Summary
Final Fantasyis one of the best video game franchises of all time, and countless fans love how every entry in the series carries forward recurring elements while still trying to do something different. From legendary turn-based RPGs to games with fun real-time combat, this series hasexperimented with numerous gameplay loops.
Engaging character writing is a huge part of what makes story-drivenFinal Fantasygames special. Some of the best characters in the series end up being as memorable as they are because of the great writing supporting their personalities and hammering in the importance of the development they undergo during their journey.
8Cloud Strife
His Memories Are All Over The Place, Warping His Past And Personality
Cloud Strife is one of the best video game characters of all time, mostly due to the major character growth he undergoes in the series. He seems like a stoic, no-nonsense ex-SOLDIER, but the truth to come to light after he falls into the Lifestream.
It turns out that the trauma from Hojo’s experiments and the ensuing mako poisoning caused Cloud, a then-member of the Shinra infantry, to take on the memories of an actual SOLDIER member who sacrificed his life to save his friend. It’s a mind-blowing reveal that finally allows Cloud to develop a personality of his own after regaining his memories, eventually telling the party to “mosey” andface Sephiroth in the final dungeon.
7Yuna
A Summoner With A Heart Of Gold
Final Fantasy 10nailed many things, including the writing of its main cast. This includes Yuna, a beloved Summoner and White Mage who was willing to lay down her life in order to save the world. Thankfully, Tidus helped her see the light, which resulted in her fighting to break the cycle of violence instead of letting it continue.
She becomes a strong, dedicated character who fights to make Spira a better place.Final Fantasy 10-2then explores her character in a peaceful world, helping her stand out as the kind, level-headed member of the group who has grown since her days as a sacrifice.
6Locke Cole
His Past With His Lover Makes For A Tearjerking Backstory
Locke seems like a dashing roguewho has a thing for the ladies, but it turns out that his personality is much deeper than what meets the eye. His need to protect women stems from a tragic moment in his past, in which he was unable to save the love of his life.
He fights tooth and nail to save her even after the world is brought to ruin, but Rachel’s fate was already written after a dreadful fall that sent her into a coma. Character stories like these helpFinal Fantasy 6stand out as one of the better games in the series.
5Cecil Harvey
Goes To Mount Ordeals To Find Himself And Becomes A Valiant Hero In The Process
After becoming disillusioned by the horrid acts he was forced to undertake,Cecil decides to embark on a journey of self-discoveryby climbing Mt. Ordeals. After reaching the top, he sheds his past as a Dark Knight and is reborn as a Paladin who stands for what’s right.
This is what finally helps him gather the courage needed to unmask Cagnazzo as his father’s doppelganger and eventually save Earth from the threat of the Lunarians. His heroic personality shone once his character developed to become a noble Paladin, serving as a great example of howFinal Fantasy’s iconic job system could enhance its storytelling.
4Vivi Ornitier
The Story Of This Charming, Heroic Black Mage Is A Tragic One
Vivi Ornitier is one of the greatest and most tragic party members inFinal Fantasyhistory.A Black Mage who’s in the darkwhen it comes to his past, he finally locates a village full of people like him and learns a horrid truth.
Vivi is an artificial creation who was lucky enough to gain sentience, but the lifespan of a Black Mage is so short that he wouldn’t be alive to see how his heroic efforts helped the world become a better place. The fact that he has already passed during the ending narration forFinal Fantasy 9is a tearjerker that makes this charming character’s backstory all the more tragic to witness.
3Ignis Scientia
Proves How Much He Loves And Cares For Noctis Over And Over Again
Loyalty and friendship are rare nowadays, which is why Ignis' protective attitude towards Noctis makes him such a belovedFinal Fantasycharacter. He didn’t want his liege to suffer andallowed himself to be blinded after using the Ring of the Luciijust so he could save him.
His sacrifice made him a truly unforgettable figure in theFinal Fantasyuniverse, and countless fans can’t help but hate Noctis for refusing to acknowledge his friend’s dedication. However, the protagonist himself had also been through a tough time, which is why the strain on their group was understandable.
2Tidus
Becomes A Valiant Hero Who Never Lets Up, Even After Learning The Truth Of His Existence
Tidus can seem a bit too earnest at times, which can make his character hard to empathize with in the early going. However, over time, fans will soon come to realize that his positive attitude is genuine and elevates the people around him.
He refused to let Yuna be sacrificed and willed the entire party to fight fate, only to discover thathe was an dream that would cease to existafter defeating Sin and Yu Yevon. However, he refused to let this stop him, sticking with the party until the final battle before bidding farewell and entering the Farplane with Auron.
1Squall Leonhart
His Anxiety And Loneliness Are Very Much Justified
Squall Leonhart is one of the most misjudged characters inFinal Fantasy. Sure, it’s hard to sympathize with him when he’s being a jerk to everyone, but this is just a defense mechanism to prevent him from opening up too much to others and setting himself up to be abandoned.
His fear of loneliness is what he eventually overcomes with Rinoa, who helps him open up and become the leader everyone knew he was capable of being. In many ways, Squall’s internal struggles resonate with players who receded into their shells as kids, only for their friends and family to pull them up and help them get over their issues.
