Post by Marluxia on Mar 17, 2008 6:43:42 GMT -5
Narshe[/b]
Narshe is a coal-mining town where the game begins.
World of Balance
While the town tries to remain neutral in the conflict between the Empire and other nations, it nevertheless serves as a secret base of
World of Ruin
Figaro Castle is cut off from South Figaro when the cave entrance collapses. While under the sand, tentacular creatures infest the engines and stop the castle in its path, releasing the small-time criminals locked in the dungeon. King Edgar dons the disguise of "Gerad" in order to join their gang and get back to the castle. Celes Chère (and optionally Sabin René Figaro) find Gerad at Nikeah, and hide on the Crimson Robbers' ship as it sails to South Figaro. They go into the basement and find the thieves, whom Gerad tells to loot the treasure vault while he fights the tentacles. He tells Celes (and Sabin) to help him, and they hide from the robbers when they leave.
Figaro Castle is required to carry out a side-quest to find the Ancient Castle and the powerful Esper Odin, which can be upgraded deeper in the castle into Raiden. The upgrade room contains the stone statue of the Ancient Castle's queen, as well as the Blue Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version). The Ancient Castle is also the place where the player can find the KatanaSoul and obtain the Offering elic.
South Figaro[/b]
A town that's part of the kingdom ruled by Edgar Roni Figaro. South Figaro, which is actually beyond a mountain range and accessible by the Figaro Cave, is famous for selling armor and weapons originally manufactured in Figaro castle.
World of Balance
Edgar is betrayed when the Empire invades South Figaro. At that time, Celes is being held there pending her execution for treason against the Empire; Locke discovers and rescues her during his own escape from the town. Later, the Empire will withdraw from South Figaro if the player shows good manners at an Imperial banquet.
World of Ruin
South Figaro is one of the few towns still thriving despite Kefka's attempts to destroy everything he sees.
Returners' Hideout[/u]
The Returners' primary base is beyond Mt. Koltz, which is where Edgar and Locke plan to take Terra after Locke brings her to Figaro Castle. Banon, the leader of the Returners, asks Terra to help them fight the Empire. Whether or not she accepts, she must accompany Banon, Edgar, and Sabin down the Lete River to Narshe and meet with the town's elder regarding the frozen Esper. During this trip, the party meets Ultros for the first time.
Doma Castle[/u]
World of Balance
The home of Cyan Garamonde, Doma was one of the few nations that held out against the Empire. While Sabin was trekking south toward Mobliz, he found an Imperial base, where the Empire staged its attacks on Doma, and where Kefka poisoned the castle's water supply, killing everyone except Cyan and one Doma soldier. The castle is then occupied by the Empire, but it is possible to free it by showing good manners at the Imperial Banquet.
World of Ruin
A party containing Cyan will enter Cyan's dreamscape if they rest in the castle. By defeating the 3 Dream Stooges (named Moe, Curley and Larry, just like the Three Stooges) and the evil Wrexsoul, Cyan will be freed of his despair and guilt for the death of the people he was protecting, mastering himself and learning his greatest Sword Technique, Cleave. After the dreamscape event, the Magicite Alexander is sitting on the throne.
Phantom Forest[/u]
World of Balance
Deep withing the phantom forest, the characters Sabin, Cyan, and (possibly) Shadow find and board the spectral Phantom Train, which takes the souls of the newly dead to the next world. Cyan is given the chance to say good-bye to his wife and son, who were both killed in Kefka's poisoning of Doma.
World of Ruin
Neither the Phantom Forest nor the Phantom Train appear on the world map.
Veldt
Called Wild West in Japan. Monsters from all over the world migrate to the Veldt, and thus any monster previously encountered can be fought there, including some bosses.
