Brian Ross
Senior Writer
Senior Writer
What exactly makes up a hero? Is it their actions, their intentions, or merely their willingness to stand up and fight? In this top 10 list, we will examine exactly what makes a hero tick and why we love them for it.
Disclaimer: This article is written as a collaborative effort between Brian Ross & Matthew Zubritsky. Remember these are the most memorable things as we saw them and due to localization problems that exist with Final Fantasy II, III, and V, those games often probably won't be held as in high regard as they deserve. We do wish that they could be remade as powerfully as Final Fantasy Tactics was for the PSP. We also primarily stuck to the core games, Final Fantasy I - XII, to keep things as simple as possible. Be wary of spoilers from this point forward.
Brian Ross: Every game needs a hero. Final Fantasy usually prefers a whole slew of them. They come in all shapes and sizes; races and origins. You see a Final Fantasy hero isn't always a true force of good, sometimes they may even act as the villain at times. That's the beauty of the depth and complexity of Final Fantasy. It is also one of the reasons creating a list of heroes is far more difficult than villains. I'm sure every Final Fantasy player has some odd choices that really make other people go.... "really?"
BR: A lot of heroes got left off this list simply due to the sheer number of them. For whatever reason, we felt we had to mention these five: Tidus with his almost bipolar nature, the dark knight redeemed Cecil, the falsely disgraced Basch, the ill-fated king Galuf, and the mysterious assassin Shadow. Each stood out in different ways, yet for some reason or another didn't quite make the list.
BR: Balthier is the Han Solo of Final Fantasy, standing out as one of the strongest elements of Final Fantasy XII. He brings a sense of fun and adventure as a sky pirate with a deep background. It's fairly difficult to make sense of Balthier's true intentions, but his over-the-top dialogue, stylish (albeit foppish) dress and ability to play with the fourth wall really make him fun to play. He is one of the characters I knew I was going to love from his very first appearance. Apart from perhaps Kuja, no other character has been given such flagrant dialogue. It is no wonder he constantly refers to himself as the hero of the game, even if played second chair to the easily dismissible Vaan.
BR: And Final Fantasy Tactics finally makes an appearance in the lists. The Tactics style may lose some of the story and character devices, but Ramza somehow shines despite the tarnish. His character development and ability to constantly act as a beacon of light stand him out as one of the most singularly benevolent Final Fantasy characters ever - although Yuna and Aerith give him a run for the money. When making the list Basch and Ramza were both on the list to be possibly cut. Despite eerily similar stories, Basch paled as Ramza willingly cast aside everything he was in order to merely do what was right. It was Ramza's transformation and refusal to go with the stream that also knocked the much loved Cecil off the list.
BR: Some may be going "WHAT?", especially considering that Tidus merely got an honorable mention. Seriously though, step back a second and look at them both. Tidus is a naive, cheery fellow that never gives up. He also suffers from major daddy issues and is prone to temper tantrums and immature behavior. Yuna on the other hand is kind-hearted, polite, and unselfish. Normally I would question the motives of a would-be martyr, but with Yuna I never did. She is genuine above all else.
Most Final Fantasy characters evolve during a story, but very few do so as beautifully as Yuna. Her transformation over the course of Final Fantasy X are marked and apparent. Shedding her Victorian-esque Yevonite charm in lieu of free-expression and a resolute will. For those who played Final Fantasy X-2 they got to witness her free-spirit in full effect. Some may malign FFX-2 for various reasons, but it has its charms - almost all of them being Yuna.
Matthew Zubritsky: Celes is a character very similar to Terra, but the difference is she was artificially infused with magic and grew up knowing only war and destruction. She becomes a General of the Empire but is later thrown into jail for alleged treason which was never made clear. Rescued by Locke, she joins the Returners, a resistance against the Empire. She plays a much bigger role in the second half of the game in the World of Ruin. Thinking that she is the only one left in the world she attempts to commit suicide but fails and lands upon the beach finding a pigeon with Locke’s bandana around it. Then she has hope…
BR: Final Fantasy VI is a rough Final Fantasy to be a part of. Go ahead ask anyone who the main protagonist is. Most will correctly say Terra, but there's still a hefty amount that for some reason or another recall Locke or even Celes. That's not even considering the ultra-popular Setzer & Shadow. Whether it be the Opera scene or any number of moments after the World of Ruin event, Celes scores big and manages to steal the scene numerous times. Her pure-white visage stands powerfully against the sins she's committed in the name of the Empire. Watching her cold exterior melt in the last half of the game truly has a lasting appeal.
