I think part of the problem is so entrenched in your mind, and the minds of many others, that you don't even realize it. Re-read your sentence.
or any other game that had serious potential for a 9/10 but got like an 8 or less.
8 out of 10 is NOT a bad score. The problem isn't that games are "meh", is that expectations have gone through the roof and are now firmly on the planet Pluto (yes, I said planet, eat that science). If a game doesn't get a perfect 10 out of 10, half the market won't even look at it. If it gets a 9 out of 10, the remaining half will look at it, but tear it apart because they are looking for the reason that one point was deducted. Anything below a 9 is considered a failure in the view of many gamers, which simply isn't the case. This is the reason publishers fear trying knew things and stick with proven series until they are beaten into the ground. It's rather sad.
That being said, all the games I'm looking forward to are: F.E.A.R. 3, Ninja Gaiden 3, Mass Effect 3, Gears of War 3, and Portal 2. I think the term hypocrite might apply slightly here.
