Crystals

Hi everyone!

I’m now going to talk about one of the most defining attributes of Final Fanatsy, and indeed a defining feature of JRPG’s in general; Crystals.

Well, it’s not just “Crystals”. Basically, it’s the plot relevant McGuffin that features in just about every game ever made. Whether it be Crystals, The One Ring, or Golden Fyggs (I’m not kidding!), they tend towards being a massive driving force behind the plot.

Now, my game doesn’t really have an item that functions as a McGuffin, but as Jeanné happens to be a kind of Holy Maiden, she’s effectively the McGuffin for my plot. Her awakening powers could be used for all manner of ends, so she fits the bill quite nicely.

That doesn’t mean that I won’t use Final Fantasy style Crystals at all, but they’ll probably take on a supporting role. I’m mentioning this because it could be a nice Homage to the origins of JRPG’s. (I know that Dragon Quest came first, but Final Fantasy is more recognisable in the West)

Now, before anyone gets started about this little post being off-topic or irrelevant, it actually has a purpose. You see, this “McGuffin” thing is prelavent in just about every fictional work out there. It even features in classical mythology, with items like the Trident of Poseidon. It’s a fairly common literary trope, that no-one can truly avoid when writing.