Square's Epic Brand: A Final Fantasy 15 Story

The story of Final Fantasy has evolved over the years, each tailored to suit the current worlds graphics. Long ago, in the land of eight bit technology the Final Fantasy franchise was born, into a world filled with side scrolling army soldiers fighting helicopters, or motorcycle games based on how many backflips you could perform before you crashed repeatedly and eventually lost the race. It existed in a realm where writing a great game was key to not only the story, but portraying a message when images just weren't enough. When sword slashes were simply a flickering image of it's silhouette amidst a black backdrop. When spells were flashes of light on a screen, in a dark void. When naming your character(s) had only four slots to choose the lettering. This is the land of Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy one, to be exact.

The game was comprised of many quests, leading into the swamplands, fighting ogres and creeps before reaching a town to the east. After killing a group of pirates you obtained a ship of which you traveled southwest. Walking through a vast forest you searched for a crystal, of which through many different paths and consequences leads you to returning it to it's rightful owner. She gives you an item, long story short you blow up a dam and sail out to sea to begin a new quest: removing darkness from the four orbs of light, and ridding the world of Chaos, a man whose name was once Garland but who had been transformed through time and hate.

This carves the paths for many Final Fantasy titles. From objectives such as obtaining the eight crystals; to accompanying a summoner on her pilgrimage. All stories rid the world of some form of evil.

The End.

If only it were that simple.

Like the picture above shows, Noctis has been sitting on that thrown for a very long time. He has been sitting there and waiting, for the chance to finally act in a story. Until recently Final Fantasy versus 13 has sat in a dark void waiting for the light to shine. Until recently that story had been thought of to be erased from time itself, only in the hearts of millions did it truly exist.

It began in 2006 when it was revealed at E3, and over the years it sat waiting to be completed. In various ways the story was hindered from completion, until now when it shines on another stage at E3 some seven years later. There was a murmur of excitement when it was announced earlier this year at Sony's next generation console reveal, (a reveal without a console) and people waited patiently knowing that versus 13 may never actually see the light of day again. It's been two years sitting in absence, without much press related to the title until now.

Final Fantasy versus 13 was rebranded 15 at Sony's E3.

Over the years many titles have come and gone, some good some great. Most Final Fantasy titles have stood the test of time, and with many people recalling their favorite (or not so favorite) moments from it's vibrant 25 year history. Playing Blitzball with Wakka in FF 10. Racing down the rapids as the protagonists protected Banon from the imperials in FF3. Sephiroth driving a katana through Aeris in FF7. These are the moments that fans of the genre remember the most, remember the best, and can recall so easily moments that make up a part of everything.

Noctis sitting on a thrown in his fathers hall, waiting to tell his story . . .

Final Fantasy titles are all something memorable, each in their own way. FF15 will be no different. There are elements of every Final Fantasy ever released that tie in the stories to one another. The franchise does so well, two movies and several remakes have been made, reinventing the genre time and time again, much like every installment to date. People flock to stores across the world to purchase the latest game, which flies off of shelves and into living rooms time and time again. Every release, news update, photo gallery or video clip is just something that gives that familiar emotion all over again: that in anticipation of a great franchise, once again they are going to shock and awe every fan with amazing graphics, characters and stories.

So in the months leading up to it's release, whether it's postponed for two more years or never released at all, know that the elements of Final Fantasy were met with an appropriate idea: that the genre both loved and hated at times will always move forward, one memory at a time. Know that Noctis will have his story, one way or another, as either the telling of another classic Final Fantasy title, or as the story that was never told. Here is to hoping he gets his ass off that thrown, and meets some strange people along a twisted journey into the hearts of people worldwide.

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