN awarded Final Fantasy dolls and gurines for prizes in several of their contests.* [21]
175
beginning of the game.
Uematsu was twice reported claiming without hesitation
that Final Fantasy IX was his favorite score.* [26]* [27]
The original soundtrack for the game has 110 tracks; an
additional soundtrack, Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS, was released with 42 more new tracks. Like
Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy IX
features a J-pop ballad, Melodies of Life. The song
was composed by Uematsu, written by Hiroyuki Ito (as
Shiomi) in Japanese and Alexander O. Smith in English,
and performed by Emiko Shiratori. The song itself was
sung in Japanese for the Japanese release of the game,
and in English for the North American and European releases.
Final Fantasy IX was also the benchmark of Square's interactive PlayOnline service. PlayOnline was originally
developed to interact with Final Fantasy X, but when
those plans fell through it became a strategy site for Final Fantasy IX. The site was designed to complement
BradyGames' and Piggyback Interactive's ocial strategy guides for the game, where players who bought the
print guide had access to keywordsthat could be
searched for on PlayOnline's site for extra tips and information. This caused fury among buyers of the guide,
as they felt cheated for the expensive print guide. The
blunder made GameSpy's Top 5 Dumbest Moments in
Gaminglist,* [22] and Square dropped the idea for Final 2.16.6 Reception
Fantasy X, which was under development at the time.
Although at the time it was a top-seller in Japan.* [28] and
On December 18, 2012 the game was re-released as America,* [29] Final Fantasy IX did not sell as well as
part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy VIII in either Japan or
Japanese package.* [23]
the United States.* [30]* [31] As of March 31, 2003, the
game had sold 5.30 million copies worldwide.* [32] The
game was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers
2.16.5 Music
of the Japanese magazine Famitsu* [33] and 42nd by the
users of the website GameFAQs.* [34]
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy IX
The music of Final Fantasy IX was created by Nobuo Uematsu, his last exclusive Final Fantasy score until Final
Fantasy XIV, released a decade later. In discussions with
Ito, Uematsu was toldIt'd be ne if you compose tracks
for the eight characters, an exciting battle track, a gloomy,
danger-evoking piece, and around ten other tracks.However, Uematsu spent an estimated year composing and
producing around 160pieces for Final Fantasy IX,
with 140 appearing in the game.* [24]* [25]
Nobuo Uematsu composed with a piano and used two
contrasting methods: I create music that ts the events
in the game, but sometimes, the event designer will adjust a game event to t the music I've already written.
*
[25] Uematsu felt Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy
VIII had a mood of realism, but Final Fantasy IX was fantasy, soa serious piece with silly, fun pieces could t in.
He felt the theme was medieval music, and was given a
break to travel in Europe for inspiration"looking at old
castles in Germany and so on. The music was not entirely composed in the medieval mode; Uematsu claims
it would be unbalancedand a little boring. He
aimed for a simple, warmstyle and included uncommon instruments like the kazoo and dulcimer. Uematsu
also included motifs from older Final Fantasy gamesbecause Final Fantasy IX was returning to the roots, so to
speakand incorporated ideas likethe old intro for battle musicand arranged the Volcano theme from Final
Fantasy and the Pandemonium theme from Final Fantasy
II.* [24]* [25] Tantalus' band is also heard playingRufus'
Welcoming Ceremonyfrom Final Fantasy VII near the
Critical response
Final Fantasy IX was released to critical acclaim both in
Japan and the US. On the review aggregator Metacritic it
has achieved a score of 94%, the highest score for a Final
Fantasy game on the site.* [36] On GameRankings it has
received a score of 93%, the second highest of any Final Fantasy title, behind Final Fantasy VI for Super Nintendo.* [43]
Across the reviews, praise was given to the graphics and
nostalgic elements. Critics pointed out the strength of the
game within its gameplay, character development, and
visual representation. GameSpot noted that the learning curve is easily grasped, and that the ability system is
not as complex as in Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy
VIII.* [6] Each player character possesses unique abilities,
which hinders the development of an over-powered character. GameSpot describes the battle system as having a
tactical nature and notes that the expanded party allows
for more interaction between players and between enemies.* [6] Nevertheless, IGN disliked the lengthy combat
pace and the repeated battles, describing it asaggravating, and RPGFan felt the Trance system to be ineective
as the meter buildup is slow and unpredictable, with characters Trancing just before the enemy is killed.* [5]* [44]
The characters and graphics received positive reviews.
Although IGN felt that the in-depth character traits in
Final Fantasy IX could be generally found in other Final Fantasy games, it still found the characters to be engaging and sympathetic.* [5] GameSpot found the char-
176
acters, up to their dialogue and traits, amusing and full of

humor.* [6] IGN also noted that the Active Time Event
system helps to expand the player's understanding of the
characters' personalities as they question many ideas and
emotions.* [5] Their semi-deformed appearance, which
also covers monsters of every size, contain detailed animation and design. They gave praise to the pre-rendered
backgrounds, noting the careful attention given to the artwork, movement in animations and character interactivity. The movies are seen as emotive and compelling, and
the seamless transition and incorporation to the in-game
graphics helped to move the plot well.* [44]
[4] Cuellar, Jose (2001-02-07). Magic of `Final Fantasy

IX' creates best in series. The Observer (Notre Dame).
Critics acknowledged that the overall storyline was

mainly built upon elements found in previous Final Fantasy installments, such as evil empires and enigmatic
villains.* [44] The main villain, although considered by
GameSpot to be the least threatening in the series,* [6]
was seen by IGN as an impeccable combination ofKefka's cackling villainyandplenty of the bishonenosity
that made Sephiroth such a hit with the ladies.* [5]
Mixed reactions were given to the audio aspects of the
game. Some reviewers, such as RPGFan felt that the music wasuninspired and dullwhilst GamePro praised the
audio for evoking emotions throughout the story, from
battles to heartbreak to comedy.* [40] Some criticism
was leveled on composer Nobuo Uematsu who reused
some tracks from past iterations of the series.* [44] Still,
reviewers have come to agree that this and many other elements are part of the overall eort to create a nostalgic
title for fans of the older Final Fantasy titles.* [5]* [6]* [44]

Arts. pp. 20, 24, 36. SLUS-00892GH.
The strategy guide also received criticism; it urged buyers

to log onto an online site to gain the information, instead
of providing it within the actual guide. The book's given
links are no longer accessible on the PlayOnline website.
Tetra Master was seen by GameSpot as inferior and confusing compared to Final Fantasy VIII 's minigame Triple
Triad, as the rules for it were only vaguely explained in
the game and there were very few rewards earned from
playing it despite its expansive nature.* [6]
[5] Smith, David (2000). Final Fantasy IX Review. IGN.

[6] Vestal, Andrew (2000-07-19). Final Fantasy IX Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
Arts. pp. 2025. SCUS-94163.
[9] Final Fantasy IX Max Stats Guide by FADFC.

GameFAQs. 2004-11-20. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
[10] Final Fantasy IX. North American Square Enix. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
[11] The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All. IGN. 200009-20. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
[12] IGN Sta (2000-04-05). Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
[13] Sakaguchi, Hironobu (2010-11-22). From the old back
up le. Mistwalker. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
[14] Coxon, Sachi (2000-03-24).Interview with Square: Part
3. RPGamer. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
[15] NGO Sta (1999-05-24). New Final Fantasy revealed
. Gaming Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
[17] IGN Sta (2000-10-02).Square EA Holds FFIX Demo
Day. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
[18] IGN Sta (2000-11-13).Final Fantasy IX Goes on Sale
Early. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
2.16.7
See also
[19] IGN Sta (2000-11-20).Canadian Customers Get FFIX

in French. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
2.16.8
References
[20] IGN Sta (2000-03-31). TGS: Final Fantasy IX Characters Do Coke. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
[1] Interview: FFCC The Crystal Bearers(in French). Final Fantasy World. 2009-11-28. Archived from the original on 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-01-25. Toshiyuki
Itahana: Je ne suis pas sr, car le scnario a t crit par
Hironobu Sakaguchi / I am not sure because the scenario
was written by Hironobu Sakaguchi
[2] Square Enix sta, ed. (2000). Final Fantasy IX instruction
manual. Square Co. p. 29. SLUS-01251.
[3] Square Nation. INFORMATION & REVIEWS.
Square Nation. Archived from the original on 2006-1212. Retrieved 2006-08-19.
[21] IGN Sta (2000-11-27). Win Vivi from FFIX!". IGN.

[22] The 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming - Readers' Top
5. GameSpy. 2003-06-14. Archived from the original
on 2004-07-04.
[23] Jonathan Toyad (2012-08-31). Final Fantasy 25th
anniversary Ultimate Box collection announced.
GameSpot UK. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
[24] Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu.
Famitsu. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
[25] Zdyrko, Dave (2000-09-21).The Final Fantasy IX Team

Spills All. IGN. Archived from the original on 200012-03. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
[26] Taylor, Stu. ""Smile, Please!": Neo Interviews Final Fantasy Composer, Nobuo Uematsu. Neo. Retrieved 200706-17.
[27] Fahey, Rob (2005-02-02). Focus On: Final Fantasy
composer Nobuo Uematsu. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
177
Game quotes
Square (2000-11-14). Final Fantasy IX. PlayStation.
Square.
[1] Garnet: I am actually... Princess Garnet til Alexandros,
heir to the throne of Alexandria. I have a favour I wish to
ask of you... I wish to be kidnapped...right away.
[2] Baku: So, you're leaving, eh?
promised Garnet I'd kidnap her.
/ Zidane: Yeah...I
[28] Dengeki PlayStation sales chart, October 2000, published

in Ocial UK PlayStation Magazine issue 63
[3] Garnet: I will be called Dagger from now on.
[29] IGN Sta (2000-12-19). Final Fantasy IX Is Number

One. IGN. Retrieved 2006-03-07.
[4] Thorn: Our black mage enhancements! / Zorn: All defeated!
[30] Japan Platinum Game Chart. the-magicbox.com. Retrieved 2006-03-07.
[5] Regent Cid: When Hilda found out about my little aair,
she used her magic and turned me into an oglop.
[31] US Platinum Videogame Chart. the-magicbox.com.

[6] Dagger: Uncle Cid hired Tantalus out of concern for my

safety.
27. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
[7] Dagger: I have to help Mother... I don't want to see anything happen to her... / Steiner: Very well. Princess, I
will follow you wherever you choose.
[33] Campbell, Colin (2006-03-03). Japan Votes on All

Time Top 100. Next Generation. Retrieved 2006-0826.
[8] Queen Brahne: Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet.
[34] GameFAQs Site Sta (2005). Fall 2005: 10-Year

Anniversary Contest - The 10 Best Games Ever.
GameFAQs. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
[35] Final Fantasy IX Reviews. Game Rankings. Retrieved
2006-03-11.
[36] Final Fantasy IX. Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
[37] - IX.
[38] Final Fantasy - Famitsu Scores Archive. Famitsu
Scores Archive. Archived from the original on 2008-0714. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
[39] McNamara, Andy. Final Fantasy IX review. Game
Informer. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008.
[9] Minister Artania: Yes, Princess. The castle was spared.

Regent Cid is alive.
[10] Regent Cid: I believe Kuja is the only one supplying
<gwok> Brahne with weapons.
[11] Minister Artania: That he came from the north suggests
he's from the Outer Continent.
[12] Soulcage: I contaminate the other continents with Mist to
stimulate the ghting instinct.
[13] Zidane: What kind of weapons did Kuja make? /
Soulcage: Kuja called them black mages, dark spawn of
the Mist.
[14] Queen Brahne: Kuja! So you nally decided to show
your girly face here! You're all that stands between me
and total domination!
[15] Kuja: Excellent, Bahamut! Power, mobility... You truly

are the best! You even hurt me...a little. And you,
[40] Uncledust (2000-11-15). Review: Final Fantasy IX
Brahne... Your tragic role in this drama now comes to
. GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-12-15.
an end!
[41] 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners
. interactive.org. Retrieved 2006-03-11.
[42] Witham, Joseph (2002-01-23). Final Fantasy IX wins
Golden Satellite Award. RPGamer. Retrieved 2006-0827.
[43] Final Fantasy IX. Game Rankings. Retrieved 201007-09.
[44] Sensei Phoenix (2000). "Final Fantasy IX Review". RPGFan. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
[16] Kuja: What an auspicious day for Alexandria. Garnet's

ascension to the throne has brought hope and peace to this
kingdom. The people are overjoyed; they believe a wonderful future is ahead of them. ...But the celebration isn't
over yet. It's time to really light things up! Your former
master is here, Bahamut. Play a requiem for her and all
of Alexandria!
[17] Garland: You have gone too far, Kuja. I granted you the
freedom to do as you wish in Gaia for one purpose alone.
Now that you have lost sight of your mission, I will no
longer tolerate your actions.
178
[18] Kuja: I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander!

An eidolon with the power to bury Garland! His powers
are so incredible; I cannot even come close. I must destroy
him before Terra's plan is activated, or my soul will no
longer be my own!
[35] Steiner: Wait! Listen to me! I, uh...I-I never wish to lose

you again! / Beatrix: Steiner... / Steiner: Let us protect
the queen together!
[19] Kuja: I sense power from within her. Continue the extraction!
[37] Freya: I just want to cherish our time right now.
[20] Eiko: Mog saved me... I never knew that Mog was
an eidolon. She always looked after me...disguised as a
moogle.
[21] Kuja: How can that--that moogle went into a Trance!?
So...an eruption of anger against one's surroundings induces a complete Trance! It's not the will to live, nor is it
the desire to protect another!
[22] Hilda: Alright. I'll turn you back. But it's going to be
much worse if you ever cheat on me again! / Regent Cid:
I...I understand. Now turn me back!
[23] Hilda: You may nd a clue if you go to Ipsen's Castle. /
Eiko: Did you ask Kuja about all of this? / Hilda: These
are things he discussed voluntarily.
[36] Eiko: Father! Mother! Hurry!
[38] Lani: Why are you going to Alexandria? / Amarant:

Your're not going? / Lani: I never said that!
[39] Quina: Good food not only delicious! Good food made
with heart! This very important when cooking for friends!
[40] Puck: Oh, come on! What's wrong with you? If you're
not Vivi, then who are you!? / Vivi's son: I'm...Vivi's
son!
[41] Vivi: Everyone... Thank you. Farewell. My memories
will be part of the sky...
[42] Robed performer: I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight,
grant me my only wish! [removes robe, revealing himself
as - ] Zidane: Bring my beloved Dagger to me!
[24] Garland: I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the

souls of the people of Terra when they awaken.
[25] Garland: the Iifa Tree blocks the ow of Gaia's souls,

while it lets those of Terra ow freely.
2.17 Final Fantasy X
[26] Garland: The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider.
The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia...
[27] Garland: I feared Gaia's eidolons more than anything...
However, I decided to deal with them before they became
a major problem.
[28] Zidane: So...Kuja is just an angel of death who sends
souls to the Tree of Iifa. / Garland: Yes, my angel of
death. But only until you came of age.
[29] Kuja: The Invincible is mine! Now, I have the power to
control all souls! Garland gave me everything without a
ght. The old fool was too busy dealing with him.
[30] Garland's voice: Do you think a defect like you could
last forever...? / Kuja: ...What? What do you mean!? /
Garland's voice: I built you to last only until the worthy
Genome, Zidane, grew. It was too dangerous to let you
last any longer than that.
[31] Kuja: It's the original crystal... This is where it all began...
The birthplace of all things... Once I destroy it, everything
will be gone. Gaia, Terra, the universe, everything...
[32] Necron: I exist for one purpose... To return everything
back to the zero world, where there is no life and no crystal
to give life.
[33] Zidane: ...Kuja's still alive. I can't just leave him.
[34] Baku: Alright, you scumbags! We're almost there! Been
a long time since we saw Alexandria. Let's give 'em a show
they won't forget!
Final Fantasy X (X Fainaru

Fantaj Ten) is a role-playing video game developed and
published by Square (now Square Enix) as the tenth entry
in the Final Fantasy series. Originally released in 2001
for Sony's PlayStation 2, the game was re-released as a
high-denition port for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation
Vita on March 18, 2014, under the name Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.* [5]* [6]* [7] It will also be rereleased for the PlayStation 4 in Spring 2015.* [4] The
game marks the Final Fantasy series transition from entirely pre-rendered backdrops to fully three-dimensional
areas, and is also the rst in the series to feature voice
acting. Final Fantasy X replaces the Active Time Battle
(ATB) system with theConditional Turn-Based Battle
(CTB) system, and uses a new leveling system called the
Sphere Grid.
Set in the fantasy world of Spira, the game's story revolves
around a group of adventurers and their quest to defeat a
rampaging monster known as Sin. The player character
is Tidus, a blitzball star who nds himself in Spira after
his home city of Zanarkand is destroyed by Sin. Shortly
after arriving to Spira, Tidus joins the summoner Yuna
on her pilgrimage to destroy Sin.
Development of Final Fantasy X began in 1999, with a
budget of more than US$32.3 million and a team of more
than 100 people. The game was the rst in the main
series not entirely scored by Nobuo Uematsu; Masashi
Hamauzu and Junya Nakano were signed as Uematsu's
fellow composers. Final Fantasy X was both a critical and
2.17. FINAL FANTASY X

commercial success, selling over 6.6 million units worldwide. On March 3, 2003, it was followed by Final Fantasy X-2, making it the rst Final Fantasy game to have a
direct game sequel.
2.17.1
Gameplay
179
graphical timeline along the upper-right side of the screen
details who will be receiving turns next, and how various
actions taken will aect the subsequent order of turns.
The player can control up to three characters in battle,
though a swapping system allows the player to replace
them with a character outside the active party at any time.
"Limit Breaks", highly-damaging special attacks, reappear in Final Fantasy X as Overdrives. In this new
incarnation of the feature, most of the techniques are interactive, requiring button inputs to increase their eectiveness.* [10] While initially the Overdrives can be used
when the character receives a signicant amount of damage, the player is able to modify the requirements to unlock them.* [11]
Like previous games in the series, Final Fantasy X is

presented in a third-person perspective, with players directly navigating the main character, Tidus, around the
world to interact with objects and people. Unlike previous games, however, the world and town maps have been
fully integrated, with terrain outside of cities rendered to
scale. When an enemy is encountered, the environment
switches to a turn-based battle area where characters and Final Fantasy X introduces an overhaul of the summoning system employed in previous games of the series.
enemies await their turn to attack.* [8]
Whereas in previous titles a summoned creature would
The gameplay of Final Fantasy X diers from that of arrive, perform one action, and then depart, theAeons
previous Final Fantasy games in its lack of a top-down of Final Fantasy X arrive and entirely replace the batperspective world map. Earlier games featured a minia- tle party, ghting in their place until either the aeon
ture representation of the expansive areas between towns wins the battle, is defeated itself, or is dismissed by the
and other distinct locations, used for long-distance trav- player. Aeons have their own statistics, commands, speeling. In Final Fantasy X, almost all the locations are cial attacks, spells, and Overdrives. The player acquires
essentially continuous and never fade out to a world ve aeons over the course of the game, but three addimap. Regional connections are mostly linear, forming tional aeons can be obtained by completing various sidea single path through the game's locations, though an quests.* [10]
airship becomes available late in the game, giving the
player the ability to navigate Spira faster. Like previous
games in the series, Final Fantasy X features numerous Sphere Grid
minigames, most notably the ctional underwater sport
"blitzball".* [9]
Combat
Example of a Sphere Grid
As with previous titles in the series, players have the opportunity to develop and improve their characters by defeating enemies and acquiring items, though the traditional experience point system is replaced by a new system called theSphere Grid. Instead of characters gaining pre-determined statistic bonuses for their attributes
after leveling up, each character gains Sphere Levels
A boss battle late in the game, using a heads-up display to illusafter
collecting enough Ability Points (AP). Sphere Levtrate battle information
els allow players to move around the Sphere Grid, a preFinal Fantasy X introduces the Conditional Turn-Based determined grid of interconnected nodes consisting of
Battle system in place of the series' traditional Active Time various statistic and ability bonuses. Spheresare apunlocking its function for the seBattle system rst used in Final Fantasy IV. Whereas the plied to these nodes,
*
[12]
lected
character.
ATB concept features real-time elements, the CTB system is a turn-based format that pauses the battle during The Sphere Grid system also allows players to fully
each of the player's turns. Thus, the CTB design allows customize characters in contrast to their intended battle
the player to select an action without time pressure. A roles, such as turning the White Mage-roled Yuna into
180
a physical powerhouse and the swordsman Auron into a

healer. The International and PAL versions of the game
include an optional Expertversion of the Sphere
Grid; in these versions, all of the characters start in the
middle of the grid and may follow whichever path the
player chooses. As a trade-o, the Expert grid has fewer
nodes in total, thus decreasing the total statistic upgrades
available during the game.* [13]
2.17.2
Plot

Main articles: Spira (Final Fantasy) and Characters of
Final Fantasy X and X-2
Final Fantasy X is set in the ctional world of Spira, consisting of one large landmass divided into three subcontinents, surrounded by small tropical islands. It features
diverse climates, ranging from the tropical Besaid and Kilika islands, to the temperate Mi'ihen region, to the frigid
Macalania and Mt. Gagazet areas. Although predominantly populated by humans, Spira features a variety of
races. Among them are the Al Bhed, a technologicallyadvanced but disenfranchised sub-group of humans with
distinctive green eyes and unique language.* [14]* [15]
The Guado are less human in appearance, with elongated
ngers and other arboreal features. Still less human are
the lion-like Ronso and the frog-like Hypello. A subset
of Spira's sentient races are the unsent, the strongwilled spirits of the dead that remain in corporeal form.
In Spira, the dead who are not sent to the Farplane by
a summoner come to envy the living and transform into
"ends", the monsters that are encountered throughout
the game;* [16] however, unsent with strong attachments
to the world of the living may retain their human form.
Other fauna in Spira, aside from those drawn from real
animals, such as cats, dogs, birds, and butteries, include
the gigantic, amphibious shoopufs (which are similar to
elephants); and the emu-like chocobo, which appears in
most Final Fantasy games. Spira is very dierent from
the mainly European-style worlds found in previous Final Fantasy games, being much more closely modeled on
Southeast Asia, most notably with respect to vegetation,
topography, architecture, and names.* [17]
There are seven main playable characters in Final Fantasy X, starting with Tidus, a cheerful young teenager
and a star blitzball player from Zanarkand, who seeks a
way home after an encounter with Sin transported him
to Spira.* [14] To do so, he joins Yuna, a summoner on
a journey to obtain the Final Aeon and defeat the enormous whale-likeSin.* [18] Journeying with them are:
Kimahri Ronso, a young warrior of the Ronso tribe who
watched over Yuna during her childhood;* [19] Wakka,
a blitzball player whose younger brother was killed by
Sin;* [20]* [21] and Lulu, a stoic black mage close to Yuna
and Wakka.* [18] During the journey, they are joined

by Auron, a former warrior monk, who worked with
both Tidus' and Yuna's fathers to defeat Sin 10 years
prior;* [22] and Rikku, Yuna's cousin, a perky Al Bhed
girl and the rst friendly person Tidus meets upon arriving in Spira.* [14]
Story
The story begins with the main protagonist, Tidus, waiting with his allies outside the ruins of an ancient city.
Tidus narrates the events that led to the present, spanning
most of the game's storyline.* [23] It begins in Tidus's
home city, the high-tech metropolis of Zanarkand,
where he is a renowned star of the underwater sport
blitzball.* [24] During a blitzball tournament, the city is
attacked by an immense creature which Auron, a man
not originally from Zanarkand, calls Sin.* [25] Sin
destroys Zanarkand, taking Tidus and Auron to the world
of Spira.* [14]
Upon arriving in Spira, Tidus is rescued by Al Bhed salvagers in the area. Upon asking him where he is from,
one of them, Rikku, tells him that Sin destroyed Zanarkand 1,000 years ago.* [26] After Sin attacks again,
Tidus is separated from the divers and drifts to the tropical island of Besaid, where he meets Wakka, captain of
the local blitzball team.* [20] Wakka introduces Tidus to
Yuna, a young summoner about to go on a pilgrimage to
obtain the Final Aeon and defeat Sin;* [18]* [27] and her
guardians, Lulu and Kimahri. Meanwhile, Tidus joins
to help Wakka in the upcoming blitzball tournament to
nd a way back home.* [18]* [28]* [29] The party travels
across Spira to gather aeons, defending against attacks by
Sin and its ospringends called Sinspawn.* [30]
After the tournament, they are joined by Auron, who
convinces Tidus to become Yuna's guardian.* [31] He reveals to Tidus that Yuna's father, Lord Braska; Tidus's
father, Jecht; and himself made the same pilgrimage to
defeat Sin ten years ago.* [22] Tidus thought his father
had died at sea ten years earlier.* [32] Following another
attack from Sin, they are joined by Rikku, later revealed
to be Yuna's cousin.* [33]
When the party arrives in the city of Guadosalam, the
leader of the Guado, Seymour Guado, proposes to Yuna,
saying that it will ease Spira's sorrow.* [34] At Macalania Temple, the group sees a message from Seymour's
father Jyscal, who declares he was killed by his son,
who now aims to destroy Spira.* [35] The group reunites with Yuna to engage Seymour in battle, killing
him;* [36] soon afterward, Sin attacks, separating Yuna
from the others.* [37] While searching for her on Bikanel
Island, the homeland of the Al Bhed where they had
surfaced,* [37] Tidus has an emotional breakdown when
he learns that summoners die after summoning the Final Aeon, leading to his desire to nd a way to defeat
Sin while keeping Yuna alive.* [38]* [39] The group nds
Yuna in Bevelle, where she is being forced to marry the

unsent Seymour.* [40]* [41] They crash the wedding and
escape with Yuna.* [42] The group is captured at the Bevelle temple, and are ordered to stand trial.* [43] After
escaping from their sentence, the group heads towards
the ruins of Zanarkand, seen in the introduction of the
game.* [23]* [27]* [44]
181
team to try new things.* [17] Producer Yoshinori Kitase
was also the chief director of Final Fantasy X, while
the direction of events, maps and battles was split up
between Motomu Toriyama, Takayoshi Nakazato and
Toshiro Tsuchida, respectively.* [61]* [62]* [63]* [64] The
development of the script for the game took three to four
months, with the same amount of time dedicated to the
voice recording afterwards.* [65] Kazushige Nojima collaborated with Daisuke Watanabe, Toriyama and Kitase
on writing the scenario for Final Fantasy X.* [63]* [65]
Nojima was particularly concerned with establishing a
connection in the relationship between player and main
character. Thus, he penned the story such that the player's
progress through the world and growing knowledge about
it is reected in Tidus' own understanding and narration.* [66]
On the way there, Tidus learns that he, Jecht, and the
Zanarkand they hail from are summoned entities akin
to aeons based on the original Zanarkand and its people.* [45] Long ago, the original Zanarkand battled Bevelle in a machina war, in which the former was defeated.* [46] Zanarkand's survivors became "fayth" so
that they could use their memories of Zanarkand to create a new city in their image, removed from the reality of Spira.* [46]* [47] One thousand years after its creation, the fayth have become exhausted fromdreaming
their Zanarkand, but are unable to stop due to Sin's inuence.* [45]* [48]
Inuences
Once they reach Zanarkand, Yunalescathe rst summoner to defeat Sin and has been unsent ever since* [49] Character designer Tetsuya Nomura has identied the
tells the group that the Final Aeon is created from the South Pacic, Thailand and Japan as major inuences on
fayth of one close to the summoner. After defeating Sin, the cultural and geographic design of Spira, particularly
the Final Aeon kills the summoner and transforms into concerning the geographic location of the southern Bea new Sin, which has caused its cycle of rebirth to con- said and Kilika islands. He has also said that Spira devitinue.* [50] Yuna decides against using the Final Aeon, ates from the worlds of past Final Fantasy games in the
due to the futile sacrices it carries and the fact that Sin level of detail incorporated, something he has expressed
would still be reborn.* [51] Disappointed by their resolu- to have made a conscious eort to maintain during the detion, Yunalesca tries to kill Tidus' group, but she is design process.* [67] Kitase felt that if the setting went back
feated and vanishes, ending hope of ever attaining the Fi- to a medieval European fantasy, it would not seem to help
nal Aeon.* [52] After the ght, the group learns that Yu the development team advance. While he was thinking of
Yevon, a summoner who lost his humanity and mind, is dierent world environments, Nojima suggested a fanbehind Sin's cycle of rebirth.* [48] This leads the group to tasy world that incorporated Asian elements.* [17] Subinltrate Sin's body to battle Seymour and Jecht's impris- character chief designer Fumi Nakashima's focus was to
oned spirits.* [53]* [54] With Sin's hosts defeated, Tidus' ensure that characters from dierent regions and cultures
group battles and defeats Yu Yevon.* [55] Sin's cycle of bore distinctive characteristics in their clothing styles, so
rebirth ends, and the spirits of Spira's fayth are freed from that they could be quickly and easily identied as memtheir imprisonment. Auron, revealed to be unsent, goes bers of their respective sub-groups. For example, she has
to the Farplane, having died years ago after confronting said that the masks and goggles of the Al Bhed give the
Yunalesca.* [56]* [57] Just then, Dream Zanarkand and group astrange and eccentricappearance, while the atTidus disappear, now that the freed fayth stopped the tire of the Ronso lend to them being able to easily engage
summoning.* [58] Afterward, in a speech to the citizens in battle.* [17]
of Spira, Yuna resolves to help rebuild their world now
that it is free of Sin.* [59] In a post-credits scene, Tidus
awakens under water. He then swims towards the ocean Design
surface, and the screen fades to white.
Final Fantasy X features innovations in the rendering of
characters' facial expressions, achieved through motion
capture and skeletal animation technology.* [66]* [67]
2.17.3 Development
This technology allowed animators to create realistic lip
Final Fantasy X 's development began in 1999, costing movements, which were then programmed to match the
approximately 4 billion (approximately US$32.3 mil- speech of the game's voice actors. Nojima has revealed
lion)* [60] with a crew of over 100 people, most of whom that the inclusion of voice acting enabled him to express
worked on previous games in the series. Executive pro- emotion more powerfully than before, and he was thereducer Hironobu Sakaguchi has stated that although he fore able to keep the storyline simple. He also said that
had concerns about the transition from 2D to 3D back- the presence of voice actors led him to make various
grounds, the voice acting, and the transition to real-time changes to the script, in order to match the voice acstory-telling, the success of the Final Fantasy series can tors' personalities with the characters they were portraybe attributed to constantly challenging the development ing.* [68] The inclusion of voice, however, led to di-
182
culties. With the game's cutscenes already programmed

around the Japanese voice work, the English localization
team faced the diculty of establishing English-oriented
dialogue and the obstacle of incorporating this modied
wording with the rhythm and timing of the characters' lip
movements. Localization specialist Alexander O. Smith
described the process of tting natural-sounding English
speech into the game assomething akin to writing four
or ve movies' worth of dialogue entirely in haiku form
[and] of course the actors had to act, and act well, within
those restraints.* [69]
The game was initially going to feature online elements,
oered through Square's PlayOnline service. The features, however, were dropped during production, and online gaming would not become part of the Final Fantasy series until Final Fantasy XI.* [70]* [71] Map director Nakazato wanted to implement a world map concept
with a more realistic approach than that of the traditional Final Fantasy game, in line with the realism of
the game's 3D backgrounds, as opposed to pre-rendered
backgrounds.* [72] As a player of the games in the Final
Fantasy series, battle director Tsuchida wanted to recreate elements he found interesting or entertaining, which
eventually led to the removal of the Active Time Battle system, and instead, incorporated the strategy-focused Conditional Turn-Based Battle system.* [73] Originally, Final
Fantasy X was going to feature wandering enemies visible on the eld map, seamless transitions into battles,
and the option for players to move around the landscape
during enemy encounters.* [69] Battle art director Shintaro Takai has explained that it was his intention that battles in Final Fantasy X come across as a natural part of
the story and not an independent element.* [73] However,
due to hardware limitations, this idea was not used. Instead, a compromise was made, whereby some transitions
from the eld map to the battle map were made relatively
seamless with the implementation of a motion blur effect that would happen at the end of an event scene.* [66]
The desire for seamless transitions also led to the implementation of the new summoning system seen in the
game.* [73] Kitase has explained that the purpose behind
the Sphere Grid is to give players an interactive means of
increasing their characters' attributes, such that they will
be able to observe the development of those attributes
rsthand.* [74]
2.17.4
Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy X marks the rst time regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu has had any assistance in composing the score for a game in the main series. His fellow
composers for Final Fantasy X were Masashi Hamauzu
and Junya Nakano.* [75] They were chosen for the soundtrack based on their ability to create music that was
dierent from Uematsu's style while still being able to
work together.* [76] PlayOnline.com rst revealed that

the game's theme song was completed in November 2000.
As Square still had not revealed who would sing the song,
GameSpot personally asked Uematsu, who jokingly answered It's going to be Rod Stewart.* [77]
The game features three songs with vocalized elements,
including the J-pop ballad "Suteki da ne", which translates to Isn't it Wonderful?". The lyrics were written
by Kazushige Nojima, and the instrumentals were composed by Uematsu. The song is performed by Japanese
folk singer Rikki, whom the music team contacted while
searching for a singer whose music reected an Okinawan
atmosphere.* [78]Suteki da neis also sung in Japanese
in the English version of Final Fantasy X. Like "Eyes on
Me" from Final Fantasy VIII and "Melodies of Life" from
Final Fantasy IX, an orchestrated version of Suteki da
neis used as part of the ending theme. The other songs
with lyrics are the heavy metal opening theme, Otherworld, sung in English by Bill Muir; and Hymn of
the Fayth, a recurring piece sung using Japanese syllabary.* [79]
The original soundtrack spanned 91 tracks on four discs.
It was rst released in Japan on August 1, 2001, by DigiCube, and was re-released on May 10, 2004, by Square
Enix.* [79] In 2002, Tokyopop released a version of Final
Fantasy X Original Soundtrack in North America entitled
Final Fantasy X Ocial Soundtrack, which contained
17 tracks from the original album on a single disc.* [80]
Other related CDs include feel/Go dream: Yuna & Tidus
which, released in Japan by DigiCube on October 11,
2001, featured tracks based on Tidus' and Yuna's characters.* [81] Piano Collections Final Fantasy X, another collection of music from the game,* [82] and Final Fantasy
X Vocal Collection, a compilations of exclusive character
dialogues and songs were both in Japan in 2002.* [83]
The Black Mages, a band led by Nobuo Uematsu that
arranges music from Final Fantasy video games into a
rock music style, have arranged three pieces from Final
Fantasy X. These are Fight With Seymourfrom their
self-titled album, published in 2003,* [84] and Otherworldand The Skies Above, both of which can
be found on the album The Skies Above, published in
2004.* [85] Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces
in his Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy concert
series.* [86] The music of Final Fantasy X has also appeared in various ocial concerts and live albums, such
as 20020220 Music from Final Fantasy, a live recording of an orchestra performing music from the series including several pieces from the game.* [87] Additionally,
Swing de Chocobowas performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for the Distant Worlds
Music from Final Fantasy concert tour,* [88] while Zanarkandwas performed by the New Japan Philharmonic
Orchestra in the Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy
concert series.* [89] Independent but ocially licensed
releases of Final Fantasy X music have been composed
by such groups as Project Majestic Mix, which focuses
183
on arranging video game music.* [90] Selections also ap- cember 18, 2012 the game will be re-released as part
pear on Japanese remix albums, called dojin music, and of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box reon English remixing websites.* [91]
lease.* [99]
2.17.5
Versions and merchandise
HD Remaster
Main article: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Action gures of the characters Tidus, Yuna, and Auron
The Japanese version of Final Fantasy X included an

additional disc entitled The Other Side of Final Fantasy, which featured interviews, storyboards, and trailers for Blue Wing Blitz, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, as well as the rst footage of
Final Fantasy XI.* [92] An international version of the
game was released in Japan as Final Fantasy X International in January 2002, and in PAL regions under its original title. It features content not available in the original
NTSC releases, including battles withDarkversions of
the game's aeons and an airship ght with the superboss
Penance.* [13] The Japanese release of Final Fantasy X
International also includesEternal Calm, a 14-minute
video clip bridging the story of Final Fantasy X with that
of its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.* [93] The video clip was
included in a bonus DVD for Unlimited Saga Collector's
Edition under the name Eternal Calm, Final Fantasy X-2:
Prologue. It was rst released in Europe on October 31,
2003, and featured English voice-overs.* [94]
The international and PAL versions include a bonus DVD
called Beyond Final Fantasy, a disc including interviews
with the game's developers, and two of the game's English
voice actors, James Arnold Taylor (Tidus) and Hedy Burress (Yuna). Also included are trailers for Final Fantasy
X and Kingdom Hearts, a concept and promotional art
gallery for the game, and a music video ofSuteki da ne
performed by Rikki.* [95] In 2005, a compilation featuring Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 was released
in Japan as Final Fantasy X/X-2 Ultimate Box.* [96]
Square also produced various types of merchandise* [97]
and several books, including The Art of Final Fantasy X
and three Ultimania guides, a series of artbooks/strategy
guides published by DigiCube in Japan. They feature
original artwork from Final Fantasy X, oer gameplay
walkthroughs, expand upon many aspects of the game's
storyline and feature several interviews with the game's
designers. There are three books in the series: Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania, Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania, and Final Fantasy X Ultimania .* [98] On De-
On September 13, 2011, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy X would be re-released in high-denition for
the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, in celebration of
the game's 10 year anniversary.* [5] In January 2012, production of the game had started. Producer Yoshinori Kitase will once again be involved in the production of the
game, wishing to work on its quality.* [100] On February 18, 2013 the rst footage of the PlayStation Vita version of Final Fantasy X HD was released, showing o HD
models of Tidus, Yuna, Bahamut and Yojimbo.* [6] On
19 March, it was conrmed that the PS3 version of the
game would also include its sequel X-2, and that it would
be remastered in HD. The two HD remastered games for
the PS3 were released under the title Final Fantasy X |
X-2 HD Remaster on a single Blu-ray disc game,* [101]
and was sold separately on game cartridges on Vita in
Japan and sold together in North America as a set, with
FFX being on a cartridge and FFX-2 being included as a
download voucher.* [7] Downloadable versions are available for both systems. Square Enix launched an ocial website for the two HD remastered titles in March
2013.* [102] The games contain all the content found
in the International version, including Last Mission.* [3]
During the PlayStation China press conference that took
place in Shanghai on December 11, 2014, Square Enix
has conrmed Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be
available for the PlayStation 4 in Spring 2015.* [4]
2.17.6 Reception
Sales
Final Fantasy X received critical acclaim by the media,
and enjoyed high sales gures. Square expected the game
to sell at least two million copies worldwide owing to the
reduced PlayStation 2's fanbase, making it smaller than
the last three released titles.* [115] However, within four
days of its release in Japan, the game had sold over 1.4
million copies in pre-orders, which set a record for the
fastest-selling console RPG.* [116]* [117] These gures
exceeded the performances of Final Fantasy VII and IX
in a comparable period,* [118] and Final Fantasy X became the rst PlayStation 2 game to reach two million and
four million sold copies.* [119]* [120] In October 2007,
the game was listed as the 8th best-selling game for the
PlayStation 2.* [121] The game has sold 6.6 million copies
as of January 2004.* [122]
184
Critical reception
The game has enjoyed high review scores from Japanese

and Western critics. The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu and Famitsu PS2 awarded the game a
near-perfect 39/40 score.* [123] Another Japanese gaming magazine, The Play Station, gave the game a score
of 29/30. Famitsu, Famitsu PS2, and The Play Station expressed particularly favorable responses toward the
game's storyline, graphics, and movies.* [123] The game
maintains a 91% approval rating on GameRankings and
92 out of 100 on Metacritic.* [103]* [104] Producer Shinji
Hashimoto stated that the overall reception to the game
wasexcellent, having received praise and awards from
the media.* [65]

Awards
Final Fantasy X received the Best Game Award from
the Japan Game Awards for 20012002.* [114] In
GameSpot's Best and Worst Awardsfrom 2001, it
came seventh in the category Top 10 Video Games of
the Year.* [124] Readers of Famitsu magazine voted it
the best game of all time in early 2006.* [125] Final Fantasy X came in fth on IGN'sTop 25 PS2 Games of All
Timelist in 2007 and sixth inThe Top 10 Best Looking
PS2 Games of All Time.* [126]* [127] In a similar list by
GameSpy, the game took the 21st place.* [128] 1UP.com
listed its revelation during the ending as the third-biggest
video game spoiler, while IGN ranked the ending as
the fth best pre-rendered cutscene.* [129]* [130] In a
Reader's Choice made in 2006 by IGN, it ranked as
the 60th-best video game.* [131] It was also named
one of the 20 essential Japanese role-playing games by
Gamasutra.* [132] It also placed 43rd in Game Informer
's list of The Top 200 Games of All Time.* [133] In
2004, Final Fantasy X was listed as one of the best games
by GameFAQs,* [134] while in November 2005 it was
voted as the 12thBest Game Ever.* [135] In a general
overview of the series, both GamesRadar and IGN listed
Final Fantasy X as the fourth best game.* [136]* [137] At
the sixth annual Interactive Achievement Awards in 2003,
it was nominated forOutstanding Achievement in AnimationandConsole Role-Playing Game of the Year
.* [138] At the end of 2007, it was named the ninth bestselling RPG by Guinness World Records.* [117] Readers
from GameFaqs also voted it as Game of the Year during 2001.* [139] In 2008, readers of Dengeki magazine
voted it the second best game ever made.* [140] It was
voted rst place in Famitsu 's and Dengeki 's polls of most
tear-inducing games of all time.* [141]* [142] Both Tidus
and Yuna have been popular characters in games in general due to their personalities and their romantic relationship.* [143]* [144]* [145]
IGN's David Smith oered praise for the voice actors and
the innovations in gameplay, particularly with the revised
battle and summon systems, the option to change party
members during battle, and the character development
and inventory management systems. They also felt that
the game's graphics had improved on its predecessors in
every way possible, and that the game as a whole was
the best-looking game of the series [and] arguably the
best-playing as well.* [75] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot
praised the game's storyline, calling it surprisingly complex, its ending satisfying, and its avoidance of roleplaying game clichs commendable with Tidus viewed as
an appealing protagonist. He also lauded the music, feeling it wasdiverse and well suited to the various scenes in
the game.* [112] Similarly, GamePro described its character building system and battle system as two of the
best innovations in the series.* [110] The visuals of the
game were commended by GameSpy's Raymond Padilla,
who referred to them as top-notch, as well as giving
praise to the character models, backgrounds, cutscenes,
and animations.* [113] The voice casting was praised by
Game Revolution who noted most of them were above 2.17.7 Legacy
averageand called the music rich.* [111]
Edge rated the game considerably lower, criticizing many Due to its commercial and critical success, Square Enix
to Final Fantasy X in 2003, titled
aspects of the game for being tedious and uninnovative released a direct sequel
*
Final
Fantasy
X-2.
[93]
The sequel is set two years after
and describing the dialogue asnauseating, particularly
the
conclusion
of
Final
Fantasy
X, establishing new con*
panning Tidus. [105] Andrew Reiner of Game Informer
icts
and
dilemmas
and
resolving
loose ends left by the
criticized the game's linearity and that players were no
original
game.
Although
the
sequel
did not sell as well as
longer able to travel the world by chocobo or control the
the
original,
3.96
million
units
versus
6.6 million units, it
*
airship. [109] Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell noted that the
can
still
be
considered
a
commercial
success.
As a result
game's puzzle segments were depressingand suYoshinori
Kitase
and
Kazushige
of
the
title's
popularity,
peruous, and that although the Sphere Grid was a
Nojima
decided
to
establish
a
plot-related
connection
be*
nice touch, it took up too much of the game. [8] The
Final
Fantasy
VII,
another
tween
Final
Fantasy
X
and
linearity of the game was positively commented on by
*
GamePro who stated that a player would not be required well-received Final Fantasy game. [146] In 2013, after
to participate in side-quests or the mini-game to reach the release of the HD Remaster, Nojima stated that he
to X, and if there were
the game's conclusion, nding some of them unappeal- would like to see a second sequel
*
[147]
demand
for
it,
it
could
happen.
*
ing. [110] Game Revolution complained that cutscenes
could not be skipped, some even being too long.* [111]
The advancements in portraying realistic emotions
185
achieved with Final Fantasy X through voice-overs and [14] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Rikku: We're Al Bhed. Can't
detailed facial expressions have since become a staple of
you tell? Wait, you're not an Al Bhed-hater, are you? /
the series, with Final Fantasy X-2 and other subsequent
Tidus: I don't even know what an Al Bhed is. / Rikku:
titles (such as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, Final
Where are you from? / Tidus: Zanarkand. I'm a blitzball
Fantasy XII, XIII and its sequels, and XV) also featuring
player. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! / Rikku: Did
this development. Traversing real-time 3D environments
you...hit your head or something? / Tidus: Um, you guys
instead of an overworld map has also become a standard
hit me. / Rikku: Oh, right... Do you remember anything
of the series, as demonstrated in Final Fantasy XI, XII,
before that? / Tidus [voiceover]: So I told her everyXIII and its sequels, XIV and XV. Final Fantasy X can be
thing there was to tell about Zanarkand; about life there,
considered a pioneer in 3-D RPG maps.* [148]
blitzball, and Sin's attack...and about how Auron and I
were engulfed in this light.
2.17.8
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[3] Kubba, Sinan (2013-11-18). Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD
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[15] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X

. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Macalania.
Wakka: But you Al Bhed use the forbidden machina!
You know what that means? Sin was born because people
used machina!
[16] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Kilika. Tidus:
What's a sending"? Are we going somewhere? / Lulu:
You truly are clueless. Are you sure it's just your memory
that's the problem? ... The dead need guidance. Filled
with grief over their own death, they refuse to face their
fate. They yearn to live on, and resent those still alive. You
see, they envy the living. And in time, that envy turns to
anger, even hate. Should these souls remain in Spira, they
become ends that prey on the living. Sad, isn't it? The
sending takes them to the Farplane, where they may rest
in peace.
[17] Square (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X International. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Beyond
Final Fantasy: Producer.

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Besaid. Tidus:
[6] Check Out Final Fantasy X: HD Version for the PS Vita
We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right? Why do we
. Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
gotta wait here? / Wakka: Yuna came to [Besaid] ten
years ago, when the last Calm started. [...] Since then,
[7] Ishaan (20 March 2013).Yes, Final Fantasy X-2 Is Getshe's
been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had
ting An HD Remaster, Too. Siliconera.com. Retrieved
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2013-03-21.
leaves as a summoner. / Lulu: This is our journey. We
should leave together.
[8] Bramwell, Tom (June 16, 2002). Final Fantasy X Review. Eurogamer. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Besaid. Lulu:
[9] Zdyrko, Dave (November 26, 2001). Final Fantasy X
Kimahri Ronso, of the Ronso tribe. He's learned the
Preview. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved December
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Yuna's guardians. [...] Yuna: Sometimes we don't understand him either. Kimahri doesn't talk much, anyway.
[10] Tsai, Andy; Bomke, Christine. Guides: Final Fantasy
But he has protected me since I was a child!
X Game Systems. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved
November 25, 2008.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Besaid. Wakka:
[11] Tidwell, Mickel.Final Fantasy X Review. RPGamer.
I'm Wakka, coach and captain of the Besaid Aurochs,
brudda!
[12] Tsai, Andy; Bomke, Christine. Guides: Final Fantasy
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[13] Clark, James Quentin (October 6, 2008). Final Fantasy X International. RPGFan. Retrieved November
23, 2008.

My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you [Tidus].
[...] He was with the Crusaders...when they fought Sin last
year. He didn't make it. [...] I became a guardian to ght
Sin, ya? / Tidus: Revenge, then? / Wakka: That was the
idea. But, I'm more worried about a stupid game now than
186
avenging my brother. Well, after the next tournament, I'll

be a guardian full-time.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Luca. Tidus: Who
are you, anyway? You knew my old man, didn't you? /
Auron: Yeah. / Tidus: And you also knew Yuna's father?
/ Auron: That's correct. / Tidus: Hey, man, there's no
way. That's just impossible. / Auron: Nothing impossible
about it. Jecht, Braska, and I...together, we defeated Sin,
ten years ago. Then I went to Zanarkand, where I watched
over you, so that one day, I could bring you to Spira.
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Kilika. Tidus: So,
what're these sinspawn, anyway? / Lulu: Fiends. They
fall from Sin's body, and are left behind in its wake. /
Wakka: Leave 'em alone and Sin comes back for 'em. Ya
gotta be quick!

. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Luca. Auron:
Yuna / Yuna: Sir? / Auron: I wish to become your
guardian. Do you accept? / [...] Lulu: But why? / Auron: I promised Braska. [...] And...[Tidus] comes too.
/ Tidus: Hi, guys. Eh...howdy. / Auron: This one I
Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
promised Jecht.
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Introduction
(Zanarkand). Tidus [voiceover]: Listen to my story.
This...may be our last chance.
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: S.S. Liki.
Yuna: You're a blitzball player, aren't you? from ZaSquare Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
narkand, right? / Tidus: You...hear that from Wakka?
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Zanarkand
[...] Wakka... Wakka doesn't believe me at all. / Yuna:
(Dream). Zanar (Commentator): Ten years later, the
But...I believe you. [...] I've heard...that in Zanarkand,
Jecht Memorial Cup tournament is today! The two teams
there's a great stadium, all lit up, even at night. [...] /
that have won through to the nals are, of course, the
Tidus: How do you know that? / Yuna: A man named
Abes from A-East, and the Duggles from C-South. I know
Jecht told me. He was my father's guardian. / Tidus: [to
there's a lot of people out there today to see the star of the
self] J...Jecht...? [out loud] My father... his name is Jecht.
Abes [Tidus]! In just one year, he's become the team's
/ Yuna: Amazing! You know, our meeting like this must
number one player! He's Jecht's blood, and the new hope
be the blessing of Yevon! / Tidus: Sounds like him, but
of blitzball!
it can't be him. / Yuna: Why not? / Tidus: My old man,
he died. Ten years ago, o the coast of Zanarkand. /
Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
Yuna: I-I'm sorry. / Tidus: He went out to sea for train. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Zanarkand
ing one day...and never came back. And no one's seen him
(Dream). Auron: Look! [...] We called it Sin. /
since then. / Yuna: Why, that's the day that Jecht came
Tidus: Sin...?
to Spira! / Tidus: Wha ? / Yuna: It's true! I rst met
Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X.
Jecht ten years and three months ago! I remember that
Square EA. Level/area: Al Bhed Salvage Ship. Rikku:
was the day my father left. The date ts, doesn't it?
Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore. Sin destroyed it
a thousand years ago. So, no one plays blitzball there. / [33] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
Tidus: ...Huh?! Wh-What you do mean, a thousand years
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Macalania.
ago? But I saw Sin attack Zanarkand! You're saying that
Rikku: Well, my dad's sister is Yunie's mother, you get
happened a thousand years ago? No way!
it?

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Mi'ihen Highroad.
Yuna: The Final Summoning. It's the only way to defeat
Sin. The only way. With it, we can call the Final Aeon.
That's the goal of the pilgrimage. The Fayth of the Final
Summoning lies waiting in the far north, to greet summoners [who] complete their pilgrimage. At the world's edge
in Zanarkand. [...] / Auron: She means the ruins of a
city destroyed a thousand years ago.
A major blitz[ball] tournament's coming up. All the teams
in Spira'll be there. It's so huge, I'm sure someone there
will recognize you! [...] It'll be fun! Whaddaya say, huh?
Come on, come on! / Tidus: ...Sure thing.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: S.S. Liki. Tidus
[voiceover]: I was just fooling myself. Maybe it was that
day...on the sea, under the burning sun... I started to give
up hope. I was in a foreign world; I wasn't going home.
This was my new reality, and I was stuck in it for good.

. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Guadosalam.
Yuna: [Seymour]...He asked me to marry him! / Tidus:
You serious?! / Auron: [to Seymour] You know what
Yuna must do. / Seymour: Of course. Lady Yuna
no, all summonersare charged with bringing peace to
Spira. But this means more than just defeating Sin. She
must ease the suering of all Spira. She must be a leader
for the people. I proposed to Lady Yuna as a maester of
Yevon. / Auron: Spira is no playhouse. A moment's diversion may amuse an audience, but it changes nothing.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Macalania Temple.
Jyscal: Listen to me very carefully, for I shall tell you the
truth about my son, Seymour. His mind is closed even to
me, a maester of Yevon. But I can feel ames of darkness
burning in his heart. He is using Yevon, the Guado, and
even the summoners. If he is not stopped, he will surely
bring destruction and chaos to Spira. I will leave this world
soon, killed by my own son. [...] / Auron: Wonderful. /
Rikku: Will Yuna be all right? / Auron: Without us, no.

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Macalania Temple. Seymour: Yuna...you would pity me now? [dies]
/ Tromell: Lord Seymour! What happened here?! /
Wakka: What...What have I done...? / Tidus: Wait a
minute! It's not our fault at all! Seymour struck rst; he's
the bad guy! / Tromell: Y-You did this?! / Auron: Yuna.
Send him. / Tromell: No, stop! Stay away from him,
traitors!
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bikanel Island
Sanubia Desert. Rikku: Oh! Hey, guys! Where's Yunie?
/ Tidus: Gone. / Lulu: Gone... Some guardian I am. /
Rikku: Um... There's something I wanna tell you, but
promise you won't say anything. [...] I know where we
are. We're on Bikanel Island. There's a place us Al Bhed
call Homehere. Yunie's there, I'm sure of it! Other
Al Bhed must've come and rescued her! / Wakka:Rescued"? You mean kidnapped"! / Tidus: What does it
matter as long as she's safe?! / Rikku: That's right! Anyway, I will take you there if you promise that you won't
tell anyone about it.
187
Kinoc: You are to stand trial. / Auron: I expect it will be

a fair trial. / Kinoc: Of course it will.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Tidus [voiceover]: We escaped with our skins intact, but Yuna lost something. I
could tell: her faith was shaken. Yevon had betrayed her.
I felt like I should do or say something anything but
nothing came.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Dream Zanarkand.
Fayth: Yes, you're a dream of the fayth. You, your father,
your mother, everyone. All dreams. And if the fayth stop
dreaming... [...] Tidus: No! So what if I'm a dream?
I...I like being here. / Fayth: We've been dreaming so
long...we're tired. Would you and your father... Would
you let us rest?

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Dream Zanarkand.
Fayth: Long ago, there was a war. [...] A war between
Zanarkand and Bevelle. Bevelle's machina assured their
victory from the start. Spira had never seen such power.
The summoners of Zanarkand didn't stand a chance. Za[38] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
narkand was doomed to oblivion. That's why we tried to
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bikanel Island
save itif only in a memory.
Home. Rikku: Summoners journey to get the Final
Aeon. Yuna told you, didn't she? With the Final Aeon,
she can beat Sin. But then...but then... If she calls it, the [47] Studio BentStu, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy X Ultimania
(in Japanese). DigiCube. p. 84. ISBN 4-88787-021-3.
Final Aeon's going to kill her! Even if she defeats Sin, it
will kill Yunie too, you know! / Tidus: Was I the only
one who didn't know...? [...] I can't let her die! I'll nd
her!
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43]

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bevelle Temple.
Fayth: If you defeat Yu Yevon, it will end. Tell me, what
do
you know about Yu Yevon? / Tidus: He's what makes
Sin come back! / Yuna: Sin is his armor. It protects him.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Fahrenheit. Tidus:
/ Fayth: Yu Yevon was once a summoner, long ago. He
I'm telling you, [Yuna] won't die! / Cid: ...Boy, don't
was peerless. Yet now he lives for one purpose: only to
forget those words, 'cause if you do...I'm gonna make you
summon. [...] Even if you defeat[ed] Sin with the Final
regret it. / Tidus: I won't. So you know where she is? /
Summoning, Yu Yevon will live. Yu Yevon will join with
Cid: 'Course not! That's why we're gonna look! Using
the Final Aeon. He will transform it into a new Sin. /
this airship!
Yuna: Yu Yevon merges with the aeon... / Fayth: Then,
protected by this new Sin he has created, Yu Yevon conSquare Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X
tinues the summoning.
. PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Fahrenheit (en
route to Bevelle). Lulu: The palace of St. Bevelle. Heart
of Yevon. [...] Rikku: What's Seymour doing alive? [49] Studio BentStu, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy X Ultimania
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is dead. As dead as Jyscal was. His attachment to this
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PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Zanarkand. Yuto send him.
nalesca: Sin is eternal. Every aeon that defeats it becomes
Sin it its place...and thus is Sin reborn. / Tidus: So that's
why Jecht became Sin.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bevelle. Seymour:
You would play at marriage just for a chance to send me?
Your resolve is admirable. All the more tting to be my [51] Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X.
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Zanarkand. Tidus:
lovely wife.
I give up. So, what would an adult do, then? They know
they can just throw away a summoner, then they can do
whatever they like. You're right. I might not even have
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bevelle. Tidus:
a chance. But no way am I gonna just stand here and let
Lemme go! I'm gonna kill that Seymour! / Kimahri:
Yuna go. And what Auron said about there being a way...I
Yuna said leave! We leave! / Lulu: We'll join up with
think it's true. [...] I'll go ask Yunalesca. She's got to
her later!
know something. / Rikku: You really think she'll help
you? / Tidus: I don't know, but I have to try. This is my
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Bevelle Temple.
story. It'll go the way I want it...or I'll end it here.
188

PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Zanarkand. Yunalesca: If I die, so does the Final Aeon. And with
it...Spira's only hope. / Tidus: Then we'll nd Spira a
new hope!
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Sin. Seymour:
Sin has chosen me. I am part of Sin! I am one with Sin,
forever! Immortal! / Tidus: Sin just absorbed you. /
Seymour: I will learn to control it, from within. I have all
the time in the world! Since you were gracious enough to
dispose of Yunalesca...the only means of destroying Sin is
forever gone! Now nothing can stop us!
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Sin. Jecht: Well, I
am Sin, you know. [...] / Tidus: That's enough! Let's nish this, okay? / Jecht: You're right. Well, then...let's go!
[transforms into Braska's Final Aeon] / Tidus: I promise
this'll be quick! Hit me with all you got, Dad!
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Sin. Tidus: What
I'm trying to say is...after we beat Yu Yevon, I'll disappear!
PlayStation 2. Square EA. Level/area: Celsius. Auron:
I am also an unsent. You are not surprised? / Tidus: I
think...I kinda knew. It was Yunalesca, wasn't it?
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[134] Spring 2004: Best. Game. Ever. GameFAQs. Retrieved July 16, 2008.

Ocial Final Fantasy X website (European)
Final Fantasy X at the Internet Movie Database
2.18 Final Fantasy X-2

Final Fantasy X-2 ( X-2
Fainaru Fantaj Ten Ts) is a role-playing video game
developed and published by Square for the PlayStation
2 video game console. The direct sequel to Final Fantasy
X, the game's story follows the character Yuna from Final
Fantasy X as she seeks to resolve political conicts in the
ctional world of Spira before it leads to war.
Final Fantasy X-2 set several precedents in the Final Fantasy series aside from being the rst direct sequel in video
game form and the second sequel in the franchise, after
Ranking the Final Fantasy Series. IGN. News Corpo- the anime Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals. It was
ration. December 9, 2009. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2010. the rst game in the series to feature only three player
AIAS ANNUAL AWARDS > 6TH ANNUAL characters, an all-female main cast, and early access to
AWARDS. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. most of the game's locations. Additionally, it featured
a variation of the character classes systemone of the
series' classic gameplay conceptsand is one of the few
BEST OF 2001: Overall Game of the Year. Gamegames in the series to feature multiple endings. Finally, it
Faqs. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
was the rst Final Fantasy game in the series that did not
Ashcraft, Brian (March 6, 2008). Dengeki Readers Say have musical contributions in it from longtime composer
Fav 2007 Game, Fav of All Time. Kotaku. Archived Nobuo Uematsu.
[136] The Top 7... Best Final Fantasy games. GamesRadar.

March 19, 2008. p. 2. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
[137]
[138]
[139]
[140]
from the original on 2009-08-07. Retrieved March 29,

2008.
The game was positively received by critics and was commercially successful. After nine months of being released
[141] Romano, Sal (December 29, 2011).Famitsu's top 20 list in Japan, it sold a million copies in North America, and
of tear-inducing games. Gematsu. Retrieved February approximately four million copies worldwide. Final Fan24, 2012.
tasy X-2 was voted as the 32nd best game of all time by
[142] the readers of Famitsu. The English version of the game
?[(Survey results) Are There Emo- won an award for Outstanding Achievement in Chartional Games That Made You Cry?] (in Japanese). ASCII acter Performanceat the Academy of Interactive Arts
Media Works. October 15, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2012. & Sciences in 2004. The game has attained a rating of
2.18. FINAL FANTASY X-2

86% on GameRankings and an 85% rating on Metacritic.
The game was re-released as a high-denition port for
the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2013, together
with Final Fantasy X, under the title Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remaster.* [6]* [7]* [8]* [9]* [10]* [11] It will also be
re-released for the PlayStation 4 in Spring 2015.* [5]
2.18.1
Gameplay
Though a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 does not duplicate its predecessor's gameplay;
instead, it innovates on traditional elements. Like preFinal Fantasy X installments, characterslevel upafter
a certain number of battles, by gaining pre-determined
stat bonuses. The conditional turn-based battle system in
Final Fantasy X has been replaced by a faster-paced variation of the Final Fantasy series' traditional active time
battle (ATB) system, which was originally designed by
Hiroyuki Ito and rst featured in Final Fantasy IV. Whenever a random enemy is encountered, the ATB system is
used. Under this enhanced version of the ATB, playable
characters may interrupt an enemy while they are preparing to take action, in lieu of waiting for an enemy's turn
to nish before attacking. Furthermore, it is possible for
both characters and enemies to chain attacks together for
greater damage.
191
game consists of ve chapters, with each location featuring one scenario per chapter. Put together, the ve scenarios in one locale form a subplot of the game, called an
Episode. Only a few scenarios per chapter are integral
to the game's central plot, and are marked on the world
navigation system as Hotspots(Active Linksin
the Japanese version).* [12] By accessing only Hotspots, a
player can quickly proceed through the game's story without participating in sidequests.
The game keeps track of the player's completed percentage of the storyline, increased by viewing the scenarios
comprising each Episode. If 100% of the game is completed, an additional ending will be unlocked. The game
features a fork in its plot, allowing the player to make a
choice that changes what scenes they see and the number of percentage points they acquire afterward. It is
impossible to see all of the game's content on a single
playthrough, due to this fork in the storyline, although
it is possible to achieve 100% storyline completion in a
single playthrough. However, a 100% storyline completion can only be achieved through one of the two possible storylines. When the game is completed for the rst
time, it unlocks a New Game Plus option that allows the
player to restart the game with all of the items, Garment
Grids, dresspheres and storyline completion percentage
achieved previously. However, all character levels are set
back to one.
The eld-map navigation system is largely unchanged

from Final Fantasy X; it is still dominantly three dimensional with mostly continuous locations. A few upgrades
Another departure from the gameplay of Final Fantasy have been implemented, providing the player with exX is in its world navigation system: players can visit al- tended interaction with the environment through jumpmost every location in Spira from early in the game,* [12] ing, climbing and rotating camera angles.
transported via the airship Celsius. This is a deviation
from the overall Final Fantasy series, where the most ef- The game's sidequests include minor tasks and quests,
cient means of transportation is typically not obtained optional bosses and dungeons, and the most minigames
of any Final Fantasy at the time of its release.* [13]
until late in the game.
These minigames include Gunner's Gauntlet (a thirdperson/rst-person shooter game) and Sphere Break
(a mathematical coin game involving addition and
multiplication), as well as the ctional underwater sport
blitzball originally featured in Final Fantasy X with a different control scheme. Director Motomu Toriyama has
explained that one of the concepts at issue during development was providing a large variety of minigames, such
thatif you bought Final Fantasy X-2 you wouldn't need
any other game.* [13]
Navigation and quests
Dresspheres and the Garment Grid
An example of navigation on the eld map
These two changes allow players to choose a less linear

storyline. Unlike Final Fantasy X, in which a player's
course through the game's world was largely straightforward, Final Fantasy X-2 is almost entirely free form. The
For more details on this topic, see Final Fantasy character

jobs.
Final Fantasy X-2 reintroduces the series' classic character class system (seen previously in Final Fantasy III,
Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy Tactics) through the
inclusion of dresspheres. Because the party never grows
beyond three characters, switching characters during bat-
192

the two years since Final Fantasy X. Most areas are from
the original return (exceptions being the Omega Ruins
and Baaj Temple), with few new locations. The only signicant changes include the reconstruction of the village
of Kilika and the clearing of the mist atop Mt. Gagazet,
revealing forgotten ruins. Additionally, the Palace of St.
Bevelle is now accessible throughout the game, rather
than only during mandatory storyline sequences. However, even with Sin gone, ends are no less populous than
before.
A battle with an early boss, depicting the characters' default dresspheres
tle is unnecessary. Instead, the player can switch character classes, providing access to dierent abilities. The
playable characters are allowed to equip one dressphere at
a time, each providing dierent battle functions and abilities. Characters can learn new skills for each dressphere
with the use of Ability Points (AP). AP is obtained by
defeating enemies and by the use of items and abilities
for that sphere. Abilities to be learned are chosen in the
main menu. During battle, AP is given to that ability until it is learned. Each character can access as many as
six dresspheres at a time, depending on the specic properties of the Garment Grid they are wearing. The Garment Grid is a placard featuring a geometric shape connected by nodes. These nodes are slots that can be lled
with dresspheres, allowing characters to change character
classes during their turn in battle. Most Garment Grids
possess Gates that when passed through grant the user a
complimentary bu.
Despite cosmetic changes, there are major dierences in

the ideology of Spira's people. After Sin's defeat came
the arrival of an era known as the Eternal Calm". The
priests of the Yevon religion chose to expose the truth
about the order,* [14] leaving the population to decide for
themselves how to live in a world without that particular religion, and without Sin. Advanced technology and
the Al Bhed are now embraced by the population as a
whole, and most have begun to pursue leisures such as
attending musical concerts and participating in the sport
of blitzball. Others have become hunters of ancient treasures, ranging from coins and machinery long buried under the sands on Bikanel Island to spheres in forgotten
caves and ruins. Those who pursue the latter are known
assphere hunters, of which many groups have formed.
As with equipped items, Garment Grids often provide

characters with a variety of enhancements and extra abilities. The game features diverse Garment Grids and
dresspheres which can be discovered as the game progresses. While normal dresspheres can be used by all
three playable characters, each character can acquire a
dressphere that only they can use. These dresspheres can
only be activated after a character has changed into all of
the classes designated to her Garment Grid in a single battle. When a character activates one of these dresspheres,
the other characters are replaced by two controllable support units.
2.18.2
Plot
Setting
Main article: Spira (Final Fantasy)
The three faction leaders: Nooj (left), Gippal (front), and Baralai
(back)
While the setting of the original Final Fantasy X was decidedly somber, in Final Fantasy X-2, the main characters
were tted with a jovial Charlie's Angels-like motif. Aesthetically, the world of Spira is essentially unchanged in
Despite the absence of Sin and the corrupt maesters of

Yevon, Spira is not without conict. Young people were
especially quick to abandon Yevon and embrace machinery (called "machina" in the game), eager to see Spira

develop, while many of the older generation felt that cultural changes were happening too quickly. As new ideals
and practices began to sweep Spira, several new political groups emerged. Most inuential among them were
the Youth League, led by Mevyn Nooj, and the New
Yevon Party, led by a former priest namedTremauntil his disappearance, and later by Praetor Baralai. The
Youth League consists mainly of young people, determined to see Spira completely abandon its past practices,
while the New Yevon Party consists of members both old
and young who felt that changes should be gradual, their
motto being, One thing at a time.
Following their formation, both the Youth League and
New Yevon sought High Summoner Yuna's support in the
hopes of bolstering their political presence. She chose
to remain neutral, instead joining the Gullwings, the
sphere hunter group to which her cousins* [15] Brother
and Rikku belonged. She also began working with the
excavation team of the Machine Faction, a neutral group
of Al Bhed researching more advanced machina technology, and led by a young man named Gippal.
193
are Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, whose team is abbreviated
in-game asYRP(YuRiPain the original Japanese
version). Yuna and Rikku reprise their roles from Final
Fantasy X, and, though their personalities are much the
same as before, Square decided that their appearances
would be heavily altered to give a greater impression of
activity. Furthermore, it was decided that the pervading
cultural changes occurring in Final Fantasy X 's world
as they and others began trying to live positively would
be reected in the new clothing of these two characters.
The character of Paine is a new creation designed for inclusion in Final Fantasy X-2, to accommodate the game's
intended action-adventure style revolving around a trio of
female characters.* [13] Her personality is far more cynical and emotionally distant than that of her teammates,
and she keeps her past a secret from them for much of
the game.
Several other major and supporting characters from Final Fantasy X appear in the game. Additionally, other
new characters are introduced in Final Fantasy X-2, such
as the Leblanc Syndicate, a group of sphere hunters who
As time passed, tensions between the Youth League and serve as the Gullwings' rivals for much of the game. The
New Yevon began to escalate towards violence. Mean- game's main antagonist is Shuyin, another new character.
while, Yuna sought spheres that she hoped would lead
her to Tidus, her lost love who vanished during the end- Story
ing of Final Fantasy X. After defeating Sin, Yuna initially retired to a quiet life on the island of Besaid, arrang- The story begins as Yuna, Rikku and Paine recover
ing appointments daily with the citizens of Spira. How- Yuna's stolen Garment Grid from the Leblanc Syndicate
ever, Rikku brought Yuna a video sphere discovered on in the rst of several encounters in which they vie for
Mt. Gagazet by her childhood guardian, Kimahri, now spheres. The game is punctuated by a narration of Yuna
the elder of the Ronso Tribe. The sphere displayed a addressing Tidus, as though she is recounting the events
young man with a strong resemblance to Tidus, appar- of the game to him as they occur.* [18] Although Yuna's
ently locked inside a prison cell. Despite misgivings from quest is to nd clues that may lead her to Tidus, much
Wakka now married to his childhood friend, Lulu of the storyline of the game follows the clash of the facRikku convinced Yuna that she had fullled her duty to tions that have established themselves in the time since
Spira and deserved to follow her heart.* [16] Yuna then the coming of the Eternal Calm in Final Fantasy X, and
left Besaid to join the Gullwings and hunt for more clues the uncovering of hidden legacies from Spira's ancient
about the identity of the man shown in the sphere in the history. A signicant portion of the game's events are
hope that it might be Tidus.
unnecessary for the completion of the main storyline, but
Whereas Final Fantasy X drew heavily on ancient
Japanese culture and Asian settings,* [17] Final Fantasy
X-2 incorporated a number of elements from modern
Japanese pop culture.* [13] An exception, however, is the
Trainer dressphere, featuring the game's main characters
ghting alongside a dog, monkey and bird, the three
animals befriended by the Japanese folk hero Momotar
in a traditional story. Another exception is the Samurai
dressphere, which features each character ghting in
traditional Japanese samurai armor.
much of the depth of the storyincluding characterization and background detailsare featured in the optional
content,* [12] which generally follows how Spira is healing in the time since the defeat of Sin.
As the game progresses, the hostilities between the Youth

League and New Yevon come to a head. Meanwhile,
the Gullwings discover an ancient sphere containing images of an enormous machina weapon calledVegnagun
that was secretly buried beneath Bevelle. The weapon
has enough power to threaten all of Spira,* [19]* [20] and,
moreover, it is revealed that Vegnagun's AI is unable
to distinguish friend from foe once activated.* [21] The
Gullwings then join forces with the Leblanc Syndicate to
Characters
investigate the underground areas of the city in an attempt
to destroy the machine before it can be used by either side
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy X and X-2
in the upcoming conict. However, discovering a large
tunnel recently dug into the oor of the weapon's chamThe three main playable characters of Final Fantasy X-2 ber, they realize that Vegnagun has apparently moved to
194
the Farplane, located at Spira's core.
Disagreements between Spira's factions are soon punctuated further after the disappearance of Baralai, Nooj, and
Gippalthe leaders of New Yevon, the Youth League
and the Machine Faction respectively. Returning to the
underground areas of Bevelle, the Gullwings discover the
missing faction leaders discussing Vegnagun and learn
that the machine's AI allows it to detect hostility and to
respond by activating itself and eeing.* [22] Additionally, it is revealed that Nooj had come to Bevelle with the
intention of destroying Vegnagun previously, prompting
it to ee to the Farplane.* [23]
The player then learns that Paine had once been friends
with all three men, assigned to be their sphere recorder
while they were candidates for the Crimson Squad, an
elite group intended to be assigned leadership of Crusader
chapters across Spira.* [24] Two years earlier in a cave beneath Mushroom Rock Road called the Den of Woe,
just before the failed Operation Mi'ihen, the squad's nal exercise was conducted. Within the cave, the various
squad candidates were swarmed by pyreies and driven
to kill one another. The only survivors were Paine, Baralai, Gippal, and Nooj, who were themselves targeted by
the Order of Yevon afterward when they revealed having
seen images of Vegnagun while in the cave. Soon after,
Nooj shot his surviving comrades and left them to die,
severing the friendship the group had with one another.
However, at this time, it is revealed that he was not acting of his own accord when he shot them. The feelings
that drove the squad members to kill one another are revealed to have been the despair of the spirit Shuyin, who
died 1000 years earlier.* [25] Before the four survivors
could leave the cave, the spirit of Shuyinrequiring a
host in order to interact with the world physically* [26]
had possessed Nooj, and later forced him to shoot his
comrades.* [27]
Failing to control Nooj, Shuyin possesses Baralai's body,
pursuing Vegnagun to the Farplane. Nooj and Gippal follow in pursuit, asking Yuna to keep things under control on the surface. In doing so, the player must ght
and defeat each of Yuna's aeons from Final Fantasy X,
their spirits now corrupted by Shuyin's despair on the Farplane.* [28] During this mission, Yuna falls into the Farplane and meets Shuyin, who mistakes her for a woman
named "Lenne". Shuyin expresses his anger that Spira's
citizens have not yet come to understand the heartache
that war can cause, and reveals that he has developed a
plan to use the old (but still operational) Vegnagun to destroy all of Spira, ending the possibility of there ever being a war again. In so doing, he believes that he will be
making the world a better place.* [29]

course of the war, Zanarkand ordered all summoners
to the front lines, separating the couple. Believing that
Lenne would die in battle, Shuyin decided that the only
way to save her was to inltrate Bevelle, commandeer
Vegnagun, and use it to destroy Zanarkand's enemies.
However, Lenne perceived Shuyin's intentions, andunwilling to allow him to take the lives of many others
for her sakefollowed him.* [30] When she caught up
to Shuyin in Bevelle, he had only just begun to operate
Vegnagun's control panel. Before he could use Vegnagun, Lenne begged him to stop. Shuyin yielded, but a
group of Bevelle soldiers arrived a moment later and shot
the couple.* [31] Over the course of the following 1000
years, Shuyin's despair and resentment over his failure to
save Lenne grew to the point that they began acting on
their own.* [32]
A screenshot of Yuna's concert, which prompts the memories of

Lenne to emerge from the Songstress dressphere.
Now with an understanding of Shuyin's hatred for war,

Yuna manages to return to the surface, and the Gullwings
organize a concert to which everyone in Spira is invited,
supporters of the Youth League and New Yevon alike.
Additionally, the Songstress dressphere worn by Yuna is
revealed to hold Lenne's memories, resulting in a sphere
screen projecting them to everyone in attendance during
the concert. Witnessing images of Shuyin and Lenne's
last moments, Spira's citizens begin to understand the
unproductive nature of their disagreements. The player
then learns that it was because of Lenne's memories that
Shuyin had mistaken Yuna for Lenne.* [33]
Although the factional ghting has ceased, Shuyin has

nearly carried out his plan to destroy Spira with Vegnagun. Joining forces with the Leblanc Syndicate once
again, the Gullwings make their way to the Farplane
and nd Gippal and Nooj already battling Vegnagun.
Working together, they manage to disable the giant
machina before its cannon can re at Spira. Finally confronting Shuyin, Lenne's consciousness emerges from the
The player learns that 1000 years before the game, Shuyin
Songstress dressphere and convinces him to abandon his
was a famous blitzball player in the high-tech metropolis
mission and be at peace. Thanking Yuna, Lenne guides
of Zanarkand, and the lover of a popular songstress and
Shuyin's spirit to peace on the Farplane.
summonerLenne. The two lived during Zanarkand's
war with the more powerful Bevelle, and during the Subsequently, the fayth once located in Bevelle appears
before Yuna and thanks her as well. He then asks her

if she would like to see himagain. If the player
replies with Yes, and a sucient percentage of the
game's optional storyline has been completed, the fayth
locates Tidus's scattered pyreies and sends them to Besaid, where they reform; thus, when Yuna returns home,
she is reunited with Tidus. Players who achieve 100%
completion in addition to reviving Tidus will see an additional reunion scene in Zanarkand where the pair discuss
whether he is truly real or still a dream.* [34]
2.18.3
Development
Development of Final Fantasy X-2 began in late 2001

in response to the success of Final Fantasy X, particularly fan reaction to the Eternal Calm video included
in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy X International.* [13]* [35]* [36] It was released in Japan shortly
before the merger between Square and Enix.* [37] The
game's eventual name, X-2, was initially not liked by the
production team, but it was eventually accepted since the
story was a direct continuation of X and thus could not
be the next numbered title in the series.* [38] Kazushige
Nojima, the previous game's writer, was also skeptical
about the creation of a sequel. Something he was particularly averse to originally was the happy ending, which
he felt was wrong for the story.* [39] The production team
was one third the size of the previous installment. This
was because the team was already familiar with the material and it allowed them to give a hand-crafted feel to
the game. In designing the game, a signicant number of
character models, enemies, and location designs from Final Fantasy X were reused. Character designer Tetsuya
Nomura has explained that this allowed the game to be
developed in one year and at half the normal scope Final Fantasy titles are normally produced.* [40] Maya and
Softimage 3D were the two main programs used to create
the graphics.* [41]
Producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu
Toriyama have explained that the objective in mind
when designing Final Fantasy X-2 was to embrace the
concept of change as the game's theme and establish
a more upbeat atmosphere than its predecessor.* [13]
To portray the drastic change in Spira, the developers
excluded summons, redesigned towns, and included
vehicles. The low-ying vehicles were added to allow
the player quicker access and mobility to the areas
that were already available in the previous title.* [41]
Because of the emphasis on a more optimistic setting,
the game's dressphere system (inspired by the magical
girl subgenre of anime and manga) was implemented,
and the atmosphere of J-pop introduced right from
the game's opening sequence. Additional allusions to
popular culture in general were featured, such as the style
of Charlie's Angels.* [13] Though work on the opening
song and motion capture began early in development,
the opening sequence was actually the last portion of the
game to be completed.* [41]
195
Audio
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy X-2
For Final Fantasy X-2, regular series composer Nobuo
Uematsu was replaced by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito
Eguchi of The Bouncer fame.* [13] Among the game's
more notable tracks are two vocalized songs: the J-popstyle "Real Emotion" and a more slowly-paced ballad,
"1000 Words". The Japanese versions of the songs are
sung by Kumi Koda, a Japanese music artist who also performed motion capture for theReal Emotionopening
full motion video* [41] and provided the voice of Lenne
in the Japanese version of the game. Koda also released
her own English versions of the songs on her CD single Come with Me. The English versions of the songs
are sung by Jade Villalon of Sweetbox. She released extended versions of the songs she sang as bonus tracks on
the Japanese release of her album, Adagio. While similar, the lyrics of Koda Kumi's versions dier from those
sung by Jade Villalon.
2.18.4 Versions and merchandise

As with Final Fantasy X, an expanded international version was produced for Final Fantasy X-2. This version of
the game, titled Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last
Mission, introduces two new dresspheres, an additional
Last Missionat a location called Yadonoki Tower,
and the option to capture numerous monsters and characters including Tidus, Auron and Seymour from Final
Fantasy Xas well as several supporting characters from
both gamesduring battle.* [42] This version was never
released outside of Japan, although the English voices
were used for the main story in the International version
(not in the Last Mission). Due to this change, parts of the
Japanese subtitles were changed or altered to t the voiceovers. This was detailed in the ocial strategy book for
the International version (see below). In 2005, a compilation featuring Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2
was released in Japan under the title Final Fantasy X/X-2
Ultimate Box.* [43]
Several action gures, books and soundtracks were released by Square Enix. Among the books that were
published were three Ultimania guidebooks, a series of
artbooks/strategy guides published by Square Enix in
Japan. They feature original artwork from Final Fantasy
X-2, oer gameplay walkthroughs, expand upon many
aspects of the game's storyline, and feature several interviews with the game's designers. There are three books
in the series: Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania, Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania , and Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission Ultimania. A similar three-book series was produced for Final Fantasy X.
Gaming peripheral company Hori produced PlayStation
2 controllers modeled after the Tiny Bee guns Yuna uses
196
in Final Fantasy X-2. These controllers were released
only in Japan. They were re-released in a new silver box
to coincide with the release of Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission.
On September 13, 2011, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy X would be re-released in high-denition for
the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, in celebration of
the game's 10 year anniversary. Yet rumors spread that
it would also include its sequel Final Fantasy X-2 * [6] In
January 2012, production of the game had started. Producer Yoshinori Kitase will once again be involved in the
production of the game, wishing to work on its quality,
yet again no conrmation yet of the inclusion of the sequel.* [7] On February 18, 2013 the rst footage of the
PlayStation Vita version of Final Fantasy X HD was released, showing o HD models of Tidus, Yuna, Bahamut
and Yojimbo.* [8] On 19 March, it was conrmed that
the PS3 version of the game would also include its sequel X-2, and that it would also be remastered in HD and
would be based on the International version. Final Fantasy X-2 Last mission was announced to be also included
in HD as well. The HD remastered games for the PS3 was
released under the title Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.* [9] The two games were sold separately on PlayStation Vita in Japan with Final Fantasy X International HD
to include Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X Eternal
Calm and Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster to include Final Fantasy X-2 International and Final Fantasy X-2 Last
Mission.* [10] They were sold together with a voucher to
download Final Fantasy X-2 + Last Mission for free in
regions outside of Japan as well as in Japan. Square Enix
launched an ocial website for the two HD remastered
titles in March 2013.* [11] During the PlayStation China
press conference that took place in Shanghai on December 11, 2014, Square Enix has conrmed Final Fantasy
X/X-2 HD Remaster will be available for the PlayStation
4 in Spring 2015.* [5]

storyline a deep political dramathat always manages to keep from taking things too seriously.* [57] They
also commented that the game treats its history with
intelligence* [57] and its returning characters...just
as clever.* [57] Further positive reaction came from
RPGamer, with one sta reviewer summarizing X-2 as
a light-hearted fun gamethat may ... be the most
enjoyable thing to come from the series in several years
,* [65] while another regarded its battle system as innovative and very simple to navigate.* [66]
The game's stylistic changes from past Final Fantasy titles
sparked negative comments, with some perceiving it as a
change in the spirit of the franchise. Among these were
the game's status as Final Fantasy 's rst direct sequel and
the change from a tragic atmosphere in Final Fantasy X to
a dominantly lighthearted tone in Final Fantasy X-2.* [12]
In the words of one reviewer, "Final Fantasy X opens with
the destruction of an entire city, whereas Final Fantasy
X-2 begins with...a pop concert.* [67] In their review,
gaming website GameSpot commented thatSome of the
missions ... come o as downright silly and a bit tacked
on. Additionally, they felt that the game's non-linear
style makes it "[lack] the singular narrative thrust of Final Fantasy X or other typical RPGs, and the storyline can
feel a little nebulous and disjointed as a result. Moreover, GameSpot commented thattrivial minigames have
been creeping into the Final Fantasy games at an alarming rate over the last few years, and in this regard, X-2
is denitely the most egregious oender in the series.
Despite these comments, they praised the battle system as
a welcome addition, while regarding its voice-overs
and localizations as outstanding.* [12]
Another aspect of the game that has attracted criticism

is the reuse of graphical designs from Final Fantasy
X.* [12]* [46]* [49]* [57]* [68] One reviewer at RPGamer
commented thatthere is little question that the graphics
in Final Fantasy X-2 could rival just about any other RPG
on the market ... [but] one does not get ... [the impression] that the graphics have been improved in any signif2.18.5 Reception
icant way since Final Fantasy X",* [68] while GameSpot
said "X-2 doesn't look that much better than X did two
Within nine months of its Japanese release, Final Fantasy years ago.* [12] Electronic Gaming Monthly regarded
X-2 sold more than a million copies in North America this reuse of code as "[tripping up] in the one area where
(within two months of its release there), and nearly four Final Fantasy titles usually shine.* [49]
million copies worldwide.* [59] It went on to sell 2.11 milThe game's soundtrack was met with mixed feelings,
lion units in Japan,* [60] 1.85 million units in the United
because Final Fantasy X-2 's score was the rst in
States,* [61] and more than 100,000 units in the United
the series without input from Nobuo Uematsu,* [69]
Kingdom.* [62]
composer of all previous games in the main series,
It was voted as the 32nd best game of all time by read- and because of the change to a distinct J-pop atmoers of the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu,* [63] sphere.* [46]* [49]* [68]* [70] While IGN commented that
which also gave it a 34 out of 40.* [51] The English the music provided an appropriately tting backdrop
release of Final Fantasy X-2 won the Seventh Annual * [57] and 1UP.com suggested that itcertainly is in keepAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences award in 2004 ing with the new avor,* [46] others, such as Electronic
for Outstanding Achievement in Character Perfor- Gaming Monthly, regarded it astoo bubbly.* [49] One
mancein recognition of the character Rikku.* [64]
sta member at RPGamer suggested that the absence
of
Uematsu proves deafening,andthe soundtrack that
Multimedia website IGN felt that the game's shift in tone
accompanies
this nonsensical adventure manages to enis part of what makes [it] so intriguing,labeling the
197
capsulate the shallow nature of the game perfectly.* [68] [14] Studio BentStu, ed. (2004). Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission Ultimania (in Japanese). DigMoreover, some reviewers felt that the outts worn by the
iCube/Square Enix. p. 583. ISBN 4-7575-1163-9.
main characters are too revealing and aimed at making
the game more appealing to Final Fantasy 's largely male
[15] Rikku: Hey, do I look like Yunie, you think? / Tidus:
audience.* [66]* [71]
(Huh?) / Rikku: Well, my dad's sister is Yunie's mother,
Despite the negative comments it has received, Final

you get it? Square Co (2001-12-20). Final Fantasy X
. PlayStation 2. Square EA.
Fantasy X-2 's critical reception has been largely positive, with IGN summarizing it as a brilliant and
addictive romp through Spira that we're certainly glad to [16] Rikku: Well, look, I really want Yuna to go. / Wakka:
She can't do that. / Rikku: Why not? / Wakka: Because
experience,* [57] and GameSpot commenting that it is
she's booked solid for three months, ya! And everybody
every bit as poignant, endearing, and engrossing as its
wants to see her. / Rikku: Oh yeah? Well, what about
forebears,with strengths that ultimately make ... X-2
what she wants? / Wakka: Well, yeah, but.. Okay, maybe
*
's minor aws forgivable. [12] The game maintains
once things calm down, y'know? / Rikku: And what if
an 86.25% approval rating on GameRankings* [44] and
they don't, Wakka? What then, huh? I don't believe it.
an 85/100 rating on Metacritic, both only slightly down
After everything Yuna did for us! Why can't she just do
from its predecessor.* [45]
what she wants to do now? Why? You know, every time I
2.18.6
References
[1] EA to publish Final Fantasy X-2 in Europe. Gamershell.com. September 22, 2003. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
visited here, I wondered... why is it, that when everyone's

out making their dreams happen and everyone's getting
their chance, Yuna's dreams are on hold? / Wakka: Gee,
it's not like... / Rikku: What do you know anyway, tubby?
Yuna? / Yuna: I want... (I want to journey again. But...
if I leave, I'll be disappointing everyone else.) I want... I'll
go. Square Co. Eternal Calm Final Fantasy X-2: Prologue
Square Enix U.S.A. 2002
[2] Spencer (2013-11-18). Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Comes To North America In March. Siliconera.
[17] Behind The Game The Creators. Square Enix North

America. 2001. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
[3] Sam (2013-11-19). Namco Bandai Games Australia

Conrm Release Date of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster in Australia, New Zealand and Other PAL Territories. Otaku Study. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
[18] Square Co (2003-11-18).

"Final Fantasy X-2".
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Yuna: It all began
when I saw this sphere of you.
[4] Kubba, Sinan (2013-11-18). Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD

Remaster pushed back to March 2014. Joystiq. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
[5] Luke Karmali (11 December 2014). Yes, Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD coming to PlayStation 4,. IGN.com.
[6] Final Fantasy X HD Remake Coming to Vita and PS3.
IGN. News Corporation. September 13, 2011. Retrieved
September 13, 2011.
[7] Yip, Spencer (January 2, 2012). Report: Final Fantasy
X HD In Early Development"". Siliconera. Retrieved
January 3, 2012.
[8] Brian Ashcraft (2013-02-18). Check Out Final Fantasy
X: HD Version for the PS Vita. Kotaku. Retrieved
2014-11-24.
[9] Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster website index
[10] Ishaan (20 March 2013).Yes, Final Fantasy X-2 Is Getting An HD Remaster, Too. Siliconera.com. Retrieved
2013-03-21.
[11] Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster website
[12] Shoemaker, Brad (2003).Final Fantasy X-2 for PlayStation 2 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-30.
[13] Dunham, Jeremy (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 Developer
[19] Square Co (2003-11-18).

PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Nooj: Some advice:
That...thing... The colossus you saw is known as Vegnagun. It possesses overwhelming destructive power. It
must not be touched!
[20] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Baralai: I know why
you've come. You're here to destroy the weapon that
threatens all of Spira: Vegnagun.
[21] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Maechen: Although
Vegnagun was constructed during the Machina War, there
is no record of it ever being used. One could argue that
the coming of Sin made war a secondary concern. But
the real reason was that Vegnagun was nothing short of a
titanic failure. You see, it was quick to respond to hostility, but lacked the ability to discern friend from foe. A
weapon that slaughters indiscriminately would be far too
dangerous for actual use in combat. Incidentally, this is
why Vegnagun was never considered as a measure to combat Sin. Instead, it was locked away under Bevelle.
[22] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Baralai: The thing's
more sensitive than its size would lead one to believe. It
detects hostility, and in an instant, springs to life! Should
one even think of harming it, it awakens like a frightened
child.
198
[23] Square Co (2003-11-18).

PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Baralai: I'm a little confused. You came to claim it for yourself, didn't
you? But Vegnagun awoke. Why? Because deep down
you hated it. Did you come here to use it or destroy it?
Well? / Nooj: Both.
[24] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Paine: They're old
friends. The three of them were candidates for the Crimson Squad. And I was the recorder assigned to their team.
Yevon created the Squad and started training members
two years ago. It was supposed to be an elite ghting force.
The best were to be assigned leadership of Crusader chapters across Spira...
[25] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Paine: This is what
destroyed the Squad. Despair strong enough to crush the
minds of those it touches. What just happened to us happened to them, too. Here. They felt Shuyin's despair.
They went mad, and they died. They killed each other!
[26] Studio BentStu, ed. (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 87. ISBN 4-75751161-2.
[27] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Paine: It was Shuyin.
Two years ago, the guys encountered Shuyin's memories
and learned of Vegnagun. After we escaped, they said
they would uncover the truth behind it. But then...Nooj
shot us. We thought he'd betrayed us. But Nooj wasn't
Nooj. I understand now: Shuyin was using him the whole
time.
[28] Square Co (2003-11-18).
Final Fantasy X-2.
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Fayth: Yuna. I'm
sorry. We weren't strong enough to stop him. We wanted
to at least warn someone... but instead, we were dragged
into the darkness. We're no better than ends.
[29] Square Co (2003-11-18).
Final Fantasy X-2.
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Shuyin: Lenne. We
disappeared together, but when I awoke, I was alone. I
looked for you for so long. While I wandered, I realized
something: Spira hasn't really changed at all. Everyone's
still ghting over nothing. Still dying like they used to. A
thousand years have passed, and they can't leave the hatred behind. I'm through waiting. I'll x it. This world
continues to fail us, and what's worse, I failed to protect
you. Vegnagun will make that all go away. And we'll fade
together again, together. Help me do it, Lenne.
[30] Studio BentStu, ed. (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 86. ISBN 4-75751161-2.
[31] Square Co (2003-11-18).
Final Fantasy X-2.
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Paine: The man she
loved, he struggled to save her. He fought till his very last
breath for her. I think that Lenne's nal words might have
been happy ones: I love you.[...] / Yuna: But wait...
Everything is all wrong. He never heard. The one person
she wanted to tell...he never heard her words.
[32] Square Co. (2003-11-18). Final Fantasy X-2.

PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Fayth: Shuyin? Just
a shadow. It may look like him, but the real Shuyin died
long ago. Even after a thousand years, his hate and misery
linger on. His feelings grew so strong, they began to act on
their own... Eventually, they became a shadowa shade
that wants only to vanish, but cannot.
[33] Square Co. (2003-11-18). Final Fantasy X-2.
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Buddy: Lenne, huh?
/ Shinra: Yeah, the girl from the Songstress dressphere.
[...] / Rikku: So, the reason Shuyin keeps calling Yuna
Lenneis/ Paine: Because of that dressphere?
[34] Square Co (2003-11-18).
PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A. Tidus: I got a theory. I think the fayth gathered up my thoughts and put
'em together to bring me back. [...] Or maybe I'm still
a dream. / Yuna: Wait! So you'll disappear? / Tidus:
Cherish me, Yuna. And I'll cherish you. [...] / Yuna: Is
that what the fayth told you? / Tidus: Nah, but I like it.
[Yuna playfully pushes Tidus into a pond] Tidus: That's
not cherishing! / Yuna: You didn't disappear.
[35] Fox, Fennec (2002-10-23). More Final Fantasy X-2
Details. GamePro. Archived from the original on 201106-07. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
[36] Studio BentStu, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy X Ultimania
(in Japanese). DigiCube/Square Enix. p. 191. ISBN
4-88787-021-3.
[37] IGN Sta (2002-11-29). Square and Enix Meet the
Press. IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
[38] Spencer (2014-03-18). Why Square Enix Made Final
Fantasy X-2. Siliconera. Archived from the original on
2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
[39] Sato (2014-01-08). Final Fantasy X Writer Shares His
Thoughts And Memories Of The Series. Siliconera.
2014-03-29.
[40] GameSpot Sta (2003).Square Enix considering Kingdom Hearts sequel. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
[41] ed. Rico Komanoya, ed. (2004). Final Fantasy X-2
. Japanese Game Graphics: Behind the Scenes of Your
Favorite Games. New York, NY: Harper Design International. pp. 2025. ISBN 0-06-056772-4.
[42] Final Fantasy 10-2. Final Fantasy Insider. 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
[43] " ". Square Enix Japan. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
[44]Final Fantasy X-2 Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved
2006-07-30.
[45] Final Fantasy X-2 Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved
2006-07-31.
[46] 1UP Sta. Final Fantasy X-2 Review. 1UP.com.
2.19. FINAL FANTASY XI
199
[47] Final Fantasy X-2 Overview. Allgame. Retrieved

2009-03-08.
[68] Raven, Red (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 - Review.

