40 to 31.

                Last week, we saw the ten characters who only just managed to slip into the top half of the list. This week, we have ten characters that were a little more secure in their positions (including two princesses who are just asking to be kidnapped . . . literally). Let’s get into it, numbers 40 to 31.

40. Oerba Dia Vanille (Final Fantasy XIII)

"All of Cocoon was against us. With us dead, they were sure everything would go back—back to the way it was before."

Good to see Australian accents in Japanese games. Five hundred years prior to the game, Vanille and Fang became l’Cie and were given the Focus of becoming Ragnarok to destroy Cocoon. Vanille couldn’t do it, so Fang became an incomplete Ragnarok. However, she only managed to scar it. The two were soon crystallised, and when they awoke five hundred years later found that Fang had almost no memories of what happened. Vanille has retained her memories, but pretends to have none in the hope of preventing other innocent people getting hurt. Unfortunately, Serah and Dajh also get marked as l’Cie.

39. Kuja (Final Fantasy IX)

“What comedy! Zidane, isn't it hilarious!? I'll die just like the black mages I so despise! I single-handedly brought chaos unto Gaia, but in the end, I'm nothing but a worthless doll! ... I won't let it happen. I won't... I won't let this world exist without me!”

When Sisqo sang “The Thong Song”, he didn’t have this in mind. Kuja was originally created by Garland to be an Angel of Death; however he was deemed a failure because he couldn’t go into Trance Mode by himself. When Kuja found out Garland made Zidane to replace him, he kidnapped and abandoned him. When Garland banished Kuja from returning to Terra, Kuja began scheming against Garland. He knew Garland feared eidolons, and desired to gain the most powerful of these (Alexander) to defeat him. When he learned he was only mortal, he destroyed Terra and attempted to destroy Gaia.

38. Seifer Almasy (Final Fantasy VIII)

“This is great... I have a Chicken-wuss and a guy who just reached puberty in my squad...”

“You’re going down Squall”. “Whatever”. Seifer is Squall’s rival and Rinoa’s ex-boyfriend. Even though he’s considered to be an antagonist in the game, he’s not exactly evil. Seifer has tried several times to become a member of SeeD, but his wild behaviour keeps preventing him from doing so. After he hears Squall, Selphie and Zell were on a mission to liberate Timber, he tries to help them by holding the Galbadian President hostage. Ultimecia convinces him to come with her when it becomes apparent this was a bad idea. He was assumed dead until the party were in Deling City.

37. Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca (Final Fantasy XII)

“You're sky pirates, aren't you? Then steal me! Is that too much to ask?”

Finally, a princess so tough she has to ask to be kidnapped. At the age of seventeen, Ashe married Lord Rasler in a political marriage, so that Dalmasca and Nabradia would have a stronger bond against the attacking Archadian Empire. Unfortunately, Rasler was killed soon after wards, and Ashe’s hatred for the Archadian Empire grew. After Basch was framed for her father’s death, Ashe assumes the name Amalia and makes an alliance with Vaan’s team. She is appalled when she finds out Basch is still alive, but teams up with him when Ghis decides to execute her as an “impostor”.

36. Jecht (Final Fantasy X)

"You can't do it, kid. But don't worry, my boy. You're not the only one. No one else can do it. I'm the best!"

He’s manliest man on this list. I mean, in Final Fantasy. I mean, in the universe. Jecht is a star blitzball player in the Dream Zanarkand created by Yu Yevon. One day, while training out at sea, Jecht accidentally went too far out and encountered Sin. Sin dragged him to Spira, where he was arrested as a crazy drunkard. Braska visited him in prison and asked him to become his guardian and offered him a way home if he could find one, ignoring Auron’s protests. Along their travels, Jecht constantly got them into trouble; however he matures along the journey.

35. Ramza Beoulve (Final Fantasy Tactics)

You don't know the truth. You don't realize you're just pathetic puppets, dancing for the bad guys!

*shuffles through papers* I can’t find any records of you from the fourteen games. Ramza wants to be a hero and keep the Beoulve name honourable. He attends the Academy in Gariland with his friend Delita. He gets drawn into a struggle against a group of rogue knights called the Corpse Brigade. While fighting them, Ramza and Delita start to question their country’s actions. Ramza is branded a heretic, and as such is refused to be buried by the church. The point of his character is to show people will do things for justice, whether there’s a reward or not.

Please note: Of the four Tactics characters to make the list, Ramza ranked the highest.

34. Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (Final Fantasy IX)

“Mother... Zidane... No... I can't depend on them anymore! As the queen of Alexandria, I must protect my kingdom.”

Introducing, Sarah. Sorry, Garnet. Sorry, Dagger. MAKE UP YOUR MIND! Which one are you? Garnet was originally born under the name Sarah in the summoner tribe of Madain Sari. Her mother tried to escape with her by boat when the Invinsible attacked the town. However, the boat was destroyed and her mother died. Sarah washed ashore where she was found by the king. Since she looked so much like the deceased Princess Garnet, she was made the replacement princess. She adopted the alias Dagger after Zidane’s weapon, to avoid attracting attention (though her grand speech patterns almost blew that cover).

33. Locke Cole (Final Fantasy VI)

“Hey! Call me a treasure hunter, or I'll rip your lungs out!”

And now, a thief. Sorry, Treasure Hunter. Before the game, Locke lived happily with girlfriend Rachel in Kohlingen. However, Rachel’s father did not approve. It didn’t get much better when Rachel saved Locke from nearly dying and got amnesia in the process. Locke left the town when she told him to leave, feeling guilty for what happened to her. Rachel regained her memory and declared her love for Locke, but she was soon killed in an Imperial invasion on the town. When Locke heard about this, he joined the Returners. While escaping South Figaro, he meets his next love, Celes.

32. Beatrix (Final Fantasy IX)

“I once killed a hundred knights single-handedly... To me, you two are nothing more than insects.”

This woman killed a hundred men and silenced a crying baby. She is NOT to be pissed off. Little is known of Beatrix’s life prior to the game, except that she has shown a great talent in swordsmanship since she was young. She never backs down from any opponent who poses as a threat to the Alexandria Royal Family. During the game Beatrix defeats the player’s team several times, but sides with them because she realises Queen Brahne is evil. At first, she considers Steiner a rival, but part way through the game the two of them fall in love.

31. Shadow (Final Fantasy VI)

“In this world are many like me who've killed their emotions. Don't forget that.”

I didn’t realise a ninja could get beaten up that many times. Prior to the game, Shadow was a train thief with another guy named Baram. However, after pulling off a huge heist, Baram is wounded and begs Shadow to kill him. Shadow can’t do it and flees, eventually reaching Thamasa where he fell in love with a woman and fathered a child. However, he couldn’t escape his past, and left the town with a dog named Interceptor. During the game, he can be met seven times, join the team up to five times, and is found wounded two times.

Well, that’s it for this week. Next week, we cross into the top quarter of the list, as well as about half the cast of FFVII (in case you weren’t expecting them to dominate the list). I’ll see you next week.