Over the past two years, gamers who have doled out the cash for a shiny new Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 have enjoyed a wealth of great titles. Games such as Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Super Mario Galaxy and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune have reassured owners that their purchases were not vein, and that the potential for memorable videogame experiences would be ever-present in this generation. However, developers continue to promise titles that will astound in the months (even years) leading up to its release, but end up coming horrendously short. The games on this list, though many still popular with a small contingent, have earned the ire of many throughout the gaming community.
10. Blue Dragon (360)
RPG fans from the Playstation era who longed for a taste of Final Fantasy took great interest in Sakaguchi-san’s Blue Dragon, a title formed under the Mistwalker banner which featured many prominent ex-Squaresoft developers. Blue Dragon promised robust character development, a fluid battle system, stirring music and a memorable story, however, the game’s generic combat, paper-thin characters and a tired narrative doomed this title to the bargain bin from day one. To many, this title was to spark the movement toward the Xbox 360 in Japan; we now see that the impact it has made overseas as well as in the United States is almost non-existent. For the few who did enjoy Blue Dragon, a portable iteration is making its way to the Nintendo DS in the near future. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Persona 3: FES, Eternal Sonata.
9. Hellgate: London (PC)
Oh, what could have been. Hellgate: London, a hack and slash RPG from the original creators of Diablo, dropped onto store shelves during November of 2007, and there it sat…and sat...and sat. The Flagship title featured an interface that would make even the most veteran PC gamers cringe and its engine had about as much stability as a Spears/Federline marriage. Not only did Hellgate: London disappoint ravenous PC gamers looking for an alternative to World of Warcraft, but it charged ten bucks a month while doing it. In addition, Hellgate violated one of the great rules of game development in the HD era: Never tell your story (i.e. cutscenes) through the pages of a book. Frustrated middle-aged men looking for an escape from the dank confines of their mother’s basements and studio apartments would have to look elsewhere. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Titan Quest.
8. Kane and Lynch (360, PS3)
Video game trailers are impressive because they have the ability to trigger an immense amount of interest in a particularly short time; Kane and Lynch was one of these titles. With critically acclaimed games such as Hitman under their belt, Eidos and IO’s offering was a sure bet with action gamers worldwide. Unfortunately for K&L, it, like many other titles on this list, simply could not live up to the initial hype. With characters that literally made gamers want to throw the controller through the screen, a lack of online co-op (take a hint from Army of Two, guys) and a largely broken cover system, Kane and Lynch didn’t stand a chance against other story-driven shooters released in the same year such as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Bioshock. Throw in the fallout from Eidos’ supposed Gamespot “money hat” and you have a recipe for utter failure. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Gears of War.
7. Folklore (PS3)
What’s could be worse than navigating a linear (but quite vibrant) world plagued by stiff loading times, repetitive gameplay and a dull storyline? Doing it twice with two different characters. While the “Catch em all!” factor is present for a short while (the many Folk’s powers can be harnessed as your own), the game’s almost insulting dialogue, disengaging comic book styled cut-scenes and lifeless characters will have you playing other deserving Playstation 3 RPG’s such as…hm…I’ll get back to you soon on that one, guys. Simply put, Folklore is worth a rent at best. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Condemned 2: Bloodshot, Ratchet and Clank.
6. Lair (PS3)
From the creators of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Factor 5 sought to extend their success in the flight-combat genre (oft dominated by Namco’s Ace Combat series) with Lair on the Playstation 3. As eager Playstation owners awaited its arrival, many debated concerning the title’s motion control, which forced players to maneuver their dragons entirely by the Sixaxis controller. It was a hell of a gamble by Factor 5, and one they’d regret dearly following its release. While stark defenders of Lair claimed that flying these beasts was an absolute blast, the overwhelming majority demanded Sixaxis be done away with completely. Sony heeded their advice, and although Sixaxis remains a feature of the Dualshock 3, it has not been used as an essential gameplay element ever since. Reelgamers.com recommendation: Ace Combat 6
5. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
With any new Nintendo console, you can expect its franchises to be milked until Moo-Moo Meadows runs dry, and for good reason. Mario Kart Wii has been a fan favorite for years with its addictive multiplayer gameplay, vast lineup of characters, colorful graphics and catchy tunes. However, while much of what made the past Mario Karts great is present, this generation’s MK takes a step backwards in the most important aspect: fun. Gamers who enjoy some semblance of skill in their games will become frustrated with the title’s “pussywillow factor”. A word to the wise: Contrary to other so called “racing games”, 1st place is not where you want to be. In fact, if you do find yourself ahead of the pack, be ready for a barrage of shells, thunderheads and POW blocks during that final lap. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Forza 2: Motorsport, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue.
