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Sci-fi fantasy is a complicated genre to define. By definition, it’s a mixed genre that combines both tropes and elements of sci-fi and fantasy within a conventional sci-fi story, where the world is presented as full of fantasy mysticism mixed with scientific explanations. Still, it’s something that’s easy to sway one way or the other, and it can be even harder to master in games. Tales of the Ascension comes to mind as one of the more recent examples and one that nails the genre to a tee shirt, but another popular sci-fi fantasy game is Final Fantasy 13.
Now, certainly, every Final fantasy the game has had technological advancements like airships, but where most Final fantasy games allow fantasy to dominate in a unique, mostly fantasy setting, Final fantasy 13 tries to blend science fiction and fantasy into a cohesive story. Yet compared to Tales of the Ascension, it’s clear that Final fantasy 13The particular mix of ‘s does not work so well. FRONT SPOILERS.
Mix science fiction and fantasy in Tales of Arise
Tales of the Ascension presents his dichotomy of science and fantasy as a split between two people: the technologically and scientifically advanced Renans and the more general Dahnans of the fantasy world. It’s still present, as Alphen quizzes Shionne about his ability to get his gun out of nowhere, and throughout the match. However, the focus almost always remains on the fantastic elements in the first half of the game. It feels like a fantasy game where the sci-fi elements are there but not the main components, like the first ones. Final fantasy Games.
However, as players reach the climax of the game and decide to venture beyond Dahna, the sci-fi element is introduced more strongly but it fits well into the story as it was still present. otherwise in the foreground. This makes the journey to Lenegis via Alphen’s spacecraft and Lenegis space station technology (and how it transforms from there) much more believable. It really shines when Tales of the Ascension pushes its sci-fi elements into the second half of the story.
When Tales of the Ascension introduces his alien race, the Helganquil, he slowly reveals how Lenegis functions as a space station and explains the origins of the Renans. Science doesn’t explain the fantastic elements, but it tries to reconcile them. The Helganquil are not a scientific explanation of what is going on, but add some sci-fi elements to the explanation of the fantastic plot tied to the Great Astral Spirit. The Renans on Lenegis do not question the Sovereign or their home world, Rena, because science and fantasy assure them of their way of life. And, when the origins of the Renans are presented, it helps reconcile the party’s belief system in their fantasy world.
Tales of the Ascension launched to good reviews, in part because it’s a story told in pairs: Alphen and Shionne go hand in hand, Law and Rinwell clash, and Dohalim and Kisara represent belief in peaceful coexistence. Just as these characters provide the player with a powerful pair of perspectives to view the world, the science and fantasy elements also present themselves as a pair.
Mixing science fiction and fantasy in Final Fantasy 13
As mentioned above, elements of science fiction have been in every FF Game. In early games, they were used as a convenience for contextual reasons; in games like Final Fantasy 7, there is a strong emphasis on a specific type of science fiction. Final Fantasy 15 even takes modern, slightly advanced science and injects it into his world. Final Fantasy 16, on the other hand, seems to have more traditional fantasy roots. So it’s Final Fantasy 13 that really pushed the boundaries of a sci-fi fantasy general entry.
The only problem is that it’s not related to his fantasy. In all three games, there are fantastic storylines like Doomsday Prevention, coupled with scientific breakthroughs in NPCs and areas like Cocoon (FF13); ssci-fi scenarios such as time traveling to fix anomalies, while also bringing in general fantasy monsters (FF13-2); and an escape from the fantasy world into a modern world, which seemingly abandons the Fantastic Elements while telling a story focused on the Fantastic Elements (Lightning returns).
One of its most common criticisms is its linear storytelling, and in doing so, the game manages to convey both its sci-fi and fantasy elements. Indeed, the game collection can feel a bit contradictory at times, with a highly sci-fi-focused aesthetic, visuals, and enemies in the midst of a super high fantasy story, while still feeling like a very high-powered game. fantasy with a major sci-fi story. elements. It’s not consistent no matter if its visuals are one of its most impressive elements.
While science fiction and fantasy in Final Fantasy 13the games seem to collide with each other like gears to tell one half of the story to jump towards, at one point, the other half the next, Tales of the AscensionThe elements of science fiction and fantasy are like well-oiled cogs in an awesome machine. In Tales of the Ascension, it works without a heavy suspension of disbelief (beyond that required of a general video game world); in Final Fantasy 13, some allowances are always required from the player to get a feel for what the game is and what it is not.
Tales of the Ascension is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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