There are many iconic RPGs in the gaming industry, but none manage to be both iconic and an enigma to players as the Final Fantasy titles are. With how each numbered entry features a different world and characters, the mechanics of every story differ between numbers greatly, which means many Final Fantasy players are often left having to learn an almost entirely new game every time they start one. Even still, there are many things that stay between games that help remind players that these RPGs are indeed Final Fantasy titles. After all, what would a Final Fantasy game be without moogles and chocobos, or even the hunt for the next Cid?
Many small details go into making sure that Final Fantasy keeps its identity even when the mechanics and gameplay are entirely different. Even as each Final Fantasy world has its own lore, they all tie together in an intricate web which Final Fantasy 14 goes to great lengths to explore. With the help of FF16 and FF14, the series seems to be embracing the way each and every Final Fantasy title ties together, and materia from Final Fantasy 7 could be a great help in this endeavor.
Final Fantasy Has Yet to Use Materia to Its Fullest Potential
Materia serves as a great way to manage players’ stats, magical abilities, and summons all in one handy menu with a few collectible items in Final Fantasy 7. While convenient, it also can make or break tough battles, or in the case of the original Final Fantasy 7 itself, entire playthroughs should players neglect to manage their gear properly. Materia is seen in practically every game in The Compilation of Final Fantasy 7, and it even appears in Final Fantasy 14 in a similar capacity.
In
Final Fantasy 14
, Materia aren’t all that important, but
during
FF14: Heavensward
and beyond
, they become an important stat booster to players’ gear that should be kept in mind when players find themselves struggling.
Due to how FF7 has Materia streamline many basic RPG features into one simple item, it has many purposes and has great weight as an in-game reward from simple side-quests, serving as key items, and an entire character is devoted to these tasks in the FF7 Remake trilogy known as Chadley. Materia are not only a very important item in-game, but the glowing orbs have become iconic to Final Fantasy in their own right over the years. Just as chocobo, moogles, and now the summons of Final Fantasy have taken on new forms with each and every game, it may be time for Materia to do the same.
Materia and Final Fantasy 16’s Eikons Should Bring More Twists to Final Fantasy Expectations
In Final Fantasy 16, the summons are given a much bigger spotlight than they’re usually given in that they’re tied to a character known as their “Dominant” who can use their powers, and even become them in times of great distress. It may come at the cost of the series’ usual summon mechanics, but the story of the Eikons and their Dominants serves as a heavy undertone to Final Fantasy 16‘s story about fate that has certainly stuck with fans as it’s seen as one of the best narratives of 2023.
With what Final Fantasy 16 managed to do with the summons fresh on players’ minds, it begs the question of what more could be done with Materia to flip the concept on its head in a new way in future titles. As Final Fantasy 16‘s later plot twists seem almost like the antithesis to the web connecting the series found in Final Fantasy 14, there could be similar twists that tackle themes like trapping magic, aether, or Mako into Materia and the ramifications that come with it versus magic’s natural uses. Or, it could simply be retooled in a way that makes the mechanic feel fresh and unique to the next Final Fantasy it appears in. Only time will tell where Square Enix takes the next title in the long-winded franchise, but it will most certainly be filled with surprises as always.
