Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Good Guys Get Even More Screenshots

FinalFantasyXIV 9 670x376 Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’s Good Guys Get Even More Screenshots and Renders

Today Square Enix released a series of renders of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn‘s key allies, and tonight we got even more screenshots and renders of them, this time from the Japanese branch of the publisher.

In the gallery below you can see Minfilia, Thancred, Yda, Papalymo, Y’shtola, Louisoix, Urianger, the twins Alphinaud and Alisaie and Cid. Considering that Lousoix is supposedly dead, he obviously doesn’t have a screenshot of his own. Of course we don’t know if he’s really dead…

Incidentally, I just played a scene on the game’s beta involving Minfilia that put a large smile on my face. I won’t spoil it, but if you’re a returning player you’ll see what I mean rather soon, and you’ll understand as soon as you see it.

You can enjoy the gallery below and remember: if you didn’t play Final Fantasy XIV but plan to get on board with A Realm Reborn, and want to know who (almost) all of those characters are, you may want to read the eight chapters of my “The Story So Far” column, that will catch you up with the story and the cast, and let you see all the relevant cutscenes.

New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is on the last week of the third phase of the beta, and today Square Enix released a batch of new renders showcasing the key allies that we’ll meet through the story.

In the gallery below you can see the strong and beautiful Minfilia, the gentle womanizer Thancred, the flippant Yda, the wise Papalymo, the enigmatic Y’shtola, the fatherly Louisoix, Urianger the prophet, the twins Alphinaud and Alisaie and the brilliant chief of the Garlong Ironworks Cid nan Garlond, that seems to have gained a beard since the ending of the original Final Fantasy XIV.

If you didn’t play Final Fantasy XIV but plan to get on board with A Realm Reborn, and want to know who (almost) all of those characters are, you may want to read the eight chapters of my “The Story So Far” column, that will catch you up with the story and the cast, and let you see all the relevant cutscenes.

And yeah, Louisoix is supposed to be dead, but is he?

Minifilia 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesThangcred 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesYshtola 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key Allies
Yda 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesPapalymo 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesUrianger 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key Allies
AlphinaudAlisaie 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesCid 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key AlliesYshtola 150x150 New Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Renders Showcase Key Allies

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens It’d Like to Share

If thought yesterday’s news of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was all you were going to hear out of this series as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend, well, you’re wrong. Square Enix this morning uncrated another 17 images—nine of them screenshots, the rest concept art—plus that new trailer showing gameplay, for its rebooted MMO Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Scroll through the gallery above to see it all for yourself, don’t forget to click on the magnifying glass in the lower right corner to expand the images.

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ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

 

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

ku xlarge Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Has Screens and a Video Itd Like to Share, Too

Final Fantasy Xiv:Cie’th

Cie’th (シ骸, Shi-gai?, lit. “Cie Corpses”) [siːθ] is a term from Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2.250px Ff13 ss ciecorpses Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth

It refers to one of the two states that fall to a l’Cie; specifically to those who failed to complete their Focus in time. There are two types of Cie’th: Pulse Cie’th and Sanctum Cie’th. Pulse Cie’th appear more rugged and morbid, while the Sanctum Cie’th appear more smooth and crystalline.

Appearance and Personality
The Cie’th are best recognized by their crystallized and deformed appearance. While most of them are humanoid, a few of them are more monstrous. They do have a sort of hand/arm motif associated to them, as most of their most notable protrusions are or resemble deformed arms, with some of them having a pair of hands covering where their “eyes” should be. Most Cie’th have no emotions, intelligence, or goals, they just live trapped inside their crystallized bodies. They have long claws instead of hands, but they retain the facial features of their past selves. A pulsating red light in their chest keeps them alive.

The fal’Cie who created them also seem to influence the appearance that the Cie’th become. The Cie’th of Gran Pulse fal’Cie have what appears to be black, rough crystals formed all over their body, while the Cie’th of Barthandelus, a Cocoon fal’Cie, have mostly smooth, white crystals formed along their body.

The Cie’th are the non-sentient remains of a former l’Cie. They move purely on instinct and are known to be hostile towards living beings, including their former friends, which makes them widely feared as they also can wield magic. This is specially true to The Undying, a group of Cie’th whose hatred towards their former fal’Cie masters has made them all the more dangerous.

Only when they turn into Cie’th Stones do they show some of their former human selves, mostly their regret of failing their Focus and asking somebody to complete them in their stead so they can rest in peace.

Profile

180px Ghast FFXIII Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth
A l’Cie, when chosen by the fal’Cie, is marked with an incomplete brand; a tattoo-like inscription, when given a Focus. The brand completes itself over time, working as a timer for the l’Cie to complete their Focus. Should the l’Cie fail, or the time runs out, the l’Cie loses their humanity and crystals cover and twist their body. Their heart is sealed in endless despair, a fate far more torturous than death.

