Contest Stats and Discussion - Part 1360

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/1360-south-division-semifinal-tommy-vercetti-vs-mega-man

The last time GTA made it to the third round before this contest!

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~*Simple Explanation of Extrapolated Standings*~
A = Strongest Character
B = Character Weaker than A
C = Character Weaker than B
To figure out a character's extrapolated percentage ---> [(CvB)(BvA)]/50 = CvA
To compare how C would do against B ---> [(CvA)/(BvA)]*50 = CvB
To figure out how B would do against A ---> [(CvA)/(CvB)]*50 = BvA

GTA is really good at going out in round 2.

Witcher 3's performance against Persona 5 (which was rallied quite a bit early on) makes Mario Galaxy 2 look shockingly good for a Wii platformer.

"Better than Mario Kart Wii, at least" is the definition of faint praise

Damn, 57% might be reachable here.

I always believed in the Galaxy games. Especially since we are out of the low period of Nintendo we were in during the last games contest.

witcher is being rallied right now so it evens out

Lightning Strikes posted...

I always believed in the Galaxy games. Especially since we are out of the low period of Nintendo we were in during the last games contest.

Good point. The Galaxy games were always fantastic, but in 2010 and 2015 people were really down on modern Nintendo. I can definitely imagine that hurting any Nintendo game associated with that era, even if it hadn't committed any of the specific gaming sins people were faulting Nintendo for (though Galaxy 2 does have some motion controls, which are widely despised here).

There's a decent chance Galaxy 2 finishes ahead of Odyssey in the raw x-stats if BotW really lays down the SFF hammer today

Wouldn't that be hilarious

In a just world, the Galaxy games (and Odyssey) would be pushing 3/World/64 territory in terms of strength.

charmander6000 posted...

In a just world, the Galaxy games (and Odyssey) would be pushing 3/World/64 territory in terms of strength.

I like the former 3 games WAY more than the latter 3, but NostalgiaFAQs is a thing, so yeah...

At least Galaxy 2 has been improving the reputation of the Galaxy games here on the site, and Odyssey didn't do badly either, though it remains to be seen just how badly Ultimate gets SFF'd by BotW.

Galaxy 2 is the best Mario game ever made

Maybe the Galaxy games aren't that strong and we just heavily overestimated Persona.

I'd love for it to be true though.

Also, both 3 and World are 10/10 timeless classics.

The Galaxy games are overrated as f*** in these contests. All hype and they never deliver

Odyssey probably isn’t far off.

Shame we’ll never know for sure! For now anyway.

Stooge1969 posted...

The Galaxy games are overrated as f*** in these contests. All hype and they never deliver

The only time a Galaxy game has ever truly underwhelmed was 2 in 2015. The rest have done well until they run into SFF, and gone out where expected.

Though I don’t think TP gets 63% on Galaxy any more regardless.

Yeah, it's weird -- Galaxy was beloved after the controversy of Sunshine and earned itself a sequel, but it never showcased that much strength. Even its GotY-win, in hindsight, had Halo 3 and CoD:4:MW splitting the vote or else it would have been more competitive.

I think Mario just got replaced in the Nintendo hierarchy -- not in an all-time Series Contest perspective NECESSARILY, but the end of the 1990s ushered a new wave. The NES was Mario's system, then although LoZ:LttP > SMW here SMW was packaged with the system, had a "sequel" in Yoshi's Island, and had its first huge spin-off in Super Mario Kart so Mario still had the crown. SM64 revolutionized the 3D transition for the industry, but then LoZ:OoT came out and LoZ never looked back as the leader here. That same year, Pokemon RBY came to America and we have a world of people who still care about 151 pocket monsters. Meanwhile, that next year introduced Smash, and two years later SSBM came out. In comparison, It took five years to go from SM64 to SMS.

Mario games are bigger than Pokemon games most of the time here, but sales-wises without looking I would expect Pokemon to outsell Mario more on that casual front now. Contest-wise, Mario never met the high-points the LoZ and SSB games hit either with hardcore fans. Mario lost its lane (besides platformers), not through any fault of his own but through the strength of Nintendo as an industry leader.

Eh, Mario 3 was stronger than Melee in 2004, and I'd argue World and 64 were in 2015 as well. 3 would still be competitive with it even if it lost, so I wouldn't say it never reached Smash's peak.

I mean since Melee.

So if, theoretically, Nintendo released a new Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, Mario Kart, Xenoblade, Smash, and Fire Emblem game between now and the next contest, how do you think they would rank strengthwise?

Mac Arrowny posted...

