THE GAMER

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Top 10 Games that Ruined their franchises

Now they’ve gone and done it. Welcome to the gamer and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 games that ruined their franchises.

Not to be confused with our Top 10 Worst sequels list, we’re talking about games that were so bad that they pretty much destroyed any chance of a follow up. I know some of you are thinking: Sonic 2006 … No no no … As bad as that game was the franchise is still going, The same goes for the likes of Mass Effect 3 and Diablo 3. We’re talking about games where its entire final entry was a disaster.

#10: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts (2008)

After fans of the classic series waited 8 years for a proper sequel to N64 platformers, “not counting the GBA spinoff”, Microsoft looked like they’d finally had given Rare a chance to spread their wings. But much to the shock of fans, what they got wasn’t a next gen 3D platformer, but instead a vehicle building and driving adventure. Even more heartbreaking was that this was Rare’s last game before Microsoft locked them into making Kinect games, talk about a fall from grace.

#9: “SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs” (2011)

This is another game that ruined itself by abandoning what made it fantastic to begin with. With the popularity of Call of Duty, Sony felt the best way to evolve Socom would be to de-evolve it, in other words: Take its smart tactical approach and throw it out the window in favor of guns blazing action, With pathetically easy enemies. It also didn’t help that this game was released when the Playstation Network was compromised, resulting in lackluster sales.

#8: “Guitar Hero” games in 2009

Activision knew they had a solid hit with Guitar Hero in 2006, with a sequel coming out almost immediately after, but then things got out of hand. Though the games were good, there were just too many of them. In 2009 if you include spinoffs there were 7 games released in the series, and Activsion quickly learned that gamers weren’t made out of money especially in a recession era.

#7: "Earthworm Jim 3D" (1999)

Many games that went from 2D to 3D didn’t transition very well. During the SNES and Genesis era Earthworm Jim was one of the most iconic videogame mascots of the time with his 1st and 2nd games being a success. Unfortunately, his 3rd game on the N64 was just dreadful, with a terrible camera and controls that made the game wholly unpleasant to play.

#6: “Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight” (2010)

How do you conclude a 15 year long saga for a series known for Base building and managing large armies? Take away those 2 features and make something different. EA in their infinite wisdom for some reason decided that the game shouldn’t be a traditional Real Time Strategy, instead focused on preset squads for faster gameplay. Worse still the campaign ended on an anti-climactic wimper. Oh Westwood, we miss you.

#5: “Medal of Honor: Warfighter” (2012)

After a 2010 reboot came off as being … ok, Warfighter hoped to get in on the Modern Military FPS craze. Making use of the Frostbyte engine to show off realistic graphics … only went as far as sugarcoating a generic first person shooter. Obviously rushed out the door to compete with Call of Duty resulting in bugs galore, the game was panned by critics and sold poorly which resulted in EA announcing they’re putting the series on hold.

#4: “Tony Hawk: Ride & Shred” (2009/10)

Activision makes this list once again for ruining another stellar franchise. Tony Hawk: Ride was shipped with skateboard motion control peripheral which, to put it bluntly, didn’t work. But Activision clearly didn’t learn its lesson the first time around, releasing Shred a year later. But gamers weren’t fooled as that game only managed to sell an abysmal 3,000 units in its first week.

#3: “Bubsy 3D” (1996)

Yet another disasterous transition from 2D to 3D, while the original games were average at best, this one is not only bad but also one of the worst games of the 90’s. With incredibly simple level design that wouldn’t pass for a high school project, stiff controls and terrible jumping sections, it doesn’t quite take the top spot though since the series wasn’t all that good to begin with.

#2: Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

How do you take one of the biggest names in the video game industry and drag it through the mud? Well first of base your box art on the terrible movie tie in, then take out any Tomb Raiding, release the game with many bugs, and have Lara getting stronger by … opening doors? Pretty sure fitness doesn’t work like that. This was Core Design’s last Tomb Raider game and the last in the original series. That’s when you hit the reboot button, and this franchise has had to do that twice.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

#1: “Steel Batallion: Heavy Armor” (2012)

To top off our list, we have the mech series that originally shipped with a controller the size of a coffee table. So believe it or not Capcom thought the Kinect and 360 controller together could compensate for that behemoth. The result was an unresponsive mess that made the game completely unplayable. Believe it or not this game was made by “From Software” the team behind Dark Souls. Maybe they’re spiteful and have been designing games to punish their unsatisfied fans ever since?

