Line #42 RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap/FinalFantasy


1	Hated characters from the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' franchise who've subsequently been RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap. This includes characters who were hated due to play balance (HighTierScrappy or LowTierLetdown) as well as those who were unintentionally hated for narrative reasons (TheScrappy and its related tropes).
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3	'''A Administrivia/{{No Recent Examples\|please}} rule applies to this trope'''. This is measured from the point when the character was introduced or became hated.
4	* Examples that were a HighTierScrappy or LowTierLetdown due to gameplay issues shouldn't be added for '''1 month'''.
5	* All other examples (e.g. characters who were TheScrappy or related tropes such as EthnicScrappy or DamselScrappy) shouldn't be added for '''9 months'''.
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8	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV]]
9	* Edward, [[TropeNamers the original]] [[QuirkyBard Spoony Bard]], had [[UselessUsefulSpell horrible skills]], [[MasterOfNone low stats overall]], and was seen as annoying for being a DirtyCoward. The GBA remake increased the chances of Edward's weapons inflicting status effects, making him a legitimate threat; the DS remake included a pleasing design, genuinely useful abilities with his Bardsongs, and [[Creator/RyoHorikawa a good]] [[Creator/SamRiegel voice actor]], all of which helped his perception.
10	** Then there is ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears The After Years]]'', where Edward was polished up and [[TookALevelInBadass got some steel cajones]]. Just look at the [[Awesome/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears Awesome page]] to see the details of his rescued and improved state.
11	** Edward is the weakest character at low levels (which in the original game, was the only time you could play as him). [[MagikarpPower Once properly leveled]] (which is really only exploitable in ''IV Advance''), he's the strongest AND the fastest.
12	* Golbez was seen as a Darth Vader {{Expy}} and thoroughly less interesting than Kain and the Four Fiends. The reveal that Golbez was being mind controlled by GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere Zemus had the effect of turning Golbez into a non-entity with no agency, and TheReveal that he's Cecil's brother is hardly followed up on. The DS remake re-added many of the scenes that had to previously be cut for space -- in particular, a crucial early scene concerning his backstory is included where Zemus takes control of Golbez's mind. In ''Dissidia'', he has a relationship with Cecil based on having to reconcile being brothers on opposing sides. Golbez more properly comes off as one of the more nuanced and developed characters in the whole game (especially for the villains) as an AntiVillain and GoodAllAlong. The ending of Cecil's story saw Golbez as [[NoPlaceForMeThere rejecting a chance]] at [[RedemptionRejection turning good]] after feeling like [[IveComeTooFar he's done too much in darkness to be allowed in the light]], an Anti-Villain characterization that was received very well by the fandom and made Golbez much more popular.
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14	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI]]
15	* Kefka was considered a boring, underwhelming villain in the Japanese version of the game, where he comes across like a fool with no idea what he's doing, a StrawNihilist with no goal except destruction for its own sake, and a ConflictKiller who cuts short the more interesting struggle against Emperor Gestahl. But in the West, Kefka's dialogue was rewritten extensively to make him into a monstrous, nasty sadist with a genuinely charming sense of humour, who's still regarded as one of the best villains ever to appear in the medium of video games, let alone the ''Final Fantasy'' series. This was so much an improvement that his American characterization was ported back across the Pacific for ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' and subsequent remakes of ''Final Fantasy VI''.
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17	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII]]
18	* Yuffie was somewhat of a BaseBreakingCharacter originally, but after her appearances in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren Advent Children]]'', which included a [[ShesAllGrownUp new look]] and the less selfish personality she gained at the end of ''FFVII'' built up upon, Yuffie became more likable among the general fandom.
19	* Cait Sith was despised by most players (and very few people play him if presented with an alternative). But he was much more positively received as the [[ThePollyanna one bright spot]] in the otherwise very grim ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus''.
20	%% Genesis made his first appearance in a laughably terrible live-action cutscene in ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', was a shallow Sephiroth {{Expy}}, and was promoted as an InkSuitActor for Creator/{{Gackt}}. While his next appearance in ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' [[BaseBreakingCharacter remained contentious]] due to his constant recitation of awful poetry and his inclusion in [[MultipleChoicePast that game's version of the Nibelheim story]], he's got fans even amongst people who hate most of the Compilation due to the writers using him to allegorically discuss the good and bad of ''Final Fantasy VII'''s fandom, with his plot being based around overidentifying with a bad fantasy story and trying to find the truth behind its mysterious open ending. Some have also noted an element of StealthParody or even WriterRevolt about his portrayal, which is so over-the-top and full of uncool {{Bathos}} that it seems that the writers were mocking his forced inclusion.
