Buy it, Play it, Hate it, Return it

[Seegtease]

What games would you never wish on even your worst enemies? Have you ever bought any games that you had pretty good hopes about, but lasted a few minutes before you decided it was utter trash?

Or have you ever gotten a game as a present from somebody that ended up being really awful?

Tell us what we should avoid like the plague!

[Z]

Shaun White Snowboarding was a title that I thought would be badass and an excellent replacement for SSX on the PS3. I was wrong. Incredibly boring gameplay and online-mode does not impress in the least. I would avoid this one entirely.

Sonic The Hedgehog on the PS3 is another horrible title. Lisa loves Sonic games (which lead us to by Sonic: Unleashed which is a far better title) and even she couldn't stand more than two levels of this game.

[Bloodcinder]

Unlimited SaGa. Having been a fan of SaGa Frontier II, I figured the next game in the SaGa series would be remotely enjoyable. It was like a really shitty boardgame. The battle system was entirely unintuitive and relied more on chance and confusion than any sort of rules. The dialog and story were so vacant as to not be worth dealing with how unstructured the game was. The only good thing about it was that the art was cool: even the audio was hideous, and that's pretty much uncalled for in a SaGa game. There's a reason it was available for under $10 within a couple months after release.

Speaking of that word, Xenosaga was horrendous. Everything you've heard about how annoying it is to sit through cinematics for hours just to play for ten minutes was true. This wouldn't be so bad if the story wasn't contrived drivel and if the battle engine wasn't so ridiculously lame.

Wild Arms II started out fun... but by the time I was about ten hours into the game I couldn't hack it anymore. I can't say what specifically stood out as paralyzingly unfun. It was kind of just a miserably hackneyed experience once I realized how monotonously repetitive it was.

Joe & Mac 2. It was the first game I ever bought with my own money. I hated it.

That's all I can think of right now.

[SpaceProg]

Siren
For a game produced by the makers of SH1, I thought it would have been so much better, but it turned out to be pure... meh. IMO, of course.

[Trogdor]

Joe & Mac 2. It was the first game I ever bought with my own money. I hated it.

I hadn't actually thought of anything until I read this, because it reminded me of the first game I remember buying with my own money: Wolverine for NES. I mentioned it in the "Name that game soundtrack" thread too, but I'll say it again here: AWFUL.

[Bloodcinder]

Siren
For a game produced by the makers of SH1, I thought it would have been so much better, but it turned out to be pure... meh. IMO, of course.
Osnap, how did I forget about that one? It was so miserable. I liked the concept, but the execution was so lacking that I can't believe they managed not only to keep it selling used for $20 for the longest time but also to make a sequel.

[deathofcheese]

Luigi's Mansion. LAME.

I never return or sell games, though. I vowed not to, after realizing what exactly I'd done several years after selling both perfectly-working cartridges of Super Metroid AND Chrono Trigger.

[SpaceProg]

I've still got both CT and SM's carts. SM box and all. All my old Ninty games too. They remind me of better times... *sighs emoishly*

[Lately]

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. It was a while ago, so I think I'm finally comfortable talking about it. It was the last game I bought at launch, prior to Fallout 3. Everything about it was mediocre and mind-numbing. Every room looked like the previous one. The art of palette swapping was mastered. For effective fighting, one needed not look further than the square button. It was simply awful. The worst part is that I passed up Resident Evil 4 to play this instead.

(It even caused extreme reservations about pre-ordering Fallout 3.)

Yes, Siren. I was present for Ron's purchasing and playing of that horrible load. We had lots of fun trying to figure out how to not die. Over and over.

[SpaceProg]

If you think the rooms and areas looked the same in CV: Curse of Darkness, you should play -or not play- CV: Lament of Innocence.

Still, I thought both were decent enough to not return. Mostly because of the weapons and monster-raising.

[Killer_Man_]

Hmmm, I rarely base any game on looks. I have a friend who judges RPGs/MMORPGs/whatever else you can add RPG to. By the way you can 'customize your character' and I don't mean skills and all that. I'm talking about looks. He's so into being able to do something like in sims2 in every game.(Though in reality, I hated sims2 customization. It always glitched, clipped or did something wrong to it.)

I didn't really have a problem with Castlevaina cause I go for what monsters there are, the boss fights and etc. The only thing I hate now is that every castlevaina seems to be going for that RPG level/weapon/item system. Which I hate.

Though I still have both games.

Fallout3 sucked so bad. For one thing, they remove the overhead RPG/RTS style game. Second, the game lacks any depth at all. It is kinda like Obvilious. To give you an example, why the hell would a mayor from I think Megaton city give you a quest to destroy a city, if he has no idea of your moral compass. I think it should have been you have two ways to finish a few quests so he could judge rather or not your good or evil.

Second, if I am going to play an FPS style game, I want to be able to aim and shoot on my own accord not the random game luck S.P.E.C.I.A.L system that Fallout has.(I think special was the system that fallout was built around.)