#10: “Red Dead Redemption” (2010)

This game takes place in a setting fairly unusual for games, the Wild West, and the trailer did a good job of introducing players to the unique landscape. The Western-sounding music, shots of ranches, and scenes of horses galloping across open prairies helped to prepare gamers for the environment they’d be entering. Protagonist John Marston’s narration nicely introduces the cinematic story without giving away too much, while also capturing the scope of how big the game is.

#9: “Mass Effect 2” (2010)

The epic sci-fi story told in this massive RPG would seem to be impossible to explain in two minutes, but BioWare set the stage for the tale of humanity’s fight against the Collectors. Of course, having the voice of Martin Sheen, who speaks through most of the trailer in the role of the Illusive Man, certainly helps. The bombastic orchestral score gives a sampling of the dramatic feeling to be found throughout the game, plus for added bonus fan favorites Tali and Garrus from the first game also appear to get prior fans really hyped.

#8: Leviathan: Warships (2013)

Dark and serious trailers have really become popular recently, but it’s also nice to see a clip that simply makes us crack up, as this one does. As smooth jazz plays in the background, a low-voiced narrator seductively sells us on the virtues of this strategic action game. Who knew that warships could be this sexy?

#7: “Battlefield: Bad Company” (2008)

As much as we love getting lost in a dramatic trailer, we realize that they’re easy to mock, and this clip does an incredible job of it. Just when you’re sure it’s going to be another overly serious game ad, it switches gears and shows the hilarious wisecracks of the men of Bad Company. Of course, it’s still an FPS, and the trailer also showcases the furious shooter action that dominates the gameplay. … Just with guys who have no idea what the hell they’re doing.

#6: “BioShock” (2007)

Infinite’s trailer was also considered, but a lot of things that make this trailer make it a one-of-a-kind experience. The trailer introduces us to that style by showing protagonist Jack on his back, helplessly firing at a Big Daddy and other enemies while Bobby Darin’s rendition of “Beyond the Sea” plays in the background. It also gave us a taste of Rapture’s uniquely beautiful architecture.

#5: “Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

It’s the people of Liberty City that truly make this game what it is, and this clip showed us what it would be like to interact with them. The scenes of Niko rapping with his enemies and allies, spliced between the awesome action shots, provided a nice hint of how it would feel to inhabit the game’s immersive world. It’s clear that mayhem will ensue, but you can see how much fun it’ll be. Especially with a Black Hawk attack helicopter chasing you down.

#4: “The Last of Us” (2013)

Having to fight off hordes of zombies and unruly humans is a scary proposition, and the percussive sounds in this clip foreshadow the impending doom which the game depicts in greater depth. The piano theme that comes in later on establishes the title’s sombre tone. Of course, no matter what comes with it, getting to see the title’s gorgeous visuals on display will always be a treat.

#3: “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010)

This game moved the FPS franchise to the Vietnam war era, and we can’t imagine a better way to introduce the new time period than The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Similarly, we can’t think of a better way to introduce any title in this series than by showing non-stop action, as this trailer does. Though the clip doesn’t use much actual gameplay footage, it still manages to recreate the intensity found throughout the title.

#2: “Halo 3: ODST” (2009)

In this game, you assume the roles of soldiers known as ODST or Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, and this live action trailer introduced us to them early on by letting us see the men underneath those trademark badass armor suits. As the bagpipes and vocalist drone, we see the perspective of one of these soldiers, from training to combat. They lead a tough life, but this clip made us want be in their shoes and start firing away at the Covenant. If only the real game looked like that.

Before we get to our number lone, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:

“DC Universe Online” (2013)

“Assassin’s Creed II” (2009)

“Dead Space” (2008)

#1: “Gears of War” (2006)

There’s a lotta great trailers out there, but how many of them made you want to buy music as well as a new game. In just one minute, Epic Games showed us the game’s desolate post-apocalyptic setting, as well as some of the horrors protagonist Marcus would have to face. The use of Gary Jules’s “Mad World” cover gave it a unique feel especially given the fact that the trailer has no sound effects as the somber song along carries the feeling of hopelessness in this beautiful piece of video.

Top 10 Open World Games

There’s no going in a straight line in these sandboxes. Welcome to THE GAMER and today we are counting down the top ten open world games. For this list we are focusing on games that let you explore with few boundaries and limitations, while maintaining a smooth gameplay experience.

#10: "Batman Arkham City" (2011)

When you make a Batman game, people naturally have high expectations. Expanding upon the linear design of Arkham Asylum, Arkham City has you gliding and zip lining across rooftops in an way that really makes you feel like Batman. While it may be a bit small and a little drab, Arkham City is packed so full of Dark Knight lore that you’d have to spend hours to discover it all, let alone understand it.

