Board 8 > Best Series Ever II Mock Bracket

(+) Yeah! (+)

I decided to create another mock bracket, this time for a reprise that I've seen a decent amount of interest in - Best Series Ever II. Feel free to comment with any predictions, gripe about any snubs, or discuss anything else about this bracket!

And, without further ado, The Bracket:

Division 1:

(1) Legend of Zelda vs. (16) Civilization
(8) Ace Attorney vs. (9) Suikoden
(5) Mass Effect vs. (12) Mortal Kombat
(4) Grand Theft Auto vs. (13) Golden Sun
(3) Xenoblade vs. (14) Half-Life
(6) Fallout vs. (11) Kirby
(7) Tales of vs. (10) Batman: Arkham
(2) Fire Emblem vs. (15) Tetris

Division 2:

(1) Persona vs. (16) Okami
(8) Dragon Quest / Warrior vs. (9) Crash Bandicoot
(5) Mega Man vs. (12) Dragon Age
(4) Sonic vs. (13) StarCraft
(3) Metroid vs. (14) The Legend of Heroes
(6) Monster Hunter vs. (11) Warcraft
(7) Mario Kart vs. (10) Mega Man X
(2) Metal Gear vs. (15) Life is Strange

Division 3:

(1) Mario vs. (16) Harvest Moon
(8) Yakuza vs. (9) Drakengard
(5) Chrono Trigger vs. (12) Assassins Creed
(4) Kingdom Hearts vs. (13) Tomb Raider
(3) Castlevania vs. (14) Star Fox
(6) Resident Evil vs. (11) Donkey Kong Country
(7) Portal vs. (10) BioShock
(2) Pokmon vs. (15) Bayonetta

Division 4:

(1) Final Fantasy vs. (16) Pac-Man
(8) Red Dead vs. (9) EarthBound / Mother
(5) God of War vs. (12) Devil May Cry
(4) The Elder Scrolls vs. (13) Paper Mario
(3) Dark Souls vs. (14) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
(6) The Witcher vs. (11) Street Fighter
(7) Uncharted vs. (10) Halo
(2) Smash Bros. vs. (15) Diablo

(Also note that all series names are as rendered within GameFAQs's database.)

MetalmindStats posted...

(4) Grand Theft Auto vs. (13) Golden Sun

I'm not sure if I hate or love you for this
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I can only imagine the whining when Golden Sun wins that fourpack
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Hmm... okay I'll admit, that's a better looking bracket than I expected. I guess a thing or two CAN change over the course of 12 years!

I'd personally like to see Zelda promoted to final Boss Battle status, Mario moved to that spot, Pokemon can be the other #1, with that done I'd like this quite a bit.


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How is Persona a 1 seed?
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haloiscoolisbak posted...

How is Persona a 1 seed?

I could see it getting a lot of nominations and then embarassing itself.
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Whys Golden Sun so popular?
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great bracket, tag
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ctrl+f katamari

:(
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Division 2 seems too imbalanced. MG/Metroid/Megaman/Sonic all in the same division as seeds 2-5 and behind Persona being the 1 seed? Those all seem like they should be on the same level as 2/3 seeds.
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XIII_rocks posted...

MetalmindStats posted...

(4) Grand Theft Auto vs. (13) Golden Sun

I'm not sure if I hate or love you for this

I would predict that GTA wins while I vote Golden Sun.
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Bump.

@Ngamer64 (and anyone else who's interested), here's a version of this bracket with Legend of Zelda retired: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LbiOY4ZGg-lIp5ht4BhLf-TSKufqeZCLkqmDgP7td5c/edit?usp=sharing

The top half of the bracket looks way stronger than the bottom half.
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Again.
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Smash should be a 1 seed over Persona
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A third time.
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Evening bump.
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Final bump.
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I'll post my picks if you keep this alive until Tuesday!
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Deal. I could take the cheap way out to do that, but I won't.
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Persona as a 1 seed seems high, but I think it is in a position to do well.

