Quote Originally Posted by Hazzard View Post
You are aware that I never said they were exactly the same game, in terms of story and all that. I did mention that I noticed there was many similarities between the two games, and how I'm certain that XII was greatly influenced by II for a number of points, and maybe inputed something from Star Wars as well. Basically, I think II took a great tole on XII's story, and it extracted more basis' in II than any other FF, and can you please explain how IV how some of the qualities in story that II had beforehand, and what features they copied.
First off, sorry Hazzard. My rant was more geared towards Bolivar's comment of
If Hilda had a sword, this game would be XII.
rather than your specualtion. My thoughts are that FFXII was not influenced by II as much as Star Wars influenced both II and XII. Though each game is unique enough to not be complete copies of Star Wars and instead emerge as their own entities.

II only had a few influences on IV but I feel these influences are important enough to have a profound (though not very obvious) effect on certain factors that make FFIV truly shine. I honestly feel Gareth, Josef, and Gordon are achtypes created in II and later borrowed and expanded upon in IV in the forms of Kain, Yang, and Edward/Gilbert. Also both games feature a party change based upon calamatous events. Most of your support characters are killed in II while most in IV are injured. Both Gareth and Tellah die heroically fighting one on one against the main antagonists of their respected game and the whole Leon betraying you is expanded upon in Kain's story of betrayal in IV. Whether II actually influenced IV is up to debate and I have no rock hard evidence outside of speculation