Summary

  • Final Fantasy's focus on character development and complex narratives sets it apart in the JRPG genre.
  • Rivalries like Squall vs. Seifer, and Terra vs. Kefka add depth and emotion to the series' storylines.
  • From themes of loss and redemption to clashes of ideals, Final Fantasy's diverse rivalries enrich its storytelling.

Had it not been for 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy, JRPGs would be much less popular than they are today. Dragon Quest may be more consistent, and Pokemon is more popular, but the greatest JRPG series is Final Fantasy. It has a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:reputation for experimentation that few series of its stature would dare to do.

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In both gameplay and story, Final Fan𝓀tasy has always bet it all. Instead of divvying up the characters into black-and-white moral spheres, Final Fantasy often explores the grey area, lending its roster complexity and depth. This focu♍s on character development has given rise to some great narrative rivalries throughout the series; here are the best.

12 𒁃 Jack VS Chaos 💟

Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Jack Garland after the Chaos boss fight in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.
4.0/5

Released
♒ March 18, 2022 🦩
Engine
🐼 unreal engine 4 ༺

Stranger of Paradise was subject to mockery from its first ꦅshowing due to the protagonist's single-minded focus. Jack seeks to destroy Chaos, the reason for darkness in the world. He refuses to believe that bad things can happen to good people for no reason.

Even the revelation that Chaos is a myth doesn't stop Jack. He becomes Chaos manifest so that the Warriors of Light can destroy him. Stranger of Paradise is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a much deeper game than the memes would 🧸have you believe: Jac🗹k was at war with himself for the good of the world.

11 Squall VS Seifer ꧒

Final Fantasy 8

Squall and Seifer from Final Fantasy 8 have a gunblade fight.

Released
𝕴 ♏ February 11, 1999
Engine
luminous engine ⛄

The opening cutscene of Final Fantasy 8 promises one of th♕e greatest video game 🔯rivalries in history. Squall and Seifer are presented as yin and yang: they have contrasting designs, matching scars and seem to really hate each other.

Turns out they were play-fighting, and their rivalry is greatly de-emphasized from then on. While Seifer's envy towards 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the naturally gifted Squall is a factor in him becoming a secondary antagonist, nothing in Final Fantasy 8 approacheꦺs the contention promised in its first few minutes.

10 ๊ Terra VS Kefka

Final Fantasy 6

Kefka presses against a glass container to taunt Terra in Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Final Fantasy 6
10.0/10

Released
October 11, 1994 ♊
Developer(s)
🗹 🍌 Square Enix, Square
Engine
Unity

It remains a matter of debate who the main character of Final Fantasy 6 is. Kefka's answer would definitel🐽y be Terra. If Kefka's choice to place the slave crown on her head and make her commit an atrocity didn't emphasize it enough, their rivalry in Dissidia Final Fantasy does.

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Throughout the events of Dis🤡sidia, Kefka urges Terra to join him and use her Esper abilities for destruction. Kefka desires power, Ter🗹ra has power, and her optimistic rejection in the face of his nihilism frustrates him to no end.

9 ♓ Wakka VS Rikku

Final Fantasy 10

Wakka shakes his fist at Rikku in Final Fantasy 10.

Released
ܫ December 17, 2001
Engine
ꦦ PhyreEngine 🌌
Platform(s)
PS2

There's no nice way to say it: Wakka is a racist. He is a devout follower of the Yevon religion, and harbors a dislike for the Al Bhed - an ethnicity 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:stigmatized by Yevon for their use of machina. Dogma aside, he blames them for his brother's ꧟death.

When Rikku joins your party, Wakka doesn't realize she is Al Bhed. Once he does, he proceeds to insult and belittle her. The way he begins sentences with 'you ♐Al Bhed' and doesn't see Rikku the person makes his narrow mindset clear. However, he gradually overcomes his racism and improves his relationship with her, making his character arc one of the best in FF10.

8 Lightning V♉S Snow 🥂

Final Fantasy 13

Lightning approaches a disarmed Snow in Final Fantasy 13.

Released
March 9, 2010 ♓
Developer(s)
♛ Square Enix
Engine
Crystal Tools♒ 👍
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Even if two people are on the same side, they can butt heads. Lightning and Snow embody that clash: both are determined to save Serah, but their mentalities are vastly different. Lightning, as the big sister, is fiercely protective and rational. Snow, on the other hand, 168澳😼洲幸运5开奖网:thinks with his hear♐t more than his head.

