The Video Game Critic

I thought I'd post something fun. On Gamefaqs, they are doing daily polls for The Best Game Ever. What game do you think will win? Pick three games you think could end up winning the whole thing. The games nominated can be found here (they're a day away from finishing the first round).
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/bge20_vote

My picks:
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy Vii
Zelda: Ocarina of Time

I'll go:

LoZ: Ocarina of Time
Super Mario Bros. 3
Resident Evil 4

How did they pick which ones to put in the poll? Did they have to include almost every entry from some series?

I'm actually going to agree exactly with Rev.
Chrono Trigger
Final Fanatsy 7
or Ocarina of Time.

now which game we think should have won is a different story.

Yeah I have no clue how they picked them, it was probably either forum nominations or one of the writers for gamefaqs just picked. I tried to pick the games with ungodly fan bases since they'll probably win even if they're no longer as amazing as they once were (minus chrono trigger).

I'll go with Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World. SMB barely gets the top spot for me, probably because of nostalgia. Having said that SMW is just fantastic, a wonderful experience.

Square fans are hardcore. Every game they've got on there is sailing right through.

Right now Super Mario 3 is losing to Pokemon red/blue. One of the few games on there that I would truly put up as one of the best of all time. I didn't know Pokemon still had such a big following.

Yeah, I was really surprised SMB3 actually got eliminated by Red/Blue. If that game was strong enough to dethrone Mario 3 maybe the other games should watch out. Square games have been cruising on by. Other than Mario 3 nothing has really surprised me too much yet. I can't believe it got beat by pokemon...

Does everyone on Gamefaqs vote for 3 games? Well if I wanted to join that forum (I don't), I would say:

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Akumojo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo/ Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PCE Super CD)
Half Life 2 (PC, 360)

Nah, you vote for 4 games a day. I figured we'd do a pool and see if someone can call the winner out of 3 picks.

While I enjoy these tournament-style polls by Gamefaqs, they become pretty predictable (and, at times, annoying) because they turn into popularity contests. I wish they were more objective. For example, Gamefaqs voters love Nintendo more than life itself-- you can bet on the Final Four having at least 3 Nintendo games. In particular, they love the Zelda series, followed very closely by Super Mario. I would almost guarantee that a game from one of those two series will win this. After the Nintendo fanboys, you have the Square contingent. Thus, just like Nintendo games, you'll see Square games beating other games that they has no business beating.

These assessments are based on my experience, as I used to follow their polls daily for years. With that in mind, if I guessed before the voting started, I would have went with: (1) LoZ: Ocarina of Time; (2) LoZ: Link to the Past; and (3) Super Mario Bros 3. Close calls would have been (1) Final Fantasy VII [although, I know from prior polls that this usually loses out to a Zelda game]; or (2) any other Mario game. And, if it isn't Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy, or Pokemon, it generally has no hope of winning (if I recall, Metal Gear Solid is the next closest series with any hope in terms of Gamefaqs popularity).

Also, games like Square's Chrono Trigger, even if actually a better game, will always eventually lose out to Final Fantasy 7 or a Zelda game, because those series have more popularity and bigger fan bases. Likewise, your all-time classics like Resident Evil 4 would probably lose if pitted against Super Smash Bros. Wii U. Such is the way of the Gamefaqs voter.

Nonetheless, (despite my complaining), the early rounds are pretty interesting to follow, and I find it really entertaining and informative to see other gamers' preferences and see what retro games are still remaining relevant in the public consciousness.