Unseen JRPG Heroes Who Deserved To Play

Have you ever found yourself immersed in a Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) and wished you could switch roles from the main character? For instance, in Final Fantasy 15, Noctis was the primary playable character, but he had AI companions like Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis. Over time, these companions received their own DLC expansions. Additional characters like Aranea were also planned to receive DLC, but unfortunately, those plans were ultimately scrapped.

Other JRPGs didn’t have the fortune of receiving DLC or sequels featuring fan-preferred characters as playable options. The future is uncertain, so it’s possible that this might change someday. Some games and character selections may appear unconventional, but here they are, listed in no specific order.

6. Jecht (Final Fantasy 10)

Where’s The Prequel?

In Final Fantasy 10, Tidus’ father is none other than Jecht. Back then, he fought alongside Auron as they assisted Lord Braska in battling Sin, a colossal creature, many years ago. Their efforts led to the tranquil period known as the Last Calm in Spira, before Sin resurfaced and demanded another group of heroes to placate it again.

Tidus reluctantly follows in the path set by his father figure, who is admired by many, except him. Scenes from the past featuring Auron, Jecht, and Lord Braska are interspersed throughout the game, but these moments aren’t interactive. It’s unfortunate because Final Fantasy 8 had a sequence of flashbacks with Laguna that were playable. In that game, it was presumed that Laguna was Squall’s father.

5. Groose (Hyrule Warriors)

He’s Got Muscles And Teeth For Days

Hyrule Warriors” stands out as one of the more successful spin-offs within the Musou genre derived from “Dynasty Warriors“. By paying homage to every previous “Zelda” game, it served as a tribute to its predecessors. With each new release culminating on the Switch platform, fresh characters were introduced, including some rather unconventional picks such as Marin from “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” and a female counterpart of Link named Linkle.

Despite many overlooked characters, several could have brought excitement to the roster. For instance, Groose from “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” exudes himbo charm that could’ve turned battles into a spectacle with his bulging muscles and captivating smile. The Happy Mask Salesman from “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” had the potential to unleash diverse combos using his magical masks. Lastly, Dampe the gravedigger from the same game as Groose could have replaced Shovel Knight as the savior of the day. These examples merely scratch the surface; Nintendo and Omega Force should collaborate on a sequel to include more obscure characters.

4. Leon (Kingdom Hearts)

Snubs To Square Enix Legends

Discussing Final Fantasy 8, the character Squall makes an appearance as Leon in Kingdom Hearts, accompanied by other characters from different Final Fantasy games. These figures have served as non-player characters, offering support throughout the series, but they’ve never been used to control the gameplay in main storylines or multiplayer modes. Instead, the games are generally played from the perspective of Sora, who is assisted by AI companions such as Donald and Goofy during battles.

In contrast to some game series like Tales of, where characters can be swapped during battle, Donald and Goofy are interchangeable in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, a multiplayer-centric game. However, characters such as Leon, Yuffie, Vivi, and other Final Fantasy heroes have not been made playable in this manner, disappointing many fans. While it can be debated that these characters already have their own games, the lack of playability is still regrettable, regardless of the semantics involved.

3. Yutaka Yamai (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

This Villain Never Got A Gameplay Redemption

In the sequel of the turn-based series, titled “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth“, our protagonist Ichiban embarks on a journey. Instead of his usual haunts, this time he travels to Hawaii in search of his long-lost mother. However, his peaceful voyage is interrupted by a local gang linked to the Yakuza from back home, who create havoc for him. Among the leaders of this gang, Yutaka Yamai is one who persistently follows and poses challenges for Ichiban throughout their shared adventure.

Initially, Eric Tomizawa was part of the group, but he later changed his ways. The Yakuza series is known for its characters who appear villainous initially, only to team up with the good guys later on. This is a common plot device in anime too, like Vegeta’s transformation from antagonist to ally in Dragon Ball Z. Sadly, Yamai didn’t join Ichiban’s team in this game, but there’s always hope for future installments.

2. Rhyme/Shiki (Neo: The World Ends With You)

The Females Get Sidelined

In the game titled “The World Ends With You“, players step into the role of Neku, a character who acquires numerous allies as different storylines unfold. For instance, Shiki, his initial companion, employs a stuffed cat to combat the Noise. However, it’s important to note that Neku didn’t team up with Shiki, but there was another female character in the Reaper Games, Rhyme, who joined forces with her brother Beat.

In the video game “Neo: The World Ends With You“, players meet a fresh set of characters, with familiar faces making brief appearances from the original cast. Characters like Beat and Neku can contribute to the party in a limited manner, but they are present. Regrettably, the two female leads from the first game, Rhyme and Shiki, cannot be controlled by players. However, they do play significant roles; it’s just unfortunate that they didn’t join Neku and Beat in active combat, as their inclusion would have added more depth to the storyline.

1. Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

The Brotherly Disrespect Echoes Through Time

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is among the top-notch role-playing games on the SNES, yet there are peculiarities about it that remain unexplained till now. For instance, Luigi’s absence from the game beyond a message he left behind continues to feel odd decades later, given that in early game previews, Luigi was intended to be included in some form, even if he wasn’t playable.

https://gamerant.com/best-rpg-every-year-snes-life/

It’s surprising that Princess Peach and Bowser were included as party members while Luigi wasn’t, especially when considering the potential of introducing characters like Geno and Mallow for a more diverse roster. In hindsight, it would have been more logical to create opportunities for these original characters to join Mario in his adventures. While Luigi did receive recognition through the Mario & Luigi series, it remains unfortunate that Nintendo didn’t collaborate with Square Enix to use Geno and Mallow more extensively across other games.

https://gamerant.com/super-mario-every-rpg-ranked-by-metacritic/

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2025-01-29 09:34