If you were blown backwards by expensive Final Fantasy statue Square Enix revealed over the weekend you are not alone: Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi could not help but express his own shock over the price tag of more than $ 11,000.
“Isn’t that a little much?” Sakaguchi wrote on Twitter Saturday nightaccording to more independent translations. “Are you okay, Square Enix?”
The giant model in 1/6 scale of Final Fantasy VI the heroine Terra Branford on top of a Magitek armor is part of Square Enix’s “masterline” series, which was launched in 2020 with a collection of Kidney: Vending machines statues. I would not pretend it is not beautiful or well made, what with its beautiful finish, replaceable parts and adorable Moogle equipment, but damn, it’s a lot of money.
Sakaguchi, who guided Final Fantasy series before leaving Square Enix in 2003 to form Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey developer Mistwalker, added that even “painfully beautiful” dioramas his studio built for last year’s iOS / Mac RPG Fantastic did not cost as much as this statue.
The famous artist Yoshitaka Amano also appeared in one video promoting the statuewhich is based on his Final Fantasy VI illustrations.
In the days after the statue’s unveiling, the Internet largely paralyzed Square Enix’s attempt to wring so much money out of Final Fantasy fans. Many pointed out that you can buy multiples of other high-quality collectibles (like the line earlier Kidney offers) and even some car models at roughly the same price. Then you would at least be able to drive around with a life-size Lucario in the carriageway.
Again, I do not want to lie. If I had $ 11,000 to blow on this interpretation of Amano’s work, I might consider buying one. But why does it have to be so big? Could Square Enix, I do not know, not make smaller models available at a reasonable price? I’m sure more people would be interested in a version that fits on their desk instead of one that fills half a room.
“It’s like a fictional world has become a reality,” Amano said of the collectible during his video interview. “You will understand exactly what I am saying when you see it in person. I hope you have the chance to do so one day.”
Amano, I adore you, but the only way it happens is if you send me one. Look me up, I would love to chat.