Cid (Final Fantasy)
Categories: Final Fantasy characters | Oyaji | Running gags | Fictional engineers
In Final Fantasy games, there is often a character called Cid (Japanese: シド, shido), who usually provides transportation (usually in the form of an airship) to the main characters and their party members at various points of the game.
Final Fantasy games
Final Fantasy
Cid is not mentioned in the original North American software localization of the game as released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. He is mentioned, however, in the subsequent re-releases on the Sony PlayStation (Final Fantasy Origins) and the Game Boy Advance (Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls). In those games, Cid does not appear, per se, but is mentioned in the village of Onlack ("Onrac" on NES) as being the ancient Lufenian (Lefeinish on NES) responsible for the construction of the airship you discover during the course of the game.
Final Fantasy II
In Final Fantasy II, Cid is a non-playable character. He is a freelance airship pilot living in Poft. He has set up shop in the local pub and offers passage to various points around the globe, for a price. As the owner of one of the few airships not maintained by the forces of the Emperor of Palamecia (Paramekia Emperor in the Japanese version), Cid's aid is sought by the rebel princess, Hilda. With Cid's help, Hilda's rebels devise a method to disable the Emperor's powerful airborne warship. After the destruction of the warship, Cid continues to offer his assistance to the rebel cause, but is fatally wounded by the whirlwinds unleashed upon the world by the Emperor. Right before he passes on, he bequeaths his airship to the rebels.
Final Fantasy III
In Final Fantasy III, Cid Haze is a non-playable character. Cid is trapped in the Kazus Village when the evil spirit Jinn (later called Ifrit) places a curse on all of its inhabitants. Rendered incorporeal by the curse, Cid offers use of his airship to four itinerant youths on the promise that they help lift the curse. Once Jinn and his curse have been vanquished, Cid helps the four children modify the airship to clear a path through the rock slide that has blocked his way back to his hometown, Canaan Village. Returning back home, Cid is horrified to discover that his wife has taken ill. Once more, the four youths agree to help him, and administer the needed elixir to restore her to health. In gratitude for all the youths have done for him, Cid allows them access to his hidden storeroom and any useful equipment they find within.
Final Fantasy IV
- Main article: Cid Pollendina
In Final Fantasy IV, Cid Pollendina is a playable character. He is the chief engineer of Baron Castle, and a good friend of Cecil Harvey, whom he treats as his own son. This familiarity with Cecil leads to Cid's imprisonment when the Fiend Cagnazzo (Kainazzo on SNES), posing as the king of Baron, exiles Cecil. Eventually freeing himself, Cid defects and takes the flagship of Baron's famous Red Wings airship fleet, the Enterprise, with him, joining his wayward friend Cecil. Later, Cid seemingly sacrifices himself to seal the underground passage to the Dwarven Castle, blocking the forces of Baron from following Cecil and his companions. As it happens, however, Cid survives, and is later reunited with Cecil.
Final Fantasy V
In Final Fantasy V, Cid Previa is a non-playable character. Cid is an elderly inventor and scholar who designed the machinery needed to extract power from the Fire Crystal of Karnak (Karnac in the Japanese version). Thanks to Cid's ingenuity, the Kingdom of Karnak became one of the most powerful and prosperous in the world. Excessive use of Cid's machinery, however, was damaging the integrity of the fire crystal, and the forces of the powerful trans-dimensional lord X-Death (Ex-Death in the Japanese version) used this fact to accelerate the destruction of the crystal. While unable to save the crystal, Cid offers his aid to Bartz (Butz), Reina (Lenna), Faris, and Galuf, four warriors trying to put a stop to X-Death's plans. Together with his nephew, Mid, Cid helps the heroes uncover an ancient airship buried beneath the ocean.
In the Original Video Animation Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, the late Cid's brain has been stolen by Ra Devil to be used in the villain's plans.
Final Fantasy VI
In Final Fantasy VI, Cid del Norte Marguez is a non-playable character. Cid is the chief researcher for the Empire, whose research into the magical power of Espers led to the development of the Empire's powerful Magitek armor. He is very close to former Imperial General ("Shogun" in the Japanese version) Celes, and when Celes turns on the Empire, Cid too begins to have his doubts regarding Emperor Gestahl's plans. Eventually, Cid helps Celes and her allies, the resistance group known as the Returners, escape from a trap Gestahl had laid for them in Vector. Following Kefka's catastrophic attack on the world's surface, Cid finds himself stranded on an isolated island with Celes, who has fallen into a coma. Cid cares for Celes until her recovery one year later, and takes ill himself in the process. Depending on Celes's actions subsequently, Cid either dies of his illness, leaving Celes to discover the small raft he had built to return them both to civilization, or recovers and bequeaths the raft to Celes himself.
