While browsing Final Fantasy Google+ community, I happened upon an interesting post from user FireHeart321:

FFVIII and FFXIII have such a similar design (in some aspects anyway), that the characters are practically archetypes. That being said, you could basically match up one character from either game, as they would effectively be equals, and have one helluva battle.XD

So, I’ve decided to do an entire FFVIII vs. FFXIII battle poll.

I remembered these from years ago, of which I participated. I found it entertaining, and interesting. His first poll was Snow vs. Zell. Snow won.

It makes sense to have the two monks face off in battle. But then, he has other polls right?

Yes. He took the liberty of pairing the rest of Final Fantasy VIII and XIII’s cast by skill and job class.

So for our next set of archetype characters, we have Quistis Trepe vs. Oerba Yun Fang.

Who would win?

Use actual logic when voting, please. Favoritism doesn’t win a battle.

RULES:
Both characters have Bahamut as a summon
Both characters have their ultimate weapon
Fang has access to all six roles
Quistis has her full set of Limit Breaks through Blue Magic
The ATB gauge is ruled out But Fang can still use “Highwind”

If you are unfamiliar with how the Junction System really functions, look it up on youtube (I have a tutorial posted too). Quistis is not as “limited” as most seem to think.

Who won this round?

Well, with Fang vs. Quistis – Fang won. (Though let me throw in my two cents: I did mention how she had access to ALL limit breaks – this includes her insta-kill Degenerator, effective against anyone except for bosses and specific enemies)

Like I said: even if you think XIII characters are overpowered, VIII characters are just as strong.

Now before we get on to the polls everyone REALLY wants to see, here’s the next:
Irvine Kinneas vs. Sazh Katzroy

RULES
Sazh can summon Brynhildr while Irvine has Ifrit
Ultimate weapons for both characters
All six roles for Sazh
All types of ammo available for Irvine through “Shot”.
ATB gauge is ruled out But Sazh can still use “Cold Blood”

Again, do research if needed. Don’t just play favorites.

I appreciate the FireHearts321 wants participants to do research on who would win based on skill set. It requires mental gymnastics, of course, but this is the type of debate Final Fantasy nerds like me adore.

So who won this round? Irvine.

Interestingly enough, the winners alternate between the game. Perfect this means an even match between the characters of Final Fantasy VIII and XIII? The next battle:

Selphie Tilmitt vs. Oerba Dia Vanille

RULES
Vanille can summon Hecatoncheir while Selphie has the Brothers
Ultimate Weapon for both characters
All six roles for Vanille
Selphie can access all magic as well as her four unique spells through “Slots”
ATB Gauge is ruled out But Vanille can still use Death

Look up Selphie’s limit break before voting. This is the poll where it starts getting REALLY intense!

The similarities are just as strong as Zell and Snow, and Irvine and Sazh. Both specialize in insta-kill spells; Vanille has Death, while Selphie has a special limit break called The End. In the end, who wins?

Selphie vs. Vanille. Winner = Vanille. (Don’t discount “The End” people. Selphie has as much a chance of drawing it as Vanille’s Death does in succeeding) Remember: it’s not 100%…

Stats are important, but with all of this to consider, perhaps voters didn’t take this into account. Oh well, to bad for Selphie. The last battle:

Anyway, last one. Let’s just get this over with…
Final Round:
Rinoa Heartilly vs. Hope Estheim

RULES
Both can summon Alexander
Ultimate weapons for both characters
All six roles available to Hope
Rinoa has access to both Angelo and her Angel Wing limit break
ATB Gauge is ruled out! But Hope can still use Last Resort

And for this final round, Rinoa wins.

Fireheart321 does not poll Squall vs Lightning. These two characters have just as many similarities between them. Perhaps this is because we can settle it in Final Fantasy Dissidia?

This last battle would determine if it ends in a draw, or if the cast from Final Fantasy XIII wins.

Interestingly enough, the cast from either Final Fantasy VIII and XIII square-off against the cast of Final Fantasy XII.