It is said the rate at which a l’Cie becomes a Cie’th depends on their psychological state; the more panicked and distressed a l’Cie is while completing their Focus, the faster they will turn into a Cie’th. Fang reveals that as time runs out, the Pulse l’Cie mark sprouts more and more arrows and eventually an eye, and when the eye is fully opened, they are transformed.

Fal’Cie can transform humans instantaneously into Cie’th by assigning them no Focus at all, as shown by the Cavalry soldiers all transforming into Sacrifice Cie’th on the way to Orphan’s Cradle. After the Day of Ragnarok, the Cie’th become scarce over time, although in one future in the year 400 AF, the Proto fal’Cie Adam uses Cie’th as its enforcers to wipe out any opposition to it.

Cie’th Stones

Main article: Cie’th Stone

It is possible for Cie’th to still complete their Focus, in which case they would still transform into crystals. Over the course of years, the energy of a Cie’th may dry out, in which case it would turn into a crystalline tombstone, unable to move about but gaining the ability to communicate and ask others to complete their Focus for them. These Cie’th Stones can be found in abundance throughout Gran Pulse.

The Undying

Main article: Undying (Final Fantasy XIII)

There is a powerful group of Cie’th known as The Undying, who have a unique appearance compared to the other Cie’th. These Cie’th defy the will of the fal’Cie that made them into l’Cie and are filled with hatred because of it toward everything that lives. In Final Fantasy XIII completing a mission which has one of these Cie’th as a mark normally allows the player to access a previously closed-off area, except for the first and last marks, which initiate and finish the series respectively.

FFXIII enemy Ghast Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth FFXIII enemy Wight Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth Vetala Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth 200px VercingetorixFinalFormRefPose Final Fantasy Xiv:Cieth

Final Fantasy Xiv:Main Theme:Zanarkand

“Listen to my story. This may be our last chance.”
—Opening words, Tidus  Final Fantasy Xiv:Zanarkand (Main Theme)

Zanarkand (ザナルカンドにて, Zanarukando nite?) or To Zanarkand is the main theme of Final Fantasy X, composed by Nobuo Uematsu.

Development

Uematsu got the idea of the tune for the opening theme from a flautist he consulted for help. He requested the tune to be used in Final Fantasy X and coaxed the team in using it for certain event scenes, but they weren’t convinced. In the end, they decided to try using it on the opening screen, and Uematsu was surprised that it was just perfect for it. In the end, the theme, together with “Suteki da ne,” became the game’s main theme, something Uematsu still finds hard to believe to this day.

Game appearances
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X’s “Movement in Green”
Music-harp
FFX – Movement in Green
Trouble with the audio sample?

The theme is first played during the game’s opening, which shows Tidus and the others at the ruins of Zanarkand as they prepare for the final leg of their pilgrimage.

This theme shares the greatest importance in the soundtrack, along with “Suteki da ne”, being played at various significant plot events, typically rearranged and under different titles, such as “Movement in Green”, “The Truth Revealed” and a large part of Final Fantasy X’s “Ending Theme”.
Dissidia Final Fantasy

An arrangement of “Zanarkand” known as “Movement in Green” in the English release appears in Dissidia Final Fantasy, playing in the Destiny Odyssey X storyline stage boards.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

This arrangement is reused in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy as Tidus’s world map theme.
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable

The original version of “To Zanarkand” is included in this crossover between Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest for the PlayStation Portable.

Final Fantasy Xiv:Music:Suteki da ne

“Every time I finish recording a theme song, I first have my wife listen to it. She gave high marks to all the previous songs, but she didn’t really care for “Suteki da ne.” I lost a little confidence then; but once the song was released, it made the top ten on the Japanese charts, so I’m relieved.”
—Nobuo Uematsu
250px Tidus %26 Yuna 1 Final Fantasy Xiv:Suteki da ne
“Suteki da ne” (素敵だね, Suteki da ne?, lit. “Isn’t It Wonderful?”) is a song used as the romantic theme in Final Fantasy X. It was written by Nobuo Uematsu and Kazushige Nojima, and was sung by RIKKI.

Lee Soo Young sung the Korean version of the song, titled (Eolmana joh-eulkka, lit. “Wouldn’t It Be Wonderful?”). It appears in the Korean version of Final Fantasy X International.

Development

Uematsu initially had difficulty composing the theme song for Final Fantasy X, even after having found the perfect singer. In the “Beyond Final Fantasy” feature, Uematsu explains the way he went about composing “Suteki da ne”.

