Games that are supposed to be great, but you don't like 'em....

I see all this talk about hidden gems and games that you thought were bad before, but acutlly kinda like now and all that....so I figured I'd start a thread about games that are supposed to be great...but for whatever reason, you don't like them!


I'll start....One big one for me that's supposed to be amazing and all that, is the First Sonic the Hedgehog.

Yep, that's right. I just don't like it. I know that must be some sort of Genny/MD blasphemy, but as hard as I try to get into it, I just can't. Must be those crappy special stages XD

That game where you're a space chicken and its a sider scroller.

I dislike Alien Soldier. I don´t like it´s visual design, because while there are many big bosses, they tend to look lame compared to other games using fewer bosses imo. Also the controls are too complicated, and the Genesis is pushed too hard resulting in sprite flicker.
The main reason I dislike it though is that the concept of having mostly boss battles with few normal enemies in between does not work for me.

Another game I dislike is Golden Axe, and it´s sequels. The graphics look kind of bad, the spritework is not really good. Also, the controls feel too floaty and sluggish to me.

Phantasy Star II makes the list too. I like the basic story when I read about it; but the execution in the game, with very primitive and short dialogue and little animation can´t keep me interested. Add to that the chaotic dungeon design with a layer of pipes and stuff obstructing view on the map and the lage amount of battles and grinding, and you have a stinker for my taste.

Mortal Kombat is also a popular series I dislike. I was at first fascinated with its gaphics like most people were, but it got boring within a day while I played SF II every day for 1 1/2 years. Ironically, the only MK games I ever enjoyed were the ones hated by MK fans: MK:4 and the PS2-incarnations.

Any Sonic game.

I think it boils down to this: I love platformers and RPG's of that era, especially the search and discover tactics employed in such games. The Sonic games are just too hurried and hectic for my thinking brain to enjoy. I have never seen where a person could spend time seeking out different paths and/or prizes in the Sonic games, where the main goal seems to be getting to the end of the level you are on as fast as you possibly can. Never mind slowing down to enjoy the scenery.

Golden Axe. I could never get into any of those games, the aesthetic style just doesn't appeal to me at all, they all make me think of cheap Conan The Barbarian rip offs. The gameplay is also a bit of a turn off because it just doesn't live up to the Streets of Rage games, despite being based on the same engine the GA series just seems slow and sluggish to me.

Gunstar Heroes, while I can acknowledge that it's a really great game and I've even had some fun playing it, I just can't get over how ugly the characters are. Again the artistic style really turns me off and the whole game is just too damn colourful for a shooter, the presentation just looks stupid to me and I can never put in a serious gaming session into this one.

Altered Beast, this one I just can't stand. I don't know how people actually like this game. Yeah, I get that it was like the first game on the Genesis that made it look better than the NES, but the game is boring as all f*ck, it's slow, the gameplay is do damn limited and it looks boring, terrible colour palette and uninspired level design... The arcade version is a little better but not but not by much.

I dislike most Mario and Final Fantasy games. I like Mario 2 and Final Fantasy II/IV. I don't like Land Stalker at all, it's isometric view does not make a good perspective for platforming but there it is. I don't like most space ship shooters, especially the Gradius series and anything that practices "bullet hell" like Ikaruga and Mars Matrix. I enjoy very few First Person Shooters and detest the ones that depend on cutscenes to validate their existence.

-edit-

Oh rats, I didn't check the forum again. I don't like the Madden games, the baseball games or the Soccer games from EA (whatever they're called). I also don't like Pirates of Darkwater, the Incredible Hulk, or Rolling Thunder 3.

Just gonna stick with Genesis specifics:
Eternal Champions
Herzog Zwei
Phantasy Star games
Sonic 1/2/3/S&K
Vectorman 1 & 2

I don't like Gunstar Heroes. I got it because I love the Contra games (and to a lesser extent the Metal Slug series), and I heard that Gunstar Heroes was the best run-and-gun of its kind. I think it's probably my least favorite run-and-gun shooter I've played. It's not the worst game ever or anything, but it's definitely not a game I had much fun with. I'd rather play most any game in the Contra series any day over Gunstar Heroes.

