Noctis Lucis Caelum - Final Fantasy
Noctis Lucis Caelum is the protagonist of the role-playing game Final Fantasy XV, which was developed by Square Enix and released on the Sony PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016, then later released on other platforms.
The game is set in the world of Eos where besides the capital Lucis, the empire of Niflheim controls the world and seeks the magical Crystal protected by the Lucis royal family. As peace is being negotiated, Niflheim attacks the capital and escapes with the Crystal. Noctis Lucis Caelum the heir of the Lucian throne, begins a quest to find the crystal for the purpose of stopping Niflheim.
Noctis is also the protagonist in Final Fantasy 15 Pocket Edition, a shortened and compressed mobile version of the original game. Noctis was created by Tetsuya Nomura, a veteran character designer of the Final Fantasy series Hiromu Takahara, Yusuke Naora. Noctis has inspired a range of fan art, making appearances in spin-off games, has given rise to merchandise, and since been recreated in a number of different figures.
Since his first appearance, Noctis has reappeared in multiple titles such as Dissidia Final Fantasy, Opera Omnia, Theatrhythm, Record Keeper, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, and other titles. Noctis as a character was rather well-received and has been compared to other popular characters such as Squall Leonhart from the other Final Fantasy series.
Appearance and Personality
Noctis is a young man with spiky black hair, and medium length bangs covering his crystal blue eyes. He wears a black, unzipped jacket with skull shaped buttons and sequin styled pockets. Under his jacket, he is wearing a skull printed fray undershirt. His trousers are charcoal black and he wears red-soled buckled boots, complemented with a motorcyclist glove on his left hand. Nomura wanted Noctis to have a personality not seen in previous characters and wanted to include some idiosyncratic traits. He also wanted Noctis to not be the typical “good” character and chose to display a mix of both benevolent as well as selfish intentions and actions, making him somewhat similar to that of an anti-hero. Noctis is generally shy and might have a lot of personality traits that are derived from childhood incidents. When not out collecting materials, defeating monsters, or helping people with their various problems, Noctis enjoys a peaceful fishing trip, which also allows the player to partake in the experience as well. He travels with three of his long-time friends: Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto, who are all assigned as his aids and help him on his adventures. While they are all companions, each one of them has sworn to protect Noctis’ life with their own. Despite the difference in status, however, Noctis always treats the three as equals.
Backstory
Noctis is the only heir of King Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII of Lucis. This royal family protects the Crystal, a divine, magical object that is connected to the world's divinities. At five, Noctis was chosen by the Crystal to be the “True King”, a figure of prophecy that would purge Eos of the Starscourge, a plague capable of triggering eternal darkness onto the world and transforming living beings into demons. At eight, Noctis was assaulted by a demon and had to travel to Tenebrae to recover, where he meets the princess of the nation, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret. Noctis and Regis must flee when the nation is invaded by the Niflheim Empire. As an heir to the throne of Lucis, Noctis is able to use the “power of kings”, which allows him to materialize weapons that he owns out of thin air and wield the royal arms of his ancestors. After the Niflheim steals the Crystal from the Royal Family in Capital City, Noctis sets out to recover it. Noctis also gains the help of Astrals, divine beings that originally trusted the Crystal to his Royal Family. In-game, the Astrals come to aid Noctis as powerful summons that will easily defeat enemies.
On his quest, he is indirectly aided by the Oracle Lunafreya (who also happens to be Noctis’ fiancé), her attendant Gentiana, and Niflheim's Chancellor Ardyn Izunia. Ardyn turns out to be the immortal older brother of Somus, an ancient ancestor of Noctis who swore to exact revenge on the Crystal and his bloodline because they demonized him for taking the Starscourge into his body to heal the infected. Eventually, Noctis is pulled into the Crystal and learns from the Astral Bahamut that he can destroy the Starscourge forever, but must sacrifice himself to do so. Noctis eventually reunites with his companions and they defeat Ardyn. He then sacrifices himself and purges the world of the Starscourge.
Reception
Anime News Network’s Todd Ciolek described Noctis as "your standard-issue brash anime kid in demeanor." He has been compared to Naruto's anti-hero and antisocial character, Sasuke Uchiha as well as Squall Leonhart, another Final Fantasy character.