Final Fantasy is the gift that just keeps on giving. Throughout its illustrious thirty year history, the franchise has released fifteen main entries, countless spin offs, and even several sequels to the numbered entries. When sequels have their own sequels, it’s a sure sign a franchise has reached monumental proportions. With all of this time to dwell on each title’s story, characters, and gameplay, some inconsistencies start to become apparent. In fact, there are facets of the Final Fantasy series that downright make so sense what so ever.
The passionate fan community has been throwing around jokes about the Square Enix series (originally SquareSoft) for decades, but with the new, highly advanced meme technology humanity now possesses, these quips have a new way of being immortalized on the internet. Some of the memes presented poke fun at the series’ mechanics, while others point out the unintentional hilarity of game.
For the most part, Final Fantasy memes are all in good fun, as usually only avid fans take the time to think about how ludicrous their favorite series can frequently be.
Let’s get started, here are 15 Final Fantasy Memes That Prove The Series Makes No Sense.
Every Victory Deserves A Dance
As funny as this one may be, it is also a valuable lesson to many gamers. Most avid fans of the medium have probably lost lives in one game or another while doing a victory dance over a defeated foe’s remains. Those who claim not to have experienced this humiliation as a result of hubris are probably lying.
Cloud and Barrett are far from the only characters who do the victory dance at inopportune times. Throughout all of the entries, party members tend to celebrate too much at the end of every battle, no matter how small. Do three people really need to strike the same pose they have performed a thousand times before when they’ve bested a small critter that provides a paltry amount of experience? No, they don’t.
There’s Always Time To Blitz
The world of Spira will always face troubles, and it is important for the people to keep their spirits up in periods of crisis. However, when it comes to critical situations, it may be time to suspend leisure activities in favor of dedicating all resources towards combating world ending threats.
This point is brought up in Final Fantasy X, and the explanation involves the people needing a diversion from all the troubles that plague the world around them.
While this is a valid explanation both to players and to the characters in game, it does not explain why the heroes on a quest to save the world have decided to partake in the sport. Depending on the player, Tidus and his team can even become the best in the whole league all before saving the world.
Introvert Or Not, Squall Still Loves Cards
Final Fantasy VIII’s protagonist, Squall Leonhart, is a reserved man. He’s so reserved actually, that it garnered a negative reaction from some fans and critics. With all this being said, even the coldest of hearts cannot deny the joy of a great card game, at least according to Squall’s fixation with Triple Triad.
The card-based mini-game first came to life in Final Fantasy VIII as a fun side activity for players, which they can enjoy with various NPCs in the game. While it is a nice distraction from the main quest, the idea of Squall playing the game with various strangers runs incongruous to his introverted character. On the other hand, Triple Triad is perhaps so fun that it makes even loners leave their shell of isolation.
Characters Can’t Jump?
It’s always the most heartbreaking tragedy of a hero’s journey: they train for years to overcome seemingly impossible odds only to be bested by a damaged staircase. If only there were some way to save these beloved characters from the cruel fate of crumbling architecture and help them bypass the blockade.
RPGs revolve around characters gaining strength and new abilities from experience points obtained by defeating enemies, but the ability to overcome obstacles certainly isn’t one of them.
Granted, “Jump” literally is an ability learned by Dragoons throughout the series, but that does not apply to this situation. Suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy all of these stories, but the idea that these brave warriors cannot hop over this small obstacle stretches it to the breaking point.
An Elite Squad…
This one conjures up two contradictions about the Turks, the protagonist’s enemies and sometimes uncanny allies in Final Fantasy VII.
The first thing one has to wonder is how did half of the Turks make the cut in the first place. Reno and several other members serve as comedic relief throughout the game’s tense moments acting as bumbling fools; hardly the types suited for a group known for kidnapping, dispatching, and espionage.
Secondly, the Turks commit several horrid acts, not the least of which is doing away with countless innocents in order to frame the main characters for it. As the game progresses, however, these diabolical actions are seemingly forgiven as the group becomes more lovable, with Reno specifically becoming a fan favorite.
Now’s Not The Time, Ignis!
Having a little pride in one’s self is a wonderful thing, and it’s natural to announce accomplishments and discoveries to any nearby friends.
There is a time and a place for everything, and mid-battle is hardly the appropriate place to excitedly reveal the discovery of a new recipe.
At any other time, Noctis, Gladiolus, and Prompto would be beyond thrilled to hear of their good friend’s most recent culinary invention, but when the slightest distraction could mean being hurt by a wild beast, Ignis’ proclamations could result in battle wounds.
Who announces a discovery in such an overly boisterous manner like Ignis does? In any situation, it would probably bother most people. A simple and serene “Hey buddies, I can’t wait to make my new recipe for you later” would suffice.
The Name Makes No Sense!
It’s the classic mystery every newcomer or passerby will ask: why is it called Final Fantasy if there are multiple titles? What’s the reason behind this Square Enix? Is it some sort of marketing ploy akin to classic rock bands that embark on several farewell tours to increase ticket sales?
In reality, there are a couple of reasons the name came to be, including the first title being the last ditch effort the company had. Square Soft was on the edge of bankruptcy at that point, and the name itself is memorable of that time. With all this in mind, however, there still remains the simple fact that every game is far from the final one, and as new games are released the name only becomes more ironic.
