The first time I heard the name Gilgamesh it wasn’t through an ancient Mesopotamian epic written in stone tablets about the King of Uruk. No, the first time I heard that name was through a rather new medium—a video game.
The game I am referring to belongs to a series of titles named Final Fantasy. In this particular game, Gilgamesh is represented by a wandering entity searching for a formidable adversary. It is presumed that Gilgamesh is a demigod and his origins are unconfirmed (similar to the real identity of Gilgamesh). In both the Epic of Gilgamesh and Final Fantasy V [FFV], Gilgamesh is a proficient warrior capable of taking on any challenge that is presented to him.
There are many aspects of the epic that the developers took into consideration when developing their game. For instance, the main protagonist in FFV plays a role similar to Enkidu. In both the epic and the game, when Enkidu/Protagonist is confronted by Gilgamesh, the resulting battle results in a kinship amongst the combatants. The game also decided to included other aspects of Gilgamesh. The protagonist in the game fights Gilgamesh several times through his journey. During each encounter, Gilgamesh would flee whenever he is close to defeat. This is similar to Epic of Gilgamesh, where Gilgamesh himself is aware of his own mortality and his fear of death.
Despite the glaring similarities between the two Gilgamesh, there are also various differences amongst the two. For instance, Gilgamesh from the epic is presented with an incredibly dominating aura. Gilgamesh from FFV is a more relaxed character whom may provide brief instances of comic relief (this is much easier to market compared to the Gilgamesh that pillages and rapes young brides). However, despite this shift in personality, both versions of Gilgamesh are very passionate about combat and they relish in the challenges that present themselves.
It is clear that the Gilgamesh in FFV is inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh. From the love of battle to the fear of mortality, it is clear that the inspiration from the King of Uruk is present. Despite the personality shift of the two Gilgamesh, the core values installed upon them are one and the same. While the Gilgamesh from the game is certainly not as ferocious as the one in the epic, I’m sure he can hold his own if he were ever to face the King of Uruk.
