Ivalice

Ivalice Concept Artwork for Fortress
Final Fantasy XII location
Created by Yasumi Matsuno
Genre Role-playing game
Type Kingdom, region
Notable locations Nabudis, Rabanastre
Notable characters Vaan, Balthier, Ramza
First appearance Final Fantasy Tactics

Ivalice (イヴァリース Ivarīsu) is a fictional universe setting primarily appearing in the Final Fantasy video game series. The world was conceived by Yasumi Matsuno when he joined Square (now Square Enix) in 1995, and has since been expanded upon by several games, with more yet due with the Ivalice Alliance series. Ivalice is described as a complex world with a very long history, and the stories of Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII are said to unfold quite close on the Ivalice map.[1]

Though described often as a world, this was only physically true of Ivalice in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, in which Ivalice was created parallel to the real world. The 'true' Ivalice, as witnessed in the remaining games, describes two distinct locations; a geographical region,[2] and a smaller kingdom, both of which belong to a larger, unnamed world. Generally, however, the term Ivalice is also used to refer to the conceptual setting, rather as one might say the Medieval world of Europe and the Mediterranean.

Concept and creation

Ivalice was created by Yasumi Matsuno as a fictional world with its own identity; a medieval-like world where magic and machine exist together. The usual elements of Final Fantasy, such as Chocobos, crystals and magic spells, blend into the setting. This setting first appeared in Final Fantasy Tactics, a game produced mostly by the team that made Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre, and was Matsuno's first project with Square following his departure from Quest in 1995.[3] Matsuno's next game, Vagrant Story, featured several allusions to Final Fantasy Tactics, and Matsuno stated in 2004 that Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy XII unfold quite close on the map of Ivalice, "a complex world with a very long history and the stories".[4]

Following Matsuno's departure from Square Enix during development on Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix has continued to feature Ivalice in other games.

In 2011, Matsuno stated that he never originally intended for Vagrant Story to take place in Ivalice.[5] As a result, any references he had made of Final Fantasy Tactics in Vagrant Story, as well as Vagrant Story references in Final Fantasy XII, only serve as "fan service".[6]

Appearances

Video games

Video games set in Ivalice
1997Final Fantasy Tactics
1998
1999Vagrant Story
2000
2001
2002
2003Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
2004
2005
2006Final Fantasy XII
2007Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
2008Crystal Defenders

Final Fantasy Tactics (1997), a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console, marked the first appearance of Ivalice. The game combined thematic elements of the Final Fantasy video game series with a game engine and battle system unlike those previously seen in the franchise.[7] Final Fantasy Tactics is set in a fictional medieval-inspired kingdom called Ivalice and created by Yasumi Matsuno. The game's story follows Ramza Beoulve, a highborn cadet who finds himself thrust into the middle of an intricate military conflict known as The Lion War, where two opposing noble factions are coveting the throne of the kingdom. As the story progresses, Ramza and his allies discover a sinister plot behind the war.

In an interview with Akito Inoue, an assistant professor at the International University of Japan, Inoue mentions that Final Fantasy Tactics was made because of how casual gamers are usually put off by games with branching storylines found in Matsuno's other titles such as Tactics Ogre.[8]

Vagrant Story (1999) is an action role-playing game featuring no shops and no player interaction with other characters; instead, the game focuses on weapon creation and modification, as well as elements of puzzle-solving and strategy.[9][10] The game takes place in the fictional kingdom of Valendia and the ruined city of Leá Monde. The story centers on Ashley Riot, an elite agent known as a Riskbreaker, who must travel to Leá Monde to investigate the link between a cult leader and a senior Valendian Parliament member, Duke Bardorba. In the prologue, Ashley is blamed for murdering the duke, and the game discloses the events that happen one week before the murder.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. The game shares several traits with Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The game's story centers on four children; Marche, Mewt, Ritz, and Doned, who live in a small town named St. Ivalice. The children are transported to a realm of the same name as their town, "Ivalice", after discovering an ancient magical book. The story then focuses on the exploits of Marche as he attempts to return to the real world while facing opposition from those around him.

Development on the game began when Square announced its publishing agreement with Nintendo, and it was later confirmed 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.[11][12] 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.[13]

Final Fantasy XII (2006) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 platform. It is the twelfth title in the mainline Final Fantasy series. The game introduced several innovations to the offline titles in the mainline series: an open world, a seamless battle system, a controllable camera, a customizable "gambit" system which lets the player automatically control the actions of characters; and a "license" system which determines which abilities and equipment are used by characters.

The game takes place in the fictional land of Ivalice, where the empires of Archadia and Rozarria are waging an endless war. Dalmasca, a small kingdom, is caught between the warring nations. When Dalmasca is annexed by Archadia, its princess, Ashe, creates a resistance movement. During the struggle, she meets Vaan, a young adventurer who dreams of becoming a sky pirate in command of an airship. They are quickly joined by a band of allies; together, they rally against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire.