“Regarding the theme song, my first concern was to find someone to sing it. The Asian-inspired theme had nothing to do with the choice, but since I was personally interested in Okinawan music my staff and I looked at various CDs of that particular region. That’s when one staff member found some CDs by Rikki. I had never heard a voice quite like hers and I contacted her immediately. After that, I had the chance to visit her hometown of Amami Ooshima and meet her several times. I had a certain image for the song in mind, but it was difficult to complete. The deadline was fast approaching so I tried changing my work environment to finish the song. I took the synthesizer from my office and brought it into the reception room. After the girls at the front desk left for the day I sat there alone through the night composing my songs. After this switch I was able to compose nearly ten songs in an hour. Any of them could have been used but I took the one I considered best for the theme. I completed the melody first so I had Nojima write the lyrics afterwards. We both celebrated the night it was completed.”
—Nobuo Uematsu
A music video of the song is included in the “Beyond Final Fantasy” feature included with the International and PAL versions of Final Fantasy.

FFXIV:Shinra Electric Power Company

For the group of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- missions, see Missions (Crisis Core)/Shinra Electric Company.

Shin ra logo Final Fantasy Xiv:Shinra Electric Power Company

The Shinra Electric Power Company (神羅電気動力株式会社, Shinra Denki Dōryoku Kabushiki-gaisha?), also known as Shinra Inc. (神羅カンパニー, Shinra Kanpanī?, lit. “Shinra Company”) and sometimes spelled Shin-Ra, is a company in the world of Final Fantasy VII. It is primarily a power company, supplying Mako energy to the world and making electricity efficient and easily available. Shinra also operates in genetic engineering, space exploration, and has a strong military power including the elite group SOLDIER. This military power, combined with their monopoly of Mako energy, gives Shinra a measure of control over the world populace.

Nearly every central character in the entire Compilation of Final Fantasy VII has been negatively affected by Shinra’s tyrannical rule, even many who work under its banner. The main characters of Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- and Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- work for the company.

 

Story

180px Shin raEmployees Final Fantasy Xiv:Shinra Electric Power Company
Shinra was originally a small weapons manufacturer known as the Shinra Manufacturing Works. When they discovered how to refine Lifestream into Mako energy as an electrical energy source, they exploded in power. The company spread power to the entire world, setting up Mako Reactors, quietly taking over every aspect of the Planet. With their ever-increasing finances, they expanded into many areas, including space exploration. As people became more dependent on Shinra’s power and goods, President Shinra, the owner of the company, became a global autocrat.

Starting a private army, using Mako energy to power the elite SOLDIER class and funding an undercover corps called the Turks, Shinra ruled with an iron fist. They began performing human experiments to create supersoldiers. When the people of Wutai disagreed with setting up Mako Reactors to their land, Shinra sent in their army to force their influence.
Shinra News LogoShinra News logo.

Shinra News Logo Final Fantasy Xiv:Shinra Electric Power CompanyShinra constructed the metropolis of Midgar, which houses the Shinra Headquarters and eight large Mako Reactors. Shinra controls the city and the lives of its people, although the company introduced a figure-head mayor. It obtained control of much of the world’s information and broadcasting services, and created a propaganda news service called “Shinra News”. The main purpose of this propaganda machine is to declare those considered disloyal to Shinra dead and to distort events to Shinra’s favor. In protest to Shinra’s lies, an anti-Shinra news service called “Shinra Truths” appeared. Both of these can be viewed as emails in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-.

Shinra pursues the Promised Land, a fertile land famous from Cetra legends; Shinra believes the land to be full of Mako energy, and plan to relocate their center of operations there in a project named Neo Midgar. Shinra goes through great lengths to create a person with Cetra’s power who could lead them to the Promised Land, but in the end, Neo Midgar is never built.

Dissent had long been felt among the people under Shinra’s rule. As the Mako Reactors destroy wildlife and outcast villages, people begin to despise their work. Many researched Mako, and realized Shinra was ripping life out of the Planet. Some Shinra employees desert as they discover the truths of the company, such as First Class SOLDIERs Zack Fair, Genesis Rhapsodos, Sephiroth, and Angeal Hewley. Anti-Shinra groups, such as the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE, and the Wutai Crescent Unit, spring up to combat the army. Even the Turks mutiny over their leader’s unfair treatment and the human rights abuses the company regularly performs, causing a major fallout of many members.

President Shinra is killed when Sephiroth enacts his plan to summon Meteor to harm the Planet, and takes over Jenova’s remains stored in the Shinra Headquarters, morphing her body into his image and slaying the President in his office. Vice President Rufus Shinra takes over the company and hunts Sephiroth down to North Crater, a site of immense Mako energy the company believes to be the Promised Land they have been looking for.
Shin-Ra Building-MeteorMeteor looming above the Shinra Headquarters.