So if, theoretically, Nintendo released a new Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, Mario Kart, Xenoblade, Smash, and Fire Emblem game between now and the next contest, how do you think they would rank strengthwise?

If we're assuming they were all well received?

Zelda > Smash > Mario > Metroid > Xenoblade > Mario Kart > Fire Emblem

Not sure where to rank Pokemon because even a well received Pokemon game won't be accepted here.

Just the most recent releases, on this site?

Zelda
Smash
Mario
Metroid
Xenoblade
Mario Kart
Fire Emblem
Pokemon

I think modern Pokemon is a complete joke, and believe Sword/Shield would have gotten anti-voted to oblivion if it had been a part of this contest. And given the commercial success of those games, I don't expect Game Freak to have improved significantly by Gen 9.

Mac Arrowny posted...

So if, theoretically, Nintendo released a new Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, Mario Kart, Xenoblade, Smash, and Fire Emblem game between now and the next contest, how do you think they would rank strengthwise?

Zelda > Mario > Metroid > Smash > Pokemon > Xenoblade > Fire Emblem > Mario Kart

Since I think by the time we get the next Games Contest Nintendo will still be pushing the Switch, and a system having a second Smash or Mario Kart will hurt that game a TON.

Next games contest would probably be 2025. I'd expect a Switch 2 to be out by then.

Mac Arrowny posted...

Next games contest would probably be 2025. I'd expect a Switch 2 to be out by then.

Depends on if Nintendo can keep the momentum going, or if Nintendo is going to be Nintendo and release the Switch U to a tepid response from the market.

Okay guys how many games in this contest would beat the actual Best Game Ever, Resident Evil 4?

LinkMarioSamus posted...

Okay guys how many games in this contest would beat the actual Best Game Ever?

There are sadly a decent amount of games that could take DKC2, despite talk about how it might be a top 10 game by default.

_SecretSquirrel posted...

Depends on if Nintendo can keep the momentum going, or if Nintendo is going to be Nintendo and release the Switch U to a tepid response from the market.

I believe the longest Nintendo has gone between systems is 7 years between the DS and 3DS. 7 years would be an impressive lifespan for the Switch.

Which divisions would Super Mario Galaxy 2 have won if you replaced the winner with it?

I think it could have won any of them except 3 and 5. Man, the Mario franchise has looked great this contest.

DoctorJimmy133 posted...

Which divisions would Super Mario Galaxy 2 have won if you replaced the winner with it?

I think it could have won any of them except 3 and 5. Man, the Mario franchise has looked great this contest.

Eh, it'd struggle to win any division. The only ones it absolutely wouldn't win are 1, 3, and 5 (obviously). I'd give it the best chance of winning 4, of course.

LeonhartFour posted...

Eh, it'd struggle to win any division. The only ones it absolutely wouldn't win are 1, 3, and 5 (obviously). I'd give it the best chance of winning 4, of course.

You think DQXI is decisively stronger than RE2?

LeonhartFour posted...

Eh, it'd struggle to win any division. The only ones it absolutely wouldn't win are 1, 3, and 5 (obviously). I'd give it the best chance of winning 4, of course.

I mean if you replaced the division winner with Galaxy 2. So Division 4 would be seeded 1) GTAV, 2) FE3H 3) Galaxy 2 4) RDR and so on.

Metroid should be much lower than all of those. Nintendo actually put out well received games for most of these in 2017 - Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Xenoblade, Mario Kart (not new but may as well have been). In fact, all of these have recent games, and accounting for good reception I’d say:

Zelda
Smash
Mario
Pokémon
Xenoblade
(Animal Crossing)
Fire Emblem
Mario Kart
Metroid

I just can’t see Metroid anywhere other than the bottom for new games, I’m sorry. Now Metroid Prime will be a different story, but until Prime 4 comes out any Metroid game Nintendo releases will not be worth as much as Nintendo’s other games. The series has gone from one of Nintendo’s biggest to one of their smallest.

...until Metroid Prime 4!

Galaxy 2 probably wins Div 8 pretty easily if it replaces Skyrim, if only due to asserting hierarchy against Mario Kart and Pokemon (?).

It could potentially win Division 1 too.

Oh, I misread the question. If you get rid of the division winner, then it probably wins a few of them.

Lightning Strikes posted...

Metroid should be much lower than all of those. Nintendo actually put out well received games for most of these in 2017 - Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Xenoblade, Mario Kart (not new but may as well have been). In fact, all of these have recent games, and accounting for good reception I’d say:

Zelda
Smash
Mario
Pokémon
Xenoblade
(Animal Crossing)
Fire Emblem
Mario Kart
Metroid

I just can’t see Metroid anywhere other than the bottom for new games, I’m sorry. Now Metroid Prime will be a different story, but until Prime 4 comes out any Metroid game Nintendo releases will not be worth as much as Nintendo’s other games. The series has gone from one of Nintendo’s biggest to one of their smallest.

...until Metroid Prime 4!

Whoops, forgot Animal Crossing. I wonder of New Horizons would be stronger than Three Houses or Mario Kart 8?

And MP4 is the Metroid game most likely to come out between now and the next contest :p

I don't feel like making a separate topic so I'm breaking etiquette and dumping this here...

Is Witcher 3 supposed to be glitched as f***? I've played for maaaybe an hour (PS4) and have already seen multiple character models halfway into the ground and two or three people riding invisible horses. Do I just need to reload or reinstall my game, or is this simply tolerated?

Also, not enjoying this so far, and it may be a slog for me to get over the hump and get addicted. Apart from LotR, pure fantasy just isn't my thing.

I don't remember it being that bad but it definitely has that open world WRPG jank at certain parts.

Did you download that massive patch

In the standalone Gwent game the Roach card art is of him on a house and Geralt being confused, partly because he was known to spawn in some odd places.

 https://i.imgur.com/K5nIMcm.gif (click to expand) 

Roach is great.

Also, glitches are part of ambitious open world RPGs. Its almost impossible to not get them unless you just throw a thousand people and unlimited budgets at it like Red Dead or Assassins Creed.

Lightning Strikes posted...

Metroid should be much lower than all of those. Nintendo actually put out well received games for most of these in 2017 - Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Xenoblade, Mario Kart (not new but may as well have been). In fact, all of these have recent games, and accounting for good reception I’d say:

Zelda
Smash
Mario
Pokémon
Xenoblade
(Animal Crossing)
Fire Emblem
Mario Kart
Metroid

The 2017 Metroid game just a handheld remake though. And what has modern Pokemon games actually accomplished in these contests? Diamond/Pearl/Platinum looked weak, and even HeartGold/SoulSilver (which I'd argue is more Gen 2 than Gen 4 anyway) was barely stronger than Mario Kart 8. The generations after Gen 4 are presumably even weaker, despite being generally well received by fans and critics, and Sword/Shield should be weaker still given how it split the hardcore fanbase and is generally the worst-received mainline Pokemon game to date. And with the game being as commercially successful as it was, there's no reason to expect Game Freak to step up their game the next time around.

It wasn’t a remake. Nintendo were pretty clear to not call it a remake (they said “reimagining”, and they were right), and they are very different games. As for the handheld thing - if the same game had launched on Switch at 1080p, would it be that much stronger?

Yes, unquestionably.

It’d be s little stronger but it definitely wouldn’t make Samus Returns beat Xenobladd 2 or MK8 or New Horizons.

But hey, there are heavy rumours of a new 2D Metroid game coming so we may find out soon!

Lightning Strikes posted...

But hey, there are heavy rumours of a new 2D Metroid game coming so we may find out soon!

I feel like I've heard these heavy rumors for years now

A lot of people back in 2017 were unhappy about Samus Returns only coming to the 3DS, which was pretty much done after the Switch took off (apart from Pokemon, the first party games released on the 3DS after the Switch came out either sold disappointingly or outright flopped). Samus Returns would certainly have sold way more on the Switch (I don't think it came close to breaking 1 million on the 3DS), whether that would have made it far more played among GameFAQs regulars and poll voters I'm not sure of, but it would have given it some boost.

And Metroid Prime 4 would really have to be terrible for it to lose to Pokemon Gen 9 or Gen 10 the way things are looking. Hell, the only modern Pokemon game I even see making it into the next GotD contest would be a Gen 4 remake, lol.

Lightning Strikes posted...

It’d be s little stronger but it definitely wouldn’t make Samus Returns beat Xenobladd 2 or MK8 or New Horizons.

Agreed, but I'd take it over Pokemon Sword/Shield any day.

About Pokemon, here's something fun to think about.

Only four games eligible for this contest that made the 2015 bracket did not make it in to this one. Two are Smash and Mario Maker, Wii U games. Another one is Monster Hunter 4U which makes sense with World being the real big one. Pokemon XY is the last, and it scored less than 30% on Wind Waker. In retrospect I don't know how that game even got in. I can't see anything after that or even Gen 5 being worth anything. HGSS really was the best bet.

I prefer these games above all indie games that barely anyone knows that got in.

In the final, how much do you think Skyrim gets on Zelda?