Rikku
Final Fantasy character
Rikku, as she appears in Final Fantasy X.
First gameFinal Fantasy X (2001)
Created byTetsuya Nomura
Designed byTetsuya Nomura
Voiced by
Motion capture
  • Miyuki Shimizu (FFX)[2]
  • Natsuho Matsuda (FFX-2)[3]
In-universe information
RaceAl Bhed
Weapon
  • Claws (FFX)
  • Daggers (FFX-2)
HomeBikanel Island

Rikku is a character in the Final Fantasy series, created by Tetsuya Nomura. Rikku first appears in Final Fantasy X as one of its protagonists, where she accompanies her cousin Yuna and others on a journey to defeat the monster Sin. Rikku again appears as a protagonist in the game's direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. In that game, she, Yuna, and new friend Paine journey to find missing FFX protagonist Tidus.

Square originally planned to make Rikku the protagonist of her own game, but the developer cancelled the idea. In order to make a game revolving around a group of female heroes, Final Fantasy X-2's protagonists became Yuna, Paine, and Rikku. To reflect the changing social mores between game titles, Rikku wears much more casual and minimal clothing in X-2 than the games' predecessor.

Rikku generally received a positive reception, with her X-2 design receiving praise for its attractiveness. Some critics have considered her attire to be fan service, and her character development thin. Most fans, however, have expressed positive views of her cheerful and bubbly personality. The character has appeared on many lists of fans' favorite Final Fantasy characters.

Concept and creation

Rikku first appeared in Final Fantasy X. Tetsuya Nomura designed her as a 15-year-old Al Bhed girl. She is Cid's daughter and Brother's younger sister. After the game's release, the video game press reported that she might get her own game, code-named "Rikku Version",[4] but was later confirmed to not be in the works. Rikku, along with Yuna, were the leads of Final Fantasy X-2 and were the only characters from Final Fantasy X to appear.[5] Developers chose her in order to create a game that centered on women.[6] Tetsu Tsukamoto, the designer of Final Fantasy X-2's "alternate" costumes, explained that Rikku's outfit was the product of a cultural change in Spira, the world Rikku inhabits. The staff also wished to make that cast seem more physically active.[7]

Rikku is voiced by Tara Strong in English and by Marika Matsumoto in Japanese. Strong was offered an audition by Final Fantasy X casting director Jack Fletcher. Before her audition, the Fletcher gave Strong recordings of the Japanese version of Rikku and a description of the character.[8] Many of Strong's lines ended with "you know" in order to match the English dub with the character's mouth movements, particularly to end the sentence with a vowel sound. They decided to make this a vocal tic for her.[9]

Appearances

Rikku first appears in Final Fantasy X as one of its protagonists. She helps Tidus when he first arrives as a stranger in Spira, but then she disappears during an attack from the monster Sin.[10] Upon meeting Tidus again at the Moonflow, she becomes the last character to join her cousin Yuna's entourage of guardians. Rikku's attitude is somewhat childish but is mostly quite cheerful and positive. She does occasionally suffer from instances of anxiety. This feeling originates from being attacked by a fiend on a beach when she was young; her brother then tried to destroy it with a Thunder spell, but he missed and electrocuted her instead. Cid's sister married Braska, which makes Braska Rikku's uncle. This relationship also makes Rikku Yuna's cousin. Rikku wishes to prevent Yuna from going through with her summoner pilgrimage as she will die in the process of defeating Sin.[11][12] Rikku returns in Final Fantasy X-2 once again as a protagonist, now 17 years old. She is also the one who convinces Yuna to leave the land of Besaid and go on a journey along with their new friend Paine. Rikku convinces Yuna by showing her a mysterious sphere featuring a person resembling Yuna's lost love, Tidus.[13]

Rikku appears in the game Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call as a playable character. Her appearance resembles a chibi-esque version of her Final Fantasy X-2 character.[14] She also appears alongside Yuna and Paine in Kingdom Hearts II as a miniature fairy version of herself wearing modified versions of her X-2 attire.[15] The game Itadaki Street Special features a miniature Rikku also in her X-2 outfit, along with Yuna and Paine.[16] Rikku also appears as a character in the game World of Final Fantasy.[17]

Merchandise

Rikku, along with characters Paine and Yuna, received a series of singles performed by Marika Matsumoto in a collection called "Final Fantasy X-2 Vocal Collection - Rikku".[18] The three characters also had figurines produced by Play Arts. They were the first figurines Play Arts produced in-house.[19]

Reception

Rikku, as she appears in Final Fantasy X-2. Her design change was the subject of discussion for her designers and critics.

Rikku has received generally positive reception since appearing in Final Fantasy X and X-2. Final Fantasy fans voted her the 13th best female Final Fantasy character.[20] Famitsu readers ranked her as one of the best video game characters.[21] She has been identified as one of the most attractive female characters in and outside of the series by IGN, Play, UGO, and G4TV readers.[22][23][24][25][26] Complex identified her outfit as the main reason to play Final Fantasy X-2.[27] Houston Press expressed disappointment that the story of Final Fantasy X focused so much on Tidus, noting how much more interesting the relationship between Rikku and Yuna was.[28] Game Informer identified her as a character they would like to be around due to an abundance of positive energy.[29] Digitally Downloaded enjoyed her character as well, noting she was their ideal rogue and praised her for her uplifting attitude.[30] They also found her a highlight of Final Fantasy X and hoped to see her in Dissidia Final Fantasy.[31]