#9: "Fallout 3" (2008)

Even though the entire Fallout series is more than qualified to be on this list as it's own entry, it is the third instalment of the game that truly enraptures what open world games are all about. While the 3rd entry basically maintains the macabre beauty set up in the first 2, being able explore the wasteland from the ground up is truly the way to go. Amidst the ruins Washington DC you’ll find an endless adventure where the often bleak landscape is absolutely peppered with harrowing encounters and grim discoveries.

#8: "Saints Row 4" (2013)

While this game has not had the same amount of success as its GTA counterpart, there is no doubt that the Saints Row series has given us some great games. Though Saints Row 2 and 3 gave us a truly great open world atmosphere, the fourth installment brought us a crazy alien invasion story line, superpower, and a freaking gun that shoots Dubstep. It may have started life as DLC for the 3rd game, but being able to trash that city with superhero powers is way too satisfying to care about that.

#7: "Far Cry 3" (2012)

Blending the FPS and Open World game genres is no easy task, however the third entry in the Far Cry series showed us that it can be done. Receiving wide spread critical acclaim, Far Cry 3 did not have to sacrifice it’s open world freedom in order to deliver a compelling narrative. This game also gets bonus points for the stand alone expansion Blood Dragon, which sounded the jungle in neon fueled 80s camp.

#6: "Just Cause 2" (2008)

One of the more action packed games on our list, Just Cause 2 has tons of open world violence to enjoy. And at 400 square miles across, Just Cause 2 has the largest pre-made map on this list. And the game's infamous Grappling Hook that lets you latch onto anything, all while giving the middle finger to gravity. Who would have thought that the best mode of transportation involved you getting yanked by your arm for miles on end.

#5: "Assassins Creed: Black Flag" (2013)

The Assassins Creed series as a whole is known for huge environments to explore, and Black Flag took it even further by giving you you're own ship to sail around the Caribbean, and pirating any ship you feel like. Staggeringly huge, there’s simply no end to the towns, desert islands and turquoise waters over which you can explore, stab and plunder.

#4: "Red Dead Redemption" (2010)

Rockstar seems to have a knack for making open world games that go above and beyond the norm. Contrary to the beliefs of many, this game is not just a GTA game set in the old west. Focusing on John Marston, a former outlaw who trying reunite with his family by doing the government’s dirty work. He has to deal with con-men, Mexican Revolutionists, and his former gang, which in turn leads to one of the most critically acclaimed games ever. even those not thrilled by the dusty setting have to be impressed by the teaming amounts of oozing from ever corner of this epic.

#3: "Minecraft" (2011)

You would be hard pressed to find a gamer who does not know about this wildly popular low-res block laying game. Comprised of almost endless worlds that are randomly generated for each player, where its tranquil by day, and dangerous at night. And as a result Minecraft has an encyclopedic amount of details and systems at play. With no distinct goal, exploring and building in Minecraft becomes a strangely addictive and often existential experience that you have to try to understand.

#2: "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim" (2011)

Few games truly give you the hands off freedom right off the bat that the Elder Scrolls series can offer. Peerless in the realm of RPGs, any shortcoming that Skyrim has in narrative storytelling is absolutely eclipsed by the sheer volume of content packed into its stunning landscapes. Go the top of any mountain you see, enter every building, explore every cave and dungeon. Better bring protection though, it’s dangerous out there.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions

"Spider-Man 2" (2004)

"Prototype" (2009)

"Infamous 2" (2011)

"Borderlands 2" (2012)

#1: "GTA V" (2013)

While pretty much any GTA game is eligible for the top spot with San Andreas also being considered, GTA 5 was the fastest selling game in the series history, and with good reason. Though players had been to Los Santos before, it had grown up a lot in their absence. Teaming with interesting characters and innumerable distractions, the macro detail of the map is only rivaled by the micro detail at every turn. While all the rest of the open world games gave you enormous sandboxes to explore, The attention to detail makes this game’s city feel truly alive.

#10: “Dragon Age: Inquisition” (2014)

A noble quest in a fantasy realm – it's familiar yet expertly done here. As the third installment of BioWare's ongoing “Dragon Age” series, this game presents quite the ominous situation: a massive rift opens unleashing demons upon the continent of Thedas, right in the midst of two ongoing civil wars. Your character, the appointed Inquisitor, is sent to investigate the reason for the rift's opening while also attempting to resolve all kinds of problems in Thedas. What keeps the game structured is the Inquisitor's presence and active participation in events, helping to shape the fate of the world.