Here's a snub you probably wouldn't expect - Lego. While no particular game probably reaches enough popularity to get into a games bracket, it's a large enough franchise that it could sneak into this.
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I like Golden Sun over San Andreas, that was a good matchup decision
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(1) Legend of Zelda
(8) Ace Attorney
(5) Mass Effect
(4) Grand Theft Auto
(14) Half-Life
(11) Kirby
(10) Batman: Arkham
(2) Fire Emblem
(1) Persona
(8) Dragon Quest / Warrior
(5) Mega Man
(4) Sonic
(3) Metroid
(6) Monster Hunter
(7) Mario Kart
(2) Metal Gear
(1) Mario
(8) Yakuza
(5) Chrono Trigger
(4) Kingdom Hearts
(3) Castlevania
(6) Resident Evil
(7) Portal
(2) Pokmon
(1) Final Fantasy
(8) Red Dead
(5) God of War
(4) The Elder Scrolls
(3) Dark Souls
(11) Street Fighter
(7) Uncharted
(2) Smash Bros.

(1) Legend of Zelda
(4) Grand Theft Auto
(11) Kirby
(10) Batman: Arkham
(1) Persona
(4) Sonic
(3) Metroid
(2) Metal Gear
(1) Mario
(5) Chrono Trigger
(3) Castlevania
(2) Pokmon
(1) Final Fantasy
(5) God of War
(11) Street Fighter
(2) Smash Bros.

(1) Legend of Zelda
(11) Kirby
(4) Sonic
(3) Metroid
(1) Mario
(2) Pokmon
(1) Final Fantasy
(2) Smash Bros.

(1) Legend of Zelda
(3) Metroid
(1) Mario
(1) Final Fantasy

(1) Legend of Zelda
(1) Final Fantasy

(1) Legend of Zelda

Overall pretty good bracket. My biggest gripe is that the bottom half of D1 is pretty weak (Kirby having a good chance to win it says it all), but otherwise this is solid and I'd be all for it.
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Sunday (evening) bump.
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Monday morning bump.
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What's 14) the legend of heroes?
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SuperNiceDog posted...

What's 14) the legend of heroes?

Really good jrpg series
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Monday evening bump.
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Hey, if you want some more mock bracket fun, I did an 90s Game contest bracket.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77312325
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_SecretSquirrel posted...

Hey, if you want some more mock bracket fun, I did an 90s Game contest bracket.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77312325

I do like me some mock brackets! Give me about 30 minutes and I'll be in there with predictions, including close matches.
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MetalmindStats posted...

_SecretSquirrel posted...

Hey, if you want some more mock bracket fun, I did an 90s Game contest bracket.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77312325

I do like me some mock brackets! Give me about 30 minutes and I'll be in there with predictions, including close matches.

Thanks, fellow Show co-host. Think I should give this one a whirl in return.

Round 1

Zelda
Ace Attorney
Mortal Kombat
Grand Theft Auto
Xenoblade
Kirby
Tales of
Fire Emblem

Persona
Dragon Quest
Mega Man
Sonic
Metroid
Warcraft
Mario Kart (I love this twist on a bit of our history here)
Metal Gear

Mario
Yakuza
Chrono
Kingdom Hearts
Castlevania
Resident Evil
Portal
Pokemon

Final Fantasy
Mother
God of War
Elder Scrolls
Dark Souls
Street Fighter
Uncharted
Smash

Round 2

Zelda
Mortal Kombat
Kirby
Fire Emblem

Dragon Quest
Mega Man
Metroid
Metal Gear

Mario
Kingdom Hearts
Castlevania
Pokemon

Final Fantasy
Elder Scrolls
Street Fighter
Smash

Round 3

Zelda
Fire Emblem

Mega Man
Metal Gear

Mario
Pokemon

Final Fantasy
Smash

Round 4

Zelda
Mega Man

Mario
Final Fantasy

Final Rounds

Zelda
Mario

Zelda wins.

