The latest issue of V-Jump
reveals a new playable
Final Fantasy XIII character who deviates from the JRPG norm. Sazh Kalzroy (that's his name) likes the color green, uses two pistol-like weapons, loves Chocobos ... and he's black. One of the last memorable black characters in a JRPG we can recall is Barret from
Final Fantasy VII, way back in 1997. We considered Fran from
FF XII ... but she was more of a bunny. There's also Vivi from
FF IX, although we're not sure if a black mage counts.
It'll be interesting to see how Kalzroy is portrayed in the game. We're also wondering if we'll see a lot more diversity from NPC characters inhabiting the world of
FF XIII, or if Kalzroy will be the only black man on the planet. You can check out the full V-Jump scan
here.
[Thanks, Copland]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
LaughingTarget @ Jan 14th 2009 11:22AM
Since Japan isn't beneath using stereotypes, he'll be the only black man on the planet and be a compilation of every stereotype found in 1970s blaxposition theater movies.
Dirty @ Jan 14th 2009 11:29AM
Hit me up with that Phoenix Down, Sucka!
shane86 @ Jan 14th 2009 11:58AM
Sup Dawg, we heard you liked Barrett in FF7, so we put this dude in FF13
Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 14th 2009 12:13PM
Slap me some five brotha.
Allllriiight.
*over-cool walk*
Doreo @ Jan 14th 2009 12:22PM
And the black cosplayers go Crazy!
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jan 14th 2009 12:48PM
Isn't that blaxploitation?
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 14th 2009 1:23PM
Yes, because Western Developers are much better on this front. So sayeth the Cooooal train, baybee.
I take it you never played Daikatana and had to suffer through Superfly Johnson?
ToRo @ Jan 14th 2009 1:38PM
@ laughing target
Hey you have a Gurren Lagann avatar! Awesome! I just finished watching a few days ago. Episodes 1-15 dragged on like a bitch. But it gets good after that. I just wish they developed the characters a little more.
LaughingTarget @ Jan 14th 2009 2:26PM
I found the character development to be just fine where it mattered. Kamina was an awesome character and had the perfect amount of punch at you know what episode. Also, the pacing was perfect. It was the anime equivalent of Spore, but not full of DRM and suck.
LaughingTarget @ Jan 14th 2009 2:26PM
Sheppy - I never played Daikatana because John Romero is a tool.
doom saber @ Jan 14th 2009 4:40PM
Just like how American is above it with classic char designs like Afro Thunder in Ready 2 Rumble *sacarsm*
Stevo @ Jan 14th 2009 11:46PM
It's Frickin Lando Calrissian!
Sidebuster @ Jan 14th 2009 11:22AM
Well at least he doesn't look like Denis Rodman.
Doreo @ Jan 14th 2009 12:44PM
I figure every battle will go out like this...
*Attack*
Ugh Dynomite!!!!
*Guard*
Ugh Don't stop till you get enough!
*Victory Chant*
Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be Defeated
Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight
It Doesn't Matter Who's Wrong Or Who's Right
Know what I wonder, does he hold his pistols sideways when he shoots?
Erluti @ Jan 14th 2009 11:24AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xHPU6NulM
Daniel @ Jan 14th 2009 11:41AM
Leg 'er down 'n smack 'em yak 'em!
Cold, got to be!
God, I love that movie.
McWeen @ Jan 14th 2009 11:25AM
The last black character I remember from a JRPG was Mark from Revelations: Persona and he wasn't even in the original Japanese version of the game. Somehow they decided adding an ebonics speaking black character would make the game better.
Dirty @ Jan 14th 2009 11:27AM
Better than a ebonics speaking Pontiac.
mongoos32 @ Jan 14th 2009 12:08PM
The last one I remember is in Fallout 3, and he was the one handing out quests for you to enslave people. Irony? Granted this Fallout 3 from a western developer, and is not a JRPG.
JJ Rooster @ Jan 14th 2009 12:22PM
The sheriff in Megaton was black. That town was the bomb, yo!
