Two years ago, Dissidia: Final Fantasy was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ongoing series. Fans were treated to a truly unique fighting game that was both complex and visually interesting. Some fights looked as if they had been pulled directly from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children even though it was all gameplay. But by far, the best part of the game for fans was seeing all the main heroes and villains, along with two secret characters, interacting with one another. It led to scenarios that no one thought they'd ever see outside of fan fiction.

With the announcement of Dissidia 012 [Duodecim]: Final Fantasy, Square Enix promises to bring back everything that made the first game great along with new enhancements and new characters. Kain from Final Fantasy IV, Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII, Tifa from Final Fantasy VII, Vaan from Final Fantasy XII, and most recently Laguna Loire from Final Fantasy VIII have already been announced with the promise of more being unveiled as the game nears its release in Japan early next year. With that in mind, I thought it'd be interesting to look over all of the characters to ever appear in a Final Fantasy and choose the 46 that have the best shot at being a part of the sequel. Every weekday in December will highlight two potential fighters and give details on their history, their place in Duodecim's story (which is actually a prequel to the original), and their fighting potential.

Welcome to Dissidia December.

Ceodore (Final Fantasy IV: The After Years)

The son of Cecil and Rosa, Ceodore begins The After Years struggling with the expectations to become a great knight heaped upon him. He is on a mission to obtain his Proof of Knighthood with the other knights of the Red Wings fleet when cataclysmic events begin taking place. His home of Baron is attacked by monsters and Cecil, Rosa, and Cid have to retreat from the castle. Ceodore struggles to fight his way home and is helped by a mysterious man in a cloak. Ceodore quickly discovers the return of the second moon and the possession of his father and mother by monsters. He works to free them and eventually confronts the new threat to the world along with the original heroes of Final Fantasy IV. By the end of the game, Ceodore has overcome his uncertainties as a knight and joins Kain to help rebuild the damaged world. His story in Duodecim would be incredibly interesting as the Cecil in Dissidia did not have a son at the time. The interaction between young father and son would show Ceodore the true bravery that his lineage has rather than just be told the tales.

Ceodore is a paladin and has access to a wide variety of White magic along with his sword techniques. He has high stats in every category but few unique abilities. In many ways Ceodore is perfect for newcomers because he doesn't require knowledge of when to use special techniques. He is merely a product of excellent swordplay intermixed with support magic that can increase his stats. His EX Mode would call on the spirits of his friends to draw from their power and give him access to many of the powerful moves that Cecil can use. Ceodore's EX Burst is Vibra Prime which calls on the spirits of the older Cecil, Rosa, Kain, and Cid to form behind him. Rosa would cast a light upon him and the other warriors who would join together in a series of devastating strikes. Though Ceodore lacks many of the flashier special moves, his pure swordsmanship and ability to buff himself would make him a boon to many players.

Ramza (Final Fantasy Tactics)

On a personal note, Ramza is perhaps my favorite character out of any that have appeared in a Final Fantasy. Quiet, thoughtful, always willing to accept negotiations, but never one to back away from a fight, he is the youngest of the Beoulve brothers and born from a different mother. When Tactics begins, Ramza merely wants to become a great hero and live up to his family name. He is a young squire battling a faction known as the Corpse Brigade when he learns that things aren't always what they seem. An incident causes him to abandon his family name and joins a group of mercenaries that are assigned to protect Princess Ovelia from both sides of the warring Lions, Larg and Goltana. Throughout the course of the game, Ramza learns that doing what is right is the thing that matters and not what protocol dictates. He also discovers that the War of the Lions is merely the means to resurrect Ultima, a powerful demon. Though he is branded a heretic by all of Ivalice, Ramza successfully stops Ultima and willingly fades into obscurity. In Duodecim, Ramza would mainly stick to the shadows. He would still help the other characters but he doesn't want any of the glory that goes along with it. He merely wants to do what is right.

As a fighter, Ramza is a swordsman that can adapt to anything that's presented to him. He has no inherent weakness but, like Ceodore, he has no flashy attacks. Unique to Ramza though is his almost complete control of Bravery. His Cheer Up ability would raise his Bravery by twenty percent while his Scream would decrease his enemy's by the same amount. The move cannot be used repeatedly though as it has a minute recharge time. Ramza also has the ability to catch an incoming attack and stop it completely, allowing him to strike back easily. His EX Burst would allow him to equip a second blade and increase his strength while his EX Burst would be the ultimate version of the Ultima spell. A blue aura would build in Ramza's hands which he keeps condensed in his palms. As the power builds, it begins to leak out causing damage to whatever it strikes. Finally, Ramza releases it and watches as the spell consumes his opponent. Players looking to control their Bravery while using a solid character would be drawn to Ramza.

These are only my choices. What do you think? Would Ceodore and Ramza make great characters in Dissidia 012 [Duodecim]? Who would you like to see in the sequel? Let us know in the comments! And that concludes Dissidia December. Not all of them will make it in of course but if any do, I think the fanbase would be extremely pleased. Now we can only wait and see who else Square Enix eventually unveils.