Lightning to Appear in a FATE in Final Fantasy XIV

Oh good, we haven't seen enough of Lightning yet.

Eh. I... think this is getting pretty dumb.

So long as it remains a non-essential part of the storyline, I'm okay with that. If these kind of cameo appearances are relegated to FATES or quest lines that I can happily ignore, I've no major objections to it, even if I do think it's kind of stupid.

I do wonder if this means they'll potentially link FFXIV officially to FFXI. The appearance of Atomos in both titles (and with identical monster designs) has potential for some interesting narrative implications, especially since in FFXI Atomos and the Cavernous Maws allow travel through the Threshold into alternate times and dimensions. That Atomos appears in FFXIV from beyond the Void, I could easily see them trying to explain that it is the same Atomos and use him as a bridge between Vana'diel and Eorzea. That would be a lot more interesting than Lightning just showing up, but what can you do?

Personally, while I love all the Final Fantasy references and monsters being added to FFXIV, I'm not a huge fan of actual character crossovers. We're all used to seeing Bahamut in every FF game, but with very limited exceptions (most of them outside the main series), each game is supposed to be its own world and characters and lore. I don't really want to see Lightning or Tidus or Cloud or anyone else everywhere, regardless of how much I did (or did not) like them in their own games. And this particular crossover event seems rather forced to me, and like Ouch!, I'll probably just ignore it.

Well I guess that with something as undefinable as "multiple dimensions/universes", any world could be connected to any other world through some atomos-like plot device. That being said, Vana'diel's time-space continuum has got more holes than a swiss cheese nowadays, and I'm not sure how many more dimensional warps it could take without imploding into a singularity.

I've seriously lost count on how many parallel realities and alternate histories there are in Vanadiel. Probably something like 6-7. I always like to think that introducing time/dimension travel to an otherwise "normal" world is one of the surest signs of writers starting to run out of creativity.

Late news!

But yeah, this is smurfing idiotic. The more I hear about the stuff they're putting into ARR the less I want to play it.

It's fine that they're putting in throwbacks to older final fantasies, like the crystal tower and stuff, but things should be "based on" that stuff, and designed in a way that makes it fit with the rest of the game's world, lore and all that. Putting in carbon copies of things from other games, that's just dumb.

I think other than the fact that this breaks immersion in the FFXIV universe, it hits harder as being something I hate because you just know the higher ups forced Yoshi-P's hand to shoehorn Lightning in to market her for the new Lightning Returns...

So it really begs the question, is FFXIV just going to end up being a platform to market all the new Square-Enix games?

Definitely too far. Save your any-bigger-than-a-slight-cameo-slash-reference trout for Dissidia.

Eh whilst this is toeing the line for me in terms of cross-overs, provided it's relatively minor and fun I can live with it. Plus, 'dat bow.

Originally Posted by Jiro

Definitely too far. Save your any-bigger-than-a-slight-cameo-slash-reference trout for Dissidia.

A very, very small cameo. Like, maybe a hanging picture or statue of her in a random place.

smurf you, Square Enix. Seriously.

I don't see why this wouldn't seem cool to you guys, but in my opinion i find this awesome and stuff O_O

Because it doesn't make sense for her to appear in the middle of a world that is completely different, and has nothing to do with whatever game Lightning is from. It's like A Na'vi showing up in Titanic, except that can't happen because the Titanic movie came first, but whatever.

It makes about as much sense as Cloud in FFT, or Luso and Balthier in FFT:WotL. Not the first time SE has done these kind of crossovers to promote their games.

I don't really mind if out of the whole of the MMO a single FATE has Lightning in it. But I am genuinely curious: Did enough people like FFXIII and Lightning to warrant this and all the other things she's being parachuted into? I mean, I'm sure she's more popular than Vaan, but that's about it.

Originally Posted by Elpizo

It makes about as much sense as Cloud in FFT, or Luso and Balthier in FFT:WotL. Not the first time SE has done these kind of crossovers to promote their games.

Do they look exactly the same in those games?

In either case, Cloud in FFT was probably a bit dumb. Luso and balthier in WotL wasn't as big an issue because Cloud had already paved the way.

Originally Posted by Mirage

Because it doesn't make sense for her to appear in the middle of a world that is completely different, and has nothing to do with whatever game Lightning is from. It's like A Na'vi showing up in Titanic, except that can't happen because the Titanic movie came first, but whatever.

Well XIII-2 was kinda like time travelling thing from place to place and stuff... + some FF fans really like to see their favorite characters in the other games ^_^

PS: Besides, as i understood it... It is only in one of the FATE's from who knows how many there will be... + FATES infact are pretty much optional, therefore it doesn't force you (( who don't like the idea of her being in this game)) to do that exact FATE...

Lightning appearing in a FATE by itself wouldn't be so bad, but Lightning Returns seems to be comprised almost entirely of crossovers with previous Final Fantasy games, not to mention it is already a three-quel; there is a level of subtlety that lends itself to cameos and cross-promotion, and this is not subtle in the least. The individual ideas themselves are not bad, but Square Enix appear to have just decided that every idea was great and to use them all at once. It just reeks of desperation.

I like Lightning, but I've also had great friends stay at my house for a week and after that much contact with something you just want it smurfing out. They're only harming Lightning's image for the broader public, especially those who didn't like her in the first place.

Originally Posted by mini ninja

Originally Posted by Mirage

Because it doesn't make sense for her to appear in the middle of a world that is completely different, and has nothing to do with whatever game Lightning is from. It's like A Na'vi showing up in Titanic, except that can't happen because the Titanic movie came first, but whatever.

Well XIII-2 was kinda like time travelling thing from place to place and stuff... + some FF fans really like to see their favorite characters in the other games ^_^

PS: Besides, as i understood it... It is only in one of the FATE's from who knows how many there will be... + FATES infact are pretty much optional, therefore it doesn't force you (( who don't like the idea of her being in this game)) to do that exact FATE...

FFXIII-2 was. Not FFXIV. There will be a lot of fates, but that's irrelevant. If there was a fate where you killed a naked prostitute with dick-shaped swords, would you be fine with it because it's just one of many, and also optional?

Bring characters from other Final Fantasies into ARR is stupid, period.

But at least if it was Rosa or Terra or something it'd somewhat make sense. Those characters would fit in that world. Lightning comes from a technological modern world, and it's stupid that she's in the game.

I don't care if it's optional or not. This kills game immersion. Just like adding Yuna's outfit and Lightning's outfit into the game. I love Yuna's outfit, it's probably my favourite outfit in the whole FF series. I'd probably get it in the game too, as it wouldn't look too terrible in Eorzea. But bringing Lightning's outfit in? Then bringing Lightning herself in?

MMOs are about immersion to a degree, to some people more than others. If they had said from the get-go it was a Final Fantasy cross-over MMO, sure, cool. But that's not what it was supposed to be. I don't care how beloved a character is. It'd be just as stupid if Cloud, Squall, or Sephiroth showed up. Part of the reason a character can stay so beloved is the fact that they're contained to one game/compilation.