Guide: FFXIV is full of FINAL FANTASY franchise call-backs
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From the iconic bosses to an early 2000s-inspired score, San d'Oria: The Second Walk is filled with nostalgia. FINAL FANTASY XI isn't the only game in the series that features in FFXIV. There are a plethora of easter eggs hidden across the vast world of Eorzea. Here are some of our favourites.
Warrior of Light | FINAL FANTASY I
Image credit: Yoshitaka Amano and SQUARE ENIX
Artist Yoshitaka Amano's iconic concept art for the original FINAL FANTASY introduced players to the Warrior of Light - a hero clad in striking armour that's become a series symbol. In FINAL FANTASY XIV, players can recreate that classic look with some effort and adventure. The main pieces of the armour set can be obtained as rare drops from The Labyrinth of the Ancients level 50 Raid. The matching sword and shield are rewards from The Seat of Sacrifice (Extreme) Trial, offering an extra challenge with a stylish payoff.
Dedicated completionists can obtain the helmet through the 'FINAL FANTASY XIV Online - Complete Collector's Edition', which can be purchased through the MogStation. Whether you're in it for nostalgia or fashion, chasing down this legendary set is a fun way to celebrate the roots of the series.
Crystal Tower Quest Line | FINAL FANTASY III
Image credit: SQUARE ENIX
The Crystal Tower questline in FFXIV is an exciting callback to FINAL FANTASY III (FFIII), where players get to explore the Crystal Tower in a 24-player Alliance Raid. The raid brings back plenty of nostalgia with a rearranged soundtrack based on FFIII's original score and familiar locations that longtime fans will recognise. Inside, players battle bosses from the original arena alongside primary villains from FFIII, like the Cloud of Darkness and Xande. This quest blends memorable moments from the past with exciting new challenges for new and returning players.
Biggs and Wedge | FINAL FANTASY staples
Image credit: FFXIV Fandom Wiki
Prepare for trouble, make it double! The dynamic duo Biggs and Wedge frequently cameo across the FINAL FANTASY franchise. These two debuted in FINAL FANTASY VI as Red Wing Soldiers - an allusion to another popular sci-fi story - but have since taken on many forms across the franchise! From members of Avalanche (FFVII) or the players' blitzball team (FFX), Biggs and Wedge are a reliable constant across the series. In FFXIV, the duo are engineers with the Garlond Ironworks that the player rescues after the crash of their prototype airship, the Tiny Bronco. They soon become your allies and continuously support you across your epic journey!
Magitek Armor mount | FINAL FANTASY VI
Image credit: SQUARE ENIX
FINAL FANTASY XI players should keep an eye out for the Magitek Armor mount, which is earnable as a reward for completing 'The Ultimate Weapon' quest. This mount looks straight out of the game's Japanese box art and triggers a rearranged version of Terra’s theme to play when piloted.
The in-game item description reads: "This suit of Garlean-developed reaper-class magitek battle armor has had its original control systems purged and replaced with a new, modified core built by Cid of the Garlond Ironworks."
The Gold Saucer | FINAL FANTASY VII
Image credit: SQUARE ENIX
FFXIV's Manderville Gold Saucer is a direct nod to its FINAL FANTASY VII predecessor, serving up a vibrant arcade hub where players can take a well-earned break from dungeon diving. This amusement park sparkles with fan-favourite minigames like 'Chocobo Racing' and 'Triple Triad' (which also makes a much-loved comeback from FINAL FANTASY VIII), alongside plenty of fresh challenges to keep things exciting. Whether you're competing against NPCs or other players, you’ll be earning Manderville Gold Saucer Points (MGP) to spend on unique rewards. The area is unlocked by completing the 'It Could Happen to You' quest once players reach level 15. The Manderville Gold Saucer is the perfect place to unwind, compete, and have a blast between adventures.
For the FINAL FANTASY VII diehards, you can also purchase Wind-up Cloud, Aerith and Tifa minions from the MogStation to accompany you on your journey through Eorzea!
Ozma | FINAL FANTASY IX
Image credit: SQUARE ENIX
Within the 'Weeping City of Mhach Alliance' Raid, players will encounter a familiar foe! Ozma appears as the third boss in the raid, with the secret superboss originally debuting in FINAL FANTASY IX.
FFXIV's version of Ozma was created by the mages of Mhach to protect their home from what they believed was an unavoidable uprising of voidsent. The magicked spheroid was eventually employed during the War of the Magi to devour the cities of their enemies and send them into a state of dimensional compression.
Adventurous players who manage to take on and clear the 'The Baldesion Arsenal' level 70 duty can also obtain the Demi-Ozma mount! Its item description reads: "Call into battle Demi-Ozma─the round mound of spellbound."
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