Final Fantasy Creators Reveal The True Origins of the Franchise's Name

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy and the launch of the Pixel Remaster collection (as well as the 60th birthday of the franchise’s creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi), Square Enix conducted an interview that dives into the origins of the series. For that interview, Sakaguchi reunites with longtime Final Fantasy alums Kazuko Shibuya and Yoshinori Kitase to drink champagne and answer burning questions about the franchise. In the process, the trio shed a little light on the long-rumored origins of Final Fantasy‘s name.

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You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but when trying to attract audiences, a catchy title can help any piece of media stand out in a crowd. For many games, simply going with the name of the title’s protagonist is the safest bet. Just ask Sonic and Mario. But some game titles are a little more unorthodox, which usually inspires fans to search for their origins. Sometimes that search results in urban legends that take on a life of their own. Well, when it comes to the origins of the name “Final Fantasy,” though, that series creators have finally decided to set the record straight.

Legend has it that developer Squaresoft was on its last legs and decided to put all of its efforts and resources into one last major project: a fantasy role-playing title. What would the game be called? Well, since Squaresoft developers went into the project under the assumption that it could very well be the studio’s final title, why not call it “Final Fantasy?” For years, that’s been the most popular version of the story of how one of gaming’s most famous role-playing franchises got its iconic name. It’s a story worthy of the incredible narratives that have since come to define the series itself. The only trouble is that it’s not exactly true.

According to Sakaguchi, the name “Final Fantasy” was actually inspired by two different sources: Dragon Quest and the Fighting Fantasy line of novels. As he recalls, the Dragon Quest series was starting to establish itself when the game’s publishers, Enix, supposedly discussed shortening the series’ name to “Drakue.” Sakaguchi’s team was inspired by that decision and wanted to give their own game a name that could be easily shortened using the Roman alphabet.

How to get Orichalcum in Final Fantasy 16

How to get Orichalcum for crafting.

Orichalcum is a crafting material in Final Fantasy 16 needed to create useful items like the Gotterdammerung sword.

As you need multiple pieces of Orichalcum to make Gotterdammerung and other accessories we’ve detailed how to get Orichalcum in Final Fantasy 16 below.

How to get Orichalcum in Final Fantasy 16
To get Orichalcum in Final Fantasy 16 you have to complete:
‘Under New Management II’ side quest
The Breaker of Worlds (Atlas) Hunt
Ruin Reawakened (Svarog) Hunt
The Tricephalic Terror (Gorgimera) Hunt
The Masterless Marauder (Behemoth King) Hunt
You get one Orichalcum for completing each of these activities, for a total of five Orichalcum available during a normal playthrough.
Under New Management II
As long as you have completed the first part of the questline, the side quest ‘Under New Management II’ comes available to pick up from Isabelle at The Veil in Sanbreque during the ‘Back to Their Origin’ main quest.

This is a pretty easy quest, but it’s not available until right at the end of the game, so you might want to go on some Hunts for some Orichalcum instead.

The Breaker of Worlds (Atlas) Hunt

The Breaker of Worlds Hunt is actually called Atlas, and it appears on the Hunt Board after completing the ‘Into the Darkness’ main quest.

The Breaker of Worlds is located to the very east of Cressida in the Rosaria Province, which is south of The Broken Hilt and east of Martha’s Rest. Fast travel to Eastpool and then make your way south for the quickest route.

Ruin Reawakened (Svarog) Hunt

Ruin Reawakened, also known as Svarog, appears on the Hunt Board after completing the ‘Fire in the Sky’ main quest.

Once you’ve unlocked it, Ruin Reawakened is located in the southern corner of Mornebrume in Sanbreque, which is south of Glorieuse and east of Norvent Valley. Fast travel to the Caer Norvent Glorieuse Gate obelisk and then make your way south for the quickest route.

Final Fantasy is a highly popular and long-running series of role-playing video games developed and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). The franchise was first created by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 1987, and it has since become one of the most successful and influential video game franchises in the role-playing genre.

Each installment in the Final Fantasy series typically features its own unique world, characters, and storyline, although there are often recurring themes, gameplay elements, and creatures throughout the series. The games often incorporate a mix of fantasy, science fiction, and mythology, and they are known for their intricate narratives, memorable characters, and visually stunning worlds.

Gameplay in Final Fantasy titles usually involves controlling a party of characters who embark on quests, battles, and exploration within a large and open-ended game world. The combat systems can vary from turn-based to real-time, and players often engage in strategic battles, character customization, and the progression of their party members’ abilities and skills.

The Final Fantasy series has garnered a massive fan base worldwide, and it has expanded beyond just video games to include various spin-offs, sequels, movies, novels, manga, and anime adaptations. Each new installment in the series often brings innovative gameplay mechanics, breathtaking visuals, and captivating stories, making Final Fantasy a beloved and enduring franchise in the gaming industry.