Final Fantasy Geeking

Final Fantasy Graphics: A Look Back
Visions of Fantasy From 8-Bit to Realtime CGI
Final Fantasy video games have long dazzled us with their state-of-the-art computer graphics, or, back in the 8-bit days of pixelated sprites, they charmed us! So here's a fun look back at Final Fantasy graphics, a celebration of how far computer graphics have come in the past 20 years. In the graphics survey below, I've neglected Final Fantasy spin-offs and sequels on hand-held consoles and phones, because there's so many FF releases that by the time I'd finished reviewing them all, a new F...

Unique Final Fantasy X Cosplays: Minor Characters
FFX Cosplay That's (Almost) Never Been Done
This cosplay resource page is for cosplayers who are tired of Yet Another Cloud or Yet Another Yuna. I've got reference photos for most of Final Fantasy X's secondary characters to help you design costumes. And I'm showcasing all the rare FFX cosplays I can find, to salute those who have chosen a costume off the beaten path! My hope is that I'll inspire you to cosplay one of the excellent secondary characters from FFX. You may not have instant recognition, but you'll have more fans walking ...

Final Fantasy X Symbols & Glyphs
Solving the Riddle: Yevon's Sacred Writing in FFX
The rich world of Final Fantasy X is chock-full of sacred symbols, glowing glyphs, and beautifully ornate mandalas. They're part of the stunning graphics of a visually impressive video game. I've always wondered what they meant. I knew they were related to the aeons, genie-like spirits that assist the party during their adventure, but I never investigated... until now. While researching these glyphs, I've discovered something that's pretty spiffy: I think they're actually based on a kabbalah...

Best Sir Auron Fan Videos (FFX)
Fanvids (AMVs) by Final Fantasy Fans
Final Fantasy X is over 10 years old -- in fact, it's getting an HD remake -- but Sir Auron, FFX's legendary guardian and badass, is as beloved as ever. I'm an unapologetic fan. See my fan's ultimate guide to Auron for everything you ever wanted to know about him. But sometimes, you don't want trivia and character analysis and all that jazz. You just want to see a fan tribute worthy of a great character. So here are my five favorite fanvids of the greatest video game character ever (the bes...

Final Fantasy Origins and Influences
Sources and Roots of Final Fantasy Games
Unsurprisingly, the video games of Final Fantasy derive some of their magic from other creations of the imagination, including names, motifs, and game details. Few writers begin with a blank slate: Shakespeare adapted plays of Plautus, Star Wars borrowed heavily from mythology, and even J.R.R. Tolkien cribbed the names of the dwarves and wizard in The Hobbit from an old Norse poem. There is no shame in such borrowings, as long as they are transformative! Below are just some of the origins, ...

20 Amazing Things I Learned From Final Fantasy
Where The Chocobos Run Free
Final Fantasy is an epic franchise. Epic storylines, epic characters, epic airships, epic boss battles, epic big-ass swords, and occasionally epic fails. It has also taught us some astounding things. What sorts of things, you ask? Well, let's see... Left: Grimoire from Final Fantasy XI

Final Fantasy X Voice Actors / Voice Acting Sound Samples
Fanfiction Writer's Reference: I Hear Voices
Final Fantasy X broke the sound barrier. While other games had some recorded speech, Final Fantasy traditionally lets you interact with everyone from main characters to random passersby. FFX did that with voice acting. The quality is somewhat patchy, especially in the English dub in which some voice actors tried to lip-synch with the Japanese. But it was a step forward. As a writer, I'm particularly sensitive to voice patterns and mannerisms. My personal yardstick for good fanfiction is whet...

Final Fantasy's Oedipus Complex
A Plot Element in Final Fantasy for 20 Years
Part of the power of Final Fantasy games comes from their ability to mix-and-match mythology motifs. Like Jungian archetypes cavorting in a Neil Gaiman story, we're liable to see Arabian Bahamut rubbing shoulders with Norse Odin and Hindu Shiva in drag. You can probably name a dozen other mythological figures that pop up in Final Fantasy, too. But here's a mythological character you may not have noticed, since he's never named outright: Oedipus! Oedipus is in Final Fantasy VII through XIII, ...

Chocobo Themes: A Choco-Fest!
Chocobo Music from FInal Fantasy video game soundtracks
Since Final Fantasy II, the lovable yellow chocobo has been carrying characters from point A to B. The chocobo has its own theme song which changes in each game's soundtrack. This page is a celebration of our feathered friend, the chocobo. Some of the chocobo videos I've pulled together will surprise and delight you! Now get on your feet, and let's dance with the chocobos! Left: Square-enix promotional graphic of Cloud and Chocobo from Final Fantasy VII.