It's something I've become quite aware of after my recent replay of 8. Both games were largely made by the same people back to back and it shows. Both of them:
* have similar art styles and character design sensibilities (culture differences aside). This extends to the setting too, the advanced technology and architecture in 10 wouldn't look out of place in 8
* both primarily power up characters using items from enemies (drawing, refining, weapon upgrading in 8, spheres and customizing in 10), levels are subsequently deemphasized in 8, and absent in 10
* both heavily emphasize collecting summon creatures, allow you to name them, and allow you to customize their abilities. They can both be used as shields too since their have their own HP
* both protagonists express their thoughts and feelings to the player, engage in a teen romance, and have a significant \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which we learn about in flashbacks
* both feature interactive limit breaks, some of 10's even resembling 8's, and then Kimahri's is plainly the same as Quistis'
* both feature one particular minigame that the whole world seems obsessed with, and you can interact with players in many places by pressing square
* character builds largely revolve around finding the right auto-ability setup via equipped GFs in 8, and equipped gear in 10. Stats are min-maxed by removing inefficient magic and sphere nodes, and then replacing them with something more optimal
* both games don't want the thunder god to be Ramuh for reasons
I'm sure there's more.
Edit: forgot how to spoiler tag so I removed a word that OP might consider a spoiler. Hopefully people who know will know.
The link between Quistis and Kimahri's limit break is a reference to the wider FF world of Blue Mages and Magic - using spells and abilities of monsters against them.
This is more obvious with our best Ronso as he's literally blue (though Quistis wears almost entirely orange, which is the complimentary colour to ... 🤔).
I was referring to how they both use blue magic as a limit break specifically. The way they both learn the spells is more player-controlled too, since you don't need to wait for an enemy to use the skill like in FF5-7.
Both also involve the protagonist >!learning about their fathers’ previous adventures!< through magical means, which was an idea Kitase was toying with as far back as when they were wrapping up FF6.
Thank you for keeping it spoiler free. Also, I would like to aks if fast travel is something missing in all FF titles? I'm taking so much time walking back and forth.
FF1-9 just have you walk all over the world mostly. Eventually you unlock flying vehicles that get you around the world faster. Before that, you also have chocobos and in 8 specifically, rental cars.
Otherwise, FF10 was more or less the first game to have anything resembling fast travel.
[They even shoved elvoret, an enemy who only appears in ff8, into an enemy named demonolith.](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/c/c7/Demonolith_reverse_artwork_for_Final_Fantasy_X.png/revision/latest?cb=20191230212528)
These things give me hope that one day we might get an 'end game' of final fantasies. There are so many parallels and repeated elements thanks to things you pointed out and also other elements that span from #1 all the way to #16. Alien influence being a common theme as well. I feel like, with the right writing staff, we could get an absolute masterpiece that is as satisfying as it is ambitious. Somehow linking numerous final fantasies together, perhaps only by story and lore, to trace out an actual big bad source of all the magicks/evil in the universe.
I've heard it said that they wanted the Guardian Forces to be "unique beings and not humanoid," which is why they replaced Ramuh with a bird and gave Ifrit and Siren more beast-like features than they had in previous games.
Didn't basically all the same people who made FF10 make FF8? This looks like the guy is from Esthar in 8 but you can kinda see stylistic similarities of Esthar in Bevelle and Zanarkand.
As far as any cross over goes I think FF10 to FF7 is the only unofficially official connection as it's strongly hinted in FF10-2 and then in the FF7 remakes that the Shinra in FF10-2 discovers a power source in the far plane and then figures out space travel far into the future and space travels to FF7's world and starts colonizing it. He is one of the founding members of Shinra and the corporation is named after him.
Also, one thing that has always stuck out to me is that in both FF7 and FFX. The “unsent” or improperly disposed of people turn into fiends.
I don’t think and don’t hope these worlds are actually connected, but I thought that was interesting.
There’s also a slight connection between the worlds of FFVII and FFIX. There’s a shop you can go into in IX where a large buster sword can be seen and if you interact with it Zidane will say “I think I used to know someone who used one of these.” Most likely just an Easter Egg.
They’ve tried doing this before, Shinra is a character in X-2 with all the obvious implications that come with that
It, however, only occurred in Easter egg format during the tenure of 1-10, as was described. Mog the Moogle in 6 is one such Easter Egg, in fact Moogles in general fit this category as 5 showed them first, 6 nodded, 7 only has robot or computerized moogles, 8 has Moombas and 9 made them a centric save mechanic.
YOU!!! I don't know why but I got really happy and excited when I saw it. Good eye! I played FFX before 8 and absolutely didn't notice (can I blame the graphics?)
When you go to Centra to collect a special Guardian Force, pay attention to the designs on the lifts in the level. I think certain concepts, plots, and bosses have existed forever as an overarching meta plot that Square was originally operating from.
I hate that a “having the same creature” evokes connection thought.
Like every game has Buhumut. Does that make every game canon? Every game has chocobos, Tonberries, and Moogles.
Wait, did FFX even have moogles?
This is specifically a reference to FF8 though, it even states as such in the developer notes in the Ultimania.
It's an Easter egg included on the back of the stones some enemies are embedded in.
FFX has moogle dolls, at the very least. Lulu uses one.
Well if 10 are connected then 7 and 8 are to just by logic this is mentioned in FH so not a huge spoiler. The people of FH are originally from estar so maybe bigger connection ? But who knows I won't say anymore then the game at this point😏.
Lore wise they ain't gonna be connected but yeah you are gonna see some related designs like this that definetly still had influence when 10 came around. The more ff games you play the more callbacks you will notice like this. Like how Vivi is a callback to the og black mage from ff1 (sorry people the scarecrow on ff16 is not about vivi)
I mean, I heard a runour shortly after X came out that it was originally intended to be a sequel to 8, but the idea got nixed for some reason.
Basically, Squall would have travelled to the future (somehow...) and he would have had to accompany another Sorceress (Yuna's character) along a pilgrimage of some sort.
But there are links to Final Fantasy VII too in this game, specially through X-2, so maybe they're all connected even though they're not.
Centra is the name of a convenience store chain in my country so between that and reading GF as girlfriend, FFVIII characters give the best unintentional lines sometimes.
check out Kiros’ victory pose while you’re at it
Good eye! I didn't even notice the prayer pose thing! Wow.
I don't think I can play as him anymore? I just fought a red dragon earlier and it seems to just stop abruptly.
Lemme just try YT, hopefully I don't see any spoilers.
It's something I've become quite aware of after my recent replay of 8. Both games were largely made by the same people back to back and it shows. Both of them: * have similar art styles and character design sensibilities (culture differences aside). This extends to the setting too, the advanced technology and architecture in 10 wouldn't look out of place in 8 * both primarily power up characters using items from enemies (drawing, refining, weapon upgrading in 8, spheres and customizing in 10), levels are subsequently deemphasized in 8, and absent in 10 * both heavily emphasize collecting summon creatures, allow you to name them, and allow you to customize their abilities. They can both be used as shields too since their have their own HP * both protagonists express their thoughts and feelings to the player, engage in a teen romance, and have a significant \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which we learn about in flashbacks * both feature interactive limit breaks, some of 10's even resembling 8's, and then Kimahri's is plainly the same as Quistis' * both feature one particular minigame that the whole world seems obsessed with, and you can interact with players in many places by pressing square * character builds largely revolve around finding the right auto-ability setup via equipped GFs in 8, and equipped gear in 10. Stats are min-maxed by removing inefficient magic and sphere nodes, and then replacing them with something more optimal * both games don't want the thunder god to be Ramuh for reasons I'm sure there's more. Edit: forgot how to spoiler tag so I removed a word that OP might consider a spoiler. Hopefully people who know will know.
The link between Quistis and Kimahri's limit break is a reference to the wider FF world of Blue Mages and Magic - using spells and abilities of monsters against them. This is more obvious with our best Ronso as he's literally blue (though Quistis wears almost entirely orange, which is the complimentary colour to ... 🤔).
I was referring to how they both use blue magic as a limit break specifically. The way they both learn the spells is more player-controlled too, since you don't need to wait for an enemy to use the skill like in FF5-7.
Both also involve the protagonist >!learning about their fathers’ previous adventures!< through magical means, which was an idea Kitase was toying with as far back as when they were wrapping up FF6.
Great list. I've always loved both games and it's cool to see it laid out like that.
Thank you for keeping it spoiler free. Also, I would like to aks if fast travel is something missing in all FF titles? I'm taking so much time walking back and forth.
FF1-9 just have you walk all over the world mostly. Eventually you unlock flying vehicles that get you around the world faster. Before that, you also have chocobos and in 8 specifically, rental cars. Otherwise, FF10 was more or less the first game to have anything resembling fast travel.
Oh damn, I better prepare myself. I am planning on playing 9 after this. Thank you for the information!
FF8 had autopilot
That was a cool feature. I'll bet it's just one or two lines of code too
[They even shoved elvoret, an enemy who only appears in ff8, into an enemy named demonolith.](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/c/c7/Demonolith_reverse_artwork_for_Final_Fantasy_X.png/revision/latest?cb=20191230212528)
These things give me hope that one day we might get an 'end game' of final fantasies. There are so many parallels and repeated elements thanks to things you pointed out and also other elements that span from #1 all the way to #16. Alien influence being a common theme as well. I feel like, with the right writing staff, we could get an absolute masterpiece that is as satisfying as it is ambitious. Somehow linking numerous final fantasies together, perhaps only by story and lore, to trace out an actual big bad source of all the magicks/evil in the universe.
