So I just watched one of those trailer analysis videos with commentary, because I wanted to hear some insights that I didn't catch. But apparently, the commentators were low on sleep and just rambled about stuff without really analyzing anything. So, there are some things I noticed about the Final Fantasy XV (formerly FFvs13) trailer, shown at Sony's E3 2013 press conference.
At the beginning of the trailer, we have 2 children holding hands and running through a grassy field. Even though their faces are always out of frame, the voiceover is of a girl speaking to Noctis. Since older trailers for Final Fantasy Versus XIII often featured scenes with Stella and Noctis interacting, we can assume that the 2 children are young versions of Stella nad Noctis.
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| her dress reminds me of Namine's white dress |
Stella's dialogue in this voiceover, though translated as "I can't stay any longer," can more literally be translated as, "I can't not go." (At least, that's what it sounds like to me and my limited Japanese.) Though this more literal translation seems like a less desirable translation, because of the confusing double negative, English speakers have used the term "I can't not do [something]" to express more of a undeniable, restlessness to no longer be passive or to no longer deny an instinctual urge. Whereas "I can't stay any longer," suggests simply a need to run away from a situation. But since the visuals show Stella indeed running, that could be the case. Whether she is defined as a character who is restless to take action, or a character who wants to escape the world, is yet to be revealed. It could still go either way, because even though she is running, she is _leading_ Noctis, and leading is a very proactive position.
The other significance of the (possibly) more literal translation "I can't not go," is that it makes a more obvious parallel with Noctis's reply: "My heart won't let go", through the repetition of the same word "go". Their different reactions to the same subject demonstrate an immediate clash between Noctis's and Stella's motivations. This foreshadows older trailers' brief shots of Noctis and Stella seemingly preparing to duel each other. According to past information, expanding beyond the Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailers, Stella comes from a country that is in need of the crystal and she is given the job of retrieving it, while Noctis is in the position to protect it from everyone. If past Tetsuya Nomura stories indicate any trend, he seems fond of having former friends clash. Like Riku vs Sora, Zack vs Angeal, Axel vs Roxas, Aqua vs Ven, Squall vs Seifer, Tidus vs Jecht, Neku vs Joshua, and (if you count the admiration type relationships) Cloud vs Sephiroth. Personally, I think it's a technique that tests, and thus, emphasizes Nomura's reoccurring theme of emotional bonds transcending barriers (such as geographical distance or separation by death).
The contrast is clear between Noctis's hesitation and Stella's clear proactive character. She is motivated to action, while he (according to his tone) regrets his own inertia. Whether using the more literal translation of Noctis's line "My heart can't do it" or the official translation "My heart won't let go", the same implications are that Noctis's initial state at the beginning of his story include inability ("can't do it") and maybe a sense of helplessness. But the sense of regret and sorrow in his tone of voice, suggest that he is unhappy and restless with forcibly accepting that from himself. Perhaps this "forced acceptance" of unpalatable parts of the world, was the true meaning in the flashback, later in the trailer, when a young Noctis is told by his father to simply accept the unpalatable soup. (Though that scene also served to very effectively establish empathy for Noctis's father Regis and their relationship. Not only because Regis jokes with his son instead of reprimanding him, but because Regis demonstrates he us willing to put up with unpalatable things for other people's sake. Unfortunately, in myths and fairytales, many kings who let stand the stagnating parts of the world, turn into tyrants. It would not be surprising if eventually, Regis's sense of sacrificial acceptance, even for the sake of saving others, would lead to some conflict with the Hero, his son Noctis.) Many mythological based stories follow this initial illusion of entrapment for the hero, living in a false sense of helplessness and ineffectualness, which causes their passivity, nihilism, or reluctant, jaded acceptance of a wrong world/state, until a catalyst event, such as a "Call to Adventure", initiates the Hero's Journey.
And the trailer very quickly brings up this "catalyst event" / "Call to Adventure", when Noctis's home is attacked for the crystal and his father has fled, probably being hunted, as the voiceover of Noctis's friend suggests that they should find Regis before their attackers do.
