Final Fantasy has established a legacy of exceptional performances throughout the years, from the dramatic Flair reminiscent of Game of Thrones in Final Fantasy XVI to the darkly humorous style of Stranger of Paradise. However, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles offers a truly distinctive chance – an opportunity for Square Enix to further polish one of the most cherished RPGs ever. Undertaking such a monumental task alone is challenging, but for an actor stepping into the roles of 28-year-old characters, now fully voiced for the first time, it presents its own set of difficulties.

“I can’t say it’s difficult, but knowing that Delita was such a cherished character, and with the franchise’s vast popularity, I felt a real duty to honor him,” shares Gregg Lowe, the voice actor portraying Delita Heiral. “Another challenge lies in his moral ambiguity. He’s a very intricate character, unlike any I’ve portrayed before. I’ve played several villains, some quite straightforward – but Delita isn’t.”

Lowe is among a talented group of actors brought on to give new vitality to Final Fantasy Tactics, taking on what is arguably the most significant character in the game. The British-Canadian actor has lent his voice to various games previously, including Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Lies of P. However, he states that Tactics was a vastly “new” experience for him, mainly due to its intricate and ambitious narrative.

“I consider this Delita’s tale, in some ways. He’s a tragic protagonist but might also be perceived as a villain.”

Interestingly, Lowe wasn’t particularly well-versed in Final Fantasy prior to landing the role and had never even heard of Tactics specifically – yet he quickly mentions that after this role, he would eagerly welcome the chance to collaborate on Final Fantasy projects again, partly due to the enthusiasm of everyone involved in the game and the encouraging fan community.

Given the game’s rich history, Lowe chose not to delve deeply into researching the original game and instead approached it from a brand-new angle – fully adopting the revised script.

The PSP edition of Final Fantasy Tactics, The War of the Lions, was widely recognized for its Shakespearean old-English style. Although capturing that “essence” wasn’t the main objective for the actors, it did subtly influence portions of this new version in The Ivalice Chronicles.

“There wasn’t a directive to make it Shakespearean, but I think the writing already has a specific rhythm to it,” notes Lowe, “The language is quite unique, similar to Game of Thrones; it evokes that atmosphere. The writing in this game is phenomenal, and the localization and translation processes were excellent. We didn’t turn it into Shakespeare, but it certainly resonates in the text itself.”

This comparison is simple to draw, as Final Fantasy Tactics expertly blends grand fantasy with tragedy, offering a narrative rich with ethos and meaning. Delita is particularly compelling due to the varying aspects of his life and personality that are revealed; at times, he acts as a supportive figure to the main character Ramza, while at others, he represents an antagonistic force.

“We aimed to avoid going overboard in making him sound overly youthful or significantly older, but we sought to inject some youthful enthusiasm into his voice,” explains Lowe. “The most notable transformation with Delita is that as he matures, he grows considerably more cynical and detached. I focused on minimizing excessive expression, allowing the weight of his emotions to come through in a cold and calculated manner. We intended to portray that through his voice, steering clear of being too theatrical with his delivery.”

“Delita reaches a breaking point in that moment, setting him on a trajectory that will define his story, life, and ultimately his downfall.”

Delita’s moral complexity has sparked discussions among fans regarding his role in the narrative for decades. While Lowe consciously avoids categorizing the character as simply a hero or villain, he perceives Delita as a richly nuanced “gift” of a character.

“He has this Machiavellian ascent to power, but in doing so, he loses everything around him. His thirst for vengeance blinds him as he strives to right the world in his mind. And there’s this voracious appetite for power. It serves as quite a lesson, doesn’t it? That yearning for power can ruin everything and everyone in its path,” asserts Lowe, “I believe this narrative encapsulates Delita’s journey in some sense. He’s a tragic protagonist but could likewise be viewed as a villain. And, like any compelling antagonist, he truly believes he’s acting for the greater good. That’s something we wanted to compellingly convey.”

Nailing the appropriate tone for Delita was a significant challenge, primarily due to his crucial role in the intricate puzzle of Final Fantasy Tactics’ storyline. Beyond Ramza, Delita is arguably