It doesn’t matter if aJRPG’s setting is a fantastical medieval world, steampunk, something entirely new, or a blend of all eras because the creator will always find a way to sneak in some technology.
Series likeFinal FantasyandXenoblademay appear on the surface to have predominantly fantasy settings, but before long, they sprinkle in some sci-fi. Among these technological elements, my favorites are robot characters.
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The relationship between flesh-and-blood characters and those made of wires and bolts is always entertaining. Offering entirely different perspectives, they naturally lead to hilarious and unexpected conflicts.
That’s why, in this list, we’re celebrating the best JRPG robot party members, who, despite not having an organic beating heart, have more love and affection than many other characters out there.
9Cait Sith
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
He’s not my favorite character either, butFinal Fantasy VII’sCait Sith has his charms and, undeniably, a unique authenticity as a robot character.
For the unaware, Cait Sith, the cat sitting atop the stuffed moogle, is actually an animatronic robot, meaning it mimics the appearance of a living being.
However, he’s not genuinely sentient, as he’s controlled by Reeve most of the time. I’d like to believe that Cait Sith has a certain degree of AI autonomy, because I can’t imagine Shinra’s Urban Development head controlling the cat 24/7—especially with his endless corporate meetings.
WhetherCait Sith is Reeve’s second personaor just an annoying AI, he’s not every player’s cup of tea. However, his fortune-telling, cryptic statements, betrayal, and redemption arcs were way better depicted inFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth,which even helped the cat rank higher in fan-favorite character polls.
Live A Live
Live A Liveis one of themost unique JRPGsI’ve ever played. It features numerous characters, each with its own dedicated scenario and adapted gameplay style. Of all of them, Cube, the protagonist of the Distant Future chapter, is my favorite.
Cube’s chapter has maybe one or two battles at most. Most of the time, it feels like an episode of a whodunit mystery as you try to figure out who’s killing off the crew members of the spaceship Cogito Ergo Sum.
Fundamentally, your choices don’t change much since the culprit is revealed in the end, but it’s intriguing to see the narrative unfold.
Cube wasn’t designed to speak, but he possesses and portrays many human qualities, such as empathy and curiosity.
When the spaceship’s crew starts pointing fingers at each other, Cube remains impartial and open-minded and figures out the truth on his own, saving the remaining survivors. Such a dear, beautifully rounded little robot.
Rogue Galaxy
Steve Pocacchio is one of the first party members to join Jaster’s interplanetary adventures inRogue Galaxy.He arrives alongside his trusty companion, Simon, while searching for the legendary Desert Claw, mistaking the protagonist for him. This mix-up is what kickstarts the game’s plot.
Steve was created by Dr. Pocacchio, with whom he maintains constant contact to provide mission updates. Their relationship is endearing, with the android always recounting his adventures with enthusiasm and a childlike curiosity.
Later, it’s revealed that Dr. Pocacchio embedded the memories of his late son, Mark, into Steve, whom he reunites with whenever providing feedback.
Eventually, authorities discover what the doctor did and delete all data banks, erasing Mark from Steve. Even so, the android continues to live on, each day developing a more human-like personality of his own.
6Poppi (Hana)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Poppi is an artificial Blade fromXenoblade Chronicles 2,created by the obnoxious Tora. The best thing about Poppi is how she’s constantly dissing her creator because, like most Nopons, Tora is quite unbearable and always teetering on the edge of doing something inappropriate.
With her youthful energy and sincerity,Poppi is one of the best characters. She loves learning more about the world while packing a punch with her countless hidden robot weapons.
She speaks in a dialect similar to the Nopons, a quirk inherited from Tora. Plus, Poppi has two additional forms, each representing an older version of herself.
Maid outfit aside, Poppi Quixotic Tutelar, shortened to QT, is a more mature and combat-ready version of Poppi. Her final form, Poppi Quantum Technochampion π, skillfully shortened to Poppi QT π (read that out loud), gives the Blade an adult-like appearance and demeanor, with more articulate dialogue.
