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Final Fantasy XVI will be released in the middle of 2023 and is already promising to be one of the franchise's biggest entries yet. The critical mistakes of Final Fantasy XV, returning to the roots of a medieval-influenced world, and giving fans the first M game are all steps forward to supply fans with the best product they can.
Final Fantasy is known for its compelling stories that often contain heartbreaking gut punches. These scenes often stick with fans and have become some of the most memorable. Not every game is as dark as Final Fantasy VII, but even the less dark games have their fair share of tragedy and despair.
The Dark Knight Turns Out To be Leon In Final Fantasy II
Near the beginning of the game, Leon is believed to be dead. He's the brother of Maria and the closest friend to Firion, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy II. There are many troubling foes that the heroes face in this game, but one of their greatest obstacles is the Dark Knight. They discover toward the end of the game, however, that the Dark Knight was in fact Leon, the friend they thought they had lost.
This reveal shocked many fans, and it's still unclear why exactly Leon had served Emperor Mateus. Regardless, Leon rejoins his friends shortly after they discover his identity and aids them in destroying the Emperor once and for all.
Aria's Sacrifice In Final Fantasy III
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There have been many guest party members in the Final Fantasy games that have died protecting the other members of the party, even before Final Fantasy III. However, Aria is one of the most memorable as many fans expected her to be a more significant character in the story that stayed longer.
In fact, she's even the first Final Fantasy character that has her own theme. Aria saves the Luneth from an attack by the Kraken, an attack that would have surely killed him. Many fans still haven't gotten over this loss.
The Fate Of Gabranth In Final Fantasy XII
Both Gabranth and his twin brother Basch proved to be some of the most intriguing characters in one of the best Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy XII. Even though Gabranth framed Basch, ruining his life and reputation, Basch still refused to give up on his brother. Gabranth went through his own developmental journey and came to serve and protect Larsa over any other.
Sadly, Gabranth doesn't make it through the game despite him becoming somewhat redeemed before his death. Fans see a wonderful transition however as Basch carries on his brother's legacy as he serves Larsa and takes on Gabranth's own identity.
Cloud's Identity Crisis In Final Fantasy VII
Cloud suffers a terrible identity crisis in the game where he believes he is a Sephiroth clone with false memories belonging to Zack Fair. This confused fans beyond belief and also hurt them as they saw that Cloud wasn't the character they thought he was.
The end of this plot twist turned much differently than expected, most of Cloud's memories weren't actually false but some of them had blended with Zack's. However, Cloud was still a heroic figure who stood up to one of the best RPG villains ever, Sephiroth all of those years ago as he took up Zack's sword for the first time.
Lunafreya's Death In Final Fantasy XV
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Many fans initially expected to play as Lunafreya at some point in the game as she appeared to be the main heroine of Final Fantasy XV. However, those ideas were cut short as she was killed by Ardyn.
This death weighed heavily on Notis and tore him apart and many fans couldn't get over it either despite Lunafreya playing a minor role in the story. Lunafreya's death in the end made Noctis stronger and made Ardyn a better overall villain for the game.
Noctis's Final Stand In Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV was another tragic game for fans and sadly, there's no knowing whether Noctis's comrades survived at the end of the game or not. Noctis fulfilled his final purpose as king in the end and sacrificed himself to save the world.
While this landed a harsh blow to many fans with such a sad ending, they were at least given a glimpse of Noctis and Lunafreya together in the afterlife that transitioned into being the logo for Final Fantasy XV.
Vivi Finds Out What Black Mages Are In Final Fantasy IX
Vivi's entire discovery of who and what he is absolutely broke down on fans. He was a sweet character that everyone adored and a major fan-favorite from Final Fantasy IX. Black Mages usually only lived around one year, and they were manmade creations.
However, in his journey he finds the purpose of his life and that he has a right to live. He also discovers that he likely has the opportunity to live longer than most Black Mages since he is considered a prototype. However, Vivi's initial discoveries are still tragic and terrible to see unfold.
Zack's Death In Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Zack Fair quickly became a fan-favorite in the prequel story of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, a game with one of the longest video game cinematics ever that focuses on Zack as a protagonist. Even though fans knew his end was coming, it still wasn't easy and has been one of the most memorable scenes in the entirety of the franchise.
Fans also had a deeper glance into what exactly Cloud and Zack's relationship was like as well as Zack's connections to other characters like Aerith and Sephiroth. Zack's final moments was a perfect scene that captured his character beautifully but a deep blow to the gut as well.
Tidus's Ceases To Exist In Final Fantasy X
There aren't many protagonists as astonishing and unique as Tidus from Final Fantasy X, the game with one of the most captivating stories and one of the best soundtracks a Final Fantasy game has had. Tidus's journey was extraordinary and his love for Yuna was both deep and real. However, when he discovers the only way to stop Sin for good is for him to cease to exist, he doesn't hesitate.
His selflessness broke so many hearts as he stepped away for good, disappearing alongside his father. Despite the hole Tidus left in many fans' hearts, there is a large divide between them on whether Tidus should have been brought back. He did return in Final Fantasy X-2 and some fans feel this ruined the initial ending.
Aerith's Death In Final Fantasy VII
Aerith has been a fan-favorite for a long time in the Final Fantasy franchise and the Final Fantasy VII Remake has made her even more lovable. So much so, that many fans are hoping that this time, Aerith doesn't really die.
The sudden twist of Sephiroth driving his blade into the back of Aerith and killing her absolutely stunned fans and broke them into tears. This has been one of the biggest gut punches in video gaming history and has been considered the most iconic scene in the Final Fantasy franchise.