Undertale is [has won] the GameFAQs Best. Game. Ever. poll

Rematch: Best video game character of all time?


Results are only viewable after voting.
This comment has no relation to the quality of Undertale (which I personally consider my GOTY)

GameFAQ polls are fucking worthless trollbait festivals and people should be way past caring about them by now. The last one crowned the L-Block from Tetris as videogame's best character, and I'm willing to bet that was ENTIRELY due to an esoteric commentary on videogames distilled to its basic elements and not because it would send a ton of witless ingrates into a frenzy that their darlings lost out.... Much like this poll!

Kangi said:
So why don't you just... give in?

Blimey, my own GIFs being linked back on here! :D That's funny to see.
 
What on earth else could this be?

an objective ranking.

Exactly that?

What do you think is the greatest game of all time? Not your favourite, but greatest? Great meaning large, highest quality? If it's any consolation, I understand why people think Ocarina is too high.

For those on about sales, Ocarina is obviously not the best selling game of all time. GTA V has sold more. Does that measure it's 'impact' or 'status'? In a way yes, but would you be willing to put DOOM above it? What about Super Mario Bros.?

Looking back, we've definitely misunderstood each other. All I was talking about was its states as a "success story," but I think you were specifically talking about it being a "gaming behemoth."

In that case, of course: Undertale is not on the same level as the most successful indie games.

Okay, no problem! Glad we figured that out. Aye, Undertale's a great success story, and one the industry needs, I think. And it will grow yet, I'm sure!
 
Undertale is good and hopefully the controversy generates more interest in the game, but people really need to stop putting value in GameFAQs popularity polls.
 
It manipulate files in a way that you need to look beyond its root directory. Doubt any console would allow that.

Uuuuuh, but THAT's not necessary at all. Placing the saves in appdata was just an easy way to hide them. On consoles, you don't see any files within the game's directory anyway, so trying to put them somewhere else would be moot.
 
Übermatik;189298844 said:
Exactly that?

What do you think is the greatest game of all time?

Deus Ex, Planescape: Torment and then Undertale. In that order. Aka better than any of the games in the GameFAQs poll aka well deserved.
 
Übermatik;189298844 said:
Exactly that?

What do you think is the greatest game of all time? Not your favourite, but greatest? Great meaning large, highest quality? If it's any consolation, I understand why people think Ocarina is too high.

For those on about sales, Ocarina is obviously not the best selling game of all time. GTA V has sold more. Does that measure it's 'impact' or 'status'? In a way yes, but would you be willing to put DOOM above it? What about Super Mario Bros.?

Personally, I always found trying to quantify the greatest of anything as a meaningless exercise because everyone comes from different backgrounds and taste, not to mention time period.
 
I've only been cursory following this, but I find it hilarious. The only thing better would be if Undertale like beat Sephiroth for best game character/villian of all time just to see Gamefaqs - which feels like a message board time capsule from 1998 - implode.

We should make that happen.
 
Personally, I always found trying to quantify the greatest of anything as a meaningless exercise because everyone comes from different backgrounds and taste, not to mention time period.

Which renders this poll largely irrelevant then! And that's okay.

But if you were to play the game for a moment, and use your own genuine definition for 'greatest', would you rank Undertale as number one?
 
If you play with a controller, you miss out on a tiny mechanic during a boss fight, which asks you to write a short essay. There's a bunch of gags in there that can affect your rating.

The "crashing" your game and booting you out to the dashboard would be a big one like you say, but the way it handles saves may be an issue too. While people have found where it saves on PC, you're not really supposed to have access to them. One character in the game taunts that it has control over your save files, and attempts to lock you in a loop. On console saves are placed in their usual spots and you can delete them freely, which would hinder that illusion. There's also supposed to be permanence to getting the naughty ending, which is also easily undone by having standardised saves whose management is explained in the console's manual. Then finally the game has a bunch of sneaky stuff hidden inside of it if you edit the values of your saves, which is of course also a no-go on consoles..

