FFXV is a thematically fascinating game.
It's kind of funny, really. Of all things to keep under wraps, a game's theme is probably one of the most unlikely. But FFXV nee FF Versus XIII has somehow managed to keep its true nature under wraps for what must have been nigh-on a decade.
Because, really, when it comes down to it, FFXV's ending revealed it to be a game that is intrinsically opposed to FFXIII in a way I'm not sure any of us saw coming. It's a game about willing submission to a divine plan and the burden that imposes on the chosen. And, as such, it exists in direct contrast to FFXIII's theme of defiance of fate, even if its pre-release media would have us believe otherwise.
Consider Regis, for instance. Prior to the revelation of Bahamut, it was generally assumed that he was attempting to defy fate to save his son, and the voice Regis spoke to in the Omen trailer seemed like an antagonist who Noct would eventually have to confront. But, in the end, that wasn't what was going on at all. Regis didn't sacrifice Insomnia so that Noct would live; he sacrificed Insomnia to free Noct to offer himself as sacrifice when the time came. And while he was clearly disturbed by what was being asked of him, he accepted his own death, the slaughter of his people, and the sacrifice of his son as the price of the world's salvation.
(This is why I find comparisons between the destruction in Kingsglaive and the inappropriate destruction in Zack Snyder films to be rather silly, in retrospect. The lack of concern for the devastation of Insomnia on the part of the Lucii was entirely intentional, and even Nyx was only able to gain their support by adopting a similar mindset.)
Or how about Ravus, whose role requires a bit of piecing together but seems to represent the flip side of the core theme. His insistence that Regis was responsible for his mother's murder seemed a bit odd in Kingsglaive (even if it was in line with the motives of some of the Kingsglaive traitors), but it actually makes a lot more sense when you consider him to be the game's embodiment of defying fate. Because, really, there's a certain logic to Ravus blaming the royalty of Lucis for his mother's death when she died offering Regis and Noct the service required by her role as Oracle. Combine that with him knowing that his sister is also effectively guaranteed to die for Noct's sake, and you can see why he might try to defy fate and cut them out of the "chosen one" thing.
It doesn't work, of course, and he seems to abandon his ambitions entirely as a result, which only really makes sense if his goal was to sidestep the prophecies and fill Noct's role in the world's salvation (presumably without Luna having to die). He actually does want the world to be saved, and when defying fate fails, he's willing to set his feelings aside to ensure Noct has what he needs to succeed. (It's too late, unfortunately, and he becomes something unarguably reminiscent of a Cie'th, which strongly suggests heavy ties to the original Versus XIII lore to me.)
Then there's Luna, who, like Regis, fills her role willingly, even if that means total self-abnegation. Luna's sense of self is almost entirely subsumed into her role, to the point that even the things she wants for herself (i.e. a personal connection with Noct) are all tied up in who she is as Oracle. She knows that her life will be demanded of her but acts anyway, and in doing so she is able to model the path Noct will inevitably take for him.
Noct himself is the final piece of the puzzle, the protagonist whose arc culminates in finding the courage to die for the sake of the world. Through him, we're able to experience the personal cost imposed on those called to sacrifice.
The end result of all of this is something that's both unusual in and of itself and a direct contrast to everything FFXIII tried to be. And while one can argue about implementation, it's certainly an interesting tack to take for a mainline FF game.
It's kind of funny, really. Of all things to keep under wraps, a game's theme is probably one of the most unlikely. But FFXV nee FF Versus XIII has somehow managed to keep its true nature under wraps for what must have been nigh-on a decade.
Because, really, when it comes down to it, FFXV's ending revealed it to be a game that is intrinsically opposed to FFXIII in a way I'm not sure any of us saw coming. It's a game about willing submission to a divine plan and the burden that imposes on the chosen. And, as such, it exists in direct contrast to FFXIII's theme of defiance of fate, even if its pre-release media would have us believe otherwise.
Consider Regis, for instance. Prior to the revelation of Bahamut, it was generally assumed that he was attempting to defy fate to save his son, and the voice Regis spoke to in the Omen trailer seemed like an antagonist who Noct would eventually have to confront. But, in the end, that wasn't what was going on at all. Regis didn't sacrifice Insomnia so that Noct would live; he sacrificed Insomnia to free Noct to offer himself as sacrifice when the time came. And while he was clearly disturbed by what was being asked of him, he accepted his own death, the slaughter of his people, and the sacrifice of his son as the price of the world's salvation.
(This is why I find comparisons between the destruction in Kingsglaive and the inappropriate destruction in Zack Snyder films to be rather silly, in retrospect. The lack of concern for the devastation of Insomnia on the part of the Lucii was entirely intentional, and even Nyx was only able to gain their support by adopting a similar mindset.)
Or how about Ravus, whose role requires a bit of piecing together but seems to represent the flip side of the core theme. His insistence that Regis was responsible for his mother's murder seemed a bit odd in Kingsglaive (even if it was in line with the motives of some of the Kingsglaive traitors), but it actually makes a lot more sense when you consider him to be the game's embodiment of defying fate. Because, really, there's a certain logic to Ravus blaming the royalty of Lucis for his mother's death when she died offering Regis and Noct the service required by her role as Oracle. Combine that with him knowing that his sister is also effectively guaranteed to die for Noct's sake, and you can see why he might try to defy fate and cut them out of the "chosen one" thing.
It doesn't work, of course, and he seems to abandon his ambitions entirely as a result, which only really makes sense if his goal was to sidestep the prophecies and fill Noct's role in the world's salvation (presumably without Luna having to die). He actually does want the world to be saved, and when defying fate fails, he's willing to set his feelings aside to ensure Noct has what he needs to succeed. (It's too late, unfortunately, and he becomes something unarguably reminiscent of a Cie'th, which strongly suggests heavy ties to the original Versus XIII lore to me.)
Then there's Luna, who, like Regis, fills her role willingly, even if that means total self-abnegation. Luna's sense of self is almost entirely subsumed into her role, to the point that even the things she wants for herself (i.e. a personal connection with Noct) are all tied up in who she is as Oracle. She knows that her life will be demanded of her but acts anyway, and in doing so she is able to model the path Noct will inevitably take for him.
Noct himself is the final piece of the puzzle, the protagonist whose arc culminates in finding the courage to die for the sake of the world. Through him, we're able to experience the personal cost imposed on those called to sacrifice.
The end result of all of this is something that's both unusual in and of itself and a direct contrast to everything FFXIII tried to be. And while one can argue about implementation, it's certainly an interesting tack to take for a mainline FF game.
Likes:
SonOfEtro