My main complaints about the game include its awkward controls (I find myself crouching down too often, and the double-jumping mechanics feel stilted and stiff), the health number (I prefer games like Contra where you get hit once and you die. It may be less forgiving in some ways, but at least there's generally a way for you to get past every obstacle without getting hit. It feels like Gunstar Heroes requires you to get hit at times), and the overall style of the game. I'm not a fan of its cartoony look, and I don't particularly like a lot of the music either.

I don't care for Mario Galaxy or (to a lesser extent) Galaxy 2. (I really enjoyed SM64 and Sunshine though, and 3D platformers are one of my favorite genres in general)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sheath

I dislike most Mario and Final Fantasy games. I like Mario 2 and Final Fantasy II/IV. I don't like Land Stalker at all, it's isometric view does not make a good perspective for platforming but there it is. I don't like most space ship shooters, especially the Gradius series and anything that practices "bullet hell" like Ikaruga and Mars Matrix.

---

I'm not a big fan of platformers in general . . . not really my forte, but there's some that make the exception and hold my interest enough to key trying (though difficulty -or specific types of difficulty- are factors as well -I especially prefer games that don't put an emphasis on memorizing enemy/boss patterns, though some make that intuitive enough to not be annoying either).

Most of the 2D mario games don't fall under the list of platformers I've really enjoyed (Yoshi's Island being a huge exception), neither do most Mega Man games, but I like most of the Sonic games, especially Sonic 3/3&K. (difficulty, gameplay style, art design, music, etc, etc, all work well for my tastes)

Granted, I grew up all Nintendo, and didn't end up playing much of any Sega stuff with friends either, so SegaPC releases were my first real taste of Sonic in the late 90s.


3D platformers are another story though, I much prefer that genre overall (as implied above) . . . with some exceptions including very well-recieved and popular games. (ie SMGalaxy)

Quote:

---

I enjoy very few First Person Shooters and detest the ones that depend on cutscenes to validate their existence.

---

It's not my favorite genre, but I do generally like FPSs (and several other 3D-centric genres in general -flight/space sims being among my top favorites).

I think the cinematic-oriented games can work quite well if the writing is at least decent (let alone really good quality), and an engaging story with good acting can certainly make or break a game that's otherwise average (rather like the effects good art or sound/music design can have).

I haven't been very heavily into current (7th) gen stuff, but it seems like many series have shifted from an emphasis on storytelling to multiplayer (the Halo series would be a prime example), and that's a bit disappointing. (if they could have done both, especially for comprehensive coopertive multiplayer support, that could have been amazing -cooperative multiplayer in FPSs is probably my favorite way to experience them)

Then there's games with heavy FPS elements that really fit more in the action/adventure genre due to heavier emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving (like the Metroid Prime series -Bioshock sort of fits that too).
I definitely prefer the more adventure-esque games, especially for single player stuff. (more pure action/FPS games work well with co-op multiplayer and definitely make that genre more fun . . . it also works great with many flight/space sim type games, too bad that genre's virtually dead and most older games are single-player only -at least for the main game section, though some at least allow main-game mission scenarios to be played in multiplayer, not to mention custom scenarios, and there's a fairly active homebrew scene in that genre, especially build on the Freespace 2 engine)

The Golden Axe games and Toejam and Earl.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tz101

Any Sonic game.

I think it boils down to this: I love platformers and RPG's of that era, especially the search and discover tactics employed in such games. The Sonic games are just too hurried and hectic for my thinking brain to enjoy. I have never seen where a person could spend time seeking out different paths and/or prizes in the Sonic games, where the main goal seems to be getting to the end of the level you are on as fast as you possibly can. Never mind slowing down to enjoy the scenery.

---

Same here. The sonic series is just meh for me. It's alright and I own the entire series but it's not even close to being in my top ten or top fifty for that matter.