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
After her appearance inXenosaga,KOS-MOS was, for a long time, Monolith Soft’s poster woman, making countless crossover appearances that would even makeNieR’s2B jealous.
The android even resurfaced inXenoblade Chronicles 2as a legendary Blade,sparking numerous fan theoriesamong players who love both series.
KOS-MOS deserves all this love and then some. The cyborg was created to fight the gnosis,Xenosaga’smain enemy, but her relationship with the protagonist, Shion, captivates players.
Alongside the scientist, KOS-MOS gradually evolves, developing human traits and empathy and questioning her existence.
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It also helps that KOS-MOS is a total badass, equipped with an arsenal of weapons that make her an absolute menace to her enemies.
Her creator andMonolith Soft’s director, Tetsuya Takahashi, once said he designed her as a counterpart to humanity, describing her as “delicate pieces of soul in an unbreakable vessel.”
NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata’s2B is probably one of the most famous androids in JRPG history—maybe even beyond the subgenre. Much of that is thanks to Yoko Taro, who’s willing to put2B in any collaborationas long as money is involved, fromStellar BladetoSoul Calibur.
While I like 2B, it’s indisputable that her growth and development are intrinsically tied to her companion, 9S. Without him, she’d be another badass, duty-bound android. But little by little, 9S chips away at 2B’s emotional cracks, revealing layers of complexity in her personality.
I’ll avoid spoilers, but for those who have playedAutomata,you know that 9S has a far more impactful narrative arc than 2B.
He suffers from two issues: excessive knowledge of YoRHa’s operations and later dealing with survivor’s guilt. The game doesn’t hold back in putting him through the wringer, while players can only hope for the best.
Chrono Trigger
When I talked about thebest JRPG animal party members,I chose Frog. Luckily, sinceChrono Triggerhas such a diverse and captivating cast, it’s returning with our friendly and empathetic Robo, also known as Prometheus.
Crono and the gang find Robo deactivated in Lavos' ruined future. Lucca quickly repairs him, and right off the bat, Robo reveals himself to be a friend to humanity, eager to help the group in their endeavors.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for other mechanical constructs, which act aggressively toward the party.
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Later in the game, we learn that all robots were initially built to aid humanity, but a directive from the now-corrupted Mother Brain turned them violent.
It’s heart-wrenching to watch Robo destroy his girlfriend, Atropos XR. Ultimately, Robo remembers his mission: to serve humans and stop Mother Brain.
Breath of Fire IV
While technically, Ershin isn’t a robot per se, her functionality and behavior are so similar that I found it fitting to include her here. She’s one of the characters fromBreath of FireIVand houses within her the spirit of Deis, one of the game’s Endless beings.
Everything about Ershin’s personality and story is shrouded in mystery. The armor only functions when Deis is inside her, and when she is, Ershin has her own distinct characteristics and voice, swinging between wise and eccentric.
She laughs at inappropriate moments and often speaks with authority, misguiding if it’s her thoughts or Deis' being voiced.
However, when Deis separates from the armor, Ershin shuts down, suggesting she isn’t powered on her own. In short, it’s speculated that the goddess Deis' spirit and power gradually spread through the armor, creating this artificial yet hilarious and chaotic avatar.
Persona 3 Reload
The subplot of an android mingling with humans and absorbing traits like empathy and love isn’t new, but a few have been as well-executed as it was with Aigis inPersona 3.A lot of that comes down to the series' Social Link feature, which allows us to deepen our relationship with Aigis over time.
Aigis was created to combat Shadows and has an intimate protective bond with the protagonist, yet she struggles with social interactions with others. Over time, she gradually learns more about herself, about emotions, and even develops feelings she never experienced before.
Her evolution is gradual and incredibly believable, perfectly fittingPersona 3’sthemes while heavily relying on theAigis Social Link development.
It’s hard not to get attached to her as she tries to understand humans, considering we also don’t fully comprehend ourselves. Unsurprisingly, Aigis received a dedicated DLC expanding her backstory and even introducing her sister, Metis.
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