Let's keep Character Crossovers from other Square-Enix titles out of FFXIV.

[Lady]

The reason why there wasn't an outcry at Terra is that that isn't Terra. It's a Midlander woman with green hair and XIV clothes riding magitech armour as a homage to FFVI as part of the live letter of the same number. They never claimed that it ACTUALLLY is Terra unlike with Lightning.

Just feigning ignorance to say that isn't Terra, imo.. She even had the slave crown on in the scene.

But to each their own. Either way (with or without FF past characters) I'll like the game.


Would just like to add:

I think it would be pretty awesome to run into NPCs of old characters. Not have them be part of the main story but just to see them in Eorzea would be awesome.

Like seeing Relm painting a picture somewhere or have Squall leaning against a wall somewhere and if you talk to him he does a bunch of "thinking" gestures but never says anything. rofl

Ok, I'm done entertaining myself.

[REDace0]

I respectfully disagree... I like the thought of running into old characters.

But I do wonder why this outcry occured at the sight of Lightning, and not at the sight of Terra that we saw months back?

Because it was just a teaser for Magitek. Since they're drawing from FFVI for the design of that magitek vehicle, they took the single most memorable scene involving that design and just recreated it with FFXIV assets. There was no suggestion that Terra or the other magitek pilots would actually be in Eorzea. In fact, I'd say it's definitely not happening because Biggs and Wedge have already shown up in ARR, and not as Gestahlian soldiers escorting a mind-controlled woman to a snowy mining town.

[Ferth]

I completely agree with the OP. Not only do I think that characters like Lightning, Cloud, Sephiroth, and even Terra don't fit in to the world of 14, but I seem to recall this very issue being brought up around the time they announced the Crystal Tower, and I recall Yoshida making the point that they specifically wouldn't be doing exactly this.

Which makes me wonder if perhaps this is not Yoshida's decision, but rather one he is forced to act upon. Either way I think this is ill fitting to the game itself, and makes me lose a little respect for the dev team and Square Enix as a whole.

Making oblique references is one thing, but bringing in a character integral to the story of another game is crossing a line.

[Pwnagraphic]

If I could have some sort of physical and emotional connection and exchanging of bodily fluids with a video game character. It'd be Lightning.

Had to edit that for sake of not being banned from this forum, too.

[Hiruke]

I respectfully disagree that this (concerns voiced by OP) is a problem. I do agree that it would be silly if we had characters from other FF games popping up all over the place, but I think it's a bit unrealistic to think just because Lightning showed up that everyone else from every other FF is suddenly going to be all over the place. Especially since I can only imagine that the story of Lightning being here would relate to the fractured reality of her world, which isn't exactly a running theme in all of the previous FFs. Either way, I think it's kind of a stretch to think anything revolving around Lightning or any other FF character would be anything more than a series of sidequests. It's not like the main scenario is suddenly going to be all about Lightning and Cloud and Sephiroth or something.

That said, I think one of the best things they could possibly do is make something like the Coliseum in The Void Beyond, somewhere you can fight characters from other places/times, which would give an opportunity to design battles against villains and hero parties from previous FF games. You could have everyone from the White Raven to Cloud and his crew to old school Garland. This would, incidentally, keep the "ridiculous fan service" compartmentalized so maybe fewer people freak out. Probably not, though.

[SkyeWindbinder]

I respectfully disagree that this (concerns voiced by OP) is a problem. I do agree that it would be silly if we had characters from other FF games popping up all over the place, but I think it's a bit unrealistic to think just because Lightning showed up that everyone else from every other FF is suddenly going to be all over the place. Especially since I can only imagine that the story of Lightning being here would relate to the fractured reality of her world, which isn't exactly a running theme in all of the previous FFs. Either way, I think it's kind of a stretch to think anything revolving around Lightning or any other FF character would be anything more than a series of sidequests. It's not like the main scenario is suddenly going to be all about Lightning and Cloud and Sephiroth or something.

That said, I think one of the best things they could possibly do is make something like the Coliseum in The Void Beyond, somewhere you can fight characters from other places/times, which would give an opportunity to design battles against villains and hero parties from previous FF games. You could have everyone from the White Raven to Cloud and his crew to old school Garland. This would, incidentally, keep the "ridiculous fan service" compartmentalized so maybe fewer people freak out. Probably not, though.

