Final Fantasy II/Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


This is a trope sheet for the cast of Final Fantasy II.


The Main Party

Firion

The hero of the game. Firion is a youth from Fynn, who flees it as the Empire lays siege to and occupies it. Together with his adopted family Maria and Guy, they manage to make it to Altair, the base of the Wild Rose Rebellion, headed by the princess of Fynn. They convince her to allow them to join, and together work to defeat the Empire, take back Fynn, and save the world. Firion appears along with the Emperor in the Dissidia Final Fantasy series and will be appearing in the Spin-Off Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.

Maria

Firion's adopted sister, who fled Fynn with him when the Empire took it. She too joined up with the Wild Rose Rebellion, despite her angst and worry over what has happened to her older brother Leon, as last they knew he was with them, and then he disappeared.

Guy

Firion's best friend and, according to various Japan-only materials, also an adopted brother. Guy was abandoned in the wild as a baby, only being raised by humans from age ten onwards, and as a result is very... well, slow, and quiet. Nonetheless, he has a close bond with Firion, Maria, and Leon, and joins them in their quest to save the world from oppression.

Leon

Maria's older brother (this time, not adopted), who fled Fynn with them when it fell, but vanished along the way. When next he turned up, he was working for The Empire, but all may not be as it seems...

  • Aloof Big Brother: To Maria.
  • An Axe to Grind: Wields an Axe and sword when he rejoins the party.
  • The Atoner: After the game, Leon leaves his family behind to go try and find a way to redeem himself for all the evil acts he did in the Empire's service as a dark knight.
  • Black Eyes: Has them, just like Maria, but his probably serve as an indicator of his wavery moral compass as well as familial relation.
  • Black Knight: First Dark Knight in the series.
  • Blade on a Stick: On of his initial equips is a spear, as is his Infinity Plus One Weapon.
  • Cain and Abel: The Cain of this relationship, at least at first... though interestingly, in this case, while Firion and Guy would also qualify as Abels, Maria is the best Abel candidate.
  • The Dragon: To the Emperor, at least at first.
  • Dragon Ascendant: Subverted. After the Emperor is killed in the Cyclone, Leon crowns himself Emperor, and it falls to the party to confront him and take him out, so clearly, he's the real villain, right? And this was all an elaborate scheme to grab the throne? Maybe so, but sadly, the Emperor's not put paid for yet, and trumps Leon quite soundly.
  • Dual-Wielding: Yes, everyone can dual wield anything in this game, but Leon gets special mention because he dual-wields a sword and a axe upon joining the party.
  • Dub Name Change: His Japanese name is レオンハルト, Reonharuto, but he has always been called Leon in English releases due to character limits.
  • Easily Forgiven: Firion and Maria are willing to welcome him back, no conditions and no questions asked. Unfortunately, he can't forgive himself nearly as easily.
  • Face Heel Turn: In the beginning of the game, joining up with the Empire offscreen after the siege of Fynn.
  • Heel Face Turn: Near the end of the game, after the Emperor shows that he will not go down nearly as easily as they'd hoped.
  • Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Played straight. Leon, the mysterious Dark Knight, wears one during his stint as a Heel, but ditches it upon joining the party.
  • Heroes Prefer Swords: While his Infinity+1 Sword is, in fact, a spear, the other weapon he dual-wields when joining the party is a sword, and he is usually depicted as wielding one in artwork and FMVs.
  • A Sinister Clue AND The Southpaw: One of many lefties in this game.
  • Spell My Name with an "S": Leon's not his original name (see Dub Name Change above), but lack of an "official" transliteration has led to people calling him Leonhart, Leonhardt, Lionheart, etc.
  • The Unfought: A boss fight with him is foreshadowed, but never happens, being interrupted by the Emperor's resurrection and Leon deciding it'd be a good idea to join up with the people against the Emperor now.

Other Playable Characters

Josef

A former soldier of the Palamecian Empire (according to the manual). He lives in the icy mountain town of Salamand, and aids the party after they save the men of his town from being forced into slavery. Sadly, though, he dies after heroically saving the rest of the party from a Death Trap.

