Final Fantasy 15's Chocobros paved the way for Leon Kennedy's glow-up

Resident Evil Requiem’s returning hero Leon Kennedy has inspired memes and compilation videos since the game's Feb. 27 release, with official Xbox and Nintendo social accounts joining the trend. If Leon’s shift from pretty boy to manly man appeals, 2016’s Final Fantasy 15 offers an even bigger glow-up.

Final Fantasy 15 opens with Prince Noctis and three friends on a road trip ahead of his wedding, until world-threatening calamity forces Noctis to seek the powers of the world's Astrals—summons—to overthrow a mysterious and charismatic villain who has usurped his throne.

The core party never changes: Gladio, the meathead bodyguard; Prompto, the chipper photographer; and Ignis, the fussy chef. Though fans were wary of an all-male cast before release, the group's constant teasing, shared memories and offbeat conversations helped them feel like real friends and earned them the nickname “the Chocobros.” The game made extensive use of optional open-world dialogue, a device the Final Fantasy 7 remakes later expanded upon.

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