MZ: Now we have Squall, the lone wolf. For much of the game Squall is viewed as distant and cold though most people respect his natural talents on the field. He joins the mercenary group called SeeD and meets the lovely Rinoa at his inauguration ball and she forces him to dance with her and thus starts the adventure Squall has with his feelings for her. It isn't until they were in space aboard the Ragnarok that they shared their first intimate moment. Squall is definitely one of the characters on this list that exhibits big change; from being the shy lone wolf to becoming a great leader and lover.
BR: Reluctant leader, moody protagonist, distant, cold - all of these things describe Squall. I never much cared for him or Rinoa as characters, but you can't help but look at Squall and realize he's an absolute pro. He is without a doubt the most skilled and adept Final Fantasy main character of all time. Maybe that's why so many people just don't like him - he'd never be mistaken for the underdog.
BR: Zidane appealed to me because he was a stark contrast to almost every main hero that preceded him. A lovable rogue, from the beginning Zidane displayed a laid-back attitude and expressive protuberance. His energy and overall characterization was extremely light helping to offset the heavy impact of the dark story that unfolded around him. Tidus from Final Fantasy X would maintain many of these youthful traits, but never displayed them as actively or powerful as the monkey-tailed genome Zidane. I still find it hard to believe that he was created to be the Angel of Death.
BR: The Warriors of Light represent something far different than the other heroes on the list. They represent everything that is Final Fantasy, yet nothing at all. The Warriors of Light are essentially whatever you made of them. Destined to save the world or some jibber jabber, the fact of the matter is that when you say the words Final Fantasy, most old school gamers think of these four guys - be they Fighter, Black Mage, White Mage, Red Mage, Thief, Monk or any which way in-between. The fact that their design elements have constantly worked their way back into games is testament to their lasting appeal.
Besides, how can you argue with the only Final Fantasy heroes to have their own 1000+ episode WebComic - 8-Bit Theater.
BR: Vivi is my personal favorite Final Fantasy character of all time. Heck, he's probably my favorite character in video gaming in general. The only thing I can even think of that comes close is my irrational love for Tonberries. Incorporating the classic Black Mage look from Final Fantasy, Vivi is childlike in his innocence and vastly mysterious in nature, capable of both sheer acts of warmth and ultimate acts of destruction. I know it's funny to see him do so much damage, then act scared of something he could just toast. Vivi is a complex force to be awed and capable of melting even the hardest souls. Most other characters would be lambasted for showing his level of naivete, but somehow it makes him all the more endearing. Pretty impressive for a guy with no face.
MZ: We first meet Terra under the control of two soldiers of the empire. They find an Esper in the Narshe Mines and Terra seems to have a strange reaction to it. We later find out that Terra is not quite human; she is half human and half Esper. She struggles through most of the game to truly find herself as she first can’t seem to control the Esper side. We also see a different side to Terra in the World of Ruin as she is taking care of all the lost children in Mobliz whom lost their parents only to have Terra as their “mother”. Though not considered the main character of Final Fantasy VI, many could argue that she holds at least most of the central plot in the first half of the game.
MZ: Probably the most popular Final Fantasy character to date, next to Sephiroth. His iconic spiky blonde hair and giant buster sword are what makes him stand out the most. He was once a First Class SOLIDER of Shinra, an elite group of fighters, and left the company to join the rebel group AVALANCHE. You learn later on that a lot of his memories were implanted into him and that he was just a regular schlub in the Shinra army. Truly Cloud is a very in-depth character, and as we go through not only Final Fantasy VII but also in Crisis Core, Advent Children, Last Stand and more, we learn more and more about him and it appears that not just the fans can’t get enough of Cloud but Square themselves can’t seem to drop him as well.
BR: That does it for our look at Final Fantasy Heroes. I'm sure there were many favorites that didn't even break into the Honorable Mentions. I know my short list for heroes was easily 30 some characters. Wheedling it down to just fifteen was extremely hard. Tomorrow be sure to join us as we hit the Final Countdown and measure each game as a whole. Oh, and a little thing called Final Fantasy XIII comes out, so I guess you can look forward to that too.
Brian Ross: Every game needs a hero. Final Fantasy usually prefers a whole slew of them. They come in all shapes and sizes; races and origins. You see a Final Fantasy hero isn't always a true force of good, sometimes they may even act as the villain at times. That's the beauty of the depth and complexity of Final Fantasy. It is also one of the reasons creating a list of heroes is far more difficult than villains. I'm sure every Final Fantasy player has some odd choices that really make other people go.... "really?"