World of Balance
Gau, the wild boy, lives on the Veldt and will appear after every fight. He will join Sabin and Cyan if they give him Dried Meat instead of hitting him. Several creatures will give Gau powerful Rages: Stray Cat (CatScratch: 4x physical damage), Aspik (Giga Volt), and Rhinox (Life3). Amongst other rages that are good for situational uses are Templar (Fire 2, Auto-safe), HadesGigas (Magnitude 8, less powerful than Giga Volt but always hits multiple target), Marshal (Wind Slash, great for IAF), Anguiform (Aqua Rake, excellent in Imperial Magitek Research Facility), Chimera (Aqua Rake, resist instant death moves, great for Air Force).
World of Ruin
Retainer (Shock: General Leo's special command) can be obtained. Rages for every elemental attack and powerful non-elemental attacks are also learned, being Brontaur for Fire 3 (and instant-death protection), Woolly for Ice 3 (as well as absorption to all element but Fire and Pearl), Goblin for Bolt 3 (and auto-reflect), Harpiai for Aero, White Drgn for Pearl (and instant-death protection), Ninja for Water Edge, Gigantos for Magnitude 8, Evil Oscar for Bio (and absorption to every element but Fire). Also, Magic Pot absorb every element and resist every status ailment, and Tyranosaur has Meteo, a devasating non-elemental magic attack. Veldt also has a cave where Relm (if Shadow was not saved) or Shadow (if he was saved) can be found, as well as the Rage Ring relic and the Tiger Fangs weapon for Sabin.
Mobliz[/u]
World of Balance
Mobliz is a small town on the edge of the Veldt, and where a wounded Imperial soldier is convalescing. He wishes to correspond with his girlfriend in Maranda, Lola, but cannot lift a pen; the party can help him, and after sending enough correspondence, he gives them a Tintinabar relic. The bed in the back of the Relic shop is free to use.
World of Ruin
Kefka destroyed the town with his Light of Judgement, killing everyone except a handful of children, Duane, and Katarin. Terra finds her way here, and becomes "Mama" to the children. When the party first arrives in Mobliz, Terra will fight, and lose to, Phunbaba (an ancient demon released after the end of the world), leaving the party to fight it and send it running. Terra does not join the party, but they do receive the Magicite Fenrir. Later, Duane and Katarin will have problems, Duane not being able to take the pressure of having a baby, and when found, Terra takes care of Katarin, who is pregnant. Phunbaba chooses this time to return, and will use BabaBreath to knock two members of the party away. Terra joins the party in her Morphed form, and defeats Phunbaba. The children are afraid of her, except for one girl who recognizes her Mama. Terra, unable to feel love up to this point, discovers that she feels love for these children, and tells them that she must leave for now to rescue them from Kefka's tyranny.
Nikeah[/u]
Possibly named after Nicaea (Νίκαια, both İznik, Turkey and Nice, France), pronounced /ˈnicɛa/ in Modern Greek.
World of Balance
Nikeah is a coastal town that offers a variety of strong (but expensive) equipment when Sabin, Cyan, and Gau arrive through the Serpent Trench. When the party is finished shopping, a steamship will take them to South Figaro. Later in the game (before the Empire pulls out of South Figaro), taking the ship again will not get the party into South Figaro, being occupied by the Empire, which leaves them forced to trek through Mt. Koltz, the Lete River, and the Veldt to return to Nikeah and the airship.
World of Ruin
Celes (and optionally Sabin) will find that the Crimson Robbers own the steamship, and that "Gerad," who is actually Edgar, leads them. After talking to Gerad (who denies being Edgar), Celes can stow aboard the ship and take it to South Figaro.
Kohlingen
World of Balance
Kohlingen is on the western side of the mountains from Figaro Castle, and the party will go there on the search for Terra after her morph. Shadow can be hired in the Cafe for 3000 GP (the game's currency), and the party will learn about Locke's motivations if he is in the party and they visit the houses in the northeast and northwest of the village.
World of Ruin
Setzer is drowning his despair in the Cafe, but Celes will snap him out and he will take the party to find his friend's interred airship, the Falcon. After finding Locke, he brings the Magicite Phoenix, and the treasures of the star-shaped mountain cave, where the Red Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version), is located.
Jidoor[/u]
World of Balance
Jidoor is the westernmost town on the world map, as boasted by one of the townspeople. It is the home of the art collector Owzer, and the auction house where the Magicites Golem and ZoneSeek can be won for the right price. Jidoor is where Locke and Celes will first hear about Setzer, the Wandering Gambler, and his love of the opera.
World of Ruin
Owzer's house is dark, and an unseen force prevents the party from climbing the stairs to the gallery. By reading Owzer's diary and using the lights, they can proceed, find the Emperor's Letter in his painting, and go into Owzer's basement and find Relm and the Magicite Starlet. If Shadow did not survive the Floating Continent, Relm must first be rescued from the Cave in the Veldt.
Thamasa
A xenophobic backwater, Thamasa is actually the home of the Mage Warriors, the magic-wielding warriors of the War of the Magi, who fled persecution 1,000 years ago to live in peace. It is the home of the Blue Mage Strago Magus and his adopted granddaughter, Relm Arrowny. All in-game evidence points to Shadow (by his real name Clyde) being Relm's missing father.
Esper World
The Esper World appears only in a controlled flashback, occurring after the party escapes the Magitek Research Facility because of the Maduin's Magicite restoring Terra's memory. Maduin (one of the rescued pieces of Magicite) finds a human woman (named Madonna) has stumbled into the Esper World, and takes care of her, eventually fathering a child with her, Terra. Emperor Gestahl (Gastra in the Japanese version) infiltrates the Esper World and his forces carry off a number of Espers, including Maduin, and he takes Terra from her mother.
Sealed Gate
The Empire has a heavily-occupied base outside the cave to the Sealed Gate, but when the party takes Terra to talk to the Espers, the base is abandoned. The cave has many treasures, including the Atma Weapon (Ultima Weapon in the Japanese version, not to be confused with the boss of the same name), which are guarded by strong undead creatures. The cave becomes unnavailable to enter after completing the events in Thamasa, and so it of course cannot be entered during the World of Ruin.
Opera House
In the Opera House, the party appears in a opera, participating of the opera itself or helping to save it at the background.
World of Balance
The party has to go to the Opera House in order to get Setzer's airship and get to Vector. Locke convinces the Impresario to switch Maria, the opera singer, with the dead ringer Celes; Setzer plans on kidnapping Maria at the climax of Act 1, but Ultros tries to foil their plan. When his first attempt fails, he tries again, this time with a 5-ton weight that he intends to drop on "Maria" from the rafters. Locke and his allies stop him, but fall on stage, knocking out the Draco and Prince Ralse characters, and the Impresario ad-libs the incident into the opera. Ultros is fought on stage and, after getting rid of him, Setzer comes to kidnap Celes who then wins the airship, playing with a double-sided coin.
World of Ruin
The Earth Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version), is sitting on the stage, much to the Impresario's dismay. One of the switches in the rightmost room will drop the party onto the stage, where they can battle the Earth Dragon. Other than the Earth Dragon, the Opera House has no role in the World of Ruin.
Zozo
Zozo is unique in the game in that random battles can take place in the town.
World of Balance
People in Jidoor will tell the player that they saw a glowing shape fly through the sky toward Zozo, and that is where Terra, who turned into a magical creature and flew off after touching minds with the frozen Esper in Narshe, can be found.
One person in Zozo complains that everybody else lies, and he's right. Everybody else claims the time is something it isn't, which is a clue to how to properly reset a clock in town and access a powerful tool for Edgar.
After climbing a huge skyscraper and gathering some decent items, the party encounters Dadaluma (Dadama in the Japanese version), who claims he's a pacifist, and then attacks. After defeating him, the party finds Terra, and meets Ramuh, an Esper, who tells the player the story of the Espers, and provides the Magicite remains of himself and three companions who escaped the Magitek Research Facility in Vector, the capital of the Empire.
When the party returns from the Facility with liberated Magicite, one piece glows in Terra's presence, the remains of Maduin, who is actually Terra's father.
