Exdeath or Zemus?

[T.G. Oskar]

I'll have to give my vote for Zemus, rather than Exdeath. Though I must admit, it's a very close match.

Exdeath and Zemus both appear almost out of nowhere, from imposed periods of sleep, so they are similar in that regard. Aside from that, the mechanic of both villains are strikingly different.

Exdeath was not necessarily a manipulator, but rather someone that if necessary, he would stain his hands to achieve his goal. Sure, he manipulated some aspects to gain favor, but very few times does he resort to actual manipulation to acquire his goal. The battle against Galuf was pretty much an example of how much can Exdeath go to achieve his plans. However, I see Ex as a PC gone the way of evil, rather than a villain. Allow me to go further: Exdeath is a powergamer who wants to get even more power. If he has to use his powers to achieve his goal, he does. However, he seems to be a poor manipulator, given the more direct interaction between all of them. He had quite the chances of winning with his powers alone, given that he was an armored master mage (that's not something you see much) Also, kudos for being the first plant-based final boss ever. Since, as far as I remember, Ex is an evil tree mage. So, powerful character, lousy manipulator.

Zemus is the vast opposite of Exdeath, even to the point he's not a plant creature. Zemus is the ultimate manipulator, one that no conscious manipulator would dare to cross. He used everyone for his goals: Baron, Kain, Golbez, and pretty much everyone up to the Tower of Bab-il itself. The tally of the chaos caused in the world is quite vast: he caused at-time members of the party to die irreparably, be petrified, manipulated, severely wounded. Without saying how little regard did he had for the rest of the planet. And without mentioning his incredible mind powers. All around the Lunar Palace, his presence was met each time, right until the very end. His hatred and anger was such that he trascended death when the two most powerful magicians of the land casted the most powerful spell in the world (Meteor) in rapid succession. So not only he's a master manipulator, but a frickin' Houdini!! But, his mission isn't very clear.

So, what makes the difference? How Zemus makes Golbez look bad. REAL bad. You can say, Golbez is pretty much a villain as Zemus, and even when out of his control, Golbez has to realize he was as every bit as evil as Zemus was, which eased the mind control. So Zemus not only worked chaos in the world by means of dealing in the shadows, were he to work it a little bit better, and dealing with FuSoYa before, Zemus would have conquered the world...with a clean state. For, who would blame a guy from outer space? Ex? Well, Ex not only was notorious, but hated. In two worlds.

This also helped a bit:

Originally Posted by Frank White

I found that Exdeath... resembled Golbez from FFIV too closely for him to come off as original...

True. He seems to be a recycled concept, but reworked to be different.

So, why I chose Zemus over Exdeath? Simple. Zemus has Golbez and Kain in his team, and I believe manipulators are much cruel villains than direct working villains. Even though Exdeath could have much more success. Were Exdeath to actually succeed in making more of a disaster (say, teaching Kefka how it was done, instead of being taught by him how to ruin a world), he would have won.

[bosola]

To be honest, they both suck.

Exdeath: A person who was born out of a magic tree. Nuff said.

Zemus: A random cloud shaped person thing that turns into the love-child of something from Splatterhouse and Krang from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nuff said.

If I was being forced into it, I'd probably have to back Exdeath. At least he seems to think vaguely rationally, and doesn't live on the frickin' moon.

[chocoboboy]

Zemus I dont know why but just because. I dont think much of Exdeath.

[Calvan]

Zemus. Lives on the moon. Mind controls his flunkies. And doesn't take any shit from nobody.

Zemus: A random cloud shaped person thing that turns into the love-child of something from Splatterhouse and Krang from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nuff said.

That about describes. ZEROMUS. XD

[Thief]

I gotta go with Zemus because it took me longer to beat him than it did with Exdeath. I mean, if you use if you use the Cannoneer's Combine ability one Exdeath and kill him with it, you don't even have to fight Neo Exdeath. I'm serious, it works!

[Exxdeath666]

Originally Posted by bosola

To be honest, they both suck.

Exdeath: A person who was born out of a magic tree. Nuff said.

Zemus: A random cloud shaped person thing that turns into the love-child of something from Splatterhouse and Krang from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nuff said.

If I was being forced into it, I'd probably have to back Exdeath. At least he seems to think vaguely rationally, and doesn't live on the frickin' moon.

So, who do u like? Sephiroth?