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Village

Well, first time IC champ streak stays alive!

1986 - Savage
1987 - Steamboat, Honky Tonk Man
1988 - Ultimate Warrior
1989 - Rick Rude
1990 - Mr. Perfect, Texas Tornado
1991 - Bret Hart
1992 - Mountie, Piper, Bulldog, HBK
1993 - Jannetty, Razor
1994 - Diesel
1995 - Jarrett, Douglas
1996 - Goldust, Ahmed, Mero, HHH
1997 - Rock, Austin, Owen
1998 - Shamrock
1999 - Val Venis, Road Dogg, Godfather, Edge, D'Lo, Chyna, Jericho
2000 - Angle, Benoit, Rikishi, Eddie, Billy Gunn
2001 - Jeff Hardy, Kane, Albert, Storm, Christian, Test
2002 - Regal, RVD
2003 - Booker T, Orton
2004 - Shelton Benjamin
2005 - Carlito, Flair
2006 - Johnny Nitro
2007 - Umaga, Santino
2008 - Kofi
2009 - CM Punk, JBL, Rey, McIntyre
2010 - Ziggler
2011 - Barrett, Jackson, Cody
2012 - Big Show, Miz
2013 - Axel, Big E
2014 - Luke Harper
2015 - Bryan, Ryback, Owens, Ambrose
2016 - Zack Ryder
2017 - Roman Reigns
2018 - Seth Rollins
2019 - Lashley, Balor, Nakamura
2020 - Strowman, Zayn, Styles
2021 - Apollo Crews
2022 - Ricochet

Yesterday went down exactly how I thought it would, as both games kept it close to the very end. Village did just enough to hold off a late comeback from our favorite Insomniac duo and gets Resident Evil to its first championship match in 16 years, winning 14-12 over Rift Apart.

On a side note, now I'm imagining Ratchet and Clank battling Heisenberg.

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

2021 Championship
Metroid Dread
vs
Resident Evil Village

Both series are making their 2nd appearance in the finals and both are rocking a 1-0 record in said match. Now two of 2021's highest praised games face off for the crown!

Ratchet

Playstation: All 5 main consoles, plus PSP. Never had a Vita
Nintendo: Nearly every console and handheld. Only things I never owned were Virtual Boy and Wii U
Microsoft: Had the Xbox and 360, never a One or the Series consoles

While yesterday's match was easy to predict, it didn't actually start that way.

For the first 18 votes, Metroid Dread couldn't build a lead greater than 2 votes, and Psychonauts 2 had an answer for it every single time. After a 9-9 tie, Samus got the surge of votes needed to pull away for a final score of 18-10, marking Metroid's 2nd appearance in the championship, its first in 19 years.

While Psychonauts 2 walks away with a Final Four appearance, you know who really wins here? Ys IX. Its 18-10 loss in round 3 is now tied for 2nd in the X-Stats, at least until the championship round. Not bad for an RPG series that couldn't win on here before 2021.

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Resident Evil Village
vs
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Resident Evil hoping to make its second championship appearance in history, while Ratchet and Clank battle for their first! Two powerhouse games of 2021 fight for a shot at Samus Aran!

Dread

Also Rift Apart becomes the first PS5 exclusive to reach the Final Four! Looking at other consoles with said milestone... (multiplatform excluded)

SNES: Donkey Kong Country 3*
GB: Pokmon RBY*
GBC: Pokmon GSC*
PS1: Final Fantasy IX*
N64: Zelda - Majora's Mask*
Dreamcast: Marvel vs Capcom 2*
Gamecube: Super Smash Bros Melee*
Xbox: Ninja Gaiden*
DS: Castlevania - Dawn of Sorrow
PS2: Devil May Cry 3
Wii: Super Mario Galaxy
360: Bioshock (was only on 360 back in 2007)
PS3: Metal Gear Solid 4
Wii U: Super Mario 3D World
3DS: Zelda - A Link Between Worlds
PS4: Bloodborne
Switch: Super Mario Odyssey
PS5: Ratchet and Clank - Rift Apart

* - Occurred via retroactive tournaments, as every GOTY tournament from 1996 to 2004 occurred long after said years happened, and not in order.

