Wikipedia

Ivalice

Ivalice
Final Fantasy location
Ivalice concept artwork for Fortress created by Tony Holmsten.[1]
First appearanceFinal Fantasy Tactics (1997)
Created byYasumi Matsuno
GenreRole-playing, real-time strategy
In-universe information
TypeKingdom, region
LocationsDalmasca, Leá Monde

Ivalice (イヴァリース, Ivarīsu) is a fictional world and setting primarily appearing in the Final Fantasy video game series developed and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). Originally created by designer Yasumi Matsuno for Final Fantasy Tactics (1997), Ivalice is a high fantasy world with a focus on political drama and the stories of everyday people caught up in events. The setting has been used in multiple Tactics sequels, and the mainline entry Final Fantasy XII (2006). As of 2025, Square Enix has no plans to set a new game within Ivalice.

Matsuno created the world of Ivalice as place with rich and detailed history, and expanded it through multiple titles until he left Square Enix in 2005. The setting saw continued use through a collection dubbed the Ivalice Alliance. Due to its incorporation in Final Fantasy XII, it has been described as becoming more Square Enix's setting than Matsuno's. The setting has been an influence on future Final Fantasy titles, and seen limited commentary on its themes and design compared to other entries within the franchise.

Setting overview

[edit]

Ivalice is a world within the Final Fantasy series, first introduced in Final Fantasy Tactics (1997). Alternately referred to as a kingdom or wider region,[2][3] Ivalice is principally portrayed as a medieval high fantasy setting inspired by Arthurian legend,[4][5] although science fiction elements were incorporated.[6] The locations of Ivalice have drawn from multiple influences; the landscapes of Final Fantasy XII (2006) were based on real-world locations around the Mediterranean Sea,[7] while the Vagrant Story (2000) location of Leá Monde was directly based on the town of Saint-Émilion.[8] The cancelled title Fortress was to have used a "Nordic" artstyle and featured a variety of regions including plains, forests and snowfields.[1][9] Recurring Final Fantasy elements also appear across the Ivalice world including Chocobos and Moogles.[10][11]

Stories set within the world of Ivalice are often associated with a realistic tone, dealing with politics and the lives of everyday people.[12] It was stated in 2004 that titles using the setting took place geographically close to each other while being separated by spans of time.[13] While titles such as Final Fantasy XII were characterized by a mature tone, later entries related to Tactics were designed to have a light-hearted atmosphere.[14] Several later titles explicitly referenced other Ivalice games through in-world references (the Kiltia religion, Judges) and character cameos.[12][15][16] Recurring figures are the Espers or Lucavi, summoned monsters who can be called as allies in Final Fantasy XII and are antagonists in the story of Tactics.[10] A recurring character in several titles is Montblanc, a Moogle clan leader.[10]

In the world's fictional chronology, Final Fantasy XII is the earliest entry, taking place in a time of advanced magic and technology where Humes (humans) shared the world with other species.[17] These included Moogles, and Ivalice-specific species including the rabbit-like Viera and Nou Mu, the reptilian Bangaa, and the pig-like Seeq.[18][19] Three titles are stated to directly follow Final Fantasy XII. They are the direct sequel Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (2007) which features a light-hearted adventure with the same cast,[12] the spin-off Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (2007) which has characters appearing as allies,[15] and Fortress which followed the cast of XII facing a new threat.[20]

Following the era of Final Fantasy XII, an unspecified catastrophe strikes Ivalice, wiping out almost all of the non-Hume species and knocking back technology to a pre-industrial level.[17] Final Fantasy Tactics is set within a kingdom called Ivalice, which is in the midst of a war.[3] While Vagrant Story is considered part of the Ivalice setting and placed in some future time after Tactics,[10][21] it was later revealed that references to the Ivalice setting within the game were originally intended as fan service.[22][23] The mobile titles Crystal Defenders and Tactics S uses the Tactics A2 version of Ivalice as a backdrop for their gameplay and art design.[24][25][26] The original Ivalice is featured in a crossover with Final Fantasy XIV (2013) in a campaign dubbed "Return to Ivalice", including characters from XII and Tactics.[27] An alternate Ivalice, an imaginary world born from emotions, was the main setting of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2004).[28]

Creation and history

[edit]

The world of Ivalice was created by Yasumi Matsuno, a video game designer and writer known for his work on the Ogre Battle series for Quest Corporation; he created the setting for Final Fantasy Tactics, developed and published by Square (later Square Enix).[29][30] Ivalice was originally designed and described by Matsuno as a complex setting with a deep historical background.[13] Motomu Toriyama, who worked on a later Ivalice project, felt that following the creation of Final Fantasy XII the setting had become more Square Enix's world than Matsuno's.[31]

