Sight of Spira

Sight of Spira
Can't stand the other type of music.

Otherworld. A nice change.

Sight Of Spira

It's time for Otherworld to go. And how on earth did Path of Repentance lose the last round?

I'll go for Sight of Spira also.

Sight of Spira

Sight of Spira

Otherworld

Otherworld

I have a suggestion: we should divide the music rumble into types. Themes would compete w/ themes, battle music w/ battle music, area music with area music, and have that determine entry into the semi or quarterfinals That way music like Yuna's theme or PoR get at least some recognition

Well, I'm currently trying to fix or recover the data on the computer that just broke, if I don't by tomorrow I'll update, thing is I'd have to rearrange everything I had left and it would be annoying. Same for IX and X-2 rumbles.

Sight of Spira 6-4 Otherworld

Sight of Spira is the first to make the top four (took long enough, haha) but after a month I guess that's it for Otherworld.


I know we're in the middle of a round, but I have to rearrange the last six songs that are left, since like I said, I lost all the bracket data. Good thing we're this far in. So, next battle should start soon. But once it starts, I promise, we'll be back on the short intervals.

Hmm, somebody said recently in the thread about underrated music over in the Gen FF section that they felt that "Sight of Spira" is underrated. Perhaps not so much, though, if it's just made it to the semi-finals. A worthy win.

Hey guys... I have some great news, finally back in action for this rumble!

A MASSIVE apology to everyone who was waiting. I appreciate it, Agent, for giving me that month and a half. Good thing I stuck around to ensure my activity, I'm gonna go back to updating every other day. I lost the chart with the brackets, for both this and the X-2 rumble, and no way to recover it. A month hiatus... I just have been too busy to make another one, it takes a while and I started school. But it's done now. I'll take care of the X-2 one shortly. And I think I DO have time to run the rumble just as frequently as I used to. But please, I beg you forgive me. I said I would, and here I am. And I can do it, just hope nothing happens to this computer. The last one was 8 years old and the last backup I made was from before I made the rumble charts.

I'll update frequently now... and yeah, it's almost over, but let's end it well!


Anyway... lets get rollin'. We were in the quarter finals, and we completed the first of four battles. Sight of Spira beat Otherworld, going into the top 4!!


Round 4 - Battle 2

Ending Theme - Listen Here (http://delta.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/89%20-%20Ending%20Theme.mp3)

The Ending theme... unfortunately I can't give descriptions anymore based on who they beat in the last rounds due to loss of the charts, but all I remember is that it beat a lot of my favorite themes. Path of Repentance included... :mad: Okay, I know just the last round cause I had to go back and look.

VS.

Normal Battle - Listen Here (http://delta.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/09%20-%20Normal%20Battle.mp3)

The phenomenal battle theme of FFX, which seems to be more popular than I expected, considering who it beat. At least it got rid of Yuna's Theme in the last round... and Brave Advancement. Will it make the top 4?



To me this is a joke considering how much the long indistinct ending themes bore me, so I gotta go with Normal Battle.


BTW: I might wait three or four days instead of two, until people realize this is started up again. Unless I see a lot of votes after 2 days.

Normal Battle

Also I know how you feel Zak, Path of Repentance is my favourite track too. Therefore I will not let Ending Theme win! :(

Ya'ay, this is rolling again. Also, I actually rather liked this game's ending theme, but I'll vote for Normal Battle. It's a surprisingly good battle theme, which is nice considering how often you hear it.

Ending Theme.

Normal Battle

Normal Battle. The only memorable ending theme for me is the one from FFVIII.

Ending Theme

Ending Theme

Woohoo the Rumble is back!

Normal Battle

Normal Battle, I guess. I'm not generally a fan of ending themes either, though there are a couple of good ones in the series.

Good to see this back. :)

The rumble's back! Throwing one in for Ending Theme.

I have a grudge against Ending Theme for beating Path of Repentance, so... Normal Battle.

Guess I have an ideal number of votes for 2 days, everyone flocked pretty fast.

Normal Battle 8-4 Ending Theme

Well, that's the end of the Ending Theme... (pun sort of intended).

Normal Battle joins Sight of Spira in the top four... as much as I like this theme in itself (even though I got tired of it fast), I didn't expect it to be this popular!

Next will be fun...

Round 4 - Battle 3

Someday the Dream Will End - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/78%20-%20Someday%20the%20Dream%20Will%20End.mp3)

IMO, a well deserving of the top 8 track. It's not just the music, it plays during the best scenes. As far the music, the only part that really catches me is the beginning, but does it well!

