Final Fantasy VII versus... Final Fantasy XIII?

[Ayen]

Just because Terra doesn't start out strong doesn't make her weak either

First off I'll thank you for not putting words into my mouth, I never said she was weak.

The impression I got from your opening statement was that she wasn't strong because she didn't start out as such. That was the message behind my statement.

As to Lightning's progression, she started off cold hard and doesn't care for anything other then her goal, throughout the game you see soften her will as she eventually begins to realise that things are better with a team of people who you can rely upon.

Which is sadly the only real direction you could go from that starting point. Nothing wrong with it but some of that off-screen development would have been nice if done right.

So what? You are answering me with so what... let me tell you about that what: People around her were suffering, being dominated by Kefka, being killed by Kefka allowing Kefka to impose his will on the world. Terra has the ability (note I don't just point my finger at Terra alone, but the entire crew who were languishing about after Kefka's victory) to do something about it but... doesn't and you can even complete the game without the rest of the languishing heroes... think about it, they set out to do something about the empire they got to the finishing line... then gave up. Tell me what was so different about Kefka from the time he played about with the statues to the time the heroes got off their asses and decided to stop the tyranny? The answer should be obvious: smurf all. Yes, I went there. I don't know about you but I always found this smurfing huge gaping hole to be one of the main reasons

I'm just saying I can understand the fear in that situation and that fear isn't always rational nor is it in itself a bad device to use with a character even if they're meant to be the hero. Admittedly it sounds like they could have executed that a hell of a lot better.

Yes I do say she is not strong, I mean, had it been Lightning in Terra's position she would not have waited to go and save the world, she would have gone off alone and damned her fear and the consequences and saved the world... THAT is a strong character, a strong protagonist who would have saved the world no matter what the cost.

Isn't that ultimately what Terra did in the end?

When I say strong, I don't mean "physically strong all the time and beats people up" I mean strength of will, the determination to set something to right, ya know; like Lightning does right from saving her sister to fighting an endless battle against a foe who can never die?!?

I speak more in general with that and should have been more clear. I say it because everything I know about Lightning seems to be the casebook example of good intentions gone sour. Is she ever depicted overcoming any real fear when doing any of those things?

Now your just being ridiculous, when did I ever say anything like that, again I will thank you for not trying to make me seem like this crazy fanboi you seem to be trying to make me out to be.

That was spoken out of frustration and shouldn't have been said. I apologize.

Allow me to state some fact about my opinion about the Final Fantasy XIII series: I don't think its a great series, sure I like Lightning, but to be some crazy defender of her the way you are about Terra... that's just totally wrong. I don't think XIII was that great, but then I don't think VI was the epic game you seem to believe it is.

I'm defending the notion that strength comes in more forms than what seems to be so popularly perceived in media and that the showing of reluctance and fear and other related weaknesses can still be existent in a strong protagonist. In hindsight I should have used Yuna to prove my point. Or drank some coffee before coming on.

I submit this as a peace offering:

A character isn't allowed to show weakness, to be afraid, to need support from people, to be... human.

All that happens in Final Fantasy XIII. All 3 parts and the novel. That is why she can be shown that strong. She has become so strong and was strong already when the first part began, had some important moments for her character and became even stronger.

Does it? I retract my statement then.