FF Weekly: Recent Episodes
Drew Creasman
Brothers Ira and Drew Creasman dive DEEP into every game in the Final Fantasy multiverse, focusing on themes, philosophies, social commentaries, and characters as well as music, art, and gameplay.
We are here to celebrate and discuss, not be cynical or hate.
NOTE: There IS material that could be considered political.
I've been thinking... what if nothing in Final Fantasy VII: Remake has changed? What if SPOILER is actually still SPOILER and there really isn't any time travel or alternate dimensions or sequel stuff going on? Allow me to explain.
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Austin Lee Matthews is the voice of Roche in Final Fantasy VII Remake. He has been Po and Ultron, been in Halo, Fire Emblem, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and plenty more. Plus, he has created a fantastic superhero audio drama, Megaton Girl. We cover as much as we can!
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We are joined by two special guests, afficionados in the Wars of the Roses, to learn a bit of real-world history that helps us better understand Final Fantasy Tactics and also Game of Thrones!
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Final Fantasy Tactics is an artistic triumph. It is better written than award-winning games, TV, and films, better developed than most video games, and more biting in its social commentary than most art dares to be. Our final thoughts.
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Hitoshi Sakimoto creates incredibly moving themes for Final Fantasy Tactics that he reworks like a film score into everything from adventurous hero music, to calming character themes, to some of the best battle music in the series.
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We breakdown the art and gameplay of FFT as best we can, focusing on the detailed and grounded designs that could have featured more diversity and all-time great job and battle systems.
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We conclude the plot of Final Fantasy Tactics which packs a whopper right at the very end. We dive into more ethical gray areas struggle to find clear answers in this remarkably clever tale.
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The War of the Lions concludes but not our story. And Delita's actions have us beginning to dive deep into whether they are justified in the end.
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Somehow the plots thicken. Dycedarg is interrogated on the death of his father. And the Marquis Elmdor reveals the power of his legendary stone.
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We near the endgame of FFT as we wrap up the side quests and get to a key scene where Delita sets us up for the final breathtaking act of this masterpiece.
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We begin Chapter 4 of FFT as the endgame starts to come into focus. Then we set out on some side adventures featuring legendary heroes of other lands.
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Grand Duke Barrington reveals himself to be among the most despicable people of all time and the Knights Templar fear a book that holds the truth of their religion.
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We continue with FFT as our characters struggle with revelations about the church and the grotesque abuses of powerful men.
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We dive deeper into the corruption of the church and crown and the role of misogyny in an episode that feels sadly and eerily relevant to today's world.
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Ramza Beolve is branded a heretic! The War of The Lions takes its toll on Dukes Larg and Goltanna while our heroes investigate the Church and the Zodiac Brave Stones.
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Chapter Two comes to a close as the curtain rises on the War of the Lions. We learn a shocking truth (or lie) about Princess Ovelia and the story changes genres.
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We meet Mustadio and his father and take the Mockingbird (Ovelia) into the arms of the Cardinal as the religious and spiritual themes of Final Fantasy Tactics begin to come into focus.
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The story of Final Fantasy: Tactics expands immensely as we learn about the myriad of political machinations of the War of the Lions. Who are the Dukes Goltanna and Larg, what do they want, and what does princess Ovelia have to do with all this?
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Ramza and Delita pursue the kidnappers of Delita's sister Tietra as the political machinations of Ivalice deepen and personal tragedy strikes.
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Ramza, Delita, and Argath set out on a quest to save the Marquis Elmdor from the Corpse Brigade only to discover that the rebels are quite a bit more than they seemed.
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Final Fantasy Tactics dives right into the class struggle between the nobility and "The Meager." Ramza and Delita set out on their first adventure as the Order of the Northern Sky clash with the Corpse Brigade.
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Welcome to Ivalice! We begin our deep dive on Final Fantasy Tactics, a hidden gem in the FF Multiverse and one of the best games of all time.
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We break down as many Final Fantasy games as we can from the perspective of Plato's Allegory of the Cave with a specific focus on the recurring theme of Twin Worlds. Spoilers ahead as we dive deep into the philosophical pool of most of the series.
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Drew ranks and Ira reacts to the Top 10 Final Fantasy Intros of All Time. This was VERY hard to do but also a ton of fun. What makes a great intro? Which one is your favorite?
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We give our final thoughts on Final Fantasy VII (for now) trying to review and encapsulate why this game & these characters mean so much to so many.
