Final Fantasy Evolution Theory

[-Demos-]

Thanks Wolf Kanno, that was a very well researched response, I understand that canonically the games are not really connected, one could even argue that Dissidia is its own self-contained parallel multiverse and that it has nothing to do with the original games from where the characters first appeared (For instance the representative of FF3 is the "Onion Knight" instead of one of the four named characters that took the role of warriors of light in the 3D remake).

So I guess my point is that if you combine some important elements of the lore from the different games one could come to an overall theory of a theoretical "Final Fantasy Universe" were all the Final Fantasy planets exist and have a tangential relation, I personally like to try and imagine these connections, but I don't claim they are intentional, specially considering that the different games have been made years apart with the input of a lot different people, and with the explicit intention to be separated histories (except for the direct sequels like FFX-2 of course).

You bring a very interesting point about the nature of magic in the different games, that and the ability to persist after death, are in my opinion, the more interesting aspects of the lore, because, even in our world these matters are a point of debate, the current scientific consensus is that we are biological machines and once our brains stop, working that is it, we are gone forever, but basically all the religions of the world, and even some philosophical theories, base their existence in the belief of some "essence" that transcends death, an immortal soul that could move on to different plane of existence or be reincarnated in a different body, in a rather poetic way maybe that is our "Final Fantasy" the idea that we could overcome death.

About Final Fantasy 7 I think that Materia facilitates magic, but is not truly indispensable, many of the Limit Breaks look a lot like magic to me, for example Cid the character that literally said that he believes in science over magic can summon a spirit dragon as one of its limits, also in the games where some people can use magic and some can't, I think that is because humanity has a "Magic Gene" that is activated since birth in some people, but only awakes later in life for some others, for example Rydia can learn a lot of spells while being a child, but Cecil is unable to cast any spells until he becomes a paladin, also in FF8 a game where the fact that humans can't use magic is a plot point, (Only sorceress can, and people fear them because of it) most of the Limit Breaks also look like magic, and still, the characters can use those limits without any magic or GF's juctioned, in fact Selphie uses some spells that are not even attainable in the game by any other means like Full Cure, Wall, Rapture and the famous "The End".

Also about the differences of the Crystals, another plot point of FF4: TAY is that the Crystals can evolve, in fact "The Creator" was defeated because the eight Crystals from Earth and the eight Crystals from the Lunarian's "Moon" basically developed a conscience and decided to betray "The Creator" and side with humanity, so the differences between Crystals could be explained as different stages of evolution, but only if you like to entertain the theory of course.

Final note, I always thought that the Esper Magicites from FF6 and the Materia from FF7 were the precursors to the crystals, I mean in FF7 is stated that Materia forms naturally over thousands of years, but Shinra Inc. developed a way to manufacture artificial Materia within their reactors, maybe with some more technological advance they would have learned to manufacture Crystals.