Throughout the history of theFinal Fantasygame franchise, fans have been treated to a wide variety of compelling protagonists, side characters, and villains.Giving gamers memorable charactersis something that theFinal Fantasygames rarely disappoint in.
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Final Fantasy 10is widely regarded by fans as one of the best games in the series. While it’s a generally belovedFinal Fantasygame, fans are split on its lead character Tidus. Some find him to be whiny, while others think he’s inspiringly loyal. This list will analyze why some fans think Tidus is the worst, and others think he deserves more credit.
10The Worst: The Infamous Laughing Scene
When you ask a gamer why she or he doesn’t like Tidus, the image above and the moment it represents is more than likely their go-to reference as a reason for their hate. This is an incredibly awkward scene where the negatives of Tidus' character, like his childishness, are most glaring.
Although the obnoxious laughing makes sense within the context of the conversation, this scene is Tidus' most insufferable moment and serves as a stain on his legacy.
9Underrated: Iconic Weapon
TheFinal Fantasygames boast along-list of awesome weapons, some of which hold a special place in the history of video games. While Tidus' sword Brotherhood might not be as classic as Cloud’s Buster Sword, it is still an iconic blade that most gamers can easily identify.
One great aspect of the sword Brotherhood is how important it is to Tidus' character, and also Wakka since it belonged to his brother. More than just a weapon, this sword holds sentimental and emotional value.
8The Worst: Somber Voice Over
ThroughoutFinal Fantasy 10, Tidusprovides the audience a heavy-handed, exposition filled voice-over that feels somber and depressing. The tone of the voice-over isn’t the only problem though, it’s also how the voice-over speaks nothing like Tidus' character in the game.
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Talkative and childishly optimistic, Tidus' in-game personality clashes with the serious, grim version that provides players the game’s voice-over. Just as important as making a character likable is making them consistent, and Tidus suffers from this issue.
7Underrated: Fish Out Of Water
An element ofFinal Fantasy 10that holds up well when comparing it to the other games in the franchise is Tidus' “fish out of water” story. TheFinal Fantasygames take place in unique and complex worlds where players are always playing catch-up to try and understand the setting around them.
Tidus provides a unique gaming experience because the sense of wonder and confusion he feels arriving in Spira is exactly how the audience feels.His character is learningabout this new world just like the audience, generally asking questions the players themselves have.
6The Worst: Annoying
Whether it’s his off-putting voice acting, childish optimism, or his whiny demeanor, Tidus is one of the more frustrating and irritatingprotagonists from theFinal Fantasyseries.
With most main heroes like Cloud and Leon being more of the silent, brooding types, it seems like Square (nowSquare Enix) was trying to break the mold with Tidus. Unfortunately, they may have gone too far to the other side of the protagonist spectrum.
5Underrated: Challenges The Status Quo
A big strength of Tidus' character is how he’s constantly challenging the archaic traditions of the world of Spira. Whether it’s religious law or the self-sacrificial pilgrimage of the summoners, Tidus has no problem pushing back against some of these antiquated, and downright wrong, beliefs.
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He always stands up for what he feels is right, even when he’s in the minority. This is a compelling trait that helps raise the quality of Tidus' character and make up for some of his shortcomings.
4The Worst: Dated Voice Acting
Final Fantasy 10wasn’t only the first gamein the franchise to appear on Playstation 2, but it was also the firstFinal Fantasygame to use voice acting. While not all of the voice acting in the game is terrible, for the most part the line delivery inFinal Fantasy 10feels unnatural and poorly paced. Tidus is a prime example of this.
In defense of the game’s voice actors though, much of the voice acting issues are a result of the technology at the time.
3Underrated: Fun And Loyal Personality
From his career as a professional Blitzballathlete to his unfaltering loyalty to Yuna and her companions, Tidus has many unique and positive traits that boost him up the ranks among his fellowFinal Fantasyseries protagonists.
Tidus is occasionally (intentionally) comedic and provides some laughs duringFinal Fantasy 10. Combining that with his fun, laid back demeanor as an athlete, and his allegiance to his friends, Tidus deserves more credit than some fans give him when analyzing his character.
2The Worst: Forced Romance
Yuna is a cherished character fromFinal Fantasy 10, much more so than the game’s lead hero. While fans adore Yuna, her romance with Tidus leaves much to be desired.
These two have very little chemistry together, in part due to the stiff voice acting, and their relationship comes off as a bit forced and doesn’t feel organic to the storytelling. Tidus' relationship with Yuna should be a bonus point for his character, but because the romance feels contrived, it ends up hurting him.
1Underrated: Compelling Character Arc
Tidus startsFinal Fantasy 10as a self-absorbed Blitzball champion and eventually grows into a skilled warrior who is endlessly devoted to his friends and is willing to sacrifice his own lifeagainst the final bossfor the greater good.
Tidus grows a lot over the course of the game, and that evolution deserves to be recognized as a testament to the quality of his character. Sure, he’s annoying sometimes and is the star of one of the most infamous scenes in video game history, but Tidus rightfully holds a special place in someFinal Fantasyfans' hearts.