Is this supposed to be just for Genesis games, or in general? (it's in Genesis Does, but many have commented on other platforms -myself included, perhaps just not realizing the context)

I really hate Streets of Rage 2. The only fun I ever have is when I play with my girlfriend and punch her or grab her from behind (when she is playing blaze), laugh at the pose, then flip her.

I also can't stand Disney's Aladdin. It bores me, and I don't even think the graphics are that great.

That's all I can think of for now.

Because it would the save the time and effort to answer it all in this thread, I shall name all three Sega 16-bit products/add-ons. Although, Sega rarely steers me wrong but I'll give it a shot.

Genesis - Altered Beast would be the first that comes to mind thanks to how insanely difficult it was to play through, Alien Storm would be in the same boat, and Fatal Labyrinth because I just couldn't get into the game's execution (despite the fact I went and beat it anyway).

Sega CD - Any of the live-action FMV games were not up my alley (though I did love the anime ones a lot). Another would be Jaguar JX220, though I acknowledge it is well made despite the fact I didn't enjoy it a great deal.

On a side note, my version of Dark Wizard seems to have glitched on me and prevented me from finishing it upon my first playthrough, but I'm still willing to put everything aside and love it for its gameplay despite such problems (couldn't find the goddamn priest on that little slab of land because he wouldn't appear!).

Sega 32X - Star Wars Arcade was a game I wasn't crazy about, but I think this had a lot to do with how much I loved Shadow Squadron in comparison.

There are at least two of these in recent memory/postage already, but since I couldn't find that I remembered being more active I'll leave it to the mods to merge them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sheath

anything that practices "bullet hell" like Ikaruga and Mars Matrix.

---

Not sure Ikaruga qualifies as a bullet hell, more of a pocket pachinko hell, but for whatever reason you dispense the hatred I'm glad to hear it. Mars Matrix on the other hand is flat out sweet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 108 Stars

I dislike Alien Soldier.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Clessy

That game where you're a space chicken and its a sider scroller.

---

Beautiful to see the Alien Soldier hatred. That game just spreads the cheese on too thick.
also see: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...l=1#post388330

I despise bullet hell shooters and any cave shooter. Cave is a overrated, and so are all these stupid bullet hell games.

I don't like Vectorman (first one) much, But the sequel is fairly enjoyable with its unique dark theme and atmosphere.

There are games that are not my cup of jo but I wouldn't say I hate them,
strategy rpgs in particular. I just can't get in to them so sadly the Shining Force series has never done much for me but like music tastes change.
Toe Jam and Earl, I found fun in two player mode but I never could really get into it. I honestly was done with Sonic after the first game. I loved it but everything else just felt like a refinement. They are good games granted I just never felt the urge. I know its not on Genesis so you OCD people can crucify me but FFVII. I have tried damned hard to get into this one and have tried it many times and always just get bored and burnt out on it. The Megaman series. I should love these gamed. I love Contra, Gunstar Heroes, Ghouls' N Ghosts, and Metal Slug but once again something never really excites me while playing it.

Shawdow Dancer. I never can get any where in that game. I just take and out and put ROS and SIII back in when I try it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Milkymagic

Genesis - Altered Beast would be the first that comes to mind thanks to how insanely difficult it was to play through, Alien Storm would be in the same boat, and Fatal Labyrinth because I just couldn't get into the game's execution (despite the fact I went and beat it anyway).

---

Altered beast is supposed to be great?
Last I checked it was generally considered average to mediocre on the whole. (even on Sega-16, it doesn't seem like many praise it as a really good or great game, perhaps considering it notable or worth playing, but that's not the same as "supposed to be great")

Quote:

---

Sega CD - Any of the live-action FMV games were not up my alley (though I did love the anime ones a lot). Another would be Jaguar JX220, though I acknowledge it is well made despite the fact I didn't enjoy it a great deal.

---

Out of curiosity:
What turns you off to the live action (or stop-motion, or CGI -which you didn't mention) FMV games (presumably interactive-movie type games, not "other" genres that just have heavy use of cutscenes)?

With the exception of Road Avenger, I don't find most of the old laser disc games very fun and/or playable in general. (to varying degrees)
There's a lot of other FMV games I also don't care for, but a fair chunk that I do enjoy. (in terms of gameplay, Sewer Shark is more fun than most of the laserdisc ports IMO -though it's not great and the lack of lives or continues is annoying, Novastorm is nice -if you consider that FMV, Silpheed is definitely great -again, if you consider that FMV, and a few others make the decent/OK playable range -moreso depending on how you define the genre, and I definitely like several of the FMV-oriented graphic adventures on the system)

There's also the aesthetic side of things (both audio and visual), and live action usually takes a much bigger hit to quality than drawn animation (and certain types of CGI) on average, more so for better optimized animated examples. OTOH, most/all of the Japanese laserdisc games are uncompressed and low-color with small screen sizes and/or low framerates (albeit the very early live action games -like Sewer Shark and Night Trap- were also uncompressed or barely compressed, though running at 15 FPS vs 6-7.5 FPS for JP examples, at the expense of screen size -in hindsight, and given how many late-gen games used 10 or 12 FPS, 10-12 FPS at a moderately larger size probably would have been a better compromise -like 200x136@10fps or 176x128@12FPS rather than 168x104@15FPS or 144x120@15 FPS for sewer-shark in-game)

There's also audio quality. (some FMV games have crappy music too, especially those using bland/grating FM synth stuff -like Sewer Shark or LoadStar)

Quote:

---

Sega 32X - Star Wars Arcade was a game I wasn't crazy about, but I think this had a lot to do with how much I loved Shadow Squadron in comparison.

---

Try having X-Wing (or the series) stacked up against it and it's FAR more disappointing (unless you really, really prefer simple arcade gameplay over sim-style gameplay -in which case, you'd still obviously prefer Shadow Squadron).

I don't like any of the Mario games and I tried almost all of the old school ones. A friend "forced"
me to play SM World on the PC in 2-player mode till the end, so I've seen all the bosses, secret
stages, etc. But the controls and the whole art design sucked so much, that I still don't like it.

To me, Street Fighter 2 is one really bad fighting game. The only game Street Fighter 2 actually
wins against is Street Fighter 1. The animations are awkward and very hard to get used to, special
moves require too many buttons pressed to be executed in a real fight situation, only two characters
are worth using and they are clones of each other.

Everyone seems to love Bomberman, I only wish to have a machine gun and grenades when playing it,
while everyone else has to stick to the bombs :D

Street Fighter games - I don't like the characters too much, and how different they all are when it comes to controls etc. The game is PITA when you don't play as Ryu or Ken or Guile...
Sonic 2 - if more stages were like the first I'd like it much more, but they aren't and it turns into an unfun chore halfway through for me. Special Stages rule though
*put the name of your favorite turn based random encounter menu hell RPG* - There's no fun, the story needs to be incredibly good and music really great to keep me trying, I just get bored. Its the gameplay that matters to me, story is secondary... the other way does not work on me, thus RPGs don't either...
Golden Axe 1 - Slow and clunky, music is crappy mostly
Toejam & Earl - not my idea of fun, sequel is much much nicer
Strider - Not very fond of the gameplay execution, music sucks too.

Another vote for Gunstar Heroes. Everyone's already said what I feel about it. Someone said Eternal Champions and Im pretty sure that game got mixed reviews when it came out and isnt considered to be "great" by the overall majority.

I have illogical hatred for FFVII and FFVIII. I generally loathe there horrible cliche ridden stories after being forced to sit through my cousin and friends playthroughs, but then I never really 'got' the whole playstation generation along with what was popular in the UK on that platform, most kids I knew loved the FF series because they where at puberty where we have all teenage angst and all that mixed emotional crap. I did and do still love the PS2 though.

I think I'd been too conditioned by what I was playing on my Saturn at the time, just action games, I still find cutscenes and plot exposition really irksome, trying to make lumps of polygons seem human is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. I played L.A Noire a few months back, despite all the fancy facial movements and gestures the characters still seemed stuck in the uncanny valley.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kool kitty89

Altered beast is supposed to be great?
Last I checked it was generally considered average to mediocre on the whole. (even on Sega-16, it doesn't seem like many praise it as a really good or great game, perhaps considering it notable or worth playing, but that's not the same as "supposed to be great")


Out of curiosity:
What turns you off to the live action (or stop-motion, or CGI -which you didn't mention) FMV games (presumably interactive-movie type games, not "other" genres that just have heavy use of cutscenes)?

With the exception of Road Avenger, I don't find most of the old laser disc games very fun and/or playable in general. (to varying degrees)
There's a lot of other FMV games I also don't care for, but a fair chunk that I do enjoy. (in terms of gameplay, Sewer Shark is more fun than most of the laserdisc ports IMO -though it's not great and the lack of lives or continues is annoying, Novastorm is nice -if you consider that FMV, Silpheed is definitely great -again, if you consider that FMV, and a few others make the decent/OK playable range -moreso depending on how you define the genre, and I definitely like several of the FMV-oriented graphic adventures on the system)

There's also the aesthetic side of things (both audio and visual), and live action usually takes a much bigger hit to quality than drawn animation (and certain types of CGI) on average, more so for better optimized animated examples. OTOH, most/all of the Japanese laserdisc games are uncompressed and low-color with small screen sizes and/or low framerates (albeit the very early live action games -like Sewer Shark and Night Trap- were also uncompressed or barely compressed, though running at 15 FPS vs 6-7.5 FPS for JP examples, at the expense of screen size -in hindsight, and given how many late-gen games used 10 or 12 FPS, 10-12 FPS at a moderately larger size probably would have been a better compromise -like 200x136@10fps or 176x128@12FPS rather than 168x104@15FPS or 144x120@15 FPS for sewer-shark in-game)

There's also audio quality. (some FMV games have crappy music too, especially those using bland/grating FM synth stuff -like Sewer Shark or LoadStar)


Try having X-Wing (or the series) stacked up against it and it's FAR more disappointing (unless you really, really prefer simple arcade gameplay over sim-style gameplay -in which case, you'd still obviously prefer Shadow Squadron).

---

If that's the case with Altered Beast, then I guess I was wrong about it, but I guess I was going off all the times I've seen it on Sega compilations, which gave me the impression that it was something of a Genesis mainstay. I don't even think Altered Beast is terrible whatever the case, but if it had a reputation back in its day, I would say it didn't hold up well for me in the end.

As for FMV, I guess I should clarify that I really shouldn't have said "all of them", but more like "most of them." I did love Silpheed (though I would say this felt more like a shmup than just straight FMV), Mansion of Hidden Souls, Road Avenger, and Time Gal. But I guess I just found the rest to simply have gameplay elements that didn't work for me (Tomcat Alley/Cobra Command would be a combo in this realm that didn't work out for me), or they simply couldn't hold my interest story-wise. Still, that doesn't mean I don't find some of them funny, as I can appreciate the days of old-school video game acting, but I guess it just comes down to what the game tries, and how well I can get within its execution. Night Trap seemed like one of the more interesting live-action games in this vein, as well as Double Switch. The rest I just didn't care for.

So in conclusion, I'd say that I had a couple of anime-style favorites, an appreciation for CGI cutscenes, and a couple live-action I could also appreciate.

Never really liked metroid, zelda, or star fox games.

Ms. Pac-Man (Genesis) An arcade DISGRACE!

On the Genesis it's Toe Jam and Earl. I remember loving the commercials as a kid, I thought it looked so cool. Fortunately I rented it first before asking my mom to buy it for me because I could just not get into it. The Bill and Ted game for NES is very similar gameplay-wise. I own the game now and have played it a few times here and there, but I just can't get into it. Although, I can appreciate the fact that it was an innovative game for its time, it's just not for me.

I do enjoy the early 90s style though, "jammin!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VGTM

Ms. Pac-Man (Genesis) An arcade DISGRACE!

---

Any Pac-Man incarnations on Genesis are lame... I really don't like them...
The 16-bit wasn't great for such characters.

16-bit street fighter and/or anything else with similar fighting mechanics.

