Final Fantasy 13 has a monstrous story line, but everyone knows that a compelling plot needs equally interesting characters. and Square Enix has been pumping out memorable leads for decades. Final Fantasy 13’s cast is a good mix of familiar roles and brave new faces, as you’ll see from our handy one-stop guide to the main protagonists of this landmark game.
Read the rest of our Final Fantasy 13 review
Final Fantasy 13 review: Overall verdict
Final Fantasy 13 review: The Storyline
Final Fantasy 13 review: Battle System Mechanics
Lightning
Final Fantasy 13’s lead character is a feisty former soldier who once went by the name Éclair Farron, although she decided to discard her family moniker when her parents died and left her to care for her younger sister, Serah. Previously a well-respected sergeant of the elite Guardian Corps, Lightning carries a powerful weapon known as the Blaze Edge. A cunning combination of firearm and sword, it allows her to inflict massive damage on her opponents.
Strong-willed and quick to anger, Lightning’s back-story bears more than a passing resemblance to that of Cloud Strife, lead character of Final Fantasy 7. She is able to call upon the assistance of the Eidolon Odin, which takes the form of a massive robotic horse that she can ride into battle.
Final Fantasy 13 review: Overall verdict
Snow Villiers
Part surfer dude and part vigilante, Snow is the leader of the insurgent Team NORA force. His aim is to bring down the totalitarian government of Cocoon and protect the vulnerable and innocent individuals which the military army, known as PSICOM, intends to hold captive.
He is engaged to Lightning’s sister Serah and his attempt to free her from the curse of the I’Cie is what causes his path to meet with that of the other key characters. Eschewing any form of weaponry, Snow is adept with his fists and is most comfortable grapping with his enemies. His Eidolons are the twin Shiva Sisters, which combine to create a seriously cool motorbike.
Oerba Dia Vanille
It’s a little known Japanese law that every Final Fantasy title has to feature an annoying female hero and in Final Fantasy 13 the excruciatingly grating Vanille more than fits the bill. A native of Pulse, she’s naturally seen as sub-human by the leaders of Cocoon and thanks to the efforts of Snow’s Team NORA is saved from the horrors of the purge.
Bubbly and optimistic, she tries to keep the group’s spirits up even during the most dark of moments. Her Eidolon is known as Hecatoncheir and can morph into a death-dealing mech, with twin cannons.
Final Fantasy 13 review: Battle System Mechanics
Sazh Katzroy
Reportedly based on ‘70s soul legend Lionel Richie, Sazh is a likeable airship pilot who wants nothing more than to see his son freed from the curse of the I’Cie. He helps Lightning break out of the prison train at the start of the game and rather unwillingly joins her in her quest to reach the Pulse fal’Cie. His reward is to be branded a I’Cie himself. Final Fantasy devotees will be thrilled to learn that Sazh keeps a baby Chocobo in his enormous afro.
Skilled with ranged weaponry, Sazh is the proud owner of twin pistols which allow him to inflict damage from a distance. His Eidolon is the wrathful fire elemental Brynhildr.
Hope Estheim
While each character in Final Fantasy 13 has seen his or her fair share of tragedy, Hope’s story is especially heartbreaking. Incarcerated with his mother aboard the prison train at the outset of the game, both succeed to teaming up with NORA but Hope’s mother dies after offering to take up arms and join the resistance. Mortally wounded by a blast which almost kills NORA leader Snow, she then falls to her death after a bridge collapse. Snow attempts to save her but is unable to hold onto her hand.
Hope witnesses all of these events and swears to take his revenge on Snow, blaming him for his mother’s untimely demise.
His Eidolon is Alexander, a being with the ability to turn into a massive, gun-toting super-fortress.
Read the rest of our Final Fantasy 13 review
Final Fantasy 13 review: Overall verdict
Final Fantasy 13 review: The Storyline
Final Fantasy 13 review: Battle System Mechanics
