Are Final Fantasy Characters Problematic? | The Director Speaks Out

Are Final Fantasy Characters Problematic? The answer to that question is a resounding no. However, for years, some have claimed that the original game, along with the depiction of women, is problematic. Until this point, it was easy to ignore these voices. In my assessment, it is mostly activists on Twitter who do not play games that complain about Tifa being pretty. However, the Director responsible for these Final Fantasy 7 Characters, along with the story, has also decided to speak out. For years, he has defended his work, but after reflection, he now sees things differently.

In a recent interview, Producer Yoshinori Kitase stated, “If we were to depict it exactly as we experience it in the real world, it would not be very interesting. With Nojima-san’s ideas, we were able to have this centered on Lifestream and the planet within the worldview of Final Fantasy VII. In this way, I believe the game and its themes remain relevant and withstand the test of time,”

“In its expression, in some ways, it was very young and naive in itself. That is a learning for us, but at the same time, I do believe that perhaps that is one of the reasons why it was so widely accepted,” Kitase relents. “It’s not perfect, and it’s kind of uneven and jagged in its young and naive nature of its depiction. Of course, after [more than] 25 years, there is a lot of personal learning, changes, and growth.” “But looking back on it, some parts of it, I am a bit embarrassed,”

The Final Fantasy Characters Problem

Now, obviously, this is his work. Thus, he is allowed to reflect on it in any way he wants. However, the public might not be in full agreement, and there are some obvious reasons why. Over the last few years, there has been an active drive to update games and entertainment for a modern audience. What this means is removing everything that people might deem offensive. Any girl in a skirt is deemed problematic as well and needs to be covered up. Fans have been resisting these changes, and rightfully so. When companies comply with this crazy demand, they are not listening to the majority of voices.

Instead, they listen to a few outspoken people on Twitter. The truth remains that people simply want to play a good game with pretty characters. This is true, at least most of the time. If you do not believe me, let’s go over the list of the most popular Triple-A games. Final Fantasy Characters, in particular, have been attacked for years now. Along with them, the story and depictions have been criticized as well. In the end, Yoshinori Kitase has the right to reflect on his work. He can openly state that if he is no longer proud of what he produced. However, many will be disappointed in those comments. It is important to note that Kitase is not disappointed in his overall project; he simply deems some jokes offensive now.

In my honest assessment, there is no point in bringing any of this up now. All you are doing is giving power to those who want to censor games. However, as stated, he is allowed to reflect.

FAQ

Table Of Information