Hi there. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy later this year, I've decided I want to try and find out who the most popular FF characters ever are. So, what I need is two things from you:

1. Obviously, who your favourite characters are. They can be from anything within the FF franchise (yes, even Mystic Quest. It's none of my business if you want to be tarred and feathered). You can nominate as many characters as you want (doesn't matter if it's 1 or 1,000).

2. I want as many fans to get involved in this as possible, so I would like to know where else I should ask for votes (other than this site. No offense).

One last thing, please don't criticise other people's votes. I don't want fanboys arguing all through the thread.

And...GO!

Well firstly I've just done a huge knockout tournament to find out who the favourite character is, the thread is stickied in this section of the forums if you're interested, it's the final now and it's between Beatrix and Vivi. :)

Secondly about 18 months ago I revealed my personal favourite 50 Final Fantasy characters, you can read about that here if you're interested - http://johnnymercyside.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-top-50-final-fantasy-characters.html

Interesting...a couple of things.

1. Your link leads to your favourite FF locations, not characters (though I found the character list easily enough). If you want, I can add a vote to each of your list's characters.
2. This is a project I've been working on for several months now (this isn't the first place I've gone). I'll start announcing the results on October 16, starting with the bottom 10, then announce another 10 each week until December 18 (the date the first FF was released in Japan 25 years ago).

Interesting...a couple of things.

1. Your link leads to your favourite FF locations, not characters (though I found the character list easily enough). If you want, I can add a vote to each of your list's characters.
2. This is a project I've been working on for several months now (this isn't the first place I've gone). I'll start announcing the results on October 16, starting with the bottom 10, then announce another 10 each week until December 18 (the date the first FF was released in Japan 25 years ago).

Thanks for pointing that out, fixed now! :)

That's pretty cool, well good luck with your project, I'm intrigued to see the outcome :)

I'll be taking votes until October 9. If you (or anyone else here) wants to vote, leave your comments here and I'll add them to the total.

Hello, welcome to the Shrine! :D

Even though FF fan sites seem to be sadly an endangered species (because rather than run their own fansite, people would rather just make a Facebook page or Wiki for it nowadays), this is still a nice idea - and yes, Johnny here has been running this sort of thing for quite a while, although not a 'Top 100' though.

So accordingly, I give it my blessing, as this might breathe some new life into the General FF section (and if it does get further interest I may even sticky it at the top to stop it from disappearing off the first page if it goes inactive for a while). ;)

Yeah, I'm definitely interested in seeing the Top 100 if there's a lot of feedback, it'll be a very interesting list :)

Thanks guys. I've actually set myself a challenge with this: write up a bio for each character using exactly 100 words (no more, no less). Might take an idea I saw on Johnny's list and find a memorable quote from each character too.

Now, has anyone got any votes for me?

Thanks guys. I've actually set myself a challenge with this: write up a bio for each character using exactly 100 words (no more, no less). Might take an idea I saw on Johnny's list and find a memorable quote from each character too.

Now, has anyone got any votes for me?

Just in case you haven't got my votes down here they are:

#50 - Garland (FF1)
#49 - Doctor Tot (FF9)
#48 - Xande (FF3)
#47 - Cyan (FF4)
#46 - The Emperor (FF2)
#45 - Golbez (FF4)
#44 - Galuf (FF5)
#43 - Garland (FF9)
#42 - Kain (FF4)
#41 - Barret (FF7)
#40 - Leo (FF6)
#39 - Gilgamesh (FF9)
#38 - Reno (FF7)
#37 - Zenero, Benero and Genero (FF9)
#36 - Seifer (FF8)
#35 - Kimahri (FF10)
#34 - Ba'Gamnan (FF12)
#33 - Vincent (FF7)
#32 - Zorn and Thorn (FF9)
#31 - Squall (FF8)
#30 - Lulu (FF10)
#29 - Jenova (FF7)
#28 - Rikku (FF10)
#27 - Sabin (FF6)
#26 - Cid (FF9)
#25 - Bugenhagen (FF7)
#24 - Irvine (FF8)
#23 - Locke (FF6)
#22 - Brother (FF10)
#21 - Cloud (FF7)
#20 - Baku (FF9)
#19 - Shadow (FF6)
#18 - Jecht (FF10)
#17 - Quina (FF9)
#16 - Red XIII (FF7)
#15 - Steiner (FF9)
#14 - Ultros (FF6)
#13 - Laguna (FF8)
#12 - Seymour (FF10)
#11 - Hojo (FF7)
#10 - Edgar (FF6)
#9 - Beatrix (FF9)
#8 - Auron (FF10)
#7 - Kuja (FF9)
#6 - Cid (FF7)
#5 - Balthier (FF12)
#4 - Zidane (FF9)
#3 - Sephiroth (FF7)
#2 - Vivi (FF9)
#1 - Kefka (FF6)

