I find that every FF game has its own central topic of philosophy that makes it unique from the others, and on this philosophy it develops its plot and themes. There's one or two games that I'm not too certain about, but I think I've got the majority pegged down:

 

I:

II: Individuality

III:

IV: Morals

V: Loss

VI: Power

VII: Identity

VIII:

IX: Mortality

X: Utilitarianism

XII: Desire

XIII: Free will

 

With VIII, I want to say the theme is Focus, but I don't think that quite covers it. I believe it has something to do with finding where one stands between duty and personal life, but I can't find the right word. With 1 and III, I'm somewhat at a loss altogether.

 

Feel free to plug in the holes in my list, add your own thoughts on what you believe the themes of the games are, or discuss the ideas I've put forward.

I would say that VIII is about Trust. Squall has to learn to trust other people in order to solve his problems, and break out of his introspective shell in order to accomplish his goals.

 

Twelve as desire is interesting, and I can see it. However; I would say it's also about freedom. Mostly because that is the main thing all of the characters seem to have in common; the want for freedom.

I'd say maybe I is "Revenge", seeing as how it's the driving force behind Garland to cause the time loop after getting his ass handed to him from the Warriors of Light within the first 5 minutes.

 

For III....hmm...tough one. Maybe "Balance", seeing as how it was explained in-game when light flooded the land and the Warriors of Dark had to push it back? It was basically talking about how too much of one side of the light vs. dark scale can cause destruction.

 

Maybe I'm being too literal with these, though. >>

I'd say maybe I is "Revenge", seeing as how it's the driving force behind Garland to cause the time loop after getting his ass handed to him from the Warriors of Light within the first 5 minutes.

 

For III....hmm...tough one. Maybe "Balance", seeing as how it was explained in-game when light flooded the land and the Warriors of Dark had to push it back? It was basically talking about how too much of one side of the light vs. dark scale can cause destruction.

 

Maybe I'm being too literal with these, though. >>

 

Those are actually good points.

 

I was going to go with the original FF being the concept of blind faith on a person, or a group of people, for no other true reason than who they say they are or some small item/seeming fact they seem to have.

 

III has the potentiality to be about the struggle to find one's true identity. With all of the original characters (as in pre DS release) being more or less blank slates with no true predetermined personalities or names. With so many jobs to choose from, you hardly ever stick with a single one until end game anyway.

I would say that VIII is about Trust. Squall has to learn to trust other people in order to solve his problems, and break out of his introspective shell in order to accomplish his goals.

 

Twelve as desire is interesting, and I can see it. However; I would say it's also about freedom. Mostly because that is the main thing all of the characters seem to have in common; the want for freedom.

 

Freedom is also a good take on XII, one which I hadn't really thought of before, but it makes sense. Vayne and Dr. Cid seek freedom from fate and the dictaion of the gods while simultaneously denying freedom to Dalmasca and the rest of the Empire. There's a fun paradox in there.

 

I went with Desire, because everyone in the story wants something, more than most other FF games. Vayne is our villain because his desire has led him to do increasingly inhumane things, yet Ashe is constantly on the verge of becoming a mirror image of Vayne: she desires revenge, her kingdon, her family, etc. She has just as many desires as Vayne, and perhaps even moreso, given that she knows the loss of love and has a range of emotions that Vayne does not quite understand, which makes her yearning all the greater, for she knows what it is that she's missing. Yet she is able to retain her image as a heroic figure because she finds the self discipline to deny herself these desires.

 

That is the best example, but everyone else experiences it on some level: Frann desires both her family and race while also coveting her freedom; Balthier desires his freedom as well (I can see what you mean now about freedom being a central theme ), but cannot shake certain nagging guilts from his past; and for Vaan, his whole story is witnessing how these desires have affected others, and how he ought best to go about achieving his desires without falling down the same pitfalls.

 

It's about trying to find some balance between desire and discipline, about what one truly wants, and what one must give up in order to see these desires through.

Edited September 30, 201213 yr by Dave

I find that every FF game has its own central topic of philosophy that makes it unique from the others, and on this philosophy it develops its plot and themes. There's one or two games that I'm not too certain about, but I think I've got the majority pegged down:

 

I:

II: Individuality

III:

IV: Morals

V: Loss

VI: Power

VII: Identity

VIII:

IX: Mortality

X: Utilitarianism

XII: Desire

XIII: Free will

 

With VIII, I want to say the theme is Focus, but I don't think that quite covers it. I believe it has something to do with finding where one stands between duty and personal life, but I can't find the right word. With 1 and III, I'm somewhat at a loss altogether.

 

Feel free to plug in the holes in my list, add your own thoughts on what you believe the themes of the games are, or discuss the ideas I've put forward.

 

For I i would go for heroism, Then For FF III- Hope as the four warriors were the hope for both light and darkness... then VIII if not Love, maybe The right to exist ...

it was a good threat hehehe nice doing Dave

Freedom is also a good take on XII, one which I hadn't really thought of before, but it makes sense. Vayne and Dr. Cid seek freedom from fate and the dictaion of the gods while simultaneously denying freedom to Dalmasca and the rest of the Empire. There's a fun paradox in there.