Final Fantasy VII
- Main article: Cid Highwind
In Final Fantasy VII, Cid Highwind is a playable character. Cid is a pilot and inventor who dreamed of being the first man in space. He came within moments of realizing his dream when he was chosen to pilot a Shin-Ra rocket into space. The launch was aborted, however, when a technician named Shera defied his orders to run a last-minute check of the rocket's oxygen tanks. To proceed with the launch then would have killed her. Rather than continue the launch at a later date, however, Shin-Ra cancelled their space program as financially unviable. Although Cid blames Shera for destroying his dreams, he later realizes that she likely saved his life when it is revealed that the oxygen tanks were indeed dangerously unstable.
Cid Highwind reappears in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and the Kingdom Hearts series.
Final Fantasy VIII
In Final Fantasy VIII, Cid Kramer is a non-playable character. The former proprietor of a war orphanage, Cid and his wife, Edea, help establish the Garden academies, schools designed to train SeeD mercenaries. He is the headmaster of Balamb Garden, where Squall Leonhart is a student, and it is the training offered by Cid that allows Squall and his squadron of SeeDs to defeat Edea, who, corrupted by the influence of the Sorceress Ultimecia, has seized control of the nation of Galbadia.
Final Fantasy IX
In Final Fantasy IX, Cid Fabool IX is briefly playable during a non-battle sequence. Cid is the ruler and regent of the city-state of Lindblum. A fight with his ex-wife, Hilda, ended with his being transformed into an oglop, a small, insect-like creature. Despite this handicap, Cid remains ruler of Lindblum, and his skill at designing airships has led the city to become the world's preeminent air power. He is later transformed in a frog, and he finally ends up in his human form after Hilda is brought back.
Final Fantasy X and X-2
In Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, Cid is a non-playable character. Cid is the leader of the Al Bhed tribe, and father of Rikku and her Brother. He is also the uncle of Yuna on her mother's side. He provides transportation to Yuna and her Guardians, even taking them into Sin for the final Summoning. During the Eternal Calm, Cid had a few issues with the changes occurring in Spira. He even had a fallout with his kids. He discovered an ancient airship at the beginning of Final Fantasy X and uses it to help the party travel. In the English versions of Final Fantasy X and X-2, Cid was voiced by actor Micheal McShane.
Final Fantasy XI
Although Final Fantasy XI is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, and the story is developed as the game progresses, Cid still features prominently in the world of Vana'diel as a non-playable character. A member of the Hume race, he owns a lab in the Republic of Bastok, and is involved in a few of the quests and missions given to citizens of Bastok.
Final Fantasy Tactics
In Final Fantasy Tactics Cidolfas Orlandu is a playable character. A famous general of Ivalice, leader of the Nanten Knights Orlandu is better known by the nickname Thunder God Cid for being undefeated during the 50 year war. He is a friend of the deceased Balbanes Beoulve, father of the main character Ramza Beoulve. Initially fighting for Goltana against Larg and the Hokuten, he is later imprisoned for a false charge. Then afterwards is saved by the main character Ramza Beoulve. Where he joins him. Orlandu wields the sword Excalibur
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Cid Randell is a playable character. In the town of St. Ivalice, Cid is a timid, debt-ridden drunken widower, and a source of constant embarrassment to his son, Mewt. When Mewt discovers the Grand Grimoire and uses it to reshape the world, Cid is transformed into the supreme Judgemaster of the kingdom of Ivalice, and the husband of Queen Remedi, the human incarnation of the Grimoire itself. Encountering Mewt's old friend, Marche, helps jog Cid's true memories, and he breaks off from the palace to aid Marche in his travels.
Other appearances
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
In Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Dr. Sid is one of the main characters. The only notable connection to any other part of the Final Fantasy franchise in Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is found in Dr. Sid, the mentor of the main character Aki Ross. He is a scientist who has discovered energy in "phantoms" and in humans. He is working on gaining all eight spirits of life to make an "anti-wave" against phantoms, which could save the people and the planet itself. Sid's voice was provided by Donald Sutherland.
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
In Final Fantasy: Unlimited, Cid is one of the main characters. The Cid of this series is the youngest. He is an eccentric inventor who is a vital member of the Comodeen. He built most of the vehicles and devices in the series, marking all of them with his seal and giving them each a woman's name. Normally polite and gentle, he flies into rage whenever any of his beloved inventions is even slightly damaged. Like all the others, he too has invented an airship. He had a relationship with fellow Comodeen member Miles.
Kingdom Hearts
In Kingdom Hearts, Cid Highwind is a non-playable character found in Traverse Town with Leon/Squall, Aerith, and Yuffie. He is an expert on Gummi ships (the Kingdom Hearts answer to airships) and will sell Gummis and aid Sora with different modifications and models for his ship. Although he is based on the Cid of Final Fantasy VII, he does not smoke cigarettes, preferring instead to chew on straw.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
In Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Cid is a somewhat playable character. Cid is an outcast inventor who is not trusted by the people in the nearby town. He's rather gruff, but is willing to help Chocobo on his quest. He gets quite angry when people insult his machines. He is only playable to a second player who joins the game, otherwise he follows Chocobo around the dungeons and fights of his own accord.
See also
- List of Final Fantasy characters
- For a list of links, refer to the main Final Fantasy page, which provides quite a large and varied selection of Final Fantasy-related links
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