Over the years, the Final Fantasy franchise has given fans many memorable protagonists. What started out as fairly generic Warriors of Light has turned into heroes with real depth and feelings. However, some of these protagonists have definitely been more annoying than others.
ittedly, many of these protagonists get better over time. A hero that may seem overly cocky or angsty can become much more tolerable by the end of the game. It's that kind of character development that helps make a character feel real, and it can turn them into a fan's favorite hero.
Overall, though, a protagonist's level of being annoying has to be measured over the course of the entire game. Not counting the spin-off sequels or MMOs like Final Fantasy XI and XIV, which has the player as the hero, there are still a lot of Final Fantasy protagonists to cover. Here are the Final Fantasy protagonists, ranked from least to most annoying.
#14 Least Annoying Final Fantasy Protagonist - Cecil
Cecil Harvey from Final Fantasy IV has a pretty interesting character arc, as he struggles with his past as a Dark Knight and goes on to become one of the greatest heroes in the entire franchise. Cecil is a well-rounded character, who goes through some of the best character development in any game in the series. He's a hero that players want to root for, and there's nothing to really dislike about him.
#13 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Terra
Terra Branford in Final Fantasy VI is another example of a hero that players want to root for. Her memory problems give her an air of mystery, and she evolves into one of the greatest protagonists in any FF game. Terra's story is one that players want to follow, even if her identity crises at the beginning of the game start to get a little old. And while fans may still debate which version of FF6 is the best, there's no denying that Terra is one of the best characters in the entire series.
#12 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Zidane
Zidane in Final Fantasy IX starts off as a womanizing thief working for Tantalus, but almost immediately players learn that there's more depth to his character. Zidane may have a tragic backstory, but he's always trying to cheer up his friends. He's an optimist and an overall likable guy, which is part of the reason fans and even developers would like an FF9 sequel.
While some players may not like some of Zidane's antics, it's hard to deny his sunny demeanor. Aside from a short series of events late in the game, Zidane also manages to avoid the angsty protagonist tropes that Square Enix used for many of its Final Fantasy games in the late 90's and early '00s - and that already makes him pretty great.
#11 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Warrior of Light
There's nothing really special about the Warrior of Light or his comrades in the first Final Fantasy game. They're fairly generic heroes representing classes like Warrior, White Mage, and Black Mage. Because of this, it's a little difficult to determine just how annoying they really are. There's nothing especially off-putting about them - but there's nothing really unique about them, either.
#10 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Firion
Firion from Final Fantasy 2 has some of the same issues as the Warrior of Light. He's not necessarily an annoying character, but his lack of personality makes him pretty boring. He's a cardboard cutout version of a classic fantasy hero - he's a nice guy who loses his family and home - and there's nothing that really stands out about him.
#9 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Bartz
After giving fans a compelling hero like Cecil in FF4, Bartz in Final Fantasy V feels like a step backwards. Like Firion, he's mostly just boring. Arguably the most interesting thing about him is that fans knew him as Butz for many years because of a fan translation (which was the only way to get FF5 in the States for a while).
In of the narrative, he's just a good guy who gets whisked away into a much larger story. It might be relatable, but it's not interesting. He's a fairly generic good guy - which can be annoying in its own right. If an FF5 Remake ever happens, hopefully Bartz will be made more compelling.
#8 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Luneth
Luneth rounds out the last of the "no real personality" characters. In Final Fantasy III, Luneth is a stand-up guy who protects Arc from bullies and enjoys exploring. Other than that, there's not really a whole lot to get from him. He's just another boring nice guy.
#7 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Lightning
Lightning in Final Fantasy XIII has a lot going for her - she's smart, she's tough, and she's cool. However, these personality traits also make her annoying at times. Instead of listening to friends, she forges her own path - even if it's not the right decision. She's also not afraid to leave people behind, which can sometimes make her unlikeable. Overall, Lightning remains a fairly controversial character in the franchise (mostly because FF13 is so controversial). With FF13 coming to Xbox Game , perhaps more fans will have a chance to play the game and decide for themselves.
#6 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Cloud (FF7 Remake)
In the original FF7, Cloud's personality was often frustrating. He was a stubborn, tough guy who didn't want to share his feelings. Final Fantasy VII Remake's version of Cloud is better, mostly because his macho attitude has been dialed down a bit. It makes Cloud more relatable early on, and he's a better protagonist because of it.
#5 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Noctis
Like many Final Fantasy protagonists, Noctis from FF15 begins the game more on the annoying side before becoming much more likable. However, it's those early parts of the game, in which Noctis is constantly whining and complaining, that really stand out. He's simply too angsty and too whiny for too long, and that definitely makes him more annoying than other protagonists in the series.
#4 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Cloud (FF7)
Cloud Strife in the original Final Fantasy VII is iconic. He's arguably the most popular FF protagonist of all time, but this isn't about popularity - it's about being annoying. And Cloud in FF7 can be frustrating to deal with, mostly because developers were so determined to give him such a bad boy attitude and macho personality. It also doesn't help that Cloud is falling over from headaches in FF7 all the time, which interrupts gameplay and starts to get annoying on its own after a while.
There's no arguing that Cloud has had a lasting impact on fans and JRPGs in general, but his attitude makes him pretty annoying in FF7 - especially early in the game. As with Noctis and others, he definitely gets better over the course of the story.
#3 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Vaan
ittedly, Final Fantasy 12 is a pretty controversial game on its own - fans tend to either love it or hate it. One thing most fans can agree on, though, is that Vaan is one of the most annoying and unnecessary protagonists in any Final Fantasy game. Basch and Ashe are more important to the story, and Balthier and Fran have a classic Han Solo vibe. Meanwhile, Vaan is a street urchin who whines a lot and gushes about airships too much.
#2 - Final Fantasy Protagonist - Squall
Final Fantasy 8 is another game in the series that's a little controversial. It's been overshadowed by the game that proceeded it (FF7) and the one that came after it (FF9), and a lot of fans don't seem to like it very much. Squall has a cool gunblade and outfit, but his personality needs some work. He's got all of Cloud's troublesome stubbornness and pseudo-bad boy attitude, all while constantly reminding people he wants to be left alone. Like Twilight's Edward Cullen, Squall's bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold schtick is both tiresome, laughable, and kind of cringeworthy.
#1 - Most Annoying Final Fantasy Protagonist - Tidus
Final Fantasy 10 may be a popular and beloved entry, but Tidus is easily the most annoying protagonist in the entire franchise. He starts off as a cocky, self-absorbed blitzball player and after some character development and a swirling romance with Yuna, he finishes the game as... a slightly less cocky and self-absorbed blitzball player. He's also constantly whining, complaining about food and being hungry, and saying things like "This is my story!" Plus, there's that infamous laughing scene to consider.
Over the past three decades and counting, Final Fantasy has given fans some great protagonists. However, some of these heroes have definitely been more annoying than others - no matter how beloved or popular they are.