21	* Cloud started out as ridiculously popular and being considered one of the greatest game protagonists ever, before losing a lot of his rep due to "[[{{Wangst}} emo]]" characterization across his various cameos, an over-serious tone to media he was in, mild CreatorsPet status, and HypeBacklash. Sephiroth's MotiveDecay also hurt the character, as it meant his only real reason to be fighting his rival endlessly was [[PanderingToTheBase shallow pandering]] that even fans of the relationship found boring. But even the fans who'd grown to loathe him were overjoyed to see him in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' -- partly because it cut out everything about his later appearances that fans found irritating, keeping his nice-looking ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' design as an alternate costume while basing his aesthetic and powers strictly on [[MythologyGag his original appearance]], and partly because the increasing years had turned HypeBacklash into NostalgiaGoggles. Similarly, Cloud's appearances in ''VideoGame/TheatrhythmFinalFantasy'' and ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy2015'' emphasize either traits of his that [[DeadUnicornTrope were forgotten over the years]] or the CharacterDevelopment he picked up in the original game (and after ''Advent Children'', [[CharacterRerailment to a degree]]), such as describing Cloud as an arrogant showboater or, in direct contrast to numerous post-''FFVII'' instances of being a PerpetualFrowner, showing him relaxed and relatively cheerful in battle. His ''VideoGame/MobiusFinalFantasy'' storyline continues these character trends and even contains some LeaningOnTheFourthWall subtext about this, having him disown both his previous 'moping' and the idea of emptily rehashing his past. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' completed this trend by reverting Cloud back to a PlayedForDrama version of his 1997 characterisation, keeping the added drama and the beautiful appearance from the sequels but combining it with the insecurity and humour that made him likeable - many fans who had stopped bothering with ''VII'' sequels and spinoffs found themselves coming back on board.
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23	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII]]
24	* Squall was often referred to as nothing but emo and whiny (and had the misfortune of headlining the game that [[ToughActToFollow followed]] the massively-popular ''VII''), but thanks to his role as a leader who actually helps the protagonists and good voice acting in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', Squall has become a deeper character. Compared to the below-mentioned ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia]]'' examples, it's hard to say whether the series improved Squall there, too, since the first game went with his originally anti-social personality and the voice sometimes didn't match his lines. (The second, however, had Squall [[{{Foil}} play off of]] [[spoiler:his old man]] Laguna in one of the new cutscenes, where his [[Creator/HideoIshikawa voice]] [[Creator/DougErholtz actors]] made an effort to sound younger and better match Squall's age in ''FFVII''.)
25	* Ultimecia. Early on regarded as a bland GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere, managed to be rescued from the Scrappy Heap by FridgeBrilliance as people came to better understand the game's MindScrew story. ''Dissidia'' in particular gave her a more direct presence compared to the background role in her original game, [[MindScrewdriver making her motives more clear]].
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27	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII]]
28	* Vaan is one of the more disliked ''Final Fantasy'' protagonists [[AmericansHateTingle outside of Japan]]. His attitude is unlikable, [[SupportingProtagonist he's got almost no stake in the plot of the game]] outside of being Ashe's MoralityPet, and [[MemeticMutation he's Captain Basch fon Ronsenberg of Dalmasca. (Don't listen to Ondore's lies!)]] His rescue was two-fold. First, there was the release of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', [[BrokenBase which became divisive]] and [[VindicatedByHistory retroactively redeemed]] ''Final Fantasy XII'' from being a rather bland game you can leave on overnight to play itself to now being recognized for a ''Series/GameOfThrones''-esque plot and its very well-done late game. Second, there was his inclusion in ''Dissidia 012'', where he took a more active role in the 12th Cycle and even rescued Terra from Kefka's clutches. And this time, there was no "I'm Captain Basch!" mini-game involved.
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30	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII]]
31	* Hope was hated by fans because of his constant {{wangst}} over the death of his mother. However, he began to mature over the course of the story, [[TookALevelInBadass stopped panicking over everything]] and [[spoiler: buried the hatchet with Snow, after confronting him]] in Chapter 7.
32	* Vanille's GenkiGirl personality and Australian accent made her difficult to like at first, but as it was revealed more and more that she's a StepfordSmiler and her major breakdown in Chapter 8, most people warmed up to her. Her awesome scene of standing up to the FinalBoss helped, too.
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34	[[AC:VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy]]
35	* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Bartz]], while not a bad character overall, ''was'' seen as dull, even by the standards of preceding ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' protagonists. His adversary being, well, a [[WhenTreesAttack tree]]... didn't help. In ''Dissidia'', Bartz was given a balanced appearance between his forgettable sprite and [[Creator/YoshitakaAmano Amano]] design, he became a much more likeable character, and his fighting-style involves {{dual wielding}} two of the most badass weapons in the series. And Creator/JasonSpisak does an amazing job at voicing him, along with imitating other character's voices, when using their weapons.
