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List of video games notable for negative reception

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Some video games have become well-known for negative reception for various reasons, such as criticism about its gameplay, graphics, sound, or other elements. Some of these games have also been additionally labeled by gaming publications as "the worst game ever made". The following is a list of video games which have had a history of negative reception from video gaming publications and by players (in factors such as sales and community reaction).

1980s

1982

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial received significant criticism for its poor quality graphics and redundant/confusing gameplay.

(Atari 2600)

Pac-Man (Atari 2600)

(Atari 2600)

  • Based on an unfinished prototype in an attempt to release by the holiday season of 1981.[10]
  • Contained many differences from the arcade version due to the limitations of the console, such as "flickering" ghosts and lower-quality sound effects.[10]
  • 12 million copies were produced, even though only 10 million Atari 2600 consoles had been sold.[11]
  • Along with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, it has been cited as a significant factor in the 1983 video game industry crash.[12]

Custer's Revenge

(Atari 2600)

1990s

1991

Action 52

(Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis)

  • There were grandiose plans for a line of merchandise including action figures, t-shirts, a comic book series and even a television cartoon based on the Cheetahmen, but these were eventually scrapped due to bad word-of-mouth, as well as scathing reviews, citing the numerous technical issues of the game.[16][17]

1993

Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

(CD-i)

  • Gained negative reception due to their barely functional controls, lackluster gameplay and numerous glitches.[9]
  • Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon was named the #6 worst game of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly[18] and the #5 by GameTrailers.[9]
  • The full-motion cut scenes for both games were called "infamous" and "cheesy" by IGN[19], while others called them "bizarre" and "an absolute joke".[20][21]

1995

Waterworld

(Virtual Boy)

  • Waterworld is widely regarded as the worst Virtual Boy game out of the 22 games released in its short life. It is the lowest reviewed game at Planet Virtual Boy[22] and has the lowest reader review average at sites such as GameFAQs.[23]
  • Steven L. Kent, author of The Ultimate History of Video Games and The Making of Doom 3, selected it as one of his choices for five worst video games of all time.[24]

White Men Can't Jump

(Atari Jaguar)

  • It has been hailed as one of the worst Jaguar games by some critics due to poor graphics and bad camera aim, among other factors .[25][26]

1996

Catfight

(PC)

1999

Superman 64

(Nintendo 64)[30]

  • This game was largely criticized for having unnecessary repetitive, difficult and confusing objectives, unnecessarily short time limits that left no margin for error, poor graphics and poor controls.[31][32]
  • Listed as the worst game of all time by GameTrailers,[9] the worst game on a Nintendo platform by Nintendo Power,[33] and as the worst comic book video game adaptation in history by GameSpy and GameDaily.[34][35]
  • Critics were overwhelmingly negative in reviews, with Joe Fielder of GameSpot writing, "This is easily the worst game I've ever played,"[31] and other sites such as IGN[32] and Game Revolution panning the game for its atrocious set-up, gameplay, and graphics.[36]

2000s

2000

Daikatana

(Windows, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64)

  • ESC Magazine gave it a 2/10
  • Game Blitz has given it 20/100

Sonic Shuffle

(Dreamcast)

  • ScrewAttack said that it was "copying the competition" and "a terrible rip-off of Mario Party, but what it did offer was a massive storyline...that sucked."[37]
  • GameSpot added it in their list of top ten worst Sonic games, citing that "you go through gameboards shuffling cards to progress, but it was actually possible to complete a board without even playing a single mini game which is the point of party games. Luckily this came out late in the Dreamcast's life and was mostly ignored."[38]

2001

Kabuki Warriors

(Xbox)

  • Though critics attacked the graphics and overall presentation of Kabuki Warriors as exceptionally bad, they rated the game's easy and repetitive gameplay as its greatest shortcoming.[39][40]
  • GameSpot remarked that "The combo system, which revolves around that one attack button... essentially consists of slamming the A button repeatedly to execute multiple attacks."[39] In support of this claim, Team Xbox's reviewer recounted "I held the controller for my two year old and told him to keep pressing the A button. He did nothing else and beat... his opponent. He even got bonus points because he was never touched!"[40]
  • Received the lowest review score (1/10) in the history of Edge.[41]
  • Compelled Game Informer editor-in-chief Andy McNamara to attempt to (and succeed at) beating an opponent "by literally bashing the controller against my ass."
  • It averages 32/100 on Metacritic based on 15 reviews.[42]
  • It has an average score of 35% according to GameRankings.[43]

