I happened to look up at my collectors edition box today and wondered what the box art actually is? I have no knowledge of who the man standing is, nor the upside down floating lady.
Anyone know who these people might be and/or their reference to the XIV lore?
Picture of the CE Box art:
http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=401/174423.jpg
CE Box Art? What?
Printable View
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08-21-2011, 01:54 PMTibianCE Box Art? What?
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08-21-2011, 01:59 PMKeith_Dragoon
Looks like Arkangel Ev gettin down and dirty with a uncolored garuda!
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08-21-2011, 02:59 PMCatapult
I smell something foreboding...
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08-21-2011, 03:04 PMSydeBeheln
It looks like Garuda to be honest..
I don't think the man is really anyone in particular. It really makes the weapon and the shield stick out more because the game is highly based on the idea that the weapon makes the class. -
08-21-2011, 03:11 PMCatapult
I thought it was a woman.
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08-21-2011, 03:17 PMbahley
Just looks like weird art to me that they thought would catch people's attention on the shelves. I know people WANT to find meaning in it (and probably will in their own minds), but come on, it's Final Fantasy, it's all just mumbo-jumbo.
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08-21-2011, 03:34 PMTsukinoName one other piece of Amano art used in the Final Fantasy series that doesn't directly relate to the story.Quote:
Originally Posted by bahley
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08-21-2011, 03:36 PMSav
I imagine that thing is whatever gave us all the Echo.
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08-21-2011, 03:45 PMKeith_Dragoon
On a serious note maybe those are 2 of the 12 guardians or one of the guardians bestowing power onto the person in the armor.
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08-21-2011, 03:57 PMAmyRae
We've seen Titan, Ifrit, and Leviathan as Primals. I suppose we should take this box art to mean Garuda is yet another of their number.
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08-21-2011, 04:01 PMXmbei
I agree that that looks like garuda, I think the guy in the armor makes me think garlean soldier. Also if you notice in the back the white structure behind the 2 of them looks like the airship with the dragon around it in Mor Dhona.
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08-21-2011, 04:14 PMRoll
I feel like a terrible person for saying this but that style of art always looked weird to me imo ><
I hate to admit it and I feel really bad saying it but am I the only one that think it looks weird? Please tell me I'm not the only one.
The guys look like girls and everyone's super pale white with black lips and everyone has white hair. I don't mean to start a flame war and I'm sorry if I offend anyone but I just had to let it out >< -
08-21-2011, 04:23 PMNaBluiriThis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sav
If you look at it, it looks like that creature is bestowing something on to the person.
I want to say It's Garuda, but I have my doubts. Mainly because so far the primals we have seen have been incredibly beast like. This just looks a bit too humanoid.
Then again we haven't seen most of the primals. -
08-21-2011, 04:30 PMRoll
It's Altana!
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08-21-2011, 04:33 PMFelis
Isn't this guy Cecil in his Dark Knight armor from FF IV? ^^
Cecil as Dark Knight: http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__.../CecildsNB.png
Cecil as Paladin: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__7A_fK60hI...00/3dcg_1s.jpg -
08-21-2011, 04:52 PMwhoopeeragonDon't worry about it, Amano's art is unique in that it is heavily taken from Asian styles. He uses different methods of colouring as well, so it's no surprise that you will think it as such. It's subjective; I find it to be unique and traditionally appealing, while you think it looks awkward and out of place. That's fine. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Roll
I imagine it to be one of the 12 dieties of Eorzea, or perhaps the essence of Echo in human form, and covering a potential reciever of Echo, or perhaps the Guardian's favour. -
08-21-2011, 05:09 PMSeif
Amano's art is amazing. He did a TON of unique artwork for XI pre and post release.
For XIV the logo and the box only =( -
08-21-2011, 08:35 PMFalcusNo, you're not the only one. Personally I've never really been a fan of his art style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roll
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08-21-2011, 08:55 PMUllrHellfire
http://gallery.aethereality.net/list/artist/84/
http://browse.minitokyo.net/gallery?...ndex=3&page=17
The one on the cover is in one of his books far b4 FFXIV came out if i remember correctly * I could be wrong XD it was liek 2 years ago~
- Also There is some other FFXIV Concept art he did floating around~ Some say there is hidden stuff it some of them showing mob's and such~
But that's just what i herd~ -
08-21-2011, 09:46 PMIlean
The wings are a bit long. Serpent like...
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08-21-2011, 10:36 PMZahak
I remember there being either an interview or a forum post where Yoshi talks about the box art. He either was talking about being able to wear the armor the dark character has or about something about the story of it. I tried to do a quick search but to no avail. Good luck to whoever finds it!
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08-21-2011, 10:43 PMSilvertearRen
It is Garuda. Anatomically, the female figure matches the design of Garuda from FFXI. The male character is probably the representation of the adventurer - the player, to be accurate.
So, overall, the illustration is intended to represent the relationship between the Primals and the adventurers, and the connection to Eorzea they have. -
08-22-2011, 12:55 AMSav
It'd be strange if it were Garuda.
iirc, isn't Garuda the primal of the Ixali? -
08-22-2011, 01:05 AMIleanMaybe a representation of the skyserpent?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sav
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08-22-2011, 01:07 AMSilvertearRen
No, actually, it wouldn't be strange at all if it were Garuda. Because, you know...how many people in FFXI wanted to get in bed with her? Those thighs of hers are certainly attractive. ;P
So I wouldn't be surprised if Square Enix was aiming for a more mature slant with the Primals like Garuda and Shiva. -
08-22-2011, 01:15 AMIleanI doubt they waste Amano on that kind of thing...Quote:
Originally Posted by SilvertearRen
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/07/23...antasy-type-0/ -
08-22-2011, 01:30 AMEugenics
It's nowhere near his best work and to be honest it looks awful. Don't get me wrong i like alot of his work. For the game, I don't think it means anything it's just a box cover.