4. Lost Odysssey (360)
Following Sakaguchi-san’s first attempt at a traditional RPG for the Xbox 360, the still unproven team at Mistwalker went back to the drawing board and soon after revealed what was to be the next great JRPG of the 360 era. While Mistwalker undoubtedly heeded calls for a more mature storyline and streamlined battle system, they delivered what felt more like an antique than the AAA-title it was expected to be. Featuring a tired protagonist, uninspired plot structure, cruel load times and stuttering framerates, Lost Odyssey failed to capture the essence of past Sakaguchi titles. With production costs bordering those of Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey all but nailed the coffin shut for the Xbox 360 in Japan, selling a paltry 90,000 units to date. Reelgamers.com recommendation: Mass Effect, Persona 3: FES
3. Haze (PS3)
As a future screenwriter, I someday hope to craft narratives that not only affect the viewer/player emotionally, but also cause them to relate the context to their own lives as well. This was the aim of Free Radical writer Rob Yescombe, who touted the game’s storyline as morally challenging and “high concept”. What he actually gave us was a protagonist working for Mantel, a corrupt, kill-anything-if-it-makes-us-wealthier corporation pitted against a band of guiltless, justice-seeking freedom fighters known as the Promised Hand. By defining each side’s motivations so clearly, gamers knew the plot’s direction before Haze even saw release. Putting aside Haze’s abundance of other flaws, the rejection of its hackneyed storyline should be a lesson to game writers everywhere: The hardcore contingent is much smarter than you might believe, and should be treated as such. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Resistance, Halo 3.
2. Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, 360)
A lot has happened since Dante first graced the Playstation 2 seven years ago. As one of Capcom’s most notable games of the past ten years, loyal Playstation 3 owners cried foul when Devil May Cry 4 was announced as multiplatform during the early months of 2007. Gamers pondered how the developers would take advantage of a new generation of advanced hardware for the next iteration of their beloved hack ‘n shoot franchise. While Capcom surely delivered on their promise for crisp visuals and intense boss battles, they came up short in offering gamers something new and exciting. Much like Mario Kart, Tony Hawk, and EA’s Madden series, Capcom seems content with offering more of the same with the DMC series. Though it may pay dividends in the present, as gamers become tired with the characters and mechanics of Devil May Cry, they will become less receptive until a drastic change is made. Throw in a dated camera system and recycled environments and you have one of the biggest disappointments of the “new gen” era. ReelGamers.com recommendation: God of War II, NG Black/Sigma, God Hand.
1. Assassin’s Creed (PS3, 360)
Assassin’s Creed’s brilliant premise, jaw dropping visuals and tight controls could not overcome the simple fact that no matter how pretty the game, content is always king. Beyond its stunning presentation lays a mundane “adventure” marred by a wash, rinse and repeat system of accomplishing tasks, a nearly broken sword combat system, AI that’s dumber than your sister and a plot twist that will be remembered (negatively) for the duration of the PS360 generation. In an age where rocket launchers, helicopters, Banshees and cellphones didn’t exist, Ubisoft apparently thought it wise to create a sandbox game in the 12th century. With an Assassin’s Creed 2 surely lurking around the bend, one would hope that Ms. Raymond and the team at Ubisoft learn from their past mistakes. ReelGamers.com recommendation: Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid Collection.
http://reelgamers.com/games/dis.html
10. Blue Dragon (360)
9. Hellgate: London (PC)
8. Kane and Lynch (360, PS3)
7. Folklore (PS3)
6. Lair (PS3)
5. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
4. Lost Odysssey (360)
3. Haze (PS3)
2. Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, 360)
1. Assassin’s Creed (PS3, 360)
http://reelgamers.com/games/dis.html
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... bruh, on behalf of your parents I'd like to apologize for whatever childhood that exposed you to that kind of material
