Square-Enix's legendary PS2 JRPG, Final Fantasy X, released in 2001. As standard for the series, Final Fantasy X included a cast of noteworthy characters. Among the NPCs and party members alike, everyone had a story to tell. However, not every character had their tale told to the same magnitude.
While players learned of their backstories, some were truly told in more depth while others were only mentioned briefly. Read our list below to learn of the five best-designed characters and the five who could have used a bit more time developing. Also, be wary of the major spoilers ahead.
10 BEST DESIGNED: Auron
This legendary guardian devoted his life to protecting Summoner Braska. The knight maintained close companionship with his comrades, Braska and Jecht, while fighting to the bitter end to protect what was important. Even past the bitter end, Auron continued his fight.
Auron hid many secrets and guided the party while unraveling his tale bit-by-bit. He's been to hell and back. Even after his fateful demise, he looked after Tidus for years until the time came to challenge Sin once more. Auron was not only an incredibly well-designed character, a powerhouse, but an integral force that saved Spira from beyond the grave.
9 NEEDED MORE WORK: Khimari
As one of Yuna's guardians, this stoic member of the Ronso tribe fights with a spear and Blue Magic. He speaks rarely and comes off as angry but only means well. He maintains a wonderful friendship with Yuna. Despite being ousted by the Ronso tribe for losing his horn in battle, Khimari doesn't get as much screentime as the others.
Khimari's peak hits at Mt. Gagazet, his homeland, when he engages his former brothers in battle, defeating them and avenging them. While Kimahri offers a unique design in contrast to his human comrades, he seems less developed in storyline and even less useful in battle overall. To amend the former, supplemental reading material, such as a Final Fantasy site or the Ultimania Omega, sheds more light on his story.
8 BEST DESIGNED: Tidus
The main character of Final Fantasy X doesn't follow the usual behavior of a protagonist. The stoic and sullen Cloud and Squall predated him while the happy-go-lucky Zidane, from Final Fantasy IX, was the opposite of those two in every way. Meanwhile, Tidus whines, cries, gets scolded repeatedly, and often feels helpless.
Tidus also isn't afraid to show his human feelings. He falls in love, cries with his friends, proposes good ideas, and is conflicted between saving the world and stopping Sin once he learns the identity of the creature. He's dependable, trustworthy, and above all, not afraid to speak his heart.
7 NEEDED MORE WORK: Cid
Cid actually appears in every Final Fantasy title, though his appearance changes with every game. Here, he's got an airship to fly with you. In this game's case, he's Rikku's father and leader of the Al Bhed people.
Players will see the hardheaded tough guy several times through their adventures. He's quickly likable, dependable, and cares for his people greatly. If only he had more screentime, players could see more of his development outside of those few encounters.
6 BEST DESIGNED: Rikku
Rikku was designed to be a clear fan-favorite. The cheery smile, the blonde dreadlocks, and her mostly chipper attitude appealed to many players. Even her skillset, involving Steal, deactivated the tough machina that players would face later in the game.
The girl's appearance is synonymous with Final Fantasy X and completely intertwined in the story. As an Al Bhed, she's related to Yuna, who is the Summoner and Spira's last hope. Her links to the Al Bhed people directly connect the two and lead to the only hope the world has at stopping Sin.
5 NEEDED MORE WORK: Kinoc
Master Kinoc is Auron's longtime friend and a Maester in the Yevon religion. He first appears to be friendly and trustworthy but upon reaching Bevelle, his true colors show that he allies with Seymour to the end. He even opts to use Machina, granting them as "exceptions," despite the blatant hypocrisy to his faith.
When confronting Seymour for the second time, Auron scowls at him. "Although he's not the man I once knew, Kinoc was still my friend." Despite his obvious betrayal, Auron still held compassion for his fellow man. But their backstory could have used more design.
4 BEST DESIGNED: Jecht
Tidus' father, the stubborn, thick-headed Jecht, plays an integral role in Spira's plot. The alcoholic, drunken dad made his own son hate him for his reckless behavior and abandoning him ten years prior to the story. In truth, Jecht was complicated. He loved, he cared, he wanted to cry, but he couldn't show it. Jecht was a victim of his own feelings and conflict. The sacrifice he made to save the world left an impact that would only be realized by Auron.
Spreading the truth to his longtime friend, and his last wish to look after Tidus, Jecht played a core role in both destroying Spira and eventually saving it. The climax of the story and the ending left nothing but bittersweet and beautiful memories.
3 NEEDED MORE WORK: Braska
Out of Spira's trio, Summoner Braska probably could have used more time to develop. Despite being hailed as Spira's hero and father of Yuna, Braska only got his screentime through the Spheres left behind on the trail.
Outside of his being a caring father who loved his little girl, very little is actually shown of Braska. Players only know he died in the end. We would love to know more about the man under the summoner robes.
2 BEST DESIGNED: Yuna
The deuteragonist of Final Fantasy X, Yuna carried the burden of Spira on her shoulders. Assisted by her guardians, she sent the dead to the Farplane and witnessed tragedy through her entire journey. The young girl held her feelings and knew the grave responsibility at hand. In addition to being prevalent in the story itself, she's also key in battle being able to heal as well as enlist powerful summons.
Yuna shines as a defining hero by challenging her fate and seeing through Yevon's lies. She knew the centuries-long struggle of summoners defeating Sin was nothing more than a fable. She saw through "hope" facade and carved her own path into Spira's legacy while ending the vicious cycle for good. She placed everything on the shoulders of her fellow Guardians, the people of Spira, and the Al Bhed, in order to defeat Sin using the might of the people and not some fleeting imagination.
1 NEEDED MORE WORK: Yevon
Yevon is the supposed benefactor of Spira and the first hero to defeat Sin. Yevon became Spira's beloved deity and cast out the Al Bhed, oppressing them and their use of machina. However, upon the story's climax, it's revealed that he was behind Sin the whole time.
Unfortunately, nothing else is revealed besides Yevon's final form: a floating red bug faced at the end of the game. What Yevon looked like as a human and how he became corrupt was never explained in the game. He was just a big boss to take down, and we would have loved to learn more.