Square Enixis one of the most popular video game developers around, making waves with theirFinal Fantasyseries before a series of mergers and acquisitions turned them into one of the biggest companies in the industry. While the sale of most of their major Western publishers to Embracer Group at a pittance and a short-sighted investment into NFTs have given the company somewhat of a bad reputation in modern times, there’s no denying that this historic company is still capable of churning out some excellent titles.
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The company has made some groundbreaking games that are filled to the brim with many memorable characters. Square Enix characters are known for their iconic outfits, and their Western IPs haven’t fallen behind here either!
8Squall’s Belt Bonanza – Final Fantasy 8
If there’s one thing that Tetsuya Nomura is infamous for as a character designer, it’s his love for belts in all the wrong places.No character personifies this more than Squall, whose outfit looks so impractical that most people would argue that it takes him at least an hour to get ready without all those belts falling off him.
However, there’s no denying that Squall’s outfit is all the more iconic because of this inclusion, perfectly complimenting his black bomber jacket with that iconic fur trim everyone can recognize. His broody nature may not have won most fans over, but most people didn’t care simply because of how cool his outfit looked!
7Adam Jensen’s Iconic Glasses – Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolutionwasa much-awaited immersive simthat would finally satiate fans after a hellishly long wait for aDeus Extitle.Human Revolutionserves as a prequel that takes place during the time when mechanical augmentation was still in its heyday.
After an accident that almost cost him his life, Adam is given experimental augments that turn him into a powerful agent. Perhaps the most unnecessary yet welcome addition was a pair of embedded glasses that looked very cool and impractical at the same time, giving the rest of his black-and-gray outfit some much-needed style.
6Neku’s Hip Dreads – The World Ends With You
The World Ends with Youis a game where fashion trends and the like are pretty important to maximize efficiency in battle. As a result, it’s only a given that the main characters of the game also need unique looks of their own.
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Neku, the main character, has an outfit that isn’t too overt while being perfect for his character. His purple headphones go perfectly with the shades of his street clothing, making him look pretty fashionable despite apparently being a loner.
5Cecil’s New Look As A Paladin – Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4serves as a great example of how to integrate a narrative with established gameplay elements to excellent effect. This can be seen inthe iconic moment where Cecil completely sheds his pastas a Dark Knight to become a paragon of justice, donning the outfit of the Paladin.
This scene is quite incredible in its own right, and it helps that Cecil’s outfit looks pretty awesome as well. The combination of silver and blue really makes the colors pop out and look perfect on the protagonist.
4Lara Croft’s Rebooted Look – Tomb Raider
TheTomb Raiderreboot wasa massive successthat propelled the iconic British archaeologist back into the mainstream. Given how the earlier iteration of this character appealed strongly to the male gaze, it was only a given that reviving this iconic female character would require more thought and effort.
Thankfully, many people would agree that Crystal Dynamics did a great job of modernizing her character without losing the very essence of Lara Croft.
3The Luminary’s Purple Tunic – Dragon Quest 11
Dragon Quest 11exceeded most people’s expectations and becameone of the biggest JRPGs of its time. The series was considered a JRPG that was a bit too classic for its own good, with the bulk of its fanbase residing in Japan.
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However, the strong visual design ofDragon Quest 11captured players from the get-go, who loved the appearance of the main character. The purple robes are simple yet unique, making the Luminary quite pleasing to look at when paired with the rest of his attire.
2Aya Brea’s Dress – Parasite Eve
Parasite Eveisone of the most unique JRPGs around, using the setting of New York City to tell a riveting tale about cellular mutation gone wrong. Players control Aya Brea and get to see what her character is all about in a memorable intro cutscene.
During an opera show, Aya suddenly has to spring into action after everyone around her starts spontaneously combusting. It’s a bombastic opening and Aya’s dress during this segment becomes even more memorable as a result, before she eventually wears her regular detective clothes for the rest of the game.
1Tifa’s Tank Top And Miniskirt – Final Fantasy 7
Tifa is one of the most iconic video game characters in the medium, taking on the Monk class and pummelling her enemies to oblivion. Her reliance on punches and kicks meant that she needed an outfit that wouldn’t inhibit her movement.
This makes her combination of a white crop top, black miniskirt, red gloves, and boots seem practical, although some people would argue that fanservice plays a bigger role in her look. Regardless, Tifa’s appearance has become quite iconic in its own right, which is whythe remake didn’t go all outto change her costume and only opted for minor tweaks instead.
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