Great Games that you Hate.

[CriticalGaming]

I saw a video about this a number of weeks ago and I meant to do a thread about it then, but I forgot about it...probably Baldur's Gate 3's fault. Anyway I remembered it and now I thought it might be a decent topic to talk about.

Let's talk about all time GREAT games.....that you can't fucking stand. I'm not talking about games that are just okay, or stuff that is popular for reasons you don't understand. I'm talking about games that you know are good games, but for whatever reason you hate.

I'll start and give you an example which probably wont surprise you because I've talked about it before but it's a good example of what I'm talking about here. Breath of the Wild is a great game, everyone says so, even I think it's clearly a great game and offers a really interesting experience to people. And I fucking hate it. I hate almost everything about the game. I hate the weapon degeneration system, I even hate the fucking weather. I hate that it always seems to rain while your trying to climb some shit which always causes you to slip and lose your climb progress. I hate combat which seems designed to be more of a creative puzzle system versus actually being a combat system, rewards creative uses of bombs or other gadgets to kill enemies rather than hitting them with your sword or whatever. I hate how vast the world is because ultimately i don't think there is a lot to do or find in the world and it just feels big open and empty.

HOWEVER there is enough to BOTW that I also understand that it is a well made game with lots of things to do that just scratch certain itches for people. So I can agree to the point that it is in fact a great game, but holy shit is that game NOT for me in anyway.

What games do you guys have on your list of "It's great, but I hate it."

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Raid: Shadow Legends (sorry that just actually sprang into my head when I tried to remember this game's title)

Hunt: Showdown. Aside from it being an extraction shooter with permanent character death (one bad round and that's all your upgrades on that character gone, though there's also account-wide upgrades), it doesn't have "wipes" the way Escape From Tarkov does, so new players get to have all the "fun" of dealing with experienced opponents with far more options available to them (not to the degree of being effectively invulnerable like in EFT, but still). There's a reason why I bought it on sale, played it exactly once and uninstalled it.

And it's a shame, because the game absolutely nails things like atmosphere, sound design (it's one of the few games that does things like sound attenuation well; a rifle fired at a kilometer away sounds much different than at a hundred meters) and enemy design and variety. If it had a pure co-op mode I'd consider breaking my no-multiplayer rule for it.

 

[Hawki]

I'll have to cheat a bit as there's very few pieces of media that I truly hate (it's silly to "hate" a work of fiction after all). However, if I shift that to "games I know are good, but I just don't like/dislike," then I guess I can list:

-Diablo II
-Half-Life 2
-Super Metroid
-Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
-Star Fox Adventures
-World of Warcraft

That was shorter than I thought - I could list others, but in the scope of "games I think are good but I dislike" as opposed to "games I don't think are good, even if everyone else does," that's a narrow window. So I guess I can explain it in the sense that:

-D2: You can spend a lifetime explaining how the game shaped the ARPG genre (which is true) and whatnot, how people are in love with itemization (which is true), and all that. I still don't enjoy playing it. It's not the worst Diablo game, but in terms of fun factor and nothing else, I can't stand it.

-Half-Life 2: Vanilla is okay, Ep. 1 is a drag, Ep. 2 is really good, but I just don't like the game that much. It's still good overall, but I don't find the setting compelling, or the game that enjoyable overall sans Ep. 2.

-Super Metroid: It's good, it helped solidify the genre, but almost every 2D Metroid game I've played I'd place above it.

-Resident Evil VII: It's still good, it's a course correction that was arguably needed after RE6, but it course corrected so hard, it barely feels like Resident Evil at all. Even RE4 was clearly in the same series as what came before, and while RE7 clearly is as well, it almost feels like a new IP a lot of the time. So, good game, just doesn't really fit RE for me.

-Star Fox Adventures: It's a neat adventure game that really doesn't fit Star Fox (and yes, I know why, Dinosaur Planet and all that).

-World of Warcraft: I get it - most influential MMO of all time, etc. I get it. But as much as I'm invested in the Warcraft universe, I just don't enjoy MMOs that much, and WOW doesn't buck the trend. I get that it's good overall, I get its history and all that, I get that it's more influential than the RTS games could ever me (even if WC3 for me is the GOAT), but I just don't enjoy playing it that much.

