Top 13 Most Magical Final Fantasy Moments
Theme Song by Brian Setzer and owned by Walt Disney Records
In 2001 when Square Enix (then Squaresoft) and Disney announced an epic crossover videogame called Kingdom Hearts featuring Disney and Final Fantasy characters Final Fantasy fans didn’t know what to make of it. Some thought it would suck, others were indifferent. Either way all doubts were erased when the game hit stores and became a hit and a classic of the Playstation 2. I was introduced to Final Fantasy through the Kingdom Hearts series. Being an avid Disney fan I had to check the game out and I really wanted to know the history of the FF characters that were making cameos. When I started playing the FF games I found many similarities between FF and Disney. For those of you who don’t know, Final Fantasy is a popular videogame series created by Square Enix and began in 1987 and each installment takes place in a new world with new stories and characters which is why it’s up to installment 14 plus spinoffs. Both properties have highly imaginative worlds great, diverse characters, great meaningful stories and even magical moments. Moments that fill the player with different emotions such as sadness, happiness etc. I’m here to honor those moments. These are the TOP 13 MOST MAGICAL FINAL FANTASY MOMENTS!!
#13 THE OPENING OF FINAL FANTASY VII
This was the opening scene that made fans drool. This was the first full motion video scene in the series. It’s so simple and it reveals the world beautifully showing a gritty steampunk fantasy world. This was actually very different from the previous Fantasies because the others took place in classic medieval worlds (you could say VI was steampunk as well) not semi futuristic worlds. A brilliant opening that set a visual standard for the installments to follow.
#12 THE SENDING FROM FINAL FANTASY X
This is a somber, haunting, yet beautiful scene not only for it’s spectacle, but because of the emotional significance to the game’s world and characters. This is the first attack the player has seen where the monster attacks innocent people and this is the world’s burial rituals. All the context you need is in the scene. The summoner Yuna performs the sending for those that died in the attack on Kilika Island. The presentation is beautiful, but you are reminded of the somber circumstances when you see the crowd break down into tears and it’s all set perfectly to the beautiful music called the Hymn of the Fayth (no I didn’t spell Fayth wrong). This strengthens the characters’ and the player’s resolve to save this world. This scene showed that the PS2’s graphics were capable of handling spectacular yet more emotional scenes as opposed to flashy action scenes (the graphics for those are quite spectacular too).
#11 LEAVING CORNELIA FROM FINAL FANTASY I
When people first played the original NES version back in 1987 (Japan) 1990 (US) the sense of adventure and imagination was in overdrive. This was a whole new world of RPG awesomeness and players were curious to see what this great new world and tale would offer them. An invigorating scene.
#10 THE OPENING OF FINAL FANTASY VIII
After the spectacular opening of Final Fantasy VII Square knew that for the next one they had to top it. Boy did they ever! Having the beautiful imagery and the new realistically proportioned characters combined with the first lyrical score of the series (besides One Winged Angel) Liberi Fatali this is a scene you won’t be forgetting. This scene showed that the graphics of VII and VIII were light years away and Square made it happen in only 2 years!!!
#9 ESCAPE FROM SHINRA HEADQUARTERS FROM FINAL FANTASY VII
While the opening of the game got players hyped this scene made players ecstatic because this was the first action packed full motion video and the player feels the world opening up to them (which it does after this sequence). An exciting escape scene after infiltrating an enemy stronghold. Now that’s awesome.
#8 THE KISS SCENE FROM FINAL FANTASY X
This is a very nice romantic scene between our two leads. This is a turning point in the story. Yuna is saddened because she feels compelled to finish her pilgrimage to attain great power and sacrifice herself to save the world temporarily as opposed to be with Tidus (main character). Tidus shows excellent character development here. Gone is the whiny, annoying boy and in his place is a man who’s willing to protect and do whatever it takes not only to save the world, but prevent the loss of his love. The couple’s romantic scene is executed very well and the the theme song Suteki Da Ne plays in the background. A lovely scene.
#7 THE ENTIRETY OF MARIA AND DRACO FROM FINAL FANTASY VI
I’m sure other FF fans would have this as their number 1, but the reason why it’s not mine is simply because there’s other scenes that I believe are more magical, but this is NO slouch. Virtually everyone that has played this will tell you that this is the most magical and beautiful moment of the series if no the game. The music by Nobuo Uematsu who is my favorite composer and a musical genius is absolutely fantastic. The staging and atmosphere is truly amazing. This scene is so awesome and magical it made Spoony CRY! Absolutely fantastic.
#6 THE OPENING OF FINAL FANTASY IX
As opposed to the previous two games that were either grand or intense 9’s opening was much more subtle. The view of the kingdom of Alexandria is breathtaking and the Prima Vista flying by is truly a sight to behold. The player feels calm and relaxed and ready to take on the game’s challenges.
#5 EDWARD PLAYS THE HARP FROM FINAL FANTASY IV
This is a great scene for an underrated character in FF 4. The character is unsure of whether to continue with the group and plays his harp to think and then his beloved who was murdered by the villain of the game while trying to protect him appears. She encourages him to continue and to help other people and to build new relationships. A truly moving scene and shows that Edward is far from the “Spoony Bard” (that’s where Spoony gets his name from) that the sage Tellah claimed him to be.
#4 THE DANCING SCENE FROM FINAL FANTASY VIII
This scene is just amazing. Squall and Rinoa dancing is where we see the first spark between them and this event is what will make Squall evolve from an antisocial and cold soldier to an honorable man and hero who fights for the ones he loves. The player just feels so happy and satisfied watching it. Also there’s possible inspiration from Disney. Can’t figure out what it is? Come on! It’s only a tale as old as time.
#3 THE FIREWORKS SCENE FROM FINAL FANTASY XIII
I’m probably the only person who likes FF 13. I think it’s a good game with great characters and story even though the linearity was disappointing. This scene focuses on an excellent combination of emotion and spectacle. Snow proposes to his girlfriend Serah and they share a romantic flight into the fireworks display. One of the variations of Serah’s theme playing in the background adds a sweet serenity to the scene. This scene shows Snow’s character development from cocky rebel to a kind person that is willing to make himself an enemy of the state for being with the one he love’s (Serah has been turned into a type of slave for the “enemy world”). A lovely scene and it served the same purpose as the sending, but for the PS3s graphics to show the more human side of the presentation.
#2 THE ENDING TO DISSIDIA FROM DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY
The celebration of the 20 year anniversary of the series came to an official close in 2009 with the release of Dissidia Final Fantasy. It was a hybrid of a fighting game and RPG. It had a very weak and uninteresting plot that’s basically MARVEL’s Secret War except w/ FF characters. The ending to the game is so satisfying because of the character interactions. All these great characters together in triumph over defeating the final boss of the game and they bid each other farewell and the Warrior of Light walks to his kingdom. It’s so triumphant and uplifting.
#1 THE OPENING OF FINAL FANTASY VI
WOW!!!!!!! This is so, it’s just magical. There’s not really any positive adjectives to say about this. When people saw this opening they knew they were in for a very amazing experience. The march through the snow with Terra’s theme playing in the background is dreamlike and absolutely beautiful!! I’m at a loss for words at how awesome and lovely this scene is.
WELL THAT’S MY LIST JOIN ME NEXT TIME WHERE I REVIEW A HOLIDAY FAVORITE OF MINE TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!
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