Summary
Final Fantasyis one of the most popular JRPG franchises of all time, with the bulk of its games focusing on character-driven stories where a band of heroes save the day by any means necessary. So, as one would expect, several bonds and relationships are formed between characters during these adventures.
From sibling rivalries to love trianglesand everything in between,Final Fantasyis no stranger to complex relationships. This includes friendships that develop on-screen and become the best part of their respective games.
It’s a shame thatFinal Fantasy 2’s gameplay makes it somewhat inaccessible for many fans, especially since they’re missing out on an excellent story as a result. Firion, Maria, Guy, and Leon are orphans who form a familial bond with each other, only for them to split up after an attack by the Empire.
Leon becomes a Dark Knight serving the Emperor, fighting his friends multiple times during their adventures before eventually joining the heroes. It’s clear that his friendship with Firion is frayed as a result, but the hero has no problem welcoming his best friend with open arms regardless of the history they share.
Zidane is a knave who revels in his thievery, but he’s forced to grow up after being embroiled in a series of events that threaten the very existence of the world itself. He meets several valuable allies along the way, including Vivi.
This mysterious character forms a beautiful friendship with Zidane, only to figure out that his life as a Black Mage is incredibly short compared to a human. It’s a shame that Zidane’s emotions aren’t shown after his friend passes away, but the moments they share during this grand adventure make it clear that the duo would move Heaven and Earth for each other.
A dog is a man’s best friend, and nowhere is this saying more appropriate than inFinal Fantasy 6. Shadow is a brooding and mysterious rogue who refuses to go out of his way foranyone but his dog, Interceptor.
The duo have traveled the world and become steadfast friends as a result, with Interceptor being fiercely protective of Shadow. Watching Shadow send his loyal hound away at the end of the game to finally move on and meet his friend in the afterlife is a heartbreaking moment, especially given how unwilling Interceptor is to leave his companion behind.
Squall can be a tough protagonist to like, especially given how he loves to ignore one of his closest friends, Zell. He’s the perfect foil for Squall’s personality, countering his brooding nature with his upbeat and loud personality.
He eventually wears Squall down and becomes one of his closest friends, with the revelation of their history in the orphanage deepening their bonds further. Squall and Zell may be polar opposites in terms of their personalities, but this is perhaps why fans can’t get enough of them.
Cecil and Kain are established as close friends at the start ofFinal Fantasy 4, but it’s clear that all is not as it seems. It eventually becomes evident that Kainharbors feelings for Rosa, a woman who loves Cecil.
This, coupled with Zemus' mind-control shenanginans, made it easy to manipulate Kain into fighting the party numerous times inFinal Fantasy 4. However, he eventually gets over his insecurities and is forgiven by Cecil, joining his friend on an epic adventure to save the world from the Lunarians.
Balthier and Fran make their bonds evident from the very moment they debut together inFinal Fantasy 12. Vaan, the player’s eyes at the beginning of the story, isenraptured by these Sky Pirates, given that his dream is to become one, too.
Their partnership makes it clear that Balthier and Fran are close friends who look out for each other more often than not. The way they support one another helped them to become legendary Sky Pirates. On top of that, they were also willing to take part in a quest to save Dalmasca from invading forces, further highlighting their strong bond.
Cloud is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, with his memories being compromised well before the game even starts. After being forced to undergo inhumane experiments by Hojo, he was saved by his friend Zack, a SOLDIER who did everything in his power to escape the encroaching forces of Shinra.
Players familiar withCrisis Corewill know the bond that Cloud shares with Zack,culminating in a tearful sacrificeas Zack lays his life down to save his friend. The trauma of his friend’s death, coupled with his mako poisoning, causes Cloud to take on Zack’s memories, erasing any presence of this SOLDIER in his mind until Tifa helps him see the light once again.
As flawed asFinal Fantasy 15may be, one thing that fans can give it a ton of credit for isthe bond shared by Noctis and his allies. WhileBrotherhood: Final Fantasy 15does a great job of fleshing out their relationships, people need only jump into the game and enjoy the relentless banter of this group to understand how close they are.
Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis are three of the closest friends that Noct has the privilege of knowing, which is what makes the final stretch of the game so emotional. Players can always look at the photos that Prompto took along the way to relive a grand adventure before bidding goodbye to the world ofFinal Fantasy 15once and for all, but doing so is likely to bring a tear to one’s eye.
