Summary
Summons have been a staple in theFinal Fantasyfranchise for a long time. These summons have come in many different forms, and have worked dramatically differently in different entries of the long-running game series.
DIfferent summons also offer different reasons to pull them out over others. While Ifrit is associated with the element of fire, and Shiva with the element of ice,Ramuhhas been a long-timerepresentation for the element of lightning— although, he has not been the only one, such asFinal Fantasy 10’s Ixion. Ramuh’s appearances have varied throughout the series, but these games stand out for those who are fans of his.
Given its age,Final Fantasy 3is ratherdifficult to play compared to the franchise’s modern entries. This is the first appearance of Ramuh, and he stands out among other summons in the game for being a very humanoid looking character. He is depicted as a sage-looking wizard with a long beard, robes, and a long magic staff. This helps to make him stand out as a memorable summon.
Different characters use summons differently depending on their chosen jobs inFinal Fantasy 3. In Ramuh’s case, he could be used as an offensive summon, or as a support. When the character summoning Ramuh is either a Sage or a Summoner, he will use Heaven’s Rage to strike all enemies. When summoned through an Evoker, Ramuh can use Mind Blast to paralyze enemies or God’s Thunder to deal direct lightning damage.
A lot of the early entries in the franchise gave summons a prominent role in the story. This occurred in many other entries as well, such asFinal Fantasy 10andFinal Fantasy 16. However, each ofFinal Fantasy 7’s many different versionsfocused more on the party’s characters and their involvement in an entirely separate story. Summons merely acted as a mechanic for dealing a large amount of damage during an encounter.
FF7was one of the first games in the series to make summons an incredibly flashy ordeal whenever they are used. However, Ramuh is not the only lightning damage summon, with more powerful options being available in the game. He has also appeared with a far more impressive appearance in other entries.
Ramuh returned for the next two entries after his introduction, and maintained his iconic wizardly look. InFinal Fantasy 5, his staff appears longer, and his beard is more accentuated. Players would encounter him as a random enemy in one of the game’s forests, where he could be obtained.
InFinal Fantasy 4, Ramuh was a great summon once he became available, but would become far less viable as the game progressed — mostly due to the lack of lighting weakness throughout the game.Final Fantasy 5does a lot of things better than some other entries, and Ramuh is one of them. Ramuh will be a tough fight for players once encountered, stronger than any of the other summons they will have at the time. Should players already have Ifrit, this will trigger unique dialog which leads to Ramuh deeming the party worthy.
Final Fantasy 16might not be every fan’s cup of tea, as the largest departure from the franchise’s turn-based roots. However, it features a perfect blend of everything mentioned up to this point. The game has a large focus on the Summons, with each shining in their own way throughout the story and each having a large amount of lore for players to delve into. What’s more, the game isnow available for PC players to enjoy.
In this game, each summon (known as an Eikon) is tied to another character known as their Dominant. Each summon, including Ramu, is fleshed out in every aspect and feels viable from the moment they are obtained until the end of the game. Ramu’s design sees a wild departure from many past aesthetics, adopting a look of darker colors and pieces of armor.
Final Fantasy 6called its summons Espers, and they were a major focus of the game’s plot. Ramuh sees a lot of screen time, appears at the start of the game, and adds to a lot of the game’s lore. One of the game’s playable characters even joins the party because of Ramuh’s influence.
Ramuh is the first summon that players will gain access to in the game, and will be viable throughout its entirety. He serves as a mentor figure, guiding the players during their journey. This game offers one of the most prominent and memorable portrayals of the summon out of anyFinal Fantasygame.
Just like withFinal Fantasy 6, Ramuh gets a very prominent role in the story, as well as being one of the earlier summon options that players will obtain. The damage he deals is increased by the number of Peridot items that the player has.
This entry in theFinal Fantasyfranchise calls its summons Eidolons. Ramuh’s design in the game has a lot more depth to its design, with the ends of his beard twisting and curling like tentacles, along with many different gem accessories. His mustache also appears much more floaty, where past games usually depicted it as drooping downward.Final Fantasy 9is a title that many fans still haveon their remake wishlist, which would let many new players get to experience this firsthand.
