For a series that has lasted over thirty years, Final Fantasy has certainly made sure to keep things fresh. Each entry is different from the last with only several aspects combining together in order to make them at least feel like they belong in the same franchise.
There is a definite vibe to them all even though more sci-fi entries like Final Fantasy VII may seem like a far cry off from the high fantasy setting of the original. These vibes are not this article’s focus today. What will be discussed are the darkest moments that happened across the mainline and spinoff entries. Let’s find out which game was, and still is, the most disturbing. There are, of coarse, SPOILERS ahead.
10 Aeris’ Death (Final Fantasy VII)
Aeris, or Aerith depending on if one is a stickler or not, dying was a complete surprise in Final Fantasy VII. Even though it was clear Cloud and Tifa had a past, Aeris was the one the game was setting up as the love interest. That image of her body going lifeless as Sephiroth does his deed will be ingrained in the minds of gamers for all eternity. Sure, Final Fantasy characters had perished before, but not quite as dramatically as this. How will this look in the remake?
9 Palom And Porom’s Sacrifice (Final Fantasy IV)
Slightly more shocking than a death was the fate that befell Palom And Porom in Final Fantasy IV. While their age has never been concretely decided, they are to assumed to be at least less than ten. For two children to use their bodies and be turned to stone then was an ultimate sacrifice. They were eventually revived , but the very idea of making two children go through that rite, healing, or no, was a grim moment.
8 Guardian Force Mind Wipe (Final Fantasy VIII)
Up to this point Summons, whatever their name was from Espers to Guardian Forces, were always thought of as good creatures. Final Fantasy VIII decided that their power needed to have some consequence so toward the very end of the game it was revealed that the party knew and grew up together.
Not only that, but their nemesis, Edea, was their caretaker. Using Guardian Forces caused their memories to have been wiped. This may be more of an example of how something doesn’t make sense, but regardless of the logic, it is a deep repercussion to power that should be applauded on some level.
7 Tidus Was Dead The Whole Time (Final Fantasy X)
What could be worse than watching a teammate die, or to have them turned to stone? Finding out the main character was dead the whole time. Yes, somehow Tidus defied the laws of his world and escaped death, or the realization that he was dead, until the very last scene of the game.
How could one not know they are dead? The question of how doesn’t matter. What does is the idea of falling in love only to have that bond be broken at the end of a long, grueling journey.
6 Cloud’s Internal Revelation (Final Fantasy VII)
A similar revelation happens to Cloud toward the last third of Final Fantasy VII. He’s not dead, but is instead taking the identity of a friend that did die, Zack, and made himself believe Zack’s story to be his own. This realization is coaxed along by Tifa somehow inside Cloud’s head. Again, this article is not here to question plot holes. Suffice it to say Cloud needs a lot of therapy.
5 Vivi’s Existential Crisis (Final Fantasy IX)
What is darker than that is not being able to find one’s identity at all. For what is seemingly a child, Vivi is constantly pressured into dealing with his creation. Where did he come from and to what purpose was he made? Not only that, but when he does find friends, or black mages like him, they turn out to be evil. Out of the main cast, Vivi’s storyline is the best of the bunch in that it’s not afraid to take some disturbing turns.
4 Burmecian Genocide (Final Fantasy IX)
One death, or several are bad, sure, but what about the idea of an evil queen committing genocide? Yeah, that happens in Final Fantasy IX to the Burmecians aka the rat people Freya is associated with. Not only do thousands die, but both of their homes were also destroyed in the process. Thankfully it is not a complete genocide, but it is close enough to bring down the Burmecian population considerably.
3 The End Of The World (Final Fantasy VI)
Final Fantasy VI defied expectations of not just RPGs, but games in general. It did the unthinkable. It let the bad guy win thus causing the literal end, or near end, of the world. An ancient city crash lands into the planet ushering in an age of destruction and misery.
At the end of the day the heroes did manage to rebuild, but at what cost? This game’s boldness is one of several reasons that cement Final Fantasy VI as one of the best, and darkest, entries in the series.
2 The Cycle Of Sin (Final Fantasy X)
The idea of a Summoner traveling to then an arduous journey to then sacrifice themself for the greater good is one thing, but that is nothing compared to the first of several final bosses that await Tidus and his party. First of all, Jecht, his father, has become an ethereal guardian and must be slain in order to save the world. Then in order to rid the world of this cyclical force, they ascend into the heavens to fight God itself. What could be darker than killing one’s father and God?
1 Final Fantasy Tactics
The entirety of Final Fantasy Tactics wins the race for the most mature and grim entry in the franchise. It combines almost every aspect of the entries above and more. An evil religion is ruling the world from the shadows. This is an age after the fall of a highly civilized set of races, which is to say technology is scarce and many of those said races are extinct. Oh right and in order to save the world Ramza has to kill his sister who is possessed by an evil god. He also cannot take credit in the process and instead be deemed a heretic. Yeah, Final Fantasy Tactics goes some places.