<b>Midgar Division:</b> <I>Round 1 - Match 23</I> – (7)Vivi vs. (10)Donkey Kong

<b>Vivi</b>

Game/Series Known From: Final Fantasy IX

Extrapolated Rank in 2002: N/A

Extrapolated Rank in 2003: N/A

Seed in 2002: N/A

Seed in 2003: N/A

The black mage from FFIX enters the Contest. Black Mage = Instant Votes. TBMF, you know?

<b>DK</b>

Game/Series Known From: Mario Series/Donkey Kong Series

Extrapolated Rank in 2002: 46th

Extrapolated Rank in 2003: 29th

Seed in 2002: 4

Seed in 2003: 6

Lost in Sweet 16 to Mario in 2002 and to Tommy V. in Round 2 in 2003

Lost in 2002 to Mario in the Biggest Round 3 Blowout in Contest history.

Yes, I had to add that little fact about DK at the end. It's just too funny. Losing 82-18 in Round 3 to Mario of all people. lol

Remember I said there were 3 cases in the Contest where I said I went with the Contest newbie over the Contest vet? Well, this is one of those times. Now, I can't say much about Vivi, since the Mage is new the Contest. He is from an Final Fantasy game, and that's bound to get him votes. He is also a Black Mage, and we love our Black Mages. Now FF9 might not be the most popular FF game, but like I said, the Final Fantasy name is what's important. Now onto DK...oh lord.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=973

DK vs. Aya Brea. DK BARELY got past her, and then he went on to his Round 3 crucifixion. Vivi is no way, shape or form is weaker than Aya is. But then again, this is before DK moved up in the ranks, so let's look at 2003.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1351

DK vs. Tommy V. DK is able to keep up most of the day until Vercetti pulls away later. Is Vivi stronger than Aya? Of course. Is Vercetti stronger than Vivi? Probably not. Think about a poll at GameFAQs between Vivi and Vercetti. Remember, this is GameFAQs. Vercetti gets the casual vote, Vivi gets the Square, Final Fantasy, RPG, and all those other votes. Even if Vercetti is stronger than Vivi, DK is still weaker than Vercetti.

That's why I gave Vivi the nod here. Expect this to be as close as DK's other close matches. I swear, that monkey. He either loses in a close match (DK vs. Vercetti), or wins in a close match (DK vs. Aya, DK vs. Duck Hunt) and gets slaughtered next round. (DK vs. Mario, DK vs. Legend of Zelda). So don't fret Vivi fans if he loses this round.

<b>Moltar's Bracket Says:</b> Vivi will win.

<b>Moltar's Prediction is:</b> Vivi 51% - DK 49%

<b>Ulti's Analysis</b>

In 2002, Aya Brea, one of the weakest Square characters out there, took DK to the brink before DK finally managed to pull away and win the match.
That said, this match is very misleading when deciding who will win this thing. One, the vote totals for DK/Aya Brea were horrendous. If that exact match were held in 2003, DK would have won that match much easier. Another fun fact is that no character performed better against their 2002 numbers than Donkey Kong. Vivi may be a nice story, but where has he been for the last, oh, three contests? His absence until this year tells me that he was on the low end for Square nominations, which puts him on the level of a Kefka or a Yuna. For Vivi to be able to beat Donkey Kong, he has to be able to beat characters like Luigi, Jill Valentine, Kirby, and Knuckles in polls. I simply can't see this happening, and though we're going to get another close match from the big ape, I think he'll win it. Remember, he has yet to lose in the first round of any contest, and I'm willing to bet that he gets the majority of bracket voters on his side. No matter how popular Final Fantasy characters are, they never perform to the level of their leads, and I would take DK over Zidane in a second.
<b>Ulti's Bracket/Prediction</b> - DK/DK with 50.25%

<b>Cena's Analysis</b>

Well I'm stumped. Vivi is the most popular FF9 character, hell, one of the most popular characters from the FF series. DK is just an ape with an attitude problem. But that's a good thing. That attitude will do him well against Vivi. I originally had him winning, because I didn't think Vivi was known enough to beat one of the mascots of all gaming. I mean, think about it and it seems like DK should win. But then I thought back to last year. DK lost to Tommy Vercetti. I mean, it was close but it was Tommy. I dunno about this one at all. It could go either way, really, because of DK's past. Just...wow.

<b>Cena's Vote:</b> Vivi (for the bracket only)

<b>Cena's Prediction:</b> It's a complete toss-up.