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FFVII introduces us to the Materia system, limit breaks, and a host of mini games. Plus, Tetsuya Nomura makes his mark on the franchise, designing some of the most famous characters in video game history.
We count down Drew's picks for the Top 20 pieces of music on Nobuo Uematsu's masterpiece soundtrack for Final Fantasy VII.
We go about the impossible task of ranking individual pieces of music on the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack mostly as a frame work to celebrate more genius from Nobuo Uematsu.
We conclude the incredible journey that is Final Fantasy VII. The story gives us much to ponder and debate as its credits roll... and long thereafter.
Cloud grows into being a leader. Barrett grows into being a helper. Tifa grows into being our guiding light. Cid grows... just a bit. And we learn the full truth of Aerith's sacrifice.
Final Fantasy VII reaches another emotional climax as Tifa helps Cloud piece together their shared history in our third telling of the Nibelheim incident.
Sephiroth takes Cloud and Tifa back to Nibelheim via their memories. We take a look at the history of "memory" as a theme in Final Fantasy and break down the real-world parallels to Cloud's mental break.
After Aerith's death, Cloud struggles with his identity while Sephiroth, Jenova, and Hojo begin to reveal their sinister intentions.
We discuss the most famous spoiler and arguably one of the most important moments in the history of video games. How and why was it so impactful, what other moments in other media compare, and must it be this way in the Remake project?
Cloud goes on a date. Four of em! Cait Sith exhibits ambiguous motives and mechanics, and Sephiroth reveals the plot to use Black Materia and summon Meteor.
Cloud and crew head back to Nibelheim and meet Vincent, then off to Rocket Town and an introduction to Cid. Then Yuffie steals our materia so we're off to the mystical land of Wutai.
We visit a magical place and see more examples of clumsy representation in FFVII. We hear a bit from John Eric Bentley (voice of Barrett) via Crashing Game night, and experience one of the most emotional moments of the game.
Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Nanaki learn about Barrett's past and visit the Gold Saucer for the first time. Plus, the real-world parallels to an energy company sending private military personnel to massacre a small town.
We comment on Rufus Shinra, the welcoming ceremony, and displays of military might. Plus, FFVII continues to blow us away with its presentation and complex themes on our way to Costa Del Sol.
The Nibelheim Incident in its original telling by Cloud Strife. Themes emerge more clearly surrounding memory, reliable narrators, the nature of magic, sympathetic villains, making choices in a crisis, and what gives you strength in moments of abject horror.
Our heroes infiltrate Shinra, learn about the Ancients, meet Red XIII, and walk the trail of blood in one of the more memorable segments of FFVII.
Cloud and Aerith infiltrate Wall Market, do a little cross dressing, find Tifa in a strange place and meet Don Corneo who reveals a larger conspiracy. Plus, the romantic elements of the story deepen.
In this episode, we make a promise to Tifa, meet Aerith Gainsborough and do a deep dive on her character, then begin to open up some of the deeper spiritual themes of Final Fantasy VII. Plus, more hints at Cloud's mysterious past, and a discussion on some of the ambiguous gender dynamic at play.
We dive into the complicated legacy of Barrett Wallace and begin to talk representation in FFVII. We also start to think about the consequences of the ecoterrorism and meet Tifa who hints at Cloud's past.
We begin our conversation on Final Fantasy VII. Before we can get into the game, we have to take a look at everything surrounding it and set the stage for why this is one of the most-discussed video games of all time. Then, we have just enough time to break down its iconic intro.
We conclude our conversation on what Final Fantasy VI has to say about fascism, bigotry, oppression, and community responsibility before examining its wonderful cast of characters and personal questions one last time.
Drew tries to make the argument that with FFVI, Nobuo Uematsu crafted the greatest soundtrack of all time... in any medium.
Final Fantasy VI does so much of its world building through its music. On this episode we discuss the places, battle, and event music that comprise one of the greatest soundtracks in any medium ever.
We discuss the art and gameplay of FFVI with a specific focus on the role and history of Steampunk. Plus, we spend a lot more time opining on how best to remake this classic.
We discuss the conclusion of Final Fantasy VI. How well does it work from a storytelling standpoint? Which character conclusions are perfect and which less so? And what can we learn with our final encounter with Kefka, God of Nihilism?
On this episode, Gau faces rejection, Cyan faces his own demons, literally and figuratively, the team faces down a sasquatch, and Terra once again faces a moment of truth.
It's an emotional episode as Celes surprises us with a rare act of self-doubt before picking up the pieces and scouring the world for the Returners. We meet back up with Sabin and Edgar and learn about the history of Setzer and Daryl.
