Not every video game gets the same amount of love and attention, and a lot of players simply write certain ones off as bad, boring, or just plain unenjoyable. However, as it turns out, many of these games that players outright dislike are actually pretty great, and I was curious to see whether the hate was justified or whether there was actually some fun to be had beneath the surface.
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A lot of the games come from existing franchises, which means that the sequel had some pretty high expectations on its shoulders, while others had issues related to performance, plaguing the initial perception by players. With that said, though, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the games were, despite all of the bad press and the general negative view they have today.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Resident Evil 6
Over-The-Top Action From Start To Finish
Details:
- Multiple intersecting campaigns make the story confusing
- Cooperative gameplay for added replay value
Resident Evil 6 is the black sheep of the biggest horror franchise in the gaming world, and it is pretty easy to see where the criticism comes from. For starters, the story is an absolute mess, and with so many interconnecting storylines, it can be pretty hard to decipher what your actual mission is at any given point during the playthrough.
However, because of the option to play co-op, suddenly a lot of the awkwardness becomes a lot more fun and enjoyable, and the focus becomes more on the satisfying gunplay and fighting rather than the disjointed narrative. It still doesn’t come close to the best in the series, but I think it deserves far less hate than it gets now, and it is for sure worth revisiting for any fans of the genre looking to return to the more action-heavy entries in the franchise.
The Order: 1886
Steampunk Elegance
Details:
- Console exclusive without much hype
- Precise gunplay and stealth elements
The Order: 1886 earned a lot of its criticism for the short runtime and heavy cinematic focus, yet revisiting it highlights the remarkable craftsmanship that went into the world and the characters within. Set in an alternate Victorian London, it blends steampunk weaponry with a grounded, character-driven narrative that was surprisingly compelling compared to what I was led to expect.
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When it comes to the gameplay, the shooting is pretty tight and weighty, emphasizing more deliberate engagement rather than constant chaos. The length is probably the game’s biggest weakness, and the launch price tag was probably enough for many to leave a negative review, but at a lower price and with a shifted set of expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the game from start to finish.
Days Gone
Post-Apocalyptic Road-Trip
Details:
- Technical issues at launch
- Dynamic hordes and open-world events
Days Gone faced early backlash for a range of technical issues that made enjoying the actual product more than a chore. There were also some pacing concerns, specifically with the slowness of the story, which immediately turned many players off and forced them to go elsewhere.
Yet now with a remaster, the game feels like a completely different experience. I was actually pretty overwhelmed at first by the amount of detail and the impressiveness of the hordes, things that I assumed would be pretty mediocre going into it, and the more relaxed story pace actually allows the emotions to resonate far more, allowing the eventual payoff to hit much harder than if it were a constant thrill ride all the way through.
Far Cry 6
Fighting Against Corruption
Details:
- Weak story and formulaic design
- Diverse combat
Far Cry 6 was criticized for sticking too closely to franchise formulas, not moving too far in any new directions, and being a pretty generic entry overall. But, by playing the game as an isolated entity, I actually found myself having quite a lot of fun, as the sandbox-style gameplay lets you be pretty creative when it comes to taking out enemies and exploring the island right from the start.
I would agree and say that it isn’t anything special, and it certainly isn’t going to win many awards in a new player’s book, but as far as simplistic, shooter fun goes, it is a pretty decent experience that will tick a lot of boxes for both fans of the franchise and any newcomers that had otherwise missed a lot of the previous entries.
The Callisto Protocol
Above Par Sci-Fi Horror
Details:
- Terrible initial performance
- Well-made enemies and encounters
The Callisto Protocol was among the first big-budget releases that were riddled with performance issues that immediately made players outraged, especially given the talent of the team behind it. But, as an avid horror fan myself, now that the game has been polished and refined a bit more, there is more than enough fun to be had.
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The influence from Dead Space is very clear, and the Biophage designs are incredibly well-done, with a few being unsettling enough to give me quite a few frights. Less action and more atmosphere, the game constantly pushes you to your limit and manages to deliver an above-par horror experience that is unique enough for players to find something new, without feeling as though they are just playing another basic sci-fi adventure.
Duke Nukem Forever
The Wait Is Finally Over
Details:
- Outdated design in places
- Weapons and environments
Duke Nukem Forever is one of those games that suffered from an enormous amount of hype that it was never going to live up to. After over a decade of development, the final product clearly carries with it a lot of dated design ideas and themes that disappointed many fans who had been waiting for so long.
I myself went into it without that resentment and found it to be a funny, strange, and absurd ride that kept me smiling right up until the credits rolled. Everything is exaggerated, and it is pretty hard to go more than five minutes without laughing out loud or exclaiming your appreciation for how silly yet charming the gameplay and the story behind it are.
Mafia 3
Revenge Served Cold
Details:
- Repetitive side structure
- Tactical approaches to each encounter
Mafia 3 was blasted by fans and critics alike for its repetitive mission structure, and given how loved the previous games were, this entry felt like a pretty big step back. In my experience, however, the story and the world were all I needed to stay invested, and while Lincoln might not be the most engaging protagonist, I found him to be charismatic enough to follow his story through to the end.
The repetition for sure does exist, but if you place your focus more on the atmosphere and treat the game more like a character study, then a lot of the problems become much smaller than people make them out to be. Is it the best game in the series? No, but is it a good game in its own right? Absolutely.
Watch Dogs Legion
Hacking The City
Details:
- Lack of a central, relatable protagonist
- Open-world freedom and emergent activities
When the first Watch Dogs was released, I was immediately hooked on the franchise, and I spent dozens of hours in the first two games just exploring the world and causing absolute mayhem. Then Legion came around, and people were quick to cite it as the worst in the series, and continued their Ubisoft hate train without giving the game the time it deserved.
The biggest point of pain for many comes from the “play as anyone” idea, where there is no central protagonist, but I actually found this mechanic to be pretty cool and certainly fitting for this kind of game. And, even if you don’t really click with it, the core gameplay loop of hacking a city remains intact, only this time, the setting is across the pond with a whole range of new places to see and a lot more mayhem to cause.
Dark Souls 2
The Black Sheep Of The Family
Details:
- Awkward level designs
- Deep exploration with plenty of secrets
Dark Souls 2 is in a very awkward position, as when you are placed in a box with games like Elden Ring and Bloodborne, it is pretty hard to compete in virtually any way. I myself initially struggled immensely with the game, as I effectively played the series in reverse order, so the older-style movement, controls, and level design were pretty hard to pick up at first.
Some points are pretty hard to defend, like the enemy placements and the long list of terrible runbacks, so I can understand why a lot of people simply despise the game. However, as far as RPGs go, it is easily one of the best and will give any soulslike fan more than enough satisfaction, regardless of whether they are coming from the older or younger generation.
Alpha Protocol
Espionage With Real Consequences
Details:
- Severe technical issues
- Multiple combat systems are linked together
Alpha Protocol struggled heavily with technical flaws at launch that completely ruined the otherwise exceptional experience that was promised to players in the marketing. I actually missed the launch back in the day, but the game had long been on my list as another divisive title that many people loved, despite the extensive criticism.
And well, that cult status is certainly well-deserved, as not only was I completely hooked by the story, but I was also surprised at how much detail was placed in the missions and the characters within them. Storylines branch out, relationships alter over time, and individual outcomes dynamically shift based on what you choose, resulting in an unbelievable reactive playthrough that competes with the best in the genre. For anyone who played and hated it at launch, or for those looking for a stellar RPG, you won’t regret giving it a try.
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