Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario

The Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario is the second of the Anniversary Ultimania created for the series's 20th Anniversary. The book was edited by Studio BentStuff and published by Square Enix on the SE-Mook imprint on April 10, 2008. The book was released as an e-book on February 1, 2018.

The book covers the settings and stories of the original Final Fantasy up until Final Fantasy XII, and also including Final Fantasy X-2. Final Fantasy XI goes up to the Wings of the Goddess expansion.

Contents[]

Each game-focused chapter has sections for the following:

A title page listing basic release information and a plot synopsis.
A "Main Character" (主要登場人物, Shuyō Tōjō Jinbutsu?) section showing the main (playable) characters and the main villains with short bios.
An "Impressive Scenes" section showing and detailing memorable events from the game.
"A World of X" (『××』の世界, no Sekai?) section showing world maps, and giving a brief timeline of historical events. Some games have an entry listing the world leaders. A Location Guide (ロケーションガイド, Rokēshon Gaido?) sub-section lists all the locations with brief background details.
A "Glossary" (用語解説, Yōgo Kaisetsu?) section lists the key lore terminology in the game. A Vehicles Appearing in X/Means of Transportation (『××』に登場する乗り物／交通手段, ni Tōjō suru Norimono / Kōtsū Shudan?) sub-section lists the methods by which people travel in the world.
"Story Playback of X" (『××』ストーリープレイバック, Sutōrī Pureibakku?) outlines the events of the game. Each sub-section is headed with the locations traversed in the story segment (e.g. "Castle Cornelia ~ Cornelia ~ Chaos Shrine" and "Cornelia ~ Matoya's Cave ~ Pravoka"). Games with alternate or additional scenes in the ending have their events and circumstances explained in a sub-section. Some lore heavy sidequests such as World of Ruin and Wutai are included within the main narrative, while some others such as Lucrecia's Cave are relegated to side "Check" boxes.

Story Playback sections have annotation boxes in a column to the right that offers additional explanation, information, and trivia at the discussed point in the narrative.

Blue Check (チェック, Chekku?) sections gives commentary into the gameplay-side of the story.
Pink Dialogue (会話, Kaiwa?) sections quote dialogue.
Green Foreshadowing (伏線, Fukusen?) sections mention times that later parts of the game are alluded to before the player would understand the meaning.
Red Human Drama (人間ドラマ, Ningen Dorama?) sections features the thoughts and feelings of characters about others, usually family and lovers.
Yellow Secret (シークレット, Shīkuretto?) sections give interesting details that might go unnoticed in the game, or explanations of things that might not be understood.
Turquoise Divergence (分岐, Bunki?) sections point out branching paths in the narrative, such as the Gold Saucer date and when Quina is recruited.

Between the game chapters are "Ultimania Check" sections which usually take a look at scenario concepts in the series as a whole.

Keyword of Stories[]

(物語のキーワード, Monogatari no Kīwādo?), p.004

Picks a keyword theme for each game. Many are not used within their respective games. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival uses these terms for the names of Titles when clearing 15 SSS rank completions for that game (except IX and X).

Final Fantasy: time loop
Final Fantasy II: resistance to the empire
Final Fantasy III: light and darkness
Final Fantasy IV: anguished journey
Final Fantasy V: four lights
Final Fantasy VI: human and esper
Final Fantasy VII: the life of the planet
Final Fantasy VIII: love and friendship
Final Fantasy IX: a place to call home
Final Fantasy X: independence from the father
Final Fantasy X-2: the changing and the unchanging
Final Fantasy XI: everyone's bonds
Final Fantasy XII: the search for freedom

3 Element of Stories[]

(３つの要素から見る『FF』の物語, Mittsu no Yōso kara Miru "Efu Efu" no Monogatari?) p.006

Journey's Goal (旅の目的, Tabi no Mokuteki?): Categorises the games into three goals:
- Cystal adventure (クリスタルめぐる冒険, kurisutaru meguru bōken?): I, III, IV, V
- Discovering one's self (自分探しの果てに, jibun sagashi no hate ni?): VI, VII, VIII, X-2
- Moving towards one's goal (目標達成を目指して, mokuhyō tassei o mezashite?): II, X, XII
Source of power (力の源, Chikara no Minamono?): Talks about the source of life, source of magic, source of the world, and lifecycles. It often involves crystals.
A Threat to Defeat (倒すべき脅威, Taosubeki Kyōi?): Places villains on a scale between wanting to rule the world and wanting to return the world to void. The Emperor, Sephiroth, and the Undying sit sit on the far left, while Cloud of Darkness, Neo Exdeath and Necron sit on the far right. Ultimecia is placed in the center.