2003

Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis

(GameCube, Xbox)[44]

  • Named as one of the worst games of all time by X-Play, it was the inspiration for X-Play's annual award for the worst game of the year, "The Golden Mullet", a reference to the hairstyle Aquaman features in the game.[45] Similarly, the 2003 Nintendo Power awards had a category that was made only to give credit to Aquaman and "his sweet mullet".
  • The Xbox version averaged 26/100 while the GameCube version averaged 27/100 on Metacritic.[46]

Charlie's Angels

(PlayStation 2, GameCube)

  • The game has a rating of 23 on Metacritic.[47]
  • Game Informer said "This game is nothing short of an embarrassment."[48]
  • GameSpot called it a "horrific display of ineptitude."[49]
  • On GameRankings, Charlie's Angels received a 23%, with 24 reviews.[50]
  • The game was ranked #1 on GameTrailers' list of the Top 10 Worst Movie Games of all time, who said "The game is degrading, not to women, not even to video games, but to humanity itself".[8]

Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing

(PC)[51]

  • Listed as one of the worst games ever made by reviews at GameSpot,[52] Thunderbolt,[53] and Netjak.[54]
  • Gamespot's review began with the statement that the game is "as bad as your mind allows you to comprehend."[52] Alex Navarro's video review has no narration whatsoever; it consists of in-game footage interspersed with wider shots showing Navarro staring in disbelief, crying, and beating his head on a desk.[52] GameSpot also awarded it its 2004 Flat-Out Worst Game award, with its "trophy" being the infamous three-handled "YOU'RE WINNER !"[sic] trophy from the game.[55] It remains on record as the lowest score on GameSpot (bearing the lowest score possible: 1.0).
  • Has an average rating of 8% on Metacritic[56], and 4% on GameRankings.[57]
  • Big Rigs sold well despite (and possibly because of) the negative reviews.[55]
  • Was named #2 as the "Worst Video Game of the Decade" at the "2009 SAGY Awards" by ScrewAttack, losing only to Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).[58]

RoboCop

(Xbox, PC)

2005

Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

(Nintendo DS, PSP)

  • Holds an aggregate score of 28/100 on Metacritic.[62]
  • GameSpot gave it a 2.1/10, calling it such a poor excuse of a first-person shooter that other developers should study it and use it as a guide when putting together similar style shooters in the future.[62]
  • IGN gave it a 3.0/10, explaining that the "gameplay stinks, the fighting stinks, the puzzles stink, the bugs problems stink. Enjoy!"[63]
  • PALGN gave it a 1/10, calling it borderline unplayable due to its horrid graphics.[62]
  • However, the console and PC versions went on to receive much more positive reviews, with an average score of 82 on Metacritic, and even winning awards for the cast's acting.[64]

2006

World War II Combat: Road to Berlin

(PC, Xbox)

  • The game holds a rare 2.0/10 on game reviewing website Gamespot.[65]
  • The game holds a record 1.0/10 by the Official Xbox magazine. It was the third game to ever achieve such an abysmal rating, the first two being Pulse Racer and Bad Boys: Miami Takedown.

Bomberman: Act Zero

(Xbox 360)

  • The game received negative critique from many reviewers due to its contrasts from other Bomberman games, such as a more rustic cyberpunk theme over the colorful and cartoonish style of other Bomberman games.[66][67].
  • The game has a a Metacritic score of 34/100,[68] and averages 33% out of 56 reviews on GameRankings.[69]
  • The game won the 2006 Flat-Out Worst Game by GameSpot[70]
  • In 2009, GamesTM listed the game as #2 on their top ten "Videogame Franchises that Lost their Way", falling second only to Sonic the Hedgehog 2006.[67]

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

  • GamesRadar called the story "ridiculously overwrought"[71] and "conceptually challenged."[72]
  • GameTrailers concluded that the game is "flat-out unfinished, unfairly difficult, and most importantly, just isn't much fun."[73][74]
  • GameSpot called the game "a mess from top to bottom."[75][76]
  • IGN admitted that "it offers a few good ideas, and a handful of exciting moments, but none of this helps the game recover from a catastrophic loss in control."[77]
  • ScrewAttack called the game the "Worst Video Game of the Decade" on their "SAGY Awards 2009" list, winning against Big Rigs.[58]
  • In 2009, GamesTM named it #1 on their top ten "Videogame Franchises that Lost their Way", commenting that "The blue hedgehog's next-gen efforts have been nothing short of appalling, none more so than than his 2006 appearance."[67]