I gave a lot of thought to series respect factor here. I feel like Golden Sun > GTA was a mistake, for example, because I'm not sure how many people even know/remember Golden Sun is a series, and if they do, do they know how many games are in it?
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garetha200 posted...

SuperNiceDog posted...

What's 14) the legend of heroes?

Really good jrpg series

really? never heard of it
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(8) Yakuza vs. (9) Drakengard

Both of these are seeded way too high!!!!

Over 11) Street Figther?
Over 10) Bioshock?
Over 12) Devil May CRY???!!?!?!?!?!?!!?
Over 10) Mega Man X??!!?!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!!?!?!?!?!?
Over 11) Kirby?!

continued...
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SuperNiceDog posted...

(8) Yakuza vs. (9) Drakengard

Both of these are seeded way too high!!!!

Over 11) Street Figther?
Over 10) Bioshock?
Over 12) Devil May CRY???!!?!?!?!?!?!!?
Over 10) Mega Man X??!!?!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!!?!?!?!?!?
Over 11) Kirby?!

continued...

Remember that 8 and 9s are running into the 1 seeds, so it's often a better spot to have a 11 or 12 and be able to take it to Round 3.
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_SecretSquirrel posted...

SuperNiceDog posted...

(8) Yakuza vs. (9) Drakengard

Both of these are seeded way too high!!!!

Over 11) Street Figther?
Over 10) Bioshock?
Over 12) Devil May CRY???!!?!?!?!?!?!!?
Over 10) Mega Man X??!!?!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!!?!?!?!?!?
Over 11) Kirby?!

continued...

Remember that 8 and 9s are running into the 1 seeds, so it's often a better spot to have a 11 or 12 and be able to take it to Round 3.

Not only that, but I tried to make these seeds realistic in terms of likely nominations. As we saw with CBX, both Yakuza and Drakengard are likely to fare well in that regard, more so than all the series you mentioned.
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I feel like Metroid games were too strong in BGE 2015 not to make it a decent favourite in this theoretical division 2. Really like that division though, would love to see how it played out.

FF vs. Smash in division finals would be cool too. Could definitely see FF taking it through series / old school respect, but it would be interesting to see play out.

Maybe Zelda could be the Final Boss, too, which would allow for a pretty up in the air Mario/FF/Smash/Pokemon? final. There is definite precedent for it to be removed, too, since it is undefeated in the Series Contest.
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garetha200 posted...

I feel like Metroid games were too strong in BGE 2015 not to make it a decent favourite in this theoretical division 2. Really like that division though, would love to see how it played out.

The Mega Man/Metal Gear/Metroid triangle was definitely one of the harder choices to make in the bracket.
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garetha200 posted...

Maybe Zelda could be the Final Boss, too, which would allow for a pretty up in the air Mario/FF/Smash/Pokemon? final. There is definite precedent for it to be removed, too, since it is undefeated in the Series Contest.

This is true. I posted a link to a google document with a version with Zelda retired above.
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Tuesday morning bump.
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Sad Dynasty Warriors got snubbed here. Even if it would've been first round fodder.
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SuperNiceDog posted...

garetha200 posted...

SuperNiceDog posted...

What's 14) the legend of heroes?

Really good jrpg series

really? never heard of it

It's the series that the Trails (in the Sky/of Cold Steel) series originally spawned from.
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Tuesday evening bump.
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Division 1:

(1) Legend of Zelda
(8) Ace Attorney
(5) Mass Effect
(4) Grand Theft Auto
(3) Xenoblade
(11) Kirby
(10) Batman: Arkham
(2) Fire Emblem

Division 2:

(1) Persona
(8) Dragon Quest / Warrior
(5) Mega Man
(4) Sonic
(3) Metroid
(6) Monster Hunter
(10) Mega Man X
(2) Metal Gear

Division 3:

(1) Mario
(8) Yakuza
(5) Chrono Trigger
(4) Kingdom Hearts
(3) Castlevania
(11) Donkey Kong Country
(7) Portal
(2) Pokmon

Division 4:

(1) Final Fantasy
(9) EarthBound / Mother
(5) God of War
(4) The Elder Scrolls
(3) Dark Souls
(6) The Witcher
(10) Halo
(2) Smash Bros.

Round 2:

(1) Legend of Zelda
(5) Mass Effect
(11) Kirby
(2) Fire Emblem

(8) Dragon Quest / Warrior
(5) Mega Man
(3) Metroid
(2) Metal Gear

(1) Mario
(4) Kingdom Hearts
(3) Castlevania
(2) Pokmon

(1) Final Fantasy
(4) The Elder Scrolls
(6) The Witcher
(2) Smash Bros.

Sweet Sixteen
1) Legend of Zelda
(2) Fire Emblem

(5) Mega Man
(3) Metroid

(1) Mario
(2) Pokmon

(1) Final Fantasy
(2) Smash Bros.

Elite Eight
(1) Legend of Zelda
(3) Metroid

(1) Mario
(1) Final Fantasy

Final Four
(1) Legend of Zelda
(1) Final Fantasy

Finals
(1) Legend of Zelda

Really fun bracket, feel like Golden Sun could potentially wreck things up by winning two matches. Almost went with DKC over RE but I feel like the smash boost wont be as strong next contest.

Glad you liked it!
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Thursday morning bump...
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Wraup up Show prep work took a little more time than I expected but I'm here now to live up to my promise! I'll be picking the non-Zelda version I requested. Full disclosure: I don't remember anything about the Series Contest except for the final match so there may be some blunders.

(1) Mario > (16) Harvest Moon
(8) Ace Attorney > (9) Suikoden - have to imagine Suik has fallen off hard since its glory days
(5) Mass Effect > (12) Mortal Kombat - could be close though!
(13) Golden Sun > (4) Grand Theft Auto - Nintendo nostalgia + antivotes = anything is possible
(3) Xenoblade > (14) Half-Life - reserve the right to change this opinion if HL3 launches the day before the match
(11) Kirby > (6) Fallout - I'd pick this TODAY because of the 76 disappointment but FO5 might right the ship in time
(7) Tales of > (10) Batman: Arkham - Arkham's first game was loved but the others didn't put it over the top
(2) Fire Emblem > (15) Tetris

(1) Persona > (16) Okami - never count out Ammy... but I didn't realize there even was a sequel so it's doomed!
(8) Dragon Quest / Warrior > (9) Crash Bandicoot - IconFAQs won't flourish in this environment
(5) Mega Man > (12) Dragon Age
(4) Sonic > (13) StarCraft - would have been fun in 2003/4/5 though...
(3) Metroid > (14) The Legend of Heroes
(6) Monster Hunter > (11) Warcraft - not much would lose to Warcraft or GTA these days IMO
(7) Mario Kart > (10) Mega Man X - ouch, brutal draw for MMX, should be close though
(2) Metal Gear > (15) Life is Strange

(1) Pokmon > (16) Civilization
(8) Yakuza > (9) Drakengard
(5) Chrono Trigger > (12) Assassins Creed
(4) Kingdom Hearts > (13) Tomb Raider - like Batman, the reboot was nice but the sequels didn't build on the momentum
(3) Resident Evil > (14) Star Fox - not quite the same thing as Fox > Jill
(6) Donkey Kong Country > (11) Final Fantasy Tactics - got to ashume FFT is way down these days
(7) Portal > (10) BioShock - would like to see BS elsewhere, think it gets SFFed with this draw
(2) Castlevania > (15) Bayonetta

(1) Final Fantasy >. (16) Pac-Man
(9) EarthBound / Mother > (8) Red Dead - really tough... RD isn't as antivoted as GTA and I'd pick it to win today, but it'll be old news by 2019's match day
(5) God of War > (12) Devil May Cry - 51/49 affair, I'll give GoW a boost for its GotY win
(4) The Elder Scrolls > (13) Paper Mario - difficult, would side with whatever had their next release coming sooner
(3) Dark Souls > (14) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
(6) The Witcher > (11) Street Fighter - scary choice, feel like this could flip based on any little thing
(7) Uncharted > (10) Halo - revenge for my Drake > Master Chief pick! which appears to have been wrong, and this probably is too, but I'll go down with the ship
(2) Smash Bros. > (15) Diablo - don't we guys have phones?
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(1) Mario > (8) Ace Attorney
(13) Golden Sun > (5) Mass Effect - only a $60 remastered Mass Effect Trilogy release for every system, with all the DLC included, could flip this result!
(3) Xenoblade > (11) Kirby - cute character design doesn't go as far in a Series bracket
(2) Fire Emblem > (7) Tales of - FE might SFF this a bit?

(1) Persona > (8) Dragon Quest / Warrior
(5) Mega Man > (4) Sonic - probably closer than a character battle, but I still favor MM
(3) Metroid > (6) Monster Hunter
(2) Metal Gear > (7) Mario Kart - veeeeery tempted by this upset after they killed MGS... but that's my bias showing

(1) Pokmon > (8) Yakuza
(5) Chrono Trigger > (4) Kingdom Hearts - sorry no chance, even if KH3 is fantastic
(3) Resident Evil > (6) Donkey Kong Country - DKC could put a scare into it though!
(2) Castlevania > (7) Portal - would have been a sexy upset before the death of western games/characters

(1) Final Fantasy >.(9) EarthBound / Mother
(4) The Elder Scrolls > (5) God of War
(3) Dark Souls > (6) The Witcher - really tough choice!
(2) Smash Bros. > (7) Uncharted
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(1) Mario > (13) Golden Sun
(3) Xenoblade > (2) Fire Emblem - no idea, I assume this is 51/49 either way

(1) Persona > (5) Mega Man - Persona will always be 300% better in nominations but ehhh, bracket voting might sneak it through
(3) Metroid > (2) Metal Gear

(1) Pokmon > (5) Chrono Trigger - I'd go CT > RBY in Game of the 90s but series respect will decide this
(3) Resident Evil > (2) Castlevania - should be a good one

(1) Final Fantasy >.(4) The Elder Scrolls
(2) Smash Bros. > (3) Dark Souls
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(1) Mario > (3) Xenoblade
(3) Metroid > (1) Persona - MP4 hype should make this easy
(1) Pokmon > (3) Resident Evil
(2) Smash Bros. > (1) Final Fantasy - Ultimate will have died down, but never count out the Melee fanbase. would a rally even be needed though, after what we saw happen to everyone except Cloud/Tifa/Vivi?
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(1) Mario > (3) Metroid - sorry Samus, unless it's MP4 release day you'll never get over this hump
(1) Pokmon > (2) Smash Bros. - Pokemon Switch will be just around the corner while Ultimate will have died down, but should be close regardless
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(1) Mario > (1) Pokmon - the one Nintendo thing in the bracket Mario can't SFF, should make for the best Grand Finals since GotD

Overall Trends: The voterbase is smarter (and smaller) than ever so respect voting for what they consider "real series" will be through the roof. That means good things for your Castlevanias and Resident Evils of the world, bad for things with just one strong entrant like CT, BioShock, Fallout.

They're also super tuned in to gaming news and the latest industry trends, so they're turn their backs on recent series that have been abandoned or whose latest entrant left gamers sour. And they'll also be more susceptible to HYPE when a series has an exciting new release coming out soon.

Regarding Final Fantasy... I'd have no problem with people calling it the favorite versus anything not named The Legend of Zelda. But if the bracket comes together like MetalMind set it up, I think the series is doomed because I can't see it running the Nintendo Gauntlet. A close win over Smash would leave Nintendo fans upset and out for revenge, if it then knocked off Pokemon a couple days later they'd be screaming for blood and shouting "Final Fantasy Always Wins!" at the top of their lungs heading into the Mario showdown.


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Bump for any Show listeners who still want to catch this.
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