Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a definite twist on the franchise's formula in many ways, and there may be a big one hiding everyone's noses. Stranger of Paradise is an action RPG set in the world of original Final Fantasy game, and its protagonist may have close ties to the villain of the original title in the Square Enix series.
The newest trailer for the game was released at the Tokyo Game Show, and it ends with a startling revelation. As the trailer concludes, the mysterious main character introduces himself as Jack Garland, sharing a name with the fearsome knight who was the chief antagonist of the original Final Fantasy. Could this be the tale of Garland's fall from grace?
Jack Garland is the "Hero" of Stranger of Paradise
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin in a darker, grittier world based on that of 1987's Final Fantasy. This is a world besieged by Chaos, which Jack and his companions are all compelled to fight. Jack has been shown so far wearing almost contemporary-looking clothing, resembling Cloud Strife or characters from Final Fantasy XV than someone from the first game. The newest trailer gives him a look and last name, however, that makes his role much more obvious.
At the trailer's end, Jack officially announces himself as Jack Garland, with his last name being the same name as the main villain and alter ego of Chaos in the first Final Fantasy. He's also seen wearing Garland/Chaos' iconic double-horned armor, making the similarity in names no mere coincidence. It's been confirmed by Tetsuya Nomura that this game will in fact be a prequel to the original, with the origins that its name speaks of being that of Garland himself and how he becomes the villainous Chaos. This also reflects the title Stranger of Paradise, showcasing the fact that the hero of the game is in fact a villain, or at least will be.
Who is Final Fantasy's Garland?
Garland debuted in the original entry in the Final Fantasy franchise all the way back on the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom. There, he was a former Cornelian knight who became a villain, facing the game's four heroes of light and daring them to challenge him. He was an incredibly arrogant, scene-chewing villain, trapping the heroes in a time loop that saw him constantly reborn while they would die. He also kidnapped the Cornelian princess Sarah, who is seen in the trailer for Stranger of Paradise. In fact, the scene where Garland names himself may in fact show him kidnapping her, setting up the story of the original game.
The Garland name has been used several times throughout the wider franchise for different characters, many of whom are unrelated to the original. These include the villain of Final Fantasy IX, a character from Mobius Final Fantasy and an airship from Final Fantasy XII. The former two were based on the original villain, however, either in function or in appearance. How much of this game sets up or outright retells the story of the original remains to be seen, but given how it clearly reinterprets that game's story, the upcoming Stranger of Paradise is a realm reborn in its own right.