Back in 2017, Square Enix celebrated its 30th anniversary of its ironically nicknamed series "Final Fantasy." Since its inception back in 1987 there has been over 15 main series games with various direct sequels, spin offs, movies and card games that have gained the series massive following. Each game, with exception to direct sequels like 13-2 or 10-2, has been set in a different fantasy inspired world with their own cast of characters and stories to follow. However one of the major problems this popular series has faced is its lack of a diverse cast. The vast majority of the hundreds of characters that you meet or have as a part of the main cast are either white or Asian. Square out of the hundreds of characters within their main line games has only had less 16 non-white plot important characters in throughout the game, with only six being party members, temporary or permanent.
 |
| The four most well known non-white Final Fantasy characters |
The first five game show clear signs of their medieval fantasy inspirations with white knights and white princesses using swords or sorcery to slay whatever villain has decided to mess with the natural order that day. The idea of an all white medieval inspired world showing the ethnocentric inspirations from Western fantasy. This remained this way until the sixth game where the character of General Leo is introduced. While he does serve the evil empire he is shown to a compassionate and caring main who wants to protect innocent people as much as the main party, until the main villain Kefka murders him. It took Square Enix six game into the series to add one non-white character, who was then killed off to add a shock moment to the story. Though Leo was the first non white character in the series who was villain he was free any stereotypes that would plague the characters that follow.
 |
| General Leo |
Square Enix has a bad habit of only including roughly one or two dark skinned characters in their games who unlike Leo have roots in racial stereotypes. Three of the most famous and at the same time infamous examples of a nonwhite characters from Final fantasy 7,12 and 13.
The character Barrett from 7 was heavily inspired by the famous Mr.T, from the way he dresses to his more impatient and impulsive nature. On top of his cursing that would give most sailors a run for their money. Characters would often have to calm him down before he starts shooting in violent outbursts when a villain popped their head for even a moment. Though as one continues in the story, Barrett does soften up and shows his more caring side when it comes to raising his adopted daughter, Marlene, however this does not help the fact his character is drenched in a Mr.T like stereotype of African American men of being violent, crass and trigger happy.
 |
| Barrett |
The next example is the character of Fran from 12, she is a rogue pirate from a race of dark-skinned humanoid rabbit people, called the Viera, who are Intune with nature and follow a strict law to never join the civilized world outside of Golmore. Though this world shows a more diverse then other game this does not make the Viera exempt from stereotypes. Fran and her race are one of the two times where we meet non-white woman who are playable,but they are eroticized to the extreme. They are from what the game shows a female only tribe who wear skimpy cloths and hide away from civilization fearing corruption. Though they don't display the same stereotypes as a character like Barrett they are heavily exotic people who talk to nature in order to hide from the world around them, though some do leave their home but often end up as slaves or bounty hunters due to prejudices against them.
 |
| Fran concept art |
The final example is Sazh from 13. Though you meet two other dark-skinned character besides him one being his son, the other barely makes an impact on the story. Sazh is the comedy relief character in the story, who doesn't have the violent temper of Barrett who is looking for his son using his twin pistols and baby chocobo, a baby giant chicken, yes the main black character of thirteen has a chicken sidekick. Besides his sub-plot with his son and comedic parts he offers very little in terms of plot importance when compared to the other characters.
 |
| Sazh |
These characters, except Fran, are the only examples of nonwhite characters in their respective games. With exception to Final Fantasy 14 who hosts a whole variety of races who show strong non-stereotyped characters. The series has continued this trend of less then five nonwhite characters who are designed to have with various racial troupes. The new cast of 15 removing diversity from the roster entirely for a return to the medieval habits of whiteness that plagued the series since the beginning.
 |
| The main cast of Final Fantasy 15 |
Comments
Post a Comment