The Surprising Fan-Favorite of Final Fantasy 14: A Tale of Twin Heads and Unexpected Charm

Final Fantasy 14 has always had its fair share of interesting characters that draw the community's attention, but even the game's director, Yoshi-P, seems taken aback by the latest object of affection: a two-headed lizard man named Bakool Ja Ja.

The Dawntrail community has recently turned its attention to Bakool Ja Ja, a character who is not only equipped with twin reptilian heads, scales, and three toes, but also a physique comparable to Jason Momoa. Despite his role as a rival in the battle for succession and the title of Dawnservant of Tuliyolla, Bakool Ja Ja has garnered a surprising amount of fan admiration. One of my colleagues, Iain Harris, noted that Final Fantasy 14 players have been unusually kind to this new character.

This might come as a shock to some but not to those familiar with the game's community. The character's muscular build alone explains a lot of the fascination, and while there are other more typical figures like the lovable Wuk Lamat, Final Fantasy 14 players have never been known to follow conventional tastes. Bakool Ja Ja, in many ways, fits the unique appeal that this community often seeks out.

It's clear that Yoshi-P and his team did not anticipate this particular response. During an interactive session at the Japan Expo Paris, Yoshi-P expressed his surprise at the community's reaction to Bakool Ja Ja. He couldn't fathom why this character had become the latest obsession, and it appears his entire development team shared his astonishment.

In some ways, it's charming that Yoshi-P remains somewhat unaware of the intricate tastes of his own game's community. However, this situation highlights a recurring trend: players often gravitate towards the most unexpected characters, creating and sharing fan art that celebrates their newfound interests online.

In light of these events, Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail has drawn some Stormblood comparisons, particularly after experiencing a "mixed" start on Steam. Players now eagerly await post-launch content, which they hope will elevate the MMO to even greater heights.