#9: “Xenoblade Chronicles” (2012)

Destiny's got nothing on us. At least, that's the core theme of “Xenoblade Chronicles”, a game all about the endless conflict between two races: the machine-esque Mechon and the human-like Homs. Caught in the middle is a Hom boy named Shulk, who takes up the legendary Monado sword and embarks on a quest to avenge his fallen friend. Shulk's desire for closure would be compelling enough, but the game also throws in budding relationships and the idea of subverting expectations. The result is a bittersweet yet inspiring tale that we can all get behind.

#8: “Planescape: Torment” (1999)

For as often as it's used in storytelling, amnesia can be a magnificent tool when properly implemented. Such is the case with this 1999 role-playing game based on Dungeons and Dragons, in which players take control of a man known only as The Nameless One. Our memory-challenged hero ventures out into the multiverse of Planescape, befriending odd people and recovering his past piece-by-piece. Through its main conceit, “Planescape: Torment” manages to balance a constantly moving plot and a need to make the main character compelling – and there's still room for player choice.

#7: “Final Fantasy VI” (1994)

The winds die, the seas rage, the earth decays... and this is the epitome of an epic. Picture this: it's a world where magic and technology have merged, but the resulting Magitek is in the hands of the evil Gestahlian Empire, with only a small resistance group to prevent world domination. It's quite the premise, but what seals the deal is the game's willingness to slow down and build to awe-inspiring turmoil. Whether it's an opera sequence or the literal end of the world, grand and emotionally-charged moments are the draw here.

#6: “The Witcher" series (2007-)

Dark fantasy just got a bit more complex. Set in the medieval realm from author Andrzej Sapkowski's book series of the same name, “The Witcher” follows the continuing adventures of Geralt, a monster hunter drawn into larger military and political conflicts. The intrigue raised by each game's main conflict – ranging from hunting kingslayers to halting invasion forces – is matched by Geralt's personal quest to regain his lost memories. Plus there's more than a little romance to go around.

#5: “To The Moon” (2011)

Houston, we have a problem: this game made us teary-eyed. “To The Moon” focuses on the Sigmund Corporation, a company pioneering in the field of memory manipulation... which they use to give dying hospital patients their life's wishes. Two of the Corporation's employees, Doctors Eva and Neil, are tasked with granting one such man his final request: to go to the moon. What follows is a introspective tale about the nature of memory and the power of love, as the game moves towards its effecting finale.

#4: “Grim Fandango” (1998)

Death is no cakewalk, that's for sure. Developed by the famed company LucasArts, this Day of the Dead-themed adventure game distinguishes itself with its quirky narrative. This is the story of Manny Calavera, a travel agent for the Department of Death who gets wind of a plot to steal eternal rewards from the dead. Manny embarks on a years-long quest for answers, bringing him face-to-face with odd characters while steadily evolving into a hero worth rooting for. It's a character-driven piece that is at once odd and endearing.

#3: “Red Dead Redemption” (2010)

There's a saying: No good deed goes unpunished. Throughout the surprising downtrodden world of “Red Dead Redemption”, this saying seems to ring true. Our hero is John Marston, a former outlaw in the Old West dragged out of retirement to hunt down his old gang mates – or risk the US government going after his family. Marston's journey to right wrongs and protects his kin is noble yet bittersweet, largely because the story continually shows that good intentions aren't always enough to change the world.

#2: “Chrono Trigger” (1995)

Back to the future... and then the past... and then other time periods for good measure. In Square Enix's 1995 classic, time travel and weirdness abound as the teenager Crono and his friends embark on an epic quest to avert a dystopian future and stop a giant omnipotent termite. The story's use of time hopping allows it to not only explore different eras, but also present a wide cast of characters and engaging situations – to say nothing of the increasing sense of wonder at the game's scope.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

#1: “Spec Ops: The Line” (2012)

Malevolence, madness, and machine guns – an amusing summary, but not all there is to this story. A single Delta Force squad lead by Captain Martin Walker enters a storm-ravaged Dubai, intent on gathering information and calling in the cavalry for help. Instead, what follows is a psychological horror story fueled by violence and packed full of tragedy. As the game charges for its devastating finale, its focus shifts back and forth between skewering its main characters' ceaseless crusade... and confronting the player in some of gaming's most piercing moments that you will not be forgetting for a very long.