[48] Final Fantasy X-2 Review. GamesRadar (Edge Magazine). Retrieved 2009-03-08.
[69] Mattich, Ryan (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 - Review.

[49] Bettenhausen, Shane. Final Fantasy X-2 Review.

1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
[70] Oda (2004). Final Fantasy X-2 J-pop Charlie's Angels! We like!". Gameplay. Archived from the original
on 2005-10-28. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
[50] Fahey, Rob (2004-02-27). Final Fantasy X-2 Review
. Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
[71] Aoibhell, Lassarina (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 Review
[51] Final Fantasy - Famitsu Scores. Famitsu Scores
. The RPG Place. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
[52] Final Fantasy X-2. Game Informer. December 2003.
Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved
2009-03-08.
[53] MAJORMIKE (2006-07-11). Review: Final Fantasy
X-2. GamePro. Archived from the original on 200809-22. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
[54] Final Fantasy X-2 video game review for the PS2.
Game Revolution. Retrieved 2009-03-08.

Ocial Final Fantasy X-2 website (North America)
(archived from the original)
2.19 Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy XI ( XI
Fainaru Fantaj Irebun), also known as Final Fantasy
XI Online, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing
Knutson, Michael (2003-12-05).Final Fantasy X-2 Re- game (MMORPG), developed and published by Square
(later Square Enix) as part of the Final Fantasy series.
view. GameZone. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
Designed and produced by Hiromichi Tanaka, it was reDunham, Jeremy (2003-11-07). Final Fantasy X-2 Re- leased in Japan on May 16, 2002, for Sony's PlayStation
view. IGN. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
2, and for Microsoft's Windows-based personal computers in November of that year. The game was the
Final Fantasy X-2 PS2 Review. 1UP.com. 2004.
rst cross-platform MMORPG and the Xbox 360's rst
MMORPG.* [1] All versions of the game require a
Calvert, Justin (2004). Final Fantasy X-2 Sells a Mil- monthly subscription to play.* [2]
[55] GameSpy: Final Fantasy X-2 Review. GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-03-08.

[56]
[57]
[58]
[59]
lion. GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-03-16.
The story is set in the fantasy world of Vana'diel, where

[60] Japan Platinum Game Chart. The Magic Box. Re- player-created avatars can both compete and cooperate in
a variety of objectives to develop an assortment of jobs,
trieved 2008-05-22.
skills, and earn in-game item rewards. Players can also
[61]US Platinum Videogame Chart. The Magic Box. 2007- undertake an array of quests and progress through the in12-27. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
game hierarchy and thus through the major plot of the
[62] ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver. Entertainment and game. Since its debut in 2002, ve expansion packs have
*
Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from also been released [3] along with six add-on scenarios.
Each expansion pack and add-on brings a new major stothe original on 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
ryline to the Final Fantasy XI world, along with numerous
[63] Campbell, Colin (2006). Japan Votes on All Time Top areas, quests, events and item rewards.
100. Next Generation. Retrieved March 11, 2006.
[64] FINAL FANTASY X-2 wins for Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance at Seventh Annual AIAS
awards. Square Enix North America. 2004. Retrieved
2006-03-12.
[65] Alley, Jake (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 - Review.
In 2006, between 200,000 and 300,000 active players logged in per day, and the game was the dominant
MMORPG in Japan.* [4]
In 2008 Square Enix noted that Final Fantasy XI had a
strong user base of around 500,000 subscribers.* [5]
In April 2009, Square Enix announced that the total number of active characters exceeded 2 million for the rst
[66] Przestrzelski, Steve (2004).Final Fantasy X-2 - Review time.* [6]
[67] Daquila, John (2003). Final Fantasy X-2 - Review.
The Jaded Gamer. Retrieved 2006-03-16.
In June 2012, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada announced that Final Fantasy XI had become the most profitable title in the Final Fantasy series.* [7]
200
2.19.1
Gameplay
window. Menusallow the player to access dierent

commands, status windows, and conguration options.
Final Fantasy XI, in addition to being an MMORPG, Theaction command menuappears just above the log
diers from previous titles in the series in several ways. window and gives the player several options to interact
Unlike the predened main characters of previous Final with the game world. Several menu options are available
Fantasy titles, players are able to customize their charac- through the use of keyboard shortcuts, as well.* [13]
ters in limited ways, including selecting from one of ve
races and choosing their gender, facial style, hair color,
body size, job, and nation allegiance. Also diverging Basic gameplay
from previous games in the series, the game takes place in
a fully three-dimensional landscape with enemies freely Story related gameplay in Final Fantasy XI consists of
roaming in it, allowing battles to occur in real time as op- two major components: missions, through which the
posed to the random encounters used in previous games main storyline of the game is told, and quests, which do
- a trend continued in every numbered Final Fantasy title not advance the main storyline, but ll out the game's fansince.* [8]
tasy world.* [14] Completing missions allows a player to
There are currently 16 public game worlds available for
play, down from 32 at the game's height, with approximately 15,000 to 20,000 players in each.* [9] A private
Test Server was opened to eligible players to aid in feedback of updates in development for the game in mid2011. The servers are named after summoned monsters from previous Final Fantasy titles, such as Ifrit
and Diabolos. Players have the ability to move between
servers, though Square-Enix charges a world transfer
fee to do so.* [10]* [11] There are no region-specic or
system-specic servers, and unlike most online games,
players of dierent languages play in the same world and
can interact through automatic language translation from
a library of translated phrases.* [12] The game servers are
run by Square-Enix as part of their PlayOnline network.
Interface
A player engages in a dialog sequence to advance the story.
Players have the option of using any combination of a

keyboard, mouse, and controller to play Final Fantasy
XI. While by default, a player using a PlayStation 2 or
an Xbox 360 uses a virtual/in-game keyboard option, the
player is able to use an external keyboard that is USB
compatible for communication within the game. The
heads-up display in Final Fantasy XI consists of a log window, menus, and several game information elements. The
log window at the bottom of the screen displays system
messages, battle messages, and text input by other players. Players may choose to lter what appears in the log
advance in rank, which grants access to new areas, several privileges, and various other storylines. At rst, a
player may only complete missions for his home nation,
though they are able to change allegiances later on, allowing access to other nations' storylines. Quests may be undertaken for their various rewards, or to acquirefame,
which allows a character to become well-known and respected by NPCs; a higher fame rating will open up new
interactions and quests with NPCs. At release, over one
hundred quests were available to play and each expansion
pack has added its own set of missions and quests.* [15]
Players obtain in-game money known as gil by completing missions, quests and defeating Beastmen, though unlike previous Final Fantasy games, these monsters drop
only small amounts. Gil can then be exchanged amongst
players for goods through the Auction House, or be used
to purchase items and rewards from NPCs.
Unlike some MMORPGs, there is very little focus on
player versus player (PvP) combat, instead the game revolves around player versus environment (PvE). There
are numerous PvE activities and events for players to partake in, including instanced activities and shared spaces
activities. Some instanced events include Dynamis, Salvage, Assault and Nyzul Isle, which involve anywhere between 6 and 64 players.* [16] These battle grounds give
players a series of objectives to overcome or complete
and enemies to defeat, generally within a certain time
frame. Popular shared spaces activities include hunting
Notorious Monsters, ends that rarely appear and drop
precious loot.
The only way to attack other players in PvP is to enter one
of two competition activities known asConict.* [17]
The rst form of competition, called Ballista, involves
players competing to score points by throwing petras into
a castle-like structure known as a Rook.* [18]* [19] The
second form is known asBrenner, and features a capture the ag type system.
From time to time special seasonal festivals and events
are held. They last only for a set period of time and offer a variety of fun or useful rewards. Many events have
changed over time, adding new features and eliminating
old ones. These events are geared towards any level, often

restricting players to level 1, so that veterans and novice
players alike can join in together. Events celebrated are
often thematically based on real life equivalents, for example: Valentione's Day in place of Valentine's Day, the
Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza in place of Easter, and the
Starlight Celebration in place of Christmas.
Battle and Party system
Battles in Final Fantasy XI take place in the world in

which players move around, a rst in the series, where
battle had previously taken place in a separate screen
via random encounters. The surprise of the random encounter system is achieved via aggressive monsters, who
will attack players based on dierent factors such as sight
and sound. This format would continue in future Final
Fantasy games. Monsters within the game operate under a system of claimand "enmity". A monster is
claimed the moment a player performs any oensive action upon it, whether physical, magical or ability related.
With some exceptions, once a monster is claimed it can
only be attacked by players in the party or alliance of the
player that claimed it. A monster will focus its attention
on whoever has built up the most enmity. Players have
several means at their disposal, including spells, abilities
and items, to build up enmity or shed it to their advantage in battle - a factor that features heavily in group, or
partyplay.
201
quests, nation or territory driven events, and defeating
Notorious Monsters. Much of end-game play consists of
alliance forces overcoming these higher level challenges
and can even allow several alliances to enter into specic
instances owned by a group of players (e.g. Dynamis instances entry is controlled by an hourglass item).
Final Fantasy XI's incarnation of Limit Breaks are
Weapon Skills. Physical damage given and received
lls a Tactical Points (TP) bar, to a maximum of 3000.
Any amount above 1000 is able to be used up by being
channelled into a weapon skill. These skills vary in effect depending on job class, what weapon is equipped,
how full the TP bar is, and how procient the player is
with the weapon. If partying with other players, one may
use these weapon skills in succession in order to create
a Skillchain. A skillchain creates additional damage
after a series of weapon skills are used. Building on this
even further, magic used on a skillchain at the right time
will receive a boost to its damage; this is called aMagic
Burst. In order to create the best possible skillchains
and magic bursts, players must work together, focusing
on each other's actions and timing.
Job system
See also: Final Fantasy character jobs
Final Fantasy XI uses the concept of changing Jobs in a
similar fashion to Final Fantasy III,* [20] and currently has
twenty-two Jobs as of the latest expansion pack in 2013.
There are sixstandard Jobsavailable to choose from at
the start of the game. After one standard Job has reached
Level 30, theextra Jobsare accessible upon completing
certain quests. Players are able to change their jobs any
time from inside their house or by speaking with a Nomad
Moogle. In June 2010, the long-standing level limit of 75
was incrementally increased to the higher level cap of 99,
nishing in the December 2011 version update.
Jobs have a combination of uniquejob traits
, job abilities, and magic spells, giving them a specic role within
group play due to their area of expertise. Job traits are
passive abilities that are always in eect, while job abilities must be activated by the player in order to come into
eect. They last a limited time and have a cooldown
period before they can be used again. Magic spells are
available to certain jobs, and in addition to a cooldown
period, they often consume MP or some form of item in
order to be cast, while at the same time requiring the user
to stand still. Additionally, each job has a special onehour ability that performs an extraordinary function.
Players are forced to band into parties in order to defeat

more powerful monsters and gain experience points eciently. A regular party has room for six members. Like
in many other games, a well balanced party will consist
of several archetypes- namely a healer, a tank (the party
member with high defense that will be the main target of
the monster), and the damage dealer. The enmity system
comes into play heavily in parties, as players try to keep
the monsters attention o fragile jobs and on the tanks. The unique system of Final Fantasy XI's job system is the
A well balanced team working together is the only way to Support Job.* [21] This system allows a player to augdefeat many of the game's enemies.
ment their character with abilities, traits, and spells from
Partying expands into alliances with up to 3 parties com- another chosen job, at half the level of their current job.
bined (18 total players). Alliances are necessary to For instance, a Level 20 Warrior setting Ninja as their
complete more dicult challenges: including missions, support job would allow them to use all Ninja abilities,
202
traits, and spells up to that of a level 10 Ninja, while still
primarily being a Level 20 Warrior. The support job system allows for job-merges never before seen in the Final
Fantasy series. However, there are some exceptions to
the system. One-hour abilities and other abilities deemed
signature to a particular job (such as Call Wyvern for Dragoons) are restricted to being used only on the main job.
1
: Requires the Rise of the Zilart expansion
: Requires the Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion
: Requires the Wings of the Goddess expansion
: Requires the Seekers of Adoulin expansion.
Crafting and hobbies

ing real money for in-game items.* [25] The item auction
system was shut down temporarily once due to some players exploiting the system.* [26] Items can be created by
consuming elemental crystals (obtained by ghting monsters) with other ingredients in a process called synthesis.* [27] Recipe results can vary widely based on
the player's skill, the quality of the player's equipment
worn, and the ingredients used. There is large speculation (though nothing evidently documented yet) about the
moon phase, direction the player is facing, in-game day
(every day of the week is assigned an element), and even
time of day the synthesis is performed to either increase
or reduce the results of the recipe.
Game economy
Final Fantasy XI has a largely player-based economy,
with a heavy reliance on Auction Housesin each of
the major cities of Vana'diel. There are certain economic
controls in place mainly in the form of fees for putting
items up for auction. Transportation, auction house, item
storage, and fees do not go to players; these gil sinks
eectively remove money from the economy to prevent
ination. The city of Jeuno used to levy a tax on bazaar
purchases inside the city, but it was removed in a patch in
the December 2008 version update.* [28]
The raising, breeding, and racing of Chocobos was a much requested addition to the game
In addition to completing quests and missions, players

can participate in several side-minigames and other activities.* [8] One such minigame is shing, where players can measure their strength against the sh they attempt to catch. Another is clamming, where players collect as many sh or sea creatures as possible without going over their bucket's size limit. Gardening allows players to raise plants in their residence, or "Mog House
as it is known in the game.* [22] The raising and breeding of Chocobos was a long-requested activity enabled
in the summer 2006 update.* [23] Chocobo racing began
in March 2007, which allowed for the racing of playerraised Chocobos against non-player characters (NPCs).
Winning racers can earn Chocobucks, which can
be used to buy, for example, items that assist Chocobo
breeding.* [24]
An important part of the game is the accumulation of
items, especially rare ones, which allow players to create powerful weapons, armour and food. There are many
ways to obtain items, such as harvesting, excavating, logging, mining, defeating monsters, and digging by using
Chocobos. Square Enix attempted to increase the opportunity for players to nd rare items in order to equalize the
game and stop the practice ofgil selling, or exchang-
Square Enix has stated that the trade of items for real currency is ocially a violation of the Terms of Service for
Final Fantasy XI.* [29] In early 2006, Square Enix discovered that a group of players had found a way to generate
game currency and exchange it for real currency, which,
in turn, drove up prices for all items across the game.
In response, 700 accounts were permanently banned and
300 billion gil was removed from circulation.* [30] In July
2006, Square Enix banned or suspended over 8,000 other
accounts for similar manipulation and commerce.* [31]
Since 2006, Square Enix has regularly banned accounts
found to be in violation of the terms, some of them using
third-party tools, eectively removing billions of gil from
the in-game economy.
2.19.2 Synopsis
Setting
The setting of Final Fantasy XI is the world of Vana'diel,
a rich world with diverse climates, ranging from northern glaciers and southern deserts, to ethereal realms and
sky landmasses.* [32] Vana'diel is divided into a number of regions, which are subdivided into areas known
as zones. These zones are available for exploration
and consist of outdoor areas, dungeons, cities, and towns.
Players are able to explore a portion of Vana'diel, including the Middle Lands, Near East, and with the release
of Seekers of Adoulin, the near west.* [33] Six city states
exist in the available lands, The Republic of Bastok, The
203
Kingdom of San d'Oria, The Federation of Windurst, The

Grand Duchy of Jeuno, The Empire of Aht Urhgan and
the Sacred City of Adoulin. While most areas are accessible by walking, various modes of transportation, ranging
from the classic Final Fantasy Chocobo and airships to
special spells, facilitate movement across the game world.
Ancient lore states that Vana'diel was created as a playground for the Gods and their children, who themselves
were spawned from an enormous and sentient Crystal.
Eventually wishing to be one with the Gods, the children constructed a pathway to paradise. They were smote
down by for their insolence, however, and their cities cast
to the bottom of the sea. After seeing the destruction
of her children and lled with sadness, the Goddess Altana wept ve tears that gave life to the ve Enlightened
Races of Vana'diel. The God of Twilight, Promathia, The playable races in Final Fantasy XI. From left to right: Galka,
Mithra, Hume, Elvaan, and Tarutaru.
condemned her weakness, however, and the life that arose
from it. Promathia cursed the ve races with eternal conict amongst themselves by bringing forth their darkest
for their intelligence and high level of skill in nuattributes: the apathy of the Humes, the arrogance of
merous areas. Humes have equally balanced abilithe Elvaan, the rage of the Galka, the cowardice of the
ties, and are said to be cursed with the sin of apathy.
Tarutaru, and the envy of the Mithra. He created the
They serve as the game's human race.
Beastmen, commanding them to forever ght the people
of Vana'diel and occupy their minds, so these children Galka A hulking race of powerful warriors, the Galka's
would never have time to group together and construct
capital city was destroyed by war 600 years ago.
a pathway like the ones before them.* [32] The creation
Many of the surviving Galka settled in Bastok, and
lore's sentient Crystal, Gods, Children, and the truths
are currently used by the city as cheap underclass
behind them feature as major plot points in several Filabour. The Galka do not have a female counterpart,
nal Fantasy XI expansion packs, while the Beastmen are
but reproduce through reincarnation. They possess
some of the game's main antagonists.
the highest HP and vitality in the game, but also the
lowest MP. The Galka are cursed with rage.
The events of the game are set 20 years after the Crystal
War, a devastating war where the Middle Land nations
of Bastok, San d'Oria and Windurst fought and defeated Mithra The Mithra are a race of hunters who live alongthe Shadow Lord and his army of Beastmen. Players deal
side the Tarutaru in Windurst. They are known
with the aftermath of this conict in the original story, and
for their energy, curiosity, and their penchant for
may travel back in time to aid in the war eort with the
causing playful mischief. Due to a gender imbalexpansion pack Wings of the Goddess. Several parallel
ance in their race males are a rarity, and so only
worlds are available, such as Dynamis and Abyssea, in
female mithra leave the home, making females the
which the beastmen won the Crystal War and conquered
only playable gender. Mithra possess high dexterity
the land.
and agility, but lower HP and charisma. Mithra are
cursed with envy.
Characters
Final Fantasy XI features ve playable races known as the
Enlightened Races":
Elvaan A race of proud warriors, the Elvaan's home
city is the Kingdom of San d'Oria. Elvaan have
an unshakable pride and faith in their beliefs, and
many eschew the business world, preferring an austere lifestyle as skilled sword ghters. The Elvaan
race possess high strength and mind, but low MP
and intelligence. Elvaan are said to be cursed with
the sin of arrogance.
Tarutaru A race of skilled magic from the Federation

of Windurst, the Tarutaru physically resemble children, however their size does not reect their age.
Tarutaru are playful yet cunning. They possess the
highest MP and intelligence of all the races, but the
lowest HP and strength. Tarutaru are said to be
cursed with cowardice * [8]
In addition to the playable races, there are two other nonplayable Enlightened Races, known as the Zilart and the
Kuluu. These ancient races were thought extinct, and
are the focus of the rst two game expansions. There is
also a large supporting cast of NPCs involved in quests,
Hume Originating from the city of Bastok, Humes are missions and the game's storylines. The game features
the most common race in Vana'diel and are known several typical Final Fantasy ends, including Goblins,
204
Sahagins and Tonberries. Several of these races are

known as Beastmen, a distinction made between ends
who possess higher than average intelligence, exhibiting
self-awareness, emotions, culture, and religion. The complex relationship, bigoted views, and reasons of conict
between the Enlightened Races and Beastmen is a plot
point throughout the game.* [34]
Fantasy XI setting. The player discovers and crosses

mysterious time portals alongside the Hume/Elvaan mix
Lilisette, and are led to help the Regal Feline Cait Sith reduce the suering of the era. However, Lilisette and her
partner encounter Lilith, an alternate timeline version of
herself who wishes to keep the war going to maintain her
time while negating Lilisette's.
Final Fantasy XI is represented in the Dissidia game series by Shantotto, a female Tarutaru Black Mage from
the Windurst storyline, voiced by famed voice actress
Megumi Hayashibara in the Japanese version and Candi
Milo in English version.* [35]* [36] The games prequel
adds Prishe, a female Elvaan from Tavnazia, who is the
main character in the Chains of Promathia expansion
pack.
Seekers of Adoulin concerns the western continent

archipelago of Adoulin, and the Sacred City of Adoulin.
The city was a focal point for colonization 200 years
before the present game, but when colonization eorts
failed in the main continent of Ulbuka, the nation fell in
population and shifted to trade as a focus. Now colonization has begun once again, and players are free to explore
the region.
Plot
2.19.3 Development
The storyline is primarily followed with missions through

the governing nations that exist in the base game as well as
each expansion that the player is aliated with. Nation or
governing body aliation is relatively simple, sometimes
requiring prerequisite quests being completed and have
several stages of progression to achieve higher recognition and reward throughout each story. Some missions
are even required to be completed to further progress into
the start of the additional storylines of each expansion or
specic areas.
Players begin the game as residents of one of the three
main countries: San d'Oria, Bastok, and Windurst, and
must help band the nations together against the resurrected Shadow Lord.
The expansion Rise of the Zilart reveals that the Crystal War and the resurrection of the Shadow Lord had
been masterminded by the Zilart princes Eald'Narche and
Kam'lanaut, who survived the extinction of their race.
The two Zilarts plan to become Gods by opening the path
to paradise, and the player is charged with thwarting their
plans.
Chains of Promathia revolves around an Elvaan girl
named Prishe and the dead Twilight God Promathia, who
had originally cursed the Zilart race, and the attempts of
various factions to either complete or stop his resurrec- Final Fantasy XI is the most representative title of the Final Fan*
tion. The wyrmking Bahamut is involved in these events, tasy series, according to producer Hiromichi Tanaka. [37]
and intends to destroy Vana'diel to prevent Promathia
The idea to develop Final Fantasy XI as an online game
from absorbing the life of the world.
was conceived by Hironobu Sakaguchi when establishTreasures of Aht Urhgan concerns the Empire of Aht ing Square Pictures headquarters in Hawaii. Impressed
Urhgan which opens up to the nations of midlands af- by western MMORPGs that he discovered there, such as
ter years of self-imposed isolation. As a new and pow- EverQuest, Sakaguchi convinced Square to begin the deerful nation, it is of concern to the nation of the player, velopment of their own MMORPG and suggested that it
who is sent as a representative. The player then becomes be based on the Final Fantasy series.* [37] The team reembroiled in the intrigues of the Empress's court and the sponsible for Chrono Cross was assigned to the developgrowing fears of war and darkness coming to Aht Urhgan. ment of Final Fantasy XI after the English localization
Wings of the Goddess primarily occurs in the era of the of the former title.* [38] Development began in NovemCrystal War, 20 years in the past from the main Final ber 1999. The game was the rst developed under

Square's new philosophy to develop for all platforms
and media.* [39] Hiromichi Tanaka, the producer of
the game, has stated Final Fantasy XI is heavily inuenced by Final Fantasy III, especially in its battle and
magic systems.* [20] According to Tanaka, Square put in
Final Fantasy XI what they could not put in the rst Final Fantasy titles due to technical limitations, thus making Final Fantasy XI the most [representative] Final
Fantasy of all the episodes.* [37] The game was developed and ran on the Nvidia GeForce 4 Ti GPU, which the
President of Square Yoichi Wada described as the most
powerful graphics processor available at the time.* [40]
The game cost two to three billion yen (~$1725 million)
to create along with the PlayOnline Network Service and
was assumed to become protable over a ve-year timespan.* [41] By creating a unied game world instead of different ones balkanized by language, development costs
were cut 66%.* [42]* [43] Since recurring monsters of the
series are known by dierent names in the Japanese and
English versions of the other installments, it was decided
for Final Fantasy XI to use both Japanese and English
names for dierent varieties of the same monsters.* [42]
It was originally announced that there would be a simultaneous release on the PlayStation 2 and PC as well as concurrent Japanese and American release, but this was later
changed.* [44] There was also discussion of an Xbox release, but it was abandoned mainly because of its small 8
GB hard drive.* [9] Originally announced in January 2000
at the Yokohama Millennium Conference, there was a
great deal of negative press.* [45] There were questions
raised about naming the game the eleventh in the series,
since it was not clear whether the game would have a
structured story, which it ended up having, and the title
of Final Fantasy Online was suggested.* [46] Following
an August 2001 beta test in Japan, a public Japanese beta
test was done in December 2001.* [47]
Following its PC release, Final Fantasy XI was listed
as one of IGN's most anticipated PlayStation 2 games
of 2004.* [48] Sony launched a multi-million dollar ad
campaign to promote Final Fantasy XI along with the
PlayStation 2 hard drive add-on which the game required.* [49] Having been released on the PlayStation 2
as well as the personal computer, it became the rst
cross-platform MMORPG ever created.* [50] On June
14, 2002, the game server was down for four hours for
maintenance to the database servers, bug xes on the text
interface, and a new patch for the game client.* [51] This
is thought to be the rst patch ever released for a console game.* [52] Other early issues included complaints by
American players that experienced Japanese players had
already completed all the quests. Square Enix responded
by adding new servers in order to have game worlds with
fewer expert players.* [15]
Final Fantasy XI is one of the rst cross-console video
games, and has continued to update its software to allow
the game to run on new consoles. Square Enix noted that
Nintendo's use of "friend codes" was the primary reason
205
Final Fantasy XI was not brought to the Wii.* [53] In December 2006, the PlayStation 2 versions of PlayOnline
and Final Fantasy XI were able to install and run on the
PlayStation 3. The Vana'diel Collection 2008 discs for the
PlayStation 2 had installation issues on the PlayStation 3,
causing them to be unusable at rst since they weren't on
Sony's list of HDD compatible titles in the rmware the
PlayStation 3 had at the time. This problem was xed on
December 18, 2007 when Sony released rmware update
2.10 for the PlayStation 3. This allowed all backwards
compatible models 20GB model #CECHB01, 60GB
model #CECHA01 and 80GB model #CECHE01 to
play FFXI. After working with Microsoft to resolve Final
Fantasy XI 's incompatibility issues with Windows Vista,
Square Enix released a downloadable version of the PlayOnline client which is compatible with the operating system, although small bugs have appeared.* [54]
On September 1, 2010, Akihiko Matsui became the
director of Final Fantasy XI.* [55] Only three months
later, on December 10, 2010, Matsui left the Final
Fantasy XI team to work as Lead Combat System
Designeron Square Enix's new MMO, Final Fantasy
XIV. His replacement as director of Final Fantasy XI is
Mizuki Ito.* [56] On July 13, 2011, information from a
Famitsu interview with former Final Fantasy XI producer
Hiromichi Tanaka revealed that Square Enix is looking
into the possibility of porting Final Fantasy XI to Sony
PlayStation Vita.* [57] On June 24, 2012, at the end of
VanaFest 2012, a festival in Yokohama, Japan to celebrate 2012's tenth anniversary of the Japanese launch of
Final Fantasy XI, Hiromichi Tanaka announced that, due
to health reasons, he was stepping down as producer of
the game and leaving Square-Enix. Akihiko Matsui has
been selected to replace him.* [58]
2.19.4 Expansions and add-ons

Final Fantasy XI has additions released every few years.
Expansion packs add new story, jobs, zones, quests, and
content to the game, while add-ons are smaller in scale,
adding a smaller selection of the aforementioned items.
All of the expansions and add-ons have been released on
PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox 360, with the exception of
Seekers of Adoulin, which will not see a PlayStation 2 release outside of Japan.* [59]
2.19.5 Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy XI
The music of Final Fantasy XI was scored by Naoshi
Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka, and Nobuo Uematsu.* [80] Composer Yasunori Mitsuda was also asked to contribute, but
at the time he was unable to do so, as he was scoring the
music for the game Xenosaga.* [45] The expansion packs
were scored by Mizuta alone after Tanioka left to pur-
206

expansion sets, as well as the previously unreleased tracks
from the game and the unreleased Final Fantasy XI Piano Collections.* [83] Dear Friends -Music from Final
Fantasy-, a 20042005 concert series, featured Ronfaurefrom Final Fantasy XI. A ten-track album of music inspired by Final Fantasy XI entitled Music from the
Other Side of Vana'diel was released by The Star Onions
on August 24, 2005.* [84]
2.19.6 Reception
Critical reception
Uematsu emphasized cross-cultural communication in his composition
sue other projects and Uematsu left Square Enix. The

opening of the game features choral music with lyrics
in Esperanto.* [45] According to Uematsu, the choice of
language was meant to symbolize the developers' hope
that their online game could contribute to cross-cultural
communication and cooperation. He also noted the increased diculty of scoring a game for which there was
no linear plotline, a major change from the previous Final Fantasy games. It was the rst game in the series
for which he composed while he was no longer a Square
employee.* [81] New music has been employed for special events, such as a holiday score titled Jeuno -Starlight
Celebration- which can be heard in the city of Jeuno each
mid-to-late December since 2004. Unlike its immediate
predecessor, Final Fantasy XI features almost no voice
acting. Vocalizations are portrayed by battle cries and
related sounds. Text descriptions are instead utilized to
express player communication.
The game's music has been released in CD form several times and has been featured in Final Fantasy concerts. Some of the game's music has been released on
iTunes for download, such as the vocalDistant Worlds
, which was released on the Japanese iTunes Music Store
on September 13, 2005, having been put in the game in
a July 2005 patch.* [82] A compilation CD box was released on March 28, 2007, titled Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box, which included the four
original soundtracks from Final Fantasy XI and its three
Final Fantasy XI received positive reviews from critics. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and
Metacritic gave the PlayStation 2 version 85.04% based
on 57 reviews and 85/100 based on 49 reviews,* [85]* [88]
the PC version 82.11% based on 44 reviews and 85/100
based on 25 reviews* [86]* [89] the Xbox 360 version
69.33% based on 32 reviews and 66/100 based on 25
reviews.* [87]* [90] Famitsu rated the game 38 out of
40.* [92] Computer and Video Games Magazine noted that
it was one of the most welcoming MMORPGs despite
the cumbersome initial registration and setup.* [96] IGN
called it a well done but unoriginal game and also noted
that North American players were forced to play with
already much more experienced Japanese players who
had already completed the game's various quests.* [15]
GameSpot criticized it at release for having an unconventional control system, a lengthy installation, and having no
player versus player (PvP) aspects.* [97] Other elements
receiving criticism include the EXP grind, which involves
constant battles to access dierent parts of the game, and
overcrowded camp sites.* [98] The expansions have been
mostly positively received, with praise for the amount of
content added, but increasing signs that the graphics of
the game are becoming outdated.* [99]* [100] IGN review
of the Xbox 360 release was similar, noting that it was a
large amount of game content, but had a protracted setup
process and elements of the game design that require a
large time investment.* [101] It has also been noted that
this game is the rst to move in a wildly dierent direction while remaining in the main numbering line, as opposed to the Tactics and Crystal Chronicles games which
became their own side series.
Sales and subscriptions
The user base for the PlayStation 2 version was truncated
initially because of limited sales of the PlayStation 2's
hard drive and network adapters that were needed for
the game.* [102] The Japanese release of Rise of the Zilart was the number one selling game when it debuted
with 90,000 copies sold in the rst week.* [102] The Final Fantasy XI All-in-One Pack was number 36 and Wings
of the Goddess was number 40 on the top 50 best-selling
Xbox 360 games in Japan as of December 2007.* [103]
207
For the AprilSeptember 2004 nancial period, Square 2.19.7 References

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[9] Sheeld, Brandon (September 6, 2007). AGDC: How

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the Japan's Consumer Entertainment Software Association (CESA) for 20022003 along with Taiko no Tatsujin.* [110] It has also received GameSpy's 2003 PC
MMORPG Game of the Year Award and IGN's Game of
the Month for March 2004, citing the game's huge customization and its successful cross-platform and crosslanguage game world.* [111]* [112] Final Fantasy XI was
referenced in the online game Minna no Golf Online
in the form of a Final Fantasy XI-themed lobby.* [113]
At 2009's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Square Enix
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[10] Lewis, Ed (March 23, 2004). FFXI Interview. IGN.

The game has spawned several written adaptations and

related merchandise. Starting in 2003, a series of Final Fantasy XI novels was written by Miyabi Hasegawa
and released in Japanese,* [114] German,* [115] and
French.* [116] Additionally, in 2004, Adventure Log, a
webcomic by Scott Ramsoomair, was commissioned by
Square Enix starting in 2007.* [117] Final Fantasy XI
PlayOnline Visa and MasterCard credit cards were available in Japan, with features including no annual fees
as long as cardholders remain PlayOnline subscribers
and various other rewards.* [118] There have also been
posters with limited edition phone cards and keychains
released, also exclusively in Japan.* [119] Several T-shirts
have been made available for order in North America,* [120] and various stued animals and gashapon gurines have also been made available to order of dierent races from the series.* [121]* [122] A Vana'diel clock
which displayed the in-game time was also marketed, as
well as CDs of the game's music.* [123]
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Final Fantasy XII ( XII

Fainaru Fantaj Tuerubu) is a fantasy role-playing video
Final Fantasy XI USA Awards. PlayOnline. January game developed and published by Square Enix for the
PlayStation 2 platform. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth
title in the mainline Final Fantasy series. The game introIGN Sta (January 15, 2004). Minna no Golf Merges duced several innovations to the series: a seamless battle
with FFXI. IGN. Retrieved August 15, 2006.
system, a controllable camera, a customizable "gambit"
Miyabi Hasegawa. 11 system which lets the player automatically control the actions of characters; and a licensesystem that deter ( ). ISBN 4757714246.
mines which abilities and equipment are used by characMiyabi Hasegawa. Final Fantasy XI: Final Fantasy XI ters. Final Fantasy XII also includes elements from preBd. 1. Das Lied des Sturms: Bd 1 (Broschiert). ISBN
vious games in the series such as summoned monsters,
3833214554.
Chocobos, and Moogles.
[116] euvenoir.fr Sta.Fiche livreFinal Fantasy XI T-1"".

The game takes place in the ctional land of Ivalice,

where the empires of Archadia and Rozarria are waging
[117] PlayOnline sta (March 8, 2007). Final Fantasy XI an endless war. Dalmasca, a small kingdom, is caught beNewsletter Issue 18. PlayOnline. Retrieved August 27, tween the warring nations. When Dalmasca is annexed by
Archadia, its princess, Ashe, creates a resistance move2009.
ment. During the struggle, she meets Vaan, a young ad[118] IGN Sta (February 7, 2002). Final Fantasy XI Credit
venturer who dreams of commanding an airship. They
Cards. IGN. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
are quickly joined by a band of allies; together, they rally
[119] IGN Sta (January 18, 2002). Final Fantasy XI against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire.
Moichandising Begins. IGN. Retrieved August 16,
2006.
[120] Final Fantasy XI. Square Enix. January 1, 2006.
Final Fantasy XII received universally high review scores,

and earned numerous "Game of the Year" awards in various categories from noted video game publications. Selling more than two million copies in Japan, it became the
2.20. FINAL FANTASY XII

fourth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of 2006 worldwide. As of March 2007, over 5.2 million copies of the
game have been shipped worldwide. A sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, was released for the Nintendo
DS in 2007.
2.20.1
Gameplay
Throughout the game, the player directly controls the onscreen character from a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies. Unlike previous
games in the series, the player can also control the camera with the right analog stick, allowing for a 360 view
of the surroundings.* [1] While in towns and cities, the
player may only see from the perspective of Vaan, but
any character may be controlled in the eld. The world
of Final Fantasy XII is rendered to scale relative to the
characters in it; instead of a caricature of the character
roaming around miniature terrain, as found in the earlier Final Fantasy games, every area is represented proportionally. The player navigates the overworld by foot,
Chocobo, or airship.* [2] Players may save their game to a
memory card using save crystals or gate crystals, and may
use the latter to teleport between gate crystals.* [3] An ingame bestiary provides incidental information about the
world of Final Fantasy XII.* [4]
Final Fantasy XII restructures the system of earning gil,
the currency of the Final Fantasy games; instead of gil,
most enemies droplootwhich can be sold at shops.* [5]
This ties into a new battle mechanic which rewards the
player with improved loot for slaying a particular type
of enemy multiple times in a row.* [6] Selling dierent
types of loot also unlocks a bazaar option in shops, which
provides items at a lower cost, or items exclusive to the
bazaar.* [5]
211
The elimination of "Random encounters", started in Final Fantasy XI continues in Final Fantasy XII; the previously common transition to a separate battle screen is
absent.* [7] Instead, enemies are visible in the overworld
area before an engagement and the player may choose to
ght or avoid them. Battles unfold in real time, using a
system calledActive Dimension Battle(ADB). A battle
begins when the party comes within range of an aggressive enemy, if the party attacks an enemy, or if a story
event initiates a confrontation.* [7] When a character or
enemy begins to perform an action, target lines connect
characters to other party members or enemies; dierent
colors represent the type of action.* [8] The player may
swap to and issue commands to any of the three characters in the battle party at will; however, guest characters are controlled by the game's articial intelligence.* [9]
Battle commands are initiated through a series of menus,
and include Attack, Magicks & Technicks, Mist, Gambits, and Items. The player may switch any active character with an inactive character at any time, unless the active
character is targeted by an attack or ability. Characters
who are knocked out may also be substituted.
A new feature in Final Fantasy XII is the gambitsystem, which allows the player to program each character to
perform certain commands in battle in response to specied conditions.* [10] Using gambits, the player may set
reactions to dierent stimuli for each character. Each
gambit consists of three parts: a target, an action, and a
priority. The target species which ally or foe to act on
and the condition for applying the action. For example,
the targetAlly: HP < 70%" causes the character to target any ally whose hit points have fallen below 70%. The
action is the command to be performed on the target. The
priority determines which gambit to perform when multiple gambits are triggered. These heuristics guide the characters when acting autonomously, though player-directed
commands are always given top priority.* [10]
In Final Fantasy XII, a mysterious phenomenon known as

Mistis the key energy which allows characters to cast
summoning magic and perform Quickenings. After
defeating an Esper in combat, the player will be able to
summon it to the battleeld.* [11] Similar to Final Fantasy X, the summoned creatures become active participants in battle,* [11] as opposed to the cinematic attacks
seen in previous games in the series. Unlike Final Fantasy X, however, Espers follow hidden gambits, rather
than the player's direct command.* [11] The summoner
remains an active member in the ght, able to attack and
cast support magic, instead of leaving the party or standing idle while the summoned creature ghts.* [11] An Esper will leave the battle if either the summoner or itself is
knocked out, its time limit expires, or it executes its special attack.* [11] Some Espers have origins in Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and others
are derived from the nal bosses of previous Final FanIn Active Dimension Battle (ADB), characters move freely and tasy games such as Chaos, the nal boss of the rst Final
attack as soon as they are ready. Blue lines depict the player's Fantasy, and Zeromus, the nal boss of Final Fantasy IV.
Battle system
targets and red lines depict those of the enemies.
212
Final Fantasy XII introduces Quickenings, a new
Limit Break system unique compared to those in previous games in the series.* [12] Characters learn Quickenings by progressing to specic panels on the License
Board.* [12] Each character can learn three Quickenings,
which are unique to that character.* [12] Characters may
string together Quickenings into large combo attacks,
called Mist Chains, via timed button presses.* [12] If a
Mist Chain reaches a certain length, a nal strike will be
initiated at the end of the Quickening cycle, called a Concurrence.* [12]
The License Board; raised panel icons indicate acquired licenses.
Growth system
As in many role-playing games, characters "level up" each
time they earn a set number of experience points from
defeating enemies; each level gained increases the character's statistics and consequently, improves performance
in battle.* [13] Statistics include hit points, the amount of
damage a character can receive; strength, the power of
the character's physical attacks; and magic, the potency
of the character's magical spells.* [13]
In addition to leveling up, players may improve their
characters via the License Board. The License Board
is an array of panels that contain licensespermits
which allow a character to perform certain actions.* [14]
The board is split into two parts; the upper part contains Magick, Technick, Accessory, and Augment (stat
increases and other permanent bus) licenses, and the
bottom part is lled mostly with Weapon and Armor
licenses.* [15] To use a Magick, Technick, or piece of
equipment, the character must obtain its corresponding
license by spending the required amount of LP (License
Points) to permit its use.* [14] LP are earned in battle
along with the experience points. Like the Sphere Grid
in Final Fantasy X, all characters may obtain all licenses
on the board; however, each Quickening and Esper
license may only be activated by a single character.* [16]
2.20.2 Plot
Setting
Main article: Ivalice
Final Fantasy XII is set within the land of Ivalice during an age when magic was commonplaceand airships plied the skies, crowding out the heavens. At this
time, magicite, a magic-rich mineral, is commonly used
in magic spells* [17] and in powering airshipsa popular
form of transportation in Ivalice.* [18] Ivalice is divided
into three continents:* [19] Ordalia, Valendia, and Kerwon.* [1] Ordalia is located in the western part of Ivalice. The Rozarrian Empire makes its home in the vast
inland plains of this continent as the eastern portion of it
is largely desert orjagdlawless regions so rich in Mist
(the ethereal manifestation of magicite) that airships cannot function.* [20] Valendia is the home of Imperial Archadia, where vast and lush plains dot the landscape.* [21]
Central to the story is Dalmasca, a small kingdom between the two continents and empires. Located in the
middle of the Galtean Peninsula of Ordalia, Dalmasca
is surrounded by an expanse of desert. The temperate
climate of Dalmasca diers from the cold environs of
Kerwon and the lush plains of Valendia and Ordalia.* [22]
During this time, Ivalice is beset by the pending war between the forces of Rozarria and Archadia. Caught between the two powerful Empires, Dalmasca and a number of smaller nations have already been subjugated by
Archadia two years before the game begins.
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy XII
The six main playable characters in Final Fantasy XII
are Vaan, an energetic orphan of Rabanastre who dreams
of becoming a sky pirate; Ashe, a determined princess
of Dalmasca who lost her father and her husband in the
Archadian invasion; Basch, a disgraced knight of Dalmasca charged with treason for slaying the king; Balthier,
a gentlemanly sky pirate who pilots his airship, the Strahl;
Fran, Balthier's partner and a Viera exile whose knowledge extends to legends and myths; and Penelo, Vaan's
childhood friend who accompanies him on journeys to
keep an eye on him.* [23]
The Archadian Empire is ruled by House Solidor, headed
by Emperor Gramis.* [24] The family also consists of two
siblings, Vayne and Larsa, the former a military genius
and the latter a charismatic seeker of peace. Judge Magisters, upholders of Archadian law,* [24] protect House
Solidor and execute every command issued by the ruling
family. The technological marvels of airships and synthetic nethicitea form of magicite that absorbs Mist
are thanks to Doctor Cid, a prominent researcher from
Archadia.* [24] The Resistance against Archadia includes
Dalmascan knight Vossler, an ally of Basch; Marquis
213
the Resistance leader, Amalia. Vaan, Balthier, and Fran
are captured by the Archadians and detained at the Nalbina Dungeons. In Nalbina, the three encounter Basch,
imprisoned but alive, and they escape with him; Basch
pleads that his twin brother, Gabranth, had posed as him
on the night of the treaty and was the true assassin. While
skeptical at rst, Vaan eventually believes him.* [26] With
the help of Balthier and Fran, the party then travels to
Bhujerba, where Penelo is kidnapped by Ba'Gamnan, a
bounty hunter trying to catch Balthier. While rescuing
Penelo, the party meets Lamont, a curious boy who is
Vayne's younger brother, Larsa, in disguise.* [27] Basch
is also able to confront the Marquis, who captures the
party and detains them on board the Archadian airship
Leviathan, headed by Judge Ghis.
Cast of Final Fantasy XII; the characters were designed by

Akihiko Yoshida.
Halim Ondore IV, the game's narrator and ruler of the

skycity Bhujerba; Reddas, a sky pirate based in the port
at Balfonheim; and the Rozarrian Empire, of which AlCid Margrace is a prince of the ruling family.* [24] The
mythos of Final Fantasy XII revolves around a character
known as Dynast-King Raithwall, a man who once united
Ivalice to create the Galtean Alliance in ages past.
Story
Final Fantasy XII begins in Dalmasca's capital city of Rabanastre, where the happiness from the union of Princess
Ashe of Dalmasca and Prince Rasler of Nabradia is interrupted by the Archadian Empire's invasion of Nabradia. In the subsequent war, Nabradia and Dalmasca are
subjugated by Archadia; Prince Rasler is killed, and the
Dalmascan king Raminas, after signing a treaty of surrender, is apparently assassinated by the Dalmascan captain
Basch. Reks, a young knight under Basch's command,
bears witness to the assassination, but later dies of his injuries. Marquis Ondore announces that Basch has been
executed and Princess Ashe has committed suicide.* [25]
Two years later, Vaan, the younger brother of Reks, is
living as a street urchin in Rabanastre. Despite his friend
Penelo's objections, he inltrates the Rabanastre palace
during a dinner celebrating the appointment of Vayne
Solidor as consul. During the inltration, Vaan encounters Balthier and Fran, a pair of sky pirates who are after the magicite that Vaan took from the royal treasury.
Their escape attempt fails when a battle breaks out between Imperial troops and Dalmascan Resistance forces,
and they end up in the sewers where they stumble upon
On the Leviathan, the party is reunited with Amalia, who

is revealed to be Princess Ashe.* [28] Ghis takes Vaan's
magicite, a royal Dalmascan artifact, and sends it to Archadia. The company escapes from the airship after defeating Ghis and returns to Bhujerba; however, lacking
the magicite, Ashe has no proof of her identity and Ondore suggests that Ashe remain hidden in Bhujerba.* [29]
Instead, Ashe escapes and attempts to collect the treasures of Dynast-King Raithwall, which would prove her
royal blood.* [30] The party acquires the Dawn Shard, a
piece ofdeifacted Nethicite, from Raithwall's Tomb,
but Ghis seizes it. The small piece of magicite destroys
the Leviathan, Ghis, and his eet, while Ashe and her
party barely escape alive. The company later encounters
Larsa, who seeks a peace treaty between Dalmasca and
the empire; Ashe initially objects, but Larsa convinces
her to pursue a treaty in order to protect Dalmasca. She
goes to Mt. Bur-Omisace to seek Gran Kiltias Anastasis'
approval of her as queen of Dalmasca.* [31]
The party learns in Mt. Bur-Omisace that many other
inuential people also hope to avert war.* [32] Larsa,
who had been investigating Vayne's connection to the
manufacted Nethicite,* [33] had made contact with AlCid Margrace, a member of the Rozarrian Empire ruling family, to convince the two Empires to cease their
war. They plan to announce Ashe's status as Dalmascan
Queen and to persuade the Archadian emperor Gramis
not to go to war, but the plan is thwarted when the Emperor is killed, supposedly by Archadian Senate Chairman Gregoroth, and Vayne assumes the throne of Arcadia.* [34]* [35] With Anastasis' aid, Ashe retrieves the
Sword of Kings, which can destroy Nethicite. While she
obtains the sword, Anastasis is killed by Judge Bergan
and Larsa is brought back to Archadia. After defeating
Bergan, Ashe's party travels to Archades and the Draklor Laboratory, Doctor Cid's base of operations. Cid escapes and leaves clues that lead them to Giruvegan,* [36]
the supposed location of the Sun-cryst, the source of all
deifacted Nethicite.* [37] While the whole party is able to
enter Giruvegan, only Ashe encounters the makers of the
Sun-cryst, the immortal Occuria, who pull the strings
of history"; they give her the Treaty Blade to cut pieces
214
of her own.* [38]

In a cutscene, it is revealed that Doctor Cid's Nethicite
research was augmented by knowledge from the Occurian heretic, Venat, who had allied with Cid and Vayne in
order to put the reins of History back in the hands of
Man.* [39]* [40] Vayne aims to become the new DynastKing by using manufacted Nethicite to conquer all of
Ivalice.* [39] Cid, revealed to be Balthier's father, was obsessed with researching the Nethicite's power after his
own visit to Giruvegan and initial encounter with Venat.* [41] Their expansion campaign which led to the
Dalmasca's occupation and the destruction of the city
of Nabudis was made to obtain and study deifacted
Nethicite.* [42]
Akitoshi Kawazu (left) and Hiroshi Minagawa at the Final Fan-
Ashe is faced with the choice to heed the Occuria and tasy XII London HMV Launch Party in 2007
take pieces of the Sun-cryst for her revenge or to destroy
it and end the Occurian control over history. Still undecided, Ashe and the party travel to the Pharos at Ridorana
Cataract, where the Sun-cryst is located, accompanied
by the pirate Reddas. At the top of the tower they face
Gabranth,* [43] who admits to killing King Raminas in an
attempt to force Ashe to give in to her hate.* [44] After
they overpower him, Cid arrives and ghts the party; they
defeat him, but before he dies he uses Nethicite shards to
harness the full power of the Sun-cryst. Reddas sacrices
himself to destroy it.* [45]
Ashe learns from Al-Cid that a war between Archadia
and the Resistance group led by Marquis Ondore is about
to take place in Rabanastre. The Sky Fortress Bahamut,
an enormous, Nethicite-fueled airship armed with incredibly powerful weapons, had absorbed the incredible
amount of Mist released by the destruction of the Suncryst and now hovers above Rabanastre. Inltrating the
Bahamut with the aid of the Resistance, Basch confronts
Gabranth, who is impressed by Basch's loyalty.* [46] The
party encounters Vayne and Larsa in the midst of an argument over Vayne's plot for power, to which Larsa objects
strongly;* [47] Larsa and Gabranth ally with the party to
destroy Vayne and Venat. After Vayne's defeat, Ashe announces the end of the war,* [48] and Larsa takes over
the Imperial Army.* [49] The party escapes the Bahamut, Promotion at E3 2006
now out of fuel after the nal battle, with Gabranth's body
and Larsa. Balthier and Fran remain on board the Bahamut, steering it away from Rabanastre to prevent a col- 2.20.3 Development
lision, though contact with them is lost.
In the following year, Ashe becomes Queen of Dalmasca,
and Basch replaces Gabranth as Judge Magister, serving
as guardian to Larsa, now Emperor of Archadia. Vaan
acquires his own airship, which he operates with Penelo.
Balthier and Fran escape from Bahamut and survive to
recover the Strahl and go to Bervenia. The game ends
with Vaan and Penelo setting out to visit them, embarking
on another adventure.* [50]
Development for Final Fantasy XII began in December

2000 and was headed by Final Fantasy Tactics director
Yasumi Matsuno and Final Fantasy IX director Hiroyuki
Ito.* [51]* [52]* [53] Matsuno provided the original concept and plot but was forced to bow out of his roles midway through production due to health concerns.* [54] The
team was restructured as a consequence: the new directorial duo consisted of Ito and Hiroshi Minagawa, while
Akitoshi Kawazu of SaGa series fame became the game's
executive producer.* [55]* [56] Series creator Hironobu
Sakaguchi was disappointed by Matsuno's departure and
declined to play the game beyond its introduction.* [57]

The desire to move away from random encounters was
present since the beginning of development.* [58] This
desire fueled the development of the Active Dimension
Battle system so players could seamlessly move from battle to exploration. The gambit system was conceived
early on as a way to facilitate this change.* [58] Battle
system designer Hiroshi Tomomatsu states that it gradually moved away from a complex and rigid formula to
the more exible form seen in the nal version of the
game.* [59] Ito drew inspiration for gambits from plays in
American football where each team member has a specic job to do based on the conditions and desired outcome. As for the license system, he explained that needing licensesto perform certain actions was a natural
extension of the rigid structured society of Archadia, as
epitomized by its Judges.* [58]
At the early stages of development, Minagawa revealed
that numerous ideas and features were planned for the
game, but were dropped from the nal stages due to certain constraints and hardware limitations. Some of these
included the ability for a second player to join in the
gameplay, enabling a two-player mode. Another idea that
was given a considerable amount of thought was the ability to recruit non-player characters to join in the mob
hunts. Due to the technical limitations of the console and
multiple number of characters joining the fray, the development phase took longer than expected, causing delays.* [60]
Design inspiration came from a mix of medieval
Mediterranean countries as demonstrated by the architectural styles found throughout Ivalice along with many of
the races populating the region.* [61] The art team visited
Turkey, which inuenced the game's Mediterranean-style
setting.* [62] The developers also used styles and deco
from other sources including areas in India and New York
City.* [62]* [63] Of note is the use of Sanskrit in the city
of Bhujerba. Phrases such assvagatam(welcome) and
titles like parijanah(guide) are lifted directly from
Sanskrit. Hideo Minaba, developer and co-art director
with Isamu Kamikokury, mentions that the team tried to
bring out Arabic culture in the design of the game.* [64]
War is a prominent theme of the game and the developers conrmed that the cutscene battles are inuenced by
Ancient Rome.* [63] When asked to comment on the fan
observation of a Star Wars inuence, Minaba replied that
although he was a fan of the Star Wars series, it was not
necessarily an inuence to the game's designs.* [62]
Basch was initially meant to be the main character of
the story, but the focus was eventually shifted to Vaan
and Penelo when the two characters were created later
in development.* [65] The development team explained
that their previous game, Vagrant Story, which featured
a strong man in his primeas the protagonist had
been unsuccessful and unpopular; the change regarding
Final Fantasy XII from a big and toughprotagonist
to a younger, youthful one was thus decided after targeting demographics were considered. With the casting of
215
dorama actor Kouhei Takeda for the voice acting and motion capture, Vaan became less feminine and more active, upbeat bright and positive.* [65]* [66] Comments
were made about the similarity between main character designer and background design supervisor Akihiko
Yoshida's creations and those of Tetsuya Nomura, another Square Enix character designer. Yoshida feels
this connection is sparked by the style of color used by
both artists, which involves a color consistency between
the characters and the environments.* [66] The designers stated that non-human characters and races feature
a prominent role in the game,* [64] which was inuenced
by an interest in history among the developers.* [62]
Miwa Shoda wrote a storyline for the game premised on
the basis of the cutscenes and world setting that had already been nished when she joined the team. Scenario
writer Daisuke Watanabe in turn eshed out Shoda's plot
into a script.* [67] During the English localization process, Alexander O. Smith, who had previously worked
on Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy X, acted as producer
and translator.* [68] While still preserving the meaning
behind the Japanese script, Smith made the decision to
use dierent dialects of English to reproduce the regional
dierences in pronunciation found in the Japanese version.* [69]* [70] He also tried to distance the game from
the at readsfound in other dubbed work by casting
voice actors who had experience in theatre work.* [70]
In terms of general changes, the localization team introduced widescreen 16:9 ratio support and reinserted
scenes that were left out of the original Japanese version
for political reasons and to preserve anAll AgesCERO
rating.* [71]* [72]
On November 15, 2005, a playable demo of the game
was shipped with the North American release of Dragon
Quest VIII.* [73] To commemorate the release of Final
Fantasy XII, playable demos of the English version were
available at DigitalLife's Gaming Pavilion in New York
on October 11, 2006, a day dubbed "Final Fantasy XII
Gamer's Day.* [74] Additionally, Square Enix gave fans
the chance to cosplay as characters from Final Fantasy
XII. Each person was asked to show Square Enix three
photos of his or her costume for a chance to win a trip
to New York and participate in the Final Fantasy XII
Gamer's Day event.* [75]
As of July 30, 2008, Final Fantasy XII holds the Guinness
World Record for longest development period in a video
game production. The record states it took a total of ve
years, spanning from 2001 until its release in 2006.* [76]
At a Final Fantasy XII postmortemat MIT in March
2009, Hiroshi Minagawa mentioned that several years of
production were devoted to the creation of custom tools
used for the development of the game.* [77] It was also
listed as 8th on the Guinness top 50 games of all time in
2009.* [78]
216
International Zodiac Job System
which contains 31 songs, includingKiss Me Good-Bye

.* [95]
An international version of the game called Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System was announced
on May 10, 2007.* [79] It would be released in Japan on 2.20.5
August 9, 2007 as part of both Final Fantasy 20th anniversary and Ivalice Alliance.* [80] The game includes
twelve License Boards available (instead of the original
one), each corresponding to a dierent Zodiac sign and
job. The battle system as a whole has been tweaked;
guest characters and summons are controllable by the
player, and holding the L1 button doubles the game's
running speed. Additionally, the game features the English voices and the widescreen 16:9 ratio support of the
North American version, along with a bonus disc based
on the one initially released with the North American
version. There is also a "New Game+" option, New
Game- (minus)" (where characters do not gain experience), and a Trial Modewhich allows the player to
hunt monsters in 100 dierent maps to gain items and
money.* [81]* [82]* [83]* [84]
Merchandise
Bottles of Final Fantasy XII Potions
2.20.4
Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy XII

Hitoshi Sakimoto composed most of the game's soundtrack, with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo creating two and seven tracks respectively. Nobuo Uematsu,
following his departure from Square Enix in 2004, only
contributed the ending song, "Kiss Me Goodbye".* [85]
Sakimoto experienced diculty following in Uematsu's
footsteps, but he decided to create a unique soundtrack in
his own way.* [86]* [87] Kiss Me Good-Byewas performed in both English and Japanese by Angela Aki.* [88]
Uematsu noted Aki's style of playing the keyboard while
singing reminded him of his childhood idol, Elton John,
which was one of the reasons he chose her.* [89] The English version of the song was featured in both the Japanese
and North American versions of the game. In addition to
the theme song, violinist Taro Hakase co-composed, arranged, and performed the game's sta roll theme, Symphonic Poem Hope along with Yuji Toriyama.* [90]
Two promotional soundtracks were released before the
original soundtrack, Symphonic Poem Hope and The
Best of the Final Fantasy XII Soundtrack, on March 1 and
March 15, 2006, respectively. The former contains all
the music used in the game's trailer performed by Taro
Hakase, including Symphonic Poem Hope.* [91] The
original soundtrack itself was released in Japan on May
31, 2006.* [92] It consists of 4 CDs with 100 tracks, and
includes promotional tracks not in the nal version of the
game.* [93] The CD single forKiss Me Good-Byewas
released on the March 15, 2006.* [94] A limited edition
was also released, featuring a DVD containing the music
video forKiss Me Good-Bye.* [94] Tofu Records has
released an abridged version of the original soundtrack,
On March 16, 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment

Japan released a special Final Fantasy XII package, which
contained a PlayStation 2 game system, the Final Fantasy XII game, a standard DualShock controller, and
a vertical console stand.* [96]* [97] The Japanese thirdparty manufacturer Hori also released Final Fantasy XII
memory cards on the day of the game's release; stickers of Final Fantasy XII characters are included.* [98]
Game peripheral maker Logicool (Logitech's Japanese
branch) released a special edition Final Fantasy XII controller alongside the title on March 16.* [99] Suntory produced Final Fantasy XII Potion"a drink containing
such ingredients as royal jelly, chamomile, sage, thyme,
and marjoram. The drinks became commercially available in Japan on March 7, 2006. Suntory also released
a Final Fantasy XII Premium Box, which came with a
Final Fantasy XII collector's card. The Potion was a limited edition product and is no longer available.* [100] Final Fantasy XII was also adapted into a manga by Gin
Amou. Square Enix published the series in a total of ve
tankbon volumes from December 22, 2006 to August
22, 2009.* [101]* [102]
Studio BentStu published three Ultimania books: Final Fantasy XII Battle Ultimania and the Final Fantasy
XII Scenario Ultimania on June 16, 2006, and Final Fantasy XII Ultimania on November 24, 2006. The Battle Ultimania provides a description and analysis of the
new battle system and its components, and developer
interviews.* [103] The Scenario Ultimania describes the
main scenarios in the game, proles on the characters
and areas in Ivalice, developer interviews, and details on
each location.* [103] The last guide, the Ultimania , includes voice actor interviews, the complete story of Final Fantasy XII including additional character proles,
a collection of artworks and illustrations, the complete
217
play guide,* [104] and a novella written by Benny Matsuyama, author of Hoshi wo Meguru Otome from the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Guide.* [105] Another Ultimania edition, the Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System Ultimania, was released on September
6, 2007, as a guide book for the international version of
the game.* [106] On December 18, 2012 the game was
the sometimes tedious back and forth travel. On the other

hand, GameSpot took particular note of the excellent
voice cast.* [119] IGN praised the game's rich storyline
and artistic direction, shown through its sheer depth of
character. It also assuaged criticism that the gambit system would let the game play itself, countering that
gambits do not function without a player. However, it
noted that, whilestill extremely strong, Final Fantasy
XII has one of the series' weaker soundtracks.* [121]
For the North American release, aCollector's Edition

was available through GameStop and EB Games.* [108]
This edition includes the original game packaged in a
metallic case along with a special bonus disc, which
contains Final Fantasy XII developer interviews, an art
gallery, U.S. and Japanese trailers, and a featurette entitled History of Final Fantasy", which gives a brief
overview of most released and upcoming Final Fantasy
games.* [109] On January 26, 2007, Square Enix Product Blog revealed full-color Gabranth, Ashe, Balthier, and
Vaan gures.* [110]
Executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu was pleased by

Famitsu's rating but admitted that he thought the game
was not perfect; he felt that the storyline did not meet
some fans' expectations.* [136] Kawazu expressed his
frustration and regrets regarding the storyline, citing creative dierences between the PlayOnline and Final Fantasy Tactics members of the development team.* [137]
2.20.6
Reception
Final Fantasy XII sold more than 1,764,000 copies in its

rst week in Japan, almost equaling the sales of Final
Fantasy X in its rst week.* [128] A Square Enix conference report stated that Final Fantasy XII sold more
than 2.38 million copies in Japan in the two weeks since
its March 16, 2006 release.* [129] In North America, Final Fantasy XII shipped approximately 1.5 million copies
in its rst week.* [130] As of March 2007, the game has
shipped over 5.2 million copies worldwide.* [131] It was
the fourth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of 2006 worldwide.* [132]
On March 16, 2006, Final Fantasy XII became the sixth
game to receive a perfect score from the Japanese gaming
magazine Famitsu, making it the rst Final Fantasy game
and the rst PlayStation 2 title to do so. It is also the
second Yasumi Matsuno title to garner a perfect score,
the rst being Vagrant Story. The game was praised for
its graphics, scenarios, game system, and the freshness
it brought to the Final Fantasy series.* [117] The game
was critically acclaimed by many reviewers outside of
Japan even before its release in those territories. It was
praised for its seamless transitions between full motion
video segments and the in-game engine,* [133] and was
voted number one for Best Art Style on IGN's weekly
Top Ten.* [134] Newtype USA named Final Fantasy XII
its Game of the Monthfor November 2006, praised
the gameplay, graphics, and story, and called itthe best
RPG to have been released for any Sony platform.* [135]
Although GameSpot lauded the gambit and license systems as an innovative and in-depth way for the player
to control the characters, it criticized them for being
too complicated and dicult to adjust to, especially for
newer players of the series. The reviewer also criticized
Final Fantasy XII was named best PlayStation 2 game and

best role-playing game by numerous video game journals and websites, including GameSpot, GameSpy and
IGN.* [126]* [127]* [138]* [139] Both Edge and Famitsu
awarded it Game of the Year 2006.* [123]* [124] The
Japan Game Awards 2006 honored Final Fantasy XII
with theirGrand AwardandAward for Excellence
and the PlayStation Awards 2006 bestowed theDouble
Platinum Prize.* [125]* [140]* [141] It was selected for
the listTop 100 New Japanese Styles, a list ofproducts and services originating in Japan to serve as a mark
of excellence.* [142]* [143] Final Fantasy XII also received nominations in such categories as best role-playing
game, story, art direction, character design and original musical score at the Interactive Achievement Awards,
Game Developers Choice Awards, BAFTA Video Games
Awards, Spike Video Game Awards, and the Satellite
Awards.* [144]* [145]* [146]* [147]* [148]
Legacy
A sequel to Final Fantasy XII was released for the
Nintendo DS in 2007, entitled Final Fantasy XII:
Revenant Wings. It takes place one year after the
events of Final Fantasy XII, following the adventures of
Vaan.* [149] This game became one of four titles in the
Ivalice Alliance, along with the international version of
Final Fantasy XII.* [150] Fortress, a spin-o action game
initially developed by Grin, was intended to take place in
Ivalice following the events of Revenant Wings and to be
a game with an epic scale both in story and production
values.* [151]* [152] After six months of development,
Square Enix reclaimed the project without paying GRIN,
due to concerns over the quality of the work, which led to
GRIN declaring bankruptcy.* [153]* [154] Although rumored to be in development at a dierent studio, at an
interview at E3 2011, Fortress was ocially declared to
besuspendedby Motomu Toriyama, director of Final
Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, claiming that it willnever
be released.* [155] In 2009, BioWare cited Final Fantasy XII's 'Gambit System' as an inuence on their role-
218
playing game Dragon Age: Origins.* [156]
2.20.7
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(Future plc). December 2006.
tasy XII: Tofu Records Visit. IGN. Retrieved 2007-0310.
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Media): 126. November 2006.
[96] Gantayat, Anoop (2006-01-06). Final Fantasy XII PS2
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[116] Fahey, Rob (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII.
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In Famitsu. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
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[98] Winkler, Chris (2006-02-17).FFXII Memory Card An- [118] Juba, Joe (2006-10-30).Game Informer review. Game
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[99] Winkler, Chris (2006-01-15). FFXII PS2 Controller
Announced in Japan. RPGFan. Retrieved 2007-03-24. [119] Kasavin, Greg (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII for
PlayStation 2 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-0304.
[100] Gantayat, Anoop (2006-01-19).Final Fantasy XII Drink
Dated. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
[120] Review: Final Fantasy XII. GameTrailers. 30 October
2006. Retrieved 20 March 2006.
[101] 12 1 (in Japanese). ISBN
4757518307.
[121] Dunham, Jeremy (27 October 2006). Final Fantasy XII
review. IGN. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
[102] 12 5 (in Japanese). ISBN
4757526504.
[122]Review: Final Fantasy XII (page 68)". PlayStation Ocial Magazine (UK) (Future plc). January 2007.
[103] Studio BentStu (2006-04-21). "
XII
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XII
Online. 2006-12-19. Archived from the original on 20071100 ". Studio BentStu.
01-26. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
[124] 2006
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(in Japanese). Famitsu.com.
XII
2007-04-20. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
". Studio
BentStu. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
[125] Awarded Games: Final Fantasy XII. Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA). Retrieved 2010[105] Team Animefringe (2005-12-01). The Legacy of Final
01-19.
Fantasy VII. animefringe.com. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
[126] GameSpot's Best Games and Worst Games of 2006.
[106] Studio BentStu (2007-08-06). "
GameSpot. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
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". Studio [127] IGN Sta (2006). IGN.com presents the Best of 2006
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. Kotaku. Retrieved 30 June 2012.

Ocial website (North America)
2.21 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant

Wings
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (
XII Fainaru Fantaj Revananto Uingu) is a real-time strategy RPG developed by Think & Feel and published by Square Enix for
the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to the best-selling 2006
PlayStation 2 role-playing game Final Fantasy XII.
One year after the events of Final Fantasy XII, the protagonist Vaan is now a sky pirate possessing his own airship.
[145] 7th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards. Game He is joined in a new quest by his friend and navigator
Developers Choice Awards. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
Penelo, other returning characters from the original title, along with new characters such as Llyud, a member
[146] Games Nominations 2007. British Academy of Film
and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 2010- of the Aegyl race who have wings protruding from their
backs.* [4] Their treasure-hunting adventures take them
01-31. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
to the purvama (oating continent) of Lemurs and the
[147] Surette, Tim (2006-12-09).Oblivion nabs Spike TV top ground below, where the story begins.
honors. GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
[148] Nominees and Winners: 2006 11th Annual SATELLITE Awards.
International Press Academy.
2010-03-21.
[149] IGN Sta (2006-09-21). TGS 2006: Final Fantasy XII
Update. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-21.
[150] Winkler, Chris (2006-12-13). Square Enix announces
FF Tactics for the PSP and Another New FFT Game.
Revenant Wings is the rst title announced in the Ivalice

Alliance series of video games. The North American release of the game was rebalanced to be more dicult than
the Japanese version, and was released on November 20,
2007.* [5]
2.21.1 Gameplay
After completing a prologue sequence, the player starts

the game with an airship, named after their clan (with
a default name of Galbana, or Beiluge (
[151] Robinson, Andy (January 18, 2010). Final Fantasy XII
) in the Japanese version). The airship is used as a base
spin-o leaked. Computer and Video Games. Retrieved
where the player can check on their current mission and
January 19, 2010.
view other tasks, customize equipment in the synthesis
[152] Albihn, Bjrn (September 7, 2009). Bjrn Albihn - shop, or travel between the four islands of Lemurs. The
Character Artist. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
airship's interior can also be customized by the player.* [6]
2.21. FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS
223
Battle system
essary for the synthesis process. Only leader characters

can obtain the materials, of which can be synthesized into
Revenant Wings is a real-time strategy game, but with ele- weapons and armor and the stats of being dependent on
ments reminiscent of the turn-based Final Fantasy Tactics the materials' grade.* [9]
and Tactics Advance.* [7] It can be played entirely with the
Nintendo DS stylus. Battles are initiated when the player
begins a mission or chooses to ght a melee battle in a
2.21.2 Plot
particular area. The characters attack automatically once
the enemy is within range. The player is given the option
to give commands to the characters by tapping on them Setting
with the stylus. Possible commands include changing the
character's target, setting their gambit, or using various Main article: Ivalice
abilities.* [8]
Each character is distinguished according to three types: A few locations in the Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII and
melee, ranged and ying. Melee characters attack at a Final Fantasy Tactics Advance return in Revenant Wings,
close range, and ranged from afar, while ying are able along with a new setting: Lemurs, described in the ofto travel unbound to terrain. The types oppose each other cial website as a legendary purvama (oating continent)
in the manner where melee wins over ranged, ranged wins raised into the skies by the god Feolthanos long before the
events of the game. Because of the eect of Cloudstones
over ying and ying wins over melee.* [9]
orAuraliths, magical stones used to erect barriers, this
purvama is shielded from the rest of the world. In time,
theLegend of the Floating Landbecame an ambition
Summoning
for sky pirates who seek the island and what riches are on
Summoning magic returns from Final Fantasy XII in it. The ruins of Lemurs are where the Aegyl reside; the
Revenant Wings and has a larger role; director Motomu Aegyl are a human-like race with wings sprouting from
Toriyama stated that Revenant Wings has more summons, their backs and a life-span of forty years. Due to being
or Espers, than any previous Final Fantasy game.* [4] shielded within Lemurs, the Aegyl have no knowledge
Summon abilities are learned via the new Ring of Pacts of the outside world but what they learn from intruding
system, which is used to allow the summoning of Espers. sky pirates.
Each slot in the Ring of Pacts is placed with an Auracite to The magicite in Lemurs are known as Auracite. Fragcreate a pact with the Esper.* [9] The number of summons ments of Auralith, Auracites are used in the Ring of Pacts
available to the player is fty-one, and they are classied to summon beasts known as the Yarhi, referred by others
in dierent categories, with each character able to sum- of Ivalice as Espers.* [9] However, extended use of Aumon a large number depending on the party's combined racite can purge the user of his or her anima, which becapacity.* [10]
comes a new Yarhi and continues the cycle until the user
Summoning Espers to aid in battle is accomplished by
using a Summon Gate located in the play eld area. The
ability to summon the dierent creatures depend on the
Anity of the player characters. Additionally, two Espers per character are automatically summoned at the beginning of each battle where Espers are allowed. Espers
can be linked to battle groups using a system reminiscent
of the earlier Square game Bahamut Lagoon. Summons
are ranked from 1 to 3, with Rank 1 and 2 able to manifest
in large numbers, as opposed to Rank 3 which summons
only one entity. Before the battle begins, players can select up to ve Espers to possibly summon through Esper
Gates in the upcoming battle (Esper Troupes); one Rank
3 Esper, two Rank 2 Espers, and two Rank 1 Espers.
Summons are also dierentiated by varying elements,
which are re, water, earth, and lightning. Recovery and
non-elemental are two other types.* [9]
becomes a soulless shell.
Characters
See also: Characters of Final Fantasy XII
Revenant Wings added four additional main playable
characters to the six in Final Fantasy XII: Kytes and
Filo, two orphans from Rabanastre; Llyud, a resident
of Lemures; and Ba'Gamnan, a sinister bounty hunter
who has a grudge against Vaan and company for having involved themselves in his aairs during the rst
game. Kytes and Filo appeared as a NPCs in XII, while
Ba'Gamnan had been a recurring antagonist. All three
characters gain larger roles in this game.* [11]
Summon designs have also been changed. The lizard design of Salamander, for example, was changed to be boarlike to ensure the designs would come out well and disSynthesizing
tinguishable within the DS' graphical capabilities. Each
summon has three Ranks,* [10] and the designs of each
An element of alchemy and synthesizing is used in the Rank are so that there are relations between one Rank
game, where the player obtains recipes and materials nec- and another.* [11]
224

of the rst auralith, the Judge of Wings destroys the auralith, leading Vaan and his friends to have visions of
Balthier confronting the Judge of Wings and losing, after
which they hear sky pirates are gathering at the Skysea,
and they go there to nd Rikken, a friend of Vaan's. He
says he may know something about the Judge of Wings,
but to get answers, Vaan must compete in Rikken's tournament.
After saving Rikken, it is revealed Rikken knows nothing about the Judge, but Tomaj discovers there is an auracite shrine beneath the Skysea. When venturing there,
the group encounters Ba'Gamnan who kidnaps Filo, taking her deeper within the shrine. When the group catches
up with him, Rikken agrees to help rescue Filo, and once
she is rescued, the party moves on to confront the esper
Belias, the Gigas, that was summoned by the Judge of
Wings. Once defeated, the Judge summons the massive
esper Bahamut, who destroys the Skysea, and the party
becomes island-trapped.
Ryoma It's design for Vaan
While stranded, the group meets Velis, a man who was at

Nalbina and got lost while searching for his lover, Mydia.
After a lot of character development, it is discovered Velis
is, in fact, dead, and actually an esper who you later must
battle when the Judge of Wings comes and controls him.
After Velis is defeated (as the esper Odin), it is discovered
the Judge of Wings is Mydia, but she then ees the island.
Tomaj runs to the group, tells them the airship is xed,
and that he has spotted the Strahl, Balthier's ship.
When the group nds the ship, they nd Fran, who says
Balthier is within a mountain on the island they are now
Story
on. Once inside, the group discovers an auralith, and the
group plus Fran must defeat Mydia and the esper Mateus
Revenant Wings begins a year after the events of Final
while protecting Balthier. Once defeated, Mydia ees
Fantasy XII, with Vaan ying his own airship with Penelo
without destroying the auralith, but Balthier then turns
after Balthier and Franstolethe Strahl. The foursome is
on the group and destroys the auralith, which sends the
revisited in Bervenia and decide to accompany each other
party into an illusion.
inside to obtain the Cache of Glabados.* [12]
While within the illusion, the team discovers the Aegyl
While obtaining a treasure, two strange crystals, the
are so emotionless because they are deprieved of anima,
building begins to collapse on itself. In the ensuing chaos,
which is harvested by their god, Feolthanos, and stored
Vaan loses his airship and are forced to ee the site on
in the auraliths. It is discovered this illusion is the world
Balthier's airship. Balthier soon drops Vaan and Penelo
of the espers, and they nd Velis, who makes everything
back in Rabanastre where they, along with Kytes and Filo,
clear: Mydia is a body, stripped of its anima, controlled
witness a strange object ying overhead: a derelict airby Feolthanos to reap anima for him, and if the auraliths
ship. After sneaking aboard the airship and defeating
are destroyed, the Aegyl's anima will return and as such,
the Bangaa headhunter Ba'Gamnan, Vaan and company
they must destroy the auraliths.
christen the airship whatever the player decides (default
Galbana) and nd themselves on the purvama Lemurs Once awoken from the illusion, Vaan confronts Balthby accident. While looking around the unknown ruins, ier, who already knew these newly discovered facts, and
they meet Llyud of the Aegyl race and learn his people Balthier and Fran join the team. The group then nds
are locked in battle with sky pirates who are raiding the is- the Leviathan, the ship of Queen Ashe and Judge Magland for treasure. Lemurs is said to possess summoning ister Basch, who join the team as they venture through
crystals called Auracite. Deciding to aid the Aegyl in de- Ivalice, Emperor Larsa also joining. Mydia, as it turns
fending Lemurs, Vaan's group learns the pirates were re- out, is a Feol Viera, more commonly known as an Excruited by the mysterious Judge of Wings, who seeks out iled, of which have white skin and shorter ears and hair
the three Auraliths, grand masses of Auracite that protect as compared to the normal Viera who are darker-skinned
and longer-haired. While in Roda Volcano, the team batLemurs from the outside world.
tles Mydia and the esper Chaos, and, as Mydia takes her
When the group confronts the Judge of Wings at the site
2.21. FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS
225
dying breath, requests the team go to Feolthanos' palace 2.21.4 Audio

above Lemurs and kill him. Her anima guides them up
as they prepare to open the nal chapter of their story.
Revenant Wings was scored by Final Fantasy XII comAbove Lemurs, the team battles reincarnations of dead poser Hitoshi Sakimoto, joined by Kenichiro Fukui, who
Aegyl, and then battle the reincarnated form of Mydia's had arranged the English version of "Kiss Me Goodanima, while discovering Feolthanos, the god, is, him- Bye". Most of the music for the game is arrangements
self, the last auralith. When the team ventures all the from the previous title. While the Nintendo DS has more
way to the seat of Feolthanos' power, they battle him and technical limitations than the PlayStation 2, Sakimoto
*
the anima-stripped Aegyl he commands. When he is al- considers it not particularly noticeable in practice. [16]
most defeated, he summons Bahamut to do battle with
the team. After his giant shrine is destroyed, there is a
one-on-one battle between Vaan and Feolthanos in which
Feolthanos is apparently stronger, but as Vaan begins to
lose, his friends come to back him up: rst Ashe and
Basch, Balthier and Fran, then Filo and Kytes, Llyud, and
nally Penelo---the only battle in the game where every
group leader is involved. In the end, Llyud deals the nal blow to Feolthanos, releasing all the remaining stored
anima.
Unlike in Final Fantasy XII, the music is entirely dynamic

and context-dependent. Each track possesses dierent
parts, ranging from musical themes of peaceful moments
to frantic battle cries, which are activated when the actions of the players require it and are looped until the
context is changed again.* [17]
After the end of the battle with Feolthanos, the game

ends, and the characters going their separate ways as
the credits roll is shown. If 100% game completion is
reached then you are treated to an extended ending which
shows Vaan and Penelo leaving together as a couple on a
new adventure only to be interrupted by Filo, Kytes and
Tomaj with some Yarhi and Cuit Sith in toe.
As of August 8, 2008, Revenant Wings has sold 1.04 million units worldwide, with 540,000 units sold in Japan,
220,000 units in North America, and 280,000 in Europe.* [20] It was the best-selling Japanese console game
in the week of its release, then the second best-selling in
the following week.* [21]
2.21.5 Reception
The Japanese version of the game scored 32/40 in the

Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.* [22] The game also
received praise from reviewers of Dengeki DS & Wii Style.
Praise was given to the mission-based storyline and battles for being simple and more involved. The large
number of characters who can enter the fray at one given
2.21.3 Development
time gives a sense of involvement for the player as if they
were close to the action, and the game's diculty
The game was directed and its story written by Motomu
may appeal even to those who do not normally play
Toriyama, who also directed Final Fantasy X-2 and Final
role-playing games. The only criticism found was with
Fantasy XIII.* [13] According to Toriyama, the game is
the usage of the stylus, as its usage in selecting areas on
aimed at Nintendo DS owners who are not experienced
the battleeld can be dicult.* [23]
with Final Fantasy games, and will removeoverly complicated elements from the battle system...that will allow The North American version of the game scored mainly
[the player] to defeat the enemies with minimal controls. positive reviews. Nintendo Power gave it a 7.5/10, IGN
*
gave it an 8.3/10, 1up gave it a B+,* [24] GameSpot and
[14]
GameZone both gave it an 8.5/10, and X-Play gave it a
The game features a sprite-based graphics engine with 3D
4/5.
backgrounds and character designs by Ryoma It (Final
Fantasy Tactics Advance). Producer Eisuke Yokoyama Electronic Gaming Monthly also gave it generally favorcited Warcraft and Age of Empires as sources of inspi- able reviews, with sta giving it scores of 8, 7.5, and 6 (all
ration and expressed a desire to extract the pure 'fun' out of 10). The reviewers praised the game's combination
of those gamesand bring it to Final Fantasy.* [15] It of role-playing and strategy, but criticized the screen size
based some of his designs on those of Final Fantasy XII relative to the amount of action.* [25] IGN named it Nincharacter designer Akihiko Yoshida. It traded se- tendo DS Game of the Month for November 2007.* [26]
cretswith him, with the condence he gained from Final Fantasy XII creator Yasumi Matsuno's praise on his
tampering with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance's Moogle 2.21.6 See also
designs.* [11]
For the North American localization, Revenant Wings 2.21.7 References
was rebalanced to make it more dicult because the
North American market is judged as more familiar [1] Work(in Japanese). Think & Feel. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
with the real-time strategy genre.* [15]
226
[2] Square Enix sta (2007-07-09). Square Enix brings [20] Annual Report 2008. Square-Enix.com. August 8,
together fresh new faces and timeless classics at E3 2007
2008. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
. Square Enix NA. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
[21] Top 30 Japanese Console Game Chart. The Magic
[3] Matt Berti (2007-12-05). A mlange of release dates
Box. 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
for Europe. Square Haven. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
[22] Parkin, Simon (May 28, 2007).First Impressions - Final
[4] Gantayat, Anoop (October 30, 2006). Final Fantasy
Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. Eurogamer. Eurogamer
XII Revenant Wings Update. IGN. News Corporation.
Network. p. 2. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
Retrieved October 31, 2006.
[23] Gantayat, Anoop (April 16, 2007). FFXII: Revenant
[5] Jeriaska (2007-07-14). Square Enix gesticulates in reWings Reviewed. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved
gards to Revenant Wings bonus content. Retrieved
April 16, 2007.
2007-07-15.
[24] Parish, Jeremy (2007-11-16). Final Fantasy XII:
[6] soul (April 4, 2007). New Revenant Wings Scans
Revenant Wings. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
. Forever Fantasy. Archived from the original on
2007-08-26.. Archived from the original on September [25] Electronic Gaming Monthly, Issue 223; HOL. 2007
27, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
[26] Harris, Craig (2007-11-30). Nintendo DS Game of the
Month: November 2007. IGN. News Corporation. Re[7] Sullivan, Meghan (May 1, 2007). Final Fantasy XII
trieved 2007-12-01.
Revenant Wings: Pre-Battle Jitters. IGN. News Corporation. pp. 12. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
[8] Xcomp (December 7, 2006). FFXII: Revenant Wings,
Battle System and the Egul Race. Xcomp's Yuuenchi. Archived from the original on 2006-12-13..
GameBrink.Com. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
[9] Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings (in Japanese).
Square Enix. 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
[10] Morcos, Antoine (March 2, 2007). FFXII : Revenant
Wings : les invocations. Jeux-France.com (in French).
Presslite. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
[11] Balistrieri, Emily (March 16, 2007). Previews: FFXII:
Revenant Wings. 1Up.com. Zi Davis. Retrieved
March 30, 2007.
[12] Balthier's note: Something more valuable: the Cache of
Glabados. I await in Bervenia.Square Enix (2006-10-31).
Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
[13] Freund, Josh (September 20, 2006). Final Fantasy
XII: Revenant Wings (DS) scan, details - Update #1.
GamesAreFun.com. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
[14] IGN Sta (September 21, 2006).TGS 2006: Final Fantasy XII Update. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved
September 21, 2006.
[15] Harris, Craig (May 16, 2007). Interview: Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
[16] Shea, Cam (February 15, 2007). Hitoshi Sakimoto AU
Interview. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved July 6,
2007.

Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings ocial website
for Japan (Japanese)
Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings ocial website
for North America
2.22 Fabula Nova Crystallis Final

Fantasy
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy (
Fabura
Nova Kurisutarisu Fainaru Fantaj ) is a series of games
developed and published by Square Enix. A subseries
stemming from the main Final Fantasy series, made in
the same vein as the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII,
Fabula Nova Crystallis is a series of games featuring various worlds and dierent characters, but each game is ultimately based on and expands upon a common mythos
focusing around important crystals tied to deities. This
mythos can be freely interpreted by the teams developing the games. The series title translates from Latin as
'The New Tale of the Crystal'. The original titles in the
series were handled by Square Enix's 1st Production Department.
The series, ocially announced in 2006 as Fabula Nova

Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII, currently consists of six
[17] Kulata, Kurt (May 16, 2007). Second thoughts on Final games across multiple platforms. Final Fantasy XIII, deFantasy XII: Revenant Wings. Siliconera. Retrieved July signed as the series' agship title, was released in 2009.
The series contains both standard role-playing games and
6, 2007.
action role-playing games. The creative forces behind
[18] Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings reviews on GameRthe series include many developers from previous Final
ankings. GameRankings. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
Fantasy titles, including Shinji Hashimoto and Motomu
[19] Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings reviews on Meta- Toriyama. The mythos was conceived and written by
critic. Metacritic. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
Kazushige Nojima. Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy
2.22. FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS FINAL FANTASY

XV (as Versus XIII) were the rst ones to be conceived,
with Final Fantasy Type-0 (as Agito XIII) coming later.
All three games went through delays for various reasons.
After XIII and Type-0 's releases, their respective teams
used ideas and concepts from development to create additional games. For later games, other studios have been
brought in to help with aspects of development.
Of the six announced titles in the series, XV is the only
one yet to be released. Those released in Japan and the
west have generally received a positive reception and high
sales, although opinions have been more mixed over various aspects of the three XIII games. Reception of the
mythos' use in the released games has been mixed: while
some critics called it confusing or too similar to the lore
of the main series, others were impressed by its scope
and use. The series is complemented by works in related media, including companion books, novelizations,
and mangas.
2.22.1
Titles
227
towns, a nonlinear story structure, mini-games and
other similar features.* [15]
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, a sequel
to XIII and XIII-2, was released on November 21,
2013 in Japan, February 11, 2014 in North America,
and February 14, 2014 in Europe.* [16] It concludes
both the story of the main character Lightning and
the Final Fantasy XIII story arc.* [17] Lightning Returns blends several traditional RPG features, such
as shops, quests and an explorable open world, with
an action-oriented combat system.* [18]
Final Fantasy Agito, a prequel to Type-0,* [19] was
released on May 14, 2014 in Japan on Android and
iOS smartphones, and a port for the PlayStation Vita
is in development.* [20]* [21] It is being localized for
a western release.* [22] It is an episodic game featuring single-player and multi-player modes and a social system where the player's standing with NPCs
advances their rank in-game.* [23]
Games
Upcoming titles
Final Fantasy XIII, the thirteenth core Final Fantasy game and the rst title in the series, was released
in Japan as a PlayStation 3 exclusive on December
17, 2009, while it was released on the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360 on March 9, 2010 in North America
and Europe.* [3] A version of the game for the Xbox
360, Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International,
was released in Japan on December 16, 2010.* [4]
It was released as a digital download for Microsoft
Windows on October 9, 2014.* [5] The game was
designed to be a story-driven single-player RPG,* [6]
with a battle system designed to emulate the cinematic battles seen in the lm Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.* [7]
Final Fantasy Type-0 (originally known as Final
Fantasy Agito XIII) was released on October 27,
2011 in Japan.* [8] An HD remaster, 'Type-0 HD,
is to be released worldwide across March 2015.* [9]
The original game features a real-time action RPG,
featuring combat similar to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and a multiplayer option where online
players can take control of characters during the
majority of the game.* [10]* [11] Type-0 HD features updated graphics and changes to the gameplay,
such as lower diculty and the removal of multiplayer.* [12]* [13]
Final Fantasy XIII-2, a direct sequel to XIII, was
released on December 15, 2011 in Japan, January
31, 2012 in North America and February 3, 2012 in
Europe.* [14] In response to criticism the company
received for XIII 's linear structure, XIII-2 was designed to be a more traditional RPG, with explorable
Final Fantasy XV (originally known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII), the fteenth core Final Fantasy
title and the third main title in the subseries, was announced in the same year as XIII and Type-0. The
game is an action RPG, with a battle system very
similar to the Kingdom Hearts series,* [24] while also
incorporating third-person shooter elements similar
to Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII,* [25] and
enabling the player to commandeer and control enemy mechs.* [26] The game also uses an open world
design.* [27]
Related media
The stories told in the games have been expanded and
complemented in other media. Final Fantasy XIII had
a small book of short stories titled Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero, telling of events prior to the game's start.
Originally released online through the game's Japanese
website from September 2009 onwards, it was released
in print on December 12 of the same year.* [28]* [29] A
second novella titled Episode i was published via XIII2 's ocial website, bridging the narrative gap between
XIII and XIII-2.* [30] After XIII-2 's Japanese release, two
books were released detailing events not shown or described in the game: Fragments Before, released on December 15, 2011:* [31] and Fragments After, released on
21 June 2012.* [32] Only Episode i has received an ocial
English translation and release as a pre-order bonus for
the game from American electronics store Best Buy.* [33]
Lightning Returns was also set to receive a prequel novel
by Benny Matsuyama alongside the game's Japanese release in November 2013,* [34] however this was later can-
228
celled due to the author falling ill.* [35] Later, a three-part
novella exclusive to Famitsu Weekly magazine titled Final Fantasy XIII Reminiscence: tracer of memories, was
released across June and July 2014, written by Daisuke
Watanabe and taking place immediately after the ending
of Lightning Returns.* [36] All the stories were later released online.* [37]
Once in the Unseen Realm, Etro nds Mwynn being consumed by a force called chaos, which threatens to destroy
reality: as Mwynn fades, she tells Etro to protect the balance between the worlds. Etro gives humans pieces of
chaos as their souls, maintaining the balance through their
death and reincarnation. Since then, humans have either
worshiped or feared Pulse and Lindzei, and refer to Etro
*
Final Fantasy Type-0 received a prequel manga adapta- as the goddess of death. [54] The deities, such as Etro,
hold similar roles in the various games, but are not the
tion drawn by Takatoshi Shiozawa. It became publica*
tion in the November 2011 of Young Gangan and was same characters in a narrative sense. [47]
collected into a single volume and released on April 21, A recurring race in the games are god-like beings created
2012.* [38]* [39] The manga was translated into English by Pulse and Lindzei to act as their servants in the morand released as part of the western collector's edition for tal world. In the original mythos and XIII, the demigods
Type-0 HD, available exclusively through Square Enix's are called fal'Cie /flsi/. They take the form of crystalonline store.* [40] A second manga following one of the powered mechanical beings in the XIII games.* [55] In
game's secondary characters began in May 2012. The the universe of Type-0, they are both semi-sentient cryslatter manga was created by Shiozawa under direct su- tals and humanoid beings living among the people.* [56]
pervision by Tetsuya Nomura.* [41] The manga ended in The fal'Cie have the ability to imbue chosen humans with
January 2014, with a bonus chapter released in February magical powers and assign them a task to complete eiof the same year.* [42]* [43] Two novels detailing an al- ther willingly or unwillingly. XIII and Type-0 refer to
ternate version of Type-0 were released on April 21 and these people as l'Cie /lsi/ and the task given to them
June 28, 2012.* [44]* [45] Ultimania guide and compan- as a Focus. In the XIII universe, there are two possible
ion books have been released for the majority of released outcomes for l'Cie: once their Focus is fullled, they can
games.* [46]
go into 'crystal stasis', transforming into a crystal statue,
and gain eternal life, but if they fail they become mindless
crystalline monsters called Cie'th.* [57] In Type-0, l'Cie
2.22.2 Themes
are branded by the crystal of their country, and given
great power to fulll their assigned Focus. Despite beWhile the settings, continuities and plots of the games ing given eternal youth, l'Cie can lose their memories and
are unrelated to each other and vary greatly, there are eventually forget their Focus.* [58] The crystals also erase
many common elements and themes which tie them the memories of the dead from the population to prevent
together.* [47] The rst is a common theme of harm- them being held back by regrets.* [59] In XV, they are
ful interference by the mythos deities in the aairs humans who have suered a near-death experience and
of humans, and those humans' choosing whether to received magical powers from the Unseen Realm.* [60]
accept or challenge the predetermined fates given to
them.* [48]* [49]* [50]* [51] Nomura dened the underly- A common element not related to the mythos, themes or
ing story theme as a battle of the gods that lies be- plots of the series is the use of Latin in the games' titles
hind each tale and gives it inspiration in a dierent way. or worlds, often as key words to describing themes and
*
series title translates as 'The New Tale
[52] The second unifying factor is the structure of the story points: the
*
of
the
Crystal',
[61]
'Agito' roughly translates as to put
Fabula Nova Crystallis universe, which is divided in two:
*
into
motion,
[62]
while
'Versus' translates as both to
the mortal world (the land of the living) and the Unseen
*
*
turn
aroundand
against.
[63] The 'Agito' title was
Realm. [49] The games share the same mythology, interkept
within
the
Type-0
universe
with both an in-universe
preted dierently and referred to in varying degrees for
*
*
concept
and
the
title
of
its
prequel.
[64]* [65] 'Versus' was
each of the game worlds. [53]
also preserved in the game, and early trailers for the game
In the mythology, the god Bhunivelze ( carried the tagline 'A World of the Versus Epic' at their
Bniberuze) seizes control of the mortal world by killing end.* [66] Commenting on the high use of Latin in XV
his mother, the creator goddess Mwynn ( Muin), prior to its public name change, Nomura stated that he
who vanishes into the Unseen Realm. Believing that the wanted something that the majority of people would note
mortality of the world is Mwynn's curse, Bhunivelze cre- and appreciate, as Latin was no longer a widely spoken
ates three new deities to search for the gate to the Un- language and had gained a sense of mystery.* [67]
seen Realm so he can control both worlds. The rst deity, Pulse ( Parusu), is tasked with terraforming
the world; the second deity, Etro ( Etoro), is dis- 2.22.3 Production
carded because of her resemblance to Mwynn; the third
deity, Lindzei ( Rinze), acts as his protector. Bhu- Creation
nivelze then enters a deep sleep, while Lindzei and Pulse
carry out their missions. Distraught at being abandoned, The concept for the Fabula Nova Crystallis series origiEtro kills herself, and humans are born from her blood. nated while Final Fantasy X-2 and the original Kingdom

Hearts were being completed. Wondering where to go
after the completion of Final Fantasy XII, it was decided
to build upon the idea of multiple games connected by a
single theme. This came from the Compilation of Final
Fantasy VII, a multimedia subseries featuring the world
and characters of Final Fantasy VII. Whereas the common link in the Compilation was VII, the team chose to
focus on the tale of new crystals, with the themes
and mythos connecting the games rather than an overarching narrative.* [68] Another key idea behind the mythos
was to make future Final Fantasy games easier to make
as there would already be an established mythos to draw
on.* [69] Scenario writer Kazushige Nojima began creating the original mythology for the Fabula Nova Crystallis
series, which took approximately one year.* [70] During
his work, he received creative input from game producers
Shinji Hashimoto and Yoshinori Kitase, as well as Nomura, Motomu Toriyama and Hajime Tabata.* [63] Nojima wrote a series bible about the mythology, explaining
concepts such as the fal'Cie and l'Cie and the feelings of
the gods who created them.* [1]* [70] This bible became
the basis for a video animated by Yusuke Naora's art team
to showcase the Fabula Nova Crystallis story in 2011.* [1]
229
Fantasy XIII, the three titles were announced at E3 2006,
with Agito XIII being a mobile phone title similar to Before Crisis and the other two being PS3 exclusives.* [79]
XIII was worked on by team members who had also
worked on Final Fantasy VII, VIII and X,* [80]* [81] Agito
XIII was handled by Tabata and Kosei Ito, the respective
director and producer of Before Crisis,* [82] while Versus
XIII 's development was headed by the team behind the
console Kingdom Hearts games.* [83] XIII and Versus XIII
were intended to form the core of the series, with each
supporting and future game being afacetof XIII.* [61]
Agito XIII and Versus XIII both began production in
2006,* [79] and all three titles went through extensive
changes and delays during production; by 2008, Agito
XIII had been moved onto the PlayStation Portable,* [84]
then later renamed Type-0 to distance it from Final Fantasy XIII while keeping it within the mythos.* [85] The
reason was that, in the view of Square Enix, the game
had little to do with the world and story of XIII: the title change also resulted in the XIIInumeral being
dropped from the series title due to lack of continued relevance.* [1] Late in its development, XIII also changed
from being an exclusive when an Xbox 360 version was
announced, signicantly delaying its release.* [86] A PC
port was considered, but not followed up due to platformspecic concerns and how the company saw the thencurrent video game market.* [87] Later, all three XIII
games would receive digital-only PC ports.* [5] As early
as 2007, Square Enix considered re-branding Versus XIII
as the next numbered entry in the franchise due to the
rapidly growing scale of the project.* [88] The game was
eventually re-branded in 2011, when the game entered
full production,* [89] though it, like Type-0, was kept
within the subseries' mythos.* [90]* [91] The game was
also moved fully onto next-gen consoles, with the PS3
version abandoned due to concerns about the console's
continued viability.* [91] Type-0 's western release was
delayed due to the agging PSP market in western territories, and was eventually announced for a western released
as a high-denition port to the same platforms as XV with
the idea of boosting sales prior to the latter's release.* [13]
Type-0 HD 's development was handled by independent
Japanese studio HexaDrive.* [92]
The individual directors are allowed to freely interpret the

base mythology when they create their games.* [53]* [69]
When referring to this freedom, Tabata has compared
the mythos and the concept behind it to Greek mythology; a mythology with common themes and deities, but
featuring a large variety of unrelated stories.* [64]* [69]
Toriyama conceived a story for Final Fantasy XIII set
primarily around the mythos' deities and their direct relations to the world.* [64]* [70] Tabata and Nomura focused more on the human side of the story:* [64]* [71]
Tabata chose to portray the divine elements from a historical standpoint in Type-0,* [64]* [72] while Nomura created a real-world setting in XV, referring far less to the
terms within the mythos.* [63]* [73] Nomura was also appointed as the main character designer for all entries in
the series.* [52] In a 2007 interview, Hashimoto compared the planning of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series
to lm franchises such as Star Wars and The Lord of the
Rings.* [74] The development of all games connected to
the mythos was handled by Square Enix 1st Production
Department.* [2]
After the release of Final Fantasy XIII, the creators
wanted to expand on the game's setting and tell more stories about the characters, so the game eventually received
Development
two sequels: XIII-2 and Lightning Returns.* [93] For these
games, Japanese developer tri-Ace was brought in to help
Final Fantasy XIII began development in February 2004 with the games' design and graphics.* [94]* [95] The three
after the mythos was nalized.* [70] It began as a title for games and their respective tie-in media are generally rethe PlayStation 2 under the codename Colors World ferred to by Square Enix as theLightning saga, in refer,* [75] however it was moved onto PlayStation 3 after the ence to the games' central character.* [96]* [97] Alongside
positively received Crystal Tools engine demo in 2005 that, Tabata, who still liked his original concept for Typeand the delayed release of XII.* [76]* [77]* [78] The two 0 as a mobile game, resurrected the project in the form
original titles in the series were XIII and Versus XIII. Ag- of Final Fantasy Agito, which acted as both a prequel
ito XIII was conceived later, when Tabata was looking for and an alternate tale set within Type-0 's world.* [64]* [98]
a new project after nishing Before Crisis: Final Fantasy The game was co-developed by mobile game developer
VII.* [63] Originally titled Fabula Nova Crystallis Final
230
Tayutau K. K.* [19] Agito was eventually ported to the

Vita.* [21] In an interview shortly after the re-reveal of
XV, Nomura said that, even though the game's story
would have a denitive end, sequels were being considered.* [99] Another rumored entry in the series, Final
Fantasy Haeresis XIII, was seemingly conrmed to have
been discarded when its trademark expired in 2011 and
Square Enix did not renew.* [100] While there was speculation that the series would come to an end with the development of Lightning Returns, Kitase repeatedly stated
that, while Lightning Returns was the end of the setting
and characters of Final Fantasy XIII and its sequels, there
was still room for further titles in the series.* [93]* [101]
2.22.4
Reception
called weak, confusing or both.* [132]* [133] Lightning

Returns received mixed to positive reviews, with its combat being highly praised,* [134]* [135]* [136] its graphics
and time limit mechanic drawing mixed responses,* [137]
and the story and characters being cited as poorly developed.* [138]* [139] Type-0 had a highly positive reception
in Japan, with it garnering near-perfect scores in Famitsu
and Dengeki PlayStation.* [140]* [141]
Sales
XIII broke sales records for the Final Fantasy franchise,* [142] selling 1.5 million units in Japan on its release day,* [143] and a further million a month after its
North American release.* [144] XIII-2 was the most purchased title of 2011 in Japan upon release, and reached
second and rst place in sales charts in the United States
and United Kingdom respectively.* [145]* [146]* [147]
Lightning Returns had lower rst-week sales than its predecessors, but still topped the sales charts in Japan, selling over 277,000 units in its rst week and over 404,000
copies by the end of 2013.* [148]* [149] It ranked as
third and eighth in the UK and US February sales
charts respectively.* [150]* [151] Approximately 1.4 million copies were sold by September 2014.* [152] The
three XIII games have collectively sold 11 million units
worldwide.* [153] Type-0 sold 472,253 units in its rst
week,* [154] and went on to sell over 740,000 units in
Japan.* [155] The title was also added to the company's
list of Ultimate Hits, re-releases of lucrative titles.* [156]
The subseries' mythos has received mixed reactions from

gaming sites. Hardcore Gamer's Brady Hale called the
series anything but ordinaryin the variety of games
it featured.* [114] In an article concerning the 25th Anniversary event for the Final Fantasy series, Joystiq's Ben
Gilbert called the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythosoccasionally bizarre and often beautiful.* [115] DualShockers' Alexa Ray Corriea, in her analysis of the series, noted
that it stood out in the Final Fantasy franchise due to the
negative eects of crystals on the worlds, while also comparing the mythos to the creation myth of the Emishi,
an indigenous people of Japan.* [49] In 2014, Jeremy
Parish of USGamer said that the series was much ado
about nothing, stating that since the games shared a
large amount of themes and plot points with the main
series, there seemed little reason for a distinction.* [78] 2.22.5 References
The layout of the mythos and its terms received mixed
reactions in XIII, resulting in the production team ton- [1] Gantayat, Anoop (2011-01-28). Kitase and Toriyama
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mented that the story and pace of the game was mud*
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Final Fantasy 2011
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the west, the game was praised for its graphics, battle system, and music,* [121]* [122]* [123] but opinions
were mixed about its story and it was criticized for its
highly linear structure.* [124]* [125] XIII also won an
award for best graphics in GamesRadar 's 2012 Platinum Trophy Awards.* [126] XIII-2 received a positive reception overall, gaining perfect scores from Famitsu and
Dengeki PlayStation,* [127]* [128] and high scores from
most western sites. Common points of praise were its
non-linear nature, improved battle system and graphics,* [129]* [130]* [131] while the main points of criticism were its story and characters, which were often
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Fabula Nova Crystallis Ocial portal site
2.23 Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII ( XIII
Fainaru Fantaj Stn) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360, and later for Microsoft Windows. Released in Japan in December 2009 and worldwide in
March 2010, it is the thirteenth major installment in
the Final Fantasy series. The game includes fast-paced
combat, a new system for the series for determining which
abilities are developed for the characters calledCrystarium, and a customizableParadigmsystem to control
which abilities are used by the characters. Final Fantasy
XIII includes elements from the previous games in the series, such as summoned monsters, chocobos, and airships.
The game takes place in the ctional oating world of

Cocoon, whose government, the Sanctum, is ordering a
purge of civilians who have supposedly come into contact
with Pulse, the much-feared world below. The former
soldier Lightning begins her ght against the government
[149] GEIMIN.NET 2013 in order to save her sister who has been branded as an un " (in Japanese). willing servant to a god-like being from Pulse, making her
Archived from the original on 2014-04-24. Retrieved an enemy of Cocoon. Lightning is soon joined by a band
2014-01-29.
of allies, and together the group also become marked by
[148] Ivan, Tom (2013-11-27). Japan: Lightning Returns
beats Super Mario 3D World to chart No.1. Computer
236
the same Pulse creature. They rally against the Sanctum

while trying to discover their assigned task and whether
they can avoid being turned into monsters or crystals at
the completion.
Development began in 2004 and the game was rst announced at Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2006.
Final Fantasy XIII is the agship title of the Fabula Nova
Crystallis collection of Final Fantasy games and is the
rst game to use Square Enix's Crystal Tools engine. Final Fantasy XIII received mostly positive reviews from
video game publications, which praised the game's graphics, presentation, and battle system. The game's story received a mixed response from reviewers, and its linearity
compared to previous games in the series was mostly criticized. Selling 1.7 million copies in Japan in 2009, Final
Fantasy XIII became the fastest-selling title in the history of the series. As of January 2013, the game has
shipped 6.6 million copies worldwide.* [3] A sequel titled
Final Fantasy XIII-2 was released in December 2011 in
Japan and in February 2012 in North America and PAL
regions. A second sequel, titled Lightning Returns: Final
Fantasy XIII, which concludes Lightning's story and the
Final Fantasy XIII saga,* [4] was released in November
2013 in Japan and in February 2014 in North America
and PAL regions.
2.23.1
Gameplay
The player directly controls the on-screen character

through a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies throughout the game. The
player can also turn the camera around the characters,
which allows for a 360 view of the surroundings.* [5]
The world of Final Fantasy XIII is rendered to scale relative to the characters in it; instead of a caricature of
the character roaming around miniature terrain, as found
in the earlier Final Fantasy games, every area is represented proportionally. The player navigates the world by
foot or by chocobo.* [6] Players may save their game to a
hard disk drive using save stations, where the player can
also purchase items from retail networks or upgrade their
weapons.* [7] An in-game datalog provides a bestiary and
incidental information about the world of Final Fantasy
XIII.* [8] The Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International version of the game, released in Japan, also contains an Easymode option.* [9]
Battle system
As in Final Fantasy XII, enemies are integrated into
the open eld and can be approached or avoided by the
player. When the player's character touches an enemy,
the screen transitions from the regular map to a separate
battle screen similar to those used in previous Final Fantasy titles.* [10] A maximum of three characters may be
used in battles, which use a variant on the series' tradi-
The Final Fantasy XIII battle system, with the Paradigm Shift
option, the Active Time Battle (ATB) bar lling beneath it with
ve slots and two actions queued, and the three active characters' health and roles displayed. The enemy's name and damage
percentage are shown in the upper right corner.
tional Active Time Battle (ATB) system rst featured in

Final Fantasy IV. Under this system, the player selects
an action from the menus, such as Attack, Magic, and
Item. Unlike previous games in the series, the player only
controls the lead character while the remaining two characters are controlled by the game's articial intelligence
(AI). Each action requires a specic number of slots on
the ATB bar, which continually rells to a set maximum
number of slots. The ATB bar gradually increases in
size throughout the game from two slots to six.* [11] The
player may select less than the maximum number of possible actions or may stop the lling of the ATB bar and
perform as many actions as can be done with the current
ATB amount. The player may select an autobattle command, which lls the ATB slots with actions chosen automatically. Actions cannot be performed outside of battle,
and the characters' health is fully restored after each battle.* [11]
Each enemy has a meter, called a chain counter, consisting of a percentage starting at 100 which increases when
the enemy is struck by attacks or spells. Attacks by different roles have dierent eects; some raise the chain
by a larger amount while others give the player longer before the chain counter resets. The amount of damage performed by an attack is multiplied by the chain percentage
before it is applied to the enemy. When the chain counter
reaches a preset amount, dierent for each enemy, the
enemy is placed into Stagger State. In this mode, the enemy has lowered defense and may be launched into the
air.* [12] The Paradigm system allows the player to program six dierent roles which the characters can then assume to perform certain formations in battle in response
to the specic conditions. The roles consist of Commando, a warrior-type role; Ravager, a black mage-type
role which uses damage-dealing magic; Medic, a White
Mage-type role which can heal and remove negative status ailments; Saboteur, which use magic to weaken enemies by inicting negative statuses; Synergist, which uses
magic to strengthen allies by giving positive statuses; and
Sentinel, which has protective and defensive abilities similar to a paladin.* [13] Each of the characters can initially

take on only three roles, but the player has access to all of
them later in the game (although the other three roles are
limited in their abilities for those players which choose
them). The player can select which roles the controlled
character and the AI characters are using both outside and
during battle, which is the only way that the player can
control the AI characters during battle.* [13] The player
can only choose from specic sets of paradigms that the
player has set up beforehand outside of battle.* [12]
Each character can summon a specic Eidolon into battle.* [11] These summoned creatures include series staples
Odin, Shiva, Alexander, and Bahamut, and newcomers
Hecatoncheir and Brynhildr.* [14] When summoned, the
Eidolon stays in combat while the characters accompanying the summoner leave the party.* [15] While an Eidolon is summoned, the player can trigger a feature called
Gestalt Mode, in which the Eidolon transforms into a different form and performs dierent attacks while the summoning character rides them.* [16]
237
l'Cie are not explicitly told their Focus, but are instead
given visions that they must interpret.* [24]
Several hundred years before the events of the game, a
battle known as the War of Transgression took place between Pulse and Cocoon. During the battle, l'Cie from
Pulse attacked and ripped a large hole in Cocoon.* [25]
Eventually, the l'Cie completed their focus and were
turned to crystal. The hole was patched with material lifted from Pulse, and Cocoon's citizens have since
lived in fear of another invasion; this fear is used by the
Sanctum to remain in power.* [26] The Sanctum oversees two military branches: the Guardian Corps, responsible for keeping order on Cocoon, and PSICOM, the
special forces in charge of dealing with any threat related to Pulse.* [27] The fal'Cie have given the humans
advanced technology, including ying airships and mechanical creatures, and a form of magic also exists. This
magic is normally only accessible to l'Cie, fal'Cie, and
various monsters in Cocoon and Pulse, though distilled
chemical forms can be used by normal humans.* [28]
Crystarium
Characters
The Crystarium is a leveling system consisting of six crystals and resembles the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy
X.* [17]* [18] Each crystal in the Crystarium represents
one of the six Paradigms, and is divided into ten levels.
Each level contains various nodes that supply bonuses to
health, strength, or magic, or provide new abilities and accessory slots. These nodes are connected by a semi-linear
path. The player may advance down the path by acquiring Crystarium Points, which are awarded after defeating
enemies.* [19] The full Crystarium is not available to the
player at the beginning of the game; at specic points in
the game's plot, the player gains access to new crystals or
levels.* [20]
2.23.2
Synopsis
Setting
Final Fantasy XIII is set on the world of Gran Pulse (often simply called Pulse). Central to the story is Cocoon, a
massive articial sphere that oats above Pulse's surface
and is ruled by the Sanctum, a theocratic government.
The two worlds are controlled by fal'Cie /flsi/, beings
with godlike power. The Cocoon fal'Cie are responsible
for keeping Cocoon oating, as well as providing light
and water to the people that live inside. Each fal'Cie handles a specic task.* [21] The fal'Cie have the capability of
marking the humans that live in Pulse and Cocoon as their
servants. These servants, called l'Cie /lsi/, are branded
with a symbol representing either Pulse or Cocoon and
are given aFocusa task to complete.* [22] If the l'Cie
complete their task in time, they are transformed to crystal and according to legend gain eternal life; otherwise
they become mindless monsters called Cie'th.* [23] The
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy XIII series

The six main playable characters of Final Fantasy XIII
are Lightning, the main protagonist of the game, a former soldier and older sister to Serah;* [29]* [30] Snow
Villiers, Serah's anc and leader of NORA, a paramilitary group;* [31] Oerba Dia Vanille, the game's narrator
and an exile who is later revealed to be a l'Cie from
Pulse;* [32] Sazh Katzroy, a civilian pilot and father to
a young boy, Dajh; Hope Estheim, a young boy who is
struggling within the relationships he shares with his parents;* [33] and Oerba Yun Fang, a l'Cie from Pulse who is
working with the Sanctum's Cavalry branch.* [34] Other
characters include Galenth Dysley, the ruler of the Sanctum and main antagonist;* [35] Cid Raines, a Sanctum
Brigadier General in the Cavalry who does not trust the
government;* [14] and Serah Farron, Lightning's younger
sister and Snow's ance.* [30]
Plot
Final Fantasy XIII begins in Cocoon as the citizens of
the town of Bodhum are being evicted, or Purged, from
Cocoon after coming in contact with something from
Pulse.* [36] Over the course of the game, the player is
shown ashbacks of the events of the previous 13 days,
which began when a fal'Cie from Pulse was discovered
near Bodhum. Lightning's sister Serah had found the
fal'Cie from Pulse and been changed into a l'Cie by it.
Lightning and Sazh derail a Purge train bound for Pulse in
an attempt to save Serah. In the subsequent battle, Snow
leads his resistance group, NORA, to rescue the Purge exiles. Several of them are killed, including Hope's mother.
238
keeps Cocoon aoat above Pulse. Slaying the fal'Cie Orphan will result in the destruction of Cocoon. The party
escapes and learns from Cid that the fal'Cie believe that
Cocoon's destruction will summon the Maker, the creator
of the worlds. The fal'Cie cannot harm Orphan themselves.* [43] Vanille and Fang reveal to the party that they
were involved in the War of Transgression centuries prior,
and that their Focus then had been the same: to transform
into Ragnarok and attempt to destroy Orphan.* [44] The
party ies away to Pulse and travels to Oerba, Vanille and
Fang's hometown, where they hope to learn how to remove their l'Cie marks. The town is deserted, and they
nd no living people on the surface. The group is unsuccessful in removing their marks, and Dysley confronts
them again. He tells them that he is forcing Cid, now
The playable cast of Final Fantasy XIII. From left to right: Sazh
the head of the Sanctum, to create chaos in Cocoon to
Katzroy, Snow Villiers, Hope Estheim, Lightning, Oerba Yun
force the Cavalry to attack Cid and Orphan in a coup
Fang, and Oerba Dia Vanille
d'tat.* [45]
As Snow heads to the fal'Cie Anima to save Serah, he is
joined by two of the exiles: Hope and Vanille. The two
groups meet at the fal'Cie, and nd Serah just as she turns
to crystal. Anima then brands them all as l'Cie and they
are cast out into a dierent part of Cocoon. During this
transformation, the newly crested l'Cie all have the same
vision: a monster called Ragnarok.* [37] The group, arguing over the ambiguous nature of the dreamed Focus,
nd Serah in her crystallized form; Snow remains with
her as the others leave.
Snow meets Cid and Fang after being captured and detained aboard the airship Lindblum. Meanwhile, the others escape from PSICOM, but are separated during an air
strike; Hope and Lightning travel to Palumpolum, while
Sazh and Vanille travel to Nautilus. In Lightning's scenario, she unintentionally supports Hope's goal of killing
Snow as revenge for his mother's death.* [38] In Vanille's
scenario, Sazh discusses how his son Dajh was turned into
a l'Cie by a Cocoon fal'Cie and was taken by PSICOM to
discover his Focus.* [39] At Palumpolum, Lightning tries
to persuade Hope not to go through with his revenge and
meets Snow and Fang. Fang reveals that she and Vanille
were l'Cie from Pulse who were turned into crystals; they
were turned back into humans 13 days prior to the start
of the game, sparking the Purge.* [40] Hope attempts to
murder Snow, but after Snow saves him from an airstrike,
he decides not to go through with it.* [41] The party then
escapes the city with Cid's aid. At Nautilus, Vanille reveals herself to Sazh as a l'Cie from Pulse, and indirectly
the reason that Dajh was turned into a l'Cie.* [32] PSICOM then captures Sazh and Vanille and detains them
on board the airship Palamecia.
The party inltrates Cocoon with the goal of preventing its destruction. They head towards Orphan only to
nd that the Cavalry have been turned into Cie'th. The
party encounters Dysley and overpowers him, but Orphan
awakens and merges with Dysley, then compels Fang to
nish her Focus as Ragnarok while the others are seemingly transformed into Cie'th. The group reappears in
human form, preventing Fang from transforming. The
party engage and defeat Orphan* [46] and escape Cocoon,
which is now falling towards Pulse. As the rest of the
party turns to crystal for completing their Focus, Vanille
and Fang remain on Cocoon and transform into Ragnarok
together. They prevent a collision between Cocoon and
Pulse by turning themselves into a crystal pillar between
the two worlds. The rest of the party awaken from their
crystallization on Pulse and nd their l'Cie brands gone.
The game ends with Lightning, Hope, Snow and Sazh reuniting with Serah and Dajh.
2.23.3 Development
Development of Final Fantasy XIII began in February
2004, shortly after the release of Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission in Japan.* [47] Back then, the
project was internally referred to by the codenameColors World.* [48] Over the rst year, director Motomu
Toriyama and scenario conceptor Kazushige Nojima conceived ideas for the plot. Nojima thought up the crystal mythology that became the basis for the Fabula Nova
Crystallis series, including concepts such as the fal'Cie
and l'Cie. Toriyama then created a story premised on
this mythology. He wanted to portray characters at
the mercy of a predetermined, unjust fatewhobelong
together but collide heavily. In order to achieve this,
each of the story's thirteen chapters was made to focus
on dierent protagonists. Chapters seven and eight were
to mark a turning point in the interpersonal relationships
of the party.* [49]
The other members of the party stage a rescue mission

and reunite with Vanille and Sazh before they confront
Galenth Dysley, the Sanctum's Primarch. Dysley reveals
himself as the Cocoon fal'Cie ruler Barthandelus.* [42]
He tells them that their Focus is to transform into the
beast Ragnarok and slay the sleeping fal'Cie Orphan, who In March 2006, when the structural part of the narrative
239
game to the PlayStation 3 and developed it with the new

Crystal Tools engine, a seventh generation multiplatform
game engine created by Square Enix for its next generation games.* [52]* [53] Square Enix believed that developing a new engine would speed up development time later
in the project, though it would initially cause a delay in
the game's development. However, the delay was longer
than originally anticipated as the engine had to accommodate the requirements of several other games in addition to XIII.* [54] Another factor in the platform move
was the delayed release of Final Fantasy XII, which came
out a very short time before the release of the PlayStation 3.* [55] A PC port was considered during development, but was decided against due to how Square Enix
saw the video game market situation at the time as well
as additional complexities that Square Enix did not have
experience with related to the PC platform, such as security issues.* [56] Final Fantasy XIII was rst shown at
the 2006 E3 convention.* [57] The trailer shown was an
artistic concept that did not represent the nal concept for
the game, since at the time there was no playable form of
the game.* [54] Announced alongside the game was Final
Fantasy Versus XIII, later retitled as Final Fantasy XV,
Director and scenario designer Motomu Toriyama at the 2010 and the PlayStation Portable game Final Fantasy TypeGame Developers Conference.
0, originally titled Final Fantasy Agito XIII, the three of
which form the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series.* [58] Square Enix explained that although all three
started to come together, lead scenario writer Daisuke games are thematically linked, they are not directly re*
Watanabe joined the team. Toriyama gave him a rough lated in terms of story. [59]
outline of the rst eight chapters, which included sev- The developers for Final Fantasy XIII were divided into
eral cornerstone scenes that needed to be kept, like when multiple areas, with each developer or team focusing only
party members were separated or reunited. He told on a specic task such as developing a specic in-game
Watanabe what he wanted to express with the scenario area or modeling characters.* [54] Each physical area of
and asked him to esh out the story and to strengthen the game was developed separately; after an initial dehow the points in his outline connected.* [49] For ex- sign was approved, teams were assigned to a specic loample, Toriyama's rudimentary instructions in the docu- cation and lled in details without reusing assets from
ment would saySnow and Hope reconcile.* [49]* [50] other areas.* [60] Several of the game's developers had
Watanabe had to decide about how the scenes with this worked on previous installments of the series. Direcreconciliation would play out, then write the scenario tor Motomu Toriyama had worked on Final Fantasy X
that way. To emphasize what the story tried to express, and X-2; producer Yoshinori Kitase had worked on V
Watanabe adjusted the personalities Toriyama had given through VIII and as the producer for X and X-2; mainto each character. For example, he felt that the party character designer Tetsuya Nomura had performed the
should not have a reliable and calm leader typeat the same role for VII, VIII, X, and X-2, and battle-system
beginning of the story, in order to more accurately show director Toshiro Tsuchida reprised that role from Final
the confusion and unease after the protagonists transform Fantasy X.* [61]* [62] As XIII was the rst Final Fantasy
into l'Cie. Toriyama has said that one of the storytelling game for the PlayStation 3, the development team's interchallenges was the despair of the characters and the many nal goal was for the game to have the samegameplay and
points at which they are seemingly cornered. He men- craftmanshipimpact that Final Fantasy VII and X had as
tioned the scene where Sazh tries to commit suicide as the rst games of the series on their respective consoles.
one such example: Although Toriyama felt it was al- They aimed to sell ve million copies of the game.* [54]
most a little too dark, he wanted to include something Toriyama wanted the game to be the ultimate single
like it in the game. In contrast, he said that lighthearted player RPG".* [63]
elements such as Sazh's Chocobo chick helped maintain
Tsuchida's concept for the battle system was to maintain
a good balance.* [49]
the strategic nature of command-based battles. The sysAt the beginning of the development, the game was in- tem stemmed from a desire to create battles similar to
tended to be released on the PlayStation 2.* [51] In May those found in the lm Final Fantasy VII: Advent Chil2005, however, after the positive reception of the tech dren.* [64] Magic points (MP), which had been a part of
demo of Final Fantasy VII, the team decided to move the
240
the battle system in previous Final Fantasy titles, were
removed in the game's battle system as Tsuchida and the
other designers felt that it gave players an incentive to not
use their most powerful magic attacks due to the MP cost,
in turn making battles less interesting. The Paradigm system was designed early in the battle system's development, with the intent of making battles rely on quickly
changing strategies and feel fast-moving. Originally there
were only ve roles, but the Saboteur was later added
as the designers felt that its abilities were missing from
the game and did not t with the other roles. Together
with the maximum of three characters in a combat situation, the groupings of enemies were designed to force the
player to switch Paradigms to keep them engaged in the
battles.* [65]

cut it as well due to quality concerns so late in the project
and diculties with the dierent systems for extra content on the two gaming consoles.* [73]
A playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII was included in
the Japanese version of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete, released on April 16, 2009.* [74]* [75]
Toriyama stated that the release of the demo, which was
not in the original development schedule, helped the team
recognize a shared vision for what the game should look
and feel like, a problem which had been plaguing the development team up until then. It helped the team prioritize the work that still needed to be done, which increased the development speed for the remainder of the
project. The game was intended to appeal to both Western and Japanese audiences, and focus groups from both
regions were used. The English localization began while
development was still in progress to lessen the delay between the Japanese and worldwide releases.* [54]* [76]
The game was initially going to be released solely for the
PlayStation 3, but an Xbox 360 version was announced
late in the game's development cycle. The Xbox version, due to technical limitations, runs at a lower resolution (720p maximum) than the PlayStation version and
is spread across 3 discs.* [77]
Toriyama wanted Lightning to be a new type of female

character with an athlete's body and a less feminine nature
than some of the previous female characters of the series.* [51]* [66] His guideline to Nomura was to make her
strong and beautiful, and she was intended to be reminiscent of Final Fantasy VII 's Cloud Strife.* [51]* [67]
Fang was initially meant to be a male character, but the
gender was changed to coincide with the updated character designs during the latter part of development.* [68]
The graphics capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360 compared to previous consoles allowed Nomura to use more
complex elements in the character designs than before, Music
such as Lightning's cape and detailed facial features.* [69]
This in turn meant that the art team had to do much Main article: Music of Final Fantasy XIII
more work for each character or area than in previous
games.* [70] Nomura did not take an involved role in the
Masashi Hamauzu composed the game's soundtrack. His
creation of the non-playable characters.* [69]
previous work on the series was as a co-composer for
Unlike previous games in the series which were more Final Fantasy X and as the main composer for Dirge of
inspired by Asian locations and culture, Final Fantasy Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII.* [61] The game was the rst
XIII was intended by the art team to be reminiscent of main-series Final Fantasy game to not include any comthe United States. Pulse was based on landscape pho- positions by original series composer Nobuo Uematsu.
tographs the team took from across the country, and Co- Although Uematsu was originally announced to comcoon was intended to be a "melting pot" of dierent eth- pose the main theme of the game, this role was taken
nicities.* [70] The setting was also given a science c- over by Hamauzu after Uematsu signed on to compose
tion aesthetic to make it stand out more in comparison the soundtrack to Final Fantasy XIV. The score features
with other entries in the series.* [71] Art director Isamu some pieces orchestrated by Yoshihisa Hirano, Toshiyuki
Kamikokuryo revealed that many additional scenarios Oomori, and Kunihito Shiina, with the Warsaw Philharsuch as Lightning's home, which were functioning in an monic Orchestra.* [78]* [79] The song "My Hands", from
unreleased build during development, were left out of British singer Leona Lewis' second album Echo, was chothe nal version due to concerns about the game's length sen to replace Final Fantasy XIII's original theme song,
and volume.* [72] Kamikokuryo said the content they cut "Kimi ga Iru Kara" by Sayuri Sugawara, for the game's
was, in itself, enough to make another game.* [72] Ac- international release.* [80] Square Enix President Yoichi
cording to Toriyama, the cuts were made in various Wada later said that it would have been better if the
stages of [the game's] development, and that some of American branch of the company had produced a theme
the content was removed just before the game's comple- song from scratch, but a lack of sta led to the decision
tion.* [63] The game, unlike previous titles in the series, of licensing an existing song.* [81]
includes no explorable town areas; Toriyama said in an interview that the team was unable to make them as graphi- Music from the game has been released in several albums.
cally appealing as the rest of the game and chose to elim- Square Enix released the main soundtrack album, Final
Original Soundtrack, on four Compact Discs
inate them.* [47] Toriyama intended to have a piece of Fantasy XIII
*
in
2010.
[82]
The album sold 16,000 copies the day of
downloadable content available for the game that would
*
[83]
Square Enix released selections from the
its
release.
include a new area, weapons and quests, but was forced to
soundtrack on two gramophone record albums in 2010:

W/F: Music from Final Fantasy XIII and W/F: Music from
Final Fantasy XIII Gentle Reveries.* [84]* [85] An album
of arranged pieces from the soundtrack, Final Fantasy
XIII Original Soundtrack -PLUS-, was also released by
Square Enix in 2010, as was an album of piano arrangements.* [86]* [87] For Life Music published a single of the
theme song for the Japanese version of the game,Kimi
ga Iru Kara(, Because You're Here
), in 2009.* [88]
2.23.4
Art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (left) and producer Yoshinori

Kitase (right) at the Final Fantasy XIII London Launch Event
at HMV in March, 2010. The event was hosted by Alex Zane
(holding microphone).
The game was released in Japan on December 17, 2009,

and in North America, Europe and Australia on March
9, 2010. Alongside the release of the game in Japan,
Japanese alcoholic beverage distributor Suntory released
theFinal Fantasy XIII Elixirto promote the game.* [89]
On the same day, a Final Fantasy XIII PlayStation Home
personal space was made available for free in Japan until January 13, 2010, along with a costume and personal
space furnishings;* [90] they were released to the Asian,
European, and North American versions of PlayStation
Home on March 11, 2010.* [91] On December 18, 2012
the game was re-released as part of the Final Fantasy 25th
Anniversary Ultimate Box Japanese package.* [92] It was
re-released again on November 21, 2013 as part of the
Lightning Ultimate box, a Japan exclusive edition which
includes Final Fantasy XIII and its two sequels.* [93]
The game was released bundled with consoles in dierent
regions. The game was bundled in Japan with a limitededition white PlayStation 3 with a pink color print of
Lightning on the surface of the console,* [94] and with
an Xbox 360 with the silver strip on the hard drive emblazoned with the Final Fantasy XIII logo in the western
release. A limited quantity of themed Xbox faceplates
created by Nomura were made available through a select
few retailers in Europe, North America, and Australia.
PAL territories received a limited collector's edition of
the game for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with the
Final Fantasy XIII Original Sound Selection best of
soundtrack CD, three Eidolon art prints, a Brand of the
241
l'Cie decal and The World of Final Fantasy XIII, a hardback book featuring character artwork, CG-rendered artwork, and environments from across the game production.* [95] Square Enix published three Ultimania books:
the Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania and the Final
Fantasy XIII Battle Ultimania on January 28, 2010, and
the Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania on September 30,
2010.* [96] The Battle Ultimania provides a description
and analysis of the new battle system and its components,
and developer interviews.* [97] The Scenario Ultimania
describes the main scenarios in the game, proles on the
characters and areas in Cocoon and Gran Pulse, developer interviews, and details on each location.* [98] The
last guide, the Ultimania , includes voice actor and additional sta interviews, the complete story of Final Fantasy XIII including additional character proles, a collection of artworks and illustrations, and additional dissections of the story and background.* [99]
While the game was released on both PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360 in western regions, the game was a PlayStation
3 exclusive in Asian territories.* [100] This was changed
in late 2010 when Square Enix announced that the Xbox
360 version would in fact release in Japan, despite many
statements to the opposite.* [1] It was later released digitally for PC via Square Enix's online store and Steam,
along with its two sequels.* [2] Final Fantasy XIII was the
rst game in the series to receive an ocial release in Chinese.* [101] This edition also allowed the rst time a Final
Fantasy game could be played using the original Japanese
audio with English subtitles and menus. An international
version of the game for the Xbox 360 called Final Fantasy
XIII Ultimate Hits International was released in Asia on
December 16, 2010.* [102] The game includes anEasy
mode option, and features the English voices. It comes
with a bonus booklet titled Final Fantasy XIII Corridor
of Memory that contains content that was previously left
out of the original version of the game and a short story
epilogue titled Final Fantasy XIII Episode I.* [9]
2.23.5 Reception
Final Fantasy XIII sold over one million units on its
rst day of sale in Japan,* [120] and had sold 1.7 million copies for the PlayStation 3 in Japan by the end
of 2009.* [121] Square Enix had anticipated high initial sales for the game and shipped close to two million
units for its launch.* [122] The game sold more than one
million copies in North America in its release month.
In March 2010, Square Enix stated that Final Fantasy
XIII was the fastest-selling title in the franchise's history.* [123] By April of the same year, American game
sales for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 reached an estimated 800,000 and 500,000 units respectively.* [124]
As of January 2013, the game had shipped 6.6 million copies worldwide.* [3] According to Media Create,
female gamers accounted for nearly a third of the game's
Japanese fanbase.* [125] As of July 2012, a combined to-
242
tal of 9.7 million units has been sold for both Final Fan- negatively to the linear nature of the game, especially
tasy XIII and its sequel Final Fantasy XIII-2.* [3]
in the rst ten chapters on Cocoon,* [109]* [132] an isFinal Fantasy XIII received generally positive re- sue which many felt was compounded by the large reand interviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings duction of towns, free-roaming capabilities,
*
action
with
non-player
characters.
[133]
GamePro
deand Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 84.15%
scribed
the
gameplay
as
a
long
hallway
toward
an
orange
based on 62 reviews and 83/100 based on 83 reviews,* [103]* [106] the Xbox 360 version 81.68% target symbol on your *mini-map that triggers a cutscene,
based on 39 reviews and 82/100 based on 54 re- a boss ght, or both, [133] and 1UP.com criticized the
linear aspect as the game's biggest shortcoming, and
views* [104]* [107] and the Microsoft Windows version
felt
the rst section was supercial.* [109] Edge and
49.00% based on 2 reviews and 65/100 based on 5
others awarded the game especially lower scores as a rereviews.* [105]* [108] It was rated 39 out of 40 by
*
the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. [112] Dengeki sult of these aspects, with Edge in particular lowering the
score they awarded the game to a ve out of ten primarily
praised the game for the battle system, stating that the
*
battles are by far the most exciting in the series, and con- due to the game's linear nature. [111]
cluded Final Fantasy XIII deserved a score of 120, as 100
would not be enough.* [126] The game was voted as the
second best game of 2009 in Dengeki Online's reader
poll,* [127] and in January 2010, it was voted the best
game ever in Famitsu's reader poll.* [128] The game received a Best RPG of the year award nomination at the
Spike Video Game Awards.* [129]
Universal praise was given to the technical milestones
achieved by the game's graphics and presentation. Edge
felt that Cocoon in particular was an inspired setting [...] blessed with a vibrancy and vivid colour
that often leaves you open-mouthed.* [111] GameSpot
called the art design magnicent.* [114] Further
praise was given to the pre-rendered animation sequences* [110]* [130]* [131] and the almost seamless
transition of visual quality between these and the realtime gameplay.* [130] Many also appreciated the game's
soundtrack,* [110]* [114] with Masashi Hamauzu providinga score with catchy hooks and blood-pumping battle
melodies, according to Wired.* [131]
In contrast, reviewers from GamesRadar and Computer

and Video Games appreciated the linear nature; the former stated thatthe streamlined, focused structure eliminates potential tedium without dumbing anything down
,* [12] while the latter felt it wasa clever move,* [110]
and kept the player from being "[bogged] down with
mundane number crunching, [and] nicky and repetitive
leveling-up.* [110] Many negatively noted the gradual
unfurling of the player's abilities over this rst part of
the game, from battle gameplay to selecting the party
leader.* [13]* [109] Combined with the game's linear nature, some reviews went as far as to describe these chapters as boringuntil the world of Gran Pulse was revealed.* [111]* [131]* [132] Edge noted that while it did
not do enough to make up for the opening chapters, at
Gran Pulse the gamehits a sweet spotas the narrative
oershunting side-quests and the simple joy of exploring to see what visual marvel is around the next corner.
*
[111]
The battle system of Final Fantasy XIII received Response to criticism

widespread praise.
The increased pace of battles
was appreciated, with several reviews describing it as After release, director Motomu Toriyama felt that the
thrilling";* [13]* [110] Edge 's description of the battle lower-than-expected review scores for a main Final Fansystem summarized it as among the genre's nest tasy series game came from reviewers who approached
.* [111] 1UP.com said that Despite the fact that two- the game from a Western point of view. These reviewthirds of your party is AI-controlled, FFXIII's battles may ers were used to games in which the player was given an
be the most involving the series has ever seen.* [109] open world to explore, he said, noting that this expectaThe story got a mixed reception, with Wired remarking tion contrasted with the vision the team set out to crethat the plot was a little more human and less esoteric ate. He noted that it becomes very dicult to tell a
than in previous games.* [131] 1UP.com felt that the compelling story when you're given that much freedom
*
story was hardly world-class writing, but that the . [134] Yoshinori Kitase stated that they didn't really
writers clearly knew the medium well and had attempted intend to work within the RPG template,but wanted
to avoid clichs.* [109] Reviewers felt that the characters to create a new game, even a new genre.He stated that
worked well together,* [109]* [114] and that the interac- in a lot of senses FFXIII is more like an FPS than an
*
tions among them as the game progressed made up for RPG. [135]
*
shortcomings in the story. [13]
Toriyama and Kitase later said, in July 2011, that the
biggest complaints about the game were that it was too
linear and that there was not enough interaction between
Linearity
the player and the world, which they described as a lack
of towns and minigames compared to the previous Final
While critics generally praised Square Enix's attempt to Fantasy games. They also named the amount of time it
revitalize the Final Fantasy series formula, many reacted took to access all of the gameplay elements as a common

criticism, saying that people interpreted it as a lengthy
tutorial.* [136]
Yoichi Wada, then-president of Square Enix, made his
thoughts about the reception of the game known to
Gamasutra. He said some value it highly and some are
not very happy with it.* [137] He added, Should Final Fantasy become a new type of game or should Final
Fantasy not become a new type of game? The customers
have dierent opinions. It's very dicult to determine
which way it should go.* [137]
2.23.6
Sequels
Main articles: Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning

Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
At the Square Enix First Production Department Conference held on January 18, 2011, Square Enix announced
that they were developing a direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII, entitled Final Fantasy XIII-2, which they intended to build on the game's story and characters while
taking on board the criticism and other feedback about
the original. It was released on December 15, 2011 in
Japan, January 31, 2012 in North America and February 3, 2012 in Europe, for both the PlayStation 3 and the
Xbox 360.* [138]* [139] Motomu Toriyama and Yoshinori Kitase returned to their respective roles as director and producer. The game begins three years after the
events of Final Fantasy XIII, and features Serah and newcomer Noel as the main protagonists. XIII-2 is the fourth
sequel game in the Final Fantasy series, after Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and Final
Fantasy IV: The After Years. Most of the team returned
again to create a second sequel entitled Lightning Returns:
Final Fantasy XIII, meant to wrap up the story of Lightning and the Final Fantasy XIII universe.* [140] The game
was released in November 2013 in Japan and in February 2014 in North America and Europe.* [141] Toriyama
stated in the Ultimania Omega companion book prior to
XIII-2 's announcement that he hoped to write a story
where Lightning ends up happy, though at the time
Square Enix had no plans to make a sequel.* [73]
2.23.7
References
[1] Ashcraft, Brian (2010-08-09). Japan Finally Getting

Final Fantasy XIII On The Xbox 360. Kotaku. Archived
243

Will Be the Last Final Fantasy XIII. IGN. Retrieved
2012-11-19.
[5] Square Enix, ed. (2010). Final Fantasy XIII North American instruction manual. Square Enix. p. 10.
[9] Cullen, Johnny (2010-09-08). ""No reasonto bring
FFXIII 360 International Edition west, says Square Enix
. VG247. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
[10] Final Fantasy XIII for PlayStation 3 system. Square
[11] Final Fantasy XIII Update. IGN (News Corporation).
[12] Gudmundson, Carolyn (2010-03-04). Final Fantasy
XIII Review. GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
[13] Welsh, Oli (2010-03-05). Final Fantasy XIII.
Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07.
[14] Final Fantasy XIII Ocial Website. Square Enix.
2011-01-04.
[15] Clements, Ryan (2009-06-02). Final Fantasy XIII Preview. IGN (News Corporation). Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
[16] Lee, Garnett (2009-08-20).Final Fantasy XIII Preview
. 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07.
[17] Pigna, Kris (2009-11-01).Final Fantasy XIII Character
Growth System Explained. 1UP.com. Archived from
[18] Piggyback Interactive, ed. (2010). Final Fantasy XIII The
Complete Ocial Guide. Piggyback Interactive. p. 154.
ISBN 978-0-307-46837-6.
[19] Square Enix, ed. (2010). Final Fantasy XIII North American instruction manual. Square Enix. pp. 3637.
[2] Shreier, Jason (2014-09-18).Final Fantasy XIII Is Coming To PC. Kotaku. Archived from the original on 201409-18. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
[20] Bramwell, Tom (2009-11-12).FFXIII's Crystarium system detailed. Eurogamer. Archived from the original
on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
[3] Prell, Sophie (2013-01-18). Lightning Returns: Final

Fantasy XIII
s creators justify a third game in a series with
falling sales. Penny Arcade Report. Archived from the
[21] Square Enix (2010-03-09). Final Fantasy XIII.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Sanctum Fal'Cie: The Sanctum fal'Cie are the unfathomable
entities that constructed the oating shell of Cocoon in
244
ages past, and even now watch over the world's human inhabitants. Each is assigned a specic task that supports
the existence of Cocoon's grateful populace, such as generating energy or manufacturing food.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Snow
Villiers: Snow[...] leads the rebellious group of youths
known as NORA.
[22] Final Fantasy XIII - E3 2008: MS Press Conference

Cam Trailer. GameTrailers. 2008-07-14. Archived

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Vanille: My
name is Oerba Dia Vanille. I am a l'Cie from Gran Pulse.
And to everyone on Cocoon... ...evil.
[23] Winkler, Chris (2009-07-16). New FFXIII Details Announced. RPGFan. Archived from the original on 201105-07. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Branded: [...] they must now complete their assigned Focus if they are to avoid becoming monstrous Cie'th, though
none can say for sure what their mission actually entails.
Their only clue is the vision [...]
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - The
War of Transgression: Several hundred years ago, the
armies of Pulse attempted to invade Cocoon in a conict
known today as the War of Transgression. The Sanctum
fal'Cie were able to repel the lowerworld forces before
they breached Cocoon's interior, but not before they managed to seriously damage areas lying near the world's outer
rim.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Lowerworld Artifacts: In the aftermath of the War of Transgression, regions near Cocoon's outer rim were left uninhabitable due to the severe trauma they had sustained. To
undo the damage, the fal'Cie gathered materials from the
surface of Pulse and rebuilt Cocoon's wounded landscape
with them.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - PSICOM: The Sanctum military is composed of two main
branches: the Guardian Corps, responsible for maintaining security in various jurisdictions throughout Cocoon,
and PSICOM Public Security and Intelligence Command. PSICOM is an elite special operations unit charged
with protecting Cocoon from Pulsian incursion.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - AMP
Technology: Humans ordinarily lack the means to wield
magic, but through the use of manadrives[...] it is possible
to synthesize the eects.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Lightning: Lightning was formerly a sergeant in the Guardian
Corps, Bodhum Security Regiment.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Serah
Farron: Serah is Lightning's younger sister and Snow's
ancee. Also a Pulse l'Cie, she has gained eternal life
and slumbers in crystal stasis. [...] her task was simply
to gather the tools for Cocoon's destruction.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Nora
Estheim: Nora is Hope's mother. Worried about the
worsening relationship between her son and his father,
Nora wonders how to break down the barriers Hope has
created.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Cold,
Hard Fact: [...]the Wide-area Response Brigade, otherwise known as the 'Cavalry'. [...]the woman who works
with them[...]a Pulse l'Cie
Sanctum: [...]fal'Cie opt to participate only supercially
in governmental aairs, leaving Cocoon's administration
entirely at the discretion of the human Sanctum and its
Primarch, Galenth Dysley.
Purge: The recent discovery of a fal'Cie from Pulse[...]
caused widespread civil unrest. [...]The Sanctum then announced its intent to forcibly relocate the aected to Pulse
in an emergency measure dubbed by authorities as the
Purge.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Branded: The mark seared on their bodies[...] it is the
brand of a cursed l'Cie. [...]Their only clue is the vision
they all witnessed of a great beast laying waste to Cocoon.
Ragnarok.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Operation Nora: Operation Nora[...] the means by which
he will exact vengeance on Snow. [...]Lightning soon realizes her mistake. Her lecture to abandon compassion
was intended as a warning against the hesitation she fears
will be his undoing.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Sazh: My son
Dajh. He was picked. He's a l'Cie. He said he wanted to
see a fal'Cie. So, I took him on a tour of the Euride Gorge
plant. Thought I surprised him with a Chocobo chick to
take home, but the second I turned my back... ...into the
energy plant he went.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Fang: I've got
a few screws loose, but I'm a l'Cie, same as you. Dierence being... ...I wasn't born on Cocoon. I'm from Gran
Pulse. The 'world below' you all hate so much. My partner and I'd turn to crystal and gone to sleep. But when we
came around, here we were. The reason Cocoon's in such
an uproar is the same reason that you're here now. Vanille
and I woke up.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Sustained by Hate: It is his hatred of Snow that has been
sustaining him through countless battles. In a strange way,
the man who made a promise to his mother has been protecting him all along. [...]Operation Nora is over.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Dysley: Oh child,
perish the thought. I am more than that! Barthandelus: I
am fal'Cie. My name is Barthandelus. Voice of the Sanctum, and Lord-Sovereign of the Cocoon fal'Cie.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Orphan: As Sanctum fal'Cie and l'Cie are incapable of
harming Orphan, Barthandelus requires the assistance of
Pulse l'Cie.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Helping Hands: The l'Cie who became Ragnarok and attacked
Cocoon during the war was[...] Fang herself.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog - Start
Your Engines: The Cavalry[...] confronts the new Primarch[...] Raines calmly awaits his own demise. Revived
to serve as Barthandelus's pawn...
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Lightning:
Maybe Cocoon is past saving, but it's our home. And we'll
protect it, or die trying! We live to make the impossible
possible! That is our Focus!
245
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Final Fantasy XIII-2 received highly positive reviews

from Japanese critics and generally positive reviews from
Western video game journalists. Though praised for its
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[140] " week of sales in Japan, the game sold 524,000 units, beXIII 2013 coming the fth-best selling game of 2011 in Japan, and
FF " ["Final Fantasy XIII sold 3 million copies worldwide by January 2013. A seLightning ReturnsLightning series nal chapter will be quel, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, was released
released in 2013! (FF Exhibition Report)] (in Japanese). in November 2013 in Japan and February 2014 in North
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2.24.1 Gameplay
General navigation
2.23.8
External links
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (

XIII-2 Fainaru Fantaj Stn Ts) is a role-playing video
game developed and published by Square Enix for the
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Released in 2011 in Japan
and 2012 in North America and PAL regions, it is a direct
sequel to the 2010 role-playing game, Final Fantasy XIII,
and is part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries. A port
to Microsoft Windows was released on Steam in December 2014. XIII-2 includes modied features from the previous game, including fast-paced combat and a customizable Paradigmsystem to control which abilities are
used by the characters, and adds a new system that allows
monsters to be captured and used in battle. It features
a heavy time travel element, allowing the player to jump
between dierent times at the same location or dierent
places at the same time. Lightning, the protagonist of the
original game, has disappeared into an unknown world.
Her younger sister Serah Farron, a returning character,
and a young man named Noel Kreiss, journey through
time in an attempt to nd Lightning.
The player directly controls the on-screen character

through a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies throughout the game, just as in
Final Fantasy XIII. The player can also turn the camera
around the characters, providing a 360 view. Final Fantasy XIII-2, which includes normal and easy modes,* [2]
has a world rendered to scale relative to the characters;
instead of a caricature of the character roaming around
miniature terrain, as found in the earlier Final Fantasy
games, every area is represented proportionally. The
player navigates the world on foot or by chocobo, large
ightless birds that appear regularly in the Final Fantasy
series. The game world is divided into multiple regions
and time periods; the player can visit a region in multiple
time periods and multiple regions at the same time period. For example, the region of Oerba can be reached
in the years 200 and 400 AF, while the Sunleth Waterscape and Augusta Tower regions can be visited in the
year 300 AF. Some regions, because of plot points within
the game, have alternate versions of themselves; for example, two versions of the Academia region in the same
year can be accessed once the plot has made the second
version available. Connecting these regions is the Historia Crux, which the player can access at will. The game's
regions are represented as a branching path instead of
being accessed linearly. New regions can be unlocked
via plot points or by acquiring optional special items and
the player may transfer between unlocked regions at any
point.* [2]
Development of Final Fantasy XIII-2 began around

March and April 2010 and lasted about one and a half
years. The game was unveiled at the Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier in January 2011. Many of
the key designers remained in their roles from the previous game, and developer tri-Ace was hired to help with
the game's design, art, and programming. The development team wanted to exceed Final Fantasy XIII in every aspect while making the story's tone mysterious and
darker than the previous game. The game builds upon the
Paradigm Shift battle system used in Final Fantasy XIII
and includes a less linear overall design.
When accessing a previously visited region, the player appears in the location of their last visit. Upon acquiring
items called seals, the player can revert regions to their
previous statuses to play through them again; regions can
be unsealed again at any time. Unlike in the predecessor, the game is automatically saved when players enter
the Historia Crux, as well as at key moments in the plot.
The player may also manually save at any time. Instead
of accessing stores at save points like in XIII, the player
can purchase items from a character named Chocolina,
who is found throughout the game. An in-game data log
provides a bestiary and incidental information about the
Ocial website
2.24 Final Fantasy XIII-2
2.24. FINAL FANTASY XIII-2

world of Final Fantasy XIII-2.* [2] When talking to characters, the game sometimes begins the Live Trigger system, in which the player chooses their response from several options; these dialogue options are generally not repeatable. The game also occasionally features temporal
rifts, in which the player must complete a puzzle to close
the rift and continue the game.* [2]
Combat system
The Final Fantasy XIII-2 battle system, with the Paradigm

Shiftoption, the Active Time Battle (ATB) bar lling beneath
it with four slots and two actions queued, and the three active
characters' health and roles displayed. The enemy's name and
damage percentage are shown in the upper right corner.
Combat is almost identical to the previous game's version

of the series' Active Time Battle (ATB) system, called the
Command Synergy Battle system. Under this system, the
player selects an action from the menus, such as Attack,
Abilities, or Item. Each action requires a specic number
of slots on the ATB bar, which continually rells at a constant rate to a set maximum number of slots. The kinds
of attack actions available are close-range melee attacks
or ranged magical attacks, but there are also other magical actions that evoke healing or shielding abilities. The
ATB bar can be increased in size throughout the game
from three slots to six. The player may select less than
the maximum number of possible actions or may stop the
lling of the ATB bar and perform as many actions as can
be done with the current ATB amount. The player may
select an autobattle command, which lls the ATB slots
with actions chosen automatically. Actions cannot be performed outside of combat, and the characters' health is
fully restored after each ght. Players have the option of
restarting a battle while in the middle of a ght. During some skirmishes, players are put through quick time
events called Cinematic Actions that allows them to deal
higher damage to foes and end certain battles.* [3]
Monsters do not freely roam the map like in Final Fantasy XI to XIII, but instead, they randomly appear as in
the earlier Final Fantasy games. For a limited time after monsters appear, the player may attack them to gain
a combat bonus; after this window expires, the monsters attack the player to begin a regular battle, and if
too much time passes before combat begins, the player
249
cannot restart the ght during combat. When the battle begins, the screen transitions from the regular map to
a separate battle screen as in XIII. Three characters are
used in combatthe two main characters and a monster.
Monsters must be captured from battles before they can
be used, and there are around 150 dierent monster types
available to be collected.* [4] Captured monsters act just
like the main characters, but can also perform a feral
linkattack that increases the chance of capturing another
monster.* [3] Either of the two main characters can be selected as the one that the player has direct control over at
any point; the other character and the monster are then
controlled by the game's articial intelligence (AI).* [2]
Each enemy has a meter, called a Chain Gauge, consisting of a percentage that increases from a base level of 100
when the enemy is struck by attacks or spells. Dierent
attacks have dierent eects; some raise the chain by a
larger amount while others give the player longer before
the Chain Gauge resets to 100 percent. The amount of
damage performed by an attack is multiplied by the chain
percentage before it is applied to the enemy. When the
chain counter reaches a preset amount, dierent for each
enemy, the enemy becomes Staggered. In this mode, the
enemy has lowered defense and is easily interrupted, and
some may even be launched into the air, preventing them
from attacking and stopping their ATB gauges from replenishing.* [3]
The Paradigm system allows the player to program six
dierent roles, which the characters can assume to perform certain formations in battle in response to specic
conditions. The roles consist of Commando, which uses
non-elemental attacks to stabilize the Chain Gauge; Ravager, which uses elemental attacks to ll the Chain Gauge;
Medic, a White Mage-type role which can heal the party;
Saboteur, which can weaken enemies; Synergist, which
can strengthen allies; and Sentinel, which has protective abilities. The two main characters can initially assume three roles, but they can learn others at the player's
choosing as the game progresses. The player can select
which roles the controlled character and the AI characters use while outside or during battle, which is the only
way that the player can control the AI characters during
a ght. The player can only choose from specic sets of
paradigms that the player has set up before the battle.* [3]
Monsters only have one role; dierent ones are used when
the player switches paradigms.* [5] The player selects up
to three monsters they wish to use in paradigms outside
of battle.* [3] Unlike in Final Fantasy XIII, the player cannot summon the Eidolons, as the giant creatures were only
available to the protagonists of that game.* [6]
Crystarium
The Crystarium is a leveling and growth system, making a return from Final Fantasy XIII in an altered form.
The system consists of constellation-style representations
of the character's weapons and tamed monsters, made
250
up of small and large crystal nodes, which can be accessed from the start of the game. There is one Crystarium system available for each monster and Paradigm
role.* [7] Crystogen points gained in battle can be used
to expand the Crystarium, unlocking bonuses to health,
magic, or strength, or provide the characters with new
abilities and slots for battle accessories. For the monsters,
the bonuses are unlocked with items dropped by defeated
enemies.* [7]
2.24.2
Synopsis
Setting
The story of Final Fantasy XIII-2 follows on from that of
Final Fantasy XIII, but as is typical for the series, it is unrelated to all other previous Final Fantasy games.* [8] In
XIII, one of the fal'Ciea god-like racetransformed a
team of six people, the primary characters of the game,
into l'Cie (servants of the fal'Cie with magical powers and
a 'Focus'an assigned task to be completed within a time
limit), in the hope that they would initiate the end of the
world. The six were intended to cause the large, inhabited oating sphere named Cocoon to fall into the world
below, named Gran Pulse, killing all of the humans of
Cocoon. At the nale of the game, two of the l'Cie transformed into a crystal pillar to support Cocoon, preventing
the catastrophe.
XIII-2 begins three years after the end of XIII. Owing
to the fall of Cocoon at the end of XIII and the collapse of its government (the Sanctum), at the start of
XIII-2, most of Cocoon's inhabitants have moved down
onto Gran Pulse, and some have learned magical abilities.* [9] Over the course of the game, a scientic body
called the Academy becomes a new technocratic government. While the game starts o in the year 3 AF
('AF' being a new timescale set up after the fall of Cocoon),* [10] the story of XIII-2 jumps around several different time periods, and even parallel versions of dierent
places, accessed via the Historia Crux.* [11] While most
of the game takes place on Gran Pulse and inside Cocoon,
there are two other major locations. One is the Void Beyond, a limbo between time periods. The other location
is Valhalla, the capital of the goddess Etro. This place
is a realm at the end of time where the goddess keeps a
dark energy called chaos from escaping and destroying
the timeline.* [12]
second narrator, and Noel Kreiss, a young man originally

from the distant future. Other characters from the previous game who appear in important roles are Hope Estheim, who becomes leader of the Academy, and Snow
Villiers, Serah's anc, who set o to nd Lightning for
Serah. The three other main characters from the previous game, Oerba Dia Vanille, Oerba Yun Fang and Sazh
Katzroy, appear in cameo roles. Three new characters are
introduced: Caius Ballad, the game's primary antagonist;
Paddra Nsu-Yeul, a seeress possessing the all-seeing Eyes
of Etro;* [13] and Alyssa Zaidelle, a young girl who works
as an assistant to Hope. A minor supporting character is
Mog, a Moogle sent with Noel by Lightning as Serah's
good luck charm.* [14]
Plot
The game opens in 3 AF, as the Pulse town Serah lives in
is attacked by monsters. A stranger named Noel appears
to help ght the monsters and claims to be a time traveler
from 700 AF. He arrived in her time via Valhalla, where
he claims to have met Lightning as she guarded the throne
of the weakened Etro. As part of Lightning's transfer
to Valhalla, she was erased from the fall of Cocoon onwards (making everyone except Serah forget her being
with them on Gran Pulse), and paradoxes have erupted
throughout time, warping the timeline. Serah joins Noel
in a journey to resolve these paradoxes by removing items
and monsters, which are out of their original time and
correct the timeline; she in hopes of nding her sister and
he in hopes of changing the bleak future he comes from.
While journeying to 5 AF to resolve a paradox on Cocoon, they meet and help Alyssa, an Academy member
and survivor of the Purge, a massacre by the Sanctum at
the beginning of Final Fantasy XIII.
Traveling to the ruined city of Paddra in 10 AF, they

nd Hope, who has become the leader of the Academy,
with Alyssa as his assistant. They also nd a recording
of prophecies made by one of the seeresses of Paddra,
who are believed to have died out centuries prior: one
fragmented prophecy shows Lightning in Valhalla.* [15]
Paddra is shrouded by an eclipse, which Noel says is not
supposed to happen for several centuries. While Serah
and Noel resolve the paradox causing the eclipse, they
encounter Caius Ballad, a man Noel knows from 700 AF
who opposes their mission, and Yeul, who looks identical
to a girl of the same name Noel knew in the future. After
resolving the paradox, an alternative timeline appears in
which there was never an eclipse. The repaired prophecy
Characters
shows Caius in Valhalla ghting Lightning and the pillar
supporting Cocoon collapsing. Noel claims that this takes
See also: Characters of the Final Fantasy XIII series
place around 400 AF, devastating the human population
as well as the world, creating a future where he is the last
As opposed to the previous game, Lightning, the main human in existence. Serah and Noel move on, while Hope
character of XIII, only appears as a supporting character and Alyssa work on nding a way to prevent the pillar's
and the game's primary narrator. The two main playable collapse.
characters are Serah Farron, Lightning's sister and the Moving on to 300 AF Cocoon, the pair nd Snow ght-

ing a giant paradox-fueled monster that is dissolving the
crystal pillar. After resolving the paradox, which delays the fall of Cocoon until 500 AF, Snow disappears
again as an anomaly from another time. The pair then
go to the city of Academia on Gran Pulse in 400 AF
where they are attacked by the city's AI, which claims
they were killed in 200 AF. Traveling to 200 AF, they
discover a paradox whereby a man-made fal'Cie meant
to re-levitate Cocoon was able to turn on its creators using the AI that designed it and take over the government.
Resolving the paradox, Noel and Serah travel to an alternative 400 AF Academia. In this world, the pair nd
Hope and Alyssa again, who had put themselves in stasis. They explain their new plan to mechanically oat a
new Cocoon to hold humanity, which Serah and Noel help
with before heading to 500 AF Academia. They are betrayed by Alyssa (revealed to be a living paradox doomed
to disappear in the corrected timeline)* [16] and trapped
by Caius in dream-worlds. Before being trapped, Serah
meets the spirit of Yeul, who explains that she is the seeress of Paddra, continually reincarnated throughout history, while Caius is her immortal guardian, gifted with
Etro's own heart.* [17]
Yeul explains that every time the timeline is changed, the
resulting shock kills her; Caius has been driven mad by
watching her die repeatedly and seeks to end the process by unleashing the chaos trapped in Valhalla to destroy all time.* [18] Serah, it is revealed, has the same
power, and risks death every time she changes the future.* [19] Resolving to go on, Serah breaks free of her
dream-world and frees Noel from his, in which he is the
last living human after his Yeul dies and Caius leaves for
Valhalla. After briey encountering Lightning, the pair
ght Caius, rst in 500 AF Academia and then in Valhalla. As they defeat him, he claims to have killed Lightning, then impales himself through the heart on Noel's
blade, killing the weakened Etro.* [20] When the pair return to Academia in 500 AF, where Vanille and Fang have
been rescued from the collapsing pillar and the new Cocoon, namedBhunivelze, has risen, Serah dies in front
of Noel and Hope from the shock of the future changing.* [21] Just then, a black cloud erupts from the sky
as the chaos that Etro was keeping trapped breaks free.
Lightning is then shown in crystal stasis on the throne of
Etro's temple. If the player completes all optional parts
of the game, they are shown an additional scene in which
Caius is on the throne, declaring that the goddess is gone
for good, and that Yeul and he can begin a new life freed
from their 'curses'.* [22]
2.24.3
Development
Production
251
Director Motomu Toriyama at the 2010 Game Developers Conference
duction Department, a collective name for the teams

in charge of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy,
Dissidia Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.* [24]
Many of the key personnel from Final Fantasy XIII remained in their roles: Motomu Toriyama was director,
Yoshinori Kitase producer, Tetsuya Nomura character
designer and Isamu Kamikokuryo art director.* [25]
The troubled development of Final Fantasy XIII that
had been caused by the simultaneous creation of the
company-wide engine Crystal Tools gave reason to rethink the production process for high-budget games at
Square Enix. For Final Fantasy XIII-2, the team consulted the European subsidiary Eidos to more closely
adapt a Western approach to game development. As a
consequence, monthly schedules and project milestones
were introduced to better monitor the sta members'
progress.* [26] Furthermore, unlike its predecessor, Final Fantasy XIII-2 was not entirely developed in-house;
Japanese studio tri-Ace was contracted to help out with
aspects of the game design, art and programming.* [27]
This was done to keep the number of internal sta members on the game lower. The contributions of external
developers were planned and clearly divided beforehand
to achieve a more structured team organization. Concept
videos and frequent test playing during production helped
constantly engage the sta and keep to the original vision
of the game.* [26]
Despite its strong sales, Final Fantasy XIII had been critDevelopment of Final Fantasy XIII-2 began around icized on several fronts. Complaints included that the
March and April 2010 and lasted about one and a half game had been too linear, had not allowed enough interyears.* [23] It was carried out by Square Enix's 1st Pro- action with non-player characters, and had not featured
252
enough minigames and puzzles. The developers intended
to address these criticisms with the sequel by adding the
Historia Crux system, numerous sidequests from nonplayer characters, and the casino minigame area.* [4] Environments were made more explorable and the artists
were given more freedom to include their own ideas in
the game's locations, in order to rectify the shortcomings
of the more articial seeming settings in Final Fantasy
XIII.* [28]* [29] Although the developers were explicitly
responding to the criticism, they saw the changes and
additions as making the sequel in line with what players had hoped Final Fantasy XIII would be, rather than
backing away from the changes that game had brought to
the series.* [4] For the structure of side quests and some
other aspects such as the abundance of chocobos and the
more open environment, the team drew inspiration from
Rockstar San Diego's Red Dead Redemption. The game
also included multiple endings, which Toriyama referred
to as a rst for the series.* [30]* [note 1]
Writing
Toriyama originally envisioned the plot not as a direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII but instead as taking place 900
years after. However, while creating the backstory for the
events in between both eras, it was decided to have the
game revolve around time traveling.* [31] Toriyama expressed his wish tocreate a story where [Lightning] ends
up [truly] happy one dayas he considered her emotional
state at the end of Final Fantasy XIII doubtful. He also
wanted to see [Serah] take an active partbecause her
crystal stasis over the course of the predecessor's story did
not allow for such a role.* [32] Scenario writer Daisuke
Watanabe thought about how the narrative could be continued in a sequel.* [31] Emi Nagashima, also known by
her pen name Jun Eishima, had written novellas for Final Fantasy XIII and was consulted early on in development to help come up with the plot for Final Fantasy XIII2.* [33]

Noel would not be repetitive or unrealistic.* [37] Unfamiliar concepts and terms in Final Fantasy XIII, such as
l'Cieand fal'Cie, were deemed too dicult to understand and hence avoided in the sequel.* [34] A story
link to Final Fantasy Type-0 via the location Valhalla was
planned but later discarded.* [31]
Art design
Based on the much darker tone of Final Fantasy XIII2 compared to its predecessor, Kamikokuryo decided
on surrealism as the main theme for the graphics.* [29]
The works of Salvador Dal and Giorgio de Chirico were
used as visual references and helped Kamikokuryo strike
a balance between photorealism and fantasy-like surrealism.* [38] Unlike Final Fantasy XIII, the game had a
much tighter schedule allowing for little pre-production.
Kamikokuryo hence used photographs instead of selfdrawn pictures to explain his setting ideas to the other
sta members.* [29] For example, a photograph of ruined buildings in the Cuban capital Havana inspired the
look of Valhalla.* [39] Character design duties were split
up: Nomura designed the faces of the new and returning main characters while their clothing was done by
other artists.* [40] Kamikokuryo drew the nal version of
Lightning based on a silhouette sketch and suggestions
by Nomura.* [39]* [40] Yusuke Naora took charge of
Serah's, Noel's and Caius' costumes, while Hideo Minaba
worked on Yeul, Alyssa and the adult version of Hope
in the same capacity.* [40]* [41]* [42]* [43] Mog was designed by Toshitaka Matsuda after he had received a request for a cute and mascot-like Moogle character.* [42]
Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy XIII-2
The music of Final Fantasy XIII-2 was composed by
Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Mitsuto Suzuki.
Keiji Kawamori coordinated the three artists to ensure
their styles meshed well.* [44] Hamauzu, who was the
sole composer for the music of Final Fantasy XIII, wrote
roughly a quarter of the game's tracks, as did Suzuki,
while Mizuta wrote nearly half.* [45] Prior to this game,
Mizuta had worked on the music of Final Fantasy XI, and
Suzuki had been a sound director for several Square Enix
games and served as an arranger for XIII.* [46] The game's
director, Motomu Toriyama, wanted the game's soundtrack to have more variety than that of the music in Final
Fantasy XIII, as well as feature more styles. As a result,
the game had three composers rather than just Hamauzu.
Toriyama also wished for the music to havea more edgy
soundand more vocal pieces, so that it would soundunlike the typical Final Fantasy title.* [44] The music incorporates a wide variety of styles, from orchestral and
electronic to rap, hip-hop, jazz funk, and metal.* [44]
The narrative was divided into smallerpieces of drama

similar to a television series rather than one overarching
story piece.* [34] This was reected by the game's working title Final Fantasy XIII: Season 2 when the project
was rst proposed within the company.* [26] Unlike Final
Fantasy X-2, which had a more cheerful and humorous feel than Final Fantasy X, the sta members wanted
the overall tone of Final Fantasy XIII-2 to be serious as
well as darker and more mysterious than its predecessor.* [35] The original scenario had called for Serah to
travel alone with Mog. However, Kitase felt that their dialogue was quite girly, almost camp and a bit over the
topand resulted in a tonal shift that was too similar to
the one from X to X-2. Noel was added to the story to
counter this.* [36] Watanabe considered scriptwriting for
the game's two-character party dicult. With the lack
of varied personality traits provided by an ensemble cast, Since the release of the game, Square Enix has pubhe had to ensure that conversations between Serah and lished the 2011 four-disc soundtrack album, Final Fan-
253
with the words She must not be forgotten.* [52] On
January 11, 2011, Square Enix registered the domain
name FinalFantasy13-2game.com via a proxy company
that it had used to register websites for several other
unannounced games.* [53] Final Fantasy XIII-2 was ofcially announced at the Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier in Tokyo on January 18, 2011.* [24]
The teaser trailer showed Lightning, outtted in armor,
drawing her weapon and engaging Caius, who was not
yet named.* [35] To promote the game's release in Japan,
Japanese singer Yuko Oshima was appointed the leader
of a group of thirteen ocial test players.* [54]
Downloadable content
Composer Masashi Hamauzu in 2012
tasy XIII-2 Original Soundtrack, as well as an album of

arrangements and alternate versions of tracks from the
game, Final Fantasy XIII Original Soundtrack PLUS, in
2012.* [46]* [47] The theme song for the game, Yakusoku no Basho( The Promised Place), was
released by singer Mai Fukui as a single in 2011, and
the English version of the song, sung by Charice Pempengco and included in the non-Japanese versions of the
game, was included on her 2012 album Innity.* [48] Reviews of the soundtrack album were positive, with critics praising both the variety of styles and quality of the
pieces. Several critics noted Mizuta's work as possibly his
nest to date.* [45]* [46] Reviewers were mixed in their
opinions of the arranged album, feeling that several of
the pieces were simply inferior versions of the original
tracks.* [47]* [49] Both of the albums and the single sold
well enough to place on the Japanese Oricon charts, with
the original soundtrack album reaching a peak of #13 and
remaining on the charts for eight weeks.* [50]
2.24.4
Marketing
Final Fantasy XIII-2 was rst hinted at three months after the January 2010 release of Final Fantasy XIII. Kitase said in an interview If we could do a XIII-2,
we could direct all our attention to the story and rene what we have already built.* [51] Toriyama stated
in the October 2010 Ultimania Omega companion book
that he hoped to continue the story.* [32] Two months
later, Nomura released a drawing of Lightning along
The game features downloadable content (DLC) in the

form of downloadable outts, weapons, accessories, scenarios, recruitable monsters and minigames. Although
there had been initial plans to release DLC for Final Fantasy XIII, these ideas did not come to fruition. For Final Fantasy XIII-2, the team designed and planned for
content, including DLC, that would expand on the game
since the beginning of its development.* [55] Players who
own Final Fantasy XIII save data can unlock an additional wallpaper (PS3) or gamer picture (Xbox 360) for
the save le.* [56] DLC released after the game contained
additional weapons, costumes, and monsters.* [57] Postrelease downloads also included "Final Fantasy XIII Lost
Report, which oers a look back at Final Fantasy XIII
's story through the perspective of non-playable characters from the game, and three downloadable scenarios for
other characters: Perpetual Battleeld, which reveals
Snow's fate;* [58] Heads or Tails, which shows how
Sazh came to 500 AF Academia;* [59] andRequiem of
the Goddess, which shows Lightning's struggle against
Caius and explains how she became crystallized in the
main story's ending.* [60]
2.24.5 Reception
Sales
During its rst week of release in Japan, Final Fantasy
XIII-2 sold 524,000 copies, and the PlayStation 3 version was the highest-selling game for the system. The
Xbox 360 version only reached 48th. Although high, initial sales were notably lower than what they were for the
game's predecessor, which sold 1.5 million units in its rst
week.* [61] By the end of the year, the game had sold over
697,000 units, and was the fth-best selling game of 2011
in Japan. It was just below four handheld video games,
making it the highest-selling home console game in Japan
that year.* [62] On Amazon Japan, the game was the bestselling console title for the rst half of 2012.* [63] In the
United States, the game placed as the second-best selling
game of February 2012, just below Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare 3.* [64] In the United Kingdom, Final Fantasy
254
XIII-2 was the best-selling game of February 2012.* [65]
By January 2013, Final Fantasy XIII-2 had shipped 3.1
million copies worldwide, almost half of the 6.6 million
copies its predecessor sold by the same date.* [66]
Reviews

The story of the game received poor to mixed reviews.
Parish felt that it was confusing and inessential to the
game, while Juba said that it was a disasterwhich
screws up at almost every turn, overshadowing the
game's good points.* [6]* [69] Parkin felt that the characters were weak and the story was not engaging, and
Clements said that the story was insubstantial, which he
found particularly disappointing as most Final Fantasy
games focused heavily on their story.* [72]* [75] VanOrd
was less negative towards the characters and story than
most others, but still described the characters as good, but
not great. He felt the game focused too much on the less
interesting characters of Noel and Serah over Lightning
and Caius, and said that the story was semi-coherent
and missed several emotional notes, particularly in the
rst half of the game.* [5]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 received very favorable reviews

by Japanese reviewers, getting perfect scores from the
Japanese magazines Famitsu and Dengeki PlayStation.
Famitsu editor Ranbu Yoshida said that it feels like a
very dierent game from its predecessorand that it's
easy to lose yourself in changing and redoing areas you've
previously nished.Assistant editor Norihiro Fujiwara
added that the setting and presentation is fantastic, and
the issues people brought up with the rst gameits linearity, its lack of meaty gameplayare a thing of the past.
You're sucked into the game right from the beginning, and 2.24.6 Sequel
the story's very easy to get into.* [73]* [76]
Outside of Japan, the game received mostly positive re- Main article: Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
views, which primarily focused on the changes in the
game from its predecessor. Reviewers generally praised Hints and rumors began circulating about a sequel to
the graphics. The Edge review described the environ- Final Fantasy XIII-2 as early as December 2011, when
ments as entirely captivatingand said that the vi- Square Enix registered the Final Fantasy XIII-3 web dosual and audio design is marvellous, and Kevin VanOrd main. At the time, the company stated that it was simply a
of GameSpot praised the graphics as beautiful and vi- precaution and did not mean there was such a game.* [77]
sually diverse.* [5]* [71] Jeremy Parish of 1UP.com dis- After the game was released with a To be continued
agreed, however, saying that the art represents a step ending, Square Enix said that the ending was chosen to
back from the splendor of Final Fantasy XIII".* [69] The prompt players to explore the alternative endings and remusic received mixed reviews; Parish said that the music main ready for the coming DLC levels.* [78] However,
was great, applauding the unique styles, but Simon Parkin after the release of what was stated to be the nal piece
of Eurogamer felt that the music suers from a lack of of DLC, ocials at Square Enix announced that they
coherent direction, and tracks often failed to match their would be releasing future Final Fantasy XIII-related conscenes.* [69]* [72] Dale North of Destructoid felt that the tent.* [79] In late August 2012, a teaser site was unveiled
soundtrack waswonderfully varied and lots of funand in preparation for the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary
predicted thattraditionalistfans of Final Fantasy mu- Event, titled A Storm Gathers, promising a new
sic would not like it as much because of the varied new direction for the saga of key character Lightning.* [80]
styles.* [70]
At the event, it was announced that the title for this game
The gameplay was generally praised as well, with many would be Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, that it
reviewers noting the improvements in areas they saw as would be released in 2013, and that it would serve as the
problems in the previous game. Parkin praised the game's ending to the story of the main Final Fantasy XIII char*
smart, engaging mechanicsand the novel structure acter, Lightning. [81]
*
of the gameplay. [72] Joe Juba of Game Informer said
that the changes to Final Fantasy XIII 's battle system
made it his favorite Final Fantasy battle system, and that 2.24.7 Notes
the gameplay was phenomenal.* [6] Ryan Clements
of IGN felt that the gameplay was an improvement over [1] Director Motomu Toriyama's full quote: For details on
that, well have to wait until TGS, but one thing I can
XIII 's, xing many of its problems.* [75] Parish stated
tell you is that for the rst time in the Final Fantasy series,
that XIII-2 was an inversion of XIII in that the gameplay
XIII-2 will have multiple endings.This statement does not
took precedence over the story. He described the battle
take Final Fantasy X-2 into account, which has multiple
system as a joyand said that the game was never
endings depending on player progress through the game.
not fun.* [69] VanOrd agreed that the combat was fun,
though he found it to be too easy.* [5] The Edge review,
which was harsher on the game than most others, also 2.24.8 References
found it to be too easy, which combined with what they
saw as poor subquests and a lack of eort put in some [1] Ivan, Tom (2014-11-11). Final Fantasy XIII-2 Steam
release date conrmed. Computer and Video Games.
regions made the gameplay uninteresting.* [71]

2014-11-11.
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[9] Square Enix (2012-01-31). Final Fantasy XIII-2.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Fragment
Pulse's Resolution: When the people of Cocoon rst
came down to the surface of Gran Pulse, magic lled the
earth. Among the people, there were those who awakened
to this power. [...] Now normal humans can spin enchantments and spellsif they know how.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Catastrophe: Three years ago, mankind stared into the face of
extinction when Cocoon almost crashed onto the surface
of Pulse. [...] A new age began from that day forth, with
each subsequent year marked by the letters AF, or 'After
the Fall.'
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Historia Crux: The Historia Crux is the crossroads between
the Time Gates. It is a separate dimension connecting one
age to the next.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Etro's
Gate: The instant Etro's Gate opened, a world-devouring
darkness slipped through from Valhalla. The goddess
turned back the river of time and that terrible darkness
the Unseen chaos was sealed away. [...] If the goddess is destroyed, the chaos of the Unseen Realm would
be unleashed, and the mortal realm devoured by Valhalla.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Eyes
of Etro: The 'Eyes of Etro' is another name given to Yeul's
power to see changes in the timeline. [...] Every time a
seeress has a vision, a part of her life force is drained away.
255

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog Mog:
Mog is a small, mysterious creature covered in white fur.
[...] Lightning came across Mog in Valhalla, and asked
the strange little being to act as Serah's protector and good
luck charm.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Serah:Was that
my sister? / Hope: Yes, I think so. We need to conduct
further analysis to be certain.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Alyssa: I'm sorry,
but in the new future that you wish to build, I no longer
exist.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Datalog The
Heart of Chaos: The Heart of Chaos is the goddess Etro's
own heart, given to Caius. [...] Only if another potential
Guardian defeats him and takes this power can Caius truly
be killed. If the new Guardian has enough strength of will,
he can release the Heart's power and put an end to immortal destiny.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Caius: With each
distortion of the future, the life of the seeress was cut short
[...] So I will dam the river of time and tear down the foundations of history. Only then will Yeul's suering come
to an end.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Noel: Yeul died
when she was only fteen. Seeing the timeline exacts a
terrible tole on the body. And Serah...you can see the
timeline too. / Serah: You mean...I'm about to die? /
Noel: You're okay right now. [...] The more we change
the future, the more history changes. And the more you
see, the sooner the visions will destroy you.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Caius: The
Heart of Chaos beats in my chest, a manifestation of Etro.
Should this heart stop beating, the goddess will die once
again.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Hope: But why?
You were safe, everything was ne. / Noel The future
changed. [...] The seeress is forced to see it all. / Hope:
You mean Serah...she saw this vision? / Noel: Yes. And
it killed her.
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix. Caius: They have
seen all of history, all of its possibilities. They have seen
all the endings, but they must know the Goddess Etro is
already dead. Her end is nal: no man, woman or god can
bring her back now. [...] Yeul, let us begin. We are freed
from our eternal curse. Embrace the new world.
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[59] James Orry. Final Fantasy XIII-2 Sazh DLC episode
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[Enterbrain has announced
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yen] (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2012-01-05. Archived from
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the Best Selling Game on Amazon Japan for First Half of
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[64] Hillier, Brenna (2012-03-09). NPD February: Sales
down 20%, hardware recovering. VG247. Archived
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on top in dreary February. Market for Home Computing
[66] Prell, Sophie (2013-01-18). Lightning Returns: Final
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[68] Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PlayStation3)". Metacritic.
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[80] A Storm Gathers. Square Enix. Archived from the
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FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Ocial Japanese website
(Japanese)
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Judge 13 Ocial
Test Players website (Japanese)
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Ocial North American
website
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ocial European website
258
2.25 Lightning Returns:

Fantasy XIII
Final
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (

XIII Raitoningu
Ritnzu: Fainaru Fantaj Stn) is a console action roleplaying video game developed and published by Square
Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released
on November 2013 in Japan and February 2014 in Europe and North America. The game is a direct sequel
to Final Fantasy XIII-2, concludes the storyline of Final
Fantasy XIII, and forms part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis
subseries. Lightning Returns employs a highly revamped
version of the gameplay system from the previous two
games, with an action-oriented battle system, the ability to customize the player character's outts, and a time
limit the player must extend by completing story missions
and side quests.
The game's story takes place ve hundred years after the
previous game's ending. Lightning, the main protagonist of the rst game and a key character in the second,
awakes from a self-imposed hibernation 13 days before
the world's end, and is chosen by the deity Bhunivelze
to save the people of the dying world, including former
friends and allies who have developed heavy emotional
burdens. As she travels, she learns the full truth behind
both the world's fate and Bhunivelze's true agenda.
Development of the game started in May 2012, shortly
after the release of XIII-2 's nal piece of DLC, and was
unveiled at a special 25th Anniversary Event for the Final Fantasy series in September that year. Most of the
previous games' key creative minds and developers returned, and it was developed by Square Enix's First Production Department, with developer tri-Ace helping with
the graphics. The development team wanted the game to
bring a conclusive end to the story of both Lightning and
the XIII universe, and to address criticisms leveled against
the last two games. During its rst week on sale in Japan,
it sold 277,000 units, and by the end of 2013 become
the 17th best-selling game of the year. It has shipped
1.4 million units worldwide as of September 2014. It has
received mixed reviews in both Japan and Western territories: while the main praise went to the game's battle
system, opinions were more mixed for the graphics, time
limit and other aspects of gameplay, while the story and
characters were criticized for being weak or poorly developed.
2.25.1
Gameplay
The player directly controls the character Lightning

through a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies throughout the game. The
player can also turn the camera around the character,
which allows for a 360 view of the surroundings. The
world of Lightning Returns, as with Final Fantasy XIII and
its sequel XIII-2, is rendered to scale with the character,

who navigates the world on foot. In one of the areas, the
player can use chocobos, a recurring animal in the Final Fantasy series. The player is able to freely navigate
the game's open world layout, explore towns and country areas, and accept quests from various non-playable
characters (NPCs).* [7] Lightning is also able to sprint for
limited periods, climb up ladders and jump freely.* [8]
The game features three diculty levels: Easy,* [9] Normal and Hard, the latter of which is unlocked after rst
completing the game. There is also a New Game+ option, whereby players can start a new game while carrying over their equipment and stats from a previous
playthrough.* [10] The in-game clock runs continuously
during normal navigation, with one in-game day equating
to two to three hours in real time on Easy mode and one
hour on Normal and Hard modes.* [10]* [11] The timer
starts out at seven in-game days, but can be extended to a
maximum of thirteen days.* [10] The timer stops during
cutscenes, conversations and battles. Lightning can also
pause time using an ability called Chronostasis.* [12]
Quests are directly linked to Lightning's growth: as she
completes quests, her stats are boosted, with the main
story quests yielding the biggest boosts.* [10] Many side
quests can only be obtained at certain times, since the
real-time build of the world means NPCs are in constant
movement, and only appear in certain places at a given
time.* [7] Lightning can also accept quests from the Canvas of Prayers, a post board found in all the main locations.* [13] Upon completing NPC quests, Lightning is
rewarded with a portion of Eradia, spiritual energy retrieved when a person's burden is lifted.* [14] Every day at
6 AM game-time, Lightning is drawn back into the Ark, a
location where the in-game clock does not progress. Once
there, Lightning gives her gathered Eradia to a tree called
Yggdrasil: if she has gathered enough, the in-game clock
is extended by a day. She can also restock on supplies
and collect new equipment.* [15]* [16] Another feature in
the game is Outerworld Services, a feature where players
can take photos and share them, along with their personal
stats and battle scores, on Facebook and Twitter.* [17]
Battle system
The battle system, called the Style-Change Active Time
Battle system,* [9] uses elements from the Active Time
Battle (ATB)-based Paradigm system from the rst and
second XIII games and bears similarities to the dressphere
system featured in Final Fantasy X-2.* [18]* [19]* [20]
Lightning has access to several customizable outts
(garb) with dierent power sets (plural: Schemata; singular: Schema). Each garb has its own separate ATB
gauge, and actions for them are mapped onto the controller's face buttons, meaning that the usual menu-style
ATB battle system is no longer needed: this enables
Lightning to be moved around the battle eld to a limited degree.* [18] The majority of the garbs and their
2.25. LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII
259
Energy Point gauge.* [28] In Normal and Hard modes,
if Lightning ees from or dies in battle, one in-game
hour is lost.* [11]* [29] Unlike the last two games, the
player character does not automatically recover HP after
battles, instead needing to use remedies bought from
merchants and shops, and there is no auto-battle mode,
with Lightning needing to be controlled manually at all
times. In Easy Mode, Lightning regenerates health if she
stands idle.* [21]* [25]* [30]
The Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII battle system, with

the ATB meters for Lightning's garb, the available abilities of the
current garb, and the EP visible. The enemy's health and stagger
meter are visible above it.
accessories are either purchasable in the in-game shops

or received upon completing quests.* [10] Stronger garbs,
items, shields and weapons are unlocked in Hard Mode,
along with access to more challenging areas and boss battles.* [21] Lightning can equip three Schemata directly,
while having additional slots for backup costumes which
can be equipped outside battle. She can be equipped a
close-combat weapon (sword, spear, etc.), a shield and a
cosmetic accessory. The color scheme of each garb can
be customized using both pre-set and custom color: there
are options to alter both specic portions and all portions
of the costume.* [22]
As with the previous game, enemies appear in the
open eld and can be avoided or engaged. The number
of enemies increases during nighttime,* [14] and their
strength and ability to deal damage increases the more
days pass in-game.* [10] By killing all the standard
versions of an enemy, a nal version appears as a boss.
Defeating it will yield a high reward and make the
enemy type extinct in an area of the game.* [23] When
Lightning attacks an enemy, or they attack her, the battle
starts. If Lightning strikes a monster, they lose a small
portion of health, while if the enemy strikes Lightning
rst, she will lose health.* [18] As Lightning performs
attacks, her ATB meter is drained and she must switch
to another assigned garb: the depleted garb's meter
recharges while not being used. Lightning utilizes her
many swords for short-range melee attacks and magic for
long-range attacks. She can block enemy attacks using
her shield* [24] and has the option to evade an attack,
which can be assigned to any garb.* [25] Each enemy
has a stagger meter, represented by a line behind their
health bar. As Lightning lands certain kinds of magical
or physical blows on the enemy, their meter oscillates
more. Eventually, the enemy is staggered, rendering
them vulnerable to damaging attacks.* [26] Lightning
can also spend Energy Points to perform special moves
or activate abilities, such as Overclock (which slows
time for Lightning's opponents and enables her to land
more hits); and Army of One, Lightning's signature
move.* [18]* [27] By winning battles, Lightning earns gil,
the in-game currency, and replenishes a portion of her
2.25.2 Synopsis
Setting
Lightning Returns is set after the stories of Final Fantasy
XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. In XIII, Lightning is one of
six people who are turned by a fal'Cieone of a race created by the gods* [31]into l'Cie, servants of the fal'Cie
gifted with magical powers and a 'Focus'an assigned
task to be completed within a time limit; those that succeed in their Focus go into crystal stasis, while those that
fail turn into monsters called Cie'th.* [32] The six were intended to cause the large, oating sphere named Cocoon
to fall onto the world below, named Gran Pulse, killing all
of the humans of Cocoon. At the nale of the game, two
of the l'Cie transformed into a crystal pillar to support
Cocoon, preventing the catastrophe. The remaining l'Cie
were made human again by the Goddess Etro, the deity
responsible for maintaining the balance between the mortal world and the Unseen Realm. In XIII-2, it is revealed
that Etro's interference allowed Chaos, an energy trapped
in the Unseen Realm, to escape and distort the timeline as
written after the fall of Cocoon. Lightning was drawn to
Valhalla, Etro's citadel, and decided to stay and act as her
protector. Three years after Cocoon's fall, Lightning's
sister Serah sets out to correct the distortions and reunite
with Lightning, while the people of Gran Pulse construct
a new Cocoon, since the old one is destined to collapse.
The protagonists unwittingly end up instigating the death
of Etro, which allows Chaos to spill into the mortal world
and bring an end to time itself.* [33] Serah also dies, causing Lightning to nearly lose hope. Reassured by her sister's spirit, Lightning chooses to enter crystal stasis to preserve her sister's memory and keep hope alive.* [34]
Lightning Returns is set ve hundred years after the ending of XIII-2, during the nal thirteen days of the world's
existence. Because of the unleashing of Chaos, the world
of Gran Pulse has been consumed, leaving only a set
of islands called Nova Chrysalia.* [35] The new Cocoon,
called Bhunivelzeafter the key deity of the XIII universe, acts as the world's moon. The Chaos has halted
human aging and no new children are born due to Etro's
death, causing the human population to stagnate and
shrink.* [36]* [37] Over the intervening centuries, two opposing religions have formed and dominate the life of
Nova Chrysalia's people: the Order of Salvation, that
260
worships Bhunivelze,* [38] and the Children of Etro, a
rebel cult who worship the Goddess.* [39] The world itself
is divided into four regions, each dominated by a specic
mood and environment.* [40] The city of Luxerion is a
capital of worship whose people are loyal to the Order.
The pleasure capital of Yusnaan is a city of revelry where
people live in a constant state of celebration. The Dead
Dunes is a desert area dominated by ruins. The Wildlands
is an untamed area where the human city of Academia
used to stand; it also houses the remains of Valhalla, the
capital of Etro. Within the New Cocoon is the Ark, a
zone where time is frozen.* [8]* [41]* [42]
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy XIII series
Lightning, a central character from both XIII and XIII-2,
is the game's main protagonist, sole playable character,
and narrator. The other main characters from the previous games also make appearances: Hope Estheim aids
Lightning using a wireless communicator;* [43] Snow
Villiers, devastated by the death of Serah Farronhis ance and Lightning's sisterbecomes the leader of Yusnaan and the world's last l'Cie; Oerba Dia Vanille and
Oerba Yun Fang, released from crystal stasis, go separate ways, with Fang becoming the leader of Monoculus, a bandit gang in the Dead Dunes, and Vanille gaining the power to hear the voices of the dead, thus being deemed a saint and falling under the constant protection of the Order in Luxerion. Noel Kreiss, feeling
guilty over his role in the deaths of Etro and Serah and
the world's current state, becomes a vigilante in Luxerion.
Sazh Katzroy and his son Dajh, who fell into a comatose
state, reside in the Wildlands. The region also becomes
the home of Mog, Noel and Serah's former moogle companion from XIII-2; Caius Ballad, Lightning's old adversary and the one responsible for the unleashing of Chaos
into the mortal world; and Paddra Nsu-Yeul, a former
seeress and pivotal character in the previous game whose
cycle of early death and reincarnation was the motivation behind Caius's actions. The game also introduces
Lumina, a mysterious near-doppelganger of Serah who
both aids and taunts Lightning during her quest;* [44] and
Bhunivelze, the main deity of the Final Fantasy XIII universe who chooses Lightning as the world's savior.* [45]
Plot
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII begins with Lightning being woken from crystal stasis by the god Bhunivelze after 500 years. The world is set to end in 13 days,
and to this end Lightning is made the savior, a gure who
will free the souls of humanity from the burdens on their
hearts and guide them to a new world that Bhunivelze
will create once the 13 days are up.* [46] Lightning undertakes this task to rescue and ensure the rebirth of Serah's

spirit.* [47] Hope acts as her guide from the Ark, which
houses the rescued souls of humanity: Bhunivelze chose
him and changed his physical form to his 14-year-old self
from XIII.* [48] As she journeys and performs her task,
she encounters her former allies and adversaries, many
of whom now carry heavy emotional burdens. She is also
followed about by Lumina, who both gives her advice and
taunts her at regular intervals.
In Luxerion, Lightning investigates a series of murders
where all the victims match the physical description of
the savior. During her journey, she is followed by Noel,
who has become obsessed with a prophecy that he must
kill Lightning to realize a better world and reunite with
Yeul.* [49] The two briey ally to rout the Children of
Etro, responsible for the murders, then later do battle.
Lightning uses Noel's rage to make him realize and accept his mistakes, lifting his burden. After this, she meets
up with Vanille in the Order's cathedral. Vanille shows
Lightning a place within the cathedral where the souls of
the dead have gathered. Vanille is being prepared for a
ritual to take place on the nal day that will apparently purify the souls. She hopes to atone for past actions by doing
so.* [50] In the Dead Dunes, Lightning encounters Fang
and goes with her on a journey through the region's dungeons in search of a relic called the Holy Clavis. When
they nd it, Fang reveals that it is key to the ritual in Luxerion as it has the power to draw in the souls of the dead,
and that the ritual will kill Vanille.* [51] Fang attempts
to destroy the relic, but the forces of the Order arrive and
take it. On the eleventh day, the souls of the dead speak to
Lightning through the visage of Cid Raines, a man Lightning encountered during XIII.* [52] He tells her that the
Order has deceived Vanille and plans to sacrice her to
destroy the dead, so the living will forget their existence
and be 'puried' for rebirth in the new world. Lightning
decides to stop the ritual, though Cid warns her that she
will be defying Bhunivelze's will.* [53]
In the Wildlands, Lightning saves a white chocobo called
theAngel of Valhallafrom monsters and nurses it back
to health. The chocobo is revealed to be Odin, one of
the Eidolon race who acted as her ally in XIII.* [54] She
encounters Sazh, whose son Dajh has fallen into a coma
and become unwilling to wake because of his father's
current state.* [55] Lightning retrieves the fragments of
Dajh's soul, lifting Sazh's emotional burden and waking
his son. Traveling to the ruins of Valhalla, Lightning
encounters Caius and multiple versions of Yeul. After
ghting with Caius, Lightning learns that he has become
tied to life by the Yeuls and thus cannot be saved.* [56]
She also learns that it was Yeul's perpetual rebirth that
caused the Chaos to seep into the mortal world and trigger the events of XIII-2.* [57] Encountering Mog as the
leader of a moogle village, she helps him fend o attacking monsters. In Yusnaan, Lightning inltrates Snow's
palace and nds him preparing to enter a concentration of
Chaos contained inside the palace. He plans to absorb the
Chaos, transform into a Cie'th, and have Lightning kill

him. Though he performs the act and they ght, Lightning manages to renew his hope of seeing Serah again,
reverse his transformation and lift his burden.* [58] On
Nova Chrysalia's nal day, Hope reveals to Lightning that
Bhunivelze used him to watch over Lightning and that
the deity will dispose of him now that his task is completed.* [59]
After Hope disappears, Lightning is transported to Luxerion and enters the cathedral, where Noel, Snow and Fang
help her ght the Order to save Vanille. Lightning manages to convince her to free the souls of the dead.* [60]
This act allows Lightning to nd Serah's soul, kept hidden inside Lumina to keep it safe, but Bhunivelze arrives
using Hope as his host and captures everyone but Lightning.* [61] Transported to an otherworldly realm, Lightning meets Bhunivelze in person, and learns that he has
been conditioning Lightning to replace Etro.* [62] After wounding the god in battle, she frees Hope and prepares to become the new goddess and protect the new
world by trapping herself and Bhunivelze in the Unseen Realm.* [63] An illusion of Serah then confronts
Lightning, revealing Lumina as the physical manifestation of Lightning's suppressed vulnerabilities.* [64] Accepting Lumina as a part of herself, Lightning calls for
aid. Hope, Snow, Noel, Vanille, Fang and the Eidolons
answer her call, and they sever Bhunivelze's hold on the
souls of humanity, including Sazh, Dajh, Mog, and a revived Serah. The souls then unite and defeat Bhunivelze.
In the aftermath, Caius and the multiple versions of Yeul
choose to remain in the Unseen Realm and protect the
balance between worlds in Etro's stead.* [65] The nal incarnation of Yeul, who alone wishes for a new life, is allowed to accompany Lightning and her friends.* [66] After the Eidolons and Mog disappear to the Unseen Realm,
Lightning, her allies, and the souls of humanity travel to
a new Earth-like world where they can decide their own
fate. In a post-credits scene, Lightning is seen in normal
clothes arriving in a rural town, going to reunite with one
of her friends.* [2]* [67]* [68]
261
Another reason was that the team wished to bring the XIII
series to a close before the release of the next generation
of gaming hardware.* [70]* [71] The title was also chosen
to be the last original Final Fantasy game on seventh generation consoles,* [72]* [73] and next-gen versions of the
game were not considered.* [74] One of the key story concepts behind the game was the rebirthof Lightning
as a character: this was cited as the main reason why the
game was called Lightning Returns and not XIII-3, alongside the team's desire to attract new players to the series.* [70]* [75] Lightning was also made into a darker and
more vulnerable character, partly because Kitase felt that
her previous stoic depictions might have alienated earlier
players.* [70]* [74]* [76] The main scenario and script was
written by Daisuke Watanabe, the main writer for the previous XIII games. During the concept process, Watanabe,
Toriyama and other members of sta brainstormed ideas
for important scenes and events leading up to them. The
process of writing the script was slow, causing diculties
for the rest of the team. In response to this, Watanabe
worked extra hard to create an appropriate nale for the
characters and story. He also wrote the script as more
hard-edged than those for the previous XIII games.* [2]
The game was designed as the nal entry in the XIII storyline (generally dubbed theLightning Sagaby the production team),* [77]* [78] but was also intended to stand
independent of the Final Fantasy series as a whole.* [75]
One example of the breakaway from series norms is the
game's logo, which was not designed by regular series
logo artist Yoshitaka Amano,* [79] and which was one
of several created during the early stages of development.* [80] The concept of the story's progression was
termed asworld-driven, a concept whereby the world
the player interacted with moved independently of their
actions: i.e. NPCs would appear in dierent locations depending on the time of day. That concept partially gave
rise to the game's time limit, which was suggested by the
game's battle designer Yuji Abe after having read of the
Doomsday Clock.* [70]* [75] Another inspiration behind
the story pacing and time limit was the 2011 movie In
Time.* [81] The open world aspect of the game was heavily inuenced by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,* [69] and
2.25.3 Development
some of the hard-edged gameplay ideas were borrowed
*
The concept of Lightning Returns originated during devel- from Dark Souls. [82] The majority of the hardcoreopment of XIII-2, while the development team was brain- gaming elements were eventually trimmed out in order
*
storming ideas for possible continuations of the story and to make the game accessible to newcomers. [83]
universe of the games, though there was no solid deci- In terms of assets, the team reused very little from the
sion to make a second sequel to XIII at the time.* [69] previous two games, choosing instead to build a large proDevelopment of Lightning Returns started in May 2012, portion of the game from the ground up, especially when
soon after the release of Requiem of the Goddess, the - it came to the overworld design and NPC behaviors.* [74]
nal story-based DLC episode for XIII-2. According to The Crystal Tools engine, used in the last two XIII games,
Motomu Toriyama, he had wanted to tell more stories required a major overhaul as it was not designed for openabout Lightning, and the DLC had not provided a sat- world games.* [84] In contrast to the previous games, a lot
isfactory ending for her. The game was designed in a of the game's cutscenes were created while the game was
shorter time than the other games in the series; Yoshinori still being developed, meaning developers needed to use
Kitase explained that this was because the team did not many placeholder objects and models before returning to
want players to forget the story of the previous games, polish the scenes up. The team also had to thoroughly
and the team needed to work especially hard as a result.
262
check Lightning's various outts and weapons, to ensure
that there were no gas in cutscenes with the weapons and
that the character's underwear remained concealed during
active battles even for her more revealing outts.* [85] Because the team was mostly using new assets to create the
game, the various continents took longer to create than
the environments in XIII-2, and story scenes sometimes
needed to be redone as the game's overall plot had yet
to be nalized when development began. The voice actors, in contrast to the normal procedure doing their performances rst and those being used to create the game
characters' facial expressions, recorded their lines for the
characters well after the various cutscenes had been created.* [85] Developer tri-Ace, who had previously worked
with the team on Final Fantasy XIII-2, returned to help
with the graphics.* [86]
The concept of Lightning Returns ' battle system originated while ideas were being discussed for the battle system in Final Fantasy XIII, but technical limitations and
problems implementing it in a party-based battle system prevented it from being used in that game.* [20] It
reemerged when some of the development team wanted
Lightning to change her appearance during battle, and reducing to one playable character opened up the memory space necessary for such a system to be implemented.* [87] In making the system revolve around one
character, the developers ended up removing any opportunity for story scenes between party members, which
was cited by Abe as its main weakness.* [20] The time
limit sprang from the story concept of a world with a set
time to live. When the feature was rst announced, there
were some who felt it was too new a thing, as a time limit
was seen as a taboo in role-playing video games.* [88] The
mechanic originally received negative feedback from test
players who were unable to complete the game in time. In
response to this, the team made adjustments so that players were given a more comfortable amount of time.* [11]
Along with sharing design elements with the previous two
XIII games, the system also bears similarities to the battle
system of Final Fantasy XV, although the developers said
that they were not directly inspired by it.* [20]* [89]
Lightning's multiple outts were designed by Isamu
Kamikokuryo, the game's art director, Toshitaka Matsuda, the lead art designer, and Toshiyuki Itahana, a
designer who had worked on Final Fantasy IX and the
Crystal Chronicles series. The three drew inspiration
from character designs done by Amano and the atmospheres of game locations.* [90] Matsuda and Itahana
also respectively did the character designs for Bhunivelze
and Lumina.* [75]* [91] Tetsuya Nomura returned to design Lightning and Snow's new looks.* [92] Kamikokuryo
used the game's theme of a dying world to create Nova
Chrysalia, as well as incorporating cultural and architectural inuences from the Middle East, Asia, and London
during the Industrial Revolution.* [79] Nova Chrysalia
was originally conceived as a single island, but as the
game's development advanced, the world grew into its -

nal, four-island conguration.* [93] The world's open design was inspired by MMORPGs such as Final Fantasy
XI, described by Abe as atourist guide style.* [94] Each
island was designed to have a denite feel and theme,
while their construction was handled by separate small
teams, with the content for each area held and qualitycontrolled by each team.* [71]* [93]* [95] The art team
used multiple real world locations as inspiration: Luxerion and Yusnaan were inspired by Paris and Las Vegas, while the Dead Dunes and Wildlands were inuenced
by Cairo and Costa Rica.* [96] The scenery for the nal
FMV was based on southern Europe.* [97]
Music
Main article: Music of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy
XIII
The music of Lightning Returns was composed by
Masashi Hamauzu, who composed the music for XIII,
Naoshi Mizuta and Mitsuto Suzuki, who co-composed
the music for XIII-2 with Hamauzu.* [3] Others involved
in recording the soundtrack were Japanese band Language and the Video Game Orchestra, founded by Shota
Nakama.* [98]* [99]* [100] Multiple tracks usedBlinded
by Light, a recurring theme in the XIII games, as a
leitmotif.* [93] Unlike the previous XIII games, a theme
song was not created, with the composers instead creating
a purely orchestral piece for the nale.* [101] The main
soundtrack album, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Original Soundtrack, was released on four compact discs
on November 21, 2013.* [102] A bonus album, Lightning
Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Soundtrack Plus, featuring
unreleased tracks and rearrangements of classic themes
used in the game, was released on March 26, 2014.* [103]
A promotional album, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy
XIII Pre Soundtrack, was released in July 2013.* [104] The
game featured multiple musical Easter eggs, including
tunes from previous entries in the franchise.* [105] The
commercial albums respectively reached #29 and #211
on the Oricon charts.* [106]* [107]
2.25.4 Marketing
Rumors about a second sequel's existence started even
before XIII-2 's release, when a domain name was registered in the name of Final Fantasy XIII-3, however
it turned out that the domain was registered by the
company's western branch without the main company's
knowledge.* [108] After XIII-2 's clihanger ending became common knowledge, the game's creators released
a statement saying that the ending was meant to prepare
fans for coming DLC packets that would expand upon the
game's story.* [109] However, after the release of the last
piece of DLC, company ocials stated that they would
be releasing future content related to XIII.* [110] By Au-

gust 2012, during the run-up to a special 25th Anniversary commemoration event for the Final Fantasy series,
a teaser site titled A Storm Gatherswas released,
promising new developments for the XIII series and its
main protagonist.* [77] The game itself was nally unveiled at the event, with Toriyama, Kamikokuryo, Abe
and Kitase detailing the core concepts of the game.* [1]
Because character dialogue varied due to the time of day
in-game, the western release of the game was delayed by
over two months after the local release, as there was far
more translation, dubbing work and lip-synching than in
previous titles.* [111] For the promotion and marketing
of the game, the development team rethought their strategy. They worked closely with Yohei Murakami, the publicity and marketing agent for many Square Enix games.
Lightning Returns was heavily promoted at gaming events
throughout 2013.* [112] As part of the promotion campaign, Lightning and monsters from the XIII series featured in a series of player events in Final Fantasy XIV: A
Realm Reborn.* [113]
Downloadable content
While the previous game had a large amount of downloadable content in the form of character costumes, extra
story episodes and battles in the game's ghting arena, the
reaction to these was mixed. The costumes were liked
by fans, despite some complaints of them being purely
cosmetic, but the presence of story DLC caused many to
criticize the original game as incomplete. In reaction to
this, the developers decided to package the game's entire story with the retail edition.* [114] However, they did
create pre-order DLC for the game in the form of outts Lightning could use in battle.* [115] One of these featured the clothing, weapon and equipment of Cloud Strife
from Final Fantasy VII, available with the game's limited
edition Pre-Order Bonus Pack,* [116] while another featured a collection of Samurai-inspired outts.* [115] In
addition to this, as part of a cross-game promotional campaign,* [117] Square Enix of Japan also made Yuna's costume from Final Fantasy X a playable garb for those who
had purchased the Japanese HD Remaster of the game on
either PS3 or Vita.* [118] The garb was later made available as a pre-order exclusive from Amazon.com.* [119]
After the game's release, an additional set of DLC costumes was released, among them a moogle outt. In the
Western release of the game scheduled on February 11,
2014, a free DLC pack was released that enabled players
to play the localized version of the game with Japanese
voice acting and lip-synching. The DLC was free for the
rst two weeks, and then became paid DLC.* [120]
263
the standard release, a special box set titled Lightning
Ultimate boxwas released. It included Final Fantasy
XIII, XIII-2 and Lightning Returns, a gurine of Lightning,
selected music from the games, a special stand from the
game and a book of artwork.* [121] A limited edition of
the PlayStation 3 version containing a specially-themed
Dualshock 3 controller was also released in Asia.* [122]
A Collector's Edition exclusive to North America was released through Square Enix's online store. It contained
a copy of the game, an artwork book, a pocket watch
embossed with the game's logo and codes for costume
DLC.* [123] The game is also being ported to Microsoft
Windows platforms via Steam for release in 2015.* [6]
As part of the game's promotion in Japan, Square Enix
teamed up with Japanese confectionery company Ezaki
Glico to market a range of Pocky snakes in packaging
promoting the game.* [124] A Play Arts Kai gurine of
Lightning as she appears in the game was also created
by Square Enix Merchandise.* [125] After the game's
release, an Ultimania guide to the game was also released, containing concept and character artwork, interviews with sta members, and guides to the game's enemies, continent layouts and times for events.* [126] A
book set between XIII-2 and Lightning Returns, Chonicle
of Chaotic Era, was originally scheduled to be released
alongside the game in Japan,* [127] but was eventually
cancelled due to the author falling ill.* [128] After the
game's release, a three-part novella set after Lightning Returns ' ending was released through Famitsu Weekly magazine, titled Final Fantasy XIII Reminiscence: tracer of
memories.* [129] Written by Watanabe based on and incorporating the material written for Chronicle of Chaotic
Era, the book takes the form of a series of interviews with
the main characters of the XIII series.* [2]
2.25.5 Reception
Sales
In Japan, the PS3 version of Lightning Returns reached

the top of the Top 20 in software sales in its rst week,
selling just over 277,000 units and beating Nintendo's
Super Mario 3D World.* [130] In the same period, the
Xbox 360 version sold 4,000 units, under half of the
initial sales of XIII-2 for that platform.* [131] By the
end of 2013, the PS3 version was 17th among the 100
best-settling titles of the year, selling 404,147 physical copies.* [132] In the United Kingdom, Lightning ReVersions and merchandise
turns debuted at third place in the top ten debut video
games.* [133] The game was 8th in the top ten best-selling
Lightning Returns was released on November 21, 2013 video games of February.* [134] As of September 2014,
in Japan and on February 11, 13 and 14, 2014 in North the game has shipped approximately 1.4 million copies
America, Europe and Australia respectively. Alongside worldwide.* [135]
264
Reviews
tor.* [148]
Lightning Returns has received mixed reviews from critics. The game scored 37/40 in Famitsu magazine, with
the reviewers giving scores of 10, 10, 9 and 8 out of
10 for each console version of the game.* [142] Famitsu
later gave the game an Excellenceaward during the
2013 Famitsu Awards.* [147] Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Xbox 360
version 71.69% based on 16 reviews and 69/100 based
on 21 reviews.* [136]* [138] and the PlayStation 3 version
66.15% based on 40 reviews and 66/100 based on 62 reviews.* [137]* [139]
The graphics received mixed reviews. Sliva referred to

the locations as visually interesting and varied, while
VanOrd said the playercan't help but gawk at the beautiful spectacle before [them].* [144]* [145] Juba liked the
overall look and design of the main cast and environment,
but critiqued the environment textures and NPCs.* [143]
Elliot praised the CG cutscenes, but said that the tired,
boxy side streets feel unnished.However, he further
said that the expansive nature of environments balanced
this issue out.* [146] The environments were praised by
Famitsu, which stated that due to the expansive nature of
the environments and the lack of hints concerning quests,
new players might take a bit of time getting use to it. It
also generally called the game quite nice.* [148]
The battle system gained the highest amount of praise.

Matt Elliot of Ocial PlayStation Magazine said the battle system was fun and "[felt] like Final Fantasy: an energetic, modern approximation of combat that was previously turn-based.* [146] IGN's Marty Sliva greatly
enjoyed the battle system, saying that Lightning Returns did a great job of empowering me to create a [trio
of Schema] that felt unique and personal.* [145] Joe
Juba of Game Informer was also pleased with the system which he considered to be an improvement over the
previous two XIII games, noting that the switching of
Schema created a fast-paced, high-tension system that
makes ghts exciting.* [143] Eurogamer's Simon Parkin
called it perhaps the best and certainly most exible
version yetwhen compared to the other XIII games,
while GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd stated that if it were
not for a few aws such as the blocking, it may have
even found a place among Final Fantasy's better battle
systems.* [29]* [144] Famitsu generally cited the battle
system asexcellent, noting it as fast-paced and fun, but
also noting that some enemies were tricky even on Easy
mode. It also praised the level ofuniquenessavailable
in garb customization.* [148]
The game's story was poorly received by most reviewers. Sliva said the narrative was drenched in uninteresting pathos that failed to give me a reason to care
about these characters that I've spent well over 100 hours
with.* [145] Juba called the storya joke, saying that
there was little development for Lightning as a character, and that the narrative killed whatever lingering investment [he] had in the universe.* [143] VanOrd found
the large amount of character dialogue a distracting and
jarring feature, while Parkin said that the game's narrative could not x the issues present in the previous two
XIII games, although the side-quests and dialogue helped
lighten Lightning's character.* [29]* [144] Elliot spoke of
it as one of the reasons to play the game, terming it a
typically bonkers narrative.* [146]
Ocial response
Both Toriyama and Kitase have responded to the mixed
review scores the game received. Speaking to Siliconera about the Japanese reviews, Toriyama said that most
of the negativity stemmed from the time limit, and that
opinions on the game become more positive after some
time since Lightning Returns ' initial release [after players
get used to the nuances].* [68] Speaking with Joystiq,
Kitase said that he wasn't really shocked. There are
negative reviews and positive reviews, it's a real mixture.
When I started making this game I took on very new challenges, so in a way I had anticipated that there would be
mixed opinions, so this is more or less what we had anticipated.* [149]
The quest gameplay was less-well received, with Sliva

saying it made himfeel like [he] was stuck in the opening hours of an MMO, while Juba called the tasks
dull.* [143]* [145] Parkin stated that the quests can
seem trivial under the eye of the apocalyptic clock.* [29]
VanOrd commented that while many quests were absorbing on their own, he admired their ability to get the
player out into the world.* [144] Destructoid's Dale North
felt that the time limit made the quests a waste of the
precious time left.* [140] The time limit itself received
mixed reviews. Sliva said the time limit gave the gamea
sense of urgency ... that I really enjoy., while VanOrd
said the limit worked against the player andcollides with
2.25.6 References
almost every other aspect of the game.* [144]* [145]
Juba enjoyed planning out his days, but on the other had
[1] "
felt that the time limit prevented exploration, and that it
XIII 2013
severely [limited] your ability to fully dive into some of
FF " ["Final Fantasy XIII

the systems.* [143] Elliot said the limit overly pressured
Lightning ReturnsLightning series nal chapter will be
him, and became unpleasant when coupled with the time
released in 2013! (FF Exhibition Report)] (in Japanese).
penalty for eeing battle.* [146] The Famitsu reviewers
said that the time limit was not an overly stressful fac2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
265
[2] "XIII REMINISCENCE - [17] Ishaan (2013-07-23). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy
tracer of memories-
XIII Has Twitter And Facebook Sharing. Siliconera.

" [Final Fantasy XIII: Reminiscence -tracer of memoriesRetrieved 2013-11-19.
: Interview with author Daisuke Watanabe]. Famitsu.
2014-07-11. Archived from the original on 2014-07-11. [18] Spencer (2013-06-06). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII's Battle System Is All About Switching Schema
. Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
[3] Jeriaska (2013-04-11).Lightning Returns Q&A: Music
of the Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy. 1UP.com. Archived [19] Silva, Marty (2013-06-10). The Fantastic Combat of
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13. IGN. Retrieved
2013-11-19.
[4] Kubba, Sinan (2013-06-06). Lightning Returns: Final
Fantasy XIII hits NA Feb 11 2014, EU Feb 14. Joystiq. [20] Karmali, Luke (2014-01-30). Lightning Returns: FiRetrieved 2013-06-06.
nal Fantasy XIII Devs Answer Your Questions. IGN.
[5] Te, Zorine (2014-02-09). AU New Releases February 10-16: Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. [21] Joe Juba (2014-01-15). Lightning Returns: Final FanGamespot. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
tasy XIII; 7 Questions With The Producer Of Lightning
[6] Pereira, Chris (2014-09-23).Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy
Heading to PC Starting in October. Gamespot. Archived
[7] Edge sta (2013-03-07).Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Square Enix switches tack. Edge. Archived
[8] Square Enix (2014-03-04). A Guided Tour - LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII. YouTube.
[9] "
XIII 1
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[10] Daniel M (2013-08-25). Lightning Returns: Interview mit Yuji Abe auf der gamescom 2013[Lightning
Returns: Interview with Yuji Abe at Gamescom 2013].
Ingame.de. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06.
[11] Smieja, Adam (2013-11-07). Interview mit Motomu
Toriyama und Yuji Abe Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII[Interview with Motomu Toriyama and Yuji
Abe - Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII] (in German). Spieletester.com. Archived from the original on
2014-02-02. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
[12] Spencer (2013-08-29). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Lets Players Freeze Time During Missions.
Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
[13] Goldfarb, Andrew (2013-10-14). Exploring the Beautiful World of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
[14] Spencer (2013-11-19).Lightning Gets Stronger By Saving Souls In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
[15] Sato (July 22, 2013). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Won't Let You Use MP To Heal. Siliconera.
[16] Spencer (December 26, 2012). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Can Be Extended Beyond 13 Days.
Returns. Game Informer. Archived from the original

on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
[22] Eisenbeis, Richard (2013-12-10). The Costume Editor Is My Favorite Time-Waster in Lightning Returns.
Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
[23] Ishaan (2013-10-28). You Can Eradicate Entire Monster Species In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2014-01-23.
[24] VanOrd, Kevin (2013-10-14). Lightning Returns: You
Can Go Home Again. Gamespot. Retrieved 2013-1119.
[25] "
FFXIII
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[26] Totilo, Stephen (2013-06-06). I Have Staggered Monsters In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Kotaku.
[27] Romano, Sal (2013-10-14). Lightning Returns: Final
Fantasy XIII 'Wildlands' gameplay. Gematsu. Retrieved
2013-11-19.
[28] Romano, Sal (2013-07-27). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: Vanille conrmed, fourth continent revealed, more. Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
[29] Parkin, Simon (2014-02-11). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 review. Eurogamer. Archived from the
[30] Spencer (2013-07-09). Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Makes Money Easier To Get And Other Details
[31] Square Enix (2014-02-11). Lightning Returns: Final
Fantasy XIII. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Square Enix.
Datalog On gods and fal'Cie: Etro was a goddess without any powers of her own. In contrast, both Pulse and
Lindzei were granted limitless power, and they built the
fal'Cie, servants that possess supernatural powers.
266

Datalog The l'Cie: The l'Cie are humans who have
been cursed by the fal'Cie. They are given great powers
and magic, but they are forced to obey the gods' will to
achieve their Focus, or mission. If they fail, the l'Cie turn
into mindless monsters called Cie'th.
[41] Sato (2013-09-12).Take A Tour Of Lightning Returns:

Final Fantasy XIII's Four Continents. Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-09-17.

Datalog The destruction of the old world: The goddess Etro, who maintained the equilibrium between the
world of the living and the world of the dead, was gone.
And with her went the barrier that help the power of the
Chaos at bay, allowing it to ood into the human world.
[43] Gantayat, Anoop (2012-09-05).Lighting Returns: Final

Fantasy XIII Details. Andriasang.com. Archived from
[34] Bradford, Matt (2014-02-10). Final Fantasy XIII - The

story so far. GamesRadar. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
Datalog Nova Chrysalia's past: The history of Nova
Chrysalia began 500 years ago, when the walls between
this world and the next broke, allowing Chaos to ood the
dimension in which humanity lives. The inux of Chaos
slowly covered the lands, leaving only small tracts still inhabitable by man.
Hope: The Chaos brought destructionand a kind of immortality, too. Suddenly, everyone just stopped growing.
It was like we'd lost our time. But if that was a gift, it was
a poisoned one. We could not ageand neither could new
life be born. There were no more children. But although
we were ageless, we were not immune to death. Sickness,
accidents, and violence could still kill us. Life remained
as fragile as it had always been. And so humanity began a
new chapter in its history. The population slowly shrinking, the survivors falling into a kind of ennui born of lives
that last too long.
Lightning: The life force that exists in all of us. The
goddess took the souls of the dead and made them be
reborn. She breathed life into each new generation. /
Hope/Bhunivelze: Yes, but when she was destroyed, that
cycle was broken. After that, the world was doomed.
Datalog The Order of Salvation: The Order now governs much of human society from its seat of power in the
grand cathedral in Luxerion. Believe in the coming of the
new world, entrust yourself and all you are to God on high
this is the teaching that has won over the majority of
humanity.
Datalog The Children of Etro: The Children of Etro
is a religious group pledged to the goddess of death.
[40] North, Dale (2013-01-17).13 new things about Lighting
Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Destructoid. Retrieved
2013-06-08.
[42] McWhertor, Michael (2013-06-06).Lightning Returns:

Final Fantasy 13 hands-on: Gears of wardrobe. Polygon.

Datalog Lumina: This mysterious young girl appears
to be able to control the power of Chaos, and likes to get in
Lightning's way at every turn. ... [Lightning] cannot deny
that the girl bears a striking similarity to Serah. But Serah
is dead, and this Lumina seems to have her own goals.
Datalog Almighty Bhunivelze: Almighty Bhunivelze,
god of light, stands above all others and holds the world in
his palm. ... It was Bhunivelze who called to Lightning,
forcing her to awaken from her long crystal sleep and become the savior.
Datalog Creating a new world: Almighty Bhunivelze
has decided to bring this world to an end and make a new
one. There is no way to save Nova Chrysalia from the
chaos in which it is sinking. ... Bhunivelze will use the
souls of the saved to populate his new world. For that
purpose, he has selected a savior to gather the souls and
prepare them for the new world.
Datalog God's Plan: God made a promise. He told
Lightning that he would bring Serah back to her, if she
became his servant and acted as his savior. She agreed at
once.
Lightning: Hope Estheim. Once, long ago, we fought
side by side, bound by a common destiny. ... When I
woke, the Hope who I'd seen become a man was a boy
again.
Lightning: All this time, you've been dreaming of a new
world where you're reunited with Yeul. / Noel: It's no
dream, Lightning. The future's right there in the Oracle
Drive. If I kill the savior, then the world will be reborn.
And this time, it's going to happen like it's supposed to.
It's going to work.
Datalog The Winds of Chaos: Vanille herself says that
she wants to use this power to bring the peace to the dead.
It is a wish born of the remorse that she still feels for all
the deaths for which she believes she was responsible.

Lightning: Fang. What are you doing!? This is what
you've been looking for! / Fang: I'm not letting anyone
else have it! If Vanille uses this damn thing, she'll die. ...
Yeah, puritythe dead, put them to their eternal rest all it'll take is the life of a saint!
Lightning: Cid Raines. / Cid: That was once a man's
name, but now it means nothing. His soul has dissolved
into the swirl of Chaos. ... I am the voice of the many,
of the countless multitude who call Chaos home. I am the
speaker for the dead.
Lightning: She can do what I can't. Vanille can bring
salvation to the dead. / Cid: Yes. But she doesn't know
what she is capable of. The Order has kept the truth from
her. ... The Soulsong will destroy us and make you forget
we ever existed. Murder on a grand scale. / Lightning:
You want me to stop her, right? / Cid: Yes. And then you
must tell her what her real power is, so she can lead us to
salvation. / Lightning: Is this what you all want? / Cid:
It is. But it is not God's will. If you answer our prayer, it
will mean defying Bhunivelze.
Datalog Odin: Odin, the silver eidolon, is Lightning's
sworn ally. ... Lightning never knew what happened to
Odin after she was defeated in Valhalla, but he was in fact
reborn as the Angel of Valhalla.
Lumina: Sazh was desperate to save his son - but that
desperation nearly drove him mad. Dajh saw what was
happening and got scared. So he hid his heart away.
Caius: You are the hunter of souls. But you cannot claim
mine. Behold! [Caius impales himself, then reforms from
the Chaos] Even if one Yeul desires my salvation, another
demands my rebirth. ... / Lightning: So Yeul ... is never
gonna let you go.
Lumina: You can see it now, right? Why time was distorted, why the world fell apart? Why you got dragged
into Valhalla? It was all because of the power of the unseen Chaos. And the Chaos came from that girl, reborn
and splintered, generation after generation. From Yeul.
Datalog Mission 2-3: A Solitary Patron: Snow has
been using his l'Cie powers to absorb the Chaos, ghting a solitary battle against the rising tide. In a last desperate act, Snow allows himself to be transformed into a
Cie'th and attacks Lightning. But she cries out one last
appeal: Don't let your love for Serah disappear into the
267
Chaos! Somehow, Snow hears her - and returns to human

form.
Hope: It's too late for me now. I had a job. I was God's
eyes and ears, made to watch over everything you did. But
now the last day is here, and God doesn't need me anymore. I'll just ... disappear.
Datalog The Saint's Decision: Noel. Fang. Snow.
Lightning's friends and allies from the past all came together to stop the Soulsong. ... The Soulsong was a lie,
meant to destroy the souls of the dead and keep the new
world for the chosen few. When Vanille realized this, she
stopped the ceremony and instead worked together with
Fang to summon the dead to her.
Datalog Judgment: Lightning turned her back on God
and put a stop to the Soulsongand Serah's soul appeared
before her, as if she had been waiting for Lightning to
make the correct choice. ... Yet their reunion was eeting.
The bells that marked the end of the world began tolling,
and Bhunivelze awoke. The almighty god descended upon
the world in Hope's body and snatched away the souls of
Serah and Lightning's friends.
Datalog The Final Battle: In God's plan, Lightning
is to take the place of the fallen Etro and watch over the
souls of the dead, ensuring that they are reborn and that
the cycle of life continues. Without such a goddess, the
new world will suer the same fate as the old one has.
Lightning: I have to stay. Someone has to control the
Chaos. I have to keep it safe. The new world ... and you
... and all of humanity.
Serah: Do you remember? What you tried to do? You
tried to kill me. [Lumina appears before Lightning.] /
Lightning: You! You're me. Young ... weak ... / Serah:
I'm Claire Farron. Her selshness, her loneliness, her fear.
That little bit of your soul that you couldn't accept.
Lightning: We don't need God anymore. / Caius: The
living don't need a god, but the dead do. A god to protect
them. A god of salvation. / Yeuls: We shall become that
god. We will rule over the Unseen Realm, and from there,
we will look over the cycle of death and rebirth.
Caius: If it is your wish - you will die in her place. / Noel:
Go ahead. Do your worst. / Caius: Then swear on your
life ... Keep [Yeul] safe. / Yeuls: She is the last of us.
268
Only she can be free. Caius has released her from the fate
of the seeress.
Lightning: This journey is over now. I wonder when the
next will begin. I only know ... that soon, we'll be together.
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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII ocial
Japanese website (Japanese)
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII ocial English portal site
2.26 Final Fantasy Type-0
[138] Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII for Xbox 360

Final Fantasy Type-0 (
Fainaru Fantaj Reishiki) is an action role-playing game
developed and published by Square Enix for PlayStation
[139] Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII for PlayStation 3 Portable, and later for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The
. Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2014-04-24. original version was released in Japan in October 2011.
The high-denition port, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, is to
[140] North, Dale (2014-02-11). Review: Lightning Returns:
Final Fantasy - Third time's the charm. Destructoid.
2014-03-18.
be released worldwide in March 2015. Type-0 is part of

the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries, a set of games sharing a common mythos which includes Final Fantasy XIII
and Final Fantasy XV. The gameplay is reminiscent of
2.26. FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, with the player taking direct control of characters and taking them on missions
and large-scale battles. Some dierences between the
original and HD releases are the removal of the original
multiplayer feature and an easier diculty level.
The story focuses on Class Zero, a group of twelve
students from the Vermillion Peristylium, a magical
academy in the Dominion of Rubrum. One day, the
Militesi Empire launches an assault on the other Crystal States of Orience, seeking to control their respective
crystals. When Rubrum is attacked, Class Zero are called
into action and become entangled in both the eorts to
push back and defeat the forces of Militesi, and the secret behind the war and the existence of the crystals. The
setting and presentation were inspired by historical documentaries, and the story itself was written to be darker
than other Final Fantasy titles.
271
and character-specic missions. A secret alternate ending is unlocked once certain conditions are met.* [4]
The main gameplay is split up into a mission-based structure.* [13] The two types of missions encountered are
the main, story-based missions andPracticemissions,
which act as side-quests.* [15] Moogles, another recurring
creature in the series, hand out missions to the player: the
objectives of missions change during gameplay. Players
can also engage in large-scale battles on the world map,
with the player taking control of large allied military divisions. Missions also involve liberating cities and towns
from enemy forces, giving the player access to new shops
and information from NPCs.* [16] The large-scale battles
are most often encountered in the Practicemissions.
The player also receives optional orders: should they
be accepted, the characters receive a temporary power
boost, and completing the objectives yields rewards.* [15]
Timed aerial missions are also available where the characters shoot down attacking dragons using their airship's
weapons.* [17]
The game was originally announced as a title for mobile

phones and PSP called Final Fantasy Agito XIII (
XIII Agito Stn). It is directed by Hajime Tabata, who
also directed Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII. It was designed to provide players with easy access to the Fabula Battle system
Nova Crystallis mythos. The mobile version was eventually cancelled and its title was changed to distance it from
Final Fantasy XIII, the subseries' agship title. Type-0
HD began development in mid-2012 as part of a move
to promote the next generation of gaming consoles. The
original game has received strong sales and positive reception in Japan, inspiring multiple tie-in mangas. A prequel/companion game, Final Fantasy Agito, was released
in May 2014 in Japan.
2.26.1
Gameplay
Final Fantasy Type-0 is an action role-playing video game

in which the player controls the fourteen members of
Class Zero. Players can navigate Orience in both a world
map and environments rendered to scale with the characters similar to Final Fantasy XII and XIII. Class Zero
are sent on missions across Orience during the course of
the game, both related to the story and independent of
it. The player originally travels to preset destinations in
the world on an airship supplied by the Vermillion Peristylium, but they eventually gain their own airship which
can freely navigate the world map, after defeating a powerful enemy guarding it. While outside combat, players can help breed chocobos, recurring galliform birds
in the Final Fantasy series. Players must capture two
chocobos on the world map and take them to a special
ranch within the Peristylium: by pairing certain chocobos and adding specic items, a special chocobo can be
bred for use. Players can visit the Suzaku Archives to
review defeated enemies, character information, in-game
lore and special video clips.* [14] After completing the
game once, players unlock a New Game+ option: in this
mode, people can keep their stats and weapons from the
previous playthrough, while also unlocking story scenes
Screenshot of combat in Final Fantasy Type-0, showing characters Ace, Deuce and Trey ghting a Malboro, one of the game's
common enemies.
Type-0 uses a real-time, action-based battle system similar to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The player is allowed control of three characters, being able to swap between them at any time. Characters are given optional orders that can be obeyed or ignored as the player chooses.
Characters lock on to targets while attacking, but can easily switch targets between attacks.* [13] Each character
has a specic weapon, and as the character levels up they
can perform special attacks unique to them.* [17] During
combat, characters are able to perform precisely timed
attacks during the period when an enemy unit is attacking: the Break Sight, which deals high damage, and
theKill Sight, which kills a standard enemy with a single blow.* [18] Three characters can also be commanded
to use a Trinity Attack, combining their attacks to deal
higher damage to a target. There is no limit placed on
how many times the Trinity Attack can be used in a mission.* [19] Aside from human enemies, the game features
recurring monsters in the series such as Cactuar, Mal-
272
boro and Tonberry.* [14] Alongside enemies encountered Setting

in missions, there are special enemies that can be encountered while exploring the world map.* [15]
Final Fantasy Type-0 is set within Orience, a land diDefeated enemy units drop Phantoma: the color of the vided between four nations or Crystal States": the DoPhantoma indicates what aspect of the character it will minion of Rubrum, the Militesi Empire, the Kingdom of
recharge, be it HP or magic points. Phantoma can also be Concordia and the Lorican Alliance. Each nation has its
used in the game's leveling system, the Alto Crystarium, own emblem (a bird, two tigers, a dragon and a tortoise
to strengthen a character's magic skills.* [20] The game's based on the Four Symbols) and is blessed with a crysmagic skills are split up into ve basic groups named after tal that grants them unique powers: Rubrum controls the
types of guns: Rieres the spell in a straight line, Vermilion Bird Crystal containing the power of Magic,
while Missilehomes in on and chases targeted en- Militesi controls the White Tiger Crystal containing the
emies.* [15]* [21] Holding down the assigned action but- power of science and weapons, Concordia controls the
ton increases the power of the magical attack.* [22] Many Azure Dragon Crystal containing the power of Dragons,
combat situations involve timed challenges: success re- and Lorica controls the Black Tortoise Crystal containing
wards the character, while failure drains their health. If the power of the knights. Each nation has an academy, or
a character is killed in battle, the player can instantly Peristylium, to research and protect the country's respec*
select another to replace it.* [18] The game features an tive crystal. [29] The crystals have the ability to mark humans
as
their
countries' servants. These servants, called
arena where practice ghts take place: while these ghts
l'Cie,
are
branded
with a symbol and are given a Foare not against real foes, the characters continue to level
cus,
a
task
to
complete.
However, while blessed with
up and gain Phantoma after the battle, and twenty bat*
long
life
and
the
ability
to
transform
into crystal, l'Cie are
tles can be arranged at any one time. [17] Each charac*
cursed
to
lose
their
memories
over
time.
[30] The people
ter has their own summoned monsters called Eidolons
of
Orience
also
lose
their
memories
of
the
dead so they
(War Gods ( Gunshin) in the original Japanese),
will
not
be
held
back
by
any
past
regrets
and
continue
which act as playable characters and have their own set
strengthening
their
souls
through
conict,
a
mechanism
of skills: doing so empties the selected character's health
gauge, removing them from battle until they are revived put in place by the crystals for the convenience of the
*
*
at the Peristylium: after a limited time in battle, the deities who crafted them. [4] [31] The main aim of sevsummons are dismissed. Those available to players are eral characters is to become the Agito, a legendary gure
series staples Shiva, Ifrit, Golem, Odin, Diablos and who will appear and save the world from Tempus Finis,
Bahamut.* [15]* [18]* [23] Each summon has variants of an apocalyptic event that will destroy Orience.
their original forms, many of which are unlocked as the
game progresses.* [22]
Characters
Version dierences
In the original version, characters can continue to level up
through activities within the Peristylium while the PSP is
in sleep mode, as long as the game's cartridge is inserted
and the batteries are not at.* [17] The original version
features three diculty levels;normal,hard, and
impossible.* [24] The HD version features four diculty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard and Super Hard.* [25]
The original game features a multiplayer option, where
players can assist others within missions.* [26] The rst
and last segments of the game were not open to multiplayer, instead being single-playing only.* [4] For Type0 HD, the multiplayer option was removed during optimization for consoles, and types of magic previously only
available in multiplayer were incorporated into the singleplayer campaign.* [25]* [27] Additional chararcter costumes made available through demos and downloadable
content in the original version were included in Type-0
HD as unlockables, along with costumes unique to the
HD version.* [28]
2.26.2
Plot
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy Type-0 and

Agito
Final Fantasy Type-0 has fourteen selectable characters,
who are all members of Class Zero that are based from
the Vermillion Peristylium. The rst twelve are card
wielder Ace, ute wielder Deuce, the archer Trey, magicgun wielder Cater, the mace-wielding Cinque, scythe
wielder Sice, whip wielder Seven, martial artist Eight,
spearman Nine, katana wielding Jack, swordswoman
Queen and dual pistol wielding King. The last two,
Machina Kunagiri and Rem Tokimiya, double as narrators and the focus for the game's main subplot. Supporting Class Zero are their mentor Kurasame Susaya,
and Arecia Al-Rashia, Class Zero's former mentor and
the overseer for magical development at the Peristylium.
Other important characters from Rubrum are Khalia
Chival VI, the current leader of Rubrum and headmaster of the Vermillion Peristyrium, and the l'Cie Caetuna.
Multiple Militesi gures, led by High Commander Cid
Aulstyne, act as the game's main antagonists. Other major characters include the Concordian queen Andoria,
and Gala, leader of the Lulusath Army.
273
Story
nis. Mortally wounded by the conict, Class Zero spend

their nal minutes imagining their possible post-war lives.
The story begins when High Commander Cid Aulstyne

leads the forces of the Milites Empire in a campaign
against the other three countries of Orience. The Milites
forces attack Rubrum using a crystal jammer, rendering
Rubrum's crystal of magic useless and allowing easy entry. This act provokes Class Zero, an elite class who
draw magic from their souls instead of the crystals, to
drive back the Militesi forces from the Vermillion Peristylium: during the conict, Izana Kunagiri, Machina's
older brother, is killed. Class Zero defend their homeland under the guidance of Kurasame and Arecia AlRashia, with Machina and Rem joining as new members of the Class. Orience is soon consumed by war,
with Milites devastating Locira's capital with a magical
bomb and Rubrum making an alliance with Concordia to
force the Militesi army into retreat. The ghting is temporarily stopped when Queen Andoria uses the power of
her nation's crystal to force a ceasere. Class Zero go to
Milites for the signing of a peace treaty, and during their
time there, Machina learns that Class Zero are responsible for Izana's death, and that he was planted in Class
Zero by Rubrum's government to spy on Arecia. Following these revelations, Machina vows to become strong and
protect Rem from death, who is secretly suering from
a severe illness. Andoria is assassinated by Militesi in
order to spark hostilities between Rubrum and Concordia. Framed for Andoria's death, Class Zero goes on the
run, managing to nd refuge in Lorica before being transported back to Rubrum. During this period, Machina becomes a Militesi l'Cie to protect Rem, and is eventually
forced to abandon Class Zero by the White Tiger Crystal.
On a second playthrough, further plot elements are revealed. The land of Orience is trapped in a stable
timeloop created by Arecia and Gala, the respective servants of the deities Pulse and Lindzei, as part of an experiment to nd the gateway to the afterlife: while Arecia
tries to use the souls of Class Zero to become the Agito
and nd the gateway, Gala's Arbiter attempts to force it
open by killing hundreds of people and creating a ood
of souls. The crystals were created to help in their plans
erasing memories of the dead from the living to remove
emotional burdens and strengthen their souls. Cid's actions in each cycle were motivated by his wish to free the
land from the crystals' control. Each time Tempus Finis
arrived, both Arecia and Gala failed, and the world was
reset for another attempt, and by the events of Type-0,
the experiment had already been performed over six hundred million times. After Class Zero refuses to become
l'Cie, altering the course of events, Arecia convinces Gala
to call o his warriors. After the Arbiter's defeat, the
souls of Class Zero speak to Arecia, who revives Machina
and Rem and allows the people of Orience to remember their past, ending the cycle of war. The crystals then
lose their power, Machina and Rem unite Orience and rebuild the world. Years later, Machina records the events
to ensure they are never repeated, and dies with Rem by
his side.* [31] In an alternate ending, Arecia chooses to
remove the crystals from Orience's history: this creates
a new timeline where the war never occurred and Class
Zero, along with all the other characters, are able to have
happy lives.
Concordia and Milites form an alliance against Rubrum.

Rubrum steadily pushes back their forces. Finally, Caetuna summons the Grand Eidolon Alexander using the
sacriced lives of Rubrum students and soldiers, including Kurasame. Though she goes into crystal stasis, Alexander decimates the forces of Concordia, Lorica and Milites, allowing Rubrum to conquer the three
nations and emerge as the victor of the war. Soon after
this, due to the imbalance caused by Rubrum's complete
dominance, Gala arrives with the Lulusath Army and begins slaughtering the population of Orience. Class Zero
go to the Palace of All Magic, where Gala has turned
Cid into the Arbiter of Lulusath, the instigator of Tempus Finis. The Arbiter puts them through trials to test
their worth. At this point, Class Zero are oered the
chance to become l'Cie by the Vermillion Bird Crystal:
if they agree, they are thrown into battle against the Lulusath Army and die. In the canon ending, the twelve
main members refuse, and Rem becomes a Rubrum l'Cie
when the crystal's protector dies. Machina and Rem end
up ghting each other: Rem is mortally wounded, and
she and Machina turn to crystal. Severely weakened by
the Arbiter's trials, Class Zero are unable to defeat him:
Machina and Rem's spirits give them the strength they
need to absorb the Arbiter's life force and halt Tempus Fi-
2.26.3 Development
The original logo for Final Fantasy Agito XIII, before being retitled.* [32]
Final Fantasy Type-0, originally titled Final Fantasy Agito XIII, was conceived in 2005 as part of Fabula Nova
Crystallis Final Fantasy, a subseries of Final Fantasy
games linked by a common mythos. Agito XIII was decided upon after Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV
(then Versus XIII), the two original Fabula Nova Crys-
274
tallis games, were conceived. The decision to make it
a mobile game was based the popularity of Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII. Hajime Tabata, who contributed
to the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythos, was searching for
a new project after nishing Before Crisis and became
the game's director.* [32]* [33] Kosei Ito, the producer
of Before Crisis, was also originally involved.* [34] Unveiled at E3 2006, the game was meant to oer onthe-go access to the Fabula Nova Crystallis universe,
utilizing gameplay functions exclusive to mobile phones
of the time.* [34]* [35] It began development the same
year.* [36] The concept was to deliver a full-edged
numbered gamefor the mobile platform, and to make
it available in its entirety, as opposed to an episodic release.* [37]
drawn by Naora, who also designed the Shinra logo in

Final Fantasy VII and its companion media.* [49] The title
"Type-0" was designed as a representation of the game's
separation from the main series, mostly due to the deeply
engrained multiplayer element, and created an alternative
numbering system parallel to the numeric order of the
main series.* [50] The game was one of a few releases for
the PSP to be released on two UMDs, as Tabata wanted
to cut as little content as possible, which would have been
impossible if they had settled for using one UMD.* [26]
Due to the size of the project, debugging the game took
far longer than anticipated.* [6] The game made its rst
ocial public re-appearance as under the new title at
the Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier in
Tokyo, along with a new trailer that was released to the
*
Developers had been planning a release on the next gener- public on January 27, 2011. [51]
ation of cell phones, as phones available at the time could
not oer all the capabilities they would need.* [37] While
it was originally claimed to be a mobile exclusive, versions for both mobiles and the PlayStation Portable were
being developed, with the latter to be revealed when the
former was suciently advanced.* [38] The original sta Writing
members were Tabata, Yusuke Naora and Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura acted as a character designer and creative director.* [4] Between 2006 and 2008, development Type-0 's scenario was conceived by Tabata and written
wavered between inactivity and sluggishness due to most by Hiroki Chiba and Sarah Obake.* [6]* [7]* [8] While the
of the team being devoted to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy game was still known as Agito XIII, Tabata described it as
VII. In 2008, it was said to be facing serious problems a major title that's formed from a variety of concepts
due to the scale of the project.* [5]* [8] An issue devel- which include the collision of four fantasies (the world
opers had grappled with was whether or not to make the view), a killing match between magic and weapons (batcommand buttons used in the game visible on the mo- tle) and theOrdinary and Extraordinary(the two sides
bile screen.* [39] Agito XIII 's original plot was considered of reality).* [52] The early story concept drew heavily
to be massive, with it being described as an online from multiple manga and anime, but little survived after
RPG, though not an MMORPG * [8]* [37]* [40] The game the platform change, with Tabata instead opting for a new
was intended to have fully rendered 3D graphics simi- documentary style, primarily inspired by Japanese docular to console games, as well as having gameplay inu- mentary Centuries of Picture. They also used war lms as
ences from multiple genres such as MMOs, multiplayer- inspiration for its story, which was darker than many other
focused games, and standard role-playing games.* [41] Final Fantasy games.* [31] Despite its title change, the
Other concepts being developed were a day-night cycle, a game was kept within the mythos.* [51]* [53] The story's
calendar system linked to real-world time and dates, and concept started with the idea of a war story told by young
a story inuenced by player votes.* [31]* [42]
people caught up in the event. The Fabula Nova Crystallis
Later, the team decided to make it a PSP exclusive, can- mythos was then mixed in with themes of the weight
celling the mobile version of the game.* [43]* [44] The of life, which formed the base for the game's world.
reason was that the developers did not want to wait for It would show a broad, historical view of how the Fabmobile technology to get advanced enough to enable their ula Nova Crystallis deities mingled with and manipulated
on the
full vision for the game.* [45] The name was also changed humans, while also telling a story more focused
*
*
*
[4]
[43]
[49]
human
struggle
than
Final
Fantasy
XIII.
to Type-0 to distance it from Final Fantasy XIII, as the two
*
The
cyclic
nature
of
the
game's
universe
was
created
games shared little apart from their shared mythos. [46]
Full development on the title began in 2009, but was to help incorporate aspects of the mythos, and Tabata
*
again slowed as most of the team were completing work felt it worked with the heavy far eastern inuences. [54]
on The 3rd Birthday.* [4] The development team was the The roles and stories for each character in the game was
same group that developed Crisis Core.* [47] The game- conceived and put into place* after the main story and
play was inspired by the multi-character system of Be- world view had been created. [55] After the game's refore Crisis, while the naming for magic attacks were lease, Tabata commented that he would have liked to be
meant to evoke the feel of rst-person shooters.* [21] The more *thorough the story and make it easier to compregame's logo was created by regular series artist Yoshitaka hend. [56] A sequence was planned involving the moogle
as the Cranberry Knights, but Chiba forgot
Amano,* [48] while the kanji symbol used in the logo was squad known
to put it in.* [6]

Type-0 HD
During the original's production, the development team
experimented with an HD port of the game, though at
the time they were focusing on keeping the game as a
portable experience.* [31] No new story or gameplay content was added, instead being given a graphics upgrade,
recongured controls and a lower diculty level. The latter was due to complaints from players that the original
game was too dicult.* [57] There were also adjustments
to the gameplay to make it better suited to home consoles.* [27] Type-0 HD began development in mid-2012,
around the same time Final Fantasy XV was shifted onto
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Tabata came on board in
July of that year.* [57] The development was handled by
HexaDrive, who had previously collaborated with Square
Enix on The 3rd Birthday, and had done work on the HD
remaster of kami and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind
Waker HD.* [2] It was intended as an incentive for Final
Fantasy players in both Japan and the west to purchase
eighth generation consoles before XV 's release. In addition to this, Tabata had not had development experience with seventh-gen platforms such as PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360, and so it was not being ported to those consoles.* [57] The original plan was for a port to both seventh and eighth generation consoles, but after seeing the
popularity of the PS4 at the 2013 Tokyo Game Show, development was focused on the eighth-gen versions.* [47]
Despite early false claims, no version of Type-0 HD was
developed for the PlayStation Vita: Tabata's stated reason was that he wished players to have a deeper experience playing the game, and have replay value not available
on a portable platform.* [58] Tabata was mostly involved
with co-directing XV, handling tasks he called tuning
and balancefor Type-0 HD.* [57]
Type-0 HD uses the same DirectX 11 technology as
XV. This enabled improvement of lighting eects and
the ability to re-render the in-game assets for HD consoles.* [59]* [58] For the gameplay character models, the
team adapted the character models used in the original
version's cutscenes so as to include higher detail. While
carrying over the original's multiplayer functions was considered, it would have lengthened the estimated development time by another year. Since Tabata's priority was
to bring the game to fans worldwide, the multiplayer and
associated elements were either removed or incorporated
into single-player. He also decided against creation of
a demo or an international version.* [28]* [25] While the
original game extensively used shades of red in its presentation, Naora incorporated a broader range of color
shades into Type-0 HD at Tabata's request. This was done
to both tone down the fantastic elements of the story and
to tie in with the art style of XV, which originally inspired the change. The team also retouched the sound
eects, adding more bass sounds than could be managed
with the PSP version due to issues with the original platform's speaker system.* [60] During the run-up to release,
the team also made modications to the camera after re-
275
ceiving negative comments about it at previous gaming
events. The modications were to x issues experienced
with scenery collisions and the visibility of player and
enemy characters during active gameplay. Because of
these modications, character speed and movement was
increased and improved.* [61] By December 2014, the
game was in its nal stages of development and undergoing debugging.* [62]
2.26.4 Music
The music was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto, who
also composed the music for Before Crisis, Crisis Core
and The World Ends with You. Ishimoto asked the opinions of both Tabata and Nomura regarding its concept
and genre, while basing the music around themes of war,
life and death. For Type-0, Ishimoto fused the orchestral
score with the choral work, while also rearranging leitmotifs to create more variety in the score. Like Crisis
Core, he created the music to have a dark and heavy feel,
but used less rock songs to promote a feeling of immersion. One of his primary instruments for the score was the
acoustic guitar.* [9] Part of the recording was done at the
Sydney Opera House, with Ishimoto doing song remixes
after recording.* [63] Ishimoto rearranged, remixed and
re-recorded the soundtrack for Type-0 HD as the original
soundtrack, composed within the limits of PSP hardware,
was unsuitable for the new console release. Because of a
restricted budget, he did the bulk of the work himself. In
addition, he composed a new battle theme and recorded
an English version of Colorful - Falling in Love, the
track for Type-0 's alternate ending. The lyrics were translated by SAWA, a singer who had worked on The World
Ends with You. The English version was made for the
overseas version of the game, but was included in the remastered soundtrack's commercial release.* [63]
The game's theme song, "Zero", was composed and performed by Japanese rock band Bump of Chicken.* [48]
The band, who were big fans of the Final Fantasy series,
were contacted by Square Enix to compose and perform
the song and agreed readily: this was after the platform
move onto PSP, but while the game was still titled Agito
XIII. While looking for inspiration, the band were able
to see mid-development screenshots of the game, samples of the script and character illustrations.* [64] One of
Tabata's suggestions for inspiration was the theme song
for Centuries of Picture, Is Paris Burning?" by Takeshi
Kako.* [31] In general, the band were given a free hand
while composing the song. They made multiple versions
of the song for use in dierent areas of the game, and at
the request of band leader Motoo Fujiwara, Amano's logo
artwork was used for the single's cover.* [64] The song
was used again for Type-0 HD. While a translated version
was considered for the localization, the team, with permission from the band, decided to use the original song
and add subtitles for the song lyrics.* [28]
Final Fantasy Type-0 Original Soundtrack was released
276
on October 26, 2011 under the catalog number SQEX10281~3. The soundtrack was released in an standard
edition, and a limited edition that could be purchased
both separately and with the collector's edition of the
game.* [65] A promotional album featuring ve tracks
was sold by Square Enix at their booth at the Odaiba Expo
2011.* [66] The album reached #25 in the Oricon charts
and remained for seven weeks.* [67] The soundtrack has
received positive reviews in the west, with both dedicated
music outlets Original Sound Version and Game-OST, and
gaming site RPG Site giving both individual tracks and
the work in general high praise.* [68]* [69]* [70] Zero
was released on October 19, 2011. It was released as a
single instead of being part of the main soundtrack.* [64]
The single reached #2 in the charts and remained for
thirty-two weeks.* [71] A commertial Blu-Ray release for
Type-0 HD 's soundtrack is also planned for 2015.* [63]
Tracklist
Literal translation of the original titles appear in (brackets) if
dierent
2.26.5
Release
each console, a Play Arts Kai mini-gurine of Ace, and a

gold Vermillion Bird pin. Runners-up received individual
pieces from the sweepstake excluding the consoles.* [78]
To promote Type-0 HD in North America, a trailer for
the game was shown in cinemas prior to some of the season's big lm releases, such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. A shortened version of the trailer was
released online.* [79] It was the rst Final Fantasy title
to be rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software
Rating Board for its North American release.* [80]
An Ultimania guide was released in the same month as the
game, containing story and character breakdowns, concept art, and interviews.* [81] The following year, an art
book was released containing artwork of the game's characters and monsters, and an interview with Tabata.* [82]
Alongside these, after the game's release, multiple manga
and novels based on the world and characters were written and published.* [83]* [84]* [85]* [86] Characters from
Type-0 were also featured as cards in the fourth series of
the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game.* [87]
Localization
Type-0 is notable due to the long gap between its original and international releases. During its development,
Tabata stated he was trying to appeal to North American players in the direction of the game.* [88] An international version was reported to be in the works by
Tabata in the game's Ultimania guide.* [89] He later commented that the main reasons for the game not coming
west was the agging PSP market and the uncertainty of
the Vita.* [43] In the wake of the game's release in Japan,
1Up.com and Joystiq speculated that the game could be
successfully brought west as a port to the Vita.* [90]* [91]
The name Type-0 was originally trademarked by Square
Enix in Europe on December 29, 2010 along with a
logo.* [92] In November 2012, an alleged voice actor for
the game said that English voice recording for the game
was completed in late 2011.* [93] In 2014, Orion Acaba,
the English voice actor for Nine, revealed that the voice
recording was completed in 2012.* [94] In an interview
with GameSpot in November 2012, Tabata stated that
Square Enix was taking a clean slate in terms of [their]
plans., stating that if there was demand, a western release would be considered.* [56]
A demo for the original game was released in August

2011.* [72] It featured seven playable characters and four
missions at locked diculty levels.* [24] Players are able
to transfer save data from the game's demo to the full
game, in order to unlock special costumes, items and
keep experience points.* [73] A Collector's edition of the
original version was released exclusively through Square
Enix's online store. It contained artworks, a limited edition version of the soundtrack, postcards and a booklet
of character introductions.* [74] Type-0 HD came with
both English and Japanese voice tracks for all regions,
and a voucher for a demo of Final Fantasy XV called
Episode Duscae.* [12]* [75] The demo was available only
with rst-print editions of the game.* [76] The collector's
edition, exclusive to Square Enix's online store, came
with a special CD featuring tracks from Type-0 and Agito,
a calendar featuring ocial artwork, a Vermillion Peristylium ID card, a set of ve cards modeled after those
used by Ace in battle, and a cadet scarf.* [77] A PlayStation 4 hardware bundle was also produced, featuring a During an interview with USGamer in September 2013,
copy of the game and download code for the XV demo Tabata, commenting on both Type-0 and its prequel Agalong with a console themed after the game.* [61]
ito, was hopeful for a western release: he said that the
For the western release, a similar collector's edition was planned western release of Agito and the reaction of
created, which included the card replicas and soundtrack the fan community to both games had become a decidselection. In addition, it included an English translation ing factor, and that while the project had not been oof the game's prequel manga, a steelbook holding the cially green-lit, it was in its nal stages of preparation.
game disc and soundtrack selection featuring the logo He also claried at the time that the game would not
and kanji artwork, and an 80 page artbook with a for- make the transition onto mobile devices or the PS3 as
ward written by Tabata.* [76] In addition, the winners an HD Remaster.* [43] A localized high denition verof a special sweepstake received a themed PS4 or Xbox sion of the game was ocially announced by Square Enix
One, along with promotional artwork posters specic to at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2014.* [11] An uno-

cial fan translation of the PSP version was released just
prior to E3 on June 9, 2014.* [95] The fan translation was
taken down in July of the same year after Square Enix
allegedly threatened unspecied legal action, originally
thought to be a cease-and-desist order.* [96] Later statements revealed that the patch was released early due to
the lead translator on the project wanting fans to see their
achievements, which ended up causing a schism between
him and the rest of the team. Prior to release, Square Enix
and the translation team had been in friendly communication concerning the translation. The requests from Square
Enix to take the patch down were made in the weeks following the announcement of Type-0 HD.* [97] An ocial
English version for the Vita was momentarily announced
by the ocial PlayStation Blog, but was claried as
erroneousless than an hour later.* [11] The false announcement ended up causing a large negative reaction
from fans of the game who were hoping for a port to the
Vita.* [98]* [99]
2.26.6
Reception
PlayStation Portable
277
2.26.7 Legacy
During the development of Type-0, several sta members and voice actors who had worked on Final Fantasy X came together, and the concept for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster originated during their meeting.* [108] At a special event in September 2012 dedicated to the Final Fantasy series, Tabata presented a joke
video for a dating game version of Type-0 called Tokimeki
Final Fantasy, featuring a young Khalia Chival in a leading role.* [109] The team making XIII-2 initially planned
to create a plot-based link to Type-0, but the idea was
dropped.* [110] In the September 2013 issue of Famitsu
Weekly, Square Enix revealed Final Fantasy Agito, a prequel to Type-0 for iOS and Android devices.* [111] The
game was released on May 14, 2014, and a localization
was announced alongside that of Type-0.* [112]* [113]
After Type-0 's release, Tabata stated in an interview that
he wished to explore the distant history of Orience after being freed of its cycle.* [56] Trademarks for Type-1,
Type-2 and Type-3 were registered shortly after the Type0 trademark, but it was suggested that they were simply
protective in nature.* [114] In 2014, Tabata commented
that he would like to work on Type-1 after nishing work
on XV, and later explained the conceptual Type series as a
means of publishing Final Fantasy games too experimental for the main series.* [28]* [115] He hopes to continue
with the Type series if Type-0 HD is commercially successful.* [28]
In the rst week after its release, Final Fantasy Type-0

sold 472,253 units.* [104] As of January 16, 2012, the
game has sold 746,203 copies in Japan.* [105] The ti- 2.26.8 References
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2012 (page 2)". 1Up.com. Archived from the original on
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[92] Fletcher, JC (2010-12-30).Square Enix trademarks 'Final Fantasy Type-0' in Europe. Joystiq. Archived from
[93] Romano, Sal (2012-11-15). Rumor: FF Type-0 localization nearly completed in 2011. Gematsu. Archived
[78] Final Fantasy Type-0 Sweepstake. Square Enix.

2014-12-12.
[94] Hayden, Nicola (2014-06-13). E3 2014: Is Final

Fantasy Type-0 HD Further into Production Than We
Think?". Push Square. Archived from the original on
2014-11-03. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
[79] Romano, Sal (2014-11-21). Final Fantasy Type-0 HD

extended cinema trailer. Gematsu. Archived from the
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on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
[80] Hernandez, Rob (2014-12-20). Final Fantasy Type0 HD to be Rated M in North America. Dual Pixels. Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved
2014-12-22.
[96] Williams, Katie (2014-07-18). Square Issues Legal

Threats to Fans Working on Translation of Final Fantasy
Type-0. IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-1115. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
[81] "
Square Enix Game Books Online(in Japanese). Square
[97] Schreier, Jason (2014-07-21).Final Fantasy Fan Translation Has Become A Fiasco. Kotaku. Archived from
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(in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the
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Type-0 coming to PS4 and Xbox One, not the PS Vita
. GameZone. Archived from the original on 2014-06-17.
2.27. FINAL FANTASY XIV
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[102] Romano, Sal (2011-10-24).Final Fantasy Type-0 scores
high in Dengeki. Gematsu. Archived from the original
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Fantasy Type-0. PlayStation Lifestyle. Archived from
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281

Final Fantasy Type-0 Ocial website (Japanese)
Final Fantasy
(Japanese)
Type-0
HD
Ocial
website
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Ocial website

Final Fantasy Type-0 manga introduction at Gangan
Comics (Japanese)
Final Fantasy Type-0 novel index at Gangan Comics
(Japanese)
2.27 Final Fantasy XIV

This article is about the original release. For the relaunch, see Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
Final Fantasy XIV ( XIV

Fainaru Fantaj Ftn) is the fourteenth game in the Final
Fantasy series and the second after Final Fantasy XI to
be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The
[108] Giord, Kevin (2013-03-27). A few questions and an- game was developed and published by Square Enix, and
swers for the Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD remasters. is available in four languages; Japanese, English, French,
*
Polygon. Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Re- and German. [3]
[107] Yip, Spencer (2011-12-30). Japanese Mega Retailer
Tsutaya's Best Selling Game Is.... Siliconera. Archived
trieved 2014-03-03.
[109] Yip, Spencer (2012-09-02). Square Enix's 25th Anniversary Prank Turns Final Fantasy Type-0 Into A Dating
Sim. Siliconera. Archived from the original on 201307-19. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
[110] XIII-2
[Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania ] (in Japanese). Tokyo:
Studio Bentstu. 2012-06-21. pp. 0809. ISBN
9784757536197.
Final Fantasy XIV takes place in the ctional land of

Eorzea, just before the Seventh Umbral Era, an apocalyptic event heralded by the descent and potential impact of
the lesser moon Dalamud. Players create and customize
avatars who participate in the aairs surrounding the impending invasion by the Garlean Empire and its relationship to Dalamud's descent. The various nation states of
Eorzea reestablish their Grand Companies and form an
alliance to prepare for the coming war with the Empire.
The game's rst release was online from September 30, 2010* [4] to November 11, 2012.* [5] It received widespread negative reception when it was rst
launched.* [6] In response to the heavy criticism of the
[112] Yip, Spencer (2014-05-14). Final Fantasy Agito Is Out
game's quality, Square Enix redesigned both the develRight Now. Siliconera. Archived from the original on
opment team and the game.* [1] On October 14, 2011,
2014-08-22. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
Square Enix publicly announced their intention to fully
[113] Shimizu, Issei (2014-06-10). Final Fantasy Agito An- relaunch the game, under the name Final Fantasy XIV:
nounced. Square Enix Blog. Archived from the original A Realm Reborn. The game as it was then running was
on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
referred to as Version 1.* [7] Version 1 of the game was
[114] Yip, Spencer (2011-01-16). Final Fantasy Type-1, ceremoniously concluded with a virtual extinction event,
Type-2, And... Type-3?". Siliconera. Archived from the which is now known in A Realm Reborn's storyline as the
Calamity, and which terminated all service for the origioriginal on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
nal game.
[111] "FF " "
". Famitsu Weekly (in Japanese) (Enterbrain)
(1293): 112115. 2013-09-10.
[115] Romano, Sal; Thomas (2014-09-22). Final Fantasy XV

director talks development, open world, combat, demo,
and more. Gematsu. Archived from the original on
2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
A Realm Reborn's alpha testing cycle began on October

29, 2012.* [5] The beta testing cycle involved four main
phases, the third of which included PlayStation 3 support,
282
and the fourth of which was also open to the entire public. After a promotionally priced two-day Early Accessperiod, the game went live via all normal retail channels. The relaunch has carried over the original game's
setting, lore and intended story, but incorporate a new
client, graphics engine, server and data structures, a revamped interface, redesigned maps, more gameplay variations and additional story content. Final Fantasy XIV: A
Realm Reborn was released simultaneously on Windows
and PlayStation 3 on August 27, 2013.* [8]* [9] Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was later ported to the PlayStation 4 on April 14th, 2014.* [9]* [10]

Classes and Jobs
A player may assume dierent in game roles through use

of the Armoury and Job system. The Armoury System
allows players to instantly change their class by swapping
their equipped weapon or tool. For example equipping a
sword will instantly change a player's class to Gladiator,
while equipping a sta will change their class to Conjurer. You can unlock dierent classes when you hit level
10. The Armoury System is divided into four categories:
Disciples of War, who specialise in melee combat; Disciples of Magic, who specialise in oensive and defensive
magic arts; Disciples of Hand, who focus on crafting; and
nally Disciples of Land, who focus on gathering raw materials to be used in crafting.* [13] When using a class, the
2.27.1 Gameplay
player may equip select unlocked abilities from any other
Final Fantasy XIV is a massively multiplayer online role- class they have leveled up, making classes highly versaplaying game, or MMORPG. Like many in the genre, it tile as they allow for the use of a broad range of skills and
requires a subscription to play the game, which is done via abilities.
the Square Enix Account Management System. Players The Job System builds on the Armoury System, allowing
rst create and customise a character, being able to select Disciples of War and Disciples of Magic to further spefrom various pre-selected options including race, gender, cialise their roles by changing them into signature Final
facial features, and job type. After selecting a character Fantasy jobs. After completing a prerequisite quest,
name and server to play on, they are placed into the game players are able to upgrade their class to a job by equipworld, where they are free to partake in the game's story, ping a certain item, and may return to their class by unexplore the landscape, ght various monsters, complete equipping said item. Jobs unlock extra abilities that are
quests and missions, and interact with other players. Un- suited for party play. However, unlike classes which allike many Final Fantasy games, the player may choose to low for equipping abilities from any other class, jobs only
play in third- or rst-person view.
allow for the equipping of abilities from two other prese*
Through defeating monsters, crafting items, and complet- lected classes. [14]
ing quests, players accumulate experience points (EXP)
which, when a certain threshold is reached, automatically
increments the player's level. The player's level aects attributes such as HP (health/hit points), MP (magic/mana
points), and the amount of abilities available to them. By
wielding dierent weapons and crafting tools, players are
able to change their class, allowing them to switch roles in
the eld.* [11] Compared to Final Fantasy XI, group play
has been de-emphasised, and solo play can be equally rewarding.* [11]
Interface
In Version 1 of Final Fantasy XIV, navigation through the
interface was achieved via a system of menus, similar to
that in previous console based Final Fantasy games. The
interface was criticised for having a misguided direction
withtortuous mechanismsof navigation that were outdated in modern MMORPGs.* [12]
The heads-up display in Final Fantasy XIV consists of
a log window, menus, and several game information elements, all of which are movable. The log window displays
system messages, battle messages, and text input by other
players. It is the sole method of communication between
players, as the game does not support voice chat. Players
may choose to lter what appears in the log window.
2.27.2 Plot
Setting
Final Fantasy XIV makes use of the standard RPG exploration mechanics, consisting of several regions with
unique geography, ranging from snowy mountains to lush
forests. Regions are further divided into zones for the
player to explore. Zones consist of cities, safe havens
where monsters do not roam, over-world areas and dungeons, where monsters are abundant to be fought, and
instanced areas, where players form small groups to defeat specic monsters and achieve objectives. While
most zones and regions are traversed by walking, various modes of transportation exist that facilitate movement across the game world, ranging from classic Final
Fantasy chocobos and airships, to teleportation via Aetheryte Crystal nodes.
The game is set in the world of Hydaelyn, which cycles through prosperous Astral eras and disastrous Umbral eras. Version 1 of Final Fantasy XIV took place during an Astral era, while the relaunch into A Realm Reborn
took place in a new Umbral era, triggered by the fall of
one of the world's moons, Dalamud.* [15]
Players are able to explore a region of Hydaelyn named
283
Eorzea. The Eorzean realm is uniquely rich in Aether, a

sense of hearing. Noted members of the race inmagical substance that ows through the planet and evclude Louisoix.
erything living on it. Aether can be used in a number
of ways, including fuelling magic, powering Machina, Lalafell ( Raraferu) Lalafell are physically
aiding in crafting, and allowing instantaneous teleportadiminutive humanoids with high agility and intellition through Aetheryte Crystals. This valuable substance
gence from the southern regions. They are divided
plays a key part in the game's lore, story, and events as
into the Plainsfolk and the Dunesfolk. Plainsfolk are
dierent organisations and races compete for control over
an earthy clan who thrive on the prairies. Dunesfolk
the substance.
live on the backs of enormous beasts of burden and
are known for wearing gemstones in their foreheads
Three major city states exist within Eorzea: the bustling
that signify their zodiacal signs.
commercial hub of Ul'dah, the forest nation of Gridania, and the marine city-state of Limsa Lominsa. Each
city-state bears its own Grand Company, which is an eco- Roegadyn ( Rugadin) A physically large
and muscular race who hail from the northern renomic and military organisation tasked with defending
gions. Roegadyn are divided into the Sea Wolves
the land. At the start of the game a player chooses one
and the Hellsguard. The Sea Wolves were once
of these states as their home. As the player's achievea band of fearsome pirates, but have since largely
ments serve to progress the game's story, the player beabandoned that lifestyle; presently they are normally
comes eligible to join a Grand Company, which would
employed as sailors or naval mercenaries. Hellssubstantially progress the story further.* [16]
guard Roegadyn dwell in a volcanic region and are
The game's main antagonists consist of the Beastmen
said to be masters of the magical arts, guarding the
races and the Garlean Empire. Beastmen are a group of
gateway to Hell itself. Noted members of the race
intelligent but monstrous clans, whose ideals and objecinclude Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn.
tives clash with the humanoid races. The Garlean Empire is a technologically advanced nation of Hyurs, hailing from outside of Eorzea. The Garleans seek to con- Miqo'te ( Mikotte) Cat-like humanoids who
are divided into two religious sects: the Seekers
quer the land and its Aether, which powers their Magitek
of the Sun, who are dedicated to the sun goddess
machinery.
Azeyma the Warden, and the nocturnal Keepers of
the Moon, who are dedicated to the moon goddess
Races
Menphina the Lover.
Final Fantasy XIV features ve playable races to choose
from, each with two distinct variations. The races resemble the ve playable races in Final Fantasy XI, which according to Square Enix was in order to create an atmosphere of aesthetic familiarity to FFXI players. While
the Miqo'te, the Roegadyn and the Hyur Highlanders are
genderlocked in the original game, A Realm Reborn includes male and female variations to select from.* [17]
Hyur ( Hyran) A stylistically Human race,
the Hyur are divided into Midlanders and Highlanders. Midlanders place a heavy emphasis on education, and are considered to be the most cultured
people of the world. Highlanders are physically
larger and bulkier than their Midlander cousins, and
after their home city of Ala Mhigo was razed by the
Garlean Empire, they now eke out an existence as
mercenaries.
Story
Seeking control over the peaceful realm of Eorzea and
its abundant crystal resources, the more advanced civilization of the Garlean Empire invades the realm from
the north. In retaliation, despite their dierences and
anatgonisms, the city-states of Eorzea reinstate the Grand
Companiescomprehensive centers of command which
combine the cities' military and economic assets. The
player joins one of these states to aid in the war eort.
Though Garlean imperials like Gaius van Bealsar intend
to conquer, the invasion force's commander, 8th Imperial
Legion Legatus Nael van Darnus, has his own agenda.
Insanely bent on purging all he sees as impurities, Nael
orchestrated Project Meteor to summon the lesser moon
Dalamud and wipe out all life. This forces the Grand
Companies to put aside deep-rooted dierences and consolidate their forces under the banner of the Eorzean Alliance. At the behest of this new confederation, adventurers from across the realm take up arms and march to the
oating islands of Rivenroad to defeat Nael after he absorbed Dalamud's power. However, despite the mad imperial's death, Dalamud continues its descent to Eorzea.
Elezen ( Erezen) An elf-like race said to be

the original inhabitants of Eorzea. They are divided into Wildwood and Duskwight clans, and dislike each other intensely. Wildwood Elezen live in
the forests and possess a keen sense of sight a
contributing factor in their unparalleled expertise as In a nal bid to save Eorzea, the Grand Companies turn to
archers. Duskwight Elezen are a reclusive clan who the Archon Louisoix, an enigmatic scholar hailing from
dwell in caves and caverns, giving them a heightened the forgotten city-state of Sharlayan. Louisoix devises a
284
plan to summon the power of the Twelve, Eorzea's pantheon of guardian deities, to banish Dalamud back to the
heavens. But for this to succeed, the rite needs to be performed directly beneath the point of Dalamuds impact:
A vast swathe of barren lowlands in central Eorzea known
as the Carteneau Flats. But the soldiers of the 8th Imperial Legion, now under Gaius's service, have also begun
gathering in central Eorzea and the Battle of Carteneau
soon unfolds. But the battle ceases when Dalamud enters the atmosphere while revealed to be a prison created to contain the elder primal, Bahamut. Freed after
aeons of imprisonment, Bahamut jump starts the Seventh
Umbral Era while unleashing his wrath upon the realm.
Quickly conjuring a barrier to protect what remains of
the Eorzean Alliance, Louisoix attempts the ritual to once
more seal Bahamut in vain. Seeing his death certain in the
Primal unleashing his ultimate attack, Louisoix summons
the last of his strength to call upon the Twelves' power to
send the survivors (including the player) into an ethereal
rift, where they will be untouched by the passage of time,
until it is once again safe for them to emerge and rebuild
their ruined land.* [18]
Microsoft required a version with separate servers from

the eventual PlayStation 3 release.* [25]* [26]
2009, alongside the ocial announcement of Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix stated that the game was in development for only the PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows systems. The Xbox 360 version was announced to
be cancelled, after Tanaka revealed the Xbox Live system
and Microsoft's dierent point of viewproved to be
incompatible with his and Square Enix's own, hinting that
Yoshida introduced the ocial Final Fantasy XIV forums in order to obtain player feedback and suggestions,
and stated that interacting with and growing closer to
the community would be a high priority, a change welcomed by the playerbase.* [35] Starting with patch 1.18,
improvements were made to the graphics, battling, synthesis, and experience reward systems. A major alter-
The game was to be directed by Nobuaki Komoto, produced by Hiromichi Tanaka, and developed by the team
at Square Enix that had previously created Final Fantasy XI.* [11]* [21] Akihiko Yoshida was announced as
art director, and Nobuo Uematsu as the music composer,
marking his return to the game series since he departed
Square Enix after Final Fantasy X.* [27] The PlayOnline
system was not used for the game, instead players were
linked to a Square Enix account. FFXI also partly transitioned to this service, allowing accounts for both games
to be managed from one place.
Final Fantasy XIV entered into its alpha testing stage in

April, 2010, with testing concluding 11 weeks later on
June 19. Square Enix said that about 10% of the game
was playable during the alpha and beta phases. The closed
beta testing was conducted in several phases, beginning
on July 10, 2010, and ending on August 25. Invites were
distributed to applicants, and the PlayStation 3 release of
Final Fantasy XIII contained a key for a chance to access a beta.* [28] Open Beta commenced on September
1, 2010, lasting until September 19.* [29]* [30]* [31] The
PlayStation 3 beta test never materialised. In all, the time
2.27.3 Development
spent in Beta was 3 months (with 65 active days), less than
the 4 months previously announced as the minimum testOriginal release
ing period.* [11] News sources expressed concern that the
Final Fantasy XIV, previously codenamed Rapture ( game was not in a condition ready to be*launched, with
Rapuch),* [19] was rst mentioned in Au- critical bugsso close to the release date. [32] The game
gust 2005, when Square Enix announced they had begun launched on September 22, 2010.
working on a new MMORPG, but neither conrmed nor
denied that it was a sequel to Final Fantasy XI, or that it
was Final Fantasy related.* [20] On June 2, 2009, at the Initial changes
Sony E3 Conference Final Fantasy XIV was ocially announced through a trailer mixing pre-rendered CGI and Due to the game's predominantly negative reception, the
actual in-game sequences running from the Crystal Tools president of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, announced a maengine.* [11]* [21]
jor shift in the development team in December 2010, with
his resignation as producer and leavBetween 2006 and 2008, Square Enix made several con- Tanaka announcing
*
ing
the
company.
[1]
Naoki Yoshida became both directradicting statements about what platforms the game was
tor
and
producer,
with
most other positions also changin development for. In April 2006 Hiromichi Tanaka,
ing.
The
PlayStation
3
version,
originally due for release
producer of the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, stated that
in
March
2011,
was
delayed
in
order to accommodate
developers were working to make Rapture a worldwide
the
coming
changes,
with
Yoshida
stating he only wished
*
release for the PlayStation 3 and Windows system, [22]
to
provide
a
PlayStation
3
version
when the game was
before later announcing in February 2007 that the game
*
[1]
The
initial
30-day
free
trial
was extended, rst
xed.
was being developed for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Winfor
two
months
and
later
indenitely,
in order to allow
dows, and that it could be brought to the PlayStation 3
players
to
experience
the
new
development
team's up*
at some later stage. [23] In 2008 Square Enix then an*
[33]
Billing
did not
dates
before
committing
to
the
game.
nounced that the game was being targeted at all aforestart
until
January
6,
2012,
more
than
a
year
after
the
mentioned systems and hinted that Mac and Linux clients
*
game's
launch.
[34]
*
would not be out of the question. [24] However, in June,
285
ation was the removal of theFatigue System, a contro Reworking current jobs and adding new ones (Arversial mechanic since the game's Beta, in which players
canist, Scholar and Summoner)* [39]
who played for prolonged periods of time in one go pro 1v1 and large scale player versus player content.
gressively received fewer and fewer skill and experience
points, eventually reaching a point where neither could
Introduction of the FATE (Full Active Time Event)
be obtained.* [36] In later patches signicant new content
system. FATE allows for spontaneous eld events
was added, including the materia system, airships, beast
such as hamlet defense.* [40]
tribe settlements, Chocobo mounts and Primal Battles.
Revisions were also made to monster diculty, magic
casting, the inuence of character statistics, and auto- In the months leading up to A Realm Reborn, a storyline known as the Seventh Umbral Era was periodically
attack was added.* [36]
added to provide an in-lore explanation of the coming
changes. The radical alterations of in game areas are exRelaunch into A Realm Reborn
plained by the impact of Dalamud, a massive meteor summoned to crash into the planet. Extra quests, equipment,
Further information: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm activities and achievements were also added that are no
Reborn
longer accessible or obtainable since A Realm Reborn was
launched. The long-delayed PlayStation 3 version of the
game was nally released at the same time as the PC
launch of A Realm Reborn on August 27, 2013.* [8]
2.27.4 Music
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy XIV
The soundtrack for the Final Fantasy XIV launch version was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, and is the rst
Final Fantasy since Final Fantasy IX to have a score completely composed by Nobuo Uematsu at launch. Since
original launch, and for the A Realm Reborn relaunch,
The dierence in battle interfaces between the alpha additional in-game music has been composed by Naoshi
release of the original game (top) versus A Realm Reborn Mizuta, Ryo Yamazaki, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Masayoshi
(bottom).
Soken.* [41] The Final Fantasy XIV theme song Answersis sung by Susan Calloway.
On October 14, 2011, Square Enix announced its in- Two soundtrack volumes were released at launch, contention to relaunch the game as Final Fantasy XIV 2.0, taining only a small portion of the game's original muwhich was later renamed Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm sic (eight and nine tracks respectively): Final Fantasy
Reborn.* [7] The servers for the original game were shut XIV/Field Tracks, which consists of the eld and backdown on November 11, 2012, with the alpha test of A ground themes, as well as the Prelude; and Final Fantasy
Realm Reborn starting shortly after.* [37] The nished XIV/Battle Tracks, which consists of the battle and comrelaunch was released on August 27, 2013.* [38] Many bat themes, along with the Final Fantasy Theme Song
changes were included at and shortly after the relaunch, (also known as Prologue).
including the following:
On September 1, 2012, Square Enix released FINAL
FANTASY XIV - Eorzean Frontiers, a digital release
The implementation of a completely new server sys- which, though still not a complete soundtrack, contained
tem.
a larger selection of music, including many songs from
the previous two volumes and major ones added since re A new graphics engine.
lease. In addition to the main release, Square Enix also
A redesigning of all eld maps into 40 zones (com- released four smaller Frontiers albums, each one corresponding to a region in the game with songs pertaining
pared to Version 1's 8 zones).
to that region. The songs in the Frontiers releases are ex Fully renewed user interface.
tended versions of songs that appear in the full soundtrack.
Female Hyur Highlanders, female Roegadyn, and
The full ocial soundtrack with all 104 tracks from the
male Miqo'te are now playable.
original version of Final Fantasy XIV was released on Au A worldless content nder.
gust 14, 2013 in a single Blu-ray disc compilation.* [42]
286
Titled Before Meteor: FINAL FANTASY XIV (Original

Soundtrack), the disc contains all of the music composed
by Nobuo Uematsu for the initial release, as well as music added on subsequent patches by Uematsu, Mizuta,
Yamazaki, Sekito and Soken. A remastered version of
the A New Beginningtrailer and download codes for
a Daulmund Minion were included as bonuses.* [43]
2.27.5
Reception
Original release
The initial PC release of Final Fantasy XIV received
mixed to negative reviews, up to the point where it was
considered one of the worst video games of all time,
until the reboot removed it from the list. Complaints
ranged from its essentially broken structure to its numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a consensus that
the game was unnished, if not essentially unplayable
from a practical standpoint. It held a score of 49.33%
on GameRankings* [44] and 49/100 on Metacritic,* [6]
making it the lowest-scoring game of the series. Kevin
VanOrd of GameSpot gave the game a 4.0/10. He called
the game a step backward for the genre, citing a bad
interface, quest restrictions, awful player and NPC economy, and numerous other problems upon release.* [12]
IGN gave a 5.5/10 (mediocre).* [49] 1UP.com gave the
game a D+,* [45] saying that inside Final Fantasy XIV
there is a game with considerable depth and potential
here, but it needs another six to nine months before it's
ready for primetime,further stating that it's impossible to recommend to anyone in its current state. PC
Gamer gave it a 30% rating, reviewer Tom Senior writing that the kindest thing that can be said about the
Final Fantasy MMO is that it has a good intro movie.
GameTrailers gave it 4.2/10, saying it falls at at every turnand isn't worth the hassle, and explaining
that the launch for it was unacceptable because it was a
broken incomplete mess.* [48] In December 2010, the
website labeled itThe Most Disappointing Game of the
Yearin their Game of the Year Awards* [51] and
also included the game in a Top Ten Worst Sequels
feature.* [52]
ity of the game, asking for patience, and announcing

free trial extensions and reshues in the development
team.* [55]* [56]* [57] The development team changes
eventually led to the genesis of the Realm Reborn version
of the game.
Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada admitted in a September
2011 press conference thatthe Final Fantasy brand [had
been] greatly damagedas a result of the game's shortcomings.* [58]* [59]
2.27.6 References
[1] An Important Announcement for Final Fantasy XIV
Fans. Final Fantasy XIV, The Lodestone. Square Enix
Co., Ltd. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
[2] Final fantasy xiv Press Release. Square Enix. 200906-03. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
[3] New Content Added To Final Fantasy XIV Website.
IGN. 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
[4] Final Fantasy XIV dated. MCV. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
[5] Letter from the Producer, XXXVII (10/26/2012)".
Square Enix. Retrieved 12/11/2012. Check date values
in: |accessdate= (help)
[6] Final Fantasy XIV Online for PC Reviews, Ratings,
Credits, and More at Metacritic. Metacritic. 2010-0930. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
[7] Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn announced with
trailer. Computer and Video Games. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
[8] An Announcement from the Development and Operations Teams. Final Fantasy XIV, The Lodestone. Square
Enix Co., Ltd. 2011-10-14. Retrieved September 6,
2013.
[9] Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn release date announced. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 201306-19.
[10] Final Fantasy 14 PS4 Release Date Announced. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Square Enix Co., Ltd.
2014-01-27. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Cheat Code Central was more favorable, giving the game

a positive 4.2/5 rating, but also initially noting theycan't [11] Dunham, Jeremy (2009-06-04).E3 2009: Final Fantasy
XIV - What We Know. IGN. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
recommend that you spend $50, and then $12.99 a month
after the rst 30 days, on a title that has as many aws as [12] GameSpot - Final Fantasy XIV Online Review.
FFXIV does.* [6] This sentence was later removed from
[13] Final Fantasy XIV, The Lodestone. The Lodestone.
the review.* [53]
Version 1 of Final Fantasy XIV shipped 190,000 copies
in Japan, 210,000 copies in North America and 230,000
copies in Europe as of November 4, 2010.* [54] It is unknown how many of these resulted in sell-throughs.
[14] Final Fantasy XIV ocial site. Square Enix. Retrieved

2012-04-20.
[15] FFXIV Story. Square Enix. Retrieved 13 November
2012.
Ocial response Square Enix issued at least two [16] FFXIV Locations. Square Enix. Retrieved 13 Novemapologies to its customers, recognizing the poor qualber 2012.
287
[17] Final Fantasy XIV Ocial Forums. Square Enix.

2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
[38] Final Fantasy XIV receives release date of August 27

. vr-zone. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
[18] Ocial Square Enix FFXIV 1.0 Story Summary. Final

Fantasy XIV. Gamer Escape. Retrieved 12/11/12. Check
date values in: |accessdate= (help)
[39] Check Out Arcanist and Summoner With New Art and
Screens From 'FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn'". Retrieved 2012-10-02.
[19] Tong, Sophia (2009-06-02). Final Fantasy XIV Online

Trailer Impressions. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
[40] Letter from the Producer LIVE Part IV Q&A Updates

. Square Enix. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
[20] Ransom-Wiley, James (2006-07-18).Square Enix won't

conrm Final Fantasy XI-2. joystiq.com. Retrieved
2008-03-08.
[41] In-Game Credits.
[21] Satoshi Nakamura, Mamoru (2008-02-18). Game Developers Conference 2008 local report. GameWatch.
[22] Ransom-Wiley, James (2006-04-19).Square Enix snubs
Xbox 360, targets PS3 & Vista for new MMORPG.
joystiq.com. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
[23] Ransom-Wiley, James (2007-02-08). Square Enix conrms new MMO for Xbox 360 & Vista, maybe PS3.
joystiq.com. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
[24] Tanaka, Hiromichi (2007-07-14). E3 Square Enix Interview with FFXIclopedia. xiclopedia.org. Retrieved
2008-05-14.
[25] ""ClosedXbox Live blocked FFXIV. Retrieved 201412-06.
[26] News: Final Fantasy XIV 360 development 'stopped'".
ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2010-08-18. Retrieved
2011-01-06.
[27] Final fantasy xiv. Sony. 2009-11-19. Retrieved 200911-19.
[28] Surprise bonus for FFXIII on PS3 | Games Industry |
MCV. Mcvuk.com. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2011-0106.
[29] FFXIV Windows Open Beta to Begin August 31, 2010
.
[30] FFXIV Open Beta Postponed.
[31] FFXIV Open Beta to now begin September 1, 2010.
[42] Final Fantasy XIV Soundtrack To Include Dalmaud

Minion Code. Siliconera. January 1, 2013. Retrieved
2013-07-08.
[43] SQEX-20012 | Before Meteor FINAL FANTASY XIV
Original Soundtrack - VGMdb
[44]Final Fantasy XIV Online (PC)". GameRankings. 201009-30. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
[45] Final Fantasy XIV Review. 1UP. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
[46] Final Fantasy XIV Review for the PC. Gamerevolution.com. 2010-11-14. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
[47] Final Fantasy XIV Review. Gamespy. 2010-10-11.
[48] GameTrailers - Final Fantasy XIV Video Review.
[49] Final Fantasy XIV Review. IGN. 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
[50] Final Fantasy XIV review. PC Gamer. 2010-10-18.
[51] GT Game of the Year Awards, Most Disappointing
Game.
[52] GT Countdown Video Game, Top 10 Worst Sequels.
[53] Cheat Code Central - Final Fantasy XIV Online Review
.
[54] Square Enix Ships 630,000 FFXIV Copies, Working On
'Regaining Trust'". Gamasutra. 2010-11-04. Retrieved
2010-11-04.
[32] Final Fantasy XIV Beta Is No Go. Kotaku. Retrieved

13 November 2012.
[55] Square Enix Apologies1.
[33] Words: Tyler Nagata, GamesRadar US. Final Fantasy

XIV free trial period extended for a second time, Final
Fantasy XIV PC News. GamesRadar. Retrieved 201101-06.
[34] FINAL FANTASY XIV Billing Information. Square

Enix. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
[59] "
". Sponichi Annex.
[35] Naoki Yoshida exclusive interview for nalfantasy14.eu

. FinalFantasyXIVeu. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
[58] Square Enix CEO: Final Fantasy XIV Damaged FF

Brand.
[36] Fatigue System Removed from Final Fantasy XIV.

