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

[Denmo]

Considering all the content that I've played thus far, all the subtle (and not so subtle) references translated in, and all the promised content, including Golden Saucer, Crystal Tower, etc (promised years ago, btw),

I'm really amazed that people are surprised, angry, and terrified that Square Enix is putting a character crossover into this game.

Don't forget, Nael Van Darnus was practically Sephiroth in judge armor. All that helmet? Probably hiding his goddamn hair. Nobody was complaining about that. Just the opposite. Your dreaded Sephiroth crossover already happened. If he comes back, well, just look no further than Advent Children for clues as to how they'll implement it into ARR's story.


This game failed once already. And now it's being built on the premise that FFXIV (and the FF series as a whole) should stop taking itself so seriously. And I'm totally OK with that.

[Vilhem]

^^What this person said.

Seriously SE, just make a commercial. Don't go there. lol

Or you know what? I demand they put Thancred in LR. Cause he'd totally steal Snow's Thunder. ICWATIDIDTHAR!!

[Aish]

Thunder

There, problem solved!

[SkyeWindbinder]

Considering all the content that I've played thus far, all the subtle (and not so subtle) references translated in, and all the promised content, including Golden Saucer, Crystal Tower, etc (promised years ago, btw),

I'm really amazed that people are surprised, angry, and terrified that Square Enix is putting a character crossover into this game.

Don't forget, Nael Van Darnus was practically Sephiroth in judge armor. All that helmet? Probably hiding his goddamn hair. Nobody was complaining about that. Just the opposite. Your dreaded Sephiroth crossover already happened. If he comes back, well, just look no further than Advent Children for clues as to how they'll implement it into ARR's story.


This game failed once already. And now it's being built on the premise that FFXIV (and the FF series as a whole) should stop taking itself so seriously. And I'm totally OK with that.

Really, Nael was not Sephiroth. I know enough about both characters to know that they were far from really being the same character. There were a few subtle likenesses, sure. But to suggest that because of those few subtle likenesses that they are the same person and therefore a crossover has already happened is kind of a terrible argument, because it's not true. That's like saying "Tellah was old and wise and strong with magic, and Lousioux was old and wise and strong with magic. FF4 crossover! Totally!" or "Balthier was a smooth talking ladies man, Thancred is a smooth talking ladies man. Someone put FF12 in mah FF14!" XD

lol I'm sorry, it just doesn't work.

Or you know what? I demand they put Thancred in LR. Cause he'd totally steal Snow's Thunder. ICWATIDIDTHAR!!

Why do I hang out with you? lol

[Denmo]

Really, Nael was not Sephiroth. I know enough about both characters to know that they were far from really being the same character. There were a few subtle likenesses, sure. But to suggest that because of those few subtle likenesses that they are the same person and therefore a crossover has already happened is kind of a terrible argument, because it's not true.

few subtle likenesses

I would hardly call it subtle. Anyone familiar with Sephiroth knows this scene.

And also:

A high ranking official goes crazy and draws upon unearthly power to unleash destruction on the planet, in the form of a giant Meteor.

Who am I describing? Sephiroth or Nael Van Darnus?

My point is, there are references to previous Final Fantasies that were woven into Eorzea's story pretty well, despite being not-so-subtle. We know it, and we love it. But now that the actual Lightning from FFXIII is coming in, OH NO, it's a terrible terrible thing! SE's a sellout and is ruining the Final Fantasy name! BURN THIS INFORMATION FROM MY VIRGIN EYES. MY IMAGE OF ALTERNATE UNIVERSES IS FOREVER SCARRED!

I'm exaggerating, but then, I think, so is this thread. Especially since you haven't seen how they'll do it yet.

[Vilhem]

Why do I hang out with you? lol

Because you know you <3 me ;-;

[Genz]

Please realize that character crossovers, no matter how good you do them, will irreparably violate the integrity of XIV's characters and plot.

Very well said.

[SkyeWindbinder]

I would hardly call it subtle. Anyone familiar with Sephiroth knows this scene.

And also:

A high ranking official goes crazy and draws upon unearthly power to unleash destruction on the planet, in the form of a giant Meteor.