Following Matsuno's departure from Square Enix in 2005,[32] more games would be set in the world of Ivalice. A collection of games using the setting began release in 2006 under the banner title the Ivalice Alliance, taking place across the land's history.[33][34] The goal was to attract new players to the series and setting, with the project's games not all falling within the RPG genre.[33] Akitoshi Kawazu, executive producer for the Ivalice Alliance titles, cited Ivalice as a compelling setting within the Final Fantasy series for its grounded design.[12]

Reflecting on the later incorporation of Ivalice into Final Fantasy XIV, Matsuno summed up the world as a "blank canvas" on which he and others could create narratives.[30] While Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida voiced his wish in 2024 to preserve and re-release early Ivalice titles,[35] in a different 2025 interview staff member Kazutoyo Maehiro, who was directing a remaster of Tactics, stated that Square Enix was not planning a new entry in the Ivalice setting. While he was glad to be working with the Ivalice setting again, he described the Tactics remaster as a very personal project rather than indicative of company plans.[36]

Reception

[edit]

Matsuno's work within the Ivalice setting was a direct inspiration for the design of Final Fantasy XIV; the scenario drew direct inspiration, and the setting was referenced through several location names like Dalmasca.[37] Yoshida also incorporated the Viera people into XIV as a player character option.[27] In an interview, Maehiro cited his experience with the Ivalice titles as having an influence on his scenario writing for both Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI (2023).[38]

In a 2007 retrospective on the Final Fantasy series, GameTrailers said that Ivalice "stands as the most expansive setting ever created in the Final Fantasy universe".[2] In his 2014 book Science Fiction Video Games, Neal Roger Tringham summed up the Ivalice setting as "a pseudo-Medieval world that includes elements of Arabian fantasy", highlighting the different narrative mood of Final Fantasy XII compared to other mainline titles.[39] In the book Interactive Storytelling in Video Games as part of an essay on Final Fantasy Tactics, Josiah Lebowitz and Chris Klug highlighted Ivalice as a popular setting within the Final Fantasy series, attributing that to its story approach of deep backstories the players could uncover.[40]

