GameFAQs celebrated their 20 year anniversary this year–grats!–and to mark the occasion, the gaming publication held a massive online poll called “Best. Game. Ever.” The rules were laid thusly, according to GameFAQs:
The games have been seeded by a combination of user nominations, popularity on GameFAQs, and critical and user game ratings, but don’t forget: This is not a contest to see which game is your favorite, or even which one is the best rated. It’s all a big popularity contest, and visitors who have never visited GameFAQs before will be sure to stop in and vote.
The public poll pitted big name games against each other in 127 battles, the likes of which were Skyrim, Pokemon Red/Blue, Resident Evil 4, and so on. The resulting victor would determine which game stands the tallest amongst all others–and not for any trophies or decorum, GameFAQs pointed out, but purely for fits and giggles. To a majority of online groans and eye rolling, cult favorite Undertale swept the rug out from the competitions’ feet. The indie game beat out quality, time tested finalists: Super Smash Bros Melee, Final Fantasy VII, Super Mario 64, Zelda Link to the Past, Metal Gear Solid 3, and (brace yourselves) Zelda Ocarina of Time.
Having seen a plethora of recent success, and accumulating a rapid fandom whose growth and dedication can only be described as “wildfire,” Undertale is an undeniably intriguing game. Many, however, are clamoring for a revote, stating that the popular indie game is merely being elevated by its 15 minutes of fame. GameFAQs went out of its way to stress that the poll was merely for lighthearted fun. The internet, being the mysterious and sometimes rabid animal that it is, was not pacified by this and decided to sink its claws into the issue–namely Undertale. Due to a tremendous amount of fallout (no pun intended) Reddit closed its doors to the Undertale subreddit.
It truly appears that Undertale’s only crime is awakening the ire of the one fandom that might rival its own in fanaticism: Zelda fans.