Whereas most Last Fantasy video games take place in their own worlds, the franchise remains to be linked collectively by a number of iconic components akin to Chocobos, elemental crystals, and highly effective summons. The sequence established lots of these tropes early on however not abruptly. Summons, as an example, weren’t added till Last Fantasy III (the actual Last Fantasy III, not the unique American Last Fantasy III). However not like among the different iconic Last Fantasy options, summons weren’t essentially supposed to be a serious a part of the franchise.
A number of days in the past, Sq. Enix held an interview with the main figures behind Last Fantasy: Hironobu Sakeguchi, Kazuko Shibuya, and Yoshinori Kitase. This assembly was meant to have fun Last Fantasy’s thirty fifth anniversary (and Sakeguchi’s sixtieth birthday) and centered primarily on the sequence’ origins. Topics included the place the identify “Final Fantasy” got here from and the way the crew got here up with the concept for summons. For those who’re anticipating an origin story as epic and legendary because the summons themselves, it’s possible you’ll be shocked to be taught that Last Fantasy‘s summons have been really created out of necessity fairly than as a part of a grand plan for the franchise.
When requested in regards to the origins of summons, Sakeguchi initially played coy and acted like he didn’t bear in mind. Ultimately, although, he got here clear. As he recalled, cartridge reminiscence had doubled between Last Fantasy 1 and 3, which gave Squaresoft extra space to supply deeper story content material and detailed sprite work. Nonetheless, even when the sport was full, Squaresoft staff have been shocked to seek out that there was nonetheless unused house on the cartridge.
To repair this challenge, somebody steered filling the remainder of the sport reminiscence with “an enormous previous monster,” doubtlessly a pleasant one. A number of allied creatures later, Last Fantasy 3 had its summons. In fact, that solely explains why the summons exist within the first place however not how they have been really designed.