Who am I describing? Sephiroth or Nael Van Darnus?

My point is, there are references to previous Final Fantasies that were woven into Eorzea's story pretty well, despite being not-so-subtle. We know it, and we love it. But now that the actual Lightning from FFXIII is coming in, OH NO, it's a terrible terrible thing! SE's a sellout and is ruining the Final Fantasy name! BURN THIS INFORMATION FROM MY VIRGIN EYES. MY IMAGE OF ALTERNATE UNIVERSES IS FOREVER SCARRED!

I'm exaggerating, but then, I think, so is this thread. Especially since you haven't seen how they'll do it yet.

There is a likeness in Darnus and Sephiroth as far as some actions, yes. Then again...





ZOMG! They both have ships they let you borrow, blonde hair, wear goggles, and they're both named Cid! They're totally the same guy!

lol See why it doesn't really work? And in retrospect, all the FF villians do seem to have similar motives, and some even a few same actions. But they're all different enough to not be called the same guy. Still, I will admit, I did think about this when I saw Darnus walk into the flames. Perhaps they was your point, and if so, I concede.

I really don't think this thread is exaggerating myself. I think the OP is merely stating his concerns about the possibility of this game being looked at as ad revenue for FFXIII, or as a fan nostalgia trip involving other FF characters. I gotta admit, I was thinking the exact same thing myself. I think what he really wants is for this game to be able to stand on it's own legs lore-wise without help from other FF characters from other games. Which I think it will, but there's always that thought that devs will go crossover crazy. lol

[Fatestorm]

This quote, from Yoshida, makes me feel a lot better. Originally posted by Yoshida in Japanese, then Camate in English.



No Sephiroths, no Kefkas, nobody integral to the existence of the other game's worlds and lore, etc. etc.

Yeah, at least, since it seems like he's going ahead with this sort of thing anyway, he has put down in this post *something* of a barrier to the floodgate of crossovers. To be perfectly honest with you, I'm still not sure exactly what this means:

Also, in regards to future collaborations with other FF series, we will be adhering to the below principles:
We will never introduce characters that would destroy their meaning or story
We will not use characters that are already dead or whose role has ended in their title

In the first place, I don't know what characters "whose role has ended in their title" means concretely. It seems sort of a subjective criterion. And in the second place... I mean... let's be honest here people. By fanfiction logic, if you really want to, you can always come up with some sort of reason or another to bring a character back or to make them appear in the universe you want them to. I'll give you an example: in something like Final Fantasy VII--it was pretty clear that two characters died, Tseng the Turk and Rufus Shinra. But Advent Children brought both of those characters back to life. I'm not saying this ruined the integrity of FF7 or anything; it's just an example to how Square-Enix has done this sort of thing in the past.

So I appreciate Yoshi's reassurances here but we'll just have to see how it plays out I suppose. The other thing is this:

The story that answers these questions is already being created and it will also be related to the Lightning saga. This is not just a Lightning clone showing up in Eorzea; it is the one and only Lightning. We are also creating a lot of character dialogue for Lightning as well as special cut scenes. We've established a proper story, and I hope you're excited to see it.

Ok, Square-Enix, please: Even if you ignore everything else, please make it be that this story that you're so proud of is a completely optional storyline that does not affect the main story of Final Fantasy XIV at all, and is completely skippable. A lot of people in this thread have presumed that it will be this way, but honestly without evidence. Even if you're very proud of the story that you've put in with respect to Lightning, please don't tie it in to the main quest of XIV.

That at least seems like something of a fair compromise.

[Alerith]

I'll give you an example: in something like Final Fantasy VII--it was pretty clear that two characters died, Tseng the Turk and Rufus Shinra. But Advent Children brought both of those characters back to life. I'm not saying this ruined the integrity of FF7 or anything; it's just an example to how Square-Enix has done this sort of thing in the past.

Tseng never died. There was a mis-translation in the English FFVII that gave that impression, but in actuality, he had severe injuries which he recovered from.

Likewise, Rufus never died either. There is a flashback to Meteorfall in Dirge of Cerberus where Rufus is briefly shown to have survived, carried away by a stretcher, and it's implied that he is the leader behind the WRO.