Lucky for me, I only rented fallout3.

[deathofcheese]

Fallout3 sucked so bad. For one thing, they remove the overhead RPG/RTS style game.So they went in a different style. Might have something to do with the fact that Bethesda bought the rights and wanted to do their own sendup.Second, the game lacks any depth at all. It is kinda like Obvilious.So, a free-ranging world where you have to be proactive in finding things to do to entertain yourself simply because you're not hand-held through the story and content makes a game bad? Besides, Oblivion was an awesome game. I don't regret buying it on 360 at all, except for the fact that without buying more content, my character had done all there was to do. (i.e. I had to buy another game to play through content I could've had from the get-go if I'd played it on PC)To give you an example, why the hell would a mayor from I think Megaton city give you a quest to destroy a city, if he has no idea of your moral compass.Cause he really just wants the other city destroyed and he doesn't care who does it? I think it should have been you have two ways to finish a few quests so he could judge rather or not your good or evil.So blow up his city instead. If you destroy a den of thieves, wouldn't that mean good points for you?

Additionally, there are plenty of quests in Fallout 3 where you have a choice of how to finish them and what you do determines whether you get good or bad points. I haven't played the full version yet (I downloaded a broken version that kept crashing), but I can give an example from the early part of the game. I found a house not long after I escaped from the Vault that housed a woman on the run from someone who claimed she stole caps or drugs or something. I could've killed her, looted her house, and carry on my merry way. Or, I could've sweetalked her into giving me what the guy said she owed him, "talked" to him and he wouldn't bother her anymore. Or I could've sweetalked her into giving me all her stuff then tell the guy that she told me she'd never give her stuff up so he'd go in and kill her and pay me for tipping him off to where she was. Or I could've listened to her plight, found the guy looking for her, and talked him out of getting her, killed him, or not gotten involved at all.Second, if I am going to play an FPS style game, I want to be able to aim and shoot on my own accord not the random game luck S.P.E.C.I.A.L system that Fallout has.(I think special was the system that fallout was built around.)First of all, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. was just the stat system. VATS is the auto-aiming thing. If you don't like it, don't use it.

It's like fast travel. If you want to run around the world like a regular asshole, do it and enjoy the scenery. However, if you want to get through the game's content more quickly, or not have to spend all your time playing running from side-of-the-world A to side-of-the-world B, then fast travel might be for you.

Ok, to contribute to the topic, one game I'd return, if I had to, would be Perfect Dark Zero. Launch title for the 360, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. Especially when you think that "Since Rare made a solid title the first time with original material, they shouldn't be that hard pressed to make just as solid a title on a newer system with far greater capabilities than the previous" right? They certainly made good eye candy out of PDZ. However, the story made no sense, the gameplay was a bit meh, the whole game itself was way too short to do much with, and overall, it was extremely disappointing when taken in context with its predecessor. Judging it on its own merits, however, is a bit better, but it still had no reason to not be as awesome as it wasn't.

[Z]

Ok, to contribute to the topic, one game I'd return, if I had to, would be Perfect Dark Zero.
I, too, have heard that PDZ was a bit of a disappointment. Especially in the shadow of its predecessor. I've yet to play it, though.

[Killer_Man_]

So they went in a different style. Might have something to do with the fact that Bethesda bought the rights and wanted to do their own sendup.

And you're point is? Why change a winning formula?

So, a free-ranging world where you have to be proactive in finding things to do to entertain yourself simply because you're not hand-held through the story and content makes a game bad?

You can still have a free-ranging world without making it 3D. And it isn't a matter of hand holding. I hate games that are anything kinda of Morrowind.

It's a matter of opinion.

Besides, Oblivion was an awesome game. I don't regret buying it on 360 at all, except for the fact that without buying more content, my character had done all there was to do. (i.e. I had to buy another game to play through content I could've had from the get-go if I'd played it on PC)

I borrowed the game and it was mehish.

Cause he really just wants the other city destroyed and he doesn't care who does it? So blow up his city instead. If you destroy a den of thieves, wouldn't that mean good points for you?

Yes, but you could have made it a bit more in-depth that made it a split off chain quest depending on how you finished quests. Perhaps if you chose the more evil side of finishing the quest. He could give you missions to kill the population and then blow the city up.

Additionally, there are plenty of quests in Fallout 3 where you have a choice of how to finish them and what you do determines whether you get good or bad points. I haven't played the full version yet (I downloaded a broken version that kept crashing), but I can give an example from the early part of the game. I found a house not long after I escaped from the Vault that housed a woman on the run from someone who claimed she stole caps or drugs or something. I could've killed her, looted her house, and carry on my merry way. Or, I could've sweetalked her into giving me what the guy said she owed him, "talked" to him and he wouldn't bother her anymore. Or I could've sweetalked her into giving me all her stuff then tell the guy that she told me she'd never give her stuff up so he'd go in and kill her and pay me for tipping him off to where she was. Or I could've listened to her plight, found the guy looking for her, and talked him out of getting her, killed him, or not gotten involved at all.