On December 13, 2006, a Square Enix representative informed Tokyo reporters that the already announced Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings would be joined by other games in a new subseries known as the Ivalice Alliance.[14] Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a PlayStation Portable and iOS port of the original Final Fantasy Tactics game. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a Nintendo DS sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance,[15] albeit set in the actual Ivalice world and not an artificial illusory world, unlike its predecessor.[16] Another title in the collection, Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System, was revealed on May 8, 2007.[17]

Executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu explained that the aim of the Ivalice Alliance is to "spread the word about the world of Ivalice", and to bring more players into the franchise, with new titles not restricted to the standard role-playing game genre but also tactical games and games similar to Vagrant Story.[18] Revenant Wings director Motomu Toriyama noted that with the large and original team that worked on Final Fantasy XII, Ivalice became more Square Enix's world than that of the former Quest team, and that the Ivalice Alliance world is thus slightly more influenced by Final Fantasy XII than the earlier Ivalice titles.[19]

Crystal Defenders is a series of turn-based strategy video games developed by MSF/Winds and published by Square Enix. It comprises several iterations released for mobile phones and through online video game delivery services. The games are set in the fictional world of Ivalice and features job classes, monsters and summoned creatures from the tactical role-playing game Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.

Fortress is the code name of a cancelled action role-playing video game that was in development by Grin. Director Ulf Andersson devised the concept for Fortress and pre-production began in the second half of 2008.[20] During development, Square Enix approached the developer and proposed making the game a spin-off of Final Fantasy XII. Grin reconceived the game in the recurring Final Fantasy world of Ivalice, and included elements of Final Fantasy XII such as stylistic motifs and character designs; additional elements included chocobos and other recurring creatures from the Final Fantasy series.[21] It was to be released on the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms.[22]

During development, Square Enix did not pay Grin over several months, and disapproved of the game's Nordic art style.[20][23] Grin worked to bring the game's art style closer to the Final Fantasy series, but after six months of development was told that no funding would ever come from Square Enix, and the developer filed for bankruptcy several days later.[24] Word of the project leaked out through art portfolios of those who worked on the project and even a tech demo surfaced.[25] In 2011, Fortress was thought to have been in development by an undisclosed studio, but this was also suspended and the game will not be released in any form.[26]

Final Fantasy Tactics S is a tactical role-playing game with social features and multiplayer battles. It was released in Japan on the Mobage social gaming network in May 2013.[27]

Other media

In Japan, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance's story was expanded and broadcast in Japanese radio stations. The radio drama entitled Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Radio Edition was broadcast in four radio stations within Japan from early January 2003 to late March 2003.[28]

Final Fantasy XII was adapted into a manga by Gin Amou. Square Enix published the series in a total of five tankōbon volumes from December 22, 2006 to August 22, 2009.[29][30]

Setting

Geography

Kingdom of Ivalice

Ivalice in Final Fantasy Tactics.

The events of Final Fantasy Tactics are set in the kingdom of Ivalice, which borders Ordalia in the east and the insular nation of Romanda in the north-west, from which it is separated by the Larner Channel. The kingdom forms a peninsula and is composed of seven provinces which were individual kingdoms before their unification: Gallione, Lionel, Lesalia, Fovoham, Limberry, Zeltennia and Mullonde.[31]

The insular province of Mullonde is home to the Glabados Church and is ruled separately from the royal government.[32] In the game's backstory, Mullonde's territory was once connected to the mainland, but was mostly submerged by a disaster involving the Zodiac Stones and which occurred soon after Saint Ajora's execution, with its city made into a Necrohol, a city of the dead.[33][34] The city of Bervenia, Ajora's birthplace, is governed by the Church although it is enclosed in the province of Lesalia.[35]

Prior to the events of Final Fantasy Tactics, the Fara church dominated the kingdom of Ivalice.[36] The remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, refers to the Fara Church as Pharism.[37] The life of Ajora saw Fara replaced with the new Glabados church which, by the time of the game, is the major religion of the kingdom. Glabados is monotheistic and intensely political, underscoring much of Ivalice history. Followers of Glabados use the word "Faram" to affirm their prayers.[38] During the events of the game, the church is revealed to have put a large spin on history, particularly the events surrounding the life of Ajora, a messianic figure.[36]

Leá Monde

Vagrant Story is set in the ruins of the city of Leá Monde. The kingdom of Valendia is also heavily mentioned, and a few of its locations are featured in the prologue and the ending sequence. In contrast to the other Ivalice games, magic is rare, being suppressed by religious doctrine. Other races are never mentioned, so one can assume that all other races aside from Humes have become extinct by this time.[39][40]

