Final Fantasy: 25 Greatest Heroes

25. Shadow (VI)

With fourteen party members apiece, Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy Type-0 top the series in the character depth stakes.

Whilst Type-0’s cast (aside from Ace, Rem and Machina) are interchangeable faces whose names would be easily forgettable were they not named after playing cards, almost all of VI’s are compelling creations, with only Gogo and Umaro fully dismissible given their lack of impact on the plot as optional secret characters.

Mog is largely superfluous, Strago doesn’t have much of a part to play aside from his grandfatherly protection of Relm and Gau isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but the rest of the party have a series of interesting backstories and personas that combine wonderfully as they unite against Kefka’s tyranny.

Shadow is a fascinating character. Though the mysterious ninja at first appears to be a one-dimensional mercenary, motivated solely by money, the game drip feeds hints to the player that there is much more to him than meets the eye.

These can be missed, particularly if Shadow is accidentally (or deliberately) left to die on the Floating Continent, but the subtle implication that he is Relm’s father and the showcase of the nightmares that he endures over his abandonment of partner-in-crime Baram paint an engrossing picture of a tortured soul.

Throw in Shadow’s striking visual appearance and lovable canine companion Interceptor and you have all the makings of a well-crafted supporting player.