Since their inception, JRPGs have been predominantly narrative-driven games, featuring a fixed cast of characters and a linear story without player-driven choices.
To craft a compelling tale, the game must present a well-rounded cast of characters players can connect with. The protagonist in a JRPG is the cornerstone of this premise.
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They’re the first characters we meet and the ones we spend the most time with. If, for some reason, the protagonist is underwhelming, the player might lose interest in the game, even if the supporting cast tries its hardest to carry the narrative with their colorful personalities.
This list doesn’t focus on inherently bad, uninteresting, or boring characters but rather on those who, at times, hinder the story more than they help or simply fail to add anything meaningful to it.
8
Rex
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
- Released
-
December 1, 2017
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Engine
-
Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
63 Hours
- Metascore
-
83
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Rex isn’t objectively a bad protagonist, and he contributes significantly to the narrative of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. However, since the game leans heavily on anime tropes, Rex became a lightning rod for all the awkwardness.
I love anime, but I don’t think it worked well in the context of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Rex is constantly shouting in that over-the-top dramatic way and believes the power of friendship will solve everything, undermining the excellent narrative of the other Xenoblade characters.
Among these anime tropes, the weirdest is the one where every woman is inexplicably attracted to the protagonist, often leading to involuntary and awkward sexual situations. Okay, weird, but you could overlook it if it weren’t for the fact that Rex is a kid!
It’s not intrinsically Rex’s fault, but as the protagonist, it falls on him. These distractions pull the player away from the plot of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, leaving me disappointed with the boy with the sword.
7
Rush Sykes
The Last Remnant
Rush is the kind of character who only became the protagonist because he has that “special something” that makes every high-profile faction interested in him. But based on his own merits? No one would give him the time of day.
The problem is that The Last Remnant confuses being a protagonist with being a leader. As soon as Rush meets David Nassau, the ruler of Athlum, he inexplicably rises to prominence despite doing nothing to earn it.
Some of David’s generals oppose Rush’s instantly renown, but of course, since he’s the protagonist, he becomes a key figure regardless. His catchphrases also get annoying quickly.
When the game’s synopsis begins with, “The story follows a teenage warrior on a quest to end the war,” you already know you need to be cautious. JRPGs often portray teenagers, but at least most try to hide it better.
6
Hero
Dragon Quest XI
I could write an entire article discussing silent protagonists, but I’ll focus on Dragon Quest XI because even Yuji Horii himself admitted it might be time to retire the trope.
A silent protagonist doesn’t feel as out of place in older Dragon Quest games or even modern iterations like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. The traditional JRPG format relies on text and doesn’t depend heavily on cinematic cutscenes.
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However, as games have evolved and their technical presentation has become more elaborate, a silent protagonist amidst a charismatic cast stands out like a sore thumb. That’s precisely what happens in Dragon Quest XI.
Watching Erik, Sylvando, and Jade radiate personality and energy creates a stark contrast when the spotlight shifts to the protagonist, who just stands there like a piece of scenery, not uttering a single word. It’s a disservice to the entire cast.
5
Randi
Secret of Mana
Randi who? I hear you ask. For those unaware, Secret of Mana‘s protagonist does have a name, but he’s so forgettable that many players didn’t even know it.
His name was only revealed in the manuals, and it wasn’t until the iOS version of Secret of Mana launched that Randi, along with the other characters, received canonical names.
He’s not a silent protagonist, but he might as well be since he rarely speaks. Randi is a great example of how a JRPG can fail to connect us with a character if the game itself doesn’t bother to invest in them.
In the end, because of this lack of care for its characters, Secret of Mana becomes entirely action-driven. If you don’t enjoy the gameplay, there’s nothing else to keep you hooked.
4
Emil Castagnier
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Tales of is one of the longest-running JRPG franchises, and if there’s one thing the series usually nails, it’s creating and developing its characters. That is, except when they insist on making direct sequels.
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is a direct sequel to the original game and introduces a new protagonist, Emil Castagnier. Early in the game, Emil witnesses his parents being murdered by Lloyd, the original game’s protagonist.
The boy grows up extremely whiny and insecure but harbors a hatred toward Lloyd for apparent reasons. However, introducing a new character who badmouths a beloved one is always tricky, and it doesn’t help Emil connect with players.
Dawn of the New World tries to mask Emil’s ever-apologetic demeanor by giving him a second, edgier personality in battle that tries too hard to be a badass. It doesn’t land as well as intended.
3
Zale & Valere
Sea of Stars
I adore Sea of Stars, truly. The game feels like my childhood dreams packaged into modern gameplay, with a stunning art style and heartwarming innocence.
However, if there’s one thing I’d change, it would be to flesh out the protagonists more. Both Zale and Valere suffer from the same issue.
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The two Solstice Warriors were born talented and trained their entire lives for their mission to save the world. The prologue depicting their training is endearing and immediately makes me connect with them.
But as Sea of Stars progressed, they became more homogenized. They shared the same ideas, motivations, fears, and problems. At one point, I realized that if you removed their portraits from the dialogue boxes, I couldn’t tell who was speaking.
The game had an opportunity to portray Zale and Valere as the Sun and the Moon, but it didn’t capitalize on it, instead giving the spotlight to other characters like Garl, who truly shone.
2
Edge Maverick
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
- Released
-
January 19, 2009
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Engine
-
Infinite Undiscovery (IU)
- ESRB
-
t
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Fair
Edge Maverick comes across as a blonde, generic, heroic protagonist, full of impactful catchphrases and strong ideals that every good-hearted character should have.
As Star Ocean: The Last Hope progresses, we see that Edge isn’t just that. He also manages to make some really dumb choices and comes off as a bit cringe at times.
But the fault doesn’t lie solely with Edge Maverick. The entire cast of the fourth mainline Star Ocean game is eccentric and over-the-top.
If you embrace the absurdity of it all, you can have fun with the game’s campy nature. However, if you’re not open-minded about it, connecting with the characters becomes a real challenge.
It also doesn’t help that his name is Edge Maverick. Come on, tri-Ace, wasn’t Fayt Leingod already pushing it? Maybe it sounds better in Japanese than it does in English.
1
Vaan
Final Fantasy XII
I feel for Vaan, really. I like him because I’ve always had a soft spot for the more optimistic, upbeat, and hyperactive Final Fantasy protagonists like Zidane and Tidus.
But it’s hard to make the case for Vaan as the leading man in Final Fantasy XII. He feels more like a narrative device, allowing us to play as someone not entirely immersed in the war between Dalmasca and Archadia.
It worked with Tidus because he served as the player’s POV in a new world. Maybe the intent was to replicate that strategy, but it didn’t quite pan out.
While Vaan may not be the best protagonist in Final Fantasy XII, he’s a great character. The sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, gave Vaan more room to shine, and he made the most of it, showing he has both charisma and heart when given the chance.
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