Their dreams are cut short as Sephiroth successfully summons Meteor and the Weapons, 180px Shin Ra Building Meteor Final Fantasy Xiv:Shinra Electric Power Companythe Planet’s defense mechanism, are awakened and begin attacking Shinra’s sites of power. Shinra fails to destroy the Meteor with the Shinra No. 26 rocket. In an attempt to destroy the Weapons, Shinra fires the Sister Ray, a powerful Mako cannon, destroying Diamond Weapon. Diamond Weapon fires off a salvo of energy before dying, and causes heavy damage to the Shinra Building.

President Rufus Shinra, thought to have been killed in the explosion at the Shinra Building, survives after a daring rescue and evacuation process by Vincent Valentine and Yuffie Kisaragi. With the leader of Shinra thought dead, the other executives at Shinra go rogue and begin acting on their own volition. Reeve Tuesti, the head of Urban Development, is stripped of his title and imprisoned by Heidegger and Scarlet, the leaders of Turks and Shinra army and Shinra’s weapons development, who are soon killed while facing AVALANCHE.

Professor Hojo, the head of Shinra’s science department, is killed when he tries to use the Sister Ray to help Sephiroth. The final remaining Turks abandon their mission to hunt down AVALANCHE and decide to help evacuate Midgar instead. As the Meteor falls on the city, it rips apart what remains of Midgar. When the Lifestream ejects from the Planet to stop the Meteor, the people realize how important the Lifestream is, and Shinra can no longer use it popularly as an energy supply.

In a conversation between Reno and Rude in Healen Lodge in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, it is revealed that some Shinra employees are still dedicated to the company, and return to the company remnants to help atone for their past sins. Whether this refers only to the Turks or other employees as well is unknown.

Final Fantasy XIV Beta Phase 4-Apply ASAP

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn Featured 515x289 Final Fantasy XIV Beta Phase 4 Starting Soon; Apply ASAP

With Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn launching in roughly a month, Square Enix will be doing one last beta phase pretty soon, which will be an open beta to those who have registered.

For people who still have not registered or submitted an application yet, tomorrow, July 22nd is the last day to do so to be eligible in the beta phase 4. As we reported several weeks ago, the progress that you make in beta phase 4 will most likely carry over to the live servers when it launches on August 27th. Those who participated in beta phase 3 will be disappointed to know that their progress will be wiped out at the beginning of the final phase.

Here’s the information Square Enix released via their Lodestone site:

For those of you who have not yet applied for the Beta Test, please submit your application by Monday, July 22, 2013 (PDT).

Application Period:
Until Monday, July 22, 2013 (PDT)
* On the above date and time, the Beta Tester Application Site will be temporarily closed and will reopen when Beta Test phase 4(final Beta Test) begins.

Registration Period:
Until Tuesday, July 30, 2013, 9:59 p.m. (PDT)
* If your beta code has not been registered by the above date and time, you will need to resubmit your application at the Beta Tester Application Site once Beta Test phase 4 begins.

Participants of beta phase 3 will have to reinstall the client when beta phase 4 launches in the coming days or weeks.

There you have it folks! Beta phase 4 is almost upon us! Who’s excited?

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Game News :Final Fantasy Xiv:A Realm Reborn

250px FFXIV Excelsior Artwork Final Fantasy Xiv:A Realm RebornPromotional artwork for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, by Kazuya Takahashi. Several of the jobs and races in the game are depicted: Hyur, Lalafell, Mi’qote, Roegadyn and Elezen. In Latin, the word “excelsior” means “loftier” or “higher”, often taken in the sense of “ever upward!” – a fitting motto, given the game’s troubled history. The release of Final Fantasy XIV was met with widespread negative feedback, prompting Square Enix to issue an apology and replace the development team. A Realm Reborn is the title of the relaunched version, sharing the original’s world and lore, but rebuilding the game itself entirely. It is currently in the Beta phase of testing, with a full release anticipated later this year.

FFXiv:Imperial General Celes Chere

“Product of genetic engineering, battle-hardened Magitek Knight with a spirit as pure as snow.”
400px Celes Final Fantasy Xiv:Imperial General Celes Chere
Imperial General Celes Chere, from Final Fantasy VI. When the player first meets Celes, she has been branded a traitor for an unspecified reason, which is never revealed. Celes joins the Returners and contributes to their effort up until her apparent betrayal and rejoining the Empire.

The second half of the game begins with her as the leading character. Believing to be the last person left alive, she attempts to commit suicide by jumping off of a cliff into the ocean, yet she survives and later discovers proof that others may have survived the cataclysm.

Celes’ in-game sprite greatly differs from her conceptual artwork: the former depicts her wearing a white cape and green leotards. Her musical theme, simply called “Celes”, shares the central melody of one of the most notable pieces in the series, the Aria di Mezzo Carattere.