"FF4's was threadbare, and FF6's had way too many characters and crap going on at once for me to stay interested in one thing for long"

I completely disagree with the first half of that statement (but I'm not going to debate that right now) and I only partially-agree with the second.

I've been thinking a lot about FF6's story and characters lately, and I notice that people will often say they like FF6 and its characters and story more than any other RPG, etc., but you rarely hear anyone say why.

I think the central theme of FF6 is that you can't allow your past to destroy your future. It's similar to FF4's plot of redemption, but it's not specifically about redemption - some characters have had things happen in their past that isn't necessarily something they need to be redeemed for, but it's affected them one way or another.

I find it interesting how most of the central characters are sort of in different stages of allowing their past to control them. Locke, obviously, has been haunted by his past for a very long time. Terra can't remember her past, but as she learns about it, it horrifies her. Setzer keeps his past hidden. It doesn't affect him as much as the others, but it's still there. Cyan's nightmare is just beginning when you meet him. Shadow is, perhaps, the most interesting character of all because he's the one who's been the most destroyed by his past. Many people seem to think he dies at the end of the game. I personally do not, but I think it was purposefully left ambiguous, because of his stance compared to the others - is he too far gone to ever come back?

Some characters, like Gau, Strago and Relm, don't add much (except Relm's connection to Shadow which isn't really necessary for him to be interesting), but as someone said, you've gotta have a game in there somewhere, so I see them more as bonus material. And Umaro and Gogo are specifically meant to be hidden characters, unrelated to the plot.

I think the story's theme also has a certain amount of significance in the face-off with Kefka at the end. When he asks why they bother to go on when the world is destroyed and hopeless. It's because they know that as bad as things are, they can get better if you don't allow the situation to control you.

The inclusion of Celes in the plot does kind of annoy me, though. I really do wish the plot had focused more on Terra than her.
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