Massive spoilers ahead

Kain Highwind is probably one of my favorite game characters ever created. He is a well-written, conflicted, deeply troubled soul. There is a reason he was on the cover of the game. And even though all the other characters in FF IV have an affliction related to their story that they must overcome to reach the end, Kain has several, and they're all tough to deal with. Those afflictions, those emotions, are jealousy, betrayal, and guilt.

Kain doesn't start out jealous. Hell, he starts out zealous, as his best friend and long-time associate Cecil gets in trouble with the King of Baron and is sent off on a dangerous mission. Kain defends his pal whole-heartedly and even offers his assistance on the trek, which is accepted and is even encouraged by the "King." Forward on to the town of Mist, where after the bomb is released and Cecil is horrified by his actions, Kain is ready to continue. Following orders is apparently all he's ever known, and if it wasn't for his best friends resolve of redemption he would've killed Rydia and continued on his dark path conscience free.

But he doesn't. He listen's to Cecil, understands him even, and agrees that yes, something is rotten in Denmark. However the two of them come to this conclusion just a mite bit too late, as killing the parent of a summoner understandably upsets the little Rydia, who then proceeds to unleash an earthquake on the surrounding region, losing Kain from the storyline.

This is important, as Kain leaves the story for several hours, and can be forgotten by the player as being important at all. Shame on you players however, as his return during the attack on Fabul is epic. Kain, best friend of the lead protaganist earlier in the game, has this exchange with Cecil.

Cecil: Kain! You're alive!

Kain: Yeah.

Cecil: Fight with us!

Kain: Surely. But against you, Cecil!

Cecil: Kain?

Kain: Single combat, Cecil!

Kain then proceeds to beat the everloving crap out of Cecil, and procures the Wind Crystal for Golbez who, unbeknowest to the player, is secretly controlling Kain by brainwashing him. Kain is next seen in a cutscene with Golbez discussing the ramifications of trying to get the dreaded Earth Crystal, and it's here that Kain first shows his feelings for Rosa, or rather, his feelings that he's better for Rosa than Cecil is.

Later on, after Tellahs noble/selfish death weakens Golbez, Kain's mind control is weakened enough for Kain to break free from it and help save Rosa for Cecil. Even in 16-bit form, you can see it break his heart to see them reunited in a passionate embrace afterwards. But, with feelings of guilt and admonishment towards himself, he decides to help his friends, who, regardless of his past indescretions decide to invite him along with them to fight Golbez.

...unfortuntely Golbez isn't done using Kain, and in a moment of brilliant thinking on the evil-doers side of things Golbez reasserts his control over Kain and makes him steal the last crystal needed by waiting until the "good-guys" open the sealed cave and trek down to find it. So again, Kain is made to betray his friends.



After finding a way to go to the moon to finally track down and stop Golbez, and after the revealings of many secrets, Kain is finally released from the control of Zeromus, who was the one responable for controlling Golbez to begin with. Even after all that, Cecil and Co. decide to take Kain with them, who is all too agreeable to that decision for the root fact that he wants to take down the one responsible for all his betrayals.



Still, Kain's greatest moment is after the game is over, after the wedding, when perched on top of Mount Ordeal, helmetless for the first time is Kain. Kain, who's only desire now is to rid himself of the jealousy and pain of his adventure, and to become a better man.