I never said there was plenty of quests or anything. I was just stating something about the quest from that one guy.

First of all, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. was just the stat system. VATS is the auto-aiming thing. If you don't like it, don't use it.

-.-; It wasn't that you can or can not pick it. From what I learned from the game, the game still -choses where your hits are- much like if you were playing the over head view of it. Especially since if you could freely aim the gun to where you pleased. You don't have to really pick up any combat related skills since you could always head shot things.

It's like fast travel. If you want to run around the world like a regular asshole, do it and enjoy the scenery. However, if you want to get through the game's content more quickly, or not have to spend all your time playing running from side-of-the-world A to side-of-the-world B, then fast travel might be for you.

Eh I like to enjoy the scenery but I still like to know what my main goal is, instead of a sandbox.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/review/R130974.html

I agree with the gamefaq but that is just a quick judgement of the game from the four hours I play. It's just a matter of opinion.


Oh and WORMS for the PS version sucked. It was awkward to even try to play/get use to it since the computers would always be perfect on their attacks.

[Seegtease]

Eh I like to enjoy the scenery but I still like to know what my main goal is, instead of a sandbox.

Well, the point here isn't to bash an entire genre. I, for one, enjoy some sandbox games. The point is to display games that were utterly worthless compared to other games in their own genre.

[Killer_Man_]

It might not be your point and my opinion might be harsh but I have a problem with having to defend myself because of my friend(Man I mention him way too much.) because whenever someone states an opinion against mine or tries to make my point null and void(Though I know DoC wasn't trying to do that.) it's just I go into this deep sense of defending my opinion even though it's just an opinion. I usually just tell my friend go ahead and say my point is null and void. Keep meat grinding everything. The only thing you'll see is that your just a stuck up, egotistical, 'intelligent' asshole for it.

I just prefer a bit more guidance. I like games that you can roam and go about your business but it needs to be a balance between linear and non-linear. That is why I dislike games like Morrowind, Fallout 3 and etc.

[Seegtease]

I didn't say anything was wrong with your opinion. You're free to think that.

I said it's not the point of the thread to bash an entire genre. The point of the thread is to display games that were (unexpectedly) some of the worst within their genre. If you didn't like any in that genre, then there's no reason to mention them, because that's a specific opinion. The idea is to inform people that they should never bother with certain games. And if you know your opinion is unique to yourself, and most people would disagree, then why mention it here?

[Gerrymander]

It might not be your point and my opinion might be harsh but I have a problem with having to defend myself because of my friend(Man I mention him way too much.) because whenever someone states an opinion against mine or tries to make my point null and void(Though I know DoC wasn't trying to do that.) it's just I go into this deep sense of defending my opinion even though it's just an opinion. I usually just tell my friend go ahead and say my point is null and void. Keep meat grinding everything. The only thing you'll see is that your just a stuck up, egotistical, 'intelligent' asshole for it.

I just prefer a bit more guidance. I like games that you can roam and go about your business but it needs to be a balance between linear and non-linear. That is why I dislike games like Morrowind, Fallout 3 and etc.

I also have to point out that people also get defensive when folks come along and say that a game they thoroughly enjoyed for valid reasons was beaten with the crap-stick.

[Killer_Man_]

I also have to point out that people also get defensive when folks come along and say that a game they thoroughly enjoyed for valid reasons was beaten with the crap-stick.


Yeah I forgot to mention it...

And, perhaps that was your point Zeit, but since when have I ever made sense?

[SpaceProg]

Hand-fives all around.

[Trogdor]

Hand-fives all around.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7519/highfivehj3.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Charlie]

More recently:

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - I traded Gran Turismo 5 for this with a guy on Craigslist, around Christmas. It started out okay, despite the PS2-ish graphics, but it quickly became one of the worst mistakes I ever made, having gotten it. By the time I made it up to the 5th level, I no longer gave a damn about it. The online sucked, as well. Now it's like a bad memory you can't drink away, because no matter how I try, I can't seem to sell or trade the damn thing. >.>

Full Auto 2: Battlelines - By the time I saw "Sega" on the opening screen, I was turned off. I thought it was gonna be like a next-gen Twisted Metal game in a way, but on the contrary, it ended up being a watered down knock-off of it. It's only seen the inside of my PS3 twice the whole time I've had it. And it's another game I can't seem to trade or sell. -.-

[Z]

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men I was wondering about that one but was never brave enough to buy it myself due to the mixed reviews. I heard the story had a lot of potential but then fell flat.

[llama_egg]

I personally loved Fallout 3, it's not as good as the original, but hell, give me a game where I was able to get in a good 15 hours before as much as touching the main story line has my thumbs up. Though speech was a failed skill sadly, hopefully someone will make a mod to fix that a bit.

Anywho, Deus Ex 2, easily to this date, the biggest disappointment I have ever played, though I think the main problem is I compare it to the original, which was one of the best shooters of all time (IMHO).