History EnsembleDarkhorse / FinalFantasy

* A very odd example: Shantotto of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' is an absurdly popular Tarutaru who is known for being quirky, [[NoblewomansLaugh haughty]], CrazyIsCool and possibly a megalomaniac (which is explored in the mini-ExpansionPack "A Shantotto Ascension"). It's amazing when you consider that her initial role in the game was as a quest starter for one insignificant quest chain and another quest chain that was restricted to Black Mages. She's actually also popular with the developers of ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' and, [[SecretCharacter well...]]

** Laguna, Ward, and Kiros, all proved extremely popular thanks to the interesting story in their segments, interactions that were both funny and played out more like real people, so much so that a portion of the fanbase like their segments better than the main story. Given that it was originally planned that the be a much more even split between the past and present storylines, this is a massively longed for case of WhatCouldHaveBeen.

''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', being the {{Long Runner|s}} it is with a new cast in every main game, naturally has a lot of this.

** Cid Raines, the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Badass Commander]] of the Cavalry. [[spoiler:And a sympathetic and tragic AntiVillain, being stuck in the same BlessedWithSuck situation as the heroes themselves.]]

** Similar to the case with The Emperor, ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' turned [[BigBad Exdeath]] into a goofy LargeHam FountainOfMemes. Considering ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' itself is one of the less popular entries within the scope of the series as a whole, Exdeath now stands out as a very memorable and beloved character despite being the villain of a underappreciated game.

** Similar to the case with The Emperor, ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' turned [[BigBad Exdeath]] into a goofy LargeHam FountainOfMemes. Considering ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' itself is one of the less popular entries within the scope of the series as a whole, Exdeath now stands out as a very memorable and beloved character despite being the villain of a less-popular game.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters. Among them is [[AntiVillain General Leo]], who, despite appearing for a very short scene, was so much liked by players that there were rumors about ways to revive him.

** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' saw an explosion of popularity for the Emperor, who's now often seen as one of the best and most-underrated villains of the series. If being a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] and MagnificentBastard who manages to outsmart the heroes on several occasions wasn't enough, it's [[spoiler:taking over Hell after being killed by the heroes...and taking over ''Heaven'' at the same time!]]

* A very odd example: Shantotto of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' is an absurdly popular Tarutaru who is known for being quirky, [[NoblewomansLaugh haughty]], CrazyAwesome and possibly a megalomaniac (which is explored in the mini-ExpansionPack "A Shantotto Ascension"). It's amazing when you consider that her initial role in the game was as a quest starter for one insignificant quest chain and another quest chain that was restricted to Black Mages. She's actually also popular with the developers of ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' and, [[SecretCharacter well...]]

* Sazh's chocobo chick in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII''. How can you not love a fluffy little bird that hangs out in a man's afro, [[spoiler:takes down an armed soldier by itself]], and blocks panty-shots?
** There's also Cid Raines, the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Badass Commander]] of the Cavalry. [[spoiler:And a sympathetic and tragic AntiVillain, being stuck in the same BlessedWithSuck situation as the heroes themselves.]]

** Lord Haurchefant quickly grew very popular with the fanbase. Not only is he one of the first Ishgardians who isn't completely hostile to you just for being an outsider, he nearly worships the ground you walk on and helps soften the city-state towards opening their gates to outsiders. And of course, in the wake of a horrific WhamEpisode that left Alphinaud, Tataru, and potentially the PC in a HeroicBSOD, he offers you shelter and to turn away anyone hunting you, offering encouragement to help you cheer up and stating he fully intends to be by your side when you take retribution. Plus he brings you cocoa! [[spoiler:[[SacrificialLion And then he dies in your character's arms at the end of The Vault...]] Needless to say, many a tear was shed.]]

** '''The Great Serpent of Ronka''', a little worm that serves as the center piece for one of the side quest chains in ''Shadowbringers''. While it's dubious that it is truly divine, the priest that believes it to be true is so earnest about it, players couldn't help but play along. Helps that the serpent is strangely cute in its own unique way and is rewarded as a minion at the end of the questline. The devs caught on to its popularity, as the serpent returned in full force in patch 5.2, with the Qitari Beast Tribe offering both hat and helmet wearing variations of it as minions along with a mount.
-->Tremble, child of man, for a creature of purest divinity wiggleth before thee.