2007

Game Party

(Wii)

  • Has a Metacritic score of 25 out of 100.[78]
  • Also giving this game a 1 out of 10, Eurogamer criticized the graphics and the fun factor of the game, saying "The Game Party experience is like going to a party where there's nothing to drink but Tesco Value brandy and there are only four other guests and they're all racist and then your ex turns up and gets off with a Danish supermodel."[79]
  • IGN said that this game started the "shovelware" of the Wii (they gave a 3.5 out of 10), criticizing the graphics and the games themselves.[80]
  • AceGamez also gave the game a 1 out of 10, criticizing the controls and saying that the game is trying to unsuccessfully simulate the fun of games like WarioWare: Smooth Moves.[81]

Ninjabread Man

(Wii)

2009

Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust

(PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

  • Gametrailers.com gave the game a 2.3 out of 10, making it the lowest rated game on the website.
  • Official Xbox Magazine gave it a 1.0, calling it an "astroturd" of a game. OXM also stated it was their worst rated game of the year so far, as well as going as far to say that it was the worst game on the Xbox 360 console thus far.
  • Al Lowe thanked VU Games on his website for keeping him away from what he called "the latest disaster"[84].
  • Gamespot.com nominated the game for "Flat Out Worst Game of the Year" in 2009. It "lost" to Stalin vs. Martians.
  • Giant Bomb gave the game the Worst Game of the Year Award in 2009.
  • Australian television show Good Game awarded it to be the Worst Game of 2009.
  • Screwattack.com gave the game a SAGY award for the Worst Multiconsole Game of 2009.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Townsend, Emru (October 23, 2006). The 10 Worst Games of All Time. PC World. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  2. ^ Seanbaby. EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Games of All Time. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  3. ^ The Video Game Revolution: Best and Worst Games of All Time. PBS. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Fragmaster. "Game of the Week: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial". Classic Gaming. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
  5. ^ McQuiddy, M.E. (September 27, 1983). City to Atari: 'E.T.' trash go home. Alamogordo Daily News. Retrieved on May 27, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Parish, Jeremy. "The Most Important Games Ever Made: #13: E.T." 1UP.com. Retrieved 2006-07-01.
  7. ^ a b The 52 Most Important Video Games of All Time. GamePro. Retrieved 2010-2-18.
  8. ^ a b http://www.gametrailers.com/player/21160.html. GameTrailers. Retrieved on August 10, 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d e f GT Countdown: Top Ten Best and Worst Games of All Time. GameTrailers. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  10. ^ a b Jacobi, Scott (Issue #27 - August 2006). "2600 Pac-Man: Redefining A Failure". Retrogaming Times Monthly. Retrieved 2007-11-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ http://www.snopes.com/business/market/atari.asp
  12. ^ "The Essential 50 Part 10". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  13. ^ a b Top Ten Shameful Games. GameSpy. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
  14. ^ Kidman, Alex (April 10, 2008). Violent Video Games: The Worst of the Worst. PC Authority. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
  15. ^ Seanbaby. EGM's Crapstavaganza: The Twenty Worst Games of All Time. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
  16. ^ "Active Enterprises article on Atari HQ; the site states that the company had "far more wild dreams than actual talent", leading to their sudden demise in 1993". Atarihq.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  17. ^ ""...all small companies with big mouths usually go out of business. They tend to promise far, far more than they can actually deliver and end up choking themselves." - Atari HQ on Active enterprises". Atarihq.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  18. ^ "EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Games of All Time". Seanbaby.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  19. ^ http://dvd.ign.com/articles/655/655002p1.html
  20. ^ Cowan, Danny (2006-04-25). "CDi: The Ugly Duckling". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  21. ^ GameTrailers Staff (2006-10-22). "The Legend of Zelda Retrospective Zelda Retrospective Part 3". GameTrailers. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  22. ^ KR155E. "Waterworld". Planet Virtual Boy. Retrieved 2006-06-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Waterworld player reviews". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
  24. ^ "History of Gaming: The Best and Worst Video Games of All Time". PBS. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  25. ^ Seanbaby.com - EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Games of All Time
  26. ^ The Video Game Critic's Jaguar Reviews S-Z
  27. ^ Catfight Review (GameSpot)
  28. ^ Networking redefines the standards for PC gaming (The Daily Pennsylvanian)
  29. ^ Catfight for PC (GameRankings)
