The Matthias RPG Awards

[Gondor Reficul]

[Taiyz]

Dead Fingers Talk alone should make you want to finish the game. Seriously it's my favourite video game song, like ever.

Well, maybe next to the fact that I always end up singing along to Mega Man music which would probably qualify them as "my favourite songs." But whatever.
_________________

[Conn]

[CloudXSword]

[Conn]

If you're going to use that, you might as well link to the best one.

[Taiyz]

[Switch Hitter]

[Zacewing]

[Neon]

Late response..
_________________

Thanks Slyder & Drake.

[Matthias]

Best Mascot

Honorable Mention:

Quickie, Tales of Eternia


Why an honorable mention? One, I've not played the game. Two, the reason I put him here is because I can use him to make hilariously bad puns. Observe: "Keele and Meredy have a very active romantic life. Why, they have a QUICKIE whenever they want!"

Runners Up:

Cuccoos, Legend of Zelda series


Link has come across some fierce beasts in his travels: Dodongos, dragons, beasts of darkness, the King of Evil, and even his own dark self. But there's one foe he's never been able to defeat: the chickens. As everyone well knows, the chickens are the single most powerful creature in all of Hyrule. They are immortal, and any fool adventurer unwise to attack them enough will find his life snuffed out by a mighty, ceaseless army of chicken death.

Servbots, Megaman Legends series
(counting Misadventures of Tron Bonne as part of the "series")


How can you NOT like the adorable Lego people? Eternally loyal to Tron, the servbots are at the helm of almost all of the Bonne vehicles (the exception being the ones that Tron and Teisel pilot personally), so they're a constant menace to our blue bomber, but with an endearing child like mentality. They care so much about their creator, that they're willing to do even the most un-piratey thing for her: start a fast food restaurant. Yeah - Megaman Legends 1. They start a fast food restaurant to fund the Bonnes.

Pikachu, Pokemon series


Chances are, he's not your favorite Pokemon. He's not my favorite Pokemon. You may even starkly dislike him. Me, I'm okay with him. But you can't deny the impact he's had as mascot for the whole series - when asked "name a pokemon", he'd probably be towards the top of the little critters mentioned, and even with hundreds new pokemon introduced, he remains ever present at the foreground - and enduring icon of the gotta catch 'em all spirit. He's probably the most prominent RPG mascot Nintendo has - let us consider that Nintendo's official mascot, Mario, garnered his popularity primarily through non-RPG appearances, and I wouldn't really label Link a "mascot."

Chocobos, Final Fantasy series


This and the winner of the category are probably the only ones more iconic than Pikachu. They were the two that in an instant came to my mind when I though of RPG mascots. The chocobos, to describe them, are simple - they're big yellow birds who carry you around the world, safe from enemy attacks. But Chocobos have grown to represent much more in the series. Bartz had his own personal Chocobo, Boco. Chocobos are part of not one, but two summons in FF7, and the focus of probably one of its most involved sidequests. In FF8, a named Chocobo could be summoned, and powered up in a portable memory unit game. Chocobo's gained his own game series, and remains one of the two most identifiable icons of the series...the other is of course...

AND the WINNER is...

Moogles, Final Fantasy series


It was neck and neck, but ultimately, I feel the edge goes to the Moogles, because of the wider role they've played in the games, and in their influence outside of the series as well. Moogles have served as your party members and allies. In FF6, a team of them come to the aid of Locke and the injured Terra, and eventually, one joins your party fulltime, that is to say of course, the amazing Mog. In Tactics Advance, they were a recruitable race, with Marche's sidekick being the black mage Montblanc. They've held entire communities on their own - whether it be the Moogle village of FF5, or the mail network of FF9. One teamed up with a chocobo to form the Choco/Mog summon in FF7, and they served a vital service in 9 where they were your save points. Their role continues in 12, where Montblanc and his brother Nono make return cameos. They've even made appearances outside the main FF series, appearing as the synthesis shop workers in the Kingdom Hearts series. Whereas Chocobos are generally sweet, loyal mounts, the Moogles have come to have a wide range of personalities and interests, whether it be the humble traveler Stilzkin or the technologically minded moogles of Tactics Advance.


Worst Mascot

Runners Up:

Mieu, Tales of the Abyss


Perhaps he's "cute" visually wise, and sometimes personality wise. But it doesn't change the fact you get stuck with the village idiot. I've no problem understanding why Luke wants to punt him into a river sometimes. He CAN get on the nerves something fierce, especially with that voice. However, he is somewhat saved by allowing me to run around like a maniac attempting to light things on fire, and being the best single use weapon ever, as discussed previously.

Cactaurs, Final Fantasy series


Cactaurs prick me the wrong way, if you'll excuse the pun-worthy opening. I can already see it happening - OMG MATT YOU **** SUCK YOU DON'T LIKE CACTAURS. Okay, fine, let me ask? Do you ENJOY getting hit in the face for 1000 damage? Do you ENJOY dealing with enemies who run away like skittish mother **** at a moment's notice? Do you LIKE dealing with stupid sidequests dealing with playing "tag" with them in Final Fantasy X? Do you LIKE dealing with a giantass one who hits you in the face for 10,000 damage in FF8? (that's instant kill, btw) (Though you did get him as a summon for your trouble - and he has a lolworthy mustache...if only they all did). My answer to all these is no. Also, keep in mind, I went to school in Arizona. I saw cacti every **** day. The novelty has worn off.

AND the LOSER is...

Drizzt Do'Urden, Baldur's Gate


First off, to explain why this asshat is a mascot: he's the mascot of the forgotten realms brand, of which Baldur's Gate is a part. So of course, he makes a cameo in the games, and when he shows up, your party pretty much takes a backseat to his bull ****, as he fills every fanfiction annoying bit you could think of. He's a dark elf who went good! His family hates him and wants to kill him! He has two special swords only he can use! He fights for justice because he can! Basically, take everything cliche about fantasy heroes, and combine it with everything you don't like about emo kids, add an extra coating of doucebaggery and overpowered brokenness just for the sake of it, and you get this drip. I regreted coming across him whether Good or Evil. Good because I wanted to kill him but couldn't, Evil because I tried and found it freakin' impossible.
_________________

[Conn]

**** yeah, Moogles. I love Moogles.

oh and Servbots are cool too!

[Matthias]

Forgot to mention this, but I should also mention the greatest thing in the entirety of Dead Rising:

The Servbot head.

EDIT: And their apparances, both alongside Tron and on their own, in Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
_________________

[Curimuch]

I...I really liked the giant Cactaurs...and their scurrying...and yeah

Tonberries too. Even if they terrify me in-battle.
_________________

[Neon]

Cuccoos...they are murderouse evil chickens.. Moogles are amazing, heres to hoping they pop in XIII. Moogle Stiltzkin is the best.
_________________

Thanks Slyder & Drake.

[Curimuch]

I wish I had that really hilarious video of the chickens killing link with dramatic music in the background
_________________