Final Fantasy 13 has at all times had a posh relationship with players. Critics have been largely constructive about it on launch regardless of considerations about its linearity, however the narrative appears to have shifted in direction of it being a giant misstep for the sequence. This appears to even be mirrored in fashionable Remaining Fantasy’s ever-changing gameplay and protracted improvement.
13 wasn’t only a important success, although, it stays beloved by followers and was profitable sufficient to spawn two direct sequels. However what really underpins the sport’s continued draw is the queerness behind its empathetic themes.
Remaining Fantasy 13 Is A Story About Insiders Struggling To Belong
Maybe there are extra overtly queer Remaining Fantasy releases, even when queerness not often will get little greater than a nod within the sequence. FF7 Remake has a bit throughout the Honey Bee Inn drag present, which is welcome given the livid arguments in opposition to them proper now. 16, extra notably, has the sequence’ first same-sex kiss, which occurs on the centre of a key scene and includes a main character. Not to mention all the small encounters you can have with queerness throughout Rebirth.
Remaining Fantasy 13 shouldn’t be overtly queer, but it instantly resonates in methods different video games within the sequence don’t. Social stigma is the instigator of the plot right here, a weighty theme that doesn’t align together with your typical blockbuster. Its lead characters start as a part of a gaggle forged out of their properties, however quickly discover themselves in a tougher state of affairs when forged with the mark of the dreaded magical L’Cie.
There’s additionally the connection between Vanille and Fang in direction of the tip of the sport, which whereas not specific in its romantic intentions, has change into an iconic a part of Remaining Fantasy 13.
This turns the narrative from a struggle in opposition to an oppressive pressure to a determined, lonely escape from each a navy pressure and a worldwide society that hates them. The characters within the story aren’t just like the heroes of many Remaining Fantasy video games, certain by alternative for some widespread trigger. Lightning, Vanille, Hope, Snow, Fang, and Sazh aren’t preventing the nice struggle, they’re attempting to outlive in a society that refuses to know or settle for them. They’re certain collectively in ways in which queer communities so typically are, joined by their widespread separation from a world that rejects them.
What’s significantly attention-grabbing is the way it presents a gaggle of individuals awkwardly thrown collectively, and the way it explores the standard, considerably naive concept of a discovered household. The time period ‘discovered household’ is often used inside queer circles as a mirrored image of how important queer friendships may be. Such bonds may be your solely help when not simply society, however your personal household, decides to callously reject you. Nonetheless, there’s an in-built pure expectation of simple happiness to be gained via discovering individuals who perceive you. Remaining Fantasy 13’s ragtag group doesn’t start with such heat familial ties, however with antagonism, loneliness, and mutual mistrust. It presents the tough actuality that like-minded communities are removed from a magic bullet to your issues.
The Collection May Nonetheless Study So A lot From Remaining Fantasy 13
And but, the story is finally a hopeful one. This perseverance is greatest represented within the advanced, beloved character of Lightning. Her hyperlinks to the queer expertise are instantly evident. She took a brand new identify to suit her chosen identification, albeit an identification she spends a lot of the sport struggling to simply accept. She’s scornful of the folks she finally ends up allied with, feeling a should be self-reliant and closed off for the safety of herself and her sister.
She’s significantly judgmental of Hope, a younger, emotionally pushed character who can’t keep such composure amidst all of the turmoil. Nonetheless, the narrative additionally has her realise the energy in opening as much as emotional connection, and by the tip she’s unashamedly optimistic alongside her ride-or-die allies as they tackle a planet-threatening false god.
A number of the explanation why Remaining Fantasy 13’s concepts don’t get taken severely are doubtless a results of how the sequence’ sincerity has incessantly been mocked. Essentially the most infamous and irritating instance of that is the laughter scene between Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy 10, extensively shared with out the context that their fake-sounding chuckles are intentional.
Remaining Fantasy 13 has different emotional scenes more likely to encourage related derision. One such second has the hunted and determined workforce arrive at Hope’s childhood house searching for a possible refuge. His father, somewhat than turning him into the navy, vehemently stands by his son. For anybody keen to view the sport by itself phrases, this scene strikes past primary sentiment to being an immensely emotive second. It’s each heart-wrenching and longing for anybody who has ever been rejected, or who longs for such unconditional help of their life.
This journey of discovery doesn’t simply resonate with queer folks, and struck a chord with me lengthy earlier than I got here to phrases with my very own LGBTQ+ identification. Its message is one which doesn’t fall into the clichés of simply believing in love and staying true to your self, however recognises the chance and uncertainty within the finally empowering journey of difficult your preconceptions.
Encountering such messages undoubtedly fed into my world view. 13 is a part of the explanation I first ended up severely exploring my identify and gender with my character in Final Fantasy 14, earlier than taking the leap of religion of sticking by these choices in actual life. Video games keen to deal with the complexity of identification, and the fact of the typically messy feelings underpinning it, can and do make a marked distinction to folks’s lives.
There’s nonetheless rather a lot that the video games of as we speak can be taught from this underappreciated gem. Queerness doesn’t merely imply being open about your identification, it encompasses a mess of concepts, methods of being, and understanding your self. It’s a complete host of experiences each distinctive and extensively recognisable.
Builders needn’t draw back from queer themes for worry of dropping audiences, and Remaining Fantasy 13 is oblique proof that they will energy a globe-trotting, spectacle-heavy journey. It’s solely in committing much more firmly to actual concepts and experiences that such issues can hope to be seen as one thing greater than subtext. Embracing queerness is crucial for the way forward for progressive, advanced storytelling, and Remaining Fantasy 13 exhibits us how highly effective it may be.
Final Fantasy 13
Remaining Fantasy 13 is the primary in a trilogy of RPGs from Sq. Enix, centered on the character of Lightning. She should battle in opposition to the authorities of Cocoon, and assist save her sister within the course of.
