Recently, Blake Rasmussen revealed on the Weekly MTG stream that we would be getting our first look at Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy on February 18th. For those playing at home, that's less than one week away taking place next Tuesday, likely at 1PM EST/10AM PST. Blake will be joined by Gavin Verhey where they show all kinds of goodies related to Final Fantasy, be it art or possibly cards.

I've spoken at length before about how much I love the Final Fantasy series. In the early 2000s, I had my own Geocities fan site and hung around forums dedicated to Final Fantasy, meeting my first non-US based friends in the process. I would even make my own Magic cards based around Final Fantasy characters! As such, it's really hard to overstate just how excited I am for this set. So, ahead of the upcoming first look stream and the fact that all sixteen titles are represented, I want to go through each mainline title and pick a character (or group of characters if they feel hard to separate) that I want to see in the set.

Now let's be clear about something up front: despite being a long time Final Fantasy fan, there are still a number of titles in the series I haven't played or else haven't finished. As such, some of the games in the series might not be represented on this list, particularly XV and XVI, as I haven't had an opportunity to get to know the characters in them. Some also may seem like dark horse outliers, like how I never got super far in Final Fantasy XIV Online so I'm less knowledgeable on major characters in the game's later expansions.

Final Fantasy I - Garland/Chaos

Ever wonder what it's like to be stuck in a time loop? Because Garland sure has. Let's be honest: most of the original Final Fantasy's characters aren't particularly memorable, nor do they stand out much. Your team is little more than a band of generic, nameless characters and your enemies are more or less your typical Dungeons & Dragons monsters. The game had beholders, mindflayers, and Tiamat for crying out loud - something I alluded to when I wrote about Tiamat the card a few years ago.

That having been said, though, it's hard to forget the first time you play through the game and face off against Garland at the start of the game, only for him to show up once more at its climax. When you defeat Garland the first time, the game's four fiends send him back in time to become Chaos, the dark ruler who you're trying to stop throughout the game. This causes a time loop that you the player must break, leading to one hell of an epic finish for one of the first major JRPGs to take the West by storm.

Final Fantasy II - Leon

Long considered the black sheep of the series, Final Fantasy II is often widely disliked by many people who try to play it. The general impressions most have is that the leveling system is quite rough and doesn't feel anywhere near the quality of other titles in the series. I myself never finished this game entirely as there was a massive difficulty spike with the final boss where you could take down just about any other enemy in the game, but struggle with that boss if you lacked a specific item.

Still, while it was certainly a little simple for an early RPG, I personally found myself enjoying the story the game told and eagerly hope to still see some references like Wild Rose. Given this, my vote for a character to represent this game would be Leon. Unless you've played this game, you'd probably only know of the main protagonist Firion and main antagonist of the Emperor from the Dissidia series. Leon provides a unique character, though, being a member of your initial party stolen away by the enemy. He joins the enemy's ranks and when the Emperor appears to be defeated, tries to take over rule in his stead. This makes for a fairly reasonable character to represent an otherwise dull title.

Final Fantasy III

Among the earlier Final Fantasy titles, III is the one true blind spot. Most of the other games I either finished, got most of the way through (IV), or else knew about tangentially through others in the Final Fantasy fandom over the years (V). III, however, is a weird title for one main reason: during the period of my life when I was most heavily invested in the series, it didn't have a proper US release. Prior to the release of VII, only I, IV, and VI came out stateside, and the popularity of VII made Square-Enix release II and V to the North American market. The one outlier here was III, which did not see a true release for several years.

When III did finally see a release, it was in the form of a remake. This came out on the Nintendo DS and utilized a somewhat controversial 3D style. While it was interesting to see the game come to the states for the first time, it received a ho-hum reception. Since then, the game's early version has received a more proper release in the modernized version in the Pixel Remasters, which I mostly just haven't had a chance to sit through.

All of this is to say that I have no amount of familiarity with these characters so I'm not exactly sure what the best way to represent this game might be.

