11 Things We Miss From Final Fantasy

4. Levity

Final Fantasy IX Sexual Harrassment
Square-Enix

It may sound contradictory to complain about modern Final Fantasy's lack of adult themes one moment, and then decry them for lacking levity the next. The fact is, both are mutually exclusive, and both are problems. Just bear with me...

Recent Final Fantasy games take themselves extremely seriously, but they simply don't possess the strength of writing or narrative to justify their sobriety. With storylines seemingly from the imagination of a thirteen year old boy brought up on a diet of nothing besides animé and other video games, the solemn tone generally comes across as laughable. Except it's also boring. Which isn't laughable.

Earlier Final Fantasy games had big ambitions, but were not above humour. Final Fantasy IX is one of more subtly dark entries in the franchise, yet positively revels in its own particular brand of wit. The humour brought to the characters brings them to life, and creates a game brimming with endearing charm.

Final Fantasy XIII? Every character is a po-faced miser, with any jokes shared being excruciatingly forced. Final Fantasy XII barely even had a story, let alone any room for light-heartedness. What hope for Final Fantasy XV and its super-slick aesthetic?

Again, like the world map, XV's developers probably feel off-beat, humorous asides such as Final Fantasy IX's hilarious Mognet snail-mail sub-plot have no room in their lofty vision. They do. Humour breathes life into an otherwise soulless product. There's no room for snobbery in JRPGs.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.