Vagrant Story centers around the "Dark", a formless, invisible entity. In places where the Dark runs strongest, those who died will have their corpses controlled by the dark, becoming the undead.[41] The Dark exists within a person as negative energy that unleashes the individual's latent power.[42] Throughout the story, many individuals crave the powers of the Dark, which centers around the abandoned city of Leá Monde. Another mythological aspect of Vagrant Story is the Kiltia, an ancient cult which built itself upon the Dark and ancient sorcery, and of which the Müllenkamp sect is stemmed from. It can be seen that most rituals and summoning performed in the game involved ancient Kildean magic.[40]

In Vagrant Story, the Iocus priesthood of the kingdom of Valendia is shown to use the Kildean rood as a symbol, although they follow the teachings of a saint named Iocus instead of the original Kildean teachings of the Kiltia religion of Leá Monde.[43][44] Müllenkamp, founder of the city of Leá Monde featured in the story, used to be a priestess of Kiltia,[43] and bore the rood on her back.[44] The followers of St. Iocus are outwardly intolerant of magic,[45] seeing it as an abomination, and yet its higher members continue to use it behind the scenes.[46] This hypocrisy is revealed over the course of the story, though it goes unresolved.

St. Ivalice

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 "mirror" of the "real" kingdom of Ivalice.[47] The races seen in the world of Tactics Advance—Bangaa, Moogle, Viera and Nu Mou—reappear in the game Final Fantasy XII, the setting of which has come to represent the "real" Ivalice.[48] This is apparently explained as Mewt replied that Final Fantasy was his favorite game; with the Races and elements such as Ivalice, one would assume St. Ivalice was based on Final Fantasy XII. 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.[49]

Galtean Peninsula

The explorable section of Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII. This map focuses solely on a small area centered on the Galtean Peninsula. Ivalice proper extends beyond its confines.[50]

In Final Fantasy XII, Ivalice covers three continents, Ordalia, Valendia and Kerwon. The demography consists of the known races: Humes, Bangaa, Viera, Seeq and Moogles, and other minority races. Civilization is advanced in this world where the use of a magical stone called magicite is extensive in everyday life, airships are a prominent transportation and multi-story buildings cover the cityscape. Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII is designed based on a mixture of cultures. According to the game developers, these designs are inspired from a mixture of medieval Mediterranean countries,[51] Turkish architecture,[52] art-deco from Indian architecture,[53] the cityscape of New York City[52] and the Arabic culture found hidden in European countries. As such, many patterns are featured as geometrical and Arabesque in shape.[54] The cityscape is also conceived by Matsuno as being dirty and weather-worn, mirroring the conditions of a medieval landscape.[52] The natural landscape also mirrors Earth's geographical features, including large expanse of deserts and snowy mountains.

In Final Fantasy XII, the continents in Ivalice are presently home to three nations: Rozarria, Archadia and Dalmasca. There was once the Kingdom of Nabradia and the Republic of Landis in Valendia, now either destroyed or assimilated into the Archadian Empire. Strategically located between the rival neighboring empires of Archadia and Rozarria, Dalmasca's position as a neutral buffer region between the two countries is eliminated when it is invaded by Archadia at the onset of the game. With the fall of Landis and Nabradia and its reduction to an occupied territory under Archadian rule, Dalmasca is set to play a central role in the still-heated dispute between its neighbors, which is escalating once more.

The events of Final Fantasy XII are focused on the area around the Galtean Peninsula, itself located in the larger Ivalice region.[2][50] This area of Ivalice is diverse in both geography and climate,[2] ranging from the hilly, clement grasslands of southern Valendia[55] to the deserts of Dalmasca.[56] In Kerwon, south of Dalmasca, the lands are arid at lower altitudes, though the higher elevations are the only places in the region known to receive snow.[57] The north of Kerwon is heavily forested, home to the dense Golmore Jungle, within which lies the magical Feywood.[58][59]

These various micro-climates are influenced by the magical phenomenon known as Mist, an unstable substance with the ability to cause great variation over small areas.[60] Due to the influence of Mist, several areas of Ivalice are 'jagd', areas in which Mist-laden winds and magicite-rich soil interfere with airship mechanisms. As such, jagds tend to be harsh, lawless frontiers, uncontrolled by any nation.[61] Physically, the peninsula area resembles Europe in the east, with the landmasses of Valendia, Ordalia and Kerwon surrounding a central body of water (the Naldoan Sea) on three sides. To the west, Valendia and Kerwon curve away from Ordalia, creating the Galtean Peninsula.[62]

Mist is responsible for the existence of 'magicite', stones that contain magical powers due to the presence of Mist in their crystalline structure. Magicite is divided into three types; spellstones that are used in spell casting, skystones that are installed into a component known as 'glossair rings' that give flight to the vehicles, whether small-sized bikes or large airships, and memstones that function much like recording devices. The quality of magicite depends on the quantity of Mist and not on the size or shape of the stone. The ubiquitousness of magic and magicite, as well as its cost-efficiency, led to it replacing electricity and its various sources as the dominant usable energy in Ivalice.[63]

Nethicite, another type of magicite, works by absorbing Mist, thus nullifying the effects of magic and storing vast amounts of power. Nethicite can be described as either deifacted or manufacted (literally, god-made or man-made). During the course of the game, it is discovered that deifacted nethicite is nethicite created by the Occuria, and that the ultimate source of known pieces of deifacted nethicite is the Sun-Cryst they created.[64] Deifacted nethicite contains a large amount of magic and is known to influence the history of Ivalice.