Individual titles have seen limited commentary on the setting. In a 1998 editorial on Tactics for RPGamer, Jeff Adashek felt that the game's handling of the Church of Glabados was poor, with its story content of a religious institution worshiping what is functionally a demon as potentially offensive or insulting.[41] The Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII is considered a Japanese take on the Star Wars galaxy by GameSpot reviewer Greg Kasavin, citing both its story of resistance against an imperial occupier, and mixture of different peoples.[42] Edge Magazine felt that the story of Final Fantasy XII served best as a backdrop to the environments and peoples of Ivalice, which were considered the game's highlight.[43] Eurogamer's Luke Albiges highlighted the "beautiful architecture and interaction of the various races" in Final Fantasy XII, noting the melancholy atmosphere created by traversing the different areas on foot.[44]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Plunkett, Luke (June 29, 2011). "Tony Holmsten's Video Game Art Is a Final Fantasy". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b GameTrailers (September 17, 2007). GT Retrospectives: Final Fantasy Retrospective – Part IX (Video). GameTrailers.
  3. ^ a b Ramsey, Robert (June 26, 2025). "Interview: 'We've Made So Many Improvements': Final Fantasy Tactics Veterans on Remastering an All-Time Classic RPG". Push Square. Archived from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  4. ^ Patrizi, Marco (May 13, 2024). "Yasumi Matsuno tells us about her early days, but looks to the future". Game Division (in Italian). Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  5. ^ Rorie, Matthew (September 23, 2006). "TGS 06: Final Fantasy XII Q&A". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
  6. ^ 「タクティクスオウガ」は若さ故の作品――ゲームデザイナー・松野泰己氏が語るクリエイターとしてのルーツとは. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 28, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "Final Fantasy XII Roundtable Interview". 1UP.com. May 9, 2004. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  8. ^ "From the Development Team". August 5, 2000. Archived from the original on April 28, 2001. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  9. ^ "Failed Fantasy". Play UK. No. 227. Imagine Publishing. February 2013. pp. 54–57.
  10. ^ a b c d "Final Fantasy XII: The Grandest and Most Final PS2 Fantasy". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 107. Ziff Davis Media. August 2006. pp. 48–55.
  11. ^ "Evolution of a Chocobo". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 8. Shinno Media. August 1999.
  12. ^ a b c d Mielke, James (October 9, 2007). "Square Enix Talks about the Ivalice Alliance". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Interview". FFWorld (in French). 2004. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
  14. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (April 4, 2007). "Final Fantasy Tactics Update". IGN. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  15. ^ a b "Final Fantasy Tactics A2 Interview - Part 2: Music of Ivalice". Square Enix. 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Preview: Final Fantasy XII". Power Unlimited (in Dutch). No. 157. VNU Media. February 2007. pp. 30–31.
  17. ^ a b Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega ファイナルファンタジーXII アルティマニアΩ (in Japanese). Square Enix. November 24, 2006. pp. 142–152. ISBN 978-4-7575-1821-6.
  18. ^ 登場するジョブを大紹介！『ファイナルファンタジータクティクス A2 封穴のグリモア』 (in Japanese). Famitsu. June 26, 2007. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  19. ^ Yip, Spencer (August 31, 2007). "Meet the two new tribes in Final Fantasy Tactics A2". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (October 6, 2015). "The Canceled Final Fantasy XII Sequel: Narrative and Gameplay Revealed". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  21. ^ Final Fantasy Tactics War Of The Lions Bradygames Strategy Guide (in Japanese). BradyGames. 2007. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0-7440-0974-3.
  22. ^ "Yasumi Matsuno @ Twitter". June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  23. ^ "Yasumi Matsuno @ Twitter". June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  24. ^ "クリスタルを守り抜くシミュレーションゲーム『クリ スタル ガーディアンズW1』がiモードに". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  25. ^ 『クリスタル・ディフェンダーズ』渡部 辰城 氏インタビュー (in Japanese). Xbox. 2009. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  26. ^ Yip, Spencer (May 28, 2013). "Final Fantasy Tactics S Launches In Japan With Two New Jobs". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  27. ^ a b 『FFXIV』リターン・トゥ・イヴァリース完結記念! 秘話満載で贈る松野泰己氏＆吉田直樹氏特別対談【電撃PS】. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). May 3, 2019. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  28. ^ Chen, Charlotte (May 22, 2007). "Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu No Grimoir Interview". Tips & Tricks. Larry Flynt Publications. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  29. ^ 松野泰己 インタビュー. Dorimaga (in Japanese). No. 17. SoftBank Creative. September 27, 2002. pp. 42–47.
  30. ^ a b IGN (May 3, 2018). Final Fantasy 14: Why Ivalice is the Perfect Location for FFXIV (Web video). YouTube (Video). Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  31. ^ Mielke, James (May 15, 2007). "Interviews on Final Fantasy's Nintendo DS, Wii Assault". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  32. ^ Richards, Kim (January 18, 2011). "Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Hands On". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  33. ^ a b Harris, Craig (May 16, 2007). "Interview: Final Fantasy Tactics A2". IGN. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  34. ^ "Final Fantasy Tactics Returns". IGN. December 13, 2006. Archived from the original on May 8, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  35. ^ ［インタビュー］坂口博信氏と吉田直樹氏が語る“王道の魅力”とは。「FANTASIAN Neo Dimension」は，RPGに必要なものが全部詰まった作品だ. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). November 1, 2024. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  36. ^ Glennon, Jen (September 3, 2025). "Final Fantasy Tactics remake director on the 'pressure' of returning to Ivalice". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  37. ^ Sahdev, Ishaan (March 21, 2014). "Some Of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's Scenarios Were Inspired By Yasumi Matsuno". Siliconera. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  38. ^ 『FF16』完成後の開発チームにインタビュー！ 同じ部署で“2つのFF”が並行開発されていた舞台裏から「プレイヤーの操作を予兆して楽曲を展開する」システムまで. Den Faminoco Gamer (in Japanese). May 22, 2023. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  39. ^ Tringham, Neal (October 10, 2014). Science Fiction Video Games. Routledge. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-4822-0388-2.
  40. ^ Lebowitz, Josiah; Klug, Chris (March 1, 2011). Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: A Player-Centered Approach to Creating Memorable Characters and Stories. Routledge. pp. 98–100. ISBN 978-0-2408-1717-0.
  41. ^ Adashek, Jeff (1998). "Why Final Fantasy Tactics Is So Offensive". RPGamer. Archived from the original on March 30, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  42. ^ Kasavin, Greg (October 31, 2006). "Final Fantasy XII Review". Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  43. ^ "Review: Final Fantasy XII". Edge Magazine. No. 170. Future plc. December 2006. pp. 74–75.
  44. ^ Albiges, Luke (April 18, 2006). "Final Fantasy XII review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2006.