Lurker > Big Bob

Since FFIX has had some rereleases, I think people have really come around on it. Vivi might be able to beat Squall without the bandwagon this time.
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Third strongest AA character is probably Apollo, if only because he's been a lead character. Not that the fanbase loves him, but he's more recognizable than Maya.
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Nega-Scott (Scott Pilgrim)
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Ditto (Pokemon)

Newcomers

Cuphead (Cuphead)
Misty (Pokemon)

Returners

Strider Hiryu (Strider)
Dr. Wily (Mega Man)
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Personal NN:

Link > Samus > Sonic > Mario > Snake > Mega Man > Crono > Cloud > Sephiroth
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Also, I have zero expectations of Ophelia. I just put her there because her game is recent and it's right up the site's alley, so I wouldn't be surprised if she made it.
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Huh, I forgot about the indie poll. I only remembered how it came close to winning the PC poll.
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I'd give Monika a bit of credit - the GOTY polls showed that DDLC at least has a decent playrate here.
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Here are ten newcomers I think are the most likely to make this contest. Rank them by your expected contest strength:

Joker (Persona 5)
2B (Nier: Automata)
Kiryu (Yakuza)
Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club)
Ophelia (Octopath Traveler)
Geralt (The Witcher)
Inkling (Splatoon)
Noctis (Final Fantasy XV)
Cappy (Super Mario Odyssey)
Cuphead (Cuphead)
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Ditto (Pokemon)
Sans (Undertale)
Godot (Ace Attorney)
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Returners

BJ Blazkowicz (Wolfenstein)
King Dedede (Kirby)
Jecht (Final Fantasy X)
Conker (Conker)
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Melee was going to lose to Chrono Trigger before rallies kicked in. I still bet it's natural strength is stronger now than when Brawl beat it, though.
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Yeah, but Melee wasn't as strong in that contest, either.
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Smash Ultimate would have to be a top game in the competitive gaming scene for years before it would reach the strength Melee had when it clashed with Undertale.
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The Force Awakens was pretty lame so I didn't bother seeing TLJ.
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Cuphead (Cuphead)
2B (NieR: Automata)
Misty (Pokemon)
Brock (Pokemon)

Returners

The Dog (Duck Hunt)
Strider Hiryu (Strider)
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Dr. Wily (Mega Man)
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Knuckles > Magus best match ever

SotC > MGS2 was good too
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GOTY is Celeste, no doubt.
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I think the new God of War might give Kratos some decent strength. He's not a newcomer, and it was pretty well-received. Not exactly GameFAQs' type of game, but I doubt he'll embarass himself.
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I really don't have any confidence in FFXV. FFXII was decently popular when it came out, but its characters dropped the ball in contests. Hell, I might even take Joker over Noctis, considering how popular Persona 5 turned out to be.
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-
Godot (Ace Attorney)
-
-

Returners

Strider Hiryu (Strider)
Goemon (Goemon/Mystical Ninja)
Lucas (Mother 3)
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Conker (Conker)
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Let's go back just one poll, shall we?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/6575-best-of-2016-game-of-the-year-final-vote

It couldn't double Uncharted 4.
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Rampardos is underrated.
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Zelda games have been good lately, Pokemon's kinda fallen by the wayside. Even if Ganondorf didn't do much in BotW, I'd say the game still boosts him.
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Joker (Persona 5)

Goro Majima (Yakuza)
Hat Kid (A Hat in Time)
Aloy (Horizon: Zero Dawn)
Brock (Pokmon)
-
Vault Boy (Fallout)
Dr. Wily (Mega Man)
Lucario (Pokmon)
Amy Rose (Sonic)
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Cuphead (Cuphead)
Great Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda)
Joker (Persona 5)
Metal Sonic (Sonic)

Returners

Kain Highwind
The Dog (Duck Hunt)
Toad (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Simon Belmont (Castlevania)
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Kate Marsh? More like Kate DARSH.
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I was ready to vote for Sanji from one piece, but then I read the trope description.

Ehh... Bender.
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Could Sephiroth and Crono become the weak links of the NN since they're the only non-smash characters?
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I found GameFAQs in 2003, and was an avid user before the contest that year.
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If Ditto winds up making the contest I think I'll need to be on the Show to apologize.
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If this takes off I demand you start making ditto jokes about me on podcasts instead of Batman ones.
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Now I want Ditto in a contest just so we can have a match pic with the same character repeated, just with dots for eyes.
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I wanted reps from every game on the poll, so Kyoko got booted. It was either her or Byakuya, and since Byakuya was more of a fan favorite I went with him.
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These are the ones I feel would be the strongest, contest-wise, but feel free to share your thoughts.
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