I'd also like to add Barthandelus, Sazh and Vanille to the 50, as FF13 wasn't included in my list. :)

Cecil (IV)
Edward (IV)
Kain (IV)
Rydia (IV)
Tellah (IV)

Boko (V)
Faris (V)
Gilgamesh (V)

Celes (VI)
Cyan (VI)
Edgar (VI)
Kefka (VI)
Leo (VI)
Locke (VI)
Sabin (VI)
Setzer (VI)
Shadow (VI)
Terra (VI)
Ultros (VI)

Aeris (VII)
Barret (VII)
Cid (VII)
Cloud (VII)
Sephiroth (VII)

Irvine (VIII)
Laguna (VIII)
Seifer (VIII)
Squall (VIII)

Freya (IX)
Vivi (IX)

Auron (X)
Jecht (X)
Kimahri (X)
Yuna (X)

Algus (Tactics)
Delita (Tactics)
Ramza (Tactics)

*adds to the total*

Final Fantasy IV
Cecil
Rosa
Kain

Final Fantasy V
Faris
Gilgamesh

Final Fantasy VI
Shadow
Edgar
Gogo
Umaro
Locke

Final Fantasy VII
Vincent Valentine
Reno
Rude
Red XIII

Final Fantasy VIII
Squall Leonhart
Rinoa Heartilly
Laguna Loire
Kiros
Ward
Fujin
Raijin
NORG

Final Fantasy IX
Amarant
Vivi

Final Fantasy X
Auron
Lulu
Kimahri Ronso
Biran Ronso
Yenke Ronso

Final Fantasy XI Online
Lion
Zeid
Ulmia
Aldo
Curilla
Ajido-Marujido
Simah Lefina
Jakaoh Wahcandolo
Shantotto
Tenzen
Gilgamesh
Naja Salaheem
Shadowlord

Final Fantasy Tactics
Ramza Beoulve
Agrias Oaks
Cidolfas Orlandu
Meliadoul Tengille

Here's my list. If characters don't appear on here, it doesn't necessarily mean I hate them, just that they didn't do anything special for me.

Final Fantasy 6:
Ultros.

And... that's it for 6. I really don't care for this game, anywhere near as much as other people seem to. The characters were mostly okay, but none of them really spoke to me in any meaningful way, or only did so sporadically.


Final Fantasy 7
Barret Wallace.
Dyne.
Aeris Gainsborough.
Scarlet.
Sephiroth.
Elena (of the Turks).
JENOVA.
Yuffie Kisaragi.
Red XIII.

Always a game in danger of backlash, because of its huge popularity. Still one of the very best though IMO. Several of the other characters have their moments too, but the above are the ones I really care about.

Final Fantasy 8
This is a hard one. I like pretty much all the characters in this game. All the heroes, all the NPCs, the villains, the summons. One of the reasons this is in my top 3 of FF games. But I guess I'll try and narrow it down a bit:

Squall Leonhart (one of the rare times that I like the main hero).
Rinoa Heartily (and the main heroine!).
Laguna Loire.
Irvine Kinneas.
Seifer Almasy.
Sorceress Edea (when she's evil, specifically).
Fujin (probably my favourite ever FF character).
Xu.
NORG.

