Summary
Final Fantasyis one of the most legendary video game series of all time, and it keeps on giving.The sixteenth mainline entry of this franchiseturned many heads with a shift to real-time action gameplay without the ability to switch party members or target elemental weaknesses, which was a bold decision for this franchise to take. Even the strongest detractors of this shift can’t help but admit thatFinal Fantasyhas made a name for itself through reinvention and pushing the boundaries of its genre to new heights time and time again.
SomeFinal Fantasygames have opted for ensemble casts, while others feature a central protagonist with a personality that ranges from enthusiastic to moody and everything in between. It would be a stretch to say that everyFinal Fantasyprotagonist is charismatic, but some characters never fail to take center stage with their lovable personalities and suave attitudes, which make them such a joy to interact with and play as.
Final Fantasy 5may not be as story-driven as other titles in the series, but that should take nothing away from the gameplay-driven approach of this game. Cycling through jobs and mastering all of them is quite compelling, and players will find themselves loaded with powerful techniques by the time they reach the end of this rewarding experience. The adventure starts withBartzand his chocobo, Boko, as they slowly find the other party members who will play a central role inthe conflict against Exdeath.
The tone ofFinal Fantasy 5is noticeably lighter compared to other games in the series, despite having its fair share of heavy-hitting moments. Bartz' personality is a great example of this, being as friendly as they come and forming a bond with the people he’s just met in minutes. He’s oddly charming in a game where the plot is ancillary to the game’s strength, speaking volumes when it comes to his charismatic nature.
Many people argue thatFinal Fantasy 12has an ensemble castwhere no character is a protagonist per se. This can be seen in the fact that Ashe’s attempts to save her kingdom play more of a vital role in the story thanVaan’saspirations as a sky pirate, even if the latter was the first character introduced in the game. However, there’s an argument to be made that Vaan is the protagonist, given the amount of screen time he gets, especially in the early goings ofFinal Fantasy 12.
One thing fans both love and hate about Vaan is his brash, loudmouthed nature, which gets him into trouble but also endears him to others. Regardless, there’s no denying that Vaan is very charismatic, and is a natural when it comes to helping people settle their differences and become steadfast friends. He loves being a leader, further cementing his legacy as a charismaticFinal Fantasyprotagonist.
Final Fantasy 10is one of the greatest games in the series,featuring fast-paced combatand one of the best stories told in anyFinal Fantasygame. At the heart of this experience isTidus, a happy-go-lucky Blitzball player who is thrust into an adventure for the ages after being isekai’d into the world of Spira and getting invested in the conflict this world faces at the hands of Sin. It’s easy to write Tidus off as an overenthusiastic kid, but there’s something charming about his zeal to remain optimistic at all times that has made him such a compellingFinal Fantasyprotagonist.
The bond he shares with Yuna culminates in one of the most beautifulFinal Fantasyromances of all time, with the bittersweet ending revealing that this charismatic personality was a Spirit of the Fayth, brought back into this tormented world to save Spira from the relentless destruction of Sin and Yu Yevon. It’s a beautiful narrative that will make even his biggest haters fall in love with Tidus' natural charisma.
2Zack Fair
A SOLDIER With A Heart Of Gold
Despite appearing in just a few scenes throughoutFinal Fantasy 7, it’s a testament toZack’siconic nature that he quickly became one of the most iconic characters in the game.His sacrifice is a huge partof what drove Cloud throughout the main story before he eventually realized how the Mako poisoning had tainted his memories. Eventually, Square Enix gave in and let players control Zack in aFinal Fantasy 7spin-off calledCrisis Corethat explores his character in a prequel to the events of the main game.
Crisis Coreis an action-packed game that received a much-deserved remake to let players get invested in Zack’s character once again. His boundless charisma is a huge reason why Aerith fell in love with him, and fans of the remake trilogy were glad to see Zack play a major role inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Fans may miss the original voice actor, who charmed many people back whenCrisis Coredebuted on the PSP, but Zack’s charismatic personality is hard to deny no matter whose voice portrays him.
Final Fantasy 9is one of the most beloved games in the series, coming after a string of brooding games that focused on much darker themes than its predecessors. Fans were glad to get their hands on aFinal Fantasygame that paid homage to the series' roots while employing all the modern innovations that had helped this JRPG franchise become a household name in the West.The characters ofFinal Fantasy 9form one of the most cherished parties in the series, withZidane’scharisma cementing him as one of the most optimistic and beloved protagonists in the series.
Zidane’s playful nature is evident from the very moment he is introduced, with his thievery making him an easy character to love, even if the people around him find his personality insufferable at times. However, it doesn’t take long for the party members to warm up to Zidane, with his boundless charisma on display every single time he cheers up the party and endears himself to others. Seeing Garnet fall in love with him, and Steiner finally acknowledge him and bury their grudge, makes for an extremely fulfilling character arc.
