So, Final Fantasy. This long-running and critically acclaimed video game franchise has not only produced some of the most beloved RPGs of all time, but some of the most well-known female characters in all of gaming history. Just think about it: how many people (specifically, gamers) have you seen gushing over Tifa Lockhart or putting characters like Yuna and Rinoa on their “Top Video Game Babes” lists? Chances are, you’ve definitely at least heard of these girls, and for good reason. However, this is going to be a little different, since, of course, not all fan love is divided equally, and there are plenty of Final Fantasy females who do not receive as much appreciation as they deserve, which is why I’ve created a list of 10 underrated ladies who I believe need some love from the fanbase. Please note that these are my own opinions!
10. Shantotto (FFXI)
Despite being the main ‘representative’ character for XI; appearing in crossovers, all the Final Fantasy fighting games, and even popular enough amongst the staff to receive her own expansion DLC in her home game, Shantotto still remains as a kind of forgotten character, which is shame, because she’s definitely something else. A supremely powerful Black Mage with a iconic laugh (O-hohohohoho!) and a habit of making every sentence rhyme, she possesses an air of superiority, smugness, and a short fuse, yet she is still loyal to her cause, and sometimes her thirst for knowledge can bring out the best in her. She definitely shouldn’t be judged by her size!
9. Faris Scherwiz (FFV)
Oh, Final Fantasy V. The fifth mainline entry in the series tends to be overlooked by most fans, given its (very) simple story compared to its game-breaking predecessor and its leaning towards being more comedy-oriented than the rest of the games… but that still doesn’t change the fact that Faris is awesome! Raised as a male from an early age, Faris eventually became a courageous and determined pirate captain, if not a little rude and rough-spoken sometimes. Her introduction (by her kidnapping our main characters no less) changes the core events of the story, and its nice to see her become more protective over her fellow Light Warriors as the game continues. Oh, and she has a neat little twist in her story, too.
8. Prishe (FFXI)
Oh, would you look at that, another XI representative character! Like Shantotto, Prishe was popular enough to become a major character in her home game, and was added in one of the fighting games, Dissidia 012 Duodecim (that was a long one..). And, like Shantotto, she’s something else. At first, Prishe is just a confident, loud, and excitable tomboy who shows hints of being easily agitated and being impatient at times. Oh, and she swears a lot. However, despite initial appearances, she has times where she becomes more introspective and sad, such as when she ponders her destiny and the prospect of immortality. Her revelations over the course of the story even lead her to become more heroic and self-sacrificing because she believes that her life is worth nothing – making her an interesting contrast against most Final Fantasy characters who experience these same revelations, but become more villainous as a result. The mighty Prishe is here!
7. Penelo (FFXII)
Sometimes, it’s your fellow female characters who upstage you. Of course, often being considered the ‘black sheep’ of the mainline entries, one could argue that all of XII’s characters are in some way ‘underrated’, but I feel that Penelo suffers from this the most, which is a shame. Compared to the more stand-out ladies in the game, such as rebel princess Ashe and the sensational warrior Fran, Penelo’s calm and careful persona may not place front-and-center all the time, but it’s specifically her normalcy that makes her appealing – she provides a humanizing component representing the lives of average people caught in the crossfires of war and strife, keeps the entire party grounded in reality, and even forms and endearing friendship with Larsa, a boy on the other side of the conflict. Be it a helping hand or a proper scolding, she is always reliable.
6. Agrias Oaks (FF Tactics)
Another contender for ‘black sheep’ of the franchise, Tactics is a spin-off game which greatly emphasizes war, relationships, and, well… tactics. There are dozens of major characters in this game, but Agrias definitely deserves a mention. A trustworthy bodyguard to Princess Ovelia, Agrias is a Holy Knight sworn to the sword through-and-through, and she possesses a strong sense of duty and honor, given her high-ranking position. As characters in the game constantly seem to switch sides and backstab one another, her unwavering loyalty to her nation and aura of justice are particularly striking. She has a really cute birthday sidequest, as well. Who knew the stone-cold knight could be so adorable?