 

[BrawlMan]

Similar to @Hawki, I don't have that much "hate" for great games. Either I am interested or not.

-Resident Evil VII: It's still good, it's a course correction that was arguably needed after RE6, but it course corrected so hard, it barely feels like Resident Evil at all. Even RE4 was clearly in the same series as what came before, and while RE7 clearly is as well, it almost feels like a new IP a lot of the time. So, good game, just doesn't really fit RE for me.

My other problem with this game, is that it's RE1/R, but in first person with way less interesting leads, and less enemy variety. Ethan moves too slow for a guy his age as well. Village didn't do much to improve his speed either, and was still stuck in FPS until the 3rd person update/Gold Edition released. You can add Village on the list for me. Once again, not a bad game, but it's just a less interesting version of RE4. RE4 with Universal Monsters.

-Super Metroid: It's good, it helped solidify the genre, but almost every 2D Metroid game I've played I'd place above it.

Speaking of Metroid, the near entire Metroidvania genre does nothing for me, nor do I find much joy in most of them. A lot of the Igarashi Symphony of the Night games, or games done in that style, I don't have the patience for. I'll take most of the Classicvania games any day of week over the Metroid style Castlevania games.

• NFS: Most Wanted (2012) - Another case of confusing title/unnecessary reboot. The game is good, but I felt I was just playing a lesser version of Burnout than Need for Speed. Also, it's got nothing on OG Most Wanted.
• Viewtiful Joe 2 - Hate is a strong word, but the game felt like VJ 1.5, than a full sequel. The game was supposed to have co-op, but Clover and Capcom removed this early during the development process. What we got in place was a thrown in tag mechanic, and you only bring out Silvia when it's actually required. Otherwise, you can get through 95% of the game just by using Joe.
• Street Fighter Alpha - Once you play the sequels and their upgraded versions, there is no reason to bother with the original, other than some story tidbits and legacy.
• Final Fight 3 - I've heard fans overpraise this game. While it is better than the mission pack sequel, the game still feels kind of meh. There are so many brawlers better than this game from the 90s, and afterward. The original is still the best.
• Resident Evil 4 (2005) - I hate the QTEs, and I don't have patience for them anymore. I never had much patience for them to begin with! The game drags on too long, Ashely is a pain, and I hate going into siege tank mode to aim!
• Fight n' Rage - Moderately dislike. The game has great combat mechanics and plenty of cool bonus content, but the game drags on in the last three stages (depending on the path you take), and there are some cheap enemies/bosses that still have not been patched to this day. The game came out in 2017 on Steam first, FTR.
• God of War II & III - Mainly from a story and character perspective. Though GoW III doesn't do much to help itself, level design wise, after first few opening chapters.
• Anything Dark Souls related.
• Crysis 1 - I hate the last 1/3 of this game, and is too much of a slog, even on Easy Mode. The sequels are so much better in pacing and level design.
• FEAR 2 - Too much COD inspired, and there are story turns and twists I don't like and feels out-of-character.
• Wolfenstein (Machine Games Continuity) - New Order and New Colossus are not as fun the second time through. Especially NC.
• Comix Zone - Horrible continue system and way too hard. The game has an excellent art direction, sound design, and soundtrack, but I will never play it again!
• Radiant Silvergun - Too absurdly difficult for my blood pressure. I'll take more Ikaruga please!

 

[NerfedFalcon]

I definitely wouldn't say I 'hate' this game, like the two guys above, but I just couldn't get into Spiderman on the PS4 despite my best efforts. I played through the whole first act and while it's definitely got a lot of things going for it, enough that I'd readily recommend it to anybody else, it just never quite clicked with me for reasons I can't really explain.

 

[BrawlMan]

I definitely wouldn't say I 'hate' this game, like the two guys above, but I just couldn't get into Spiderman on the PS4 despite my best efforts. I played through the whole first act and while it's definitely got a lot of things going for it, enough that I'd readily recommend it to anybody else, it just never quite clicked with me for reasons I can't really explain.

