GameFAQs Contests

FFX-2 has to be at least low mid-tier. It would crush fodder. Non-FFX fans might not care for it, but I think most FFX fans see some value in it, if only for being an addendum to the story.

https://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/4114-southwest-division-round-1-final-fantasy-xii-vs-crisis-core

Crisis Core vs. FFX-2, who ya got?

Crisis Core

Probably X-2 now, with the way Zack's dropped off in the years since his debut.

Match XV – Round 1 – 1994 vs. 2004

Notable Releases – Adjusted X-Stats (Year)

1994
Games
Sonic & Knuckles
Final Fantasy VI – 40.58% (2015)
Super Metroid – 38.00% (2015)
Mega Man X – 32.00% (2015)

Platforms
Neo Geo CD
Sega 32X

2004
Games
World of Warcraft – 22.54% (2015)
Half-Life 2 – 30.22% (2015)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – 32.49% (2015)
Tales of Symphonia – 25.83% (2015)

Platforms
Nintendo DS

Analysis

With the rise of Super Metroid during the 2015 contest 1994 now has one of the strongest one-two punches in the entire bracket with only the juggernaut 1998 being clearly ahead. There is some concern that Super Metroid’s boost may have been a one-time thing due to rallying, but the game was already performing well before its match was affect by the Undertale rally. Both Mega Man X and Sonic & Knuckles are great depth games which show why I consider the year to be one of the strongest.

The Fall of 2004 was still one of my favourite times in gaming, it felt like every major console and the PC got something great. The shine has worn off a bit, especially for Game of the Year winner Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas whom missed the picture entirely, but I do think the year will have some strength. Sadly it was given a strong opponent in the first round.

2004 may have been able to look respectable if 1994 didn’t get its best picture possible. It could have easily been Phantasy Star IV or Shining Force II in the picture. Anyway I suspect 1994 will be flirting with 70%.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 1994 > 2004

charmander6000’s Prediction: 1994 wins, 68.56% - 31.44%

Match XVI – Round 1 – 2011 vs. 2006

Notable Releases – Adjusted X-Stats (Year)

2011
Games
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 34.93% (2015)
Dark Souls – 25.11% (2015)
Mortal Kombat

Platforms
Nintendo 3DS

2006
Games
Okami – 27.92% (2015)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – 31.19% (2015)
Gears of War – 23.28% (2010)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – 36.22% (2015)

Platforms
Playstation 3
Wii

Analysis

This match will give us an idea on how much the picture matters. Without Kingdom Hearts II 2006 may have been dealt large blow to its strength. While there is a question mark on the corner of the picture I do wonder how many people click it. I feel it’s a significant amount, but for the ones that don’t it could hurt the year.

With that said I still think 2006 is going to win. Twilight Princess is arguably as strong, if not stronger than Skyrim and the year still has pretty good depth minus Kingdom Hearts II. I do wonder how well Oblivion will hold up to Skyrim though. From what I can see I expect the game to get SFF quite hard, though conversely I expect Twilight Princess to SFF Skyward Sword.

That leaves us with Dark Souls/Mortal Kombat taking on Okami/Gears of War. I want to side with 2006 in that match-up though I imagine it would be close. In the SFF battle I’d take Twilight Princess/Oblivion over Skyrim/Skyward Sword plus 2006 will have an ace up its sleeve from the people checking out the details section and figuring out Kingdom Hearts II is from that year. This may be our closest match so far, though to be fair that isn’t saying much.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 2006 > 2011

charmander6000’s Prediction: 2006 wins, 56.25% - 43.75%

In retrospect, I am not sure why I picked 2011 pre-contest. If either FFXII or KH2 would have made the match pic, 2006 would have won with ease. But with Skyrim over Oblivion and a Zelda game on each side, I think 2011 has a chance. This is going to be the closest match so far.

Well I'm fairly sure this is where I drop off my winning streak. RIP 2006, TP is a 4th tier game

can't help but feel that TP shouldn't be considered a great game when so few people think super highly of it compared to WW or MM. it's basically relying on the Zelda name and the hype of a decade ago.

got a bad feeling

This is NostalgiaFAQs, 2006's got this all wrapped up.

I'm having a hard time predicting 1994 vs. 2004.

