The Reason Zenos.

[Nucah]

Would you like to know about another villain who has no rhyme or reason to what he does? The Joker. And he is rated the number one villain of all time on many, many, many platforms (and even if he isn't, he's always top 5). While there have been many iterations and imaginations of the Joker, the main thing that drives any of them is giving the Batman a bad day. That's it.

Even if we want to stay in the FF universe, Kefka is the villain I'll turn to. One of SE's best and most memorable villains ever; also had no rhyme or reason to what he does. We only learn that he was driven mad from the mako infusion experiments. Otherwise he is just nihilist, hell bent on destroying all life because he simply cannot comprehend the purpose of it. We never got an extensive background to Kefka. As a matter of fact, we have more on Zenos than we do him.

What's interesting about this is that I love the Joker and Kefka is my favorite villain of all time. They are both but jobs, just like Zeno's but this ties back to my point about Zenos just not being well written period. It's not like you get a ton of backstory on Kefka either. We know he was experimented on with Espers and that turned him nuts but it's his presence during the game where we interact with him that is written much better than Zenos. I found Kefka super compelling and the same with the Joker. I don't find Zenos compelling at all.

I understand what kind of a character Zenos is. His type of villain is just not my personal cup of tea.

[Vulcwen]

What's interesting about this is that I love the Joker and Kefka is my favorite villain of all time. They are both but jobs, just like Zeno's but this ties back to my point about Zenos just not being well written period. It's not like you get a ton of backstory on Kefka either. We know he was experimented on with Espers and that turned him nuts but it's his presence during the game where we interact with him that is written much better than Zenos. I found Kefka super compelling and the same with the Joker. I don't find Zenos compelling at all.

I understand what kind of a character Zenos is. His type of villain is just not my personal cup of tea.

Zenos just gets bored of everything and has absolutely no sense of humor at all. If he enjoys something, it's out of lust, not humor. Kefka and the joker do have a sense of humor, even though it's twisted, but I think that's a major distinction.
People want to see simple villains have fun when they succeed, which Zenos never did. Zenos actually shows having fun when he's losing, which actually undermines the satisfaction you can get for the protagonist succeeding at stopping such a villain.

[Gemina]

Zenos just gets bored of everything and has absolutely no sense of humor at all. If he enjoys something, it's out of lust, not humor. Kefka and the joker do have a sense of humor, even though it's twisted, but I think that's a major distinction.
People want to see simple villains have fun when they succeed, which Zenos never did. Zenos actually shows having fun when he's losing, which actually undermines the satisfaction you can get for the protagonist succeeding at stopping such a villain.

The Joker and Kefka have entirely different personalities than Zenos. He wouldn't really fit in as the 'having fun' type. I see Zenos' version of fun like an adrenaline junkie, or war veteran who can't get enough combat. Only feeling alive at the brink of death. I think the distinction is that they are successful in their endeavors. The most accepted version of the Joker has him the polar opposite of Batman. He doesn't really desire to kill him so much as he does antagonize him, which he does over and over again. Kefka doesn't really target any particular hero in the story, but he continues to achieve all of his smaller goals in the pursuit of his final goal to expunge all life. During the course of what these villains do and their successes, when it happens it profoundly affects the protagonist(s).

With Zenos, this has kind of happened. It's tough to argue that he hasn't been successful. They've just had very little impact on the WoL and us as the viewer. But he has to antagonize the WoL in a way he/she acknowledges. We know how passionately he feels towards the WoL, but he/she does not. Right now, Zenos is kind of like the Lego Movie version of the Joker, where he is trying to get Batman to realize he is his ultimate foe.

[Lersayil]

The Joker and Kefka have entirely different personalities than Zenos. He wouldn't really fit in as the 'having fun' type. I see Zenos' version of fun like an adrenaline junkie, or war veteran who can't get enough combat. Only feeling alive at the brink of death. I think the distinction is that they are successful in their endeavors. The most accepted version of the Joker has him the polar opposite of Batman. He doesn't really desire to kill him so much as he does antagonize him, which he does over and over again. Kefka doesn't really target any particular hero in the story, but he continues to achieve all of his smaller goals in the pursuit of his final goal to expunge all life. During the course of what these villains do and their successes, when it happens it profoundly affects the protagonist(s).

With Zenos, this has kind of happened. It's tough to argue that he hasn't been successful. They've just had very little impact on the WoL and us as the viewer. But he has to antagonize the WoL in a way he/she acknowledges. We know how passionately he feels towards the WoL, but he/she does not. Right now, Zenos is kind of like the Lego Movie version of the Joker, where he is trying to get Batman to realize he is his ultimate foe.

Thats one of the main issues many people have with Zenos. By concept he is very much like the Joker and Kefka. A force of nature, goals and motivations usually orbiting the hero or personal feelings rather than grander ideal. The Joker and Kefka however worked, because of the sheer amount of HAM they brought to their scenes. They had personality and humor (albeit twisted) to carry their simpler motivations.

Zenos lacks both, and all that is left is boredom and edge.

It also doesn't help, that at this point the WoL has arguably a more detailed and complex personality, motivation and background than him as a silent protagonist.

In some ways he's starting to remind me of Seifer actually...

[Gemina]

What's interesting about this is that I love the Joker and Kefka is my favorite villain of all time. They are both but jobs, just like Zeno's but this ties back to my point about Zenos just not being well written period. It's not like you get a ton of backstory on Kefka either. We know he was experimented on with Espers and that turned him nuts but it's his presence during the game where we interact with him that is written much better than Zenos. I found Kefka super compelling and the same with the Joker. I don't find Zenos compelling at all.

I understand what kind of a character Zenos is. His type of villain is just not my personal cup of tea.

Again, Zenos hasn't really done anything on their level. Something to really inflict an emotional blow and the WoL other than a couple humbling encounters. The Joker: He's killed countless, but killing Robin and permanently putting Barbara Gordon in a wheelchair took the cake. Kefka: Sure, he almost killed every living thing on the planet. But General Leo.... man... And just the way it came to pass. Then when the Esper gate breaks open, and they can't do anything to him. He just rips their magicite so effortlessly; and he won't die. Instead only gets more powerful. To the point of his apotheosis. Both of these villains just commit atrocity after atrocity, and neither are fueled by a sob story.

Zenos at this point should have already done something on par with these guys. He has done some bad things, but nothing on a grand scale. The worst was probably having Fordola fire upon their own troops. However, being benched for the latter half of SB didn't do him any good, and when he finally does hop into action to get his body back, his efforts actually help thwart the Ascians plans. But it isn't anything new for a villain to take down other bad guys who threaten to deprive them of their victory over the protagonist.

It's understandable if the type of villain Zenos is isn't a favored flavor, but at least you admit that. I don't think he was written badly so much as I think some fundamental mistakes were made with him. What he does still have going for him right now is a threat level, because he has been so good at leaving a path of destruction wherever he roams. As I said before, giving him a sob story now would still have him be out of favor with those who already don't care much for him, but also those who are team Zenos right now. He needs to be more like.. well, Zenos. An insatiable killer. Someone who antagonizes the WoL. Not, "Hey, WoL. Me. You. Epic battle of untold proportions."