Summary
A good story can be hard to maintain. That’s why it’s probably for the best that eachFinal Fantasygame is typically unrelated to its successors and predecessors. This keeps each title fresh, but fans aren’t left completely adrift between each one, thanks to several reoccurring themes, gameplay mechanics, and characters, which help give a sense of stability between each shakeup.
Usually, theseNPCs, tropes, or monsters returnas references, but some characters make frequent returns, albeit with different forms and faces, and have become mainstays over the years. The most familiar characters, as opposed to generic monsters, items, or animals, are listed here, along with their appearance statistics, which are broken into mainline appearances (numbered games and their sequels) and spinoffs (non-numbered games).
Technically, these are three characters in one, but they never appear separately and, as such, might be considered one entity. The sisters come in many forms, guises, and even under different names. They can sometimes be identified by their signature weapons: Sandy’s staff, Cindy’s scythe, and Mindy’s dagger. While they appeared as antagonistic minions inFinal Fantasy 4, they are summonableend-game aeons inFinal Fantasy 10and formidable frenemies inFinal Fantasy 11, appearing under the monikers Shikaree X, Y, and Z.
They appear as brothers inFinal Fantasy 16(Sandwydd, Cyndwydd, and Mindwydd, and while they do not directly appear inFinal Fantasy 9(and are thus, it is not counted as an appearance), there is a statue in Alexandria commemorating them for their valor during the Lindblum war. Of course, as well as the mainline games, the trio has appeared in many offshoots, including theTactics,Brave Exvius, andDissidiaseries.
This bizarre, two-headed creature (one on the front, one on the back) has returned to terrorize heroes throughout theFinal Fantasyuniverse sinceFinal Fantasy 6, where he appeared with the other recurring enemy, Ultros. His most high-profile cameo since wasFinal Fantasy 7, in which he appears as a summon (although he probably won’t appear on anyone’stop 10FF7summons list). His trademark ability is “snort,” which he uses to instantly remove party members from battle in one “blow.”
With such a distinct design, it is easy to see why he has become such a recurring foe, especially in spinoff titles. Typhon arguably has eight mainline appearances, not six; inFinal Fantasy 15, only Typhon’s image appears (as that of a fish lure), and inFinal Fantasy 16,“Typhon” appears as one of Ultima’s puppets with seemingly no association with the double-headed fiend, and his slightly different spelling of the original Japanese name (“Teyupon,” to the original “Tifon”) muddies the water even more.
After first debuting as “Orthros” in the originalFinal Fantasy, Ultros would not be seen again untilFinal Fantasy 6,where he makes several appearances as an antagonist along with another frequently recurring enemy. Since then, he has shown up sporadically as a unique, minor enemy for other parties to deal with. When he appears, he flashes his trademark lecherous and mischievous personality that suits his grinning, indulgently jubilant expression.
For example, inFinal Fantasy 12, while his usual jokes and jibes are kept to a minimum, he will only appear when the player assembles an all-female party and will snatch items from them when he can. This mirrors the inappropriate behavior he displayed around Sereh inFinal Fantasy 13-2and the bizarre moments when he hits on the girls inFinal Fantasy 4: The After Years, chastisingthe men of the partyfor their muscular physiques (which he, as a mostly-gelatinous being, presumably finds repulsive).
3Biggs & Wedge
The Cosmically Conjoined Comrades
These two names might arguably be more well-known inStar Warscircles than inFinal Fantasyfandom. However, the two X-wing pilots (Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles) only appeared in one of the science-fantasy space opera episodes,A New Hope, but they have shown up in fourteen mainlineFinal Fantasyentries to date and just as many spinoffs. Their first appearance inFinal Fantasy 6was clearly someone’s little homage toStar Wars, butBiggs and Wedge have been regulars since,sometimes having retroactive incarnations, for example,Final Fantasy 4: Interludenaming them in the original’s story.
In the original translation ofFinal Fantasy 6, they were known as “Wedge and Vicks,” but this was later changed. Besides several reappearances, the two have been referenced often. For example, the English localization ofFinal Fantasy 12names two hapless, chatty soldiers, “Gibbs and Deweg.” However, as the Japanese version gives them different names, this isn’t an official appearance. While they didn’t show up in person inFinal Fantasy 13, they appear to have branched out from mercenary activities to become the founders of a trendy clothing store called B&W (written V&W as an allusion to their original names).
Recurring characters in theFinal Fantasyseries tend to be reborn incarnations, ushered in by the dreaming will of the crystals. However, this multi-limbed swordsman could be the sole exception ifthe interconnected multiverse theoryis to be believed. After falling through the rift between worlds near the end of the story inFinal Fantasy 5and appearing ina battle between Squall and Seifer inFinal Fantasy 8, he seemingly broke the barrier between games.
His appearance inFinal Fantasy 4: The After Yearsseemed to follow up on the idea that this Gilgamesh was indeed the same, given his continued obsession withFinal Fantasy 5’s protagonist, Bartz. However, Gilgamesh has made appearances that differ from his dimension-hopping (or stumbling) prime form. Namely, Alleyway Jack inFinal Fantasy 9seems a far cry from the arrogant, self-deluded blades collector, and the one-armed swordsman inFinal Fantasy15loses his typical sense of humor and boobery.
Probably one of the most recognizable names in the series and one of its most expected elements, Cid has been around sinceFinal Fantasy 2. In each incarnation, he is associated with engineering and airships. Whether he starts on the good guys or the bad guys' side, he tends to come around in the end, with the exception ofFinal Fantasy 12, in which he embraces his more “evil mad scientist” side, making himone of the best Cidsin the series so far.
Although he never wields magical abilities (besides perhaps magitech), Cid is the series' best equivalent to the wise old wizard fantasy archetype. Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi once described him as “Yoda-like” and “intelligent and wise,” having enjoyed the idea of putting in a character that fans could spot and watch out for with each subsequent game. Clearly, the idea was a hit.