It kills me to leave characters like Ward, Kiros etc off this list. I really wanted to include Odin as well, but the above are the characters I couldn't bear to leave off the list. The others I can, so I'll move on quickly, before I change my mind and include everyone else in the game!


Final Fantasy 9.
Steiner.
Vivi.
Beatrix.
Freya.
Sir Fratley.
Amarant.

And Necron... not! Wasn't wild about this game, but I guess it had some decent characters. Still a massively overrated game IMO. But not nearly as much as...


Final Fantasy 10
Auron.
Yunalesca.
Rikku.

I *hate* this game! Auron rules, but otherwise, this is the one FF that I - cannot - stand. Its a good job that sequence with Yunalesca is so awesome, because I was ready to slash my wrists by that point. Never again will I play this game - never! Rikku's okay, but she hardly does anything - both she and Yuna are much better in the extremely underrated sequel...

Final Fantasy 10-2
Yuna.
Rikku.
Paine.
Tobli.
Brother.

Awesome game. Proved to me that I didn't hate FF10's world as much as I thought I did - I just hated FF10.

Final Fantasy 12.
Another hard one, as its 'really excellent ensemble cast' time again. I like mostly everyone again, but here goes...

Vaan (I don't care what people say - he's a decent 'Jim Hawkins' style character).
Penelo (also hated by many, but she has a great 'Wendy Darling' vibe about her IMO).
Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca.
Basch fon Rosenberg. (another personal 'favourite of favourites').
Judge Magister Gabranth.
Judge Ghis.
Doctor Cidolphus Demen Bunansa.
Balthier (not as much as many others do, but still a good character).
Sky Pirate Ba'Gamnan.
Halim Ondore IV.
Al-Cid Margrace.

Another of my Top 3 FF games. A true classic.

Final Fantasy 13 (and 13-2).
Yet again, its an ensemble thing and I happen to like most of the playable characters. Its worth mentioning though, that the NPCs are not that great. The party is really where its at in this game.

Lightning (wasn't wild about her at first, but she becomes more likeable as the game goes on).
Snow Villiers (an acquired taste maybe, perhaps helped by me liking Troy Baker's work in general, but I ended up really liking this character).
Oerba Yun Fang.
Oerba Die Vanille (very nearly misses out, due to her occasionally irritating voice actor, but the character herself, I have no issue with).
Sazh Katzroy.
Fal'Cie Barthandelus. (For most of the game, Barthandelus/Dysley is good, but not great. When he dies and merges with Orphan though, he becomes a thoroughly nasty piece of work).
Fal'Cie Anima (only has 2 brief appearances, but manages to be one of the creepiest entities in any FF).
Brigadier General Cid Raines.

And from FF13-2:
Hope Estheim (I don't mind him in FF13 as much as others do, but he is much improved in 13-2 to the point where I actively was pleased to see him).
Serah Farron (I was a bit worried, since she wasn't that great in FF13, but she's much better in 13-2).
Caius Ballad (I still think that Jamiseon Price should have voiced him, but still a great character).
Noel Kreiss
Alyssa Zaidelle.
Proto Fal'Cie A.D.A.M (not quite a character in the usual sense, in that you don't really communicate with him directly, only through various proxies and traps he sets up. But he has a definite presence and far reaching intellect that make him a deadly opponent).

Final Fantasy IV
Cecil
Rosa
Kain

Final Fantasy V
Faris
Gilgamesh

Final Fantasy VI
Shadow
Edgar
Gogo
Umaro
Locke

Final Fantasy VII
Vincent Valentine
Reno
Rude
Red XIII

Final Fantasy VIII
Squall Leonhart
Rinoa Heartilly
Laguna Loire
Kiros
Ward
Fujin
Raijin
NORG

Final Fantasy IX
Amarant
Vivi

Final Fantasy X
Auron
Lulu
Kimahri Ronso
Biran Ronso
Yenke Ronso

Final Fantasy XI Online
Lion
Zeid
Ulmia
Aldo
Curilla
Ajido-Marujido
Simah Lefina
Jakaoh Wahcandolo
Shantotto
Tenzen
Gilgamesh
Naja Salaheem
Shadowlord

Final Fantasy Tactics
Ramza Beoulve
Agrias Oaks
Cidolfas Orlandu
Meliadoul Tengille

Just a question: I added a vote to all the characters in your post, except for Simah Lefina and Jakaoh Wahcandolo, because I couldn't find any information about them on FFWiki, or even FFXIWiki (FFXI isn't my strong point). Just a bit confused, are they even FF characters?