VS.

Seymour's Ambition - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/55%20-%20Seymour%27s%20Ambition.mp3)

The last Seymour track standing, and for a damn well good reason. It owns. A lot of his do, but this one is agreeably the best (unless you count Seymour Battle which is better, but that doesn't follow the theme pattern so I don't).



Tough call, I gotta go with Seymour's Ambition.

Seymour's Ambition

Seymour's Ambition

Someday the Dream Will End because I've voted for SA too much.

Seymour's Ambition

Ohhh... this is tough. I'll go for... Someday the Dream Will End, if only because I think SA will take this - StDWE can't go without a fight.

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End easily

Someday the Dream Will End easily

Someday The Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End 7-4 Seymour's Ambition

Looks like the end for Seymour... at least his phenomenal theme didn't go down without a fight. Oh well, SOMEDAY his DREAM of winning this rumble WILL END.
And StDWE joins the top 4...

Time to determine who the last one for the top 4 will be.

Round 4 - Battle 4

Wandering Flame - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/77%20-%20Wandering%20Flame.mp3)

The narration theme... it's soothing and all, but I'm actually surprised it made it this far considering the fact that no one nominated it, it was one I decided to fill an empty space with at the last minute. Will it actually pull off the top 4?

VS.

Decisive Battle - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/88%20-%20Decisive%20Battle.mp3)

Yu Yevon's theme... everyone refers to the final battle theme as Otherworld, this track is way overlooked. I could listen to this all day, it's a shame that's the only place we hear it. Worth prolonging that awfully short battle, that must be why. At least it deservingly made the piano collection, but what about the top 4 of this rumble?


Decisive Battle easily for me. I'm actually surprised Wandering Flame made it this far, I thought it'd be gone in the first or second round. Must have an appeal...

Decisive Battle

For whatever reason, "Decisive Battle" just doesn't excite me all that much as a battle theme. Putting one in for Wandering Flame.

Decisive Battle for me.

For whatever reason, "Decisive Battle" just doesn't excite me all that much as a battle theme. Putting one in for Wandering Flame.

Decisive Battle

Wandering Flame

Wandering Flame

Decisive Battle

Decisive Battle

Wandering Flame. I can't remember how DB went, and I can't listen to music on university computers, but Wandering Flame is probably a close second behind Blitzball Gamblers as far as FFX music goes for me, so I'd like to see it advance.

Decisive Battle 6-5 Wandering Flame

Surprisingly close!! Decisive Battle looks like it'll be in the top 4, for now.

Okay, top four, time for the semifinals!


Semifinals - Battle 1

Decisive Battle - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/88%20-%20Decisive%20Battle.mp3)

Good to see it getting the attention it deserves, just beat Wandering Flame to make it to the top four. Let's just see which place it will win. This one has certainly been a strong individual.


VS.


Someday the Dream Will End - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/78%20-%20Someday%20the%20Dream%20Will%20End.mp3)

A more relaxing theme, but really a worthy competitor, no surprise for it to make it this far as it's one of the greatest tracks on the OST.


I think of the top four left I'll be voting for Decisive Battle all the way.

Decisive Battle.

Didn't vote for Decisive Battle last time, can't vote for it this time. Someday the Dream Will End is my choice on this one.

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End.

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End.

Someday The Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End

Going to add to this destruction..

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End

Seymour's Ambition

Seymours Ambition

Excuse me guys... Baby Boink and the person above, but I don't believe Seymour's Ambition is in the round.

Someday the Dream Will End.

Someday the Dream Will End

Someday the Dream Will End.

Someday the Dream Will End 14-2 Decisive Battle

I'm actually quite half surprised, as much as I like StDWE.

Anyway, that's one finalist! Decisive Battle still has a shot at the bronze...

Time to determine the other finalist...

Semifinals - Battle 2

Sight of Spira - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/19%20-%20The%20Sight%20of%20Spira.mp3)

A happy little theme played in towns and villages. It'll be quite interesting if it joins Someday the Dream Will End in the final battle, since it's the same tune on guitar (or mandolin or some other string), to a happier and more calm and cheerful less depressing/emotional mood.

VS.

Normal Battle - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/09%20-%20Normal%20Battle.mp3)

An awesome battle theme, truly deserving of making it this far. I had no idea it was this well liked... will it be in the top two?


Oh, and my vote goes to Normal Battle by a land slide. I don't even like Sight of Spira, and coincidentally every theme that it beat in the last rounds I hated to see go. As a matter of fact, now that Decisive Battle is gone, out of what's left I'd like to see Normal Battle take the platinum/gold.

