This can have two distinct meanings that nonetheless often blend together:
- When one or more characters have a distinctly stated plan or purpose that they either steadfastly ignore or completely fail to execute with anything resembling competence or determination.
- When a character likes to talk big shit but has nothing whatsoever to back it up.
Examples
- Final Fantasy X: Tightass and Rikku think they're going to stop Yuna from killing herself, but have no actual plan and are morons. Tightass is also generally a shit-talking idiot and frequently makes an ass of himself.
- Final Fantasy X-2: The Gullwings are basically sphere hunters in name only and barely ever hunt actual spheres.
- Grandia II: Ryudo tries to be tough and uncaring but frequently feels ALL THE EMOTIONS.
- Kingdom Hearts: Junior is a big-talking asshole who thinks he's on a mission to save his non-girlfriend and "tries" to accomplish that purpose by having largely unrelated adventures with a duck and a dog.