The Eight Classic Final Fantasy Tropes of XV’s Cast

Noctis – The Aloof, Suffering Hero

Many of the heroes the the Final Fantasy series, XV included, are a bit socially awkward. Whether it’s because they aren’t good at showing their emotions or they just come off as plain rude, these heroes really don’t know how to interact with others. This isn’t always unjustified though as oftentimes these characters have had traumatic pasts, and go through some immense suffering across the course of the game. Examples of this would be Cecil from IV, Cloud from VII, Squall from VIII, and Edgar from VI although he’s not the main protagonist.

Noctis is pretty socially awkward for a few different reasons. First off, he’s not good at speaking his feelings or showing his emotions, even with his closest friends. Noctis also went through some severe emotional trauma as a child, once when he was attacked by Daemon and nearly killed, and again during the attack of Tenebrae. To top all of this off, he was raised in a sheltered life away from most of the public and his own father. As Final Fantasy XV progresses, in traditional Final Fantasy hero fashion, he faces even more misfortune.

Ignis – The Strategist

Every Final Fantasy party has that one strategist, trying to think things through when the others needlessly rush in. Their wits and ingenuity save the party countless times, and this character usually has a pretty wide breadth of knowledge about the world and its workings. Characters like Balthier in XII, Lulu in X, and Quistis in VIII also fill this role.

Despite being born and raised in Insomnia, Ignis has a surprising amount of knowledge on Eos and the workings of the Niflheim Empire. He’s also the one that shuttles the party around in the Regalia most of the time, and keeps them alive and well-fed with his cooking. No doubt without his levelheadedness, Noctis and the others would be utterly lost.

Prompto – The Outsider and Peacemaker

Despite how this character may act, they always feel like a bit of an outsider to the rest of the party. Oftentimes they put on a strong front, and do everything they can to keep the others smiling and agreeable. More often than not this character has to go through an immense inner struggle, questioning their very existence and meaning. Some other Final Fantasy characters that fill this role are Terra from VI, Red XIII from VII, and Vivi from IX.

Prompto puts on a brave face for his friends, but you quickly discover his mounds of insecurities. No doubt he feels a little awkward when the journey starts, as he’s the only member of the party that doesn’t have a responsibility to the royal family. Despite this, he manages to be the heart and soul of the group, keeping everyone’s spirits up and doing what he can to resolve conflicts.

Gladio – The Tough Guy

Everyone knows this member of the party — the tough, cool-acting strongman. This character is always ready for a fight, and as such their temper can flare pretty quickly. They’re immensely loyal to their friends and those they serve, but aren’t afraid to confront their fellow party members if need be. Other characters that fit this role are Sabin from VI, Barret from VII, Zell from VIII, and Snow from XIII.

Gladio is the personal bodyguard of Noctis, and he’s there to see his journey through no matter what. He’s an incredibly valuable asset to the team and packs a punch in combat, but he’s also very spirited in his beliefs and the party’s quest to reclaim the throne. Gladio isn’t afraid to call Noctis out for not accepting his duty, and even on good terms the two have a rivalry kind of relationship. Now go ahead for some extra tropes as well.

King Regis – The Dutiful Sacrifice

Sometimes there has to be a sacrifice for good to triumph, and Final Fantasy games are no stranger to this. This character either has to sacrifice themselves or give up something else important in order to see things through. Other examples of this character would be Palom and Porom from IV, Galuf from V, Aerith from VII, and Vanille and Fang from XIII.

King Regis knows what must be done to bring safety to the world of Eos, and grimly fills his role. As we see in Kingsglaive, he accepts the Empire’s peace treaty, knowing full well what would most likely happen to him and his people. He also understands the terrible burden his son will bear, and has to send Noctis off on his journey regardless.

Lunafreya – The Love Interest the Hero Can’t Be With

Sometimes the love interest for the game’s main character walks a separate path from them, completing their own objectives and playing their part in the world. Oftentimes the two characters never get to be together for various reasons — duty, death, distance, whatever it might be. Keep in mind that sometimes this character is one of the other main protagonists of the game, and can even play a larger role than the “hero.” Other examples of this would be Celes from VI for part of the story, Aerith from VII, Yuna from X, and Snow from XIII.

Lunafreya is a vitally important character to the story of Final Fantasy XV, as she’s the Oracle of Eos and can commune with the gods. She’s the one who asks them to make a covenant with Noctis, and lend him their power. After the events of Kingslaive, we also know that she holds the powerful Ring of the Lucii, which is what the Niflheim Empire is after.

Ardyn Izunia – The Mysterious Stranger

As the name implies, this character is a bit of a mystery, interacting with the main party for reasons they don’t make clear. The stranger is an imposing figure whose role in things can often take a turn for the worse. Oftentimes they actually end up coming to blows with the main party. Other examples of this character would be Edge from IV, Galuf from V, Kefka from VI, Vincent from VII, Kuja from IX, and Seymour from X.

For much of Final Fantasy XV, Ardyn is this enigma. He played a role in Kingsglaive, and pops up very early on in the story of the main game. Ardyn is quite a strange fellow, and the party remarks on this many times.

Aranea Highwind – The Conflicted Enemy

Final Fantasy games often have a villain that right off the bat seems to have some misgivings about the cause they’re fighting for. This character proves that not everyone in the villain’s army or nation is evil, and there are some who fight back. Although, sometimes these characters are also out for their own gains. Other examples of this would be Celes from VI, Beatrix from IX, Larsa from XII, and Cid Raines from XIII.

Aranea Highwind is a mercenary in the service of the Niflheim Empire, who used to actually be in the Empire’s military at one point. Her first encounter with Noctis is a hostile one, but she quickly starts to develop doubts about the route the Empire is headed down.