The Worlds of Final Fantasy, Conected or not and if so, how?

[Veritas-Ancora]

My theory on this:

I am confident that Final Fantasy is a multidimensional, single-universe world. This was evident in both FFV and FFIX and FF Dimensions when the absence of Crystal destroys the fabric of existence. In the beginning there was Void, and the Crystal shined light on the land to give life.

It's theorized that each side of The Crystal (for intents and purposes here we shall call it The True Crystal) is a completely different world operating on similar timelines. Time travel has existed but it's never destroyed the world, only modified it. That coincides with the crystal being the center of all existence and each Crystal found in the games is a reflection of its own. The villains in each game can be summarized into two categories: those who wish to control existence, and those who wish to destroy it. This frequently coincides with how they utilize the Crystal or whatever catalyst exists in the world aiming to do just that.

[Veritas-Ancora]

The Void is the only thing that ties all these worlds together, which is the absence of The Crystal (or The True Crystal). Without the blessing of the Crystal's light, the world is a terrifying hellish place filled with demons worse even than the Seven Hells.

Now Gilgamesh is a good example with Enkidu, but let's review this: Gilgamesh could easily have the same number of arms in each game but only reveal the others if he chooses to. It's also possible that the Void's power transforms and deforms him like all of the demons that exist in the Void. Enkidu was brought up, but how many times has Enkidu really appeared in the Final Fantasy games? Not that many, and as Torquil said, Gilgamesh states very specifically that he lost his friend Enkidu and named the chicken after him. In most of the games he's searching for his long lost companion.

[Chewy2nd]

The end of Lightning Returns was quite interesting, in how it SPOILER showed what happens when a universe/world dies (< Drag mouse over to see)

[Davy_M_Jones]

That's a really good point, Chewy. Aside from being surprised at just how much I really enjoyed Lightning Returns, it also helped open up the franchise's fiction to allow for this sort of thing.

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some of these characters in, say... XV?

[Aryalandi]

Honestly... I wish Lightning could have stayed ;^; that quest lines ending was so sweet.. i always imagine the atomos portals going between worlds now like they did in final fantasy xi.. or something like the paths between in kingdom hearts.. XD mostly otherworldly characters winding up in xiv seems either accidental or caused by divine intervention so far though..

Shantotto pretty much ripped a hole in vana'diel and ended up on Eorzea, Light was sent there to get inspired.. I wonder if anyone will come through intentionally in the future..

[lololink]

I wonder if anyone will come through intentionally in the future..

Well if it's the same Cloud of Darkness it's good for you ^^.

[AmzRigh]

A few years ago, a friend and I came up with a FF-unifying theory. Here's how it goes:

Final Fantasy is full of repeating themes, roles and events.

Advanced fallen civilizations:
Lunarians ~= Lufenians = Cetra = Zilart = Ancients = Allag, Belah'dia, Nym, etc. = Magi ~= Bevelle

Which sometimes separate themselves from the rest of the world:
Moon ~= Sky Fortress = Tu'lia = Floating Continent = Nym

Powerful conquering empires:
Baron = Palamecia = Gestahl = Shinra = Garlemald = Galbadia = Archadia = Bevelle


And other broad categories that I'm not quite awake enough to remember right now. But this repetition of arch concepts calls to mind the story of the first Final Fantasy, where the world was trapped in a 2000-year time loop. The same events are happening over and over again...but not exactly the same. It's only a closed loop if you view it in two dimensions; the cycle is constantly traveling along another axis, making the universe a time spiral. A coil, repeating but never intersecting. This puts FF1 at the end, chronologically, since the cycle is broken at the end. It also implies that, since the themes had decayed into basic archetypes by so much repetition, more uniqueness means it's closer to the point of origin, and more cleaving to archetypes means it's closer to the end, allowing for a rough timeline to be created. So 1, 3 and 9 would all be relatively close to the end. 2 and 7 would occur at similar points on the curve, but with many coils between them. And, for the following reasons, 5 and 6 would be very near each other:

Kefka (FF6) = Enuo (FF5)

A powerful wizard wielding the power of unmaking (Void), brought low by 12 heroes, and whose defeat severed ties between worlds. This description applies equally to Kefka and Enuo. This isn't to say they are one and the same; merely that their roles are nearly identical, placing them at the same point on the curve, with bare few turns between to change them. Additionally, this could mean that, whatever else Gogo is, he doesn't have to be a slider, just really old.

