Everyone loves a good romance. They often spice up a story and make people relate to the characters more because, after all, most of us have also been in love.
When the couple in question ends up happily ever after, it brings joy to the audience. Should the romance dissipate, it ends up breaking the audiences', or in some cases the players', hearts. Either way, there is usually a satisfying catharsis, albeit sometimes a sad one.
Adversely, there can also be, to quote songstress Lady Gaga, a "bad romance." These often leave a bad taste in our mouths for any number of reasons.
Sometimes the two characters do not have chemistry, or one part of the match up is so harmful to the other that the whole affair becomes upsetting to watch. Even if the couple's arc is objectively well written, emotions take hold and hinder enjoyment of the story.
The Final Fantasy series, with its wealth of characters throughout a massive catalogue of games, is no stranger to romances. Really, just about every entry in the franchise has several couples who either start off romantically intertwined or come to know each other better as the plot progresses.
With the numerous love stories present, it goes without saying that some of them hit the mark, while others should have probably stayed just friends.
This list will take a look at which of these romantic entanglements worked to the benefit of the particular entry, and which one hurt the overall quality of the game.
So strap in and get ready to find out about the 11 Final Fantasy Couples That Saved The Games (And 9 That Hurt Them).
20 Saved: Delita and Ovelia (Final Fantasy Tactics)
The team that developed Final Fantasy Tactics was coming hot off the heels of the legendary Tactics Ogre. Those familiar with the latter will be familiar with the game's oppressive story line.
Tactics is no different in its tone, even when the marriage of two lead characters are involved. The characters in question are Delita and Ovelia.
Minor spoilers ahead, so don't read further until having finished Tactics, which is highly recommended since it stands as one of the finest entries in the franchise.
The game closes with a tragic scene between the now married couple that would ruin anyone's day, but provides a perfect wrap up to one of the most intricately woven yarns in video games.
19 Hurt: Edward And Anna (Final Fantasy IV)
Final Fantasy IV, or II as old school North American gamers will know it by, has a slew of romances, but one of the weaker ones has to be the entanglement between Edward and Anna.
It is introduced very early in the story, and wrapped up shortly thereafter, but it really leaves one wondering why Anna would fall for Edward in the first place.
There is no intention to judge Anna's taste, as there are different strokes for different folks, and there is nothing wrong with liking the sensitive type. However, Edward is not the brightest fish in the sea and, overall, he's such a "spoony bard."
Though Anna's father eventually comes around to liking him, it is completely understandable why Tellah initially disapproves of him.
18 Saved: Tidus and Yuna (Final Fantasy X)
The breathlessly detailed world of Spira also holds a well crafted, complex lore. The story that unfolds in Final Fantasy X can be just as confusing for some, but it is all anchored by the developing romance between the Tidus and Yuna.
The relationship of the player character and the Summoner is a slow burn, but the pay off is well worth it.
RPGs have the luxury of making players feel like many months have passed throughout the course of the story, of which X takes full advantage.
What starts as a crush slowly grows much more profound as they inch their ways into each other's hearts.
The arc is organic and makes the game's conclusion all the more heart breaking.
17 Hurt: Shuyin and Lenne (Final Fantasy X-2)
Final Fantasy X-2 is a perfectly fine entry in the series, but it is also entirely unnecessary. The first foray into Spira so thoroughly fleshed out the world that revisiting it, while fun, is redundant.
The main villain has understandable motives that support Yuna's journey and the game's themes, though these are arguably negated by the cannon ending.
Shuyin's main motivation is reconnecting with his love, Lenne.
(Spoiler warning:) When Yuna, Riku, and Payne defeat him, Yuna learns about moving on with her life after the tragedy of losing her own love.
If players get the perfect ending, Tidus is inexplicably brought back to life. It may make for a happy conclusion, but it is too surreal and sappy.
Shuyin and Lenne, on the other hand, feel like an excuse to make a sequel.
16 Saved: Lulu and Wakka (Final Fantasy X)
Sometimes couples do not seem like a right fit for each other. On first impression, it appears like they would never hit it off in a million years.
Wakka, with his positive sportsman attitude, and Lulu, with her realism and belts, are one of these match ups.
Some may disagree with their compatibility, but this notion is what makes them so interesting. Player's are not explicitly told what makes the partnership work, but they can see it in cutscenes.
They often disagree, but they do not fight. It is good to see an already established healthy couple in a video game.
Much like Paula Abdul and that new jack swing singing animated cat, opposites attract. Thankfully in Lulu and Wakka's case, their biology matches up.
