We finished our playthrough of Lil’ Gator Game during our last Intellistream! And wow, was that game FANTASTIC.

But coming up with a new theme for the next vote has been a little challenging this time around. But I’ve been thinking about the games that we’ve voted on that didn’t QUITE make the cut. So this time around, it’s Intellistream: Second Chance Edition!

Cast your vote by Saturday, November 11th at 11:59p Pacific! The you can find the ballot at the bottom of this page after the description of the candidates. This stream’s options are are: Chrono Trigger, Deltarune, Paradise Killer, Road 96, and West of Loathing. You can find the ballot at the bottom of the page after some descriptions of the candidates.

How Ranked Choice Works

We use Ranked Choice voting for Intelligame! This means instead of choosing just one option, you rank them in order of preference. We use ranked choice here because it helps showcase a different system than what we use in most elections, and the more familiar we become with it, the more we can demand it in our elections in real life! (It’s also just…kinda fun?)

Instead of simply making one choice, you’ll order your choices from first to last. When the votes are counted, we check everyone’s 1st choice. If one candidate gets 51% of the votes, then that’s the one we go with! If none have a majority, then we remove the least popular option and give their votes to their 2nd choices. We repeat the process until one option has a majority!

The advantage to ranked choice voting is that it gives you more space to choose your true preference! In single-choice elections, you often have to compromise between your true first choice and what has the most likelihood of winning. With ranked choice, you can choose your genuine preference first, then if they don’t win, your vote can still be counted for someone else!

If you already know the games and want to cast your vote, click here to jump to the ballot! If you want more info though, here’s a quick breakdown of this vote’s options:

Chrono Trigger

Description: Marle, fearless and brimming with curiosity, volunteers to assist in a demonstration. An unanticipated malfunction, however, sends her hurtling through a rift in the dimensions. Taking hold of the girl’s pendant, Crono bravely follows in pursuit. But the world into which he emerges is the one of four centuries before. Journey to the forgotten past, the distant future, and even to the very End of Time.

Josh’s Note: This was suggested after we finished Final Fantasy VI, another retro JRPG from the Super Nintendo days. Chrono Trigger is considered one of the most classic RPGs out there, and its design still has ripple effects in games to this day. I’ve also never played it myself, so choosing this would help me cleanse one of my gamer sins!

Deltarune: Chapters 1 and 2

Description: UNDERTALE’s parallel story, DELTARUNE. Meet new and old characters in a tale that steps closer to its end, chapter by chapter. Dodge bullets in nonviolent RPG battles as you listen to funky, funky music.

Josh’s Note: Our playthrough of Undertale is likely one of my top 5 games we’ve played in Intelligame’s history. Toby Fox’s non-violent RPG had so many emotional twists and turns, combined with wacky humor and fantastic heart. Only Chapters 1 and 2 of Deltarune are currently available, but there’s apparently plenty worth exploring there.

Paradise Killer

Description: Paradise Island, a world outside reality. There’s been a murder that only “investigation freak” Lady Love Dies can solve. Gather evidence and interrogate suspects in this open world adventure. You can accuse anyone, but you’ll have to prove your case in trial. It’s up to you to decide who’s guilty.

Josh’s Note: This game has one of my top soundtracks of ALL TIME. Seriously, the main and the B-sides both. BANGERS.

For real though, as far as the game is concerned, this game combines the investigative mystery of Outer Wilds with the slick visual style of Neon White (even though I think Neon White came out after this). We’ll shape the narrative based on the conclusions we come to, and it’s very high on my to-play list.

Road 96

Description:

Summer 1996, Today is the day! You hit the road. Adventure. Freedom. Escape. Run. Flee the Regime. Try to survive. On this risky road trip to the border, you’ll meet incredible characters, and discover their intertwined stories and secrets in an ever-evolving adventure.

Josh’s Note: This recommendation comes from WAY back when we did our Road Trip-themed vote. Road 96 is the most Choose-Your-Own-Narrative of the bunch, with some discussion of escaping authoritarianism too. It’s one of the sleeper games I’m most excited about, and though I don’t know much about the game I know it’ll come with great discussion.

West of Loathing

Description: Talk your way out of trouble as a silver-tongued Snake Oiler, plumb the refried mysteries of the cosmos as a wise and subtle Beanslinger, or let your fists do the talking as a fierce Cow Puncher. Explore a vast open world and encounter a colorful cast of characters, some of whom are good, many of whom are bad, and a few of whom are ugly.

Josh’s Note: I played a bit of this on stream years ago, and I don’t know that I’ve laughed so hard at so many incredibly corny jokes. It’s the kind of humor that’s only possible when the writing is truly top-notch, and there are some good emotional beats to showcase their range too. It’s silly, it’s fun, and it’s worth revisiting.

Josh’s Note Note: I didn’t change that note because, well, it’s great just the way it is 🙂

All ready to cast your ballot for our next Intellistream? Fill it out below, or click this link if you’re having trouble loading the ballot. You’ve got until Saturday, November 11th at 11:59p Pacific! Our first stream will start Monday, November 13th at 9a Pacific on the Intelligame Twitch channel.

And while you’re at it, get a friend to vote too. 🙂