You got further than me. I hate the insta-fail/death forced stealth segments not involving Spider-Man. They do not belong and feel completely out of place. Thank God, Miles Morales got rid of them, and Spider-Man 2 (2023) won't have them either.

 

[hanselthecaretaker2]

Tough one. There are games I know are good, but I just avoid them if I’m not interested. If I were forced to play through them though, I could see hating them. Some like Darkest Dungeon would probably be infuriating, even though I could see it’s charm in the few hours I’d put in.

 

[Gordon_4]

DragonAge: Origins. I know it has a compelling story and setting - I love its two sequels - and the character interplay is second to none but at a gameplay level I find the game insufferable. C’est La vie.

 

[Dreiko]

I wouldn't go on so far as to say I hated it, but the first Mario Galaxy on the wii bored me to tears. I'm someone who can sit down and do 12 hours in a row easily, but I'd get tired of the game in like 40 minutes or so. And the thing with that one was that it was getting such insane reviews, I think IGN literally gave it an 11/10. It was then that I learned to completely disregard reviews, and I use the case of the game to even a cupboard that lost one of its legs at some point in my bedroom, to forever remind myself of that one time I got got.

 

[Kyrian007]

Similar to @Hawki, I don't have that much "hate" for great games. Either I am interested or not.

Yeah, when someone else likes things I don't... it doesn't really bother me that much. Soulslike, (the entire genre) is like that for me. In general, it's the kind of thing I enjoy. But I'm from the arcade generation, I fundamentally hate "game over" states. If frequent bucket kicking is an intended part of the experience, it is going to frustrate me past the point of being able to enjoy it. I also don't like games that are designed without an end state. Like MMO's. WoW really is probably fun, but If I'm not working towards some kind of endgame state where a game is "beaten," I just don't see what the point is.

 

[BrawlMan]

But I'm from the arcade generation, I fundamentally hate "game over" states. If frequent bucket kicking is an intended part of the experience, it is going to frustrate me past the point of being able to enjoy it.

I am of a similar mind set, as I'm too from the arcade generation. I usually don't mind most "game over" states, if they're done with reason and not overbearing. It's why I could never jive with Maximo: Ghosts to Glory. Plus, the shitty camera system that could screw you over.

I also don't like games that are designed without an end state. Like MMO's. WoW really is probably fun, but If I'm not working towards some kind of endgame state where a game is "beaten," I just don't see what the point is.

Plus, I don't believe subscription services for a game I already bought. MMOs are expensive, and you don't know how long to they're going to last, unless said MMO is already highly popular to begin with. I couldn't get into any MMO due to pricing of entry; not even Dungeon Fighter. I know DF is not that bad with pricing, and has plenty of "free" content, but I prefer my games with an end state, and like to move on to other games.

Speaking of endgame state, I don't care much for rouge-likes/lites such as Hades and Dead Cells. They have zero appeal to me. The only exceptions are SOR4's Survival Mode, Shredder's Revnege's Survival Mode, and Double Dragon Gaiden. The former two are optional bonus modes.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

*insert standard "hate" disclaimer here*

There's a few that I've got to a point, thought "fuck this, I'm out" and stopped playing, so I guess that will count.

RE4: Salazar appeared. WTF is this shit? I know RE is B movie cheese, but now it's gone full on clown costume. Stopped playing and never picked up another RE game until that one on the ship.

ME1: Never made it off the bridge 1st time round. Some rando crew member gave some "remember that time we fell into a nest of gundarks" line and I was out. Fuck off, I decide my character backstory, not you. I did install again and got to fight evil garrus then quit as the combat was somewhat poop.

DA:O
What's this, I have to join the grey wardens? I don't have an actual choice? Fuck you Duncan. Oh you're dead, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke. Alistair's a whiny bellend, Morrigan is a total ***** and that wet lettuce of a Frenchwoman, ugh.
Fighting "our orcs are different", very clunky feeling combat. Got to the bit where you fight the undead at that castle and uninstalled.

