I’m thoroughly enjoying Final Fantasy XV. I watched the 5-episode anime twice: once before playing, and once after I’d played the game for a bit. I’m also watching the Kingsglaive movie. In the game, I’ve played up to Chapter 3 so far and am excited for the rest.
Before playing, I knew the game revolved around 4 male characters. I thought: It would have been easy to make 2 of them or even just one of them a girl. Prompto, the best friend from school could have been a girl. Gladio, the super fighter, could be a girl. The butler/cook/driver Ignis could have been a girl. Even Noct could have been the Princess instead of the Prince. But, whatever. The game is so good I’m enjoying it as is. Most games are centered around men and I’m used to it. Previous final fantasy games have allowed women to be the main character (ex. Terra) so it’s much easier to accept the current story because I still have faith in the Final Fantasy franchise - their next game will probably even out the genders a little better, and maybe even have some non-conforming characters, too! (or maybe not... There have been great advances in equality recently, but I also know there is a backlash. see: 2016 US federal election)
After playing the game for a bit, I’m loving the friendship that is obvious between these 4 guys. They're going through a lot together. I love how during the game combat, Ignis always seems to be closer to Noct. The king personally asked Ignis to take care of Noct and even in the game combat you can see Ignis takes this seriously. I love how when Noct is “down” the guys come closer to protect him - the way they stand and keep watch around their Prince while he recharges his MP. I love their banter as they drive or walk around the world, how they play games around the campfire and enjoy food together. It reminds me of times I’ve done all of these things with my own friends and family.
I think this game is also filling a void, so I’m glad to see these 4 males and their friendship. There’s a real shortage of male heroes having vulnerabilities and emotions that are actually discussed between each other. For example, Prompto says how he feels he doesn’t belong because he’s just a “pleb” whereas Ignis and Gladio actually had a formal position in the palace. He had a heart to heart conversation with Noct and as a result, they’ll be able to work together even better in the future. With 4 males there's lots of opporunity for man-on-man friendship development. For this reason, I’m glad to see the 4 males in the game. There's not enough of this stuff out there.
But it really hurt when the game designer said the whole reason there are 4 males is that they thought that the presence of a woman would wreck this sense of friendship and camaraderie. They say "men act differently when there are no women around". By removing woman, they think the environment will be better for friendship and camaraderie.
By allowing in women, maybe they are worried they would introduce sexual tension. But, what if one or more of the 4 males were gay? What if the woman were a lesbian? Or what if - gasp! - a woman could be a great friend just like what exists between Noct/Prompto/Gladio/Ignis? The hurtful thing to me is that it’s clear the designers aren’t even willing to try. They have this preconceived notion about women and have decided to lock them out. It hurts because this has been happening for generations in the real world - this fear of women that leads to us being locked out. I've been on the outside a lot, often being one of the only women in a Computer Science class or member of an IT department.
It’s like the Final Fantasy designers think women are the cause of sexual tension and men are not. Wrong! Anyone - male or female or otherwise - can crush over someone else or, or the other way around. Men can fall in love with women, or men, or other. Women can fall in love with women, or men, or other. LGBT people exist. Love may or may not be reciprocated. This is something all humans share.
It hurts that the designers would say that love can only exist between men and women. It hurts that they’re saying the one who wrecks it is the woman. It hurts that they’re saying women exist to be fallen in love with but can’t be a regular person who is your buddy and teammate.
But, whatever. I’ll weather this one and keep playing the game. So we push the Regalia into Hammerhead and what do you see? The camera focuses on some high heel boots that go up to Cindy’s thighs, then you see shorts so short that her butt cheeks are showing, and her thong. And her short jacket is zippered open so her push-up bra gives you full view of boobs every time she says something. I literally shouted “AWE, COME ON!!”. This is the first woman character in the game, and this is how you designed her?
But, whatever. I’ll weather this one and keep playing the game. (there is a theme here!) So I play a little more and bump into another female character, Monica. Apparently she is a badass who had a high up position like Ignis and Gladio. I meet her and she had drab clothing. Fair enough, but how come Noct/Prompto/Gladio/Ignis get cool costumes and she doesn't? Oh well. Maybe hers was more of an office job. But they could have still given her an interesting coat or hat or something. Oh well. Then I find you don’t even get to play as her. But you get to play her male superior officer, Cor. Nothing against him, he was cool -- I remember in earlier games trying things like disequipping his gear before he leaves the party so you could use the higher level stuff or sell it. I enjoyed partnering with him because as Noct I was responsible for getting the enemies who were high up -- I had to use my warp-strike.
Sadly, there's a constant barrage of jabs against women in the game. While I enjoy most of the banter the characters have with each other as they're walking around or driving, they're also constantly talking about Cindy's sexual availability and the chances they have with her. Even Iris... she reminds me of what I looked like as a teenager! I love her! I was so excited when Iris joined my group briefly for a tour of Lestallum, but then the game had to go and ask me if I thought the walk was a date. AWE, COME ON!!
Why doesn't the game ever allow women to exist without some comment or jab about their relationship to men? Even the men in Lestallum talk about the wive's promotions as being some sort of dig on their own egos.
A few days later, I learn about the Kingsglaive movie. I was delighted to meet Crowe, a female magic user. I thought she would be great in a role just like Ignis and Gladio — somebody important from the castle to come along with Noctis. I hoped I would meet her later in the game. But then in the movie, her story ends abruptly. (I won’t say in detail to avoid a spoiler). Her story is taken over by a male character Libertus because of his reaction to what happened to her. If the game is consistent with the movie, then I probably won’t get to play as Crowe in the game. Again I'm like, "AWE, COME ON!!!"
I love Noctis, Prompto, Ignis and Gladio. I really do. But please give me a girl who is a whole person, not a sex object, and not just a person to serve as the motivation for one of the male characters. You could dress Cindy as a real mechanic - how about some cool overalls full of cool gizmos - and let her come along on some quests with me. Or send Crowe to meet me in Lestallum and have her join me on some quests. Or Luna - she's the Oracle, right? She must have some super powers. I realize she’s probably on the other side of the continent right now, but maybe you could add in a mini-chapter where I could play as her for a while, or let me switch back and forth between advancing Luna’s side of the story and the guys. Maybe this is coming later in the game.
Anyway, I’m enjoying this game, but I had to blow off some steam. Special nod to my husband who sympathizes with me and got me Recore - I’m looking forward to trying that next! But I'm not done with Final Fantasy. I have faith they can do better!
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