Penelo

I agree with Space Pope. I didn't care about a lot of FF12 characters, and Penelo was no exception.

When I think of Penelo, all I can think is "bland." I don't really think the game developers put much thought into building up a plot or even making any of the other characters that dynamic, but with Penelo it's like they just threw her in there and forgot that she had anything to do with the others. If you also look at the trailer or the game guide, they have all these interesting descriptions for the other characters (Vaan as "A boy who would be a pirate", Ashe as "A princess who had lost everything,") and then for Penelo all they could muster up was "Vaan's friend." If all a character is worth in a game is the role of plutonic best friend, there's a problem o_O

I think she was suppose to be a love interest for Vaan. That's the only thing I think of why she was there. They didn't do much to tread on that idea it seems.

I mean, FFXII has just about the most unimpressive story gameplay entertainment value cast of characters of any of the Final Fantasy games to date, and Penelo was about the blandest. But at least she wasn't this obnoxious.

Sorry, was not a big FFXII fan. Its been awhile since I tried to get through it though, I may give it another shot someday.

I like all the characters in the game, Penelo included.

I feel some people arbitrarily pretend to have unfathomably high expectations so they can justify their own bias of why they like/don't like something. The lot of FFXII got the short end of that.

She had such potential, the whole game did, but they rushed it abit I feel.

I feel FFXII is a proof Of Concept for the new battle system. Oh well, at least FFXIII is looking amazing. I think FFXIII is the battle system slightly tweaked, but then actually MADE the game.



EDIT: Shes actually part of my Team BAP (Balthier, Ashe, Penelo)

I will never understand why people feel every party member has to contribute something to the plot as a whole for some personal reason (Red XIII and Quina didn't and we all still love them anyway). Somehow, not being a self righteous jackass means you don't have the qualifications to save the world.


As I stated earlier, I feel Penelo's role in the plot was to show the jaded "adults" that reconciliation between the warring countries is possible with each new generation. This is apparent when you see the scenes between Larsa and Penelo and its also practically spelled out to the player in the dialogue between Lady Ashe and Basch on the journey to the Henne Mines.

These interactions helped Lady Ashe see that annihilating Archades may not be the way to go and is one of many reasons on her journey that weighs on her mind to her eventual destiny at the Pharos.

RedXIII added nothing? I think the entire visit to Cosmo Canyon disagrees with you. And while not every character in a game has to add a lot, for people to like them they need to add something, even if that's only comic relief or general awesomeness.

And for me, it's not that Penelo specifically didn't add much; in my opinion, a lot of FFXII was underdeveloped, so I had trouble caring about other characters and parts of the plot as well.

The events of Cosmo Canyon are not important outside of introducing Bugenhagen; and the plot could have easily been rewritten to have Barret do that since he has connections there. Red XIII's whole point of going is cause Grandpa told him to. After that he doesn't really have another story scene until you get his ultimate weapon.

On topic though, I don't really find the XII cast underdeveloped but that's my own opinion so we can all just leave it at that if we wish. I just find it funny that people act like Penelo has to have some world shattering backstory to be justified being there. To be honest, once Vaan learned the truth about his brother and rescued Penelo; he probably should have been left behind in Rabanastre since his personal issue is sorta resolved by that point. Lady Ashe is pretty much the main character from a writing standpoint.

I definitely agree that actively disliking a character just because she doesn't have a huge backstory doesn't make much sense, considering that if that were the case a lot of characters in most games outside of the main few should be disliked just for that fact. But it is certainly a valid justification for not giving a crap.

And I also agree that Ashe becomes the main character in the story later in the game; Vaan and Penelo both are pretty much just followers for the hell of it.

If anything like this actually happened, though, we'd all probably be Vaans. Just cooler and less annoying.

Actually, I imagine most of us would be Generic Dalmascan A and just suffer through the Arcadian rule. Hell no am I risking my life.

Originally Posted by Crimson

She's the female Vaan.

Vaan makes me want to punch babies.

Penelo makes me want to stuff some puppies in a bag, throw it around, then drown them until the last one stops squeeling in agony.

....Yeah I'm really not fond of Penelo.

Okay you have more problems than just disliking a character in a video game. I suggest seeking professional help - being serious here.

Originally Posted by Raistlin

And I also agree that Ashe becomes the main character in the story later in the game; Vaan and Penelo both are pretty much just followers for the hell of it.

I'd follow Ashe, first i wouldn't want to nark her off, and second shes got junk in that trunk.

Vaan and Penelo both lost so much to the war and the empire and all that so i can see why they would want to help out. Even if they did sort of just bumble into the middle of things

The Character that confuses me most is Basch, he's the happiest torture victim/prisoner that ever lived. I do love him tho.

That's because Basch is awesome. It's like in Casino Royale when Daniel Craig starts laughing during the torture. You know why he laughs? Because James Bond is awesome. Basch = James Bond. Future Esthar, continue.

Originally Posted by Omecle

Originally Posted by Crimson

She's the female Vaan.

Vaan makes me want to punch babies.

Penelo makes me want to stuff some puppies in a bag, throw it around, then drown them until the last one stops squeeling in agony.

....Yeah I'm really not fond of Penelo.

Okay you have more problems than just disliking a character in a video game. I suggest seeking professional help - being serious here.

I'm just a very passionate gamer.