MMO News. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
Ocial information site (The Lodestone)
[37] Current Version of FFXIV End. Square Enix. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
Ocial forums
Japanese)
(English,
French,
German,
288
2.28 Final Fantasy XV
telling that is similar to that of rst-person shooters.* [11]

However, the game also features uncontrollable prerendered full motion videos (FMVs) for scenes in which
player control would have little to no eect.* [11]* [12]
The ratio of real-time events to pre-rendered FMVs is
7:3.* [12] The world features a dynamic weather system,
with transient eects such as rain eecting things such as
the characters' clothing.* [13] The game's environments
include kingdoms and villages, and allows for much freedom and interactivity: for example, objects can be destroyed and dierent paths may be chosen to reach a destination.* [14]
Final Fantasy XV ( XV
Fainaru Fantaj Fifutn) is an upcoming action roleplaying video game being developed and published by
Square Enix for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The
fteenth main installment in the Final Fantasy series, it
is a heavy departure from previous games, providing a
darker atmosphere that focuses on more realistic human
characters than previous entries. The game features an
open-world environment and action-based battle system
similar to the Kingdom Hearts series, incorporating the
ability to switch weapons and take control of vehicles dur- The characters have the ability to traverse the environing battle.
ment in a free-running style, which also extends to battle
*
The story is based on the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythol- with larger enemies. [15] They can visit towns and cities
ogy, but has no direct relation to the other games in this to rest in hotels or buy *equipment and ingredients for
series as it features a unique world, visual design and dif- cooking during camping. [16] The world map is a wide,
on foot or by usferent characters.* [4] Its main protagonist Noctis Lucis open eld that the player can traverse
*
*
ing
a
car,
an
airship
or
a
chocobo.
[9]
[17] The car can
Caelum is the prince of a maa-like royal family which
be
driven
by
Noctis,
or
one
of
the
other
characters can
protects the last remaining crystal in the world and rules
take
control,
enabling
an
auto-drive
option.
It is mainover a technologically advanced city-state. The plot cen*
*
tained
by
the
mechanic
character
Cidney.
[13]
[18] To
ters on the invasion of a warlike nation that seeks to cap*
ride
chocobos,
the
player
must
rent
them.
[16]
A dayture the crystal. During the course of the game, Noctis
and-night
time
system
aects
the
appearance
of
monsters
meets the aristocratic and kind Stella Nox Fleuret who
shares his ability of seeing a mysteriouslightconnected on the world map. One in-game day equates to one hour
real-time, and characters who do not sleep have decreased
to a goddess of the dead.
combat ability.* [14]* [18] Camping during the night is
Final Fantasy XV started production shortly before its an- necessary for characters to maintain combat performance
nouncement in May 2006, when it was initially unveiled and level up: experience points earned in battle during the
under the title Final Fantasy Versus XIII ( day are converted into new levels during camping periods.
XIII Verusasu Stn). The game's long development time Camps form a safe haven during exploration, and cooking
and absence from the public eye gave rise to several ruin them using ingredients from both towns and the wilds
mors concerning its possible cancellation or shift to an- grants character bonuses.* [16]* [18] Minigames, such as
other platform. In June 2013, it was eventually revealed shing, are also available.* [16]
to have been renamed and to have switched systems from
PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.* [5]* [6]
Final Fantasy XV is being developed by a team within Battle system
Square Enix's 1st Production Department, and is the rst
to use the company's Luminous Studio middleware en- The game's combat system, called the Active Cross Batgine. It was originally directed by Tetsuya Nomura, who tle system, is a realistic version of the ones seen in the
also designed characters and conceived the concept and Kingdom Hearts series and Final Fantasy Type-0.* [19]
base story. In 2014, it was announced that sole direc- Unlike the majority of titles in the series, the battle scenes
torial duties switched to Hajime Tabata, who had been are seamlessly integrated into the environments with no
co-director.
load screens or transitions. The player selects a com-
2.28.1
Gameplay
Concept and presentation

Final Fantasy XV is an action role-playing game with
third-person shooter elements.* [7]* [8] The player character is seen from a third-person perspective that
will be adjusted depending on the weapon currently
equipped.* [8]* [9]* [10] Final Fantasy XV uses interactive cutscenes in the form of real-time events. The player
keeps control during them as the gameplay is not interrupted, which will result in natural progressions and story-
mand such as Attack, Magic, Technique,

Itemand the character will then perform the desired
move.* [8]* [9]* [14]* [19]* [20] There are also other actions such as jumping.* [19] The main protagonist Noctis
is the only controllable character in the party. Similar to
the Gambit system of Final Fantasy XII, characters can
move and act freely while assigned pre-determined action
sets by the player.* [19]* [21] In mid-battle, the player can
pull up a menu and change the character's actions and the
commands assigned to Noctis.* [22] In addition to this,
Noctis can partner with one character to perform combo
moves once an enemy or part of an enemy is targeted.
Parrying and blocking can be performed, but blocking
uses MP (magic points) and Noctis is unable to auto-
2.28. FINAL FANTASY XV
289
parry, with each parry needing to be matched with the enemy's attack.* [16]* [19] Aside from only controlling Noctis, the party is not xed, and guest characters can freely
join during certain periods of the story.* [18]
have suered from a near-death experience are gifted

with magical powers and the ability to predict the deaths
of others from the realm of the dead, ruled over by the
Goddess Etro. This power has both positive and negative
*
*
*
Weapons for Noctis are arranged in a deck set by the eects on those who wield it. [1] [27] [28]
player between battles, changing and being assigned to
him depending on the combat situation.* [19]* [21] The Characters
available weapons include swords, axes, lances and guns,
oer various attacks and may be customized or used as The currently known playable characters are Noctis
shields.* [14]* [23] The selected weapon is displayed on- Lucis Caelum (
screen, and can be freely swapped during battle.* [24] One Nokutisu Rushisu Cheramu, voiced by Tatsuhisa
weapon is set as Noctis' default weapon, and special tech- Suzuki), the game's main protagonist and prince of
niques can be activated.* [19] Helpful actions by other Lucis blessed with power from an incident in his
members of the party are triggered depending on the youth;* [1]* [8]* [10]* [28]* [29] Gladiolus Amicitia (
situation.* [15] Noctis can also give specic commands Guradiorasu Amishitia,
to other party members.* [21] When performing a ma- voiced by Kenta Miyake), a brother-like gure to Noctis
jor magic spell such as a re attack, it both eects the and son and heir to a family that has guarded Lucis's royenemy targeted and the surrounding area, meaning it is alty for generations;* [1]* [14]* [29] Ignis Stupeo Scientia
possible to harm allies. Environmental eects caused by ( Igunisu Suthe magic can also be used to scare enemy units.* [21] tupeo Sukientia, voiced by Mamoru Miyano), a military
Noctis is able to perform a warp, with the distance he tactician and childhood friend of Noctis;* [1] Prompto
can travel depending on his current level.* [24] The ar- Argentum ( Puronputo
eas he can warp to are limited, but change depending on jentamu, voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara), a friend of the
the combat situation.* [21] In addition to the regular of- prince from a lower social class;* [1]* [14]* [29] and Cor
fensive and defensive tactics, mechas and tanks can be Leonis ( Koru Rionisu, voiced by Hiroki
stolen from enemies and used against them.* [10] Noc- Touchi), a man who accompanies the younger group and
tis can summon Eidolons to aid them in battle. These act as their guardian and Noctis loyal supporter.* [1]* [29]
summoned monsters, a staple of the series, include new
versions of older summons such as Leviathan and Ti- Among other characters in the game are Stella Nox
tan.* [18]* [24] They are arranged by class and subdivided Fleuret ( Sutera Nokkusu
into a ranking system, with large summons like Leviathan Furre), the daughter of a prestigious family from the
who shares Noctis' powers and is
being among the highest-ranking.* [24] Before they can kingdom of Tenebrae
*
forced
to
ght
him;
[14]
Luna ( Rna), a new
be used by the protagonist, summons can either be decharacter
with
a
connection
to Noctis;* [30] and an unfeated in battle, such as Leviathan or Titan, or obtained
*
in some other way.* [18] Enemies have specic jobs such named female dragoon. [24]
as dragon knight or summoner assigned to them.* [14]
Story
2.28.2
Plot
Setting
Final Fantasy XV is set in a world similar to modernday Earth. The land is divided between various countries that had been locked in a cold war over the nations'
crystals, objects of political power. The result of the
war is that all but the nation of Lucis have regressed to
a medieval state: Lucis has become isolated from the rest
of the world and has become a technologically-advanced
nation ruled by a family that operates similar to the maa.
Due to the war, all but Lucis eventually lost their crystals:
they have since focused their eorts on the development
of weapons rather than on the progress of their culture,
which left them in their regressive state. The nation of
Niheim is the main enemy of Lucis, and the only one
not to have been entrusted with a crystal.* [15] Among
the other nations of the world are Tenebrae, Solheim and
Accordo.* [8]* [25]* [26] In the world of XV, people who
Final Fantasy XV begins as a truce is declared between

Lucis and Niheim, ending the cold war which has raged
over possession of the world's crystals. Upon the day
when an ocial treaty is to be signed, Niheim invades
Lucis and takes the nation's crystal for its own before
launching attacks on Solheim, Tenebrae and Accordo.
Having escaped during the attack on Lucis, Noctis and
his friends now travel to retrieve their city's crystal while
trying to defeat Niheim's forces.* [8]* [14]* [23]* [26] Because of the war, Noctis and Stella, who share some form
of connection, are forced to ght each other.* [14]
2.28.3 Development
The stories from the past entries in the Final Fantasy series are not exactly as I would have done, but that's as it
should be because I didn't direct them. My only concern
in terms of Versus XIII is that FF always talks about human emotion and psychologies in a broad way, and I want
290
to go deeper in terms of oering some crude reality in

terms of human emotion or human [behavior]. The goal,
when a player holds a controller and plays [a role-playing
game], is to make them believe in another world to experience a dream in a ctional world. It will be dierent
in Versus XIII because of the intrusion of the real world,
and things that are really happening. There will be less
ction and more reality.
of the title change had not been possible in 2012 due

to unspecied reasons, the limited life cycle of the current console generation was considered a problem. After
some trial and error, the PlayStation 3 was abandoned as
lead platform in favor of a DirectX 11-based development method that allowed for easy porting to the nextgeneration systems.* [1] Production fully shifted to the
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in mid-2012.* [21] By 2014,
the game was being developed solely for the Luminous
Tetsuya Nomura on the story of Final Fantasy XV, then
Studio engine.* [16] Development of XV and Luminous
*
known under the title Final Fantasy Versus XIII [31]
Studio occurred simultaneously, with the teams working
closely together to optimize each project.* [1]
Development of Final Fantasy XV began shortly before its unveiling at the Electronic Entertainment Expo
(E3) trade fair in May 2006, where it was announced Design
for the PlayStation 3 under its original title Final Fantasy Versus XIII.* [32] The game is being created by Nomura intended Final Fantasy XV to be a heavy de*
Square Enix's 1st Production Department,* [33] with the parture from his lighthearted Kingdom Hearts series. [44]
Kingdom Hearts II team in charge of the in-game ac- He attributed this move to his love for extremesand
tion, the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children crew han- explained the direction he took as closer to his personal
dling the pre-rendered movies and technical sta working taste and completely dierent from what producers had
*
on the engine.* [34]* [35] The original director, Tetsuya requested him to do in the past. [31] Early into develNomura, conceived the game's concept and base story opment, Nomura said that the concept and thinking beand collaborated with Roberto Ferrari on its charac- hind the game was untting for a regular numbered Final
*
ter designs.* [36]* [37] Shinji Hashimoto is producing, Fantasy installment. [32] The title was thus originally inKazushige Nojima is writing the scenario and Yoko Shi- tended to be Final Fantasy Versus XIII rather than Final
momura is composing the soundtrack.* [1]* [36] Takeshi Fantasy XV. However, the rapidly growing scale of the
Nozue, the co-director of Advent Children along with content gave rise to discussions about its rebranding as
*
Nomura, is in charge of all visual aspects, such as the a numbered entry as early as 2007. [43] Several initial
*
cutscenes. [38] During production, several sta mem- concepts for the game had to be abandoned. A planned
bers joined and left the project: for example, Yoshinori rst-person view and the lack of a heads-up display were
Kitase was originally attached to Final Fantasy XV as scrapped because these ideas were deemed incompatible
*
producer but is no longer directly involved with it, while with the style of the Final Fantasy series. [1] Intentions
artist Yusuke Naora became part of the team later to turn the game into a musical after Nomura had seen
on.* [3]* [36]* [39] In July 2012, the Final Fantasy Type- the 2012 lm adaptation of Les Misrables were vetoed
*
0 developers were ordered by then-Square Enix CEO by the higher-ups at Square Enix. [45]
*
Yoichi Wada to aid production of Final Fantasy XV. [21] Nomura had wanted to use a present-day setting for a
One year later, Hajime Tabata was announced to have Final Fantasy game ever since this idea had been conbecome co-director.* [1] When the game had advanced sidered but abandoned during the development of Final
suciently, Tabata was appointed to be the game's sole Fantasy VII.* [46] As such, some of the designs in Fidirector, while Nomura was transferred from the project nal Fantasy XV are based on real-world locations such
to focus his eorts on other products, including Kingdom as the districts of Tokyo or the Piazza San Marco and St
Hearts III.* [2]* [21]* [40] Between 200 and 300 people Mark's Basilica in Venice.* [47] The city kingdom Lucis
are working on the game.* [21]
is specically inuenced by the lively Shinjuku, Tokyo
The game originally used Crystal Tools, a middleware engine designed by Square Enix to develop their seventhgeneration console and PC content.* [41] However, it was
later rebuilt with a proprietary, action-oriented engine
and some middleware tools along with parts of the company's new Luminous Studio engine, such as its lighting technology.* [42] When Final Fantasy Agito XIII was
renamed Final Fantasy Type-0 and the next-generation
consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were presented to
Square Enix in 2011, the company decided internally to
change Final Fantasy Versus XIII 's title to Final Fantasy XV.* [1]* [43] For a time, the game was developed for
both the PlayStation 3 and the next generation of video
game platforms. However, after a public announcement
area which houses the headquarters of Square Enix and

which Nomura passes through every day. The highway
and tunnel seen in the game are almost exact replicas of
the Shuto Expressway and a tunnel in the Ginza district,
respectively. The team created these by driving down the
real-world locations repeatedly during their research.* [8]
Another factor in the development of set pieces was the
design of vast and seamless environments. They were
meant to enable e.g. levels in which the player character was shot at from a great distance, or in which a battle
would change scenes between the outside and inside of
a building. This corroborated Nomura's intended actionoriented system with more intuitive game controls. He
instructed his team to study third-person shooters for ref-

erence,not in simplistic terms, like controls or mechanics, but in the way they create tension and mood and incorporate the action within that.* [31] The implementation of interactive real-time event scenes had two reasons:
Nomura felt that regular storytelling cutscenes in other
games interrupt the gameplay and that many players skip
them for this reason; furthermore, the development frame
of Final Fantasy XV could be shortened as there was
no need to create high-polygon character models from
scratch to use only in cutscenes.* [11] However, seamless
transitions of these events into the gameplay were hard
to achieve and instead increased the time that had to be
invested by the team.* [10] This seamless transition style
was also given to the battle system, which was designed so
that the situation was constantly changing, giving combat
a realistic feel. However, in contrast with the majority
of other action games, the team kept the display of HP
lost by the player and enemy units, a feature present in
the majority of Final Fantasy games.* [48] While the nished game used a single controllable character, the team
experimented with a multi-character battle system. Eventually, it was decided that it presented too many diculties.* [19] After the full shift onto next-gen, multiple elements were inuenced by the new Luminous technology:
for example, the in-game cutscene camera was optimized
to work similar to the one used in pre-rendered movies,
and move environmental and gameplay elements could be
included, such as more destructible environments and the
player character's warping to faraway spots on the game
maps.* [1] It also enabled Nomura to start experimenting with higher facial detail for enemies such as behemoths.* [49]
291
may narrow the target audience, but considered the time
right to take such a risk and conceived the characters as
believable humans one could meet in real life.* [44] Noctis in particular was meant to be an ambivalent character, having traits indicative of both traditional heroes and
villains.* [50] Alongside the serious storyline, several elements of light comedy were added as a counterbalance,
and Nomura chose to include a large amount of in-game
conversations as opposed to standard cutscenes, with dialogue that sounded natural and not game-like or lofty.
*
[24]
Promotion
Because of the game's long absence from the public eye

after January 2011, industry commentators labeled Final Fantasy XV as vaporware while it was still known
as Final Fantasy Versus XIII.* [51]* [52] Frequent rumors
suggested that it had either been quietly cancelled, or
renamed and shifted to another platform during development.* [53]* [54]* [55]* [56] At E3 2013, the game's
change of title and its planned release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were ocially unveiled to the public.* [57] Additionally, an announcement and a gameplay
trailer were released during the event.* [58] The presentation was created using a made-for-the-purpose engine
called Ebony.* [13] At Tokyo Game Show 2013, a
trailer similar to the two trailers from E3 2013 was released in Japan, but featured additional footage not seen
before.* [59] At Tokyo Game Show 2014, a new trailer
was shown. The footage, in addition to a real-time demo
shown to the press, used the in-game Luminous Engine.* [13] A voucher is to be included in the HD reWriting
lease of Type-0 for access to a demo of the game, called
Episode Duscae, featuring segments from the early
The game's lore was drawn from the mythology of the sections tailored for the demo.* [60]
Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries, which also includes
Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Type-0, the games
announced alongside XV in 2006.* [14]* [31] According 2.28.4 Possible sequels
to Yoshinori Kitase, the mythos was used as abackdrop
and a starting pointfor the story, but had no other con- Sequels to Final Fantasy XV were hinted at with the line
nections to the other games in the subseries.* [39] Nomura A World of the Versus Epicin the E3 2013 trailer.
chose not to use many of the terms within the mythos, Nomura explained that the game had a self-contained clisuch as l'Cieand fal'Cie, instead opting to use max and that it was the rst part of an intended continthe concept behind them and refer to the terms far less ued epic. He said that Square Enix was considering usor not at all due to the game's modern setting.* [49] The ing online elements and developing shorter stand-alone
central theme of the story was a fantasy based on real- titles to keep players interested and to avoid long waiting
ity, in that the setting was based on the real world and times for them.* [61] This was interpreted as a move of
that the story's fantasy elements grew out of the familiar the company towards a digitally distributed episodic forsettings. Realizing this aspect of the game was quite di- mat for possible sequels.* [62] Nomura later claried at
cult for Nomura before the game's move onto the PlaySta- the Japan Expo 2013 that no plans for sequels had been
tion 4. He also designed the story to be similar to many nalized.* [63]
other entries in the series apart from the individual characters, which he wanted to make far more realistic.* [48]
Nomura wanted to make the gameabout man in the real 2.28.5 References
worldand thus included less fantasy elements, resulting
in what he described as the darkest entry in the series. [1] " XV.
Weekly Famitsu (Enterbrain) (1281): 11. 2013-06-20.
He acknowledged that a story focus on human emotions
292
[2] Romano, Sal (2014-09-17). Final Fantasy XV TGS

2014 trailer, Testuya Nomura steps down as director.
Gematsu. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
[3] Soichiro (2014-09-22).Final Fantasy XV: Ohne Kitase,
dafr mit Yusuke Naora[Final Fantasy XV: Without Kitase, but with Yusuke Naora] (in German). JPGames.de.
[4] Brudvig, Erik (2006-05-08). E3 2006: Eyes-on Final
Fantasy XIII Trailer. IGN. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[5] McWhertor, Michael (2008-07-14).No Changes On Final Fantasy Versus XIII Being PS3Exclusive"". Kotaku.
[6] Goldfarb, Andrew (2013-06-10). E3 2013: Final Fantasy Versus XIII is Now Final Fantasy XV. IGN. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
[7] Gantayat, Anoop (2010-10-18). Square Enix Seeking
Final Fantasy Versus XIII Sta. IGN. Retrieved 201305-09.
[8] Gantayat, Anoop (2007-03-02).Tetsuya Nomura on FF
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[18] Nakamura, Toshi (2014-12-20). Final Fantasy XV's

Director Breaks Down the Newest Trailer. Kotaku.
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[19] Slayton, Olivia (2014-10-02). Final Fantasy XV director addresses fan concerns, new gameplay. Gematsu.
2014-10-02.
[20] Yip, Spencer (2013-06-12). Final Fantasy XV's Plot Is
About Noctis' Life After He Is Kicked Out Of His Home
[21] Romano, Sal; James, Thomas (2014-09-22).Final Fantasy XV director talks development, open world, combat,
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[22] Slayton, Olivia (2014-09-24). 4Gamer: Final Fantasy XV and Type-0 TGS 2014 interview. Gematsu.
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[23] Final Fantasy XIII Update. IGN. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
[24] Romano, Sal (2013-06-27). Final Fantasy XV: the big
interview summary. Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
[25] Square Enix Unveils the Future of Final Fantasy.
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[10] Gantayat, Anoop (2011-01-25). Final Fantasy Versus

XIII Update. Andriasang. Archived from the original
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Still Chugging Along. 1UP.com. Archived from the
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[17] Gantayat, Anoop (2010-03-18). Tetsuya Nomura Interviewed at Twitter. Andriasang. Archived from the
[29] Gmyrek, Roland (2013-06-19).Final Fantasy XV sta,

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[30]2
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[49] "PS4
XVFF
[50] Luke Smith (2006-06-07). FFXIII Interview: Nomura,
[51] Cullen, Johnny (2012-05-08). FF Versus Release:
VXIII E3 announce hits six year anniversary, still nothing. VG247. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
[52] Schreier, Jason (2012-12-17). Happy 25th Birthday,
Final Fantasy. It's Time To Get Your Act Together..
[57] Totilo, Stephen (2013-06-11). Find Out About the Future of Square Right Now (Updates Complete)". Kotaku.
[58] Iwaniuk, Phil (2013-06-14). Watch the Final Fantasy
XV E3 announcement & combat trailers for fabulous hair,
impossibly pretty gameplay. Ocial PlayStation Magazine. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
[59] FINAL FANTASY XV for TGS2013. PlayStation JP.
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2014-01-04.
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Have Multiple Direct Sequels. IGN. Retrieved 201306-19.
[63] Japan Expo 2013 : Interview with Tetsuya Nomura
(ENG)". Finaland. 2013-07-07. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-02-13.

Ocial website (English)
294
Screenshot from a concept video of the game, as shown at E3

2005
The main protagonist Noctis ghting enemy soldiers with his companions.
The main cast as they appeared in an early trailer. From left to

right: Prompto, Gladiolus, Noctis, and Ignis.
Shinjuku, Tokyo is the primary inspiration for the city-like kingdom of Lucis.
295
Chapter 3
Compilations and re-releases

3.1 Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo
DS)
Final Fantasy IV ( IV
Fainaru Fantaj F) is a Nintendo DS role-playing video
game and an enhanced remake of the 1991 SNES game,
Final Fantasy IV. It was released as part of the Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary celebrations on December
20, 2007 in Japan, on July 22, 2008 in North America
and on September 5, 2008 in Europe.
The game was developed by Matrix Software, the same
team responsible for the 3D Final Fantasy III remake,
and was supervised by members of the original development team: Takashi Tokita served as executive producer Similar to Final Fantasy III for the DS, Final Fantasy IV feaand director, Tomoya Asano as producer and Hiroyuki tures an opening full motion video sequence with an orchestrated
Ito as battle designer. Animator Yoshinori Kanada story- theme song.
boarded the new cutscenes.
The game was well received by critics and fans alike;
it was praised for being suciently faithful to the original while expanding on many gameplay and story elements.* [1]* [2]* [3]
In 2012, the game was released for iOS on the App Store,
for Android in 2013 and for Windows in 2014.* [4]
3.1.1
Gameplay
Main article: Final Fantasy IV Gameplay

Final Fantasy IV retains the original Active Time Battle System from the initial Super Nintendo release. Similar to the previous remake of Final Fantasy III on the
Nintendo DS, the control of stylus is limited and optional
in order to retain the same control input while allowing
other players to use the Nintendo DS's unique touch control scheme. However, the remake features a new ability
system known as the Augment System, or the Decant Ability System(
Dekanto Abiriti Shisutemu) in the Japanese version. The
system allows for certain character-only abilities to be
transferred to other characters who did not have them in
the original and previous re-releases of Final Fantasy IV.
Up to three abilities can be transferred to temporary party
members. When leaving the party, temporary characters

will yield abilities of their own, the number of which is
dependent on how many abilities they were given. There
are also other abilities; some scattered around the world,
and some that become available after certain story events.
This new system entails another new feature: command
menu customization. All commands in a character's battle menu, except theItemscommand, can be replaced
with augments. This includes individual abilities that are
ordinarily contained in a group (e.g. Curagacan be
added directly to Rosa's command list, rather than only
being accessible through the White Magic sub-list). The
Augment System was devised to replace the system in
Final Fantasy IV Advance where the characters that were
temporary in the original version became playable again
at a certain point, as the developers felt that this system
changed the game too much.* [5]
Other exclusive enhancements to the DS version of
the game include Minigames. Unlike the main game,
minigames are stylus-control only. Their function is to
increase the power of Rydia's personal Eidolon, Whyt
( Pchika, Pochika in the Japanese version),
who takes her place in the battle line-up, and acts under
computer control according to abilities assigned to him
by the player. The minigames can be played in either
single-player or wireless (not online) multiplayer modes.
296
3.1. FINAL FANTASY IV (NINTENDO DS)

The game also features a New Game Plus.* [6] This allows players to start a new game with certain enhancements, such as rare or secret items and equipment, carried
over from a previously completed game. Certain other
new features are only available in a New Game Plus, such
as hidden bosses on the face of the moon and the summit of Mt. Ordeals. Because of the voice-acted scenes,
Namingway cannot change any character's name as he
did in the original game. After realizing this, he travels the world, changing his own name to t each occupation he takes up. Examples of his name changes include
Mappingway(charting the maps on the lower screen),
Campingway, andWeddingway. Following Namingway around the world and engaging in his sidequest
yields numerous rewards. With the removal of the limit
on items that the player can carry, Fat Chocobo no longer
stores items, and instead can be called on in order to access the new bestiary and the video and music player, as
well as the Whyt minigames.
3.1.2
Plot
Cecil walking through Kaipo
Main article: Final Fantasy IV Plot

The original storyline of Final Fantasy IV is retained, and
some of the previously missing script has been worked
into the DS version in the form of ashbacks, including
Golbez becoming Zemus's pawn and the childhoods of
Cecil, Kain, and Rosa.
3.1.3
Audio
Main article: Music of Final Fantasy IV
297
light) The song was arranged by Kenichiro Fukui, with
the lyrics penned by scenario writer Takashi Tokita.* [9] It
only appears in the Japanese release of the game, over the
ending credits - international versions cut the song in its
entirety and replace it with a music track from the game
itself.
3.1.4 Development
The ocial developer blog (maintained by producer Tomoya Asano) has outlined several key features of the remake. As in the original, players can reform their party
with whomever they choose as party leader. When the
player enters the menu, the party leader will now appear on the bottom screen where the player can read their
thoughts about what is happening in the story at that time
(the development team suggests players check this feature
often for humorous anecdotes).* [10]
Other developer blog entries have focused on the art and
programming of the game. According to the art director, Matrix tried to make each location of the game
feel unique. For example, the desert kingdom of Damcyan has taken on a Middle-Eastern air, Fabul has been
given a Chinese feeling, and Eblan has been given the
feeling of a Ninja residence, which was not possible in
the Super Famicom edition due to limited data capacity.* [11] The game displays more characters and enemies
on screen during battle compared to Final Fantasy III,
which required the modeling team to reduce the number of polygons per character.* [12] The main programmer also suggests that the game is much larger than Final
Fantasy III from a data standpoint, and compressing all
the data to t on a 1Gb ROM was dicult, largely due to
the voice data.* [12]
According to director Takashi Tokita, the scenario writer
and lead game designer of the original release, three quarters of the original script had been left out of the original
Super Famicom version.* [6]* [13] In a Q&A feature on
the ocial Square Enix Members page, Tokita corrected
this by saying that the original story script was never cut,
but during the development of the original release, the
game's text could not t and had to be revised to a quarter of its intended size.* [14]
3.1.5 Reception
As of July 9, 2008, the game has sold 612,044

copies in Japan.* [21] Worldwide it has sold 1.1 million
*
In June 2007, Square Enix held a casting for a vocalist to copies. [22]
sing a rendition of Final Fantasy IV 'sTheme of Love Final Fantasy IV was well received by critics. It was a
composed by Nobuo Uematsu.* [7] Megumi Ida was se- nominee for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS in IGN's
lected from approximately 800 applicants to perform the 2008 video game awards.* [23]
song* [8]Tsuki no Akari(, literallymoon-
298
CHAPTER 3. COMPILATIONS AND RE-RELEASES
3.1.6
See also
3.1.7
References
[1] Anderson, Lark (July 11, 2008). Final Fantasy IV Review. GameSpot. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
[2] Bozon (July 9, 2008).Final Fantasy IV Review. IGN.
[3] Di Fiore, Elisa (July 25, 2008). Final Fantasy IV.
GameSpy. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
[4] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.
square_enix.android_googleplay.FFIV_GP
[5] Ocial Blog: Character Abilities. Square Enix. October 5, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
[6] Final Fantasy IV Update. IGN. May 17, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
[7] Square Enix sta (May 1, 2007).
(in Japanese). Square Enix Japan.
Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved
May 12, 2007.
[8] Megumi Ida performs Theme of Love. Matrix Software. November 16, 2007. Retrieved November 16,
2007.
[20] Jonathan Metts (August 12, 2008). Final Fantasy IV.

Nintendo World Report. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
[21] Weekly Famitsu (1020).
[22] Results Brieng: Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2009
. Square-Enix.com. May 19, 2009. Retrieved July 21,
2009.
[23] IGN DS: Best RPG 2008. IGN.com. December 15,

Square Enix Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS Ofcial Site (Japanese)
Square Enix Ocial Developer Blog (Japanese)
Square Enix Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS Ofcial US Site
Translated Developer Blog
RPG Land Review
3.2 Final Fantasy Chronicles
[9] "Tsuki no Akaria highlight of Final Fantasy IV DS

. Siliconera. July 20, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
Not to be confused with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.
[10] Ocial Blog: Party Leader Thoughts. Square Enix.
September 19, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
Final Fantasy Chronicles is a compilation of Square's

role-playing video games Final Fantasy IV and Chrono
Ocial Blog: Art Direction. Square Enix. October Trigger, released for the North American Sony
12, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
PlayStation on June 29, 2001.* [1] TOSE ported both
Ocial Blog: Programming. Square Enix. October titles from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System;
each had been previously released as individual Japanese
27, 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
PlayStation ports in 1997 (Final Fantasy IV) and 1999
x3sphere (May 16, 2007). Final Fantasy IV DS re- (Chrono Trigger).* [3]* [4] Several bonus features were
make not just pretty graphics. exophase.com. Retrieved
added to each game, such as art galleries, bestiaries, and
September 30, 2007.
cutscenes including computer-generated full motion
Square Enix (September 5, 2008). Final Fantasy IV video used at the beginning of Final Fantasy IV and
Fan-powered Q&A Part 1. member.square-enix.com. anime scenes used throughout Chrono Trigger.* [5]
Final Fantasy Chronicles was received well by players and

critics, who praised the peripheral features and the fact
that Square was oering RPG classics to a new generation of gamers.* [5]* [6]* [7] Conversely, reviewers sharply
[16] Will Herring (July 21, 2008). Final Fantasy IV. criticizedlong and frequent loadingbetween areas and
GamePro. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009.
battles due to poor emulation.* [6]* [7] Enough copies of
Chronicles were sold to warrant a second release as part
[17] Lark Anderson (July 11, 2008). Final Fantasy IV Re- of Sony's Greatest Hits in June 2003.* [8]
[15] List of Weekly Famitsu software Hall of Fame.
Geimin.net. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
view. GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 24,

2013.
[18] Final Fantasy IV. GameTrailers. Viacom Entertainment Group. July 23, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
[19] Eduardo Zacarias (August 4, 2008). Final Fantasy IV
Review. GameZone. GameZone Online. Archived from
the original on April 25, 2009.
3.2.1 Gameplay
In Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, the player controls a set of characters, closely following the role-playing
video game genre. The methods of viewing and controlling the characters are separated by three dierent
3.2. FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES

screens": the overworld, where the characters traverse
to dierent locations; the eld map, where the characters
explore locations such as towns and dungeons; and the
battle screen, where the characters ght with monsters or
other enemies.* [9]* [10]
Final Fantasy IV
Main article: Gameplay of Final Fantasy IV
299
A primary addition to both games is full-motion video.
Final Fantasy IV features computer animated cutscene
sequences, while Chrono Trigger features anime-style sequences designed by Akira Toriyama that help further
tell the story of Chrono Trigger.Final Fantasy IV was
given gameplay features such as a two-player mode, a
Sprint Featuretoenhance and quicken gameplay, and
theMemo Filesystem toreduce saving time.Chrono
Trigger, instead of added gameplay features, has anExtras Mode. This features databases such as a bestiary
and a gallery of artwork created in development.* [2]
Final Fantasy IV introduced the Active Time Battle, a

system designed by Hiroyuki Ito. It centers around the Promotion and merchandising
player inputting orders for the characters in real time
during battles.* [11] Each character is balanced through See also: Music of Final Fantasy IV and Music of
certain strengths and weaknesses; for instance, a strong Chrono Trigger
magic user may have low defense, while a physical ghter
may have low agility.* [9]
A compilation of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger
was in consideration in December 2000, with Final Fantasy Anthology 's success a key decision factor.* [17] FiChrono Trigger
nal Fantasy Chronicles was announced by Square Electronic Arts on April 17, 2001. Jun Iwasaki, president,
Main article: Gameplay of Chrono Trigger
mentioned anoverwhelming numberof requests to rerelease Chrono Trigger, and believed the compilation of
Chrono Trigger 's gameplay deviates from traditional it and Final Fantasy IV wouldappeal to fans of the origrole-playing games in that, rather than random encoun- inal games and introduce a new generation of gamers to
ters, most enemies are openly visible on eld maps or lie some of our classic titles.* [19] An event was held on July
in wait to ambush the party. Contact with enemies on a 10 in San Francisco, primarily to celebrate the lm Final
eld map initiates a battle that occurs directly on the eld Fantasy: The Spirits Within and release of Final Fantasy
map itself rather than on a separate battle screen.* [10] Chronicles. It featured a cosplay contest, a memorabilia
Chrono Trigger uses an updated form of the Active Time rae, and booths to play Final Fantasy Chronicles and
Battle introduced in Final Fantasy IV, with additions such Final Fantasy X.* [20]
asTechsthat rely on enemy positioning and abilities of
characters.* [10]* [12] Other features are the employment Music from Final Fantasy Chronicles is a set of two sepof time travel and a "New Game Plus" option.* [13]* [14] arately released compact discs published by TokyoPop.
Final Fantasy IV Ocial Soundtrack and Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack were both released on August 21,
2001. Final Fantasy IV Ocial Soundtrack is nearly the
3.2.2 Development
same release as Final Fantasy IV: Original Sound Version,
the soundtrack album for the original game, except that
Final Fantasy Chronicles features two previously released the songs were rerecorded by TOSE, resulting in minor
ports by TOSE; Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger dierences, some song titles were slightly changed, and
were released separately, and Final Fantasy IV was re- a 45th track was added, Theme of Love (Arranged)",
released as a part of Final Fantasy Collection, all pub- which had previously only been released as a piano verlished in Japan.* [15] Chronicles was designed and di- sion on the second track of Piano Collections Final Fanrected by Kazuhiko Aoki, supervised by Fumiaki Fukaya, tasy IV. This release has the catalog number TPCD 0210and produced by Akihiro Imai.* [16] It was created as a 2, and its 45 tracks had a length of 62 minutes.* [21]
follow-up to Final Fantasy Anthology, a compilation of Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack was the correspondFinal Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI.* [6]* [17]
ing album for Chrono Trigger. The album was heavily
The original Final Fantasy IV was released in North based on Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack, the soundAmerica as Final Fantasy II in 1991, with various
track album for the PlayStation release of Chrono Trigger;
Easytypemodications.* [18] These were removed in the rst 21 tracks of the album out of 25 were identical to
the Final Fantasy Chronicles version, and the game was Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack, while the next three
re-localized, achieving a script closer to the Japanese tracks corresponded to tracks 22, 23, and 29 of the Origscript by Takashi Tokita.* [16] Chrono Trigger, released inal Soundtrack and the nal track was the same as the
in 1995, was already localized by Ted Woolsey, but the rst track of Brink of Time, an arranged album of Chrono
Final Fantasy Chronicles version has additional modica- Trigger music. The album is 1:13:03 long, and has a cattions.* [6]
alog number of TPCD 0209-2.* [22] In addition to the al-
300
bums, a strategy guide for Final Fantasy Chronicles written by Dan Birlew and was published by BradyGames on
July 2, 2001.* [23]
3.2.3
Reception
[12] Square Co., Ltd. (1995-08-22). Chrono Trigger. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft, Inc.
Menu screen: Active Time Battle 2.0
[13]Chrono Trigger: A New Standard for RPGs. Nintendo
Power 73: 37. June 1995.
[14] Studio BentStu, ed. (2009). Chrono Trigger Ultimania
Final Fantasy Chronicles was commercially and critically

(in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 581. ISBN 978-4-7575successful, becoming the top selling PlayStation title for
2469-9.
two weeks, and scoring an average of 89% in Metacritic's
aggregate, a review tallying website.* [25]* [28] Gaming [15] Final Fantasy Collection. GameSpot. Retrieved March
9, 2007.
website IGN rated it 9.4 and awarded anEditor's Choice
Award, calling the game amust buyfor RPG fans.* [5]
GameSpot reviewer Brad Shoemaker gave the game an
8.5, but cited mued sound eectsin Final Fantasy
IV, and was displeased with frequent loading in Chrono
Trigger. He added that the visuals were stupendous
when the games were originally released, but they now
look dated and will turn o those looking for a bigger
thrill for their gaming dollar.* [6] Marcus Lai of Gaming
Age was disappointed with a lack of additions, calling the
portsbarebone gamesand claiming that the full motion
videos are nice touches to both games but don't add
much.* [29]
3.2.4
See also
3.2.5
References
[1] Final Fantasy Chronicles. GameSpot. Retrieved 200806-29.

[2] N/A.FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES. Square Enix
North America. Retrieved June 2, 2007.
[3] Chrono Trigger for PS. GameSpot. Retrieved March
3, 2007.
[4] Final Fantasy IV for PS. GameSpot. Retrieved March
3, 2007.
[5] IGN Sta (2001-07-18).IGN: Final Fantasy Chronicles
Review. IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
[6] Shoemaker, Brad (2001-07-06). Final Fantasy Chronicles for PlayStation Review - PlayStation Final Fantasy
Chronicles Review. Gamespot. pp. 12. Retrieved
2008-06-29.
[7] Kennedy, Sam, ed. (2001). Ocial U.S. PlayStation Magazine August 2001; issue 47. Zi Davis Media Inc. p. 107.
[16] Square Enix sta, ed. (2001). Final Fantasy Chronicles

instruction manual. Square Enix. p. 54. SLUS-01360.
[17] Wanlin, Matthew. Classic Square Titles to be Ported to
the PlayStation?". RPGamer. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
[18] Kelley, Ian. FF4j/FF4j Easytype Changes FAQ.
FFCompendium. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
[19] IGN sta.Chrono Trigger and FF IV Conrmed for US
Release. IGN PlayStation. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
[20] Ahmed, Shahed. Final Fantasy fan day. GameSpot.
[21] Square Enix Music Online. Final Fantasy IV Ocial
Soundtrack: Music from Final Fantasy Chronicles - Album Information. Square Enix Music. Retrieved 200802-23.
[22] Gann, Patrick (2006-10-05). Chrono Trigger Ocial Soundtrack: Music From Final Fantasy Chronicles
[23] Birlew, Dan (2001-07-02). Final Fantasy Chronicles Ocial Strategy Guide. BradyGames. ISBN 0-7440-0073-4.
[24] Final Fantasy Chronicles Reviews. Game Rankings.
[25] Final Fantasy Chronicles (psx: 2001): Reviews.
Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
[26] Hsu, DanShoe, ed. (2001). Electronic Gaming Monthly
August 2001; issue 145. Zi Davis Media Inc. p. 112.
[27]UNCLEDUST(2001-06-26). Review: Final Fantasy Chronicles for PlayStation on Gamepro.com..
GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19.
[8]Final Fantasy Chronicles, ASIN B00005LOXE
[28] Final Fantasy Chronicles Tops the Charts. IGN. July

13, 2001. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
[9] Square Co., Ltd., ed. (1991). Final Fantasy II instruction

manual. Square Co., Ltd. p. 74. SFS-F4-USA-1.
[29] Final Fantasy Chronicles Review for PlayStation.

Gaming Age. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
[10]Epic Center: Chrono Trigger. Nintendo Power 74: 53.

July 1995.
[11] Johnson, Robert (2003-04-28). Final Fantasy IV Review. GamesAreFun. Retrieved 2006-09-10.

Final Fantasy Chronicles at MobyGames
3.3. FINAL FANTASY VII (FAMICOM)
3.3 Final Fantasy VII (Famicom)
301
Starting from the second act, players can journey between
eld screen locations via the world map, a downsized representation of Final Fantasy VII 's world. Players can
freely navigate the world map screen unless restricted by
geographical obstacles, such as water or mountains. To
overcome this, players can ride emu-like chocobos and
various vehicles available to them, though usage is limited.* [6] As in other Final Fantasy-related games, travel
across the world map screen and hostile areas is frequently interrupted by random enemy encounters.* [7]
Final Fantasy VII (simplied Chinese: 7;

traditional Chinese: 7; pinyin: Zu Zhng
Hunxing 7), also called Core Crisis (Chinese:
; pinyin: Hxn Wij ),* [2] is a Chinese unocial,
unlicensed "Shanzhai" demake of the 1997 role-playing
video game Final Fantasy VII, originally developed by
Square for the PlayStation. The two-dimensionalport
*
[3] was developed and published by the Chinese company ShenZhen Nanjing Technology for the SUBOR entertainment system, a clone of Nintendo's Famicom conCombat
sole (known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System). The cartridge itself is unique, as it is
Whenever the protagonist encounters an enemy, the map
structurally dierent from licensed Famicom cartridges
changes to the battle screen. On this, the enemy apin terms of hardware and programming.
pears opposite to the three characters in the party; each
The game features many gameplay elements of the orig- battle uses a turn-based battle system similar to that feainal Final Fantasy VII, including a three-member party tured in Final Fantasy III.* [8] All characters can physistructure and adaptations of the game's subsystems. The cally attack the enemy, use spells from equipped materia,
items, spells and equipment available to the player are or use an item in one turn. Combat ends when the player
based upon those in the original game, and although a either defeats all enemies and the game returns to the area
large number have been omitted along with optional char- map, or all party members are defeated in which case the
acters and some side quests,* [4]* [5] the original story game ends and returns to the title screen. If one of the
was reproduced in very minute detail.* [6] The game was party members successfully ee, the battle also ends.* [7]
received with mixed reception, cited as an impressive
A character's performance in battle is determined by nuachievement but at the same time criticized for its difmerical values for categories such as speed, strength, and
culty and choice of a target console.
magical power. Character statistics are driven by experienceplayers are awarded "experience points" for winning battles, which accumulate until characters gainex3.3.1 Gameplay
perience levels. When characterslevel up, the statistics for their attributes increase permanently, which can
also be amplied by the types of equipment the character
is wearing. Winning battles may reward the player money
(Gil) and items.* [9]
Equipment and abilities
The player's character engaged in a cutscene
In Final Fantasy VII, the player directs the protagonist

throughout the game world with a group of three interchangeable party members, exploring areas and interacting with non-player characters.* [5] Most of Final Fantasy
VII occurs within the city of Midgar for the rst act, later
expanding to towns, dungeons, caves, and similar areas In this battle, the player directs the party to attack the enemy
for the rest of the game. Players can save their game at
any time when not in combat to the game's single save Each character brings one materia into the party when
they join, carrying one spell that can be used in combat.
slot for later playing.* [1]
302
Materia have a limited number of uses before they must

be recharged at one of the game's magic shops. Like party
members, materia gain experience when used, and can be
leveled up to a maximum level of nine.* [7] Characters
can swap materia among themselves, with unequipped
materia being used mid-battle for such things as healing
party members, compensating for the limited amount of
healing items.* [6]
to most Famicom games, using a single two megabyte

PRG (program) ROM chips.* [6]* [11] A RAM chip instead of a ROM for the character graphics data, similar to the "UNROM" method used in some Nintendo
games.* [12] As a result, the data is strewn across the PRG
ROM in various banks. The cartridge features one 8kilobyte battery-backed RAM chip, used for the game's
single save slot. Many of the game's graphics are borrowed from other games, mostly other Final Fantasy titles and including Super NES graphics converted to fourcolor palettes used by the Famicom's hardware. Much of
the game's music is borrowed from other games as well,
in many cases shortened signicantly to a few repeating
notes.* [6]
Weapons follow the same principle as materia in terms

of attack power, gaining experience and levelling up.
Unlike materia, they cannot be swapped or replaced, and
have unlimited usage. In addition to weapons, each has
four types of armor that can be equipped for defense,
which can be purchased at armor shops or found in chests
scattered throughout the game. Armor directly aects
the vitality statistic, which will in turn aect the amount
of health gained when leveling up.* [9] Also available in
the game are curative items, which can be purchased at
designated shops or found in chests. These items can be
used in or out of combat to restore health (HP), materia 3.3.3
usage (CP), or revive fallen party members.* [9]
3.3.2
Development
The ocial and authorized Final Fantasy VII game was

developed by Square and released worldwide in 1997 for
the PlayStation. At an unknown date, ShenZhen Nanjing Technology developed an unauthorized remake of
the game, for the Famicom.* [4] The game was released
in 2005, and both the box and manual make reference to
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children as the game's full title,
a statement supported by the game's manual.* [1] Despite
the name on the box and cartridge, the title screen simply
statesFinal Fantasy VII,and the game itself includes no
content or plot elements from the lm.* [5] The game was
developed for the SUBOR entertainment system, a clone
of the Famicom, though can also be played on Famicom
and Nintendo Entertainment System consoles through the
use of an adapter.* [10]
Reception
While the game has received praise for covering the entire story within the game, it has been described as extremely dicult, with an inconsistent battle rate and ghts
that take a long time to complete. The game's limited
healing options and slow growth rate for abilities and
weapons compound this, with one reviewer recommending play it but cheat.* [6] Despite these issues, interest has been shown regarding the release of a patch to
translate the game into English.* [13] Final Fantasy VII
has additionally gained mention on several major gaming
websites, including Gameworld Network,* [3] and Japanbased Gpara.com.* [14]
Another project, which aims to overhaul the game and improve upon the gameplay and graphics to better resemble
the original PlayStation version, was released in 2013 by
members of the Romhacking.net community.* [15]* [16]
The patch, which took four years to develop, rst started
o as a graphics hack, but has since evolved into an extensive revamp.* [17]
The game has received praise from various sources. Journalist Derrick Sobodash stated that while the game would
not be an entirely new experience for those that played
the original Final Fantasy VII, he added that "...this title can hold its own against the other NES Final Fantasy
games, further calling the eort surprisingly professional.* [6] Kotaku editor Luke Plunkett cited the
Famicom game as "...an achievement I have no hesitation in labeling Herculean, further calling it "...a triumph of the human spirit.* [18] Boing Boing Gadgets
and Wired News writer Joel Johnson described the game
as more than just a knock-o it's an act of true skill
and commitment by an unknown team of Chinese coders
.* [19] GamePro named it one of the thirteen best fanmade video game remakes, placing rst on their list and
described as the video game equivalent of the Human
The cartridge's circuit board layout is unique compared Genome Project", despite its aws.* [20]
Due to the Famicom's restricted hardware capabilities,
the remake is entirely two-dimensional. Special compensation was made for some of the in-battle sprites
such as Cloud Strife's, combining two 16x24 pixel sprites
side-by-side instead of the usual single sprite to account
for weapons such as Cloud's sword or Barret's gun.* [6]
While most Japanese games use only 8x8-pixel hiragana or katakana fonts, and most Chinese games use 4color 16x16-pixel tiles stored in dedicated CHR ROM
pages, this game uses its own several-hundred 16x16pixel monochrome font instead. The script itself is strewn
in chunks across the code; at the beginning of each piece
of text for dialog boxes is a three digit number preceded
by an @-symbol, signifying which character portrait to
display.* [4]* [6]
3.3. FINAL FANTASY VII (FAMICOM)
3.3.4
References
[1] Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Instruction Manual. p.

1. (in Chinese)
[2]
(2010-01-06). FC
7 32 " (in Chinese). Netease. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
[3] Bianco, Karn (2008-02-26). Video: Final Fantasy VII
On The NES. Gameworld Network. UGO Networks.
[4] Orland, Kyle (2008-02-22).Final Fantasy VII ported to
the Famicom. Finally!". Joystiq. Weblogs, Inc. Retrieved
2008-02-22.
[5] Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Instruction Manual.
pp. 512. (in Chinese)
[6] Sobodash, Derrick.From Polygons to Pixels: Final Fantasy VII. CinnamonPirate.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
[7] Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Instruction Manual.
pp. 23. (in Chinese)
[9] Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Instruction Manual. p.
4. (in Chinese)
[10] Sobodash, Derrick (2008-03-24).You thought FF7 was
a hoax?". CinnamonPirate.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
[11] Edwards, Benj (2008-08-07). Inside Nintendo's Classic
Game Console. PC World. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
[12]Why Game Paks Never Forget(20). Nintendo Power.
June 1991. p. 29.
[13] Sheeld, Brandon (2008-02-24). News: FF VII Famicom, with video. insert credit. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
[14] Sta (2008-02-22). Gpara coverage of FFVII Famicom(in Japanese). GPara.com. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
[15] Farokhmanesh, Megan (16 November 2013).Final Fantasy 7 NES demake overhauled by modders. Polygon.
Retrieved 20 November 2013.
[16] Cowan, Danny (15 November 2013). Final Fantasy
7 unocial NES port restored, improved by modders.
Joystiq. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
[17] Final Fantasy VII NES restoration sees release.
Destructoid. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
[18] Plunkett, Luke (2008-02-25). FFVIIOn NES Is A Triumph Of The Human Spirit. Kotaku. Retrieved 200803-04.
303
[19] Johnson, Joel (2008-02-25).Amazing Unlicensed Backport of Final Fantasy VII...to the NES. Boing Boing
Gadgets. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
[20] Noble, McKinley (2009-12-03).13 Fantastic Fan-Made
Game Remakes and Demakes. GamePro. Archived

Gpara coverage (Japanese)
Chapter 4
Spinos
4.1 Chocobo
on occasion demonstrates an ability to communicate with

other sentient creatures. They have on occasion been used
This article is about the character from Final Fantasy. for war as well, and can be ferocious in combat.
For the game series starring the same character, see List
of Chocobo media.
Outward appearance
A chocobo ( chokobo) is a ctional creature
from the Final Fantasy video game series by Square
and Square Enix. The creature is a small and abnormallyightless bird, with a resemblance to galliformes
and ratites, capable of being ridden and otherwise used
by player characters during gameplay. Chocobos rst appeared in Final Fantasy II and have been featured in almost all subsequent Final Fantasy games, as well as making cameo appearances in numerous other games. A spino Chocobo series featuring chocobos has also been created.
While most chocobos that appear in the games are yellow, certain rare breeds are of dierent colors and have
special abilities, including being able to y or use magic.
Chocobos are also occasionally used as lightly armored
war mounts, assisting their riders in battle with their beak
and claws. A comic relief variant is the Fat Chocobo (or
Chubby Chocobo) character; an extremely obese yellow
or white chocobo that can eat the player's items for storage. The onomatopoeia for a chocobo's call is kweh
( kue) (sometimes replaced withwarkin English
translations or more recently pronounced as kway).
4.1.1
4.1.3 Appearances
Character design
The chocobo was created designed by Koichi Ishii, a

video game director who worked on various Final Fantasy titles.* [1] Hiromichi Tanaka has speculated that the
Chocobo concept may have come from Kyorochan, a
character in television advertisements for Morinaga &
Company's chocolate candy, which is also a bird with the
call of kweh.* [1] Morinaga has also released a tiein product, Chocobo no Chocoball (
, lit. Chocobo's Chocoball). Another likely
inspiration was Hayao Miyazaki's Horseclaws, which appear in the manga Nausica of the Valley of the Wind and
the anime lm of the same name, which Final Fantasy
creator Hironobu Sakaguchi once cited as an inuence
on his series.* [2] In turn, Miyazaki's Horseclaws were inspired by the extinct Gastornis species.* [3]
4.1.2
Attributes
Final Fantasy series

Most chocobos dwell in forests (although those from Final Fantasy VII live in grasslands and snowelds). While
timid in the wild and vicious if threatened, they tame
rather easily and act as vehicles, as well as quick and effective cavalry. In this role they tend to be capable of
crossing shallow water and are noted for their high speeds.
Most often they can be caught in the wild and ridden without fear of random encounters, escaping after the player
dismounts. A common food for chocobos, usually used
to help tame the bird, are Gysahl Greens, named after a
town in Final Fantasy III. Final Fantasy II was the rst
installment to have chocobos play a role in the plot. Boko
(sometimes translated as Boco) went on to become a recurring chocobo name in later installments. In Final Fantasy XIII, the character Sazh Katzroy has a baby chocobo
for a pet.* [4]
Within Final Fantasy XI, the raising and breeding of

chocobos was a long-requested activity, and was enabled
The Chocobo is known for being intelligent and friendly, in the Summer 2006 update.* [5] Chocobo racing began
assisting heroes and other characters on their journeys in March 2007. Players were allowed to race playerby allowing themselves to be ridden like horses. It also raised chocobos against non-player characters. Winning
Personality
304
4.1. CHOCOBO
racers earn Chocobucks, which can be used to buy
items that assist chocobo breeding.* [6] Chocobos have
appeared in all numbered installments except the rst, in
addition to the Final Fantasy Tactics series. Chocobos
appear as a summon in Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VII, and
VIII. Fat Chocobo appears in Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VII,
VIII, and IX. The chocobo Boko appears in Final Fantasy
V and VIII, and Final Fantasy Tactics. Black Chocobos,
which sometimes possess the ability to y, are found in
Final Fantasy IV, V, VII, XI, and XII, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics A2, and Final Fantasy Fables:
Chocobo's Dungeon.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest features several chocoboshaped weather vanes in the town of Windia. In Final
Fantasy Crystal Chronicles one can obtain the Chocobo
Shield and the Chocobo Pocket items, and are included in
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. In
the animated sequel to Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy:
Legend of the Crystals, one of the main characters can
summon pink, featherless chocobos. In addition, Final
Fantasy Adventure featured a chocobo egg which hatched
to aid the player. Chocobos are common in the anime
series Final Fantasy: Unlimited, and one named Chobi
joins the cast in their adventure. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within* [7] and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children both
have chocobo-related easter eggs.
305
Chocobo) and a Gummi Ship design that are both
named and modeled after a chocobo; there is also a drawing of a chocobo in the cave on the Destiny Islands. In
Parasite Eve, a banner depicting a chocobo hangs over
the entrance to the American Museum of Natural History, while a chocobo skeleton can be found nearby. In
Tobal 2, a chocobo is obtainable as a combatant. Webbased minigames starring chocobos are also featured on
Square Enix's member site.* [8]
An undead creature appears in The Battle for Wesnoth,
described asostrich-like large birds once used as mounts
by a lost civilization.* [9]
Other media
The chocobo signature theme is an upbeat ditty that is

present in one form or another in all Final Fantasy games
since their introduction in Final Fantasy II, frequently as
variants or remixes: for instance, the Final Fantasy VII
chocobo races have a frantic version, while the futuristic
Final Fantasy VIII has a more modern one. These songs
are titled with the sux de Chocoboand prexed by
the name of the style in which they are played. For example, Techno de Chocobofrom Final Fantasy VI features a dance remix inspired by Yellow Magic Orchestra's
"Technopolis", while Cinco de Chocobofrom Final
Fantasy VII features a jazz remix (in 5/4 time, cinco beChocobo series
ing Spanish and Portuguese for the number ve). A newer
version of the theme, titled Swing de Chocobo, was
Main article: List of Chocobo media
created by Nobuo Uematsu for the concerts VOICES and
Play!. It has been performed by a number of dierent orThe Chocobo series is a spin-o series of games rst de- chestras between 2005 and today.
veloped by Square Co., and later by Square Enix, featur- Music composed for chocobo appearances in the Final
ing a super deformed version of the Final Fantasy series Fantasy games was used in the Distant Worlds: Mumascot, the Chocobo, as the protagonist. These games sic from Final Fantasy concert tour.* [10] Chocobos are
include Mystery Dungeon installments and a variety of found in the anime series Dog Days as the main form of
minigame collections, over a wide variety of video game transportation in the fantasy world of Flonyard. These
consoles.
giant birds are called chocobos in the series though there
appears to be no relation to the chocobos in Final Fantasy
or Square Enix.* [11]
Other games
Chocobos appear frequently in other Square and Square
Enix games, notably in the Mana series. A chocobo
serves as a mount in Seiken Densetsu (Final Fantasy Adventure), and is later changed into a 'Chocobot'. It was
removed from the 2003 remake Sword of Mana in favor of the 'Cannon Ball Travel' which originated in Secret
of Mana; however, a chocobo can be seen in Sword of
Mana by waiting for a certain period of time after the
completion of the game. Wild black chocobos appear as
monsters in Legend of Mana, while tame yellow chocobos can be hatched by the player from eggs to assist in
battle. Chocobos also appear in Seiken Densetsu: Friends
of Mana and in a Minecraft mod.
4.1.4 Cultural impact

Merchandise
Chocobo merchandise has been released, including a
rubber duck,* [12]* [13] a plush baby Chocobo,* [14] and
coee mugs.* [15] Square Enix designed a chocobo
character costume for the release of Chocobo Tales.* [16]
Reception
In 2008, Boko the Chocobo from Final Fantasy V was

In Secret of Evermore, a Chocobo Egg is a rare item. In voted by Joystiq as the 20th most desired character to be
Kingdom Hearts, there is a Keyblade/keychain (Metal placed in the Final Fantasy ghting game Dissidia: Final
306
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Fantasy.* [17] In 2011, the Chocobo was listed by IGN as [17] Majed Athab (2008-03-28).Top 20 Final Fantasy characters that should be in Dissidia. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
one of the most likely Square Enix characters that could
appear in the Super Smash Bros. series, comparing them
[18] Lucas M. Thomas (2011-11-09). Smash It Up! - It's
to the Slime from Dragon Quest and saying that the
Hip to be Square. IGN. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
Chocobo could be an excellent enemy for Yoshi.* [18]
That same year, UGO.com ranked them at number seven [19] Best Video Game Companions - UGO.com
on the list of the best video game companions.* [19]
4.1.5
See also
Music of the Chocobo series
4.1.6
References
[1] Riley, Adam (February 8, 2007).Cubed3 Interview with

Hiromichi Tanaka. Cubed3. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
[2] Rogers, Tim (March 27, 2006). In Defense of Final
Fantasy XII. Edge. Okay, so the Chocobos -- big, yellow
riding birds -- were actually stolen from Hayao Miyazaki's
movie Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, and Hironobu
Sakaguchi freely admitted that way back when.
[3] Nausica characters, Nausicaa.net
[4] V-Jump Magazine (in Japanese). January 2009. p. 24.
[5] Perry, Douglass C. (2006-06-01). It's Chocobo Breeding Time. IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-15.
[6] Cordeira, Jim (2007-03-27).Final Fantasy XI: Chocobo
Racing to launch this week. Gaming Age. Archived
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]

Ocial Chocobo game series website for Japan
(Japanese)
4.2 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series)

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (
Fainaru Fantaj Kurisutaru Kuronikuru) is a 2003 action role-playing
game for the Nintendo GameCube. It was published by
Nintendo and developed by The Game Designers Studio,
a shell corporation for Square Enix's Product Development Division-2. A spin-o of the Final Fantasy series,
the game spawned a metaseries of the same name. It was
released in Japan on August 8, 2003; in North America on
February 9, 2004, and in Europe and Australia on March
12, 2004.
Many new gameplay elements were included in this game,

such as real-time ghting and GameCube-Game Boy Advance compatibility; it was the rst role-playing video
Hill, Doug (2001). Interview with Final Fantasy Pro- game to incorporate the latter. Its music was composed
ducer, Hironobu Sakaguchi. RPGamer. Retrieved
by Kumi Tanioka. It received positive reviews, many of
2009-01-16.
which described the graphics as beautiful and the multiplayer design as innovative. Five further Crystal ChronGame ZoneSquare Enix Members
icles games have been released (chronologically, two sequels, one distant prequel, and two more); one for the Wii
Brian Davis (2008-03-01).Distant Worlds: Music from was released, and one for the WiiWare download service,
Final Fantasy, Chicago. Music4Games. Archived from My Life as a King, has been released.
[11] Dog Days. student. Seven Arcs. Retrieved 28 July

2011.
4.2.1 Gameplay
[12] Michael McWhertor (2008-01-22). Final Fantasy's

Chocobo Goes Rubbery, Ducky. Kotaku. Retrieved
2008-04-01.
Like many action role-playing games, the gameplay of

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles can be broken down into
two sections: exploration and combat.
[13] SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS (2008-04-24).NY Comic

Con Event Diary: Day 2. Square Enix. Retrieved 200805-18.
Exploration
Exploration makes up the majority of the game, which is

a standard feature of role-playing games. The player travels in their caravan to various settlements via an overworld
map. While in a town, the player can talk to various
[15] McWhertor, Michael (2007-05-16). Chocobo Coee non-player characters and buy supplies and equipment usMugs. Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
ing gil, the in-game currency. Unlike most role-playing
[16] Fahey, Mike (2006-12-14). Chocobos In The Wild. games, equipment cannot be bought pre-crafted: instead,
players must buy or nddesigns(blueprints for a piece
[14] "PlayStation: The Ocial Magazine Holiday Gift Guide
'08,PlayStation: The Ocial Magazine 13 (Holiday
2008): 37.
4.2. FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES (SERIES)
307
of equipment) and the necessary components before pay- can control their character and access an individual menu
ing for it to be crafted at a blacksmith or tailor (depending without disrupting the game's ow.
on whether the equipment is a weapon, piece of armour
or an accessory).
4.2.2 Plot
Combat
Setting
See also: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of
Fates Setting
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, and related titles, take

place in an unnamed world. In the time of Crystal
Chronicles, this world is covered in a noxious gas known
as "miasma", to which direct exposure can prove fatal.
Towns, villages and other settlements throughout are protected from the ill eects of miasma by crystals, which
generate a barrier which miasma cannot penetrate. But
this eect is not permanent: it only lasts for around one
year. Therefore, each year, brave people from each settlement venture out into the world to collect "myrrh", a liquid substance that powers the crystals' protective eect.
But myrrh can only be harvested from special myrrh
Four team members in battle
trees", which are almost exclusively found in dungeons
lled with monsters and other hostile creatures. The peoFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles features real-time comple collecting myrrh often use a caravan as a means of
bat with no transition to a separate screen. Rather than conveyance, and so are often calledcaravanners, and
limiting certain skills to specic characters (physical at- their caravans are often called crystal caravans.
tack skills, magic, etc.), every character can use all abilities, but with varying degrees of talent based on their race;
for example, Lilties are the most powerful in terms of Races
physical attacks, but weakest with magic, and vice versa
The world of Crystal Chronicles is inhabited by four
for Yukes.
humanoid races, and the relationships between them, and
In terms of physical attacks, characters can chain up to events thereof, form much of the world's history.
three-in-a-row or charge their power to use a more powerfulfocus attack. There are multiple focus attacks avail- The Clavats ( Kurabato) are biologically
*
able, dependent upon weapon. Magic in Crystal Chroni- similar to humans and are a very peaceful race. [2] They
cles comes in the form of magicite(a term rst used are generally farmers or ranchers. In the present day, a
in Final Fantasy VI and later used in Final Fantasy XII majority of Clavats live and work in the fertile Fields
and other titles set in the world of Ivalice (as part of of Fum, providing a majority of the world's produce.
the Ivalice Alliance)) and encompasses only a few basic Clavats are only conrmed to be capable of interbreeding
oensive and defensive spells, with the majority of the with Selkies and Lilties. Their emblem is a crystal with
spells in the game accessible by combining two or more a wing seen in prole, similar to the ones on the heels of
basic spells. This is done dierently in single- and multi- their shoes. Clavats' main advantage in battle is their high
player modes: in single-player, the magicite is combined defense, which makes them good for being able to within the command menu in a process calledfusion, while stand powerful enemies. They ght with swords, and use
in multiplayer, players must charge and cast individual shields as their race-exclusive armor.
spells in the same place with a certain timing in a process The Lilties ( Rirut ) are a proud, stout race of
called stacking(pictured).
warriors and knights. In the past they ruled the world in an
empire,* [3] founded o the weapons forged from materials of the Cathurigian mines. Even though their empire
Multiplayer connectivity
is now gone, the Lilties maintain the roads built then, and
form patrols to ensure the safety of the towns and caraTo play Crystal Chronicles in multiplayer mode, each vans. The Lilties are the shortest race in the game, as an
player must use a Game Boy Advance as a controller, adult Lilty is noticeably shorter than most other characconnected to the GameCube by a Nintendo GameCube ters. The Lilties also have a unique, ower-like appearGame Boy Advance Cable. Each Game Boy Advance ance, which is perhaps the source of their name. Their
acts as its players personal screen, with which they emblem is a triple-pronged spear with two banner furls.
308
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Of the four races, Lilties are the most powerful, starting

with a naturally high attack stat that lets them do heavy
damage. They are inept at magic, and take the longest
time to cast a spell. They equip gauntlets as their raceexclusive armor, and use spears as weapons.
Selkies ( Seruk ) are taller than Lilties, around
the same height as Clavats, and usually have silver, blue,
yellow or light purple hair and possess extremely t and
athletic bodies. They are a rugged race that dress in furs
and stolen goods, and are mostly thieves.They usually put
their own interests rst and are often scorned by the other
tribes.* [4] In the past, the Selkies were under the control of the Liltian empire and migrated from their ancestral homes to search for a safer place to live. They
also seem to have been more culturally developed than in
the present. They had their own language, and modern
Yukes are studying Selkic texts on the Miasma, suggesting that they had lore of their own. It is said that they
come from the sea. Their emblem is a stylized Selkie
dancing, kicking, or jumping. It has two arms raised up,
and one leg to the side. Selkies are the speediest of the
races, and can take enemies down with a hit-and-run tactic. Selkies' race-exclusive armor is belts, and as weapons
Artwork of the main characters.
they use rackets.
Yukes ( Yku) are tall, slender creatures with helmets that cover their faces most of the time, though it is
mentioned by a scholar in the game that Yukes may lack
physical bodies and only have souls. They also have long,
feathered, striped arms, and small, vestigial wings. In the
past, the Yukes were the only tribe not to be under the
control of the Liltian empire. They achieved this by being
sieged on the island of Shella, aided by their magic.* [5] In
the recent past, they built the Veo Lu Sluice, which diverts
Lake Shella into the Jegon River and enables the high fertility in Fum. A majority of Yukes live at Shella, teaching
magic to others, but they still retain their aloofness. A
non-Yuke can enter the city only if they have a Mark of
Shella, which can be found at the Sluice. Their emblem is
a stylized Yuke seen head on. Yukes are powerful magic
casters, but are weak physical attackers. TheirDefend
command is possibly the most useful, as it makes them
immune to all physical and magical attacks. Yukes use
hammers as weapons, and their race-exclusive armor is
helmets.
Characters
Player characters are created by the player, with choices
of race, name, gender and one of four set designs based
on race and gender. Therefore this section will list nonplayer characters with importance to the storyline.
Amidatty: the rather eccentric leader of the Yuke
caravan from Shella. At one point in the game, he
buys a loaf of bread from Gurdy, who claims it to
be a highly scientic model of the world, believing
mold that formed in it to represent miasma. Ami-
datty reveals later that he knew it was bread the entire time.
The Black Knight: a mad Lilty knight clad from
head to toe in black armor. He spends his time
chasing a 'light' across the countryside claiming it
stole his memories. Later he is mortally wounded
by a child Lilty, Leon Esla, that believed the Black
Knight killed his father. Before the Black Knight
dies, he seemingly remembers who he was before he
died. It turns out that Leon Esla was his son, born
after he left with Hurdy to try to rid the world of
miasma.
De Nam: A rather peculiar Selkie who players meet
in Shella. He is studying magic and wants to one
day rid the world of miasma. He will send players letters if they talk to him in Shella saying he is
drinking miasma-lled water in Conall Curach to try
to build up immunity to miasma. His nal letter to
players tells them to come to Conall Curach, where
he has been corrupted by the miasma and turned into
a monster.
Gurdy: The rather untrustworthy Clavat makes his
living out of cheating people out of their money.
Players see him cheat both the Fields of Fum caravan and Amidatty. Possessing a great acting ability and silver tongue he seems to get away with it,
though he often comes begging to players for help
or money. Though one of the less pure characters he
does help players a great deal in their quest with his
poems. It later turns out that he has suered from a
loss of memories and barely knows who he is.
4.2. FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES (SERIES)

Hurdy: A traveling priest who is apparently Gurdy's
brother. However, near the end of the game, players
will be given clues that suggest that Hurdy is Gurdy,
who thought his name was Gurdy after his memories
were stolen by Raem. This is conrmed in the Final
Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Ocial Guide.
309
Story
Crystal caravans have been journeying throughout the

world, seeking myrrh for many years now. The player is
put in control of one such caravan, from the small village
of Tipa, setting out for the rst time (and as many subsequent times as the player desires). As the caravanners'
Mog: A moogle who carries the chalice for the journey continues and they travel further in the search for
player in single-player mode. He will also ask the myrrh, they meet many interesting characters and learn
player to paint him and trim his fur in the moogle much about the history of their world.
holes. Depending on what color he is painted, he Eventually, they reach Mag Mell, home of the Carbuncles
may add his power to the player's for spells (red who, after the fall of the Meteor, shut themselves o from
for re, blue for blizzard, green for thunder). If a the world and entered hibernation so as to not get caught
GBA (Game Boy Advance) or SP is connected to up in any more of the world's problems. After hearing
socket two with a GBA GCN connector during sin- of the caravan's travels, they realize their folly and adgle player mode, the color will also change the type vise the caravanners to head for the nearby Mt. Vellenge,
of radar it displays. (Normal or cut hair for Map, red resting place of the Meteor and source of miasma. There
for Enemy Radar, blue for Treasure Chest Radar, they ght the Meteor Parasite, to halt the ow of miasma
green for Monster Data)
once and for all. When they are about to strike the nal
blow against the Meteor Parasite, they are pulled into an
Princess Fiona: The half-Lilty, half-Clavat alternate dimension: there they meet Mio, a being conprincess of Altaria.* [6] Her heritage is visible nected to peoples' memories, taking the form of a young
through the leaves sprouting from her hair, large girl bathed in light; and Raem, her dark counterpart born
bust, and although she has a Selkie crest on her left from the violence sparked by the Meteor impact, taking
cheek, this is part of a disguise used in Leuda. She the form of a bird-like beast. Mio and Raem both thrive
runs away from Altaria during the game because on memories, but have signicantly dierent habits: Mio
she is scared of her duties, but is eventually inspired occasionally nibbleson peoples' memories, causing
by the caravan and decides to return home giving forgetfulness. Raem, however, is much more malevolent,
a large sum of money to the caravan. Note that in devouring peoples' entire collection of memories, causing
the game Princess Fiona is referred to as a strange amnesia, of which there has been a recent outbreak.
Selkic Maidenby the Selkie Merchant in Marr's The miasma spreading throughout the land had created in
Pass. When she runs away she decides to spend people plentiful painful memories for Raem to feast on,
time in Leuda, land of the Selkies.
but destroying the meteor parasite would break this cycle. Thus, Raem attacks the caravanners, who are able to
Roland: In year two onwards till around year ve resist his assault on their memories and defeat him. Fadthe village elder will stop characters on the bridge ing away, Raem panics and attacks Mio, fusing her into
on their way out of Tipa to give them some infor- himself to mount one last attack on the caravanners as the
mation about a scholar from Tipa who wanted to rid nal boss Memiroa (anagram ofRaemplusMio).
the world of miasma and hired the Black Knight for The caravanners' positive memories gain physical form,
protection when he traveled in search of a way to dis- becoming high-powered magicite that they use to make
pel the miasma. The scholar apparently disappeared swift work of the creature.
after sending a letter home to him from Mag Mell.
He also claims that he recited certain poems which
seemed to refer to the Lynari Desert. Gurdy will
later recite these poems for players revealing that he
could possibly have been the scholar before he lost
his memories, when he was named Hurdy. This is
conrmed in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Ocial Guide.
Sol Racht: The Lilty leader of the Altaria caravan.
The knight is the rst character players meet in the
game and introduces them to the moogle Stiltzkin
who teaches them how to ght. Although he is a little obtuse he helps the caravan, often giving advice,
food, or weapons. Later in the game, his child is
born, and he retires to provide parental care.
Defeated, Mio and Raem separate and begin to fade away,

with Mio telling the caravanners that she and Raem will
rest for a while. The caravanners are sent back to Mt.
Vellenge, where they are nally able to kill the wounded
Meteor Parasite, ridding the world of miasma. The caravan's journey, and the journeys of all other caravans, are
over for good.
4.2.3 Development
First ocially announced at the Jump Festa event in
Japan on December 21, 2002,* [7] Crystal Chronicles
marked the rst Final Fantasy game to be released
for a Nintendo home system since Final Fantasy VI in
1994.* [8] The game was developed by The Game De-
310
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
signers Studio, a shell corporation for Square Enix's Product Development Division-2 established for the purpose
of creating games for Nintendo consoles within the limits of an exclusivity deal with Sony.* [1] Crystal Chronicles
was designed to be more easily accessible than other Final
Fantasy games due to its more action oriented gameplay
and its user-friendly interface.* [9] The game met with
some initial confusion as to the nature of the Square Enix
and Nintendo project, the departure from standard Final
Fantasy gameplay mechanics, and the use of the Game
Boy Advance and link cable instead of a GameCube controller for multiplayer play.* [10] The game's producer
Akitoshi Kawazu explained that using the Game Boy Advance will introduce dierent elements of gameplay
,* [9] as players will have access to information on the
GBA screen, and can choose to share it with the other
players or keep it to themselves.
4.2.4
Audio
Main article: Music of the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series

The soundtrack to Crystal Chronicles was primarily composed by Kumi Tanioka, while music programmer and
arranger Hidenori Iwasaki provided one additional piece
of music.* [11]* [12] Tanioka has described the musical
style for the soundtrack as being based on ancient instruments.* [13] The soundtrack makes extensive use
of many medieval and Renaissance musical instruments
such as the recorder, the crumhorn and the lute, creating
a distinctively rustic feel. Tanioka said that the idea came
to her while looking at illustrations of the game world,
which gave her the idea of makingworld music, where
the tracks would not [be] limited to a single country
or culture.* [14] She also credits Hidenori Iwasaki, the
synthesizer operator for the game, with doing fantastic
technical workthat brought her vision to life.* [14] The
soundtrack was released as a separate album on the Pony
Canyon label on August 20, 2003. It included all of the
music from the game with the exception of the English
versions of the opening song, Morning Sky(Kaze
no Nein Japanese), and the ending theme, Moonless Starry Night(Hoshizukiyoin Japanese), sung
by Donna Burke. The soundtrack spans 52 tracks over 2
discs, covering a duration of 2:11:38, and has the catalog
number PCCG-00613.* [13]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: A Musical Journey was
a European promotional album which was given alongside the game on March 11, 2004 if the game had been
pre-ordered. It contains six tracks from the soundtrack,
including Kaze No Nein both Japanese and English,
the only time the English version has been released. It was
published by Nintendo of Europe, and covers a duration
of 17:37.* [15]
ing song of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, composed

by Kumi Tanioka and performed by Yae. It was released
as a single by Pony Canyon, featuring theKaze No Ne
song, an arranged version, and two other songs by Yae
from her album Blue Line, Carol (scat)" and Flower
of Love( Koi no Hana). The single was released
on July 30, 2003, has a length of 14:12, and has a catalog
number of PCCA-01915. WhileKaze No Nefollows
the medieval theme of the rest of the Crystal Chronicles
soundtrack, the arranged version is a more produced
electronic-sounding track. The two unrelated tracks are
vocal and instrumental pieces, withCarolas a scat song,
andFlower of Lovemore of a slowerethnic/world
piece.* [16]
4.2.5 Reception
Crystal Chronicles received positive reviews overall. The
game was noted on IGN for its Phantasy Star Online-like
multiplayer cooperative play, but the use of the Game
Boy Advance, while innovative, was thought to be detrimental to the gameplay.* [22] The game's visuals and music were also praised.* [21] The game received the Grand
Prize at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival.* [23] It was
also rated the 42nd best game made on a Nintendo System
in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.* [24] The game
sold 187,035 copies in Japan in its rst week of release,
and has currently sold 1.38 million copies worldwide.
Shane Bettenhausen of Electronic Gaming Monthly
praised the game's multiplayer element, which he said
transforms its simple hack-n-slash gameplay [...] into
something strategic, wild, and addictive. He also called
the game visually arresting, and noted that every
location you explore harbors stunning details. Kevin
Giord, of the same magazine, criticized its single-player
element, which he saidgets boring very quickly. However, he said that the game has a superb graphic and
sound package (the most beautiful on GameCube, I'd
say)", and praised its multiplayer elements.* [19]
Legacy
Shortly after the release of Crystal Chronicles, there was a
manga series that ran in Monthly Shonen Gangan known
as Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Hatenaki Sora no
Mukou ni (
).
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has since evolved into a

metaseries. There are currently ve more games set in
the same world: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring
of Fates, a prequel for Nintendo DS,* [25] Final Fantasy
Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, a sequel for the
Wii,* [26] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of
Time for the Nintendo DS and Wii, and Final Fantasy
Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King and Final Fantasy
Sound of the Wind( Kaze no Ne) is the open- Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, direct sequels
4.3. FINAL FANTASY DIMENSIONS
311
for Wii released through the WiiWare download service. [12] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Original Soundtrack
(Media notes). Leafage. 2003.
The series also includes a browser game, Final Fantasy
Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King - Everyone's King[13] Space, Daniel. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles OST
dom.
4.2.6
References
[1] Bakudan Yoshinoya (2002-03-11). Nintendo and

Square Settlement Details. Nintendo World Report.
2011-02-10.
[14] Jeriaska; Kumi Tanioka (2008-03-29). Interview with

Kumi Tanioka. RPGFan. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
[15] Jared. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - A Musical
Journey: Review by Jared. Square Enix Music Online.
[16] Gann, Patrick. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Opening Theme - Sound of the Wind. RPGFan. Retrieved
[2]A gentle people that value harmony above all. Many of
2009-01-14.
Tipa's residents belong to this tribe of unity and friendship. They are gentle by nature and dislike conict. When
[17] Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Reviews. Game
disputes arise, they do whatever they can to resolve them.
Rankings. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
It is said that tranquility follows them wherever they go.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The [18] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Metacritic. 2008Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
01-01. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
[3]Little warriors [that] have lived all over the world since [19] Bettenhausen, Shane; Tsao, Jennifer; Giord, Kevin
ancient times. Long ago, they ruled the world, and many
(February 3, 2004). Because you need more cables in
still believe themselves to be superior to others. Though
your life. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from
they can be hotheaded, they are also condent and downthe original on June 17, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
to-earth. Liltian merchants are some of the best around.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The [20]Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Game Informer:
104. February 2004.
Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
[4]Rugged individuals [that] clothe themselves in fur decorated with stolen goods. Unlike other tribes, they believe in putting themselves rst. Many Selkies are agile
and athletic, traits they put to good use as thieves Though
the other tribes tend to scorn them, some Selkies now reside in Clavatian villages.Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc
(2003/4).
[5]Mysterious tribe of great lore and wisdom. Many of
these sages live quietly in Shella. In the ancient wars, they
were able to resist the invading Liltian armies thanks to
their magical prowess. Now they spend their days, teaching magic to others. Some say that Yukes assumed their
current form to augment their magical talents.Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
[21] Shoemaker, Brad (February 6, 2004). Final Fantasy:

Crystal Chronicles for GameCube. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
[22] Casamassina, Matt. State of the RPG: GameCube.
[23] KAWAZU Akitoshi. 2003 (7th) Japan Media Arts
Festival. Archived from the original on 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
[24]NP Top 200. Nintendo Power 200: 5866. February
2006.
[25] FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Ring of
Fates. Square Enix. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
[26] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers.
[6] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord

(Chapter 3)
[7] Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles announced.
[8] GameTrailers sta (2007-10-10). The Final Fantasy
Retrospective Part XI. GameTrailers. Retrieved 200908-26.
[9] Square-Enix on Crystal Chronicles. Retrieved 200708-01.

Ocial Japanese Site
4.3 Final Fantasy Dimensions
[10] Co-Op Top 5. 2003-07-07. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
This article is about the 2010 mobile game. For the

unrelated 1989 Game Boy game, see The Final Fantasy
Legend.
[11] Square Enix Co., Ltd. (9 February 2004).Final Fantasy

Crystal Chronicles. Nintendo of America, Inc. Scene:
sta credits.
Final Fantasy Dimensions, known in Japan as Final

Fantasy Legends: Hikari to Yami no Senshi (
312
Fainaru
Fantaj Rejenzu: Hikari to Yami no Senshi, lit. Final
Fantasy Legends: Warriors of Light and Darkness) is
a role-playing video game developed by Matrix Software
and published by Square Enix for mobile devices.
Similar to Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, it was initially released as an episodic game, with the rst two installments released on September 9, 2010 on the Japanese
i-mode distribution service, and December 9, 2010 for
the EZweb distribution service. The game was remade
onto the iOS and Android platforms and released internationally on August, 2012 for iOS and December 21,
2012 for Android.
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
developed in the style of previous 16-bit Final Fantasy
games. The game uses the Active Time Battle system in
which a character's turn are determined by a gauge that
lls over time during battle. Once the gauge lls completely from one character, players can choose a command from that specic character. After choosing a command, the gauge lls over again to execute the command.
Once the gauge lls again and the command is executed,
the gauge empties and repeats the cycle.* [1] Similar to
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, the game was released
in an episodic format, but players must play through each
episode in sequence.* [2] Players command a party of ve
with the party members changing in each episode.* [3]
The game uses a Job System similar to Final Fantasy V as

a base of its battles. The game allows players to change
job while still retaining skills that have already been acquired. Job-specic abilities can be learned after crossing
a certain amount of AP for the current job given. That
learned ability can be set even if the player changes to a
dierent job. Players are limited in how many abilities
they can set at a given time. This limit rises as the job's
level rises. The game also has Fusion Abilitieswhich
In 2014, a second game in the Final Fantasy Legends se- players can form by setting combinations of certain abilries was announced for smartphones, titled Final Fantasy ities.* [4]
Legends: Toki no Suish (
lit. Final Fantasy Legends: The Jobs available from the beginning for all the eight
main characters are Freelancer, Warrior, Monk, Thief,
Crystal of Time and Space).
Red Mage, White Mage, Black Mage, and Summoner.
Each episode introduces a new Job, which is unlocked
after completing the episode. The unlockable jobs for
4.3.1 Gameplay
the Warriors of Light are Dragoon, Bard, Memorist,
Paladin, and Seer, while the jobs unlocked for the
Warriors of Darkness are Ranger, Dark Knight, Dancer,
Ninja, and Magus.* [4]
Final Fantasy Dimensions features 2D graphics and a Job
Change System similar to that of Final Fantasy V. Its battle system is a variation of the Final Fantasy series's Active Time Battle system. The game follows two parties,
the Warriors of Light and the Warriors of Darkness, with
players controlling up to ve party members at a time in
battle, on their quest to reform their shattered world and
foil the dark plans of the Avalon Empire.
4.3.2 Plot
Long ago, there was a great world war ended by the eorts
of the Avalon Empire, which became the dominant power
in the land. The story begins with Sol, Diana, Glaive and
Aigis being sent by the King of Lux to investigate a powerful crystal linked to the balance of the world. Simultaneously, Nacht, Alba, Dusk and Sarah being sent by the
Avalon Empire to break their treaty with Lux by stealing the same crystal. On the way to the crystal's shrine,
Sol's party aids a mysterious man called Elgo, who agrees
to accompany them to the temple. When the two groups
meet within the crystal shrine, the crystal's guardian spirit
attacks them. Upon its guardian's defeat, the crystal shatters and splits the world into two halves: the World of
Light, ever in daylight, and the World of Darkness
in which day never rises. Sol, Aigis, Dusk, and Sarah remain in the rst half of the world and become theWarriors of Light, with Elgo accompanying them. Nacht,
Alba, Diana and Glaive nd themselves in the other half
A Fusion Ability being unlocked in mid-battle.
and become the Warriors of Darkness. Both groups
Final Fantasy Dimensions is a role-playing video game, of Warriors travel the split world in search of each other.
313
Dark Flow, and that it is draining the life of the world

into Nil, a dark dimension of shadows. Vata attempts to
aid the warriors in destroying the Dark Flow by being engulfed by it and attempting to control it. As he is being
engulfed by Dark Flow, he reveals he originally was part
of a village that Avalon destroyed. He trained to be in the
ranks of the generals of Avalon, but when he discovered
he could never be a match for them, he gave up on his
plans until he discovered the Warriors. Vata fails at the
As the two worlds begin to merge, Dusk and Alba re- cost of his life, and the Dark Flow remains. The Warriors
then enter Dark Flow, leading them to the World of Nil.
veal their plans to go to the ancient oating city known
as Mysidia. Once the Warriors of Light arrive and meet Coming to the palace at the center of Nil, they encounter
the Elder of Mysidia, Sophia, the Avalon Empire attempt the Emperor himself, who is revealed to be Elgo. Elgo
to strike Mysidia with their airship superweapon Helio- explains to the party that he wished to use the crystals
gabalus. The warriors destroy the ship with the aid of to achieve immortality, and predicted that the crystals,
Dr. Lugae, the living doll Argy, and Barbara and her sensing his purpose, would split the world hoping to halt
dragons. Sophia then helps the warriors gain the last re- his plans. Elgo then utilized the power of Nil to move
maining crystal in the World of Light within the caves of between the worlds and ensured that the Warriors collect
Mysidia. After gaining the crystal's ability, Mysidia falls the crystals in eort to restore the world so that he could
to the ground while simultaneously the Warriors of Dark- achieve his goals. The Warriors and Elgo battle, with Elgo
ness are aided by a mysterious man known as The Mask in using the power of Nil against them. When he is defeated,
gaining the last crystal fragment remaining in the World Elgo loses control of Nil and it mutates him into a dark
of Darkness. They succeed in gaining the fragment, how- monster. The Warriors, seeing that Nil will ravage their
ever The Mask dies. Before his death, he reveals him- world unchecked, ght the transformed Elgo and win. As
self to be Elgo's other half that formed when the world Nil reverses its ow and life is returned to the world, all
split in two and asks the Warriors of Darkness to take the Warriors ee, apart from Dusk and Alba, who are
care of his other Half as he dies. After both parties gain presumed dead. Soon however, they are revealed to be
the fragments, the split world merges and both parties are alive, saved by the spirits of Vata and the Mask. The game
reunited, however most of the people in the world have ends with the Warriors reunited, and the world and its
disappeared. Attempting to make a frontal attack to the crystal restored.
Avalon Empire, the warriors discover a barrier protecting
Avalon and eight gates across the world, linking to a realm
called the Rift. Upon entering one of the gates, the war- 4.3.3 Development
riors encounter a dark sphere in which Sophia explains it
is a substance found only in the Rift known as Dark Mat- The game was developed by the same internal Square
ter, and that Avalon's goal is to harvest it for their evil Enix team that made Final Fantasy IV: The After Years,
purposes. Vata explains the Avalon Empire is guarding which was also initially a game for Japanese cell phones.
the dark matter across the world with their generals, who The game was directed by Toshio Akiyama and produced
have been revived in undead forms. After collecting all by Takashi Tokita. Character designs were provided by
eight pieces of the dark matter and defeating the undead Akira Oguro while the in-game 2D dot versions were cregenerals, the dark matter fuses together, creating a new ated by Kazuko Shibuya. Takashi Tokita explained the
crystal and revealing that the crystal split the world to game was meant to transcend the expectations of RPGs
protect itself from the Empire's plans. The crystal then in cellphones.* [5] The team set the theme of a scenario
breaks the barrier that was protecting Avalon, allowing of creating another game for the SNES. The team also
the warriors to enter.
added several references to previous games such as Sarah
Upon entering Avalon, they defeat all of the Divine Gen- and Matoya being references to the original Final Fantasy
erals. Once the Warriors attack the Emperor, it is re- game and Dusk and Alba being reminiscent of Palom and
vealed that they were battling with his armor, and that he Porom from Final Fantasy IV. When asked about the high
was never there. After this revelation, a new gate to the pricing for the game, the team explained their reasons
Rift opens within Avalon. When the warriors enter the stating,This title oers about 50 hours of gameplay, and
Rift, they encounter Vata, who explains that they are in we feel that our community can enjoy the contents of this
the void and warns them that, in order for them to pro- game as much as they would a console title. Also, we have
ceed, someone must make a sacrice. As they traverse set the price where it is because this title was developed
the void, they encounter the armies of Nil, having to ght specically for the mobile platform, as opposed to *just
the four magical blades of Nil. After defeating the four being a port of an older console or handheld game. [6]
blades, another gate appears in the Void. Dr. Lugae re- When developing the smartphone version, Takashi Tokita
of selling a group of episodes rather
ports to the warriors that the gates are what is known as changed the structure
than individually.* [7]
As they travel, they retrieve the fragments of the crystal,
which grant them new abilities and gradually cause the
world to reform. They also encounter the Avalon Empire and their four Generals: Vata, Baugauven, Asmodai,
and Styx. All four generals are defeated except for Vata,
who decides to aid the Warriors for reasons unknown. In
the battle between the Warriors of Light and Baugauven
aboard an Avalon ship, Elgo seemingly sacrices himself
to save the Warriors of Light.
314
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Music
Naoshi Mizuta composed the music of Final Fantasy Dimensions with the exception of a number of songs previously composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Naoshi intended
to compose the music closer to previous Final Fantasy
games such as a solid melody that can be hummed or
whistled. Naoshi also made it so that the Light chapters would have dierent music from the Dark chapters
in order to have variation of music between them.* [8]
A soundtrack for the game titled Final Fantasy Legends:
Hikari to Yami no Senshi Original Soundtrack (
) was released digitally in

Japan on August 8, 2011 to celebrate the completion of
the game.* [9] An EP soundtrack titled Sekai no yukue
from Final Fantasy Legends ( from
FINAL FANTASY LEGENDS lit. The World's Future
from Final Fantasy Legends) was also released digitally
in Japan on iTunes and mora music store on August 31,
2012. The EP contains the arranged ending song with
added lyrics featured in the iOS/Android version and being renamed using Katakana. The song was arranged by
Hajime Kikuchi with added lyrics performed by Riya of
Eufonius.* [10]
Release history
The game was initially hinted when Square Enix trademarked Hikari to Yami no Senshi which was initially believed to be related to Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together.* [11] It was announced in Japan as Final Fantasy
Legends: Hikari to Yami no Senshi on July 21, 2010.* [12]
The rst chapters of the game were rst released for
iMode phones on September 6, 2010, and for EZweb
phones on December 9, 2010.* [13] The rest of the chapters were released approximately once a month since then
till August 8, 2011 for iMode and November 10, 2011 for
EZweb. On Tokyo Game Show of 2011, the game was
announced to be released on iOS and Android with improved graphics and sound, and support for slide-pad controls over the feature phone version.* [14] On E3 2012,
the iOS/Android version was announced internationally
as Final Fantasy Dimensions also to be released on August
31, 2012.* [15]* [16] Due to technical diculties, only
Prologuewas released rst for the iOS version. All
other chapters were purchasable at the in-app shop after
upgrading from 1.0.0 to 1.0.1 which was available later
in the same day.* [17] The Android version was released
on December 21, 2012 in its complete form.* [18]
4.3.4
Reception
The game had received mainly positive reviews. Final Fantasy Dimensions received an aggregated score of
78 on Metacritic based on 10 reviews and 74.43% on
Gamerankings based on seven reviews.* [39]* [40] Slide
to Play gave it a perfect score of 4 out of 4 stating,

Square Enix has made a truly masterful game here. The
story is huge, the characters enjoyable and fun to play,
and other than the iy controls, the game works fantastically well on the touchscreen. The menus in particular are elegantly designed. The music and graphics are
even great in creating a world that reminds us that the
old and new can coexist, and do so with aplomb.* [34]
Justin Davis of IGN criticized the episodic structure of
the game however Players can't fully explore the game
world until they're almost at the end over 30 hours in!",
however also praises the gameplay stating,What Dimensions lacks in scenario & story exibility it makes up for
with sheer depth and exibility in its job system. Players can assign any party member to any available job onthe-y, with more opening up as the story progresses.
*
[33] Joe Juba of Game Informer praised the gameplay
but criticized the lack of fanfare stating, Despite the
fun job system and classic vibe to the combat, Dimensions seems like it was set up to fail. It released to little fanfare at a prohibitive price point for mobile games.
*
[32] Tof Eklund of TouchArcade praised the games features stating, There's an epic, high fantasy plot with
lots of twists, a large cast of characters whose appearance and abilities vary wildly, tons of random combat,
lots of leveling-up and abilities to unlock, a gradual opening up of the world, secret items, bonus dungeons, and a
lot of looking inside pots and barrels in order to pilfer the
worldly goods of the townspeople you run across.* [35]
GamesTM praised the game for resembling previous Final Fantasy games.* [38]
Derek Heemsbergen of RPGFan gave it a mixed review
stating, I'm grateful that the game was released in English, and while it isn't everything I hoped it would be,
Final Fantasy: Dimensions does enough right to be worth
playing.* [36] Nathan Mustafa of Touchgen however,
criticized the dialogue structure, the lack of animation,
and sound of the game stating, In the end, I cannot
reconcile these cheapened portions of the game. I understand it is a port of a mobilegame from Japan, but
the quality of the port could have been much better. Had
my three key issues with how the game presents itself not
been present, I would probably have walked away feeling quite positive about Final Fantasy Dimensions. In its
current form, though, I can only give it a middling score.
*
[37]
4.3.5 References
[1] Parish, Jeremy (2010-09-24). FF Legends: Hands-on
with the Latest ClassicFinal Fantasy. 1UP.com.
[2] Spencer (2010-08-20). These Are The Heroes Of Final Fantasy Legends: Warriors Of Light And Darkness.
[3] Sadewo, Bams (2012-07-30).Square Enix to release Final Fantasy Dimensions in summer. Android Authority.
[4] Final Fantasy Legends Job System Detailed. Andrasang. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
[5] Gantayat, Anoop (2010-07-26). Final Fantasy Legends
Detailed. Andriasang. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
[6] By Spencer . January 17, 2013 . 3:28pm (2013-01-17).
Final Fantasy Dimensions Was Square Enix's Take On
A New SNES FF Game. Siliconera. Retrieved 201302-19.
[7] SQEX FF
DEMONSSCORE
E3 2012" (in Japanese). Famitsu.

