Summary
Final Fantasyis a series full of powerfulsummonsthat can turn the tide of battle in a flash. Given the impact that these behemoths have, it’s easy to see why some games in the series give them a major role in the story.
Watching these gargantuan summons destroy everything in their wake is an astounding experience, as players are left in awe of their power. The story usually reaches a breaking point whenever these summons get to shine and show off their power for everyone to see. However,summons are occasionally used for more than just powerful attacks in combat and play a critical role in the narrative ofFinal Fantasygames.
From the moment Rydia summons Titan to punish Cecil and Kain, it’s clear that she’s going to be one of the most powerful characters inFinal Fantasy 4. However, she’s just a kid who gets roped into an adventure way above her abilities, eventually falling off a ship after Leviathan attacks it.
However, instead of drowning, the King of the Eidolons brings Rydia back to the Feymarch, where she ages at a rapid rate and learns how to control the power of massive Eidolons. While she loses her ability to use white magic, her tutelage under these Eidolons allows her to become a powerful Black Mage and Summoner who can tear her enemies to shreds.
The magicite that players find inFinal Fantasy 6harbors the essence of Espers who have lost their bodies and only exist as energy crystals. This leads to iconic summons like Ifrit and Shiva sacrificing themselves to help the heroes save them from the tyranny of the Empire.
Terra herself is a half-Esper, with her father, Maduin, an Esper himself, falling in love with a human woman. However, the Gestahlian Empire sought to utilize its power for magitek research and capture some of the most powerful Espers to harness their energy, further underscoring the regime’s evil nature.
Final Fantasy 8boasts one of the weirdest plot twists of all time that revolves around the use of Guardian Forces. Irvine makes it clear to the party that their reliance on GFs has caused them to lose their memories, forgetting that they all come from the same orphanage.
Ultimecia herself utilizes the power of a Guardian Force named by the player at the start of the game, merging with it in the third phase of her boss battle. Thesummon animations inFinal Fantasy 8are in a class of their own and still wow players who have nostalgic memories about this title.
The beauty ofFinal Fantasy 9stems from the respect it pays to the series. Some of the most iconic summons in the series play a major role, such asAlexander, Atomos, and the dragon king Bahamut himself.
Bahamut plays a notable role in the story when it turns on Queen Brahne courtesy of Kuja’s trickery and obliterates her with Mega Flare. She manages to whisper to Garnet her last words and apologizes for using her summoning power for evil before passing away.
The journey of the Summoner as they acquire their Aeons before eventually sacrificing themselves to save Sin plays a huge role inFinal Fantasy 10. With every trial,Yuna gains access to greater powerand can summon Aeons deliver potent attacks and leave her enemies in tatters.
Each fight against an Aeon is no joke and requires that players use the best strategies possible to defeat them.Final Fantasy 10also features Dark Aeons that serve as supercharged evil versions of Yuna’s summons, acting as the final series of bosses that gatekeep the fight against Penance.
Out of the manyFinal Fantasygames, most people believe thatFinal Fantasy 14places a significant focus on the Astrals that inhabit the world. The fact thatBahamut was responsible for nuking the original world ofFinal Fantasy 14made for a perfect excuse to let fans enjoyA Realm Reborn.
Final Fantasy 14has never looked back since, with other Astrals also playing a key role in major story events. A notable mention is Shiva inHeavensward, who has a significant role in the plot and is even encountered as a boss later on.
Final Fantasy 15has perhaps the most bombastic take on summons in the series. Noctis can acquire the powers of these Astrals and summon them under certain conditions in combat to deal incredible damage and wipe the battlefield almost every single time.
Almost every Astral plays a major role in the story, with the maddened Ifrit being calmed down by Shiva after Bahamut comes in clutch to weaken it. The boss fights against these titanic beings are impressive and do a great job of conveying just how strong Noctis' royal powers are, that he’s able to take on these massive beings despite being so puny in comparison.
Final Fantasy 16boasts a selection of Eikons who are extremely relevant to the story, with Dominants being able to channel their power and becoming useful tools of war in the process. Clive is revealed to be the Dominant of Ifrit, with other Eikons playing a major role in the story as boss fights that Clive must overcome in his transformed state.
Once an Eikon is defeated, Clive gains their abilities and can channel various powerful attacks in combat to beat his foes to a pulp. The major role that these Eikons play in the story is genuinely refreshing and does a great job of makingFinal Fantasy 16’s bombastic combat feel more epic than ever.