Omori proved to be Rift Apart's toughest opponent yet, but even its efforts were short lived after the first streak of votes that favored the Playstation duo. Rift Apart wins 15-11 and becomes the first Ratchet and Clank game ever to reach the Final Four. Ratchet and Clank vs Resident Evil Village should be a fun one!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Metroid Dread
vs
Psychonauts 2

Samus has made easy work out of every game in her path, while Psychonauts 2 already has one victory against a #1 seed under its belt. Winner heads to the championship!

Ratchet and Clank

First time US champ streak extends to 20 years now

2003 - Big Show
2004 - John Cena, Carlito
2005 - Orlando Jordan
2006 - JBL, Lashley, Finlay, Kennedy
2007 - MVP
2008 - Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin
2009 - Kofi, Miz
2010 - R Truth, Bryan
2011 - Sheamus, Ziggler, Ryder
2012 - Swagger, Santino, Cesaro
2013 - Ambrose
2014 - Rusev
2015 - Rollins, Del Rio
2016 - Kalisto, Reigns
2017 - Jericho, Owens, Styles, Corbin
2018 - Roode, Orton, Mahal, Jeff Hardy, Nakamura
2019 - Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio, Andrade
2020 - Apollo Crews
2021 - Riddle, Damien Priest
2022 - Finn Balor

The OT session between Resident Evil Village and Bowser's Fury was just as intense as the first 24 hours. Bowser's Fury erased a 10-6 deficit and kept a close lead for nearly the remainder of regulation...

...until the final few hours where the last two votes favored Village. Resident Evil Village drops in a lay-up and beats Bowser's Fury with a final score of 32-31! Village becomes the fourth Resident Evil to make the Final Four in tournament history.

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Omori
vs
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Omori's run has been impressive, knocking off #1 seed Ace Attorney Chronicles in its path to the Elite Eight. Chances are with how hard they've been blowing out their opponents, Ratchet and Clank would've likely done the same.

Up

Definitely Kirby. MAYBE Triangle Strategy later.

Resident Evil Village

Bowser's Fury was able to grab the last 3 votes, and after 2 topic bumps, no other votes were cast. We're TIED at 14 a piece!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Village vs Bowser round 2!

Yes

Damnation was the second Opeth album I ever owned. Compared to their previous material, this album drops the death-metal-like vocals in exchange for a full on clean progressive rock experience. Damnation helped get me through my college years and I strongly consider it Opeth's best album to date.

1) In My Time of Need - Arguably my favorite Opeth song of all time, this wins me over thanks to the guitar work and chorus. A great (yet lyrically sad) vibe from start to end.

2) Hope Leaves - Mikael Akerfeldt truly brings this tune to life with his vocals in every verse. Lindgren's guitar between verses is a must-hear as always.

3) Windowpane - The first song I heard prior to buying Damnation, Windowpane focuses more on the entire band than it does the vocalist, but does it so so well. A great start to the album.

4) Death Whispered a Lullaby - Another catchy guitar line that is used in the verses and sticks to your brain long after the song finishes. Lullaby is another must-hear for any Opeth fan.

5) To Rid the Disease - Biggest points of the song are the chorus and the closing piano in the final minute. Still an awesome tune, even if in the bottom half of the album.

6) Closure - Great track that unfortunately has a non ending that gut punches me every single time. Even if it does transition (abruptly) into Hope Leaves

7) Ending Credits - I'll always wonder why this wasn't the album closer, though that would be too generic by some standards. Either way, a fine instrumental.

8) Weakness - After powering through the rest of the album, Damnation ends on an almost weak note (pun not intended). While I don't replay Weakness often, it pales in comparison to the rest of the album, feeling slower than the previous 7 songs before it. But on an album as excellent as this, something still has to be the caboose.

