8 Critically Successful Games that Sold Poorly

[Absolutionis]

Jade Empire was the game that many Bioware fans wanted to play, but many didn't have an XBox. At the time, Bioware was heavily known for their PC Games. By the time the game finally came around on PCs, most people had moved on. A game harmed by exclusivity.

 

[darkhippie]

Freespace 2. Love the game and it had great reviews but sold abysmally. Lost of mods but no sequel. Still hoping for a sequel or reboot but the space sim genre is not what it was.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

I can't help but wonder why it never took off.

Some people are put off by the smell of cheese.

*draws breath* HA Ha ha! ,) ^^

OT; I had always wanted to get Jade Empire when it was first released. But I missed that apparently very narrow window. Had to wait until GoG released it.

Jade Empire was the game that many Bioware fans wanted to play, but many didn't have an XBox. At the time, Bioware was heavily known for their PC Games. By the time the game finally came around on PCs, most people had moved on. A game harmed by exclusivity.

Very true. I remember being excited when it came out but the only console I've got is a NES.
still haven't played Jade Empire but I will, someday, soon..ish.

 

[Grampy_bone]

Successful yet didn't sell? Oxymoron. This article could be titled "8 bad games critics were wrong about" or "8 games that failed." Critics do not determine a game's quality. Sure, "All reviews are subjective," but sales are not. There is no New York Times "Best Reviewed" list. As they say in showbiz, the audience is never wrong.

Jade Empire - Bad game. Terrible combat, no customization, small world, low content. Nothing here to attract action game fans or RPG fans. RPG players like good combat and quality customization options.

Psychonauts - Even the developer admits it's bad. Funny story, lousy platformer. Too 'zany' to appeal to anyone beyond a tiny niche.

Vanquish - Trying to mix Devil May Cry with a shooter is a neat idea but it doesn't really work. No multiplayer. Plot is pure cheese. Average game that gets lost in the sea of crap.

Okami - Looks neat but sooooo borrrring. Obscure Japanese mythology does not appeal to Americans. Characters yammer forever and never shut up.

Grim Fandango - Like Psychonauts, too weird for it's own good. People aren't interested in a point-and-click with skeletons.

No More Heroes - Japanese weirdness times a million. Nonsensical story. Combat is shallow and button-mashy. Graphics are crap and the Wii was a lousy console. Suda 51 is an acquired taste and none of his games really sell.

Beyond Good and Evil - Lol, every gaming hipster's favorite game. Game is so bad the author of this article has to praise... the animations? Are you kidding me?! What game has ever sold because of 'Awesome Character Animations?' This is like praising a restaurant for having good parking.

Beyond Good and Evil is essentially a Zelda clone with 1/10th the content. Crummy, shallow combat, dumb animal characters, boring plot that goes nowhere. Lame puzzle-solving gameplay, forced stealth sequences, bugs, short, tiny world and levels, etc. etc. Even the title is bad; obscure Nietzsche quote does not apply well to a colorful adventure game. This game oozes crap from every byte.

The audience is never wrong. Good artists sell!