Does Yoshi P Hate FF9?

[unlimitedBLACK]

When Kozama'uka was first previewed and we were told about the pelupelu, I suspected that we might be getting a Moonflow expy with a shoopuf ferry driven by the hypello. And then NONE of that happened... which, y'know, it's fine, just because it occurred to me doesn't mean it had to happen.

When it comes to stuff from the earlier games, and 9 in particular... part of the issue is how much stuff has already been lifted at this point in the game's lifecycle. The Prima Vista showed up in Return to Ivalice, the Ark and Cruise Chaser both showed up during Alexander, Quan is referenced in the Hildibrand quests as Gigi's creator (who is, in turn, an expy for Vivi), the Jester Twins are Vauthry's henchgirls in Eulmore. Some of the things that are most iconic from 9 are things that were already done in the game in some other manner, like Alexander himself or Odin or Bahamut exploding things. Getting MORE explicit with references, like straight-up lifting Kuja or Garland to the same extent that the Crystal Tower or Golbez and the Four Fiends were dropped in might not be the automatic success that some folks seem to think.

Besides, doing the Fusoya version of Garland when the Dissidia version or the Stranger of Paradise Chaospuncher Garland are there feels like it would fall flat.

That Sphene's narrative feels like an upside-down version of Garnet's story is a way of subverting expectations while also providing a bit of fan service for folks who played 9. And that's the same with the translations of Steiner and Beatrix

[Cleretic]

Besides, doing the Fusoya version of Garland when the Dissidia version or the Stranger of Paradise Chaospuncher Garland are there feels like it would fall flat.

Personally I think IX's Garland would be the most entertaining and effective Garland for XIV to do, because I think Dissidia Garland just wouldn't really have a place in XIV, and Stranger of Paradise Garland is my least favorite protagonist across all video games I've ever played, and a man whose charisma is entirely dependent on you actively disliking the story he's in; he'd be downright toxic in XIV, where we mostly like the story but there's some people who really want to crack out the pitchforks.

...but also, the fact we've got Garlands already kinda covers that one; just because they spell it with an O, doesn't mean they aren't a Garland for all intents and purposes.