No. 70 to 61.

Last week, we crossed the one quarter mark of the list. This week, we have the highest ranked character from one game, and the highest ranked recurring character. Well, let’s get into it:

70. Firion (Final Fantasy II)

“I...never had a specific objective I could call my own...like winning against my father, or fighting alongside my brother. I just wanted to bring an end to the conflict. It's like the Emperor said. I'm only a tool without a will of my own.”

You know, most characters only use one type of weapon. Firion is the main character of Final Fantasy II, and the original NES version of the game uses the same sprite as Fighter from the previous game. Being from an early game, Firion hasn’t got a lot of back story. He lived in Salamand with adoptive parents after his parents’ death. When the Palamecian Empire attacked the town, his new parents were killed and he’s taken to Fynn with Maria, Guy and Leon. They escape captivity, and all but Leon join the Wild Rose Rebellion (Leon disappearing during the escape).

Please note: Of the two characters from Final Fantasy II to make this list, Firion ranked the highest.

69. Adelbert Steiner (Final Fantasy IX)

"I thought of relinquishing my knighthood many times after Alexandria was destroyed... But there are still things I must protect. Seeing this sky convinced me."

I thought the character wielding a sword was meant to be the main character? Steiner is the captain of the Knights of Pluto, and rival of Beatrix. He loyally protects Garnet, and throughout the game tries to bring her back to Alexandria. He distrusts Zidane on the grounds that he kidnapped her, though he respects Vivi. When the party gains control of the cargo ship, Steiner tries to take it to Alexandria, but Garnet instead takes it to Lindblum. When Cid wouldn’t help them, Steiner and Garnet sneak back to Alexandria. While there, he realises that Queen Brahne is evil.

68. Bahamut (Various)

“I see you have defeated Leviathan, but that could have been done without the power of light. I, Bahamut, shall test you.”

What’s a fantasy game without a powerful dragon? Bahamut is perhaps the most common summon throughout the Final Fantasy franchise. He debuted in the original game, though not as a summon. If the player brought him a rat tail, he’d upgrade their job classes. In Final Fantasy III, he kidnapped the player and Desch, who worked together to escape his nest. In Final Fantasy IV, he is the God of the Eidolon. In Final Fantasy IX, Kuja uses it to attack Alexandria, but is ultimately beaten by Alexander. In Final Fantasy X, his Fayth appears to Tidus and Yuna frequently.

Please note: Of the four frequently recurring characters from the series, Bahamut ranked the highest.

67. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa (Final Fantasy XII)

"Behold the Manufacted Nethicite... the fruit of our power and knowledge! See what the Stone of Man is capable of! Witness its power with your own eyes! Famfrit! To me!"

Finally, Square Enix added a mad scientist to their list of villains. Cidolfus Bunansa (better known as Dr. Cid) is the father of leading man Balthier. Six years prior to the game, while on an expedition to Jagd Difohr, he met Occuria Venat, who taught him about nethicite. He taught Cid how to create artificial nethicite, which Cid used to make many things, including airships and weapons. Sometimes, Venat would appear to Cid, but no-one else, so people began to assume he was crazy. Not wanting to see his father’s sanity deteriorating anymore, Balthier left and became a sky pirate.

66. Irvine Kinneas (Final Fantasy VIII)

“Sharpshooters are loners by nature... We hone our instincts, pour our whole being in a single bullet. The pressure of the moment... An instant of tension... That's what... I have to face alone...”

“Hey Squall, I just hit a sparrow at hundred feet.” “Whatever.” Irvine was one of the orphans at Edea’s orphanage with most of the other playable cast, and is also an expert on firearms. He was hired to help Squall’s team assassinate Edea, however he recognised her and hesitated before firing, a shot the sorceress blocked easily. The rest of the party get arrested, but Irvine avoids it, and later teams up with Rinoa (who was released) to save the others. Since he doesn’t use the Guardian Forces, he didn’t lose his memories and remembered his time in the orphanage.

65. Faris Scherwiz (Final Fantasy V)

"I'm just not cut out for a princess, I'm afraid. Pirating's much more my style."

Didn’t Aerosmith have a song about this lady? Born Sarisa Scherwil Tycoon, princess of Tycoon, she became lost at sea as a child and was found by pirates. Being so young, she couldn’t pronounce her name properly, she was given the name Faris. Because women aren’t treated as equals, she was disguised as a boy. At the age of fifteen, the ship was attack by Syldra, whom Faris managed to tame and have pull the ship. As a result, she became the captain of the ship. Five years later, she catches Bartz, Lenna and Galuf trying to steal her ship.

64. Vaan (Final Fantasy XII)

"One of these days I'll fly an airship of my own. I'll be a sky pirate, free to go where I will."

And now, we have Captain Basch fon, oops, I mean we have Vaan. Vaan is the main character of Final Fantasy XII (though not the leading man), who seeks revenge on the Empire for his brother Reks’ death. The death of his brother meant that he had no family left other than his adoptive sister and love interest Penelo (his parents were killed five years prior to the game; Penelo’s were killed two years later). After his brother’s death, he lived with Penelo and some other orphaned children in Lowtown, dreaming of the day he could become a sky pirate.

63. Quistis Trepe (Final Fantasy VIII)

“You know, the boys often choke on this test when I come with them. I guess my charm makes them nervous.”

“Squall! Seifer! Stop that at once”. “Whatever”. Quistis grew up in Edea’s Orphanage alongside most of the main cast. Growing up, she constantly broke up fights between Squall and Seifer. At age ten she was adopted, but came back because “it didn’t work out”. She became the youngest member of SeeD at age fifteen, and at age seventeen received her instructors licence. After Ellone left, Quistis attempted to fill in for her as Squall’s sister. Quistis is highly admired at the orphanage, and she even has her own fanclub (who call themselves “Trepies”. Someone was watching too much Star Trek).

62. Edge Geraldine (Final Fantasy IV)

“You think our rage... a weakness? Then let me show you how wrong you are!”

Okay, who wants to be the one to tell him the girl he likes is only seven? Edge is a ninja prince from the Kingdom of Eblan. Some time before the game (or at least his debut) the people of the kingdom had to be evacuated to the nearby Cave of Eblan. When his parents disappear, Edge suspects Rubicante, one of the four fiends. When Edge confronts Rubicante, he is easily defeated. Cecil’s party meet him after the battle and ask him to join them, an offer he refuses at first, but agrees to join after Rydia starts to cry.

61. Cyan Garamonde (Final Fantasy VI)

“I shall go with thee! We must not abandon this world to Kefka!”

Thou shall bow down to the samurai of Doma Castle. Cyan is a powerful warrior from Doma. When he’s introduced in the game, Doma is under attack from the Gestahlian Empire. He easily dispatches the commander of a group of soldiers that attacks the castle, but then Kefka dumps some poison into a river that runs through the castle, killing nearly everyone. Enraged, he attacks the Empire’s camp, where he meets Sabin and Shadow. After they escape the camp, the trio end up on the Phantom Train, which Cyan sees his wife and child leave on when he gets off.

And that’s it for this week. Next week, we finish the bottom half of the list. Who else missed out on making the top half of the list? Find out next week. Until then, seeya.