Flammie
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Flammie is a fictional dragon-like character featured in the Seiken Densetsu video game series created by Squaresoft (later Square Enix). Though not principally a main character, Flammie nonetheless serves an important role by transporting party members on its back, usually to access some location that they couldn't before. In reality, several characters have appeared with the name "Flammie" throughout the series: first, a male version in Secret of Mana, and then a female one in Seiken Densetsu 3. A third Flammie, also female, is featured in Children of Mana. In addition to being a proper name, Flammie (written sometimes as "Flammy") also serves as the name of their specific race.
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[edit] Flammie lore
The history of the Flammies is detailed throughout the various games in the Seiken Densetsu series, particularly Legend of Mana, and are described as "beautiful yet powerful beasts" created by the Moon Gods, a race of omnipotent beings responsible for most of the life in the world. While the Flammies featured within the games of the series are depicted as off-white or yellow, the ancient world was populated by Flammies of six different colors, a new one being born when each Moon God went to sleep.
Eventually, the Moon Gods attempted to prove each was better than the others by creating new, powerful beasts to roam the land. These creatures, along with the Flammies themselves, often quarreled at the gods' expense, tearing apart the world as they struggled to sustain it. A rift to another world was opened in the process, unleashing dark magic across the land, and sparked wars that were fought by terrible beasts that threatened the gods themselves. The prolonged fighting damaged the Mana Tree, a gigantic tree that served as the central life force of the planet. In order to keep the power of Mana from diminishing, the gods divided crystallized portions of energy from the tree itself and gave it to six Flammies, who scattered their power across the world, becoming a "flying river of Mana".
The efforts of the Flammies were enough to empower the planet to such an extent that the rift to the dark world was closed, but as they returned to their home, the gods were nowhere to be found. Saddened, they flew far into the sky, never to be seen again. Many years passed, and new races such as humans and fairies began to populate the world. One day, six brightly colored rays of light descended on the land, imbuing the land in life energy and ushering in a new golden age. New species began to appear that resembled the Flammies, such as dragons, however they were said to lack the beauty and divinity of true Flammies, though no one had ever laid eyes on one. Creatures similar in power to Flammies called wyrms were summoned to the land by powerful mages, and were used to carry out their various purposes.
[edit] Biology
While a Flammie's appearance is overall very draconic, they do possess several unique traits that makes it difficult to attribute their features to any one particular animal, and it appears to be as much mammalian as it is reptilian. While Flammies have a scaley, ribbed underside, the rest of their body is covered in a fine fur, with a tuft of thick hair at the top of their heads. They also possess a beak-like mouth with two large fangs near the back, and a pair of long ears. Their hind legs are larger and thicker than their front, and have four small fleshy pads at the bottom to aid in sitting.
The Flammie's most distinguishing feature, however, are the twin pairs of large, feathery wings that extend from its upper back. These wings, though not exceptionally large, work in tandum to generate the lift needed to keep both Flammie and its passengers in the air. If its activity in the games is any indication, Flammies can remain airborne for extreme periods of time, and by tilting their wings slightly, they can move up or down as well as side to side without losing momentum.
Flammies share several biological characteristics with luckdragons.
[edit] Character history
[edit] Secret of Mana
The first Flammie appears in Secret of Mana, and is discovered, newly hatched, by the main characters Randi, Purim, and Popoie within a subterranean labyrinth known as the White Dragon Cave. King Truffle, monarch of the Kingdom of Matango, gives him the name Flammie, if only because he thinks the name is cute. Flammie is then left in the King's care while the party goes about their business until they reach the Imperial Northtown Castle. With the castle set alight, King Truffle comes to the party's rescue aboard a mature, flying Flammie. After flying to safety, Truffle bestows them with the "Flammie Drum", allowing them to call upon their new friend at any time.
Serving as a means of aerial transport, Flammie can carry the three main characters on his back, and allows them access to nearly any location in the world, including the flying Mana Fortress. By utilizing the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 graphic capabilities, players can control Flammie from a "behind the back" third-person perspective, and fly over the landscape as it scrolls beneath them. This view can be switched to a top-down perspective; however, this view is the only option once Flammie flies low enough to land.