Dirty @ Jan 14th 2009 12:53PM
Where the white women at?
Daniel @ Jan 14th 2009 2:01PM
@JJ Rooster
A black sheriff?!
Why not? It worked in Blazing Saddles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdEgHcDw2V0
Comet @ Jan 14th 2009 11:30AM
When did Square enix start making a Shaft game?
SuMtOnE @ Jan 14th 2009 11:31AM
isnt Barrack a blk guy on FF7 if dats his name, its been so long
J @ Jan 14th 2009 11:47AM
I want to correct you, but I'm hoping someone much wittier will come along and do a better job.
Zertoss @ Jan 14th 2009 12:02PM
Yeah, Barrack was the president of the Shinra corporation after he beat out McCloud in the Midgar election.
Scooter @ Jan 14th 2009 12:15PM
Are you for Cereal?
Blank-Mage @ Jan 14th 2009 3:41PM
God, I love the internet.
rowd149 @ Jan 14th 2009 5:00PM
I'm going to assume from your use of the word "dat" that you're a dude who has only a passing familiarity with most video games, and answer you non-sarcastically: no, that would be Barret.
Shagittarius @ Jan 14th 2009 11:33AM
Who's the black private dick
That's a sex machine to all the chicks?
Sazh!
Ya damn right!
Kamizar @ Jan 14th 2009 11:34AM
He's one bad motherf...
Shagittarius @ Jan 14th 2009 11:35AM
Shut yo mouth!
Kamizar @ Jan 14th 2009 11:37AM
Im only talking about Sazh!
Wiinterfang @ Jan 14th 2009 11:39AM
I hope he has an 30's and 70's accent with some Hip Hop words to spice things over in there....yo.
Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 14th 2009 12:14PM
I can dig it.
343 Guilty Fart @ Jan 14th 2009 12:32PM
It's the Sazh-train baby!
Wiinterfang @ Jan 14th 2009 11:33AM
At least they didn't give him White hair or something =/.
Wiinterfang @ Jan 14th 2009 11:36AM
He looks freaking cool though, reminds me of with Ultimate Chimera, that's with the little Yellow Bird =D.
LaughingTarget @ Jan 14th 2009 11:37AM
When I see that, I think of the Crunchy Chicks from Fable and how I would eat them to be...EVIL!
player66 @ Jan 14th 2009 11:37AM
Japan: Keeping racial stereotypes alive since 19XX.
JJ Rooster @ Jan 14th 2009 12:25PM
The comments here seemed to be doing a pretty good job too.
Antagonist @ Jan 14th 2009 12:34PM
What choo talkin' 'bout Rooster?
player66 @ Jan 14th 2009 2:17PM
This guy makes Barret from VII look like Wayne Brady.
Hyams @ Jan 14th 2009 11:42AM
Don't like his hair. Looks flat on top, which is just weird.
But: yay, multiple character control in battles confirmed!
I'd feared it'd be like FF12, in that you only controle a single character and everyone else acted on their own.
j.howlett @ Jan 14th 2009 1:49PM
you could control everybody in ff12 if you wanted. you could turn off the gambits or keep them simple and switch the leader at any time.
Lard @ Jan 14th 2009 11:44AM
Insert N'Gai Croal comment in 3, 2, 1.......
Neuromancer @ Jan 14th 2009 12:25PM
As long as the black guy isn't also a zombie, he might be OK with it.
WMain00 @ Jan 14th 2009 11:45AM
Hmmmm
*photoshops out afro, replaces with short shaved hair*
*photoshops out beard*
*places him in a black suit*
Holy crap, it's Obama!
:P
Wiinterfang @ Jan 14th 2009 11:47AM
Are you saying that all Black People look alike?
Although Well they are all black...You are safe for now.
Zertoss @ Jan 14th 2009 12:09PM
*colors afro blond*
*removes beard*
*adds sunglasses*
Holy crap! It's Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo!