Highlights
- Final Fantasy characters often struggle with angst and self-doubt, making them relatable to players dealing with similar emotions.
- From Tidus' fake happiness to Noctis' emo attire, each character copes with their issues in unique ways while trying to save the world.
- Overcoming feelings of guilt and inadequacy, these angsty heroes eventually grow into true leaders, showcasing resilience and heroism.
Final Fantasy has been around for a long time and has spawned a surprising number of entries. In the early days of the franchise, the games had silent protagonists and pretty basic storylines. That quickly changed, however, and Final Fantasy became known for its rich characterizations and epic stories.
The 5 Most Cynical Final Fantasy Characters
While most Final Fantasy teams have a virtuous member, they also usually include a cynic; a character whose belief in good has long since expired.
It also became known for having its fair share of gloomy, edgelord protagonists, and classic anime-style sullen heroes. More often than not, though, these characters are more angsty than brooding. Which, according to the dictionary, means: feeling, showing, or expressing anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity. In other words, they're going through some stuff. To be fair, since most Final Fantasy heroes are trying to save the world, a little bit of angst seems reasonable.
1 Tidus: Final Fantasy 10
Hides Behind A Smile
At first, Tidus might seem like a strange pick. Outwardly, he's a happy-go-lucky jock who is famous for having one of the most cringe-worthy laughing scenes in all of gaming. The thing is, it's an act.
Tidus is clearly dealing with his fair share of angst. There's self-doubt about how good a blitz ball player he is and if he'll ever be as good as his dad.
He also has to deal with feelings of displacement and disillusionment after seeing his world destroyed and being transported to this strange new one. Tidus deals with his angst by making himself laugh through it, a skill he teaches Yuna. Considering Tidus's fate, he doesn't have much to laugh about.
2 Noctis: Final Fantasy 15
Dresses Like An Emo
Final Fantasy follows the long RPG tradition of having a main character be royalty. Noctis is a weird prince. For the most part, he dresses like an angsty teenage emo, but for most of the game, he doesn't act like one. In fact, he's pretty upbeat - just happy to hang out with his friends, go fishing, and kill a few monsters while he's on the way to marry his childhood sweetheart.
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Noctis becomes increasingly angsty as Final Fantasy 15 progresses, though. The deaths of Lunafreya and his father weigh heavily on him, and he increasingly turns inward as he struggles with the feeling of self-doubt. When things are at their darkest, Noctis never submits to his angst, managing to become a beacon of light that saves the world from Ardyn's darkness.
3 Cecil: Final Fantasy 4
Haunted By Guilt
Final Fantasy 4 pretty much opens with protagonist Cecil and his friends committing a war crime as they lead the Red Wing assault on Mysidia and steal its water crystal. He might look intimidating dressed as a Dark Knight, but Cecil is actually modest, shy, and insecure.
Following the attack on Mysidia, Cecil becomes overwhelmed by guilt, playing into his insecurities. He realizes that by following the king unquestioningly, he has lost his sense of self and autonomy. Pretty angsty. By bonding with his party, Cecil slowly begins to move away from this angsty persona. This literal character transformation culminates after he is forced to battle a dark version of himself, becoming a Paladin in the process. This growth makes him one of the franchise's best protagonists.
4 Vincent Valentine: Final Fantasy 7
The Monster Within
Final Fantasy 7
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original) , PC , iOS , Android , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , PS4
- Released
- January 31, 1997
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Vincent is arguably one of Final Fantasy's darkest characters. He sleeps inside a coffin in the basement of a haunted mansion that is located in a town that was the scene of a giant massacre. If that wasn't enough, he also has a literal rage monster inside him, bursting to get out.
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Unsurprisingly, Vincent has his fair share of angst. This angst is fueled by his tragic past, including his involvement with the Jenova Project, which is currently dooming the world, and the loss of his one true love, Lucrecia. When the gang first meets him, Vincent is carrying around a lot of guilt and is unsure if he can be the hero Cloud and the others expect him to be. Vincent can come across as pretty sullen and untalkative when the player first meets him but gradually opens up.
5 Lightning: Final Fantasy 13
Stoic Protector
For the most part, Lightning comes across as more stoic than angsty. At the beginning of Final Fantasy 13, Lightning is mainly driven by one goal: saving her sister, Serah, who has been branded as a l'Cie. Soon, Lightning is fighting to save the whole world and has been dragged into becoming a rebel leader in the fight against the oppressive Sanctum regime.
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Lightning tries to remain stoic throughout, but as the games progress, fans see she's grappling with feelings of guilt and inadequacy - unsure whether she can live up to her new role as leader and protector. Her growth through the series as she leans into her role, swapping stoicism for true heroism, is why she's one of the best female characters in the series.
6 Squall: Final Fantasy 8
Not Just A Moody Teen
When it comes to Final Fantasy 8's Squall, fans either seem to love or hate him. Taken at face value, Squall just comes across as an angsty teen who likes to sit around and brood. Which is kind of fair. Squall's angst is rooted in his feelings of isolation and abandonment, which stem from his troubled childhood - especially since he can barely remember it.
Squall tends to act like a loner, but deep down, he wants friends. This can be seen in his inner monologues throughout the game - when talking to characters, he'll often think up a long answer before giving a sullen-sounding one-word response. When Squall is made his squad's unwilling leader, he's forced to face his feelings of self-doubt, especially since he thinks there are better candidates for the job. Squall is the definition of angsty: self-doubting, self-conscious, and full of apprehension. The way he deals with these feelings makes him seem far more sullen than he is.
7 Cloud: Final Fantasy 7
Has Good Reasons To Be Angsty
Lots of fans give Cloud a hard time for being grumpy, but to be fair, he has good reason to be a bit angsty. First, he failed in his dream to become a legitimate member of SOLDIER, filling him with self-doubt. Then, he fails to rescue his hometown from being burned down and becomes one of Hojo's twisted science experiments. If that wasn't enough, he then joins the ranks of the many brainwashed Final Fantasy characters.
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So, when Cloud is first hired as a mercenary to help AVALANCHE, it's not that surprising that he comes across as a bit moody. He's got a lot going on. Thankfully, throughout the original games and the current remakes, Cloud learns to open up around his friend. He's still troubled by anxiety and self-doubt, but he also gets to show his fun, goofball side.
The 5 Most Cynical Final Fantasy Characters
While most Final Fantasy teams have a virtuous member, they also usually include a cynic; a character whose belief in good has long since expired.
