The Big Bridge is a location in Final Fantasy V in Galuf's world and on the world map in the merged world. It is a bridge extending across oceans that connects the mainland of the western continent. It connects the mainland to Castle Exdeath on Galuf's world, and connects the mainland to the Island Shrine on the merged world. In Galuf's world, it is visited in a quest where enemies are fought along the way.
Since its debut in Final Fantasy V, a location by the name Big Bridge, or simply a bridge of any kind, has become a recurring location for sighting Gilgamesh, whose boss music is "Battle at the Big Bridge".
History[]
Gilgamesh is waiting on the Big Bridge.
It is unknown when the Big Bridge was constructed. However, the Big Bridge aligned perfectly in the merged world, connecting to the ancient Island Shrine apparently built around the time the worlds split 1,000 years prior to the events of Final Fantasy V,[note 1] suggesting it may predate the worlds being split.
Galuf Halm Baldesion and his granddaughter Krile Mayer Baldesion led an army to siege Castle Exdeath, crossing the Big Bridge, unaware that the castle's barrier preventing anyone crossing had already been finished.[2] When Exdeath projected images of Bartz Klauser, Lenna Charlotte Tycoon, and Faris Scherwiz in captivity, Galuf halted the assault and proceeded alone to rescue them.[3]
After Galuf broke his friends out of the castle, they crossed the Big Bridge teeming with monsters. Halfway, Gilgamesh attacked them, casting support spells on himself as a last resort, but losing regardless and running off. Before they could reach the other side, Exdeath the barrier towers, propelling Galuf and the party all the way to Gloceana.[4]
After the skirmish, enemies stopped appearing on the bridge. When the worlds merged, with Castle Exdeath no longer appearing, the Big Bridge instead connected the western continent to the Island Shrine, allowing the party to enter.
Geography[]
In both Galuf's world and the merged world, the Big Bridge is an enormous structure extending across the oceans. The structure connects the western continent with the smaller continent where Castle Exdeath is located in Galuf's world. This is absent in the merged world, where the Big Bridge instead connects to the Island Shrine, a building located amidst an island surrounded by mountains, where no airship, black chocobo, or wind drake can land.
Gameplay[]
The Big Bridge is visited for a single quest after leaving Castle Exdeath on the first visit. A few scripted battles occur against the enemies, before the boss battle against Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh can deal powerful attacks, but is susceptible to negative status effects.
Musical themes[]
The background musical theme that plays in the Big Bridge is "Battle at the Big Bridge", which became Gilgamesh's personal theme. This tune plays continuously within the Big Bridge, including in any battle fought inside.
Other appearances[]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
The Big Bridge appears as the Battle Music Sequence for "Clash on the Big Bridge" on both the 3DS and iOS versions, the former available when played on a Dark Note.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
The Big Bridge.
The Big Bridge returns as the default BMS for "Clash on the Big Bridge".
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
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Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
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In Final Fantasy XIV, Gilgamesh appears as an optional boss in a side story mission "Battle on the Big Bridge" where the player has to fight him on a big bridge resembles the original Big Bridge from Final Fantasy V.
In Final Fantasy Type-0, Big Bridge is a location in Meroë Region that is visited during chapter 6. As in Final Fantasy V, a fight against Gilgamesh occurs in the end.
Behind the scenes[]
Big Bridge is inspired by Gojō Bridge in Kyoto, Japan, where the warrior monk Benkei defeated and disarmed every passing swordsman, eventually collecting 999 swords. On his 1,000th duel, Benkei was defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
Gallery[]
Notes[]
Annotations[]
- ↑ The Sealed Tome, written prior to the worlds being split, talks of one of the tablets being in the Island Shrine.[1] There are no other ways to reach the Island Shrine aside from the Big Bridge, suggesting that if it intentionally connected to the Island Shrine, it may have been intentional.
