Square Enix revealed Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin at E3 2021. Final Fantasy fans that were already aware of the game from the previous leaks were probably quick to pick up on its setting inside the world of the original Final Fantasy. The trailer showed off a lot of gameplay, some story elements, and revealed the new cast of characters coming to Stranger of Paradise. Not much detail has been revealed yet about the characters themselves, but enough is there to make some assumptions about their role in the story.
The trailer for Stranger of Paradise opens by showing the trio of main characters at the gate of a massive temple. It reveals player-controlled character Jack and the two AI companions Jed and Ash. Jack is focused solely on his goal of killing a creature called Chaos and is a gruff, violent, and older protagonist than most other heroes in the Final Fantasy lineup. Jed is a more lighthearted character seen wearing more traditional Final Fantasy garb, boasting a personality that seems similar to Prompto in FF15. Ash rounds out the group as the resident brawler and seemingly the most level-headed of the bunch.
The Characters of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
A demo for Stranger of Paradise is now live for the PlayStation 5 following some issues with its launch. The approximately two-hour long demo is also still very sparse on details about the story or characters. However, some interviews with members of the design team have illuminated a few more details, and certain inferences can be drawn from ambient dialogue between the characters throughout the demo. Apparently Jack is the titular Stranger, having been brought from a "real" world into the Final Fantasy one where the game takes place. This was largely evident due to his strikingly modern-looking clothes in the beginning of the demo. It seems Jed and Ash are native to the dark fantasy world however, along with Garland and Princess Sarah.
Jack's obsession with Chaos isn't clearly laid out just yet, but his singular focus is likely due to events yet to be revealed either in his home world or soon after appearing in the world of Stranger of Paradise. His focus is emphasized by how little dialogue he spews compared to Jed and Ash throughout the demo. Largely, Jack seems to be operating as a blank slate kind of character while lightly exploring the "angry old man" archetype that's rare among Final Fantasy main heroes. Jed and Ash on the other hand maintain a certain level of dialogue that hints at elements of their characters.
While weaponry or fighting style doesn't always point toward any character archetype in Final Fantasy it is worth noting Jed and Ash's equipment in that vein. Jed carries two daggers on his back and his moveset is largely full of quick strikes and evasion techniques. Ash meanwhile is seen using fist attacks that are slower and more deliberate, but powerful. If players spend a lot of time leveling in the Stranger of Paradise demo they'll hear a solid chunk of dialogue between the two. Jed is painted clearly as the more happy-go-lucky character while Ash is the more grounded and realistic one. Best evidence is after a battle Jed exclaims about how easy the fight was only for Ash to retort about practice always being important.
The most mysterious character is Princess Sarah, revealed in name only so far. She narrates the reveal trailer and a callback to that is heard when players first encounter Garland in Stranger of Paradise's demo. It's likely that Sarah will serve as the force that's led the trio of heroes to the temple, or even the world itself similar to the goddess Materia present in the other Team Ninja Final Fantasy game Dissidia. Garland is the only returning character from the original Final Fantasy serving as that game's main antagonist. Here in Stranger of Paradise he is evidently on a mission to become Chaos itself. This goal echoes the one in the original game, but for now fans will have to wait to learn more about his ambitions and those of the other characters in Stranger of Paradise's full release.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is set to release in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
