LogFAQs > #938533124

So with all of that in mind, how can you not take Cloud here? It's impossible! I can already hear cries of LOL THATS FANBOYISM RIGHT THUR, but no, sir, no it's infallible logic. Thanks to the SFVFLBTLFHGIGNCVSLABTKYAWABHDIV factor, it seems pretty clear to me what's going down here. Cloud's taking home the championship, baby!
Oh, and I guess L-Block comes in second or something.

Cloud 32%
L-Block 29%
Link 29%
Snake 10%

Bracket: Link > Cloud
Vote: Cloud

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Yoblazers Analysis

The finals. The culmination of two months worth of waiting, debating, yelling, laughing, and whining. This is the final day of contest matches we'll see in 2007, and likely the final day that I and many of my brethren will be so active on the board. It's been a great one, fellas. See you next time. Now, as for the match itself...

Wow! It's fair to see that this will be the first hotly contested Character Battle final in over three years. Despite this, three of the guys favored to be here (Link, Cloud, and Solid Snake) are here, so what gives? What makes his match such an impossible-to-analyze crapshoot? The biggest X-factor in contest history, that's what. The angular hammer of destruction. The 90 degree mallet that strikes fear into the hearts of Noble Niners across the bracket. The god damned L-Block.

L-Block is the most unpredictable contest force in history. He's far more unpredictable than Link 2K2, Squall/Cloud 2K3, Starcraft, Solid Snake, and The Legend of Zelda. Hell, he might be a more shocking entrant than the rest of those guys combined. Who would have thought that a humble Tetris block would have won more than a match or two, let alone make it into the final match so easily? L-Block is a product of rallied votes, unseen levels of momentum, and a voting populace tired of the same old same old. While I can't say I want to see him/it win this thing, if that's what the people want, then more power to them.

It's very fair to say, especially when analyzing his last few matches, that L-Block is gaining momentum on an unprecedented basis. He's stronger today than he was yesterday, and tomorrow, he'll be stronger still. In fact, I think I've seen more L-Block mania in the past 24 hours than I have in the first two months of the tournament. To me, that's a red light that L-Block will be marching (falling?) into this final battle insanely juiced up. The boost L-Block will have managed in a 24 hour period is equivalent to the boost Master Chief would get from Halo Wii and Halo DS arriving on match day. Yes, I honestly feel this way.

However, he now has to flex his newfound might against two entirely different beasts. Link and Cloud Strife are not Snake, Sonic, or Master Chief. They are the two most dominant forces these contest (this format included) have ever seen, and thus far, they've proven it. After the last match, Link, especially, looks truly frightening. There's no doubt in my mind that either Link and Cloud could easily outdo L-Block's current percentage against this competition. Will that be good enough to hold off the people's champ?

I really have no clue, which kinda makes you wonder what the hell I've been rambling about these past few paragraphs. While Link and Cloud still look stronger, such traditional comparisons don't work against L-Block, especially when we can be assured he'll be at his peak strength tonight.

There are so many things that are impossible to picture in this match. It's impossible to picture Cloud losing to anyone but Link. It's impossible to imagine Link losing at all, let alone potentially twice in the same match. It's impossible to imagine any character splitting Link and Cloud in the same match. And it's impossible to imagine L-Block not scoring 30%. However, at least one of those scenarios will happen, and it's going to be bonkers around here when it does. As for my prediction (ie. shot-in-the-dark guess), I'll uhh... I'll go with... good lord, this is tough. The closest thing I have resembling "confidence" is my belief that Cloud has no shot. I think Cloud Strife will lose to a Tetris block, god help me. His horrible first hour, coupled with L-Block's early vote from the heavens, will equal a complete disaster. He could be down thousands after 60 minutes, and I don't see him making that up.

A victory over Cloud would be amazing in and of itself, but I think L-Block's fanbase is smart enough to know that that isn't the real test. Link, our contest king, the god of Character Battles, has stood atop the mountain, undeterred, for years. He's the final wall, the final challenge. My friends, this could be one for the ages.

Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!!!

Link - 31%
L-Block - 30%
Cloud Strife - 24%
Solid Snake - 15%

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Lopens Analysis

So... the damn L-Block is triumphant. And it appears to be gaining more and more power. Some are even calling it to bring down Link and Cloud... well, I don't believe it can. There's a world of difference between Link and Cloud, and Snake. It might have mad rallies, madder than ever before... and vote stuffing. BUT it's going to lose some votes too, because Link and Cloud are beasts. I can't see it losing that much, but it won't have to to lose.

Now, I think Link has it... for two reasons. For the first, it seems like Cloud is going to be relatively abandoned in this match. I don't know, the vibe amongst Cloud voters I've seen is "I want Link to lose, so I'm voting the L-Block" On the other hand, all of us that hate L-Block like the plague are going to screen to Link, to save us from this horrible... thing. Oh, and Cloud of course is weaker, and will be drained by Solid Snake more than Link will.

The second... now... if you'll recall, Master Chief lost. But he... how did Master Chief lose...? He's INVINCIBLE! And what happened to his day vote?

... I know what happened. That coward Link... the thief... I remember, now... the camera I had propped up to protect the Game Fuel. An L-Block was in the way as I went to check it... in disgust I turned away, searching for my flamethrower to promptly dispose of it. But now... now...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/NeoX-Death/MissingFuel.jpg

Augh... damn you, Link. I always knew they were right in Link's Awakening when they called you "Thief." I... I... well... fine. Use it well.

FIGHT FOR US, HERO OF TIME. USE THE GAME FUEL. DESTROY THE STUPID ASS TETRIS PIECE.

Lopen's vote: Link. Believe.

Lopen's prediction:
Link - 36.04%
ACCURSED TETRIS PIECE - 32.00%
Cloud - 21.51%
Solid Snake - 10.45%

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Transiences Analysis

well, here we go. Link/Cloud IX, with Link leading 7-1. Cloud's looked good all contest, but he'll need a superhuman effort in order to beat Link.

oh, wait. THERE IS AN L-BLOCK IN THE WAY.
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Moltar Status: hype
Contest Analysis Crew Archives: http://thecrew.speedrunwiki.com/