The APRIL Video Game Madness Bracket

[Brannox]

Per your request, we're doing another bracket! And this time, it's getting a little more personal: I pulled the top 64 from the Forums' Top 100 Games of All Time! (Fun fact, three of the top four left out were in the last bracket (65. Baldur's Gate II, 66. Bioshock Infinite, and 68. Halo 3)

As you would expect, their order is the seed list and is as follows:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
2. The Last of Us
3. Shadow of the Colossus
4. Mass Effect 2
5. Final Fantasy VII
6. Super Mario Bros. 3
7. Metal Gear Solid
8. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
9. Dark Souls
10. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
11. Chrono Trigger
12. Super Mario 64
13. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
14. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
15. Final Fantasy IX
16. Super Mario World
17. Bloodborne
18. Red Dead Redemption
19. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
20. Super Mario Galaxy
21. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow
22. Half-Life 2
23. Final Fantasy VIII
24. The Legend of Zelda: The WindWaker
25. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
26. Final Fantasy VI
27. Bioshock
28. Final Fantasy Tactics
29. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
30. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
31. Dragon Age: Origins
32. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
33. Batman: Arkham City
34. Mass Effect
35. Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door
36. Shenmue
37. Diablo II
38. Halo: Combat Evolved
39. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
40. Journey
41. Banjo-Kazooie
42. World of Warcraft
43. Deus Ex
44. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
45. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
46. Portal 2
47. Grand Theft Auto V
48. Metroid Prime
49. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
50. DOOM (1993)
51. The Walking Dead: Season 1
52. Resident Evil: Remake
53. Kingdom Hearts
54. GoldenEye 007
55. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
56. Assassin’s Creed II
57. Age of Empires II
58. Sid Meier’s Civilization V
59. Valkyria Chronicles
60. Fallout 3
61. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
62. Super Smash Bros. Melee
63. Xenogears
64. Okami

From here, I tried to split them into four quadrants in a serpentine fashion (1, 8, 9, 16, 17.... 2, 7, 10, 15, 18..... etc. Think about the Fantasy Critic Draft on the recent Easy Update.) I actually didn't have to move much this time! It all feel in place naturally.

REMINDER: I'll post one quadrant's worth of matchups and give everyone two days to get their votes in. Once done, (in this same thread) I'll move on to the next quadrant and so on. After all four quadrant's have completed, I'll move on to the second round, bringing back the first quadrant's winners. This will continue until there will be a one-on-one winner-take-all final vote between the last two standing.

The only criteria is when voting, pick the one you want to win. You DON'T have to comment, campaign or anything else if you don't want to. If you DO want to comment or if there are any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer.

A couple of final notes: Quadrant numbers were determined by the top seeds. So for the first quadrant of voting, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is listed as the overall top game, and therefore, in theory, should have the "easiest" path. Ergo, it leads Quad 1. The Last of Us is the second overall game, so it's the top seed in Quad 2, and so on.

Finally, after setting the bracket, I'm just going to go ahead and tease: I think Quadrant 4 is so brutal I'm calling the Group of Death.

Reminders done, Promises made. Now let's get started, with Quadrant 1:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vs. 16. Okami
8. Batman: Arkham City vs. 9. Mass Effect

5. Bloodborne vs. 12. Metroid Prime
4. Super Mario World vs. 13. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

6. Final Fantasy VIII vs. 11. World of Warcraft
3. Dark Souls vs. 14. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

7. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves vs. 10. Banjo-Kazooie
2. The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt vs. 15. Age of Empires II

[Tearju Engi]

Is there a reason to make some games appear again? Couldn't they be filled with other games or leave some open to benefit higher seeds?

[Brannox]

@tearju-engi I pulled directly from the list. I didn't make any additions/subtractions from the list because it would be misleading, ESPECIALLY when the full list is here on the forums (and said list was compiled two and a half years ago.)

[Capnbobamous]

Aw yeah, time to have ME2 win again. Jokes aside, I would be really bummed if that happened. And I say that as a huge Mass Effect fan.

[Sazime]

@capnbobamous I'm voting against ME this round, despite my love for it.

Of course, that's what makes this so dang MADDENING. It's Darlings vs Babies! Kill or let be murdered! This will end in blood and tears while we all sweat out the results and I am HERE for it!

