Unveiling the Mythical Realms: A Deeper Look into Final Fantasy 16's Valisthea vs FF7's Gaia

The world of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16 is not just a backdrop, but a character in its own right, comparable to the non-playable characters that players team up with or battle against. While Valisthea has its own unique narrative, it is evident that it draws inspiration from Final Fantasy 7's Gaia, the world it is set in.

Despite the differences between these two worlds, particularly in terms of their inhabitants and the various Kingdoms that have emerged, the parallels between Final Fantasy 16's environmental theme and Valisthea's harmony or lack thereof with its own planet are strikingly similar to the underlying message found in Final Fantasy 7.

Warring Nations on a Larger Scale

Valisthea and Gaia differ significantly in terms of their geopolitical landscapes. In Final Fantasy 16, Valisthea is characterized by numerous nations that have established their own distinct territories across the medieval world. These nations operate independently from one another, each striving to gain control over the various Mothercrystals. This intricate web of political maneuvering and power struggles resembles the complex dynamics of Westeros in Game of Thrones. Clive, the protagonist, finds himself amidst this intense political climate, although his personal quest to uncover the truth about Ifrit and his own past takes precedence over the ongoing wars.

On the other hand, Final Fantasy 7's Gaia presents a contrasting scenario. The conflict primarily revolves around the Shinra corporation's war with Wutai, a foreign country. These two factions are the main players with vested interests in the planet. As a result, Gaia lacks the same level of political intrigue found in Valisthea. Furthermore, Wutai's primary objective is to maintain its independence from Shinra and it remains geographically isolated, separated by an ocean on the other side of the planet.

Return of Final Fantasy 7's Environmental Message

The conflict between Valisthea and Gaia revolves around the same concept that was considered radical when Final Fantasy 7 was released. Both worlds rely on the Mothercrystals and Mako Reactors to provide their inhabitants with a comfortable life. This parallel not only establishes a connection between the two worlds, but it also portrays Final Fantasy 16's Cid as more similar to Final Fantasy 7's Barret than any previous versions of Cid in the franchise.

In one of the early missions of Final Fantasy 16, it is revealed that the Mothercrystals, which the people of Valisthea heavily rely on, are also responsible for the Blight that has been causing chaos worldwide. The Mothercrystals and their smaller crystal counterparts harness the aether in the air to create magic. This process of extracting the planet's Lifestream and utilizing it for power mirrors the actions of the Shinra Electric Power Company in Final Fantasy 7, which extracts Mako energy from the planet to supply electricity to major cities.

The extraction of the Lifestream in Final Fantasy 7 and the drawing of power from Gaia in Final Fantasy 16 have a comparable impact on their respective worlds. In both games, the natural environments surrounding the reactors deteriorate and perish. This similarity in environmental consequences serves as a metaphor for the detrimental effects of large nations relying on the world's resources for their own power and convenience. Consequently, the conflicts between nations in both Gaia and Valisthea share similarities, further emphasizing the parallel between the two worlds. Final Fantasy 16 can be played on the PS5 platform.