I have to disagree with this post. Like the OP sad, it's not whether or not Lightning can be well-written into the story of FFXIV (as we all know well she can). It's whether or not she should be written in. And I personally don't think it's a very good idea.

Each Final Fantasy, while connected in the way that it continues the series, is it's own story set in it's own universe. FFXIV is a good enough story. So, why have Lightning in it at all? It's just a move that seems to me to pander to the fan service of other Final Fantasy games, and that, in my opinion, makes the story you bring that kind of stuff into seem dated, at best.

And no, having a coliseum-like arena in which you fight with or against old Final Fantasy characters from other games doesn't seem to me like a good idea either. I think A Realm Reborn is good enough to stand on it's own legs without needing to pander to fan service. While it might be okay to have a character come in for a second and then leave (like how I hope Lightning ans Snow in this game will be handled) having them become an integral part of the story or a mainstay for any reason is just... well, it gives a lackluster "meh" quality to the story. And yes, I'm sure the story will still be good. But having a cameo by another main FF character will be a cheesy spot in the story.

That's just my humble two cents on the subject.

[Reynhart]

I would like to ask Yoshi personally, and the entire Final Fantasy XIV development and community team, and all of us players, to stop pursing this kind of character and story development in Final Fantasy XIV. It is disastrous to the integrity of this story.

Can you please explain how Cloud ruined the story of Final Fantasy Tactics ?

[Fatestorm]

Can you please explain how Cloud ruined the story of Final Fantasy Tactics ?

I'll be happy to explain why Cloud's cameo in Final Fantasy Tactics is qualitatively different from what Yoshi has planned for XIV. Allow me to quote my previous post:

The plot of Final Fantasy Tactics had nothing to do with Cloud whatsoever. The plot of the game, and the heroes and villains of the story, pretend like he's not there at all. If Lightning were to appear in Eorzea for no reason at all as a promotional event, it would be a bit insulting, but it would be analogous to Cloud in Final Fantasy Tactics. However, Yoshi has promised us that "I'm going to make sure that it's natural she's in this world. Is she going to stay here? What's going to happen to her..? All that is also going to be mentioned in the storyline - it's going to become a natural part of the history of Eorzea." Yoshi has said Lightning WILL be part of the lore and story of Eorzea. So it's apples and oranges. My claim above is that making crossover characters intricate parts of the plot of this game is a huge mistake.

[Sancta]

I rather have lightning thrown in as an extra then have another game about her. I never was fond of her. Her sister is better. Opinions of character aside, if you seen the trailer for FF14, it gives brief connections to the other
FF titles based on the crystal theme. Since FF13 is one of them, it could be that the crystal's call has reached lightning and brought her to an alternate universe to help in the struggle of a crystal war. And for the opinion of fanfare, I believe FF14 will be making 13 more popular than 14, but I really don't care about that; its easy to overlook for me open-mindedly. Its kind of a nod off to each other. Fans were crying for FFversus 13 which was supposed to be an alternate universe of 13, so the aspect of the worlds touching through the same Crystal theme is possible; anything is possible in fantasy.

[Gemma]

I completely agree with the OP. Not only do I think that characters like Lightning, Cloud, Sephiroth, and even Terra don't fit in to the world of 14, but I seem to recall this very issue being brought up around the time they announced the Crystal Tower, and I recall Yoshida making the point that they specifically wouldn't be doing exactly this.

Which makes me wonder if perhaps this is not Yoshida's decision, but rather one he is forced to act upon. Either way I think this is ill fitting to the game itself, and makes me lose a little respect for the dev team and Square Enix as a whole.

Making oblique references is one thing, but bringing in a character integral to the story of another game is crossing a line.

I have to agree with you, I don't think this was all his idea. I wouldn't doubt it if Yoshi was slightly pressured to add Lightning to help promote Lightning Returns. I mean if anyone (which I'm sure most did) watched E3 you'd see how Kitase kind of took the miqote outfit without telling Yoshi first so Yoshi was just like , "oh ok well I we could do something with 13 too then"

I wouldn't doubt it if SE new president pushed the idea to Yoshi, Kitase is more notable in the headquarters the Yoshida considering all the titles he's produced for them.

But even though I'm not fond of it either myself I've just decided if I don't like it I'll just not do whatever event he adds. Might do it to help others if its a fight but I just won't get any of the outfits, problem solved for me lol.

I just hope this is a one time thing with bringing in actual FF characters. Subtle references like usual {Yes, please.}