Normal Battle.

Normal Battle.

Sight Of Spira

Sight of Spira

Normal Battle

I like sight of spira. But this battle theme is great. Actually, in most FFs, after the 2 or 3 hundredth time of the screen shattering, fading or blurring into the music as a battle commences, I start to get bored with the same song. I never did with X.

An excellent battle theme.

Normal Battle

Normal Battle

Normal Battle

Sight of Spira

Might lose, but still: Sight of Spira

Normal Battle

Normal Battle

Normal Battle.

Normal Battle

Sight of Spira (Looks like its gonna lose :()

Sight of Spira

Normal Battle 11-6 Sight of Spira

And the Normal Battle theme makes the final!! (Sorry for lack of updates... but then again it is the semis)

Sight Of Spira... who would have thought it would make it this far.

But first, we must determine 3rd and 4th place!

Battle for the Bronze (3rd place)

Sight of Spira - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/19%20-%20The%20Sight%20of%20Spira.mp3)

The village theme which uses a running tune in this game, that one of our finalists shares! It would have been interesting to see those two against each other... but oh well. Third place material?

VS.

Decisive Battle - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/88%20-%20Decisive%20Battle.mp3)

One of the more epic battle themes of this game which unfortunately is for one that doesn't last long, which is probably why it was beaten by Someday the Dream Will End. But surely it should go into third place?


If Decisive Battle doesn't win this I will lose faith in humanity.

Decisive Battle

Decisive Battle

Sorry, as I've indicated before, Decisive Battle just really doesn't do the job for me. Not my taste. Looks like it's the underdog right now, but Sight of Spira for me.

Decisive Battle

Decisive Battle just really doesn't do the job for me. Sight of Spira for me.
Don't get me wrong, though, I think they're both great tracks.

Decisive Battle

Decisive Battle starts off promisingly, but doesn't really go anywhere from there. Sight of Spira is the better track in my opinion, much as though Zak may disagree.

Sight of Spira

Sight Of Spira

Decisive Battle

Decisive Battle

Sight of Spira ftw. It makes me fell nice inside.

Sight of Spira

Meh...

I really hate doing this THIS late, especially on one of the deciding battles to end this, but it looks like we've got a tie. It must be broken... I waited long enough.

ROKI, if you're around you get to decide who gets the dubious 3rd place award.

Meh...

I really hate doing this THIS late, especially on one of the deciding battles to end this, but it looks like we've got a tie. It must be broken... I waited long enough.

ROKI, if you're around you get to decide who gets the dubious 3rd place award.

Even though my vote doesn't count in this, do you people hear the instrumentals in Decisive Battle?? It's amazing!!! I love it, it's the clear winner in my book.

Give ROKI another day and it will count.

Forgive me, but it's been a while and I've forgotten the details-- how exactly is it determined in this rumble who gets to break the tie? And Zak-- did you send ROKI a PM? According to his profile, he is, apparently, around, but he may not know we're waiting on him if you didn't message him.

Of course I did. I always do.

I guess he either must not get notified or is ignoring me. If I don't here from him by the end of the day, I'm calling a win for Decisive Battle.

Fine by me, but you still didn't answer my question-- I was just curious to know how exactly the decision is made as to who gets to be the tiebreaker.

Fine by me, but you still didn't answer my question-- I was just curious to know how exactly the decision is made as to who gets to be the tiebreaker.

I look for anyone who I know is an active participate and hasn't voted yet. But active participant I mean a name that I see a lot and preferably voted in the last couple rounds so I know they're recently active. Or just a name I've seen active here a lot in the past and I know they're still around based on last activity. Whoever the first is that comes to mind, usually by elimination of who already voted.

Though, I don't believe I've ever called on the same person twice. And I always PM them.

Okay... ROKI isn't answering, so thanks to Neko, third place goes to... Decisive Battle!!

A well deserved win IMO, but if it were up to me it could have won the whole rumble out of what's left. But, good for it for making it this far...

Alright... at LONG LAST... now it's time for the...

FINAL BATTLE

Someday the Dream Will End - Listen here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/78%20-%20Someday%20the%20Dream%20Will%20End.mp3)

I guess I'm not surprised that this theme made it far, it is definitely a favorite. It's played during all those emotional scenes that perhaps a kleenex is in order when listening to it. Especially the beginning... but anyway, will it be the winner?

VS.

