Not all romances are permanent. Some romances last us a few years, when the couple finally gets sick of one another. Some loves end because of boredom, or because of infidelity, or because of growing apart. Some loves end in tragedy. But it's not the beginning and the end that matter, it's the middle part, all the time spent together, all the joy shared. Some romances are like a firework, a bright flash in the night, gone just as soon as it lights up. Today's couple is like that: Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X.
Tidus on the left, Yuna on the right. Tidus is a guy, in case any of you didn't know.
I've summarized the story of Final Fantasy 10 before, so I scarcely believe it necessary to do so again. Instead, I shall summarize the high points of Yuna and Tidus' relationship.
The two met when Tidus found out that Yuna had been locked in Beaaid's Cloyster of Trials for three days. Not knowing that Yuna was simply taking longer than expected for a ritual where she would officially become Summoner, Tidus decided to burst into the Cloyster to save the girl whose name he didn't even know. When Tidus arrived, he found Yuna on the verge of collapsing, but proud of herself for having achieved her mission. And that is how Tidus met Yuna.
The next day, Yuna had to leave for Killika Island, the next stepping stone in her Summoner's Pilgrimage. Tidus tags along because he and Wakka, Yuna's guardian, were going to the city of Luca to play in the Blitzball tournament. During the trip, Tidus and Yuna have their first real conversation, wherein the two talk about their famous fathers. Yuna's father was a High Summoner who defeated Sin and brought the Calm, which lasted less than a year; Tidus' father was the star blitzball player of Zanarkand, and an ass.
On Killika, Tidus unofficially becomes Yuna's new guardian, meaning her safety is in his hands, alongside Lulu's, Wakka's, and Kimahri's. During the tournament, Yuna gets kidnapped by some Al Bhed, but Tidus rescues her. Thus the two grow closer together as the journey continues.
Tidus continues lending Yuna his support, and of all her guardians, she is shown spending most of her time with Tidus. As the journey continues, Tidus begins making promises to Yuna, such as taking her back to all the places they had visited once the Pilgrimage had ended and Sin was defeated. He'll come to regret that later...
When Seymour Guado, a big shot in the Yevon religion, asks Yuna for marriage, Tidus is quick to ask her if that is what she wants. She assures him it is. Though he does have his reservations regarding this revelation, he supports her regardless. When it is discovered Seymour killed his father, Jyscal Guado, Tidus is quick to condemn the wedding. Thus, Tidus sets out to rescue Yuna from Seymour's clutches.
Seymour had kidnapped Yuna, who had changed her mind about the marriage, and forced her to marry him. In what may well be his finest moment, Tidus crashes the wedding by grinding down a cable from an airship unto the city of Bevelle, intending to destroy Seymour if that was what it took to save Yuna.
When Tidus found out the truth about Yuna's pilgrimage, that she'll die at the end of it, he was devastated and regretful of every promise he had made her. She confided in him the fear she felt in her heart, her fear of dying. But she also confided in him how much more afraid she was of letting everyone down, and how she couldn't quit. Tidus promises to be by her side, always.
Having encountered the truth about Sin, that he can only be destroyed by sending Yu Yevon, its summoner, to the afterlife, Tidus discovers that doing so will destroy him as well. Not wanting to worry Yuna, Tidus keeps this tidbit a secret from her, choosing the needs of the many over the need of one. When Yuna defeats Yu Yevon once and for all, Tidus disappears from the world, but not without a final goodbye.
On its surface, the story of Tidus and Yuna isn't that impressive, but that's due to the fact that a love story summarized NEVER sounds good. A love story isn't just plot, it's the emotions that are exchanged between two people. It's character development, seeing how two characters change through the story. Specifically, how love changes them. And does Tidus change throughout the story? Does Yuna?
Yes. Tidus, at the start of the game, is a whiny, self centered brat with daddy issues. He's brash, impulsive, and immature. But he's also a nice guy, kind and loyal to his friends, considerate of children. A small moment in the game that shows off his kindness is how he promises to teach some kids in his neighborhood how to play the game of blitzball.
Tidus' growth is mainly influenced not just by his interactions with Yuna, but with the world of Spira as well. Having grown up in a safe environment, Tidus suffers quite the culture shock of traveling in a world where people face death and destruction every day. One of the most poignant moments in the game is where Tidus observes Yuna perform the Sending on the people who lost their lives to Sin in Killika. It is in that moment where Tidus finally begins to comprehend just how important Summoners are in Spira.
When Tidus learned just what the Final Summoning entailed, he was devastated. He vowed he would never allow Yuna to die like that, and would do anything to find an alternative. Eventually, an alternative was found, but it required Tidus, not Yuna, to perish forever. Tidus didn't even think about it twice, and so he allowed himself to die so that Yuna could live. That decision came from Yuna's influence.
I've spoken about Yuna before, here: http://vidgameanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-top-11-video-game-heroes-number-3.html. I don't think I need to repeat what I said about her, so let's focus on her effects on Tidus' growth.
From Yuna, Tidus learned that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. Tidus learned to think of others before himself, that peace and stability do not come without sacrifice. He learned that life is far, far more complex than he ever realized, and that nothing worth doing is easy. Yuna made Tidus a better person.
Likewise, Yuna learned something from Tidus as well. She learned the pain that comes from seeing a loved one sacrifice themselves for others. She learned to stand up for herself and not let others push her around. She learned to smile in the face of overwhelming sorrow. But above all, she learned to enjoy life, to choose to live instead of dying. One of the most poignant images in the history of Final Fantasy is Yuna's smile in the ending of Final Fantasy 10-2, the wind blowing through her hair and face as she flies in the sky atop her airship, finally embracing herself and her freedom. THAT is what Tidus did for her,
Tidus was always there for Yuna whenever she needed an emotional rock, so to speak. Her journey was not easy, but he helped make it more bearable. Her final victory was possible only because of him and his sacrifice. Their love made her stronger and him better.
Ultimately that's what an ideal love story is: it helps two people become better versions of themselves. Tidus and Yuna's love story was the story of how two people helped each other grow up, and in my opinion, it's one of the finest love stories in gaming. But...
...tune in next week when we discuss one of gaming's most sobering love stories.
When Tidus found out the truth about Yuna's pilgrimage, that she'll die at the end of it, he was devastated and regretful of every promise he had made her. She confided in him the fear she felt in her heart, her fear of dying. But she also confided in him how much more afraid she was of letting everyone down, and how she couldn't quit. Tidus promises to be by her side, always.
Having encountered the truth about Sin, that he can only be destroyed by sending Yu Yevon, its summoner, to the afterlife, Tidus discovers that doing so will destroy him as well. Not wanting to worry Yuna, Tidus keeps this tidbit a secret from her, choosing the needs of the many over the need of one. When Yuna defeats Yu Yevon once and for all, Tidus disappears from the world, but not without a final goodbye.
On its surface, the story of Tidus and Yuna isn't that impressive, but that's due to the fact that a love story summarized NEVER sounds good. A love story isn't just plot, it's the emotions that are exchanged between two people. It's character development, seeing how two characters change through the story. Specifically, how love changes them. And does Tidus change throughout the story? Does Yuna?
Yes. Tidus, at the start of the game, is a whiny, self centered brat with daddy issues. He's brash, impulsive, and immature. But he's also a nice guy, kind and loyal to his friends, considerate of children. A small moment in the game that shows off his kindness is how he promises to teach some kids in his neighborhood how to play the game of blitzball.
Tidus' growth is mainly influenced not just by his interactions with Yuna, but with the world of Spira as well. Having grown up in a safe environment, Tidus suffers quite the culture shock of traveling in a world where people face death and destruction every day. One of the most poignant moments in the game is where Tidus observes Yuna perform the Sending on the people who lost their lives to Sin in Killika. It is in that moment where Tidus finally begins to comprehend just how important Summoners are in Spira.
When Tidus learned just what the Final Summoning entailed, he was devastated. He vowed he would never allow Yuna to die like that, and would do anything to find an alternative. Eventually, an alternative was found, but it required Tidus, not Yuna, to perish forever. Tidus didn't even think about it twice, and so he allowed himself to die so that Yuna could live. That decision came from Yuna's influence.
I've spoken about Yuna before, here: http://vidgameanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-top-11-video-game-heroes-number-3.html. I don't think I need to repeat what I said about her, so let's focus on her effects on Tidus' growth.
From Yuna, Tidus learned that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. Tidus learned to think of others before himself, that peace and stability do not come without sacrifice. He learned that life is far, far more complex than he ever realized, and that nothing worth doing is easy. Yuna made Tidus a better person.
Likewise, Yuna learned something from Tidus as well. She learned the pain that comes from seeing a loved one sacrifice themselves for others. She learned to stand up for herself and not let others push her around. She learned to smile in the face of overwhelming sorrow. But above all, she learned to enjoy life, to choose to live instead of dying. One of the most poignant images in the history of Final Fantasy is Yuna's smile in the ending of Final Fantasy 10-2, the wind blowing through her hair and face as she flies in the sky atop her airship, finally embracing herself and her freedom. THAT is what Tidus did for her,
Tidus was always there for Yuna whenever she needed an emotional rock, so to speak. Her journey was not easy, but he helped make it more bearable. Her final victory was possible only because of him and his sacrifice. Their love made her stronger and him better.
Ultimately that's what an ideal love story is: it helps two people become better versions of themselves. Tidus and Yuna's love story was the story of how two people helped each other grow up, and in my opinion, it's one of the finest love stories in gaming. But...
...tune in next week when we discuss one of gaming's most sobering love stories.
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