Has any anyone noticed something?

[Dark-Angel]

Yup, if you read the title, then you will probably know what I'm talking about. Staff: If someone else has made this thread, then i apologise and feel free to shut it down then...now that that's out of the way.

I noticed that there isn't any love story between two of the main characters like there was between Cloud and Tifa/Aerith, Squall and Rinoa and Tidus and Yuna and others I cant remember, but what I wanna know is...Why isn't there an affection between Vaan and Ashe. Strange because you'de expect there to be one. Is the love story between Balthier and Fran or just Ashe and that prince guy that was killed (I'm really forgetful today)

I think it makes a change, but it would be nice to see some form.


So...discuss: What you think about it

 

[eisprinz]

I was definitely expecting love between them, but not because they seemed to be lead characters. In one of the scenes where Ashe sees the ghost of Rasler (I think it was in Jahara), the phantom fades away and Vaan is standing there instead, which I took to be foreshadowing of a romantic relationship.

The lack of romance really did make the plot seem lacking, as much as I hate to admit it. Final Fantasy games in general will have an epic plot, and as such, pieces of the adventure have to be analogous to pieces of life - and just as life can be lacking without romance, so does this story.

The love between Fran and Balthier is played well as a side-romance; we know that they are lovers as well as partners, but we don't learn about their relationship's dynamic.

If I were to nominate a couple to have been the "major" pairing, I would say that Ashe and Basch would make sense.

After the first half, it is crystal clear that Vaan and Ashe would never work out, and it also becomes clear that Ashe is much more a pivotal character to the story compared to Vaan. So therefore the pairing should be Ashe and someone else.

Balthier would be a good choice - they aren't as unlikely as Vaan and Ashe together, and some scenes point to these two being able to connect in ways that others can't (specifically their common bringing up in the "privileged" caste of their respective societies). The drama it would cause to have a love triangle with Balthier, Ashe, and Fran would be great, but I think Ashe and Basch would still make a better couple.

With Basch, Ashe must turn from hate to trust, to possibly something more - that's often a good sign that romance will occur. It shows that the two have ridden the emotional rollercoaster together rather than having held a completely charmed sort of love; there has to have been a dark side to the love to make it meaningful. The fact that the two have history together also adds to the possibility.

Blah... there's surely more to say about this, but I don't know the game well enough to say anything substantial.

 

[Misty]

Ashe and Basch? I'd rather be sick. Lolz, I just don't see them getting together - I got no vibes from them. Basch more then anything, would still be Ashe's protector, like Vossler was, but with no romantic ties. Makes more sense as a lot of people have said for Ashe and Balthier to have something together. All FF stories I have seen, all games I have played, sure they included some "romance", but it's not as is if it was constantly a major point in each game all the time - a story can be epic without the generic relationship details. FFVIII, dunno actually - that's a toughie.
Life can be perfectly fine without romance, I don't see why it should be lacking if you're not with someone. Hey, I'm 20, and I'm doing perfectly fine - been single all my life!

 

[Davey Gaga]

All FF stories I have seen, all games I have played, sure they included some "romance", but it's not as is if it was constantly a major point in each game all the time - a story can be epic without the generic relationship details.

... and XII proves this.

Vaan and Ashe? Nah, I'm not even too sure why Vaan was even a part of the story, to be honest. Besides, he's clearly after Penelo. It might look as though Balthier is after Fran, too, but you can see he's interested in Ashe. As for Basch ... he's the typical 'duty first' kind of man.

 

[reeve]

Ashe and Basch? I'd rather be sick. Lolz, I just don't see them getting together - I got no vibes from them. Basch more then anything, would still be Ashe's protector, like Vossler was, but with no romantic ties. Makes more sense as a lot of people have said for Ashe and Balthier to have something together. All FF stories I have seen, all games I have played, sure they included some "romance", but it's not as is if it was constantly a major point in each game all the time - a story can be epic without the generic relationship details. FFVIII, dunno actually - that's a toughie.
Life can be perfectly fine without romance, I don't see why it should be lacking if you're not with someone. Hey, I'm 20, and I'm doing perfectly fine - been single all my life!

u actually think a final fantasy game can have a plot without romance and not be considered "lacking"(WAHAHAHA!!! ur 20 and never had a girlfriend(go ahead call me a jackass)arn't you at least going to look it would be wrong for u to die a virgen!!)

 

[Misty]

Take your personal insults and stick them where the sun don't shine. This is not the place for it so there.

Yes, I think, so what if I do? Sure, there was some romance in XII, but despite the rest of the plot not focusing on a love theme, doesn't mean it's going to stop and hit an iceberg, and sink like the titanic.

It proved successful with a lot of people, and it's called having a refreshing change for people who actually want some different and not repetitive.

Missed the gender symbol love? I'm a woman, so technically you would have written boyfriend not girlfriend, unless you assumed I was a lesbian in the first place ;D

 

[Doc Holliday]

To be honest, the only game with a canon love as far as I could see was X. The others were either left open to interpretation, or there really was no true love (RinoaxSquall)

 

[Misty]

Manbearpig pretty much speaks the truth. I know a love story when I see one, or a different REAL pairing, and a fair few of the FF's ARE left open to interpretation. Most of us just assume/dream/have wishful thinking. Oh, another true pairing - Rosa and Cecil.

 

[Daenerys]

u actually think a final fantasy game can have a plot without romance and not be considered "lacking"(WAHAHAHA!!! ur 20 and never had a girlfriend(go ahead call me a jackass)arn't you at least going to look it would be wrong for u to die a virgen!!)

Enjoy the infraction for Flaming.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Manbearpig pretty much speaks the truth. I know a love story when I see one, or a different REAL pairing, and a fair few of the FF's ARE left open to interpretation. Most of us just assume/dream/have wishful thinking. Oh, another true pairing - Rosa and Cecil.

Yeah, unfortunately, this has given to much rise to Clerithing and Cloti'ing. Which is irritating, seeing as how both sides reckon this stuff is Canon.
I say it's Aerfa and Clephiroth.

 

[Rockman X]

Manbearpig pretty much speaks the truth. I know a love story when I see one, or a different REAL pairing, and a fair few of the FF's ARE left open to interpretation. Most of us just assume/dream/have wishful thinking. Oh, another true pairing - Rosa and Cecil.

Don't forget Garnet and Zidane...and... *shudders* Wakka and Lulu...

I just got out of the Crystal, and really, i haven't even seen much to suggest that Balthier and Fran have a romance. Maybe there's something in the ending...but if they have a romance they do extremely well in hiding it. And someone suggested Ashe and Basch...eww.....he looks like he could be her dad.

 

[Edward Elric]

i'd have to say that i saw no romance from any characters in this game except for obviously ashe and rossler. there were points in the game that made me think ashe and vaan might like eachother, but it certainly didn't end that way. IMO, romance adds something to games, and i hope theres a love theme in FFXIII.

 

[Lirael]

I found out that there was not going to be a romantic plot in XII almost as soon as I found out there was going to be a 12th Final Fantasy. It was still disappointing, but I think they wanted to focus more on the story than the characters...Yet the story was almost non-existent. Despite this, it was an addictive game.

Also, I do think Balthier and Fran make a good pairing, but Ashe and Basch OR Vaan? Ehh, I don't see either of those pairings really working. And as said by others, Vaan was a pointless addition. But I guess he was just there to help the other characters fall into place.

 

[JDawg]

Rossler was Ashe's true love. They pretty much made that clear for the entire story. And it wasn't until late in the game that she finally understands that he's gone, and nothing she's been seeing of him has actually been him.

Anyway, romance isn't the central theme of this game. The only reason the "love story" had been added to any of the games in the modern series is because people complained that none of the relationships in VII were realized.

Anyway, none of the potential relationships would make sense in XII. Ashe and Vaan, while not seperated greatly in age, are seperated greatly in status. Ashe could not be with Vaan, because he was a commoner and she was royalty. I won't spoil anything for anyone, but the weight of her status becomes clear in the final scenes of the game.

Basch could also not be with her, because he was merely a soldier. His protection of her was a testament to his loyalty and love of his country, of his commitment to duty.

There was a bit of flirting between Fran and Balthier, which becomes evident later. Not a whole lot, but there's enough of it that you may draw your own conclusions. Perhaps it's mere friendship, but either way...

But Ashe was not going to find love on her quest. Perhaps someday, but not with any of the cast of the story.

Maybe that fellow from Rozzaria?

 

[Dark-Angel]

Yeah, i never took into account Ashe and Bashe...nope, i see no love story between them, that would be like saying there is romance between Yuna and Auron....nooooooo.
But yeah, I know what you mean by "flirting" between Balthier and Fran. I also wont spoil it.

As for Vaan and Penelo. I thought Penelo was more after Vaan. not vice versa, but I think they will just stay friends because they act like brother and sister in some ways.

 

[Cyannie]

actually vaan and penelo is onto it
me and my bro think that ashe likes balthier

but there ain't really a serious relationship here i agree!

 

[F. F. Fan]

No, sadly enough, there wasn’t.

As it’s already been stated in here before, I can’t see a relationship between Vaan and Ashe either. However, I can see how some players expected that they’d end up together. He did catch her in his arms (Garamysthe Waterway)… She was always seeing Prince Rasler’s ghost overlaying Vaan (Before knowing about the Occura) as well as the discussion between the two in the Garif Village. Either way, it didn’t end up being the case…………… Thankfully!

Anyway, I was expecting to see an element of love between Ashe and Balthier, to be honest. Both (story-wise) just seemed to be a better match, in my opinion. They both had aristocratic upbringings… Both shared tragic losses… and so on…

Ah well, it would have been nice to see an element of romance in this one, a personal preference really. For me, it just makes a story such as this a whole lot more interesting and enjoyable, in my opinion.

Sadly enough though, most of the character interaction just lacked a lot of chemistry all together for my taste.

THEN I heard there was something going on between Vaan and Penelo.So,now I'm lost.I guess there's no relationship whatsoever?

There is... between Vaan and Penelo that is.

Anyway, from what I've read, their relationship is given further emphasis in FFXII - Reverant Wings.

 

[JDawg]

I'm really glad there weren't any romances in this one between the castmates. There was some romantic backstory, though, between Ashe and Rossler. Otherwise, this was a story of an oppressive empire on the brink of an unwinable war. There was no time for romance.

But I'm agreeing with those of you who have mentioned how the game seemed to hint at an Ashe/Vaan relationship early in the game...but I'm thinking that there was really just something lost in translation. Or, maybe we just took the signals the wrong way.

For example, when we saw Rassler's spirit where Vaan was standing in the land of the Garif...did you ever consider that Vaan's motives were revenge, and that the Occura renegade was trying to pull Ashe towards Vaan, so she too would have revenge on her mind?

 

[Dark-Angel]

Not so sure as i was about the romance. There seems to be SOMETHING going on between Vaan and Penelo but does anything happen or should i write a short story on the future of these two after the events of FFXII, I did one for balthier and fran (I just left fran in her village. teehee. Balthier's cooler)

 

[Twit]

I don't see how some people can claim a relationship was going on between basch and ashe cos that is actually quite awkward, due to the the fact that ashe is 19 and basch is 36. It's the reverse of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore lol