Fantasy Star IV: Actions of Others

Fantasy Star is a 12-part analysis of the similarities between Final Fantasy XII and the Star Wars trilogies.

Larsa

Larsa is a child prodigy just like Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace. Despite their ages, both characters are quite knowledgeable with technology. They are also seen as instruments of power due to their seeming naiveté. The Senate wants to install Larsa as a puppet Emperor of Archades. Palpatine sees Anakin as the one capable of bringing the Sith victory over the Jedi and the galaxy. Both boys also befriend relatively older girls. Larsa bonds with Penelo while in her company just like Anakin does with Padme.

Marquis Ondore

Marquis Ondore’s role in the game corresponds to the roles of Lando Calrissian and Admiral Ackbar in Star Wars. Ondore leads the sky continent of Bhujerba. Lando is in charge of Cloud City of Bespin. Both characters were coerced into capturing the heroes while visiting their respective sky cities. Ondore then becomes military commander of the Resistance forces against Archades like Admiral Ackbar does with the Rebel Alliance. Ondore leads the Resistance attack against the Bahamut superfortress similar to Ackbar’s Rebel assault against the second Death Star.

Tom Kane, Ondore’s American voice actor, played Admiral Ackbar in Star Wars: Battlefront. He’s also had roles in Robot Chicken: Star Wars, Lego Star Wars II, Star Wars: Empire at War, The Phantom Menace game, the Revenge of the Sith game, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Star Wars: Republic Commando, Star Wars: Battlefront I and II, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic I and II, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II and III, Star Wars: Jedi Academy, Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, Star Wars: Demolition, Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles, Star Wars: Force Commander, Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance, Star Wars: Episode I - Racer, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter.

Reddas

Reddas is a hardened warrior like Mace Windu. The attack on Nabradia made Reddas question the motives of Vayne just like how the Clone Wars made Mace question the motives of Palpatine. Both characters are gifted in swordsmanship. Reddas and Mace die in energy-related deaths from locations far above the ground. Reddas is consumed in the mist explosion after destroying the Sun-Cryst at the Pharos of Ridorana. Mace is thrown by a blast of Force lightning from the Chancellor’s tower office.

Phil Lamarr, Reddas’s American voice actor, had roles in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic I and II.

Montblanc

Montblanc, the physically diminutive leader of Clan Centurio, is the counterpart of Yoda, the equally short Grand Master of the Jedi Council in the prequel trilogy. Both characters are as cunning as they are versed in combat. Montblanc creates a fake hunt in order to lure out the mysterious Hunter Killer. Yoda attempts to learn the identity of Darth Sidious through his Force sensitivity and finds out that it is Palpatine. Montblanc’s ultimate goal for Clan Centurio is to raise warriors, such as Vaan and company, to become strong enough to finally put an end to Yiazmat. Yoda’s goal after the Jedi extermination is to train Luke to be the one that ultimately defeats the Sith.

Miguelo

Miguelo is the blue-skinned Bangaa store owner in the desert town of Rabanastre. Watto is the blue-skinned Toydarian store owner in the desert town of Mos Espa. Both characters employ the respective protagonists of the stories. Miguelo has Vaan while Watto has Anakin. Despite their positions of authority, Miguelo and Watto have taken a liking to the young heroes because of their loyalty to their respective businesses.

John DiMaggio, Miguelo’s American voice actor, also played General Grievous in Star Wars: Clone Wars.

Reks

Reks plays a role similar to Biggs Darklighter. They are the sources of inspiration for the protagonists. Both characters enlist into military service and are able to leave their isolated desert homes. Reks dies from injuries inflicted by Gabranth, the Darth Vader analogue in Final Fantasy XII. Biggs dies when his X-Wing is destroyed by Darth Vader.

Reks’s comparison to Biggs should not be confused with the inclusion of the Biggs and Wedge pair found in other Final Fantasy games. The pair makes a cameo as the anagrammed Nalbina guards, Deweg and Gibbs.

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