In Final Fantasy XII, the Light of Kiltia, a polytheistic religion, is the dominant church in Ivalice, having influence in the political affairs of the region around the Galtean Peninsula.[65] Despite this, the church maintains an apolitical stance, with its most high-ranking officials banned from participating in political affairs altogether.[66] At its head is the Gran Kiltias, being the Helgas Anastasis at the time of Final Fantasy XII, until his death during the events of the story. Like Glabados followers in Final Fantasy Tactics, Kiltias swear on the name of Faram, the Father of All, in the manner of the Christian amen.[67] The Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Ω guide considers the Glabados Church a possible branch of Kiltia.[68]

Purvama Lemurés

Some of the locations in the Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII returned in its sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, along with a new area called Lemurés. A legendary Purvama (Floating Continent) raised into the skies by the god Feolthanos long ago, this land is ruled by three "Sacred Crystals" called Auraliths, which erected a barrier to shield the Purvama from the rest of the world. In Revenant Wings, the "Legend of the Floating Land" has become an ambition for Sky Pirates who seek the island for Auracite, pieces of Auralith able to allow one to summon entities called Yarhi. The ruins of Lemurés are where the Aegyl reside.[69] During the course of the game, the main characters learn that the sealing of Lemurés was the work of the Occuria, whom Feolthanos defied prior to using the Auralith to become a god-like being.[70]

In the backstory of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Feolthanos established a personality cult over Lemurés, labeling himself to his people as a god. Though Lemurés still had a sense of peace and paradise, in spite of Yarhi attacks, it was a false paradise due to the Aurcite draining the Aegyl of their anima as part of Feolthanos' plan to destroy Ivalice as revenge against the Occurians.[70]

Jylland

Taking place only a few years after Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift introduces a new region of Ivalice called Jylland. The region of Jylland is made up of the western half of the Ordalia Continent and the eastern half of the Loar Continent, with Jagd Zellea to the north of the two continents. There are five regions spread out across these two continents, which consist of smaller territories inside of them, twenty being the number of territories throughout Jylland, which contain a varying number of areas (battlefields) in each of them (eighty-six areas in all of Jylland). The towns in Jylland include Camoa, Grazston, Moorabella, Fluorgis, and Goug. Goug in particular, is a town of Moogles. Another race similar to the Aegyl also was introduced along with this game. Called Gria, these winged females are small, but pack a mean punch, specializing in three new classes and one old one. Geomancer, Ravager, and Raptor, along with the before-human exclusive class Hunter were given to the Gria, and only the geomancer class uses magic.[71]

Timeline

The timeline of Ivalice as presented in the games was left quite vague, and formerly other official sources had said little on the matter. A few sources have made their own conclusion on the timeline of Ivalice.[72][73] The official timeline, however, was eventually given in the Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega, and placed the events of Final Fantasy XII before those of Final Fantasy Tactics.

There is no direct mention of Ivalice in Vagrant Story. However, several references are made; the Kingdom of Valendia, the setting for Vagrant Story, shares its name with a continent of Ivalice appearing in Final Fantasy XII. The Kiltia religion, featured in Final Fantasy XII, was the religion of the ghost town Leá Monde, in which the story takes place. Additionally, a quotation from Arazlam J. Durai, a famous historian of Ivalice who lived 400 years after the War of the Lions (and narrator of the Zodiac Brave Story told in Final Fantasy Tactics), is used at the beginning of the game,[74] and the descriptions of several items make direct reference to the same story.[75] This would seem to place Vagrant Story latest in the timeline, given its direct references to the events of Final Fantasy Tactics. Matsuno has said that he never intended Vagrant Story to be in the same world as Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he noted that Square Enix advertising might not agree.[76]

Some confusion still persists, particularly due to the facts surrounding Saint Ajora, who was executed 1200 years prior to the events of Final Fantasy Tactics,[77] yet in the Clan Primer of Final Fantasy XII is said to have separated from the Light of Kiltia religion shortly after its foundation, already two thousand years old.[78] While no gender is specified in the North American release of Final Fantasy XII, in both the Japanese Clan Primer and the Ultimania timeline, Ajora is referred to as Seijo Ajora (聖女アジョラ, lit. Holy Woman Ajora), while Ajora of Final Fantasy Tactics is male.[37][48][77]

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has been confirmed by the developers to take place after Final Fantasy XII, and both Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and A2 to take place "near" in time to Final Fantasy XII.[49]

Races

The populations seen in Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story are essentially human. The other intelligent races who appear are hostile or monster-like, such as Goblins or Ogres. Friendly intelligent races appear in later games set in Ivalice, where the human race is called Humes. Monsters and the like are thought not to exist by the general populace in Vagrant Story, with the monsters in the isolated Leá Monde all stemming from the Dark. The races are sorted by appearance and then according to the alphabetical order.