2012-06-08. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
[8]
5
(in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 201303-05.

[9]
(in Japanese). Famitsu. 2011-08-08. Retrieved

2013-03-05.
[10] " from FINAL FANTASY LEGENDS
- EP(in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
[11] Spencer (2010-05-17). The Latest Square Enix Trademark Is Warrior Of Light And Darkness. Siliconera.
2013-04-09.
[12] Gantayat, Anoop (2010-07-21). Final Fantasy Legends
Formally Announced. Andriasang. Archived from the
315
[21]
(in Japanese). Famitsu.
2010-10-04. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[22]
(in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
[23] "
EZweb " (in Japanese).
Famitsu. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[24]
(in Japanese).
[25]
" " (in Japanese). Famitsu.
2011-01-05. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[26]
" " (in
Japanese). Famitsu. 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[27]
" " (in Japanese). Famitsu.
2011-03-07. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[28] "
" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 201104-11. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
[29]
8 " " (in Japanese).
[30]
"
" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2011-06-13.
[13] Final Fantasy Legends: Warriors of Light and Darkness

detailed. QJ.NET. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
[31]
(in
[14] Final Fantasy Legends Hits iOS and Android This Summer. Andriasang. Archived from the original on 201212-25. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
[32] Juba, Joe (2012-10-02).Fond Memories Cant Sustain

This Mobile Adventure - Final Fantasy Dimensions - iOS
. Game Informer. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
[15] Schreier, Jason (2012-06-07).Square Enix Is Releasing [33] Davis, Justin (2012-09-18). Final Fantasy Dimensions
A Brand New, Original,Old-School Final Fantasy Game
Review. IGN. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
. Kotaku. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
[34] Carlson, Erik (2012-09-05). Final Fantasy Dimensions
Review. Slide To Play. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
[16] Davis, Justin. Final Fantasy Dimensions Coming Later
This Month. IGN. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
[35] Eklund, Tof (2012-09-04). "'Final Fantasy Dimensions'
[17] Final Fantasy Dimensions now Available. RPGFan.
Review - One For the Fans (Review)". TouchArcade. ReRetrieved 2012-10-09.
trieved 2013-02-19.
[18] Patterson, Sean.Final Fantasy Dimensions Released for
Android. Web Pro News. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
[19] "FF " (in
[20] "
EZweb " (in Japanese).
[36] Heemsbergen, Derek (2012-09-24). RPGFan Review Final Fantasy: Dimensions. RPGFan. Retrieved 201302-19.
[37] Mustafa, Nathan (2012-09-15). Final Fantasy: Dimensions. Touchgen. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
[38] Final Fantasy Dimensions Review. GamesTM. 201209-13. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
316
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
[39] Final Fantasy Dimensions Critic Reviews

iPhone/iPad. Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
for
[40] Final Fantasy Dimensions. Gamerankings. Retrieved

2013-11-30.
4.3.6
External links
iMode/EZweb ocial website

iOS/Android portal
A ght from Dissidia Final Fantasy featuring Zidane Tribal and

Sephiroth.
4.4 Dissidia Final Fantasy
special maneuvers using the environment by pressing the

Triangle button. Traps with a variety of ill eects can
Dissidia Final Fantasy ( be found throughout the arena. Characters' equipment
Dishidia Fainaru Fantaj ) is a ghting game can be customized, and they can gain EXP and gil from
*
with action RPG elements developed and published by battles. [5]
Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the Similar to many ghting games, the aim is for the player
campaign for the Final Fantasy series' 20th anniversary. to reduce their opponent's HP to zero. A character's ofIt was released in Japan on December 18, 2008, in North fensive (and, to a lesser extent, defensive) power is shown
America on August 25, 2009, in Australia on September in numerical form called BRV orBravery Points. Both
3, 2009 and in Europe on September 4, 2009. It was then characters start out with a set amount of BRV, and each
re-released as an international version in Japan, based on must reduce their health to 0 by attacking them with a HP
the North American port, as Dissidia Final Fantasy: Uni- attack. Players can steal BRV from their opponent by atversal Tuning, on November 1, 2009.
tacking them with the basic BRV attackto add it to
The game features characters from dierent Final Fan- their own total and gain the upper hand. Players can then
tasy games and centers on a great conict between Cos- use theHP attackto cause direct damage to their oppomos, goddess of harmony, and Chaos, the god of discord. nent; HP damage is equal to the player's current amount
The two summon multiple warriors to ght for their sides of Bravery. However, once an HP attack is used, the charin their thirteenth war. During the story, the player con- acter's own BRV is reduced to 0 and then slowly recovtrols the ten warriors chosen by Cosmos, the protagonists ers to its starting amount. A character whose BRV total
from the rst ten Final Fantasy games, in their journey. has been depleted (past 0 BRV and into the negatives) is
The game's English and international versions also give forced into Break mode, where, aside from not being able to cause HP and BRV damage (But being able
access to other features such an arcade mode.
to gain BRV), all attacks made against them cause critiDissidia originated from Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya cal damage and the opponent gets all of the BRV in the
Nomura's desire to create a spin o for the franchise, but Bravery Pool(a number that can be seen at the bottom
it was changed to the Final Fantasy series. Besides de- of the screen), massively boosting their BRV amount.* [5]
signing the characters, Nomura worked with the Square
sta with the desire to make it appealing to Western play- One main feature of the combat system is the EX
ers. Dissidia was well received commercially and criti- Gauge, which can be lled in a variety of ways, such
cally, with positive reviews and sales of over 1 million as inicting damage on opponents, taking damage from
copies worldwide. A follow-up titled Dissidia 012 Final opponents, and obtaining EX cores scattered around the
Fantasy was released in March 2011, and features several eld of play. Once the EX Gauge is lled, the character can enter their EX Mode, signicantly increasing
new characters and gameplay features.
their power and enabling new attacks, including theEX
Burst, an unavoidable and very damaging special attack
similar to the Limit Break mechanic seen in many games
4.4.1 Gameplay
in the series. The player on the oense charges up the
Dissidia Final Fantasy's genre has been described as attack by following the on-screen instructions, while the
dramatic progressive actionand its graphics are in three player on the defense can reduce the amount of damage
dimensions. It has wireless one-on-one multiplayer and taken by continuously pressing the circle button. Once
ghts revolving around the use of individual special skills the EX Burst is executed, EX Mode ends.* [5]
of characters to do damage to opponents. Players can also In a gameplay mode exclusive to Western releases, the
customize their characters with equipment.* [4]
Arcade mode converts the game in a traditional ghting
Character movement is fully functional within the three- game, with all RPG elements removed and characters'
dimensional eld map. Characters are able to perform abilities being stripped down to the basics to balance the
4.4. DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY

playing eld. Within the Arcade Mode, there are three
tiers: Normal, Hard, and Time Attack; beating any tier of
the Arcade mode will reward the player with PP (player
points) and special items that can be used in story mode.
All characters, including villains, are playable in Arcade
mode; for example, Golbez, Sephiroth, Kuja, and Jecht
are available for use in this mode from the start, but they
still need to be bought via the PP Catalog for use in other
modes.* [6]
317
pulse,where all ten warriors are in possession of their
crystals, but arrive too late to save Cosmos, who is killed
by Chaos. The heroes begin to fade away, but are saved
by the power of the crystals, allowing them to use what
time they have left to strike back against the villains and
defeat Chaos once and for all.* [10]* [11] In the end, the
other warriors leave World A for their own worlds, the
Warrior of Light embarks on another adventure, and Cosmos revives to reign over World B.* [12]
The game also features two other storylines withDistant

Glorywhere Shanttoto and Gabranth are introduced to
4.4.2 Plot
the player in two dierent areas where they are trapped
and have to nd a way out.* [13]* [14] The other storySetting and characters
mode, Inward Chaos, serves as an alternate scenario in which Chaos has never been defeated and the
The story revolves around two gods: Cosmos ( player is guided by an entity known as Shinryu to defeat
Kosumosu), the goddess of harmony, and Chaos, the Chaos.* [15]
god of discord. The game unites both protagonists and
antagonists from installments of the main Final Fantasy
series, their stories narrated by the rst Final Fantasy 4.4.3 Development
game's Cid of the Lufaine (voiced by Bunta Sugawara in
the Japanese version, and Rodger Parsons in the English Dissidia Final Fantasy was originally envisioned by proversion). Other than the gods and their champions, the ducer Tetsuya Nomura as a Kingdom Hearts spin-o feaplayer also deals with crystal-like doppelgangers called turing a cast of Disney characters while the Square Enix
Manikins. The game has an overarching storyline that re- sta were developing Kingdom Hearts II.* [16] Nomura
quires playing through all of the characters to complete. later felt uncomfortable with the Disney characters ghtThe game contains twenty-two total playable characters: ing each other and instead opted to use Final Fantasy
eleven heroes and eleven villains, one of each represent- characters, although the original idea eventually gave rise
ing Final Fantasy through Final Fantasy X, and two secret to the development of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, with
characters: a heroine representing Final Fantasy XI, and the game's multiplayer mode inspired by Dissidia's gamea villain representing Final Fantasy XII. Initially, only the play.* [17] The game was made in conmemoration of the
ten main heroes are playable in all gameplay modes; the franchise's 20th anniversary and despite being handled by
ten main villains are playable in Arcade mode, but must young employees, Nomura noticed there was no pressure,
still be unlocked for access in all other gameplay modes. having assisted them in the designing various areas from
the gameplay.* [18] The game was directed by Takeshi
Arakawa whom Nomura noted that his experience in a
Story
previous Square Enix game, The World Ends With You,
had a good eect in the game.* [18] In order to have their
The gods Cosmos and Chaos have been locked in eternal desired way of ghting, the team chose the PlayStation
conict withWorld B, a mirror dimension to the realm Portable console. There were plans for online play but
of World Awhere the rst Final Fantasy takes place, the console's capacities made them unable to add such
summoning several warriors from other worlds from the feature.* [19] Developing the game took three years due
main series to battle in a never-ending cycle of death and with the battle system requiring two years and the RPG
rebirth until the balance is tipped in favor of Chaos.* [7] mode one.* [16]
As the war seems to be nearing its end, the ten warriors of Deciding the Final Fantasy heroes was easy for the sta
Cosmos band together to strike back at Chaos's minions with the exception of Terra Branford. While her game,
and restore balance. Having lost much of her power in Final Fantasy VI, features multiple characters with that
the previous cycle, Cosmos gives her ten warriorsWar- t the role of main character, Terra was chosen in the
rior of Light, Firion, Onion Knight, Cecil, Bartz, Terra, end so that there would a female ghter in Cosmos' side.
Cloud, Squall, Zidane, and Tidusthe task of retrieving For villains, they decided to include warriors who had a
the ten crystals that will help them defeat Chaos.* [8] They strong rivalry with the heroes rather than the games' nal
each set out on a journey called a Destiny Odyssey, bosses. This resulted in the inclusion of non-nal bosses
where their respective stories are told and interlink with such as Final Fantasy IV 's Golbez, Final Fantasy IX 's
one another.* [9] During their Destiny Odysseys,the Kuja and Final Fantasy X 's Jecht who were connected
heroes encounter their personal villains, defeating them with their games' leads, Cecil Harvey, Zidane Tribal and
through epiphanies about themselves that help them ob- Tidus, respectively. Shantotto from Final Fantasy XI was
tain their crystals.
used based on her popularity, while Gabranth was used to
Following the Destiny Odysseysis the Shade Im- represent Final Fantasy XII in Balthier's place as the latter
318
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
had already been featured in Final Fantasy Tactics: War

of the Lions and Square wanted his inclusion to surprise
gamers. Other characters meant to have been featured
were Final Fantasy IV 's Kain Highwind and Final Fantasy XIII 's Lightning.* [18] Following the game's positive
reception by gamers in Japan that surpassed Nomura's expectations, he already had in mind several new ideas for
a sequel, and wished to feature Kain in it.* [18]
Nomura was responsible for the character designs, which
changed much of the look and style of Yoshitaka Amano's
illustrations.* [20]* [21] Working in the Final Fantasy and
Final Fantasy IX designs brought no diculties since
in for the former game, Nomura based his designs on
Amano's illustrations while he had already been involved
in handling his illustrations in the latter. On the other
hand, Nomura had diculties making Onion Knight as
it ended being too cartoony and requested advice from
Amano.* [18] Nomura's own original illustrations were
also redesigned for Dissidia; Nomura commented to the
Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu that Tidus was designed to look younger than he was in Final Fantasy X
to match the design touch of the rest of the Dissidia"
cast.* [22]
On April 6, 2007, Square Enix led for United States
trademark registration of DISSIDIA"; the mark's relation to Final Fantasy was omitted.* [23] The title was connected with Final Fantasy when Square Enix introduced
Dissidia Final Fantasy on May 8, 2007 with an ocial
Japanese website.
4.4.4
Music
The Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack by Takeharu Ishimoto was released on December 24, 2008,* [24]
and is available in both regular and special editions, similar to the game itself. Most tracks are often remixes done
by Ishimoto of past Final Fantasy music originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu.* [1]
The main theme of the game isThe Messengerby Your
Favorite Enemies. The tracks Cosmosand Chaos Last Battle 1are also performed by Your Favorite Enemies. The Messengeris the main theme song of the
game, with lyrics from both Cosmosand Chaos Last Battle 1.Cosmosfeatures female vocals, while
Chaosis dominated by male vocals. In YFE's documentary on the conception of the songs for Dissidia, lyricist and vocalist Alex Foster admitted that the lyrics have
no direct connection to themes of the game; rather, he
left it up to the listeners to interpret the lyrics based on
their own thoughts and ideas.* [25]
Tracklist
4.4.5 Release and merchandise

For the western localization, the Square Enix sta used
analysis from their subsidiary companies in London
and Los Angeles to readjust the game for Western audiences.* [26] Director Takeshi Arakawa and producer
Yoshinori Kitase announced that the release date for
the western world would be August 25, 2009 (starting
in North America), and that it will include a number
of small changes, including re-adjustments in gameplay,
new gameplay events, an arcade gameplay mode, a shortened tutorial, new moves for playable characters, and extra cutscenes featuring cameos from several other characters from the main characters' original games that do
not appear in the Japanese version.* [27] Arakawa referred to the Western version as a more action-based
game than the original Japanese version which was more
RPG-based.* [16]
For the Dissidia Final Fantasy US release, Gamestop
released the game with two additional covers for anyone who reserved it before it came out.* [28] On August 24, 2009, it was announced that there would be an
international version of the game. Named Dissidia Final
Fantasy: Universal Tuning (
), this revision of the game would be a direct port of the North
American version of the game, retaining all the extra features added, and was released in Japan on November 1,
2009. Both English and Japanese voices are available in
battle, with the player deciding which language the characters will speak.* [29]
SCEA later announced a Dissidia Final Fantasy-themed
PSP bundle, which included aMystic SilverPSP system, a copy of Dissidia Final Fantasy, a 2GB memory
stick, and a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
It was also released on August 25, 2009.* [30]
Studio BentStu published the Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania as the initial reference guide for the game. Released on December 4, 2008, this book became part of
the Ultimania series, which includes the Kingdom Hearts
Ultimania .* [31] Suntory Ltd. also collaborated with
Square Enix to create the Dissidia Final Fantasy Potiondrinks which were released on December 9, 2008
in Japan to promote the game's release.
Square Enix released a line of Trading Arts gures in
early 2009 with Series 1 containing Cloud Strife, Squall
Leonhart, Zidane Tribal, Tidus, and the Warrior of
Light.* [32] A second series was later released featuring
Sephiroth, Terra, Bartz, Firion, and Cecil.* [33]
4.4.6 Reception
Sales
Dissidia sold well according to Takeshi Arakawa, despite
concerns about piracy.* [44] As of August 17, 2009, Dis-
4.4. DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY

sidia Final Fantasy has sold 910,000 copies in Japan,
making it the fourth best-selling game for the PSP in
Japan.* [45]* [46] It was the 12th best-selling game in
Japan in 2008, selling 660,262 copies.* [47] In the United
States, Dissidia debuted at the 7th place of the August
2009 charts with 130,000 copies, despite only four days
of availability.* [48] Figures from the NPD Group list
Dissidia Final Fantasy as the best-selling PSP game of
2009.* [49]
Reviews
Dissidia was well received by the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu with individual scores of 9/9/10/8, earning
the game a place in its Best Picks of This Weekfeature as well as itsPlatinum Hall of Fame.The game's
battle system was described as fast paced and exhilarating, with simple controls capable of producing battles like
those found in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, though
it was noted that the action can become dicult to follow
when things got hectic and that some of the more technical aspects of the game can be hard to grasp. The game
was also praised for its story and cutscenes, with one reviewer noting that the history was exacting.* [37]
319
much of the team intended to make a third Dissidia title, but did not mention possible platforms.* [57]
4.4.7 See also

4.4.8 References
[1] Tong, Sophia (July 15, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Updated Hands-On. GameSpot. Retrieved July 13,
2012.
[2] Khan, Jahanzeb (2009-07-08). Dissidia Final Fantasy
conrmed for Australia - Sony PSP Video Game News PAL Gaming Network. PAL Gaming Network. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
[3] Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP)". Amazon.co.uk. 200907-16. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
[4] IGN Sta (2007-05-09). Dissidia : Dissidia Battle System Revealed. IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 200705-16.
[5] Edwards, Matt (March 2, 2009). PSP Dissidia: Final
Fantasy Review. Eurogamer. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
[6] Dissidia Final Fantasy - Contestant Breakdown - Arcade
Mode. RPGamer. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
The game also enjoyed positive reviews by English critics. 1UP.com and GameSpot praised the ghting system [7] Square Enix (August 25, 2009).Dissidia: Final Fantasy
and visuals, with the latter commenting on the mix of
. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cosmos: I have
RPG and action gameplay. The story received mixed rebeen defeated by Chaos. The god of discord, Chaos... His
brutal powers destroyed the balance of all things, threatactions, as GameSpot stated that it would only interest
ening the fabric of reality itself.
fans of the franchise, while 1UP.COM enjoyed its references to previous games.* [36]* [40] RandomNPC called
[8] Square Enix (August 25, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fanthe gameone of the few must-have games for the PSP.
tasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cosmos: All
*
[50] Game Informer was critical, claiming the story and
existence is on the brink of doom. Ten of you remain-gameplay were too similar to past Final Fantasy titles and
and you are the last hope left to this world. I implore you.
would turn o new players.* [38]
Obtain the light that even in a broken world could never
In the Best of E3 2009, Dissidia was awarded Best
Fighting Gameby IGN.* [51] Dissidia also received
awards from Famitsu and in the Japan Game Awards
2008.* [52]* [53] In 2010, the game was included as one
of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play
Before You Die.* [54]
Legacy
fade-- the light of the crystals. The crystals embody the

strength to face despair. With ten gathered, there is hope
yet to save the world.
[9] Square Enix (August 25, 2009).Dissidia: Final Fantasy
. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cosmos: The paths
to our crystals may be dierent for each of us. But we've
strength in our allies. / Firion: And if we put that strength
together, we'll have nothing to fear. / Cloud: I don't know.
The god, Chaos, is leading his forces of disorder-- and
they're headed straight for us. But I'm ready for whatever
comes my way. / Tidus: The tougher the enemy, the more
red up I get! / Cosmos: I thank you all.
A follow up to Dissidia titled Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy was released in March 2011 for the PlayStation
Portable. Since Dissidia had a concrete ending, the team [10] Square Enix (August 25, 2009).Dissidia: Final Fantasy
. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cecil: But they said
decided to make the story a prequel.* [55] Tetsuya Nothat we were the ones who killed Cosmos... / Firion: I
mura stated that there would be no more Dissidia games
think...we should nd out the truth. / Bartz: Why Cosfollowing Dissidia 012 although the series may continue
mos had to disappear... If WE have to disappear as well...
in another formsince the team already believed they
We've got to get some answers! / Cloud: We're not gonna
*
did enough with the ghting genre. [55] The main story
let them have their way.
of Dissidia also served as a basis for the 2012 rhythm
game Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for the Nintendo 3DS [11] Square Enix (August 25, 2009).Dissidia: Final Fantasy
also uses multiple characters from the Final Fantasy se. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Exdeath: Think of
ries.* [56] In 2013, Ichiro Hazama stated that he and
what the crystals are. They are born of the harmonious
320
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
force possessed by a certain deity. / Tidus: Harmonious

force... You don't mean-- / Exdeath: Indeed, the crystals are shards of Cosmos. They themselves are the goddess's power. And it is because you had obtained them
that Cosmos lost her strength and perished. The power of
the crystals has allowed the pawns to live on without their
master. But so feeble is the light that remains. Even that
shall soon fade to nothing.
[23] Dissidia Trademark - Latest Status Info. United States

Patent and Trademark Oce. Trademark Applications
and Registrations Retrieval (TARR). 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
[12] Square Enix (August 25, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Warrior of
Light: The battle has come to an end... / Tidus: Gotta
go, huh... Don't worry. The crystal knows the rest of the
way. Besides-- I'm always right here./ Zidane: We're not
vanishing. We're returning-- to where we're supposed to
be.
[25] Your Favorite Enemies Episode 73: We Are Final

Fantasy: DissidiaPart 4 of 8. myspace.com. February
4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
[13] Square Enix (August 25, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Shantotto:
Why, hello! And, oh...goodbye! This is where scholars
can further enjoy the pursuit of knowledge in peace as a
reward. It is not a place where plebians like you should
enter of your own accord! Oh, there's no need to pout.
You say that you're trapped know not the way out?
[14] Square Enix (August 25, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Gabranth:
Hmph. Just another stray being played with by the gods.
No matter. Choose the path you wish to take. All paths
lead to the same end, anyway. You keep ghting...and die
like a dog.
[15] Square Enix (August 25, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Shinryu: The
instant Chaos was destroyed, the power of discord distorted the fabric of time and space, creating a new realm
of possibilities... That Chaos has never known defeat. At
the darkest edge of despair he waits, eternally tortured by
the ames of the abyss... Into the endless emptiness of
Chaos's heart, I, Shinryu, shall let ow my power. This is
a fantasy that ought not exist... Moreover...it is one without end.
[16] Joe Martin (May 5, 2009). Dissidia: Final Fantasy Interview. BitGamer. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
[24] DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY Original Soundtrack -". FinalFantasyUnion.com. Square Enix. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
[26] Dissidia: Final Fantasy Interview. BitGamer. May 5,

[27] New Characters In Western Dissidia, Amongst Other
Additions - News. Final Fantasy Union. Retrieved 201006-22.
[28] ForceStealer (2009-06-20). North America Dissidia
Purchase Incentives. Thelifestream.net. Retrieved
2010-06-22.
[29] Dissidia: Final Fantasy Universal Tuning Turning Up
In November (Update!)". Siliconera. 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
[30] New Limited Edition DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY
PSP Entertainment Pack. PlayStation.Blog. 2009-0514. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
[31] "
12 4 ".
bent.co.jp. November 20, 2008.
[32] Dissidia Final Fantasy Announced for Mid-Year 2009
Release in North America. Square Enix. 2008-12-18.
[33] Jonathan Tubbs (2010-09-21). Dissidia Final Fantasy
Trading Arts Volume 2 brings more characters of the past
. TomoPop. Retrieved 04-09-2013. Check date values in:
|accessdate= (help)
[34]Dissidia Final Fantasy at Game Rankings. Game Rankings. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
[17] Dissidia Final Fantasy originated from Kingdom Hearts [35] Dissidia Final Fantasy at Metacritic. Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
. Siliconera. June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
[18] Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania (in Japanese). SquareEnix. 2009. pp. 696699. ISBN 978-4-7575-2488-0.
[19] Yoshinori Kitase on FFXIII, FFVII and Dissidia.
VideoGamer.com. May 8, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
[20] KujaFFman (2007-05-09). Dissidia : Images et informations !". Final Fantasy World (in French). Retrieved
2007-05-09.
[21] GameSpot Sta (2007-05-12).Final Fantasy XIII, Dissidia rock Square Enix Party. GameSpot. CNET Networks. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
[22] Giord, Kevin (2008-06-18). New Final Fantasy: Dissidia Details. 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved
April 18, 2013.
[36] Barnholt, Ray (2009-08-19).Dissidia Final Fantasy Review for the PSP from 1UP.com. 1UP.com. Retrieved
2009-08-19.
[37] Dissidia Famitsu Reviews. The Lifestream. 2008-1210. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
[38] Joe Juba (2009-09-27).Dissidia Final Fantasy. Game
Informer. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
[39] VanOrd, Kevin (2009-08-20). Dissidia Final Fantasy
Review for PSP. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
[40] Dissidia Final Fantasy Critic Reviews for PSP.
GameSpot. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
[41] Dissidia Final Fantasy Video Game, Review HD.
4.5. DISSIDIA 012 FINAL FANTASY
[42] Clements, Ryan (2009-08-14).IGN: Dissidia Final Fantasy Review. IGN. News Corp. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
321
4.5 Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (

Dishidia Dyuodeshimu
Fainaru Fantaj, pronounced Dissidia Duodecim Final
Dissidia: Final Fantasy Interview. BitGamer. 2009- Fantasy) is a 2011 ghting game published by Square
05-05. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the Final
Results Brieng: Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2009. Fantasy series. It was developed by the company's 1st
Production Department and released in Japan on March
3, 2011.* [1] The game is both a prequel and remake of
Sony PSP Japanese Ranking. Japan Game Charts. Dissidia Final Fantasy, revealing what occurred before
2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
the events of its predecessor, and was released on March
*
2008 top 100. Kyoto.zaq.ne.jp. Retrieved 2009-01- 22, 2011 in North America. [5]
21.
The game initially focuses on the twelfth war between
NPD: US game industry slips 16% in August, PS3 sales the gods Chaos and Cosmos who have summoned several
nearly double. GameSpot. 2009-09-10. Retrieved warriors from parallel worlds to ght for them. Upon ending the twelfth cycle, the game remakes the thirteenth war
2009-09-10.
from the original Dissidia Final Fantasy and adds multiple
Matthews, Matt (February 15, 2010). NPD: Behind the sidestories. Fights in Dissidia 012 were given the ability
Numbers, January 2010. Gamasutra. Retrieved Februto counteract enemies' strongest attacks by using assistary 27, 2010.
ing characters, while navigation is now done through a
Dissidia Final Fantasy Sta Review Archive Ran- traditional-styled Final Fantasy world map.
[43] Padilla, Raymond (2009-08-19).Dissidia Final Fantasy

review. XPlay. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
[44]
[45]
[46]
[47]
[48]
[49]
[50]
domNPC Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and

Features. Randomnpc.com. 2009-09-20. Retrieved
2010-06-22.
[51] Best of E3 2009: PlayStation Portable. IGN. Retrieved
2012-06-29.
[52] " "FAMITSU
AWARDS 2008" ".
Famitsu.
2008-04-28. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
Development of the game started in August 2009 with

the Square sta wishing to improve the gameplay from
the rst game to provide players with more entertaining
features as well as balance several parts. Dissidia 012 has
been well received, with publications calling it one of the
best PlayStation Portable games.
4.5.1 Gameplay
[53] " ". Japan Game Awards. Retrieved June

29, 2012.
Gameplay is largely reminiscent of Dissidia Final Fantasy

along with a few changes. The game consists primarily
[54] Mott, Tony (2010). 1001 Video Games You Must Play
of one-on-one battles, taking place on what is known as
Before You Die. London: Quintessence Editions Ltd. p.
a battle map where the two characters duel. Players are
198. ISBN 978-1-74173-076-0.
able to perform two types of attacks: a Bravery attack and
[55] Dissidia 012[duodecim]: Final Fantasy Director Dis- an HP attack. Both characters start with a set amount
cusses Fighting Game Mechanics. Siliconera. 2011- of Bravery points, the number of Bravery points being
03-18. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
equivalent to the amount of damage dealt by an HP attack.
Thus, the player must perform several Bravery attacks to
[56] Spencer (2012-02-02). How A Final Fantasy Versus
XIII Song Got Into Theatrhythm And Other Questions. steal Bravery points from the opponent so as to increase
the power of their HP attack, as Bravery attacks do not
cause any damage.
[57] Sato (2013-11-18). Dissidia And Theatrhythm Were
Made To Introduce Final Fantasy To A New Generation
Of Fans. Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
Additional mechanics
The mechanics of the battle system include EX Revengeand Assist.EX Mode functions exactly the
same as the rst game by collecting EX Cores around the
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ocial Japanese website battle map to ll up the EX gauge and transform the char(Japanese)
acter into a more powerful state, which allows players to
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ocial North American perform a powerful EX Burst attack should an HP attack
land during EX Mode. The Assist system is a new elwebsite
ement to the game which allows the player to summon
Dissidia Final Fantasy Universal Tuning website an additional ally into battle to either assist in attacking
(Japanese)
the enemy or defend from an oncoming attack. It is per-
4.4.9
External links
322
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
formed using the Assist Gauge, which is built up by using Nomura, producer and character designer for the game,
Bravery Attacks.* [6] Both modes are supposed to balance has said that both storylines played together would result
each other, because when an EX Burst is executed, the in approximately 60 hours of gameplay.* [8]
opponent's Assist Gauge is reduced to zero.
The three main countering systems are Assist Breaks, EX
Breaks and EX Revenge. An Assist Break is performed
by attacking the opponent's Assist character while the
player is in EX Mode, causing him/her to be unable to
call out the Assist character for a brief period; this also
passes the stage's Bravery points to the character. An EX
Break is performed by stopping an opponent's EX Mode
through the use of an Assist attack which forces the opponent out of EX Mode, additionally passing the stage's
Bravery points to the player. Lastly, EX Revenge occurs
when trying to activate EX Mode while being attacked.
While in the rst game it would simply halt the opponent's attack, it now slows down time allowing the player
to pummel the opponent instead, though it sacrices the
player's ability to use an EX Burst as it uses up the entire
EX Gauge.* [6]
Single-player mode
A screenshot showing the single-player mode of the game. The

game's world map, with new characters Lightning, Kain and Tifa
as the three-member party.
The biggest addition is within the single-player story

mode of the game, taking place on a traditional-styled
Final Fantasy world map, with players being able to
experience a story while exploring a world with scenarios
and events taking place as the story progresses. Players
traverse the 3D world map with parties consisting of
up to ve characters, with players being able to interact
in conversations with the characters. When roaming
the map, players will encounter enemies known as
Manikins"; when attacked by an enemy, players will be
transported to a battle map where battles will take place.
There are specially marked shops on the map. The story
mode is also party based, similar to the story progression
of Final Fantasy VI. In certain scenarios, parties will
be predetermined, but in most cases players are free to
select their own party.* [7] Alongside the game's new
story mode, the game also includes the rst game's story,
which has been remade with the 3D world map as well as
additional elements added for the new storyline. Tetsuya
4.5.2 Plot
The game's main story revolves around the twelfth cycle of the eternal conict between the gods Cosmos and
Chaos, who have both summoned several warriors from
dierent worlds * [9] to ght for them in World B
, a mirror dimension to the realm of World A.* [10]
It features the entire cast of the original Dissidia with
new and tweaked abilities. The game also introduces
nine new playable characters. Six of the new characters are available from the start of the game: Lightning,
a former soldier and the protagonist of Final Fantasy
XIII; Vaan, a sky pirate and the protagonist of Final
Fantasy XII;* [6]* [7] Laguna Loire, the man who appears in Squall's dreams and the secondary protagonist
of Final Fantasy VIII;* [7] Yuna, Tidus's love interest
and female protagonist of Final Fantasy X;* [11]* [12]
Kain Highwind, Cecil Harvey's childhood friend and rival from Final Fantasy IV;* [13] and Tifa Lockhart, Cloud
Strife's childhood friend from Final Fantasy VII.* [7]* [13]
The remaining three characters, which can be unlocked
through various means of gameplay, are Prishe, a supporting character from Final Fantasy XI; Gilgamesh, a
recurring villain from Final Fantasy V; and Feral Chaos
( Desuperdo Kaosu), an alternate
form of Chaos. Final Fantasy VII 's Aerith Gainsborough is available as an assist-only character (i.e. not fully
playable in the game) through the purchase of Dissidia
012 Prologus Final Fantasy download on the PlayStation
Network.* [14]
Story
During the twelfth cycle, the war is turning in favor of
Chaos. Therefore, Cosmos entrusts her warriors the
Warrior of Light, Lightning, Vaan, Jecht, Yuna, Zidane,
Squall, Laguna, Tifa, Bartz, Cecil, Kain, Onion Knight,
and Firionwith the task of retrieving the crystals that
will help them defeat Chaos.* [15] However, Cosmos was
not able to foresee Chaos's forces employing an unworldly
army of crystalline soldiers known as Manikins, which
pose a threat due to their ability to negate the gods' power
to revive the warriors after they are killed.* [16] Believing their defeat to be inevitable, Kain and the Warrior
of Light defeat most of their own allies to stop them
from ghting the Manikins and return in an upcoming
war.* [17] Lightning opposes this plan and leads the other
active warriors (Vaan, Yuna, Laguna, Tifa, and Kain) to
stop the Manikins once and for all by sealing the portal from which they emerge.* [18] Though they succeed,

Cosmos is reduced to a weakened state after using much
of her power to diminish the Manikin army when they attempted to kill her and the Warrior of Light,* [19] while
Lightning and her group succumb to the Manikins' power
and fade away.* [20]
323
it.* [25]
Choosing new characters proved dicult as a the sta
chose them based on their popularity and ghting
styles.* [24] The amount of new characters was restricted
due to memory limitations.* [25] Vaan's inclusion met
several hardships since his Japanese voice actor, Kouhei
Takeda, was busy at the time. They decided to replace
Takeda with Kensh Ono as a result of fan response.* [27]
Battle system director Takeo Kujiraoka made contact
with Hiroyuki Ito regarding the character's design and
moves based on his Final Fantasy XII appearances, which
was well received by Ito.* [28] While designed by Tetsuya
Nomura, various of the new alternative outts the characters were given were based on artworks by Yoshitaka
Amano, another designer from the Final Fantasy series.* [29]* [30]
From there, the game retells the events of Dissidia Final

Fantasy where returning warriors for Cosmos participate
in the thirteenth cycle that ends the conict between the
gods. Once completing the thirteenth cycle, the player
also has access to the third and nal arc Confessions
of the Creatorin which supporting character Shinryu, a
powerful entity that absorbs the warriors' memories and
experiences following each cycle, traps Cosmos' comrade, Cid of the Lufaine, in a nightmare world where cycles as a punishment for saving Cosmos' warriors from the
thirteenth cycle following Chaos' defeat. The player selects ve characters to ght Feral Chaos, a stronger incarnation of Chaos, and save the imprisoned Cid the nightDownloadable content
mare world.* [21]* [22]
In addition to the main story is a set ofReports,most
of which follow the other warriors who participate in the
thirteenth cycle, explaining their roles before and during that cycle. Prominent characters in these reports include warriors of Cosmos Terra, Cloud and Tidus
who ght for the side of Chaos during the twelfth cycle,
and Chaos' warrior Jecht, who appears on the side of Cosmos, with the reports detailing how these characters came
to switch sides. Furthermore, the Reports cover other
events as how the Warrior of Light entered the conict
and met Cosmos's previous warriors Prishe and Shantotto along with Gilgamesh's misadventures upon stumbling into World B.
4.5.3
Development
Ideas for a sequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy were already

conceived shortly after its release in Japan with producer
Tetsuya Nomura wishing to feature Kain Highwind on
it.* [23] Development of the game started in August 2009
shortly before the release of Dissidia Final Fantasy Universal Tuning, the international version from the prequel.
Director Mitsunori Takahashi stated the team wanted the
sequel to have more changes than just new characters.
This resulted in changes to gameplay features and the
inclusion of new ones. The Assist feature was made to
add more entertainment to the ghts,* [24] as well as to
act as a counterbalance to the EX Mode that was the
strongest area from the rst game.* [25] This was done in
response to feedback commenting that the EX Mode was
too powerful in the original game. The world map was
created in order to appeal more the RPG fans.* [26] Returning characters had their movesets modied to provide
the player with new strategies when ghting.* [25] One of
the most revised ones was Firion due to feedback from
players.* [26] Since the original Dissidia had a concrete
conclusion, the sta decided to make its story a prequel
and encourage players to revisit Dissidia once concluding
Three other Square Enix games, Final Fantasy Trading

Card Game, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and
The 3rd Birthday, give players access to downloadable
content in the form of alternate outts for Vaan, Cloud
Strife, and Lightning, respectively.* [31]* [32] As of June
16, 2011, the PlayStation Network has featured downloadable content for Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, including character costumes, avatars, and BGM packs.* [33]
4.5.4 Music
The music for Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto and features multiple rearrangements from previous Final Fantasy themes by
other composers. The American band Kidneythieves also
sang the second part of the of Feral Chaos' boss theme
song, God in Fire.Ishimoto wrote the song and requested Kidneythieves' collaboration with them to which
the band stated it was entertaining.* [34] On March 3,
2011, Square Enix released the Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack featuring a total of three discs
with the rst one having 44, the second one 20, and the
third one seven.* [35]
Tracklist
4.5.5 Reception
Upon its rst week of release Dissidia 012 sold 286,117
units in Japan, topping the Media Create's charts.* [42] It
has sold 465,198 units in Japan as of January 2012.* [43]
It has received positive reception. Dissidia 012 was
scored a 38/40 by Famitsu, composed of a 10, 9, 10, 9
score by the four reviewers, two points higher than the
original.* [38] PSM3 Magazine UK gave the game an 8.2,
calling it an improvement on the original, with some
great Final Fantasy fan service thrown in.* [38] IGN
324
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
gave the game a 9.0 (one point higher than the origi- [10] Gantayat, Anoop. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy World
Map Details. andriasang.com. Archived from the orignal), praising the game's graphics and improved gameinal on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
play, but criticizing its story.* [38] Game Informer gave
the game a 7, saying the game did not improve any of
the battle system problems of the previous game, al- [11] Spencer (December 24, 2010).Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy Jump Festa Trailer Leaps Onto The Internet. Silithough the assist system was a good addition, saying it
conera. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
added an extra dimension to what was missing in the
rst game.* [39] GamesRadar listed it as the ninth best [12] Bastien (January 12, 2011). Dissidia 012 : Yuna oPlayStation Portable game commenting on how it uses elcialise dans la presse. Final Fantasy Ring. Retrieved
ements from famous RPGs,* [44] while IGN listed it third
January 12, 2011.
with comments aimed towards its gameplay.* [45]
4.5.6
References
[13] Anoop Gantayat (October 26, 2010). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Site Gets A Healthy Dose of Tifa. Andriasang. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.

Agito
Final Fantasy 2011 [14] Ludwig Kietzmann (January 11, 2011). Dissidia

Duodecim demo unlocks Aerith assistant in full game.
Joystiq. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
Inc. January 18, 2011. Archived from the original on
January 19, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
[15] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Lightning:
[2] Anoop Gantayat (September 18, 2010). Date Set
Cosmos, the goddess of harmony, imbued us with the
For Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy. Andriasang.
power she said we would need in order to ght Chaos.
Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. ReWhat she gave us was something we had no way of ustrieved December 18, 2010.
ing on our own--divine energy that would rest inside us,
awaiting the proper catalyst. According to her, it was a
[3] DISSIDIA 012(duodecim) FINAL FANTASY TO
strength that would be tempered through battle--by our
LAUNCH IN NORTH AMERICA ON MARCH 22,
own wills--and would eventually coalesce to form a crys2011. Square Enix. January 20, 2011. Retrieved Jantal. As she told it, that crystal would then grant us, her
uary 20, 2011.
soldiers, power to rival that of the gods themselves. So,
[4] Bastien (December 20, 2010).Dissidia 012 : le 25 mars
simple as that. Fight the armies of Chaos, collect your
2011 en Europe. Final Fantasy Ring. Retrieved Decemcrystal, and go take down the god of discord.
ber 24, 2010.
[16] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fan[5] Michael McWhertor (September 7, 2010). Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Garland:
tasy Fighting Game Gets A Sequel Struck By Lightning
Manikins are merciless. They know only how to deliver
. Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
death and destruction, from which there can be no return.
[6] Anoop Gantayat (November 22, 2010). Dissidia 012
Final Fantasy: Vaan, EX Revenge and Breaks. Andri- [17] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final
Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Kain:
asang. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010.
Manikins... Hm. I wonder. How do you place our odds?
Against numbers like these, do you think we actually stand
[7] Anoop Gantayat (December 15, 2010). Dissidia
to win? / Warrior of Light: I cannot speak for the outDuodecim Final Fantasy Update. Andriasang. Archived
come, but we can ght as long as we have strength. / Kain:
from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved DeThat's one answer. You are correct. We can ght for as
cember 14, 2010.
long as we have strength, and almost certainly lose. But
IF! IF there were a way to make winning possible, by ac[8] Anoop Gantayat (20 December 2010). This Week's
cepting that loss as inevitable... / ... / Lightning: You're
Early Flying Get - Added 18:13. Andriasang. Archived
taking down your own allies and putting them to sleep so
from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December
they'll get revived?
2010.
Kain. Cosmos called us again. Why do you suppose that
is? / Kain: Who knows? / Lightning: I want...I intend
to win this ght. I win, and I get my memory back. I
get to go back home. I keep telling myself that, just like
everyone else. But you know...now that I've been here
awhile... Sometimes I have to wonder if winning really
means we'll get to go back home at all. If it might be that
winning...won't change a thing. I just...I can't help but
wonder.
Say your 'next battle' were to start now. There wouldn't
be any fewer enemies out there. And starting over fresh
doesn't guarantee we'd get our crystals any faster either.
At the very least, we might as well cut their numbers down
rst. It sure can't hurt, can it? And it might just give us a
shot. / Laguna: Guess now's as good a time as any. Just
happens I've got some intel that might change the whole
game. You wanna even our odds? Try this on: I know
where the manikins are coming from.
[19] Square Enix (22 March 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Vaan: What
about Cosmos? / Kain: It's too late. / Vaan:Too late"?!
/ Laguna: Even if we did go back, we'd never make it in
time. Only thing we can do is trust our last line of defence
to hold.
I'm sure you all understand our...situation. We came here
to destroy the portal that connects this world to the Rift.
It's the last thing left for us to do. But once we charge into
the middle of those manikins, there's no coming back.
[21] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Moogle (Cid
of the Lufaine): The replica of Chaos you defeated was
based on him at the time of sealing. I assume both Chaos
and Shinryu have increased their powers since then. --I do
apologize. I didn't mean to scare you. Beyond here awaits
Chaos. --Let's go.
[22] Square Enix (March 22, 2011). Dissidia 012 Final
Fantasy. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix. Cid has
awakened--in the world in which I was felled in the 13th
conict. And another thing happened-- Another miracle.
The 'crystals' of the warriors who were defeated despite
the strongest resolve have brought 'her' back to that world.
And Shinryu departed for the Rift. I guess the conict will
never repeat again. Thank you so much...for saving my father...
[23] Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania (in Japanese). SquareEnix. 2009. pp. 696699. ISBN 978-4-7575-2488-0.
[24] Gantayat, Anoop (September 27, 2010). Dissidia
012 Final Fantasy Developer Interview. Andriasang.
Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
[25] Dissidia 012[duodecim]: Final Fantasy Director Discusses Fighting Game Mechanics. Siliconera. March
18, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
[26] Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy Interview With
Mitsunori Takahashi. GameSpot. February 6, 2011.
[27] Gantayat, Anoop (November 15, 2010). Vaan Sees a
Voice Change in Japanese Dissidia Final Fantasy. Andriasang. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
[28] Studio BentStu. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimanina
-Action Side- (in Japanese). Square Enix.
325
[32] Gantayat, Anoop (September 16, 2010). Square Enix

Makes Big PSP Push. Andriasang. Retrieved September
16, 2010.
[33] DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY EXPANDS WITH NEW DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT
OF FRANCHISE FAVORITES. Retrieved June 18,
2011.
[34] M., Alexis (March 18, 2011). An interview with Kidneythieves on their Dissidia 012 duodecim Final Fantasy
track with Square Enix and their upcoming music. Gaming Bits. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
[35] Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack.
Square Enix Music. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
[36] Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy. Game Rankings. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
[37] Kat Bailey (March 15, 2011).Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Review. 1UP.com. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
[38] Anoop Gantayat (February 23, 2011).This Week's Flying Get. Andriasang. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
[39] Joe Juba (March 23, 2011). Dissidia 012 Review: Focusing On Action Instead Of Polish. Game Informer.
[40] Kevin VanOrd (March 15, 2011). Dissidia 012:
Duodecim Final Fantasy Review. GameSpot. Retrieved
March 15, 2011.
[41] Ryan Clements (March 15, 2011). Dissidia 012: Final
Fantasy IGN Review. IGN. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
[42] Dissidia Final Fantasy Sequel and 3DS Top the Charts
. Andriasang. March 10, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
[43] These Were The 30 Best-Selling Games Of 2011 In
Japan. Siliconera. January 16, 2012. Retrieved July
3, 2012.
[44] Best PSP Games. GamesRadar. January 2, 2012.
[45] The Top 25 PSP Games. IGN. September 30, 2010.
[29] Gantayat, Anoop (January 21, 2001). Yuna and Many

Third Forms at the Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy Ofcial Site. Andriasang. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ocial Japanese website

(Japanese)
[30] Gantayat, Anoop (January 21, 2011). Yuna and Many

Third Forms at the Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy Ofcial Site. Andriasang. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ocial North American

website
[31] Pirate Vaan and Gunner Yuna Hit Dissidia Duodecim

Final Fantasy Next Week. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ocial European website
326
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
4.6 Final Fantasy Brigade

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade, known in Japan as Final Fantasy Brigade (
Fainaru Fantaj Burigeido) is a Final Fantasy
video game developed and published by Square Enix for
Mobage compatible mobile phones. The game is similar to other traditional Final Fantasy games with an overworld and dungeons, but is socially oriented. There are
over 2.5 million players just in Japan, though reviews
have commented on the games lack of polish and sound.
style of the game is similar to the one from Theatrhythm

Final Fantasy.* [10] It is being distributed through DeNA
in Japan and Korea: in Korea it was localized by Daum
Communications and released in August 2012.* [10]* [11]
On November 30, 2012, Square Enix and DeNa announced the game would be coming to North American
IOS devices.* [4] Registering at the games ocial site for
the North American launch informed players when the
game would come out, and also gave them a character
card that summoned Cloud from Final Fantasy VII for a
three-month period.* [4]* [10]
4.6.1
4.6.4 Reception
Gameplay
The game is a role-playing game in the vein of the traditional Final Fantasy installments, but with a focus on
social interactions.* [2] The player will be able to play
with friends through multiplayer. Jobs, airships, equipment, and summon monsters typical of the Final Fantasy
series will be featured.* [3] Basic job classes are ghter,
monk, thief, white mage, black mage, and red mage,
which can all develop into many dierent types of advanced classes.* [1] Players team up each other to complete missions, obtain items, grow stronger, and defeat
villains.* [4]
4.6.2
Plot
Long ago, the country was protected by two crystals.

However, one was broken and scattered throughout the
world following a monster invasion. The other lost its
glow. Only the ancient summon beasts can return the
crystals to their original shine, and it's up to the player
to travel to the world below on his/her air ship and show
the summons his/her power.* [5] Updates to the game
in Japan lets players match custom made characters and
classic heroes from Final Fantasy against villains Sin and
Jecht.* [6] Various crossover characters from other Final Fantasy series games appear, including Paradox from
Final Fantasy XIII-2, which takes place in a special event,
and success reaps a special reward.* [7] Sephiroth was
introduced in the Cloudy Wolfevent in February
2013.* [8]
4.6.3
Development
The game was initially hinted when Square Enix opened a

teaser site as a collaboration between mobage and Square
Enix.* [9] Yoichi Wada unveiled Final Fantasy Brigade
on December 2, 2011. It was Square Enixs rst free to
play mobile game associated with the Final Fantasy series.* [4] The game is in development by Square Enix 1st
Production Department. A closed beta started in midDecember 2011, before the game's ocial release on
January 6, 2012.* [3] A smartphone version was also been
announced, although it had no release date.* [3] The art
The game reached over 500,000 members thirteen days

afters its release.* [12] Within one month, this gure had
increased to 1 million registered members. By March
2012, the game had 2 million registered members, and
that July crested over 2.5 million registered users in
Japan alone.* [11]* [13] In Japan, Final Fantasy Airborne
Brigade Mobicoin cards are being sold.* [1]
Kotaku described the game as pretty disappointing,
citing the lack of features, including the lack of any sound
or music, and very little polish.* [14]
4.6.5 References
[1] Spencer (January 14, 2013). Which Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade Suits You?". Siliconera. Retrieved March
4, 2013.
[2] Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade Landing on North
American Shores. Gameinformer. November 29, 2012.
[3] oNo (December 2, 2011). "

Mobage FINAL FANTASY BRIGADE12 "
(in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
[4] Joseph Leray (November 30, 2012). Free-to-Play Final
Fantasy Airborne Brigade Landing in North America.
MTV. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
[5]First Pics of Final Fantasy Brigade. Adriasang. January
6, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
[6] Spencer (February 15, 2013).Sin Has Been Resurrected
For Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade. Siliconera. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
[7] Spencer (February 25, 2012). Its A Paradox! Atlas From Final Fantasy XIII-2 Is In Social Final Fantasy
Game. Siliconera. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
[8] Spencer (February 28, 2013).Final Fantasy VII: Advent
Children Cloud Summoned For FF Airborne Brigade.
Siliconera. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
[9] Final Fantasy Goes Social on Mobage. Adriasang.
October 27, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
4.7. FINAL FANTASY: LEGEND OF THE CRYSTALS
327
The main protagonist Prettz is a headstrong and reckless

young man with feelings for Linaly who rides a motorcycle and uses a nodachi and spiked bombs as his weapons.
The other protagonist Linaly is a brave, young, blue[11]Final Fantasy Brigade Hops On Airship, Lands In Korea haired girl, the direct descendant of Bartz and a novice in
. Siliconera. July 25, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
the art of summoning (she can only summon Chocobo),
[12] Final Fantasy Brigade Tops 500,000 Members. Adri- and became a vessel for the Wind Crystal after the others were taken. Supporting characters include: Valkus is
asang. January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
the bumbling general of the Tycoon air force, leading the
[13] Financial Results Brieng Session: Fiscal Year Ended ag-airship Iron Wing, who, despite his aggressiveness
March 31, 2012. Square Enix. May 14, 2012. p. 7. and large size, is ercely loyal to Queen Lenna; Rouge, a
scantily clad pirate captain, with a love for all things shiny,
who attempted to take the Wind Crystal from Linaly and
[14] Mike Fahey (December 14, 2012). Final Fantasy Air- company, but was captured by Tycoon and held prisoner
borne Brigade is Live and Pretty Disappointing. Kotaku. until Queen Lenna oered her a full pardon if she agreed
to aid the others; and Mid, Cid's grandson, an engineer
who returns as a ghost to aid the heroes with his advice
and general knowledge of historical events important to
the series, and, although apparently unable to physically
manipulate the world in this state, is clever enough to con Ocial website (Japanese)
vince his living allies to complete tasks with words alone.
[10] Michael McWhertor (November 29, 2012). Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade brings cute social airship battles to
iOS, Android. Polygon. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
4.7 Final Fantasy: Legend of the

Crystals
The antagonist of Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals is

Ra Devil, a powerful wizard intent on gaining the power
of the Void for his own ambition. He steals Cid's brain
away in hopes of using its knowledge of the four Crystals
to his advantage, assuming his true form, Deathgyunos,
once he succeeds.
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (

Fainaru Fantaj ) is an anime OVA based
on the Final Fantasy series of role-playing video games.
It was released in Japan in 1994* [1] and distributed by 4.7.3 Production
Urban Vision in 1997 in North America on VHS. Urban
Vision have since lost the distribution license and to date Music
the series hasn't been released in any other format, such
as DVD, following its initial video release.
The original score was composed by Masahiko Sato and
Legend of the Crystals takes place 200 years after the contains numerous cues to Nobuo Uematsu's original
V including the opening and
events of Final Fantasy V.* [2] It is divided into four soundtrack to Final Fantasy
*
the
Chocobo
theme.
[3]
thirty-minute OVA episodes spanning two VHS tapes.
4.7.1
Plot
Episodes
The story takes place on the same world as Final Fantasy Legend of the Crystals is separated into 4 individually tiV, named Planet R, set two hundred years in the future, tled episodes:
where three of the four crystals have been stolen. The
original heroes in Final Fantasy V are now legends of the
1. Episode I - Wind Chapter
past, and a new evil, Deathgyunos, has risen on the Black
Moon and must be dealt with. Mid, a recurring character
2. Episode II - Fire Chapter
from Final Fantasy V, contacts a new hero and heroine:
Prettz (Pritz) and Linaly (a descendant of Bartz). They
eventually meet the sky pirate Rouge and Commander
3. Episode III - Dragon Chapter
Valcus, commander of The Iron Wing.
4. Episode IV - Star Chapter
4.7.2
Characters
In VHS format, Episodes I and II were contained on the

The OVA introduces several original characters and a few rst video, with episodes III and IV on the second, later
characters who made an appearance in Final Fantasy V. released as a boxed set.
328
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Voice actors
4.8 Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
4.7.4
For the Game Boy title called Mystic Quest in Europe,

see Final Fantasy Adventure.
Reception
The OVA has had mixed reviews. IGN described it as

notable for being the rst sequel to a Final Fantasy title,
but stated it did not become a favourite addition to the
Final Fantasy Legacy, citing its animation asnothing
specialand noting its reliance on comedy over dramatic
story telling.* [4] T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews called it a
cruel mockery of all Final Fantasy stands for, citing it as
basing the storyline o the weakesttitle in the series,
and citing the nale as anti-climactic and the villain disappointing.* [5] Animefringe criticized it as one of several
failed attempts to translate Final Fantasy to lm, calling
it a lacklustre and drawn-out retelling of Final Fantasy
V".* [6] Kotaku called the lma messfor its un-Final
Fantasy aesthetic and fan service.* [7]
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, released as Mystic Quest

Legend in PAL regions and as Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest (USA
Fainaru Fantaj Y Esu Misutikku Kuesuto) in Japan, is a role-playing video game for the Super
Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released
as a spin-o to Square's popular Final Fantasy series
of video games. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was rst
released in North America in 1992 and marketed as a
simplied role-playing game...designed for the entrylevel player* [1] in an attempt to broaden the genre's
appeal.* [2] The game's presentation and battle system is
broadly similar to that of the main series, but it diered
However, GameSpot described it as a worthy adaptation in its inclusion of action-adventure game elements. Along
of the series, and noted while the animation wassome- with Final Fantasy Adventure, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
what simple, the story was immersive and praised it for was the rst Final Fantasy game to be released in Europe.
not meandering to include all aspects of the game.* [8] EX
praised the title heavily, noting the similarity to Square's In the game, the player controls a youth named Benjamin
existing characters helped lend credence to the Final Fan- in his quest to save the world. His goal is to reclaim a set
tasy title. They additionally noted with exception to the of stolen crystals that determine the state of the world's
backgrounds the animation was good, and the dubbed four elemental powers. The gameplay takes a departure
voices for the English version were believable, notably from the main series in a variety of ways. Many series staLinaly's and Prettz's, and added "Final Fantasy provides ples are eliminated, such as random battles, save points,
a good balance of action, adventure, and just enough hu- manual equipment, and the party system. The game received middling reviews and sales in North America and
mour to make the characters personable.* [9]
Japan, citing its simplied gameplay and lack of depth in
the game's story. Over time, the game has kept the reputation for being a beginner's Final Fantasyand has
4.7.5 See also
been praised for its music.
4.7.6
References
[1] NTT Publishing Information Paper (in Japanese). 1994.
4.8.1 Gameplay
[2]International News. Electronic Gaming Monthly (55)

(EGM Media, LLC). February 1994. p. 78.
Exploration
[3] Marc. Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (review)".

AnimeWorld.com. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
[4] Isler, Ramsey (2007-12-17). Gaming to Anime: Final
Fantasy VI. IGN. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
[5] Ross, Carlos, Raphael See, Sam Yu.Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals. T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
[6] Arnold, Adam. Final Fantasy: Unlimited - One Wild
Ride. Animefringe. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
[7] Richard Eisenbeis (February 26, 2013). Final Fantasy:
Legend of the Crystals is a Lot Worse Than I Remember
. Kotaku. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
[8] The History of Game Movies. GameSpot. Retrieved
2009-07-03.
[9] McCarter, Charles (1998). Final Fantasy. EX 2 (8).
Like previous games in the series, Final Fantasy Mystic

Quest is presented in a top-down perspective (or bird's eye
view), with players directly navigating the main character
around the world to interact with objects and people. The
game features a unique way of traveling the world map.
Unlike past Final Fantasy games, players cannot freely
roam the world map. Instead, they travel along set paths
from oneicon(pictorial image on the world map) to the
next. Some routes are blocked o (restriction is indicated
by a gray arrow), but become accessible when the player
succeeds in a specic task, such as completing a dungeon. Once its path is open, the player can enter an icon;
the game's plot and action takes place within these icons,
which include towns, dungeons, and battleelds.* [3] The
game is characterized by featuring action-adventure game
elements; besides jumping, players can use weapons outside of battle, which play an active role in exploration.
Players can chop down trees with an axe, detonate bombs
4.8. FINAL FANTASY MYSTIC QUEST

to open sealed doorways, or use a grappling hook to clear
wide gaps.* [4] The game also has more puzzles than earlier Final Fantasy games. In the Falls Basin, for example,
players must move pillars of ice across the ground level
in such a fashion that they can be used as platforms to
jump across on the second level. Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest also does away with save points; players can save
their progress at any time during exploration.* [5]
Battle system
329
ical prowess, accuracy, and evasion. Character statistics
are driven by experience points (EXP) gained from winning battles, which accumulate until players achieve milestones known as experience levels.Besides awarding
experience points, battling enemies also earns the player
Gold Pieces (GP), which can be used to buy weapons,
armor, and curative items. In the absence of random enemy encounters, battleelds are scattered across the world
map. Players are immediately thrust into a battle when
entering a battleeld, and must win ten enemy battles to
clean outthe battleeld. Once a battleeld is cleaned
out, players are awarded either a large amount of experience, a large amount of GP, a piece of armor, or a magic
spell.* [6]
Customization
Benjamin and Tristam facing enemies on the battle screen
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest eliminates the system of

random enemy encounters, a trademark of the main series. Instead, battles are represented in dungeons as stationary enemy sprites, and the player is given the option of
approaching the enemy and engaging a battle. Once engaged in battle, the player is thrust into the battle screen,
which presents a window-based menu with three commands to choose from: battle, run, or control. Running from battle transports the player back to the eld
screen, while choosing controltoggles between the
ally's battle mode, where the player can manually control
the main character's ally or opt for a computer-controlled
ally. If players choose to battle, they are presented with
a submenu of four more options: physically attack the
enemy, cast a spell, use a curative item (such as a Cure
potion), or defend.* [6] The game's battle system relies
on conditional turn-based combat, where the characters
and enemies cycle through roundsin battling each
other, with the most turns awarded to the fastest character. Character health is represented by an incremental life
bar, although the player may choose to have it displayed
in numerical fractions as in most role-playing games. If
all character life bars reach zero, the game is over, but
the player is given the option of continuing and restarting the battle. If the player chooses this option, however,
the main character's attack power may suer temporarily
as a penalty. A character's performance in battle is determined by numerical gures (called statistics) for vitality, attacking power, defensive capabilities, speed, mag-
The hero uses a grappling hook, although it cannot actually grip

or open a treasure chest.
Unlike all other Final Fantasy games, players cannot

manually equip characters with armor. Instead, newly acquired armor replaces the main character's current equipment, or upgrades a current version of a weapon, e.g. obtaining the knight sword will replace the steel sword. Using the L and R buttons allow the user to cycle through the
weapons that have been collected so far. Benjamin uses
four types of weapons: swords, axes, bombs, and claws.
Although the weapons share a similar function in battle,
all have dierent purposes when exploring the eld map.
The Dragon Claw, for example, doubles as a grappling
hook. The weapon arsenal in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
is considerably smaller than most role-playing games.* [7]
Magic in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is not learned by
designated spellcasters through experience. Instead, the
main character acquires magic spells through treasure
chests or as a reward for clearing out battleelds. The system of spellcasting is similar to that of the original Final
Fantasy; rather than using magic points to draw upon for
supplying magic, spells are used according to a set number for their type, i.e., white magic, black magic, or wiz-
330
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
ard magic. The allotted number for each type increases

as a character levels up. A spell's eectiveness is also
proportional to a character's experience level. The higher
the character's level, the more powerful the Cure spell,
for example. The spell catalog in Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest is limited compared to most other Final Fantasy
games.* [7] Items in the game are analogous to the spells:
their potency increases as the character levels up. The
Heal potion acts as a cure-all for status ailment, eliminating the need for status recovery items.* [7]
4.8.2
Plot
Setting
The ctional events of Final Fantasy Mystic Quest take
place on a single continent of an unnamed world, which is
divided into four distinct regions: Foresta, Aquaria, Fireburg, and Windia. The welfare of each region is determined by the state of one of four shining crystals: earth,
water, re, and wind, respectively. For centuries the Focus Tower had stood at the heart of the world. It had been
a center for trade and knowledge, and the world's people
met there to peacefully settle their dierences. But on
one warm summer day, powerful monsters stormed the
Tower, stole the four crystals, and then took o with the
magical coins that kept the Tower's doors unlocked. The
monsters began consuming the power of the crystals; they
grew in strength while the world began to decay. An old
prophecy tells that at the time the vile foursteal the
power and divide the world behind four doors, a knight
will appear to vanquish the darkness.* [8]
Story
Benjamin heals Kaeli.* [8]

Benjamin is then told that Aquaria is in danger, and is in
need of help. He is told (by the Old Man and various others) that he should see Spencer. He is also told that a girl
named Phoebe can help him as well. After proceeding
through the rst stage of the Focus Tower, and arriving in
the province of Aquaria, Benjamin locates Phoebe, and
learns that Spencer is trapped underground by thick ice
oes. Phoebe needs the wakewater,which is said to
be able to help free Aquaria. Benjamin and Phoebe head
to the (aptly named) Wintry Cave and defeat a monster
to obtain the Libra Crest. Using this crest to enter the
Libra Temple, they nd that the source of the wakewaterhas dried up. Finding the Old Man in the back
of the Libra Temple, they nd that he holds the only bag
(water skin, actually) of wakewater, and to use it on the
plant in the center of town. Back in Aquaria, they nd
that the wakewater doesn't work, and reviving the crystal is the only thing that will save the town and Spencer.
They head o for the Ice Pyramid and defeat the second of the Vile Evils, the Ice Golem. The Ice Crystal is
saved, and Benjamin and Phoebe head back to Aquaria.
They nd the town is now like Foresta (after the crystal
is revived there) and Spencer is back and digging his tunnel to save Captain Mac (Kaeli's Father). Upon leaving,
Spencer hands the Venus Key to Benjamin, and tells him
to head for Fireburg.* [8]
Benjamin arrives in the Focus Tower to nd the Old Man
again, who tells him to nd Reuben, and disappears. Benjamin then heads for Fireburg, and nds Reuben. Reuben
joins when Benjamin promises to help free Reuben's dad,
Arion. Upon nding Tristam in the Inn (who gives Benjamin the Multi-Key), they nd the coward who left Arion in the mine in a locked house. He teaches Benjamin
how to throw the bombs and says that it will free Arion. Benjamin and Reuben then proceed to the Mine
and free Arion. Arion tells some tales of how the Fire
Crystal has gone berserk, and Reuben goes o with Benjamin to the Volcano to stop the Vile Evil from stealing
the cyrstal's power. After defeating the Dualhead Hydra,
Benjamin and Reuben nd the Fire Crystal returning to
power. They decide to head to Windia, and Reuben is
ambushed by monsters and falls o the rope bridge. Tristam comes along and helps Benjamin cross the bridge, but
they are stymied by a tree who won't talk to them. Tristam says that there is a gal in Foresta who can talk to tree
spirits, and the two drop in on Aquaria where Kaeli was
trying to nd Spencer. Benjamin and Tristam go down
into the tunnel and nd Spencer, who tells Tristam of a
great treasure. They leave, and Phoebe plants a bomb
that collapses a tunnel Spencer was building. She leaves
to tell Spencer what happened, and Benjamin takes Kaeli
to the Alive Forest to talk to the dormant tree spirit. He
tells them that he will take them to Windia if they kill
the monsters dwelling within him. They do, and he takes
them to Windia.* [8]
The game opens with an adventurous youth named Benjamin climbing the Hill of Destiny.* [8] While exploring,
his village is destroyed in an earthquake. As Benjamin
is climbing the Hill, he meets a mysterious old man who
charges Benjamin with fullling the knight's prophecy.
Although initially in disbelief, Benjamin accepts the role
and the Old Man shows him the Focus Tower (supposedly the center of the World). After defeating a monster at the top of the hill, Benjamin follows the Old Man
to the Level Forest, where he is tasked with recovering
the Crystal of Earth. Proceeding to Foresta, he meets
with an axe-wielding girl named Kaeli, who agrees to help
Benjamin if he can help her rid the Level Forest of monsters. Kaeli is ambushed and poisoned in the process, and
her mother informs Benjamin of the Elixir and where it
can be found. Benjamin's search for Elixir to heal Kaeli
brings him to Bone Dungeon, where he's aided by a treasure hunter named Tristam in succeeding dual purposes:
not only does Benjamin get Elixir from Tristam to heal
Kaeli, but he defeats one of the four Vile Evils, Flamerous Rex, to free the Crystal of Earth and in turn restore
life to the dying village of Foresta. Tristam leaves and Upon arriving in Windia, Benjamin and Kaeli nd Otto,
4.8. FINAL FANTASY MYSTIC QUEST

whose daughter was caught in Pazuzu's Tower when the
winds from nearby Mount Gale knocked out his Rainbow Road. The only way the road works is when there is
no wind, so Benjamin and Kaeli proceed to Mount Gale
and stop the wind by defeating a powerful monster at the
top. After returning to Windia, Otto powers up the Rainbow Road and the two adventurers proceed to Pazuzu's
Tower. After giving chase, they corner Pazuzu and defeat
the fourth Vile Evil and restore the Wind Crystal. Norma
is reunited with Otto, and Kaeli stays to take care of her.
Reuben shows up and after a series of long events Captain
Mac is rescued. Reuben falls down because of the injury
sustained on the Rope Bridge and Phoebe joins you.* [8]
331
of the icons - from caves to the enemy sprites - are a colorupgraded version of Final Fantasy Legend III's character
set. Besides allowing for computer-controlled allies, the
game did away with random battles, complicated storylines, text-based menus, and so on. To appeal to the perceived tastes of North American audiences, which gravitated towards fast-paced games, Square included actionadventure game elements; players could now brandish
weapons outside of battle, jump, use a grappling hook, set
bombs to open new paths. and so on.* [11] North American translator Ted Woolsey explained that The action/adventure players...are larger in numbers and the demographic is dierent. They tend to be younger and like
the idea of jumping straight into the action with a sword
in their hands; it's an empowerment issue - you get to go
out there, start whacking things and it feels good! With
the more traditional RPGs, it takes a good 15 or 20 hours
of playing before you're nally hooked.* [12] Woolsey
stated that Mystic Quest was one of the easiest games he
had to translate, due to the game's small size.* [13] Because the game was marketed towards a younger demographic, the game sold for US$39.99.* [14] Mystic Quest
also came with an Ocial Strategy Guide that helped inexperienced and new RPG players complete it.
The Old Man tells Benjamin an ominous addendum to

the prophecy:the one behind the four is darker than the
night, and rises midst the land.It becomes known that the
Dark King is the true source of evil. Benjamin thus sails
to Doom Castle to confront the Dark King, who threatens
to enslave Benjamin along with the rest of mankind. The
Dark King claims that he wrote and spread the prophecy
Benjamin had followed throughout his quest. Once the
Dark King is defeated, the old man congratulates Benjamin and reveals that he is the Fifth Crystal, The Crystal
of Light in the guise of a human. At the end of the game,
Benjamin is seen still craving adventure, and he borrows
the ship from Captain Mac as his friends gather to wish Release
him o. While sailing, Tristam makes a surprise appearance.* [8]
After its U.S. debut, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was released in Japan under the title Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest.* [9] The European release of the game was re4.8.3 Development
leased in English, German and French, and had the tiAlthough designed by one of Square's development teams tle changed to Mystic Quest Legend to avoid confusion
which had been released in
in Japan, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was specically with Final Fantasy Adventure,
*
Europe
as
Mystic
Quest.
[15]
Final
Fantasy Mystic Quest
geared for the U.S. market. At the time, console rolewas
rst
unveiled
in
June
at
the
1992
Summer Consumer
playing games were not a major genre in North AmerElectronics
Show
in
Chicago,
where
it was a popular
ica; Square thus attempted to broaden the genre's ap*
venue,
[2]
and
the
game
was
later
presented
in more de*
peal through Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. [2] Square had
tail
in
the
Fall
1992
issue
of
the
Ogopogo
Examiner.
already released several Final Fantasy spinos in North
America, including the rst three titles in the SaGa (series) asFinal Fantasy Legend, and the rst Mana (series) game as Final Fantasy Adventure, and wished
to further break into the popular American consciousness.* [9] Square's executives cited the alleged diculty
of RPGs as the reason Americans shied away from them,
and eased the diculty level by tweaking various aspects
of the main series' gameplay.* [2] The American release
of Final Fantasy IV had been made much easier, for example, and Mystic Quest was made easier still, even having the Japanese developers work with the American ofces to make sure the game was playable for children.* [9]
Mystic Quest was developed in a graphic and gameplay
style similar to Final Fantasy Legend III (part of the aforementioned SaGa series of games). The gameplay shares
numerous similarities with that title, featuring a very similar battle system, graphical interface, and dungeon system.* [10] Even the jumpfeature from Final Fantasy
Legend III has been reproduced faithfully, and almost all
Audio
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest's soundtrack was composed
by Ryuji Sasai and Yasuhiro Kawakami.* [16] It was the
rst game in the Final Fantasy series not to be composed
by regular series composer Uematsu.* [17] The album was
rst released on one Compact Disc by NTT Publishing
on September 10, 1993.* [16] ROM capacity limits and
hardware limitations made the composition process dicult.* [18] After the game was completed, Sasai recorded
two remixes on his days o for the game's album, and personally played the guitar parts.* [18]Mountain Range of
Whirlwindswas built o of Sasai's liking of the sound
of the french horn, and its ability to go the length of the
song and convey a sense of mountains.* [18] The track
Last Castlewas written in a short time, and was used
to create imagery of a eld, but its length left very little
space for the Battle 3song.* [18]'
332
4.8.4
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Reception
On its release, it scored a 3.725/5 in the November 1992

issue of Nintendo Power,* [20] and a 7.25/10 in Electronic
Gaming Monthly.* [19] The game did not generate much
excitement in either America or Japan, although it is
thought to have appealed to younger fans.* [9] The game
ultimately failed in its bid to bring mainstream popularity to console RPGs (a feat that wouldn't be accomplished until Final Fantasy VII ve years later), and simultaneously alienated fans of the series anticipating another
epic following Final Fantasy IV.* [22] It has also been described as Final Fantasy with an identity crisisdue to
the inherent aw of creating a game that didn't appeal to
the masses or the hard-core gaming audience.* [23] European fans of the Final Fantasy series were known to pass
up Mystic Quest and import Final Fantasy V and play the
game with a Kanji dictionary and printed translations that
were shared between them.* [24]
Inc.
[3] Square Co., ed. (1992). Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual. Square Soft. pp. 89. SNS-MQ-USA.
[4] Square Co., ed. (1992). Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual. Square Soft. pp. 1213. SNS-MQUSA.
[8] Square Co., ed. (1992). Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual. Square Soft. pp. 45. SNS-MQ-USA.
Years later, reviewers have not looked favorably on Mystic Quest, including Kotaku calling it the worst Final [9] Travis Fahs (June 26, 2009). IGN Presents the History
of Final Fantasy. IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
Fantasy, and Games Radar calling it a franchise embarrassment for its enemies that stand still and wait for
[10] Jason Schreier (August 24, 2010). Ode To The Fiplayers to attack.* [25]* [26] IGN rated the Wii Virtual
nal Fantasy Games That Werent Really Final Fantasy
Console release a 6.0, or Okay, citing an extremely
Games. Kotaku. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
repetitive and simple battle system, and very little character development.* [27] 1UP.com rated the game a Not [11] Spencer (June 22, 2010). Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Getting A Phoenix Down?". Siliconera. Retrieved March
Worth It!", calling handholdingand insubstantial
8,
2013.
*
. [28]
It was, however, praised for its music, including 1UP.com
praising its sweet sampled metal guitar licks, and
listed the nal boss battle music as one of the must download songs for the Final Fantasy music game Theatrhythm
Final Fantasy.* [29]* [30] It was also praised by Games
Radar for its music, mentioning the boss battle in their
Game Music of the Daycolumn, and also mentioning the rest of the game music as smooth and easy listening.* [31] On April 1, 2006, GameSpot included Mystic
Quest in an April's Fools list entitledTop 10 Final Fantasy Games, which mostly consisted of spin-os from
the main series and unrelated games. Mystic Quest was
praisedfor being easy and having simplistic graphics
and plot.* [32] In October 2010, the game was released
on Nintendo's Virtual Console.* [33] Famitsu has also reported that Square was preparing the game for release on
the Android mobile platform in 2012.* [34]
[12] Neil West (September 1994). Interview with Ted

Woolsey. Super Play Magazine
[13] Bob Rork (May 26, 2005). Bob Rork Woolsey Interview. Chrono Compendium. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
[14] The History of Final Fantasy -Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest. GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
[15] Jaz Rignall (May 7, 2012). Denitive Years in Gaming
History: 1991. Eurogamer. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
[16] Gann, Patrick (2001-03-23).Final Fantasy USA Mystic
Quest Sound Collections. RPGFan. Archived from the
[17] Chris (2007-09-10).Ryuji Sasai :: Biography. Square
Enix Music Online. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
[18] Jayson Napolitano (September 29, 2009). School of
Rock: Interview With Squaresoft Composer Ryuji Sasai
. Original Sound Version. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
The main character Benjamin and two songs appear in

the rhythm game Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain
[19]Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Review. Electronic Gaming
Call.* [35]* [36]
Monthly. November 1992.
4.8.5
References
[1] Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (Game Case). Square Soft, Inc.
1992.
[2] Ted Woolsey (1992). Ogopogo Examiner. Square Soft,
[20]Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Review. Nintendo Power

(42). November 1992.
[21] Musashi. RPGFan Reviews - Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest. RPGFan. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
[22] The History of Square. GameSpot. Retrieved 200609-26.
4.9. FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT
333
Senshi -Fainaru Fantaj Gaiden-, lit. Four Warriors of

Light -Final Fantasy Side Story-), is a role-playing video
game developed by Matrix Software and published by
[24] Simon Parkin (October 27, 2006). Flight of Fantasy.
Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. It is a spin-o of the
Eurogamer. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
Final Fantasy series and was released by Square Enix in
[25] Charlie Barratt (January 7, 2008). The Top 7... Fran- Japan in Fall 2009.* [1] The game was then released in
chise Embarrassments. Games Radar. Retrieved March America and Europe in Fall 2010.
[23] Retro Review: Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. 8BitGuys.
8, 2013.
[26] Michael Fahey (October 18, 2010). The Nintendo
Download: The Worst Final Fantasy. Kotaku. Retrieved
March 8, 2013.
The game tells the story of a boy named Brandt who, on

his 14th birthday, is summoned by the king to rescue a
princess who has been kidnapped by the Witch of the
North.* [2]
[27] Lucas M. Thomas (October 19, 2010). Final Fantasy:

Mystic Quest Review. IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
A sequel to the game was considered by the development

team, and eventually evolved into the game Bravely Default, which was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan
[28] Jeremy Parish (December 8, 2007).Final Fantasy Series
in October 2012, Europe in December 2013 and North
Roundup. 1UP.com. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
America in February 2014.
[29] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy D.I.Y.. 1UP.com. June
25, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
[30] Chris Kohler (October 18, 2010). Final Fantasy Mystic
Quest Now Available on Virtual Console. Wired (magazine). Retrieved March 8, 2013.
4.9.1 Gameplay
Enemies are encountered randomly, and the turn-based

battle system is reminiscent of the Final Fantasy games
[31] Brett Elston (October 18, 2010).Game music of the day: released for the Famicom, but uses aBoostcommand
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Games Radar. Retrieved in lieu of traditional magic points.* [1] The game features
March 8, 2013.
a similar Job System called aCrown Systemwhich al[32] TenSpot: Top 10 Final Fantasy Games. GameSpot. lows players to choose what abilities they want depending
on what headgear their character is wearing.* [3] Crowns,
2005-04-01. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
weapons and armor can be upgraded by adding jewels to
[33] Eddie Makuch (October 18, 2010). Final Fantasy Mys- them.* [4]
tic Quest travels to Virtual Console. GameSpot. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
Four players can play together in a Multiplayer co-op

mode to battle enemies. After each battle, players re[34] Chris Velazco (September 16, 2011). Square-Enix ceive battle points. If a player reaches a certain amount
Working On Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy For Android of battle points, they would be able to exchange them for
. Tech Crunch. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
a prize.* [5]
[35] Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call Adds Mystic
Quest, FFT, And Chocobo Songs. Siliconera. April 16,
2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
[36] From Mystic Quest To Lighting Returns, The Spino
Songs In Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call. Siliconera. April 17, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
4.8.6
External links
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest at GameFAQs

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest at MobyGames
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest at RPGamer
4.9.2 Plot
A 14-year old boy named Brandt must present himself
to the king as a custom of entering manhood. Upon arriving, Brandt nds the King distraught and is told to go
nd Princess Aire and save her from the Witch of the
North, Louhi. On the way, Brandt is joined by his friend
Jusqua and the princess's bodyguard Yunita before they
rescue Princess Aire and slay Louhi, and when they return
to town, everyone's been turned to stone and the king is
nowhere to be found.
While Brandt and Yunita attempt to restore Horne's people, Jusqua takes Aire to the city of Liberte. Brandt and
Yunita meet Krinjh in the desert, who helps them nd
4.9 Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of the Merkmal to nd Guera, the kingdom of magic. King
Guera them asks them to slay the Sand Demon, who is acLight
tually a girl named Araidne who Krinjh disappears with.
Aire meets a fairy named Lilibelle who reveals a hidden
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, known in Japan treasure in Liberte. Aire is transformed into a cat. Leavas Hikari no 4 Senshi -Final Fantasy Gaiden- ( 4 ing Jusqua, Aire nds Brandt as the two head to Arbor
- - Hikari No Yon forest. Brandt is turned into a dog.
334
Arbaroc, Guardian of Arbor forces the party to defeat
him in combat. The Queen of Arbor thanks them by
making the Animal Sta into the Transformation Sta so
they can regain their forms while telling them that Rolan
of the oating island of Spelvia may have the way of solving their trouble. However, only Aire makes it across
while Brandt plummets back into Arbor. Meanwhile,
mistaking a normal cat for Aire, Jusqua travels to the city
of Urbeth and nds both Yunita and a sorcerer who offered to lift the animal hex for 10,000 gil. Jusqua learns
the sorcerer was a con artist as he escapes into the night
towards Invidia. Learning of this, Jusqua leaves Yunita
behind and pursues the sorcerer on one of the merchants'
boats. He is reunited with Brandt before learning Aire
was with Brandt the whole time.
With Brandt and Jusqua arriving at Invidia, they meet a
young girl named Rekoteh who assists them in getting the
Dragon's Harp. By that time, the island was over Urbeth
as Yunita chooses to climb up the Tower to the Sky in
order to reach it. She soon meets Aire as the two arrived
into town, nding its ruler, Rolan, locked himself away
in solitude with his bitterness towards humans inuencing the Golems to attack any human. As a result, Yunita
and Aire travel into Rolan's subconscious with the help
of the Witch of the Sky. They destroy the monsters that
were controlling Rolan but this caused him to unleash the
darkness locked away inside him and warped reality itself
by the time the girls are reunited with Brandt and Jusqua.
As a result, the 4 children must embark on an epic quest
to nd the Weapons of Light to save not only their home
of Horne, but even the world from the Dark Lord that the
anicent hero Rolan had sealed.
In Guera's past, Krinjh was a servant to the previous king.
This king was actually Asmodeus, demon of lust, in disguise and used Krinjh to earn the trust of Ariadne to get
a seedling from Arbor to become all-powerful and then
attempted to break them apart. Yunita prevents this by
using the Merkmal to reveal Asmodeus and the groups
defeats him. In return, Krinjh gives them the Shield of
Light. Krinjh becomes king and creates diplomatic relations between Geura and Arbor. In Liberte's past, an
artist, Pione, was attempting to create the most beautiful
piece of art and incorporated Lillibelle into it. However,
the pirate's stole the work and Aire wanted to everything
it took to stop them. It turns out the entire pirate crew
was being possessed and after freeing them, the group
awakens Cetus, the ancient's Rolan's whale and uses him
to help defeat Leviathan, demon of envy.
In Urbeth's past, a plague ravaged the city and the only
cure cost absurd amounts which led to Urbeth to go from
a city of faith to a city commerce. Thauzand's daughter
was unfortunately one of the victims. However, Jusqua
is determined to prevent this and nds a vial of the cure.
Its revealed that the apothecary in town was causing the
plague and selling the overpriced medicine. The group
reveals him to be Beelzebub, demon of gluttony, and defeats him. In return, Thauzand gives the group the Cape
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
of Light and Urbeth becomes a town of the perfect balance of faith and commerce. In Arbor's past, Torte, as
a human, released Belphegor, demon of sloth, in trying
to obtain the spell Lux. As punishment, he was turned
into a mouse and it was decided that no humans would be
allowed in Arbor. In the meantime, Belphegor was trying to possess Arbaroc and destroy Arbor. In the original
history, he succeeded in the possession, but thanks to the
intervention of Torte and the group, he is defeated instead
and the group is rewarded with the legendary white magic
Lux.
In Invidia's past, there was a winter that threatened to
destroy the town. In response, Rekoteh's father who expected her to be as strong as her brother despite being
much younger. He asked her to retrieve the Dragon's
Mark which Brandt decides to go get for her. They give
it to her and when she shows it to her father, he asks the
group to take it and stop whatever is going on at the Sun
Temple. The group arrives and defeats Mammon, demon
of greed. Upon their return, Invidia is nally hit with
spring, and Rekoteh's father apologizes to his daughter
and gives the group the Armor of Light. In Spelvia's past,
the group arrives just before it's too late to save Rolan
from the darkness. They delve into his soul again and defeat Lucifer, demon of pride, freeing Rolan's soul from
darkness and giving him the condence he needs to be a
hero. He gives them the Sword of Light.
In Horne's past, a drought has caused popular to go towards asking Louhi for help. Beneath the castle, despite
this being the date of Aire's birth, the king is contacting Louhi for help. In exchange for Aire, Louhi would
break the seal on the legendary black magic. The group
is appalled that their king would do such a thing and travels to Louhi's mansion. There, Rolan shows up and tells
Louhi to break her agreement with the king and advises
the group to get the Lamp of Truth. With the lamp, they
reveal the king to actually be Satan, demon of wrath, and
defeat him. Brandt's parrot shows up and uses the Lamp
of Truth to turn into the real king. It should be noted, that
in the beginning of the game, they were actually tricked
into serving Satan meaning they were actually on the side
of evil since Louhi also works for Rolan. This also implies that Satan was planning to betray Louhi and violate
the contract for a long time. In thanks, the king gives the
group the legendary black magic Desolator. It is interesting to note that Horne will remain as it appears in the
present until the other demons are defeated, making Satan
the nal boss before the nal dungeon, the Star Chamber.
This could emphasise the fact that reality has been warped
terribly, to the extent that while other regions have returned to the past, Spelvia and Horne remain as they appear in the present.
At this time, the Dark World opens and with the help
of Cetus, the group enters, and defeats Asmodeus,
Leviathan, Beelzebub, Belphegor, Mammon, and Satan
again and then faces o against Chaos, the Dark Lord. In
the nal ght after the crystal appears to heal the group,
4.9. FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT
335
Chaos destroys it and still manages to lose to the group was nominated by GameTrailers for Best DS Game of
despite them losing their major source of power. The the Show.* [24]
group then travels the world returning all seven of their
recently obtained items. Now that the world is returned
to normal, everyone remembers them and all they have 4.9.5 References
done for them.
[1] Gantayat, Anoop (2009-07-01). Square Enix Mystery
Title is a New Final Fantasy Game. IGN.
4.9.3
Development
The 4 Heroes of Light was developed by Matrix Software,

produced by Tomoya Asano and directed by Takashi
Tokita with Akihiko Yoshida serving as character designer and art director and Tomihito Kamiya as sound director.* [2] The game was initially to be revealed through
a teaser website with a countdown timer that was to end
on July 6, 2009. Due to the number 4 in the website and
being the mark of the 20th Anniversary of the SaGa series, it was speculated to be SaGa 4.* [6] The game was
revealed by Weekly Shnen Jump magazine ve days before the teaser site's timer ended.* [7]
The game was designed to be a throwback to previous
simpler games in contrast to modern RPGs, however
noted to have maze-like towns.* [8] Tomoya Asano has
described the game as a classic fantasy RPG using today's technology.* [2] Yoshida Akihiko designed the
game with a style resembling picture books.* [9]
The Development team drew inspiration from Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy V for the crown system and
Final Fantasy IV for story and individual characters. The
team also looked for inuence in standard RPGs for the
NES system such as Final Fantasy I - III and Dragon
Quest I - III.* [10]
4.9.4
Reception
[2] Gantayat, Anoop (2009-07-06).Four Warriors of Light:

Final Fantasy Gaiden Promises Classic RPG Experience
. Andriasang.com.
[3] A Look At The JobsIn Final Fantasy Gaiden: The
Four Light Warriors. Siliconera. July 21, 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
[4] Hindman, Janelle (2009-11-08). Hikari no 4 Senshi
(Four Warriors of Light): Final Fantasy Gaiden Review
. RPG Land. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
[5]
4 - - (in
Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
[6] Square Enix Sketch Teases New Game. Siliconera.
June 25, 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
[7] Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden Revealed
. Siliconera. July 1, 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
[8] Final Fantasy Gaiden: The Four Light Warriors Trailer
Shows Spiraling Towns. Siliconera. July 10, 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
[9] " DS 4 -
-
". Game Watch. July 15, 2009. Retrieved
2013-06-17.
[10] Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Interview. Realm
of Gaming. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light was the second [11] Jeremy Parish (2010-09-30). Final Fantasy: THe 4
Heroes of Light Review. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2014best-selling game in Japan during its week of release at
*
01-10.
115,000 units sold. [19] With an additional 35,000 units
sold the following, it was reported that the game sold out [12] Keza MacDonald (2010-10-05). Final Fantasy: The 4
in the region.* [20]* [21] The game sold 178,510 copies
Heroes of Light Review. Eurogamer. Retrieved 2014by the end of November 2009.* [22]
01-10.
The game had received mixed to positive reviews by critics. The game holds an aggregated score of 71 out of 100
approval rating based on 49 reviews on Metacritic.* [23] It
was praised by Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu with
one of the four reviewers stating,The story, music, and
so on evokes memories of an older age and it mixes well
with the modern gameplay to make things seem pretty
fresh.* [13] Janelle Hindman's review on RPG Land concluded,Players who don't mind a little awkwardness will
enjoy this humble Final Fantasy side storyand labeled
the gameGood.* [4] IGN also praised the game noting
its unique style with an old school SNES feel.* [15]
[13] Giord, Kevin (October 21, 2009). Japan Review

Check: Tekken 6, Final Fantasy Gaiden. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
[14] Joe Juba (2010-10-05). Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of
Light. Game Informer. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
[15] Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Review. IGN.
2010-10-05. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
[16] Corbie Dillard (2010-10-13). Final Fantasy: The 4
Heroes of Light Review. NintendoLife. Retrieved 201401-10.
The game was also showcased at E3 2010 where it gen- [17] Bob Richardson (2010-10-30). Final Fantasy: The 4
erated numerous positive responses from the media. It
Heroes of Light. RPGFan. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
336
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
Matsuno's rst project with Square following his departure from Quest in 1995.* [3] In an interview with Akito Inoue, an assistant professor at the International Uni[19] Graft, Kris (November 5, 2009). Japanese Software:
versity of Japan, Inoue mentions that Final Fantasy TacBayonetta For PS3 Leads Charts, Pokemon Dethroned.
tics
was made because of how casual gamers are usually
Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
put o by games with branching storylines found in other
[20] McWhertor, Michael (November 12, 2009). Konami Matsuno's titles such as Tactics Ogre.* [4]
[18] Mike JuMeSynMoehnke. Final Fantasy: The 4
Heroes of Light - Sta Review. RPGamer.
Kicks Bayonetta O Top Of Japan's Game Charts. Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-11-12.

