User blog:Friendlysociopath/My Problems with Link vs Cloud

Actually no, following the data given by Deathbattle that was really the only conclusion that could be reached. Link would defeat Cloud.

However, was all of their data correct? No, which is what I'm gonna blog about- because I'm tired of typing it out over and over again and I admit- it'll be so conveniant to type it once and just be able to link it.

Something to understand- this is not an article to hate on Deathbattle. This is an article to show where I disagree with that specific Deathbattle, no more, no less.

I welcome any and all feedback, and will reply in kind as needed. Perhaps I made a mistake- it can happen- I'm only human; if so I am man enough to own up to it if I can be proven wrong.

Problem #1 Composite Link
Composite Link is not fair, pure and simple, unless his opponent has the same thing (multiple bodies and timelines) and is given the same deal. The Links are separated by different bodies and even timelines, never has Link canonically held all of his equipment and powers. Composite Link is just as fair as Composite Spiderman- in other words- not fair at all. Composite Link is cheating every match he appears in because he is not canon.

Furthermore, they chickened out. If you're gonna use Composite Link, use Composite Link. Don't just pick and choose what equipment he's allowed to have- give him all of it. Picking and choosing makes you appear even less impartial since you've taken it upon yourself to not only break his canon- but to pick his equipment for him as well. Who are you to decide what Link can use and what he can't? Once you do that you've made it so the match can only matter to you, not everyone else.

Problem #2 Insulting Cloud
I am annoyed this stereotype exists and even further annoyed I have to make a section telling people it is wrong because of an "official" debate site.

How am I supposed to regard them as impartial when they constantly insult one of their combatants? They refer to Cloud as "emo", not once, but many times. What exactly does this word mean? "Emo has been associated with a stereotype that includes being particularly emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angst-ridden."

So, how does this apply to Cloud?

Is Cloud over-emotional? Sensitive? Shy? Introverted? Angsty?

No to the first, Cloud in fact tends to have quite a bit of control over his emotions a substantial amount of the time. Do we see him cry often? Throw rage-fits? No, he's normally extremely calm, even in battle. This also applies to his Limit Breaks, we're seen Cloud use them during Advent Children- was he overly emotional while doing so? No, he was perfectly in control.

The second is somewhat difficult to tell in his original game. Quite often Cloud will 'shout' at others but as a text-based game with no voice, it is hard to figure out exactly how angry/sad he was. However, in his other appearances Cloud has not demonstrated to be particularly sensitive to insults or fears.

The third is apparently quite untrue, Cloud meets new people all of the time and has no problem with it. He's a veritable people person- he can talk to everyone with almost no problem.

Introverted is a person who enjoys being by themselves more than others. This seems oddly the opposite of Cloud, he who gathers a party around him and willingly lives with Tifa, Barrett, and several children.

Angsty- ah- now this is a fun one. Angst is a "great fear" or "depression". Now, which of these does Cloud exhibit? Does he ever reallyshow a great deal of fear? Enough that perhaps he cannot act? No, he does not, Cloud is like most heroes- he overcomes his fear. Is Cloud ever depressed? "AHA!" You may be saying, "He was depressed in Advent Children!" You would be correct, he was somewhat depressed in Advent Children. Not enough to prevent him from ever fighting, or impair his fighting prowess, but he was depressed more than a little.

This is character development- not an incredilby strange thing. A city had been destroyed, an uncurable plague was killing those he loved, Cloud had directly been responsible for the death of many innocents, and Cloud himself had lost all of the strength he needed to protect people through that same plague. So really, he should be depressed, that's character development- not a flaw. Do you know what followed that character development? He got over it.

So to recap quickly, there was no real evidence Cloud was "emo" enough to affect him in battle, and the brief bits he had were also resolved.

Problem #3 Cloud's Equipment
This section will focus specifically on what Cloud was given to use and various statements about it.

Cloud was given two materia. Out of the many he could have he was restricted to "Fire" and "Thunder". (Yes, they referred to them as "Firaga" and "Thundaga", which is also wrong as the name of the materia does not change no matter how much you level it up.)

I find it suspect that Link was allowed so many of his equipment choices when Cloud was not, why could Link have his pick of necessary toys while Cloud had to be limited? The excuse given was "they're his signature materia" and the Buster Sword was "his signature weapon". Link was given the Golden Gauntlets- those appeared in one game- they're not his signature equipment in the slightest.

Why does this arguement apply to materia and weapons but not his armor anyways? Cloud references the Zeidrich armor not once in any of his games/movies/audiobooks- nor can you find it, buy it, or defeat an enemy to obtain it. It can only be stolen from certain enemies. Cloud literally cannot obtain that armor without using materia. This is violating canon on their own whim again; and I find it curious every step seemed to have been taken to ensure Cloud could only have Fire and Thunder for his materia.

And why was Cloud using the Buster Sword? Iconic or not, it's not his canon weapon anymore; but apparently they were okay breaking canon to give him that weapon. I happen to think he should be given his latest canon weapon. "But wait- the Fusion Blade has no materia slots at all!" True, it does not; but it is his canon weapon. Picking and choosing equipment makes you appear impartial, because you specifically chose it. And while it may not have materia slots, note that in the movie itself nobody present who used materia had slots either. And to add to that, Cloud's first response on finding enemies was to go get his materia, meaning one way or another- he can still use it. Yuffie mentions this in the movie as well, she was bringing Cloud materia so he could use them.

Another statement from the Deathbattle group, "Cloud tries to restrict his use of materia because creating them harms the planet."

Now hold on a second, in the words of (Captain) Jack Sparrow, "Let us analyze that claim for a moment."

The "creation" of materia can be entirely natural. Materia itself is created by the planet- it does not harm it in the slightest. Cloud obtains several such materia during the course of the game. Shinra mining it could be considered harmful- but what does that have to do with Cloud using it? It would seem to have nothing to do with Cloud using it at all. Cloud, in fact, remarks that the only reason he would discard materia would be if he had "too much" and so would "return it to the planet". Too much, for the record, is 200 separate materia.

Does the use of materia harm the planet? Again, no. Bugenhagen is the only character to even imply this, and it is a mistranslation from the original Japanese script; he is specifically referring to Shinra using the Big Materia as glorified bombs on Meteor; not all materia use.

And again, that didn't stop Cloud and company from using it in any circumstances, so why does it suddenly become an issue here? Vincent was using materia in his game- apparently that line didn't bother him in the slightest.

Oh and one final note
They actually didn't do a calc on how strong Cloud is, because even with Link's calc of being able to tank lifting that granite doesn't make his durable enough to not be affected by Cloud's attacks as of Advent Children. Cloud being able to slice apart concrete in Advent Children actually makes him able to output more force than that calc said Link could tank.