Critically Panned Games You Will Defend to the Death

[Terminate421]

Although the combat wasn't stellar this game is a masterpiece in my eyes:

I'm not lying to you when I say this:

There are interesting characters
The Writing is on level with Mass Effect
The Darkness level, for a pokemon game, is perfect
Pokemon actually die

I wouldn't rate the writing that high, it's really cheesy and a bit dumb at times. The plot was good though, and the gameplay was as well, especially the bosses.

Well, the corniness was supposed to aim it at people aged 10-14. But for text based shit, I was surprised at how they pulled off some of main parts of the story. The twists too.

The first one (Red/Blue Rescue Team) was complete shit. I only give it credit because it brought me back into Pokemon but the game seriously ended with you having to ASK someone to blow up meteor when he SAW IT HIMSELF. Also, Arceus decides right the hell out of nowhere to bring you back.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Sonic Unleashed... please don't get me started, I simply cannot be bothered.

 

[Cyberjester]

'gratuitous comment about how Kane and Lynch 2 is absolutely amazing

If Blair Witch Project is an acceptable genre of films then K&L2 is that genre for gaming. From the following-over-the-shoulder shaky cam (which can be turned off) to the "realism" based sound, with the imaginative multiplayer modes. It's one of the few games I'll accept for a Games As Art argument.

Which is to say, I'd only just uninstalled that game again and now I want to play cops and robbers. -.- Harddrives need to come with extra dedicated space just for games like K&L2.

It's just that people are bringing up Fallout 3 and Mirrors Edge, critical darlings and this is a thread about panned games. Those weren't cult hits, those are critically acclaimed franchises that sold a lot.

Ever heard the term "Sleeper hit"? Mirrors Edge was like Dragonshard or Brink, critics hated them when they came out and people all complained about how horrible they were. But while CoD shrivels up and dies, these games just keep selling and over time the median review ends up favouring them. Mirrors Edge is a definite sleeper hit, Fallout 3 from memory wasn't critically panned? Highly expected, adored by all except censors in Aus and purists who thought Fallout should be top down only. C'est la vie

 

[Dandark]

I don't care what people say. I thought Transformers: War for Cybertron was an awesome game and thought the multiplayer was a very fun experience that was unique to that game.

 

[Cornugon]

I don't think it was critically panned, but it sure was disliked by a whole lot of people, namely Castlevania for the Nintendo 64. I remember that I loved this game as a kid, both because of the wonderful atmosphere and the gameplay. Sure the platforming was incredibly hard, but I can't think of any recent action/adventure games recently where it wasn't piss easy. So, atleast it was a challenge, and (I'd say) a fair challenge at that. The combat wasn't too bad either, if I remember correctly.

But who knows, perhaps I'm wearing my nostalgia goggles at the moment.

Another game I'd defend is Luigi's Mansion for Nintendo Gamecube. Sure, it's not a master piece, but this game is so unique. You'll never experience anything like it, and I'd say that alone makes it worth checking out.

 

[Jonathan Grimaldo]

Kane and Lynch: Dead Men (PC)
Phantom Dust (Xbox)
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines / Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty (PC)
Red Alert: Aftermath / Red Alert 2
Drakengard (PS2)
Legion: The Legend of Excalibur (PS2)
The Bouncer (PS2)

Don't give a damn what people say about them. I enjoy playing these games.

 

[Cornugon]

Bulletstorm.
I have heard alot of people complain about Bulletstorm for one reason or another, but it is ultimately a fun game.

I agree. At least they tried something new with the FPS genre, though I wish they'd take even more risks. Also, regenerating health was pretty dumb for a game that's (nearly) all about putting yourself in the line of fire.

 

[Legion]

How well did Bloodrayne do? First played it a couple of weeks ago and I liked it a lot despite how dated it was. The sequel wasn't so great though...

Loved Tenchu Z, quite repetitive but I love the series.

Not sure it counts but I liked Prince of Persia (2008) but never really liked all the others. I mention this one as most people seem to hate this one but love the rest.

 

[ramboondiea]

SPLATTERHOUSE.

yeah it had some problems, and the sequel will never see the light of day, but i bloody loved it, even if the games would crash from time to time, and that the last boss was infuriating because splatter kills didnt freeze time during that section.

i liked that star fox game for gamecube, i remember people hated it for not being like the previous instalments which i had never played so i was okay ha

surge:hive, basically a isometric version of metroid fusion but really fun, and annoying taht no sequel was ever made

 

[Daymo]

I quite liked C&C: Generals and the Zero Hour expansion. I realize this puts me in a minority of one, but there ya go. Probably not to the death though.

If we're also considering games that didn't sell well, I would honestly go to the wall for Psychonauts. A few people I know have told me they thought it was terrible after I recommended it too them and I've had to have serious words with them.

I would defend Zero Hour to the death, it's my second favorite C&C behind Red Alert 2 without the Yuri expansion. I loved Zero Hour so much that I passed the Generals mode with all 9 of the people. Sure it was a more starcraft styled RTS with workers and base buidling, but it still allowed massive armies and it look pretty as well.

