I’m here to say – it’s true – Final Fantasy XV’s plot is substantially similar to “The Lion King”.

First, let’s recount the Disney story:

The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after Simba’s uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile. Upon maturation living with two wastrels, Simba is given some valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful King.

We don’t see Noctis sing about how he “just can’t wait to be king”. However, if Nomura directed it…

In Brotherhood, I seem to recall he hates the idea of taking over his father’s kingdom. But he knows he’ll be king, and finds out he’s the chosen one from his childhood friend Luna.

The king knows what’s in store for his son, and sends him away. In each story, the prince leaves his kingdom. In each story, the father dying is the catalyst for the plot. Noctis feels a twinge of guilt for the death of his father.

Both Noctis and Simba’s father exists in the spiritual realm.

Like Scar, Ardyn is related to the royal line somehow – bypassed over and spite. Scar has a British accent. Ardyn has a British accent. Why do people think the British accent is sinister? Well, minus Ignis after all…

In the game, we play Simba, Pumba, and Timon on their adventures. Simba transitions from a child to a young adult. Plus, they search for bugs (as a sidequest?). And wouldn’t you know it, there are bugs all around Final Fantasy XV…

Eventually, you take back the kingdom after goofing around with his bros. Like Simba, Noctis grows a lot of hair in a time transition we don’t get to see.

Both kingdoms are overrun by monsters (or hyenas in The Lion King’s case) in a gloomy setting. Both main antagonists harm the female protagonists, which enrages the main protagonists. The entire kingdom burns. The epic showdown ensues to reclaim one’s throne.

In the end, Noctis and Simba marry their childhood sweethearts, and everything ends happily ever after.

And don’t forget, Final Fantasy Versus XIII was originally based on Hamlet, just like Disney’s The Lion King.

🎼Hajime Ta-ba-ta!

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is essentially Disney’s Aladdin. Vaan is the titular character and the genie are the Occuria…