Summary
Final Fantasyis one of the most popular video game franchises, with the bulk of these titles focusing on story-driven experiences where a group of heroes put it all on the line to save the world from a devious villain. This makes it easy to see why good character writing is a must-have for these entries.
SomeFinal Fantasygames feature a cast so strong that they make up for the other issues in these titles. There are times when the protagonist is outshone by other party members, showing that Square Enix cuts no corners when it comes to making their characters look better than ever.
Final Fantasy 8’s plot has some issues, with the GF-induced memory loss and the random appearance of a true final villain being two of the biggest complaints fans have with this title. While its characters are labeled as cliché by many, the truth is that there’s way more depth to these characters than what meets the eye.
Squall is one of the most misunderstood protagonists in video game historyand goes through a great character arc that helps him become a natural leader. Along with him, characters like Rinoa and Quistis boast impressive depth and make it clear why fans will love the party members over time, despite an admittedly poor first impression.
Final Fantasygames with an ensemble cast tend to boastsome of the best characters in the series, and the twelfth mainline entry is no exception. Even with Vaan being shoe-horned as the protagonist, his role in the overall plot is fairly limited.
This allows characters like Balthier, Ashe, and Basch to shine with their compelling stories and personalities. Other side characters lend to the epic storytelling ofFinal Fantasy 12and help it stand out as one of the bestFinal Fantasygames players can get their hands on.
Final Fantasy 4’s compelling story is a huge reason why fans rate this experience so highly. However, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this narrative would’ve fallen flat had it not been for the game’s likable characters.
Seeing Cecil transform from a Dark Knight into a Paladin and appreciating Kain for showing his maturity despite his feelings for Rosa are just some of the many ways that the character writing in this brilliant game stands out.
Final Fantasy 15faced a ton of problems in development that can be seen in the final product. However, the bond between the four friends is the beating heart of this experience and makes up for any of the issues that fans would face along the way.
Noctis, Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis are steadfast friends who stick with each other through thick and thin. This strong bond is precisely why fans will cry at the end ofFinal Fantasy 15after embarking on a journey for the ages.
Final Fantasy 10is one of the best games in the series, where the gameplay, story, and characters are all in a class of their own. The fact that fans love Tidus despite his overbearing, happy-go-lucky nature is a testament to how infectious his personality is.
Wakka and Rikku manage to settle their differences as the former gets over his prejudices, and Auron silently establishes himself as one of the most selfless and bravest characters in the franchise. Of course, it would be impossible to talk aboutFinal Fantasy 10’s best characters without mentioning Yuna, a summoner with a heart of gold who was willing to lay down her life to save Spira.
A huge part of what makesFinal Fantasy 9special is its main cast. Zidane is a lovable rogue, Dagger transforms into an independent and competent ruler,Steiner gets over his one-dimensional dedication to duty, and Eiko cherishes her friendships after being alone for the longest time.
However, the bestFinal Fantasy 9character in the eyes of many is the Black Mage, Vivi Ornitier. This charming boy sports an innocent and childlike personality, which is why learning about his origins can be so heartbreaking.
Final Fantasy 6took a massive gamble with its ensemble cast structure, ensuring that none of the characters stand out as the ‘true’ protagonist. Sure, an argument can be made that Terra is the main character in the World of Balance, andCeles takes over this role in the World of Ruin, but this takes nothing away from the other characters in this tale.
Sabin and Edgar are brothers with an immense screen presence, Locke is one of the best thieves in the entire series, and Shadow is a riveting character with a mysterious backstory. All of these characters have compelling stories of their own and end up being the best part of their respective games.
Final Fantasy 7is one of the greatest video games ever made, single-handedly pushing the series into the mainstream. SquareSoft was taking a major risk by investing so much in the game’s marketing and needed to ensure that their characters were lovable enough for players to stick with this game for the long haul.
Thankfully, the sheer depth exhibited by characters likeCloud, Barret, Tifa, and Vincentproves why fans love this game’s cast of characters. Even the villain, Sephiroth, wows players with his presence and has turned into one of the most fearsome and iconic antagonists in video game history.