Normal Battle - Listen Here (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/09%20-%20Normal%20Battle.mp3)

Ah yes, the awesome regular battle theme of this game made it to the top. Not too surprising considering this is one of the few games where the normal battle music is actually better than the boss music. Can it beat STDWE?


I'll throw one it for Normal Battle...

Normal Battle

Someday The Dream Will End for me.

Normal Battle

Someday the Dream Will End. Fingers crossed.

Normal Battle

I've voted for both along the way, but in this case, I'm going with Someday the Dream Will End. Good battle so far, let's see how it goes.

Someday the Dream Will End for me.

Someday the Dream Will End

~Someday...the dream will end~
i love the feel of this track it's so powerful and yet smooth :) Ah my heart, i love FF... woo the win for Decisive Battle!!

Someday the Dream Will End

Normal Battle ftw

Normal Battle easily.

I look for anyone who I know is an active participate and hasn't voted yet. But active participant I mean a name that I see a lot and preferably voted in the last couple rounds so I know they're recently active. Or just a name I've seen active here a lot in the past and I know they're still around based on last activity. Whoever the first is that comes to mind, usually by elimination of who already voted.

Though, I don't believe I've ever called on the same person twice. And I always PM them.

Thats the same format as I decided mine if you remember agent, Except I randomly pm'ed someone who had voted and gave them the final choice.

someday the dream will end

One more for Someday the dream will end.

Okay, it has been over a week, it's a close match, but the winner of this battle, and this long winded rumble, at 9-6, goes to...

SOMEDAY THE DREAM WILL END!!

Even though I didn't vote for it, I do agree that it was well deserved.

Whew, that was long... mainly due to that break/hiatus.

Someone else can take this one now, I only have time to run one rumble, I direct all your attention to the X-2 rumble!

If anyone wants to start up a new X Rumble, please send me a PM. Preferably only somebody who's not currently running a rumble and somebody who has a fair amount of experience on the Shrine and I know can be trusted.

I vote for TheMaster to start one..











































lol

Good work, Zak. I enjoyed this rumble.

Maybe I'll do it myself as long as we do anything but Quotes. Just need something simple that'll be easier to sort out. I'm going away to Israel for 3 weeks next week, but I'll still have my laptop with me, I'll be able to update the X-2 rumble most likely. But if we start something here I'd like to do something that wouldn't take a while to sort out, like Monsters species... that sounds like an idea.
Hey, maybe I'll do quotes if it's BATTLE quotes... that'd be something.

I really enjoyed doing this, by the way.

Or you could refine this music rumble.
separate it into character themes, area music, and battle music

If we do that, it'll probably be done three rumbles later.

Hey. Agent can I revive this?

Or do I even need to ask... for now I think I will, since no one else is doing it. Also, since no one else nominated a category months back, I will choose. I'll be doing Monsters. As in, monster species, not every monster.

I'll start this shortly as soon as I get a little attention.

Yeah, sure, feel free to start it up again. Looking forward to it!

Alright, one thing before I make the list:

I've been debating whether to include species that appear only as bosses, but for multiples... like Spheremorph/GreaterSphere, SanctuaryKeeper/Thu'ban, etc. and I decided I won't. However, anything that is randomly encounterable, even if there is a boss form of it, I will include it.

Okay, so I see there are a total of 45 species which are encounterable. So, I will add three boss-only species to make it 48, that's the only thing I can think of. So unfortunately if there is something like Dogs or Reptiles VS. Gel (Spherimorph and Greater Sphere), then... so be it. But again, your call who to vote for. So I'll start this soon...

Awesome Zak, can't wait :)

I changed my mind again, fuck my other idea. Instead of adding 3 (since it'd be hard to choose and they'd have an unfair advantage anyway) I'll scrap 5 and cut it down to 40, since that can at least be halved down to 5.

I'll get rid of the Guados, Monks, and three types of Machina, since they aren't really monsters.

So there. 40. I'll commence round 1 very shortly.

Okay ready? Here we go!

Round 1 - Battle 1

Plants

The species responsible for helping Kimahri learn his first Blue Magic (err... Ronso Rage), Seed Cannon, that being the Ragora in Kilika Woods. Gagazet has the Grats which are stronger and can confuse with Seed Burst as well, and there's also the boss-versions of them in Bikanel, the Sandragoras which guard some great treasure!

VS.