Zozo's monsters are powerful at this point in the game: the HadesGigas has Magnitude8, an Earth-based attack that deals 200+ damage to the party, and SlamDancers can cast Fire2, Ice2, and Bolt2.
World of Ruin
After Setzer, Celes, and Edgar (and optionally Sabin) get the Falcon out of mothballs, Celes sees a carrier pigeon take a letter to Maranda. Lola, who has been receiving letters and hand-crafted silk flowers from her boyfriend in Mobliz, asks them to send a letter by pigeon. The pigeon takes the letter to Mount Zozo. In order to follow, they must purchase RustRid from the honest man, and fight their way up the mountain to find Cyan, who writes to Lola in her dead boyfriend's name. He sends a final letter, owning up to his charade, and joins the group to fight Kefka. He mentions that Gau has returned to the Veldt. Mount Zozo is the location of the Storm Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version). Zozo's monsters have not changed from the World of Balance, but Mount Zozo has, among other things, a much stronger version of the HadesGigas: Borras.
Vector[/u]
World of Balance
Vector is the Imperial capitol, a gloomy place with grim background music. Imperial troopers patrol the area above the town, around a cafe where the party can learn more about the Magitek research. The Imperial Palace is protected by an impervious machine called the Guardian. The party has to infiltrate the Magitek Research Facility and release the captive Espers, but the mission does not proceed as planned, and Celes is lost. The party returns to Vector once more, after the Espers behind the Sealed Gate escape and raze the city. Emperor Gestahl asks the Returners to help him convince the Espers that he really wants peace; how the party reacts to Gestahl's conversations during the banquet will determine how the Emperor will reward them afterward. Gestahl's gestures for peace were a ruse; he freed Kefka and they proceeded to revive the Floating Continent. At this point in the game, Vector is a ghost town.
World of Ruin
The town no longer exists, chunks of the town are assembled in Kefka's Tower.
Maranda[/u]
World of Balance
Maranda is under Imperial rule; in fact, the Empire slaughtered its royal family and instated their own government.
World of Ruin
The non-playable character Lola lives in Maranda, where she receives letters and flowers via carrier pigeons from her "boyfriend in Mobliz" (later discovered to be actually sent by Cyan).
Tzen
World of Balance
After escaping the Magitek Research Facility, the party can purchase the Magicite Seraphim for 3,000 GP.
World of Ruin
Tzen is razed by Kefka's Light of Judgement; the character Sabin can be regained at this time. If the party did not purchase Seraphim in the World of Balance, it can be bought for only 10 GP.
The Empire[/u]
The large enemy nation is simply known as "the Empire" (or, in Japan, "the Empire of Gastra"). Its ruler is Gestahl, a power-hungry man who seeks Magicite and, later, the mythical Statues in order to exploit and plunder magic. The three generals (or "Shoguns" in the Japanese version) who lead Gestahl's armies are Kefka, Celes, and General Leo Cristophe. Terra was used as a soldier of the Empire, but against her will and under the influence of a Slave Crown.
World of Balance
The Empire takes up the entire southern continent and includes the cities Albrook, Tzen, Maranda, and the capital city of Vector. The Empire's superior Magitek weaponry helps it to conquer other nations, including Doma and South Figaro. However, furious Espers end up destroying Vector during the course of the game, and with the death of Emperor Gestahl, the Empire no longer exists once Kefka brings the end of the world.
World of Ruin
The Empire's reign is finished, having been completely destroyed. At Kefka's Tower, however, it is possible to see the twisted and scattered remains of the royal palace and factories of Vector.
Albrook[/u]
Sometimes also translated as Alburg.
World of Balance
Albrook is under Imperial rule and runs ships to the capital, Vector. Later, the port ferries the players to Thamasa.
World of Ruin
Albrook is the closest town to Kefka's tower and the first place Celes arrives. As is typical in RPG games, many people in town offer advice on what has happened, including Kefka's Tower, the 8 Dragons, and Doom Gaze.