[21] Spencer (November 12, 2009). Final Fantasy Gaiden:
The Four Warriors Of Light Sells Out In Japan. Siliconera. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
[22] " TOP30
2009 11 23 11 29 " (in Japanese).
Famitsu. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
[23] Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light for DS reviews
. Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
[24] Best DS Game E3 2010. GameTrailers. 2010-06-24.
4.9.6
External links
Ocial site (Japanese)

Ocial English site
4.10 Final Fantasy Tactics (series)

The Final Fantasy Tactics series is a series of tactical
role-playing games developed by Square Co., now Square
Enix. It consists of ve titles, Final Fantasy Tactics, its
remake Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions,
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and the sequel to Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. The
games are set in the Ivalice setting of the Final Fantasy
series.
The rst title, Final Fantasy Tactics was released for the
Sony PlayStation in 1997 (Japan) and in 1998 (United
States), and then remade and enhanced as Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, released in 2007
(worldwide) for PlayStation Portable (ported to iPhone
in 2011* [1]). The second title, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003
(worldwide), and had a sequel Final Fantasy Tactics A2:
Grimoire of the Rift released on the Nintendo DS in 2007
(Japan) and in 2008 (United States, Europe). A new social title called Final Fantasy Tactics S was revealed in
April 2013 for IOS and Android platforms.* [2]
4.10.1
Development
Final Fantasy Tactics was produced mostly by the team

that made Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre, and was Yasumi
Final Fantasy Tactics Advances development began when

Square announced its publishing agreement with Nintendo, and it was later conrmed by the producer
Matsuno. The development team of Tactics Advance,
Square's Product Development Division 4, was constructed from employees of Quest Corporation, and work
began in February 2002.* [5]* [6] This comes after Quest
announced the handover of its software development
team to Square, of which the former is famed for its
Tactics Ogre series.* [7] Initially thought of as a port of
Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was
developed with an entirely new storyline and setting, and
received signicant changes to make it more user-friendly
for the GBA handheld console; e.g. a quick-save function.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions was revealed

on December 13, 2006 in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine as a PlayStation Portable port of Final Fantasy Tactics. The magazine stated additions of cel-shaded full motion videos, and extra job classes among other new features.* [8] The title was originally made for the PlayStation console in 1997. Takamasa Shiba, the current game's
producer, said that Square Enix decided to re-envision
the game a decade later. Because of the extensive gameplay and deep storyline, the PlayStation version would
compel players to spend hours playing it. Shiba cited this
as one of the main reasons why Square chose to develop
it for the PSP, and because of its portability. The subtitle of The War of the Lions was chosen as it illustrates
the backdrop for the story of the two main characters
Ramza and Delita, as well as illustrating the multiplayer
gameplay.* [9] The North American localization of The
War of the Lions has full audio voice acting for the video
sequences in the game.* [10] The slowdown and sound
downgrade, though acknowledged by the localizers, was
not a priority for them to x, being stated asout of their
hands.* [11] Various reviewers have diering opinions
about how the slowdown issue has been addressed; one of
the previews of the North American version claims that
the slowdown has been reduced, stating that now the
technical issues are about on par with the minor slowdown
exhibited in the PS1 release and are no longer distracting
, while others stated that the slowdowns stilloccur when
performing attacks or spells in battle.* [12]* [13]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift had its
North American and European versions add stylus control, unlike the Japanese version.* [14]
4.10. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS (SERIES)
4.10.2
Common elements
Setting
Main article: Ivalice
Ivalice, the setting of the video game series, was rst
shown in Final Fantasy Tactics as a ctional kingdom.
Its geography features ranging landscapes, from plains to
mountains ranges to deserts and forests. It is heavily populated by human beings, although intelligent monsters can
be found living in less populated areas. Magic is predominant in the land, although ruins and artifacts indicated that
past populace had relied on machinery, such as airships
and robots.* [15] The setting was created as a medievallike world where magic and machine exist together; with
usual elements of Final Fantasy; such as Chocobos, Crystals and magic spells, blended into its setting.
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the protagonist lives in
a land called St. Ivalice. Following the characters' discovery of the book called the Gran Grimoire, St. Ivalice was
transformed into a mirrorof the realkingdom of
Ivalice.* [16] The races seen in the world of Tactics AdvanceBangaa, Moogle, Viera and Nu Moureappear
in the game Final Fantasy XII, the setting of which has
come to represent the realIvalice.* [17] The sequel
to the game, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the
Rift, also takes place in both St. Ivalice and the Ivalice of
Final Fantasy XII.* [18] Besides the Final Fantasy Tactics
series, Ivalice has appeared as the setting to Vagrant Story
and Final Fantasy XII.
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy Tactics
Since all of the Tactics games are set in Ivalice, the characters have been seen in multiple games. The characters
of Final Fantasy XII, for example, were seen again the
games Nintendo DS sequel, and character Balthier was
added to the original Tactics remake War of the Lions.
Gameplay
The games are tactical role-playing games, with turnbased combat taking place on a grid on which characters
advance and ght. The type of terrain, and what type of
unit a character is factor into how much damage they do
to one another. Other factors such as elemental aliation
and moral alignment can also be determinants of combat
outcomes.
337
4.10.3 Titles
4.10.4 Music
Main article: Music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series
The music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series, was
primarily composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, assisted by
Masaharu Iwata, Nobuo Uematsu, Kaori Ohkoshi, and
Ayako Saso. The Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack, a compilation of almost all of the music in the
original game, was released by DigiCube in 1997, and
re-released by Square Enix in 2006. As of 2008, no separate soundtrack has been released for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. The soundtrack was well received by critics, who found it to be astounding and one
of the best video game music soundtracks in existence at
the time of its release.
The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack,
a compilation of almost all of the music in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, was released by DigiCube in 2003.
This soundtrack was well received by critics, who praised
the album's composition. A new age arrangement album entitled White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics
Advance, a selection of musical tracks from the game
arranged by Yo Yamazaki, Akira Sasaki, and Satoshi
Henmi, was released by SME Visual Works in 2003.
However, critics did not react as well to this album, nding it to be a mediocre with poor arrangements.
The music for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of
the Rift was also composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, this
time with the assistance of composers from his company Basiscape. The music was released as Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Original Soundtrack
by Square Enix in 2007. It was enjoyed by reviewers,
who found it to be pleasant and rewarding.
4.10.5 Reception
The Final Fantasy Tactics series has proven popular,
mainly due to the intense love of the original, leading to
several sequels and a remake of the rst game. Tactics
has been listed as one of the best Final Fantasy games,
and one of the greatest games ever made. The other titles
have also received favorable reviews.
Final Fantasy Tactics sold 824,671 copies in Japan in
the rst half of 1997.* [25] Since then, the total number
of copies sold in Japan has reached approximately
1,350,000.* [26] In the United States it reached an
estimated sale of 750,000 units as of year 2004.* [27] As
of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped 2.27 million
copies worldwide, with 1.36 million of those copies
being shipped in Japan and 910,000 abroad.* [28] Final
Fantasy Tactics Advance sold over 440,000 copies during
its year of release in Japan, with nearly 225,000 units
being sold in its rst week alone.* [29]* [30] By August
338
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
6, 2004, more than 1 million units of the game were [13] Jem Alexander (2007-10-14).PSP Fanboy review: Final
Fantasy Tactics. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
sold in North America and Europe together.* [31] The
War of the Lions reached the top of Japanese gaming
[14] Square Enix sta (2008-03-19). Dive into the world of
charts, and sold 100,000 copies in the rst month of
Ivalice this summer with Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Gri*
release in the United States. [32] The game was the 53rd
moire of the Rift. square-enix.com. Retrieved 2008-03best-selling game of 2007 in Japan at 301,796 copies
20.
according to Famitsu magazine.* [33] The Ultimate Hits
edition sold an additional 19,488 copies in Japan.* [34] [15] Square (1997-06-20).Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Square Co. Agrias: I hear a 'lost civilization'
Square Enix reports that as of May 31, 2009, Final
is hidden under Goug.... When St. Ajora was alive, airFantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has sold 670,000
ships were in the sky, and human robots in town. But time
copies worldwide, with 310,000 copies sold in Japan,
passed, technology was lost, and no one knows if it ever
240,000 copies in North America, and 120,000 copies
really existed.
*
in Europe. [35]
[16] Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Game Boy Advance. Square Enix.
4.10.6
References
[1] Chris Rawson (August 4, 2011). Final Fantasy Tactics

released for iPhone at last. TAW. AOL. Retrieved
April 11, 2013.
[2] Pitcher, Jenna (April 26, 2013). Square Enix to release
Final Fantasy Tactics S on Mobage. Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
[17] Studio BentStu, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Ultimania

Omega (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 146. ISBN 47575-1821-8.
[18] Craig Harris (May 16, 2007). Interview: Final Fantasy
Tactics A2. IGN. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
[19] Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX: 1997)". Metacritic. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
[20] Final Fantasy Tactics (PS)". Game Rankings. Retrieved

[3] critiqueofgames.net sta (March 19, 2004). "
April 27, 2013.
". Critique of
Games. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
[21] Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Game Boy Advance.
Metacritic. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
[4] Critique of Games: Akito Inoue. Square Haven. May
27, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
[22] Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)".
[5]
150 (in Japanese). [23] Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift: DS.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. 2003-11-18. Archived from the
[24] Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. Game
Rankings. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
[6] Harris, Craig (2002-03-27). Famitsu Conrms Final
Fantasy Tactics GBA. IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-07[25] Famitsu sta. Weekly Famitsu 9/12. Weekly Famitsu
24.
(in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2007.
[7] Gamespot sta (2002-06-19). Square acquires Quest's
[26] Japan Platinum Game Chart. Magic Box. Retrieved
software development division. GameSpot.com. ReDecember 7, 2007.
trieved 2007-07-24.
[8] Nutt, Christian (2006-12-13). Games Radar - DS news
-- A remake and an original game both go portable - get
ready. Games Radar.com. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
[9] Square Enix (2007-09-23). An Inside Look: Episode 2
About the Game (Podcast). Japan.
[10] Ricardo Torres (2007-05-13). Final Fantasy Tactics:
War of Lions Hands-On. Gamespot. Retrieved 200705-14.
[11] Michael Cunningham (2007-06-01). Run to the Sun Square Enix Interview. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
[12] Jeremy Parish (2007-08-24).Final Fantasy Tactics: The
War of the Lions Playstation Portable Preview, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions PSP Preview. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
[27] US Platinum Videogame Chart. Retrieved December

7, 2007.
[28] February 24, 2004. Square Enix. February 9, 2004.
p. 27. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
The-MagicBox.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
[30] Wollenschlaeger, Alex (February 20, 2003). Japandemonium - O the Hook. RPGamer.com. Retrieved
2008-09-07.
[31] Annual Report 2004. Square-Enix.com. August 6,
2004. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
[32] David Radd (2007-12-05).Chart Toppers: Square Enix
Strategizes a Hit with Final Fantasy Tactics. Retrieved
2008-02-28.
4.11. MANA (SERIES)
339
[33] Takahashi (June 18, 2008). Famitsu Top 500 of 2007 Square role-playing game in a similar vein: Final Fan. Gemaga.com. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
tasy.* [3]
[34] Final Fantasy. Famitsu. Garaph. Retrieved 21 July
2012.
[35] Results Brieng: Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2009.
Square-Enix.com. May 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
4.11 Mana (series)

The Mana series, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu (
, lit.Legendary Sacred Sword), is a medievalfantasy action role-playing game series from Square Enix,
created by Koichi Ishii. The series began as a handheld
side story to Square's agship franchise Final Fantasy,
though most Final Fantasy-inspired elements were subsequently dropped, starting with the second installment,
Secret of Mana. It has since grown to include games of
various genres within the ctional world of Mana, with recurring stories involving a world tree, its associated holy
sword, and the ght against forces that would steal their
power. Several character designs, creatures, and musical
themes reappear frequently.
In 1991, Square reused the Seiken Densetsu trademark

for an unrelated Game Boy action role-playing game
directed by Koichi Ishii. Originally developed under
the title Gemma Knights, the game was renamed Seiken
Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (published in North
America as Final Fantasy Adventure and in Europe as
Mystic Quest).* [3] Beginning with Secret of Mana, Seiken
Densetsu was subsequentlyspun ointo its own series
of action role-playing games distinct from Final Fantasy,
with four titles released between 1993 and 2003.* [4] The
Legend of Mana was made 2D because the PlayStation
could not handle the full 3D world Ishii envisioned where
one could interact with natural shaped objects.* [5] In
2005, Square Enix announced plans for World of Mana,
a new series of titles in the Mana franchise, whose titles would span more video game genres than the original series. Koichi Ishii decided even before he worked
on Final Fantasy XI about creating new Mana games,
but rst wanted to create a goal for the new series, and
eventually decided to make it about exploring how to add
the feeling of touchto a game. After he saw the game
Half-Life 2 at E3 in 2003, he felt that its physics engine
was the one he needed.* [5] World of Mana went on to
comprise ve games and one manga. Koichi Ishii served
as director or producer for all Mana games. In 2006,
a Mana installment for the Wii was considered but did
not enter development.* [6] In April 2007, a month after
the release of the nal game of the World of Mana, Ishii
left Square Enix to lead his own development company,
named Grezzo.* [7]* [8]
In 2003, the series comprised ve games; since 2006,

it has experienced a revival through the World of Mana
campaign, with four new games released in the span of
one year. As of 2008, the Mana series comprises eight
console games and two mobile games, in addition to four
manga and one novelization. The Mana series reception
has been very uneven, with Secret of Mana earning wide
acclaim, such as being rated 78th in IGN's yearly Top
100 Games of All Time, and being highly praised for
its musical score, while the games from the World of Creation and design
Mana series have been rated considerably lower. As of
March 2011, Mana series titles have sold over 6 million The Mana series is the result of Koichi Ishii's desire to
create a ctional world. In Ishii's opinion, Mana is not a
units.* [1]
series of video games, but rather a world which is illustrated by and can be explored through video games.* [9]
When working on the series, Koichi Ishii draws inspira4.11.1 Development
tion from abstract images from his memories of childhood, as well as movies and fantasy books that captivated
History
him as a child. Ishii takes care to avoid set conventions,
*
Square trademarked Seiken Densetsu in 1989, [2] intend- and his inuences are correspondingly very wide and noning to use it for a game project subtitled The Emergence specic. Nonetheless, among his literary inuences, he
of Excalibur, and led by Kazuhiko Aoki for the Famicom acknowledges Tove Jansson's Moomin, Lewis Carroll's
Disk System. According to early advertisements, the Alice's Adventures*in Wonderland, and J. R. R. Tolkien's
game would consist of an unprecedented ve oppy disks, Lord of the Rings. [6]
making it one of the largest titles developed for the Famicom up until that point. Although Square solicited preorders for the game, Kaoru Moriyama, a former Square
employee, arms that management canceled the ambitious project before it advanced beyond the early planning
stages. In October 1987, customers who had placed orders were sent a letter informing them of the cancellation
and had their purchases refunded. The letter also suggested to consider placing an order on another upcoming
While some titles of the World of Mana series do share

direct connections with other installments, the games
of the series have few concrete links.* [10] There is no
overall explicit in-game chronological order. Further,
according to Koichi Ishii the games do not take place in
exactly the same world, and characters or elements who
appear in dierent titles are best considered alternate
versions of each other. Instead, the connections between
each title are more abstract than story-based, linked only
340
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
on the karmic level.* [6]
4.11.2
Games
4.11.3
Common elements
The Mana series' Ring Command menu (from Seiken Densetsu

3)
A common element of the series is its seamless, real-time

battle system. The system was developed by Koichi Ishii
and improved upon by Hiromichi Tanaka, out of a desire to create a system dierent from the one featured
in the rst few Final Fantasy titles.* [34] While actionbased, the Mana battle system is intended to be playable
even by newcomers as well as veterans.* [35] The system
is coupled with the distinctive hierarchical Ring Commandmenu system, featured prominently in Secret of
Mana and Seiken Densetsu 3, and to a lesser extent in later
installments. Each ring is a set of icons with a textual infobox explanation which, upon selection, allow the player
to use an item, cast a spell, look up in-game statistics, or
change the game's settings. Navigation within a menu is
achieved by rotating the ring through the cursor left or
right, while switching to a dierent menu is achieved by
pressing the up or down buttons.* [15]* [36] Although not
part of the series, the spin-o Secret of Evermore, developed by the North American Square Soft, was also built
upon the Ring Commandsystem.* [37]
The Mana series features several recurring characters and beings, including Final Fantasy creatures such
as Chocobos in Final Fantasy Adventure and Legend
of Mana,* [14]* [38] as well as Moogles in Secret of
Mana and as a status ailment in Seiken Densetsu 3
and Sword of Mana.* [39]* [40]* [41] Watts is a dwarf
blacksmith wearing a horned helmet who upgrades the
player's weaponry.* [42] Usually, an anthropomorphic
cat merchant is found outside of town areas and allows a player to save the game and buy supplies at
high prices. This role is played by Neko in Secret of

Mana, and Niccolo in Legend of Mana and Sword of
Mana.* [43]* [44]* [45] In the Japanese games these merchants share the name Nikita.
The Mana Tree and the Mana Sword, called Excalibur
in Final Fantasy Adventure 's English version, are recurring plot devices which have been featured in every game
of the series. The mystical Mana Tree is a source of
magic which sustains the balance and nature of the series'
world.* [46] The Mana Sword is typically used to restore
this balance when it becomes lost in the games.* [47] Final
Fantasy Adventure explains that if the Mana Tree dies, a
member of the Mana Family will become the seed
of a new Tree. A sprout of the Mana Tree is called
a Gemma, while protectors of the Tree, who wield the
Mana Sword, are called Gemma Knights.* [48]* [49] In
Seiken Densetsu 3, a Goddess is said to have turned into
the Mana Tree after creating the world with the Mana
Sword.* [50]* [51] The Mana Tree is destroyed near the
game ending in Final Fantasy Adventure and Secret of
Mana, but a character becomes the new Mana Tree in
the former game.* [48]* [52]
Elemental Spirits, also called Mana Spirits, are beings
who govern the magic elements of the series' world,
and are at the core of the games' magic system as they
are used to cast magic spells.* [53] Eight types of spirits have appeared in the series since Secret of Mana, and
each embodies a dierent element. Their names are
homonyms of mythological beings or phenomena.* [54]
In Secret of Mana and Seiken Densetsu 3, usage of their
power is enabled upon the main characters' meeting with
them.* [54]* [55] In Legend of Mana, the spirits serve as
factors in the Land Creation System.* [56] In Legend of
Mana and Sword of Mana, multiple spirits of the same
elemental type appear.* [56]* [57] In terms of storyline,
in Seiken Densetsu 3 and Heroes of Mana, the spirits are
charged to protect the Mana Stones in which the Mana
Goddess sealed eight elemental benevodons (God-Beasts
in the fan-translation of SD3).* [50]* [58]* [59] In Dawn of
Mana's North American version, each spirit speaks with
a particular European accent, such as French or Scottish.* [29]
Rabites, known as Rabi ( ) in the Japanese versions of the games, are cute, ctional, rabbit-like creatures appearing as a common enemy in the series
since its beginning. The Rabite has become a sort
of mascot for the Mana series, much the same way
as the Chocobo represents Final Fantasy, and is one
of its most recognizable icons.* [60] The Rabite resembles a bodiless, one-toothed rabbit with large ears
that curve upward and form a point at the tip, and
a round, puy pink tail that moves by hopping along
the ground. It is most commonly yellow colored, but
also pink, lilac, black, and white, and are variously minor enemies, superbosscharacters and even friendly
units and pets.* [19]* [20]* [61]* [62]* [63]* [64]* [65] Rabites are also mentioned in Final Fantasy X-2 with an
4.11. MANA (SERIES)
A typical Rabite from Children of Mana
accessory comically named Rabite's Foot, which increases a character's luck statistic; as well as Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, where they appear in the description of one of the game's optional missions as an endangered species due to being poached for good luck
charms.* [66] Rabites have appeared prevalently in several pieces of Mana merchandise, including plush dolls,
cushions, lighters, mousepads, straps, telephone cards,
and T-shirts.* [67]
Flammie, sometimes spelled Flammy, is the name of a
ctional species of ying dragons, as well as the proper
name of some its members, featured in several games
of the series. A Flammie's appearance is a mixture of
draconian, mammalian, and reptilian features, and its coloring has varied throughout the series. Flammies typically serve as a means of transportation in the game by
allowing a player's characters to ride on a Flammie's back
to dierent locations in the game's world. In Secret of
Mana and Seiken Densetsu 3, the Super Nintendo's Mode
7 graphic capabilities allows the player to control a Flammie from either a behind the backthird-person or
top-down perspective, and y over the landscape as it
scrolls beneath them.* [68]* [69] In Children of Mana, the
player selects on a world map a number of destinations
he or she wishes to y to with a Flammie. In terms of
story, the Flammies were created by the Moon Gods, and
are part of an endless cycle of destruction and rebirth
as the stronger versions of Flammiesknown as Mana
Beasts, or God Beasts ( Shinj) in Japanese destroy the world and the Mana Sword and Tree restore the
world.* [70]* [71]* [72]
341
Final Fantasy Adventure was composed by Kenji Ito; it
was his second original score.* [73] Ito's music is mainly
inspired by images from the game rather than outside inuences.* [74] The scores for Secret of Mana and Seiken
Densetsu 3 were both composed by Hiroki Kikuta. Despite diculties in dealing with the hardware limitations,
Kikuta tried to express, in the music of Secret of Mana,
twocontrasting styles, namely himself and the game.
This was to create an original score which would be neither pop music nor standard game music.* [75] Kikuta
worked on the music for the two games mostly by himself, spending nearly 24 hours a day in his oce, alternating between composing and editing to create an immersive three-dimensional sound.* [76] Kikuta considers the
score for Secret of Mana his favorite creation.* [77] His
compositions for Secret of Mana and Seiken Densetsu 3
were partly inspired by natural landscapes.* [78] In 1995,
Kikuta released an experimental album of arranged music from the two installments, titled Secret of Mana +,
which features one 50-minute long track.* [79]
Legend of Mana's score was composed by Yoko Shimomura, and of all her compositions, she considers it
the one that best expresses herself.* [80] Kenji Ito returned to the series with Sword of Mana. He also
composed roughly one third of the Children of Mana
soundtrack, while the rest was composed by Masaharu
Iwata and Takayuki Aihara. Ito was the main composer for Dawn of Mana, assisted by Tsuyoshi Sekito, Masayoshi Soken, and Junya Nakano, as well as
main theme composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.* [73] In North
America, purchasers of Dawn of Mana from participating retailers were oered a sampler disc, titled Breath
of Mana, which features a selection of tracks from the
game.* [81] Shimomura has returned to the series with
Heroes of Mana, while also contributing one song to Rise
of Mana.* [82]* [83]
4.11.5 Printed adaptations
A ve-volume manga based on Legend of Mana was

drawn by Shiro Amano and published in Japan by
Enterbrain between 2000 and 2002.* [84] * [85] * [86]
*
[87] * [88] It features a comedic story about the game's
main character, here named Toto. A German version
was published by Egmont Manga & Anime in 2003.* [89]
A collection of four-panel comic strips, drawn by various
authors and titled Sword of Mana Yonkoma Manga
Theatre, was published in Japan by Square Enix on
January 16, 2004. It included a questionnaire that,
if sent back, allowed participants to win illustrations
signed by Koichi Ishii and Shinichi Kameoka, as well as
special T-shirts.* [90] Enterbrain also published a Sword
4.11.4 Music
of Mana manga adaptation in Japan on February 25,
2004, drawn by a collaboration of authors led by Shiro
Main article: Music of the Mana series
Amano.* [91] Two days later, Square Enix published a
two-volume novelization of Sword of Mana in Japan
The Mana series has had several dierent composers. written by Matsui Oohama.* [90] An original manga,
342
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
named Seiken Densetsu: Princess of Mana, was drawn by asbeautifuland stated the background music brought
Satsuki Yoshino and published in the Japanese magazine intensity, suspense, and subtle nuanceto
Gangan Powered on February 22, 2007.* [92]* [93]
the game.* [22] Other reviewers echoed similar praise
with GameSpot calling it excellently orchestrated
and RPGFan calling the music one of the game's good
points.* [21]* [127]
4.11.6
Reception
The Mana series has been mostly well received, though

each title has seen varied levels of success. RPGFan 4.11.7 See also
called Final Fantasy Adventure one of the best things to
happen to the Game Boy,* [106] while IGN considered 4.11.8 References
it the best action RPG on the console after The Legend
of Zelda: Link's Awakening.* [11] GameSpot referred to [1] Businesses Square Enix Holdings. 2011-03-31.
Secret of Mana as one of Square's masterpieces on the
2012-03-25.
SNES".* [107] The game has appeared on several list of
top games, including ranked number 97 on Famitsu's top
[2] " ".
. In100 games of all time.* [108]* [109]* [110]* [111] Famitsu
dustrial Property Digital Library (via WebCite). April 28,
rated Legend of Mana at 31/40 and Heroes of Mana at
32/40.* [112]* [113] The NPD Group ranked Legend of
Mana as the top seller the week of its release, and in [3] Collette, Chris (2003-11-15). Elusions: Final Fantasy
IV / Seiken Densetsu. Lost Levels. Retrieved 2007-062006 was re-released as part of the Ultimate Hits se09.
ries.* [114]* [115]
Many of the World of Mana titles have not been
as critically successful as the original ve games in
the series, and though the franchise has been praised
for their attempts at trying new ways of experiencing the games' ctional world, there have been various gameplay design aws that have hindered the later
games.* [116]* [117] 1UP.com commented that despite
the game's excellent presentation and storytelling, Dawn
of Mana did not match the level of gameplay of the early
Mana games.* [118] Prior to the World of Mana games,
RPGamer called the series atreasured favorite.* [119]
After the release of Heroes of Mana, they commented
that the World of Mana series is cursed, and the future of the series looked bleak.* [120]
The music of the Mana series, especially Secret of
Mana, has received wide acclaim and fan enthusiasm.* [76]* [121] The Secret of Mana soundtrack was
one of the rst ocial soundtracks of video games
music released in the United States and thus before
fully mainstream interest in RPGs.* [122] The Secret
of Mana 's opening theme, Angel's Fear, was
rated at number 7 on IGN's Top Ten RPG Title tracks,
calling it a magical title song that captures our hearts
.* [121] It was also featured in the third Orchestral Game
Concert.* [123] Secret of Mana is also the number 6
most remixed soundtrack on the popular video game
music site OverClocked ReMix, with Seiken Densetsu
3 tied at 18.* [124] The music of the other titles have
also been well received. RPGFan called the music to
Final Fantasy Adventure addictive, despite its low,
MIDI-like quality.* [106] GameSpy called Children of
Mana 's music some of the best Nintendo DS music
yet and referred to it as beautiful.* [125] Game
Informer complimented Dawn of Mana 's music, calling
it good.* [126] IGN referred to Legend of Mana 's music
[4] Basire, Casey (2007-07-14). The World of Mana series

is returning, real-time strategy style. Nintendo World
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[5] Gantayat, Anoop (2006-10-06). HAVOK For Mana.
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[7] Riley, Adam (2009-01-15). FF: Legend II Remade for
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OT, but Koichi Ishii left Square Enix in 2007 to form
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[8]Introduction of Company(in Japanese). Grezzo. 200901-15. Archived from the original on 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
[9] Morcos, Antoine (2006-12-15). Interview Children of
Mana (in French). JeuxFrance.com. Retrieved 200706-15.
[10] Parish, Jeremy (2007-04-05).Heroes of Mana Preview
[11] Sy, Dexter (2000-06-09). Final Fantasy Adventure Review. IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
[12] Spencer (2007-02-13). Manavolution: the original
Seiken Densetsu characters over time. Siliconera. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
[13] Adashek, Jerey (2004-07-28). Square Enix Polls Customers on Potential DS Ports. RPGamer. Retrieved
2006-05-01.
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Square Soft. 1993-10-03. pp. 1314. SNS-K2-USA.
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[17] Reviews: Seiken Densetsu 3. 1UP.com. 2004-05-09.

[37]Ring Commands. Secret of Evermore Instruction Booklet. Square Soft. 1995-09-18. pp. 1018. U/SNSAEOE-USA.
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[19]Monster Picture Book. Seiken Densetsu 3 Kisochishikihen 3 [Seiken Densetsu 3 Basic Knowledge Volume] (in Japanese). NTT Publishing.
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[21] Vestal, Andrew (2000-06-07). Legend of Mana Full
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[26] " Friends of Mana (in Japanese). Square
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Level/area: Monsters Encyclopedia.
Chocobo Nope, not the same Chocobo you know!
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Moogle: ...Puu... / Princess: Listen! He's laughing! /
Sprite: No, crying. Pebblers have taken over their village.
[40]Battle System. Seiken Densetsu 3 Instruction Booklet
(in Japanese). Square Co. 1995-09-30. p. 22. SHVCA3DJ-JPN.
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Neko: Meow, I got caught, purr... need anything now?
Meow busy travelers! I'll even save the game!
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left hand, she held the light of hope, and in her right, she
held the Sword of Mana. The goddess summoned spirits to assist in the creation of life. Finally, to maintain
peace, the goddess cast away the sacred sword. It is said
the sword rusted the moment it left her hand. The goddess
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We will be a bud called gemma and we become a tree.
And the Gemma Knights ght to guard it. I became the
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Was it you..? / Mother: ..Yes, Heroine. But.. you are the
344
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
last member of us Mana Family. To preserve the Mana

Tree we need you to stay here and become the gemma.
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Mana. The only one who can stand against is the ....
Gemma Knight.... with the.... Excalibur....
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God-Beasts, with the Sword of Mana, and sealed them in
8 stones. And, as the darkness left, the world was created.
The goddess of Mana turned herself into a tree, and fell
asleep. Many years passed... []
Level/area: Temple of Light. Priest of Light: It is the implement which the goddess used to create the world. He
who holds the sword of mana has the power to reshape the
world, create and destroy life... it sleeps at the base of the
mana tree under constant guard by the faerie.
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[55]Growth System. Seiken Densetsu 3 Instruction Booklet
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[57]Battle. Sword of Mana Instruction Booklet. Nintendo.
2003-12-01. p. 26. AGB-AVSE-USA.
Level/area: Temple of Light. Faerie: the eight spirits who
guarded the mana stones... they could probably help us.
With their combined energy, we may even be able to open
the gate...
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(2000-06-07).
"Legend of Mana".
PlayStation. Level/area: World History Encyclopedia.
The Creation The Moon Gods created land and ocean,
trees and owers, and gave them light and the power to determine their fate. The light became the Elemental Spirits,
riding in the sky. They released bountiful light, and were
full of desire to serve the Moon Gods' will. The Moon
Gods then nally returned to slumber.
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Dark Clouds [] But dark clouds came to Fa'Diel, and
the Moon Gods created greater beasts, and set them loose
upon the land. The Flammies often quarreled, and the cycle of creation and destruction repeated endlessly. / Rebirth [] Each Moon God chose a Flammy and gave
it a stone. The Flammies rode into the sky. They were
born of the earth to ride in the sky and return to the earth.
They became a ying river of Mana. / The Revelation
The Flammies turned their backs on the Moon Gods and
ew into the air. The Moon Gods turned into stars, and
the Flammies never came back down. []
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/ Hero: I guess Flammies were once Mana Beasts...
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"Legend of Mana".
Flammies Then, a beautiful yet powerful beast appeared, awakening the Moon Gods. The Moon Gods
named this beast of strength and beauty Flammy. Whenever one of the Moon Gods would fall asleep, another
Flammy would appear. Eventually, Flammies of all six
colors came to populate all the land.
4.11. MANA (SERIES)
345
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Symphony Orchestra. SoundtrackCentral.com. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
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CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
4.12.1 Development
The SaGa series was created by game designer Akitoshi
Kawazu, whose credits prior to the franchise's introduction include Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. At a
time when Nintendo's Game Boy was becoming popular worldwide due to the puzzle game Tetris, thenSquare president Masashi Miyamoto requested that a development team create a game for the handheld console.
Kawazu and fellow designer Koichi Ishii suggested that
the company develop a role-playing video game, thus
making Makai Tshi Sa Ga, later released in North America as The Final Fantasy Legend, the company's rst
handheld title.* [1]* [2] The gameplay was designed to be
dicult, described by Kawazu as the main dierence between the SaGa and Final Fantasy series.* [3] The character illustrations in all the games in the SaGa series were
done by Tomomi Kobayashi,* [4] who has also done the
illustrations for the MMORPG Granado Espada.* [5] Although the series has been long-running, as of 2008 none
of the ten production teams at Square Enix is assigned to
the franchise. Akitoshi Kawazu and Production Team 2
are devoted to the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series.* [6]
4.12.2 Common elements
The SaGa series emphasizes nonlinear gameplay and

open world exploration, with its open-ended branching
plot and free style of character development separating it
*
[126] Juba, Joe. Dawn of Mana Review. Game Informer. from the more linear Final Fantasy series. [7] Like the
Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved Final Fantasy series, however, the story in each SaGa
game is independent of its counterparts. The SaGa series
2009-12-01.
is also considered a successor to Final Fantasy II, which
[127] Review Legend of Mana. RPGFan. Retrieved 2008- introduced a more open-ended activity-based progression
02-21.
system that was abandoned by later Final Fantasy games
but embraced by Makaitoushi SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend), which expanded it with weapons that shatter with
repeated use and added new ideas such as a race of monsters that mutate depending on which fallen foes they consume.* [8]
Ocial World of Mana website (Japanese)
[125] Kemps, Heidi (2006-11-02). GameSpy: Children of
Mana Review. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
4.12 SaGa (series)

SaGa () is a series of science ction open world roleplaying video games produced by Square, now Square
Enix. The series originated on the Game Boy in 1989
as the creation of Akitoshi Kawazu. It has since continued across multiple platforms, from the Super Nintendo
Entertainment System to the PlayStation 2. The series
is notable for its emphasis on open world exploration,
non-linear branching plots, and occasionally unconventional gameplay. This distinguished the series from most
of Square's titles. There are currently nine games in the
SaGa series, along with several ports and enhanced remakes.
The early games in the series also feature some common

gameplay elements and themes rst established in Final
Fantasy, such as random enemy encounters, but most of
these disappear with the Romancing SaGa games, providing a unique gameplay experience. It also features
a similar turn-based battle system, where a character's
prowess is driven by numerical values called "statistics"
which, in turn, increase with combat experience. Given
the open-ended aspect of gameplay and the ability to play
through multiple character scenarios, heavy emphasis is
placed upon the replay value of SaGa games.
Since the original Makaitoushi SaGa, much of the series has relied on loosely-connected stories and sidequests
rather than an epic narrative. Makaitoushi SaGa allowed
players to travel through dierent worlds. Romancing
SaGa expanded the open-endedness by oering many
4.12. SAGA (SERIES)

choices and allowing players to complete quests in any
order, with the decision of whether or not to participate
in any particular quest aecting the outcome of the storyline. The game also allowed players to choose from eight
dierent characters, each with their own stories that start
in dierent places and oer dierent outcomes.* [7] Romancing SaGa thus succeeded in providing a very dierent experience during each run through the game, something that later non-linear RPGs such as SaGa Frontier
and Fable had promised but were unable to live up to.* [9]
It also introduced a combo system where up to ve party
members can perform a combined special attack,* [9] and
required characters to pay mentors to teach them abilities,
whether it is using certain weapons or certain prociencies like opening a chest or dismantling a trap.* [7]
While in the original Romancing SaGa, scenarios were
changed according to dialogue choices during conversations, Romancing SaGa 2 further expanded the openendedness by having unique storylines for each character that can change depending on the player's actions,
including who is chosen, what is said in conversation,
what events have occurred, and who is present in the
party.* [10] Romancing SaGa 3 featured a storyline that
could be told dierently from the perspectives of up to
eight dierent characters and introduced a level-scaling
system where the enemies get stronger as the characters
do,* [11] a mechanic that was later used in Final Fantasy
VIII,* [12] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Silverfall,* [13]
Dragon Age: Origins,* [14] Fallout 3, and The Elder
Scrolls V: Skyrim.* [15] SaGa Frontier further expanded
on the non-linear gameplay of its Romancing SaGa predecessors, with a setting that spans multiple planets and
an overarching plot that becomes apparent after playing
through each of the dierent characters' quests that tie
together at certain places.* [16]
347
4.12.5 Reception
Games in the SaGa series have been popular in Japan,
with many of them selling over 1 million units. As
of March 2011, the series has sold over 9.9 million
units.* [45] In 2006, Famitsu readers voted Romancing
SaGa as the 53rd best game of all time, and SaGa 2 as the
94th best game of all time.* [46] Games in the series also
received generally positive reviews from Japanese publications such as Famitsu and Dengeki.
However, the series has remained decidedly less popular
in North America, many of the games receiving mixed
reviews from printed and online publications. It has been
suggested that this is due to the series' seemingly experimental gameplay and allowing the player to freely roam
with little direction or narrative, atypical of what many
North American gamers usually expect from Japanese
role-playing games.* [47] In their September 2004Overrated/Underratedarticle, Ocial U.S. PlayStation Magazine cited the SaGa series as one ruined in the transition to
the PlayStation 2, citing primarily Unlimited SaGa.* [48]
Legacy
Currently, plans are for more ports of the Saga series
games, but starting a new series based on those franchises
are not being considered at this time yet.* [49]
In an interview with 4Gamer, Akitoshi Kawazu hinted
at the possibility of a new SaGa game or port for its 25th
anniversary in December 2014.* [50]
4.12.6 References
[1] Gpara.com
".
Gpara.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-05-09.
4.12.3
Games
4.12.4
Music
[2] DeWoody, Lucas (August 15, 2005). Trial and Error

The History of Square Vol. 3. Kombo.com. Retrieved
2009-05-09.
[3] Nutt, Christian (2005-05-26). Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song. GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
Main article: Music of the SaGa series
[4] Ciolek, Todd (December 7, 2011).Ultracity 2020 The

X Button. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
Music in the SaGa series have been composed by a number of people, the most prominent of which is Kenji Ito,
who also composed many soundtracks for the Mana series. Ito scored a majority of scores for the series. Nobuo
Uematsu, responsible for a large portion of the music of
the Final Fantasy series, solely composed The Final Fantasy Legend and co-composed Final Fantasy Legend II
with Ito. Ryuji Sasai and Chihiro Fujioka worked on Final Fantasy Legend III together. SaGa Frontier 2 and Unlimited Saga are credited to Masashi Hamauzu.
[5] Winkler, Chris (June 11, 2005).Granado Espada Event

Held in Tokyo. RPGFan.com. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
[6] Chris Winkler (2003). Square Enix Talks Current Status. RPGFan.com. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
[7] Romancing SaGa Review, IGN
[8] Parish, Jeremy (2009-04-28). 8-Bit Cafe: Game Boy
Essentials, 1989 Edition. 1UP.com. UGO Networks.
348
[9] Patrick Gann.Romancing SaGa. RPGFan. Retrieved

2011-03-02.
[10] IGN sta (February 18, 1997).Square, The Final Frontier. IGN. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
[11] Romancing SaGa 3, RPG Fan
[12] Final Fantasy VIII Sta Retroview, RPGamer
[13] Good Idea/Bad Idea: Level Scaling, Destructoid
[14] James Cullinane Gameplanet (November 5, 2009).
Review: Dragon Age: Origins. Stu.co.nz. Retrieved
November 7, 2011.
[15] First Major Details on Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, GameSpy
[16] Rorshacma, SaGa Frontier, Hardcore Gaming 101
[17] GameSpot:Video Games PC Xbox 360 PS3 Wii PSP DS
PS2 PlayStation 2 GameCube GBA PlayStation 3
[18] http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/944/944862p1.html
[19] http://www.famitsu.com/news/201009/02032828.html
[20] Ashcraft, Brian (2008-12-01). Dragon Quest IX
Playable This Month In Tokyo. Kotaku.com. Retrieved
2009-01-16.
[21] http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/09/08/
emperors_saga/
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
[32] https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&
u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.famitsu.com%2Fcominy%
2F%3Fm%3Dpc%26a%3Dpage_h_title%26title_id%
3D2387
[33] http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_
title&title_id=3409
[34] The Magic Box Japan Platinum Chart Games.. TheMagicBox.com. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
title&title_id=4036
title&title_id=4031
[37] SaGa Frontier Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved
2008-12-13.
[38] Sony PS1 Japanese Ranking. Japan-GameCharts.com.
[39] Chinn, Marty (2000-06-23). Famitsu Top 120 PlayStation games. Gaming-Age.com. Archived from the original on 2003-11-23. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
[40] SaGa Frontier 2 Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved
2008-12-13.
[41] Sony PS2 Japanese Ranking. Japan-GameCharts.com.
[42] Winkler, Chris (December 11, 2002). Famitsu Rates
Zelda: The Wind Waker and Unlimited SaGa. RPGFan.
emperors-saga-finally-comes-out-in-september-makes-players-an-emperor/
[43] Unlimited Saga Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved
2008-12-13.
[23] http://gematsu.com/2014/12/
saga-2015-announced-ps-vita
[44] Romancing SaGa Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved
2008-12-13.
[24] http://gematsu.com/2014/12/
[45] Businesses Square Enix Holdings. 2011-03-31.
saga-2015-announced-ps-vita
2012-03-25.
[25] February 2, 2004 February 4, 2004. SquareEnix.com. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
[46] Japan Votes on All Time Top 100. Edge Online. 200603-03. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Re[26] Squaresoft. Famitsu Scores Archive. Retrieved 2014trieved 2008-12-20.
12-14.
[27] The Final Fantasy Legend Reviews. GameRankings.
2008-12-13.
[28] 30 Point Plus: SaGa2 . Weekly Famicom
Tsshin. No.358. Pg.32. 27 October 1995.
[29] Final Fantasy Legend II Reviews. GameRankings.
[30] https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&
u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.famitsu.com%2Fcominy%
2F%3Fm%3Dpc%26a%3Dpage_h_title%26title_id%
3D13527
[31] Final Fantasy Legend III Reviews. GameRankings.
2008-12-13.
[47] Rorshacma. Hardcore Gaming 101: SaGa. Hardcore

Gaming 101. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
[48] OPM sta (September 2004). Overrated/Underrated
(SWF transcript). Ocial U.S. PlayStation Magazine
[49] Spencer (June 22, 2011). SaGa And Mana Series On
Ice. siliconera.com. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
[50] Sato (January 5, 2014).Square Enix To Celebrate Final
Fantasy Legend 25th Anniversary With New Announcement. siliconera.com. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

SaGa 20th Anniversary website (Japanese)
The SaGa Universe at MobyGames
4.13. THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY
4.13 Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (
Shiatorizumu Fainaru Fantaj, pronouncedtheatre-rhythm) is a rhythm video game, developed by indieszero and published by Square Enix for
Nintendo 3DS* [6]* [7] and iOS. Based on the Final Fantasy video game franchise, the game involves using the
touch screen in time to various pieces of music from the
series.* [8] The game was released in Japan on February
16, 2012, in North America on July 3, 2012, in Australia
on July 5, 2012 and in Europe on July 6, 2012 for Nintendo 3DS. The iOS version was released on December
13, 2012. A sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain
Call, was released in 2014. A third game based on the
Dragon Quest series, Theatrhythm Dragon Quest, is currently in development.* [9]
4.13.1
Gameplay
349
Field music is a side-scrolling rhythm game, as the
screen moves from right-to-left, and a player must
either tap a note, slide the stylus in a direction, or
hold the stylus down while following a waving line
on the touch screen. The object is to reach the end of
the stage before the music ends, where another character is waiting to give the player an item. Playing
well causes the character to speed up, while missing
will cause the character to fall down. There is an opportunity to ride a chocobo in each level for a speed
boost.
Battle Music is a mock-battle, with the player tapping notes correctly to do damage to the enemies
onscreen. The objective is to kill all the enemies
and eventually a boss character during the duration
of the song. The notes come in from left-to-right.
In this mode, the players must tap a note, swipe the
stylus in a direction, or hold the stylus down for a
long note. Good timing causes character attacks to
be more powerful and can also trigger special abilities. The player has the opportunity to perform one
summon attack each battle.
The Event Music scene includes one or more scenes
from the Final Fantasy game you select, and will
play the scene onscreen in the background. Controls are similar to the Field sections, albeit players now follow the cursor as it moves around the
screen. Clearing gold sections extends the level's
song. Characters' stats and abilities other than Hit
Points do not aect these stages
A ght in Theatrhythm featuring a four member party ghting the boss Gilgamesh. The top right shows Cloud's stats and
moves, while the yellow light below indicates the following character who attacks is Tidus.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a rhythm video game. Players take control of four Final Fantasy characters, and select a Final Fantasy game from the rst Final Fantasy to
Final Fantasy XIII. Each game has three stages: eld, battle, and event. Each stage features dierent game mechanics than the others; once a stage is completed, the
characters level up. The diculty level can be changed in
order to make it appealing tobeginners and rhythm masters alike. Throughout the game, players can unlock music and movie scenes.* [10] The gameplay requires players to tap on the screen in correct spots to the beat of
the music playing.* [11] Within the main game section
Series Mode, there are 3 unique stage styles: Field
(Overworld) Music, Battle Music, and Event (Dramatic)
Music, as well as the option to play through the opening
and ending themes.
There is also aChallenge Modethat allows the player

to choose the Battle, Overworld, or Dramatic music from
a Final Fantasy game that they have cleared the normal
diculty of in Series Mode. The player then plays these
one stage at a time, instead of in succession as in Series
Mode. If an A rank or better is received on a song, a
higher diculty is unlocked. Unlocking a higher diculty
for all three songs from a Final Fantasy Game will unlock
that diculty in Series Mode. Within Challenge Mode,
there is also a no failpractice option for each stage.
Lastly for the music section of the game, there is aChaos

Shrinemode. There are a total of 99 levels, with two
stages per level - a eld music followed by a battle music. For each level, there are three possible bosses, with
each boss dropping three items for a total of nine potential item drops per level. These items are usually rarer
items or crystals needed to unlock additional characters.
If one scores high enough in the rst eld music stage,
a sign will appear indicating they will go to Boss 2 or
3, who will have better item drops. These levels have a
diculty level between the 2nd and 3rd levels from Challenge Mode. Additionally, Chaos Shrine contains songs
The Opening and Ending Theme segments involve from Final Fantasy games not featured in other areas of
simply tapping the screen in time with music notes the game (for example, Mambo de Chocobo). The game
as they move into the center of a crystal on screen. also features downloadable content, allowing players to
350
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
purchase new songs and stages from the Nintendo eShop.* [12]
4.13.2
Plot
The game follows the events of the gods Chaos and Cosmos, a similar plot to Dissidia Final Fantasy for the
PlayStation Portable. The space between the two is called
Rhythm, which gives birth to a crystal that controls music. Chaos causes the crystal to become disrupted, and
the only way to return it to normal is to increase a music
wave known asRhythmia(known asRhythpoin the
Japanese version).* [13]* [14] As such, various characters
from the Final Fantasy universe are brought together in
order to harness the power of Rhythmia.* [15]
4.13.3
Development and release
Pre-release
Since its announcement, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy has
received mixed reception. Several writers have questioned the idea of a rhythm game in the Final Fantasy series.* [25]* [26] Wired 's Chris Kohler wrote that it might
be a good game, and added that while developing rhythm
games may be dicult, he hopes that Square Enix would
enlist a developer who could accomplish such a task. He
wrote that the 3DS has a meager library and that the
high quality of Final Fantasy music could lend itself well
to the genre. Nevertheless, he wrote if it sucks, it
ll really suck.He further criticized Square Enix Japan
for rarely making video games outside of its three big
brands, which includes Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and
Kingdom Hearts. However, he noted that they are making an attempt to make more video games that aren't
role-playing games.* [21] MTV Multiplayer's Matt Clark
thought that it was a joke when he rst heard about it,
though he noted that he liked rhythm games. He questioned why the game needed to exist in the rst place;
nevertheless, he wrote that he would reserve judgment
until he cansee the gamefor himself.* [25] Game Set
Watch's Danny Cowan also felt that the name sounded
like a joke, and speculated that it could be a prank similar to the April Fool's Day reveal of the hoax game Funky
Fantasy, which was also supposed to be a Final Fantasy
rhythm game.* [27] 1UP.com's Chris Pereira wrote that
while Theatrhythm may not be what 3DS owners were
expecting, its developer has a quality track record.* [28]
Shack News' Steve Watts commented that the title, which
he callsinsane,could be part of some internal contest
to come up with the strangest name.* [11] GameSpot's
Jonathan Leo Toyad wrote that the rhythm genre lends itself well due to the high quality of the series' music, and
called the art style colorful.* [29] During E3 2012,
1UP awarded it with Best Acknowledgement of Game
Historyfor how it pays homage to the franchise.* [30]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy was proposed by Square

Enix's Ichiro Hazama after working in the lm Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It was originally envisioned
for the Nintendo DS but development would face diculties due to the console's limitations. Upon seeing the
Nintendo 3DS, Hazama once again gave his idea to his
superior Tetsuya Nomura and the company Indieszero,
which resulted in the production for the game on the Nintendo 3DS.* [16] For the music selection, the Square Enix
sta made a music survey during development of Dissidia
Final Fantasy although most of the chosen songs were
from Final Fantasy VII. All the songs were included in
their original versions with the exception of the Gurugu Volcanofrom the rst Final Fantasy which is based
on the PlayStation release since the original version was
shorter.* [17] The idea of using the gods Chaos and Cosmos from Dissidia was proposed by Nomura as both
Hazama and him had work in such game and wanted to
In February 2012, Nobuo Uematsu, longtime Final Fancontinue using them.* [18]
tasy composer, played Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and exThe trademark "Theatrhythm" was led near the end of pressed satisfaction at the game, stating that As I reE3 2011 by Square Enix.* [19] Theatrhythm Final Fan- membered various things from the past 20 years, I was
tasy was ocially announced for release exclusively on reduced to tears. FF music fans should denitely play it.
the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console in the Japanese Won't you cry with me?".* [31]
manga anthology Weekly Shnen Jump.* [20] It was originally announced for release only in Japan.* [21] Square
Enix Japan created an ocial website to promote the Post-release
game.* [22] Rumours came up that Theatrhythm Final
Fantasy would be developed by Jupiter;* [23] however, it In the rst week of release in Japan, sales of just shy
*
was later conrmed on the ocial website that it would of 70,000 were reported. [39] Within one month, by
*
be developed by Indieszero. [22] The character and mon- March 11, 2012, the game had sold 112,344 copies in
*
ster designs are designed by MonsterOctopus, who also Japan. [40] As of March 26, 2012, the game has sold
*
designed the Kingdom Hearts avatars found in Kingdom 133,245 units in Japan. [41]
*
Hearts Mobile and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded. [24]
IGN gave it an 8.5 out of 10 and an Editor's Choice
Award. Praising the soundtrack and cuteness of the
game, while still criticizing the game being graphically
mixed. Bordersdown graded it 8/10, praising the music
4.13.4 Reception
selection combined with provision ofenough challenge
4.13. THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY
351
and reward to keep players coming back for more, whilst [15] Davison, Pete (2011-07-11). First Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Details Emerge, News from. GamePro.
mentioning it will appeal more to Final Fantasy fans.* [42]
2011-07-19.
4.13.5
Sequel
Main article: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
[16] Iwata Asks Many Questions About Theatrhythm Final

Fantasy. Andriasang. February 13, 2012. Retrieved
July 4, 2012.
[17] Team Theatrhythm Final Fantasy on DLC, Frame Rates
A sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, was

and Romancing Saga. Andriasang. February 13, 2012.
released for the Nintendo 3DS on April 24, 2014 in
Japan, North America on September 16, 2014 and Europe on September 19, 2014.* [43] The game features 221 [18] How A Final Fantasy Versus XIII Song Got Into Theatrhythm And Other Questions. Siliconera. February 2,
songs and a new versus battle mode.* [44]
4.13.6
[19] By Spencer . June 17, 2011 . 1:55am (2011-06-17).

Square Enix Hasn't Said Anything About Theatrhythm...
Yet. Siliconera. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
References
[1] Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy dated, overpriced in Japan

[20] By Spencer . July 5, 2011 . 10:49pm (2011-07-05).
. Joystiq. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Is Beatmania Meets Final
Fantasy. Siliconera. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
[2] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Taps Into Stores On July 3
. Siliconera. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
[21] Previous post Next post (2011-07-06). Final Fantasy
on 3DS Is a Music Game?! | GameLife. Wired.com.
[3] http://www.gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=
175019
[4] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy heading to Europe in Summer 2012. Square Enix. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
[22] Sample the Beats of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Andriasang.com. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
[5] THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY on iTunes. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
[23] Richard George. Final Fantasy's Rhythm Hits 3DS Nintendo 3DS News at IGN. Ds.ign.com. Retrieved
2011-07-19.
[6] Chris Kohler (6 July 2011). Final Fantasy on 3DS is

a...Music Game?!". Wired. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
[7] Chris Kohler (11 July 2011). Square Enix Reveals Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Developer. Wired. Retrieved
11 July 2011.
[8] Final Fantasy's Rhythm Hits 3DS. IGN. 6 July 2011.
Retrieved 6 July 2011.
[9] http://www.animenewsnetwork.
co.uk/news/2014-12-10/
theatrhythm-dragon-quest-announced-for-3ds/.81986
[10] Anoop Gantayat (7 July 2011). Form a Party of Four in
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Andriasang. Retrieved 12
July 2011.
[11] Final Fantasy 3DS rhythm gameTheatrhyth - Shacknews.com - Video Game News, Trailers, Game Videos,
and Files. Shacknews.com. 2011-07-06. Retrieved
2011-07-19.
[24] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Character Designs From

Kingdom Hearts Avatar Designer. Andriasang.com. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
[25] "Final FantasyGets A The Rhythm Game? Apparently
So. MTV Multiplayer. Multiplayerblog.mtv.com.
2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
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Rhythm Game Coming To Nintendo 3DS. G4tv.com.
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. GameSetWatch. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
[28] Pereira, Chris. Final Fantasy Rhythm Game Coming From Retro Game Challenge, Electroplankton Developer. 1up.com. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
[29] Leo, Jonathan (2011-07-05). Final Fantasy getting a
rhythm game - 3DS News at GameSpot. Gamespot.com.
[30] 1UP's Best of E3 2012. 1UP.com. June 4, 2012.

[12] http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/
2012-07-03-final-fantasy-theatrhythm-dlc-on-3ds-eshop-this-week
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asang.com. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
July 8, 2012.
[14] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy How to Play.
atrhythm.com. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
the-
[32] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Game Rankings. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
352
CHAPTER 4. SPINOFFS
[33] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Review. Edge. July 16,

[34] Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Review. Eurogamer. July
4, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
[35] Turi, Tim. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Game Informer. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
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Fantasy Review. Giant Bomb. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
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getting-sequel-theatrhythm-final-fantasy
[44] http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-10/
theatrhythm-final-fantasy-curtain-call-3ds-game-coming-in-2014
4.13.7
External links
Ocial website (Japan)

Ocial website (North America)
Ocial website (Europe)
Chapter 5
Appendix
5.1 List of Final Fantasy video
games
List of Final Fantasy video games contains a list of
games in the Final Fantasy video game series developed
and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). The
rst title in the series, the eponymous Final Fantasy, premiered in Japan in 1987, and Final Fantasy games have
been released almost every single year since. Fourteen
games have been released as part of the main (numbered)
series. Sequels, prequels, spin-os, and related video
games have been published, as well as numerous titles in
other media forms. Each game in the main series takes
place in a dierent ctional universe rather than serve as
direct sequels to prior games, although some titles have
received sequels, or prequels, set in the same universe.
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy

Main article: Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Tactics
5.1.3 Spin-os
5.1.4 Compilations
5.1.5 Collections
Collections are groups of games or system-specic releases of games that are branded or marketed together.
Unlike compilations, they were made available as individual products.
Most of the games have been re-released for several different platforms, many of which have been included in
collection and compilation releases. The series as a whole 5.1.6 See also
is primarily composed of role-playing video games, but
also includes massively multiplayer online role-playing
List of Final Fantasy media
games, third-person shooters, tower defense games, and
List of Kingdom Hearts media
tactical role-playing games. Final Fantasy games have
been released on over a dozen video game consoles beginning with the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well
5.1.7 References
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Chapter 6
Text and image sources, contributors, and

licenses
6.1 Text
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Goatasaur, Wintran, Ams80, Ahoerstemeier, DavidWBrooks, Kricxjo, TUF-KAT, Angela, Kingturtle, DropDeadGorgias, Salsa Shark,
Ugen64, RadRafe, Vzbs34, Nikai, Kwekubo, Evercat, Daveryan, Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, WhisperToMe, Zoicon5, BennieBoops,
Thunderbunny, Maximus Rex, Grendelkhan, Saltine, Itai, K1Bond007, Tempshill, ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, Dhamon, Owen, Cgranade,
Fredrik, Moondyne, Yelyos, Naddy, Lowellian, Merovingian, LGagnon, Matty j, Intangir, Hadal, Wikibot, Evilkeen, Wereon, Lord Ramza,
ElBenevolente, SoLando, Diberri, Cyrius, DraQue Star, DocWatson42, Gtrmp, Nifboy, ShaunMacPherson, AngelHedgie, Muke, Everyking, Michael Devore, Darkhunger, Niteowlneils, PiaCarrot, Prodigaldruid, Mole, Masken, Gracefool, Mckaysalisbury, Bobblewik,
Erekrose, Sheng Gradilla, KitSolidor, Wmahan, TerokNor, OldakQuill, Hereticam, Chowbok, Thgreatoz, Woggly, Shibboleth, CryptoDerk, Antandrus, Lockeownzj00, Gamin000, Ihavenolife, ShakataGaNai, Jossi, Vina, MacGyverMagic, Rdsmith4, Maximaximax, TK,
SAMAS, PFHLai, Tubedogg, ScottyBoy900Q, Sam Hocevar, Neonstarlight, Cynical, Gscshoyru, Aerion, Creidieki, Neutrality, WarChild,
Suta Gosvami, Joyous!, Aknorals, Louisisthebest 007, Tjansen, Chmod007, Guybrush, Grunt, Aponar Kestrel, Colonelcraud, Mike Rosoft,
AlexChurchill, Jayjg, Sysy, Slady, Jrp, Iscariot, Random contributor, RossPatterson, Discospinster, ElTyrant, Guanabot, UniAce, Ebelular,
Pjacobi, Hcs, Rsanchezsaez, Wrp103, Pie4all88, Illitariat, Xezbeth, Mjpieters, Sn0wake, Shadow Hog, Paul August, Sbo, DcoetzeeBot,
ESkog, Goplat, Evice, Pedant, MyNameIsNotBob, Ht1848, RJHall, RealityDistortionField, CanisRufus, Kross, Shanes, Sietse Snel, Art
LaPella, RoyBoy, Arc-, Thunderbrand, Causa sui, Bobo192, Robotje, Smalljim, Myria, Elipongo, L33tminion, Zoghade, Kappa, Sukiari,
Travis K, Apostrophe, Hagerman, Cyrillic, Merope, Jason One, Kweh!, Gary, Mo0, Jamyskis, Sheehan, Trysha, Arthena, CyberSkull,
Lordthees, Geo Swan, Demi, Lectonar, JereyAtW, Logalot, Kocio, Redfarmer, InShaneee, Seancdaug, Mrholybrain, Bart133, Caesura,
Blobglob, Shinjiman, Teggles, Djlayton4, ByrnedHead, Selo, TheDotGamer, Shadowolf, Mint greentea, RainbowOfLight, Sciurin, Zxcvbnm, ~shuri, Saitorosan, Jai dit, Danner578, Y0u, Brookie, Angr, JarlaxleArtemis, Derktar, Muya, Percy Snoodle, TomTheHand, Corposemorgaos, Fbriere, Zaorish, Bdj, Awk, Bbatsell, Knizar, Someone42, Tsunade, Jsernest, AnmaFinotera, Wayward, Gimboid13, Eluchil,
Ajshm, MoogleFan, Mandarax, Slgrandson, Sin-man, Jwoodger, Chupon, Magister Mathematicae, Teknic, MC MasterChef, FreplySpang,
GrundyCamellia, Grammarbot, Jshadias, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, Coemgenus, Winkels, Jake Wartenberg, NekoFever, Linuxbeak, Tangotango, Sdornan, MZMcBride, Tawker, Kaptain Kornelius, Nneonneo, Dvulture, CoStar, Iamblueman4, Ucucha, Platypus222, Yamamoto
Ichiro, A Man In Black, Algebra, FayssalF, Titoxd, Cless Alvein, Raxolotl, RobertG, Musical Linguist, Nihiltres, JiFish, Brianreading,
Nivix, AJR, RexNL, Gurch, Ayla, Arctic.gnome, Pgiii, Quuxplusone, Intgr, Jonny2x4, Saihenjin, Tyrth, BlkStarr, Hibana, King of Hearts,
Akuma2k5, CJLL Wright, Chobot, Igordebraga, Hahnchen, Gwernol, Geg, Kralahome, Cuahl, Darkstar949, Sceptre, Stan2525, Kidicarus222, Flameviper, Briaboru, Cswrye, DarkEvil, SpuriousQ, Chaser, Jasonglchu, Mythsearcher, Stephenb, Gaius Cornelius, NateDan,
Wimt, GeeJo, MarcK, Friday, Anomie, Smash, Senshi, Wiki alf, Pagrashtak, Bachrach44, Warpedmirror, Ou tis, Jaxl, TheLH, TKGB,
Thermic, Maverick Leonhart, RazorICE, Seegoon, Apokryltaros, Nick, Retired username, Anetode, Macshune, Matthew0028, Moe Epsilon, Misza13, Nick C, Tony1, Deckiller, Squally, Mr Fist, Talv, DeadEyeArrow, Yellow Element, Bota47, VederJuda, Bodachi, Alpha
4615, N. Harmonik, FF2010, Zombi333, Zero1328, Phgao, Dru, Closedmouth, Pb30, JuJube, Andycyca, Shawnc, Amren, SorryGuy,
PurplePlatypus, Canadian Bulldog, Allens, Gorstrom, FallenWhiteStar, Samuel Blanning, Aresmo, CIreland, Robinw, Rykotsusei, SpLoT,
Tealpanda, Joshbuddy, SmackBot, Amcbride, Mrhyde, Crawlin, KnowledgeOfSelf, Hydrogen Iodide, Pgk, Korossyl, Ikip, Jagged 85,
Exukvera, Vilerage, Canthusus, Hongshi, HalfShadow, David Fuchs, IstvanWolf, Master Deusoma, Xaosux, Macintosh User, Gilliam,
Finduilas 09, Geminidomino, Oscarthecat, Skizzik, Taric25, Rst20xx, Vercalos, Gamestesterjan, Static Universe, Persian Poet Gal, MK8,
Alan Parmenter, Onesimos, TheSpectator, Robbstrd, Deuxhero, SchftyThree, Sadads, DalminTarnek, Baa, Darth Panda, D Lord Strife, A.
B., Bovine, MaxSem, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Cipher nemo, Tamfang, Incense, Squilibob, AdamLoon@knology.net, Chlewbot, OrphanBot, Sephiroth BCR, Onorem, Zidane4028, LifeMega, Rrburke, TKD, Buttery0fdoom, Addshore, Mr.Z-man, Phaedriel, RyuKlinge,
Fuhghettaboutit, Nakon, Golden Dragoon, RaCha'ar, FinalFAN, MisterCharlie, Shadow1, Drake Clawfang, Mirlen, Zeta26, Sparky-sama,
Kei-clone, Greg 465, Jklin, Wizardman, The54eect, S@bre, AndyBQ, Geefer, Sayden, Samuel Sol, Madcow 93, Emerals, Axem Titanium, EpicFantasyStory, SuperTycoon, Vanished user 9i39j3, Emhilradim, Buchanan-Hermit, SSlaytanic, Electricbassguy, Soumyasch,
Xornok, Coredesat, Syferus, Aleenf1, Jebubby, Final fantasy7 8 9 X, Asdf, 041744, Roy16, Werdan7, Mr Stephen, Jon186, Zelljrc,
SandyGeorgia, Eridani, Funnybunny, Jedi of pi, Ryulong, Condem, TPIRFanSteve, True sephiroth, Ryu Kaze, TJ Spyke, Masem, TheFarix, Helloweenfan, Judgesurreal777, SteveJ2006, JoeBot, Shoeofdeath, Walton One, Eyefragment, Dunne409, Flooch, Moses Wajsman,
Darkchun, Tawkerbot2, Dlohcierekim, Tehkis, Pink Fae, Halexandre, MightyWarrior, Majin Izlude, INkubusse, Charlie Awesome, Mikeb-
358
6.1. TEXT
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bisgreat, The Prince of Darkness, ThisIsMyUsername, J M Simms, Rorshacma, Ale jrb, SamSandy, JohnCD, Kris Schnee, TheGhostChild,
Mika1h, GHe, Jokes Free4Me, Juhachi, Simply south, Kaodeq, Robins575, Neelix, NaOH, Boognish, Rudjek, Arrataz, Cydebot, Ganryuu, Abeg92, The Ultimate Koopa, Itkirk, Lil Ripsta, Cambrant, Steel, Tinkleheimer, Gogo Dodo, Arrowned, ShiraShira, Daniel J.
Leivick, Shitend, Thaddius, Tawkerbot4, Mish55, Words of Ivory, Narcisso, Mikecascio9, Praetor jon, In Defense of the Artist, Guyinblack25, Argymeg, Philtrauferson, Omicronpersei8, Domino2097, Processr, Yawehzuv, Epbr123, Suzukishuyin, Lord Hawk, Luminifer,
S0meone12345, Dasani, Deusfaux, Billy the editor, Cralph, Noneofyourbusiness, Mojo Hand, The Dark Side, Headbomb, The riesen,
Bluerfn, X201, Z da Silva, TheHelmedHorror, MasterDeva, TangentCube, Silver Edge, Ultimahero, Northumbrian, RinoaHeartilly666,
Eviltrance, Mentisto, Vanished user sdlknmsdk34ks, AntiVandalBot, Plebmonk, Luna Santin, Seaphoto, 17tracks, Shabook, Xeroxxx,
Opelio, Quintote, Prolog, Gnixon, Megaseven, Your Only Real Friend, Ejoty, Scepia, RobJ1981, Peruda, One Artiste, RIPLIUKANG,
Djackmanson, Zidane tribal, PresN, Canadian-Bacon, Golgofrinchian, Res2216restar, Kariteh, JAnDbot, Dusty duster, Cdrikari, Husond, MER-C, Ravencao, Inks.LWC, Householddutch, BCube, Dara12, Michig, Johnman239, GurchBot, Savant13, Sunshine748, Acroterion, Repku, Metakraid, Connormah, Fx21, Freedomlinux, Bongwarrior, VoABot II, JNW, Ishtar Dark, Bertaut, PIrish, Giggy, Animum,
Mirian80, 28421u2232nfenfcenc, Ceribik, Tswsl1989, Schumi555, Glen, DerHexer, JaGa, Hydrokinetics12, Esanchez7587, Tranhoa,
Agnastar, Killer112389, Calltech, Joeymx, Hintswen, Rickard Vogelberg, Tayeko, Jemijohn, Cli smith, Hdt83, MartinBot, Gestapo,
Nique1287, BetBot, Pringley Joe, Chromega, Marv101, Miraculousrandomness, Rettetast, Tholly, Mschel, Yellow Mage, CommonsDelinker, Onihi, Chalkieperfect, SimBen, Hash2o, Smokizzy, Mausy5043, Slash, J.delanoy, DrKiernan, EscapingLife, Darkishblade,
Noondi34, Roughneck, Uncle Dick, Sidhekin, KrytenKoro, 10stansbury tyler, A Nobody, Zenithian, Gzkn, Acalamari, K22rock, Dispenser, BrokenSphere, DarkFalls, McSly, SpigotMap, Little Professor, Uranium grenade, Plasticup, Jonay81687, TomasBat, Pennycake,
SJP, Dirtyepic, Kraftlos, Dom316, RedneckOtaku, Bob, Cometstyles, Mrmahon34, Warlordwolf, Covent, Hakkahakkabazoom, Nimrand,
NicholaiDaedalus, Andy Marchbanks, Megaman2412, Useight, Mr Wesker, Terryus, Vinsfan368, CardinalDan, Idioma-bot, Lights, Memphian311, Creator1111, VolkovBot, Link8150, Thedjatclubrock, Je G., Sjones23, DustinJ91, Quietchild, Midnytee, Philip Trueman, Zugartha, Zidonuke, Nocturnalnerd, Bandofgold, TonyKM, Freedom to live, Cheesemeister, Vipinhari, Ellez, Ann Stouter, Communist101,
Qxz, WraithTDK, TheNewDoor, Dsdssrsetghj, Themoom, Lakenheath45, Eric Fuchs, Anogeno, Figureskatingfan, Noformation, AspiringSquire, Kenarchist, Bob f it, Cremepu222, Technitan, Isis4563, Rhgtge5gr, Chibiheart, MearsMan, , 4by12, Ashnard,
Dylock, Haseo9999, The Great Morgil, SallyBoseman, Duckyduck1, Miruru, Youridhere, Draphael1, Enviroboy, Skixz, The great rising
sun, Brianga, Zybthranger, Tcg92, Nagy, Anson Stark, Venizuela, Yapatyalata, Hewlin, Tsutsume, Dark Dragon Sword, Umpaloompa5, Octopusgirl, Alexdeangelis86, LOTRrules, SRBAndrews, The Random Editor, Unused000702, GreaterWikiholic, EJF, Beligaronia, SieBot,
VK35, Username67876, Moonriddengirl, Moogle 12, Wiizle, YourEyesOnly, Caltas, Mindare, Slimdizzel, Keilana, Twistedfate 69,
Yacobe, Mackojee, Doctoruy, Oxymoron83, Antonio Lopez, Smilesfozwood, Steven Zhang, Lightmouse, Hobartimus, Alex.muller,
Desimator2000, Spartan-James, JohnnyMrNinja, Sugarcubez, Jakester2394, Thedarkcookie, TaerkastUA, WikiLaurent, Jack100222, TypoBot, Cocoapropo, Wonchop, Willy, your mate, Stillwaterising, Dagolanore, ImageRemovalBot, The sunder king, MBK004, ClueBot,
Jon24hours, Artichoker, Tsmytheriis, Snigbrook, Wanamad, Punk 911, The Thing That Should Not Be, Okkusenman, Mattgirling, ExclamitarilyIndeedSeaking, Zephni, Ssh83, Rhonin the wizard, Deathcheater, Cp111, Cooookies, CounterVandalismBot, VandalCruncher, Blanchardb, Psycho NZ, Piledhigheranddeeper, Paulcmnt, Supergodzilla2090, Gordon Ecker, SteveRamone, Time for action, Winter Hendrik,
NOGGEL, Dr.orfannkyl, Resoru, Kaktibhar, Monobi, StevenMcwillimas, Kewlhotrod, Eeekster, Starwarsloved, Palix, Anonymous reader,
Helenginn, Froggy6400, Randomran, Trud the Borg, Jordok, Thehelpfulone, Calor, OmgWtfBbqMaker, Ajakajason, Thingg, Thewildwolf, Aitias, Bonelord, Versus22, Vegetazblingbling, Jot hacker, Tezero, Connah0047, Johnuniq, Tonylin987, LDBAMC, DumZiBoT,
JewishRapper88, Dwoooooooo, Gaelfast, Hahaloljk, XLinkBot, Finalfantasykingdom, Rror, Ww2kill, Ost316, Little Mountain 5, WikHead, Lostheaven133, SilvonenBot, Ethereal87, PhilSchabus, FightingStreet, MattSmith660, Ernestoooo, HexaChord, Swanny 46, Anobi,
Addbot, Xp54321, Cxz111, Kangaroosrule, C6541, RandySavageFTW, Some jerk on the Internet, KingofMediocracy, Tcncv, Ballz101,
Next-Genn-Gamer, Crazysane, Montgomery '39, Megata Sanshiro, JoshuaKuo, Bunners 69, ChinChillables, Jncraton, Dfjsdfgjsiodfgjif,
Vishnava, CanadianLinuxUser, Leszek Jaczuk, Darkness2005, =O yesh. i AM awesome, Adamking15, Crockster, CarsracBot, Chimpchunk1, Kfmoncr, Debresser, 5 albert square, HhAaNnNnAaHh, Atypewriter, The Nameless Pharaoh, Acolyte10, Kuhnral, Tide rolls,
Teles, SamOdin, Gail, Aotame, Aether7, Meisam, Drpickem, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Ptbotgourou, Yunafantasies, AlexAndMarc, Editormaddness3, Palladmial, Nirvana888, Weirdo with a Beardo, Cldrulez, Khalfani khaldun, Jazza rockz, Synchronism, Soopermonkeyface,
Dante146, AnomieBOT, Wasabi sala koonkati, KiasuKiasiMan, Jeckt, Jim1138, IRP, Toba6060, PhaseChanger, Kingpin13, Ne0pets22,
The Fringe 32E, Bluerasberry, Citation bot, FinchRulz666, LilHelpa, Nomchan, Jagamijs, Xqbot, Griever89, Calvarez1, TinucherianBot II,
Belasted, Americandad2290, Transity, Capricorn42, AarnKrry, Harkoai, Trut-h-urts man, Makeswell, Jmoeller1, Mr-susans, Sergecross73,
Shirik, Amaury, Trtripy9, ScatheMote100, Kyrios320, Der Falke, Xyeeyx, Half-a-ninja, N419BH, Bigwave708, Shadowjams, Joaquin008,
Bosh94, Quagulater, Barry1996, Thereisnoname, Neonic333, Michael93555, Cymer, FFfan2009, Happy336, Pimpdaddy4000, ProtoDrake, Azarak0, Citation bot 1, DWP102589, Lomaximoskillz, Yghwtrrl, Lucia Black, Radams52, Hamsterlad, Milkedslime, That New
Zealand Guy, Toonmore, Oyyou, MATEOELBACAN, TokioHotel=Georg, Merlion444, Steamygoreng, 7Spire, Gerda Arendt, Mazexit,
ArtistScientist, Trappist the monk, Drakinen, Vrenator, Codyrizzo23, Codejunkie83, Doc Quintana, Mattmill30, DA1, SebbyG, Jhenderson777, Deftonesderrick, Tbhotch, Minimac, Xnn, Niceguy5000, Mocollier, RjwilmsiBot, Jtbest181818, Drobatch, Misconceptions2,
Sephiroth01992, Mr Rock007, Jowa fan, The Stick Man, Deagle AP, Kkskeshava1, EmausBot, Eekerz, Immunize, Hula Hup, Jonathan
Hardin', GoingBatty, NoisyJinx, Zidanedart, Imchanceholmes, Solarra, EinsteinMatty, Cheesedoodle11, Sleepydude231, Ed.taylor123,
Heia09, Patternofknives, rico Jnior Wouters, Jameschapman1994, Emily Jensen, YixinXan, Lacon432, Aeonx, Jtbarkley94, H3llBot,
Unreal7, SporkBot, DanchaV1, Brandmeister, L Kensington, Got myself a fanny pack, Vanished user v8h34tjnadjwk2k5, Debby789, Inka
888, Thewolfchild, Tyros1972, Wangxuan8331800, Asdfager, Sven Manguard, ClueBot NG, Mottaku, G-Zay, Shaddim, Darknessthecurse, T.R.Elven, O.Koslowski, Asadude, Tonyfenixdown, Widr, KH1MOVIE, Meteora12, Helpful Pixie Bot, Jlr61426142, Goodgodman, MasterTidus1998, DBigXray, BG19bot, Awhtii, PhnomPencil, Game-Guru999, Player017, Tatsuzo970, Notsmartman, Replaystay,
GamerEditor, Klilidiplomus, The Pikachu Who Dared, BattyBot, Pai Walisongo, Favre1fan93, Pratyya Ghosh, Ultimategamer94, ChrisGualtieri, Khazar2, SNAAAAKE!!, Dobie80, Ducknish, Kotare12, Dexbot, 81M, Lugia2453, Thine Antique Pen (public), KahnJohn27,
Thehishooo, Wateresque, Reverse polish, BlackAlkane, Caleb Richardson, Qhoswal, MCI Singapore, Tentinator, Windywalk, Svarjo, Billybob2002, Cliknowsbest, Segadcsonic, Xiomicronpi, Ginsuloft, Asmym xix, PshycoNinja, JeeryPussie, Keili123123, Sigma 20130220,
Monkbot, Landingdude13, Grotesque Desires, Dutsu, Paparae2408, FYI1001, Shrepkels and Anonymous: 1989
Final Fantasy character jobs Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20character%20jobs?oldid=636475466 Contributors: Haukurth, Furrykef, Cgranade, Graeme Bartlett, DaB., Michael Devore, Darkhunger, Sam Hocevar, Uly, Wrp103, LindsayH,
ESkog, Evice, Thunderbrand, Smalljim, Shenme, Cmdrjameson, Apostrophe, Invisible Queen, Ryan-D, LanceHeart, CyberSkull, Chiapr, Echuck215, Seancdaug, Icewolf34, BDD, Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme, Alai, Forteblast, Y0u, Jerey O. Gustafson, Boco XLVII,
TomTheHand, Chupon, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, Platypus222, Made2Fade, Gurch, TheDJ, IlGreven, Hibana, Alennimo, Cuahl, Sceptre,
RussBot, Cswrye, DarkEvil, Jokermage, Mythsearcher, StryfeX, Rsrikanth05, Viltris, Warpedmirror, Maverick Leonhart, XenoL-Type,
Nutiketaiel, HeroicJay, Misza13, Tony1, Deckiller, Gamemaker, Kokushishin, Darc, N. Harmonik, GraemeL, Andycyca, Nimbex, Wilson
360
CHAPTER 6. TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES
6500, Allens, TJF588, Nickoten, SmackBot, Nahald, Hogtree, Korossyl, Shin Star, ILYAS, Master Deusoma, Chanlord, Rst20xx, Onesimos, Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg, Bazonka, Sir Chocobo, Alkarl, George Ho, Darthgriz98, Laboomsikashod, RaCha'ar, Regulus Tera, LeoNomis, Eowynjedi, Axem Titanium, Kevinoco, Euchiasmus, Ryu Ematsu, Diet, Dez26, TPIRFanSteve, Ryu Kaze, Lucid,
Iridescent, Judgesurreal777, Sabrewing, Scarlet Lioness, Tawkerbot2, Pink Fae, Kanjilearner, Vaughnstull, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Dycedarg,
Capefeather, Mika1h, Kung Foo, Pseudo-Richard, Razorback130, Ken Gallager, Jayen466, ShiraShira, Kozuch, Epbr123, Twin Moste
Evile, Lopakhin, JNighthawk, Headbomb, Mchtegern, Bluerfn, Plebmonk, Comrade Pajitnov, Lemonv1, DarkAudit, SoNick Belmont,
Jhsounds, Ex-Nintendo Employee, LeeKang271, Oubliette, PresN, Dreaded Walrus, Kariteh, Brokenshadows, Folkform, FarnhamJ, Retrospectre, Dream Focus, LuvLuv G2000, Metakraid, Drpryr, Fx21, VoABot II, Mclay1, JeremyStephens, Enpsi, Mr toasty, Bertaut, Evaunit666, Zhanghia, Heliac, Glen, Gurko, Link3895, Brittany Ka, Felcis, Kiminatheguardian, MartinBot, STBot, Nique1287, Quatreryukami,
Rettetast, Odin of Trondheim, Yellow Mage, Speedeamongt, Pomte, Schala-Kitty, Richiekim, Terrek, Noahtheimagine, KrytenKoro, Darth
Mike, Glump, Steviestar3, Dispenser, Glod14k, Komadori27, Maxre the great, Junior612, Plasticup, Tanaats, AD AfterDeath, STBotD,
NicholaiDaedalus, TakerVersion1, Steel1943, Signalhead, Black Kite, CWii, Chaos5023, HeroOfVirtue, Bovineboy2008, Blahmaster,
JadailyTCU, Yeokaiwei, Mastertechnician, Eric Fuchs, ^demonBot2, Tac126, Ashnard, Billinghurst, Mah131, VeblenBot, Austriacus,
GreaterWikiholic, Roshbellkohli, Anyep, Kay taro17, Fpcharlielola, A805566, Reapermage1990, Oxymoron83, Himanks, Anchor Link
Bot, Efrye, Spazure, Bpeps, WikipedianMarlith, Sfan00 IMG, ClueBot, Traveler100, EoGuy, TBustah, Mimiko desu, Gordon Ecker, Leontios, Winston365, Arjayay, Randomran, Allosawyou, Darkcat1, MelonBot, Saraeve, Sidriley, Ost316, Addbot, Abacos, Some jerk on the
Internet, Megata Sanshiro, BKNFCC, Megaman en m, Tailess, Yobot, Senator Palpatine, AnomieBOT, Zigfreid, Citation bot, LilHelpa, Lvl
75 black mage, NocturneNoir, Seeleschneider, Jsorr, Krinkle, FrescoBot, Kuzlalala, Dev93l, 5th wolf, ProtoDrake, Salvidrim!, Tim1357,
John of Reading, Avenue X at Cicero, Jonathan Hardin', GoingBatty, DarkKnightCecil, Harry Blue5, BrokenAnchorBot, Lord Psyko Jo,
ClueBot NG, G-Zay, BG19bot, BannockBurn73, Puramyun31, Tpeiyn, Levi Rinno, Digital Brains, Cheesecakeapplesauce, ZappaOMati,
Arcandam, Khazar2, Flaregamer, Jodosma, GloriousDragoon and Anonymous: 597
Character design of Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character%20design%20of%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=
633201869 Contributors: Furrykef, DocWatson42, Cow2001, Rich Farmbrough, TrekMaster, Evice, MBisanz, Iranian86Footballer, Marblespire, Thanos6, Mrzaius, Jamyskis, Penwhale, Tarage, Teggles, Dazuro, New Age Retro Hippie, John Hill, Arrkhal, Cornince, Dysepsion,
Mandarax, BD2412, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, MZMcBride, DoubleBlue, Brianreading, Jonny2x4, Geg, RussBot, Mythsearcher, Syrthiss,
Deckiller, Zero1328, Dru, Some guy, Serendipodous, SmackBot, Elagatis, Caissa's DeathAngel, Nonky, OrphanBot, Fractyl, Twlighter,
XD375, Axem Titanium, Disavian, Ryu Ematsu, Hvn0413, Doczilla, Anakinjmt, TPIRFanSteve, TheFarix, Iridescent, Judgesurreal777,
Turtleheart, Rdunn, Kanjilearner, J Milburn, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Magnatron1995, SamSandy, Moreschi, Wyveelix, Gogo Dodo, Arrowned, ShiraShira, Guyinblack25, Headbomb, Bluerfn, Ultimahero, Icep, Frostmourne 16, PresN, Kariteh, Ibm2431, Dream Focus,
Bertaut, Evaunit666, Darklionheart728, Archwarrior, Brittany Ka, Kellen6049, Yellow Mage, ArcAngel, Richiekim, KrytenKoro, Slfarrell, Veikia, FuegoFish, Nimrand, NicholaiDaedalus, Friend of the World, Reaper21, Barneca, Blahmaster, Homelessblueless, Bob f it,
BotKung, Blackdog1290, Ashnard, Michaeldsuarez, Haseo9999, Manplush, JDub90, Hakanai, Unused000702, Moonriddengirl, D420182,
Norgor, Crimsonhart, Umrguy42, The Clawed One, Doomrex, Armedtrader, Khvalamde, Enterboard, Zeraga, Altzinn, Macwinux, Cocoapropo, Dylan6758, ImageRemovalBot, ClueBot, Eriksiers, Immblueversion, Okkusenman, Lordio, Meekywiki, WhiteArcticWolf,
Anthonydraco, Rockfang, Gordon Ecker, Panozzaj, Winston365, Wikiburns, Randomran, Trud the Borg, Shinew, Darkcat1, Tezero,
DumZiBoT, Ost316, TenTonParasol, SelfQ, Sharkenaa, Thatguyint, Addbot, Dsasofasale, Landon1980, Youre dreaming eh?, Megata
Sanshiro, SiegfreidZ, Rocopter 69 lol, Legobot II, Greyrobe, Weirdo with a Beardo, Azrael555, AnomieBOT, Majutsukai, EFINK,
Rjanag, Overusedname, Cpt Jack House, Neurolysis, LilHelpa, Poisinn, Nutcase-chan, WoahhhJake, Trut-h-urts man, Ondorz, 1337husky,
AJCham, Linder1990, TehRYNOL, ProtoDrake, Yghwtrrl, Lilithyl, Hellknowz, ActivExpression, Lightlowemon, Shoulderoforion, Shmoman147, Lord of the Pit, Air you breathe, Angrytoast, Jonathan Hardin', Wikipelli, Lol-kitas, H3llBot, Sinfox, BrokenAnchorBot,
Mr. Woodchip, ClueBot NG, Osario, Satellizer, Helpful Pixie Bot, Chongki03, AxelWolf04, BG19bot, Robinson James, Dartpaw86,
MikamiLovesDeleting, Idezuhray, Clickworld, Daganolson, Arcandam, Codename Lisa, DinnerDude, V Teix, Theblackmoogle, Monkbot
and Anonymous: 330
Gameplay of Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gameplay%20of%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=638946602 Contributors: Rich Farmbrough, Zxcvbnm, Forteblast, Ron Ritzman, Woohookitty, BD2412, Rjwilmsi, Eldamorie, Czar, Almogo, Welsh, Deckiller,
Hobit, Dru, TJF588, SmackBot, Jagged 85, Thumperward, Nbarth, MaxSem, Nuttah, Darkpower, GDallimore, FairuseBot, Kendroche,
JForget, SamSandy, Jokes Free4Me, Headbomb, PresN, Dream Focus, Velveteen Saint, Mclay1, Wtstar, Bertaut, Hydrokinetics12, Anaxial, CommonsDelinker, Dispenser, Steel1943, Blahmaster, Monty845, Unused000702, Abortz, JohnnyMrNinja, Cocoapropo, Wonchop,
ImageRemovalBot, History Wizard, CorenSearchBot, Gordon Ecker, Jusdafax, Randomran, Tam001, Ost316, Addbot, Megata Sanshiro,
Jncraton, Smeagol 17, TomDaemon, Yobot, Freikorp, GamerPro64, Ipatrol, LilHelpa, Nomchan, H8erade, RibotBOT, FrescoBot, Shooterwalker, Tbhotch, MAXXX-309, Eekerz, Air you breathe, Dewritech, Jonathan Hardin', Magicus69, Wikipelli, Mageduck3, , Neptuper17,
Rare Akuma, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Bluecoal, The Gull, Starkc, Helpful Pixie Bot, Game-Guru999, BattyBot, 22dragon22burn, Arcandam,
Codename Lisa, Mogism, ToFeignClef, Xiomicronpi and Anonymous: 83
Music of the Final Fantasy series Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music%20of%20the%20Final%20Fantasy%20series?oldid=
635908992 Contributors: Wapcaplet, Flamurai, Tedius Zanarukando, ShaunMacPherson, Darkhunger, Chowbok, SYSS Mouse, Rindis,
Martpol, FredOrAlive, Jason One, Eleo, Junk Jungle, Seancdaug, ReyBrujo, Krellion, Woohookitty, Percy Snoodle, Zaorish, BD2412,
Valenkorps, Angusmclellan, Gryndor, Bensin, Remurmur, Platypus222, Hibana, Geg, RussBot, Seryass, DarkEvil, Gaius Cornelius,
MilitantRabbit, Mikeblas, Deckiller, Queezbo, Lab16, Shawnc, Ben kenobi 00, Thekietstu, SmackBot, Korossyl, Hatto, Jagged 85, Commander Keane bot, DTR, Wilybadger, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Ecootoo, Crazyswordsman, Terrasidius, LeoNomis, J.smith, Alcuin,
CYMikeLee, TenPoundHammer, OneTopJob6, Doomer4life, Axem Titanium, Pjeigh, RomanSpa, Renmiri, TJ Spyke, TheFarix, Cat's
Tuxedo, Iridescent, Dave Runger, Curtmack, Pink Fae, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Juhachi, AmadeoV, CarrerCrytharis,
Nizarck, Travelbird, Guyinblack25, Ebyabe, PizzaMan, Thijs!bot, MarkBuckles, Tenchi UK, SkitchMusic, Noneofyourbusiness, Headbomb, Ctu2485, Bluerfn, CharlotteWebb, Rabid Behemoth, WikiSlasher, ChrisRJ, Forthelulz, Bakabaka, Darklilac, PresN, Kariteh, Tony
Myers, GurchBot, Hobson, Fx21, Archard, Appraiser, Yinj, Naohiro19, Yellow Mage, R'n'B, CommonsDelinker, Jzli, Arite, Chrono'99,
Nimrand, Ichthyos, Happypal, Sjones23, PatrickWaters, DarkMagic06, Ssoass, Cercia, Hewlin, Legoktm, GonbeFAN, Android Mouse
Bot, Aspects, Svick, JohnnyMrNinja, Finetooth, Martarius, Andrelim1, Industrialisation, PBX2008, Classicrockfan42, Ost316, WikHead,
Tyrangiel, Addbot, Megata Sanshiro, Crockster, AtheWeatherman, Tassedethe, MuZemike, PlankBot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Citation bot,
Quebec99, Nomchan, Christian140, Klokos, Schlumpi09, Citation bot 1, Tbhotch, Jonathan Hardin', H3llBot, Wingman4l7, Tyros1972,
Gabriel Yuji, Mark Arsten, MCI Singapore, Monkbot and Anonymous: 141
Final Fantasy (video game) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20(video%20game)?oldid=640402233 Contributors: Psychosh, Rlee0001, Sannse, Theresa knott, Salsa Shark, Nikai, Vanished user 5zariu3jisj0j4irj, Tedius Zanarukando, WhisperToMe,
Selket, Thunderbunny, Grendelkhan, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, GPHemsley, LGagnon, Wereon, Dbenbenn, NessSnorlax, Quadra23, Ev-
6.1. TEXT
361
eryking, Darkhunger, PiaCarrot, Shinmai, 20040302, Jason Quinn, Raekwon, Bobblewik, Wmahan, TerokNor, Mike R, Lockeownzj00,
DaveJB, Bumm13, Cynical, Neutrality, Hellisp, Marcus2, WarChild, Ukexpat, Chmod007, Zarxos, Rich Farmbrough, Andrew Maiman,
ESkog, Goplat, 259, Ht1848, Zippedmartin, Thunderbrand, Thanos6, Apostrophe, Jason One, Gary, Datrio, SnowFire, PopUpPirate,
CyberSkull, Riana, Seancdaug, Snowolf, Teggles, Wtmitchell, TheDotGamer, New Age Retro Hippie, Y0u, Flyingcheese, Angr, Mindmatrix, Uncle G, Poiuyt Man, Zilog Jones, Mangojuice, Combination, Vossanova, Sweetfreek, Regulus32, Graham87, Rjwilmsi, Loudenvier, Sdornan, Ligulem, Assassingod, Brighterorange, A Man In Black, JiFish, Brianreading, Gurch, Jonny2x4, Hibana, Liontamer,
CJLL Wright, Chobot, Rikoshi, Igordebraga, Rebochan, Check two you, Geg, Eclipsed Moon, Satanael, Sceptre, FlareNUKE, DarkEvil, NateDan, Anomie, Smash, Pagrashtak, Thunderforge, Warpedmirror, Joel7687, Ignis33, Maverick Leonhart, Ragesoss, Tristam,
Bobak, Tony1, Deckiller, Rwalker, N. Harmonik, Calaschysm, TheUncleBob, JuJube, Shawnc, Allens, Katieh5584, Nall, SmackBot, Cyberdude93, C.Fred, Jagged 85, JimmyBlackwing, Master Deusoma, Indium, Betacommand, Chanlord, Plotor, Bluebot, Cattus, Kermit
blue, ReyVGM, Onesimos, George Ho, Zidane4028, LifeMega, TKD, Hariharan91, Flyguy649, Radagast83, Cybercobra, Fractyl, Sparkysama, Sadmachine14, LeoNomis, Ravimakkar, Axem Titanium, Jinnai, Aljullu, Nichenbach, WtW-Suzaku, AdultSwim, Ryulong, TPIRFanSteve, Cao Wei, Some Guy1, Tythesly, Ryu Kaze, TJ Spyke, Phediuk, Cat's Tuxedo, Darth Narutorious, Judgesurreal777, Kevinmooney,
Grevenko Sereth, Rnb, Elranzer, Neoking, Phoenixrod, Bmecoli, Pink Fae, The Prince of Darkness, Stockdiver, CmdrObot, Mika1h,
Drinibot, Rasd, MessedRobot, Error411, Cydebot, Corpx, Davhorn, Dancter, Starionwolf, Jay32183, Guyinblack25, Domino2097, BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Deusfaux, Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, Sfxdude, Matthew Proctor, TangentCube, Wartime2, RobotG, Luna Santin,
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NicholaiDaedalus, VolkovBot, L.A.Nutti, STLocutus, Sjones23, TXiKiBoT, Rei-bot, PalSys, AspiringSquire, Geometry guy, Elliptical
red, Onyxt, Warped Finger, Notie15, Qwdcvgyu, Dark Dragon Sword, Unused000702, Jeberly898, SieBot, Brianpcoleman, Jinsek, Kudret
abi, OKBot, StaticGull, Ashelia, Cocoapropo, Grassre, Lockshaw13, WikipedianMarlith, Celique, ClueBot, Earlysnake713, Jon24hours,
Hippo99, Tintor2, MrKIA11, Cirt, Resoru, Arjayay, Alpha92613, Edwardodude, Tezero, SoxBot III, DumZiBoT, Heironymous Rowe,
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Zorrobot, MuZemike, Angrysockhop, Kurtis, Yobot, M14001100, Amirobot, Yunafantasies, GamerPro64, AnomieBOT, Tavatar, MamaVeemon, Commander Shepard, Ismashed, Tommcdee, Materialscientist, , RockJuno, Jagamijs, Xqbot, Belasted, Twentysixpurple, FG0u, YouTubeFan123, Leon3289, RibotBOT, Ndboy, Judamasmas, Lucia Black, Radams52, Aizuku, Milkedslime, Mister RPG,
Lightlowemon, Eric Ryan Jones, Dinamik-bot, Allen4names, Reach Out to the Truth, Mistermom7, VernoWhitney, EmausBot, Baseball1015, Jonathan Hardin', GoingBatty, Zero Diggity, Bt8257, XFSUxBatman, Wahjah, There Is No Cabal, Creverex, Wookiestick, Unreal7, SporkBot, Chris2rey, Damirgrati, SimpsonsMan1234, Basketcaseles, ClueBot NG, Jamo58, Jstrickland1936, Ringtones4az, Betazelda, MikamiLovesDeleting, Khazar2, SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, DinnerDude, MasterGamerNo1, Mikisiw, Magicperson6969, Iseesky,
Richolmes14, 296.x, Xiomicronpi, Linksamus, ArchadianJudge, Landingdude13, Rilech, Vova Freeman and Anonymous: 333
Final Fantasy II Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20II?oldid=639377908 Contributors: Psychosh, Rlee0001,
Wwwwolf, Cyde, Tedius Zanarukando, WhisperToMe, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, RedWolf, Dbenbenn, Jacoplane, Darkhunger, Bobblewik, Lockeownzj00, Cynical, Aknorals, Rich Farmbrough, Oliver Lineham, Qutezuce, Shadow Hog, Pedant, CanisRufus, Zippedmartin, Mqduck, Thunderbrand, Reneld, Reinyday, Apostrophe, HasharBot, Jason One, Polarscribe, CyberSkull, Seancdaug,
Teggles, ReyBrujo, New Age Retro Hippie, Y0u, Angr, Mindmatrix, Poiuyt Man, Combination, Eluchil, Gerbrant, PirateMink, Mendaliv,
Mana Excalibur, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, Quale, Voretus, Assassingod, JiFish, Brianreading, Gurch, Jonny2x4, Cookn4evar, Hibana, Liontamer,
Igordebraga, Check two you, Geg, FlareNUKE, Dr. D, DarkEvil, Gaius Cornelius, Anomie, Smash, Thunderforge, Msikma, Warpedmirror, Maverick Leonhart, Tony1, Deckiller, Darc, N. Harmonik, Square87, Jkelly, Calaschysm, Dru, Closedmouth, JuJube, Jecowa,
Extreme Unction, Nall, Victor falk, KnightRider, SmackBot, Moeron, Pgk, Jagged 85, Zainker, Jrockley, Eskimbot, Undc23, Finduilas 09,
Indium, Chanlord, Smeggysmeg, Bluebot, Cattus, ReyVGM, Deuxhero, Kourd, Colonies Chris, RAlafriz, Can't sleep, clown will eat me,
Squilibob, Zidane4028, TKD, Hariharan91, Flyguy649, Hoof Hearted, Fractyl, Zeta26, Sparky-sama, LeoNomis, Ravimakkar, Axem Titanium, Kuru, Jinnai, NongBot, Renmiri, Greenday88, BOZ, Kyoko, Ryulong, Ryu Kaze, TJ Spyke, Judgesurreal777, JoeBot, Twas Now,
Glai, Padvi, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, Plainnym, SamSandy, Mika1h, Drinibot, MessedRobot, Claytonian, D.stewart, Cydebot,
Jeriaska, Davhorn, Death motor, Starionwolf, Jay32183, Guyinblack25, Ike-bana, UberScienceNerd, Domino2097, BetacommandBot,
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PresN, Kariteh, Metakraid, Magioladitis, Johnnyfog, Newspaper98, Ling.Nut, Ecksemmess, Bertaut, MetsBot, Mwvandersteen, Thibbs,
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Cocoapropo, Denator, LordArcadio, ClueBot, Julio2, Lordio, Tintor2, MrKIA11, Bonelord, Tezero, MelonBot, Deathicus Imperius,
Demione, Ost316, FightingStreet, Kbdankbot, Addbot, Abacos, Megata Sanshiro, Jhuhn, Andre Toulon, Legobot, Kurtis, Luckas-bot,
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ClassicOnAStick and Anonymous: 172
Final Fantasy III Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20III?oldid=639352274 Contributors: Rlee0001, Liftarn,
Cyde, Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, WhisperToMe, Selket, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, RedWolf, LGagnon, Jacoplane,
Darkhunger, PiaCarrot, Mboverload, Lockeownzj00, Xinit, Piotrus, Cynical, Tsemii, WarChild, Dcandeto, Mike Rosoft, Svdb, Rich Farmbrough, Qutezuce, Xezbeth, Shadow Hog, Evice, CanisRufus, Zippedmartin, Thunderbrand, Cmdrjameson, Apostrophe, Pearle, Gary,
SnowFire, CyberSkull, Improv, Seancdaug, ReyBrujo, Alai, New Age Retro Hippie, Y0u, Angr, Kelly Martin, Mindmatrix, TigerShark,
Poiuyt Man, Eluchil, Zeromaru, Mendaliv, Rjwilmsi, Assassingod, Platypus222, Firebug, FlaBot, JiFish, Brianreading, Sean WI, Jonny2x4,
LeCire, Hibana, Liontamer, Check two you, Geg, Mpontes, DarkEvil, Manop, Gaius Cornelius, NateDan, MarcK, Smash, Msikma,
NickBush24, Irishguy, Tristam, Tony1, Deckiller, Rwalker, DeadEyeArrow, Zarboki, Lumaga, VederJuda, Kokushishin, N. Harmonik,
Zero1328, Dru, Stezton, JLaTondre, Jedi6, DoriSmith, Nall, Manmonk, That Guy, From That Show!, SmackBot, Juggaleaux, Jagged
85, Undc23, HalfShadow, Bluebot, ReyVGM, Robbstrd, Deuxhero, RAlafriz, George Ho, Tsca.bot, Squilibob, Zidane4028, TKD, Hariharan91, Cocopopz2005, Flyguy649, Fuhghettaboutit, RaCha'ar, Fractyl, Sparky-sama, Wizardman, LeoNomis, Pilotguy, BlackTerror,
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Icep, Escarbot, Andi Saleh, AntiVandalBot, TranscendentWarrior, Lemonv1, Ex-Nintendo Employee, Kung Fu Man, PresN, Kariteh,
362
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rolls, Smeagol 17, Yobot, Amirobot, AnomieBOT, Commander Shepard, Citation bot, Drilnoth, Jsharpminor, GETTA3, Ext9, LucienBOT, ProtoDrake, Citation bot 1, Lucia Black, Radams52, Biker Biker, Full-date unlinking bot, Lightlowemon, Sillent DX, Percussion99,
DASHBot, WikitanvirBot, Jonathan Hardin', Minimac's Clone, Bt8257, Sin lee 3, ZroBot, Liquidmetalrob, Hydao, Lacon432, H3llBot, L
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Player017, BattyBot, Yodonothav, Zeroslash, ChrisGualtieri, SNAAAAKE!!, Ultimatedriver, Dendy-Lion, Driverzone, Prima.philosophia,
Comixmaster, Iseesky, Richolmes14, Monkbot, Landingdude13, Rilech and Anonymous: 280
Final Fantasy IV Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20IV?oldid=639351304 Contributors: Psychosh, Rlee0001,
Liftarn, Amcaja, Vanished user 5zariu3jisj0j4irj, Tedius Zanarukando, WhisperToMe, Tpbradbury, Dragons ight, Furrykef, K1Bond007,
ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, RedWolf, JosephBarillari, LGagnon, Aerothorn, Oberiko, Michael Devore, Darkhunger, 20040302, Masken,
Juancarlos2004, Bobblewik, Neilc, Geni, Quadell, Lockeownzj00, Kaldari, Cynical, WarChild, MementoVivere, SYSS Mouse, Rich Farmbrough, Xezbeth, ESkog, CanisRufus, Zeality, MrVacBob, Thunderbrand, Bobo192, Reinyday, Giraedata, Guspaz, Apostrophe, Jason
One, Polarscribe, LanceHeart, CyberSkull, Ricky81682, Bngrybt, Seancdaug, Teggles, ReyBrujo, Kouban, New Age Retro Hippie, Red
dwarf, Angr, Kelly Martin, Mindmatrix, Percy Snoodle, Poiuyt Man, Fbriere, Combination, Eluchil, Regulus32, Jshadias, Rjwilmsi, Zcraysh, Fieari, Koavf, Rydia, Odysseyandoracle, Ligulem, DjSyndrome, Brighterorange, A Man In Black, Yagagakhee, FlaBot, Eldamorie,
RobertG, JiFish, RexNL, Jonny2x4, LeCire, Hibana, Liontamer, Deyyaz, Topstar, Amaurea, Check two you, Geg, Cuahl, YurikBot,
Quentin X, FlareNUKE, LeftHandedGuitarist, Seryass, FunkyJazzMonkey, DarkEvil, Manop, Gaius Cornelius, NateDan, Barkeep49,
Anomie, Smash, Pagrashtak, Thunderforge, Warpedmirror, Jaxl, Razer64, Apokryltaros, Tristam, Ngorongoro, Ravedave, Windscar,
Tony1, Deckiller, Rwalker, Gamemaker, EvilReborn, N. Harmonik, PaladinMRB, Sandstein, Calaschysm, Dru, Mike Dillon, Nikkimaria, JuJube, Shawnc, Buckeyes1186, PurplePlatypus, Nall, Doom127, TJF588, Joshbuddy, SmackBot, Crawlin, Reedy, Sturmtiger,
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Starkiller81, Megata Sanshiro, AkhtaBot, Jhuhn, GD 6041, Darkness2005, G0T0, LaaknorBot, AnnaFrance, Smeagol 17, Functolateral,
Yobot, Amirobot, A Chain Of Flowers, AnomieBOT, Tavatar, DebugJunky, Citation bot, LilHelpa, Belasted, LowSelfEstidle, Acebulf,
Jmundo, J04n, SPKirsch, Awesone, RavShimon, ASOTMKX, Tainted Conformity, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black, Tjkjr1992, Jonesey95, Keytar Shredder, SylvWind, Georey1218, Unrulyevil, DragonLair04, Warlion, The Stick Man, RobertAlanHarris, EmausBot, GoingBatty,
Bt8257, Meta Marx, HarDNox, Mcase841, H3llBot, Funnysheep, Lord Psyko Jo, Rare Akuma, SimpsonsMan1234, ClueBot NG, G-Zay,
TigerFan145, Shaddim, Karlbonner1982, BigAl2k6, Helpful Pixie Bot, SeHiLuCuRa, Mark Arsten, BattyBot, LogicalCreator, ChrisGualtieri, YFdyh-bot, SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, UselessToRemain, Prima.philosophia, Mgm5685, Aqeelius, Billy McBilly, CTGGuy, Richolmes14, Xiomicronpi, LarseKun, StarDragonJP, Landingdude13, Rilech, AdrianGamer and Anonymous: 422
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20IV%3A%20The%20After%20Years?
oldid=639346847 Contributors: Misterkillboy, New Age Retro Hippie, Mindmatrix, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, FlaBot, HeroicJay, Rwalker, JGoodman, N. Harmonik, TJF588, SmackBot, Oscarthecat, MK8, Dojotony, BarryTheUnicorn, Fractyl, Axem Titanium, WtW-Suzaku, Ryulong,
TPIRFanSteve, TJ Spyke, Judgesurreal777, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Mika1h, ShelfSkewed, Cydebot, Arrowned,
Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, Silver Edge, Voyaging, Darklilac, Jeydo, Kariteh, Tony Myers, Jllm06, Yellow Mage, Richiekim, Varnent,
Steel1943, Nemeses9, Minwu, TXiKiBoT, Unused000702, Karlo918, Gilsinan, Cocoapropo, WikipedianMarlith, Tintor2, Mmark089, 718
Bot, MrArticleOne, NuclearWarfare, FFXII International + Paul Rodgers, Vanished user uih38riiw4hjlsd, FightingStreet, Addbot, Dunhere,
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Yours and Anonymous: 86
Final Fantasy V Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20V?oldid=639351338 Contributors: JeLuF, Psychosh,
Rlee0001, Liftarn, Collabi, Cyde, Tedius Zanarukando, Vanieter, WhisperToMe, Selket, Furrykef, ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, RedWolf,
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6.1. TEXT
363
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AdrianGamer and Anonymous: 265
Final Fantasy VI Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20VI?oldid=640418022 Contributors: Psychosh, Rlee0001,
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Compilation of Final Fantasy VII Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compilation%20of%20Final%20Fantasy%20VII?oldid=
364
640356717 Contributors: Lowellian, Everyking, L33tminion, Ryan-D, Seancdaug, Godheval, Jai dit, Kusma, New Age Retro Hippie,
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Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII%3A_Advent_Children?oldid=640304460
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Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before%20Crisis%3A%20Final%20Fantasy%20VII?oldid=
639349769 Contributors: Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, Moink, Everyking, Lockeownzj00, Egan Loo, Kasreyn, Rich Farmbrough, Thunderbrand, Cohesion, Apostrophe, Seancdaug, ReyBrujo, Y0u, Mahanga, Firsfron, Woohookitty, Mindmatrix, Hpv, Psi edit, Combination,
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6.1. TEXT
365
Gualtieri, SNAAAAKE!!, Cerabot, Xiomicronpi and Anonymous: 169

