LogFAQs > #941693376

Goomba Division

1) Super Mario Bros.
5) Phantasy Star

3) Bubble Bobble
2) Ninja Gaiden - Maybe some possibility of Bubble Bobble winning here but I think Ninja Gaiden stands out in this field.

Barrel Division

1) Donkey Kong - I wouldn't be TOO quick to write off Donkey Kong here. It still commands quite a bit of respect, and I didn't give it a 1 seed for no reason.
4) Final Fantasy II

3) Prince of Persia
2) Duck Hunt - Yeah Prince of Persia is a bit out of its league here eh

Shy Guy Division

1) Super Mario Bros. 2
4) Kid Icarus

3) Galaga
2) Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Galaga has a boring path in this tournament and I probably could have given it something more exciting.

Met Division

1) Mega Man 2
5) Gradius

3) Punch-Out!!
2) Castlevania

Octorok Division

1) The Legend of Zelda
4) Super Mario Land

3) Ms. Pac-Man
2) Dragon Quest - I think? This is a really tough call because I have no idea how close in strength Ms. Pac-Man is to Pac-Man. They're practically the same game!

Zoomer Division

1) Metroid - Oregon Trail might have some upset potential... maybe. But Metroid's just a really strong name.
4) The Oregon Trail

3) Contra
2) Metal Gear - One of the few really good matches this round. Metal Gear's been quiet until now. Think it has the more well known name, even though Metal Gear Solid this ain't. Contra winning would not surprise me.

Blinky Division

1) Pac-Man
4) Donkey Kong Jr.

3) Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
2) Mario Bros. - I think Castlevania II is too maligned to win against a Mario game here.

Z-Block Division

1) Tetris - I miiiight have considered DuckTales over something like Donkey Kong, maybe. MAYBE.
4) DuckTales

3) Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
2) Mega Man - Another pretty good matchup I think. The Lost Levels does have some allure, and it's a Mario game, but I think Mega Man 1 can hold up here.

Sweet 16

1) Super Mario Bros. - Someone had to go up against SMB1.
2) Ninja Gaiden

1) Donkey Kong - The rematch! This one's still hard to call, imo, but I'm once again not writing off Donkey Kong.
2) Duck Hunt

1) Super Mario Bros. 2 - I think this matchup is really fun - Mario 2 vs Zelda 2, and I'm curious to see how it plays out. If Mario 1 beats Zelda 1, then Mario 2 probably beats Zelda 2 as well, since Zelda 2 is probably a bit more of a disliked game. I think that Zelda II would beat Donkey Kong or Pac-Man though, so it has division-winning potential.
2) Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

1) Mega Man 2 - This is probably the most boring division. I think MM2 clearly dominates here.
2) Castlevania

1) The Legend of Zelda - This is a repeat of BotW vs DQXI, except probably a bigger blowout.
2) Dragon Quest

1) Metroid - I don't think there's much to say here.
2) Metal Gear

1) Pac-Man - I think only out of respect alone, but I think this one ends up being close because of the Mario name. Aside from DK/DH this is probably my favorite 2 > 1 pick if I had to take one. Pac-Man got a 1 seed only out of respect.
2) Mario Bros.

1) Tetris
2) Mega Man

Elite 8

1) Super Mario Bros. - I set this up for SMB1 vs Duck Hunt and everything, and yet I ruined it, oops.
1) Donkey Kong

1) Super Mario Bros. 2
1) Mega Man 2 - There are VERY FEW good matches in this bracket, but I think Super Mario Bros 2 and Mega Man 2 are two of the most fascinating games in this contest by far. Mega Man 2 has never really had a chance to flex its muscle in the past, and SMB2 has never appeared at all, so who knows what it does here? I think MM2 has a chance to be the 4th strongest game in this bracket and I think it can topple the Mario name, but I think it'll be close and a pretty hotly debated match. (And there's still a chance that Zelda II runs through this as well.)

1) The Legend of Zelda - I couldn't figure out how to give Metroid an interesting path here. It's hard to find a debatable matchup for Metroid to get into - it's not strong enough to beat the Marios and Zeldas of the world, but it should outclass things like Metal Gear and Contra.
1) Metroid

1) Pac-Man
1) Tetris - This would be a highly debatable match among more casual bracketeers, but there's really no contest here.

Final 4

1) Super Mario Bros. - MM2 gives SMB1 a run for its money and loses gracefully. SMB1's path is pretty much inevitable in this contest and there isn't much avoiding this.
1) Mega Man 2

1) The Legend of Zelda - I would NOT WRITE OFF Tetris here. Zelda 1 is by no means an unstoppable juggernaut, and I think Tetris has the power to win this entire contest. I think matchups like this have the potential to make at least the 64-game version of this bracket pretty interesting.
1) Tetris

Finals

1) Super Mario Bros. - I could see this going the other way, and I think Tetris is a possible champion too. But I think SMB1 is pretty much the pre-ordained champ here.
1) The Legend of Zelda