You just gotta scream?

[x-fakesmile-x]

Has it struck you as odd that Tidus and Bartz are the only happy, optimistic main characters in ANY of the Final Fantasy games?

(Actually, I'm not too sure about Zidane, but he seems happy too.)

I mean, where is the happiness in these people? VII and VIII are the worst for this. Cloud miserable up to the end, and even then he's still a sad, sappy sucker. Squall is just plain rude with all of his "DEAL WITH YOUR OWN BULLS--T QUISTIS. F--K.", so that made me kind of quit playing for a while. Too depressing.

I also think that's why Tidus is my favorite character out of all of them. 'Cause he's happy.

Am I the only one that has noticed how depressing the Final Fantasy series can be? Am I the only one who wants a happy game for once, one like Final Fantasy X?

 

[Shu]

I assume you don't mean supporting cast like Aerith or Wakka... or else I'd add that. Vaan in general was pretty outgoing, he had a good outlook on life as a kid up to the end of the story. I believe Zidane was primarily always happy, too but this topic doesn't have too much add. So I'll leave it there.

 

[Dolores Haze]

Finally someone who doesn't see Tidus' happiness as a bad thing.
Some Final Fantasys like to try and appeal to the darker side of gaming - Cloud seems pretty happy until .. yeaaah.
People tend to find overly happy people annoying, so maybe SE was trying not to turn people off?

 

[Serah]

I'm actually going to move this topic to General Discussion because you're talking about all different characters here and not just one for this specific game.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

There was a few happy people like, Wakka, Rikku, Yuffie etc.

I never really thought of any of the games to be depressing to be honest.

But I will agree with you about Tidus. He's my favourite character too!

 

[Shu]

Finally someone who doesn't see Tidus' happiness as a bad thing.
Some Final Fantasys like to try and appeal to the darker side of gaming - Cloud seems pretty happy until .. yeaaah.
People tend to find overly happy people annoying, so maybe SE was trying not to turn people off?

It's just where the FF's have been lead. I mean most revolve around a dark plot or twist, so most don't like the see the main character overly happy.

In my opinion Tidus was a relief mainly because he actually was pretty dismal inside. He kept everyone else up, but when alone he was pretty unhappy. Take for instance his reflection on his Dad. Every time I saw him either talking to or about his Dad he would cry.

I think he just wanted to be optimistic to everyone for the benefit of himself really, but what do I know.

 

[Dionysos]

FF never seemed too depressing for me really, as the other characters and humour within the game tended to lighten the plot.

There is a tendency to have lead characters that aren't as cheerful as some of the other characters in the game. I guess it is to show the darkness and the evil surrounding the characters. The main character usually has to suffer the worst in order to make you angry enough to go for the last boss, or perhaps fight against a bit of darkness within themselves. It's probably to do with how popular the anti-hero archetype is in our era.

But the other party members and the plot elements / side plots would usually help lighten the mood and put the balance in. There would be dark plot elements concerned with the main character, and most characters would have some sort of miserable / harsh history, but the mood would be lightened by either their pure good soul or by being a funny / interesting character.

I don't feel as if they have let any FF get too depressing. The main character might be depressed, moody, or a moaner but the rest of the cast tended to pick things up.. Even if their own histories and stories were sad. I guess it was the combination of all of them coming together as the force of good against evil that really pulled things together in each game. The main character tended to be the hardest to convince to join in with the team work in many of the games, but that is just because they are the main character.

I don't mind characters like that, but I don't want them overdone. I much prefer the supporting characters in each game anyway.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I thought Zidane and Vaan were quite happy too, but yeah, Tidus was a happy chap too.
Regarding Squall and Cloud, I think there are genuine reasons for their unhappiness, but it requires you to look outside the box.

Cloud, as far as I'm aware was 16 when the events of FFVII started and 21 when he was in Avalanche, therefore, he already has a problematic childhood before FFVII starts, the one person he looks up to, Sephiroth went nuts and decided to take over the world and the other person who'd you essentially class his best friend, Zack Fair, dies right in front of his eyes. So realistically, going through a time of war, and friends dying is probably pretty fucked up for a teenager-come-young adult. Considering this, all in all he's probably done quite well for himself.

As for Squall, he might just like his space I can't remember the FFVIII storyline, role on when it comes out on PSN

 

[Caryslan]

The thing that decides the main character's attitude is the events that lead up to their given role in the game.

Bartz, Zidane, and Tidus mainly led a carefree life that was free from conflict and bloodshed before their adventures started. They could afford to be fairly optimistic, because their views hadn't already been shaped by terrible events that messed up their lives.

Now compare that to characters like Firion(Who lost his homeland and adopted parents, and was left to die in a pool of his own blood when he was ambushed while fleeing.), Cecil (Attacked the village of Mysidia and stole its crystal to hand over to a king that he had began to question.), Terra(Captured as an infant and raised as a slave for the Empire. Was raised to serve as a living weapon.)

I enjoy both types of heroes, Bartz and Zidane are two of my favortie characters in the series. I will admit though, I would love to see more characters that are like Cecil and Terra. Middle of the road when it comes to personality and temperament.

And personally, I never want to see another character like Tidus in the series as the main hero again. There's a fine line between upbeat and annoying and Tidus easily crossed that line.

 

[.Tifa]

Squall Cecil and Cloud may be a bit more quiet and more.. depressed than Bartz & Tidus..

But Squall Cecil and Cloud can show the player that despite how heavy your past was..you can still become a happier person and fight your past- that past that is taking your life over and still become a better person..

The depressed leads show the player that you can overcome your past and you don't have to stay in the trap of sitting in regret and feeling angry and/ or bitter over bad memories..

Cecil- He is a dark knight and he is swallowed in his regret, but then he was given a chance. To wipe away his sins and become a newer person and not let his past and his mistakes haunt him anymore..

Cloud- Advent Children showed Cloud that his friends were there for him and despite no matter times he rejected him or tried to push him away Tifa and the others still cared for him.
Aerith and Zack also showed care by helping him and help him face Sephiroth.. that Cloud was shown that people care about him no matter what, he is no longer the screwed up misfit he was during his childhood but now the savior of the world.. Cloud's smile showed that he was ready to move on from his mistakes and probably most likely his past..

Squall- Squall like Cloud was able to change through Friendship. His trust was abused by loosing Ellone his only support at a very young age. But because of Zell Rinoa and the others always being there and pushing him through that he was able to become a new and better person, mostly it was Rinoa that pushed him through and managed to close down his wall that he was putting around himself. Again like Cloud's smile, he smiled because he knew that his past wouldn't haunt him anymore. He had friends and a girlfriend that cared..

Yeh- looking at it from that angle- are the depressed leads- really- that so bad ?...

 

[SapphireStar]

Squall had a shot start in life. If you had the same as him, you would be pretty pissed at the world too ... What about Zell and Selphie?! They were totally happy!

I say Zidane is quite a happy guy, Tidus is very bubbly, but then again if you scratch the surface, these characters are troubled.

 

[x-fakesmile-x]

I assume you don't mean supporting cast like Aerith or Wakka... or else I'd add that. Vaan in general was pretty outgoing, he had a good outlook on life as a kid up to the end of the story. I believe Zidane was primarily always happy, too but this topic doesn't have too much add. So I'll leave it there.

You're right! I forgot about Vaan! (Oh, and I WAS only talkin' about main cast...)

Good eye!

Finally someone who doesn't see Tidus' happiness as a bad thing.
Some Final Fantasys like to try and appeal to the darker side of gaming - Cloud seems pretty happy until .. yeaaah.
People tend to find overly happy people annoying, so maybe SE was trying not to turn people off?

Possibly. And yes, I agree with the happy thing. I enjoy all of the happy characters though... but I think most of the horrible events that occur to them change their overall happiness. XD

I'm actually going to move this topic to General Discussion because you're talking about all different characters here and not just one for this specific game.

Oh, sorry! Where is the General Discussion board?

There was a few happy people like, Wakka, Rikku, Yuffie etc.

I never really thought of any of the games to be depressing to be honest.

But I will agree with you about Tidus. He's my favourite character too!

Yeah, but I'm talking about the main characters themselves.

VII was so depressing it was stupid. Same with VIII. Actually, VIII is WORSE. Well, in MY opinion.

I like X because of his free-will and overall optimism.

Quote:
Originally Posted by !BRITTANY
Finally someone who doesn't see Tidus' happiness as a bad thing.
Some Final Fantasys like to try and appeal to the darker side of gaming - Cloud seems pretty happy until .. yeaaah.
People tend to find overly happy people annoying, so maybe SE was trying not to turn people off?