** The Warriors of Darkness became pretty popular despite only really being relevant for the first patch post Dragonsong War. Despite being a group of PsychoRangers that look exactly like the Warriors of Light from the trailers (with the leader looking exactly like the [=WoL=] who is supposed to be the player character), they become very sympathetic once you learn their past, namely that [[spoiler:they ''were'' Warriors of Light in their world. However, they were so successful at their job that they completely eliminated the Darkness. And because of this, Light became too powerful and completely annihilated the world, leaving absolutely nothing remaining unlike the world that became the Void due to being overwhelmed by Darkness. They work with the Ascians to reverse this, because even if the world is Rejoined, everyone's souls within the Aether will still exist, unlike the situation with the Light.]] On top of this, the Warrior of Darkness had great voice work done by Joe Dempsie, who fans of ''Series/GameOfThrones'' would recognize as the bastard smith Gendry.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' has Gilgamesh, who is a full-on BreakoutCharacter. Originally just TheDragon to Exdeath and a [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain bumbling, cowardly]] [[BraggartBoss hammy]] one at that, he's made cameo appearances in almost ''every'' main game in the series, being worked into remakes of previous games and popping up from nowhere in the ones made after, in addition to [[TookALevelInBadass taking a severe level in badass]]. He's so popular that ''Type-0'' announced him to be in the game before it even came out, or before the playable cast was even fully revealed. Adding to his popularity is that where Gilgamesh goes, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Battle on the Big Bridge"]] is almost certain to follow.

** '''The Great Serpent of Ronka''', a little worm that serves as the center piece for one of the side quest chains in ''Shadowbringers''. While it's dubious that it is truly divine, the priest that believes it to be true is so earnest about it, players couldn't help but play along. Helps that the serpent is strangely cute in its own unique way and is rewarded as a minion at the end of the questline.

* Minwu of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'', [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff particularly in Japan]], is easily the most popular of the {{Guest Star Party Member}}s and even [[spoiler:gets to be the lead character of Soul of Rebirth.]]

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', Laguna, Ward, and Kiros, all proved extremely popular thanks to the interesting story in their segments, interactions that were both funny and played out more like real people, so much so that a portion of the fanbase like their segments better than the main story. Given that it was originally planned that the be a much more even split between the past and present storylines, this is a massively longed for case of WhatCouldHaveBeen.

** [[spoiler: [[BigBadFriend Emet-Selch]]/[[TheEmperor Solus zos Galvus]]/[[FinalBoss Hades]] as a well-written villain with a complex backstory and motivations, due to his [[EvilIsHammy hammy, sarcastic nature]] and LaughablyEvil antics in the 4.4 and 4.5 updates of ''Stormblood'' and the first half of ''Shadowbringers'' that betrays [[AlasPoorVillain a tragic and lonely man who just wants to save his world and people from a cruel fate they didn't deserve.]] The fact that he's the one to [[VillainRevealsTheSecret reveal the true nature of the game]] and puts ''[[NothingIsTheSameAnymore everything]]'' previously established upside down only adds to his character, and for being the focal point of the widely praised revelations regarding [[BestLevelEver Amaurot]].]]
-->[[spoiler:[[FaceDeathWithDignity Remember... remember us... Remember... that we once lived...]]]]

** Hildibrand is rather popular amongst the fanbase as well, for his hilarious side story line and dialogues, and facial expressions that dip just far enough into the UncannyValley to become hilarious rather than creepy.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, so plenty of them became darkhorses.
** [[AntiVillain General Leo]], so much so that there were rumors about ways to revive him.
** Sabin, thanks to his status as a MemeticBadass. Why? [[MemeticMutation MOTHERFUCKER SUPLEXED A TRAIN]]!
** Relm is not only [[{{Moe}} cute as a button]], but if you master her DifficultButAwesome play-style, she can become pretty effective.

* Vivi of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' has proven one of the most popular characters in the entire series. To wit: the Final Fantasy Wikia has held two "Best Character" tournaments; Vivi has won ''both''. Despite not being the main character, his [[TheWoobie woobie moments]] about his soon-to-be death despite being only nine years old are offset by [[AngstWhatAngst not choosing to whine or complain]], but [[TheAntiNihilist choosing to forge forward instead]]. That and blasting Black Waltz No. 3 out of the sky [[BewareTheNiceOnes all by himself]] has contributed to him being a badass.

* Any character with the surname "Highwind".

** Cactuars.
** Chocobos and Moogles, but generally Chocobos are prefered (as they can restore all MP, and allow you bypass monster you don't feel like fighting).
** Amongst Summons, [[BigRedDevil Ifrit]] and [[IceQueen Shiva]] are this, despite being more or less useless against enemies that are effected by their element.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has [[AntiVillain General Leo]], so much so that there were rumors about ways to revive him.
** From the same game, Sabin, thanks to his status as a MemeticBadass due to [[MemeticMutation being able to suplex the Phantom Train]].

** [[BadassGrandpa "Thunder God" Cid Orlandeau]] is regarded as one of the best warriors in all of Ivalice, everyone speaks of him in-story as a total badass. What happens when you finally recruit him? He surprisingly lives up to the hype. He's a total GameBreaker having access to all of the special sword skills of the other story characters use as well as being armed with one of the most powerful swords in the game. In the fanbase he's become the Creator/ChuckNorris of Ivalice.