5. Yugiri Mistwalker (FFXIV)
Considering XIV and its hundreds of NPCs to try and keep relevant to the story, its a wonder some even get selected at all. While XIV has several prominent female characters in the Scions, I’d like to draw attention to a lesser-known member of the honorary group. Initially a Au Ra refugee from a fallen homeland, Yugiri became an assistant to the Scions out of gratitude, and assists them in whatever they need, be it covert operations or liberations. At first, she is simply a quiet, decisive, yet humble woman who lives on integrity – the pinnacle of what an essential ninja should be. Her steadfast determination in helping others is quite honorable, and it is this determination which inspires the people of other fallen homelands to stand up to tyrannical forces. I’d love to see what she’ll do in the new expansion – fingers crossed!
4. Rosa Joanna Farrell and Rydia (FFIV)
Aw, am I cheating by including two characters? Well, stay mad, because I couldn’t choose between these two. IV is considered an old-time RPG favorite, so why shouldn’t these characters be treated as such? Both of these ladies are wildly different, not only in design but in personality as well: Rosa is a gentle and polite young woman, while Rydia starts off as a scared little girl who is left shocked after the destruction of her hometown, Mist. Nonetheless, the two show incredible perseverance throughout the course of the game: Rosa becomes an accomplished healer and diplomat, while Rydia starts using her magical abilities as a summoner for the good of mankind and opens up to the rest of her party members. There’s a lot more to say, but this list is long enough as it is. Let’s just say that these two show a lot of character in just a little pixels!
3. Literally all the female class members in Class Zero (FF Type-0)
So, you thought I was cheating when I put two girls for one number? Well, I hope you’re prepared for seven of them! I’ve started to notice a pattern here: underrated game equals underrated girls. As part of the ‘darker and grittier’ Fabula Nova Crystallis spin-offs series (which includes FFXIII and FFXV), the characters are made to look more realistic, which is why this group of ladies may be hard to tell apart at first – but their personalities more than make up for it. From the ditzy oddball that is Cinque to the rude but somewhat sincere Sice, all of them get their chance to shine alongside their classmates and in battle, with many unique customizations and abilities to perform, and segments where you can learn more about who they are and what they stand for. Whether you like the more realistic outlook and style of Type-0 or not, one (or more) of these ladies will certainly take your fancy.
2. Cissnei (FF Crisis Core)
All fans of VII will be familiar with the Turks – an elite black-ops squad belonging to the ominous Shinra HQ – which originally only consisted of members Reno, Rude, Tseng, and Elena in the original game. However, with the addition of several more materials that now make up the Compilation Of Final Fantasy VII, we’ve seen several new Turks members, but here I’ll focus on one of the more notable ones: Cissnei. Originally making her appearance as a playable character in the (sadly) now defunct mobile game Before Crisis, Cissnei was made more known to the world with her appearance in the prequel game Crisis Core. Although at most being a side character, her interactions with our protagonist Zack Fair are quite charming, and there’s a lot more going on with her and her involvement with the Turks beneath the surface. Not to mention that she looks real cute in a swimsuit!
1. Freya Crescent (FFIX)
Wow, we’re finally at the number one spot on this list, and we’ve only just gotten to our first anthropomorphic animal character! All jokes aside, Freya is seriously awesome. I’ve spoken about her before in a previous analysis, but to add on to that: If you take Freya at surface value, she’s a skilled and capable dragon knight (also known as a Dragoon, the best Final Fantasy class – don’t @ me..!) with a sharp and resourceful mind and a neat character design, which is already pretty cool, but how about digging deeper? Not only can she joke around with our butt-monkey (literally) protagonist Zidane, but she is shown to be able to cast aside her doubts and team up with others when needed, even with her former enemies. Moreover, she faces (and has faced) much tragedy throughout her life, yet she still holds out hope and stays humble, by choosing to live for the future by preserving the memories of her past. It’s a mighty shame that the story seems intent on putting her on the backburner after the first half, because, in all honesty, she is one of the most striking female characters in the whole series, and definitely deserves more admiration.
Well, that completes my list of underrated ladies in Final Fantasy, but I’d like to hear what you think. Who do you personally think is underrated and needs more love from the fans? Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think. Otherwise, thanks for reading!
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