Final Fantasy[]

p.010

Evolution of the look of backgrounds in FF[]

背景グラフィックから見る『FF』の映像の進化 (Haikei gurafikku kara miru Efu Efu no eizō no shinka?), p.030

Compares the look of the "field", towns, and dungeons in the original release of each game. The "field" column uses the world map for games that have it, but chooses open grassland (e.g. Calm Lands, Ozmone Plain) for those that do not.

Final Fantasy II[]

p.032

Development of Crystals and Airships[]

クリスタルと飛空艇の変遷 (Kurisutaru to Hikūtei no Hensen?), p.054

Lists the appearances of crystals with images. Also has a special look at the crystal-like Magicite, Materia, Sphere, and the Crystal Trophy.

Lists every ridable airship with images in their origin games original release.

Final Fantasy III[]

p.056

When the story adds DS content, an additional sub-section is added for it in its part of the story. Otherwise the section does not use DS images. The NES names are used for things, although location name changes are given in notes.

Final Dungeon Collection[]

ラストダンジョンコレクション (Rasuto Danjon Korekushon?), p.084

List of final dungeons and the bosses fought in them.

Final Fantasy IV[]

p.088

The DS version has images provided throughout the Glossary, but its only mention within the Scenario is the exclusive flashbacks of Golbez's past.

FFIV Interview with Takashi Tokita[]

時田貴司氏に聞く『FFIV』 (Tokita Takashi-shi ni Kiku Efu Efu Fō?), p.118

Interview with Takashi Tokita about Final Fantasy IV and remaking Final Fantasy IV.

Final Fantasy V[]

p.120

Title Demo Gallery[]

タイトルデモギャラリー (Taitoru Demo Gyararī?), p.156

List of the scenes that play when booting up the game before the title screen.

Final Fantasy VI[]

p.158

Dungeons Added in Remakes[]

リメイク版で追加されたダンジョン (Rimeiku-ban de Tsuika sareta Danjon?), p.192

List of dungeons added in rereleases of Final Fantasy titles.

Final Fantasy VII[]

p.196

Midgar Interview with Yusuke Naora[]

直良有祐氏に聞く「ミッドガル」 (Naora Yūsuke-shi ni Kiku "Middogaru"?), p.234

Interview with Yusuke Naora about Midgar.

Final Fantasy VIII[]

p.236

FF Minigame & Sub-Event Complete List[]

『FF』ミニゲーム＆サブイベント大全集 ("Efu Efu" Minigēmu to Sabu Ibento Daizenshū?), p.270

A list of all minigames and some sidequests in Final Fantasy games I through VIII.

Final Fantasy IX[]

p.276

FF Minigame & Sub-Event Complete List 2[]

『FF』ミニゲーム＆サブイベント大全集② ("Efu Efu" Minigēmu to Sabu Ibento Daizenshū Ni?), p.318

The coninuation of the previous list. Covers IX, X, X-2, and XII.

Final Fantasy X[]

p.326

FF Locations in Other Games[]

『FF』ロケーションin Other Games (Efu Efu Rokēshon In Azā Gēmuzu?), p.364

List of locations from the book's covered games inside other games. This mostly includes spin-offs such as the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII (film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is listed). The more notable inclusions is Tactics games, the Itadaki Street titles, Chocobo Racing, and Chocobo Stallion. One page is dedicated to being a gallery of the Final Fantasy map backgrounds in Itadaki Street.

Final Fantasy X-2[]

p.366

Generations of FF scenario types[]

歴代『FF』あんな場面こんな場面 (Rekidai "Efu Efu" Anna Bamen Konna Bamen?), p.392

Gives a number of scenarios and finds instances from different games that match it.

