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Gungho is a non-player character in Final Fantasy VI. He is a childhood friend of Strago from Thamasa, and a seasoned adventurer and monster hunter.

Profile[]

Appearance[]

Gungho uses the same sprite as numerous generic "old man"-type NPCs. He has a red robe over white clothes and a red cap, and white hair with a long beard.

Personality[]

Gungho is an old friend of Strago's, but insults him to his face for his failure in his youth to slay the legendary monster Hidon, and accuses him of being a pathetic coward who makes excuses for giving up his dream. Gungho resorts to underhanded tactics to motivate Strago to achieve his goal in his old age at last, but does so because he truly cares for him and wants him to put a personal demon to rest.

Story[]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)
FFVI Android Gungho Injured

Gungho injured.

After the Battle of Thamasa, Gungho returned to Thamasa and reunited with Strago. He questioned if Strago had finally achieved his lifelong dream of defeating Hidon, a legendary monster the two of them hunted in their youth, but Strago admitted he hadn't. Strago claimed he didn't quit, it was merely that Hidon lives within Ebot's Rock and the island sunk decades ago, but Gungho brushed this off as an excuse.

When Strago and Relm visited Thamasa in the World of Ruin, Relm alerted Strago that Gungho was hurt. Strago asked who had done this and Gungho claimed he had found Hidon and almost defeated him, and urged Strago to avenge him. Though Strago was reluctant to take up the chase again after so many years, he agreed and set off to Ebot's Rock. After defeating Hidon Strago returned to Thamasa to brag to Gungho about his feat. That night as Strago told the story of his battle with Hidon, he fell asleep at the kitchen table.

FFVI PC Gungho Relm

Gungho and Relm after the event.

Gungho slipped out of the house and was met by Relm, the two discussing that they had faked Gungho's injuries to motivate Strago to realize his dream at last. Gungho was dubious about not telling Strago the truth, but Relm reassured him it was for the best, though she teased that Gungho had been a terrible actor and only Strago would have been gullible enough to believe him.

Afterward Gungho remained in Thamasa; when Hidon eventually reappeared, he informed the party of this.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay[]

Gungho first appears in Thamasa after the story events there involving Kefka's attack. If spoken to with Strago in the party, a longer dialogue scene plays of them discussing Hidon.

In the World of Ruin, entering Thamasa through the southern passage between the equipment shop and the item shop with Relm and Strago in the party initiates a scene of them learning Gungho is hurt. After the party defeats Hidon, Gungho will wander outside Thamasa. Speaking to him repeatedly will eventually prompt him to warn the party Hidon has been spotted again, triggering the ability to find him again in Ebot's Rock. Hidon is the only enemy in the game to use Grand Train, Strago's ultimate Lore, so if they miss out learning it the first time they can talk to Gungho to unlock the option to fight Hidon again. This can be done indefinitely, even if Strago learns Grand Train.

Other media[]

In the Dawn of Souls and 20th Anniversary remakes of the original Final Fantasy, Gungho is one of the automatic names the player can choose for the Black Mage job.

Behind the scenes[]

In the original Super NES and Playstation translation of the script, Gungho's conversation with Relm implies that he had taken it upon himself to fake his wounds to motivate Strago to hunt Hidon again, and Relm had figured out he was faking it but kept quiet. The original Japanese script, and the re-translated Gameboy Advance script, make it clear that the two had hatched the plan together, and the 25th Anniversary Ultimania further claims the scheme was originally Relm's idea.

Etymology[]

Gung-ho is an English-language term taken from Chinese, the term means "enthusiastic" or "overzealous". Gung ho is an anglicised pronunciation of gōng hé (工合), which is also sometimes anglicised as "kung ho." The two Chinese characters gōng and are translatable individually as "work" and "together."

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