Final Fantasy IV - Cecil Harvey

Final Fantasy IV is seen as the first game of the modern Final Fantasy style of play, where things took a much deeper narrative approach. There's a lot of interesting twists and turns, but the best undoubtedly remains the journey the game's main character - Cecil - undergoes. He begins the game working as a dark knight for the kingdom of Baron, but after being ordered to commit heinous deeds, he starts to doubt the path he has taken. This eventually leads to him turning from being a dark knight to eventually becoming a paladin, embracing the good in his heart.

This merely scratches the surface of what happens in Final Fantasy IV, but I assure you, it's quite epic and makes for a fantastic version of The Hero's Journey. There's plenty of other characters that could be mentioned - particularly Teliah's classic "YOU SPOONY BARD!" line. However, I think that's best depicted as a specific moment on a spell or something of that nature. If anyone deserves to be represented in a card, and possibly a double-faced one at that, it's absolutely Cecil.

Final Fantasy V - Gilgamesh

This one feels almost like cheating. Gilgamesh has become a veritable staple of the Final Fantasy series, and it all stemmed right here. In truth, Final Fantasy V is one I've missed over the years, having been considered the black sheep of the series for some time alongside II. Time has been far kinder to this one, however, and while I may not have played it, oh boy am I familiar with Gilgamesh as a character.

This is because Gilgamesh has appeared in many more games later on down the line and all of them draw inspiration from this original version. Gilgamesh likes to act high and mighty as a master swordsman, but in reality is more of a bumbling fool. This makes him a highly memorable character regardless of the game he appears in, and thus he's a fairly easy pick for such an oft-forgotten game like Final Fantasy V. Plus, you simply can't forget his incredible battle theme of Battle at the Big Bridge - a classic among all-time Final Fantasy tunes.

Final Fantasy VI - Locke Cole

I could gush about the cast of iFinal Fantasy VI for days. My personal favorite game in the series, and one of my favorite games ever, FFVI is packed with dozens of incredible characters who all play their role in some way or another. I could talk about Terra's longing to understand herself, Celes' quest for redemption, the dynamic duo of Edgar and Sabin, and so many more. Picking just one is damn near impossible, because it's just that rich of a group.

If I had to pick just one, though, I'm going with Locke. From the moment he shows up on the scene, it's impossible not to love everyone's favorite thief. Excuse me: treasure hunter. Locke oozes charm and personality from the start and never lets up, culminating in his personal tale of sadness and regret over his lost love. He's an awesome character all the way through, and among such an all-star cast, it simply couldn't be anyone else for me.

If you've never had the pleasure of playing Final Fantasy VI, you owe it to yourself to do so. It's one of the greatest roleplaying experiences of all time.

Final Fantasy VII - Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie

By now it should be obvious that we'll see most - if not all - of the main Final Fantasy VII cast. The game is far and away the most famous and most popular title in the series and I can't imagine a Final Fantasy set that doesn't cover all of them in some way or another. Even if some have to get The Lord of the Rings treatment where they're relegated to uncommons, we're probably going to see the likes of Cloud, Tifa, Barrett, Aerith, and so on along with the infamous Sephiroth.

So, if we can already bet on the main cast showing up, I'm throwing my pick to the less loved trio of Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie. These three characters play a minor role in the original game, acting as the non-playable characters that fill out the Avalanche group in the game's early Midgar section. They're fun characters, but aren't exactly fleshed out very much and are ultimately killed in an unforgettable sequence that impacts the wider story from then on.

That all changed with the later releases of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. All three characters were finally given their due as the Midgar section was finally expanded into a fully fleshed out game in Remake, allowing players to see more of the trio and their personalities. When deaths happen in this game, they're unforgettable, and continue to have major impacts that expose the characters further in Rebirth. It's been fantastic seeing them get their time in the spotlight, and I'd love to see that continue here.

