Critically Panned Games You Will Defend to the Death

[springheeljack]

I would say Bioshock 2 at first when I started playing it I had some pretty big reservations
but I really grew to like it
I enjoyed the plot more than I thought I ever would have and the game play was pretty great to

I didn't like the fact that you had to fight of waves of splicers to protect your litter sister but I got used to it after a while

I also enjoyed the Fable series quite allot I especially love the first one and while the other two have not been able to come close to the first I still look forward to the new one

 

[Solo-Wing]

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

Yes. This (Although mine is Explorers of sky...). those games are the darkest any pokemon Game will ever get. Really when you reach the the part of the post game where Creselia and Darkrai story happens the game starts touching on the subject of Suicide. Like fucking hell.

Also Final fantasy XIII. I liked it. Hell I am sure most people liked it. The only reason it gets so much hate is cause it is named Final Fantasy. I am absolutely certain that if it was under a different IP it would have fucking rocked. The game sucked as a Final fantasy. But it would have been great under a different name.

The plot twists were well done. At the time, I thought they could ONLY be done well through voice, this game proved me wrong.

The only complaint I have at all with this game really, besides combat, is that you cannot evolve after the "main" quest. After the Cresselia bit, then you can, which sucks because then there isn't much to do other than MORE missions. Thank god for mods, I feel that the personality test thing should have made me an Empoleon (I was Piplup).

Also you did not say a THING on the fantastic Soundtrack.
God I love those two songs. I love how Explorers of sky added an unlockable jukebox.

 

[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

Yes. This (Although mine is Explorers of sky...). those games are the darkest any pokemon Game will ever get. Really when you reach the the part of the post game where Creselia and Darkrai story happens the game starts touching on the subject of Suicide. Like fucking hell.

Also Final fantasy XIII. I liked it. Hell I am sure most people liked it. The only reason it gets so much hate is cause it is named Final Fantasy. I am absolutely certain that if it was under a different IP it would have fucking rocked. The game sucked as a Final fantasy. But it would have been great under a different name.

The plot twists were well done. At the time, I thought they could ONLY be done well through voice, this game proved me wrong.

The only complaint I have at all with this game really, besides combat, is that you cannot evolve after the "main" quest. After the Cresselia bit, then you can, which sucks because then there isn't much to do other than MORE missions. Thank god for mods, I feel that the personality test thing should have made me an Empoleon (I was Piplup).

Also you did not say a THING on the fantastic Soundtrack.
God I love those two songs. I love how Explorers of sky added an unlockable jukebox.

I completely forgot. Thanks for pointing that out, the other boss melody (not the last one) is reminiscent of Starfox IMO.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Rayman Origins. I love this game. I actually brought this game over to one of my friends houses to play it. It was his birthday, so me and a few others played through the first few levels. Everyone hated it, to say the least. They said it looked stupid and childish, unexciting, and overall dumb. I disagree. I thought it was a well done game. I thought the platforming had great execution, the soundtrack was fun and whimsical, and the characters were better than most characters from call of duty that talked.

I agree with you, but I did say "critically" panned. Your dumb friends, a series' rabid fanbase and such... that doesn't count. So people citing Final Fantasy and Fallout, this counts for you too. Panned by "da criticz". Metacritic is a good place to go to check if your game counts as "critically panned".

Rayman Origins does not count. At the same time, I feel compelled to second your statement because everyone alive needs to play Rayman Origins right now. It's on basically every current-gen system so you're either too poor or too stupid if you don't own it.

 

[Don Savik]

Resident Evil 5 and Operation Raccoon City.

(I just know someone hates me for posting this)

Screw it. I love these games. They're every bit over-the-top zombie carnage as the previous Resident Evil games. The combat in RE5 was the best in the series, and I played with a friend so I didn't have a coop ai problem. Operation Raccoon City had some less than amazing AI (I've seen worse though, much worse. ORC has average AI, 4.5/10) but the gameplay was fun coop nonsense like you would think it would be (FROM SEEING ANYTHING ON THE GAME EVER). Its not an amazing game, but anything coop is fun, and most games lack coop, so I'll take what I can get. The games have never been "hardcore survival horror" or whatever the hell people think that means.

I even like all of the Resident Evil movies. Yes. all. of. them.

I'm curious to know why people like me aren't noted as fans of the series as opposed to people who hate every game but the first three. People are weird like that I guess.



Other games of note: AVP2, The Haunted: Hells Reach, Zeno Clash, Bulletstorm, Bioshock 2, Red Faction: Armageddon, Dino D-Day, Nexuiz, Dawn of War Soulstorm (yes, its the best of the DoW1 games, deal with it)

 

[Vuavu]

Now I have no idea what kind of ratings this game got because at the time I played it, I was too young to care and I was much better at enjoying games back then. Geist. For the Gamecube. Best multiplayer I have ever experienced (well, maybe that's Conker's Bad Fur Day) and the story was fuckin awesome. And the spectral ghost/psychic powers you get were badass. Anyone else ever play Geist?

