...But that would've saved the world!

[Singularly Datarific]

Have you ever played a game where you had a terrific chance to kill the main baddie, but the scripting wouldn't allow it?
I remember the "No Russian" mission, where the friggin antagonist was right there, yet mission fails if you knife him. This is also the mission where it fails if you get killed until

Spoiler: you probably all know this by now

makarov kills you, as part of the end mission cutscene

Also, in EV nova, you get to be a telepath for one of the story arcs, but you are also a slave to the Feds.
Then, there are a few missions where you bring rebels to the feds, even though they tell you where to take them, and I took them where they asked, yet the game wouldn't do anything until I bring them where the feds want them. STUPID.

 

[Zeromaeus]

Resident Evil One.
Wesker is right there for the entire intro. One bullet could have saved a lot of grief.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Resident Evil One.
Wesker is right there for the entire intro. One bullet could have saved a lot of grief.

But at that point everyone thought the sunglasses were just rule of cool, not conspicuously evil.

I can't think of any specific examples actually, but what pisses me off is when you get drawn into a cutscene with the big bad where YOU end up losing! All the while I'm thinking as my guy is getting his ass kicked: "I could take this guy easily!" Again, can't think of any specific examples, but that one in particular just annoys me.

How about Fable, were you slaughter a legion of the Big Bad's goon squad but then just give up because he tells you to?

 

[Latinidiot]

in a lot of JRPGs, where they stand talking for half an hour.

not that I don't like JRPGs, I love those parts, but it's just ridiculous when you think about it.

 

[Zeromaeus]

in a lot of JRPGs, where they stand talking for half an hour.

not that I don't like JRPGs, I love those parts, but it's just ridiculous when you think about it.

Fable II's ending is all I have to say.
IT "solved" that problem, but it makes you angry afterward because it may have been realistic, but it wasn't as fun as listening to the rantings and fighting the villain.

 

[Misterian]

Oblivion.

If you are able to infiltrate the Mythic Dawn and see Mankar Camearon in the flesh, you'd think you'd be able to just cut him up, take the Amulet of Kings, and save a dozen areas having to close half-dozen Oblivion gates to get allies for Bruma, or play delivery boy for Martin Septim.

serously, I wish I could just swipe the Amulet from Mankar and leg it, that would cut down afew hours off te mian quest, in a good way.

 

[socialtangent]

In the very first level of MW2, "S.S.D.D", before you go into the Pit to do the timed course, turn to the left of Cpl. Dunn and look up, and you can

Spoiler

kill General Shepherd before he kills the lot of you

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

In the very first level of MW2, "S.S.D.D", before you go into the Pit to do the timed course, turn to the left of Cpl. Dunn and look up, and you can

Spoiler

kill General Shepherd before he kills the lot of you

Arses! Ninja'd.

In F.E.A.R. 2 (terribly underrated, IMO), something like this happens...

Spoiler

in the very first mission. If you just pop a cap in Aristide's ass when you're in her safe room, you can prevent the infamous rape scene at the end of the game, and thus the events of the inevitable F.E.A.R. 3.

 

[Eggsnham]

Oblivion.

If you are able to infiltrate the Mythic Dawn and see Mankar Camearon in the flesh, you'd think you'd be able to just cut him up, take the Amulet of Kings, and save a dozen areas having to close half-dozen Oblivion gates to get allies for Bruma, or play delivery boy for Martin Septim.

serously, I wish I could just swipe the Amulet from Mankar and leg it, that would cut down afew hours off te mian quest, in a good way.

I hated that, but when you get to his paradise, you can just kill him right then and there. It's actually quite hilarious, I listened to his first five seconds of monologue and then immediately killed him.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Or games where you actually play the bad guy and failing a mission/dying would be a good thing, like Arthas in Warcraft III.