Final Fantasy is one of the hallmarks of video gaming. It’s a colossal series that has been around for decades and has never been more popular. This series has sixteen main entries that have been numbered and even more spin-off games that are hard to count. There are many notable elements of this series. Final Fantasy is known for having sweeping stories.
This series features heart-wrenchingly beautiful music and complex and deep combat mechanics. And lastly, it has great characters and writing. When I think of Final Fantasy, my mind immediately goes to the villains and the heroes. This series has some of the most compelling and well-written main characters in gaming. Here are some of the best protagonists the series has had.
Final Fantasy IV- Cecil Harvey
Final Fantasy IV was a really important game for the series. It was the first game where the story and characters were front and center. In this game, the story set the standard for the rest of the series. In previous games, there were either unnamed characters with no personality or named characters with very little characterization. Cecil Harvey is the star of this game, and he goes through a full-blown character arc. Even though it’s the first time they did this, it’s awesome.
Cecil is a dark knight. He starts as a cruel war general, constantly getting second thoughts about his actions. Cecil eventually leaves his role and becomes a Paladin, which is pretty much a light version of what he was before. Cecil is a very simple character, but even back then, his moral dilemma was well written and entertaining. Cecil is a lovable character due to this simplicity, and he really set the standard for great main characters.
Final Fantasy VI- Terra Branford
Terra Branford from Final Fantasy VI is an interesting case. She’s a great character, in a story full of other incredibly written characters. Terra does get a good amount of screen time, which is impressive due to how many other great characters there are in this game. Terra is an intriguing character because she starts her journey as a slave. The first introduction the player gets of her is when she’s being mind-controlled by the evil Gestahlian empire.
Once she gets freed, she then finally gets to show off her personality. Terra is a confused main character, but one who cares about her friends and doing the right thing. She eventually learns that she is part Esper, which are the summons in this game. In the latter half of the game, she even gives up the crusade to beat the main villain to take care of the children she adopted. Like I said, she is a motherly character who deeply cares about her loved ones. A great character in an incredible entry in the series.
Final Fantasy VII- Cloud Strife
Ah, Cloud Strife. What else can I say about the legendary main character from Final Fantasy VII. Cloud is a character from a game so popular that many people forget his original characterization. In many supplementary materials, like Final Fantasy VII Advent Children or the Kingdom Hearts games, Cloud is a moody, angsty, pretty boy. He’s cool as hell in those games, don’t get me wrong.
But in the original FFVII, Cloud is many things. He starts as an aloof, cool guy who tries to do his own thing. Once the story progresses and he gets his memories back, we get the real Cloud. A guy that says goofy quotes such as “let’s mosey.” The real Cloud is a cool, chill guy with unimaginable strength and a great leader. Replay the original FFVII because Cloud is really well-written and nuanced in it. Much like many of his contemporaries, not just in his own game but in his series. Happy playing!
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