JRPGs almost always have the straight-shooter, no-nonsense character that’s always focused on the mission. Rarely offering commentary unless it’s vital or intelligent, these hard-boiled adventurers typically have a singular goal in mind and will not falter unless they are forced to. Final Fantasy in particular has a propensity to craft characters like that in almost every modern entry in the franchise thus far. Examples like Amarant Coral or Squall Leonhart rarely open up unless they have to, and can often push people away with brash behavior. On the flip side, there are characters like Final Fantasy 10‘s Auron and Final Fantasy 7‘s Vincent that show no emotion at all.
Auron and Vincent Valentine represent two sides of the same cold shoulder. Both characters are cold and solemn with their own respective mannerisms, whether it’s Vincent’s brooding reservation from his troubled past, or Auron’s strict Ronin-like dignity as a summoner’s guardian. Each character also plays a very similar role in their respective Final Fantasy game’s narratives, though through very different methods. While their specific personalities and battle styles differ pretty significantly, Vincent and Auron fulfill a very similar role in the party composition of Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 10 as the most dedicated soldier of them all.
Vincent Valentine’s place in the original Final Fantasy 7 is certainly a strange one, at least out of context. As an optional character, his introduction into the story is certainly vague and confusing likely because some players could miss Vincent entirely. Players learn Vincent was a former Shinra Turk, who name-drops Lucrecia after he hears Sephiroth’s name, stating that Lucrecia is Sephiroth’s true biological mother. However, through added context in the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7, Vincent’s true importance in the Final Fantasy 7 universe was unveiled. He’s intrinsically tied to Hojo and Sephiroth’s origins, and was also retconned as a main character later on.
A troubled past paired with deep regret and sorrow has made Vincent Valentine a very cold and depressive individual. According to Final Fantasy 7‘s canon, the Chaos materia and experiments from Hojo also allegedly repressed Vincent’s ability to express feelings, making him presumably unaffectionate. However, there are also several key examples where Vincent has broken out of his unemotional shell, though they’re certainly few and far between. Especially in the original Final Fantasy 7, he rarely speaks unless spoken to, but he is dedicated to the cause by his desire for revenge. Vincent wishes to punish Hojo for everything he’s done, but also atone for his sins.
In that vein, Auron’s story in Final Fantasy 10 also has plenty of regret fueling his mission. Auron’s a main party member in Final Fantasy 10, and is highly regarded as one of the most revered warriors in all of Spira. His existence, however, is a bit confusing when it comes to the game’s canon. Long story short, Auron becomes a devoted guardian to Yuna and the main party in service to ending the millennial cycle of Sin ravaging Spira and its inhabitants. While the rest of Final Fantasy 10‘s cast doesn’t realize his true intentions until the end of the game, Auron is secretly shepherding the effort to defeat the mythical Sin for good and bring everlasting peace to Spira.
Auron’s motivations are also powered by a deep regret, though his personality is characterized more as reserved and intelligent. He’s dignified and full of wisdom, rarely offering any insight unless it’s paramount to Yuna’s journey or the party’s safety. He does harbor a significant wrath from his previous failed attempt to stop Sin and save Spira, and is committed to guiding Yuna down the proper path. He also serves as a pivotal guide to Tidus, the player’s character, who is thrust into the world of Final Fantasy 10 unsure and frustrated with what fate had in store for him. Auron is a true-to-form guardian with seemingly no other desires other than to save Spira from Sin.
Between the two hard-boiled warriors, Auron and Vincent are very similar in design. Kazushige Nojima, the scenario writer for both Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 10, even acknowledges that Auron’s design was born from a comparison to Vincent himself. They’re both based on the “strong, silent type” character archetype, though they do exhibit some nuanced differences. They’re both largely spurred on by a deep regret for different reasons; Auron’s failure is transmuted into wrath as he dedicates his (after)life to defeating Sin permanently, while Vincent is primarily driven by a desire for revenge against Hojo and subsequently Sephiroth.
Of course, putting aside the main aesthetic differences between Auron and Vincent, they differ ever so slightly in their personalities as well. Auron’s personality and actions can almost be described as sage or monk-like, driven by a pure desire to fulfill a higher purpose much greater than himself. On the flip side, Vincent’s a far more remorseful and disturbed individual, driven by a much more selfish desire to seek revenge on those who deformed his body and ruined his life. That being said, both characters emphasize the nuance that can go into designing Final Fantasy characters, and how the same archetype can reflect two comparatively unique character designs.
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