Gordon

A prince of the fallen kingdom of Kashuan. Gordon is anxious and has no self-confidence at first, constantly comparing himself to his deceased brother and coming up short. Later, though, he finds strength within himself and grows into a respected leader of the Wild Rose Rebellion.

Leila

A pirate captain. She's hired by the party to transport them to an island nation, but she betrays them—however, after the party kicks her and her crew's ass, they wisely change sides and join with the Wild Rose Rebellion.

Minwu

White Wizard of Mysidia, and apparent advisor to the Fynn royal court. He is the one who saves Firion and his party, and later fights alongside them in their quest to stop the Empire. He is tragically killed by the magic necessary to undo the seal on Ultima. He will be appearing as a playable sub-character in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.

Ricard/Richard

The last dragoon of Deist. Ricard (technically Richard, but no English version of the game has yet called him that) finds the party when they are swallowed by Leviathan, and together they break free and he joins their quest to stop the Empire. Dies nobly while covering the party's escape from the newly revived and powered-up Emperor.

  • Badass: Started the trend of Final Fantasy dragoons/lancers being very, very Badass.
  • Blade on a Stick: Would you expect anything less from a FF-style dragoon?
  • Demoted to Extra: He does not appear in the continuity of the novel.
  • Dragon Rider: Dragoons wouldn't start Jumping until the next game; here, they are knights who ride wyverns into battle.
  • Dub Name Change: Has been renamed Edward and Gareth, and...
    • Spell My Name with an "S": His name in Japanese, リチャード, Richaado, is quite clearly meant to be Richard, but character limits mean that in English, he's usually Ricard.
  • Guest Star Party Member
  • Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Subverted, he always wears his helmet and is no less heroic for it.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Killed by the Emperor when he raises Pandaemonium, he dies so that the rest of the party can flee.
  • Last of His Kind: Sort of, he's the only surviving dragoon warrior of Deist, and apparently one of few people left alive in the place.
  • Nice Hat: His helmet is shaped like a dragon's head, and is all kinds of awesome.
  • No Last Name Given: Averted, he's one of the few characters in this game to have a last name—Highwind, which would become a recurring surname in the series.
  • The Promise: Promises to return to Elina (his best friend's widow) and her son Kain when the war ends so that they can be a family. Unfortunately, he doesn't manage to keep it.
  • The Southpaw: Yet another lefty.
  • You Shall Not Pass

Scott

A prince of Kashuan, and Gordon's older brother. He dies of injuries sustained during the failed defense of Fynn, very early in the game... but in the Bonus Level of Heaven, he is playable, and is key to investigating the mystery behind why the afterlife is suddenly such a hostile place.

Non-Playable Characters

Hilda

Princess of Fynn and leader of the Wild Rose Rebellion. Hilda is the brains behind the operation, and sends the party on most of their missions, eventually retaking her throne in Fynn. Although her father the king dies halfway through the game, she is curiously never upgraded to "Queen."

Nelly

Josef's young daughter, who adores her father and thoroughly supports him.

  • Break the Cutie: She has a minor breakdown after being informed of her father's sacrifice.
  • Cheerful Child
  • Daddy's Girl: Josef would do anything for her, and she in return thinks the world of him.
  • Plucky Girl: After she is orphaned she gets a job and is determined to make Josef proud.

Paul

A thief from Fynn who is friends with Firion and the gang. Claims to be the greatest in the world.

  • Greater Need Than Mine: He gives Firion the Blood Sword along with all his treasure so they can defeat the Emperor.
  • I Work Alone: Subverted, as he's perfectly capable on his own and has no qualms about hanging out with the party from time to time.
  • Loveable Rogue: He's really very nice, and loyal to his village and friends.
  • Ninja: Resembled one in his original sprite, but later looked more like a traditional thief.
  • Sticky Fingers: At the end of the game, he even tells his friends they had better watch their pockets.

Borghen

A nobleman who betrays Fynn to the Empire and defects to save his own skin. He turns up to bother the heroes several times as a boss.