Of course, this looping construct could, theoretically, make hopping between "worlds" even easier -- the traveler isn't so much breaking a barrier between universes, but simply moving sideways through time. (And what exists outside the coil? Void! Ahaha, that just came to me.)

Another strong tie I like:

AVALANCHE (FFVII) = Warriors of Darkness (FFIII)

As the Ancients spoke of in FF3, there was once a time where the the world swung too far toward Light. In that time of need, the Warriors of Darkness were called upon to restore balance. Shinra threatened to destroy the world wielding the power of life itself; AVALANCHE arose to restore the natural cycle of the Lifestream. Seems a pretty direct comparison to me.

That's about all I can remember right now. I'd love to hear if anybody has thoughts on or further contributions to this.

[Causality]

There are also Huge references to FF6 in this game. We can start with the Obvious ones:

The Existence of Magitek and an empire built upon it.
The Recurrence of FF6 Bosses. Ultros was the most recent one, but an incarnation of Gilgamesh also exists in the Game Boy Advance Version of FF 6 as well.
The existence of Doma in a very similar variation of the one that exists in game. (If Cyan/Cyenne is an indication).

Kefka (FF6) = Enuo (FF5)

A powerful wizard wielding the power of unmaking (Void), brought low by 12 heroes, and whose defeat severed ties between worlds. This description applies equally to Kefka and Enuo. This isn't to say they are one and the same; merely that their roles are nearly identical, placing them at the same point on the curve, with bare few turns between to change them. Additionally, this could mean that, whatever else Gogo is, he doesn't have to be a slider, just really old.

Of course, this looping construct could, theoretically, make hopping between "worlds" even easier -- the traveler isn't so much breaking a barrier between universes, but simply moving sideways through time. (And what exists outside the coil? Void! Ahaha, that just came to me.)

This as well is filled by both the Ascians as well as Emperor Xande in Sycus tower.

Less obvious but no less relevant.

The Mysidian Rabbit only appears in 3 Final Fantasy games. FF V, FF VI, and FF XIV and indicates Failure of some sort: In V it is when the animal ability has no effect, in VI when you mess up Setzer's Slots, and in XIV when you mess up your Ninja Mudra.
The switching of Stones to learn new abilities is very similar to how you would switch Magicite to learn new abilities. Reaching I know but I thought I would put that out there.
Both worlds have faced numerous cataclysms for very similar reasons. Initially the misuse of Magic and then later the awakening of ancient sleeping entities.

[Nama]

People really need to give all these connected worlds threads a break or at very least stop making new ones...........

In the most objective sense, any idea of such a connection does even exist in any form at Square Enix they have shown multiple times that it won't have and real effect or impact on each worlds lore and storylines. As such never having any real impact they for all intents and purposes do not exist to them. Besides beyond cross promotion and tongue in cheek references to the past a writer is not going to want to be held back by numerous connections to past stories.

Not here to start a flame war, I just think theres better topics to discuss then a vague issue that SE will ever offically confirm yet never deny.

These kinds of threads are popping way too often.

[Kaiser-Ace]

People really need to give all these connected worlds threads a break or at very least stop making new ones...........

In the most objective sense, any idea of such a connection does even exist in any form at Square Enix they have shown multiple times that it won't have and real effect or impact on each worlds lore and storylines. As such never having any real impact they for all intents and purposes do not exist to them. Besides beyond cross promotion and tongue in cheek references to the past a writer is not going to want to be held back by numerous connections to past stories.

Half of what makes it fun to speculate is the fact that there is no answer half the time. That give us room to come up with crazy off the wall crap and still not be wrong XD