Drakes

The mini-dragon sort of monsters, consisting of elemental breaths. You're first introduced to the Vouivre in the Luca Stadium chaos when you first get Auron back in his tutorial. Later there's the Lamashtu, Kusariqqu, and Mushussu, each breath Ice, Thunder, and Fire, and finally the Nidhogg who's also Fire elemental but stronger. The REAL challenge is the arena mutant, Fafnir. It seems that the "Fafnir" in every game is always a bitch to beat.

Vote away!

Drakes

Drakes, this is easy. They're just awesome.

Guess I'll jump on the Drakes wagon, even though the Plants have the Blue Magic...

Drakes

Drakes

Drakes, this is easy. They're just awesome.

Okay, I'll call it a wipeout then...

Drakes 7-0 Plants

Clearly anything dragon would be better than a little plant, even if it has Blue Magic...

Now it seems we have some stand-alones...

Round 1 - Battle 2

Adamantoise

This giant creature is actually a standalone in this game (in X-2 it isn't), but it's pretty big and has huge defenses. It's found inside Sin, and in some places in the Omega Ruins. You wanna make sure you've got Armor Break and Mental Break ready, that shell is a doozy. Other than attacking, it creates an Earthquake sometimes, as well as a Fire elemental "Breath" attack.

VS.

Magic Urn

This enemy is unique, as you don't kill it, but instead play a luck game with it. The mechanics behind it are still a mystery. Basically, you get to randomly choose an eye, and it's either right or wrong, and if it's right, you win prizes. Otherwise, you better move out of the way! It can also be killed with Zanmato and Doom, for those who didn't know.

Magic Urn

Adamantoise. Sorry, but this game's Magic Urns suck.

Adamantoise

Adamantoise. Sorry, but this game's Magic Urns suck.

Adamantoise

Adamantoise. Sorry, but this game's Magic Urns suck.

Adamantoise

Adamantoise 6-1 Magic Urn

The Magic Urns are unique, but their function in this game just doesn't do it. And so the Adamantoise crushes...

Round 1 - Battle 3

Bombs

Ah, the bombs. They've been around for a while, if you hit them too many times, get out of the way! However, in this game, the Self Destruct of the Bomb is also a Blue Magic! There's the basic Bombs in Mi'hen (and summoned by Guados in Home), then their more powerful Grenades on the mountain, and finally deep in the Omega Ruins are the Puroburos, who you don't want to mess with. If you're daring, take on the Bomb King in the arena! Instead of blowing up, it uses ULTIMA!

VS.

Worms

You know those giant worms in the desert? All I can say is it's funny to Shooting-Star/Eject them. Their two tricks are Earthquakes (which they warn you in advance) and swallowing and regurgitating you. The Sand Worm in the desert is actually the only one that can be captured, as the Land Worm in inside Sin past the point of no return, and the Abyss Worm is the arena monster!


Bombs may have the Blue Mags, but Worms are far more entertaining.

Worms

Worms for me too.

Worms

I'll go against the tide and say Bombs

Bombs

Worms 4-2 Bombs

Again, Blue Magic isn't everything. This time the Worms with their size and abilities manage to pull it off.

Now, we have some more competition...

Round 1 - Battle 4

Ogres

These furry creatures are mostly good with Physical attacks only, but you better not let them put up their dukes! There's the original one in Calm Lands and it's more powerful cousin the Bashura on the mountain. However, you fight a boss version of it before meeting either-- the Wendigo, who's Berserk status makes it no pushover. But the real menace is Kottos, the arena mutant of it. Better have high defenses when fighting these!

VS.

Iron Giants

You may recognize these collosuses from some earlier games, but they can be pretty threatening here. Especially with that Reaper attack, you're gonna wanna blind it. Their Armor is no pushover either. You first see them in Thunder Plains, but once inside Sin you'll find them in pairs, as Gemini. Not only can they combine and double-reap, but they absorb different elements and must both be captured seperately. Speaking of capturing, watch out for the Ironclad in the arena! He's the one with a set of three attacks with weird Japanese names...


They seem fairly even, but I don't see any reason for me to vote for Ogre over Iron Giant.

Also hopping on-board for Iron Giants.

Iron Giants thanks.

Iron Giants

no competition; Iron Giants

Iron Giants - Ogres are just meh.

That was fast... haha Slavka, at first I thought you said "Ogres are just men". tf.

Iron Giants 7-0 Ogres

The Iron Giants reap the hell out of the Ogres, it seems.

Round 1 - Battle 5

Ochus

Those Ochu's have been around for quite a while now... In this game, their "Ochu Dance" causes silence, blind, slow, AND confuse! Also, any strike from them is bound to poison you... aside from the Ochu's on the Moonflow, their cousin the Mandragora from Gagazet Cave can cause an Earthquake! But before you meet either, you can take a shot at the Lord Ochu BOSS in Kilika Woods. Although it can't dance, it can do a lot of other tricks...

