FFXV Map inspiration fan theory

[davis]

I was taking a good look at the world map of Eos the other day.
During so I noticed similarities with the world map territoriality/culturally speaking.
For this, I decided to quickly sketch out my own speculated map based off of what
Square Enix might have been inspired by in the making of finalizing Eos,
by using a real satellite map.

I like to think of Insomnia as a mixture of New York and Tokyo,
because the Lucian continent as a whole reminds me of North America,
while Insomia itself, although positioned where New York would be in an North American map,
looks more like the greater metropolitan area of Tokyo rather than New York,
topographically speaking.

Also, I'm super sure that the Niflheimian empire is based largely on the Soviet Union,
speculated from the font that Niflheim uses, and the map of Eos,
because the Niflheimian empire as a continent resembles a crop
of Russia as well as South Korea in my mind. I guess its an reference to socialism.

 

[Dionysos]

This is fascinating. The American influences on the FFXV landscape have always been apparent to me, but I'd completely missed the Cyrillic script-inspired alphabet used for the Niflheim region. The harsher architecture of that station may suit Soviet aesthetics, and much of what I saw in Gralea may also.

I guess I'd picked up some Soviet vibes with some of the costume choices in Episode Prompto, but I didn't think about it beyond that.

 

[davis]

This is fascinating. The American influences on the FFXV landscape have always been apparent to me, but I'd completely missed the Cyrillic script-inspired alphabet used for the Niflheim region. The harsher architecture of that station may suit Soviet aesthetics, and much of what I saw in Gralea may also.

I guess I'd picked up some Soviet vibes with some of the costume choices in Episode Prompto, but I didn't think about it beyond that.

Thanks Dionysos.
In my mind, Tabata really did keep his promise of making a Final Fantasy which,
in his vision was supposed to reflect reality the most out of all of the series ever.
I think he did a good job. I explained in my full nerd talk below on how he did this.

*warning - heavy fan theory nerd talk below*

I see a lot of complaints in forums and in the YouTube comments section on how FFXV failed to
keep its promise of it being a "fantasy based on a reality." But living both in Tokyo, 40 minutes
away from Shinjyuku, and in San Francisco as well, I was able to play FFXV from a old school
role-players view. Like a Dungeon's a Dragons player. I was fully immersed in the world of Insomnia
as I played FFXV from a hard-core roleplayer / lore & legends + philosophy lover. Not to sound schitzo
or too philosophical, but I see Final Fantasy as a modern legend, a lore if you will. With that being said,
I saw Insomnia as a "finalized" version of the greater Shinjyuku area. After all it is a "final fantasy".
Like a PERFECTED FORM of real life, so to speak... and with that, the world of Eos as a "final" version
of earth in its current political situation.

Adding philosophy to my fan theory, I believe personally that Final Fantasy should be taken
as a "form" version of real life. Get this. In the "Allegory of the Cave" by Plato, Plato argues that
we do not see the "finalized version of reality" for what it is. We only see "shadows" of what
can truly be in all of existence, or non-existence, or the "realm of the form's" fullest potential.
An easy way to understand this theory would be
That we have shadows of objects,
but according to Plato, objects are a shadows of a higher realm.
So I believe that Eos can be one of the Higher realms of earth itself.
So.
in this logic I see Tokyo as one of Insomnia's shadow. Earth as one of Eoss'
shadow. Or, "the realm of the forms". A higher, finalized version of all existence.
And Final Fantasies' each as an Higher Realm of what actually is,
instead of the shadows of what we are.. a lower, half-potential existence that
is our dimension. The FF universe is, philosophically speaking, one of the ideal universes
we can comprehend.
At least in my mind.

It is "final fantasy", right? At least that's how I enjoyed the game.
I know it could have been better, but since our plane of existence is flawed
compared to the higher planes, I just kinda sucked up prompto taking
pictures over and over again.

 

[davis]

PS
the map kind of shows the japanese mentality of where they wish theyd belong politically.
even if subconsciously.
after they opened up port in the edo samurai period and got exposed to the west
there always has been a movement of 脱アジア datsu-asia lit. asia exit. kind of like brexit.

so tabata decided to put tokyo where new york is.

a lot of final fantasy has to do with the japanese subconscious mind.
like these people actually think they belong in the western sphere culturally.
they have a bad reputation of looking down at the rest of asia.
been in the states for 16 years all i can say is... no
its just a fantasy