Up

Resident Evil Village

Both games kept it close at first before Psychonauts 2's midgame boost to slowly pull away. It Takes Two made some effort to come back, but it wasn't meant to be. A 14-10 win sends 5 seed Psychonauts 2 to the Final Four!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Resident Evil Village
vs
Bowser's Fury

The only region where both the 1 and 2 seeds made it to the finals, these hits have a legitimate chance at winning it all!

The best Zelda hit the Switch when SNES games were added to Switch online

Up

Psychonauts 2

Yesterday's match was never up for debate as Samus did exactly what we thought she'd do. Metroid Dread posts 75% on Hitman 3 with a 18-6 victory and becomes the first Metroid game since Prime in 2002 to make the Final Four

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Psychonauts 2
vs
It Takes Two

The only region where neither of the top two seeds made it to the Elite Eight, some vital upsets (with ease, I might add) set up a 5 vs 6 seed showdown. Winner gets Dread next!

Metroid Dread

Shin Megami Tensei V kept it close for the first seven votes, but once Ratchet and Clank scored the next 7 straight, it was a done deal. Rift Apart heads to the Elite Eight with a 16-8 victory, making it Ratchet and Clank's third Elite Eight appearance.

To this day, the only titles with Shin Megami Tensei in the name to get past round 3 are Persona 3 and 4.

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Metroid Dread
vs
Hitman 3

Metroid has dominated its entire run, while Hitman 3 needed OT to stun Unpacking in its latest match. First spot in the final four will be determined today!

Ratchet and Clank

To answer a few statements...

Axl_Rose_85 posted...

Also isn't Omori a 2020 game?

Technically yes. The game was released the final week of 2020 and nominators felt that it didn't get a fair chance since it came out so late.

Mac Arrowny posted...

that's up against a 2015/2017 game

While true, AA Chronicles finally received a North American release in 2021.

Short version: Another #1 seed falls, Omori advances to the Elite Eight with a 17-13 upset

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Shin Megami Tensei V
vs
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

SMT5 has won back to back matches 11-8 each time, while Ratchet and Clank have blown out both their opponents a combined 31-5. The winner meets Omori in the Elite Eight!

AA Chronicles

Tales of Arise and Bowser's Fury were close nearly the entire time until the 8-8 tie. Afterwards, Bowser did just enough to pull away and head to the Elite Eight with a 14-11 win. Up next: Resident Evil Village

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
vs
Omori

Capcom's latest entry in the AA series did just enough to get the overall #2 seed, but faces a highly respected game in Omori up next!

Yes

TheRock1525 posted...

Drew beat Goldberg.

And then lost to Lashley three times in a row (who couldn't beat Goldberg clean). McIntyre spent last summer feuding with Jinder fucking Mahal after a year where he went toe to toe with Reigns.

After 2020, he really got watered down

I'd say the power tier goes as follows...

Lesnar AND Reigns at the top
Goldberg
Lashley
Possibly Edge here
Drew
Rollins
Orton
Everyone else

LiquidOshawott posted...

One thing to consider is Brock has lost his last two mania matches and may not lose a third

Kinda funny that Seth and Drew might not even be kayfabe top 5 despite beating Brock, but their issues stemmed from their post Mania feuds being a steep decline from Brock to the Corbins/Zigglers

Well noted. Drew fell off harder than Seth, despite both winning two world titles in the same year they beat Brock at WM.

Seth: Feuded with Corbin and Wyatt, with a month of Brock in between. Was still in World title feuds in 2020 and very recently.