We dive into the climactic moment of Final Fantasy VI's second act as our heroes are face off against Kefka on the Floating Continent.
Ira and Drew continue down the path of the Final Fantasy VI narrative. We learn about the history of the Esper world and get Terra's origin story. We discover the Sealed Gate and are forced to consider an uneasy peace with the empire.
The Returners infiltrate the Empire and the capitol city of Vector. They learn about the pasts of Kefka and General Leo, behold some overt fascist symbolism, and bear witness to the horrors of the Magitek Research Facility.
We discuss the Opera of Final Fantasy VI, how it helps to reinforce the themes of the overarching story, and why the music and moment have endured to this day.
We meet one of the greatest characters in franchise history, Celes Chere, and get introduced to a new element of Terra. Our heroes learn about a fateful coin flip and a long-lost love, and what an ancient war has to do with saving their friend.
We follow Sabin down his path to reuniting with Shadow, meeting Cyan and eventually Gau, and traversing through Doma, the phantom forest and a ghost train; one of the best story arcs in Final Fantasy history.
We are introduced to Edgar Roni Figaro, King of Figaro and relentless womanizer. We critique his character and debate his thematic purpose as Terra continues to search for herself while everyone races to use her as a weapon.
We begin Final Fantasy VI. This is the game that began our love of the series and it is nearly perfect in our eyes. Meet Terra, Locke, some moogles, and a truly magical steampunk world!
Ira and Drew wrap up their conversation on Chrono Trigger with a look at the biggest ideas and questions it presents. How gray can morality get on a long enough timeline? How fragile is civilization? And how great of a piece of art is Chrono Trigger especially when compared to the best of its genre and medium?
Ira and Drew discuss the event, battle, and scene music from Chrono Trigger. We take a listen to some of the most beloved video game pieces ever composed and try to offer some overall analysis of the entire soundtrack and its place among the greats.
Chrono Trigger has one of the best soundtracks of all time regardless of medium. We begin by listening to some CLASSIC character themes for Crono, Frog, Ayla, Magus, Robo, Schala and more. How do these themes add to the story and lore and why have they persevered through the years?
From the world-renowned stylings of Akira Toriyama to the still-engaging battle system and the innovative New Game Plus, we get into some of the most enduring elements of an all-time classic.
Ira and Drew conclude the plot of Chrono Trigger. We learn of the tragedy of Schala and the surprising fate of Crono. Smaller side stories emerge as their own fascinating fables. And the final confrontation with Lavos brings a satisfying conclusion to the story while plenty of questions remain.
We meet classic and beloved characters in Robo and Ayla, ponder what we can derive from the distant future and ancient past, learn about the Masamune, and discover the truth behind the man named Magus and his desire to summon the destroyer of the world, Lavos.
Chrono Trigger is quite simply one of the greatest games ever made. We begin our journey with this timeless classic, meet Crono, Lucca, and Marle and see right away why those who made CT are called the Dream Team.
Ira and Drew discuss the music of Final Fantasy V. Featuring a few standout classics from Dear Friends to Home Sweet Home to Battle on the Big Bridge, and some timeless melodies found in Music Box, Lenna's Theme, and Tenderness in the Air, is this one of Nobuo Uematsu's greatest achievements?
First, we have to give credit to the incredible talent that turned Yoshitaka Amano art into gorgeous pixels, Kazuko Shibuya. Then we dive into one of the best and most customizable JRPG systems in history.
We take a look at the character archetypes for Krile and ExDeath and defeat the odd villain in the final battle. The conversation then moves to the ultimate legacy of a game that is brimming with charm and has scores of fans but is still not considered (by consensus) among the best in the franchise.
We continue our conversation on Final Fantasy V. The ties to the rest of the franchise grow deeper and more interesting, the plot of ExDeath is revealed, and noble sacrifices are made including the death of a beloved main character.
We start on the plot, themes, and characters of Final Fantasy V. In a brighter story with a bit more humor, whimsy, and color, we are introduced to Bartz, Lenna, Galuf, and Faris and once again set out on a magical adventure to understand the power of the crystals and uncover a deeper plot at work.
We review the history, impact, and legacy of Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. A lost game in the series, it has an awesome soundtrack but mostly did not hit with fans.
Ira and Drew rank their Top 10 Cids. Plus, what makes a great Cid? Why did the Final Fantasy creators decide that they needed this type of character? What does he represent? And must there be a Cid?