  30. ^ Superman 64 for Nintendo 64. GameSpot. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  31. ^ a b Fielder, Joe (June 8, 1999). Superman for Nintendo 64 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  32. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (June 2, 1999). Superman Review. IGN. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  33. ^ "Top 5 Worst Games Ever". NP 196. Nintendo Power. 2005. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Chapman, David (July 18, 2004). Comics to Consoles: Part II - When Good Comics Go Bad. GameSpy. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  35. ^ Worst Comic Book Adaptations. Retried on March 13, 2009.
  36. ^ Leong, George. Superman review for the N64. Game Revolution. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  37. ^ http://screwattack.com/videos/Best-and-Worst-Sonic-Games
  38. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/users/kbaily/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-25111418&print=1
  39. ^ a b Gerstmann, Jeff. GameSpot review for Kabuki Warriors, GameSpot. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  40. ^ a b Barton, Steve. Team Xbox review for Kabuki Warriors, Team Xbox. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  41. ^ Edge Online Review Database. Edge Magazine. Retrieved on June 2, 2008.
  42. ^ "Kabuki Warriors metacritic". Metacritic.com. 2001-11-15. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  43. ^ "Kabuki Warriors on GameRankings". Gamerankings.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  44. ^ Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis. IGN. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  45. ^ Classic X-Play: Aquaman Review. G4. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  46. ^ "Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis on metacritic". Metacritic.com. 2003-08-02. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  47. ^ Charlie's Angels (cube: 2003): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  48. ^ [1]. Game Informer. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  49. ^ Charlie's Angels for GameCube Review - GameCube Charlie's Angels Review. GameSpot. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  50. ^ "Charlie's Angels for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  51. ^ Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing for PC Tech Info. GameSpot. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  52. ^ a b c Navarro, Alex (January 14, 2004) and received the lowest possible scores from all three. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing for PC Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on May 25, 2008. Cite error: The named reference "GSOver" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  53. ^ Wadleigh, Matt (March 22, 2004). Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing - PC review. Thunderbolt. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  54. ^ Chan, Clayton (January 21, 2004). Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Review. Netjak. Retrieved on May 25, 2008.
  55. ^ a b GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2004: Flat-Out Worst Game. GameSpot. Retrieved on July 11, 2008.
  56. ^ Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (pc: 2003): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on July 11, 2008.
  57. ^ Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing at Gamerankings.com
  58. ^ a b [2]
  59. ^ "Robocop for Xbox". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  60. ^ EGM August 2003 issue
  61. ^ "RoboCop". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  62. ^ a b c "Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (ds: 2005) reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  63. ^ "Peter Jackson's King Kong Review". IGN. 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  64. ^ Jackson's King Kong "Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  65. ^ http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/action/worldwariicombatroadtoberlin/index.html?tag=result;title;0
  66. ^ "Bomberman: Act Zero on Xbox 360 Review". GameDaily. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  67. ^ a b c (November 2009). "10 Videogame Franchises that Lost their Way", GamesTM (90): 156-7.
  68. ^ "Bomberman: Act Zero (xbox360: 2006): Reviews". Metacritic.com. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  69. ^ "Bomberman: Act Zero Reviews". Gamerankings.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  70. ^ "Best Games and Worst Games of 2006 at GameSpot Dubious Honors". Gamespot.com. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  71. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamesradars-anti-awards-2006/a-2007011214285775019/
  72. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/review/sonic-the-hedgehog/a-2007020816520794668580
  73. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/player/15248.html
  74. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=2146
  75. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/sonicthehedgehog/review.html?sid=6162205
  76. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/sonicthehedgehog/review.html
  77. ^ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/762/762185p1.html
  78. ^ [3]
  79. ^ [4]
  80. ^ [5]
  81. ^ [6]
  82. ^ [7]
  83. ^ [8]
  84. ^ "Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust". 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
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