Get few things off my Chest..

[Avarice-ness]

I liked it better when the charas were in their 20's and up with a couple of random kids in between.

I think that's one reason there are less kids, because the age range is already in the teens. If you look at the final fantasy's that did have kid charas, most the main charas were 20 or up. Plus, most people believe that if the game is in a general age range of the players, that the players will like it better. I think FFVII was the last one with the charas around their 20's if not already in them. Like in FFVII the "young" one was Yuffie, who was like what 16?

In newer games the main charas 16, and they prolly wouldn't want the game based around kids who are between like.. 10 and 16.

[Hazzard]

One thing we can all decide on, is that they're fond of having at least one experienced figure, who's sort of been through the hardships and all that jazz. They've featured in every FF I've played except for VIII. I'm talking about guys like: Barret, Cid, Bach, Auron, Cid (IV), Tellah, and I'm sure there's many others, but I think Square know that they can't ever create a game with a bunch of mindless youths. They need a authoritative figure, who has seen it all.

[Comet]

One thing we can all decide on, is that they're fond of having at least one experienced figure, who's sort of been through the hardships and all that jazz. They've featured in every FF I've played except for VIII. I'm talking about guys like: Barret, Cid, Bach, Auron, Cid (IV), Tellah, and I'm sure there's many others, but I think Square know that they can't ever create a game with a bunch of mindless youths. They need a authoritative figure, who has seen it all.

FF8: Laguna, Kiros and Ward are experienced characters. In Squall's time they are at least 40 and you get to actually experience their past in Squall's dreams.

[Hazzard]

I meant in the main party. Like fighting Ultimecia, but I guess they still count.

[Mercen-X]

I'm sure there's many others.

In the main party of VIII, I think either Squall or Quistis would be the most experienced. They're still all real young though.

In FX, there's Auron, in IX . . . Steiner is older, but I don't know if he's more experienced than Freya, Zidane, or Amarant.

[Hazzard]

IX seems to posses a lot of experienced characters, considering that it's such a child friendly game.

[Mercen-X]

1) Why aren't there any child main playable characters? Children can fight too!

WTF kind of influence is that?
"Grab yerselfs some butcher knives children. I ain't a goin' anywhere near that burglar. You can take him, I have faith in ya. Bye."

2) is it me, or are all the heros mostly teenagers? I mean, in todays socity most teenagers won't be Challangeing an empire or liberating an nation now?

Yeah teenagers won't, but apparently 7-12-year-olds will?

[B-dup]

little kids saving the world, fighting scary monsters, having love problems and whatnot... sounds alot like blue dragon on 360, not interested in playin such a weak game!

[Formalhaut]

Ok, I have revised this now and the best game would have....

1. A mix of age groups. Put too many 26+ people and Young people will not like. Same if you put too many young.

2. Don't put too many Males or females or you could get a sexist game.

3. Make all the characters involed. If you have a game focus only on Vaan for example, fans of the other characters will complain.

[Wild Card]

I agree with all this. Enough of this drama wit .
1. Cloud for example: "Sephiroth that S.O.B. you killed aerith" * slits*.
All the heroes in every ff is like... 15-17.
Like Firion was what? 15? That is way to unrealistis for a group of teens to pwn an empire, even for fantasy like, and then theres this drama with Leon and the main chars on ff2.
2. Squall. What can i say about him? Emo. Loner. Goodie Goodie. And Wtf's up with a gun Sword anyway? I mean like... It's Cool and all... But wtf?

They should have a main character, who sure, has a dark past, carries a sword, all the stereotypical stuff, But he's at LEAST 25 as someone said earlier, and MAYBE throw in a 16 yr old chick for some pedofilic humour. He needs to not be emo, too many so far, Tidus was on the verge of being emo, if he wasnt stupid as a post.

I give Squenix credit for thier amazing work, but... If its going to stay the same, the "Final" Final fantasy is going to come a lot sooner than you think. Each character on one series is almost exactly the same from the last.

Anyway, that was my blurl

[Enjolras]

In reality, no kid would have the intelligence, experience, physical ability, commitment, selflessness or intuition to save the world.

...But then again, the name of the game is Final Fantasy.

[scrumpleberry]

In reality, no kid would have the intelligence, experience, physical ability, commitment, selflessness or intuition to save the world.

...But then again, the name of the game is Final Fantasy.

Q. F. T.

[Ender]

Hey all. I'm more concerned with the trend towards intersexual primary characters than about the ages. Squall is manly enough in his "portrait" shots I suppose, but his game model is very effeminate. Zidane looks like a 70s David Bowie--who tried to look like a girl as part of the Glam Rock fashion trend. Tidus could be the Gelfling girl Kira from the movie The Dark Crystal if he had longer hair. I'm convinced Vaan is a girl.

I can see why there might be some practical game-design reasons for this...a more effeminate main character might connect better with female players...*maybe.* But part of me wonders if there's a guy in the character design department whose final fantasy is about little (ie girly) boys with swords...

Anyway, I do prefer some older and/or experienced characters in the party. I like getting the "we're in this together" feeling from a party that is a more diverse representation of game world that just a party of kids--it makes it feel like there's more at stake to me. There's no reason a capable 30-50 year-old can't have as much interest in stopping the villain, or for that matter someone even older who has wisdom, experience, and "connections."

[Hazzard]

I would love to see more; Galuf's, Auron's, Tellah's? (Just cause of his memorable phrase) Basch's, Barret's and Cid from VII. All those characters seem to add that infinite sense of wisdom and maturity to the party, and prefer to side from infactuation of the female sex. Also, why are there never any elderly or middle aged women in the party?

[Dynast-Kid]

I would love to see more; Galuf's, Auron's, Tellah's? (Just cause of his memorable phrase) Basch's, Barret's and Cid from VII. All those characters seem to add that infinite sense of wisdom and maturity to the party, and prefer to side from infactuation of the female sex. Also, why are there never any elderly or middle aged women in the party?

FFXII had Fran, who by Hume standards would be considered elderly.