We review the impact and legacy of Final Fantasy IV as a piece of art. We examine the big themes and characters one last time then dive into it's social commentary, industry impact, craft, and discuss how it stacks up with other Final Fantasy games.
From the stellar battle music to the unmistakable Celtic influence, to enduring character themes and a first foray into electronic/industrial tones, this soundtrack from Nobuo Uematsu stands as a masterpiece 27 years after it's release. W/ excerpts from Celtic Moon.
The invention of the active time battle system is one of the more intriguing moments in franchise history while almost all of the FFIV character designs have stood the test of time. We embark on a space whale and journey through a world of watercolor and ephemeral melancholy.
Our heroes go to the moon, uncover an alien plot, discover deep family ties, and bring the world together in climactic triumph. The discussion turns to the merits of speculative fiction, the strength of the themes embodied by the characters and events of the story, and what the adventures of Cecil, Kain, Rosa and the gang can tell us about who we are.
Final Fantasy IV continues as our characters begin to make heroic sacrifices, none more heartbreaking than Palom & Porom. Plus Rydia becomes one of the best characters in franchise history.
We begin Final Fantasy IV which introduces us to the twin moons, global themes, an expansive new Celtic-inspired world and soundtrack and loveable cast. We meet Rosa, Kain, Cid, and Rydia, and witness a great FF moment when Cecil, the dark knight, becomes a paladin.
Ira and Drew explore the many remakes, compilations, spinoffs, and adaptations of the Final Fantasy series. There are some treasured greats in Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics... and some less celebrated games like All The Bravest. Has Final Fantasy XV set a disturbing trend or is it blazing the trail for an innovative new way to tell stories? Is the Compilation of FFVII a cynical cash grab playing on nostalgia or an earnest attempt to expand on great ideas? What about World of Final Fantasy? Cast haste, we've much to discuss!
Is there merit in using cynicism or is it inherently mutually exclusive to criticism? From a famous laughing scene to dramatic reactions each time the games shifted tone or aesthetic, we look at a myriad of ways in which "contempt prior to investigation" acted as a shield to experiencing excellence in the arts.
Another lost game in the franchise, we talk about the difficulties of a game that has no definition version but still had a massive impact on the franchise. Of course, we couldn't talk about this game without getting into the job system. Then we dive into some of Nobuo Uematsu's best individual compositions and look into the deeper meaning behind its social commentary.
We meet Desch, Doga, Unei, and face off against the almighty Xande. We come across Moogles for the first time and need more than a few airships to get to the end. Inside a bit of a jumbled experience thanks to differing versions, we find a heart-warming tale about the preciousness of mortality and an important balance between light and darkness.
Final Fantasy puts its unique spin on the ancient history of folktales about gods and monsters. Cross-cultural myths and legends inform the role of these deity-like creatures. From nothing more than fancy magic spells to integral characters in sweeping stories, Ifrit and Shiva, Ramuh and Titan, Bahamut and Carbunkle, Odin and Alexander shape the cosmology of Final Fantasy.
We talk about the various job/class systems of Final Fantasy with focus on FFIII, FFV, FF Tactics, FF Tactics Advance, FFXIII, and FFXIV.
Nobuo Uematsu crafts a few more masterpieces, the art stagnates a bit, and Final Fantasy II introduces an incredibly interesting game play system... that the franchise never touched again.
FFII has some issues in hindsight but was still vitally important to the franchise for introducing staples like Chocobos and Cid and perhaps the most important one of all - the principle that each new game have a new world, story, and cast of characters.
Drawing from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Studio Ghibli and a few others, we talk about how the Empire vs. Rebels trope is used in Final Fantasy. The Dark Knight, the Super Weapon, the Turncoat, Industry vs. Nature, Pluralism vs. Individualism and the question of whether or not conquest alone makes an empire nefarious or if true evil lies in something else.
The brothers Creasman explain their preferences in evaluating art, looking at how this podcast will be different from retroactive reviews of video games. Then we apply that rubric to the first Final Fantasy.
We begin our ongoing celebrations of Nobuo Uematsu and Yoshitaka Amano as the art and music of Final Fantasy take us to entirely new worlds and introduce us to classic beloved characters.
We conclude the OG Final Fantasy and dive into a philosophical debate about time loops and the nature of free will.
The first Final Fantasy game sets the stage by introducing us to the crystals (orbs) Garland, Matoya, Chaos, and the Warriors of Light.
Welcome back to Final Fantasy Weekly! Brothers Ira and Drew explain their love for the King of JRPGs and their intentions with this long-running deep dive series.