 

I went with Desire, because everyone in the story wants something, more than most other FF games. Vayne is our villain because his desire has led him to do increasingly inhumane things, yet Ashe is constantly on the verge of becoming a mirror image of Vayne: she desires revenge, her kingdon, her family, etc. She has just as many desires as Vayne, and perhaps even moreso, given that she knows the loss of love and has a range of emotions that Vayne does not quite understand, which makes her yearning all the greater, for she knows what it is that she's missing. Yet she is able to retain her image as a heroic figure because she finds the self discipline to deny herself these desires.

 

That is the best example, but everyone else experiences it on some level: Frann desires both her family and race while also coveting her freedom; Balthier desires his freedom as well (I can see what you mean now about freedom being a central theme ), but cannot shake certain nagging guilts from his past; and for Vaan, his whole story is witnessing how these desires have affected others, and how he ought best to go about achieving his desires without falling down the same pitfalls.

 

It's about trying to find some balance between desire and discipline, about what one truly wants, and what one must give up in order to see these desires through.

 

 

I think we could even say the theme it's is the Desire for Freedom. Ashe desires freedom for her country, freedom from her sorrow, freedom from the burdens she has had to carry so long now. Fran desires freedoms from the sheltered life of her tribe. Balthier desires the freedom from his past. Basch desires freedom from past sins, whether they were actually his he committed or the sins of others forced him to bear.

 

Vaan is the walking embodiment of the desire for freedom. Ever turning an eye skyward, yearning immensely to become a great sky pirate to rise out of the claustrophobic dwellings of Lowtown and out into the skies. The sky, the ultimate symbolism for freedom. I think it's why I like his character so much. His unabashed yearning for something greater, something more vast and open than himself and his childlike pursuance of that goal; unrestricted freedom only the life of a sky pirate could yield to him.

 

 

Penelo is tricky. I, however; see her desire for freedom as a combination of everyone's. She wants Dalmasca to be free again so badly. She wants herself and her friends to be free from the sadness of their past. She wants Vaan to realise his dreams and be as free as the great sky above them. Penelo is one of my more favourite 'sweet healer girl' archetype characters to be honest. She seems more real than someone like Aerith, who just seemed sickly sweet to me. Penelo is a little more gritty and realistic about things, yet still bears that burden of providing sound hope for everyone, not the flighty unrealistic hope someone like Vaan might give.

I: Bravery or Strength of heart, in my opinion.

I think VII also has the theme of nature included to it if that counts.

I would say:

 

I: Fate

III: hmmm... Truth, maybe?

VIII: Love

Final Fantasy III could be friendship ? I never got far in the game but judging by YouTube clips they all needed the help of their best friend to unlock the tower gates to get through to Dark Cloud.

 

Yeah I agree with FF VIII being trust.

I: I would say Fantasy. The game is the original Final Fantasy, and it does a great job of creating such a mystical feeling that is just so ready for adventure.

III: Definitely Bonds. The bond between the heroes was important, but also it was the bonds with their friends along the way that let them defeat the Curse of the 5 Wyverns.

VIII: Love. It is pushed massively in the storyline.

XIII: I'd reclassify XIII as Defying Fate. "Defying Fate" is name dropped at least a dozen times.

VIII: Love. It is pushed massively in the storyline.

 

It's pushed massively in IX and X's storyline, too.

 

But it's not truly about love. Love is just one of the things they use to open Squall up. (I despise Rinoa, to be honest, but I see how she is pivotal to the plot). FFVIII focuses so heavily on Squall breaking out of that shell of his. It's almost like a coming to terms with who you are as a person sort of game. Irvine has the same revelation, as does Seifer.

 

Zell has a Freudian relationship with hot dogs.

I- Was more about breaking away from fate than going with it, if you ask me. They'd been stuck in that time loop for eternity, but somehow broke it and fixed time so that it never happened. Forging your own path, no matter what you're told is "supposed to happen."

 

III- I'm going with the balance thing. I think that was pretty predominant, especially after finding out about the previous warriors of darkness.

 

V- The thing that stood out in V for me was the idea of having a passion for life. They used phrases like that throughout the game so much that it stuck.

 

VIII- I really liked the Trust thing that Kirux said. That feels right to me. In fact, you said it so perfectly, I'm just going to quote you.

I would say that VIII is about Trust. Squall has to learn to trust other people in order to solve his problems, and break out of his introspective shell in order to accomplish his goals.

 

Trying to pin down any one theme is pretty hard with any Final Fantasy! I like your opinions very much.

Edited September 30, 201213 yr by Zola

I: Bravery or Strength of heart, in my opinion.

 

 

I think 'Bravery' for the 'I' fits better

and Freedom for 'XII'

 

And the search for 'Balance' is in every Final Fantasy in one way or another.

So I guess 'Hope' fits better for 'III'.

And 'Trust' for the 'VIII' fits perfectly.