No. 80 to 71.

Week three of the countdown, where we not only pass the quarter of the way mark, but this week there are characters from the oldest and (one of) the newest Final Fantasy games. Who are they? Find out as you read numbers 80 to 71.

80. Rufus Shinra (Final Fantasy VII)

"I'll control the world with fear. It takes too much to do it like my old man. A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them."

Who would have thought the president of a large organisation would be evil? Rufus Shinra is the president of the Shinra Electric Power Company (as of part way through Final Fantasy VII) and major character of the entire Final Fantasy VII arc. In Before Crisis, he is secretly funding AVALANCHE, but only because he can seize power from his father (current president of Shinra). In Final Fantasy VII, he takes control of Shinra after Sephiroth kills nearly everyone at the headquarters. In Advent Children, he is hiding Jenova’s head under a sheet he was wearing, taunting Kadaj when it’s revealed.

79. Wakka (Final Fantasy X)

"There's something I wanna say before the fight. I... I guess I didn't know anything about the Al Bhed. Didn't know anything, didn't wanna listen to anything. I was a big jerk. So, I... Well, uh... I'm sorry, ya? Please forgive me."

This man has a lot of balls, ya? Wakka is the coach and captain of the Besaid Aurochs blitzball team, and one of Yuna’s guardians. He is first seen on Besaid beach when Tidus washes up there. He takes him to Besaid village, and agrees to take him to Luca because of his blitzball talent (and he looks like his dead brother Chappu). He has a hatred of the Al Bhed, because they don’t follow the teachings of Yevon (though he gets along with Rikku until he finds out). In the sequel, he’s married to Lulu and expecting a child.

78. Shiva (Various)

"I am the ice Esper Shiva... Are you to be my masters? Let's find out!"

When she gives you a cold shoulder, it really is a cold shoulder. Shiva is one of the most commonly recurring summons, appearing in almost every Final Fantasy game since the introduction of summoners. Being a summon means Shiva doesn’t haven’t much of a back story other than being heavily affiliated with ice. In all her appearances Shiva appears as a woman with blue hair, and in most appearances blue skin. In Final Fantasy XI, she was the ruler of a small kingdom before her uncle usurped her. In Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, she has a lover and child.

77. Amarant Coral (Final Fantasy IX)

“I'd rather die as a warrior than live as a beggar.”

You couldn’t kill a child and steal a girl’s pendant? You are either really weak, or you have a moral compass. Amarant is a playable character in Final Fantasy IX, who is introduced as an antagonist at first. He was hired by Brahne, as well as Lani, to steal Garnet’s pendant and kill Vivi. Amarant, who’d been robbed by Zidane at some point, asked if he could kill him too, but Brahne told him to take care of her orders first. When Lani takes Eiko hostage in exchange for the pendant, stops her because he doesn’t approve of taking hostages.

76. Bartz Klauser (Final Fantasy V)

"Me and my chocobo just go wherever the trail leads us..."

This must be the only example of a guy hanging around with three girls and not being a pimp. Bartz is the son of Dorgann, one of the Warriors of Dawn. Dorgann didn’t want Bartz to know about his roots, and instead told him to go travelling. On his travels, Bartz found a chocobo that had been abandoned by its flock. He named it Boko, and the two became travel buddies. Bartz starts off the game dedicated to just being a wanderer, however he eventually comes around and helps defeat Exdeath for good. He also has a fear of heights.

75. Sabin Rene Figaro (Final Fantasy VI)

“You think a minor thing like the end of the world was gonna do me in?”

You can dive-bomb a train, but not a clown? Sabin is Edgar’s twin brother; both of them are the heirs to the throne in Figaro. After the Gestahlian Empire poisoned his father, he gets upset that no-one seems to care. He encourages Edgar to run away with him, who doesn’t want to leave because it’s not what their father would want. Edgar flips a coin on the matter, if it was heads, each brother would choose his own path (unknown to Sabin, it was a double headed coin). For the next ten years, Sabin trained with a man named Duncan.

74. Cidolfus Orlandeau (Final Fantasy Tactics)

"Long ago, I was taught to strike from behind and keep my back to the wall."

Even in the side games, the Cid trend continues. At the start of the game, Cid is a general of the Order of the Southern Sky in the Fifty Years’ War. However, after a while he is replaced by Duke Goltanna. When Ramza hears about the Order of the Northern Sky heading to the Fort Besselat, he heads there to find Cid and stop the fighting. Meanwhile, the Church of Glabados accuse Cid of being a traitor and arrest him. Fortunately for him, Ramza comes and busts him out. His ultimate fate at the end of the game is unknown.

73. Genesis Rhapsodos (Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-)

"My soul, corrupted by vengeance, hath endured torment to find the end of the journey, in my own salvation and your eternal slumber."

Who says villains can’t have a love of poetry? Genesis was created in Dr. Hollander’s “Project G”, by injecting Gillian Hewley with Jenova cells. However, Professor Hojo’s “Project S” (which created Sephiroth) was deemed superior. Project G was scrapped, and Genesis was given to a rich man in Banora. Genesis grew up there and was close friends with Angeal Hewley. Genesis envied Sephiroth’s fame, and soon joined SOLDIER with Angeal. They became 1^st class, and befriended Sephiroth. During a training session between the three, Sephiroth accidentally wounded Genesis, a wound which gradually got worse, and Hollander said he could heal.

72. Caius Ballad (Final Fantasy XIII-2)

"I shall remember your pain. It will be carved in my heart. Together with the memories of every other Yeul, cursed to die this way."

Why are you evil? You have eternal life and a new girl every few years. Caius is the villain of Final Fantasy XIII-2, born in the distant past. He’s a member of a tribe led by a seeress named Paddra Nsu-Yeul who has the power to see changes in the timeline. Caius defeats Yeul’s guardian and becomes the new one. While fighting a more powerful opponent, an army invaded them looking for the seeress. While his opponent sacrificed himself, Caius became one with his eidolon. Etro is moved by this, and gives him the Heart of Chaos, making him immortal.

71. Garland (Final Fantasy)

"I, Garland, will knock you all down!!"

You may knock me down, but I’ll get up again, because you’ll never keep me down. Garland is a lot of firsts for Final Fantasy: he’s in the first game, he’s the first boss of that game, the first character to have any amount of personality. Hell, he’s the first character to have an actual name. Prior to the game, Garland was a powerful knight and beloved by the kingdom. However, he kidnapped Princess Sarah and demanded the king hand over power to him. The Warriors of Light challenged and defeated him, however Garland managed to escape into the past.

Please note: Garland is the first, last, and only character from the original game to make it on to the list.

That’s it for this week. Next week, we have numbers 70 to 61. Who managed to score every typical male’s favourite number? Find out next week, until then, seeya.

No 90 to 81

Last week, we found out who just barely slipped into the list. Today, we continue down the list to those who were a little more secure in their position. Today, we see numbers 90 to 81. Here goes.

90. Leo Cristophe (Final Fantasy VI)

"I knew you were being used as some sort of biological weapon. And because I didn't do anything about it, I'm no better than Kefka."

I didn’t know there were honourable men in the Gestahlian Empire. General Leo Cristophe is a temporarily playable character (and by temporary, I mean one battle). When the party first meets him, he tells a soldier to delay their attacks to minimise casualties, and tries to prevent Kefka from poisoning Doma. However, he’s called away to meet with Gestahl and Kefka goes ahead with his plan. He accompanies Terra, Locke, Shadow and Celes on a mission to make peace with the Espers. When he discovers this was just a plan from Gestahl to get more magicite, he dies fighting Kefka.

89. Odin (Various)

"Mine obsidian blade shall split atwain the threads of thy future, whilst its crimson fuller shalt channel the lifeblood of thy past. Now wail as thy soul is bestrewn across the plains of Valhalla!"

Heads will roll. Odin is a summon in the Final Fantasy series, appearing in many games. Typically, he will instantly kill the enemy he’s summoned against, unless it’s a boss. Like most summons, he doesn’t often have a huge impact on the plot. In Final Fantasy IV, the king of Baron becomes Odin after his death. In Final Fantasy VIII, he appears during a battle with Seifer and attacks, however Seifer defeats him and his sword is acquired by Gilgamesh. In Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2, he’s Lightning eidolon, and in Gestalt Mode turns into Sleipnir for Lightning to ride.

88. Selphie Tilmitt (Final Fantasy VIII)

"...I... I did it, everyone...! I know the stage got destroyed, but I performed... My dream band... I was able to carry out my dream..."

“Hey Squall, wanna join the Garden Festival Committee?” “Whatever.” Selphie, like most of the main cast, is one of the orphans from Edea’s Orphanage. When the orphanage shut down, Selphie was the only one to go to Trabia Garden. Despite this Garden not using Guardian Forces, she stumbled across one and began using it. She used it for a while, but eventually she lost it and forgot all about it (the cost of using Guardian Forces). When she finished her training, she transferred to Balamb Garden. She passes the SeeD exam alongside Squall and Zell, and another student named Nida.

87. Cid (Final Fantasy X)

“If she continues this fool pilgrimage, she will die! Sure as if you killed her yourself. No haired-brained law or teaching can send my little niece to her death! When I save her, I'll make her give up being a summoner quicker than a desert melts ice!”