I'm also not sure if its method of saving would also be permitted to begin with. It saves all the time in secret, in spite of making the player do manual saves at dedicated save points. I can't think of a console game that autosaves without giving you a clear indicator that it is doing so, so I'm wondering if that is mandated by certification. Speculation on my part though.
Nor of these strike me as hard issues to solve. The game closing on you could be replaced by loading the main title screen, which has the same effect of "losing control" over your game.

The PC version can already be played with a controller so that's not a problem.

Save management is not a problem.

The content you can look at by editing files is optional and an easy cut, could alternatively be accessed in a different way (think Chrono Trigger developer rooms).

Games like Dark Souls constantly save in the background without a save icon appearing all the time.


What I'm trying to say is that all of these could be easily worked around if necessary, but I don't know if there's any motivation to actually make a console version in the first place. Game's doing just fine on Steam and Toby Fox probably doesn't have the connections or knowledge to even start on a PS4/WiiU port.
 
Übermatik;189299147 said:
Which renders this poll largely irrelevant then! And that's okay.

But if you were to play the game for a moment, and use your own genuine definition for 'greatest', would you rank Undertale as number one?

No. Close though.
 
Ah, this takes me back to my Board 8 days. Had no clue they were doing another contest after that League of Legends debacle.
 
What I'm trying to say is that all of these could be easily worked around if necessary, but I don't know if there's any motivation to actually make a console version in the first place. Game's doing just fine on Steam and Toby Fox probably doesn't have the connections or knowledge to even start on a PS4/WiiU port.

Toby seems to want to work on something else after fixing up bugs in the game so if it does get ported I imagine someone else would be doing it and it wouldn't happen for a while.
 
haha i still have a gamefaqs account from like 2001 so i've sort of been there off and on for a long time (mostly just for faqs when i need them, i don't really post there) and it's interesting to see undertale win just for the reaction... gamefaqs loves their oot vs ffvii, link vs cloud ;p

that said, neogaf is basically the limits of my gamer bubble so the stuff about 4chan or tumblr i don't really understand hehe but i know how salty gfaqs can get haha
 
Bruh, you can fill a stadium with the amount of nonsensical BS that's happening on GameFAQs at any given moment. Its a bonafide christmas miracle that OP wasn't shamed to death on the first page of this thread.
KuGsj.gif
 
lol at the reaction and anyone actually caring
This reaction to an online poll about videogame popularity is a reminder that there's a constant influx of new, young people into our hobby, which should probably be considered a positive.
 
Bruh, you can fill a stadium with the amount of nonsensical BS that's happening on GameFAQs at any given moment. Its a bonafide christmas miracle that OP wasn't shamed to death on the first page of this thread.
KuGsj.gif

Honestly the thread is dumb and shouldn't have been made but it got a discussion going at least. :P
 
Übermatik;189299069 said:
Out of curiosity, are these also your personal favourite games of all time?

Of course, any other metric is irrelevant. But I would also not dismiss them as being down to "personal taste" and having no other merits. They are all works that imo have or will evolve the medium of video games into something far greater than it is now.
 
Nor of these strike me as hard issues to solve. The game closing on you could be replaced by loading the main title screen, which has the same effect of "losing control" over your game.
It doesn't let you go back to the title screen when you restart the game, though. The whole point is that you reopen the game and something's wrong.

I agree that none of the other problems actually matter.
The essay
can easily be cut.
 
What I'm trying to say is that all of these could be easily worked around if necessary, but I don't know if there's any motivation to actually make a console version in the first place. Game's doing just fine on Steam and Toby Fox probably doesn't have the connections or knowledge to even start on a PS4/WiiU port.

I read somewhere that Toby would at least like a Nintendo version, probably due to the Earthbound heritage. I'm sure he'll find a way to make these PC-specific parts work out for the game (it'd have to be recoded from the ground up anyway since neither Wii U nor 3DS support Gamemaker)
 
It doesn't let you go back to the title screen when you restart the game, though. The whole point is that you reopen the game and something's wrong.

