I agree completely with you. If people are playing the games to just look at the females and to critize the way they're looked at, then they need mental help. You don't buy the FF Games to look at them, you buy them for the story, the gameplay and just for the general idea that the games rock.
And it's not Squaresoft's fault for young girls acting like **...it's all the media that's out there. Look at Christina Aguleria. What's she supposed to do, make little girls into angels?
If people are there to critize the girls on FF, then they need to shot. My opinon.

Hey, not all females in the FF series are sex objects...look at Terra from 6 - apart from the flirting from Edgar, she's mostly the plot-mover of the story.
And what about White Mage from FF1?! If you consider 8 bits a "sex object", boy do you need therapy. Lots and lots of years of therapy.
-The V Man

I totally agree with you, people who criticise FF on such a superficial level are completely missing the point and perceiving only what they want to see to satisfy their prejudices. FF has always been primarily about character and story, and to complain just about how pretty the girls are and how they dress is unforgivably shallow! I mean, really, everyone in FF is young and good looking!

I agree with a lot of your points. I like how you mentioned that Lara Croft has actually become a sex symbol in videogaming. I'm a male but believe me, when I play video-games I don't care about a woman's physical appearance (it's not real! no point having a crush on a CG). I HATE DOA3 because my friends only play it for the girls (I actually do play fighters for the combat).

I guess you could say that until I read the arguments I never paid attention to the females as closely as others. I had noticed Tifa's large chest and all but like I said, no point in worshipping a pretty CG. I noticed her attire but it was really no different than what I saw in the last PG-13 movie I watched.

I would actually have to wonder if the male character are there to interest the females as well. I can't even begin to tell you about how many girls I know that play FF talk about how hot Sephiroth, Squall, Zell, Cloud, Vincent and other male characters (and they dress much like an attractive man would too).

But like I said, I never saw why so many other boys would gawk at Lara Croft's chest. Sure the camera zooms in between her legs and such but its only a CG (I don't know about others but I prefer reality).

But anyway, I've taken up a lot of your time. Sorry, didn't mean to go into all that.

Personally, I've never played a Final Fantasy game, but since I did say I would review the stories of the reviewer (I hope you followed that, I don't know for sure what I just said).

I do know what your talking about, most games are made for teenage boys, girls always in their minds (Beleive, I know. I am one).

But, I do agree that it is getting somewhat improper. I'm not a pervert. Your book is clear and to the point, taking both sides of the argument at some points. Very good! Very good indeed.

I would appreciate you reviewing my books, your a great reviewer. I still have one complaint though. I know this could be in the PG section, but I would suggest it would be in the PG13 section. If I had a ten year old brother, I wouldn't want him to start thinking about "implants" or women in short shorts. I hope I don't offend you. I apologize if I do.

Good essay. This is the same reason why I don't take Wonder Woman seriously.

Hey, that was a very good essay. You had a good point about there being more attractive male characters than female ones in the FF games. (heh, I don't mind THAT at all.)

The only thing that bugs me is the way you dissed Lara. Tombraider is my fav game series and I don't think it's sexist. (Though I have yet to see a remotely attrative guy in it.)

That's about all I gotta say! Again, you did a very good job writing this!

~Straight from Uranus~

Yay Rem! *applauds you* Anyway, I would just like to say that the only two critisms I can give are:
1) the essay could be longer and you could have commented upon other non-sexual characters (another reviewer had a fairly good list; although I would add Yuna and Lulu for being other strong yet non-sexual characters).
2) Physique, not physic
Other than that, I think your points were well thought-out and it was an enjoyable essay to read.

"Physique" for physic.

I'm glad you pointed this out to the Fictionpress community, that at the very least Square is no worse than Team Ninja (DOA3) or any other group. However, you could have gone more in depth into the other female characters that you didn't justity as non-sex objects whose vital place in their respective games could be justified to strengthen your opinion (Yuffie, Aeris, Yuna, Selphie, Edea, Adel, and Ultimecia all played signficant roles, and it is difficult to declare any as overly sexual). All in all, a good short essay. Good insights.

Well written! I was about to jump on here and flame you because I thought you were gonna diss my fave RPG series. But when I read what you had to say, I chilled out and I'm here to say:

Good Job!

T~H

Yeah, I'll have to agree that they are. i mean, has anyone SEEN the preview for FFX-2? I'm a chick I can't wait to play, but I wanna play for the storyline. Not the CG pics, tahnks. I wanna know how Tidus and Yuna are reunited because obviously they have to be. I mean, every single FF ends happily, except for 7...when Aeries died...:P oh well. Nice point, with the essay.

Hm, not sure how seriously to approach this - sometimes looking too deeply gets you off the subject.

Anyways, the majority of fans of roleplaying games tend to be male - so there might be some truth to who they're targeting.

Personally I think it has more to do with the philosophy of those that produce the games. They know what has worked and don't want to take a risk on new views - which is why Lara Croft was originally a revolution in female characters. Granted, she did become somewhat 'bustier' in later games - probably to overcome the lackluster adventures she was forced to endure.

If you think about it, it's easier to keep the status quo rather than rock the boat - not always the best thing, just the easiest.

I whole heartedly agree. Even my dad, who has never even played Final Fantasy, and who fell asleep when I tried to explain the storyline of FFIX, said the first time he saw me play FFX that he thought the female characters weren't as overly perfect as in other games. Even though I haven't gotten around playing FFVI, I think Quistis is a strong character, not in spite, but because of her crush on Squall.

Sure, it isn't the only reason I like her character, but it's nice to see that a character in a video game (especally a female one) isn't perfect. It makes it easier to relate, somehow.

That's it buddy! Burn those sexist SOB's!