That red-head in the hat...Doesn't he sound like Keiji Fujiwara? Fujiwara is not only the voice actor for Reno and Axel (both of whom are also red-heads), but he also seems to be repeating the same catchphrase. In Kingdom Hearts, Axel is known for saying "Got it memorized?" But he is also known for complaining, "Why do I always get stuck with all the icky jobs?" Whether Axel is referring to all the underhanded jobs he gets assigned in the Organization, to backstab fellow members, or whether Lea is referring to the more difficult tasks always falling on his shoulders, as in Dream Drop Distance, when he resolved to go search for their missing friends, it's just all too similar. In the E3 2013 trailer for Final Fantasy XV, the hat-wearing red-head is translated as muttering, "This is turning into quite the ordeal." But the Japansese line uses the word "mendousai", which is often translated as some annoying situation or task that just causes too much trouble. This is exactly the same thing that Axel always complains about in his secondary catchphrase. So don't be surprised if Quinton Flynn gets cast in the English dub of this red-headed hat-wearing character. So the question is, will this character turn out to be another "Shapeshifter", as myth scholar Joseph Campbell described as a character archetype having questionable and fluxing allegiances---initially seeming like an enemy, but later revealed to be a friend---just like Axel?
On screen, while Noctis hides behind a corner, his friends Gladioius(?) and Prompto are listed along with his HP, the the same way that Kingdom Hearts arranged its NPC battle partners' stats beside the playable characters'. In the same scene, both these characters, are also seen in the battle: jumping to attack enemies with a sword, and hiding behind cover, occaisionally firing a gun. It should be noted that, taking a cue from Noctis's name being Latin for "night", the names of his listed battle companions are also Latin. (This seems very appropriate since the architecture of the city, with its numerous water canals, appearing to be a city built atop water, and ornate building sculptures, are reminsicent of Venice, Italy.) Gladioius could be a misspelling with my bad eyes and lower resolution viewing, but "gladio" in Latin means "sword". And one of Noctis's battle partners does carry a very large, distinctive sword. The other friend of his, seen occaisionally as the blond boy assisting Noctis in battle with a gun, is presumedly the "Prompto" listed at the bottom-right menu. And in listening to the spunky, childish, and cheerful voiceover, combined with the blond character's energetic, playful body language (headlocking Noctis in older trailers and jumping to glomp Gladioius in the E3 2013 booth/gameplay trailer), he must be "Prompto", which is Latin for "ready". If "ready" in Latin can hold connotations of a spring ready to bounce all over the place at any and all times, then this character fits "Prompto". And so, once again in a Nomura story, we have a trio of friends.
I would also like to note that the left gameplay menu includes "LINK FORM", which sounds similar to Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep's "D-Link". In KHBBS, "D-Link" replaced the previous Kingdom Hearts games' Summoning function, by giving playable characters special attacks inspired by Disney characters, who would have normally been Summoned in the home console games. In FFXV, it looks as if this "Link Form" command may be the same as "D-Link". During the trailer's gameplay when Prompto shot his gun to help Noctis, the top command disappeared, while "Link Form" seemed just as inactive as before, on the menu. Therefore, a whole other character coming beside Noctis to fight for him, like a Summoning, did not activate "Link Form". So it's probable that "Link Form" is something different than a Summon (just as D-Link was). In previous clips, the top command on the menu was "Warp". This sounds reminiscent of the "Reversal" Reaction Command, which appeared whenever Sora or Roxas came close beside Dusk enemies in Kingdom Hearts II. So it's possible that the top action on the Commands menu could be for Reaction Commands. Not just Reaction Commands activated by specific enemies, but also pre-chosen command lists (like KHBBS), to activate special team-up attacks, in reaction to party member allies. Much like Kingdom Hearts II's "Session", in which Sora and Riku joined for a special attack. In the FFXV trailer, "Warp" disappears from the top of the Commands menu, just as Prompto appears to back-up Noctis. This has to be a Reaction Command.
