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Following the success of the first game, Square quickly began work on a [[sequel]]. Unlike a typical sequel, ''[[Final Fantasy II]]'' featured entirely different characters, with a setting and story bearing only thematic similarities to its predecessor. This unusual approach to sequels has continued throughout the series, with each major ''Final Fantasy'' game introducing a new world, and a new system of [[Game play|gameplay]]. Many elements and themes would recur throughout the series, but there would be no direct sequels until the release of ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'', in [[2003]] (after the [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] with [[Enix]] however, real game sequels have become increasingly prevalent). In a way, the ''Final Fantasy'' series has been a creative showcase for Square's developers, and many elements originally introduced in the series have made their way into Square's other titles, most notably two of its other major franchises, ''[[SaGa]]'' and ''[[Seiken Densetsu]]''.
== Common themes ==
[[Image:Final Fantasy IV JAP Airship.png|thumb|right|256px|[[Final Fantasy airships|Airships]] have appeared in every ''Final Fantasy'' game (''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' shown).]]
Though each ''Final Fantasy'' story is independent, many themes and elements of gameplay recur throughout the series. From the strong influence of history, literature, religion and mythology on the story to the frequent reappearance of certain monsters and items, these shared elements provide a unifying framework to the series. Some key objects and concepts that have appeared in more than one ''Final Fantasy'' game include:
* '''[[Final Fantasy airships|Airships]]''' — Powerful airborne vessels which usually serve as a primary mode of transportation for the player, enabling fast movement nearly anywhere in the [[overworld]] without the risk of [[random encounter|random encounters]]. In many games, most notably ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'', the presence of airships is a key component to the story itself. In most of the titles, airships generally had the appearance of flying sailing ships with a series of propellors instead of sails. However, in some of the later games they look more technological, appearing to be zeppelins or even ornate space ships.
* '''[[Final Fantasy character classes|Character classes]] and the Job system''' — Playable character classes have included the [[Fighter (character class)|Fighter]]; [[White Mage|White]], [[Black Mage|Black]], [[Red Mage|Red]], and [[Blue Mage]]s; [[Monk (character class)|Monk]]; and [[Thief (character class)|Thief]]. Even in games where the player is not given the choice of choosing class alignment, these classes often play an important background role in the story. Additionally, several installments in the series (''[[Final Fantasy III]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'') have utilized a "Job" system wherein the player is able to switch character classes in between battles. In ''Final Fantasy X-2'', the "Dressphere" system actually allowed a player to switch a character's job during the middle of a fight. In addition to this, certain recurring "Legendary Weapons" may be granted to certain classes, such as the sword [[Masamune (video game weapon)|Masamune]] for the Ninja, or the Black Mage's ''[[Final Fantasy magic#Ultima|Ultima]]'' spell.
* '''Magical styles''' (see also [[Final Fantasy magic]]) — Magic in the ''Final Fantasy'' series is generally divided into different schools, which are usually named after a specific color. ''[[Magic (paranormal)|White magic]]'' and ''[[Black magic]]'' represent healing/support and attack magic, respectively, while ''Red magic'' incorporates elements of both healing and attack magic, at reduced effectiveness. Later additions have included ''Blue magic'' (sometimes referred to as ''Lore'' or ''Enemy skill''), which incorporates specific special attacks learned from monsters, and ''Time/Space magic'', which includes status affecting spells such as ''Haste'' and gravity spells such as ''Demi''. The most recent magic set is called ''Green Magic'', first appearing as Songs in ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'', then as a fully separate magic type in demos of ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. ''Green Magic'' introduces skills which were previously classified as ''Black'' or ''White magic'', such as ''Darkness'' and ''Petrification''.
* '''[[Status effects|Status ailments]] and cures:''' Characters in ''Final Fantasy'' games are usually subject to a number of standard "status ailments" which cause deleterious effects, including silence, poison, petrification and confusion. While these are present in many console RPGs, ''Final Fantasy'' also has a standard list of items which may be used to cure specific ailments (for example, the "Echo Screen" cures silence, and "Soft" cures petrification), as well as magical spells, such as ''Esuna'' or ''Panacea''.
* '''Creatures/monsters''' — Fictional creatures such as ''[[Chocobo]]s'' and ''[[Moogle]]s'' have appeared in most games in the series. Certain monsters also reappear frequently, including ''Goblins'', ''[[Tonberry]]s'' and ''[[Cactuar]]s''. Lastly, [[summon magic (Final Fantasy)|summoned monsters]] (also known as Espers, Guardian Forces, Eidolons, or Aeons) such as [[Bahamut#Final Fantasy Series|Bahamut]], [[Shiva in Final Fantasy Series|Shiva]], [[Ifrit#Ifrit in Square-Enix projects|Ifrit]], [[Leviathan]] and Ramuh have appeared in almost every title in the series.
* '''Character names''' — A character named "[[Cid (Final Fantasy)|Cid]]" has been present in every ''Final Fantasy'' game since ''Final Fantasy II'' (with a simple mention in ''[[Final Fantasy Origins]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls]]''). Although he is never the same individual, he is usually presented as an owner, creator, and/or pilot of '''airships'''. The motion picture ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within]]'' also featured a character named "Sid," presumably an alternate spelling of the more traditional "Cid." In a similar vein, characters named [[Biggs and Wedge (Final Fantasy)|Biggs and Wedge]] (homages to the ''[[Star Wars]]'' characters [[List of minor Rebel characters in Star Wars#Darklighter, Biggs|Biggs Darklighter]] and [[Wedge Antilles]]) have appeared in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' to ''Final Fantasy X-2''. Other repeated names include Gogo (''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''), Gilgamesh (''[[Final Fantasy V]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]''), Lonewolf the Pickpocket (''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''), and Sara (''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy III]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'').
* '''Plot elements''' — Many entries in the ''Final Fantasy'' series involve broadly similar plot points, such as rebellion against a major economic, political, or religious power, a struggle against an evil which threatens to overtake or destroy the world, or nature versus technology. One of the most famous of such recurring themes involves [[Classical elements|elemental]] crystals, which have appeared in over half of the titles of the series (''Final Fantasy'', ''Final Fantasy III'', ''Final Fantasy IV'', ''Final Fantasy V'', ''Final Fantasy IX'', and ''Final Fantasy XI''), as well as in several spin-off titles (''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' and ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles'').
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