Round 1 - Bracket B - Match 2

4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Vs.

5. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

There is one character who actually appears in both of these games: Ike. Let me tell you right away that Ike is by far the greatest hero of the four Fire Emblem games to make it to America. Yes, he does hold his own on a strategic level, but what about in pure beat 'em up combat? (Actually pretty well; Roy sucked anyway).

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl was not on the original list of games. Instead, Melee had its place. But after consideration, I realized that Brawl had finally elevated itself over its predecessor despite two drawbacks that upset me: the pace was slowed down and Marth's sword reach was shortened. However, Brawl has crazy unlockables, a far greater cast of characters, and multiplayer mayhem that cannot be matched.

The first time I played the SSB series on N64, I got my ass kicked. It turned me away from the game. The first time I played Melee on Gamecube, I got my ass kicked. It turned me away from the game. But I sat down by myself with Melee and learned the moves, the timing, the attacks, the stages, the items, and (since nobody told me) I had to read the manual to find out how to smash attack. I became a premiere player in the dorms. Brawl comes along and people begin to fear me before we even play. Everybody fears the 'Puff.

What SSBB is to me is the greatest multiplayer game ever invented. You can go from screaming in defeat one game to celebrating a victory the very next match. Controls are simple for a fighting game, utilizing pretty much only two buttons, and it does not even take away from its depth as a game. Experiencing a four person Brawl is glorious, and those mixes in emotions and swings of fortune make every match unpredictable and never the same.

Now if only the online didn't lag and suck so much.

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Let me get this out of my system right away: I love Fire Emblem. The series is golden. The first game appears on this list later on, so I will stick to Path of Radiance in this rambling. Hands down it is the best FE in America. Ike becomes a god. I got at least three of his skills to max out by the time he finished leveling up. His best move, Aether, hits super hard and absorbs HP. He gets the best weapon in the game, Ragnell, never breaks. He is a beast.

Right away I loved PoR better than the two Gameboy Advance FEs because of its beautiful colors. I really do love colors in video games. Also, you could shove your teammates over a square, which was a great move strategically for getting them out of harms way. The story, like all Fire Emblem stories, was epic. I really wanted more cutscenes, because those were beautiful. I hate having my people die in combat, and I would usually start a mission over if that happened. There was only one exception, and that was very late in the game. But I did not need an extra axeman at that point, he was becoming obsolete.

This is one of my favorite Gamecube games, and if it were not in my collection then I would call myself a failure. Fire Emblem means a lot to me, as a game. Heavily a single player game, I could just be by myself and forget about my problems. I might have even connected to some of the characters personally. There was a lot of depth to this game, and even though replayability is not all that much, there is the harder difficulty that i have run through in preparation for the Wii Fire Emblem (which is hard as hell).

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So, where do I like Ike more? In a fighter? Or in a strategy RPG? Honestly, I like him in the RPG more. But I like the fighter over the strategy. SSBB is just fun to play. It is downright stupid how fun this game is. I do know that I can get any four (or more) people together and just play Brawl for hours and not get sick of the game. I have done it on a few occasions, and I know that I will do it even more once I get back to school.

Winner: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Round 1 - Bracket B - Match 1

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Vs.

8. Chrono Trigger

Long time since the first round ended. I just get too lazy or too tired. It is a good thing that I never felt that way playing either of these first two games, otherwise I would have had a very dull gaming experience.

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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I think that one sentence says more than anything I could type about it. This game was the whole reason I went out to buy a Playstation 3. I planned it out months in advance. I took my first two paychecks and used them for funding. I SAVED A BEST BUY GIFT CARD FOR SIX MONTHS. And it was so worth it.

Playing MGS: The Twin Snakes was my first experience playing the series. I could care less that there was more time watching cut scenes than there was playing the game. I was so wrapped into the story. Three games and years later, MGS4 comes into my life and makes my lame summer at home awesome again. At times, I do not even feel like I am playing the game (which is an extraordinary feeling for me as a gamer) since it totally pulls me into the story. MGS4 gives you the option to skip the cutscenes, which is good for speed runs and impatient players, but that would be stealing over half of the experience playing the game. (Do you really want to miss seeing Raiden fight Vamp? Or Raiden fighting a dozen Gekkos? Or Raiden doing anything at all? He is not even the main character!)

This game had favorite contention before it even came out. Gameplay is 40 times better than its predecessors because controls are boosted way up, and the action is a lot heavier, granted it is still a stealth game. The weapons are customizable (my favorite being the M4 with the scope and shotgun attachments), the graphics (OH THE GRAPHICS!) are the best ever, and the story is so over the top that while it does not make much sense, it still makes perfect sense. Already I feel bad for Chrono Trigger going up against Guns of the Patriots.

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I feel that if I had played Chrono Trigger on the SNES, I would have ranked it higher. Instead I played it as part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles on PS1, and the loading times between fights and the menu slowed the pace waaaaay down. As an RPG though, it is amazing. As soon as I could get Lucca out of my party, it got even better. The characters were very diverse, including a princess, a frog, a robot, a cavewoman... my oh my, that is a crazy cast. And Magus: what a badass.

This is an RPG at its finest. It is paced pretty well, and there were no random encounters. Whatever you saw on the screen is what you fought, and the fighting was brilliant. Games should have a battle system like Chrono Trigger. Everyone is on screen, the proximity of the enemies should be a factor, and combo attacks with two or three characters can be brutal.

Favorite? I really cannot say that it is. I am sorry. Hang me for such blasphemy. I really do not feel too bad for ranking it at number 8. Sure it was great, and could be beaten multiple times in one file (future, present, and past) and multiple endings were unheard of at that time, especially since there were 13 unique endings. Find me a copy for SNES, and then if I make this list again a decade from now, even when the next generation hits, maybe Chrono Trigger will be back up there.

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Wow, see what happens when I do not write for a while? I end up writing a lot. See it as a good thing: these games really are worthy of being my favorites. Both MGS4 and CT blended great gameplay with cool stories, and keep an eye out for which games appear later on that can say the same. But when it really comes down to it, the legendary hero Solid (Old) Snake puts Crono in a choke hold and doesn't let go.

Winner: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Round 1 - Bracket A - Match 4

2. Tetris

Vs.

7. Knights of the Old Republic

Sorry for the week off all three of you. Taking a pretty high spot for a puzzle game is Tetris, but can you really blame me? It is Tetris. Its opponent is one of the best Star Wars games out there, and it really does not play like a Star Wars game would normally, but you get wrapped up in the universe. Let us begin.

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The best puzzle game out there is Tetris. Nobody should dispute that. It has spanned decades of gaming across many platforms, but is best in the handheld world. Not just Gameboy handheld, but I had Tetris on my calculator in high school and that got me through a lot of long and boring classes (mainly seminar). It is quick to pick up and get into, action-packed, and is never the same game twice. It can be easy a lot, but can be difficult to downright impossible just as much.

Favorite worthy? Definitely. I can say it is my favorite puzzle game without falter. Dr. Mario has nothing on Tetris. Wario's Woods? Not even close. Tetris 2? Boo. Tetris should have the longest lifespan for any videogame because of its timeliness, fun factor, addictive nature, and capability to be played anywhere and on anything. If I looked across all the games on this list, Tetris would easily be the game I could never ever ever ever ever NEVER get sick of.

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Knights of the Old Republic is crazy cool. I love Star Wars. I love RPGs. Greatest combination before the Wings added Rafalski to compliment Lidstrom. Games like this are perfect for character customization, which adds to the fun. I like choosing what my guy looks like, what armor he wears, the perks his lightsaber gets, and most importantly: how he levels up.

If I had an Xbox 360, and had played Mass Effect for more than two hours, than Mass Effect would have taken this spot on the list, and possibly had been higher up on the list. That calls for more customization in every way possible (if only my laptop could handle the PC version better). But KotOR is still awesome because I love building my characters. You could choose to be good or evil, giving me multiple playthroughs. Long story short: being evil was more fun. Take THAT Carth Onasi!

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This battle was over before it begun. Tetris is the winner, 110%. I mean, look at GameFAQs latest character battle; L-Block was the winner. Sure, it may have been a joke, but that just speaks at how great Tetris is.

Winner: Tetris

Round 1 - Bracket A - Match 3

3. James Bond 007: Nightfire

Vs.

6. Metroid Prime

Here are two pretty enjoyable first-person shooters I have for Gamecube. First is James Bond 007: Nightfire, which plays out just like a Bond movie, complete with awesome gadgets, beautiful women, a suave British spy, and a real bad guy with his own super bad-ass bodyguard. Next is a solo adventure that plays straight through very smoothly , no missions, and awesome boss battles. Who doesn't love boss battles?

I can easily pick out my favorite parts about both of these games, but will it be that easy to pick out my favorite?

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Nightfire starts off in the middle of the action, as does most Bond movies. You are flying in a helicopter providing sniper fire for beautiful woman in a sports car. That screams Bond. And sniping? One of the most fun things in an FPS. The very first mission advises that you use stealth, but sometimes it is more fun to burst through the front door with guns-a-blazing. Plus, the first boss is a helicopter!

However, the multiplayer is incredible. The GCN version owns the PS2 version because it allows four player action without use of multitap and you can add 6 bots to the match. YES! BOTS! I do not know why more games don't do that. Perfect Dark executed bots perfectly (pun intended). Customizable attributes and difficulties. For the hardest match, make them all ninjas. With snipers. I put in countless hours of the multiplayer alone, and I must say it is the best shooter for multiple players on the Gamecube.

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Metroid Prime was the whole reason I wanted to get a Gamecube in the first place. It is beautiful. Perfectly paced. Great balance of fighting with exploration; one never dominates the other. I have said a lot about this game in two previous posts. Go find them yourself.

Metroid Prime does not need a multiplayer (and MP2 Echoes did not either, but they threw it in anyway; kinda dumb). But it is classic Metroid formula that gives the player this huge environment to traverse, with so many different areas that seem so unreal. Tallon IV has its rainy forest, hot magma caves, snowy drifts, underground mines, ancient ruins, and underground mines. The Space Pirates are so much scarier in this game than any other Metroid. There are some things holding MP back on my list, like how I have not given it more appreciation than it deserves. I am replaying it now on the side of my other gaming, and perhaps another playthrough could have swung the votes.

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This match up was both difficult and easy to decide at the same time. Which do I enjoy more: a fun multiplayer or an epic single player. In this case, it is the multiplayer. Nintendo fanboys, do not yell at me!!! I am one of you. But Corruption is much more fun than the first MP, and I feel that had an effect on the outcome. Plus to upset more people, I like Nightfire way more than Goldeneye.

Winner: James Bond 007: Nightfire

Round 1 - Bracket A - Match 2

4. Killer 7

Vs.

5. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

I would consider both of these games a rare find in any collection. Killer 7 is such an obscure game that received very poor reviews because of its style, control, and overall insanity. On the other hand, all of those three reasons made it so unique. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is such a popular game that the cartridge itself is worth over $60. If you are that lucky.

Odds are, you reading this have only played the latter game. But hold onto your seats, you may in for quite a tough first round battle.

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Allow me to begin by saying Killer 7 is freakin' sweet. If I did not pay attention to the gaming industry, I would not really be aware of this hidden gem. I followed previews for months, because I loved the style and promise this game showed. A lot of people let it pass, which is a real shame. Yeah, the control system is odd; you move on rails and when you want to shoot something it jumps to first-person. Puzzles seemed out of place at times, while they sometimes meshed perfectly with exploring a somewhat limited new area.

The consideration of a favorite is for its story. I cannot say plot, because it is more than that. It is a thrill ride where more questions are asked (about 40 billion) than answered (about 2% of that). A lot of the fun came from wondering what the hell everything meant. Who were the Killer 7? Well, at one point they were a Killer 7. By the end, you realize something much more twisted than that (what would be the fun if I told you that?). Click the aforementioned link for a more in-depth (but still only scratching the surface) look at the game.

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First thing I need to say about Super Mario RPG is this: COME OUT ON VIRTUAL CONSOLE ALREADY!!! I think it was announced for Japan a few weeks ago, meaning it MUST come out here in the states eventually. Virtual Console is lacking RPGs.

Here is the formula for this game. Take Final Fantasy, replace its mystical world of swords and spells with the Mushroom Kingdom, have Mario team up with Bowser to kick some ass, and throw in an evil version of the Power Rangers for good measure. Genius. And Geno? Where the hell has he been since this game? He is one of the most loved side-kicks in gaming history! He made it acceptable to leave Mallow facedown in the dirt for the whole game.

Super Mario RPG is a favorite because it is Super Mario and it is RPG. It is fun, funny, and challenging (even overly challenging when having to fight Yaridovich.) Even though not Mario canon, it has spawned faux-sequels like the Paper Mario series, which I love dear. Although Super Mario RPG is not in my collection, it is loved dearly and if I ever have the chance to borrow it from someone, I do (thank you Ryan, Mike, and Brittany). It has one of the best graphical showcases for any SNES game, and tops most RPGs that I have played.

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Which game is more favorable? Well, according to the seeding: UPSET!!!!!! Super Mario RPG trumps Killer 7 in classic fashion. I do love both of these games, but if I picked one right now to play again this summer, I would go RPG. Killer 7 is still way over my f***in' head.

Winner: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Round 1 - Bracket A - Match 1

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Vs.

8. Pokemon Blue Version

Both of these games were introduced to me at a relatively young age, and with the case for Pokemon, that makes it a lot more acceptable. No offense to anyone who plays Pokemon; the games are solid money-whoring, top-selling, overrated RPGs. And are damn fun.

But can Pokemon even be compared with Zelda? Let me begin the first match up.

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The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is perhaps the best SNES game. Ever. Perfect adventure game even after a dozen or so playthroughs. It can be played straight through; or do what I do and go for broke, finding all the heart pieces and the medallions, upgrading all equipment, etc.

Why do I consider it a favorite? Because I have played it so many times and there is only that one moment I do not enjoy (in the ice dungeon). Otherwise (I'll be honest) I love the colors. I love the boss battles. I love searching for the next item on the agenda. I love being able to say no to a potion so I can test my abilities, and then looking at my scoring during the credits to see that I have died zero times and saved only once. It is better than all other Zelda games because of how simply straight forward it is and it is not so gigantic that it takes so long to get from one place to another. It is a game that I can (and probably will) play again and again despite all technical advances gaming has. This one is a classic. A great. An obvious number 1 seed.

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The challenger is Pokemon Blue Version. Blue over Red because in 5th grade, I chose to play that one and my brother would play the other. My cartridge still has all 151 pokemon in its Pokedex, and batting lead off for my team is always Articuno.

Pokemon has spawned many spinoffs and sequels, but never as good as the games that started it all here in the states. A playthrough is never the same, unless you want it to be. You can change your party at any time to best suit your needs, and how many other RPGs let you do that? You can always go after new pokemon to catch, which gives the game longevity; it is easy to get lost in the game and go for over 50, 60, 70 hours of playing and still not be done with it all. But I love it most because it was such a staple of my childhood. So many other kids had the game, and taking my Game Boy to school was not uncommon so we could trade or battle.

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Which game is more favorable? The choice is obvious. Zelda. While Pokemon creates for more playthroughs and different ways of playing with its many creatures, Zelda is simply more fun to play. Pokemon's biggest drawback: it is a BITCH to level up.

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past