#10: Mass Effect Sex Scenes

In 2008, just after Mass Effect’s release, Conservative Blogger Kevin McCullough claimed that players in Mass Effect could “engage in the most realistic sex acts ever conceived”. Meanwhile over on Fox News, Author Cooper Lawrence had this to say (“It’s a Man in this game deciding how many women he wants to be with”) Only problem is, neither of those statements are true. There are sex scenes in the game, but they only last one minute and would bore a preschooler.

#9: Pokemon Controversy Magnet

When Pokemon was at the height of its popularity, the series was accused of pretty much everything from being satanic to encouraging gambling, to even promoting blackface racial stereotyping with the Jynx pokemon, leading to a purple face change. In more recent years PETA has accused the franchise of encouraging animal abuse, even going as far as making a shocking flash parody game … twice.

#8: “Night Trap” (1992)

Now here’s a game that would have been forgotten had it not been for the controversy, A Full Motion Video game on the ill fated Sega-CD. This gamemade it all the way to the US Congress, where it was stated that (The aim of the game is to trap and kill women). Once again just like Mass Effect, that claim was completely bogus, but Night Trap would still go down as one of the seminal examples of controversial videogame violence..

#7: “Mortal Kombat” (1992)

Another game that ended up before the US Congress, this one over is graphic fatalities involving decapitation and heart ripping. Along with Night Trap, is help forged the non-profit ESRB. Unlike Night Trap however, Mortal Kombat did really feature the violence that so horrified congressmen and parents alike. The violence was censored for the SNES version, and hidden but unlockable on the Sega Genesis. And when word got out about the blood code, the Genesis version outsold the SNES iteration.

#6: Banned In Australia

In Australia, on the other hand, game classification is maintained and funded by the goverment. But thanks to this guy… games that were always intended for an 18 + Audience like Left 4 Dead 2, Mortal Kombat, and the Witcher 2 are Refused Classification and couldn’t be sold. Even though Australia now has an R18+ rating, it didn’t seem to do much good as Saints Row 4 and State of Decay were both denied under the new system. … Now what? Interesting, while violent content is a major factor in these classifications, what really will get your on the down under shit list is “using drugs for beneficial effects”.

#5: Grand Theft Controversy

GTa is another series prone to controversy, though unlike Pokemon, the intention is more deliberate. Notable instances that got people talking include the torture scene from GTA 5. But, the violent rampages that players can go on at will have been garnering negative attention since the series debuted way back in 1997. But the most Infamous firestorm came from GTA: San Andreas, when an unfinished sex minigame was uncovered in the game’s code dubbed: Hot Coffee Mod, resulting in the game being pulled from retail distribution.

#4: Six Days in Fallujah

In 2009, Minnesota based developer Atomic Games was set to develop a realistic military game with funding from Konami, based on the real life Battle of Fallujah which 200 combatants, over 600 civilians and thousands more wounded and homeless. The game, was supposed to retell the battle through the testimonies of US Marines working with Atomic. However when word of the project got out, the developers faces a bombardment of hatred from Anti-War activists and negative press, and as a result Konami bailed on the project, leaving the game unfinished.

#3: No Russian – “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” (2009)

After the runaway success of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, its sequel became the most hyped game of 2009. And within days of the game being released, it landed in the headlines when word got out that one mission had players massacring a Russian airport as an undercover agent embedded in a terrorist cell. Though the mission is skipable, and is included in the plot as the event that spurs world war three, it is still understandably horrific, and the press had a field day.

#2: “Manhunt 2” (2007)

A game that was considered so violent, that it was banned in a handful of countries. Plus the game had to be censored in order to be released on the Wii and PS2. Despite the censored version getting an M rating various US Senators including Hilary Clinton called for the rating to be raised back to Adults Only. The uncensored version was released digitally for PC 2 years later, but is now no longer obtainable. It is quite literally about murder for entertainment after all.

Before we get to our top pick, lets briefly mention other controversial moments, like the time the Playstation Network was compromised resulting in stolen credit card information. Or running over pedestrians for points in Carmageddon. What about when Doom was considered by religious organizations for being satanic? Oh and lets not forget one of the first games to ever be considered offensive: Custer’s Revenge.

#1: Allegations to Mass Shootings

Taking the top spot is one subject that just won’t go away. A massacre in which dozens of innocent people lose their lives is tragic, but the ensuing blame game that follows, usually, but not exclusively fueled by Conservative news media, or by a certain advocate in Florida who shall not be named, is reckless to say the least. Never mind the fact that it ignores multiple scientific studies that heavily dispute this claim, it seems that virtual guns are always to blame when people use real ones. Who’d have thought?