Narshe is a coal-mining town where the game begins.
World of Balance
While the town tries to remain neutral in the conflict between the Empire and other nations, it nevertheless serves as a secret base of
World of Ruin
Figaro Castle is cut off from South Figaro when the cave entrance collapses. While under the sand, tentacular creatures infest the engines and stop the castle in its path, releasing the small-time criminals locked in the dungeon. King Edgar dons the disguise of "Gerad" in order to join their gang and get back to the castle. Celes Chère (and optionally Sabin René Figaro) find Gerad at Nikeah, and hide on the Crimson Robbers' ship as it sails to South Figaro. They go into the basement and find the thieves, whom Gerad tells to loot the treasure vault while he fights the tentacles. He tells Celes (and Sabin) to help him, and they hide from the robbers when they leave.
Figaro Castle is required to carry out a side-quest to find the Ancient Castle and the powerful Esper Odin, which can be upgraded deeper in the castle into Raiden. The upgrade room contains the stone statue of the Ancient Castle's queen, as well as the Blue Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version). The Ancient Castle is also the place where the player can find the KatanaSoul and obtain the Offering elic.
South Figaro[/b]
A town that's part of the kingdom ruled by Edgar Roni Figaro. South Figaro, which is actually beyond a mountain range and accessible by the Figaro Cave, is famous for selling armor and weapons originally manufactured in Figaro castle.
World of Balance
Edgar is betrayed when the Empire invades South Figaro. At that time, Celes is being held there pending her execution for treason against the Empire; Locke discovers and rescues her during his own escape from the town. Later, the Empire will withdraw from South Figaro if the player shows good manners at an Imperial banquet.
World of Ruin
South Figaro is one of the few towns still thriving despite Kefka's attempts to destroy everything he sees.
Returners' Hideout[/u]
The Returners' primary base is beyond Mt. Koltz, which is where Edgar and Locke plan to take Terra after Locke brings her to Figaro Castle. Banon, the leader of the Returners, asks Terra to help them fight the Empire. Whether or not she accepts, she must accompany Banon, Edgar, and Sabin down the Lete River to Narshe and meet with the town's elder regarding the frozen Esper. During this trip, the party meets Ultros for the first time.
Doma Castle[/u]
World of Balance
The home of Cyan Garamonde, Doma was one of the few nations that held out against the Empire. While Sabin was trekking south toward Mobliz, he found an Imperial base, where the Empire staged its attacks on Doma, and where Kefka poisoned the castle's water supply, killing everyone except Cyan and one Doma soldier. The castle is then occupied by the Empire, but it is possible to free it by showing good manners at the Imperial Banquet.
World of Ruin
A party containing Cyan will enter Cyan's dreamscape if they rest in the castle. By defeating the 3 Dream Stooges (named Moe, Curley and Larry, just like the Three Stooges) and the evil Wrexsoul, Cyan will be freed of his despair and guilt for the death of the people he was protecting, mastering himself and learning his greatest Sword Technique, Cleave. After the dreamscape event, the Magicite Alexander is sitting on the throne.
Phantom Forest[/u]
World of Balance
Deep withing the phantom forest, the characters Sabin, Cyan, and (possibly) Shadow find and board the spectral Phantom Train, which takes the souls of the newly dead to the next world. Cyan is given the chance to say good-bye to his wife and son, who were both killed in Kefka's poisoning of Doma.
World of Ruin
Neither the Phantom Forest nor the Phantom Train appear on the world map.
Veldt
Called Wild West in Japan. Monsters from all over the world migrate to the Veldt, and thus any monster previously encountered can be fought there, including some bosses.
World of Balance
Gau, the wild boy, lives on the Veldt and will appear after every fight. He will join Sabin and Cyan if they give him Dried Meat instead of hitting him. Several creatures will give Gau powerful Rages: Stray Cat (CatScratch: 4x physical damage), Aspik (Giga Volt), and Rhinox (Life3). Amongst other rages that are good for situational uses are Templar (Fire 2, Auto-safe), HadesGigas (Magnitude 8, less powerful than Giga Volt but always hits multiple target), Marshal (Wind Slash, great for IAF), Anguiform (Aqua Rake, excellent in Imperial Magitek Research Facility), Chimera (Aqua Rake, resist instant death moves, great for Air Force).
