Final Fantasy, controversial, what (some religoius stuff too)

[Erdrick Holmes]

I was reading up on LFF about how on the show "Filter" about the top ten most controversial games. Somebody said that FFVII was close to being on that countdown, how can it be controversial other then the fact that there is a crossdressing scene in the game. The thread also said stuff on how each FF game has something simbolic involving Christianity being evil and killing god, the only FF game that I seen that was like that was FFX. Somebody explain how each FF game has something symbolic like that because I don't see it.

[Jolts]

Some aspects of FF games have names of deities or other such religous things.
I just looked up Shiva, and she's One of the principal Hindu deities, worshiped as the destroyer and restorer of worlds and in numerous other forms. Shiva is often conceived as a member of the triad also including Brahma and Vishnu.
Shiva is also (Judaism) a period of seven days of mourning after the death of close relative.

I'm sure there's a lot more, but I was looking up Shiva because I remembered hearing about her before in the movie "Bubble Boy" (the newer one).

[Lord Chainsaw]

I was reading up on LFF about how on the show "Filter" about the top ten most controversial games. Somebody said that FFVII was close to being on that countdown, how can it be controversial other then the fact that there is a crossdressing scene in the game.

I can't think of another game that has sparked debates quite like Final Fantasy VII. The game has been out for 8 years and people still argue over exactly what happened. For added drama, visit the Squaresoft board on Gamefaqs and mention that you like the game. Watch as all hell breaks loose.

[Erdrick Holmes]

But how though, I don't see the controversy in that game and I've beaten it like five million times.

[TheAbominatrix]

Just type in The legend of [insert mythological creature from FF] on google, and you'll find the legend. Kraken is supposed to be this giant squid who sank a whole bunch of ships. It's pretty cool what you can find out.... anywho, back to the point.....

There is reference to lots of religious things in FF, like in FFX Japanese version, Kimahri's Spirit Lance is called Loginus, which is the roman guy who stabbed Jesus with a spear......or was the spear called Loginus? Anyway.......yeah

The spear was called Loginus.

Anyway, people will always read too much into things all stir up ridiculous nonsense wherever they can. That's the nature of humanity it seems. Show someone a blank sheet of paper, and chance are they can think up something about it being evil and/or dangerous.

[Flying Mullet]

One minor reason that FFVII stirred up some controversy with parents was it was the first Final Fantasy games, and one of the first games in the US in general, to contain swearing.

[Cz]

Which directly resulted in a number of children getting high and smacking up whores, obviously.

It's all a load of fuss over nothing. Videogames are a convenient scapegoat for parents nowadays because they are a medium that they don't understand.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

The spear was called Loginus.

The Roman soldier's name was Longinus. Thus, his spear was the Lance of Longinus.

[DJZen]

One minor reason that FFVII stirred up some controversy with parents was it was the first Final Fantasy games, and one of the first games in the US in general, to contain swearing.

But it wasn't the first. Duke Nukem 3D contained more usage of the S word, and it had strippers, even though it predated FFVII. However, the game also had blood (quite a bit of it). Most FF games haven't actually had much in the way of overt religious themes, though. The first SaGa game has you killing god though, and that was released as Final Fantasy Legend.

[Sefie1999AD]

Final Fantasy Tactics had loads of things about church being corrupt and looking only after its own interests, members of the church believing into a (Major FFT spoilers)false prophet who they believe is the Son of God but who's actually a demon from hell, so there sure are a lot of issues in FFT that could be considered controversial. I remember hearing something like it was banned in USA for a while because of the religional contents. Final Fantasies X and X-2 also have this theme of a religion being corrupt and the leaders of the religious groups or organizations using their authority on normal people.

[DJZen]

Xenogears had a lot more though.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

FFT was never banned. There was also a rumor that Xenogears wouldn't be released in the States because of its (over)use of religious symbolism. All nonsense.

[DJZen]

I remember that rumor clearly. In fact, I remember the many petitions started over it. However, I think that the real deal was that Sony was nervous about bringing the game over so they wanted to tone down the religious themes in the dialogue, and the petitions were to leave them intact. Does that sound right to you, 'Kishi?

[Lord Chainsaw]

But it wasn't the first. Duke Nukem 3D contained more usage of the S word, and it had strippers, even though it predated FFVII. However, the game also had blood (quite a bit of it). Most FF games haven't actually had much in the way of overt religious themes, though. The first SaGa game has you killing god though, and that was released as Final Fantasy Legend.

Yeah, but how many people actually got to the end of Final Fantasy Legend? The very few who did buy the game probably gave up in the room with all of the fake orbs with Sei-Ryu. Fewer still probably even made it up to Dr. Cheap (Ashura). The six people who did make it to Creator were probably too tired to do any complaining. I guess it isn't as bad as Legend 2 when it comes to difficulty though.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I remember that rumor clearly. In fact, I remember the many petitions started over it. However, I think that the real deal was that Sony was nervous about bringing the game over so they wanted to tone down the religious themes in the dialogue, and the petitions were to leave them intact. Does that sound right to you, 'Kishi?

I think any controversy was made up in the minds of paranoid fans. There was an interview with some Square producer (I forget his name) in an issue of PSM around that time, and he said the religious stuff was not at all an issue in getting the game to America.