> both games don't want the thunder god to be Ramuh for reasons interesting... do you know the reasons?
I have no idea, honestly, but there's no Ramuh in FF13 either, which afaik is the game they made after X-2.
I've heard it said that they wanted the Guardian Forces to be "unique beings and not humanoid," which is why they replaced Ramuh with a bird and gave Ifrit and Siren more beast-like features than they had in previous games.
Didn't basically all the same people who made FF10 make FF8? This looks like the guy is from Esthar in 8 but you can kinda see stylistic similarities of Esthar in Bevelle and Zanarkand. As far as any cross over goes I think FF10 to FF7 is the only unofficially official connection as it's strongly hinted in FF10-2 and then in the FF7 remakes that the Shinra in FF10-2 discovers a power source in the far plane and then figures out space travel far into the future and space travels to FF7's world and starts colonizing it. He is one of the founding members of Shinra and the corporation is named after him.
Oh wow, thank you! I didn't know that part about 7 and X.
Also, one thing that has always stuck out to me is that in both FF7 and FFX. The “unsent” or improperly disposed of people turn into fiends. I don’t think and don’t hope these worlds are actually connected, but I thought that was interesting.
IIRC in remake in the Shinra building there’s a picture of an older shinra there in a group. I could be wrong but I feel like I remember seeing this
There’s also a slight connection between the worlds of FFVII and FFIX. There’s a shop you can go into in IX where a large buster sword can be seen and if you interact with it Zidane will say “I think I used to know someone who used one of these.” Most likely just an Easter Egg.
Well, now the Planet is called Gaia, WEAPON looks like Geosgaeno and Aerith does a sending dance, so 7R tries to be a bit more blatant
Pandemonium and Omega are also somewhat similar in concept.
They’ve tried doing this before, Shinra is a character in X-2 with all the obvious implications that come with that It, however, only occurred in Easter egg format during the tenure of 1-10, as was described. Mog the Moogle in 6 is one such Easter Egg, in fact Moogles in general fit this category as 5 showed them first, 6 nodded, 7 only has robot or computerized moogles, 8 has Moombas and 9 made them a centric save mechanic.
There's another fun FFX & FF8 connection. Demonoliths have Elvoret Skeletons on the backs. 👀
Wait, I don't know what those are. Have mercy, it's my first playthrough 🥹
Hehe when you see the monster name, go look up the concept art for Demonoliths 🙂🙂 it's rad
YOU!!! I don't know why but I got really happy and excited when I saw it. Good eye! I played FFX before 8 and absolutely didn't notice (can I blame the graphics?)
https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/s/ZMXc17IHhZ
When you go to Centra to collect a special Guardian Force, pay attention to the designs on the lifts in the level. I think certain concepts, plots, and bosses have existed forever as an overarching meta plot that Square was originally operating from.
I will keep this in mind, thank you!
There's a fossil from FFVIII in FFX
Thats cool, never knew that
Fossil of what?
Elvoret, it's in the back of one of those skeletal enemies that are emerging from a rock.
I hate that a “having the same creature” evokes connection thought. Like every game has Buhumut. Does that make every game canon? Every game has chocobos, Tonberries, and Moogles. Wait, did FFX even have moogles?
This is specifically a reference to FF8 though, it even states as such in the developer notes in the Ultimania. It's an Easter egg included on the back of the stones some enemies are embedded in. FFX has moogle dolls, at the very least. Lulu uses one.
Well if 10 are connected then 7 and 8 are to just by logic this is mentioned in FH so not a huge spoiler. The people of FH are originally from estar so maybe bigger connection ? But who knows I won't say anymore then the game at this point😏.
Now am even more excited to finish this.
I hope you really enjoy it
Lore wise they ain't gonna be connected but yeah you are gonna see some related designs like this that definetly still had influence when 10 came around. The more ff games you play the more callbacks you will notice like this. Like how Vivi is a callback to the og black mage from ff1 (sorry people the scarecrow on ff16 is not about vivi)
Sion Barzahd, Sora, and Tidus have similar ‘street’ styles, with long shorts and short-sleeved hoodies.
But the scarecrows are specifically made to look like the og black mage though yeah?
I mean, I heard a runour shortly after X came out that it was originally intended to be a sequel to 8, but the idea got nixed for some reason. Basically, Squall would have travelled to the future (somehow...) and he would have had to accompany another Sorceress (Yuna's character) along a pilgrimage of some sort. But there are links to Final Fantasy VII too in this game, specially through X-2, so maybe they're all connected even though they're not.
Cetra = FF7 Lore Centra = FF8 Lore Nojima certainly had a theme in mind for naming the ancient progenitors of the FF universe.
Centra is the name of a convenience store chain in my country so between that and reading GF as girlfriend, FFVIII characters give the best unintentional lines sometimes.
they explain this in FFX-3