It's just where the FF's have been lead. I mean most revolve around a dark plot or twist, so most don't like the see the main character overly happy.

In my opinion Tidus was a relief mainly because he actually was pretty dismal inside. He kept everyone else up, but when alone he was pretty unhappy. Take for instance his reflection on his Dad. Every time I saw him either talking to or about his Dad he would cry.

I think he just wanted to be optimistic to everyone for the benefit of himself really, but what do I know.
__________________

You're too right. Now I think I like Tidus 'cause we relate pretty well. Wanting to make everyone else cheery while you're stuck in misery...

Woah. E-M-O.

FF never seemed too depressing for me really, as the other characters and humour within the game tended to lighten the plot.

There is a tendency to have lead characters that aren't as cheerful as some of the other characters in the game. I guess it is to show the darkness and the evil surrounding the characters. The main character usually has to suffer the worst in order to make you angry enough to go for the last boss, or perhaps fight against a bit of darkness within themselves. It's probably to do with how popular the anti-hero archetype is in our era.

But the other party members and the plot elements / side plots would usually help lighten the mood and put the balance in. There would be dark plot elements concerned with the main character, and most characters would have some sort of miserable / harsh history, but the mood would be lightened by either their pure good soul or by being a funny / interesting character.

I don't feel as if they have let any FF get too depressing. The main character might be depressed, moody, or a moaner but the rest of the cast tended to pick things up.. Even if their own histories and stories were sad. I guess it was the combination of all of them coming together as the force of good against evil that really pulled things together in each game. The main character tended to be the hardest to convince to join in with the team work in many of the games, but that is just because they are the main character.

I don't mind characters like that, but I don't want them overdone. I much prefer the supporting characters in each game anyway.

Woah. This is the best opinion I've read so far!

I see the whole balance thing too. I never thought of it that way. And you are right, the whole 'darkness' thing makes you kinda eeger to beat the last boss. ^^

I never REALLY said they were too depressing to enjoy though. I still love and enjoy most of 'em. Not VII though, as it's plot is kinda getting stupid.

I thought Zidane and Vaan were quite happy too, but yeah, Tidus was a happy chap too.
Regarding Squall and Cloud, I think there are genuine reasons for their unhappiness, but it requires you to look outside the box.

Cloud, as far as I'm aware was 16 when the events of FFVII started and 21 when he was in Avalanche, therefore, he already has a problematic childhood before FFVII starts, the one person he looks up to, Sephiroth went nuts and decided to take over the world and the other person who'd you essentially class his best friend, Zack Fair, dies right in front of his eyes. So realistically, going through a time of war, and friends dying is probably pretty fucked up for a teenager-come-young adult. Considering this, all in all he's probably done quite well for himself.

As for Squall, he might just like his space I can't remember the FFVIII storyline, role on when it comes out on PSN

Yeah, I forgot about Vaan. He's happyish too.

You know, no one really WOULD be happy witnessing all of those. But I hate to say, Zack and Cloud weren't best friends, they were co-workers that got randomly f--ked over by Shin-Ra. But the fact still remains.

And I totally forgot about VIII on the PSN! ^^

But i broke my PSP anyway...... ;(

 

[iDwight]

I tend to like the happy characters because I can relate to them, because I am a happy person But with most of the "happy" characters if you scratch the surface you see that they can also be kinda miserable. Tidus lost his dad, then his whole city is destroyed. Plus there is the scene when they go to the farplane and they see his mums ghost, and then somebody says
"The only reason she is here is because she must have died in peace" but he stays a lot happier then some of the other characters who go through turmoil.

It is all personal though, a lot of us seem to relate to depressed moody emo characters better.

Also Ima newbie and I cant find the introductions thread Where is it?

 

[x-fakesmile-x]

The thing that decides the main character's attitude is the events that lead up to their given role in the game.

Bartz, Zidane, and Tidus mainly led a carefree life that was free from conflict and bloodshed before their adventures started. They could afford to be fairly optimistic, because their views hadn't already been shaped by terrible events that messed up their lives.