World of Ruin
Retainer (Shock: General Leo's special command) can be obtained. Rages for every elemental attack and powerful non-elemental attacks are also learned, being Brontaur for Fire 3 (and instant-death protection), Woolly for Ice 3 (as well as absorption to all element but Fire and Pearl), Goblin for Bolt 3 (and auto-reflect), Harpiai for Aero, White Drgn for Pearl (and instant-death protection), Ninja for Water Edge, Gigantos for Magnitude 8, Evil Oscar for Bio (and absorption to every element but Fire). Also, Magic Pot absorb every element and resist every status ailment, and Tyranosaur has Meteo, a devasating non-elemental magic attack. Veldt also has a cave where Relm (if Shadow was not saved) or Shadow (if he was saved) can be found, as well as the Rage Ring relic and the Tiger Fangs weapon for Sabin.
Mobliz[/u]
World of Balance
Mobliz is a small town on the edge of the Veldt, and where a wounded Imperial soldier is convalescing. He wishes to correspond with his girlfriend in Maranda, Lola, but cannot lift a pen; the party can help him, and after sending enough correspondence, he gives them a Tintinabar relic. The bed in the back of the Relic shop is free to use.
World of Ruin
Kefka destroyed the town with his Light of Judgement, killing everyone except a handful of children, Duane, and Katarin. Terra finds her way here, and becomes "Mama" to the children. When the party first arrives in Mobliz, Terra will fight, and lose to, Phunbaba (an ancient demon released after the end of the world), leaving the party to fight it and send it running. Terra does not join the party, but they do receive the Magicite Fenrir. Later, Duane and Katarin will have problems, Duane not being able to take the pressure of having a baby, and when found, Terra takes care of Katarin, who is pregnant. Phunbaba chooses this time to return, and will use BabaBreath to knock two members of the party away. Terra joins the party in her Morphed form, and defeats Phunbaba. The children are afraid of her, except for one girl who recognizes her Mama. Terra, unable to feel love up to this point, discovers that she feels love for these children, and tells them that she must leave for now to rescue them from Kefka's tyranny.
Nikeah[/u]
Possibly named after Nicaea (Νίκαια, both İznik, Turkey and Nice, France), pronounced /ˈnicɛa/ in Modern Greek.
World of Balance
Nikeah is a coastal town that offers a variety of strong (but expensive) equipment when Sabin, Cyan, and Gau arrive through the Serpent Trench. When the party is finished shopping, a steamship will take them to South Figaro. Later in the game (before the Empire pulls out of South Figaro), taking the ship again will not get the party into South Figaro, being occupied by the Empire, which leaves them forced to trek through Mt. Koltz, the Lete River, and the Veldt to return to Nikeah and the airship.
World of Ruin
Celes (and optionally Sabin) will find that the Crimson Robbers own the steamship, and that "Gerad," who is actually Edgar, leads them. After talking to Gerad (who denies being Edgar), Celes can stow aboard the ship and take it to South Figaro.
Kohlingen
World of Balance
Kohlingen is on the western side of the mountains from Figaro Castle, and the party will go there on the search for Terra after her morph. Shadow can be hired in the Cafe for 3000 GP (the game's currency), and the party will learn about Locke's motivations if he is in the party and they visit the houses in the northeast and northwest of the village.
World of Ruin
Setzer is drowning his despair in the Cafe, but Celes will snap him out and he will take the party to find his friend's interred airship, the Falcon. After finding Locke, he brings the Magicite Phoenix, and the treasures of the star-shaped mountain cave, where the Red Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version), is located.