Final Fantasy VIII - Seifer

Final Fantasy VIII is one of the few titles in the series I actively dislike. Coming hot off the heels of a deep love for Final Fantasy VII and then Final Fantasy X, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of VIII. The protagonist, Squall, made for an awesome character in Kingdom Hearts, and the epic duel between him and Seifer in the game's opening sequence alongside the epic Liberi Fatali had me so hyped.

Then I finally got my hands on it and I was just baffled. Squall made for a dreadfully boring character, famously offering little more than casual "whatevers" to other characters left and right. More importantly, though, the game's core mechanics for obtaining magic and leveling up were confusing and off-putting. This meant that I never finished the game. That said, I did quickly fall in love with several of the characters, but I especially loved Seifer. He has this sort of brash boldness to him that makes him seem a great villain, and in a fun way you can't help but love to hate. He makes for an awesome character as a result, and is an easy choice for me to represent the title.

I did just pick up a copy of this while attending the Regional Championship in Portland this past weekend, so maybe it's time to give it another try once more.

Final Fantasy IX - Vivi

If you think of Final Fantasy, you probably think of a number of different things. You might think of chocobos and moogles, perhaps Cloud with his huge Buster Sword staring at Shinra Tower, or maybe crystals. For me, one of the most iconic images of the entire series is the classic black mage design from the original Final Fantasy title. In the early days of the internet when fan sites, web comics, and Flash videos were king, that one design was impossible to escape. It's not hard to see why, as the colors of blue, black, and yellow really pop against one another.

This leads me to Vivi, the party's black mage in a game that takes direct inspiration from that very first title in a myriad of ways. Final Fantasy IX once again has a stellar cast of characters, but none are anywhere near as memorable as Vivi. He's adorable in a woefully ignorant and childish way, but grows to discover more about himself as the story progresses, having one hell of an existential crisis along the way. As he comes to terms with who he is, he becomes one of the best characters not just in Final Fantasy IX, but in the entire series as a whole, and really, it just couldn't be anyone else.

Final Fantasy X - Jecht (and Braska's Final Aeon)

Once again, Final Fantasy X is yet another title in the series that boasts a truly all-star cast of characters. Every single playable character is a delight and is simply unforgettable. Rather than trying to choose favorites, though, I'm instead opting to choose one who hangs over the whole story: Jecht.

Jecht is the main character Tidus' dad who up and abandons Tidus and his mother one day, disappearing forever from their home in Zanarkand. In reality, he washed up in the modern day world of Spira as an outsider. The story is far more convoluted than I have time to get into here as to how and why this happens, however, he soon comes into the care of the summoner Braska, who is on a pilgrimage to defeat the monstrous Sin. Eventually, they succeed and defeat Sin, with Jecht serving as Braska's Final Aeon that would in turn eventually become Sin itself.

Despite playing such a major role in the story, we don't see too much of Jecht himself outside of the occasional flashback. While you don't come face to face with him until late in the game, the times you do see him in flashbacks are unforgettable and make him into an outstanding character and an easy pick for me.

Final Fantasy XI Online - Prishe

Odds are that if you're reading this, you might've played Final Fantasy XIV Online, but you probably haven't played Final Fantasy XI Online - or at least very little of it. The game has a reputation for being brutally difficult and having a rather outdated user interface, owing largely to the fact that it predates World of Warcraft, which standardized a lot about MMORPGs today. That said, I happened to fall deeply in love with the game in my teenage years and even to this day, I remain an avid player of FFXI.

It's a shame more people didn't get to play it, because it had some really great stories in it. The main story of the Shadow Lord is awesome, but for my money the real winner is the story for the Chains of Promathia expansion. It's a wild story that ultimately culminates with the resurrection of a god bent on bringing about an apocalypse. At the center of it all is this little Elvaan girl who stops aging, resulting in her being stuck in the body of a child. Despite this, Prishe leads the people of the Tavnazian Safehold with a very loud and boisterous attitude that's hard not to love. She's shown up in other Final Fantasy properties as one of the few represented characters from FFXI, so I imagine she's a likely candidate here.

Also, I'm going to take this opportunity to say please, please give this game a try. Look up a beginner's guide, play it for a month or two, and have a good time.