Battle with former allies (かつての仲間との戦い, Katsute no nakama no tatakai?)
Dealing with the death of an ally (仲間たちとの死別を乗り越えて, Nakama-tachi no shibetsu o norikoete?)
For the sake of the one I love (愛する人のために, Ai suru hito no tame ni?)
Protagonists try acting (主人公たちが演技に挑戦, Shujinkō-tachi ga engi ni chōsen?)
Within a limited time (かぎられた時間のなかで, Kagirareta jikan no naka de?)
Also lists various timed events (including Excalibur II) and the time allotted.

Final Fantasy XI[]

p.396

Generations of FF place types[]

歴代『FF』あんな場所こんな場所 (Rekidai "Efu Efu" Anna Basho Konna Basho?), p.454

Gives a number of types of places and finds instances from different games that match it.

Places with unusual messages (変わったメッセージが見られる場所, Kawatta mesēji mirareru basho?)
Includes things like the Elfheim epitaph reference to Link, the Corel Prison êúô0(äñ) enemy dialogue, and the Lindblum reference to Cloud.
Places with mysterious objects (謎のオブシェがある場所, Nazo no obuje ga aru basho?)
Mentions the face rock from Final Fantasy IV and the Moai from Final Fantasy V.
Places with libraries or reference rooms (図書館や資料室がある場所, Toshokan ya shiryōshitsu ga aru basho?)

Also has a small sub-section titled Places with lewd items (歴代『FF』エッチなものがある場所, Rekidai "Efu Efu" Etchi na mono ga aru basho?). Lists the Lustful Lali-ho, the Ninja Sutra, the notable absence in Surgate Castle, the Bushido in the Bedroom, the Lingerie, the Orthopedic Underwear, and the Girl Next Door.

Final Fantasy XII[]

p.456

Kazushige Nojima Interview[]

(野島一成 Interview, Nojima Kazushige Intabyū?), p.504

Index[]

p.508

Credits[]

Planning/Production: Square Enix
Editing/Writing: Studio BentStuff; Akira Yamashita (director/interviewer); Yuko Ono (大野優子) (sub-director/FFIX/opening feature); Benny Matsuyama (FFVIII); Ichiro Tezuka (FFVI); Yoshiyuki Otsu (大津佳之) (FFXI/FFIV Support); Masayuki Sawada (澤田真之) (FFV/Ultimania Check); Ryota Ode (大出綾太)(FFX-2/interview composition); Toshimitsu Itaba (FFXII/interview composition); Keita Ode (大出啓太) (FFX); Shinta Suganuma (菅沼愼太) (FFVII/FFIV support); Ryosuke Sakuma (FFIII); Tomoko Kusakabe (日下部智子) (FFVII&VIII&X&X-2&XII support); Shogo Shirasaki (白崎正悟) (FFVII&IX&X&X-2&XII support); Naoki Yamanaka (山中直樹) (FFIII&XI support/Ultimania Check); Tomohito Koishi (小石朋仁) (FFIV&XI support/Ultimania Check); Masahiro Kimura (木村昌弘) (FFII&III support/Ultimania Check); Kaoru Nakatani (中谷薫) (FFV&VI support/Ultimania Check); Daisuke Fukui (福井大輔) (FFX-2 support/Ultimania Check); Osamu Shiga (志賀修) (FFI support/Ultimania Check); Shinichi Suezaki (末崎進一) (FFII support/Ultimania Check); Masamu Fukami (深見真咲) (FFI/II/III)
Cover design: Banana Studio co., ltd.; Tadashi Shimada; Norie Kadokura
Design/DTP: Wan, Inc.; Naoko Kanda (神田奈保子); Kazu Doo; Ryoko Okuno (奥野良子); Mako Kaneko (金子真呼); Jun Imura (井村旬); Satoshi Toriumi (鳥海慧)
Photography: Hiroshi Shibaizumi
Modeling: Toshisaku; Yaei Kato (加藤弥栄); Norio Miyazaki (宮崎謙雄)
Collaboration: Yoshitaka Amano Office; Stellavista Ltd.; Kazushige Nojima
Collaboration/Supervision: Square Enix; Publicity Department