Final Fantasy, but with a Dark Souls-esque bent. Much like recent Final Fantasy games Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy VII Remake, gameplay is action oriented. Main characters Jack, Jed, and Ash take on the role of the Warriors of Light to face off against Chaos. But just who are these characters?
Player-controlled character Jack is consumed by a single-minded obsession with killing Chaos in Stranger of Paradise. The trailer shows off some brutal finishers and shows him briefly engaging in fisticuffs with Chaos. All in all, he is reminiscent of Kratos in the first trilogy of God of War games. He is most prominently shown in a simple t-shirt ensemble, though the demo allows him to wear more traditional Final Fantasy garb as the player changes his armor, while promotional CGs show Jed and Ash in similar casual wear.
Pink-haired Jed meanwhile seems much more upbeat, inviting comparisons to Final Fantasy XV’s Prompto in of both looks and personality. His cocky and playful nature is on display for most of his screen time, though he does have hints of a more serious intelligence, being the one to connect their description of Garland to Chaos’ appearance. Ash looks to be a stabilizing influence for these two, appearing quiet and contemplative. His one line in the Stranger of Paradise trailer hints at a snarkier side.
Final Fantasy Origin's Main Characters Explained
The antagonist Chaos in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is menacing and bears a suitably demonic voice. His abode is gothic and dreary, with a desolate feel. As in the first Final Fantasy, the trailer shows he has subjugated Garland and taken over his body. A voiceover in the demo's subtitles confirms Princess Sarah - who treats viewers to some of Garland’s backstory in the trailer. Once a knight, Garland left to fight Chaos and never reported back. In a change from the first Final Fantasy, there's no mention of villainous Garland ever kidnapping Princess Sarah, and given her fondness when speaking of him, it is unlikely that he has - at least not yet. While it’s far from a surprising twist for series veterans, it does open up some interesting possibilities, such as Garland fighting from the inside.
These characters in Stranger of Paradise likely have hidden depths that players can explore further in game. A line of text at the very start of the trailer states that they have amnesia in some form. Whether their personalities remain the same after recovering their memories - or even if they ever will regain them - is likely a late game secret. Additionally, while Final Fantasy is known for its amazing couples, the grittier feel of this next installment might put the brakes on any romance subplots.
More characters are sure to be revealed once Square Enix gives out more information on the full game. Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin will be available sometime in 2022 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC. A limited time trial version for the PlayStation 5 currently serves as a demo.