Jidoor[/u]
World of Balance
Jidoor is the westernmost town on the world map, as boasted by one of the townspeople. It is the home of the art collector Owzer, and the auction house where the Magicites Golem and ZoneSeek can be won for the right price. Jidoor is where Locke and Celes will first hear about Setzer, the Wandering Gambler, and his love of the opera.
World of Ruin
Owzer's house is dark, and an unseen force prevents the party from climbing the stairs to the gallery. By reading Owzer's diary and using the lights, they can proceed, find the Emperor's Letter in his painting, and go into Owzer's basement and find Relm and the Magicite Starlet. If Shadow did not survive the Floating Continent, Relm must first be rescued from the Cave in the Veldt.
Thamasa
A xenophobic backwater, Thamasa is actually the home of the Mage Warriors, the magic-wielding warriors of the War of the Magi, who fled persecution 1,000 years ago to live in peace. It is the home of the Blue Mage Strago Magus and his adopted granddaughter, Relm Arrowny. All in-game evidence points to Shadow (by his real name Clyde) being Relm's missing father.
Esper World
The Esper World appears only in a controlled flashback, occurring after the party escapes the Magitek Research Facility because of the Maduin's Magicite restoring Terra's memory. Maduin (one of the rescued pieces of Magicite) finds a human woman (named Madonna) has stumbled into the Esper World, and takes care of her, eventually fathering a child with her, Terra. Emperor Gestahl (Gastra in the Japanese version) infiltrates the Esper World and his forces carry off a number of Espers, including Maduin, and he takes Terra from her mother.
Sealed Gate
The Empire has a heavily-occupied base outside the cave to the Sealed Gate, but when the party takes Terra to talk to the Espers, the base is abandoned. The cave has many treasures, including the Atma Weapon (Ultima Weapon in the Japanese version, not to be confused with the boss of the same name), which are guarded by strong undead creatures. The cave becomes unnavailable to enter after completing the events in Thamasa, and so it of course cannot be entered during the World of Ruin.
Opera House
In the Opera House, the party appears in a opera, participating of the opera itself or helping to save it at the background.
World of Balance
The party has to go to the Opera House in order to get Setzer's airship and get to Vector. Locke convinces the Impresario to switch Maria, the opera singer, with the dead ringer Celes; Setzer plans on kidnapping Maria at the climax of Act 1, but Ultros tries to foil their plan. When his first attempt fails, he tries again, this time with a 5-ton weight that he intends to drop on "Maria" from the rafters. Locke and his allies stop him, but fall on stage, knocking out the Draco and Prince Ralse characters, and the Impresario ad-libs the incident into the opera. Ultros is fought on stage and, after getting rid of him, Setzer comes to kidnap Celes who then wins the airship, playing with a double-sided coin.
World of Ruin
The Earth Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version), is sitting on the stage, much to the Impresario's dismay. One of the switches in the rightmost room will drop the party onto the stage, where they can battle the Earth Dragon. Other than the Earth Dragon, the Opera House has no role in the World of Ruin.
Zozo
Zozo is unique in the game in that random battles can take place in the town.
World of Balance
People in Jidoor will tell the player that they saw a glowing shape fly through the sky toward Zozo, and that is where Terra, who turned into a magical creature and flew off after touching minds with the frozen Esper in Narshe, can be found.
One person in Zozo complains that everybody else lies, and he's right. Everybody else claims the time is something it isn't, which is a clue to how to properly reset a clock in town and access a powerful tool for Edgar.
After climbing a huge skyscraper and gathering some decent items, the party encounters Dadaluma (Dadama in the Japanese version), who claims he's a pacifist, and then attacks. After defeating him, the party finds Terra, and meets Ramuh, an Esper, who tells the player the story of the Espers, and provides the Magicite remains of himself and three companions who escaped the Magitek Research Facility in Vector, the capital of the Empire.
When the party returns from the Facility with liberated Magicite, one piece glows in Terra's presence, the remains of Maduin, who is actually Terra's father.