I agree that none of the other problems actually matter.
The essay
can easily be cut.
So you press play and then you realise there's something wrong.

It really isn't a problem and should be easily workable within the lotcheck/TCR restrictions as long as whoever ports it is aware and doesn't just think emulating crashes and corrupt save files is ok.
 
Haha just did a glance at the bracket. Super Mario RPG over GTAV and Resident Evil 4. Oh GameFAQs. Never change.
 
I dunno though, the extent and the commitment of its theme represented through the way its file directory is structured is kind of why it was so great.

Do you also feel the game should never be localised, because the way it was originally constructed was so precious?
 
Yeah you have no idea what you're talking about.

Amazing rebuttal, I am shocked and awed at your insight.





Since others care to ask about it, Undertale doesn't use any proper mechanics of an RPG, the only reason it has a dodge-em-up combat system is because of how mundane the game is, it's a little illusion that tries to season what is already a non-game. The game offers no feedback for actual exploration or achievement like it's most touted comparison: Earthbound, one of my favourite games of all time.

In Earthbound the mechanics of the game actually feed back into the players agency and the narrative the mechanics deliver, you find a weird item, you use it in battle and you inflict a bizarre but effectual status effect on the enemy (toothbrush anyone?). These concepts are funny in themselves from both a comedy standpoint and a gameplay standpoint.

Undertale on the other hand simply presents the illusion that you have choice and control. Enemy types have the same fight or flight mechanic but there is very little to no feed back in their exploration. Sure you can steal the 'Icecaps' 'cap' but then he'll just be a cap.

Ha thats cute, so do I get a cap?
No. The joke was it's own reward.
But this is a game not boo-...
Yeah! Game of all time apparently! Hey, do you like comic sans? No? Here's a character that talks using it!

All I'm saying is that as far as Undertale is concerned there is no interesting take or even semblance at times to the RPG genre, it's not anywhere near as good as Earthbound or most other RPGs in it's class.

Also it's not funny.

Like really, not funny.

Who writes this trash? Did they just take tumblr posts and put them into the game? Geez.
 
Amazing rebuttal, I am shocked and awed at your insight.





Since others care to ask about it, Undertale doesn't use any proper mechanics of an RPG, the only reason it has a dodge-em-up combat system is because of how mundane the game is, it's a little illusion that tries to season what is already a non-game. The game offers no feedback for actual exploration or achievement like it's most touted comparison: Earthbound, one of my favourite games of all time.

In Earthbound the mechanics of the game actually feed back into the players agency and the narrative the mechanics deliver, you find a weird item, you use it in battle and you inflict a bizarre but effectual status effect on the enemy (toothbrush anyone?). These concepts are funny in themselves from both a comedy standpoint and a gameplay standpoint.

This is literally a thing that had multiple examples in undertale.

Look up the things you can do if you keep the starting stick,
the spider donut and toriel's pie
through different parts of the game.

Of all things to criticise undertale with (and there are some), this is possibly the most off base thing to criticise it with. It luxuriates in pointing out that it knows what players are going to try.
 
This reaction to an online poll about videogame popularity is a reminder that there's a constant influx of new, young people into our hobby, which should probably be considered a positive.

Are you sure these are young people arguing over this ranking?
 
Okay, that's fine. Localisation would change the game fundamentally, just as much as changing a cheeky quirk with the file structure.

Nah, I don't mind it. I was just trying to puzzle out how you can transfer those aspects to the console version, but as others have pointed out, I've got some parts of it wrong and it is possible to change some things while keeping its integrity. I was wrong previously.
 
Remember when Launchpad McQuack won the Greaest Sidekick poll? Gamefaqs contests are always a great time.

Even Gamespot was salty
Yes, Launchpad McQuack, the helpful sidekick who never hesitates to whisk Scrooge McDuck away to the bonus stage in the Ducktales games, has won this competition. Launchpad won by virtue of votes and is ready to receive all your cheers and adulation (if any), while the other sidekicks leave through that other door. You know, the one over there.
 
