Square Enix's Final Fantasy franchise is known for its amazing instrumental scores, gripping turn-based combat, and an absolutely remarkable number of entries in its' series. While the overall story between the games is not always linked together, the quality of the characters remains the same. Each iteration holds to the franchise's roots with in-depth, multifaceted characters and gripping personal challenges for them to overcome.
The narrative always makes sure to give the audience a peek behind the curtains to see a character's motivations. This insight sometimes includes the story behind antagonists that the heroes have to face as well; painting them as people and not just evil stereotypes used to further the plot. And sometimes these backstories and in-game actions can tug at the players' heartstrings.
10 Kefka Palazzo Was Infused With Experimental Magitek (Final Fantasy VI)
The least redeeming, and therefore at the lowest position, is the third most iconic clown (or jester) in media, Kefka. While renowned as the final boss of Final Fantasy VI and loved as a well-written antagonist, he has a different side that most overlook or don't remember. Little is said about Kefka's history before his Magitek infusion, but it is safe to say that he was not as homicidal before receiving the experimental, magical-granting tech.
The tragedy of Kefka is sometimes mirrored in real life. Surgeries are performed that somehow completely change the personality of the patient. While there is no magitek wielding God in our reality, it is still sad to imagine that, perhaps, Kefka was a decent person before undergoing the experimental transplant in service to Emperor Gestahl.
9 Caius Ballad Only Did What He Did Due To Desperation (Final Fantasy XIII-2)
While he committed terrible deeds and tried to kill the Goddess Etro (the patron deity of life and death in the series), it was done out of a mixture of compassion and desperation. Tired of his own immortal life and unable to stand watching the priestess Yeul, whom he was bound to protect, die, and be reincarnated endlessly, he instead opted to break the cycle no matter what it took.
Doing so would have also given him the benefit to finally be able to pass on as well. Ultimately unsuccessful in his plan, Caius' crusade's cause is understandable enough to garner some sympathy.
8 Rude Slips Up And Reveals His Humanity Via Hesitation (Final Fantasy VII)
Reno's famous bald partner with a pair of fashionable sunglasses and impeccable black suit, Rude is a very stoic individual. Little can be gleaned from him through words or expression due to his near unmatched professionalism, but even he can slip up sometimes and show his humanity.
In Final Fantasy VII, Rude warned Aerith not to go to Sector 7 shortly before being dispatched with Reno to the Mako Generator on their mission to blow it up. There is also a scene in the remake that shows Rude hesitating before commencing the mission, but that sympathy is quickly erased when he rallies Reno soon after.
7 Reno Refuses Dr. Hojo's Orders (Final Fantasy VII)
While a member of the Turks, Shinra's CIA-like arm of their company, meant to deal with the dirtiest jobs and all-around skullduggery - Reno is a far cry from some of the more malicious villains in the franchise.
This can best be seen during the Nibleheim Incident in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-, when Dr. Hojo orders him to bring survivors from the village to him for study. He patently refuses the directive, unable to comply with the demand knowing what Hojo would do with the survivors if he did.
6 Ardyn Izunia Had Everything Taken From Him (Final Fantasy XV)
Ardyn has a tale more tragic than most. In Final Fantasy XV, he was raised as a Lucis, heir to the throne of the kingdom, chosen to save the world from the starscourge plague, it was all taken away when he used his healing powers to absorb the plague from others - eventually turning himself into a conduit of the starscourge.
Understandably, that betrayal did not sit well with Ardyn, and it predictably led him to want to get revenge against the usurpers of his throne. Having everything taken from him so abruptly while actively trying to help others is tragic.
5 Genesis Rhapsodos Lead A Rebellion Against Shinra (Final Fantasy VII)
As a former SOLDIER for the Shinra Electric Power Company, Genesis had a chip on his shoulder and the power to act on it. After discovering that he was a failed experiment in Dr. Hojo's Jenova Project, he made it his personal mission to dismantle Shinra and find a cure for his rapidly changing genetic structure.
While the Goddess materia from Minerva eventually cures him by stabilizing his genetic code, after a defeat by the hands of Zack in Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII -, his status is unknown. Still, it would be difficult to make an argument against someone who actively fought and led a rebellion against the megacorporation, Shinra.
4 Edea Kramer Had No Control Over Her Actions (Final Fantasy VIII)
Edea is one of the most sympathetic antagonists in the entire Final Fantasy franchise, simply because every bad thing she did in Final Fantasy VIII was while under the control of Ultimecia. When not being controlled, it was shown that Edea is a kindhearted woman with a husband, Cid, who together watched over the orphanage where Squall Leonheart would reside as a child.
Because she had no control of her actions while under the thumb of Ultimecia, Edea ranks higher than most as a sympathetic villain of the Final Fantasy universe.
3 Seifer Almasy's Dreams Were Crushed (Final Fantasy VIII)
Seifer is the dark side of the coin to Squall. Someone who is extremely similar and yet different enough to always be at odds. Another contender from Final Fantasy VIII, Seifer, had his dreams of being a SeeD agent, a mercenary force founded by Edea Kramer's husband, Cid, crushed when he could not control his ill-temper and disobeys direct orders during his final evaluation.
This allows the then Ultimecia controlled Edea to appeal to Seifer and lead him to become her knight. Eventually being the direct opposition of Squall and the rest of SeeD.
2 Snow Villiers Failed His Mission Due To A Time Paradox (Final Fantasy XIII-2)
First debuted in Final Fantasy XIII as a party member of Lightning, Snow has made repeat appearances in the subsequent games, Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Driven by his feelings for Lightning's sister, Serah, a l'Cie, he spends most of XIII attempting to rescue Serah. In Final Fantasy XIII-2, Snow entrusts Serah's safety to Noel Kreiss, the last Farseer in the future who time-traveled to the past to change his present, as a resolved paradox swallows him up. This leads to his state in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
After the conclusion of XIII-2 and Serah's perceived death, he spirals into a depression and wants Lightning to kill him because he failed in his duty to protect Serah. This leads Snow and Lightning to clash, with Snow losing, but instead of killing him, Lightning manages to talk sense back into Snow and start him down a new path.
1 Golbez (The Man in Black) Was Not In Control Of Himself (Final Fantasy VI)
Number one on the list, Golbez from Final Fantasy VI, is much like Edea Kramer from Final Fantasy VIII. His actions were not of his own volition. He was forced by Zemus, a Lunarian who wants to reawaken his race so that they may populate Earth, to do the evil things that he does.
While Golbez and Edea were both kind individuals when not being controlled, what makes Golbez more tragic is that the person he is unwittingly fighting and manipulating is his own brother, Cecil Harvey. After Fusoya breaks the control of Golbez from Zemus, he is forced to confront the realization of the terrible things that he did.
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