Gaming Disappointments/Pleasant Surprises

[BehattedWanderer]

Disappointment: Kirby's Epic Yarn. I'd heard all these good things, yet when I'd beaten the game, I had felt challenged only once, and was left thoroughly unimpressed. Paper Mario managed to be a familiar face that ran with a theme based on aesthetic choice, with cute mechanics associated with it, but Epic Yarn just felt like the opening chapter of a much, much bigger game, and then--nothing. I was bummed, but happy that I'd only gamefly'd it, because it was done and back in the mailbox the same day as I took it out.

Surprise: Xenoblade Chronicles. Went in thinking this would be another bad entry in the current gen's list of JRPGs, but, had I been wearing them, my socks would have promptly blown off. Thirty hours later, it finally finishes teaching me the last gameplay mechanics, and the open, semi-tactical combat is fast and fluid, while the story and characters are engaging in ways that I haven't seen in years. Easily the best new JRPG since Kingdom Hearts joined the scene a few years back.

 

[-Drifter-]

Pleasant surprises: Rogue Trooper. I wasn't familiar with the 2000AD character before the game, but I'd read some decent reviews and seen a couple of gameplay videos, so I gave it a shot. It's one of the nicest surprises I've ever had in gaming: fun, inventive and well-crafted, with a tight script and varied action. And yet, I've never met anyone else who's ever played it, or even heard of it.

I'd completely forgotten about this game until you brought it up. I used to visit Game Tap quite a bit and one day they had Rogue Trooper for free, so I gave it a go. Fun game, though Gunner's constant yacking got pretty annoying pretty quickly.

Disappointment: Witcher 2. I expected to fall in love after all the praise. But the game just didn't keep my attention. A shame.

I definitely agree with this. Combat was fun (sometimes) but otherwise it's "meh" across the board. Another generic medieval fantasy, pretty to look at but small and restrictive, decently written but overstuffed with boring exposition.

I did eventually get through it, but it took about four or five tries.

 

[folders5]

Disappointment: Batman Arkham City, wasn't as good as arkham asylum, and it just seemed a bit all over the place. The storyline didn't really hold me either.

Also a disappointment was Assassins Creed Revelations campaign mode, I think that the storyline was a bit dull, didn't really go anywhere, and we didn't find out much that we couldn't already guess. Thought the first person sections about desmond's childhood were good, although I don't really get why they made it such a huge obstacle course.

Dead Island was a bit disappointing too, I bought it cos the trailer looked so awesome, but it didn't have the awesome storyline, and the quests are too easy.

A good surprise: Skyrim, got this as a gift, and thought it was pretty slow at first, but once I got exploring, I found I couldn't put the game down. Love how much you can customise your character. Only critisism is it gets complicated when you have loads of quests, but I spose it serves me right for being lazy and not completing them before starting a new quest.

Heavy Rain, Brilliant game, got it as a gift, and I think it's probably my favourite game in my collection. Love the gameplay, have completed it several times over. Comes pretty close with my favourite ps2 game "Farenheit".

Another huge surprise was Red Dead Redemption, I'd heard everyone talking about it, yet when I looked at it all I could imagine was a third person shooter. When I got it I was amazed, couldn't stay off it to be honest.