list of the "Top 25 Gaming Hunks", stating while critics described the character as a jerk, his character design, especially his scar, make him visually appealing. Den of Geek listed Squall as one of the most sexually appealing video game characters based on the design, especially his scar. In a 2008 Oricon poll, Squall was voted the tenth-most-popular video-game character. He was voted the 29th-best video-game character by Famitsu readers in February 2010. Complex listed him as the one of the greatest Final Fantasy characters. In a NHK poll from 2020, Squall was voted as the 13th best Final Fantasy character. Critical response Critical reaction to Squall was mixed. Jack Patrick Rodgers of PopMatters said Squall's cynicism and frustration with those around him made him a strong character but "coldly inhuman". Despite sharing a similar view, GameSpot said the "standoffish because of some repressed Wagnerian broodiness, in which case he was kind of interesting". According to IGN, the problem with the game was that is too centered around Squall's who comes across as a "jerk" most of the time, making him impossible to relate. 1UP.com still found him irrating, comparing him with similar archetypes explored in the franchise, but Edge compared Squall unfavorably with Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud Strife, as the former's angst is not given a proper source unlike the latter's The Gamer said Squall's antisocial personality might divide gamers. Eurogamer commented that while Squall remains as unlikable character even after his character arcs that contrast the more social and expressive Final Fantasy leads like Tidus or Noctis Lucis Caelum, he still remained as a realistic take on a soldier. While noting that Squall manages to become a better person, the changes are minimum and the idea of him being able to save the world comes across as "cringe comedy" due to its characterization which makes him do several mistakes. There was also commentary about Squall and Rinoa's relationship. GamesRadar Brett Elston critcized it, comparing it with the romance from Attack of the Clones. However, he stated in a different article, "Squall and Rinoa are at the heart of it all" even if they do not properly develop. According to Ryan Woo of Complex, stated the problem with the romance was it because it was mostly one-sided from Rinoa's side until the latter parts of the game where Squall's development makes it come across as forced. Mike Gorby,