Final Fantasy V: The Interdimensional Rift

Welcome to the planar existence that presumably connects all the Final Fantasy worlds (and perhaps others), the Rift. This is FFV’s rug under which the people swept any problem the couldn’t figure out how to solve. That gives an unfair impression of it, admittedly, but that essentially what it is. It is where Enuo and his powers of the Void were sealed 1000 years ago and where Exdeath was banished to 30 years ago by the Warriors of Dawn. And now its up to the last group of Warriors of Light to take him out again.

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Well, here is my first article in quite some time, and with its publication I can verify that I’m still breathing. And with it I can also verify that I’m still very much in the business of stirring crap up, as you’ll soon see.

With the recent announcement of Dissidia Duodecim, I thought it might be a good idea to offer some predictions for where I expect the story to go, and to address some controversial elements of the overall plot that have seen a resurgence in debate since fans learned of the impending prequel. Something of a follow-up to the Dissidia Plot Analysis FAQ that MakoEyes and I wrote for the first Dissidia, this article will touch on some elements of the story discussed there, but in different detail.

Click “Read the rest of this entry” below for my thoughts on these fan debates, the overall story for this sub-series of the Final Fantasy franchise, and what we can possibly expect to see from its upcoming new entry.

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Yeah, you guys still remember people actually PLAY Final Fantasy, right? Yeah, crazy, right? So yeah, if you need a break from the storyline related aspects like Sephiroth’s hair, love trianges, plot holes, and magically bringing cats to life, don’t forget we’re always game to talk about the gameplay goodies for any Final Fantasy as well, no matter what it is. Favorite Materia combinations, steal rates for FFIX, No Sphere Grid challenges for FFX (or whatever other acronyms you crazy people do), Gau’s rages for FFVI, whatever you want.

Need some help on where to go? If you’re more of a classic FFer, head over this way. If you’re one more for the newer titles, head on down here. Speaking of which, we’re currently playing through FFVI right now! Jump on that train.

Sometimes you get a little tired of talking about Cloud’s feelings and you just want to smack shit around. I think, on the inside we all do.

Here comes the moon.

Final Fantasy IV: The Lunar Subterrane

Now we’re gettin’ somewhere. This is a final dungeon. Its almost amazing this followed the World of Darkness in III. Even if you include the Crystal Tower in III’s ending I get the impression that this is much longer, much harder, and much more packed with loot. All things a final dungeon should be.

This dungeon just feels big and complex. The jump to the 16 bits really enhance things here as you can see several layers/floors of the dungeon at once, contributing to the sense of size. Also, there are secret passages everywhere, but they’re done right. There’s a little flaw in the wall when denoting the entrance. Its easy to miss but also makes it feasible for you to find them without a guide. Most of these passages lead to treasures (guarded by bosses) and you’ll want just about all of them. Cecil, Edge and Kain will both come away with their best setups (barring optional side stuff) and the ladies make out pretty well also. Loot should always be aplenty in final dungeons, its half your motivation, honestly.

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The Dissidia Duodecim 012′s official site has been updated with the trailer presented at Tokyo Game Show. Unfortunately, this trailer is not the one from the Closed Mega Theater, but the normal one in S-E’s stand. Nevertheless, this one still has very interesting footage, such as new uniforms for Terra (with her sporting the Slave Crown), Tidus and Jecht.

Also, a new scan surfaced, featuring both Cloud’s KH uniform and Lightning’s “Aya Brea’s” uniform.

You can visit the official site here and check the scan below:

Thanks go to our members Drake Clawfang (for the Terra’s pic) and Genesis (for the scan and Tidus’ and Jecht’s pic, brought from the Dissidia Community in Orkut).

Dissidia Duodecim, the story of the twelfth conflict between Cosmos and Chaos, and the direct prequel to the original Dissidia has been announced and its trailer’s been released.

As you can see, not only do we get spiffy new characters like Lightning and Kain, but we also get different allegiances, such as Slave Crown Terra fighting for Chaos, new moves for characters from the first game, and entirely new gameplay elements. If Dissidia delivers half the awesome things it seems to be suggesting, it’s definitely going to be just as good as the original and better.

Of course, it’s not just Kain and Lightning who’ve been added to the roster.

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Final Fantasy III is the entry with which I am least familiar. But I have done my best to look into the story and events leading up to the final dungeon and take into account the overall atmosphere it must have. But you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t place emphasis where it should be placed or vice versa.

Final Fantasy III: World of Darkness

This dungeon is very to the point. You are here to kill the Cloud of Darkness and you do not seek to do anything that does not directly relate to that end nor does the dungeon intend to provide you with anything contrary to that purpose save the boss gauntlet. The only items to be found in the whole thing are Ribbons, and as a matter of fact, the door to the final battle is literally directly in front of you when you enter the dungeon.