Now compare that to characters like Firion(Who lost his homeland and adopted parents, and was left to die in a pool of his own blood when he was ambushed while fleeing.), Cecil (Attacked the village of Mysidia and stole its crystal to hand over to a king that he had began to question.), Terra(Captured as an infant and raised as a slave for the Empire. Was raised to serve as a living weapon.)

I enjoy both types of heroes, Bartz and Zidane are two of my favortie characters in the series. I will admit though, I would love to see more characters that are like Cecil and Terra. Middle of the road when it comes to personality and temperament.

And personally, I never want to see another character like Tidus in the series as the main hero again. There's a fine line between upbeat and annoying and Tidus easily crossed that line.

Aw, really? Huh. I've never met anyone that hasn't like Tidus...

And you're very wrong about Bartz, I believe. Didn't his father AND mother die? I could've sworn they were even BURIED together, but my memory's horrible.

I personally would have one side or the other, not characters in the middle...

Squall Cecil and Cloud may be a bit more quiet and more.. depressed than Bartz & Tidus..

But Squall Cecil and Cloud can show the player that despite how heavy your past was..you can still become a happier person and fight your past- that past that is taking your life over and still become a better person..

The depressed leads show the player that you can overcome your past and you don't have to stay in the trap of sitting in regret and feeling angry and/ or bitter over bad memories..

Cecil- He is a dark knight and he is swallowed in his regret, but then he was given a chance. To wipe away his sins and become a newer person and not let his past and his mistakes haunt him anymore..

Cloud- Advent Children showed Cloud that his friends were there for him and despite no matter times he rejected him or tried to push him away Tifa and the others still cared for him.
Aerith and Zack also showed care by helping him and help him face Sephiroth.. that Cloud was shown that people care about him no matter what, he is no longer the screwed up misfit he was during his childhood but now the savior of the world.. Cloud's smile showed that he was ready to move on from his mistakes and probably most likely his past..

Squall- Squall like Cloud was able to change through Friendship. His trust was abused by loosing Ellone his only support at a very young age. But because of Zell Rinoa and the others always being there and pushing him through that he was able to become a new and better person, mostly it was Rinoa that pushed him through and managed to close down his wall that he was putting around himself. Again like Cloud's smile, he smiled because he knew that his past wouldn't haunt him anymore. He had friends and a girlfriend that cared..

Yeh- looking at it from that angle- are the depressed leads- really- that so bad ?...

Nope, not at all. They make GREAT plot-line characters and good life-buddies too! XD

But, Tidus and his story are still top-notch in my opinion. I couldn't even tell you why...

I HATE SPOILERS. >.<

I didn't know Squall's whole story yet... so, Ellone is his sister?

Squall had a shot start in life. If you had the same as him, you would be pretty pissed at the world too ... What about Zell and Selphie?! They were totally happy!

I say Zidane is quite a happy guy, Tidus is very bubbly, but then again if you scratch the surface, these characters are troubled.

Well, buh-dhur! ^^

Without troubled characters, you have no story basically! XD

Oh, and I was only talking about the mains. Not side characters...

 

[Selphie]

Uhuh Agree you can learn so much from the more positive and outgoing leads. Though dont dislike the more depressive leads because they have been so much epsically somebody like Vincent or Cloud and it just wants to make you try and reach out and try and give them support..

But yeah love outgoing Final Fantasy leads like Locke Zidane and Laguna because they always seem to give the more depressive leads more strength and courage to move on and fight through what's bad for them.

Reckon that the more positive ones make better leaders and are more realistic leaders because somebody who is more sad emotionally would be harder to follow because a leader is somebody you want to look up to and follow. And Love Cloud but he was a bit of unpredictable schizophrenic sometimes and felt like he would of made some of his follows almost *scared* because they had no idea what he was going to do next- like how he harmed Aerith outside the Temple..

But Tidus gave Wakka and his Team Hope for something and he also made Yuna smile when she was struggling inside so much with the mission she had to cope with.
And Zidane helped Vivi improve and become a stronger person.. Black Mage.. ?
Vivi makes amazing change and he is even the one that is brave enough to stand up to Kuja within the Lifa Tree all because of Zidanes kind heart and amazing help..

So yeah cheerful Final Fantasy main for Final Fantasy 15 ?
Yes please ^^

 

[x-fakesmile-x]

Uhuh Agree you can learn so much from the more positive and outgoing leads. Though dont dislike the more depressive leads because they have been so much epsically somebody like Vincent or Cloud and it just wants to make you try and reach out and try and give them support..

