Final Fantasy II reminds me a lot about Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back. Both are also very dark in their atmospheres. As for which character I think is like which:

Frionel - Luke Skywalker
Maria - I think Princess Leia would be a good choice, but I think she's still more calm and peaceful than Leia, so I think Padmé Amidala.
Guy - Chewbacca sounds good...
Princess Hilda - Mon Motha (the leader of the Rebel Alliance)
Minh - Either Qui-Gon or Yoda. Fine, it's Yoda.
Joseph - He's a great fighter, right? I think he's like Mace Windu. (SPOILER)He also gets killed by a traitor after you've beat the living out of an enemy boss.
Gordon - Either Jar Jar Binks or C3PO. Make your pick.
Cid - Han Solo sounds good.
Layla - I'll insert Princess Leia here. She's arrogant enough to be Leia.
Richard - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Leonhart - Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
Emperor Palamecia - Emperor Palpatine
Paul - BoBa Fett would be neat, but Paul's a good guy. Lando will do.
General Gotus - Governor Tarkin (or Admiral Piett)
Beavers - Ewoks
Airship - Millennium Falcon
Warship - Death Star
Blood Sword - Mace Windu's purple lightsaber that can (SPOILER)make short work of the Emperor very quickly.

That's all I can think of for now.