When you talk aboutFinal Fantasycreators there are three names that always come to everyone’s mind:Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura was a late addition to Square’s team, beginning work on the series with Final Fantasy 5, but he soon became the face of the company due to his crucial work on Final Fantasy 7.
If not for Nomura’s contribution to the story and character designs of Final Fantasy 7, it would have been an entirely different game. Nomura has the magical touch that every artist wishes for: an art style that is distinct, and completely his own. You can recognize a Nomura work just by looking at it. Here are some of the most iconic ones.
Parasite Eve
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Parasite Eve is a legendary RPG from Square, originally launched in 1998. As NYC police officer Aya Brea, you must fight to stop Eve, a mutant with plans to destroy the world as you know it.
Survival horror was all the rage in the late 90s, and Square wanted a piece of the pie while stayingwithin its JRPG specialty. The result was Parasite Eve, a sequel to the novel of the same name. It featured Aya Brea, a rookie cop whose night at the opera goes horribly wrong.
Aya is one of Nomura’s less-appreciated characters. Her design and presentation in The 3rd Birthday drew much criticism due to her perceived weakness. However, Tetsuya Nomura is a writer and director besides being an artist, and Aya’s characterization in that game was part of a plot twist that most fans never appreciated.
The World Ends With You
An action RPG initially launched on Nintendo DS, The World Ends With You puts you in the midst of Tokyo’s famous Shibuya district. In it, you play the role of Neku Sakuraba, forced to take part in a dangerous game in an alternate reality.
The 2000s was a decade that was decidedly Nomura-esque: its media was edgy, gritty and in-your-face. All of these qualities are exemplified in Nomura’s character designs, not least in The World Ends With You.
Neku is mistrustful and misanthropic: he prefers to shut the world out and listen to his nu-metal. This was exemplified by the constant presence of headphones over his ears. This simple design choice later gave rise to a heartwarming moment, as Neku decides to take the headphones off and let other people in. The sequel shows a happier, more mature Neku.
Final Fantasy 7
Originally launching in 1997 for the PlayStation, Final Fantasy 7 is widely regarded as one of the most influential RPGs of all time. It follows Cloud, a mercenary and former SOLDIER, who joins a band of eco-terrorists - only to end up in a battle for the future of the planet. FF7 has spawned the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7, which includes a long-requested trilogy of full remakes.
One of Nomura’s greatest contributions to Final Fantasy 7, apart from the character designs and part of the story, was his suggestion of a limit break system. These special attacks help further the characterization of your party.
Tifa Lockhart is one such character who benefited immensely from her animations: primitive but iconic even on the PS1. Her fighting gloves and light outfit established her as a fighter, but it was only when she started doing pro wrestling moves on giant bosses that you realized how good she was.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion
A remake of the PSP action role-playing game, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is a remastered prequel to the events of Final Fantasy 7. Zack Fair, a young recruit to SOLDIER, must investigate the disappearance of his mentor, Angeal — only to become swept up in a much bigger battle.
If a character designer can associate an entire colour with one character in your mind, you know they’ve succeeded. Genesis' colour scheme in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 is so consistent that this shade of red evokes Genesis no matter where you see it in the game. The long red coat and rapier are as iconic to Crisis Core as theBuster Swordis to Final Fantasy 7.
Genesis’s appearance was based on the Japanese rock star Gackt, whose fame in the 2000s landed him roles in not just Final Fantasy titles, but standalone games like Bujingai: The Forsaken City as well.
Final Fantasy 13
Final Fantasy 13 is the first in a trilogy of RPGs from Square Enix, focused on the character of Lightning. She must battle against the authorities of Cocoon, and help save her sister in the process.
Though she divides the fanbase, Lightning is one of the most iconic heroes in the Final Fantasy series. Her spiky pink hair and Guardian Corps has a lot to do with it: Lightning has a striking appearance that makes her immediately memorable.
However, her design also exudes a quiet and believable strength that sets her apart from other JRPG characters of the time. Lightning is not cartoonish, and she doesn’t ask for much suspension of disbelief. Her design is where Tetsuya Nomura’s years of experience as a character artist came in handy.
Kingdom Hearts is one of the PS2’s best-remembered titles. Despite the series being notoriously slow-moving, with Kingdom Hearts 3 being designated as vaporware at one point, it has a dedicated fanbase that adores the series for itscombination of Disney and Final Fantasy characters.
This crossover ethos is best exemplified in the character design of Sora. Sora has the spiky hair and anime-inspired visage of a Final Fantasy protagonist, but also the oversized shoes and vibrant outfit of a Disney character.
Noctis was not an immediate hit with fans, and he struggles to be taken seriously even today by people who haven’t played Final Fantasy 15. He isn’t just the poster boy for aCup Noodles ador an extension of leftover design philosophies from Cloud Strife or Lightning, but a character whose aging appearance is as crucial to his characterization as his story.
At the start of the game, Noctis is just a pampered prince who relies on his friends-turned-bodyguards to shield him from the harsh realities of life. After the halfway mark of the story, he matures: physically as well as emotionally. The design arc is completed as he earns the right to be king, with an appearance decidedly less boyish but more graceful.
Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 10 is a JRPG from Square Enix, initially launched on PlayStation 2 in 2001. It follows Tidus, a mysterious young man from Zanarkand, as he joins the summoner Yuna on her pilgrimage throughout the world of Spira.
Final Fantasy 8 and 9 had great character designs, with Kuja being an underrated villain, but only with Final Fantasy 10 was Nomura once again able to deliver a protagonist as memorable as Cloud Strife - perhaps even more so. Tidus is a brilliant tragic hero, his entire existence hinging on a plot twist.
He’s also a famous blitzball player, and sure looks the part: tanned, refreshed and wearingan outfit only a rock star can get away with. A lot of Final Fantasy 10’s success came from his compelling design on the box art, with the water sword he held sparking the imagination of millions.
2Sephiroth
Compilation Of Final Fantasy 7
These days, it’s not uncommon to find villains in video games who are nuanced and tragic in their own way. In 1997, though, things were very different. With the exception of Dhaos in Tales of Phantasia, JRPGs had yet to introduce villains who could break your heart.
Sephiroth was the villain who encouraged designers to make more compelling antagonists for their games. He is beautiful and intimidating, both facets exacerbated by his backstory. The fact that Nomura himself keeps bringing him back is a testament to Sephiroth’s enduring popularity. Sephiroth introduced an entire new fanbase to JRPGs.
1Cloud Strife
Ever since Final Fantasy 7 came out, almost every JRPG protagonist has been influenced by Cloud Strife. Cloud had it all: a cool outfit, as handsome a face as 90s CGI could give him, anime-inspired spiky hair, and a giant weapon that served as a symbol for the entire game.
Cloud Strife is one of the greatest video game characters of all time. You can recognize him in silhouette; you can recognize him from the Buster Sword’s presence alone. After FF7, every JRPG that had a brooding pretty boy as its protagonist was just trying to make its own Cloud.
