I recently dove into Final Fantasy VI for the first time ever and can’t say I’m not feeling a little teary-eyed as its finish line closes in. I simply don’t want it to end. (And yet, of course I do, because Kefka has to be stopped!) Before FFVI, I don’t know what I’d have picked as my favorite FF game (of the few I’ve played, and counting FFXIV). Now, I can easily give that title to FFVI. It has been an utter joy to play from start to (almost) finish. Its character are memorable, and it has a stellar story that just doesn’t let up with its twists and turns. It also has loads of unforgettable moments, from a transformation gone wild to any number of betrayals. But the one that stands out, and will always stand out when I think of this game, is its “night at the opera.” I’ll attempt to set the scene (no pun intended), though words alone cannot do it justice.

In FFVI, the good versus evil teams are the Returners and the Empire. Players take on the roles of various characters that are part of or join the Returners. During the game’s first half, the Returners need an airship to continue their fight, and they come to find out that one is owned by an adventuring gambler named Setzer. While working to locate him, the team stumbles across a note in which Setzer states his intention to kidnap an opera star named Maria. While the good folks at Square Enix probably came up with lots of different paths that could have branched out from there, they decided that the only course of action for the Returners was to…infiltrate the opera!

It sounds relatively straightforward on paper, and the basic plan the Returners came up with was pretty direct, too – have one of their own disguise themselves as Maria, and then they’d ambush Setzer when he showed up to take her. The role of “not-Maria” fell to a former Imperial general named Celes, who was understandably nervous about being a fake opera star. The crew was encouraging enough, especially a fellow named Locke who was sweet on Celes, and it eventually came time for Celes to perform.

Of all the things I thought might happen at that point, did I expect that I would be treated to an actual performance?? Not in the slightest!

I don’t know the last time I was completely stunned by an occurrence in a game (maybe the start of Mass Effect 2?), but the opera in FFVI did just that. I recall sitting in absolute silence, transfixed by what was happening. That remarkably lovely song with lyrics, the two performers, the stage, the director, the Returners in the background (and eventually stealing the show), and the grand finale of it all – obtaining Setzer’s airship from Setzer himself. Oh, and, and, AND…Ultros! The inclusion of the mad octopus Ultros in the opera scenario was gold, as he made an attempt to stop the show. But as we all know, the show must go on!

I said at the beginning that Final Fantasy VI has been a total delight to experience, and I would kick myself if could for not playing it sooner. It’s the kind of game where one thinks they have it all figured out until a curve ball is thrown and all one can do is sail along for the ride. If any moment in a game, past or present, comes close to the opera in FFVI, I’d love to know. It’s at the top of my “unforgettable” list, and it’s going to be hard to beat.

Lede image captured by author during gameplay of Final Fantasy VI (Pixel Remaster) (© Square Enix, Nintendo).