 

[getoffmycloud]

Every Mario and Zelda game on the Phillips Cdi they had some of funniest dialogue I have ever heard.

 

[Don Savik]

Every Mario and Zelda game on the Phillips Cdi they had some of funniest dialogue I have ever heard.

Without it we wouldn't have this song. That's a pretty big accomplishment

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Another one I would like to add is this: Pirates of the Caribbean.
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/pirates-of-the-caribbean

Basically Sid Meier's Pirates! but with good combat and ship fighting. I prefer it in every way.

 

[GamerAddict7796]

Not really sure it counts as "panned", but I'll defend Fallout 3 with all of my heart. I don't know how it did it, but I'm emotionally attached to that title now.

As for really panned games, I'm never going to understand why people didn't like Full Auto (A racing game with weapons for the 360). I really enjoyed it, and it was a good splitscreen game to have around.

Gonna have to go with this. Best game ever. I mean, how can you not be attached to a character you have literally been with since birth.

Captcha - change yourself. No, Captcha. Fallout 3 is awesome

 

[Baralak]

Other games of note: AVP2, The Haunted: Hells Reach, Zeno Clash, Bulletstorm, Bioshock 2, Red Faction: Armageddon, Dino D-Day, Nexuiz, Dawn of War Soulstorm (yes, its the best of the DoW1 games, deal with it)

Bulletstorm? Really? The Escapist called it the next evolution for the FPS genre. That doesn't sound like "critically panned" to me... In fact, it got great reviews all around. that said, Bulletstorm is the best FPS I've ever played. Period.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Man, people sure don't know what "critically panned" means, huh?
Yu-Gi-Oh! Falsebound Kingdom was awesome when I played it as a kid. It is a terrible game by all means, but it was so much fun. Come at me, critics.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Freelancer.

It is the best game i've ever played. Also best multiplayer i've had to expirience in my life.
Nope, no Valve Game, Blizzard Game or anything of the same quality (of their best games) was that fun to me.

Dark Star One was just THAT horrible and had NO multiplayer <.<

But since it only really sold in Europe Mircosoft said no to a second title.
And since then i'm waiting patiently for a new Freelancer-esque game. I want it, and i want it now.

Wait, Freelancer was panned? Huh, I'll second you on this choice then, since I love it to bits. Brilliant game, reminds me a lot of Privateer.

 

[snave]

Erm... the Arabian themed Sonic game on the Wii. I think it had a few names. No, seriously.

The Deal

The gameplay is damned good, and the challenge modes get Nintendo Hard yet remain fair. Motion controls are used perfectly and are simple enough to never fail you in need: even Mario Galaxy 2 can't claim that. Yes, Wii motion controls actually used to improve a game. You hold the controller flat, and tilt to weave left and right through obstacles, shake to lock on and attack. Plays a little like a racing game. The entire game plays this way, no sudden changes or anything. It gets shaken up with challenges to pass through rings and pick stuff up or timed challenges and some bosses that still follow the same run and avoid/hit things model.

The Panning (and Response)

* So many shitty menus
You spend less time dicking about on them later on thankfully but urgh.

* Story
I neither cared for it nor really understood it either. Somehow that didn't bother me. Gist: Bad guy at end of 7th world. Play challenge levels to unlock more in a kinda tree or prerequisites. Door to actual ending needs MacGuffins from optional levels.

* Annoying theme song
Yeah, it's ... pretty terribly bad. But the stage tracks are appropriate.

* Camera
Practically perfect because it's on rails, but yeah, there's a point about an hour in when you WILL get killed by a completely out of place cactus in a blind spot at the very end of a long stage. Personally, I practically pissed myself laughing at the sadism of the thing. True IWBTG moment!

* Ear-crushingly bad English voices interrupting the game
Subtitles and bearable Japanese voice track are in the options.

* Sonic in 3D
Controls are 2D and the graphics are as good as the best first party Nintendo releases.

* Too short
Generally this doesn't go hand in hand with panning, but you only see about half the base content (before challenges) when you first "finish" the game.

* Terrible multiplayer
This was a bonus add-on akin to Mario Party. There is a full 40 hours gameplay in the main game itself so it is a genuine bonus. It is multiplayer, and so terrible its hilariously good. Seriously. Mario Party sucks because whoever owns the damned disc has played and perfected it in single player. Nobody would ever dream of pulling that shit here. Level playing ground against a mix of the good, the bad, the ugly, the BROKEN, the HILARIOUSLY BROKEN and the surprisingly inspired. One of the better lighthearted multiplayer experiences I've ever had. But yes, it is kinda shitty.

Basically, approach this game the way one would an old school game of precision and reflexes, or like Meat Boy or something and you'll be pleased. Approach it as a platformer and you'll be disappointed. Approach it as a 2D Sonic romp and you'll feel its short (7 long, branching levels, the rest are shorter challenges or bosses).

 

[Durgiun]

Alpha Protocol - yeah it had it's flaws but it's still one of my favourite games this gen.Such a shame we'll probably never see a sequel

Hallelujah, brother! But look on the bright side, Obsidian is still in business so there's always that one small chance.