Games you wish that were better

[Singularly Datarific]

We know what games turned out good and bad, but there is a lot of hype and hope put into them regardless, and some just turn out not like we'd like them. Oni, an earlier Bungie title, was a greatly-anticipated game, combining hand-to-hand combat and gunplay set in a futuristic cyberpunk world. All of that was pretty much true, however many things seemed empty. The levels, for instance, were built by a professional architect, which sounds great, but ended up making realistically-boring office buildings to run around in. Architects, it turns out, are not very good level-makers. On top of that, they were unpopulated and sterile, focusing on great 3D visuals for characters and such, but the levels were eerily pristine. No trash or garbage or clutter or anything that breaks a pattern. I don't think I saw one plant in the whole game (besides one in a manga-style cutscene), even. On top of that, the game was really short, only 14 levels, and they cut out a really awesome-looking multiplayer due to issues and an approaching release-date. It felt cut short of its potential, and that's what makes me angry about it.
Anyways, what were some of your games that you wish could've been done better? What needs justice?

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Alpha Protocol, easily. It wasn't terrible or bad or even mediocre, really, but to see such an incredibly promising title get pounded into the dirt because of its frankly weak gameplay and the bugs is downright heartcrushing.

The story was so good that I could overlook the gameplay being not up-to-par. This could've been a direct competitor to Mass Effect - no fucking karma system, choices actually matter, varied and interesting settings, great characters... but no, it had to be awkward to play and laggy as shit.

Very well, Obsidian. Not a bad try. Please, make another one, I beg you.

 

[The Mehster]

Well, something better would be probably be Fallout New Vegas. I loved the idea for iron sights, and I just wish there was more to the game, something like a Red Dead style multiplayer I could play with my friends. And of course less glitches (Not like I got all hot and bothered over that anyway.)

 

[Shreder55]

Bad Company 2

I really wish they stayed with the funny angle instead of trying to emulate the dumb Call of Duty stories, which can be summarized in the sentence

"Shut up with your logic and go shoot Russians"

Multiplayer was still great though.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...more or less every game has some bit you wish was tweaked or replaced. I don't remember many games where I haven't gone "Argh, why'd they put this in?".

Maybe Exile 3. My biggest complaint is that many of the spells are rubbish, but that isn't a big deal because there's plenty of useful ones as well, so you don't really need the others to work.

Captcha: "Describe the brand with any word(s)"...qwerty is a word, right?

EDIT: Yes, it is. Great captcha, that.

 

[Epicspoon]

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon.

story was great. If they had just added a dodge mechanic it would have been loads better. and if they had just focused on the gameplay a little more then it would probably be recognized as a cult classic.

 

[War Penguin]

Well, something better would be probably be Fallout New Vegas. I loved the idea for iron sights, and I just wish there was more to the game, something like a Red Dead style multiplayer I could play with my friends. And of course less glitches (Not like I got all hot and bothered over that anyway.)

This, but for different reasons.

I really didn't like the quests in New Vegas. They usually consisted of "Go here, talk to this guy, now go here, talk to this guy, now go talk to guy one for your reward." That's it. No engaging story to have me sucked in or want to know what happens next. Hell, I already knew how it would end at the start, unlike the quests in Fallout 3 [small](when I first played them, mind you)[/small]. Sure there were some great quests, like the one in Vault 22, but they were too rare.

I could go on, but that was my biggest complaint. HOWEVER, it does not mean I hated it. I still liked the game and I'm still playing it.

Also, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The light saber was weaker than a butter knife and slow as hell to swing.

 

[StormShaun]

Duke Nukem Forever...It could of been so much more.

Dungeon Siege 3, actually I dont think it can EVEN be improved...

 

[LookingGlass]

I rather liked Oni despite the flaws you mentioned (that I agree with), and have played through it several times. It did have the potential to go from good to brilliant though, and a sequel or two could have helped it realise that potential.

I'll leave out sequels to good games because that's a huge long list, and I'll say Men of War. I love the idea of an RTS where you can also control individual units whenever you please. Unfortunately the voice overs were worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. Gameplay itself I found very fiddly and there was a distinct lack of polish overall. There was fun to be had, I'm sure, but not as easily as I'd hoped. Maybe Men of War: Vietnam will improve on the formula.

 

[ReaperGrimm]

Bad Company 2

I really wish they stayed with the funny angle instead of trying to emulate the dumb Call of Duty stories, which can be summarized in the sentence

"Shut up with your logic and go shoot Russians"

Multiplayer was still great though.

Agreed

 

[ReaperGrimm]

Brink so much untapped potential for a great campaign. Multiplayer could have used lobbys.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

New Vegas. Just fix the glitches and I will try it again.

 

[Watchmacallit]

War for Cybertron

 

[Mace Tulio]

Alpha Protocol, easily. It wasn't terrible or bad or even mediocre, really, but to see such an incredibly promising title get pounded into the dirt because of its frankly weak gameplay and the bugs is downright heartcrushing.

The story was so good that I could overlook the gameplay being not up-to-par. This could've been a direct competitor to Mass Effect - no fucking karma system, choices actually matter, varied and interesting settings, great characters... but no, it had to be awkward to play and laggy as shit.

Very well, Obsidian. Not a bad try. Please, make another one, I beg you.

I completely agree. If Alpha Protocol was only a little better, it may have been a force to be reckoned with, I sincerely hope they make a sequel.

Also Brink. I really, really wish I could like Brink.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Basically any Bioware game. They basically all consist of flashes of sheer genius in a sea of solid but formulaic game and story elements.

 

[Adrian Neyland]

Spore, I love the concept of spore, just not enough content, also scribblenaughts, great idea, if only it was fun.

 

[random_bars]

Brutal Legend - the multiplayer is excellent, but the singleplayer has the third act pretty much completely cut out. Not to mention the fact that there was meant to be a whole extra faction...

 

[airrazor7]

Spy Fiction

I really enjoyed playing the game but I wish it had more polish so someone would have felt it was worth making a sequel and the game would have been given a chance to grow and be developed better.

 

[Ddgafd]

Dark Void and Brink. Both very average games, that could've been so much more with some(or a lot of) polish.

 

[Nickompoop]

Borderlands. Such an awesome concept, and potential for a great story if 2K Games hadn't cocked up the execution. Holding E to pick up ammo? Walls of text instead of dialogue? Shit driving and collision detection? (sigh) Come on, don't you play test your games?