15 Hurt: Vincent And Lucrecia (Final Fantasy VII)
Just about every character in Final Fantasy VII has a lover, with the exception of Cait Sith. Vincent's love served a small, but relevant, role in the plot.
However, given her actions, it is hard to understand why he loves her so much.
The former Turk first fell for Lucrecia when he was made her bodyguard. Without giving too much away, she turns her back on him in the name of science, ultimately being involved in the creation of the game's main villain.
Racked with guilt because of what she did, Lucrecia locks herself away from the world.
If we were Vincent, we'd move on and find someone who would not betray us for the sake of freaky science experiments.
14 Saved: Zack And Aerith (Final Fantasy VII)
Cloud and Aerith would be the obvious match up, but some people may forget the reason why Aerith was so drawn to the Buster Sword weilding hero in the first place.
Zack Fair was the first person to steal Aerith's heart, and though his role is minor, it is important.
Zack was actually a late addition to the game during development, but turned out to be the missing puzzle piece that connected the main character to Aerith. Despite the short amount of attention placed on him in Final Fantasy VII, he was popular enough to star in his own entry, Crisis Core.
Despite the two lovebirds having already passed on, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children shows the two walking together into the light after giving cloud encouragement from the life stream.
13 Hurt: Snow And Serah (Final Fantasy XIII)
Final Fantasy XIII stands as one of the more polarizing entries because of its linear design. Another controversial move was blocking level progression until players passed a certain point in the story.
What most people can agree on, however, is that Snow and Serah are uninteresting characters.
Snow is a party member whose main motivation is saving the love of his life, Serah. His best quality is being voiced by the dazzlingly talented Troy Baker, but other than that he is a dork.
Serah gets less screen time, but becomes a player character in Final Fantasy XIII-2. Unfortunately she also has a bland personality.
Two uninteresting people being in love makes for a boring romance.
12 Saved: Noctis and Lunafreya (Final Fantasy XV)
The fifteenth mainline entry in the franchise begins with Noctis and company heading to meet his future bride, Lunafreya.
People have their numerous gripes with this couple, but the arc of these two characters strikes a heart string when they do finally meet.
We won't give it all away here, but the moment is wholly unexpected and shocking.
The game's second half is then entirely different than the open world optimism that players had become familiar with. Despite her small role and the short amount of time that the two spend together, their relationship feels genuine and one can feel the chemistry between the two even though they are virtual creations.
11 Hurt: Yuel and Noel (Final Fantasy XIII-2)
With how satisfyingly wrapped up XIII's story was, fans were not after a sequel. However, in a need to make a profit from the exorbitantly expensive Crystal Tools graphics engine, a sequel is what people got.
The second part threw in time travel, two new lead characters, and a largely forgettable romance between Noel, one of the party members, and Yuel, the tragic figure at the center of the plot.
Yuel and Noel are the two last people alive in their era, and thus grow a close bond to each other.
It's a sweet notion, but it gets lost in all of the other events that transpire in the story that form together a barely cohesive narrative.
It also doesn't help that Noel is an uninteresting protagonist.
10 Saved: Cid And Shera (Final Fantasy VII)
As first glance, it appears that Cid and Shera are a terrible team. He is cruel and she never stands up for herself.
Eventually, the truth is revealed that Cid treats Shera this way because he blames her for ruining his dream of space flight.
By the end of the game, she is forgiven and the two live happily ever after.
While one may criticize Cid Highwind for his behavior, the relationship paints a three dimensional character with traits previously unseen in games up to that point.
He's still a hero, but he does not respect his better half for compromising his life long dream. Main characters have to have flaws, even if one of those is holding an irrational grudge against their wife.
9 Hurt: Zidane And Princess Garnet
Judging by looks is in poor taste, but looking past the big headed aesthetic of Final Fantasy IX is difficult for many.
Everybody looks like children, which robs the impact of some of the game's more emotional moments. For example, the relationship between Zidane and Princess Garnet is less effective.
The two first meet at the beginning of the game when he is given the job of kidnapping her.
The Princess is not against this, however, and the two instantly hit it off. There is nothing inherently wrong with the relationship, but the art style makes both of them look very young.
Usually, childhood romances are taken less seriously than adult relationships. If one can look past the design, what lies beneath is actually a compelling RPG.
8 Saved: Squall and Rinoa (Final Fantasy VIII)
Squall starts off Final Fantasy VIII with an off putting demeanor, often pushing people away before they have chance to get too close. When Rinoa is first introduced, he treats her much the same.
However, the two eventually learn more and grow fond of one another. This developing relationship is at the center of the game's story and is what really makes it so memorable to those who played it.