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Hitoshura has translated the latest interview with Tetsuya Nomura and Mitsunori Takahashi on Dissidia Duodecim and what to expect from the sequel.

While it is indeed a sequel to Dissidia, it also seems to appear to be a prequel as well. Read below to find out more. A big thanks to hito for giving us this awesome info!

Oh, and when you’re done reading, be sure to look at some of the new gameplay footage of Dissidia Duodecim as well!

EDIT: More info regarding Lightning and Cloud’s unique alternate outfits have surfaced thanks to hito again. Apparently, by pre-ordering Parasite Eve: The Third Birthday, you get a code to download Lightning’s alternate outfit that makes her look…like Aya Brea.

By pre-ordering Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix, you get the code to download Cloud’s Kingdom Hearts outfit.

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Scans from the latest Famitsu concerning Dissidia’s sequel have surfaced, and bring more than a handful of novelties. The first ones are in-game footage of both Lightning and Kain, as as well their respective Nomura artwork. Beyond that, there’s also word of other new features to the gameplay which Hitoshura has now translated for us. Some of important mention is the abolishment of EX-Canceling, and the addition of an “Assist Character System.” All characters will be returning and apparently, your old saves from Dissidia Final Fantasy will link up to Dissidia Duodecim somehow.

Below is translated text from the Famitsu scan. Also included below are the attack names of Kain and Lightning, from the Tokyo Game Show demo, for all difficulty types. Of important note, is the fact that Warrior of Light and Kuja have now apparently been given a new attack. Warrior of Light has a ground HP attack called ‘Ultimate Shield’, and Kuja has an air HP attack called ‘Force Symphony’. It seems the returning characters will be getting new attacks as well:

EDIT: And apparently, via multiple sources, it seems Tifa Lockhart is confirmed for Dissidia Duodecim, as well. And Cloud’s Kingdom Hearts costume will be downloadable content for the game. Happy days are here at last.

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Final Fantasy II: Pandaemonium

In stark contrast to the Chaos Shrine, Pandaemonium doesn’t require nearly as much imagination to realize how freaking awesome it is. Again, with our experienced eyes, its not much to look at as you can see, but the PSP version helps this immensely with the crystal sheen moving across your screen.

But, regardless of version, the fact remains that David Bowie The Emperor that you have killed did not magick himself back into existence, or find some contrived loophole in death, no. Death was simply not interesting enough and so he decided to overthrow Hell. Yeah. Remember this series is not about final bosses but final dungeons, however, what makes Pandaemonium so cool is the fact that you are entering the palace of Hell to kill the Emperor who has conquered it and brought it to the surface of the planet. Satan’s got some catching up to do. Damn.

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The official site of S-E’s newest wonder is now online. Not much is to be seen, though, as the only elements present there are the game’s logo and an image of Warrior of Light’s helmet on the ground of Order’s Sanctuary.

If you want to check it yourself, go here.

Credits go to our member Alex Strife for bringing this to our attention.

Greetings all, ForceStealer here, over the next few weeks or so I’ll be going over the final dungeon of each FF and relaying my thoughts and impressions. For several of these I have save files right before them to refresh my memory of some of the feelings I had when I first entered them. I may also be getting people’s help for few dungeons I’m not as familiar with. Also, I’m pretty sure this goes without saying, but FFXI doesn’t count, so lets go!

Final Fantasy I: [Past] Chaos Shrine

Any stirring of feelings you get going to the Chaos Shrine, as well as anything else in FF1, takes a lot of involvement of your imagination. It has that cool little twist that it’s the first dungeon you ever went through but now you get to see it in the past in its glory. In the geographic center of the four fiends’ lairs, the shrine is where you must take out Chaos to bring an end to Garland’s time loop.

The music is serviceable, but again not quite as stirring as some of the later final dungeon tracks become. The difficulty is as inconsistent as the rest of the game (that is, certain battles are an absolute breeze, while others just a few steps away crush you and admonish you like the daring little child you are). Making you fight the Four Fiends again is a tad cheap but not something later Final Fantasies were above. Honestly, when you’re playing through this game, the biggest deal about this dungeon is it’s the most story you really get at one time. The object of FF1, after all, was more of an explorative affair than a sweeping plot anyway.

What do you mean you want a minimap? You pussy.

Admittedly, playing the rest of the games makes it a little difficult to give the first final dungeon a totally fair shake. But its not a particularly tough dungeon even by Final Fantasy I’s own standards – it is an endurance test however. It gets the job the done, but its mostly uphill from here.

Not that my opinion means anything, what do you guys think?