There's subtle, and then there's ... well, okay, it sounds mean, but then there are people who're so charmed by what they do see that they're willing to attach more meaning to it than there IS. :\ I'm not saying that's necessarily the case, but that's my defensive bristle every time someone tells me I just need to be more observant because it's subtle, see, subtle. XD;;

The only other FF game I've played is 9, and I remember actually enjoying it (except for the stupid card game, ahaha); it might've been cliche in terms of plot, but I really liked the characters, and that made the game overall a lot more fun for me.

Seriously, though -- the Occuria were supposed to be the "gods" of the world, right? The way it was being discussed, they were the sort who wouldn't let their control over Ivalice go that easily, and yet ... they did? What? And it doesn't seem like the Revenant Wings sequel is really going to go into that much either, just from the handful of rumors I've heard. Buuuuu.