Video games have the unique story telling advantage of letting a relationship develop over many hours, and VIII does this perfectly.
Of course, the game play is no slouch either, but the whole experience would not stand the test of time if it was not for Squall and Rinoa's relationship. Additionally, no one can ever forget "Eyes On Me".
7 Hurt: Penelo and Vaan (Final Fantasy XII)
With the massive scope of Final Fantasy XII, it goes without saying that there are relationships of all types present throughout its story. Penelo and Vaan's relationship is one of the weaker aspects of the plot.
While not romantically entangled, the two have forever been close childhood friends. It is not upsetting that they never take their relationship further, as woman and men can be just friends without any tension, but nothing happens in the game that truly tests the strength of their bond.
To its credit, the handheld sequel, Revenant Wings, does explore their friendship further.
However, with the numbered entry being well over sixty hours long, one would expect a conflict to occur in the story.
6 Saved: Cecil And Rosa (Final Fantasy IV)
Part of what makes Final Fantasy IV so endlessly intriguing is Cecil, the lead character, starting out as a Dark Knight before becoming a Paladin.
While he is initially weaker in the latter form, it is an important step in the game's story. His relationship to Rosa makes him even more interesting.
Their love for each other is never in question, but it does cause tension between Cecil and his friend Kain, who also loves Rosa. His jealousy is a source of pain for Kain, who must learn to overcome his negative emotions.
This situation is a perfect example of how Final Fantasy effortlessly mixes world ending conflicts with personal strife in its tales.
5 Hurt: Yuna And Seymour (Final Fantasy X)
When a loveless marriage is initiated for purely political reasons, it becomes too hard to bear. The brief matrimony between Yuna and Seymour is one of these relationships.
The Summoner agrees to marry the half Guado and half Human because she believes it will help bring unification to the world of Spira.
As one can tell by Seymour's sinister voice and demeanor, he has shadier plans at work.
Seymour wishes to use Yuna to become Sin and destroy the world.
Thankfully, Yuna's guardians arrive just in time to save their friend and continue their journey to defeat Sin and save their planet.
Player's everywhere were relieved when she was reunited with her true love, Tidus.
4 Saved: Locke And Celes (Final Fantasy VI)
With the massive party given to players in the sixth installment, it would be difficult for any of them to stand out among the rest.
However, Locke and Celes manage to stay in the player's heart long after the credits roll due to their tragic backstories and their ensuing relationship.
By the start of the game, Locke has lost the love of his life and is desperate to bring her back to life.
Celes is initially a general for the empire, but turns her back on them after facing execution.
Despite their differences, they form a bond with each other through the course of the game, even surviving a small bout of distrust when Kefka, the main villain, tries to convince the party that Celes is still a double agent.
3 Hurt: Vivi and Quina
Thankfully, some of the relationships in the series are a farce and initiated in order for the characters to achieve a certain goal. They can even be entirely optional too.
Vivi, for example, would be eternally grateful to players who opted not to join him to Quina in holy matrimony.
The wedding only occurs if players do it in order to access a certain sanctuary.
Quina is not central to the game's plot and simply along for the ride to fulfill her own personal goals, and Vivi is a mysterious man made black mage.
As one can see, they don't have very much in common. Vivi does end up having offspring in FFIX, but probably not with Quina.
2 Saved: Fran And Balthier (Final Fantasy XII)
It is never directly implied that Final Fantasy XII's Fran and Balthier are an item, but clearly their bond is stronger than most real life marriages.
Not unlike Han and Chewbacca from Star Wars, the two sky pirates trust each other with their lives.
There is even a moment closer to the game's conclusion that puts this trust to the test. They pass with flying colors and their bond is cemented even further.
Maybe the relationship never gets physical, they are different species after all, but that is not important.
Seeing the lengths they will go to protect one another is enough to inspire players to do the same for their close friends and family.
1 Saved: Edward And Harley (Final Fantasy IV: The After Years)
Sure, Edward is a dweeb and his previous love is not easily understood, but his relationship with Harley in The After Years is far more complex.
Harley works under the bard, and several times it is implied that Edward harbors feelings for her.
When Harley falls ill, Edward goes to great lengths in order to save her, mirroring what Cecil did for Rosa in the first game.
Falling in love with a coworker, and a subordinate at that, is often frowned upon. Their love is a forbidden one and Edward does not want to compromise his current relationship by admitting his feelings.
Though his deceased love, Anna, tells him to find a new partner, so hopefully he ends up taking a chance with Harley.
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Which Final Fantasy couple is your favorite or least favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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