Anyone who beats the crap out of Tidus and loves blowing things up is okay in my books. Cid is the leader of the Al Bhed, Rikku’s father and Yuna’s uncle. When the Al Bhed were scattered across Spira, he was the one to bring them together and build Home. When Braska married his sister, he disowned her, but after Yuna’s birth and her death, he significantly relented. During Final Fantasy X, he sends the Al Bhed to kidnap summoners so that they don’t get killed at the end of their pilgrimage, instead looking into another way to defeat Sin.

86. Rude (Final Fantasy VII)

“Hey, partner, this thing got any bite to it?” “Shin-Ra technology at its finest.” “Oh, so you made this?” “If nothing else it's ... flashy.” “Oh good...” “You love it, I know.” “Looks like today we're clocking out early.”

Shinra technology would suck without him. Rude is one of the Turks and a dedicated employee of Shinra. He is often seen with Reno and, in contrast with Reno’s laid back and talkative manner, is quiet and serious. He can be fought several times in Final Fantasy VII, though the only time he must be fought is in Rocket Town while loading the Huge Materia onto a rocket. In Advent Children, Rude and Reno fight Loz and Yazoo, who are searching for Jenova’s head. He is rarely seen without a pair of sunglasses on, and even has a backup pair.

85. Ultros (Final Fantasy VI)

“Silence Knave! You are in the presence of octopus royalty! A lowborn thug like you could never defeat me!”

Why do comic relief bosses have more than four limbs? Ultros is an octopus who hinders the player party in numerous games, but isn’t technically evil. He debuts in Final Fantasy VI. The party first meet him on the Lethe River, where he tries to eat the party. He then tries to crush Celes at the opera house, but is foiled. He next appears in the Esper Caves, trying to steal the statues representing the Warring Triad. In his final battle, he brings his friend “Mr. Typhon”. In the World of Ruin, he’s the receptionist at the Dragon’s Neck Colosseum.

84. Cid Fabool IX (Final Fantasy IX)

"I'm delighted to see you again, Garnet. You have truly <gwok> become a fine lady."

Getting turned into insects and frogs? I think I've read this fairy tale. Cid continues Square Enix’s tradition of having someone named Cid who has a connection with airships. Despite his wife turning him into an Oglop, he remains the leader of Lindblum. It’s because of him that the Tantalus Theatre group kidnap Princess Garnet, because of Queen Brahne’s odd behaviour. When Zidane tries to turn him back into a human, he accidentally turns him into a frog, though he does eventually regain his human form. At the end of the game, Cid and Hilda adopt Eiko as their daughter.

83. Cid Raines (Final Fantasy XIII)

"The public fears what it doesn't know... Strike down the phantoms before their eyes, and they sleep like babes."

I didn't know Cid could be evil. Cid is a Sanctum officer whose job is to capture, and publicly execute l’Cie. When Snow is captured in Lake Bresha, he greets him very friendly and tells him that he wants to overthrow Sanctum so he can hand over the rule to the people. He manages to get Snow to help him, since he believed that Cid intended to save Cocoon. He reveals that he’s a l’Cie, and his Focus is to help the party to Cocoon’s destruction. When the party defeats him, Cid crystallises after giving them some words of encouragement.

82. Golbez (Final Fantasy IV)

"Oh, you care for this one, do you? Then let me take her along as well. To hold in trust until we are graced with the chance to meet again."

He wears black armour, he’s from outer space and he’s related to the main character. If you can hear him breathing in the next room, he’s Darth Vader. Golbez is a major villain in Final Fantasy IV and Cecil’s older brother. Born Theodor Harvey, he wasn’t aware of his Lunarian heritage. After his father was killed and his mother died giving birth to Cecil, a voice (Zemus) told Theodor that Cecil was to blame. Believing the voice, Theodor left Cecil outside of Baron. He changed his name to Golbez and allowed himself to be controlled by Zemus, ashamed of himself.

81. Mog (Various)

“I'm your boss, kupo! You're gonna join us, kupo!”

Aww, how adorable. Mog is a common name for a Moogle in the Final Fantasy games, typically one with a high level of importance in the game. In Final Fantasy VI, Mog is a playable character, and the only Moogle who can speak English. He first helps Locke defend Terra from The Empire, then becomes a party member who recruits Umaro in the World of Ruin. Mog in Final Fantasy IX, unlike VI, is the only Moogle who can’t speak English. Initially a coward, Mog is later revealed as the Holy Eidolon Madeen. In Final Fantasy XIII-2, he’s Serah’s bowsword.

Well, that’s it for this week. Next week, we get into numbers 80 to 71, which means this thing will be over a quarter over. Until then, seeya.