LogFAQs > #895358783

29. Yuri Lowell (Tales of Vesperia)

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/aselia/images/7/7e/Yuri_Cut-in_%28TotW-RM3%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20141012043352

"I recognize it for what is is, and I've made my choices."

"...And even knowing that, you intend to dirty your hands."

"Intend to? I already have."

Yuri's design is dumb. I don't know why he has to look exactly like a girl while simultaneously having an open-chest shirt. This will not be the first instance of me complaining about Tales designs for characters I still really like.

Yuri is effortlessly likable. He lacks basically every personality trait that makes a lot of other RPG characters insufferable. Cool, confident, and competent, Yuri props up a lot of Vesperia's shortcomings simply by being a character that's fun to travel around with. A big reason for that is Troy Baker's performance as him. It's still one of the best he's ever done.

What really gets Yuri on this list, though, is certain actions he takes throughout the course of the story. Yuri can't bear to watch people in high standing get away with heinous crimes due to their clout. This stems from growing up in the Lower Quarters, where the downtrodden got stepped on with regularity. Fed up with the system, Yuri takes matters into his own hands, resulting in what are easily the most memorable scenes in the game. I remember each one very clearly.

Unfortunately, Vesperia's poor storytelling prevent Yuri from becoming one of the all-time greats. His involvement in the story and the results of his actions seem to be building to some dramatic breaking point, and then it just...doesn't. The big magical plot device thing starts happening and the plot forgets about everything else. It's truly a shame that the last 1/3 of the game didn't execute the potential of Yuri's storyline to its fullest. Or...execute it at all. It's actually kind of jarring how quickly everything gets brushed aside.
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Black Turtle did a pretty good job.