Wake Me Up When Supernova Ends
Boss battles in the Final Fantasy series are memorable for being grandiose and throwing curve balls at the player. For Final Fantasy VII’s epic final showdown with Sephiroth, this curve ball offers gamers the opportunity to cook dinner, get their oil changed, do their taxes, and call their parents before it is their turn to make a move.
The special move Supernova is hilariously over-the-top as it unleashes a planet destroying fury, but only deals a little damage to the players.
This ability also brings to mind the various summons; especially, how do their elaborate moves not destroy acres upon acres of land and cities whenever they are called upon? At the same time, we don’t want to question something that looks so cool.
Protagonist’s Priorities
The hero’s journey is lengthy and arduous, spanning potentially several years while throwing twists and turns at them. Throughout these trials, Final Fantasy’s main characters always hold onto the most important objectives: hunting hordes of wild beasts to get experience points and whatever items the monsters may be holding.
Apparently, the fate of the world can wait, as there are hunting contracts to be carried out and items to be crafted. Granted, much of this is done to be better prepared for the battles that await, but in reality, repeatedly defeating weak animals would do nothing to help gain the necessary strength needed to save a kingdom, or even the world. The endgame is usually when the stakes are the most dire, but also when most Final Fantasy games really open up and offer interesting side quests.
Always Fighting In Style
Battling with giant swords, magic, summons, and firearms is a dirty mess. However, the Final Fantasy games make these duels and the warriors who participate in them seem like a runway show at fashion week.
Even in the most tense of showdowns nobody ever breaks a sweat, tears their clothes, or even starts bleeding after being cut, burned, frozen, electrocuted, and given various physical and mental ailments.
Sometimes they really should call a five minute time-out in order to catch their breath.
Additionally, most party members wear the same outfit throughout their respective games. They must travel with several identical uniforms or change, leaving a stinky trail of body odor in their wake. Whatever the case, no one can ever say Final Fantasy characters aren’t stylish.
Pocket Cabin
While making long trips between villages, it is vital to take a rest to regain energy for the next day’s adventure. It would be ill-advised to sleep on the world map without shelter, so it is a good thing Final Fantasy characters have been known to carry several cabins in their inventory for such a situation.
Their pockets are deep enough to carry hundreds of healing items, various weapons, accessories, and key items pertinent to story progression. Meaning there should be room for a whole cabin capable of sheltering several full-grown people.
Some entries use the more believable Tent as the healing item on the world map, but it also makes one question why the party needs several of them and not just one camping set.
Always Time For Happy Photos
It does not take long for Final Fantasy XV to slap its protagonists with tragedy, with the intro sequence ending when Noctis learns of his father’s passing.
This sad news, however, does not stop the crew from indulging in photo opportunities complete with playful poses.
Far be it from an internet article to tell the Prince how to mourn his father’s passing, but as royalty it should be his duty to put the people before his own grief, heartbreak, and photo sessions at vacation destinations. When the crisis has been resolved, Noctis can do his grieving and world traveling.
On the other hand, his father who passed really does deserve to be remembered for the sacrifices he’s made throughout.
White Mages Can’t Heal Themselves
White mages have incredible healing abilities that can save even the most mortally wounded from the the afterlife’s grasp. In the games, they can fully restore health points, remove ailments, and revive party members who have been out of commission in battle. For some reason though, they are completely helpless to restore their own health when the story calls for some drama.
This specific image references Final Fantasy IV, when Rosa falls ill to Desert Fever forcing Cecil to search for the only item that can cure her. Not once does anybody bring up the possibility of her trying to cure herself or at least finding another white mage to cast a spell on her. Really this is only one example of many in the long running franchise.
If Only We Had Some Sort Of Revival Potion…
There’s no greater video game tragedy than permanently losing a party member. After they enter the great unknown, or in this meme’s case, the life stream, they’ll never be in cut scenes and all of their unique special moves will be inaccessible in battle. It is a weight both the player and the characters will carry with them for the rest of the adventure, but if only there was some way to revive the deceased; maybe a Phoenix Down of some sort.
Some naysayers may point out that Aerith was badly hurt, sustaining an injury far worse than other wounds.
However, before the party was attacked with numerous weapons including sharp blades and they got along just fine. Maybe it’s not too late to head back to the forgotten city and use the revival item on her.
Prompto Doesn’t Have The Best Timing
People have to know the horrors of war and the toll battles take on the human psyche, and photographers are necessary in order to document this for the common folk. If this is the case for Noctis and crew, they would have better served themselves by hiring a photographer to chronicle their journey rather than letting Prompto ignore the fights to snap cool photos.
Prince Noctis’ blond-haired friend is a good guy who always means well, and is shown to have self-esteem issues throughout Final Fantasy XV. Usually, those with a low opinion of themselves are less likely to take selfies at all, let alone during a battle with a mammoth-sized creature. Whatever the case, why would Prompto prefer to snap pictures rather than deal with the immediate threat at-hand?
Did we miss any non-sensical Final Fantasymemes? Let us know in the comments!
