The Final Fantasy franchise has evolved a lot since its debut release in 1987 thanks to its compelling storytelling and engaging characters. Each game follows the story of a unique protagonist who is usually tasked with saving the world in one form or another.
Final Fantasygames usually have a variety of different stories, but the popularity of some has led to them receiving sequels or being remade for more modern consoles. These continuations will often try to breathe new life into a game’s story by reconnecting certain elements. Most of these changes will enhance the overall story, but some try to dismantle it.
5 The Need For Royal Blood – Final Fantasy 15: Episode Ignis
The Ring of the Lucii is an ancient artifact that was given to the great kings of Lucis. The story of Final Fantasy 15 implies that it can only be worn by the rightful rulers of Insomnia, as the gods would not bow to the will of those who do not share in the Lucian bloodline. This makes Noctis the only party member who can harness the power of the ring, but the Episode Ignis DLC changes the requirements for summoning the ring’s mind-boggling properties.
Ignis swore an oath to protect Noctis at all costs. He knows the Ring of the Lucii will not bend to his hand, but he decides to wear it in hopes of getting much-needed help from the ancient kings of Lucis. Although the ring was said to only pay attention to a person of royal blood, the gods allow Ignis to use a short amount of their power if it means he can save the chosen king. This retcon completely negates the need for the ring to be worn by any member of the Lucian family and makes it nothing more than a powerful piece of jewelry that can be worn by anyone who wants to.
4 Zack Survives – Final Fantasy 7 Remake
In an effort to delay Sephiroth’s plans, Cloud and his friends enter an alien land to defeat the arbitrators who determine their fate. As they fight these fate-dictating creatures, they change the course of the future, while also reshaping events of the past. After defeating Sephiroth, it is revealed that Zack, the protagonist of the game’s prequel, has escaped the clutches of his doomed fate by surviving the onslaught of Shinra’s army.
The pinnacle of Final Fantasy 7 Remakesees Zack carrying an unconscious Cloud toward Midgar. Both the original Final Fantasy 7 and Crisis Core made it abundantly clear that Zack met his end just outside Midgar’s walls, but the… remake has decided to change this fact. He quickly became one of the more favorite characters in the series after his introduction, so it makes sense why developers wanted to revive him. While his return marks one of the franchise’s bigger retcons, fans are eager to see what awaits him in this new future.
3 Vaan and Penelo’s Relationship – Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy 12 portrays Vaan and Penelo as two childhood friends who share a strong bond. Growing up together in a fractured and poverty-stricken world, they relied heavily on each other to survive the hardships they faced. The duo lost the small family they had during the Battle of Nabudis and slowly began to think of each other as family as a result. The Final Fantasy 12 continuation Revenant Wingshowever, chose to forgo their platonic love in favor of something more romantic.
Revenant Wings takes place one year after the events of the original game. It follows Vaan and Penelo as they scour Ivalice’s world in search of hidden treasures, but this time as sky pirates with their own airship. During their journey together, the two friends develop feelings for each other, but this relationship is never deserved. Their love for each other was purely familial, so bringing romantic feelings back into their relationship diminishes the bond they previously shared.
2 Sephiroth In Midgar – Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The original Final Fantasy 7 follows the story of Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER, as he journeys through Gaia in search of Sephiroth, the greatest threat facing the world. The opening of the game portrayed the Shinra Electric Power Company as the main antagonist of the game only to later reveal that Sephiroth is the real villain. Sephiroth is only mentioned at the beginning of the game, but the Final Fantasy 7 Remake wanted to introduce the elusive swordsman immediately after Cloud destroys the first Reactor.
Cloud’s past trauma leads him to conjure up images of Sephiroth in various situations where he is not there, but in the late game, multiple characters witness his presence. He spends most of the story thwarting Cloud until he finally reveals his true purpose. Unlike the original Sephiroth, the primary purpose of this version is to change the course of history. He seems to be aware of how his previous attempts at world domination have failed, but he plans to make amends for this loss by retracing his steps and reshaping his future. He was withdrawn into the remake to reveal his new purpose.
1 The Fate of Tidus – Final Fantasy X-2
The further Tidus ventures into the beautiful land of Spira, the more he begins to understand his purpose. He was transported to a distant land by his father, Jecht, who believed that only his son was able to put an end to the grief. As he nears the end of his journey, he discovers that he only exists thanks to the Fayth, a group of aliens who can summon divine entities. Hoping to preserve the memory of those who lived in Zanarkand before Bevelle’s attack, the Fayth joined forces to conjure up a dreamlike world full of Zanarkand residents.
Tidus was never meant to exist and so is destined to fade away when Fayth stops dreaming. The pinnacle of Final Fantasy 10sees him accept his fate and disappear from the world, but Final Fantasy X-2 chose to resurrect him. After rescuing Spira a second time, Yuna is approached by a member of the Fayth and asked if she would like them to bring Tidus back into the world. The original game made it clear that there was no way for the Fayth to return once they faded, but the sequel ignores this in favor of a healthier ending to Tidus’ story.
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