Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy)
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Gilgamesh is the name of a character in the Final Fantasy series. He is characterized by having dark complexion, flamboyantly colorful battle armor, and many arms wielding many weapons at once. He has a fierce façade, but this masks his own childlike personality. The name "Gilgamesh" comes from the Gilgamesh of Babylonian mythology.
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Final Fantasy V
In Final Fantasy V, Gilgamesh is a lieutenant of Lord Exdeath. He is big on talk, but short on real courage.
Gilgamesh is first seen on the alien planet, at the Big Bridge, through which the party of Butz Klauser is trying to flee Exdeath's captivity. Gilgamesh here puts up a real fight, but finds an excuse to flee after receiving enough damage.
Gilgamesh is next seen leading an attack on the naval fleet of Zezae Mathias Surgate. He once again puts up an offensive, but is not as powerful as before.
Later in Exdeath's castle, desperate to save face, Gilgamesh attacks Butz's party with a sword he thinks is the legendary Excalibur, but which turns out actually to be a weak imitation called "Excalipur". Disgusted by Gilgamesh's perceived incompetence, Exdeath promptly exiles Gilgamesh to the Cleft of Dimension.
When Butz's party eventually reaches the Cleft of Dimension, they find Gilgamesh lost and frightened, reduced almost to tears. At first they prepare for combat, but then Gilgamesh soon ends the battle himself and takes off.
Gilgamesh's final appearance is again in the Cleft of Dimension, coming to the rescue of Butz's party in their battle against a sealed monster called Necrophobia. Gilgamesh exchanges warm words of friendship with each of the party members, then self-destructs, annihilating both Necrophobia and himself in the process.
Gilgamesh's role in Final Fantasy V created a niche in the Final Fantasy series, of the fierce but incompetent adversary, a type of role reprised in later games. Characters of later games that fill this distinct role include Ultros, a vain talking octopus, in Final Fantasy VI; Seigfried, the false warrior of Final Fantasy VI; Don Corneo, as a licentious pimp, in Final Fantasy VII; and Biggs and Wedge, as overworked underpaid Galbadian soldiers, in Final Fantasy VIII.
Final Fantasy VIII
In Final Fantasy VIII, Gilgamesh is a randomly-visiting Guardian Force who replaces Odin in the fourth disc. He deals a variety of attacks, ranging from one damage to an instant kill, even on boss enemies.
It has been rumored that this Gilgamesh was actually intended to be the same character as the Gilgamesh of Final Fantasy V. Even though that Gilgamesh was killed in the Cleft of Dimension, it is conceived possible that, because of the irregular flow of time in that place, he can discover ways to open an exit portal to virtually any time and place in the linear contiguous universe.
Yet it is still possible that Gilgamesh in this game is not the same one as in Final Fantasy V. Square repeatedly said that their Final Fantasy games never connected amongst each other. Recently this rule has been broken, with the release of a sequel to the tenth game.
Final Fantasy IX
In Final Fantasy IX, Gilgamesh is a self-proclaimed great treasure hunter. He is found lounging at Daguerreo Library to make himself known, but later confesses that he made up all his stories. Unlike in previous Final Fantasy games, this Gilgamesh is not associated with battling.
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls
In Final Fantasy I (only in this Dawn of Souls remake), Gilgamesh is a warrior exploring the undersea ruins where the water crystal is located. As the theme was established, Gilgamesh is hunting for Excalibur, and believes he has it. He is found in an optional dungeon introduced in Dawn of Souls, he is a direct cameo of the Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy V just like many other cameos in those optional dungeons.
See also: Final Fantasy