Final Fantasy VII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20VII?oldid=640320001 Contributors: The Anome, Matusz,
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Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis%20Core%3A%20Final%20Fantasy%20VII?oldid=
639346997 Contributors: Tedius Zanarukando, K1Bond007, Jacoplane, Eroux, MardukZero, Maestro25, Rich Farmbrough, Vague Rant,
Xezbeth, Zeality, Thunderbrand, Apostrophe, Alansohn, CyberSkull, Pdboddy, Seancdaug, Snowolf, Godheval, Selo, ReyBrujo, New
Age Retro Hippie, Forteblast, Flyingcheese, Kelly Martin, Mindmatrix, LOL, Optichan, Psi edit, Combination, Eluchil, Dariakus, Josh
Parris, Assassingod, Remurmur, FlaBot, Hibana, Garnet avi, Geg, YurikBot, Sceptre, RussBot, Gaius Cornelius, Renegade Zero, The
Merciful, Pagrashtak, NickBush24, Welsh, RazorICE, Irishguy, Kamina (usurped), Moe Epsilon, Deckiller, CLW, N. Harmonik, CrisisCore, Jedi6, Doom127, TJF588, SmackBot, Nahald, KnowledgeOfSelf, Shoy, Jagged 85, Closetoeuphoria, Andres the Tiger, Commander Keane bot, Mairibot, Bluebot, Onesimos, WendelScardua, MalafayaBot, Grevious, DivineLady, TErminater116, Wilybadger, Can't
sleep, clown will eat me, OrphanBot, Zidane4028, Hariharan91, Garry Whale, Fractyl, Twlighter, Wizardman, LeoNomis, SoundEnman,
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Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirge%20of%20Cerberus%3A%20Final%20Fantasy%
20VII?oldid=639347353 Contributors: Ixfd64, Seth ze, Fvw, Xanzzibar, Jacoplane, Lupin, Darkhunger, Niteowlneils, Gilgamesh, DoubleCross, Gadum, Kit Foxtrot, Egan Loo, Shadowlink1014, Aknorals, McCart42, Martpol, MBisanz, Thunderbrand, Phred, Apostrophe,
Ryan-D, Datrio, CyberSkull, ABCD, Seancdaug, Snowolf, Godheval, Selo, ReyBrujo, Sylphie, Aaron Bruce, New Age Retro Hippie,
Mindmatrix, Commander Keane, Al E., Psi edit, Combination, Eluchil, Jack Cox, RadioActive, Icey, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, Assassingod,
CalPaterson, Remurmur, Sango123, Fish and karate, FlaBot, SGCommand, JiFish, RexNL, Gurch, Hibana, ShadowHntr, Gwernol, Jadedchaos, Geg, Satanael, DarkEvil, Gaius Cornelius, Renegade Zero, Vyran, Smash, The Merciful, Pagrashtak, Robertvan1, NickBush24,
Razer64, Joanna Kornas, Maverick Leonhart, Redlioness, JDoorjam, Bobbo, Kamina (usurped), Bobquest3, Pele Merengue, Ismo Kalkku,
Deckiller, Trainra, N. Harmonik, Crisco 1492, Calaschysm, RamirBorja, Veg0matic, Th1rt3en, DoctorWorm7, Tsiaojian lee, Keeavin,
Doom127, TJF588, Tom Morris, UltimatePyro, Veinor, SmackBot, SoulSlayer, Nihonjoe, Hogtree, KnowledgeOfSelf, Reichu, Jagged 85,
Eskimbot, Pasajero, Master Deusoma, Finduilas 09, Schmiteye, Bluebot, Tree Biting Conspiracy, Metalbladex4, Can't sleep, clown will eat
me, Allemannster, Lionheart Omega, Hailinel, Onorem, Zidane4028, Unknown Dragon, Hariharan91, Regulus Tera, Fractyl, Zeta26, Vinaiwbot, Robomaeyhem, Swatjester, Axem Titanium, SwissMiss, Spencer1337, Nikanoru, InsaneZeroG, Dream Rurouni, Erin St., Maeslin,
NongBot, Visual planet, WtW-Suzaku, Atirage, TPIRFanSteve, Ryu Kaze, Masem, Karasuhebi, Judgesurreal777, JoeBot, Noman953,
Tawkerbot2, FleetCommand, Combatmaster, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Mika1h, Strike Chaos, Juhachi, ShelfSkewed,
Philipp Kern, GargoyleMT, Cydebot, Jienum, Sora45, Gogo Dodo, Soetermans, RainyDay17, Rhe br, Dennoujuu, Observation, Keyblade
Wielder, Guyinblack25, Ike-bana, Omicronpersei8, PamD, BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Hinkuto, Woooodum, Headbomb, SouthernMan,
Twa556, Idemockle, Ctu2485, Dukeruckley, X201, JustAGal, 1-54-24, Legend Saber, AntiVandalBot, Luna Santin, Clockword, Voyaging, TTN, Sprite89, Roxdal, DTwirler, Swordwraith, Shinigami Kamenzi, PresN, Kariteh, ShadowInferno, Hello32020, Leolaursen,
CrankyScorpion, IceCubeNWA, Exlanzer, VoABot II, Brookielyn, Golfcart, Shinyfairylights, Catgut, Bertaut, The steve, XIIIStruggle,
SaphireStarz111, DerHexer, JaGa, Hoshijin, Eski99, Fx21av, Jimmilu, Nique1287, Yellow Mage, R'n'B, Darkishblade, Schala-Kitty, KobeBryant24, KrytenKoro, SharkD, Sevennn, Clerks, Roxyr, ShadowLaguna, Whoopty, NuMun, STBotD, Andy Marchbanks, Varnent,
Ellaine Licanor, Talz13, VolkovBot, Je G., Sjones23, Dominics Fire, TonyKM, Beem2, Bloodios, Broadbot, Gregariase, Liquid-blade,
ChillDeity, Bachame, Hitamaru, Unused000702, SieBot, Coee, Tiptoety, Oxymoron83, Seedbot, JohnnyMrNinja, Larrythefunkyferret, Mr. Stradivarius, Stef Nighthawk, FFXFan1991, ClueBot, Raphisawesome, Buspar, MorganaFiolett, Xemnas4, Tintor2, WhiteArcticWolf, Bghosted, Trud the Borg, Ottawa4ever, Azul81677, Kinsloft, Horat, Skunkboy74, Tool-apc, Addbot, Ld100, Rachelmun90,
Killy mcgee, Legobot, PlankBot, Luckas-bot, AnomieBOT, Citation bot, Silence1999, LilHelpa, Obersachsebot, Nasnema, DeathBerry,
Smurdah, UltimateStarThunder, Drgyen, Thejadefalcon, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black, Radams52, Smijes08, Weedle McHairybug, WTF iTz
Flow, Full-date unlinking bot, Lightlowemon, Dasdi, Eraqs, NeoGenPT, A red guy, Boltcraft, John of Reading, WikitanvirBot, Jonathan
Hardin', GoingBatty, Shurin, Ndega-igs, H3llBot, SporkBot, G-Zay, Inoui3, JeanetteDi, Helpful Pixie Bot, Player017, Arkhandar, Khazar2,
SNAAAAKE!!, Tentinator, Xiomicronpi and Anonymous: 457
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last%20Order%3A%20Final%20Fantasy%20VII?oldid=
622422879 Contributors: Wwwwolf, Lowellian, Cution, Michael Devore, Rich Farmbrough, Elwikipedista, CanisRufus, NetBot, Nsaa,
4v4l0n42, Tek022, Seancdaug, Abstrakt, LordAmeth, New Age Retro Hippie, Woohookitty, Tabletop, Kralizec!, Psi edit, Eluchil, Remurmur, Tbone, Yamamoto Ichiro, JiFish, Hibana, Geg, UkPaolo, Cuahl, YurikBot, Kollision, DarkEvil, MidnightWolf, Renegade Zero,
Mark Kim, Joanna Kornas, Dsoneja, Deucalionite, Deckiller, Trainra, N. Harmonik, CrisisCore, Laibcoms, Amren, Kungfuadam, SmackBot, Squall of SeeD, Nihonjoe, KahranRamsus, Cutter, Jagged 85, Undc23, Finduilas 09, Cattus, Gracenotes, Can't sleep, clown will
eat me, Eellee, Zidane4028, Hariharan91, Matija, Fractyl, Wizardman, Edgeris, Axem Titanium, Spencer1337, Ryu Ematsu, NongBot,
Ryu Kaze, SimonD, HertzaHaeon, Judgesurreal777, Flooch, Esn, Tawkerbot2, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Cydebot,
Raamin, Garland Strife, KittyLily, Thijs!bot, GeneralDuke, Headbomb, FakeXsound, Cloud S, Akata, Canada2k8, Kariteh, Andrzejbanas,
.anacondabot, Nobody Special, Bertaut, Spencer.vdm, Richard1990, Chibi Gohan, BetBot, Calamity-Ace, Lg16spears, Velaciela, RichoDemus, Dispenser, LordAnubisBOT, Rebent, Sjones23, Cloud20390, LainEverliving, Slysplace, Csaag, Closesoap, Martarius, The Thing That
Should Not Be, EoGuy, TheOldJacobite, WhiteArcticWolf, CohesionBot, Trud the Borg, Addbot, Timeu, NeoBatfreak, Mps, AnomieBOT,
Yahriel, LilHelpa, Purplety, Fortdj33, Full-date unlinking bot, Diannaa, Whywhenwhohow, MerlIwBot, Faster2010, SNAAAAKE!!, Scarbough, Ugog Nizdast and Anonymous: 132
Final Fantasy VIII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20VIII?oldid=639350930 Contributors: Psychosh,
Rlee0001, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, Nv8200p, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Djungelurban, Francs2000, Vincent Gray, JosephBarillari,
Lowellian, P0lyglut, LGagnon, Christopher Parham, Gtrmp, Nifboy, Everyking, Michael Devore, Darkhunger, Gilgamesh, Quadell, Lockeownzj00, Ihavenolife, TSRWedge, Sam Hocevar, Cynical, Suta Gosvami, Aknorals, SYSS Mouse, Mr Bound, Liquideagle, CALR, IKato,
Silence, StellarFury, Xezbeth, ESkog, Baryonyx, Ht1848, Sockatume, CanisRufus, Thunderbrand, Kotuku33, Bobo192, Marblespire, Haze,
Kappa, Psychobabble, SelphieTilmitt, Tyan23, Apostrophe, Pearle, Amcl, HasharBot, Jason One, Kweh!, Air.dance, CyberSkull, JonoP,
Bngrybt, Lightdarkness, Seancdaug, Spangineer, Hu, Teggles, ReyBrujo, TenOfAllTrades, Computerjoe, Versageek, New Age Retro Hippie, Hijiri88, Angr, Mel Etitis, Mindmatrix, Masterjamie, LOL, Poiuyt Man, Easyas12c, Wayward, Combination, Eluchil, Regulus32, Jack
Cox, Marcg106, Harp Heaven, Valenkorps, Ryan Norton, Rjwilmsi, Erebus555, NatusRoma, Missmarple, Barklund, RobertDahlstrom,
Ligulem, Assassingod, Brighterorange, Bensin, Arilakon, FlaBot, Aphasia83, JiFish, Who, RexNL, Sokol, Hansamurai, BlindingDarkness, Hibana, Liontamer, Benlisquare, Soulsteelgray, Check two you, Geg, Kralahome, Scalytail, Cuahl, YurikBot, RobotE, Sceptre,
FlareNUKE, RussBot, Kount, Seryass, Marc Philip Bentley, DarkEvil, Akamad, Chensiyuan, Enderu, Gaius Cornelius, NateDan, Tomius J.,
Ornilnas, Muijzo, Mark Kim, SEWilcoBot, Smash, Wiki alf, Pagrashtak, Warpedmirror, GrumpyTroll, Joanna Kornas, Maverick Leonhart, RazorICE, TheJadedGamer, Tristam, Omega-X, PhilipO, Kamina (usurped), Moe Epsilon, Misza13, Nanten, Tony1, Alex43223,
Deckiller, Falcon9x5, Linkofazeroth, Gamemaker, Nlu, Geopgeop, Crisco 1492, Calaschysm, Dru, TheKoG, Azhain, Mike Dillon,
Closedmouth, Jwissick, El cid the hero, Black-Velvet, Shawnc, LeonardoRob0t, Momus, Nall, Paul Erik, Asterion, Flipkin, SmackBot,
Squall of SeeD, F, Wulfo, Jagged 85, Antrophica, Eskimbot, Undc23, AnOddName, JimmyBlackwing, Finduilas 09, Bluebot, Triquetra
(usurped), Morgan89, ReyVGM, Tree Biting Conspiracy, King Arthur6687, Patriarch, DHN-bot, ACupOfCoee, MaxSem, Sevenwarlocks, Nonky, Arlando, Youwish, Squilibob, Tenchichan, Onorem, Zidane4028, Darthgriz98, TKD, Johaen, Treima, Regulus Tera, Deathsythe, Sparky-sama, Vainqueur, Marcus Brute, TenPoundHammer, Ravimakkar, Axem Titanium, Kuru, Spencer1337, Radaar, InsaneZeroG, Robosh, Smith609, Tyrael odium, Renmiri, ILorbb, Greenday88, SandyGeorgia, Vost, Doczilla, Atirage, Ryulong, Cerealkiller13,
Sonic Shadow, Ryu Kaze, Judgesurreal777, Cyruz, Flooch, Angeldeb82, Coreycubed, Dans1120, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu,
Mika1h, Drinibot, Oil slick9416, Outriggr, Conan11, Guitarmankev1, Driver01z, Green451, Cydebot, Monzonda, Lil Ripsta, Akatora666,
Angel Virus, Dark567, Peptuck, Dancter, 5102 Back, Rikriel Rezier, Starionwolf, Guyinblack25, Ike-bana, R.Stratton, Domino2097, Rider
kabuto, BetacommandBot, Epbr123, Tenchi UK, Runehawk, Fountain09, Sputnikpanicpuppet, Headbomb, Bobblehead, Bluerfn, X201,
Porqin, AntiVandalBot, Plebmonk, Luna Santin, Sonofecthelion, Xx.shontelle.xx, Kung Fu Man, PresN, Yayisus!, Kariteh, ShadowIn-
368
ferno, Bhamv, MER-C, Cameron.walsh, RobertSmooth, MaxDuo, Bongwarrior, VoABot II, AlphaPhoenixDown, Seb662, Mbc362, Reverendchaser, Metalb, Ecksemmess, Robomojo, Phantom brave ash, Cyktsui, Chocobogamer, Gimboid, Strifegeek, Boob, Scottosborne,
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Qxz, Squall strife, Bass shing physicist, Haru24, Leafyplant, Noogster, Dijinn, PeRiDoTs13, AmberAlert1713, Hellcat ghter, Piecemealcranky, Cercia, Master of the Orchalcos, Showers, Gunblade dude, Dark Dragon Sword, CrenzoCCFS, Tetsuyanomura, Unused000702,
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Dabomb87, Cocoapropo, ImageRemovalBot, Sokari, Karlsolsom, DenizenOfHell, Martarius, ClueBot, Immblueversion, EoGuy, AR Argon, Tintor2, Blanchardb, Thekoyaanisqatsi, Ktr101, Ladne2, Noj r, Resoru, Gtstricky, Sun Creator, Trud the Borg, Muro Bot, Undrace,
Deerstop, Bonelord, Tezero, Runefrost, Krossblades08, Ost316, Arincowell, FightingStreet, Kbdankbot, Addbot, Tcncv, Megata Sanshiro,
Jacina, Darkness2005, Tedmund, CarsracBot, LinkFA-Bot, Tide rolls, Smeagol 17, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Fraggle81, Amirobot, Stanza28,
Eric-Wester, AnomieBOT, Tavatar, Rjanag, Commander Shepard, Cillian ood, Triste Memoire, Citation bot, Cloud lionheart91, Xqbot,
Belasted, HADESGENT, Peely rulez, Thejadefalcon, Demonfyre52, FrescoBot, TTGL, ProtoDrake, Citation bot 1, Jonesey95, Smijes08,
FFXIIKD, Usmcrave99, Banej, Trappist the monk, Declan Clam, Madbane54, Dasdi, Diannaa, NeoGenPT, The Stick Man, EmausBot,
Word Logix, Clockwork Angel, The Mach Turtle, Bobbob53, Jonathan Hardin', Gamermanz, Bt8257, Wahjah, H3llBot, Funnysheep,
StealthyNinjaPenguin, The Country Girl, Lord Psyko Jo, Calbear10, Basketcaseles, CharmanderMon, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Darknessthecurse, Player017, Batman194, PlacePlayer, Mumbai0618, Wiki Expert1210, SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, The Stringinator, Clestcruz,
Xiomicronpi, Lembrazza, Ubuntaur, Monkbot, Bentierney, Gameslila, MrLavisherMoot, Memorystick24 and Anonymous: 583
Final Fantasy IX Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20IX?oldid=639350675 Contributors: AxelBoldt, Psychosh,
Rlee0001, Liftarn, Selket, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Nifboy, Everyking, Michael Devore, Darkhunger, Reyemile, Gilgamesh, Guanaco,
Bobblewik, Lockeownzj00, BLAh, Sam Hocevar, Cynical, Aknorals, DMG413, Grunt, Kilovh, Discospinster, Rich Farmbrough, Xezbeth,
Blade Hirato, Ht1848, Sockatume, RoyBoy, Thunderbrand, Marblespire, Elipongo, Apostrophe, HasharBot, Jason One, Borisblue, CyberSkull, Rdysn5, JereyAtW, InShaneee, Seancdaug, SeanDuggan, Teggles, Tony Sidaway, RainbowOfLight, Ghirlandajo, New Age Retro
Hippie, Y0u, Angr, Mindmatrix, Derktar, LOL, Poiuyt Man, Trevor Andersen, Eluchil, Regulus32, Jack Cox, Harp Heaven, Rjwilmsi,
Staecker, Joeymartin64, Ligulem, Goncalopp, Brighterorange, The wub, Sango123, Yamamoto Ichiro, A Man In Black, FlaBot, Ian Pitchford, Master Thief Garrett, RAMChYLD, JiFish, Who, Stoneface, President Rhapsody, Fortune, Hibana, Liontamer, Bedford, Visor,
Igordebraga, Rebochan, Check two you, Geg, YurikBot, Lordshmeckie, FlareNUKE, Epolk, DarkEvil, Orunitia, MrCheshire, Chensiyuan, Enderu, Gaius Cornelius, Ornilnas, Viltris, Smash, Wiki alf, Pagrashtak, Bachrach44, Thunderforge, Msikma, Warpedmirror,
Welsh, Ignis33, Maverick Leonhart, Irishguy, Tristam, Kazuhite, Ron Stoppable, Tony1, Deckiller, Gamemaker, VederJuda, N. Harmonik,
Zero1328, Dru, Th1rt3en, Shawnc, ArielGold, Momus, Nall, Crystallina, Flipkin, SmackBot, Halliwell3, Tigerghost, Hogtree, PitrPatr,
Unyoyega, Eskimbot, Undc23, BMetts, PTM, Bluebot, PantherFoxie, SynergyBlades, Cattus, Roscelese, Chiasmus, RaspberryPUFFS,
JONJONAUG, Colonies Chris, Terraguy, Elaich, KojieroSaske, George Ho, Zsinj, Wilybadger, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Squilibob, Onorem, Maetch, Darthgriz98, Jaimers, TKD, Hariharan91, Koshysx7, Nakon, Zeta26, Happy Panda, Sparky-sama, LeoNomis,
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Drinibot, Sgt AR, AetherAeternus, Alton, Nolat, Cydebot, Lil Ripsta, Michaelas10, DarkLadyNyara, Philtrauferson, Omicronpersei8,
JodyB, BetacommandBot, Narcissus-06, Thebanjohype, Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, Aericanwizard, Zachary, Matthew Proctor, MichaelACookII, Silver Edge, Plebmonk, Mrmoocow, Voyaging, TTN, Bakabaka, Lord Sturm, PresN, Yayisus!, TuvicBot, Kariteh, Nice Icy, ShadowInferno, Tony Myers, Gcm, Bhamv, Giler, Hut 8.5, ZodiaccaidoZ, Fx21, AlphaPhoenixDown, Zhanghia, Chocobogamer, Thibbs,
DerHexer, Cocytus, Darkside5001, Zachary crimsonwolf, Cli smith, BetBot, Cheeseman Muncher, Rettetast, Keith D, HisshouBuraiKen, Iorirox, RockMFR, J.delanoy, DrKiernan, DfKimera, Victorgehrke, Dispenser, BrokenSphere, NicholaiDaedalus, Typrix, Izno,
Steel1943, Yugioh1126, Poopincrom, Black Kite, L.A.Nutti, Nitro DG, Sjones23, WOSlinker, Minwu, BalthierisCool, TXiKiBoT, Magahitoa, Stuza2, Broadbot, Leviathan10593, Prettykittyx24, Falcon22612, Depaderico, Falcon8765, Showers, Dallasrtehgreat, Sliverorbit906, Unused000702, GreaterWikiholic, Fdkfjdkfjskdfj, SieBot, K. Annoyomous, Malcolmxl5, VVVBot, Carpainterly, Connell66, Jacotto, KeeperOfPrecepts, Avnjay, Steven Zhang, Alex.muller, Johnanth, Donau403, FallenWings47, Cocoapropo, Wonchop, Kelhocan,
ClueBot, History Wizard, Immblueversion, Mpdimitro, EoGuy, Witchwooder, Xax-5, Tintor2, Jusdafax, Primalmoon, Miuq, Bonelord,
Lx 121, Tezero, Vincent vangoria, Turklton00, XLinkBot, Ryulen1325, Ost316, Mifter, FightingStreet, Kodster, Tesatrapinc, Addbot,
Tesatraptrap, Megata Sanshiro, TutterMouse, Fieldday-sunday, Darkness2005, Smithj7476, AndersBot, ChartreuseCat, Starcade, ScAvenger, Kurtis, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Amirobot, BigBossIX, A Chain Of Flowers, AnomieBOT, Dwayne, Commander Shepard, Kingpin13,
Cpt Jack House, Nomchan, Belasted, Mynameisnotyourbuisness, MrWizard0022, Alex073088, Willieloaf, Fargo of Diarmuid, Shadowjams, AJCham, Thejadefalcon, FrescoBot, FF9Freak, Alxeedo, Davpat12, Lucia Black, Mister RPG, MastiBot, Posideus, Madbane54,
Dasdi, Romanlopez2011, Tbhotch, NeoGenPT, Klltr, WildBot, EmausBot, John of Reading, Jonathan Hardin', Bt8257, Xcetron, AsceticRose, Wahjah, Markt1988, H3llBot, Funnysheep, Lord Psyko Jo, Acethebathound, SimpsonsMan1234, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Darknessthecurse, Vsnares, Bobho995, Summer radish, BG19bot, Player017, Simolfc, Kikoman589, YFdyh-bot, SNAAAAKE!!, Twistor9,
Dobie80, Dexbot, Everymorning, Clestcruz, KingJohnboi619, Xiomicronpi, Noctis1436, Monkbot, TantalusIX, Disaster999, Eltakas77
and Anonymous: 490
Final Fantasy X Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20X?oldid=639350478 Contributors: LukeyBoy, Psychosh,
Heron, Rlee0001, Frecklefoot, Cyde, Ahoerstemeier, Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, Thunderbunny, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler,
Raul654, Yas, Cgranade, Fredrik, RedWolf, Meelar, LGagnon, Alerante, DocWatson42, Nifboy, Brian Kendig, Everyking, Seraosha,
Darkhunger, PiaCarrot, DO'Neil, Gilgamesh, Guanaco, Iceberg3k, Bobblewik, Stevietheman, Bobsponge, Shibboleth, MistToys, Tbjablin, Ihavenolife, Josquius, Borameer, Mysidia, Cynical, Gscshoyru, Marcus2, Imjustmatthew, Shadowlink1014, Kathar, Wrp103, Silence, StellarFury, Ivan Bajlo, Xezbeth, Erolos, Kbh3rd, Goplat, Evice, Dataphile, Ht1848, Cafzal, Shanes, Matteh, Thunderbrand, Weeksjh, Bobo192, Marblespire, L33tminion, Kappa, PiccoloNamek, Apostrophe, Pearle, Jason One, Kweh!, Alansohn, Gary, CyberSkull,
Agournevo, DavisLee, Seancdaug, Dark Shikari, Snowolf, Teggles, Javacava, ReyBrujo, Tony Sidaway, RainbowOfLight, Bsadowski1,
Versageek, New Age Retro Hippie, Forteblast, Shimeru, DarkProdigy, Lkinkade, Meeptroid, Woohookitty, Mindmatrix, JarlaxleArtemis,
LOL, Poiuyt Man, Optichan, Combination, Eluchil, Mandarax, FreplySpang, RxS, Rjwilmsi, Jaybeeunix, Lego3400, Ligulem, Goncalopp,
Assassingod, Brighterorange, Sango123, FlaBot, RobertG, Master Thief Garrett, JiFish, Sean WI, RexNL, Gurch, Czar, Cookn4evar,
Hibana, Liontamer, Bedford, Benlisquare, Igordebraga, Tylerwillis, Check two you, Jadedchaos, Geg, Cuahl, Satanael, YurikBot, TexasAndroid, Hawaiian717, Koveras, JustSomeKid, Jonphamta, Jtkiefer, DarkEvil, Chaser, Taziba, Enderu, Gaius Cornelius, NateDan, Thane,
Smash, Pagrashtak, Grafen, Warpedmirror, Snkcube, Maverick Leonhart, Seegoon, Redlioness, Kazuhite, Diotti, Windscar, Norbi, Tony1,
6.1. TEXT
369
Deckiller, Falcon9x5, Gamemaker, Darc, Geopgeop, K.Nevelsteen, Dru, Zzuuzz, Mike Dillon, PseudoKirby, Closedmouth, Aspect,
Tik, Musha, Agro1986, Garion96, Kungfuadam, RG2, Nall, Vanished user 99034jfoiasjq2oirhsf3, Rykotsusei, Crazdgamer, TheDeathCard, Luk, Flipkin, SmackBot, TheBilly, FarmerBob, Thundersky209, Pgk, Jagged 85, BeagleSoldier, Undc23, Evanreyes, David Fuchs,
Xaosux, Danikolt, Yamaguchi , Finduilas 09, Chanlord, DarkAdonis255, Amatulic, Master Jay, Persian Poet Gal, Tree Biting Conspiracy, Caterfree10, The jez, SchftyThree, Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg, Rediahs, Kungming2, Sir Chocobo, The Moose,
EddieSegoura, Tobzie, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, TCL, Squilibob, Anibas, OrphanBot, Onorem, Georey Gibson, Zidane4028, TKD,
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Ravimakkar, CFLeon, Axem Titanium, Srikeit, Texas William, Spir, Wapatista, Xornok, Scetoaux, Anand Karia, Ant666 2, Renmiri,
Doctor Hexagon, Tuspm, Ryulong, Big Smooth, Kektklik, Sonic Shadow, Ryu Kaze, TheFarix, Mario2000, Ronius, Judgesurreal777,
PHATwithPH, JoeBot, Grevenko Sereth, J Di, Kallgeese, Flooch, MrBoo, Tawkerbot2, YF-23, MoochFloat, Majin Izlude, The Prince of
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Kupo???, Leonhart9999, Lil Ripsta, Gogo Dodo, Travelbird, Soetermans, Fantasydragon, Soup Blazer, Kozo, Tawkerbot4, Observation,
Guyinblack25, Ike-bana, BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Kalarchis, O, Oliver202, Headbomb, Ctu2485, Bluerfn, X201, Tenaciousd, E.
Ripley, Powrtoch, TangentCube, Silver Edge, Mentisto, Hmrox, AntiVandalBot, King vegetto, SP:N, Rcej, Rsciaccio, Scepia, Sonofecthelion, Radioactive Cactus, Fearless Son, Aeneiden-Rex, PresN, TuvicBot, Kariteh, ShadowInferno, Fury161, Thisfox, Weird Bird,
Twowai, Blue Typhoon, Zalle, Bobby Button, Dunce, Cubaxrt, Leh.mo, Chchiu2009, Acroterion, Map42892, Badacmw90, Fx21, VoABot
II, AlphaPhoenixDown, JamesBWatson, Metalb, Ecksemmess, Nyttend, Thibbs, Riksweeney, THobern, DerHexer, Philg88, Hydrokinetics12, Edward321, JasonS2101, Inclusivedisjunction, Dboocock, Gwern, Cli smith, MartinBot, Nique1287, BetBot, Naohiro19, Jsamans,
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Final Fantasy X-2 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20X-2?oldid=639350048 Contributors: AxelBoldt, Tenbaset,
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Final Fantasy XI Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XI?oldid=639350279 Contributors:
AxelBoldt,
TwoOneTwo, Mrwojo, Edward, Gabbe, Ixfd64, 6birc, GTBacchus, Minesweeper, Ahoerstemeier, Daveryan, Conti, Andrevan,
Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Stormie, TKTuttle, Yakisoba, Jredmond, LGagnon, Bkell, Hadal, Mushroom,
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D6, Fhayashi, PKFC, RossPatterson, Rich Farmbrough, Wrp103, ESkog, Kbh3rd, Kelvinc, JoeSmack, CanisRufus, Journ, Sietse Snel,
Thunderbrand, Deathawk, Engelcox, Reinyday, Cmdrjameson, AllyUnion, Pikawil, GrAfFiT, Bavor, Timsheridan, Kx1186, Apostrophe,
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Final Fantasy XII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XII?oldid=639371571 Contributors: Cyde, Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, K1Bond007, ZeWrestler, Rei, Jhobson1, Fredrik, Sbisolo, Hidoshi, Taliswolf, Jacoplane, Nat Krause, Mintleaf,
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6.1. TEXT
371
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Capricorn42, AarnKrry, Sheps11, Brondis, Jaca6614, AnelZukic, Trut-h-urts man, ScatheMote100, Ondorz, Shadowjams, Lalo22, Redcard338, Sky Attacker, Marl3tto, Stuckupzionist, HJ Mitchell, Punkalyptic, ProtoDrake, Abdullah92, Banej, Lightlowemon, Trappist
the monk, Tbhotch, Sloshy42, Yowkz, Sesu Primer, Eraqs, ClanMaster40, WikitanvirBot, BaschLives!!, Lunaibis, AmericanLeMans,
Ekans La Cobra, Jonathan Hardin', Bt8257, Miku-chan, F, Maxviwe, Patternofknives, Lord lankop, H3llBot, Brandmeister, Rodre1,
Flightx52, Sailsbystars, Bill Hicks Jr., DennisIsMe, Edwardc96, SimpsonsMan1234, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Darknessthecurse, Final Fan
Daisy, Joshuaism, Carterlamper, Slater8659, MerlIwBot, TimSwagger, Joebobbyray, Helpful Pixie Bot, Lowercase sigmabot, Thepurplelefant, Player017, Harizotoh9, SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, Dissident93, Mogism, Dizzzer, KahnJohn27, NathanWubs, Golden Specter,
Hoppeduppeanut, Xiomicronpi, Ginsuloft, ArchadianJudge, Monkbot, Grotesque Desires, Rilech, IlovepieAP, Lkoijk and Anonymous:
1092
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XII%3A%20Revenant%20Wings?
oldid=639347056 Contributors: Robbot, Darkhunger, WarChild, Apostrophe, CyberSkull, Anittas, Teggles, New Age Retro Hippie,
Mindmatrix, Tabletop, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, Remurmur, Alphachimp, Hibana, NateDan, Smash, Kamina (usurped), Tony1, Falcon9x5,
VederJuda, N. Harmonik, Jemstone, Calaschysm, Rehevkor, Aresmo, SmackBot, Antster1983, Jagged 85, Gilliam, Finduilas 09, Persian Poet Gal, Onesimos, Bwanderson, Colonies Chris, Hariharan91, Fractyl, Zeta26, Zanasea, Lester, Axem Titanium, Jinnai, Cbreem,
Ryulong, TPIRFanSteve, Judgesurreal777, Jontintinjordan, The Prince of Darkness, Urutapu, CmdrObot, Amalas, SamSandy, Dctcool,
Mika1h, Stevo1000, Juhachi, Cydebot, -Anthony-, Ragnarok Addict, Dancter, Kozuch, BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Ianschow, Headbomb, Zyrxil, Bluerfn, X201, Salavat, Shabook, PresN, Dreaded Walrus, Kariteh, LegendsDX7, PIrish, Themoronmike, R'n'B, Me676,
Darkishblade, Darth Mike, SharkD, Tatrgel, SpinePastry, Sjones23, Kibamaru, BalthierisCool, YibTheGalka, PepsiMatt, Hero1315, Supanight, Ziphon, HiDrNick, AlleborgoBot, Kktor, Kingheart-lover, Unused000702, GreaterWikiholic, Simon171717, Amourfou, Miremare, Veryevil, Dabombchu, NintendoDSKing, Tintor2, WhiteArcticWolf, Sinh, MrKIA11, Resoru, Pcblack, Rheadild, Troop912, Randomran, Somaslayer, Jaymasta3322, Alpha92613, MelonBot, Deasterday1, DumZiBoT, Ost316, Addbot, Megata Sanshiro, Shidosuru,
Megaman en m, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Weirdo with a Beardo, KiasuKiasiMan, Kingpin13, The Evil IP address, PingPongYeti, Grinofwales,
D'ohBot, ProtoDrake, Full-date unlinking bot, RjwilmsiBot, WildBot, John of Reading, Jonathan Hardin', H3llBot, ClueBot NG, G-Zay,
Khazar2, SNAAAAKE!!, KahnJohn27, Richolmes14, Xiomicronpi, ArchadianJudge and Anonymous: 135
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabula%20Nova%20Crystallis%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=
640498549 Contributors: Philwelch, Darkhunger, Discospinster, Evice, Kwamikagami, Apostrophe, CyberSkull, Teggles, Tsuba, Rjwilmsi,
Remurmur, Fish and karate, FayssalF, Czar, Alphachimp, Hibana, Rikoshi, Satanael, Wavelength, Solemn Mind, Corbmobile, Rtablada,
Caerwine, EvilReborn, MagicOgre, RWFanMS, Sdoo493, PureLegend, SmackBot, Jagged 85, Chris the speller, SynergyBlades,
ClaudeLv250, Shiek927, RainbowIslands, Fractyl, Herb-Sewell, Doberman Pharaoh, Twlighter, Axem Titanium, Jinnai, Xornok, Accurizer, Mr Stephen, TPIRFanSteve, Phuzion, Judgesurreal777, Crazyedi, SilverKiento, INkubusse, Urutapu, SamSandy, Mika1h, Benwildeboer, Juhachi, Wyveelix, Grianne, Cydebot, Jienum, Soetermans, Epbr123, Voracious reader, Headbomb, Bluerfn, Ayukins, Rumpel-
372
stiltzkin, Andi Saleh, Voyaging, Scepia, WhiteMateria, PresN, Kariteh, Deective, Copl, Fx21, Cadsuane Melaidhrin, Joeymx, Berserkerz
Crit, Beet, GHenrik, Kitmitsu, Soccerguy1039, Nikthestunned, Sjones23, BotKung, Piecemealcranky, Hitamaru, AlphaPyro, TaerkastUA, Martarius, ClueBot, The Thing That Should Not Be, RashersTierney, MTCP, Zidane007nl, John J. Bulten, Resoru, PixelBot, Wikiburns, Thingg, Tezero, MelonBot, DumZiBoT, Eik Corell, Ost316, FightingStreet, Addbot, Freakmighty, Megata Sanshiro, Leszek
Jaczuk, Crockster, Roux, Yobot, TaBOT-zerem, IW.HG, KiasuKiasiMan, Zack fair 007, Citation bot, LilHelpa, Capricorn42, Truth-urts man, Outomus, TerraHikaru, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black, DrilBot, Tea with toast, Drakinen, Reach Out to the Truth, Dewritech,
Jonathan Hardin', Dewgy, Werieth, Lacon432, H3llBot, SporkBot, Raiolu, Jeromesandilanico, G-Zay, Adrianmbem, Helpful Pixie Bot,
AvocatoBot, Player017, Gearcrackers, BattyBot, Fredjully, SteenthIWbot, Xiomicronpi, Sisisia, Taylor Trescott, PshycoNinja, Monkbot,
Landingdude13, Grotesque Desires and Anonymous: 205
Final Fantasy XIII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XIII?oldid=639346588 Contributors: Atlan, Tedius Zanarukando, Sarrazip, Jhobson1, Robbot, Xanzzibar, Brian Kendig, Peruvianllama, Curps, Darkhunger, DoubleCross, Golbez, Lucky 6.9,
Chowbok, Antandrus, RevRagnarok, SYSS Mouse, Mike Rosoft, Mernen, Kaleb.G, Maestro25, Discospinster, EliasAlucard, Ajplmr, Aardark, Night Gyr, Evice, Kwamikagami, Kross, AreJay, Bobo192, Pikawil, Chronomaster K, Apostrophe, Chicago god, Alansohn, Gary,
SnowFire, CyberSkull, Penwhale, SlimVirgin, Teggles, Wtmitchell, ReyBrujo, Quintin3265, Runtime, RainbowOfLight, Pauli133, Mahanga, Stephen, Ari x, Chardish, Distantbody, Woohookitty, TheIguana, Mindmatrix, Camw, Thorpe, WadeSimMiser, Solle, Xaliqen,
Tabletop, Trevor Andersen, Grika, Tsunade, Psi edit, Pan Sola, Tslocum, Jack Cox, Jclemens, Sjakkalle, Lhademmor, Rjwilmsi, Bob
A, Sdornan, Feydey, Mentality, Snowknight26, Assassingod, Durin, The wub, Remurmur, Yamamoto Ichiro, Fish and karate, FayssalF,
Dgtljunglist, RobertG, Zooba, JiFish, Isotope23, Echeneida, RexNL, Gurch, Tedder, Vism, Hibana, Miy900, Essaregee, Nivenus, Sharkface217, Rebochan, Geg, Whursey, Satanael, YurikBot, RattusMaximus, Koveras, RussBot, Locke411, Chensiyuan, Manop, Enderu,
Gaius Cornelius, NateDan, The JumpStation, Grafen, Thatdog, Joanna Kornas, Saoshyant, Rtablada, Moe Epsilon, Rouge2, Deckiller,
Falcon9x5, Saintamh, DeadEyeArrow, Trainra, EvilReborn, N. Harmonik, Mugunth Kumar, Iron Ghost, Dru, Zzuuzz, PseudoKirby,
Theda, El cid the hero, KGasso, Josh3580, Th1rt3en, Sdoo493, AlexTG, Rurik, CWenger, PureLegend, Katieh5584, Pentasyllabic, DVD
R W, Kuddy, Veinor, SmackBot, SoulSlayer, MattieTK, Crawlin, Hydrogen Iodide, Jagged 85, Ixtli, Pasajero, Not a slave, HalfShadow,
Gilliam, Finduilas 09, Darknshadow, Shamedog18, Schmiteye, KaragouniS, Spilla, Father McKenzie, SynergyBlades, Onesimos, DMS,
Carbonrodney, SchftyThree, Kndarlow413, TheFeds, EikaKou, Patriarch, Cornake pirate, ClaudeLv250, Shiek927, Blueshirts, Tsca.bot,
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Some P. Erson, Irrevilent, Jboer, Karozoa, Daveoh, Halofan101, Grianne, Cydebot, Lil Ripsta, Steel, Uniqueuponhim, Sora45, Loony
BoB, Hebrides, Chasingsol, Myscrnnm, Arrowned, Soetermans, Dancter, DumbBOT, Chrislk02, Refuteku, MrHowardHughes, Observation, Brad101, Krusty111, Ike-bana, Domino2097, FrancoGG, BetacommandBot, Chocobo Knight, Evansam, Thijs!bot, Epbr123, KFantasy017, Pstanton, Jsquara, Azimuth1, Daniel, Woooodum, Voracious reader, Lanky, Jp07, Headbomb, Dacicero, HadesDragon, Bluerfn,
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Bloodios, MayumiTsuji, User918, Anonymous Dissident, SeanMooney, Zac Gochenour, Cantith, FFFans, Aahpandasrun, Steven130793,
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6.1. TEXT
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fani khaldun, Bantinsay, Thestazer, Nothiba, Tankcop, President Dick Bush, Nyat, Svntnth, Ghshrine, Pochika, AnomieBOT, Andrewrp,
XL2D, Momoricks, Matthew.Dimashki, KiasuKiasiMan, Rjanag, Gaysarecool, IDontKnowWhereiAm, Piano non troppo, Zack fair 007,
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Tommy758, Titodutta, SchroCat, Autumn6, Kingal, Gaara D. Dragon, Player017, Gearcrackers, Ocirne94, The1337gamer, Samwalton9,
Glaurung Power, Daganolson, SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, Dissident93, Jaanetia, John Henry Was a Baby, Rhylte, Dikomo, 069952497a,
NathanWubs, Triv642, ArmbrustBot, Iseesky, Richolmes14, Xiomicronpi, Sisisia, ArchadianJudge, PshycoNinja, Noctis1436, Cue The
Corruption, Monkbot, Landingdude13, An Unexpected Journey, Chambr, CrimsonBlitz and Anonymous: 2057
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XIII-2?oldid=639355917 Contributors: Taral, Darkhunger, SYSS Mouse, Arthena, Penwhale, JereyAtW, Mindmatrix, KiTA, Hahnchen, Chensiyuan, NateDan, Thunderforge, Nanten,
Syrthiss, Allens, Lecartia, SmackBot, Jagged 85, SynergyBlades, Cattus, EikaKou, Racklever, Teancum, IronGargoyle, RomanSpa,
Ryulong, TPIRFanSteve, Mika1h, Cydebot, Ike-bana, X201, Dawnseeker2000, Prolog, PresN, Jheinz, Veniks, R'n'B, DarkS Umbreon,
Tenko20XX, Nemeses9, Je G., Sjones23, Bloodios, Unused000702, TaerkastUA, Shadowminionz, Martarius, Sfan00 IMG, Romangelo, Tintor2, SilentmanX, Supergodzilla2090, Raizen1984, Bleubeatle, Adultnature, Ost316, MystBot, Addbot, DarkBahamut15, Zeta
Nova, Darkness2005, Download, Smeagol 17, MuZemike, Luckas-bot, Yobot, GamerPro64, JDC808, AnomieBOT, KiasuKiasiMan,
, Nomchan, CoolingGibbon, Trut-h-urts man, MGA73, Sergecross73, FrescoBot, LucienBOT, Pecchio92, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black,
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Danny856, Miku-chan, Solarra, Postwar, ZroBot, Lacon432, SporkBot, Lord Psyko Jo, Zargabaath, Chris857, ChuispastonBot, GermanJoe, SimpsonsMan1234, MigrantP, ClueBot NG, Jeromesandilanico, G-Zay, EliOrni, Awesomeness95, Cntras, O.Koslowski, JP416,
Ryan Vesey, Mmccroskey, Helpful Pixie Bot, Calabe1992, DBigXray, Kingal, Johnal56789, Abriael, Kryler, Mark Arsten, Player017,
Ilovehopeestheim, XXLucis-CaelisXx, Achowat, BattyBot, Clickworld, Theworldneverends, Shamethereisnomornicepeople, Zack12sora,
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and Anonymous: 301
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning%20Returns%3A%20Final%20Fantasy%
20XIII?oldid=640102240 Contributors: Mindmatrix, Czar, Benlisquare, Thunderforge, Onslaught, Katieh5584, SynergyBlades, Zidane4028, AUBERITTE, Axem Titanium, Mr Stephen, Ryulong, Judgesurreal777, Addict 2006, Mika1h, Juhachi, Jac16888, Cydebot,
Soetermans, X201, Seaphoto, PresN, Calamity-Ace, Casper10, Sjones23, Sesamevoila, Bloodios, Dusti, WereSpielChequers, Malcolmxl5,
Wanderer32, The White Duke, Tintor2, SilentmanX, Tezero, Addbot, Legobot, Yobot, JDC808, AnomieBOT, Jim1138, CoolingGibbon,
ChevCrank, Trut-h-urts man, Sergecross73, Axystos, Prisonermonkeys, Peeky Chew, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black, HRoestBot, Lightlowemon,
Seahorseruler, Fragerfox, EmausBot, ZroBot, Bollyje, SuperAlpaca, StingerP32, AnddoX, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, MelbourneStar, Dreth,
Widr, Nickaang, Gabriel Yuji, Bumblezellio, Player017, DrRockso87, The1337gamer, CarnivorousGnomeCatuse, BattyBot, YFdyh-bot,
IForce0, Qwertyzaq, ECW28, MaestroZack, TheMillionRabbit, Tenebrae89, Neuroxic, DavidLeighEllis, Xiomicronpi, Sisisia, Manul,
AddWittyNameHere, Shrek love 69, Miroske0303, Monkbot, Shirosnsd, Wizcheeson, Landingdude13, Clottonya, Rilech, Chambr, ClassicOnAStick and Anonymous: 102
Final Fantasy Type-0 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20Type-0?oldid=640063574 Contributors: Philwelch,
Darkhunger, Discospinster, Thunderbrand, Bobo192, Apostrophe, Stephen Bain, Alansohn, CyberSkull, Teggles, Tsuba, Firsfron,
Woohookitty, Mindmatrix, BD2412, Rjwilmsi, FlaBot, Czar, Hibana, Essaregee, Geg, Onewinged, Corbmobile, Tristam, Ngorongoro,
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Final Fantasy XV Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20XV?oldid=640398404 Contributors: Atlan, Ixfd64, Darkwind, Darkhunger, Gadum, Bodnotbod, Ukexpat, Maestro25, Discospinster, Bender235, Kalel, Thunderbrand, Polluks, Apostrophe,
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Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_IV_(3D_remake)?oldid=639347044 Contributors:
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Final Fantasy Chronicles Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20Chronicles?oldid=639350487 Contributors: Psychosh, Cyde, JidGom, Selket, K1Bond007, Philwelch, Aoi, Darkhunger, Lockeownzj00, Cynical, Bender235, Zeality, Sietse Snel, Thunderbrand, Apostrophe, Greenmage128, Alansohn, Mo0, Polarscribe, CyberSkull, Seancdaug, Teggles, Tsuba, Mindmatrix, Poiuyt Man,
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Rare Akuma, Helpful Pixie Bot, AdventurousSquirrel, Prima.philosophia, Monkbot, Landingdude13 and Anonymous: 22
Final Fantasy VII (Famicom) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20VII%20(Famicom)?oldid=639347650 Contributors: Damian Yerrick, Premeditated Chaos, Carnildo, Michael Devore, Filladdar, New Age Retro Hippie, Woohookitty, Mindmatrix,
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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Crystal_Chronicles?oldid=639350054
Contributors: KAMiKAZOW, Ugen64, Stephenw32768, Charles Matthews, Andrevan, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, K1Bond007,
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376
The Prince of Darkness, Zarex, Mika1h, GhostStalker, Dgw, Cydebot, Cambrant, Steel, Acg452, Fabiom, Slordak, The Big Al, Guyinblack25, Dark Samus, BetacommandBot, NightColossus, Thijs!bot, Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, Jessemypassword, Sol racht, Silver Edge,
Andi Saleh, WikiSlasher, Nsider, Voyaging, RobJ1981, J dog, Dinferno, Vendettax, Alphachimpbot, Oubliette, PresN, Kariteh, Mr. G.
Williams, Dekimasu, Wikidudeman, Quistos, Yellow Mage, Thorf, EternalSoul, Dareheaven, Belovedfreak, Frogacuda, Dr Doomed, SixteenBitJorge, NicholaiDaedalus, Chip8884, Jennavecia, Happypal, Bovineboy2008, Sjones23, Dominics Fire, EA-Agents B2 J, January2007, Waluigi Twin, Unused000702, Mini Joe, Kiko-Chan-64, WereSpielChequers, Malcolmxl5, Quasirandom, Thiasen, Miremare,
KeeperOfPrecepts, Raymus, JohnnyMrNinja, Altzinn, God Of War 1992, ClueBot, Mild Bill Hiccup, CounterVandalismBot, Cooookiess,
Raizen1984, Plasynins, Pcblack, 101mhoshizaki, Azul81677, Tezero, Ost316, SilvonenBot, Addbot, Proofreader77, Malphus, Megata Sanshiro, Yobot, Mr T (Based), AnomieBOT, LilHelpa, Nomchan, Syrus423, Awakes, Sergecross73, Lucia Black, TheSpencer, Meagan-xx,
67again, John of Reading, Jonathan Hardin', Leonhart z, G-Zay, Player017, The Call of Cthulhu, Xiomicronpi, Monkbot and Anonymous:
204
Final Fantasy Dimensions Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20Dimensions?oldid=639345428 Contributors:
Darkhunger, Mindmatrix, Rwalker, SmackBot, Jagged 85, Chris the speller, WtW-Suzaku, TPIRFanSteve, Phuzion, Judgesurreal777,
Urutapu, Mika1h, Cydebot, Soetermans, Bluerfn, X201, PresN, Jllm06, Unused000702, Karlo918, Martarius, Gordon Ecker, Arjayay,
Addbot, Megata Sanshiro, Smeagol 17, Yobot, FrescoBot, ProtoDrake, Lucia Black, , Sillent DX, EmausBot, GA bot, Werieth,
ZroBot, SporkBot, Thomthom4, MigrantP, Mjbmrbot, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Satellizer, Titodutta, BG19bot, Jay8g, RudolfRed, Khazar2,
Cerabot, Xiomicronpi, Monkbot, Landingdude13 and Anonymous: 31
Dissidia Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissidia%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=639346826 Contributors: William
Avery, Atlan, Darkhunger, Jayjg, Rich Farmbrough, Vague Rant, ESkog, Smalljim, Giraedata, Chicago god, Anthony Appleyard,
Ricky81682, Kurt Shaped Box, Teggles, ReyBrujo, New Age Retro Hippie, Forteblast, Mindmatrix, Mazca, WadeSimMiser, JRHorse,
MarixD, Mandarax, Jack Cox, Mendaliv, Rjwilmsi, Nneonneo, Platypus222, FlaBot, Nihiltres, Hibana, Miy900, Igordebraga, Geg, RussBot, Matt Fitzpatrick, Gaius Cornelius, Rtablada, Closedmouth, Ben kenobi 00, TJF588, Rykotsusei, SmackBot, Ominae, Andres the
Tiger, Onesimos, SchftyThree, DivineLady, OrphanBot, Zidane4028, Fractyl, ChipNoir, Okorn, Axem Titanium, Ryu Ematsu, Cyberlink420, Otend, WtW-Suzaku, Ryulong, TPIRFanSteve, Agent 86, Iridescent, Judgesurreal777, Scroogey McDucky, SilverKiento,
The Prince of Darkness, CmdrObot, SamSandy, Mika1h, Sonickenshin, Frankly Man, Strider175, Cydebot, Faethin, Steel, JiangWei23,
Jeriaska, Myscrnnm, Comwizz2, DumbBOT, BetacommandBot, Pampas Cat, Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, Philippe, KrakatoaKatie,
Paste, DarkAudit, PresN, Kariteh, Jheinz, Alexlayer, VoABot II, Ambrosia-, Jeremywc, Steven Walling, Stradiviperius, Sworded lion26,
SamuraiDog, Pupster21, Sfelipe781, Hawk Thanatos, Yellow Mage, Shaunomacx, J.delanoy, Nevfx, Dispenser, It Is Me Here, RealmRPGer, Kirujoy, Tcaudilllg, Zero Serenity, Unexplainedbacon, Blackgaia02, Joshua Issac, Juliancolton, Useight, Archonus, Dark paladin x, Hok0519, ChunchiYau, Sjones23, TXiKiBoT, Bloodios, Gutted, Corvus cornix, LeaveSleaves, Jammi568, Ilustrador, Haseo9999,
DarkRyan75, Impasse, Hiroshiyo, Jean-Frdric, WizzieBlue, Gaminex, Unknown Unknowns, Legoktm, Sukafurerii, Dragonmaster88,
Unused000702, Flamzeron, Patdreams, Scarian, Paradoctor, Yuefairchild, Joshdude12345, GlassCobra, Thatscork, VertigoGuo, The
Clawed One, Myominane, Martarius, FFXFan1991, ClueBot, Immblueversion, Artichoker, The Thing That Should Not Be, Editsalot,
Wysprgr2005, Zidane007nl, Tintor2, Bokan, Blanchardb, Sinh, Manishearth, Canis Lupus, Resoru, Winston365, Abrech, Raizen1984,
GUNDERex, Dfsghjkgfhdg, Zero Blazer, Wikiburns, Drakenjecht, Fairseeder, Trud the Borg, BOTarate, Alpha92613, Thingg, Greenchocobo, Versus22, Darkcat1, Tezero, Whotheman2006, DumZiBoT, XLinkBot, TRTX, Rror, Ost316, TenTonParasol, Mifter, Alexius08, FightingStreet, Tool-apc, SimonKSK, Addbot, Willking1979, Queenmomcat, Megata Sanshiro, Zeta Nova, Bastion Monk, LaaknorBot, Bassbonerocks, Debresser, Timeu, Gail, Arbitrarily0, Contributor777, Luckas-bot, Ptbotgourou, Budakai, Zekunlu, Seinra, Captainrag, DaemonArts, Pochika, Eric-Wester, David A. Carroll, AnomieBOT, Veyda, Greenstache, KiasuKiasiMan, IRP, Zack fair 007,
Imagepictures, Grenzer, Boswen, Citation bot, Olimango, Werehog21, You may say I'm a dreamer, OwnMoony, Nomchan, Jagamijs, Darcovian, Jelloshooter, Dissidia Brasil, Fargo of Diarmuid, Kyrios320, Lamisu, Doji445, Locobot, Ondorz, BlueWolfheart, Shadowjams,
ASOTMKX, Babyjazspanail, Legobot III, Cid SilverWing, TerraHikaru, Metallisox, PrinceTae, THeGaJmAn, Lalo22, TehRYNOL, Stevie200, Ebro2k9, Scaregenral3, ProtoDrake, The black mage of gia, Lucia Black, Tommymacgruber, RedBot, MondalorBot, RazielZero,
Drakinen, Olegnanotlib, Mahoromantic, Unrulyevil, Nascar1996, Minimac, Bubear123, EmausBot, BrickBreak, John of Reading, GA bot,
Jonathan Hardin', Grendenson, RA0808, Cullenjackrat, ClueBot NG, G-Zay, Jorgenev, Bodh3, Eliskuya2, Player017, BattyBot, RIT ninja,
SNAAAAKE!!, Dexbot, Buspirtraz, Xanthux, AmericanLemming, Xiomicronpi, OccultZone and Anonymous: 576
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissidia%20012%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=639342588 Contributors: Edward, Bearcat, Robbot, Giraedata, Tsuba, Mindmatrix, Jokubas, Rjwilmsi, Geg, SmackBot, Amatulic, EikaKou, Zidane4028,
Axem Titanium, WtW-Suzaku, TPIRFanSteve, SubSeven, Mika1h, Sonickenshin, Cydebot, DumbBOT, Noneofyourbusiness, Mojo Hand,
Headbomb, Bluerfn, X201, MikeLynch, MER-C, Jheinz, Acalamari, Zero Serenity, Fnlfntsyfn, Sjones23, Philip Trueman, TXiKiBoT,
Kww, Unused000702, The Clawed One, ClueBot, Immblueversion, EoGuy, Tintor2, Supergodzilla2090, Alexbot, Eeekster, Alpha92613,
XLinkBot, MystBot, Addbot, Megata Sanshiro, Teles, Ben Ben, Luckas-bot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, KiasuKiasiMan, Trut-h-urts man,
Kyrios320, ASOTMKX, LucienBOT, Lalo22, Stevie200, ProtoDrake, KnolStriker, Lucia Black, Tommymacgruber, Jujutacular, Drakinen, Sovereign92, Kayleexc, Harpiesiren, El Mayimbe, Ripchip Bot, Mewtwo465, EmausBot, John of Reading, RenamedUser01302013,
Lol-kitas, L Kensington, Lord Psyko Jo, Asdfsfs, ChuispastonBot, Darkcandy1, Pspgweber, DASHBotAV, Hatena, ClueBot NG, G-Zay,
Maxeatworld, Ichigodarken, Leon95, RaikiriXIII, Goochmaster, TigerFan2011, MasterAbbott, Kingal, Player017, MikamiLovesDeleting,
Platitudinous9000, ChrisGualtieri, Khazar2, SNAAAAKE!!, Redd Foxx 1991, Xiomicronpi, Monkbot, AdrianGamer and Anonymous:
223
Final Fantasy Brigade Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Airborne_Brigade?oldid=639345140 Contributors: Mindmatrix, Jagged 85, Judgesurreal777, Mika1h, Cydebot, Soetermans, X201, PresN, JohnnyMrNinja, Martarius, Jkwiki1, Yobot, Nomchan,
Lucia Black, TheGGoose, G-Zay, Khazar2, SNAAAAKE!! and Anonymous: 6
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%3A%20Legend%20of%20the%
20Crystals?oldid=633006702 Contributors: Snares, Emperorbma, Timrollpickering, Robert Weemeyer, Mckaysalisbury, Ihavenolife,
Rich Farmbrough, Xezbeth, NetBot, Pikawil, Apostrophe, Seancdaug, Graham87, Yamamoto Ichiro, FlaBot, Ian Pitchford, JiFish, Hibana, DarkEvil, Robrecht, NawlinWiki, Joanna Kornas, Deckiller, N. Harmonik, JQF, SmackBot, Nihonjoe, Fractyl, LeoNomis, TenPoundHammer, Axem Titanium, Ryu Ematsu, Miss Ethereal, Eoseth, ShakingSpirit, TheFarix, Judgesurreal777, Vanisaac, Urutapu,
Mika1h, Wyveelix, Cydebot, Raamin, Sloth monkey, JamesAM, Thijs!bot, Reggid, Headbomb, Fayenatic london, Kung Fu Man, Yinj,
Nohansen, TXiKiBoT, AtaruMoroboshi, JohnnyMrNinja, Shin-Kitsune, ImageRemovalBot, Armageddon1994, Magiciandude, Tezero,
Addbot, Smeagol 17, AnomieBOT, LilHelpa, Xqbot, Two tow, 5th wolf, Lucia Black, Tailikku, Martin IIIa, Difu Wu, ZroBot, Gabriel
Yuji, SeeTheInvisible, Dissident93, Landingdude13 and Anonymous: 36
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20Mystic%20Quest?oldid=639351036 Contributors: Psychosh, GrahamN, Atlan, Goatasaur, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, ZeWrestler, JonathanDP81, LGagnon, Quadra23, Darkhunger,
6.1. TEXT
377
Golbez, Ary29, Sam Hocevar, Cynical, The demiurge, Violetriga, Zippedmartin, Mlindstr, Dralwik, Joylock, Apostrophe, Seancdaug,
TheDotGamer, ReyBrujo, Kouban, New Age Retro Hippie, Y0u, Marasmusine, Mindmatrix, Combination, Marcg106, Koavf, Bob A,
Staecker, Dracontes, FlaBot, Xmoogle, JiFish, Cookn4evar, Hibana, Liontamer, Igordebraga, Melodia, FlareNUKE, Rocketgoat, DarkEvil,
NickBush24, Ou tis, Tristam, CPColin, Tony1, Deckiller, Analoguedragon, Nikkimaria, Th1rt3en, Rurik, Doom127, Dkasak, SmackBot,
Thaagenson, Jagged 85, Oscarthecat, Vercalos, Parrothead1983, TimBentley, ReyVGM, ClaudeLv250, GVnayR, Ravimakkar, Axem Titanium, Ryu Ematsu, AdultSwim, Ryulong, Xihix, Judgesurreal777, O1ive, Phoenixrod, Gorkab Nitrix, Tawkerbot2, Vaughnstull, The Prince
of Darkness, Urutapu, Zarex, Mika1h, Sep102, NickW557, Neelix, Albert Cheng, Wyveelix, Cydebot, Flyinghippo, Guyinblack25, After
Midnight, Temporal Dissonance, BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Headbomb, Z10x, Silver Edge, MoogleDan, Ex-Nintendo Employee, Sima
Yi, Kung Fu Man, PresN, Figma, Kariteh, Ikanreed, Xeno, RobertSmooth, Steveprutz, Giggy, MartinBot, YoBub, Dareheaven, Casper10,
Guru Larry, Mr Wesker, Reuben164, WOSlinker, RATIO Fighter, Unused000702, JohnnyMrNinja, The Thing That Should Not Be, Jappalang, WhiteArcticWolf, Addbot, Megata Sanshiro, Jhuhn, Bastion Monk, Crockster, AdamChirnside, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Citation bot,
Lucky 07 kaeli, LilHelpa, Xqbot, Deftera, Citation bot 1, Lucia Black, Cru Jones83, Claud Stri, Mama-ganon, Glitch advocate, Lorson,
Cool Dog Pimp, The Stick Man, WikitanvirBot, ZroBot, ClueBot NG, Hedja, BattyBot, Tsuukasa, Landingdude13, AdrianGamer and
Anonymous: 107
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%3A%20The%204%20Heroes%20of%
20Light?oldid=639346607 Contributors: Markhurd, Darkhunger, Mindmatrix, Mandarax, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, Hibana, Apokryltaros,
SmackBot, SoulSlayer, Gspbeetle, Fractyl, Ryulong, TPIRFanSteve, TJ Spyke, Judgesurreal777, Urutapu, Mika1h, Cydebot, Soetermans,
Jameboy, DumbBOT, Silver Sonic Shadow, Noneofyourbusiness, Bluerfn, X201, J Greb, Bongwarrior, Jllm06, Calamity-Ace, Sirtao, Varnent, Sjones23, Unused000702, Pteronura brasiliensis, JohnnyMrNinja, Martarius, Immblueversion, Gordon Ecker, Dfsghjkgfhdg, Tezero,
Ost316, MystBot, Addbot, BtLyger, Megata Sanshiro, LaaknorBot, MuZemike, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Yottamol, KiasuKiasiMan, LilHelpa,
DSisyphBot, Eugene-elgato, Lucia Black, DrilBot, Bgpaulus, EmausBot, John of Reading, WikitanvirBot, Jonathan Hardin', Gamermanz,
Tommy2010, Buleno04, Kman6299, Rodre1, G-Zay, Lina Redford, Dansim123, BG19bot, Supersniper430, Glacialfox, Comatmebro,
Mogism, Azure223, Monkbot, Huuu229 and Anonymous: 53
Final Fantasy Tactics (series) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final%20Fantasy%20Tactics%20(series)?oldid=636820724 Contributors: Zxcvbnm, Rjwilmsi, Axem Titanium, Judgesurreal777, Mika1h, Headbomb, PresN, Izno, Unused000702, Arjayay, Tezero, Rreagan007, Dawynn, AnomieBOT, Lucia Black, Ronald911, Jonathan Hardin', BattyBot, Dobie80, Monkbot and Anonymous: 4
Mana (series) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana%20(series)?oldid=634836874 Contributors: Kowloonese, Edward, Emperorbma, RickK, Dysprosia, Tedius Zanarukando, Selket, Joshk, Djungelurban, Gamera2, Yas, RedWolf, Meelar, LGagnon, Timrollpickering, Cyrius, David Gerard, Gtrmp, AngelHedgie, Darkhunger, Masken, Wmahan, Graty, Ihavenolife, Sam Hocevar, Vague Rant,
Rsanchezsaez, Telpi, Sn0wake, DcoetzeeBot, Kalel, Evice, RJHall, CanisRufus, Dustinasby, Unknown W. Brackets, Jason One, CyberSkull, Seancdaug, Erik, ReyBrujo, Sciurin, Jreid, New Age Retro Hippie, Saxifrage, Y0u, Stemonitis, Firsfron, Woohookitty, Havermayer, Jihnsius, Fbriere, Optichan, Combination, Eluchil, Kbdank71, Codemonkey85, Rjwilmsi, Shanul, Jake Wartenberg, Gsp, DyluckTRocket, Spriteless, Hibana, Benlisquare, Melodia, YurikBot, DarkEvil, Mythsearcher, Smash, Outlive, Retired username, Macshune,
Tony1, VederJuda, N. Harmonik, Dru, Nikkimaria, Jecowa, Meegs, Nall, SmackBot, Nihonjoe, Jagged 85, HalfShadow, Oscarthecat,
Servebot 1, Wikisamh, ClaudeLv250, Sct72, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, OrphanBot, Sephiroth BCR, Fuhghettaboutit, Keithustus,
LeoNomis, Harryboyles, Axem Titanium, Soap, Zhane Masaki, RomanSpa, SandyGeorgia, AdultSwim, TPIRFanSteve, TJ Spyke, Judgesurreal777, The Prince of Darkness, Mika1h, Juhachi, GargoyleMT, Cydebot, Cricketgirl, Krator, Scottythegreat1, Kozuch, Guyinblack25,
After Midnight, Bulmabriefs144, Rocket000, Epbr123, Headbomb, X201, Almighty Rajah, Koralin, WinBot, Milton Stanley, Vendettax, Ex-Nintendo Employee, PresN, Kariteh, East718, Lawilkin, Mikli, Suduser85, Newspaper98, MetsBot, Spellmaster, JaGa, Yellow
Mage, Dbiel, Eliz81, Skizzaltix, Darth Mike, SharkD, McSly, Plasticup, Sud, GimmeBot, Cosmic Latte, TonyKM, BlueCanary9999,
Eldaran, Ashnard, Victory93, SquallLeonhart ITA, Unused000702, SuperNESPlayer, Rfts, Bakuryuu, The Mighty KELP, Svick, Latics, TypoBot, ClueBot, Artichoker, Dawnfather, Time for action, Lunalis, Fastily, Ost316, FightingStreet, Addbot, Abacos, TutterMouse,
Crockster, AndersBot, Debresser, Luckas-bot, Yobot, EchetusXe, Guessing Game, Citation bot, Xqbot, DSisyphBot, Someguy1200, BlueWolfheart, Mryan96, FrescoBot, Fortdj33, Citation bot 1, Radams52, Bastianbux, RedBot, Trappist the monk, Sillent DX, DASHBot,
EmausBot, Jonathan Hardin', ZroBot, SporkBot, Chrisfjordson, ClueBot NG, Despatche, BattyBot, Sammy102093, Dexbot, Dissident93,
NathanWubs, Windywalk, Monkbot, Landingdude13 and Anonymous: 141
SaGa (series) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaGa%20(series)?oldid=639971514 Contributors: Mrwojo, Edward, Tedius Zanarukando, Thunderbunny, Edededed, LGagnon, Gtrmp, Darkhunger, Gilgamesh, Ht1848, CanisRufus, Maryu, Jason One, CyberSkull,
Seancdaug, Y0u, Woohookitty, Eluchil, Kbdank71, XLerate, FlaBot, Hibana, Cuahl, YurikBot, Koveras, DarkEvil, Tristam, Tony1,
N. Harmonik, Nikkimaria, Fightindaman, SmackBot, Jagged 85, Bluebot, Onikage725, Axem Titanium, Tktktk, Ryulong, TJ Spyke,
Judgesurreal777, The Prince of Darkness, Zarex, Megazero, ArrogantParagon, Wyveelix, Error411, Cydebot, Odie5533, Alphachimpbot, Ex-Nintendo Employee, Kung Fu Man, Kariteh, Karawapo, MartinBot, Katalaveno, Sud, Ryan914, Paerarru, WOSlinker, Master
of the Orchalcos, Unused000702, JohnnyMrNinja, Anchor Link Bot, Auntof6, Gordon Ecker, DumZiBoT, XLinkBot, Polo83, Addbot,
Megata Sanshiro, SpellingBot, Lightbot, Smeagol 17, Zorrobot, MuZemike, Legobot, Yobot, Amirobot, Michael Chidester, LilHelpa, Grey
ghost, Nomchan, GrouchoBot, BlueWolfheart, Awesone, Lucia Black, Radams52, 20003, Jonesey95, Kingsfall, Canyq, Sverigekillen,
Air you breathe, Jonathan Hardin', ZroBot, Spacexplosion, Alshaheen15, SporkBot, Tyros1972, ChuispastonBot, Winfredtheforth, Zack
Tartufo, The1337gamer, Dewy60, Theswweet, Landingdude13, ArcticSphinx and Anonymous: 43
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrhythm%20Final%20Fantasy?oldid=637485346 Contributors:
New Age Retro Hippie, Hibana, Robaato, Closedmouth, Jagged 85, Charlesr, Hope(N Forever), TheFarix, Judgesurreal777, ShelfSkewed,
Cydebot, Soetermans, X201, Nicholas0, StrAbZ, Sss333, Magioladitis, JamesBWatson, Jotamide, Calamity-Ace, Varnent, JayC, Altava,
Unused000702, Keilana, Wonchop, Tintor2, Alpha92613, DerBorg, Ost316, Addbot, AnomieBOT, Jim1138, TParis, Citation bot, CoolingGibbon, ProtoDrake, J.Severe, Lightlowemon, RjwilmsiBot, Ripchip Bot, EmausBot, Mo ainm, ZroBot, Lacon432, Makecat, ClueBot
NG, G-Zay, Neji56565onyoutube, JuliusMax, ElphiBot, En-bit, Player017, IluvatarBot, The1337gamer, 22dragon22burn, YFdyh-bot,
SNAAAAKE!!, Dissident93, Gamer434, Richolmes14, Landingdude13 and Anonymous: 53
List of Final Fantasy video games Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20Final%20Fantasy%20video%20games?oldid=
639448033 Contributors: Paul A, Darkhunger, Moochocoogle, Brianreading, Bgwhite, Voidxor, Rwalker, N. Harmonik, Peter.mottola,
Axem Titanium, TJ Spyke, Mika1h, Ultimate77, Guyinblack25, Noneofyourbusiness, Bluerfn, Shintenpu, PresN, Bertaut, Sjones23, Philip
Trueman, GimmeBot, SquallLeonhart ITA, GaussTek, TaerkastUA, Dabomb87, FallenWings47, Tintor2, Iuhkjhk87y678, Tezero, Ost316,
Addbot, Abacos, Yakiv Gluck, Megata Sanshiro, LaaknorBot, Yobot, Tavatar, Citation bot, FrescoBot, LucienBOT, Askyles, ProtoDrake,
Hellknowz, EmausBot, Jonathan Hardin', Goinginsquares, Splatterhouse5, Lacon432, Lol-kitas, H3llBot, Thomthom4, Rhain1999, Shaddim, Brayden96, Maxvgc, Louis993546, BattyBot, WateryEarth, Dexbot, Chimpoozle, Rockman1216, Monkbot, Landingdude13, TheEagleStrike, Cartakes and Anonymous: 57
378
6.2 Images
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/
File:Dirgeofcerberususbox.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Dirgeofcerberususbox.jpg License: Fair use

File:Dissidia_012_Story_Screenshot.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/Dissidia_012_Story_Screenshot.jpg
License: Fair use Contributors:
www.andriasang.com
Original artist: ?
File:Dissidia_Duodecim_012_Final_Fantasy.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/Dissidia_Duodecim_012_
Final_Fantasy.png License: Fair use Contributors:
http://lawson.jp/lawson/loppicatalog/item.html?item=024704 Original artist: ?
File:Dissidia_NA_Cover.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Dissidia_NA_Cover.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
Square Enix
Original artist: ?
6.2. IMAGES
379
File:Dissidiafight.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/Dissidiafight.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: http:

//www.gamerankings.com/psp/939394-dissidia-final-fantasy/images/screen63.html Original artist: Square Enix
File:E3_FFXII.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/E3_FFXII.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mullingitover/144316733/ Original artist: Mulling it Over
File:Edit-clear.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg License: Public domain Contributors: The
Tango! Desktop Project. Original artist:
The people from the Tango! project. And according to the meta-data in the le, specically:Andreas Nilsson, and Jakub Steiner (although
minimally).
File:FF2_Mateus.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/FF2_Mateus.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: http:
//finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Emperor_Mateus Original artist: Yoshitaka Amano
File:FF4TA-Logo.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/FF4TA-Logo.png License: Fair use Contributors:
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/jf08/titles/ff4after/ Original artist: ?
File:FF8battlexample2.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/FF8battlexample2.png License: Fair use Contributors:
This image was captured from the PC version of the game by User:Tristam. Original artist: ?
File:FFCC-characters.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/da/FFCC-characters.png License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:FFCCbox.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/FFCCbox.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist:
?
File:FFIVkain.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fa/FFIVkain.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:FFVIII_Agito_Logo.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/44/FFVIII_Agito_Logo.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:FFVIIInavigation.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/FFVIIInavigation.png License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:FFVIIbattlexample.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/FFVIIbattlexample.jpg License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:FFVIIsephirothkillsaeris.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/FFVIIsephirothkillsaeris.png License: Fair
use Contributors:
Final Fantasy Shrine Original artist: ?
File:FFVI_Siren_Censorship.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d3/FFVI_Siren_Censorship.png License: Fair
use Contributors:
Emulator screenshots taken by myself.
Original artist: ?
File:FFV_characters_Amano.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/FFV_characters_Amano.jpg License: ? Contributors:
http://ffv.nintendo.com/launch/ Original artist: ?
File:FFX-2bossfight.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/FFX-2bossfight.JPG License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:FFX-2navigationexample.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/FFX-2navigationexample.jpg License: ?
File:FFX2YunaLenne.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/FFX2YunaLenne.jpg License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:FFXIIPotionPremium.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/93/FFXIIPotionPremium.jpg License: CC-BY-2.5
File:FFXII_License_Board.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/FFXII_License_Board.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:FFXIV_ARR_battle_interface.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/FFXIV_ARR_battle_interface.png License: Fair use Contributors: www.finalfantasyxiv.com Original artist: Square Enix
File:FFXIV_battle_interface.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/FFXIV_battle_interface.png License: Fair
use Contributors: www.finalfantasyxiv.com Original artist: Square Enix
File:FFXIV_playable_races.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4d/FFXIV_playable_races.png License: Fair use
Contributors: Square Enix fan kit, available at www.lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com Original artist: Square Enix
File:FFX_action_figures.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/FFX_action_figures.png License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:FFXbattleexample.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/FFXbattleexample.png License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:FF_XV_screenshot.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/FF_XV_screenshot.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2014/09/final-fantasy-type-0-hd-final-fantasy-xv-screenshots-and-artwork/ Original artist: Square
Enix
File:Ff-lotc-box.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/Ff-lotc-box.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
Amazon.com
Original artist: ?
380
File:Ff12cast.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Ff12cast.png License: Fair use Contributors:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/103770538_e0328ccdd1_o.jpg Original artist: ?
File:Ff4wiki.PNG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Ff4wiki.PNG License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Ff6_magitek.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/Ff6_magitek.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist:
?
File:Ff9_screenshot_bossbattle.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Ff9_screenshot_bossbattle.png License: ?
File:Ff9_screenshot_fieldicon1.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Ff9_screenshot_fieldicon1.png License: ?
File:Ff9_screenshot_fmvcharacters.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Ff9_screenshot_fmvcharacters.png
License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Ffcbox.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/37/Ffcbox.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
May be found at the following website: http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/psx/02/finalchron.jpg Original artist: ?
File:Ffmq_battlescreen.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/62/Ffmq_battlescreen.png License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Ffmq_grapple2.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Ffmq_grapple2.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Fftbox.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/Fftbox.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Ffviifam-7th.PNG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Ffviifam-7th.PNG License: Fair use Contributors:
self
Original artist: ?
File:Ffviiremake-battle.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Ffviiremake-battle.jpg License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Final-Fantasy-Versus-XIII_2009_01-29-09_01.jpg_500.jpg
Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/
Final-Fantasy-Versus-XIII_2009_01-29-09_01.jpg_500.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
Scrawl and Square Enix Original artist: ?
File:FinalFantasyVI.ogg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/FinalFantasyVI.ogg License: GFDL Contributors: Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Sreejithk2000 using CommonsHelper. Original artist: Original
uploader was Mantisian at en.wikipedia
File:Final_Fantasy_Brigade.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Final_Fantasy_Brigade.jpg License: Fair use
Contributors:
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/etc/ff_b/ Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_Crystal_Chronicles_-_Kaze_No_Ne.ogg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Final_Fantasy_
Crystal_Chronicles_-_Kaze_No_Ne.ogg License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist: Yae
File:Final_Fantasy_Crystal_Chronicles_battle1.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Final_Fantasy_Crystal_
Chronicles_battle1.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_Dimensions_Battle.jpg Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Final_Fantasy_Dimensions_
Battle.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/ff/ffl/ Original artist: Square Enix
File:Final_Fantasy_III_NES_interface.png Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/62/Final_Fantasy_III_NES_
interface.png License: ? Contributors:
Screen capture from Mednafen, a free and open source emulator.
Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_II_Cid.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Final_Fantasy_II_Cid.jpg License: Fair use
Contributors: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cid Original artist: Yoshitaka Amano
File:Final_Fantasy_II_JAP_Battle.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Final_Fantasy_II_JAP_Battle.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_II_party.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Final_Fantasy_II_party.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_IV_DS_screen_shot.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Final_Fantasy_IV_DS_screen_
shot.JPG License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_IV_The_After_Years_gameplay.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Final_Fantasy_IV_
The_After_Years_gameplay.png License: Fair use Contributors:
The game itself.
Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_I_Lich_Battle.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Final_Fantasy_I_Lich_Battle.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_Legends_Logo.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Final_Fantasy_Legends_Logo.png License: Fair use Contributors:
The logo may be obtained from Square Enix. Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_Mystic_US_boxart.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Final_Fantasy_Mystic_US_boxart.
jpg License: Fair use Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
6.2. IMAGES
381
File:Final_Fantasy_Type-0_gameplay.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/17/Final_Fantasy_Type-0_gameplay.

png License: Fair use Contributors: http://andriasang.com/comyqc/ Original artist: Square Enix
File:Final_Fantasy_V_-_Job_System.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d1/Final_Fantasy_V_-_Job_System.
png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_V_Active_Time_Battle_screenshot.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Final_Fantasy_
V_Active_Time_Battle_screenshot.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_V_death_crystal_screenshot.png Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/Final_Fantasy_V_
death_crystal_screenshot.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_XIII-2_gameplay.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Final_Fantasy_XIII-2_gameplay.
jpg License: Fair use Contributors: http://www.1up.com/media/03/9/2/6/sm/713.jpg Original artist: Square Enix
File:Final_Fantasy_XIII_Cast.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Final_Fantasy_XIII_Cast.png License: Fair
use Contributors:
www.finalfantasyxiii.com
Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_XIII_Launch.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Final_Fantasy_XIII_Launch.jpg
License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: Flickr: Final Fantasy XIII Launch Original artist: Raphael Essoo-Snowdon
File:Final_Fantasy_XIII_battle.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Final_Fantasy_XIII_battle.png License:
Fair use Contributors:
http://www.finalfantasyxiii.com/#/content/System/10 Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_XII_-_Revenant_Wings_Coverart.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/Final_Fantasy_
XII_-_Revenant_Wings_Coverart.png License: Fair use Contributors:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SSQPU8 Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_XII_JAP_FF12.jpg Source:
License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Final_Fantasy_XII_JAP_FF12.jpg
File:Final_Fantasy_XII_Potions.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Final_Fantasy_XII_Potions.jpg

License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: Flickr Original artist: joka2000
File:Final_Fantasy_XIV_concept_render.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Final_Fantasy_XIV_concept_
render.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_Fantasy_wordmark.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Final_Fantasy_wordmark.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Final_fantasy_ii_GBA.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Final_fantasy_ii_GBA.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Canada.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Japan.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg License: ?
File:Gamepad.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/Gamepad.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/
Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Own work. Based on File:Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.
svg, which is public domain. Original artist: User:Eubulides
File:HiromichiTanaka20070131.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/HiromichiTanaka20070131.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robfahey/382664085/ Original artist: Rob Fahey
File:Hiromichi_Tanaka_and_Tomoya_Asano.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Hiromichi_Tanaka_
and_Tomoya_Asano.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robfahey/148381794/ Original artist: Rob
Fahey (Hachimaki)
File:Hironobu_Sakaguchi_20070706_Japan_Expo_1.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Hironobu_
Sakaguchi_20070706_Japan_Expo_1.jpg License: GFDL Contributors: Own work Original artist: Georges Seguin (Okki)
File:Hitoshi_Sakimoto.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Hitoshi_Sakimoto.jpg License: GFDL Contributors: Ocial English Website of Hitoshi Sakimoto Original artist: CocoeBiz
File:IngameimageFinalFantasyXI.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/IngameimageFinalFantasyXI.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5462/2h/images.gamezone.com/screens/17/2/64/s17264_pc_5.jpg Original artist: ?
File:Kumi_Tanioka_1.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Kumi_Tanioka_1.jpg License: CC BY 2.0
Contributors: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tumult/2066675974/ Original artist: tumult
File:LSPic2Smaller.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/LSPic2Smaller.png License: Fair use Contributors:
Created with in-game screen capture mechanic
Original artist: ?
File:Last_Order_Final_Fantasy_VII_Logo.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/Last_Order_Final_Fantasy_
VII_Logo.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
A portion of a screenshot of Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
Original artist: ?
382
File:Last_Order_Poster.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Last_Order_Poster.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:

Madhouse's ocial website Original artist: ?
File:Last_Order_screenshot.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Last_Order_screenshot.jpg License: Fair use
Contributors:
From the OVA, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, released by Square Enix.
Original artist: ?
File:Lightning_Returns;_Final_Fantasy_XIII_gameplay.jpg Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Lightning_
Returns%3B_Final_Fantasy_XIII_gameplay.jpg License:
Fair use Contributors:
http://www.4gamer.net/games/182/G018237/
20131115077/screenshot.html?num=044 Original artist: Square Enix
File:Mana_Tree.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Mana_Tree.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Masashi_Hamauzu_Jan_2012.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Masashi_Hamauzu_Jan_2012.
jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeriaska/6723743221/ Original artist: Flickr user jeriaska
File:Merge-arrow.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Merge-arrow.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Motomu_Toriyama_-_Game_Developers_Conference_2010.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/
19/Motomu_Toriyama_-_Game_Developers_Conference_2010.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: originally posted to Flickr as Game
Developers Conference 2010 - Day 4 Original artist: Ocial GDC
File:Nobuo_Uematsu.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Nobuo_Uematsu.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: cropped from Play! Original artist: Christoer Blomqvist from There is no city on this Island, Finland
File:Nobuo_Uematsu_-_Paris_4-dec-2004.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Nobuo_Uematsu_-_
Paris_4-dec-2004.JPG License: Public domain Contributors: own work : picture taken at the SLIN (Paris) Original artist: user:Napishtim
File:Office-book.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Office-book.svg License: Public domain Contributors: This and myself. Original artist: Chris Down/Tango project
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:Rabite_Mana.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Rabite_Mana.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Ringmenu.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/Ringmenu.png License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:RomancingSaGaSFBox.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/RomancingSaGaSFBox.jpg License: Fair use
Contributors:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/2/588632_4830_front.jpg Original artist: ?
File:Rubik'{}s_cube_v3.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Rubik%27s_cube_v3.svg License: CC-BYSA-3.0 Contributors: Image:Rubik'{}s cube v2.svg Original artist: User:Booyabazooka, User:Meph666 modied by User:Niabot
File:Samsung_Galaxy_S5_Vector.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Samsung_Galaxy_S5_Vector.
svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Rafael Fernandez
File:ShinjukuStreet02.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/ShinjukuStreet02.JPG License: CC-BYSA-3.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Snowboarding_Comparison.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/Snowboarding_Comparison.jpg License:
? Contributors: PC screenshot by DarkEvil Original artist: ?
File:Sound-icon.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Sound-icon.svg License:
Derivative work from Silsor's versio Original artist: Crystal SVG icon set
LGPL Contributors:
File:Sphere_Grid_FFX.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Sphere_Grid_FFX.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: http://www.gamespot.com/features/patented-game-mechanics-that-might-surprise-you-6369027/?page=2 Original

artist: Square Enix
File:Star_empty.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Star_empty.svg License: CC BY-SA 2.5 Contributors: Made with Inkscape from Stars615.svg <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stars615.svg' class='image'><img
alt='Stars615.svg'
src='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Stars615.svg/96px-Stars615.svg.png'
width='96'
height='17'
srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Stars615.svg/144px-Stars615.svg.png
1.5x,
//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Stars615.svg/192px-Stars615.svg.png 2x' data-le-width='640' data-leheight='110' /></a>. Original artist: This vector image was created with Inkscape by Conti from the original images by RedHotHeat, and
then manually edited.
File:Star_full.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Star_full.svg License: Public domain Contributors:
Made with Inkscape from Image:Stars615.svg. Original artist: User:Conti from the original images by User:RedHotHeat
File:Star_half.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Star_half.svg License: CC BY-SA 2.5 Contributors:
Made with Inkscape from Image:Stars615.svg. Original artist: User:Conti
File:Symbol_book_class2.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Symbol_book_class2.svg License: CC
BY-SA 2.5 Contributors: Mad by Lokal_Prol by combining: Original artist: Lokal_Prol
File:Symbol_support_vote.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
6.3. CONTENT LICENSE
383
File:The_five_races_of_FFXI,_opening_movie_screenshot.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6c/The_five_

races_of_FFXI%2C_opening_movie_screenshot.jpg License: Fair use Contributors: Final Fantasy XI the game Original artist: Square
Enix
File:Theatrhythm.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Theatrhythm.png License: Fair use Contributors:
Amazon.co.uk Original artist: ?
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The &#39;&#39;Final Fantasy&#39;&#39; Series

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The &#39;&#39;Final Fantasy&#39;&#39; Series

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The ''Final Fantasy'' Series

Development and history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Impact and legacy

Final Fantasy character jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

History and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Character design of Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Visual character design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recurring species and races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gameplay of Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Parties and battles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Character growth and classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Airships and transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reception and legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Music of the Final Fantasy series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Artists inspired by Final Fantasy music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Final Fantasy (video game) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Versions and re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Versions and re-releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Final Fantasy III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ports and remakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

2.7.10 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Voice cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Promotion and release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

2.10 Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

2.13.1 Gameplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

2.18.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

2.19.3 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

2.19.5 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

2.22.4 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

Compilations and re-releases

Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

Final Fantasy Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

Final Fantasy VII (Famicom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303

Character design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304

Cultural impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

Final Fantasy Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316

Dissidia Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316

Release and merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325

Final Fantasy Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

The ''Final Fantasy'' Series

The ''Final Fantasy'' Series