Final fantasy VII: Irritating spiky haired fuck of a main character. Another wet lettuce of a woman. Got of the train at the start, confronted by 2 guards with automatic weapons, thought I was pretty boned, then they did nothing and I killed them with a ridiculous sword. It was definitely marked for death from that point. Stopped playing after I took the airship out of the city.

 

[BrawlMan]

never picked up another RE game until that one on the ship.

Which one? Because there's like five of them. I assume you're talking about RE: Revelations. Dead Aim takes place on a cruise ship, but that was before RE4 released. RE5 place on a ship about 2/3 into the game. You're only there for about two chapters or so. RE7 has you going to ship as well around late game. There's also Resident Evil Gaiden, but that's non-canon, and Resident Evil 4 wasn't even a thought yet.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Which one? Because there's like five of them. I assume you're talking about RE: Revelations. Dead Aim takes place on a cruise ship, but that was before RE4 released. RE5 place on a ship about 2/3 into the game. You're only there for about two chapters or so. RE7 has you going to ship as well around late game. There's also Resident Evil Gaiden, but that's non-canon, and Resident Evil 4 wasn't even a thought yet.

Yeah, revelations, with hot wetsuit girl with a sea anemone for a head and the comedy sidekick duo. I don't think I ever finished it but it was reasonably entertaining.

 

[BrawlMan]

Yeah, revelations, with hot wetsuit girl with a sea anemone for a head and the comedy sidekick duo. I don't think I ever finished it but it was reasonably entertaining.

Nothing in Revelations 1 matters. Other than finding out why Chris decided to get jacked for RE5.

​

 

[XsjadoBlaydette]

13 Sentinels, too unsettling fanservice tactics for how I prefer sci-fi.

Undertale. Doesn't feel pleasant to play the omnipresent minigane with controller stick. Have tried multiple times, it's too irritating.

It Takes Two. I don't got two!

Vampire Survivors. Never played it. Already fed up of it. Get that shit outta my sight. (It was outta sight till now, so only got meself to blame here)

Tetris. (Oki not trying to be edgy or controversial, it's just a type of gameplay I haven't been able to enjoy. Have tried all the cool versions to test enjoyment too)

 

[Xprimentyl]

I'll echo the sentiment that "hate" is a strong word to level at something you "know" is good, but I'll try to stay within the spirit of the thread.

Call of Duty. Specifically anything after CoD4. I really enjoyed CoD4 (still one of my proudest full-1,000 GS completions,) but what the franchise did after that, basically taking over the gaming landscapes, sapping my friends' interests in other games for months on end, and spawning a slew of clones turning the gaming landscape into a brown desert just made the whole thing grow firmly against my grain. Funny thing is, I used to really like those kinds of games, and I'd probably enjoy my time with a more recent CoD, but at this point, the promise of a good time on the town is outweighed by the weight of the effort to get out of bed, get dressed, and leave the house, if you get my drift.

 

[BrawlMan]

13 Sentinels, too unsettling fanservice tactics for how I prefer sci-fi.

I always seem to drop off on the Vanillaware games. I hated the multiple endings thing in Odin's Sphere, and you have to play in the correct order to get the true ending. Dragon's Crown has great artwork, but I don't like its mission structure. It's not bad, but you obviously need another or more with you to have the best fun with it. Muramasa made the mistake of being a Metroidvania and not having a jump button in the Wii version. I didn't even bother with their mech game. These games all have wonderfully designed characters and art direction, but either lack in gameplay design or tedious level structure in the back half.

Tetris. (Oki not trying to be edgy or controversial, it's just a type of gameplay I haven't been able to enjoy. Have tried all the cool versions to test enjoyment too)

It's cool man. I don't love every version of Tetris either.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Nothing in Revelations 1 matters. Other than finding out why Chris decided to get jacked for RE5.

​

It's resident evil, I really have no idea what's going on in whatever ridiculously convoluted overarching plot they have going anyway.

 

[BrawlMan]

It's resident evil, I really have no idea what's going on in whatever ridiculously convoluted overarching plot they have going anyway.

Neither do most consumers. Most people come to Resident Evil to fight the cool monsters and zombies. Or they are getting into the games for Leon, Claire, Jill, Chris, or Sheva. Or Wesker and Ada.