I assure you, yes they most definitely are in FFXI - the reason you couldn't find them is because Revan spelt their names wrong :p

Here are the links to them, correctly spelt: Semiah Lafihna (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Semih_Lafihna) and Jakoh Wahcondalo (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Jakoh_Wahcondalo).

Incidentally, as can probably be deduced from these two characters, Revan has a thing for mithra. ;)

EDIT: also seeing as this is indeed seeming to become popular as promised I've stickied the thread. :D

Where are your votes Enki? I'm intrigued! :)

I assure you, yes they most definitely are in FFXI - the reason you couldn't find them is because Revan spelt their names wrong :p

Here are the links to them, correctly spelt: Semiah Lafihna (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Semih_Lafihna) and Jakoh Wahcondalo (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Jakoh_Wahcondalo).

Incidentally, as can probably be deduced from these two characters, Revan has a thing for mithra. ;)

EDIT: also seeing as this is indeed seeming to become popular as promised I've stickied the thread. :D

Figured that was the case. It was either that or Revan voted for his and a friend's characters.

Where are your votes Enki? I'm intrigued! :)

I'll post them when I can figure them out! (I have a lot of favourites after all.) ;)

I'll say just the one that I feel is an arm's length above all others, and I won't go deep in the reasons (which are many anyway): Cloud from Final Fantasy VII.

Figured that was the case. It was either that or Revan voted for his and a friend's characters.

... I only put down the names of OFFICIAL FFXIO characters, kierandell, not unofficial/fanmade characters. The slight insinuation there that I 'voted for mine and a friends' characters' made me a little... miffed. As I wasn't at home at the time when I made that post, I had to guess the actual spelling of the names. Besides... IF we were to include fan characters.... mine (used in my fanfics) would whoop all FF characters hides and then some.


I assure you, yes they most definitely are in FFXI - the reason you couldn't find them is because Revan spelt their names wrong :p

Here are the links to them, correctly spelt: Semiah Lafihna (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Semih_Lafihna) and Jakoh Wahcondalo (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Jakoh_Wahcondalo).

Incidentally, as can probably be deduced from these two characters, Revan has a thing for mithra. ;)

EDIT: also seeing as this is indeed seeming to become popular as promised I've stickied the thread. :D

Little hard to remember the exact spelling when I don't have access to the FFXI Wiki when I made that post Enkidoh. Besides... what's wrong with Mithra? While I may like them... I don't play AS a Mithra like you do.

Oops, sorry. Wasn't trying to offend you.

FF I
Garland

FF IV
Cecil
Cid
Kain
Rydia
Tellah

FF V
Faris
Galuf

FF VI
Shadow
Terra
Ultros
Celes
Kefka

FF VII
Aeris
Angeal
Barret
Cid
Red XIII
Zack

FF VIII
Laguna
Rinoa
Squall

FF IX
Amarant
Baku
Beatrix
Dagger
Dr. Tot
Eiko
Freya
Mog
Vivi
Zidane

FF X
Auron
Kimihari
Yuna

FF XII
Balthier
Basch
Fran
Gabranth

FF Tactics
Agrias
Ramza

Just coming back to tell you guys that this is still happening, and the results will be announced very soon (next month, in fact). All details are here: The Top 100 Final Fantasy Characters Of All Time (http://top100finalfantasycharactersofalltime.blogspot.com .au/)

Well this thread hasn't been updated but the countdown has begun on that site from what I can tell, if others are interested.

Huh... forgot completely about this thread... Haven't seen the OP post in other threads here, so they might no longer come here...

Also, have no real interest... the characters I suggested probably aren't even in the top 25... and that whiny emo driven mama's boy is probably in the top 2!

Aeris Lives :wreckitralph: