Summary
- Many Final Fantasy protagonists are riveting, motivated, and seek out challenging fights.
- Lead characters like Noctis, Vaan, and Lightning have angsty, headstrong personalities.
- Characters like Zack, Jack, and Zidane are go-getters who pick fights and face challenges head-on.
Final Fantasy is a series full to the brim with colorful characters whom fans can't get enough of. As one would expect, the protagonist needs to be riveting to make these games work, and thankfully, most Final Fantasy games boast riveting lead characters with believable motivations and captivating personalities.
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As one would expect, most of these protagonists will never shy away from a fight. Some of these protagonists even actively welcome these challenges as they go out of their way to seek out and win fights.
7 Noctis Lucis Caelum
Can Be Pretty Headstrong, Leading To Him Picking Avoidable Fights
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Noctis is one of the angstiest protagonists in Final Fantasy history, with a conflict beginning to brew in his mind from the very moment he hears about Insomnia's occupation and his father's death. After failing to head back to the capital, he embarks on a grand adventure to acquire the power of the Astrals and take out the dastardly Imperials.
During this journey, he doesn't shy away from butting heads, even when it comes to picking fights with his friends. However, he eventually sees the light and makes a valiant sacrifice to take Ardyn out and bring peace back to a ravaged land.
6 Vaan
His Brash Attitude Gets Him In Trouble More Often Than Not
Final Fantasy 12
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Many people consider Vaan to be an annoying protagonist, but no one can deny his go-getter attitude. He had his mind set on being a Sky Pirate and will take on anyone who dares to stand in the way of his childhood dream.
Given that Vaan embodies a lot of personality traits from classic shonen anime, it's easy to see why his brash attitude lands him in trouble more often than not. Thankfully, he can always rely on his friends to aid him in a tough spot and wallop anyone who comes his way.
5 Lightning
Can Be A Bit Too Angsty For Her Own Good
Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- March 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Lightning is a protagonist who takes a while to grow on players. Her quest to save her sister from the torrid fate that awaited her is a noble one, but it does cause her to lock horns with her party members from time to time.
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The way she punches Snow early on makes it clear that she won't shy away from a fight. Thankfully, the group eventually bonds and manages to overturn their fates after being branded as l'Cie, but that doesn't take away from Lightning's love of fighting.
4 Zidane Tribal
Can't Help Himself From Picking On People
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Zidane is one of the best protagonists in Final Fantasy history, boasting a roguish charm that complements his role as the thief of the party. His chemistry with Garnet is scintillating and also makes for one of the game's most entertaining aspects.
He also doesn't shy away from berating people he doesn't like, which can be seen in the numerous times he goads Steiner into losing his cool. Most people would agree that the knight would pulverize Zidane in battle, but the protagonist should still be commended for having the guts to pick fights he can't win.
3 Tidus
The Typical In-Your-Face Shonen Protagonist Who Antagonizes Villains More Often Than Not
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Tidus' cluelessness, when he wakes up in Spira, makes him the perfect candidate for a player proxy who is slowly fed all the information he needs about the world he was isekaied into. He's a loud and brash protagonist, which can be irritating for fans who prefer the strong and silent type as the party leader.
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However, Tidus' relentless zeal to save Yuna and fight against Sin compels the rest of the party to stand against Seymour, Yunalesca, and Sin itself. He will never back down from a fight against a nefarious figure, making him a go-getter that most fans are likely to eventually warm up to.
2 Zack Fair
His Go-Getter Attitude And Love For Fighting Makes Him A Great Candidate To Become A Soldier
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- March 24, 2008
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
From the very moment Zack is drafted into the ranks of SOLDIER, it's clear that he has a penchant for taking on and winning fights. He participates in various missions as he's mentored by Angeal, meeting Sephiroth and Genesis in the process.
The fact that he doesn't shy away from fighting all of these legendary members of SOLDIER is a testament to how gutsy Zack is. He accomplished all of these feats on his own and didn't back down from the Shinra Troopers closing in on him, choosing to pick one final fight and lay down his life if it meant that his friend would survive.
1 Jack Garland
His Hunt For Chaos Leads To Him Picking A Litany Of Challenging Fights
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
- Released
- March 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Jack Garland is one of the most unintentionally hilarious protagonists in gaming, with his hunt for Chaos being well-documented from the very first Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin reveal trailer. However, he's dead-set on this goal and picks multiple fights along the way to destroy this chaotic figure.
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