[bam541]

Uncharted 4's in the bracket? Oh boy, it's time to represent for my all time favorite. Bring it on, lesser games!

In this quadrant, I would be very happy if Okami got through, it's so damn good. The vibes in this game is sublime. The story presentation really felt like how my parents back in the day would tell old legend stories to me, they made it out to be so expressive and jolly.

Also, ME1 might be my favorite BioWare game so i'm definitely rooting for it over the other ones this time.

[DIPSET]

Mass Effect 1 is an underrated game and Mass Effect 2 is overrated. In this bracket, I hope Mass Effect 1 can get more shine.

TES IV Oblivion is an underrated game and TES V Skyrim is overrated. Let's right the wrong we did by having Skyrim one spot higher in our greatest games all time list.

[Brannox]

Alright, let's see how the first batch of this bracket turned out!

The very first match will be known as THE upset, as there is nothing bigger: The very last game to make the cut, DEFEATS the NUMBER ONE OVERALL game. 16.) Okami sends 1.) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time out with the earliest exit possible 9-5. Whether its because OoT did so well in the other bracket or Okami is legitimately more liked by nine people, I can't tell.

In another shocking turn of events, Final Four participant 8.) Batman: Arkham City falls out of the first round to a 7-6 loss from 9.) Mass Effect.

The final surprising outcome is seeing 14.) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City handily beating 3.) Dark Souls 10-6.

All other higher seeds were able to secure victories, some closer than others:
5.) Bloodborne takes down 12.) Metroid Prime 10-5
4.) Super Mario World was able to get past 13.) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 8-7. Especially when SMW was getting beat at one point.
6.) Final Fantasy VIII got by 11.) World of Warcraft 10-5.
7.) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves took care of business against 10.) Banjo-Kazooie 9-5.
And finally, 2.) The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt had the most lopsided win, blowing past 15.) Age of Empires II 10-2.

Now let's get through Quadrant 2, and with it, a fascinating Rockstar fight.

1. The Last of Us vs. 16. Xenogears
8. Dragon Age: Origins vs. 9. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

5. Red Dead Redemption vs. 12. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Final Fantasy IX vs. 13. DOOM (1993)

6. Super Mario Galaxy vs. 11. Deus Ex
3. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 vs. 14. Assassin's Creed II

7. Bioshock vs. 10. Journey
2. Metal Gear Solid vs. 15. Sid Meier's Civilization V

[bam541]

Yo, Rockstar Games: Civil War right here, RDR vs GTA V.

[DIPSET]

RDR and GTA V are my least favourite Rockstar games that I've played (they're still good though) but I have to say, GTA V got me through my first year of university with some hilarious memories so I gotta go with the good memories.

[SabotageTheTruth]

I know Xenogears isn't going to win but it should! If any game needs a remaster (and a complete second disc) it's that gem.

[Brannox]

We've gotten through half of the first round, so before beginning the second half, a recap!

1.) The Last of Us and 8.) Dragon Age: Origins had identical victories of 8-6 over their opponents 16.) Xenogears and 9.) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask respectively.

There were several close matchups with a one vote difference:

• 5.) Red Dead Redemptions survives 12.) Grand Theft Auto V 9-8.
• 11.) Deus Ex pulls off one of several seed upsets with a close 7-6 win over 6.) Super Mario Galaxy.
• 2.) Metal Gear Solid was behind 15.) Sid Meier's Civilization V for practically the whole vote until the end where it escapes 9-8.

As I mentioned above, there were a couple more seed upsets: 13.) DOOM (1993) got by 4.) Final Fantasy IX 10-6 and 10.) Journey also had a comfortable 11-6 final against 7.) Bioshock

The last matchup was a walkaway for 3.) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, as 14.) Assassin's Creed II fell 10-4.

OK! Quadrant 3 time:

1. Shadow of the Colossus (2004) vs. 16. Super Smash Bros. Melee
8. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion vs. 9. Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door

5. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End vs. 12. Portal 2
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater vs. 13. The Walking Dead: Season One

6. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow vs. 11. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
3. Chrono Trigger vs. 14. Resident Evil: Remake

7. Final Fantasy VI vs. 10. Halo: Combat Evolved
2. Super Mario Bros. 3 vs. 15. Valkyria Chronicles

[bam541]

Uncharted 4 vs Portal 2 scares me.

[Brannox]

Quadrant 3 was actually pretty tame. Almost every match was decided by two or three votes, and most of the top seeds move on:

1.) Shadow of the Colossus (2004) beat 16.) Super Smash Bros. Melee 8-5.
8.) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion won over 9.) Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door 7-5.
4.) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater had a (relatively) comfortable win against 13.) The Walking Dead: Season One 9-5.
3.) Chrono Trigger got by 14.) Resident Evil: Remake 8-6.
7.) Final Fantasy VI moves on against 10.) Halo: Combat Evolved 8-5.
2.) Super Mario Bros. 3 held on against 15.) Valkyria Chronicles 9-6.

The other two matchups were the only seed upsets, but when one of them was a Final Four entrant in the last bracket, it's no surprise:

12.) Portal 2 overcame 5.) Uncharted 4: A Thief's End 8-6 and 11.) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past had the closest (and only in this quadrant) come from behind win, taking down 6.) Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow 7-6.

And now we've come to my most anticipated quadrant, one I'm lovingly thinking of as the Quadrant of Death. Enjoy.

1. Mass Effect 2 vs. 16. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs. 9. Shenmue

5. Half-Life 2 vs. 12. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
4. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal vs. 13. Kingdom Hearts

6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker vs. 11. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
3. Super Mario 64 vs. 14. GoldenEye 007

7. Final Fantasy Tactics vs. 10. Diablo II
2. Final Fantasy VII vs. 15. Fallout 3

[SabotageTheTruth]

Castlevania: SOTN is one of the greats. Mass Effect 2 isn't. That's all that needs to be said about that match-up.

My "dark horse" has finally revealed itself - good luck Final Fantasy Tactics, I love you no matter how far you make it.

[Hanabi]

Shenmue's a 10, SOTN's a 10, Wind Waker's a 10.

[bam541]

Gosh darn it to heck, my pick's gone already!

I love Skyrim (probably my favorite Bethesda game), but Shenmue is just too good for me.

[Brannox]

With half the field now gone, let's take a look at how my favorite quadrant was decided before moving on to Round 2!

I can't start anywhere else except the stunning upset of 16.) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night taking out 1.) Mass Effect 2 10-8. ME 2 was the last bracket's WINNER, and this just goes to show: It's all about matchups and who chooses to vote in these little polls. This falls JUST SHORT of a surprise as Okami beating Ocarina of Time.

However, elsewhere throughout the quadrant, with the exception of one other vote, all the higher seeds moved on. That lone outlier was 10.) Diablo II forcing 7.) Final Fantasy Tactics out by a 7-5 decision.

The other matchups (from closest to largest) were as follows:

2.) Final Fantasy VII squirted by 15.) Fallout 3 8-6.
6.) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker held off 11.) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 10-7.
3.) Super Mario 64 beat 14.) GoldenEye 007 9-5
4.) Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal got the better of 13.) Kingdom Hearts 10-6
8.) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim had a comfortable win over 9.) Shenmue 10-5
And finally 5.) Half-Life 2 DESTROYED 12.) Resident Evil 2 (1998) 14-4.

Now like last time, I'm including an entire side of the bracket for this round before including all matchups from that point forward. Meaning: Quad 1 comes back and Quad 4 has an instant turnaround. LET'S DO THIS!

QUADRANT 1
16. Okami vs. 9. Mass Effect
5. Bloodborne vs. 4. Super Mario World

6. Final Fantasy VIII vs. 14. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
7. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves vs. 2. The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt

QUADRANT 4
16. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night vs. 8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
5. Half-Life 2 vs. 4. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal

6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker vs. 3. Super Mario 64
10. Diablo II vs. 2. Final Fantasy VII

[Capnbobamous]

@brannox said in The APRIL Video Game Madness Bracket:

7. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves vs. 2. The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt

You're just trying to kill me, aren't you?

[E_Zed_Eh_Intern]

@capnbobamous I too am having trouble deciding which I think is less overrated and thus worthy of my vote by default. That's what you meant, right?