World of Final Fantasy
World of Final Fantasy is a role-playing video game developed by Tose and published by Square Enix. It is a spin-off of the Final Fantasy franchise, featuring characters from across its mainline and supplementary entries. Initially released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2016, it was later ported to Windows in 2017. An updated version, World of Final Fantasy Maxima, was released as a port for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in 2018, with the PS4 and Windows versions receiving the Maxima update as downloadable content.
The game takes place in Grymoire, a world of coexisting Final Fantasy locations. The story follows siblings Lann and Reynn, who possess the power to tame monsters called Mirages, and are sent to Grymoire to reclaim their lost memories and thwart the plans of the Bahamutian Army. Returning to a more traditional gameplay style from earlier titles, it revolves around turn-based battles which utilize the series' recurring Active Time Battle system, augmented with a stacking mechanic where stacking allied characters and monsters affects statistics and abilities.
Development started around the concept of a Final Fantasy title aimed at a wider and younger audience, focusing on a light tone and stylized graphics compared to the mainline entries. It was directed and written by Hiroki Chiba, who had worked as a scenario writer and event planner for the series. The chibi character designs were created by Yasuhisa Izumisawa; the larger characters were designed by Tetsuya Nomura. The music was composed primarily by Masashi Hamauzu, who also included arranged versions of classic themes with Tose's sound team while aiming for the music to be lighter in tone than his previous work. The Maxima port was created in response to popular demand, though a limited budget meant there was relatively little added content. Both versions of the game run on Silicon Studio's Orochi engine.
First announced at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo, World of Final Fantasy was intended as a celebratory title to commemorate the series' 30th anniversary. A worldwide release was planned from an early stage, with localization running parallel to the development and Japanese voice recording. In order to keep the characters true to their original appearances, the localization staff who first handled them were brought in to translate their dialogue. Reception of the game was generally positive, with many praising its aesthetics and stacking mechanic, but criticism focusing on its slow pace and storyline. Debuting to strong sales in Japan, the original version sold over 900,000 copies worldwide by 2018.
Gameplay
World of Final Fantasy is a role-playing video game in which players take control of twin siblings Lann and Reynn as they navigate the world of Grymoire. The world is broken up between safe town environments and dungeons with enemies and puzzles. During their travels, Lann and Reynn befriend various monsters called Mirages that they can utilize both in battle and within the navigable environment: examples of this usage include riding larger Mirages as mounts or using them to navigate environmental puzzles. Another element to both puzzles and combat is the ability of Lann and Reynn to freely change size between normal Jiant forms and chibi-style Lilikin form. A recurring location is Nine Wood Hills, the place where Lann and Reynn start their journey, where they keep and organized unused Mirages, purchase items and access the Coliseum to enter fights and capture unique Mirages.The game's battle system makes use of the Active Time Battle system employed by multiple Final Fantasy games. In battle, players control a party of Mirages which can be stacked upon each other to grant various boons in battle while decreasing the number of turns that can be taken. The party can attack freely, use items, and perform abilities using Action Points. The types of Mirages used affect the party's available skills and abilities in battle. Mirages are captured in battle after they have been sufficiently weakened or a particular sequence of actions is taken, and once in the party can be freely named. In addition to standard Mirages are special Mirages that can be temporarily summoned into battle using a full pool of AP: the Mirage remains in battle, replacing the main party, until either the summoner's AP is depleted or the Mirage's health drops to zero.
Another action accessed from Nine Wood Hills are Intervention Quests, storylines ending in boss fights focusing around character cameos from parts of the Final Fantasy series. Some Intervention Quests include unique minigames, such as fighting through a dungeon or completing a grid-based puzzle. The expanded release World of Final Fantasy Maxima includes several additional features including a New Game+ option, and several alterations to gameplay. A notable addition are Champion Mirajewels, items that allow Lann and Reynn to transform into chibi versions of Final Fantasy protagonist and gain access to unique abilities.