Snow's tendency to give in to emotion annoys Lightning; in no uncertain terms, she tells him he's too immature for Serah. As time goes ✨by, she sees his warm nature an💜d accepts him as a brother-in-law. Unfortunately for Snow, the sequels relegate him to secondary status.

7 🐻 ♛ Zidane VS Kuja

Final Fantasy 9

Zidane approaches Kuja for a fight in Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Released
🔯 July 7, 2000
Engine
Unity
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PS1, Android, iOS, PC

Kuja is an underappreciated Final Fantasy villain, because Sephiroth had already become the quintessential antagonist by then. The rivalry between Kuja and Zidane deserves a bigger spotlight, because the two are brothers: as close to brothers as s♎oulless, manufactured beings can get, anyway.

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The revelation that they are empty husks with limited lifespans drives Kuja to madness and Zidane to catatonia, though he recovers through the power of friend🌟ship. 𓆏Sadly, for Kuja there is no redemption but defeat. After the battle, Zidane slips away to be with Kuja for his final breath.

6 Cecil VS Kain ⭕ 🐈

Final Fantasy 4

Kain confronts Cecil in Final Fantasy 4.
Final Fantasy 4 (3D Remake)

Released
꧂ July 22, 2008
Engine
Luminous
Developer
﷽ Matrix Software ඣ

FF4 is where the series really came into its own with character-driven storyl𒐪ines. The standout is Kain, a childhood companion to Cecil. Both of them fall in love with their mutual friend Rosa, but she 🧸chooses Cecil. The ensuing heartbreak makes Kain vulnerable to mind control by the villainous Golbez.

When Kain reappears as an enemy, his jealousy still shows: he demands Cecil's cooperation in exchange for Rosa's life. Once freed of his mental slavery, though, he helps the party. Cecil may be the hero, but Kain is a much🍌 more🌞 interesting character and gives the rivalry a personal element.

5 🦄 Basch VS Gabranth

Final Fantasy 12

Basch and Gabranth face each other in Final Fantasy 12.

Released
🎀 October 31, 2006 🍌
Engine
ℱ Zodiac Engine🧸 2.0
Platform(s)
PS4, PS2, Xbox One, Switch, PC

You can raꦯg on Final Fantasy 12's experimeꦿntal gameplay all you want. You can even say Vaan isn't a strong protagonist. But there's no denying that the dynamic between Gabranth and Basch is one of the best in the series.

Gabranth is actually Noah, Captain Basch's brother. When their nation is occupied by the Archadian Empire, Basch flees. Gabranth stays on, determined to serve his former homeland even if it's now Imperial territory. His bitterness over being abandoned by his brother drives him to frame Basch as a kingslayer: they're identical twins, so ꦉit's easy. Despite all that, the two make their peace by the end.

4 Genesis VS Angeal VS Sephiroth 💎

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7

Sephiroth blocks simultaneous attacks by Angeal and Genesis in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion.

This may well be the most tragic rivalry in Final Fantasy. Genesis, Angꦆeal, and Sephiro🍎th used to be best friends, enjoying their top-dog status in the SOLDIER unit. The strongest was Sephiroth, able to hold his own against Angeal and Genesis together.

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During one of their sparring sessions, Genesis starts dueling Sephiroth a bit too seriously. Angeal tries to break it up, leading to Genℱesis getting injured. The injury never heals, spurring the trio to discover the Jenova Project while looking for a cure. If Genesis hadn't been a sore loser, all the events in the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7 might never have happened.

3 Noctis VS Ardyn ཧ

Final Fantasy 15

Ardyn blocks a sword strike from Noctis in the climactic battle from Final Fantasy 15.
Final Fantasy 15
Action RPG

Released
N🃏ovember 9, 2016
Engine
ꦑ luminous engine
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia

Once the man who would be king, Ardyn was a healer who loved humanity so much he took their darꦕkness upon himself. The gods deemed him unworthy of the throne for this, and let his brother rule instead. Cursed with immortality, Ardyn is doomed to wander the earth while his legacy is buried.

The brash young Noctis, last in line to the throne, is the focus of Ardyn's grudge. Halfway through the game, Ardyn abandons his aloof, Kefka-esque persona and reveals the t🎃rue depths of his hatred towards Noctis's entire bloodline. Noctis, for his part, acknowledges that Ardyn was just as much a victim as he was a villain. The two meet in the afterlife, where Ardyn tips his hat to the last Lucian king.