VS.

Piranhas

These are one of the few enemies that their sprite is in X but NOT in X-2. This is a water-only creature, meaning only Tidus, Rikku, and Wakka can encounter it. They may seem boring, but I wouldn't underestimate them. The Piranhas from the Submerged Ruins that appear it groups of 1 or 3 may be nothing (though they can blind), but the Splashers from Mt. Gagazet have a poisonous bite, and if they're alone they may self destruct!

Ochu = Malboro lite, I'm actually gonna go for Piranhas.

Ochus

Ochus - awesome to see this rumble back, Zak!

Piranhas

Ochu = Malboro lite, I'm actually gonna go for Piranhas.

Ochus

Ochus

Ochus

Ochus

I appreciate the activity! Would be great if you guys would participate in X-2 rumble as well... we usually have the same 6 people, haha

Ochus 7-3 Piranhas

Good to see some appreciation for Piranhas, but Ochus dominate on this one.

Round 1 - Battle 6

Dinofish

Another aquatic fiend, only fought by our swimmers. The game has only two, the Remora in the Via Purifico, and the Maelspike in mountain cave. These are some more powerful water monsters, if you attack them enough they might use Maelstrom so watch out!

VS.

Flans

One of the more FF-universal fiends, and in this game they're there to represent every element. There's a total of eight of them in the game, and the Dark Flan, as well as use some non-elemental magic, can help Kimahri learn White Wind! Watch out for the Arena's Jumbo Flan, it can use every element and ULTIMA!

Flans because annoyingly good

Flans

Unfortunately, X-2 isn't quite as well-liked as X. Flans for me. They're just too classic not to vote for.

Flans as well.

Flans

Flans

Flans 6-0 Dinofish

Flans seem to have a blowout victory here, being classic and all.

Next battle should be an exciting matchup...

Round 1 - Battle 7

Behemoths

Another classic monster of this franchise... even though the Behemoths don't use it, Kimahri can learn Mighty Guard from them. The Behemoth KINGS, however, may use it. In this game they use Thunder magic, and have a strong heave to watch out for. The king, however, can attack with his tail as well, and also has one other trick up it's sleeve when you kill it-- Meteor! Better be prepared when you hit the finishing blow. Catoblepas from the arena's another story, you'll need Auto-Life to survive that Ultima...

VS.

Chimeras

Another big monster, also with Blue Magic-- Aqua Breath! These weird creatures have four heads, each of which have a different element attack: The snake uses Thunder magic, the hawk uses Aqua Breath, the lion uses Megiddo Flame, and the bull just physically attacks! There's also the more powerful Chimera Brain, and be careful with the Chimerageist from the arena!

Behemoths

Toughest choice yet. I'm going with Chimeras.

Toughest choice yet. I'm going with Chimeras.

because of flight for me.

Chimeras

Behemoth

Behemoths

Behemoths

Close battle... I haven't voted yet and I honestly don't know what I would have decided, but to avoid complicating things:

Behemoths 4-3 Chimeras

Close battle... these two really kept taking turns being in the lead, but this time it was the Behemoths that emerged victorious. This battle probably would have been more interesting later in the rumble, but oh well.

Round 1 - Battle 8

Evil Eyes

Very common species of enemy, those one-eyed bat things. All of them but the Floating Eye have the Gaze Attack which may cause confusion, but some stronger species like the Floating Death or Ahriman have some ultrasonic waves which can hurt the whole party pretty bad. One-Eye from the arena is also no pushover.

VS.

Lupines

Another very common species, the dogs. Probably one of the first ones you meet in Besaid. There's a lot of these guys, not gonna list them, but the only thing really special about them is that they have a chance of causing sleep and silence, and mostly have weaknesses to a combination of fire and another element. Fenrir from the Arena, however, makes these guys seem tough with it's fangs.

Lupines

Lupines

Lupines

Adding one for Lupines myself.

Lupines

Lupines

Evil Eyes

Lupines 6-1 Evil Eyes

The battle of the commoners, the dogs emerge victorious. The bats just aren't that appealing it seems.