 

[Trucken]

Okay, I may be among the first ones here who's defending a game that was actually panned, not mildly disliked. Hold on to your knickers, gentlemen, for it is Kane & Lynch: Dog Days.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I played it co-op with a friend and we had a fucking blast with it. I honestly don't get the hate for it, especially the complaints about the camera. "It makes you dizzy, you can't see anything." Bull! I had no problems whatsoever with it and thought that it really worked with the overall style of the game.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

AVP.

I love this game to death, and while I won't deny that it'll piss you off, it'll make you feel like a badass sometimes, make your pulse actually increase at others, make you feel like a part of a team, make you feel like a ninja, make you feel like a hunter.

Basically, a good match of the newest AVP is as good an online experience as can be had.

I never got that either. I had a lot of issues finding matches, but yeah, I completely agree on the second part, especially when you are kicking arse as a marine, either in a team or solo, because everybody always targets the marines. Lucky for me, I own as the marine. I suck at both the Xenos and Yautja though, could never get the hang of the jumping about.

I don't mean to boast, but I'd call myself seasoned as an AVP player. I've gotten the win alone by racking up 50 kills against teams of four and four with every species many times. There's nothing more gratifying, but especially as Marine. Everyone thinks the marine can't do that much, but he's the most powerful class in 180 degrees. If he can see you, he has a better chance at killing you than you do of him if he knows what he's doing.

Then you certainly know what you are talking about. I really don't know why people don't like the marine, he seems so superior to me.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I quite liked C&C: Generals and the Zero Hour expansion. I realize this puts me in a minority of one, but there ya go. Probably not to the death though.

If we're also considering games that didn't sell well, I would honestly go to the wall for Psychonauts. A few people I know have told me they thought it was terrible after I recommended it too them and I've had to have serious words with them.

People don't like Generals? That's easily my favourite.

 

[Poetic Nova]

An average score of %54 but for me one of the best PS1 games, almmost as good as Carmageddon 1 and 2 on pc.

 

[GamingAwesome1]

Resident Evil: Outbreak for the PS2.

A game that critics and gamers shat on but I think was tragically misunderstood and was a game that came before its time. It was Left 4 Dead way before Left 4 Dead was even a thing but piss poor AI and the fact that the PS2's online wasn't particularly amazing (and entirely absent in Europe until the second game) killed the game off, leaving only a very small community to flee to the Japanese servers, which are now also dead, so this entire series with such potential has been left to die on the wayside for reasons which I mostly credit to the game being ahead of its time.

It's heartbreaking because of RE's shift away from its survival horror roots has meant that what was my hope for a Outbreak reboot done right, turned into Operation: Raccoon City, which tbh actually looks rather interesting but it was absolutely not what I was looking for in the game.

 

[silver wolf009]

AVP.

I love this game to death, and while I won't deny that it'll piss you off, it'll make you feel like a badass sometimes, make your pulse actually increase at others, make you feel like a part of a team, make you feel like a ninja, make you feel like a hunter.

Basically, a good match of the newest AVP is as good an online experience as can be had.

I never got that either. I had a lot of issues finding matches, but yeah, I completely agree on the second part, especially when you are kicking arse as a marine, either in a team or solo, because everybody always targets the marines. Lucky for me, I own as the marine. I suck at both the Xenos and Yautja though, could never get the hang of the jumping about.

I don't mean to boast, but I'd call myself seasoned as an AVP player. I've gotten the win alone by racking up 50 kills against teams of four and four with every species many times. There's nothing more gratifying, but especially as Marine. Everyone thinks the marine can't do that much, but he's the most powerful class in 180 degrees. If he can see you, he has a better chance at killing you than you do of him if he knows what he's doing.

Then you certainly know what you are talking about. I really don't know why people don't like the marine, he seems so superior to me.

Most likely it stems from his inability to take as many hits as preds or xenos.

 

[Eamar]

I was going to say Alice: Madness Returns, but then I checked and saw it has a 75 on Metacritic. Mostly positive reviews as well, and no negative ones. Huh. I could have sworn there was a decidedly unimpressed critical response when it was released?

 

[Chairman Miaow]

AVP.

I love this game to death, and while I won't deny that it'll piss you off, it'll make you feel like a badass sometimes, make your pulse actually increase at others, make you feel like a part of a team, make you feel like a ninja, make you feel like a hunter.

Basically, a good match of the newest AVP is as good an online experience as can be had.

I never got that either. I had a lot of issues finding matches, but yeah, I completely agree on the second part, especially when you are kicking arse as a marine, either in a team or solo, because everybody always targets the marines. Lucky for me, I own as the marine. I suck at both the Xenos and Yautja though, could never get the hang of the jumping about.

I don't mean to boast, but I'd call myself seasoned as an AVP player. I've gotten the win alone by racking up 50 kills against teams of four and four with every species many times. There's nothing more gratifying, but especially as Marine. Everyone thinks the marine can't do that much, but he's the most powerful class in 180 degrees. If he can see you, he has a better chance at killing you than you do of him if he knows what he's doing.

Then you certainly know what you are talking about. I really don't know why people don't like the marine, he seems so superior to me.

Most likely it stems from his inability to take as many hits as preds or xenos.

That doesn't really matter though, If you play as a marine well, most of the time you won't take any hits.