Ivalice as featured in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is populated by four main intelligent races in addition to Humes; all of them also reappearing in Final Fantasy XII.

A Nu Mou from Final Fantasy XII
A Viera from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy XII introduces several other races to Ivalice, with varying importance in the plot of the game.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings introduces two other races:

Lastly, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift features two other races:

Mythos

Within Final Fantasy Tactics, legends revolve around the Zodiac Brave Story, which deals with twelve knights who used the power of Zodiac Stones—magical stones engraved with symbols of the twelve Zodiac constellations—to fight against a demon summoned by an ambitious king to control Ivalice. This myth was twisted by the Glabados Church, as explained in the game's backstory, by including St. Ajora as the leader of the Zodiac Braves.

The "Lucavi" are demons linked to the twelve Zodiac Stones who seek to gain control of Ivalice by resurrecting their defeated leader, the High Seraph, Ultima. Any person who holds a Zodiac Stone may make a contract with the Lucavian demon associated with it, and in doing so, become one with that demon. During the events of the game, the Lucavi manipulate the Glabados Church into controlling the War of the Lions to ensure enough bloodshed for Ultima's resurrection.[87] A thirteenth Lucavi, associated with the sun constellation Ophiuchus, can also be found in a side-quest. Some of the Lucavi reappear as Totema in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, while a sub-boss, Gukko, becomes a "Rukavi" before his final encounter with the party, with an appearance similar to that of a vampire-type enemy. They also reappear in Final Fantasy XII as summoned Espers—with backstories that describe how they became known as Lucavi. It is also revealed that they were creations of the Occuria from Final Fantasy XII.[88] In the new translation of the PSP version of Final Fantasy Tactics, the Zodiac Stones are also referred to as Auracite—the same stone used to summon the Yarhi and Scions (the Lucavi) in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings.

Final Fantasy XII also introduces the "Occuria", immortal beings who have no visible faces, only a pair of glowing yellow eyes seen under their floating shell-like armor, surrounded by an aquamarine aura. The Occuria can become selectively invisible, and are also capable of possession, shape-shifting and image projection. Referred to by some as gods, but unknown to the main religions in Ivalice, the Occuria race played a central role in the history of Ivalice, controlling all major events, such as the rise of the Dynast-King Raithwall.[89] Though peace fostered in Ivalice in the four-hundred year rule after Raithwall, the Occurian Venat, apparently disgusted with its kind's manipulations, rebelled and gave the secret of Nethicite to the Archadia's Dr. Cid and Vayne to overthrow the Occuria and make mankind the masters of their own fate.[90] The events of the game eventually provoke the end the "Age of Stones" (the Occuria's control over Ivalice).[91] In Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, the Occuria were revealed to have played a part in the sealing of the Purvama Lemurés long ago, which by the present time became a land of legend that many Sky Pirates sought for its Auracite.

Revenant Wings also introduced beings known as the "Yarhi". Also known as "Espers" to those on Ivalice, they are powerful entities created from anima, spiritual energy. Through certain elements, such as Auracite or Mist, the Yarhi can assume physical form until they are defeated in battle. They are summoned by the wielders of Auracite and obey their every command. Fourteen such Yarhi appeared in Final Fantasy XII; the first thirteen being the Lucavi from Final Fantasy Tactics which are referred as the "Scions of darkness", magical beings created by Occuria with great strength and intelligence. Led by Ultima, they eventually rebelled for various reasons and engaged themselves in a war dubbed the Thousand Year War against the gods; but they were eventually defeated. Consequently, the gods bound their existence with the Glyph of the Beast, trapping them within the Mist. Any who controls the Glyph in turn controls the Scion, allowing them to operate as summoned creatures. The Fourteenth is the legendary swordsman Gilgamesh, who collects the swords of those he defeats in battle. While most fight, few like Cu Sith and the Sahaguin Namingway offer aid in other ways.[70] Also, the viera job "Summoner" can call and use the powers of mythological gods like Kirin, Shiva, and many others.