Synopsis
Setting
World of Final Fantasy begins in a town called Nine Wood Hills, though the story's events are set in the world of Grymoire. Grymoire is a land where multiple locations from earlier Final Fantasy titles, such as Cornelia and Saronia, fuse together and where multiple climates exist side-by-side. The main inhabitants of Grymoire are the chibi-like Lilikins, while its monsters are called Mirages. Lann, Reynn, and others like them are referred to as "Jiants". The inhabitants of Grymoire are drawn from multiple entries in the Final Fantasy series. Rather than being characters drawn from their respective worlds, they are versions that have always lived in the world of Grymoire — these characters have dedicated side stories tying into the main narrative.Characters
The main protagonists are twin siblings, Lann and Reynn — Lann is an energetic boy who is prone to act idiotically, while his older sister Reynn is cautious and acts as a foil and counterpart. Both hold the power to capture and control Mirages, and can switch freely between Jiant and Lilikin forms. The siblings are guided through Grymoire by Tama, a mysterious creature who acts as their navigator and teacher. Their mother is revealed to be a legendary figure called Lusse Farna, who saved the world a century before. Lann and Reynn are guided into Grymoire from Nine Wood Hills by Enna Kros, a mysterious figure who acts as the god of Grymoire. The twins are helped from Nine Wood Hills by the pixie Mirage Serafie, who looks after their captured Mirages. They also encounter a mysterious "Masked Woman" with enigmatic aims, and an antagonistic Jiant summoner called Hauyn. The main enemy is the Bahamutian Army, a force of Jiant-like beings who are spreading their influence across the world: they are led by their king Dark Knight Brandelis, his chief tactician Segwarides, and Winged Knight Pellinore.The Final Fantasy cameo characters, which spans from across the series, include the Warrior of Light and Princess Sarah ; Refia ; Rydia ; Bartz Klauser, Gilgamesh and Faris Scherwiz ; Terra Branford, Edgar Roni Figaro and Celes Chere ; Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart and Shelke ; Squall Leonhart and Quistis Trepe ; Vivi Ornitier and Eiko Carol ; Rikku, Tidus and Yuna ; Shantotto, Lightning and Snow Villiers ; and Sherlotta. The Maxima version includes brief scenarios covering Cecil Harvey, Zack Fair, and Serah Farron.
Plot
In the world of Nine Wood Hills, Lann and Reynn meet Enna Kros, who reveals they are former Mirage Keepers stripped of their mirages and memories. She opens a portal to the world of Grymoire, where the twins begin recovering their mirages. They discover a power dubbed the Bahamutian Federation—led by Brandelis and his subordinates Segwarides and Pellinore—is forcing other nations into servitude from their hidden base. Lann and Reynn are embroiled in Grymoir's conflicts with the Federation. Prompted by Lann, the twins begin following the steps of the Azure Prophecy, which leads them to seek four elemental keys across Grymoire's lands, and learn that their mother Lady Lusse is a legendary figure who saved Grymoire from catastrophe a century before. They also begin awakening champions, individuals across Grymoire who can resonate with the twins' powers. They are also prodded along by the Masked Woman, and confronted by an angered Hauyn.The twins eventually learn the full truth. In an attempt to help their mother with her burdens as a summoner, Lann and Reynn stole her powers and summoned Brandelis through a portal called the Ultima Gate. Brandelis, part of a destructive pantheon dubbed the Exnine Knights, killed Lusse and their father Rorrik and used their bodies as vessels for the Exnine Knights Pellinore and Segwarides respectively. Lusse's last act was to send Lann and Reynn to Nine Wood Hills, separating them from Grymoire and stripping them of their memories. With help from another Exnine Knight using the "Masked Woman" as a puppet, Brandelis manipulated the twins into reopening the Ultima Gate, allowing a parasitic race called Cogna to begin consuming Grymoire. Despite Reynn's fears, Lann leads a single-handed attack on Brandelis' fortress. Lann kills both Segwarides and Pellinore, then sacrifices himself to imprison Brandelis after the latter destroys both Hauyn and the dying Lusse and Rorrik. In despair, Reynn retreats with Tama to Nine Wood Hills, which is eventually also invaded by Cogna.
Refusing to accept this ending, Reynn is sent back in time by Tama — in her true form of Tamamohimé — through the sacrifice of her remaining lives. This allows Reynn to alter events, telling Lann and Hauyn about the coming tragedy. Together they form a plan; use the summoners of Grymoire to reverse the Ultima Gate's flow, sending the Cogna and Exnine Knights into the void. The twins continue to help the people of Grymoire, recover their mirages, and revive Tama. Lann, Reynn and Hauyn together with the summoners and their champions then launch a united attack and successfully reverse the Ultima Gate, pulling the Cogna from Grymoire. Lann and Reynn free their parents from the Exnine Knights' control and allow their spirits to pass on, then defeat Brandelis. After he attacks Hauyn, the twins push Brandelis through the Ultima Gate as it closes, giving Hauyn their mirages to safeguard Grymoire. Enna Kros then gives a final "gift", returning versions of Lann and Reynn to Grymoire as champions. A secret ending added in Maxima has Hauyn fighting a Diabolos mirage from another world, while an older and ragged Lann continues to search for a missing Reynn.