In the gameplay trailer at Square Enix's E3 2013 booth, both Gladioius and Prompto are shown, not only attacking for Noctis, like Summoned characters, but also cooperating with Noctis for special attacks, like the partner type of Reaction Commands, in additioin to acting as support party members, battling alongside him, simultaneously, like Donald and Goofy did for Sora.
Also, if you should see this 2013 gameplay trailer, a lot of the battles are against a large horned creature, which also closes the end of the trailer. Is anyone else reminded of Kingdom Hearts's Behemoth?
But back to the trailer shown at the Sony press conference...
One of the perplexing scenes in the trailer, in regard to story, is the stand-off between Noctis's father (who I assume is named "Regis") and the old man dressed like a priest. The priests draw their weapons and the old man asks rhetorically, "So you've come for the crystal?" Then his tone challenges to contradict Regis's action to come to the priests for the crystal: "I needn't even tell you. The final crystal left to this world..." Then he trails off, smirking, while Regis's expression flinches. It's like they both know something about the nature of the crystal that others in the room do not know. Is the priest threatening to reveal that secret? Why is that a threat? Is Regis flinching at the prospect of that secret being revealed? And why would that reveal be detremental to him? I can only assume that Regis is not completely in control of this "mafia" that he has previously been described as the leader of. Regis went through the charade of confronting the priests, in an "attempt" to retrieve the crystal. He came to the priests for the crystal. Assuming the priests are thought of in that world as protectors of the crystal, it would make sense that Regis go to them for the crystal. But it also contradicts previous information that Noctis's family is a long line of crystal protectors. So perhaps this secret that both the old priest and Regis know, that the rest of the population does not know, is that the crystal is not actually kept by the priests. So where is it? Or rather, what is it that it is not kept by priests? What about its nature is so unfathomable, that their society needs to set up this facade priesthood, so that everyone can feel safe knowing that they are in charge of the crystal? My first instinct is to theorize that the crystal is not a crystal in the normal sense, and its true nature may threaten what/whomever Regis cares about (which, according to the soup scene, are his subordinates and his son). Combined with the fact that everyone seems to be waging wars for these crystals...Could the crystal actually be a person? Their soul? Noctis's soul? But maybe that's too far-fetched. Perhaps just use of the crystal threatens the whole world, even though people who fight to obtain it (like Stella and her country), probably think it will help them. If Noctis's family, including his father, are in the roles of protectors of the crystal(s) (according to old FFvs13 info), then they serve as "preserver" archetypes, while the antagonists can be expected to serve as agents of change (accompanied by destruction of everything in the current state/life). Afterall, the first obvious antagonist to appear in the trailer, starts with a voiceover about how the world is always changing. Perhaps this theme will be repeated in allegorical debates through battle or rivalries between characters. Noctis's father and the old priest could also be "2 sides of the same coin". In mythological terms, the preservation of a world/state can be a positive protection of people's current lives, or it can be the tyrannical maintenance of stagnation. Since Noctis's family and now these priests, both seem to be protectors of the crystal, then they both serve as "preservers". Typcially, representations of 2 polar interpretations of the same idea(l) often become rivals.
One of the last visuals of the trailer is a succession of close-ups of the main characters. On either end, we have Noctis and Stella. One stripe inward, we have Noctis's father and the old man who was threatening him over the crystals, during the stand-off in the trailer. Noctis and Stella were shown in previous FFvs13 trailers to be reluctantly duelling each other. The old priest and Noctis's father drew their weapons against each other. The commonality in both of these pairs is that they ended up fighting in direct opposition of each other. Therefore, this visual could be expected to be a portrait of the archrivals within FFXV. Very appropriate, since this game was originally called "Versus XIII" and the end of the trailer says "A World of the VERSUS Epic".
...Oh, man...Now I'm the one all sleep-deprived and rambling wierd things... x_x;;;
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