I just could never get into the purposely-lagging falls and utter lack of fluidity in the sprites. To me, they've always felt like dropping rocks into fishtank full of gel just see how long they take to reach the bottom.

Oh, and anything Madden. I can at least appreciate the artwork in the Street Fighter series (or in other great games with similar fighting mechanics like Art of Fighting, etc.), but Madden football I simply despise. And yet, I must have them all if I'm to complete my collection. :?

EA Sports games are the disgrace to all sports IMO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by agostinhobaroners

Any Pac-Man incarnations on Genesis are lame... I really don't like them...The 16-bit wasn't great for such characters.

---

IDK I thought Pac-Attack and Pac-Man 2 were OK, but I really dont like Ms Pac-Man and Pac-Mania on said system

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by QuickSciFi

Oh, and anything Madden. I can at least appreciate the artwork in the Street Fighter series (or in other great games with similar fighting mechanics like Art of Fighting, etc.), but Madden football I simply despise.

---

I only despise the 3D Maddens (anything past 98 is too confusing and obscure) the 2D Maddens on Genesis were LEGENDARY. Only problem: Most of them only work with Model 1 Genesis' that dont have "product licensed by sega ltd" in the BIOS due to EA cartridges being unusual. A shame, since I have model 2.

I haven't played them thoroughly, but I own most of the Maddens and they all work on my model 2.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by QuickSciFi

I haven't played them thoroughly, but I own most of the Maddens and they all work on my model 2.

---

Some of the later ones are exceptional and do not have TMSS, the bug that prevents EA games (namely Budokan) from being played on later Genesis models, but I cannot be certain which ones they are, since they still have the same odd shape.

Alien Soldier's artwork looks hideous to me and Contra Hardcorps ranges from lame to fugly.

I don't think that the regular Sonic games are that great overall, but still enjoy them enough for what they are.

I've never liked Vectorman 1 & 2, but the visuals turned me off so much that I might like the gameplay if I try them again.

Games like the Mortal Kombat series don't get enough respect from the community all-round for me to include them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Black_Tiger

I don't think that the regular Sonic games are that great overall, but still enjoy them enough for what they are.

---

Define "regular"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Black_Tiger

I've never liked Vectorman1 & 2, but the visuals turned me off so much that I might like the gameplay if I try them again

---

I gotta disagree. For a Genesis game, it looks AWESOME!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Black_Tiger

Games like the Mortal Kombat series don't get enough respect from the community all-round for me to include them.

---

I, for one, adore MK, cause its a TOASTY game.

Can't stand the Golden Axe series. Streets of Rage and TMNT spoiled me big time! They're way too slow and boring.

Also hate Revenge of Shinobi. He just moves way too damn slow for me.

Vectorman is nothing more than a tech demo, and after the first level the game becomes so sluggish and boring that it is unplayable.

Sonic & Knuckles. Why are the levels so bland and not fun to play?!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VGTM

Ms. Pac-Man (Genesis) An arcade DISGRACE!

---

The saddest part about this is that it's the only port of Ms Pac-Man that doesn't move slow as molasses and it still manages to be pretty bad. Arcade + Speed Chip all the way, there really is no other way to play Ms Pac-Man.

Oh, and I also despise MJs Moonwalker.Is it a coincidence that the checkpoints in the game are little children?

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. I really hate this game. I don't get why so many people rave about it. It sucks compared to the first SMW. That baby is annoying as hell!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VGTM

Oh, and I also despise MJs Moonwalker.Is it a coincidence that the checkpoints in the game are little children?

---

Hehehee.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kool kitty89

Altered beast is supposed to be great?
Last I checked it was generally considered average to mediocre on the whole. (even on Sega-16, it doesn't seem like many praise it as a really good or great game, perhaps considering it notable or worth playing, but that's not the same as "supposed to be great")

---

That´s correct, Altered Beast is not widely considered great. Actually, I know enough people that would call it terrible.

I think Joe Redifer likes it though...

This thread is about games that get lots of praise. If it was just about bad games there´d be many more to add to my list.