Besides Midgar, which settlements in Final Fantasy are the most iconic?

[Quinton]

And along similar lines, which settlements do you personally think of first and foremost? Mind you, I'm using the term "settlements" deliberately, as I feel like if I limit this to cities and towns some folks will wish I'd spoken more broadly when they bring stuff up like Balamb Garden or Gold Saucer. So instead we'll just say we're counting anywhere that is either a city, a town, or some sort of hub area with enough NPCs scattered about that it may as well be considered one anyway.

To be clear, the question is twofold. Firstly, do you think there are settlements in the Final Fantasy franchise "iconic" enough (among fans, gamers overall, the whole world, whatever) that they can be cited as almost up there with Midgar? Or even just as high? And on the other hand, tell us your own experience — is Narshe your Midgar, and Midgar just another JRPG city to you? Or maybe you really like Midgar, but your heart belongs to Lindblum, and that's the Final Fantasy settlement that you think of first. List some reasons why; feel free to nerd out while you do!

 

[Kalentan]

Does Zanarkand count or no?

Cause other than that (which I don't think counts), I'm not really sure.

 

[Pooh]

For some reason Figaro Castle jumps to mind when I think of FF towns/settlements

 

[Zaki2407]

I think Balamb Garden in FFVIII is quite unique. It's a school building which can fly.

 

[Jessie]

Final Fantasy VI has a ridiculous number of iconic areas, but I can't get this song out of my head

 

[Dullahan]

First three posts are literally my answer.

 

[Annabel]

Balamb Garden for sure.

 

[skeezx]

well there's midgar... and i think midgar?

kidding but i don't think anything comes off as remotely "iconic". i remember back when promo shots of FFVIII rolled around my friends and i were like "oh cool, so this Balamb thing is like Midgar...?"

 

[sredgrin]

Balamb and Rabanastre are the only ones that really stick out. FFX moves through locations too fast to really settle in, IX has Alexandria but it's kinda generic, and most of the pre PS1 era ones also move too fast or end up feeling generic in their towns.

 

[Hippopuncher12]

Figaro!

 

[Thiago]

Narshe.

Altissia is not iconic but it's gorgeous, I spent a lot of time there in appreciation.

 

[Rat King]

Rabanastre is my favourite.

 

[transience]

my takes:

FF1 - Coneria (this might only play with old heads, not sure)
FF4 - Baron
FF6 - Narshe, Figaro, maybe the Opera House
FF7 - Nibelheim
FF10 - Zanarkand

 

[Deleted member 2441]

Balamb and Zanarkand as pointed out. Going back to Zanarkand was a haunting moment, and Balamb Garden is just awesome.

Also, not a single player FF game and probably not up there with the top 3 (Midgar, Zanarkan and Balamb Garden) but I still love Ishgard in XIV. The music is iconic, some of Soken's very best work.

Day:


Night:

 

[Jessie]

You also have the moon in Final Fantasy IV, and Hell in Final Fantasy II.

 

[Noctis]

Balamb Garden

 

[RiOrius]

Golden Saucer is definitely up there.

 

[neptunez]

Balamb Garden

 

[Nida]

To those that played XI Jeuno.

 

[Lightning Lord]

Figaro Castle and Ishgard both come to mind. Also Narshe. Rabanastre is another good choice.

 

[MZZ]

Alexandria for me. The opening of FFIX really sticks to my mind and gives warm feelings.

 

[Deleted member 49319]

Cocoon.

 

[randomlee26]

There's so much fanfare about getting to Ishgard in FFXIV. It's not Midgar-level iconic but it's a great, interesting city that's integral to the plot.

 

[Mudo]

I don't think anything is as known as Midgar but I also really like:

—Narshe : what a magical way to start the game. It set the mood perfectly for the coming adventure and I can't get enough if industrial steampunk or whatever we want to call what it has going on.

—Baron from FF2(4 in Japan). This was my first FF and the beginning floored me. I'd never played an rpg and just walking around through the maze like castle and town was so amazing. Great music too.

—Opera House: FF3(6) this is a very iconic location due to the craziness that goes down there. The music and the play they do and the boss fight - all of it was just so good!

—Alexandria from FF9. A glorious return to super high fantasy EGS this town has a warmth to it. Lots to explore. Great music. So pretty.

—Rabanastre FF12. One of my favorite cities in any game. There are people all over. It's large but smartly laid out. The music is classic. This and Bhujerba (STUNNING) are both standouts.