Zozo's monsters are powerful at this point in the game: the HadesGigas has Magnitude8, an Earth-based attack that deals 200+ damage to the party, and SlamDancers can cast Fire2, Ice2, and Bolt2.
World of Ruin
After Setzer, Celes, and Edgar (and optionally Sabin) get the Falcon out of mothballs, Celes sees a carrier pigeon take a letter to Maranda. Lola, who has been receiving letters and hand-crafted silk flowers from her boyfriend in Mobliz, asks them to send a letter by pigeon. The pigeon takes the letter to Mount Zozo. In order to follow, they must purchase RustRid from the honest man, and fight their way up the mountain to find Cyan, who writes to Lola in her dead boyfriend's name. He sends a final letter, owning up to his charade, and joins the group to fight Kefka. He mentions that Gau has returned to the Veldt. Mount Zozo is the location of the Storm Dragon, one of the eight dragons that seal the powerful Esper Crusader (Jihad in the Japanese version). Zozo's monsters have not changed from the World of Balance, but Mount Zozo has, among other things, a much stronger version of the HadesGigas: Borras.
Vector[/u]
World of Balance
Vector is the Imperial capitol, a gloomy place with grim background music. Imperial troopers patrol the area above the town, around a cafe where the party can learn more about the Magitek research. The Imperial Palace is protected by an impervious machine called the Guardian. The party has to infiltrate the Magitek Research Facility and release the captive Espers, but the mission does not proceed as planned, and Celes is lost. The party returns to Vector once more, after the Espers behind the Sealed Gate escape and raze the city. Emperor Gestahl asks the Returners to help him convince the Espers that he really wants peace; how the party reacts to Gestahl's conversations during the banquet will determine how the Emperor will reward them afterward. Gestahl's gestures for peace were a ruse; he freed Kefka and they proceeded to revive the Floating Continent. At this point in the game, Vector is a ghost town.
World of Ruin
The town no longer exists, chunks of the town are assembled in Kefka's Tower.
Maranda[/u]
World of Balance
Maranda is under Imperial rule; in fact, the Empire slaughtered its royal family and instated their own government.
World of Ruin
The non-playable character Lola lives in Maranda, where she receives letters and flowers via carrier pigeons from her "boyfriend in Mobliz" (later discovered to be actually sent by Cyan).
Tzen
World of Balance
After escaping the Magitek Research Facility, the party can purchase the Magicite Seraphim for 3,000 GP.
World of Ruin
Tzen is razed by Kefka's Light of Judgement; the character Sabin can be regained at this time. If the party did not purchase Seraphim in the World of Balance, it can be bought for only 10 GP.
The Empire[/u]
The large enemy nation is simply known as "the Empire" (or, in Japan, "the Empire of Gastra"). Its ruler is Gestahl, a power-hungry man who seeks Magicite and, later, the mythical Statues in order to exploit and plunder magic. The three generals (or "Shoguns" in the Japanese version) who lead Gestahl's armies are Kefka, Celes, and General Leo Cristophe. Terra was used as a soldier of the Empire, but against her will and under the influence of a Slave Crown.
World of Balance
The Empire takes up the entire southern continent and includes the cities Albrook, Tzen, Maranda, and the capital city of Vector. The Empire's superior Magitek weaponry helps it to conquer other nations, including Doma and South Figaro. However, furious Espers end up destroying Vector during the course of the game, and with the death of Emperor Gestahl, the Empire no longer exists once Kefka brings the end of the world.
World of Ruin
The Empire's reign is finished, having been completely destroyed. At Kefka's Tower, however, it is possible to see the twisted and scattered remains of the royal palace and factories of Vector.
Albrook[/u]
Sometimes also translated as Alburg.
World of Balance
Albrook is under Imperial rule and runs ships to the capital, Vector. Later, the port ferries the players to Thamasa.
World of Ruin
Albrook is the closest town to Kefka's tower and the first place Celes arrives. As is typical in RPG games, many people in town offer advice on what has happened, including Kefka's Tower, the 8 Dragons, and Doom Gaze.