BR: A lot of heroes got left off this list simply due to the sheer number of them. For whatever reason, we felt we had to mention these five: Tidus with his almost bipolar nature, the dark knight redeemed Cecil, the falsely disgraced Basch, the ill-fated king Galuf, and the mysterious assassin Shadow. Each stood out in different ways, yet for some reason or another didn't quite make the list.
BR: Balthier is the Han Solo of Final Fantasy, standing out as one of the strongest elements of Final Fantasy XII. He brings a sense of fun and adventure as a sky pirate with a deep background. It's fairly difficult to make sense of Balthier's true intentions, but his over-the-top dialogue, stylish (albeit foppish) dress and ability to play with the fourth wall really make him fun to play. He is one of the characters I knew I was going to love from his very first appearance. Apart from perhaps Kuja, no other character has been given such flagrant dialogue. It is no wonder he constantly refers to himself as the hero of the game, even if played second chair to the easily dismissible Vaan.
BR: And Final Fantasy Tactics finally makes an appearance in the lists. The Tactics style may lose some of the story and character devices, but Ramza somehow shines despite the tarnish. His character development and ability to constantly act as a beacon of light stand him out as one of the most singularly benevolent Final Fantasy characters ever - although Yuna and Aerith give him a run for the money. When making the list Basch and Ramza were both on the list to be possibly cut. Despite eerily similar stories, Basch paled as Ramza willingly cast aside everything he was in order to merely do what was right. It was Ramza's transformation and refusal to go with the stream that also knocked the much loved Cecil off the list.
| "Hero's Theme" |
BR: Some may be going "WHAT?", especially considering that Tidus merely got an honorable mention. Seriously though, step back a second and look at them both. Tidus is a naive, cheery fellow that never gives up. He also suffers from major daddy issues and is prone to temper tantrums and immature behavior. Yuna on the other hand is kind-hearted, polite, and unselfish. Normally I would question the motives of a would-be martyr, but with Yuna I never did. She is genuine above all else.
Most Final Fantasy characters evolve during a story, but very few do so as beautifully as Yuna. Her transformation over the course of Final Fantasy X are marked and apparent. Shedding her Victorian-esque Yevonite charm in lieu of free-expression and a resolute will. For those who played Final Fantasy X-2 they got to witness her free-spirit in full effect. Some may malign FFX-2 for various reasons, but it has its charms - almost all of them being Yuna.
|
| "Yuna's Theme" |
Matthew Zubritsky: Celes is a character very similar to Terra, but the difference is she was artificially infused with magic and grew up knowing only war and destruction. She becomes a General of the Empire but is later thrown into jail for alleged treason which was never made clear. Rescued by Locke, she joins the Returners, a resistance against the Empire. She plays a much bigger role in the second half of the game in the World of Ruin. Thinking that she is the only one left in the world she attempts to commit suicide but fails and lands upon the beach finding a pigeon with Locke’s bandana around it. Then she has hope…
BR: Final Fantasy VI is a rough Final Fantasy to be a part of. Go ahead ask anyone who the main protagonist is. Most will correctly say Terra, but there's still a hefty amount that for some reason or another recall Locke or even Celes. That's not even considering the ultra-popular Setzer & Shadow. Whether it be the Opera scene or any number of moments after the World of Ruin event, Celes scores big and manages to steal the scene numerous times. Her pure-white visage stands powerfully against the sins she's committed in the name of the Empire. Watching her cold exterior melt in the last half of the game truly has a lasting appeal.
|
| "Celes" |
MZ: Now we have Squall, the lone wolf. For much of the game Squall is viewed as distant and cold though most people respect his natural talents on the field. He joins the mercenary group called SeeD and meets the lovely Rinoa at his inauguration ball and she forces him to dance with her and thus starts the adventure Squall has with his feelings for her. It isn't until they were in space aboard the Ragnarok that they shared their first intimate moment. Squall is definitely one of the characters on this list that exhibits big change; from being the shy lone wolf to becoming a great leader and lover.