Reception

Final Fantasy Tactics sold 824,671 copies in Japan in the first half of 1997.[92] Since then, the total number of copies sold in Japan has reached approximately 1,350,000.[93] In the United States it reached an estimated sale of 750,000 units as of year 2004.[94] 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.[95] 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 first week alone.[96][97] By August 6, 2004, more than 1 million units of the game were sold in North America and Europe together.[98] The War of the Lions reached the top of Japanese gaming charts, and sold 100,000 copies in the first month of release in the United States.[99] The game was the 53rd best-selling game of 2007 in Japan at 301,796 copies according to Famitsu magazine.[100] The Ultimate Hits edition sold an additional 19,488 copies in Japan.[101] Square Enix reports that as of May 31, 2009, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has sold 670,000 copies worldwide, with 310,000 copies sold in Japan, 240,000 copies in North America, and 120,000 copies in Europe.[102]

Editorials from the gaming website RPGamer.com outlined several similarities between the Catholic Church and the Church of Glabados portrayed in Final Fantasy Tactics. One editorial noted that it was a controversial move by the developers, as if the church institution "in fact worships a demon, and is evil from its god on down".[103] However, another editorial mentions that such controversies failed to recognize the church in question is the medieval Roman Catholic Church, and that historically such institution is known for its flaws in the past.[104]

The Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII is considered a Japanese take on the Star Wars galaxy by a GameSpot reviewer[105] (in turn, Star Wars was considered an American take on Japanese jidaigeki samurai films, specifically Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress).[106] Even with the established fantasy setting, the airships and air battles gives the world a science-fiction feel. Adding to the "galaxy far, far away" mood is the mingling of different races within large cities and the political unrest between the rebellion and the Empire. Because the characters primarily traverse on foot, the world of Final Fantasy XII feels vast, and reviewers enjoyed sightseeing because of the impressive visuals.[105]

Eurogamer praised the "beautiful architecture and interaction of the various races" in Final Fantasy XII and noted that there was a "melancholy feeling" to "wandering the barren wastes" of Ivalice.[107] In their review of Final Fantasy Tactics, IGN called the battle areas "extremely well designed and detailed to perfection", singling out the churches as especially beautiful.[108] GameSpot was similarly impressed with the wide varieties of "beautiful" terrains to be seen in Ivalice, from swamps to castles to "anything else you can think of".[109] PSXExtreme praised the feel of Lea Monde in Vagrant Story, calling it "excellently lit" in a style that brought out the "dark and moody" feeling of the game. They went on to say that the game's "great visual presentation will go down in the books as one of the best looking [PlayStation] games".[110]