A creature similar to Flammie called the Mana Beast was summoned by a dark magician Thanatos to serve as his instrument of destruction. This monster, though resembling Flammie, was considerably more mature and powerful than the one the heroes found, and possessed the ability to breath fire. As the final boss of the game, Randi, Purim, and Popoie had to combat the beast with the full power of the Mana Sword in order to defeat it. The German translation of the game cast Flammie as the Mana Beast; however, the Mana Beast's identity is inconclusive in the original English translation.
[edit] Seiken Densetsu 3
When the heroes of Seiken Densetsu 3 need a form of transport that would allow them to reach the airborne portal to another world known as the Mana Holyland, they invest in an ancient prophecy about a large dragon creature that could soar across the skies without difficulty. Seeking this "Father of the Winged Ones", the group makes their way up a steep mountain trail called the Path to the Heavens, only to find that the "Father" is actually a "daughter", a young female dragon. Riesz (or the fairy depending on whether or not the player selected Riesz to be in the party) gives her the name Flammie, and the group rides on her back into the Holyland. After meeting with the Mana Goddess, she gives them a special item called the Wind Drum that allows them to call upon Flammie to transport them anywhere.
Like in the previous game, Flammie can fly just about anywhere in the world, landing in preset points that will allow the party to explore an area. Like the previous game, a top-down view can be achieved, giving the player a better view of the land below. Later in the game, a mid-air boss battle is fought while the party stands on Flammie's back.
[edit] Legend of Mana
Though not actively appearing in the game itself, Flammie (or more appropriately, his race referred to coequally as "Flammies") is mentioned in the in-game World History feature, which outlines several pieces of lore in the Seiken Densetsu world. In it, the legend of the Flammies is explained in detail for the first time, and establishes a connection between them and the very forces that control the world.
[edit] Sword of Mana
Flammie was originally planned to appear in this remake, as evidenced by original artwork in a calendar used to promote the game's Japanese version, Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu [1]. However, like many other features planned for the game, Flammie was cut and removed completely. It is unknown exactly what role Flammie would play in this game, as the original version, Final Fantasy Adventure, did not feature Flammie at all.
[edit] Children of Mana
Shortly after obtaining the fabled Mana Sword, the main character (whichever is chosen at the beginning) of Children of Mana is encouraged to investigate the mystery of this object by traveling to the city of Topple, a center of trade and learning. However, in order to reach this place, the character will require some form of aerial transport, which is given to him by Moti, a researcher and historian who has in his possession the fabled Spin Drum that can be used to call Flammie at any time. With Flammie's assistance, the character is able to travel to the city, as well as navigate the rest world with minimal effort.
Once the Spin Drum is obtained, the option to summon Flammie becomes selectable in the game's start menu. When used, the player is returned to the world map and is able to select a number of destinations they wish to travel to, as well as zoom out of their current position and view the entire world.
[edit] Dawn of Mana
Though there isn't much info available at the moment, Flammie can be seen flying in the dusk sky at the end of the Seiken Densetsu 4 trailer, and most recently in the E3 trailer, which confirms that the white dragon will indeed appear in yet another Seiken Densetsu game. As Dawn of Mana takes places only ten years before Children of Mana, it is possible that this Flammie is the same one from the previous game.
[edit] Songs
Four music pieces have been associated with Flammie over the course of the Seiken Densetsu series. In Secret of Mana, the first theme that plays while flying on Flammie is "Flight into the Unknown" (track 22 on the Seiken Densetsu 2 Original Sound Version). After the Grand Palace is activated, it changes to "Dark Star". Later in the game, when the flying Mana Fortress surfaces, his theme is changed to the song "Prophecy" (track 29). In Seiken Densetsu 3, Flammie's theme is "Can You Fly, Sister?" from the Seiken Densetsu 3 Original Sound Version. All four songs were composed by Hiroki Kikuta.
[edit] References
General References
- Instruction booklets from the following games: Secret of Mana (1993), Seiken Densetsu 3 (1995), and Legend of Mana (2000).
- DeMaria, Russel. Secret of Mana Official Game Secrets. Prima Games, 1993. ISBN 1-55958-465-3
- Wessel, Craig and Walker, Mark H. Legend of Mana Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames, 2000. ISBN 1-56686-986-2