BR: Reluctant leader, moody protagonist, distant, cold - all of these things describe Squall. I never much cared for him or Rinoa as characters, but you can't help but look at Squall and realize he's an absolute pro. He is without a doubt the most skilled and adept Final Fantasy main character of all time. Maybe that's why so many people just don't like him - he'd never be mistaken for the underdog.
|
| "Maybe I'm a Lion" |
BR: Zidane appealed to me because he was a stark contrast to almost every main hero that preceded him. A lovable rogue, from the beginning Zidane displayed a laid-back attitude and expressive protuberance. His energy and overall characterization was extremely light helping to offset the heavy impact of the dark story that unfolded around him. Tidus from Final Fantasy X would maintain many of these youthful traits, but never displayed them as actively or powerful as the monkey-tailed genome Zidane. I still find it hard to believe that he was created to be the Angel of Death.
|
| "Zidane's Theme" |
BR: The Warriors of Light represent something far different than the other heroes on the list. They represent everything that is Final Fantasy, yet nothing at all. The Warriors of Light are essentially whatever you made of them. Destined to save the world or some jibber jabber, the fact of the matter is that when you say the words Final Fantasy, most old school gamers think of these four guys - be they Fighter, Black Mage, White Mage, Red Mage, Thief, Monk or any which way in-between. The fact that their design elements have constantly worked their way back into games is testament to their lasting appeal.
Besides, how can you argue with the only Final Fantasy heroes to have their own 1000+ episode WebComic - 8-Bit Theater.
|
| "Main Theme" |
BR: Vivi is my personal favorite Final Fantasy character of all time. Heck, he's probably my favorite character in video gaming in general. The only thing I can even think of that comes close is my irrational love for Tonberries. Incorporating the classic Black Mage look from Final Fantasy, Vivi is childlike in his innocence and vastly mysterious in nature, capable of both sheer acts of warmth and ultimate acts of destruction. I know it's funny to see him do so much damage, then act scared of something he could just toast. Vivi is a complex force to be awed and capable of melting even the hardest souls. Most other characters would be lambasted for showing his level of naivete, but somehow it makes him all the more endearing. Pretty impressive for a guy with no face.
|
| "Vivi's Theme" |
MZ: We first meet Terra under the control of two soldiers of the empire. They find an Esper in the Narshe Mines and Terra seems to have a strange reaction to it. We later find out that Terra is not quite human; she is half human and half Esper. She struggles through most of the game to truly find herself as she first can’t seem to control the Esper side. We also see a different side to Terra in the World of Ruin as she is taking care of all the lost children in Mobliz whom lost their parents only to have Terra as their “mother”. Though not considered the main character of Final Fantasy VI, many could argue that she holds at least most of the central plot in the first half of the game.
|
| "Terra" |
MZ: Probably the most popular Final Fantasy character to date, next to Sephiroth. His iconic spiky blonde hair and giant buster sword are what makes him stand out the most. He was once a First Class SOLIDER of Shinra, an elite group of fighters, and left the company to join the rebel group AVALANCHE. You learn later on that a lot of his memories were implanted into him and that he was just a regular schlub in the Shinra army. Truly Cloud is a very in-depth character, and as we go through not only Final Fantasy VII but also in Crisis Core, Advent Children, Last Stand and more, we learn more and more about him and it appears that not just the fans can’t get enough of Cloud but Square themselves can’t seem to drop him as well.
|
| "Who am I?" |
BR: That does it for our look at Final Fantasy Heroes. I'm sure there were many favorites that didn't even break into the Honorable Mentions. I know my short list for heroes was easily 30 some characters. Wheedling it down to just fifteen was extremely hard. Tomorrow be sure to join us as we hit the Final Countdown and measure each game as a whole. Oh, and a little thing called Final Fantasy XIII comes out, so I guess you can look forward to that too.
Final Fantasy Week
Friday, March 5th: Most Memorable Moments
Saturday, March 6th: Most Memorable Creatures
Sunday, March 7th: Most Memorable Villians
Monday, March 8th: Most Memorable Heroes
Tuesday, March 9th: The Final Countdown
Friday, March 5th: Most Memorable Moments
Saturday, March 6th: Most Memorable Creatures
Sunday, March 7th: Most Memorable Villians
Monday, March 8th: Most Memorable Heroes
Tuesday, March 9th: The Final Countdown
Brian Ross
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About: Brian Ross graduated from NC State with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Film Studies. His major interests include college sports, Magic, video games, and movies. Brian tends to embrace all aspects of video gaming and movies, being able to tell you why Citizen Kane is genius and in the same breath praise Little Nicky for intrinsic merit. Always captivating - half man, half amazing.
About: Brian Ross graduated from NC State with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Film Studies. His major interests include college sports, Magic, video games, and movies. Brian tends to embrace all aspects of video gaming and movies, being able to tell you why Citizen Kane is genius and in the same breath praise Little Nicky for intrinsic merit. Always captivating - half man, half amazing.
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