See also

References

  1. ↑ FFWorld Staff (2004). "Interview - Yasumi Matsuno". www.ffworld.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Ivalice (Sage Knowledge 29 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  3. ↑ critiqueofgames.net staff (March 19, 2004). "スクウェア・エニックス開発スタッフルーム". Critique of Games. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Interview". FFWorld.com (in French). 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  5. ↑ "Yasumi Matsuno @ Twitter". 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  6. ↑ "Yasumi Matsuno @ Twitter". 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  7. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (1998-02-23). "Final Fantasy Tactics for PlayStation Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  8. ↑ "Critique of Games: Akito Inoue". Square Haven. May 27, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
  9. ↑ Zdyrko, David (2000-05-22). "Vagrant Story". IGN. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  10. ↑ Grosnick, Brian (2011-05-18). "Vagrant Story". RPGFan. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  11. ↑ 「ファイナルファンタジータクティクス アドバンス」世界市場で出荷150万本突破！ (PDF) (in Japanese). Square Enix Co., Ltd. 2003-11-18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  12. ↑ Harris, Craig (2002-03-27). "Famitsu Confirms Final Fantasy Tactics GBA". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  13. ↑ Gamespot staff (2002-06-19). "Square acquires Quest's software development division". GameSpot.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  14. ↑ Square Enix announces FF Tactics for the PSP and Another New FFT Game RPGFan (12-13-06). Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  15. ↑ Ivalice Alliance Famitsu.co.jp. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  16. ↑ Charlotte Chen (2007-05-22). "Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu No Grimoir Interview". Tips & Tricks. Larry Flynt Publications. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  17. ↑ KujaFFman (2007-05-09). "FFXII International dévoilé". Final Fantasy World (in French). Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  18. ↑ Craig Harris (2007-05-16). "Interview: Final Fantasy Tactics A2". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  19. ↑ James Mielke (2007-05-15). "Interviews on Final Fantasy's Nintendo DS, Wii Assault". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  20. 1 2 Ottsjö, Peter (May 28, 2011). "Strypta av speljätten" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  21. ↑ Anders Bodbacka (May 4, 2010). "New portfolio video". Wordpress. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  22. ↑ Albihn, Björn. ""Fortress" - Portfolio of Björn Albihn". Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  23. ↑ Pereira, Chris (May 31, 2011). "Grin Forced to Close Because Square Enix Didn't Pay for Unannounced Final Fantasy, Founders Claim". 1UP.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ Dustin, Quillen (August 20, 2009). "Grin Was Working on an Unannounced Final Fantasy Project". 1UP.com. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  25. ↑ King, Ryan (January 18, 2010). "Tech demo of cancelled Final Fantasy". Official Xbox 360 Magazine. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  26. ↑ Smith, Jamin (September 6, 2011). "Final Fantasy XII spin-off Fortress 'suspended'". VideoGamer. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  27. ↑ Pitcher, Jenna (April 26, 2013). "Square Enix to release Final Fantasy Tactics S on Mobage". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  28. ↑ Winkler, Chris (2003-12-20). "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Goes Radio". RPGFan.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  29. ↑ ファイナルファンタジー12 1 (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  30. ↑ ファイナルファンタジー12 5 (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  31. ↑ Square (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Germonik Scriptures. Long before Ivalice was united, it was divided into 7 small kingdoms. Zeltennia, Fovoham, Lionel, Limberry, Lesalia, Gallionne, Mullonde. As the kingdoms continued to increase their territories, the wars continued.
  32. ↑ Square (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: World map. Mullonde Holy Place - Mullonde base, strongest of the Glabados churches. Autonomous of the government.
  33. ↑ Square (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Riovanes Castle. Barinten: Holy Stones have great magical power. According to ancient legend, a natural disaster in Mullonde was caused by its power......
  34. ↑ Square (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Germonik Scriptures. However, it's a fact that Mullonde met with natural disaster and sunk into the sea at the time of Ajora's death.
  35. ↑ Square (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: World map. Bervenia Free City - Known as Saint Ajora's birthplace, this town is under the direct control of the church.
  36. 1 2 Germonik Scriptures Square Co (1998-01-28). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Square EA.
  37. 1 2 Ajora was born in the Lesalian city of Bervenia twelve centuries ago. Raised in Milados, he preached openly about the coming of Paradise. This infuriated the Pharist priests, and the Holy Ydoran Empire hanged him as a traitor. When Mullonde, the center of Pharist teachings, then sank into the sea, Ajora's disciples began to preach of his divinity, eventually forming the Church of Glabados Square Enix. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. PlayStation.
  38. ↑ Priest: Blessings of the Great Father descend, and guide your body's return to the earth. May the grace of Saint Ajora lead Alma's soul to the eternal shores of Paradise. There she shall find peace. Faram. Square Enix (2007-10-01). Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. PlayStation Portable.
  39. ↑ Square (2000-05-15). Vagrant Story. PlayStation. Square. Level/area: Wine Cellar, Wine Guild Hall. Goodwin: And procure the miracles of Leà Monde! 'Tis just a rumour, but I've heard that Guildenstern's lot works them magicks as well... Sackheim: Rubbish! We're servants of the Lord! No true Knight of the Cross would dabble in the black arts!
  40. 1 2 Square (2000-05-15). Vagrant Story. PlayStation. Square. Level/area: Town Center West, Rue Sant D'alsa. Samantha: Ancient Kildean...from Mullenkamp's time. / Guildenstern: Ah, truly. These were written before the birth of St. Iocus... time when sorcerers were common as sellswords.
  41. ↑ Guildenstern: The Dark is formless and invisible. It invades the body like a plague, an unseen visitor. Yet those it taints become...undying. Square Co (2000-05-15). Vagrant Story. PlayStation. Square EA.
  42. ↑ Hardin: We all possess energy, Inquisitor. But it is a negative energy. An energy that should not exist. Yet it does, and it awakens the sleeping power... / Merlose: The "Dark"? Square Co (2000-05-15). Vagrant Story. PlayStation. Square EA.
  43. 1 2 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2000). Vagrant Story Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Co. p. ?. ISBN ISBN 4-925075-75-6.
  44. 1 2 Barhaven. "Roods section". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  45. ↑ Sackheim: Rubbish! We’re servants of the Lord! No true Knight of the Cross would dabble in the black arts! Square Co (2000-05-15). Vagrant Story. PlayStation. Square EA.
  46. ↑ Barhaven. "Vagrant Story script - Wine Cellar". Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  47. ↑ Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Game Boy Advance. Square Enix.
  48. 1 2 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 146. ISBN 4-7575-1821-8.
