Print

[Jon]

I couldn't think of a better title...

So here's a good one for you; I was reading a plot summary of an old Game Boy Final Fantasy game, and it turns out the four main bosses are four gods prominent in Chinese mythology: Suzaku, Seriyuu, Genbuu, and Byakko.

These same four gods/characters have been used in Fushigi Yuugi, Yu Yu Hakusho, and a host of others.  Just a quick look at Wiki shows "Suzaku" being used in one form or other in Code Geass, BeyBlade, SaGa Frontier, and Demon Eyes Kyo.

The depiction is (in the case of Suzaku) always a variation on fire or an aviad (word?) species, so this can't be coincidence. 

I just wonder if people in Japan ever get tired of the same four aspects being used over and over.  To me it'd be like finding out Lex Luthor is in everything.

Does anyone have a bead on why this would be so?

-Jon

[Natalie]

Hey Jon, I actually asked my friend who's a Theosophist (and well-versed in Asian pantheons) what he thought about that, and he said that most people didn't study the stories in depth enough to be bored by them showing up in that many places.

I'd love to hear the other responses as well

[questionsleep]

People like playing the same games over and over.  Japan especially.  That's why there have been so many Battle Network/Star Force Mega Man games, or any other franchise which has too many sequels.

And yeah.  Japan likes killing 'God', in video games.
I'm sure they get sick of it, but as long as it helps them live in another world besides the one in their hours and hours of public transport, and their tiny apartment.

[Tom!]

I'd say it's less like Lex Luthor being everywhere, and more like Christian undertones being everywhere. Or maybe greek mythology? I guess my point is that us westerners see the same things all the time too, we're just so used to seeing them that we don't usually notice.

Another reason they might recur so often is that having four main bosses keeps things orderly. Either one for each "element" or one for each region, usually. At least that's what I like about it. >.>

I'm sure there's plenty of other things in games that are taken directly from Asian mythos that westerners just aren't familiar with. For instance, when I went to Japan and was touring some temples, we visited a golden tower that had been burned down once before, and had a statue of a golden bird on top. That should sound familiar to any Pokemon fans. *coughTJcough*

[questionsleep]

That's exciting, though - did you get a picture of the tower you mentioned?


One thing I noticed, in other games:
EarthBound: 8 sanctuary locations
Pokémon: 8 gyms

I'm sure plenty of other games have 8 main bosses.

[Natalie]

Oh! Earthbound and Pokemon actually had some of the same development team... there are a LOT of similarities ^_^

[questionsleep]

Another being Giegue/Mewtwo.

[Natalie]

Yeah, you're right. Ash and Ness are pretty similar-looking too...

Hmm... about the eight bosses comment... there are eight dragons in the second half of FFVI.

[questionsleep]

Ehh... I don't think the Ash/Ness thing.  Ash or Red do have pretty plain clothes, though, and I guess that aspect matches Ness.

Another thing:
Barry (D/P rival) and Lucas (Mother 3) look the same.  Shirt+hair

With Quick-Reply you can write a post when viewing a topic without loading a new page. You can still use bulletin board code and smileys as you would in a normal post.

Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.

Name: Email:
Verification: