Noctis Lucis Caelum

Lore & Background

Noctis was created by Tetsuya Nomura and later revised by art co-director Yusuke Naora, aiming for a realistic portrayal with facial blemishes and hair that looked ordered from the front but wild from the rear. His design reflects themes of father-son relationships, mirroring his father Regis Lucis Caelum. The character's aging during the story was a major departure from typical JRPGs; developers used photos of war veterans to design his older features, emphasizing development and maturity. Noctis's powers were originally linked to the goddess Etro but shifted when Versus XIII became Final Fantasy XV, though he retained abilities like warping across battlefields and changing eye color from blue to red during magic use. The Ring of the Lucii was central to his story early on, while his gloves served primarily design purposes.

In Their Own Story

Noctis's journey began as a temporary outfit based on early scripts before his final look by Hiromu Takahara was finalized. He travels with friends in the Regalia, a car symbolizing his connection to his father, despite limited direct interaction between them in-game. The narrative focuses on his transition from a prince hiding shyness behind a cold exterior to a king facing dread and acceptance of his fate. Unlike other Final Fantasy protagonists, Noctis was designed with an 'overabundance of idiosyncrasy' and traits of both hero and villain. His rivalry with Ardyn Izunia is unique because they start as friends before their hatred develops. The story culminates in a time skip where an aged Noctis returns to fulfill the prophecy, using the Ring of the Lucii to banish darkness.

Reader's Guide

Noctis is voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki in Japanese and Ray Chase in English; his portrayal was influenced by both actors. During early recording, Suzuki played him as an introvert with a gruff manner. The game's theme song, a cover of 'Stand by Me' by Florence and the Machine, serves as Noctis's non-verbal message of gratitude. Gameplay mechanics include the Engine Blade, which was emphasized in early Versus XIII trailers showing an overpowered Noctis before the script shifted to a weakened character collecting weapons. Originally, only Noctis could use magic, but this was changed so his companions could too. His 'Armiger' ability summons multiple weapons, and he can summon ancestral spirits. The developers feared fans might reject the aging mechanic but felt it was essential for conveying development on current-gen consoles.

Did You Know?

• Noctis's name was chosen partly because Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII already had a weather-based name.
• His real-life clothing designs by Roen were kept in the developer's office for reference to ensure material accuracy.
• The development team used photos of war veterans to design Noctis's aged facial features for the time-skip portion.
• Noctis was originally intended to be one of four controllable characters in Versus XIII before becoming the sole protagonist.
• His hairstyle was designed using a mannequin's wig and rendered with Luminous Engine, a technique first seen in Agni's Philosophy.