The 10 worst games in great video game franchises

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10. Paper Mario – Paper Mario: Sticker Star

As a veteran gamer who’s seen his fair share of ups and downs in the gaming world, I must say that some games have left me scratching my head, wondering what the developers were thinking. Among these misfires, there are a few standout titles that managed to disappoint even the most dedicated fans.

As a dedicated fan of Paper Mario, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed. The latest iteration seems to veer away from the classic Paper Mario adventure I’ve grown to love, diving headfirst into a world dominated by resource management and battle strategies centered around collecting stickers. It feels like we’re exploring a new game altogether rather than continuing the traditional RPG journey that made Paper Mario so special.

Although it isn’t a poor game overall, its differences from other games in the series can be quite disheartening for dedicated fans, as they were expecting something more similar to their past experiences.

9. Zelda – The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

In my perspective, what made this game challenging was its exclusive focus on multiplayer mode. Don’t get me wrong, I love the camaraderie and competition that comes with multiplayer games. However, as an ardent fan of this series, I deeply appreciate the immersive, solo adventures offered in single-player experiences.

If you preferred playing alone, you found yourself handling lifeless dummy players across the stages instead, an experience that unfortunately didn’t bring enjoyment.

8. Castlevania – Castlevania 2: lords of Shadow

To begin with, the first version was an action game played from a third-person perspective, but it didn’t sell as expected. Unfortunately, when they launched the follow-up, sales continued to decline even further.

Despite seeing enhancements in the combat system from the initial game, it didn’t quite measure up against rivals, and the stealth sections left much to be desired. Unfortunately, the series seemed to fade away following this, leaving behind merely some re-mastered compilations as reminders.

7. Marvel vs. Capcom – Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite

Prior to its launch, enthusiasts had already expressed disappointment with this particular game. For one thing, the character designs seemed rather cheaply made, resembling plastic figures. Additionally, the lack of X-Men characters was particularly frustrating since the series is well-known for featuring X-Men in combat games.

Following its release, there was an unexpected silence from the creators – no new updates or fixes were rolled out. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, Dragon Ball FighterZ appeared on the scene, boasting comparable gameplay mechanics and captivating a significant chunk of the devoted fan base.

6. Silent Hill – Silent Hill: Homecoming

The concept is fresh and innovative, yet it falls short in execution. We traverse a new city from the viewpoint of Alex, a former soldier revisiting his hometown. Regrettably, the tense ambiance characteristic of other Silent Hill games seems absent, primarily because the monster designs occasionally appear incongruous, and the battle system is underdeveloped.

Title appears to heavily favor close-quarters fighting, but the implementation seems rough and biased. Despite aiming for a survival horror vibe, the character’s movement doesn’t sync smoothly with the surroundings or the enemies, resulting in an inconsistent gameplay experience.

5. Hitman – Hitman: Absolution

When you imagine Hitman, you likely think of expansive stages filled with numerous imaginative methods for taking out targets, right? However, this particular game deviates from that expectation, opting instead for a mediocre narrative with eccentric characters, such as four assassins who dress up as nuns clad in leather.

Let me clarify, those humorous masks on Agent 47 were quite amusing, but they were more like self-referential humor than elements intended to create a deep narrative. Luckily, we eventually received some almost flawless Hitman games as compensation.

4. Mass Effect – Mass Effect: Andromeda

Following the Shepard tale, fans were excited to journey through a fresh cosmos. We believed that BioWare might have taken lessons from the flaws in Dragon Age: Inquisition, but alas, our hopes were misplaced. The game offered a bland narrative, forgettable personalities, and planets saturated with collectibles yet devoid of substantial storylines. Fortunately, it managed to preserve Shepard’s legacy intact.

3. Metroid – Metroid Prime: Other M

The game explores Samus’ internal thoughts extensively, which can come off as too much at times. Furthermore, her characterization in this installment varies significantly from how she is presented in other games. The gameplay leans more towards linear progression than usual for Metroid Prime series. The controls are awkward, and the first-person view on Wii struggles to deliver an enjoyable experience.

2. Sonic – Sonic the Headgehog (2006)

While it’s true that the Sonic franchise has had its fair share of less-than-stellar titles, I must admit that Sonic the Hedgehog on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 stands out as the most disappointing among them. What makes this game particularly noteworthy is its unique art style for a Sonic game – one that has Sonic intermingling with real-life characters, which feels quite unusual in the context of the franchise.

Beyond this, the controls and performance were disastrous. Let’s just say, it wouldn’t be appealing for anyone to picture Sonic or Mario in realistic human settings, would it?

1. Devil May Cry – Devil May Cry 2

The weakest installment in the series failed to maintain the franchise’s reputation for exciting combat sequences. Despite offering a variety of weapons, upgrades, and enemies, the game focuses on enhancing your sword rather than learning new skills, which loses its appeal quickly. Fans of Devil May Cry are still puzzled about how this game’s concepts were developed.

What are your top picks? Do you have any games that challenge your love of your favorite franchise?

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2024-10-12 14:09