Round 1 - Battle 9

Malboros

CLASSIC enemy, that's for sure. This freaky tentacle thing is mostly famous for its Bad Breath, which inflicts a ton of statuses, in this case 6: Silence, Darkness, Slow, Confusion, Berserk, and Poison. Usually it's learnable as a Blue Magic, as it is in this game. Gastric Juice is also a defense-ignoring threat. Watch out for the Great Malboro who almost always will ambush you and screw you over with Bad Breath, and then you'll have to deal with two other attacks, Chow Time and Stacatto which both ignore defense. The Malboro Menace from the arena is even stronger, and just has stronger versions of all those attacks. The name "Malboro" most likely comes from the cigarette company Marlboro, hence the "Bad Breath"...

VS.

Sahagins

For those who don't know, these are those water-mantis things. A fun fact about these is that while they were made into a regular in X-2, while there are three types of Sahagin in this game, they all happen to be fought in different special events or places you only visit once, making none of them capturable. There's the water Sahagins in Baaj Temple and Via Purifico, as well as the land Sahagins in Via Purifico which may squirt you. There's also the two Sahagin chiefs, which are only ever encountered during the Luca Blitzball Stadium invasion event. Weak to Lightning.


My vote goes to Malboros. Classic. Also I'm not sure if the cigarette thing is true, I just thought of that connection myself, but I wouldn't doubt it.

Malboro

Zak, actually, I think they were originally called "Marlboros." Anyway, Sahagin is good, but it's up against a titan here. Malboro, please.

Malboros

Malboros

Malboros I gotta go with the powerhouse

I was kinda expecting that...

Malboros 6-0 Sahagins

Malboros are way too classic and cool to lose. Sahagins bit it hard.

Round 1 - Battle 10

Imps

These guys are Wakka's forte, because they're aerial and hard to hit. You know, the fancy wings... well, their only power is Thunder magic, each of the three imps use a different level of it. Gandarewas use Thunder, Aerouges Thundara, and Imps Thundaga. Even the Arena's Vidatu is not much of a threat, probably the easiest arena boss to beat, even though it uses Osmose and Ultima.

VS.

Helms

And we have here another commoner, these guys have a hard shell and are best for Auron or anyone with Piercing. There's a whole seven of them plus the Tanket in the arena. They each have a different combination of elemental weaknesses, and they mostly just attack, but they all have a small chance of making you Slow!


Imps are my preference.

Helms

Imps

Helms

Helms

Helms

Helms

Imps

Helms

Good to see activity...

Helms 6-3 Imps

A decent battle for once, and it looks like the Imps will be biting it early. Helms, though common, have a leg on them... anyway, we're now halfway through the first round.

Time for an exotic battle you'll probably hate to see this early, but who knows...

Round 1 - Battle 11

Cactuars

Here's a classic monster, who always seems to have a gimmick in some game, either a side quest, a lot of money, or a lot of AP... in this case it's the AP, and their classic signature move is 1000 Needles, which deals a fixed 1000 damage, and is sometimes a Blue Magic (though not in this game). They've got two side missions in this game: The 10 Cactuars in the desert, and the Cactuar Stones in Thunder Plains. There's also three kinds in the game: The "Qactuars" which are weak wannabes in the Thunder Plains, but the real Cactuars in the desert actually deal 10000 needles! The Cactuar King from the arena may do 99999! They're also very agile and can run away, all that AP down the drain.
"Needles? I hate Needles!" - Rikku.

VS.

Tonberries

ANOTHER classic monster who usually has a fixed gimmick, what's known in most games as "Everyone's Grudge", has changed to "Karma". These lizards with lanturns and a Chef's Kinfe slowly creep towards you and then slash you. That Karma thing damages based on how many enemies the character has killed. They also now have "Voodoo" which is a fixed 10000 damage, but for the Don in the arena 99999! So basically that move is a Cactuar knockoff. In Spira, they're first seen in the Stolen Fayth Cavern, and their Master is in the Omega Ruins. Did I mention they have a lot of HP?

Now comes the hard part... choosing between them. I think I'll sit this one out... I might change my mind later.

Toughest choice what the hell, man!!!
....
..
Tonberries

Don Tonberry trick = awesomeness -- Tonberries win in this game.

Cactuars For me but its a tough one to call!

Cactuars

Cactuars

Man, one of the few times I'm really torn between which to choose. I love them both, but my vote goes too.....

Cactuars

Hmm... I think I'll go with the Tonberry as it is the underdog, and it's got the Voodoo which does pretty much what a Cactuar can do, while a Cactuar now can't do a thing the Tonberry can't.

What's the "Don" trick, Agent?

Set Overdrive mode to Comrade or Stoic and then attack Don Tonberry and have him do his powerful counterattack. Equip weapons with Triple AP / Triple Overdrive / Overdrive -> AP and watch the AP pour in.

