Fei Fong Wong - I often struggle to think of another main hero in any game we get to know so intimately as we do Fei. What I like about Fei is that we get a full gambit of his personality. He's not always the most likable character in the story, he can be childish and selfish, but then we seriously watch him grow as he overcomes one bombshell after another within his story. His past(s) are all intriguing and uncovering how he's connected to the history of the whole planet is really one of the best parts of Xenogears' narrative.
Crono - One of my favorite silent protagonists, his journey to save the future is one of my favorite stories. I love shaping his personality through my actions at the Millennium Fair that are judged later in the court room, and watching how the rest of the cast banters about him is always entertaining as well. Still, my favorite moment is watching him pay the price by not relenting in the face of Lavos and getting killed for his trouble, then watching as the second half of the game can be turned into a quest to bring him back. It was one of the most shocking moments of the 16-bit era for me, and still one of my favorites as well.
Ashley Riot - Ashley is a force to be reckoned with in VS. His role in the game is basically one part Cloud Strife, and one part Solid Snake. He's a pure badass and the game will not let you forget it either as you conquer towering monsters. Yet I really enjoy the ambiguity of his story. Ashley never forgets the mission but his journey through Lea Monde will change him and how he sees himself forever. Is he a man with a death wish who only wishes to see his family, or is he a tired killer who lost his taste for blood long ago? Only Matsuno knows.
Ramza Beoulve - Probably my favorite main hero of a Final Fantasy game, Ramza's tale of idealism in a world of grey is really well told, and unlike other games that try these tales, the story is more even-handed. I enjoyed watching Ramza try to conform to the ideas of nobility in the first chapter which conflicts with his morals and his relationship with his best friend Delita. Watching him finally stop running away and taking a strand during the War of the Lions in the later chapters is a sight to behold. Ramza sticks to his ideals and loses all of his physical wealth in the process, but he ends the story with the only person he cares about still alive and his ideals uncompromised, which beautifully contrasts the journey we witness Delita take.
Chris Lightfellow - One of three main characters you can choose in Suikoden III, Chris is the odd woman out of the bunch as Hugo falls in line with previous and future heroes of the franchise, while Geddoe is the typical badass with a past type character. Chris is a character who is thrust into the spotlight by her selfless heroics and watching her journey to learn how to worry more about herself is actually refreshing. Even more so, Chris actually has the most questionable record of main protagonists within the series, as some of her actions have major consequences for other characters and eventually herself down the road. Also, can I just say how refreshing it to have the female character be the heavy hitter instead of being typecasts as a mage like in other games?
Ryu - BoFIII's Ryu is easily my favorite of the group. I feel it helps we get to see him during several major portions of his life. From his idealistic youth where bumbles around as a petty thief looking for his family, to his more angsty teens where he undertakes a journey to find god and ask her why his race had to be hunted to extinction. I loved the fact as a kid he takes a while to get good at fighting, with his attack animation starting with him flailing his sword while turning his head away in fear before he grows more confident and fights like a seasoned warrior. The big pay offs for me is watching him reunite with Rei, Nina, and Teepo as all three had a major impact on his life in his youth and see how time has not been kind to any of them.
Gustave XIII - While it is easy to mistake Wil Knights as the protagonist of SaGa Frontier 2, Gustave has the greater story impact than Wil. The lone muggle in a world where everyone can use magic, Gustave is stripped of his birthright as a child and has to find his own path in life, and while he dies tragically halfway through the game, the impact of his life changes everything in the world and his legacy endures as he goes from outcast to a figure reminiscent of Alexander the Great.
Squall Leonhart - Yeah, smurf you all. Squall's journey to lighten up and open up is he best part of VIII's narrative, though I quite like his more sardonic personality. The real humor of VIII for me is watching Squall try to dodge and weave his way past his more upbeat companions. Yet his story of overcoming his abandonment issues and finally opening up to the relentless Rinoa is actually quite touching. I love how the two most powerful moments in VIII's ending for me is when Squall cries at the thought of losing Rinoa during the Time Compression nonsense, and when he smiles at the games ending. Squenix has tried to recapture this idea with both Cloud in Advent Children, and Lightning in the XIII trilogy, and I just don't feel like it ever quite had the same impact in either game.
Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca - The heart of XII's plot, Ashe's journey to let go of her hatred and desire for revenge and instead have the resolve to make the tough decisions that would benefit her people more is actually well told throughout FFXII. Like Chris, I enjoy the fact she's not presented in the typical fashion of other heroines within the genre, her first playable appearance having her fight with sword in shield in hand alone against imperial soldiers. Ashe's resolve is like a well forged steel and while she has her moments of doubt and weakness, its watching her press forward that makes her feel like such a powerful figure within the team that can easily go toe to toe with Vayne, the Judges, and even the Occurians. Ashe is easily one of the best female leads within Final Fantasy.


I'll probably think up a few more later.