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Besides Midgar, which settlements in Final Fantasy are the most iconic?
- Thread starter Quinton
- Start date
I've beaten every none MMO FF game and off the top of my head I remember: Midgar, the entirety of FF8 (gardens, Fisherman's Horizon, Dollet, Deling, Esthar, Missile Base..etc) and Rabanastre. Oh and that weird thief town from FF6. I realize these are not exactly iconic and my answer is not a good one, but for what it's worth that's what I remember.
From VII you have Midgar, Nibelheim and Golden Saucer as the most iconic imo.
Balamb Garden in FFVIII is pretty great.
Lindblum and Alexandria in IX.
Zanarkand in X.
Rabanastre in XII but mostly Ivalice is the most recognizable name.
I'd say Figaro and the Opera are the most iconic of VI.
Balamb Garden in FFVIII is pretty great.
Lindblum and Alexandria in IX.
Zanarkand in X.
Rabanastre in XII but mostly Ivalice is the most recognizable name.
I'd say Figaro and the Opera are the most iconic of VI.
Yeah that moment where you arrive is amazing I even managed to pull the jecht shot on the boat so we could win the damn match.
Mysidia is definitely one of the most influential towns. It is one of the few towns to appear in multiple of the early Final Fantasy games; it is a notable location in both II and IV. More than that, it is referenced in a few other Final Fantasy games via the Mysidian Rabbit, the rabbit dressed as a Black Mage that appears for messing up Slots or Ninjutsu in vatious games. Mysidia is *the* classic town of wizards.
The Great Library from FFV is also a pretty memorable town/dungeon combo. Its book monsters serve as a basis for a secret boss in IX, the library inspired a dungeon in XIV, and it appears as a town in World of Final Fantasy. What isn't to love about an enormous library?
The Great Library from FFV is also a pretty memorable town/dungeon combo. Its book monsters serve as a basis for a secret boss in IX, the library inspired a dungeon in XIV, and it appears as a town in World of Final Fantasy. What isn't to love about an enormous library?
We hit the peak with Alexandria and Lindblum for living, breathing cities and haven't come back since.
Rabanastre is my favorite, as well! Most realized Final Fantasy city; for me, maybe my most memorable city in any non MMO RPG.
I also have a fondness for Narshe in FF6 and the Millennial Fair in Truce in Chrono Trigger.
Just pure nostalgia for me.
Outside of Midgar, I would say the following settlements are the most memorable to me:
Narshe and Vector from VI
Nibelheim and Cosmo Canyon from VII
Balamb Garden from VIII
Lindblum, Alexandria, Black Mage Village, and Bran Bal from IX
Besaid Island from X
Rabanastre and Bhujerba from XII
The Crystarium and Amaurot from XIV
Most of these locations are especially memorable to me because of their stellar music. IX probably has the best settlements overall, but XII's Rabanastre is my favorite. I haven't played XI yet unfortunately. At the moment I can't really think of anything from I-V. Does Matoya's Cave from I count? It is inhabited by one person and some magically animated brooms.
Narshe and Vector from VI
Nibelheim and Cosmo Canyon from VII
Balamb Garden from VIII
Lindblum, Alexandria, Black Mage Village, and Bran Bal from IX
Besaid Island from X
Rabanastre and Bhujerba from XII
The Crystarium and Amaurot from XIV
Most of these locations are especially memorable to me because of their stellar music. IX probably has the best settlements overall, but XII's Rabanastre is my favorite. I haven't played XI yet unfortunately. At the moment I can't really think of anything from I-V. Does Matoya's Cave from I count? It is inhabited by one person and some magically animated brooms.
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Sign my up for Lindblum, but if it counts I also love the entire idea of the Black Mage Village. It's visually and conceptually striking.
I love how the houses are Black Mage head shaped. It's so amazing.
I love how the houses are Black Mage head shaped. It's so amazing.
A village of entities that live for barely a year coming together to find community and try to make the most of whatever life they have with them. A refuge for people created as tools of war who want to live peacefully... It's one of the most tragic things in the entire franchise.
The Village of Dali from Final Fantasy IX is basically the game's entire thesis in one location, just as Midgar is for FFVII, with fantastic music to boot
It introduces you to the black mage stuff, develops on the character dynamics, shows how duplicitous even the most peaceful people can be once money is involved, and it's Garnet's first true attempt at blending in. They pack in so much.
It introduces you to the black mage stuff, develops on the character dynamics, shows how duplicitous even the most peaceful people can be once money is involved, and it's Garnet's first true attempt at blending in. They pack in so much.
Figaro Castle transforming and descending into the sand. Perhaps some beautiful potential future has Square Enix following up the FFVII remake with a new take on VI that would render that scene in glorious realistic 3D. (Also suplexing the Phantom Train in such a style needs to be a thing.)
Saronia is a classic one. It was the first FF town to feature a complete story arc within the city itself. More than that, it really was a blueprint for many later major FF locales.
Dragoons? check
Internal strife? check
Broken up into several explorable districts? check
Odin in the basement? check
New airship? check
Can visit in WoFF? check
Baron, Midgar, Ishgard, and more all take a lot of inspiration from it.
Dragoons? check
Internal strife? check
Broken up into several explorable districts? check
Odin in the basement? check
New airship? check
Can visit in WoFF? check
Baron, Midgar, Ishgard, and more all take a lot of inspiration from it.
My immediate thought was Zanarkand from FFX. It drives the whole plot. The game "begins" there (in medias res). There are two versions of it, and the Big Reveal heavily involves it. The iconic piano piece is named after it. The big turning point in the plot happens there after a momentous boss battle. Et cetera.
It likely doesn't quite stack up to Midgar in recognition but Rabanastre is that place for me at least.
