Final Fantasy 14has grown a sizeable fanbase over the many years since its release, with a particularly high draw being the memorable world and characters. As with many popular games, some fans decide to pay tribute through expressive art, with one fan choosing to represent a character through cosplay.
Final Fantasy 14took a different direction than the other games with its MMO structure, but at its core keeps the elements that make it aFinal Fantasygame. One such element is of characters with personality and memorable designs, some of which are difficult to replicate with real-life fashion.
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Undeterred bythe difficulty of cosplaying, cosplayer Datura_Cereus manages to accurately capture the spirit of theFinal Fantasy 14character Gaia in a brilliantly realized outfit. The intention of Tetsuya Nomura’s original character design is conveyed through carefully-picked gothic-inspired pieces that make up Datura’s cosplay, complete with a massive hammer and a flowing cape. The hammer parallels Gaia’s weapon from the game.
Theart of cosplay is difficult to master, and it can take much more than a costume to make a good one. Knowledge of the character being cosplayed is paramount, as the expression, pose and general demeanor all play into creating a convincing cosplay in-character. Even taking only the hammer into account, otherFinal Fantasycharacters may have held the weapon differently by resting it on the other shoulder or struggling to lift it. Gaia, however, brandishes the hammer with confidence, and that important detail is well represented by the casual, almost relaxed pose of the cosplay image.
Despite the game’s age, Square Enix continues to supportFinal Fantasy 14with regular content updates and expansion packs, the most recent being Endwalker. TheSpotify debut ofFinal Fantasy 14Shadowbringers’soundtrackalso indicates the developers and artists still hold an interest in bringing the content to players even outside the context of the game. This naturally extends to cosplays as well; even those not actively playingFinal Fantasy 14may still recognize some of the character designs, as they hold such an iconic place in modern MMO gaming.
Final Fantasycosplays are not new to the fan community, with many cosplays representing characters from awide range ofFinal Fantasygames. WithFinal Fantasy 14still receiving regular support and having an active fan community, cosplays are likely to continue for a long time. Neither the developers at Square Enix nor the fans show any signs of slowing down.
Final Fantasy 14is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
