LogFAQs > #950092656

^I can't imagine them letting something like that happen now, I'd prefer little stories of the characters' pasts than the like dozen CG prologue movies vomiting exposition at you like they do these days.

4. Locke Cole
Of the group, Locke feels the most like a default leading character. There's more than a little Bartz in his personality I think, but with the added layers of tragedy that make him stand out. He's weirdly very prominent but also not very connected to the central plot, just a decent endearing guy helping to save the world. Of course much of his driving force is his guilt over losing Rachel and obsession with both getting her back and not repeating what he considers his mistake, which manifests as him being very protective towards women.

I like how initially he is close with Terra, then it shifts to Celes and it eventually becomes clear he is just very attached to protecting women. His relationship with Celes is interesting, there's romance there of course but I find it much more interesting how the two are just drawn to each other to try and fill the holes in their life. It's a symbiotic relationship, Celes wanting to feel accepted and loved and Locke wanting someone to save. In theory it could end up very toxic but I think the two move through their traumas enough that they wind up with a natural intimacy that works pretty well. I appreciate that they don't ever go so hard on the romantic aspect of their relationship, it's obviously there but aside from a few jokes they don't overplay it, what's important is them caring about each other. They don't even kiss I think.

His obsession/dedication to Rachel remarkably pays off, and her reiterating her love to him basically just gives him permission to forgive himself and move on with his life. Objectively this is maybe a bit too neat of a resolution, but emotionally it works well. His top moment is probably the opera sequence, he fits into the hero role very well (his relationship with Ultros is even a little reminiscent of Bartz's with Gilgamesh) and there's enough nuance to him that he's never boring. Love that he's a terrible actor. I also love thieves in RPGs so he was always in my party. Shout-out to another moment too: him apparently bandaging that gull which inadvertently gives Celes drive to go on. That kind of moment of fate/coincidence really strengthens the narrative and makes the whole thing feel more destined, as well as reiterating what a good guy he is that he gave up a close personal possession just to help heal a gull.

3. Cyan Garamonde
Does anyone have a rougher time of it than poor Cyan? It's a stacked category in this game, but seeing the dead body of his wife and child and then having to watch them board the train to the afterlife... it's incredibly haunting. The overly formal honourable knight vibe he has is very quickly overshadowed by the tragedy at Doma, and him going berserk with rage and flailing at the Empire afterwards (moments after we're introduced to a more human side of the Empire in Leo) is so good, a great example of gameplay and narrative combining.

Introducing him to us at the point the game does is a very smart move, we pretty much skip right past all the tropey banter and jokes and get to the real emotional connection part so much faster. For a while he's basically just waiting to die, he wants vengeance but isn't consumed quite the way Tellah is, it feels more like he's just waiting for a chance to end his suffering in an honourable way. The scenario with Sabin, Shadow and him is one of the game's highlights looking back, and I appreciate that he was the only person in the party to get mad at Celes for the deaths she's responsible for.

Characterwise, Cyan fares better in the World of Ruin than most. He gets not one but two really sad story sequences here, first a very touching exchange of letters with Lola where he tries to provide some comfort to her while they both work through their own grief (showing both his honour and desire to help people while also his unspoken need for comfort and assurance himself). But the game doesn't end it as cleanly as that, he doesn't simply get over the deaths of his wife and child because we completed a sidequest. Seeing that he's still haunted by them in his dreams is especially sad because, like, obviously it's still on his mind. It will never not be! His wife's soul/his own subconscious convinces him to let go of his suffering (I like that it's not explicit if they're real or not), but also the fact his friends were there helping him rather than him cooped up on his own probably helped.

Despite his tragedies he's not a downer in the party, he generally keeps that covered and engages with the others pleasantly. Him seeing Gau as like a surrogate son makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate their relationship more knowing that. A good guy, a nice spin on the samurai tropes and an interesting character. Screw Bushido's long-ass load time though.

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Slowly becoming a Final Fantasy aficionado. Currently playing: FFVI
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