If you’re a video game enthusiast, there’s a good chance that you’ll have heard of Ben Starr. A star in name and nature after starring across Final Fantasy XVI, Hades II and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
GAMINGbible had the opportunity to speak with Ben at MCM Comic Con London about his recent legendary stint of hit projects, personal love for video games, and how important it is to interact with fans.
“Being at a fan convention like this is more about getting an item signed or having a photograph taken; it’s a genuine opportunity for us to speak to the person, whether it’s Final Fantasy XVI or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” Ben says with the biggest smile.
“Every person I speak to is different and has different experiences. Talking to fans is also an opportunity to really understand how they feel about your game, because when we’re making a game, it's done in isolation. Here, you get to know the true impact that a game has had.
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“One fan made me an entire book from Final Fantasy XVI with a crystal and two daggers built into it. I get to see people who have spent 100 hours creating a costume for a character that I helped build. It’s about them showing love for something you’ve helped to create. It’s so rewarding as a performer to have that interaction and love.”
On His Final Fantasy Breakout Role
After spending years in the TV industry, it’s fair to say that Ben’s first major break in video games came with the aforementioned Final Fantasy XVI, where he portrayed lead character Clive Rosfield. The role had an immediate and positive impact on his career, resulting in a ‘Best Lead Performer’ award at the Golden Joysticks and a nomination at The Game Awards in 2023.
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“Clive, as a character, is why I fell in love with video game acting. Final Fantasy XVI is the game that gave me the career that I have now. I’ve been playing Final Fantasy games since I was 10. This series is in my bones, and I understand how important it is,” Ben says.
“I go to MCM Comic Cons because of Clive. I get to stand in front of 3,000 screaming fans at Carnegie Hall because of Clive. He’s why I was in Hades II, a sequel to one of my favourite games of all time, and more recently, Clair Obscur.
“I’m so thankful for the team at Square Enix and the director of Final Fantasy XVI, Morgan Rushton. He’s remarkable. He gave a nobody like me a chance. He believed in me to play Clive. I owe my career to him. People talk about Mount Rushmore of various things, and Clive is the most important character that I’ll ever play.”
Ben is now the talk of the industry once again, having delivered a stellar performance in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s not only one of the best games released this year, it could go down as one of the best video games of all time. Incredible, really, when you think that a team of around 30 developers worked on the project at Sandfall Interactive. It not only received critical acclaim across the board, but is also already picking up awards.
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The Success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
“I always thought that this game was going to be remarkable, but I had no idea how huge this game would become. When Jennifer [English] and I first locked eyes when we knew we were both going to be in it, I think it was at the BAFTAs, we told each other that this was going to be really good. But you can never really tell how good something is truly going to be until it’s out there,” he says.
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a cultural moment that’s happening. I’ve seen hundreds of fans dressed up as its characters. We talk about art inspiring art. People want to celebrate this game in so many ways because it has had such an impact on their lives. I know it’s not a game for everyone, and in a way, that’s why we didn't expect it to be as huge as it's become. I think it’s one of those games that’s not popular in the sense of sales, but popular in the sense that people want to talk about it.
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“It’s a game that’s the child of a small group of people who had an unapologetic vision and understood what they wanted to create, and it’s been received in that way. I think it's the honesty with which that video game is made that resonated so much, and it’s why so many people are emotionally attached to its characters. There's nothing cynical about it.”
After an amazing few years, Ben reflected on his recent success, particularly with regards to the joy the last 12 months has brought him.
“Getting married was a huge, huge thing for me,” he told me.
“Staying true to myself has also been important, especially with so much going on in my life. The last 12 months have been a sensory overload in a number of ways. Despite all of that, I’m very proud that I remained true and the most honest version of myself, the ethos of which I like to work, even if that means accepting a BAFTA on behalf of Balatro dressed up as a clown,” Ben concluded.
Topics: Features, Final Fantasy, Indie Games, Interview