That's my opinion. -
08-22-2011, 01:48 AMPlatinumstorm
I agree with the person who said it's whatever bestowed the echo; perhaps one of the 12; I do not think it's Garuda. The box art also seems to have a Yin Yang motif.
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08-22-2011, 01:59 AMIleanI agree. I even thought the warrior's sword looks plain ugly...Quote:
Originally Posted by Eugenics
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08-22-2011, 02:53 AMSeif
Mind blowing beautiful map of Vana'diel.
http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy...ana%27diel.jpg
I wish he'd make something like that out of XIV's map.
You Amano haters confuse me. He's one of the 3 founding fathers of the entire FF series. -
08-22-2011, 03:26 AMChocobitsThe person fighting while riding a Chocobo on the Vanadiel Atlas cover. They never gave us mounted battle :/Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsukino
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08-22-2011, 03:34 AMJennestiaTake a look at this:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tibian
http://download.minitokyo.net/Minito...ano.320121.jpg
What we know of this, is we end up fighting Lilith Ascent (http://i53.tinypic.com/i22ikl.jpg), whom resembles Altana. So a lot of his artwork generally does foreshadow events. Even ToAU's box art had a mystery about it which a lot of the Empire's history/secrets and so on were shrouded in mystery when we first got there and knew nothing.
However 'Chocobo Knights' were indeed referenced in the Sandorian storyline in WoTG as a 'specialized unit'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chocobits
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08-22-2011, 03:54 AMChocobitsYeah, I realized after I posted that it was referencing storyline and not in-game content. Maybe I'm just bitter because I've always dreamed of mounted combat in a SE MMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennestia
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08-22-2011, 04:16 AMRhomagusI don't think you have to feel bad. It's definitely not traditional western so it's natural to think it's, out of place, especially when you note the lack of color. While earlier works by Amano are incredibly colorful, he is also known for doing some peices with merely a black crayon. Sometimes the method used to do the art is part of the expression. I imagine that the box art was supposed to do what this thread is doing. Generate a discussion about what exactly it is. It's provocative in that sense, but ya, I wouldn't feel bad as I too think it's "weird" but I also can respect "weird" stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roll
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08-22-2011, 04:52 AMGriss
You know that part in kung pow:enter the fist where there spoofing the lion king?
the big lion in the clouds says something that makes no sense to the character at all, and then comments dont worry you will understand later? Yea its one of those things. -
08-22-2011, 05:09 AMTibian
I think saying it is Garuda is a bit of a reach. While reaching it may be, it was the only conclusion I could come to as well.
I honestly think that this might have just been a case of "we don't have any art for the box because we're shoving the game out too early, lets use something ununsed from Amano's collection."
I like the echo theory, but I'd still wish there was something more concrete as to what it is. -
08-22-2011, 11:15 AMRollYeah exactly. I mean I don't hate it and I do respect him and his art. All art is beautiful even if some of it is a little strange.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhomagus
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08-22-2011, 11:56 AMMeow_Zedong
It wouldn't make sense if it was Garuda because she is the Primal of the Ixali, and therefore our enemy. I have a feeling the guy is Amano's representation of the nameless Echo user from the opening cinematic, and I'm pretty sure the angel woman is Nophica, it was implyed in the Gridania storyline that Nophica was the one that gave us the power of the Echo so we could speak her will through us, which would also make Nophica the Primal that we will be trying to awaken once they continue the main storyline.
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08-22-2011, 12:11 PMTsukinoNophica isn't a primal, she's one of the Twelve. Also, the reason they say that in Gridania is because Nophica is the most worshiped there; it has no basis in fact, they're just saying you have a gift and in general they attribute gifts to Nophica.Quote:
Originally Posted by Meow_Zedong
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08-22-2011, 12:39 PMOMEGA_HACK
It's clearly a motif representing the chosen adventurers that are receiving/have received the echo. My personal reasoning for this would be the black armor, a classic yet effective way to state "in the dark" or lack of knowledge, we can see us, the adventurer being lifted up by this divine creature/being (what it is doesn't particularly matter, what matters is what it represents), enlightenment, or in our case this gift of the echo, to be an ascendant of enlightenment. This representation of enlightenment also happens to be in complete white, a classic way to suggest the previous statement.
Not to mention listening to Final Fantasy XIV's "theme" song, the one with the lyrics (the name escapes me), is talking about receiving a power, calling, or gift to aid us in our strife, enlightenment being something that would fall into that category based on real life history you cannot deny such a claim. Okay now that is my very basic opinion on the meaning behind the artwork, that said...
I don't think the primal Garuda is in that picture, Amano likes to make many summons in his artwork if that is his direction, there was this really cool picture (Cool Picture) where he showcases them (this is from FFXI mind you) but I think if he were to make an Eikon part of the artwork it would've been Ifrit or multiple ones to showcase more or to have a more direct suggestion to the storyline, as all of his boxart stuff has been directly tied to the storyline.
Chains of Promathia has a picture of a beast behind a boy (Sel'tehus-however you spell it- and Promathia of course), in the next expansion it was Treasures of Aht Urhgan which showcases the art of large city (Aht Urhgan) with lavish decorations around it, the queen in the middle below the city but if you look closely you can make out other things like monsters, and people in the decoration (Aht Urhgan's secrets) something that that expansion revolves around, the list continues, basically trying to say that his box art ties directly in some form with elements and things from the story. And well since Garuda is not in the story, I don't think the white being is her, also if you notice the white being has a human foot and some kind of hoof, I believe it represents something undefined like people are saying it to be visually representing the echo or enlightenment.
My thoughts.