Villains: Being Bad Never Felt So Good

Hold the presses, Gamespot is doing another All-Time Greatest [insert subject here] bracket. Uhhhh - right...

The last time they did this it was for the Greatest video game Hero of all time. There were a lot to choose from - some ridiculously obvious, others slightly intriguing. After all, finding 64 'contestants' for a bracket such as this doesn't seem like it would be too hard, but you'd be surprised.

Kefka, FFVI

Too sum things up, the final four consisted of : Mario, Link, Samus Aran and Gordon Freeman. All glaringly obvious choices, especially when you consider the bracket style. However some of the brackets were pretty lop-sided. Throw one of these pairs against each other in the round of 64 and you'd have quite a few gamers pulling their hair out. In the end Gordon Freeman was the winner, beating out Mario by about 20,000 votes.

This time the bracket will be for the Greatest VG Villain of all time. Once again I see many familiar names - only two of the 64 were foreign to me. Some purists would call the result of the hero bracket simply crazy. Which is why I get the feeling that there could be a whole boatload of fanboism to be had in this bracket. Something that could cause some serious fisticuffs and tomfooleries if discussed between certain individuals.

Every other gaming blog or website tends to do a top 10 list of their favorite characters now and again. Usually you'll tend to see many familiar names in between all of these lists. The potential problem I see with something like this is how unfamiliarity breeds a certain sense of ignorance. And I've had this very debate with people before. Ganon or Bowser? Revolver Ocelot or Albert Wesker? It goes on and on.

But on more than one occasion someone undoubtedly names Sephiroth, to which I counter with Kefka. And then, unsurprisingly, someone says:  

"Who the hell is Kefka?"

If you take a gander through the list of characters in the bracket you'll come across some from every genre. But you have to wonder: will the votes some of these characters get coming down to the final rounds really be about the fact that these dudes (and dudettes) are ridiculously badass? Or will it turn into a popularity contest?

Regardless, it all boils down to opinions. And just like assholes, everyone's got one. I have the feeling we'll see at least one renowned Blizzard villain make the final four, but I wouldn't be all that surprised to see all three of them make it to the finals of this bracket. Those of course being Arthas Menethil the Lich King, Diablo the Lord of Terror and Kerrigan the Queen of Blades.

Better question: who are you voting for?