Throughout the history of the Final Fantasy game franchise, fans have been treated to a wide variety of compelling protagonists, side characters, and villains. Giving gamers memorable characters is something that the Final Fantasy games rarely disappoint in.

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Final Fantasy 10 is widely regarded by fans as one of the best games in the series. While it's a generally beloved Final Fantasy game, fans are split on its lead character Tidus. Some find him to be whiny, while others think he's inspiringly loyal. This list will analyze why some fans think Tidus is the worst, and others think he deserves more credit.

10 The Worst: The Infamous Laughing Scene

When you ask a gamer why she or he doesn't like Tidus, the image above and the moment it represents is more than likely their go-to reference as a reason for their hate. This is an incredibly awkward scene where the negatives of Tidus' character, like his childishness, are most glaring.

Although the obnoxious laughing makes sense within the context of the conversation, this scene is Tidus' most insufferable moment and serves as a stain on his legacy.

9 Underrated: Iconic Weapon

The Final Fantasy games boast a long-list of awesome weapons, some of which hold a special place in the history of video games. While Tidus' sword Brotherhood might not be as classic as Cloud's Buster Sword, it is still an iconic blade that most gamers can easily identify.

One great aspect of the sword Brotherhood is how important it is to Tidus' character, and also Wakka since it belonged to his brother. More than just a weapon, this sword holds sentimental and emotional value.

8 The Worst: Somber Voice Over

Throughout Final Fantasy 10, Tidus provides the audience a heavy-handed, exposition filled voice-over that feels somber and depressing. The tone of the voice-over isn't the only problem though, it's also how the voice-over speaks nothing like Tidus' character in the game.

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Talkative and childishly optimistic, Tidus' in-game personality clashes with the serious, grim version that provides players the game's voice-over. Just as important as making a character likable is making them consistent, and Tidus suffers from this issue.

7 Underrated: Fish Out Of Water

An element of Final Fantasy 10 that holds up well when comparing it to the other games in the franchise is Tidus' "fish out of water" story. The Final Fantasy games take place in unique and complex worlds where players are always playing catch-up to try and understand the setting around them.

Tidus provides a unique gaming experience because the sense of wonder and confusion he feels arriving in Spira is exactly how the audience feels. His character is learning about this new world just like the audience, generally asking questions the players themselves have.

6 The Worst: Annoying

Whether it's his off-putting voice acting, childish optimism, or his whiny demeanor, Tidus is one of the more frustrating and irritating protagonists from the Final Fantasy series.

With most main heroes like Cloud and Leon being more of the silent, brooding types, it seems like Square (now Square Enix) was trying to break the mold with Tidus. Unfortunately, they may have gone too far to the other side of the protagonist spectrum.

5 Underrated: Challenges The Status Quo

A big strength of Tidus' character is how he's constantly challenging the archaic traditions of the world of Spira. Whether it's religious law or the self-sacrificial pilgrimage of the summoners, Tidus has no problem pushing back against some of these antiquated, and downright wrong, beliefs.

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He always stands up for what he feels is right, even when he's in the minority. This is a compelling trait that helps raise the quality of Tidus' character and make up for some of his shortcomings.

4 The Worst: Dated Voice Acting

Final Fantasy 10 wasn't only the first game in the franchise to appear on Playstation 2, but it was also the first Final Fantasy game to use voice acting. While not all of the voice acting in the game is terrible, for the most part the line delivery in Final Fantasy 10 feels unnatural and poorly paced. Tidus is a prime example of this.

In defense of the game's voice actors though, much of the voice acting issues are a result of the technology at the time.

3 Underrated: Fun And Loyal Personality

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From his career as a professional Blitzball athlete to his unfaltering loyalty to Yuna and her companions, Tidus has many unique and positive traits that boost him up the ranks among his fellow Final Fantasy series protagonists.

Tidus is occasionally (intentionally) comedic and provides some laughs during Final Fantasy 10. Combining that with his fun, laid back demeanor as an athlete, and his allegiance to his friends, Tidus deserves more credit than some fans give him when analyzing his character.

2 The Worst: Forced Romance

Yuna is a cherished character from Final Fantasy 10, much more so than the game's lead hero. While fans adore Yuna, her romance with Tidus leaves much to be desired.

These two have very little chemistry together, in part due to the stiff voice acting, and their relationship comes off as a bit forced and doesn't feel organic to the storytelling. Tidus' relationship with Yuna should be a bonus point for his character, but because the romance feels contrived, it ends up hurting him.

1 Underrated: Compelling Character Arc

Tidus starts Final Fantasy 10 as a self-absorbed Blitzball champion and eventually grows into a skilled warrior who is endlessly devoted to his friends and is willing to sacrifice his own life against the final boss for the greater good.

Tidus grows a lot over the course of the game, and that evolution deserves to be recognized as a testament to the quality of his character. Sure, he's annoying sometimes and is the star of one of the most infamous scenes in video game history, but Tidus rightfully holds a special place in some Final Fantasy fans' hearts.

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