Final Fantasy 14is no stranger to honoring its franchise roots. From boss fights to entire raid series, Square Enix has continued weaving legacy titles into the MMO’s narrative and gameplay. But while fan favorites likeFinal Fantasy 4andFinal Fantasy 6have seen extensive representation,Final Fantasy 8remains comparatively underused—despite having already made quiet, impactful appearances.
Composer Masayoshi Soken has expressed interest in expandingFinal Fantasy 8’s influence inFinal Fantasy 14, but only if the context fits. That caveat may be limiting the broader potential for more integrated tributes to the game’s themes, characters, and unique aesthetic. Yet, there’s still plenty of room to do more, especially through music, dungeons, and area design that embracesFinal Fantasy 8’s distinct tone.
Final Fantasy 14’s Existing (and Possible Future) Final Fantasy 8 Tributes
Final Fantasy 8’s influence can already be found in some ofFinal Fantasy 14’s major systems and expansions. TheGunbreaker job, introduced inShadowbringers, is directly inspired by Squall Leonhart’s iconic weapon, the gunblade. But instead of tying the class to Balamb Garden or SeeD in the narrative, the job is given an entirely new origin, leaving only subtle hints of its source material.
TheEdenraid series is the most overt homage toFinal Fantasy 8. Named after the ultimateGuardian Forcein that game, Eden transforms the boss into a central figure inFinal Fantasy 14’sShadowbringerspost-launch narrative. While the reinterpretation is compelling, it reimagines Eden so drastically that the original connection might be lost on those unfamiliar withFinal Fantasy 8. Still, it represents one of the few times a raid series has drawn from the title.
Final Fantasy 8 Music Deserves More Spotlight in FF14
Soken and theFinal Fantasy 14teamhave incorporated severalFinal Fantasy 8tracks into the game, often through Triple Triad or instanced content. Blue Fields plays hauntingly in The Empty, an area that visually mirrors the desolation ofFinal Fantasy 8’s futuristic settings. Don’t Be Afraid and Force Your Way serve as battle tracks, preserving their high-energy orchestration while modernizing their instrumentation.
However, many ofFinal Fantasy 8’s most emotionally resonant pieces—like Eyes On Me, Fragments of Memories, or The Oath—have yet to make their way into the MMO. These tracks could serve as themes for new zones, questlines, or instanced content. Soken’s skill at adapting musical styles would allow him to emulateFinal Fantasy 8’s moody, synth-driven palette without direct reuse. A new piano or orchestral arrangement of The Oath, for example, could easily accompany a cutscene involving sacrifice or reflection—two core themes of both games.
Final Fantasy 14 Could Expand Final Fantasy 8 Visually
Final Fantasy 14could also benefit from exploring visual or location-based tributes toFinal Fantasy 8. One of the most popular areas from that game,Balamb Garden, could be recreated as a floating hub area or dungeon entrance. A visual nod to its revolving halls and glass-walled classrooms would give longtime fans a rewarding sense of recognition while introducing a new generation to its sci-fi academic setting.
Other areas like thecity of Deling or the futuristic Lunar Basecould work well as instanced dungeons or trial arenas. These zones offer unique aesthetics distinct from what currently exists inFinal Fantasy 14. For example, a multi-phase dungeon could begin on the streets of Deling before moving into its presidential palace, culminating in a boss battle with a sorceress projection pulled from the Rift. Even if not canon, these alternate-reality zones could be introduced through the game’s existing mechanisms for cross-dimensional travel.
FF8 Characters and Parallels Offer Another Opportunity
Final Fantasy 14has featured alternate-universe versions of characters before, andFinal Fantasy 8could benefit from the same treatment. A sorceress-like figure, modeled after Edea but reimagined forHydaelyn’s lore, could appear in a future expansion.
These additions wouldn’t just act as fanservice—they could reinforce some ofFinal Fantasy 14’s ongoing themes of conflict, identity, and time.Final Fantasy 8’s story revolves around lost memories and uncertain fates, and those motifs are echoed in expansions likeEndwalkerandShadowbringers. That overlap makesFinal Fantasy 8a more fitting companion piece than it’s often given credit for.
Final Fantasy 14has already laid the groundwork for deeperFinal Fantasy 8representation. With thoughtful music choices, bold visual nods, and character parallels, Square Enix could finally bring one of its most overlooked entries into the spotlight it deserves.
