135. Finding References (Various)
It's not exactly uncommon for games (or things such as films, television shows or songs for that matter) to reference, either blatantly or subtly, things from other media releases or popular culture in general. The Final Fantasy series is no exception, and has included nods to a whole variety of things, from the historical and the contemporary to the mainstream and obscure (as well as itself on countless occasions) throughout its twenty six year history. Such allusions can either be obvious or hidden, but however difficult they may be to experience, most are bound to make players who understand them let off a chuckle or two, making their discovery an entertaining experience. Here's a brief list of eight random highlights: A gravestone in the original Final Fantasy that bear the name of either Link (from the Legend of Zelda) or Erdrick (from Dragon Quest), depending on the release. The description of the Whip item from Final Fantasy V, which is 'best used when problems come along'. If only Devo could use it to revive his career... Dancers from Sorceress Edea's accession parade in Final Fantasy VIII that perform the moves from Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video. An NPC (pictured) in Final Fantasy IX that quotes the well-known words of Leonard 'Bones' McCoy from Star Trek. Tidus from Final Fantasy X mispronouncing 'Macalania' as 'Macarena' Assorted battle quotes from Final Fantasy X-2, including 'Game over man, game over' (Aliens), 'Resistance is futile' (Star Trek), 'No soup for you' (Seinfeld) and 'ice, ice baby' (Vanilla Ice). A quest in Final Fantasy XI called 'Snakes On The Plain' An NPC in Final Fantasy Dimensions that says 'I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took...never mind. You wouldn't be interested', mocking the 'Arrow in the knee' meme from Skyrim that quickly became overdone and tiresome.
134. A Royal Kidnapping (IX)
'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'
Final Fantasy IX was drastically different in style to its two immediate predecessors. Gone were realistic worlds with sci-fi influences, replaced by outlandish characters and a medieval-esque setting more akin to earlier entries in the franchise. It begins in a somewhat highbrow fashion, as a group of supposed theatrical performers named Tantalus arrive in the nation of Alexandria aboard an airship to perform a play for the country's Princess, Garnet, who is celebrating her sixteenth birthday. The group includes main character Zidane, as well as his 'brothers' Blank, Cinna and Marcus, though their acting is merely a masquerade, as it is revealed that they are a band of thieves and their true intention is to kidnap Garnet and bring her to the neighbouring country of Lindblum. Marcus and Cinna handle the performance side of things as Zidane and Blank search for the Princess, discovering that she is willing to go with them voluntarily due to suspicions about the recent behaviour of her mother, Queen Brahne. The vigilance of the Princess' guardian Steiner, however, results in an unexpected interruption of the play that reveals the ruse to the Queen. This prompts a hasty takeoff, despite the unwanted presence of the hostile royal knight and a black mage from the crowd named Vivi, who becomes involved when he is pursued to the stage by soldiers for being in possession of a fake ticket for the show. Unwilling to let the group leave unscathed with her daughter, whose talents as a summoner she hopes to use in warfare in due course, Brahne orders the relentless firing of the castle's cannons at the ship, resulting in a memorable cinematic sequence as it attempts to fly away whilst damaged, coming close to destroying buildings and killing innocent bystanders in the process.
133. Marche's Dilemma (TA)
'But what's waiting for me? Have you thought of that? You have everything back there, and I have nothing!'
A spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance ostensibly begins in the real world, where a boy named Marche moves to the town of St. Ivalice with his sickly and wheelchair-bound brother Doned, befriending a timid and bullied boy named Mewt and a Final Fantasy loving girl (meta much?) named Ritz at his new school. One night, however, after Mewt has taken possession of a mysterious book, Marche finds himself in a magical fantasy world inhabited by a number of exotic races and monsters. It eventually transpires that this world is a creation of Mewt's, as he serves as its Prince whilst his mother Remedi (deceased in the real world) reigns as Queen and his father Cid (a debt-ridden alcoholic in the real world) enforces his son's laws as Judgemaster. Seeking to return to reality, Marche begins to damage the threads of the fake world by destroying Crystals, actions that cause great suffering to Mewt. His quest is complicated by encounters with Ritz, who is greatly enjoying experiencing her favourite game for real, as well as his younger brother. In this new world, Doned is healthy and able to walk, and understandably fails to wish to return to his previous state, opposing his sibling in combat. This puts Marche in a very difficult position, as he weighs the benefits that his newfound surroundings offer to his friends and brother with his own belief that they shouldn't hide from reality, no matter how harsh it may be...
132. Fleeing From Dollet (VIII)
'Let's get the hell outta here!'
Final Fantasy VIII has always been something of a 'marmite' entry in the series in that some fans adore it whilst others are more critical of several elements of it, most notably the battle system, which was completely different from the ones seen in the series previously. Despite some negative aspects, at its heart is a strong storyline that sees lead character Squall and his companions attempt to stop the past, present and future of the world being compressed into one by the future-dwelling Ultimecia, who wishes to rule as a god over all of time and space (she'd make for an interesting adversary of the Doctor, no?). It begins on a much smaller scale, however, as Squall is depicted as a military academy student preparing to take a field examination that will determine his suitability for employment as a 'SeeD' mercenary. Dispatched to a war-torn settlement called Dollet for his assessment, Squall is teamed with long-time rival Seifer and fellow student Zell, and the three are tasked with the removal of enemy soldiers from the town's centre. Under Seifer's command, however, the team abandon their post to pursue remaining soldiers to a radio tower, where Seifer is called back from duty and replaced by a girl named Selphie. Defeating a pair of soldiers named Biggs and Wedge, Squall, Zell and Selphie are given the order to withdraw in due haste, being given a strict time limit. Embarrassed at his defeat, however, the vengeful Biggs activates a robotic spider called X-ATM092 and sends it in pursuit of the party, slowing their retreat as it damages much of the town. The player can defeat the mechanical beast, but should they bait it to the withdrawal point, Squall's teacher Quistis will get a defining character moment as she fills the robot with bullets from a machine gun, ending the game's first great action-packed sequence in style.
131. The Soul Of Rebirth (II)
'What is this place? Am I...dead?'
I'm spoiling a future entry here (out of necessity more than anything), but Final Fantasy II involves the death of almost its entire supporting cast, with three playable characters, Minwu, Josef and Ricard being amongst the fatalities. The Game Boy Advance remake of the game (and all subsequent remakes on the likes of the PSP and iOS) added a new story to the game, however, allowing players to take control of the trio, as well as another fallen hero named Scott, in a purgatory-like existence called the Soul of Rebirth. Here they traverse to Hell, where they engage the 'Light' half of the Dark Emperor of Palamecia that Firion, Maria and Guy square off against in the final battle of the main game before fading away into peaceful and eternal rest (Heaven, presumably). More than just a bonus dungeon (which is all that most other remakes in the series have offered players as purchase incentive), the additional quest is both enjoyable and functional as a method of fleshing out a handful of second-tier individuals from the game, making their passings in subsequent playthroughs have a greater impact.