 

[Aurongel]

Narshe sets the mood of FFVI almost immediately and is like a 16bit rough draft of steampunk ideas that would later form Midgar.

 

[Deleted member 18021]

where my windy bros at




Jeuno is probably the most iconic town in the game for a variety of reasons, but you can't forget your nation-state.

 

[Sanox]

Lindblum

Fantastic design, the arrival of the gang at Lindblum is great, it is part of one of the game's most dramatic moments

 

[Zukuu]

Balamb Garden, Dollet, Timber, Deling City, Esthar, Wutai, Rocket Town, Rabanastre and Alexandria spring to mind.

I gotta say, FF8 has really memorable cities.

 

[TKM]

The Grand Duchy of Jeuno Final Fantasy XI

Center staging ground of the game, many hundreds of hours LFG and crafting while waiting. I don't think there's a city in any game I've spent more time with.

 

[ANNeFRANKxGOKU]

the invisible city i couldn't find in ff8 and quit the game over it because i was like ten daffodils old

 

[FunMouse]

for me personally,
Balamb Garden - FFVIII
Besaid Island - FFX,
Zanarkand - FFX,
Rabanastre - FFXII.
Lima Lominsa - FFXIV
Ishgard - FFXIV

And the music themes for those places as well. So good!


So relaxing.

 

[Nida]

where my windy bros at




Jeuno is probably the most iconic town in the game for a variety of reasons, but you can't forget your nation-state.

Click to shrink...

Galka from Windy here.

 

[Duncan]

I think Balamb Garden in FFVIII is quite unique. It's a school building which can fly.

Click to shrink...

You might even say it's a BOARDING school!

 

[pleaseinsertdisctwo]

Altissia would've been the most iconic location in the series if it was used properly

But it wasn't

Same with Insomnia

 

[Dark Knight]

Nibelheim is as iconic as Midgar.

 

[RobotHaus]

Fantastic design, the arrival of the gang at Lindblum is great, it is part of one of the game's most dramatic moments

Click to shrink...

This for me. I loved this city and the fact you visit it multiple times cements it for me.

 

[Glasfrut]

No mention of Cosmo Canyon?

Oh...just had flashbacks of the Thunder Plains (FFX). Sure, it's not a settlement, but still...

 

[Kuro]

Ul'dah since no one mentioned it yet. Cool bar. Alleys for the ERPers. Trade guilds. Awesome MSQ NPCs. Dancers. Etc.

 

[XaosWolf]

VIIs Golden Saucer, Balamb Garden from VIII, Lindblum in IX...
People above already mentioned Ishgard and Limsa Lominsa from XIV. And I pick Limsa over the other 2 city states only because forest and sandy city have been covered a lot more in the series.
I'll also give a shoutout to Kugane and The Crystarium for being pretty unique in terms of FF.

 

[kiaaa]

If we stick to FF7, then I think Junon and Costa del Sol deserve mentions for different reasons. One has a city sized cannon and one is this goofy, little, laid-back town with some weird events.

 

[Y2Kev]

Fisherman's Wharf!

 

[Badcoo]

Fantastic design, the arrival of the gang at Lindblum is great, it is part of one of the game's most dramatic moments

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Got goosebumps looking at this. Best FF. If by some rare chance they remake this....

 

[Warukyure]

For all those FFXI players, I'm amazed no one says San d'Oria, in the old days they would always rank 1 in nation conquest. And there's also Aht Urghan's Whitegate which was literally New Jeuno from ToAU up until the Abyssea Era.

I think Narshe would also be the most iconic in FFVI, moreso than Figaro.

I would like to give a special mention to Rocket Town. You can see the rocket from the world map up until it's not there. Memorable Cid moments and that "@#$@$#$?! Tea".

 

[Haze]

Rabanastre is my favourite.

Click to shrink...

preach king

 

[mnk]

This thread needs more love for Lindblum.

 

[Lunchbox]

To me Cosmo Canyon is the definitive FF VII location.

 

[henhowc]

The moon in ffiv ^_^

 

[Alanood]

FFVI's Phantom Train and Opera? Do they count?

 

[SOLDIER]

While I wouldn't want an entire game centered around it like with Midgar, Wutai now has a chance to be significantly more fleshed out now thanks to the Remake.

 

[Dark_Castle]

I like Junon a lot.