36	* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Exdeath]] himself was originally rather bland, a forgettable TinTyrant EvilOverlord bent on taking the power of the Void, but was ultimately turned into ''the'' LargeHam BarrierWarrior and had his desire to take the Void's power for himself morphed into an outright [[NarmCharm obsession with the Void itself]].
37	* Like Cloud, Sephiroth -- the villain from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' -- started out as ridiculously popular. But VillainDecay, MotiveDecay, and [[BaitAndSwitchLesbians cynical fanservice]] hit Sephiroth hard, and fans began groaning every time he showed up to spout the same six lines about despair so Cloud could hand Sephiroth a beatdown. While the vanilla ''Dissidia'' fits with these trends, his quest plotline in ''Dissidia 012'' gives Sephiroth a CharacterRerailment. A lot of fans regard his suicide in this game as one of his best character moments in any of his appearances, since his reasons for doing it have a lot to do with his own personal character and nothing to do with [[SatelliteCharacter being a plot point accessory for Cloud]].
38	* Tidus was a Scrappy for a lot of people in his [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX own game]], even taking his CharacterDevelopment into account. Many were looking forward to beating the crap out of him in a fighting game. But Tidus' voice acting (in [[Creator/MasakazuMorita Japanese]] and [[Creator/JamesArnoldTaylor English]]) [[VocalEvolution had improved a lot since the original game]], which made him a more appealing character. He also [[TakingTheBullet took the bullet]] in the second ''Dissidia'' game for none other than Yuna while [[HeelFaceTurn siding with the enemy at the time]], which made the hatred for Tidus cool off a bit.
39	* Lightning was, and continues to be, disliked by some people, owing to the ''very'' divisive nature of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII the]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 Lightning]] [[VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII Saga]]. In ''Dissidia 012'', her personality is based more on how she was in the second half of ''XIII'': she doesn't tend to punch people and, while still depicted more as a loner, is much more open to depending on others when necessary and ready to trust in teamwork. Unfortunately, her role in the 12th Cycle and treatment as the main hero of the story, thus supplanting [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI the Warrior of Light]], only furthered longstanding accusations about Lightning's status as a CreatorsPet.
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41	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV]]
42	* Alphinaud is the grandson of the late Louisox and, like his grandfather, aims to bring peace to Eorzea. Throughout the ''A Realm Reborn'' story, he's constantly tagging along with the player character and his WideEyedIdealist personality became grating to many fans. He also had displayed some HolierThanThou attitude towards others (especially the city-state leaders) when people didn't want to act upon his ideas. His all too trusting attitude and haughty personality blows up in his face when [[spoiler: the very same Crystal Braves faction he formed turn against him thanks to one of the Syndicate members paying them off]]. Alphinaud then breaks down and [[ItsAllMyFault blames himself for the tragic events]] that conspired afterwards. He does grow from it, and his character focus in ''Heavensward'' is about becoming a lot more humble and capable, and knowing when to throw his weight around as opposed to doing it all the time. Players responded very positively to this change, and the writing staff kept this direction for him. By ''Endwalker'', Alphinaud has found his niche as a diplomat of the Scions, and about the only times he's referred to as a hated character are when fans are discussing how he used to be before character development kicked in.
43	* The Scions of the Seventh Dawn as a whole. Many people disliked them for the fact that they are constantly sending the player on {{Fetch Quest}}s, needing to be rescued (Minfillia in particular), as well as needing to have events ''constantly'' contrived to put them into "Time out" so that the hero can accomplish almost everything on their own. Players started to warm up once the Scions started to show their actual personalities and CharacterDevelopment - and eventually becoming the player character's canonical ''party members'' in ''Shadowbringers''. On occasion? They're even playable in solo duties.
44	* The Company of Heroes were ''despised'' by many in ''A Realm Reborn'' for being the people you needed to talk to in order to get intel on a Primal named Titan. And ''they'' want you to... collect stuff for them so they can throw a banquet. At the end of a questline that [[ArcFatigue went on way too long for many players]], the only advice against Titan they could give was "Do your best". ''Endwalker'''s Physical DPS role quest involves getting the Company of Heroes back together to help fight an EldritchAbomination - and [[TakeThatUs lets the player call them out on their skewed priorities]]. Which [[CatharsisFactor many players took]]. But they are able to back up their status as being a company worthy of the name of "company of Heroes" by helping the player out ''and'' demonstrating the proper teamwork needed to overcome the obstacle facing Limsa Lominsa.
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46	[[AC:VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics]]

Context RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap / FinalFantasy