There hasn't been a match so far very comparable to it, except for 1997 vs. 1999, I suppose.. 1994 is probably close to 1997, and 2004 probably isn't much stronger than 1999. That makes it seem like 1994 pulling off a tripling is a possibility, though not super likely.

I actually think brackets and the older year factor might mean more than anything. let's go drones

oh my god 2004 didn't get killed at the start

2006 is the secret best gaming year ever (pending 2017) it's got this

2011 is already going up

2011 trying to make a match of it finally

gg 2006

seriously, how many of those 2006 votes were bracket votes? probably a ton.

Considering how potent the board vote has been, 2006 might be in trouble.

no no no

noooooooooooo

wow something being held under 60

I'd imagine 2006 had brackets

Feeling quite nervous

I forgot what a close match at the start felt like

2006 is holding steady.

1994 under 70%

weird that I'm impressed with 2004 right now

2011 has the casual bracket votes

LeonhartFour posted...

2006 is holding steady.

1994 under 70%

weird that I'm impressed with 2004 right now

2004 should destroy 1988 pretty easily, but I think 91 should be looked at as the favorite right now.

you're impressed with 2004? I'm impressed with 1994! 2004 is a great year. better than 2002, most likely. we should discuss that at some point.

Dang you, 2006 bracket voters! If 2011 is supposed to win, let it win! (I have 2006 in my bracket)

1994 disappointing. :[

5 people fell off the Top 50. glz_2087, sorer102, 1943fighter, mafiafun and BrokenRaven did not have both 1991 and 2002 winning.

I'm impressed with 2004 because I think pretty highly of 1994!

I know it just started but I found it funny both are at 100% right now.

that picture factor will mean more throughout the day/match.

I am shocked 1994 isn't blowing 2004 out of the water right now. Maybe that's a good sign for 1991...

yeah I'm kinda disappointed in 1994 here. Especially with the lineup it got.

Wow. Was not expecting 2004 to get blasted so easily.

I don't see how 2004 could get blown out much worse than this by anything except 1998.

2004 was a decent year, it wasn't beating 1994, but it could have taken most of the bracket.

I'm impressed 2004 is holding up this well because I thought with 1994 having all-star line-up of incredible depth should have been enough to push this match into the 70% range.

I thought for sure that 1994 would break 80%...

heh, people are all over with 04.

nice to see 2006 hold up at the end, I guess. I can't help but feel awful about seeing the Skyrim and Oblivion logos in that first cycle though. what bad luck.

KamikazePotato posted...

Wow. Was not expecting 2004 to get blasted so easily.

2004 is deep but it doesn't run high. 1994 runs deep and high. MGS3 would get beaten pretty handily by Super Metroid and FFVI, to say nothing of everything below MGS3.

man 2004 was an amazing year for games, really sad seeing it get blown out like this

Revelation34 posted...

I know it just started but I found it funny both are at 100% right now.

They're not. Click detailed results.

Five minute X-Stats:

2006 – 50.00%
2011 – 43.45%
1989 – 30.88%
1981 – 25.71%
1983 – 18.71%

LeonhartFour posted...

KamikazePotato posted...

Wow. Was not expecting 2004 to get blasted so easily.

2004 is deep but it doesn't run high. 1994 runs deep and high. MGS3 would get beaten pretty handily by Super Metroid and FFVI, to say nothing of everything below MGS3.

1994
Sonic & Knuckles
Final Fantasy VI – 40.58% (2015)
Super Metroid – 38.00% (2015)
Mega Man X – 32.00% (2015)

2004
World of Warcraft – 22.54% (2015)
Half-Life 2 – 30.22% (2015)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – 32.49% (2015)
Tales of Symphonia – 25.83% (2015)

Sure 1994 is stronger, but it wasn't going to triple 2004.

Bad showing from 94, 91 might take it after all.

2006 keeps holding steady.

2004 went up!

Keep holding 2006

charmander6000 posted...

Sure 1994 is stronger, but it wasn't going to triple 2004.

I didn't predict a tripling!

I thought 70% was a good mark for 1994 to hit looking ahead to the match with 1991.

creativename posted...

Revelation34 posted...

I know it just started but I found it funny both are at 100% right now.

They're not. Click detailed results.

Was at the time I looked but changed by the time I posted.