LogFAQs > #939635208

Headliner Analysis continued:

But there was another Capcom game that came out this year, one that actually fckin did stuff in this contest. Resident Evil 2 had a special bonus modifier that allowed it to sneak into Division Finals: it was actually a 90s game in a bracket full of modern stuff! Just kidding, of course. While a lot of people were hemming and hawing over HGSS and P4G being included, there was really no reason to be wary of RE2s inclusion. Its a straight-up remake, with completely overhauled gameplay, graphics, voice acting, pretty much everything other than the basic layout of the environments and plot.

Yes, theres no doubt being a game that strongly evoked the PS1-era helped it get a leg-up on the competition, but it had a legitimately good run regardless. It provided a valuable contribution on Blowout Day, the fourth day of the contest where the bottom half of Division 2 was running amok with 80+ percent wins. RE2s opponent, Danganronpa 2, is hardly some powerhouse, but unlike INSIDE, which DOOM was wrecking in the adjacent match, it at least has some sort of brand. Danganronpa is decently recognizable, or at least, Monokuma is decently recognizable. So a big win here was a nice flex.

Still, there was a moment of pause for those who had RE2 > DOOM. When you think about it, BOTH games strongly evoke the 90s, and both had creamed their opponents. Their match was one of the most debated going into Round 2, despite no one really talking about it pre-contest. Personally, I wasnt worried. INSIDE has a generic name and a generic match picture, while DOOM is an elder statesman of gaming that would naturally hoover up a lot of apathy votes.

And I was right to not be worried. For all the hype that went into this match, RE2 didnt even end up breaking its knife on DOOM; the 58-42 result was roughly what many expected pre-contest. DOOM just kinda fell apart when it didnt have to face an opponent that no one fckin recognized, though I would also argue that in the considerable amount of time between Round 1 and Round 2, a lot of the memeing surrounding Eternal had started to die down. Who knows how much the Meme Factor matters, but a new major release in FFVII had just come out and blunted a lot of DOOMs momentum. RE3 coming out just a few days earlier definitely didnt hurt RE2, as it drew a bunch of RE fans back to the site.

This match was only the first debate that centered around RE2, however. Bloodborne had just finished clowning Awakening, making its rally potential known. This was another junction that had RE2 backers nervous, but this time, that nervousness ended up being much more warranted. I already went over the RE2/BB match in great detail in my 2015 analysis, so instead of more words, Im just going to put up the little memes I made during this clusterfuck.

When Bloodborne was ahead:


When RE2 was ahead:


When it was all over:


Ah yes, good times were had by all. RE2 only making it by the skin of its teeth made it the slight underdog to Mass Effect 2, but it was still yet another highly debated match. RE2 had to be at the center of the most debates this contest, alongside Skyrim having people for and against it in Division, Quarter, and Semifinals.

Unfortunately for those hoping for more fireworks at the end of the highly contentious Division 2, the ME2/RE2 match was the dreaded 52-48 affair. Not close enough to be exciting, not far enough for one side to make fun of the other. Really anticlimactic end for RE2s great run, and it was the first remake port thing to fall in Division Finals. Crazy how all of them made it to top 16, and not a single one managed to break into top 8. Probably for the best, honestly.

Other Thoughts:

This year didnt just have a decent supply of fodder; it had a LOT of straight-up turbofodder. Some of it was expected, but a lot wasnt.

Like, OK, Slay the Spire is some roguelike card thing. Baba is You is a hardass puzzle game with an off-putting title. Obviously theyd be horribly weak. But whats the excuse for Mortal Kombat 11 being bottom ten of the entire bracket, sharing space with a bunch of obscure indie games? Yah Ive mentioned the microtransaction shitstorm, but that eventually cleared up. This is a big name brand! It shouldnt be on par with the Talos Principle and the Stanley Parable.

Death Stranding was slightly better off, but its really sad to see what was the most hyped game of the year (newest one in bracket, too) slum it up with Disco Elysium and Tales of Berseria. This is a game with Kojimas name on the box, and in another world could have been a top 20 entrant. It wasnt just a case of not living up to the hype; it simply was not the kind of game people wanted to play. I really like it, personally, but I would never recommend it to anyone but those who are truly begging for something completely different

The Outer Worlds was another bottom 40 entry, and BotWs first victim, though that one is a little more understandable. Not only is it really new, but it also isnt that good lol. It was a game with a pretty strong honeymoon period, but it seemed like the entire Internet came to the collective realization that just because we hate Bethesda doesnt mean we have to pretend that the Outer Worlds is some masterpiece. It had all the usual Bethesda jank, technical issues, shitty gunplay, and lacking presentation, without the strong sense of freedom that those games provide.

Bloodstained came out looking alright, though. Which is good, because it was the best game that came out last year, and also the best Metroidvania to come out in more than a decade. King IGA finally returns!

So yes, this analysis ends on a whimper. Im actually tempted to dish out one final F, but honestly, that grade is reserved for years that only had two or three games make it past Round 1. While KHIII and 3H were disappointing, they at least made it somewhere, alongside RE2, Sekiro, and DMCV. These games collectively raise the baseline JUST ENOUGH for this year to avoid joining 2014 and 2016 at the bottom of the pile.

Final Grade:

D - Scrapes together enough mediocre performances to avoid failing, but just barely.

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