Summary
Square Enix’sFinal Fantasyseries is one of the biggest franchises in gaming, as it generally offers players quality in both narrative and gameplay that many other JRPGs can’t match. However, despite its original and inventive ideas, much like almost anything else,Final Fantasyhas been influencedby other media during its lifespan, with one of those most prominent influences being none other thanStar Wars.
TheFinal Fantasyseries is chock-full ofStar WarsEaster eggs, direct and indirect references alike. Many of the series' links toStar Warsare going to be clear to those who are fans of both IPs, but some other references do their best to be as obscure as possible in order to encourage further investigation.
The Biggest Star Wars Easter Eggs in the Final Fantasy Series
Biggs and Wedge Pay Homage to the Star Wars Characters of the Same Name
The most well-knownStar Warsreferences found in theFinal Fantasyseries are Biggs and Wedge — two recurring characters who have filled a variety of roles, but most consistently soldiers, guards, or engineers. As their names indicate, Biggs and Wedge are a direct tribute to Rebel pilotsBiggs Darklighter and Wedge Antillesfrom the originalStar Warstrilogy, though they are only a reference to the pilots in name.
Here isevery Biggs and Wedge appearancethroughout theFinal Fantasyseries, along with their roles in each appearance:
Biggs and Wedge have also been used in several installments of Square Enix’sKingdom Heartsseries.
Final Fantasy Has Made Many Direct References to Star Wars
Biggs and Wedge may be the most prominent references toStar Warsin theFinal Fantasyfranchise, but the series has gone out of its way to ensure there are plenty of clear, direct references toStar Warshidden in its dialogue, quests, and other characters as well.Final Fantasy 9, for example, incorporates directquotes fromStar Warsinto its dialogue. The final boss, Necron, quotes Yoda when it says, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Furthermore, Kuja quotes Emperor Palpatine when he says, “Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.”
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2features quests with titles like “It’s a Trap” and “I Got a Bad Feeling,” directly referencing Admiral Ackbar’s famous line and the well-known and much-repeatedStar Warsphrase, “I have a bad feeling about this,” respectively. InFinal Fantasy 6, Locke disguises himself as an enemy soldier to rescue Celes. Upon rescuing her, she says to him, “You’re awfully short for a soldier.” This scene is clearly a reference to Princess Leia’s comment toLuke Skywalkerduring her own rescue inA New Hope.
Many Indirect Star Wars References Have Also Been Made in Final Fantasy
Final Fantasyhas made a lot of indirect references toStar Warsas well, with most of them being subtle literary nods more than anything else. For example,Final Fantasy 2’s Leon, Maria’s brother, becomes the Dark Knight serving the emperor, which bears resemblance toAnakin Skywalker’s transformation inStar Wars.Final Fantasy 4’s Golbez is the antagonist who is eventually revealed to be the protagonist Cecil’s brother, serving as a parallel to Luke Skywalker’s relationship with his father, Darth Vader.
Biggs and Wedge may be the most prominent references toStar Warsin theFinal Fantasyfranchise, but the series has gone out of its way to ensure there are plenty of clear, direct references toStar Warshidden in its dialogue, quests, and other characters as well.
Final Fantasy 6features a moment where Kefka betrays Emperor Gestahl by throwing him off the Floating Continent, effectively mirroring Darth Vader’s betrayalof Emperor Palpatine inReturn of the Jedi. InFinal Fantasy 4, FuSoYa vanishes upon death, leaving only his robe behind, much like Obi-Wan Kenobi did during his duel with Darth Vader inA New Hope. Finally, the characterRed XIII fromFinal Fantasy 7has the real name Nanaki, which is an anagram of “Anakin,” Darth Vader’s true name.
Final Fantasy 12also draws significant inspiration fromStar Warswith some of its characters:
TheFinal Fantasyseries may stand as one of the most original and influential franchises in gaming, but its connection to and love forStar Warsis undeniable. From direct nods like Biggs and Wedge to subtle parallels integrated into its narratives,Final Fantasyoften pulls out all the stops to pay tribute to the galaxy far, far away in ways that both casual players and longtime fans can appreciate. These references aren’t justclever Easter eggs, however, as they ultimately show just how muchStar Warshas influenced storytelling across all forms of media, including one of gaming’s most beloved RPG series. AsFinal Fantasycontinues to evolve, it’s safe to assume that its love forStar Warswon’t fade anytime soon.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