Final Fantasy XII - Balthier and Fran

This game is perhaps one of the underdogs of the series, with players either loving or hating it. I personally fall into the former camp, as I adore the game's characters and story along with its overall gameplay and world. Part of me really wants to give this spot to Gabranth, one of the main antagonists for the game (and whose silhouette makes up the title's logo). He's a tremendously complex character who you end up looking at in a very different light by the end of the game and I love what they do with him. That said, though, I just have to give it to the dynamite duo of Balthier and Fran because let's face it - it just couldn't be anyone else.

If you've played Final Fantasy XII, you know what I'm talking about. Baltheir is outrageously boisterous and likes to play himself up as the leading man, and if it weren't for the fact that you were largely playing through the game as Vann you might believe him. The charismatic sky pirate is one of the best reasons to play the game, and it wouldn't be the same without the straight woman companion of Fran at his side. They're absolutely unforgettable and deserve top billing when it comes to representation for this amazing game.

Final Fantasy XIII - ?

Final Fantasy XIII is another of those oddballs to me. I bought this game on release day and was so excited to play it after years of nonstop banger experiences with the series, only to find myself utterly disappointed. The high linearity coupled with dull areas and a battle system that I struggled to understand made it feel like an impossible challenge to get through. It just wasn't for me, and it killed a lot of my enthusiasm for trying newer entries in the series as well.

So that leads me to the characters. The simple fact of the matter is that I really didn't get to see that much of them or their stories. What I remember playing - it has been over a decade now, after all - I enjoyed a lot of them. The brooding Cloud-like vibes of Lightning and Snow resonated with me, as did the more upbeat personalities like Sazh and Vanille, I don't know if I can confidently say I want to see one over the others. Right now, I'd probably go with either Sazh and Vanille just because I loved that aforementioned energy they brought to the game, but it doesn't feel right for me to go with that firmly.

Final Fantasy XIV Online - Thancred Waters

When it comes to Final Fantasy XIV, my opinions - as noted previously - probably differ quite a bit from most people. We've already seen card art for Emet-Selch, the main villain of the game's Shadowbringers expansion that many players adore. I, however, still have yet to even finish the base A Realm Reborn story, owing to a lack of time to devote to the game over the years, despite picking up the game first in its original dreadful 1.0 release. As such, my opinions on the characters and story are rather low by comparison.

There is one character that I know many players love and so do I: Thancred. Many players, like myself, start their journey in the nation of Ul'dah and get to know Thancred quite a lot throughout the story. He's a lovable personality and comes across as a bit of a playboy and heartthrob. Despite this, he's more than willing to take things seriously and get the job done when push comes to shove. He's a fun character and I'd love to see him get his own card.

Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy XVI

As noted before, both of these games have eluded me thus far. Following my time with Final Fantasy XIII, it was simply hard to get excited for these newer titles, particularly when they too were met with a far more tepid reception than earlier releases in the series. I own copies of both but simply haven't found the opportunity to sit down with them yet. Because of this, it's kind of difficult for me to form an opinion on which characters I'd like to see from these games.

That having been said, though, Final Fantasy XV is known for having a heavy focus on the road trip shared by a group of friends. Even without playing the game, I'm familiar enough with the kind of experience this is like and would love to see that aspect of the title in particular brought to Magic in some form or fashion. Also, give me Ignis' legendarily memeable cooking on a card somewhere, please.

When it comes down to it, this whole article is just me scratching the surface of characters that I want to see. This article is already over 3500 words, making it one of my longest articles I've put out, yet if it were up to me, this is something I could go on and on about for days. I lived and breathed Final Fantasy growing up, often side-by-side with my love of Magic: The Gathering. Now we get to see both properties come together hand in hand for one glorious release. To say I'm excited is an understatement, and you'd better believe that I am going to be absolutely locked in for the stream this Tuesday when we get our true first look at this awesome set.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I have some Final Fantasy games to play.

Paige Smith

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