Rinoa: Great Heroine, or annoying, stupid damsel?

[Forsaken Lover]

(SPOILER)

FFVIII is littered with underdeveloped and forgettable playable characters. Squall and Rinoa ae the ones who undergo any significant change or have any relevance to the central story.

ANd yet people tend to harp on both of them because their development is...well, not very good. Squall gets less hate because his own personality is much less in your face than Rinoa's.

But ya know? I prefer Rinoa. SHe's positively gorgeous, she acts in a rather realistic manner given her upbringing and while people love to bring up how Squall calls her out on her BS, she also calls Squall out on his being a jackass.

Ultimately there are much more offensive and badly handled character in her game. I found her sweet.

Discuss.

[yukina]

People found her whiny, stuck-up, and not exactly the heroine type. I though it was refreshing at the time to have someone play hero outside of the stereotype.

[Red Mage Coffman]

I hated Rinoa with a burning passion. She was bland, boring and stupid. You could blame her dumb personality on the way she was brought up, yeah. But..

No. I don't think I'll do that. She is one of THE worst characters in this game. I like Zell more than I like her. In the end, I prefer Squall.

[Cloudane]

Didn't mind Rinoa, but yeah, she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Or so it feels, bearing in mind that the rest of your team are trained professionals and she's just kinda tagging along.

[Jiro]

The problem, for me, is that Rinoa remains a pain in the ass. She brings up herself the fact that she gets scared about falling behind the others, but instead of taking a moment to watch and try to emulate the behaviour and attitude and approach of her comrades, she just bumbles forwards shrieking "I'm helping!" and forcing the party to save her ass once more.

I really want to like her, because there are some really excellent threads, but she just falls short for me. And the worst thing is that she seems to get less competent as the game continues and the stakes escalate.

[noxious.sunshine]

She's naive. And it can be endearing at times, but the fact that she essentially -doesn't- grow or progress into a smarter or more mature person makes her lame in the end.

That's not her fault though. Blame the writers.

[Spooniest]

All of the female characters in Final Fantasy history smack of it being written exclusively by males.

Just sayin'.

[Pumpkin]

Okay, I was always a bit shallow as a little girl (still kind of am...hey at least I'm honest) and my favorite character in any video game was always the girl I found the prettiest. I gravitate more towards male characters now :P. The only exception to this was Vivi from IX. The prettiest girl in this game is Rinoa (imo). Actually imo, she was prettier than Tifa, Garnet, and Yuna, the 4 FF games I started out with so she was like my favoritest character in any Final Fantasy game (except Vivi). I looooooved Rinoa.

Now the more I replay the game, the less I like her. I don't dislike her, but she's been bumped down to tied for least favorite character in Final Fantasy VIII. That's a huge drop.

She's just kind of...annoying. She's also kind of stuck up and loudmouthish and the older I get the less I like characters like that. I prefer someone softer spoken and well mannered. She....was not. For the most part. She had some moments I really liked and I can identify with her character to some degree and I'm a huge fan of the Squall x Rinoa love story (it's my favorite of the series) but her on her own? Not the greatest.

[Spooniest]

On the plus side, Rinoa wins the award for best-dressed woman in a Final Fantasy game, hands down.

[maybee]

Damsel ?- Yes

Great Heroine ?- Yes

Annoying waste of space ? No stop being envious of this gul hmm~hm ! Nobody got time for that !

Rinoa is a bit like Princess Zelda and Princess Peach. She needs saving alot, but that doesn't make her any less of a good character. Rinoa is a kind, warm-spirited girl that despite having no army training like the rest, at least tries to make a effort. She is a lover and not a fighter and that's okay. Not everybody can be physically tough.

I would rather have a nice and kind character that helps her friends than a physically tough chick that treats her friends like they're below her or like dirt. ** Cough Lightning Cougghh, cooough ** Sorry ugh, seem to be catching a cold. Damn Winter.

[Red Mage Coffman]

Damsel ?- Yes

Great Heroine ?- Yes

Annoying waste of space ? No stop being envious of this gul hmm~hm ! Nobody got time for that !

Rinoa is a bit like Princess Zelda and Princess Peach. She needs saving alot, but that doesn't make her any less of a good character. Rinoa is a kind, warm-spirited girl that despite having no army training like the rest, at least tries to make a effort. She is a lover and not a fighter and that's okay. Not everybody can be physically tough.

I would rather have a nice and kind character that helps her friends than a physically tough chick that treats her friends like they're below her or like dirt. ** Cough Lightning Cougghh, cooough ** Sorry ugh, seem to be catching a cold. Damn Winter.

Hey, my opinion differs from yours, I love Lightning and hate Rinoa! Time to bash- I mean.. Politely disagree with you! And combat your beliefs with my own! En garde, good sir!

Yeah she is a damsel, I know and yeah.. She is the heroine, though not great by any means. Annoying waste of space? Well.. To tell the truth, yes. SHE IS SUCH A TASTELESS, POOR WRITTEN, BLAND PIECE OF- Pie.. Yes.. A piece of pie.. And pies don't make good characters.

It wasn't even any of these things that bothered me greatly.. What got to me the most, and was the main problem of the game for me, was the horrid writing for her character and how downright STUPID she is. Not to mention the disc launcher.. I mean.. Could we not have given her a gun? Or a staff? Hell, anything would have worked besides the stupid disc launcher. Hope's boomerang is more forgiving then that!

AND RINOA LAUNCHES ANGELO AT ENEMIES, LETS NOT FORGET SHE IS A CLEAR ADVOCATE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

[Forsaken Lover]

maybee's post just makes me think of Olivier Armstrong from FMA mang/Brotherhood.

I would also prefer a warm-spirited and kind girl over a totally unlikable bitch like her. She makes Lightning look like a fluffy kitten.

[Jiro]

I don't think Rinoa is a waste of space because it would be hard for the plot to progress past say the assassination attempt without her

[maybee]

Hey, my opinion differs from yours, I love Lightning and hate Rinoa!

Many people think this way though, it's not uncommon.

Yeah she is a damsel, I know and yeah.. She is the heroine, though not great by any means. Annoying waste of space? Well.. To tell the truth, yes. SHE IS SUCH A TASTELESS, POOR WRITTEN, BLAND PIECE OF- Pie.. Yes.. A piece of pie.. And pies don't make good characters.

I very disagree with this because it was Rinoa that helped Squall overcome his trust issues and Hedgehog Dilemma; She was kind, supportive and always welcome to be the sunshine within the group of friends. Her emotional intelligence is pretty high. She sees through Squall's wall pretty fast and because of that she's able to help him understand and overcome his issues and problems with life.

It wasn't even any of these things that bothered me greatly.. What got to me the most, and was the main problem of the game for me, was the orrid writing for her character and how downright STUPID she is.

So her being able to work out Squall's personal wall was unintelligent of her ? Her helping Squall makes her dumb and her wanting to fight despite being scared and afraid makes her dumb ? I think that it makes her rather brave and tougher than most people think; people seem to forget that she wasn't a SeeD or army trained like the rest of the teens.

Not to mention the disc launcher.. I mean.. Could we not have given her a gun? Or a staff? Hell, anything would have worked besides the stupid disc launcher. Hope's boomerang is more forgiving then that!

You are taking a game called Final FANTASY too seriously. Plus it was the Rocket version of a Australasian Boomerang.

AND RINOA LAUNCHES ANGELO AT ENEMIES, LETS NOT FORGET SHE IS A CLEAR ADVOCATE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

Again you are taking a game called Final FANTASY too seriously. Plus Shadow from Final Fantasy VI uses his Dog for battles as well.

[Red Mage Coffman]

Hey, my opinion differs from yours, I love Lightning and hate Rinoa!

Many people think this way though, it's not uncommon.

Yeah she is a damsel, I know and yeah.. She is the heroine, though not great by any means. Annoying waste of space? Well.. To tell the truth, yes. SHE IS SUCH A TASTELESS, POOR WRITTEN, BLAND PIECE OF- Pie.. Yes.. A piece of pie.. And pies don't make good characters.

I very disagree with this because it was Rinoa that helped Squall overcome his trust issues and Hedgehog Dilemma; She was kind, supportive and always welcome to be the sunshine within the group of friends. Her emotional intelligence is pretty high. She sees through Squall's wall pretty fast and because of that she's able to help him understand and overcome his issues and problems with life.

It wasn't even any of these things that bothered me greatly.. What got to me the most, and was the main problem of the game for me, was the orrid writing for her character and how downright STUPID she is.

So her being able to work out Squall's personal wall was unintelligent of her ? Her helping Squall makes her dumb and her wanting to fight despite being scared and afraid makes her dumb ? I think that it makes her rather brave and tougher than most people think; people seem to forget that she wasn't a SeeD or army trained like the rest of the teens.

Not to mention the disc launcher.. I mean.. Could we not have given her a gun? Or a staff? Hell, anything would have worked besides the stupid disc launcher. Hope's boomerang is more forgiving then that!

You are taking a game called Final FANTASY too seriously. Plus it was the Rocket version of a Australasian Boomerang.

AND RINOA LAUNCHES ANGELO AT ENEMIES, LETS NOT FORGET SHE IS A CLEAR ADVOCATE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

Again you are taking a game called Final FANTASY too seriously. Plus Shadow from Final Fantasy VI uses his Dog for battles as well.

OBJECTION! Sort of.

I guess I'll start with the things I can counter best! Starting with the Disc Launcher or Australasian Boomerang or whatever it is. One, I flat out don't like it and it is one of the worst designs in this whole series. Who goes into battle with one of those? I mean.. Come on. I'm not even poking at Rinoa for that, that issue belongs to whoever decided to stick one of those on her and not something more practical and realistic. And yeah, I know. There are dumb weapons in the series, but that doesn't mean that I can't make fun of them with all I've got. Oh, and come on man! Shadow uses a dog, I know, but he doesn't launch it at the enemies with a Disc Launcher! I'd be willing to bet Shadow's dog is more trained than Angelo as well. One more important point, I know that it's Final Fantasy, but I think everyone can agree that VIII took a far more realistic turn than the rest of the series (At least during the first disc, anyways..), so expect me to look for realistic things! If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way about a dozen other weapons, but at least they're cool to an extent. Key word. Extent. Rinoa and her Dog Launcher just.. I mean.. Need I say more? Onward!

Next point to make is that I blame the writers for how terribly bad Rinoa is. Really, some of the dumbest, most childish moments occurred with her. And ya know, she was probably meant to be written that way. And that is the exact problem. She was written to be stupid and childish. I realize she was sheltered her whole life, I realize she doesn't have military training or anything, and that does not bother me at all. Plenty of characters are like that. Hope, Tidus, etc, I understand it. But when these guys have flat out terrible writing and flat out stupid moments in the game that just blow common sense out of the water? It isn't the most appealing thing. My biggest example is when she tried to take down the sorcerer herself. That one man solo mission she pulls off? Yeah, STUPID. Its like how Irvine didn't shoot at all or mention about how everyone grew up together until it was convenient for the plot. I mean. It isn't necessarily the characters fault as much as it is the writers, but still. Writers make characters/story and the characters leave impacts on me. Rinoa left me feeling like I was baby sitting a childish nincompoop. Makes me feel glad that Quistis told her off. Amen Quistis, respect for that.

Rinoa was just slapped in to fall in love with Squall and to further carry on the theme of Fate and Destiny and all that stuff. I mean.. Quistis attempts knowing Squall, Zell attempts it, Selphie, in a way, everyone attempts it. Rinoa succeeds for the sole reason of "I'M THE LOVE INTEREST" and when that happened, Squall warmed up to everyone and blah, blah. What Squall and Rinoa had? That wasn't love. It wasn't love at all, there was little to NO developing of this. It just sort of developed out of thin air after Disc 2. Which is why I am a proud supporter of the Squall is Dead theory, even if it IS just a theory, its much better than the actual game. I prefer to call the whole romance between the two.. "Plot Device." Plot Device ALL the way.

In the end, I blame the writers for making me hate this annoying waste of space.