Final Fantasy XIVis Square Enix’s popular MMORPG, though it wasn’t always as well-loved as it is now. The game originally launched in 2010 to poor reviews, prompting Square Enix to bring in a new team and re-release the game in 2013 asFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Since then, it has solidified itself as one of the bestMMORPGson the market and has released several expansions.
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Final Fantasygames often include references and easter eggs to other titles within its prestigious franchise, as well as other gaming titles, andFinal Fantasy XIVis no different. The world of Eorzea (and Norvandt on the first reflection) is full of hidden allusions to otherFinal Fantasygames. Here are ten references that you may have missed during your journey as the Warrior of Light.
10Past Summons
Summonsare a staple feature of mostFinal Fantasygames, so, unsurprisingly, they make an appearance inFinal Fantasy XIV. However, some of them are direct references to other titles. For example, Quetzacoatl and Diabolos are both bosses in different dungeons and their appearances are a direct nod to how they looked inFinal Fantasy VIII, the game in which they both debuted.
Additionally, though the Shiva ofFinal Fantasy XIVhas a unique appearance, the click she does as part of her Diamond Dust move is a direct reference to Shiva fromFinal Fantasy VIII. Other summons, or aeons as they are sometimes known, also make an appearance as dungeon bosses, such as Yojimbo fromFinal Fantasy X.
9The Gold Saucer
The Gold Saucer is a special location inFinal Fantasy XIVwhere players can partake in various mini-games, such as Chocobo racing,Triple Triad, Lord of Verminion, and many more. Players use a special currency here called MGP, which is also what they win from the mini-games.
This whole area is a direct reference toFinal Fantasy VII, which first featured the amusement park called the Gold Saucer. Both versions look similar in design, the original Gold Saucer was also home to mini-games for players, as well as operating with a special currency called GP instead of gil. This isn’t the only area borrowed fromFinal Fantasy VIIeither, asFinal Fantasy XIValso features the beachy Costa Del Sol location.
8Dungeons and Bosses
Many ofFinal Fantasy XIV’s dungeons andbossesare inspired by past ones that featured in otherFinal Fantasytitles. For example, the Crystal Tower quest line is based on the Crystal Tower ofFinal Fantasy III, as well as Labyrinth of the Ancients referring to the Ancient’s Maze. There are also a few bosses and antagonists that reappear fromFinal Fantasy III, such as Xande, Amon, and the Cloud of Darkness, all of which keep a similar appearance.
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Furthermore, The Antitower’s final boss Calcabrina is based onFinal Fantasy IV’s boss of the same name and even shares the same theme music. Another example is Ultros from the optional trial, The Dragon’s Neck, where its design is almost exactly the same as it is inFinal Fantasy XIII-2.
7Music
Final Fantasy XIVoften uses music from otherFinal Fantasytitles, normally remix versions, but notably similar enough to warm the hearts of fans. For example, a remix of “Terra’s Theme” fromFinal Fantasy VIis the mount music for the Magitek Armor, which in itself is a nod to Yoshitaka Amano’s concept design of the Magitek Armor fromFinal Fantasy VI.
Another example is that an arrangement of “The Decisive Battle” song fromFinal Fantasy Vis used as the background music for the last boss of The Deltascape raids, Exdeath. Additionally, a remix of the battle theme ofFinal Fantasy IIis used in various parts of the game, most notably during the main storyline set in Ul’dah.
6Familiar Faces
Final Fantasy XIVhas had some cameos from characters of other titles in special cross-over events, such as Lightning fromFinal Fantasy XIIIand Shantotto fromFinal Fantasy XI, but these were limited time events. However,Final Fantasy XIVpermanently features other characters, with familiar faces such as Fran fromFinal Fantasy XIIappearing after the release ofShadowbringers.
Additionally, Gilgamesh appears during the Hildebrand side quest, and during the second part of “Battle in the Big Keep”, Gilgamesh even recites his pre-battle monologue fromFinal Fantasy Valmost word for word. Another character is Alpha, who strongly resembles the adorable design of the Chocobos from thespin-off titleFinal Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales.Alpha even does the same cute pose as the main Chocobo did in the original game. There are also minions available of several popularFinal Fantasycharacters from other titles.
5Names
Final Fantasy XIVoften uses the names of other characters, creatures, places, weapons, and more from otherFinal Fantasytitles for many of its own elements. For example, the servers for North America, Europe, and Japan all feature names based on the series.
Furthermore, the game cheekily makes fun of players with their own habit of naming their characters afterFinal Fantasycharacters, and how they often change the name slightly if it is already taken. It does this with an NPC that says the following to the player “Why if it isn’t Sephiroth! Or was it Sephiross? Setirophx? xXxSephirothxXx?”
4Character Clothing
Final Fantasy XIValso pays tribute to past titles in the franchise by allowing players to dress their characters up in the various outfits of prominent characters from the series. Squall’s outfit fromFinal Fantasy VIIIand Zidane’s outfit fromFinal Fantasy IXwere both available as Veteran Rewards. Tidus and Yuna’s outfits fromFinal Fantasy Xwere also available to players from the optional items store too.
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Additionally, Balthier’s outfit fromFinal Fantasy XIIis used as the ranged DPS exclusive gear dropped in the Orbonne Monastery. Other equipment pieces are also available, such as the Warrior Light Helm and Onion Helm to those who purchased past collector editions.
3The Sending
The Sending was one of the fan-favorite moments ofFinal Fantasy X,a beautiful cutscene whereYunaperforms her dance atop the water to send the spirits of the dead to the Farplane. Unnoticed by many players is that this unique dance is recreated in a particular main scenario quest inFinal Fantasy XIV.
In theStormbloodexpansion, during the main scenario instance called The Will of the Moon, one of the story NPCs, Y’shtola, becomes playable. During the battle, she uses her limit break, Spiritual Ray, after players complete the Active Time Maneuver. Y’shtola performs the dance of The Sending as part of her limit break, including water bursting forth from the ground.
2Zell’s Tattoo
Final Fantasy XIVboasts one of the best character creation options in any MMO, allowing players to customize even small features to ensure their character is personalized especially for them. One of the customization options is to add face paint to your character, with different stencils and patterns being available and players being able to choose the color also.
Noticeably, one of the options for the face paint patterns is a reference toZell’s prominent face tattoo fromFinal Fantasy VIII. There are also other character customization options available based on other titles, such as hairstyles inspired by the main characters fromFinal Fantasy Type-0.
1Red XIII
Some ofFinal Fantasy XIV’s references are so subtle, you might not even notice them unless you were a die-hard fan. One example of this is an optional side quest storyline in The Fringes. The quest follows aMiqo’tewho is under the belief that his father abandoned him because his father was a coward who ran away. However, the Miqo’te then learns that his father died to protect their village and was ultimately turned to stone from the poison of the attacking monsters.
This is a direct parallel to Red XIII’s story fromFinal Fantasy VII, as he also believed that his father had fled in fear in the face of battle, but then later discovered that his father had actually sacrificed himself to stop an enemy attack via the tunnels under Cosmo Canyon.
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