Game Informer was critical of the sexualization of Rikku, noting her as being underage.[32] Digitally Downloaded noted that her outfit in Final Fantasy X-2 was fan service. They also noted, however, that it was story-related as it demonstrated the liberation of her society from restrictive rules between games.[33] Despite enjoying her "bubbly personality" in the face of hardships, they felt that there was not much depth to her character, and that people were too focused on her outfit.[34] CNET felt Rikku was a highly underrated character, though noting that she was mostly known for her outfit and "being scared" than her engineering prowess.[35]

Tara Strong was awarded "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance — Female" for her portrayal of Rikku by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[36] Game Informer identified Rikku as one of Strong's most notable roles.[37]

References

  1. ^ a b "Rikku Voices (Final Fantasy)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.((cite web)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  2. ^ Square Product Development Division 1 (December 17, 2001). Final Fantasy X. Scene: Closing credits.((cite book)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Square Product Development Division 1 (November 18, 2003). Final Fantasy X-2. Scene: Closing credits.((cite book)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Sato, Ike (May 17, 2006). "Square plans FFX spin-offs". IGN. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  5. ^ Fennec Fox (October 23, 2000). "More Final Fantasy X-2 Details". GamePro. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Exclusive interview: Final Fantasy X-2". GamesRadar+. March 9, 2004. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  7. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (November 24, 2003). "Final Fantasy X-2 Developer Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  8. ^ Knight, Sheila (August 17, 2008). "Interview with Tara Strong: The Voice of Rikku". Flare Gamer. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  9. ^ Mackey, Bob (August 2, 2016). "True Tales from Localization Hell". USGamer. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  10. ^ Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2). Square EA. Rikku: We're Al Bhed. Can't you tell? Wait, you're not an Al Bhed-hater, are you? / Tidus: I don't even know what an Al Bhed is.
  11. ^ Square Co. Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2). Level/area: Macalania. Rikku: Hey, do I look like Yunie, you think? / Tidus: Huh? / Rikku: Well, my dad's sister is Yunie's mother, you get it?
  12. ^ Square Co (December 20, 2001). Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2). Square EA. Level/area: Bikanel Island - Home. Rikku: Summoners journey to get the Final Aeon. Yuna told you, didn't she? With the Final Aeon, she can beat Sin. But then...but then... If she calls it, the Final Aeon's going to kill her! Even if she defeats Sin, it will kill Yunie too, you know! / Tidus: Was I the only one who didn't know...? [...] I can't let her die! I'll find her!
  13. ^ Square Co (March 13, 2003). Final Fantasy X-2 (PlayStation 2). Square Enix. Yuna [voiceover]: It all began when I saw this sphere of you. At least, it looked like you. I couldn't say for sure. I thought I might find more spheres like it if I joined the Gullwings. So I did. Oh, in case you're wondering, the Gullwings are sphere hunters, and sphere hunters are, well...this! We fly all over Spira. I'm really enjoying myself.
  14. ^ Siliconera Staff (December 19, 2013). "YRP Is Ready To Perform In Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call". Siliconera. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Rikku". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Niizumi, Hirohiko (October 5, 2004). "Move into Itadaki Street this Christmas". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Romano, Sal (October 11, 2016). "First look at Rikku in World of Final Fantasy". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Gann, Patrick. "Final Fantasy X-2 Vocal Collection - Rikku". RPGFan. Archived from the original on June 19, 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  19. ^ Miller, Matt (April 24, 2015). "The Artistry Of Play Arts". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  20. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 17, 2013). "Square Enix Poll: Favorite Female Final Fantasy Character". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  21. ^ Gifford, Kevin (February 10, 2010). "Snake Beats Mario, Is Coolest Video Game Character Ever". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  22. ^ "Babes of Final Fantasy XII". IGN. August 6, 2004. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  23. ^ Mackenzie, Gavin. "Top 10 hottest blondes in games". Play. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  24. ^ "Biggest Guns, Best Bounce and Viewers' Choice Baddest Good Girl". G4TV. Archived from the original on June 20, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  25. ^ "G-Phoria Winners: Full List". IGN. August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  26. ^ "Top 50 Videogame Hotties". UGO. November 25, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  27. ^ "25 Beach-Ready Bikini Babes in Video Games". Complex. June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  28. ^ Rouner, Jef (December 11, 2018). "A Lot of Male Protagonists in Final Fantasy are Dead Weight". Houston Press. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  29. ^ Wallace, Kimberley (April 26, 2013). "The Best RPG Characters To Hang Out With". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  30. ^ Sainsbury, Matt (June 26, 2015). "The Friday Ten: The dream JRPG team". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  31. ^ Sainsbury, Matt (February 2, 2018). "The Friday Ten: Ten characters from Final Fantasy that should be added to Dissidia". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  32. ^ Biessener, Adam (January 1, 2011). "Baldur's Gate II: Best RPG Ever". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  33. ^ Sainsbury, Matt (June 4, 2015). "Final Fantasy X-2: More than a pretty face?". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  34. ^ Mayhew, Lindsay (September 13, 2016). "All-female protagonist September: Bitchy or ditzy, the Final Fantasy Scale". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  35. ^ Lanxson, Nate (February 12, 2009). "The 8 Most Underrated Videogame Characters Ever". CNET. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  36. ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Announces Winners of 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  37. ^ Shea, Brian (September 23, 2015). "A Look At The Voices Behind Gaming's Iconic Characters". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
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