  49. 1 2 Harris, Craig (2007-05-16). "Interview: Final Fantasy Tactics A2". Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  50. 1 2 Memoirs of Marquis Halim Ondore IV Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  51. ↑ Hirohiko Niizumi (November 19, 2003). "Final Fantasy XII gets star treatment in Tokyo". Retrieved 2006-11-02.
  52. 1 2 3 IGN Staff (November 20, 2003). "Final Fantasy XII Q&A (page 2 of 4)". IGN.com. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
  53. ↑ FFShrine staff (November 19, 2003). "Final Fantasy XII Interview". Retrieved 2006-11-02.
  54. ↑ Aki Sugawara (November 20, 2003). "Feature: A Final Fantasy XII Interview (page 2)". Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  55. ↑ Valendia (Sage Knowledge 31 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  56. ↑ Ordalia (Sage Knowledge 30 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  57. ↑ Kerwon (Sage Knowledge 32 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  58. ↑ The Feywood (Sage Knowledge 73 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  59. ↑ Golmore Jungle (Sage Knowledge 72 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  60. ↑ Mist (Sage Knowledge 09 of 78) Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  61. ↑ Jagd (Sage Knowledge 38 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  62. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. pp. 48–49. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  63. ↑ BradyGAMES, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Official Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. pp. 10–15. ISBN 0-7440-0837-9.
  64. ↑ Gerun: Seek you the Sun-cryst, slumb'ring star. In tower on distant shore it dreams. The mother of all Nethicite, the source of its unending power. Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
  65. ↑ Larsa: With the blessing of His Grace the Gran Kiltias Anastasis, you may rightly wear your crown, and declare the restoration of the Kingdom of Dalmasca. Square Co (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square EA.
  66. ↑ The Light of Kiltia (Sage Knowledge 7 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  67. ↑ Priest: Blessings of the Great Father descend, and guide your body’s return to the Earth. Great Father guide your spirit’s return to the Mother of all. There you shall find peace. Faram. Square Co (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square EA.
  68. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Ω (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. ?. ISBN 4-88787-021-3.
  69. ↑ "FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 Barba, Rick; Ellis, Elizabeth (2007-11-15). Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Strategy Guide. Brady Games. ISBN 0-7440-0980-4.
  71. ↑ Luscher, Christian (2008-03-07). "Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift - Nintendo DS Spiel" (in German). Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  72. ↑ Matthew Rorie (2006-09-23). "TGS 06: Final Fantasy XII Q&A". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  73. ↑ Roger, Christian (2006-11-17). "Final Fantasy XII Review". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  74. ↑ Barhaven. "Vagrant Story script - Duke Bardorba's Manor". Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  75. ↑ Barhaven. "FFT References section". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  76. ↑ Yasumi Matsuno (2011-06-29). "Yasumi Matsuno @ Twitter". Twitter.
  77. 1 2 Born around twelve centuries ago in Bervenia of Lesalia. Raised in Milodos. Spoke of the arrival of a kingdom of a higher source, as feelings of anitpathy grew from Father Fara. Executed as a traitor by the Holy Empire of Yudora. Soon after, the capital of the Church of Fara became submerged under the sea by an extraordinary natural phenomenon. Those disciples of Ajora believed this was his miracle. As these stories spread, the Glabados Church became what it is today. Square. Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation.
  78. ↑ The Light of Kilita (Sage Knowledge 7 of 78), Clan Primer Bestiary
    "The Light of Kiltia - Religion begun by the prophet Kiltia over two millennia ago. The religion of the Ordalian people is a dualist system--a polytheistic pantheon with the God of Light, Faram the Father, at its head. After embarking on a pilgrimage to proselytize and deliver the word of the vision he had seen to the people, Kiltia came to Mt Bur-Omisace, and from there his teachings spread. The Light of Kiltia, as his teachings were called, continued even after his death, until they covered all Ivalice. Though the followers and churches of Kiltia are spread far and wide, they do not interfere in affairs of state or governance. Though at one point the church held considerable influence, they willingly discarded that power, fearing oppression. Ever since, the church officials with the rank of celebrant or higher have been forbidden from participating in statecraft. In addition, Mt. Bur-Omisace maintains a mutual non-incursion policy with the surrounding territories. Several years after Kiltia's founding, Saint Ajora began a new teaching, claiming that Faram alone was the one true god, the popularity of this new sect further lessening the power of the Light."
    Square Enix (2006-10-10). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2.
  79. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 90. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  80. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 89. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  81. 1 2 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 92. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  82. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 88. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  83. 1 2 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 93. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  84. 1 2 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 87. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  85. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. p. 91. ISBN 4-7575-1696-7.
  86. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (2007-04-04). "Final Fantasy Tactics Update". Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  87. ↑ Vormav: No, it will work... It just needs more... You didn't hear? It just needs more blood... Lots of blood is needed for the Angel's resurrection. Much bloodshed since Ajora's death, but I guess it wasn't enough... I guess I'll have to go on another rampage...!! Heh, heh, heh.... Don't worry... I'll 'sacrifice' you first.Square Co. (1997-06-20). Final Fantasy Tactics. PlayStation. Square Co.
  88. ↑ Sage Knowledge (27 of 78): The Espers: Beings of strange form and appearance made by the gods in ancient times. Favored with great strength and intellect, the Espers knew power far beyond that of men, but their power made them proud, and at length they sought to challenge the gods. Seeing this, the gods were angered and struck down their blessed children, and binding their souls and flesh with the Glyph of the Beast, they stole their freedom for all eternity. Now they are bound to live only when summoned by their Glyph, to serve whosoever called them forth. Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
  89. ↑ Occuria: In times that are long passed away, we thought to save this Ivalice…and chose Raithwall the Dynast-King. He took the sword and cut the Cryst. Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
  90. ↑ Occuria: Venat is a heretic! The Nethicite is ours to give, to chosen bearer or to none. The heretic trespassed and set the rose of knowledge in Man's hand. Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
  91. ↑ Venat: They are fulfilled beyond your knowing. The Cryst is sundered, age of Stones complete. From the undying ones the world is freed. Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII. PlayStation 2. Square Enix.
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