Drew: Feuded with Rollins, Ziggler, Orton, Goldberg, and Styles during two reigns. Gets punked by Miz and then goes 0-3 against Lashley. Lately seen feuding with Jinder Mahal, Corbin, and Moss

Tales of Arise

Yesterday's match could go down as one of the best in the tournament. For the first 16 votes, neither game had a bigger lead than 1 vote. After an 8-8 tie, Resident Evil Village got the next 4 votes and that was all she wrote. Village beats Inscryption 13-10 and awaits the winner of today's match!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Tales of Arise
vs
Bowser's Fury

Tales gets here after a close bout with Outer Wilds' latest expansion. Bowser's Fury has done very well to get this far too!

But it isn't a loss to Brock. He's 0-1 against Brock, 0-1 against Seth. He even ate the pin in both matches.

TheRock1525 posted...

I can't imagine Vince not finally giving Roman his win over Brock at WM. He ain't going 0-3.

Roman's only 0-1 against Brock at WM. The other match ended with Seth cashing in

FFDragon posted...

so uh what was the point of the rumble

To give Lesnar a reason to challenge Reigns at Wrestlemania and not have Reigns be able to refuse it.

Next up: Brock wins both belts and takes time off until Summerslam

Undertaker announced for Hall of Fame

What are the chances he's the only one inducted this year?

Resident Evil Village

Blowouts tend to happen in round 3 sometimes, but usually at the hands of the higher seed in said match. While I haven't looked through ALL the history, I can vouch being familiar with a #3 > #2 upset when Assassin's Creed II took out Infamous 16-2 in 2009's tournament.

Yesterday was #6 vs #2 and It Takes Two jumped off to a 7 vote lead against Persona 5 Strikers. It was never up for debate, and It Takes Two advances to the Elite Eight with a 18-3 victory, facing Psychonauts 2 up next!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

Resident Evil Village
vs
Inscryption

Village has made a solid run, scoring 66% or more against both its opponents. It runs into Inscryption next, a game that's made a good run too, taking out Returnal and Nier Replicant with ease.

Holy shit I woke up to this.

Oh wells.

It Takes Two

Correction from previous topic: The original Pokmon Snap made the Elite Eight in 1999's tournament.

And after this year, it remains the only Snap to do so. Psychonauts 2 jumped out to a 5-0 start and was never in danger of losing. 16 years ago, the first Psychonauts didn't get past the second round; now, Psychonauts 2 upsets New Pokmon Snap by a final score of 11-8! It awaits the winner of today's match!

Official Bracket
https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?1&tid=475476

It Takes Two
vs
Persona 5 Strikers

The Game Awards' GotY has fared well getting this far, even getting a slight upset over The Forgotten City. Like most Persona games before it, Strikers has made it this far, but nearly avoided an upset last round. Winner faces Psychonauts 2!

Elimination Chamber card for Saturday
Lashley vs Lesnar vs Styles vs Riddle vs Theory vs Rollins for the WWE title
Reigns vs Goldberg for Universal title
Alexa vs Doudrop vs Liv vs Nikki vs Bianca vs Ripley for a chance at the Raw Women's title at Wrestlemania
Becky vs Lita for Raw Women's title
Ronda and Naomi vs Charlotte and Sonya
McIntyre vs Moss in a Falls Count Anywhere match
Miz vs Rey Mysterio
Usos vs Viking Raiders for SD Tag Titles

xp1337 posted...

Pass Interference was made a challengable thing for a season after the Saints were absolutely robbed

The irony of that rule was when the Panthers challenged a play in New Orleans and the refs awarded them a first down for defensive pass interference. Saints fans were livid as fuck

Until Carolina failed to score at the goal line and still missed a field goal lolz

I mean... let's say the questionable hold on 3rd and goal doesn't get called.

Stafford's next play regardless was a TD pass to Kupp which got nullified due to offsetting penalties, followed by a legit DPI call on the next play, followed by the Kupp touchdown.

It balances out, plus Cincy failed to get a yard three plays in a row. Can't say the refs bailed the Rams out here.

Ultimate Loser is...

Rams > Bengals > Chiefs > Bills > Patriots

Perfect