Final Fantasy’s Hidden Star Wars Secrets Revealed!

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Summary

  • Final Fantasy contains a variety of direct Star Wars references, especially with characters like Biggs and Wedge.
  • Indirect Star Wars references can also be found in Final Fantasy, such as character arcs reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker.
  • Final Fantasy pays tribute to Star Wars through dialogue, quests, character relationships, and parallels in its narratives.

The Square Enix-developed Final Fantasy series stands as a colossal name in the gaming world, often delivering exceptional storytelling and gameplay experiences that few other Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) can rival. Interestingly enough, while it’s known for its originality and innovative concepts, this franchise has been shaped over time by various external influences – with Star Wars, among others, leaving a significant impact on the development of Final Fantasy.

The “Final Fantasy” franchise is richly embellished with nods to the world of “Star Wars,” both overt and subtle references. Fans of both intellectual properties will likely recognize many of these connections, but some hidden references are intentionally elusive, aiming to pique curiosity and invite deeper exploration.

The Biggest Star Wars Easter Eggs in the Final Fantasy Series

Biggs and Wedge Pay Homage to the Star Wars Characters of the Same Name

In the popular series of games known as Final Fantasy, some of the most recognizable nods to Star Wars can be seen in characters like Biggs and Wedge. These characters frequently take on various roles such as soldiers, guards, or engineers. Despite their diverse functions, they are most notably recognized for their military background. Their names, Biggs and Wedge, pay homage to the Rebel pilots Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles from the original Star Wars trilogy. However, it’s important to note that while these characters share the same names with the Star Wars pilots, they are merely named after them in tribute.

Below are the appearances of Biggs and Wedge across the Final Fantasy series, along with their roles in each game:

1. Final Fantasy VII – Biggs and Wedge are members of SOLDIER, a special military unit. They serve under Cloud Strife during his mission to stop Sephiroth. Both characters die early in the game.
2. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII – In this spin-off game, Biggs and Wedge return as ghosts, helping Vincent Valentine in his battle against Cetra.
3. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions – Biggs and Wedge appear as playable characters in this tactical RPG set in the same world as Final Fantasy VII. They can be recruited by Ramza Beoulve’s party.
4. Dissidia Final Fantasy – Both characters make an appearance in this fighting game, where they team up with other iconic Final Fantasy heroes and villains to battle each other.
5. World of Final Fantasy – Biggs and Wedge appear as Mirages (monsters that can be recruited) in this crossover RPG. They retain their personalities and backstory from Final Fantasy VII.

  • Final Fantasy 6 (1994): Imperial Soldiers
  • Final Fantasy Tactics (1997): Knights (Viggs and Wezaleff)
  • Final Fantasy 7 (1997): Members of AVALANCHE
  • Final Fantasy 8 (1999): Galbadian Soldiers
  • Final Fantasy 9 (2000): Airship Crew Members
  • Final Fantasy 10 (2001): Luca Stadium Guards and Blitzball Players​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy 10-2 (2003): Blitzball Players​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003): Random Unit Names​​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy 12 (2006): Archadian Soldiers (Gibbs and Deweg)
  • Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7 (2006): Mentioned in Dialogue​​​​​​​
  • Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 (2007): Names of Enemy Machines​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy 4: The After Years (2008): Red Wings Soldiers​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy 13 (2009): Shop Name Reference​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy Dimensions (2010): Castle Guards​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy 14 (2010 – Present): Engineers in Garlond Ironworks​​​​​​​
  • Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 (2013): Hosts of the Death Game​​​​​​​
  • Final Fantasy Explorers (2014): Gartian Army Soldiers
  • Final Fantasy Record Keeper (2014): Enemy Units or Allies
  • Final Fantasy Brave Exvius (2015): Recruitable Units
  • Final Fantasy 15 (2016): Niflheim Soldiers​​​​​​​
  • World of Final Fantasy (2016): Writers of Occult Fan Magazine​​​​​​​
  • Dissidia Final Fantasy NT (2018): NPCs in Story Mode

Biggs and Wedge have also been used in several installments of Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts series.

Final Fantasy Has Made Many Direct References to Star Wars

In the realm of Final Fantasy, Biggs and Wedge are undoubtedly the characters most reminiscent of Star Wars, but the series has intentionally intertwined numerous subtle, overt references to Star Wars throughout its narrative. For instance, dialogues in Final Fantasy 9 directly echo lines from Star Wars. The final boss, Necron, recites Yoda’s wisdom, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Similarly, the character Kuja quotes Emperor Palpatine by saying, “Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

In the sequel of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, titled “Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2”, the game includes quest names such as “It’s a Trap” and “I Got a Bad Feeling”. These titles are reminiscent of Admiral Ackbar’s famous quote from Star Wars: “It’s a trap!” and the often-repeated phrase in Star Wars, “I have a bad feeling about this”, respectively.

Similarly, in Final Fantasy 6, a character named Locke disguises himself as an enemy soldier to save another character, Celes. Upon his successful rescue of her, she remarks, “You’re awfully short for a soldier.” This scene draws inspiration from the interaction between Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker during her own rescue in Star Wars: A New Hope, where Leia comments on Luke’s height by saying, “I find your lack of height disturbing.

Many Indirect Star Wars References Have Also Been Made in Final Fantasy

In many ways, the game series Final Fantasy has subtly echoed elements from the iconic saga, Star Wars. For instance, in Final Fantasy 2, Leon, Maria’s brother, assumes the role of a Dark Knight serving an emperor – a character arc reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker’s transformation in Star Wars. Similarly, in Final Fantasy 4, Golbez, the villain, is later unveiled as Cecil’s brother, mirroring Luke Skywalker’s connection with his father, Darth Vader, from Star Wars.

In the world of Final Fantasy, Biggs and Wedge are undeniably significant nods to Star Wars, but the series is filled with subtle, deliberate tributes to Star Wars that can be found in conversations, missions, and other characters too.

In Final Fantasy 6, Kefka deceives Emperor Gestahl by pushing him off the Floating Continent, echoing Darth Vader’s betrayal of Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. A similar event occurs in Final Fantasy 4, where FuSoYa disappears upon his death, much like Obi-Wan Kenobi did during his battle with Darth Vader in A New Hope. Lastly, Red XIII from Final Fantasy 7 shares a name connection with Anakin, the real name of Darth Vader.

Final Fantasy 12 also draws significant inspiration from Star Wars with some of its characters:​

  • Princess Ashe: A leader of a rebellion, similar to Princess Leia.​
  • Vayne Solidor: A manipulative figure controlling the senate, much like Emperor Palpatine.​
  • Balthier and Fran: A duo resembling Han Solo and Chewbacca, complete with a ship called the “Strahl” — a parallel to the Millennium Falcon.

The “Final Fantasy” game series is known for being highly original and impactful in the gaming world, yet its affection for “Star Wars” is unmistakable. From overt homages like characters named Biggs and Wedge to more covert ties woven into stories, “Final Fantasy” frequently goes all out when it comes to honoring the galaxy far away in a manner that appeals to both newcomers and dedicated fans alike. These references aren’t merely clever Easter eggs, but they demonstrate just how profoundly “Star Wars” has influenced storytelling across various media, even extending to one of the most cherished RPG series within gaming. As “Final Fantasy” progresses, it seems certain that its fondness for “Star Wars” will remain strong.

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2025-03-11 16:12