The way it's set up and presented is really great at capturing the idea that it's very important politically, economically, and socially to FFXII's setting. The cool thing is the size, population, and diversity of the city alone do a lot of the work there if you pay a little attention, its role in the story is just added on top of all that.
The way it's set up and presented is really great at capturing the idea that it's very important politically, economically, and socially to FFXII's setting. The cool thing is the size, population, and diversity of the city alone do a lot of the work there if you pay a little attention, its role in the story is just added on top of all that.
I'd go so far to say most of the iconic locations are from VII actually. Nibelhiem, Golden Saucer and Cosmo Canyon especially.
But other than that?
Lindblum, Balamb Garden, Zanarkand (because of the song?)Ul'dah, Besaid. Most starting locations I guess.
Those are the ones that jump into my mind immediately.
Shout out to Black Mage Village too!
But other than that?
Lindblum, Balamb Garden, Zanarkand (because of the song?)Ul'dah, Besaid. Most starting locations I guess.
Those are the ones that jump into my mind immediately.
Shout out to Black Mage Village too!
I'd take it a step further and say not just Midgar, but sections of Midgar are more iconic than most of these. Wall Market alone is legendary, even more so now after Remake. Perhaps Sector 7 as well, even though that's mostly because it's known for having the plate dropped on it.
So it's impossible to compete with Midgar when even the city's individual towns are iconic.
That said in the spirit of the thread I'll mention Narshe, obviously not as iconic but since FFVI is my second favorite FF after VII I have to say that the town is not great because of its happenings, but because of it's role in the story. There's really no central town in FFVI, but Narshe is where everything begins. You return back to it at a key moment in the story in the World of Balance, and if you visit in the World of Ruin you'll have almost a completely different experience with the town, in addition to getting some of the best gear/magicite in the game.
Due to the "World of Balance/World of Ruin" gimmick, certain towns in FFVI become fun to visit again because they offer something completely different than before.
So it's impossible to compete with Midgar when even the city's individual towns are iconic.
That said in the spirit of the thread I'll mention Narshe, obviously not as iconic but since FFVI is my second favorite FF after VII I have to say that the town is not great because of its happenings, but because of it's role in the story. There's really no central town in FFVI, but Narshe is where everything begins. You return back to it at a key moment in the story in the World of Balance, and if you visit in the World of Ruin you'll have almost a completely different experience with the town, in addition to getting some of the best gear/magicite in the game.
Due to the "World of Balance/World of Ruin" gimmick, certain towns in FFVI become fun to visit again because they offer something completely different than before.
Nothing comes close to Midgar and most of the answers given fit more as "a settlement I personally like" rather then something that's close to Iconic. Which is fine also.
People mention Altissia and Insomnia and how they would have been in a more put together game which is true, but tbh there probably gonna end up more well remembered then most other settlments in the series despite themselves. Mostly cause XV sold so damn well
Altissia for being the moment everyone talks about, Insomnia for being the focus of every Versus trailer for over a decade and thus lodging itself into the memory. Despite hardly being in the actual game till Royal Edition beefed it up massivly. (Also despite literally being just Fantasy Tokyo)
Actually, speaking towards the future, I don't think there is a single FFXIV player who will ever forget Amaurot. It's already legendary among the playerbase and I think it'll stay that way forever.
People mention Altissia and Insomnia and how they would have been in a more put together game which is true, but tbh there probably gonna end up more well remembered then most other settlments in the series despite themselves. Mostly cause XV sold so damn well
Altissia for being the moment everyone talks about, Insomnia for being the focus of every Versus trailer for over a decade and thus lodging itself into the memory. Despite hardly being in the actual game till Royal Edition beefed it up massivly. (Also despite literally being just Fantasy Tokyo)
Actually, speaking towards the future, I don't think there is a single FFXIV player who will ever forget Amaurot. It's already legendary among the playerbase and I think it'll stay that way forever.
I feel like most of the answers on this thread are more just towns people like instead of being iconic towns.
Nothing reaches Midgar as far as being iconic, but I'd say the closest thing is Zanarkand in FFX. No matter how long ago you played FFX, you remember that area and it's godlike music. Anything else below it has a far gap as far as iconography IMO.
Nothing reaches Midgar as far as being iconic, but I'd say the closest thing is Zanarkand in FFX. No matter how long ago you played FFX, you remember that area and it's godlike music. Anything else below it has a far gap as far as iconography IMO.
Figaro Castle, Balamb Garden, Fisherman's Horizon, Alexandria, Lindblum, Rabanastre, Ishgard...
Zanarkand is an honorable mention. We see it briefly as it once was, but don't ever get to run around it; it's only the ruins of it that you can traverse.
Oh, and for me, Midgar is nowhere near my favourite. In fact, I don't care for it. I always rushed through the opening of VII back when I would replay it because my favourite parts of the game are anything OUTSIDE of Midgar. Balamb Garden for its tranquil atmosphere and how it's essentially your home for all of FFVIII, and Ishgard from FFXIV for how entwined the player character becomes within the city-state and its citizenry (not to mention the history that you can feel within Ishgard) are probably my top two. Rabanastre is up there, too. Okay, so that's three lol.
Zanarkand is an honorable mention. We see it briefly as it once was, but don't ever get to run around it; it's only the ruins of it that you can traverse.
Oh, and for me, Midgar is nowhere near my favourite. In fact, I don't care for it. I always rushed through the opening of VII back when I would replay it because my favourite parts of the game are anything OUTSIDE of Midgar. Balamb Garden for its tranquil atmosphere and how it's essentially your home for all of FFVIII, and Ishgard from FFXIV for how entwined the player character becomes within the city-state and its citizenry (not to mention the history that you can feel within Ishgard) are probably my top two. Rabanastre is up there, too. Okay, so that's three lol.
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