Lloyd Irving

Lloyd Irving is the main character of Tales of Symphonia, the fifth major release in the Tales series.

Character
Lloyd uses skill and logic to make up for what he lacks in knowledge, which is often a joke throughout the series as he fails to answer various educational questions. This shows that what he lacks in book smarts he makes up for in street smarts. He is generally idealistic, and tries to do what he believes is best for the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Early in the game, Lloyd makes very rash decisions regardless of what consequences his actions may have, which he later realizes and repents. Kratos compares him to Mithos, saying the only difference between them is that Lloyd is capable of acknowledging his own mistakes. Another character also compares Lloyd to Mithos saying he is idealistic and very dearly wants to save both worlds but Lloyd denies that he is like Mithos and says he does not want to save the worlds Mithos' way but rather, his own way, without sacrifice.

Family
During the beginning of the game we learn that Lloyd is an orphan, raised by a Dwarven blacksmith by the name of Dirk. He finds out that his mother, Anna, was murdered by the Desians because she was protecting a special Exsphere that they wanted.Lloyd begins to think his real father also suffered the same fate. Later, after Colette had been treated for the Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium, it is revealed that Kratos Aurion is his real father. In the Flanoir cutscene with Kratos he reveals the whole story of Anna's death despite Lloyd's protests of not wanting to hear the story. He said that Anna, after turning into an exubla in the presence of Kratos and their 4-year old son, had regained her old self for only a minute and begged Kratos to kill her saying that she didn't want to hurt them. Kratos hesitates and Anna turns back into an exubla and begins to attack Lloyd who is guarded by Noishe, hence Noishe's fear of monsters. Kratos eventually gets Anna over the cliff but Noishe and Lloyd also fall. Anna, badly injured, regains her normal form and is found by Dirk who Anna explains everything to and asks him to take care of Lloyd and Noishe. Kratos descends the cliff to find Anna, but no signs of Lloyd or Noishe, and corpses of Desians lying around, half eaten by monsters. This sight leads Kratos to believe Lloyd had died in the fall and eaten by monsters.

Relationships with Other Characters
Colette - Colette is the in-game pairing for Lloyd. He views her in the beginning of the game as a good friend, although later on there are hints that he is developing stronger feelings for her. He is striving throughout gameplay to protect her. During many cutscenes, the two are alone and he often can tell her feelings quite accurately.

Genis - Genis is Lloyd's best friend. Even when it is revealed that Genis is a half-elf, not a full elf as he has led everyone to believe, Lloyd still accepts him completely. While Genis is the more logical and weighs the consequences of their actions more, he still respects Lloyd. On Derris Kharlan, Genis admits that he's a coward compared to Lloyd and that he's always looked up to Lloyd's ability to rush in head forward and succeed.

Kratos - Lloyd harbours a jealous sentiment towards Kratos in the beginning due to his superior sword skills and his condescending nature. He is always striving to best Kratos, and often yells at him for being a jerk. Lloyd begins to hate Kratos when he betrays the group, but random encounters with Kratos hint that he bears no ill will to him. When he learns that Kratos is his father, he denies it at first and is quite shocked. As the game progresses through, he accepts Kratos as his father in the end. If players choose the path to fight and kill Zelos, Kratos rejoins the party

Presea - Lloyd often gives advice that, while not perfect or clearly thought through, helps Presea combat her dark past. Lloyd also often teases Genis for his affection for Presea. Throughout the game, Lloyd compliments Presea on their shared skill, craftsmanship, and treats her much like a younger sister, though she is actually a decade older than him.

Regal - When Regal joins the group, he comes as a prisoner. Lloyd allows him to fight with them, and they quickly become friends. Lloyd looks up to Regal for his level-head, and sees him as an older brother, or even a father figure in place of Kratos. Regal enjoys being around the young swordsman, who helps him clear his mind of his sadness. Lloyd even takes interest in Regal's fighting style and training regimen.

Raine - He refers to her as "Professor Raine" and thinks very highly of her. Although he finds her lessons overbearing and unneccesary, he accepts her even when he learns that she is a half-elf. He is constantly considerate of his teacher, though she teases him often about his lack of studying.

Sheena - Lloyd is one of the first to trust Sheena when she tells the party of her mission and gladly welcomes her to join them. As the game progresses, Sheena begins to develop a crush on Lloyd. Depending on the choices the player makes, it is possible for Lloyd to return these feelings.

Zelos - Lloyd's relationship with Zelos changes starts off on a bad foot, as Zelos is sent to keep an eye on the group. Zelos' antics annoy Lloyd sometimes, but they begin to become trusted friends. However, Zelos feels as if he is distrusted by the rest of the group, and depending on the choices, the player makes, he will act on that feeling of distrust and fight the party. If Zelos dies, Lloyd will regret having made Zelos feel the way he did. Otherwise, Zelos comes around and trusts Lloyd and the rest of the party.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Lloyd returns in the sequal, Dawn of the New World as a playable character. After he reunited the two worlds, he began to search for the remaining Exspheres: his goal was to prevent them from creating further victims. Lloyd has been showered with both praise and hatred from the people of the world, some of whom rejoice at his actions, and some of whom condemn them. The Church of Martel has proclaimed that Lloyd was responsible for the Blood Purge of Palmacosta: this has been neither confirmed nor denied by Lloyd himself, but he was framed by Decus. In Dawn of the New World Lloyd serves most of part as Kratos played in the first game, since he doesn't join the party till later on and serves as a small antagonist halfway through the game. As shown in the E3 playable demo, Lloyd is first encountered in person by Emil in the cave next to area where the former Tower of Mana was. Lloyd is fighting Marta Lualdi when seen by Emil.

Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3
Lloyd appears Narikiri Dungeon 3 as a playable character a long with the other Tales of Symphonia characters.

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Lloyd appears in this game as a playable character. In order to get Lloyd the player and Kanonno must do a mission that involves fihgting him as a boss battle and later on fight him and Kratos together. Lloyd is the only character that has the two sword ability and his weapon in this game is the Material Blade which was a set of weapons given to him by Kratos and Dirk in the original game.

Soulcalibur Legends
Lloyd appears in the Nintendo Wii game Soulcalibur Legends as a guest character. His role in the story is not so important and was critized for his weak abilities in the game. Lloyd is one of the only characters in the series not befrom Nintendo.