But yeah love outgoing Final Fantasy leads like Locke Zidane and Laguna because they always seem to give the more depressive leads more strength and courage to move on and fight through what's bad for them.

Reckon that the more positive ones make better leaders and are more realistic leaders because somebody who is more sad emotionally would be harder to follow because a leader is somebody you want to look up to and follow. And Love Cloud but he was a bit of unpredictable schizophrenic sometimes and felt like he would of made some of his follows almost *scared* because they had no idea what he was going to do next- like how he harmed Aerith outside the Temple..

But Tidus gave Wakka and his Team Hope for something and he also made Yuna smile when she was struggling inside so much with the mission she had to cope with.
And Zidane helped Vivi improve and become a stronger person.. Black Mage.. ?
Vivi makes amazing change and he is even the one that is brave enough to stand up to Kuja within the Lifa Tree all because of Zidanes kind heart and amazing help..

So yeah cheerful Final Fantasy main for Final Fantasy 15 ?
Yes please ^^

Nicely said! ^^

You're right about them being better leaders too. I never thought about how the depressing ones would be kinda hard to stick around with. ^^;

Oh, and I haven't played IX, so I can't judge... damn. Soon though! ^^

 

[Caryslan]

Aw, really? Huh. I've never met anyone that hasn't like Tidus...

And you're very wrong about Bartz, I believe. Didn't his father AND mother die? I could've sworn they were even BURIED together, but my memory's horrible.

I personally would have one side or the other, not characters in the middle...

To be honest, Tidus just got on my nerves while I was playing FF X. Maybe it was the horrible voice actor they stuck him with, but something about him just got on my nerves.

As for Bartz, his parents both died well before he went to fight Exdeath. This is unlike Frinion who lost his parents when the Empire invaded Fynn, and Terra who lost her parents as an infant and was raised as a slave to the empire.

To be honest, I think Bartz simply had a better chance to cope with the death of his parents since Exdeath did not have any role in killing them.

 

[Jase Elendius]

I really never had problems with the bubbly characters, the outgoing ones, nor have I had any issues with the more depressed and anti-social characters. I myself am not a very outgoing person, but nor am I depressed. Looking at each Final Fantasy as a story, and since the writers wanted their characters to be the way they were, I really have no reason to go on hating characters like Cloud because they weren't the type of people who could recover easily after their lives get thrown in the gutter.

Honestly, having a basic understanding with how most humans react to events in life, I found Cloud's personality to make more sense than, say, Tidus. Tidus frankly struck me as a complete and utter moron. As far as he was concerned at the start of the game, a huge tidal wave completely destroyed and killed one of (and possibly THE most) populated city in Spira. What does he do? He runs around acting like a moron not really realizing what's going on, even after he figured out he "wasn't in Kansas anymore" (I had to say it .) It really bothered me that this guy who's supposed to be a hero hardly seemed to show much emotion towards the millions of people who died during the game's intro.

What's more, Tidus seemed pretty self-centered. It's been a very long time since I've played FFX, but if I remember right, Tidus seemed less concerned about the well-being of the world, and more concerned about Yuna, his relationship with her, and his dad. Frankly Yuna would have made the better lead protagonist.
---

I did like Vaan though. He had a very childlike curiosity and yearning about him, and he certainly grew as a character throughout the course of the game. I think some Final Fantasy fans just seem to dislike certain characters and games because they would not make them or can't relate. I find that silly, but that's for another discussion!

(For the record, FFX is one of my favorite games. Just had to express that, though happy characters can be cool and I, they don't strike me as real "lead" characters. 12 used Vaan as an observer and narrator, while Basch and Ashe played the traditional protagonist roles. If I remember, the bulk of the other FF leads want to genuinely save the world and put that as their primary concern, even after their personal well-being.)

 

[10th Doctor]

I guess they aren't too many happy main characters... But you kinda forgot about Zack! But I guess people find it more interesting for a main character to grow if they aren't to happy. If they are happy, it seems less aparent if they grow emotionally. I think...

 

[QueenAlla]

Aside from the supporting characters, I'd agree with the fact that Vaan was a pretty happy character ;3 But, it's all been said, so I'll leave it at that xD