Cactuars

Cactuars 5-3 Tonberries

Good battle, it sucks to see one of them go, but in this case it looks like the cacti will overpower the creepy lizards. I have a feeling they're gonna last a while...

Round 1 - Battle 12

Fungi

The little mushroom things with the leaves... make sure you have Esuna handy when fighting them. There's three of them which each use a different level of Fire magic (which is ironic as they're vulnerable to fire), and their Pollen may induce statuses! Depending on the level you're fighting it does more statuses, the Funguar will do just sleep, the Thorn does that plus Darkness, and the Exoray will add Silence to those two! Also be wary when fighting the Sleep Sprout in the arena, its "Goodnight" can cast a LOT of statuses and it has every powerful magic!

VS.

Ruminants

Not expecting everyone to know by name what these are, but these are the big creatures with the horn, some of which Kimahri can learn Fire Breath from! Though the monsters themselves don't use it directly, instead they use an attack called "Flame Ball" which they charge up for (Except the Dual Horn). The Arena's Juggernaut does a more powerful version of this called "Salvo".

What'll it be?

This game's Fungi piss me off big-time. My vote is for Ruminants.

Ruminants

Ruminants

Fungi

Fungi

This game's Fungi piss me off big-time. My vote is for Ruminants.

Ruminants. Pollen was not my friend.

Ruminants

Ruminants 6-2 Fungi

It seems the Ruminants won, mostly out of hate for Fungi... we'll see how good they do later!

Round 1 - Battle 13

Wasps

Yeah... the common insects, mostly known as "Bite Bugs" in earlier games. All four of them only attack and may poison you, and all are weak to Ice. However, they're pretty agile, and, as a normal insect, hard to hit without an aimer like Wakka! However, the mutant Hornet from the arena is different and has an array of attacks that cause various statuses! Think fast!

VS.

Coeurls

Another monster that at some point became classic-y. Those tiger/leopard/cat things with the whiskers, their powers always vary and they can do pretty weird things. In this game they use lightning and ice magic, as well as some status effects (mostly silence) and an attack called Blaster, which causes petrification or instant death, depending on who used it. Coeurlregina's Hyper Blaster can IGNORE Deathproof!

Coeurls are way cooler I think.

Wasps. I enjoyed blasting shit out of the air.

Coeurls <3

Wasps

Wasps

Coeurls

Coeurls
it was funny when they cast their weird spell things, and had auron retaliate on them for a one-hit kill

Wasps. I enjoyed blasting them out of the air.

Coeurls <3

Coeurls

Coeurls

Coeurls <3

Coeurls 8-4 Wasps

MUCH closer battle than I had expected, but the big creepy cats end up squashing the bugs.

Didn't know about the fondness for wasps...

Round 1 - Battle 14

Armors

A species that you don't meet until very late in the game, seeing as there are only two, the Barbatos you meet inside Sin, and it's mutated for Vorban from the arena. God knows how many layers of armor these things have, Armor Break is a must if you mess with one of these! For those who don't know by name, they are the huge armor things that like to Body Splash. They may open their shell and cast Mortar at you, but yeah... Armor Break should tide you over, but Vorban from the arena is another story, took me a day to figure out how to beat. It does the same thing, but it's much faster you'll need constant Auto Life. No surprise he's the last area conquest. They had a bit more fun with these guys in X-2... but that's another matter.

VS.

Reptiles

Fair comparison, eh? Well, seeing as these are everything the Armors are not. Common, weak, have a lot of monsters in their species (9 I believe, which is the most packed for any this game. Some have 8, but Reptiles are the only one that have as many as 9). Seeing as there's the most of these lizards, it's kinda funny that they're against the armors. Like most commoners, while they're all weak against Ice, they're all strong against a random combo of the other three elements. They're also like the dogs, no real special power, except attacking with a small chance of either causing petrification or silence. EXCEPT, as always, for the arena's Ornitholestes. It's got a whole different array of powers and statuses like Poison Touch, etc.

So it seems like since they're so different, the vote will be based on preference and no one should have trouble deciding. Heh, it'll either be which is cooler or which pissed you off less, or whatever... basically, my point is, I'll probably see votes from both sides but I don't expect anyone to have trouble deciding :)

For me, Armors.

Armours :P

Armours

Armours

Reptiles

Reptiles

Reptiles. As was said, Armor wasn't truly utilized to its full potential unitl X-2.

Armours

Armours