Übermatik;189298844 said:
Exactly that?

That simply is not possible. This is a poll of an array of individuals, all of which could have vastly different tastes and criteria for greatness. It's like trying to have an "objective game review"- it's a complete nonsense.

What do you think is the greatest game of all time? Not your favourite, but greatest? Great meaning large, highest quality? If it's any consolation, I understand why people think Ocarina is too high.
Well, first and foremost, your distinction between greatest and favourite is not one that the poll makes, as far as I'm aware.

For me Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the greatest game I've ever played. There may be some """""objective""""" criteria by which others might see other games surpass it, but why on Earth should I take those into account? You're asking my opinion, and nothing more.
 
Of course, any other metric is irrelevant. But I would also not dismiss them as being down to "personal taste" and having no other merits. They are all works that imo have or will evolve the medium of video games into something far greater than it is now.

If some kind of intelligent alien life form visited earth and you had to pick one game for them to try, it wouldn't be something that requires the common sense of a human. Forget aliens, those games require understanding of a language, and that you have a certain cultural background to a degree.

Nothing is greater than the elegance and universality of pure gameplay. You can tell a story without using a single word, guide/teach a player purely through level design, and most importantly everyone understands the language of mechanics. I'd personally pick a Mario game to be the top representative of gaming, SMB3 for 2D and Galaxy for 3D.
 
Undertale is good and hopefully the controversy generates more interest in the game, but people really need to stop putting value in forum popularity polls.

Fixed that for you.

Does it matter if 30 people vote for undertake on Gamefaq and 30 people vote for Bayonetta 2 on GAF as GOTY.

Lets face it, most gamers have not heard or played either of these games, but gamers that like niche sure like to vote in polls. Gaf polls are no different to Gamefaq in many ways, you get a few voters trying to make a point about a game they play that most gamers dont really care about, at all.

I never vote in forum popularity polls, I guess I am not the vocal minority with a mission.
 
I love Undertale, but between the two, I have to give my vote to OoT. That game was a major part of my young gamer self.
 
That simply is not possible. This is a poll of an array of individuals, all of which could have vastly different tastes and criteria for greatness. It's like trying to have an "objective game review"- it's a complete nonsense.

What? Dude come on, of course it is. An aggregate of 'opinions', sure, but it's the nature of the question that matters. Like I said, the poll isn't 'What's your favourite game?' - it's supposed to be an as-unbiased-as-can-be verdict on the greatest game of all time.

And objective is exactly what game reviews should be!? Otherwise we'd get people injecting entirely their own personal preference into scores that are supposed to be a fair representation of a game's quality - they're guides to help people decide whether to buy a game or not. If Reviews weren't objective, you'd get people saying "3/10, although Uncharted 4 is a nice game, it doesn't have sonic in it, my favourite hero of all time".

Well, first and foremost, your distinction between greatest and favourite is not one that the poll makes, as far as I'm aware.

For me Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the greatest game I've ever played. There may be some """""objective""""" criteria by which others might see other games surpass it, but why on Earth should I take those into account? You're asking my opinion, and nothing more.

I'm asking for your objective opinion (yes, such a thing exists). You should take those criteria into account because you've been asked a question that's supposed to conclude with an objective result - that's why you ask so many people, so an average can be construed. I also LOVE Galaxy 2. I LOVE Twilight Princess, and DOTA 2... Are any of these the greatest games of all time? Perhaps not, and that distinction is just something I have to consider when answering the question. I don't particularly enjoy Tetris. In fact, I find it tedious. But would I consider it as a contender? Absolutely. It's well designed, simple, was enjoyed by millions, changed the industry, and has a significant legacy as a result.
 
I still have no idea why Undertale is considered a "SJW" game. Because people on Tumblr like it? Because the idea is to not kill things? It's really just a testament to how "SJW" means "thing I don't have a good reason to shit on but will shit on anyway"

Anyway Undertale definitely has my vote over OoT. I've never particularly liked that game and it's not like the contest means anything.
 
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