Emperor Mateus Palamecia

The villain of the story. The Emperor of Palamecia is so dedicated to taking over the world, he even sold his soul to gain control of the Legions of Hell to aid in the effort. He's also one of the least sympathetic and most evil Final Fantasy villains to date. How evil? When he dies, as the remakes reveal, part of his soul is (somehow) good enough to get into heaven... and then proceeds to conquer that too. In the Novelization, apparently the Emperor was able to actually kill Satan despite his powers coming directly from a deal with him. He has appeared in the Dissidia Final Fantasy series alongside Firion and is set to return as a boss character in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.

  • Badass Boast:"You have braved the bowels of Hell to reach me. But the hand of man, which deals in false justice and forsaken love, can never hope to defeat the lord master of Hell!"
  • Big Bad: Duh.
  • Bishounen: The first in a long line of ever-so-lovely Final Fantasy villains.
  • Blond Guys Are Evil: Oh so much.
  • Captain Ersatz: Of Jareth from Labyrinth, released two years prior.
  • Classic Villain: He starts out as one, siccing the Legions of Hell on the innocent people of the world, and then proceeds to top himself in bastardliness by taking Hell for himself as the game progresses. Even Crisis Crossover Dissidia ups his ill reputation as a manipulative chessmaster willing to play ally and foe alike for his own ends, including killing off both Cosmos and even his OWN boss, Chaos, and take the world for himself.
  • Colony Drop: His signature attack, Starfall.
  • Combat Stilettos
  • Deal with the Devil: The novelization heavily implies that his powers came from a pact with Satan. Also subverted in that unlike most characters in this trope, Satan pretty much didn't expect how much of a monster Mateus would become.
    • Also inverted in the interquel "Dawn of Souls", where the Emperor's light half (who's also just as bad) attempts to beg those of the party who ended up dead in the main game to forgive him for the actions that his dark half committed, and in exchange will give them eternal life. Of course, they don't buy it.
  • Eighties Hair: It's almost awe-inspiring.
  • The Emperor: Hint: It's why he's called one.
  • Every Bishounen Is Prettier With Hair Decs: Staggering amounts of doo-dads in his hair.
  • Everyone Calls Him The Emperor: He has a first name and a surname—Mateus Palamecia—but it is only ever mentioned in the novelization, otherwise in all his other appearances he's simply "The Emperor."
  • Evil Overlord: Almost a perfect archetypal example.
  • Fan Nickname: "Emperor Bowie."
  • Femme Fatalons: In all depictions of him.
  • Flat Character: Defied in the revised continuity—though not by much.
  • Follow the Leader: Pun aside, some of his actions were later repeated by later Final Fantasy villains. For starters, his action of poisoning the water supply of the Dragoon fortress was later redone with Kefka, the latter of whom managed to take it to an even new low by poisoning a civilian kingdom (Doma), and most of Mateus' personality and traits (even his coming back from the dead) were reused with Seymour Guado. In addition his using a flying fortress capable of generating a cyclone and then being killed in it (not to mention having the title Emperor) is later repeated with Vayne in Final Fantasy XII and his use of the Sky Fortress Bahamut in the final battle before being killed, although unlike Mateus, Vayne doesn't come back from the dead.
  • Freudian Excuse: Surprisingly enough, the official (Japanese-only) novelization attempted to give him one. Apparently, his unsatiable greed is caused by an even worse demon sealed in a stone taking him over to wreak vengeance against humanity. It's also hinted that every single Emperor before Mateus were this demon's human proxies. He also exiled his mother under the influence of this demon, and she was trying to get him back to the good side. In a way, he seems very tragic in that respect. Though its unclear if the novel is part of the game continuity as the game series (although it should be noted that the novel was written by the same guy who wrote the story of the first three games).
  • God-Emperor: By the end of the game, he pretty much is one.
  • Greed: His most defining trait.
  • I Have You Now, My Pretty: Not so much in the game, but definitely present in the novels with Hilda.
  • Large Ham: His death scream.

"UBOAAAAAAAAAA"

Deumion

A new character added in the 20th Anniversary Edition. He is the immortal guardian of the ultimate magic and an extremely powerful mage.