Games that you knew were bad but were worse than you expected.

[DragonmasterDan]

I finally had the chance to play Annete Futatabi for Mega CD, the sequel to one of my favorite Genesis games El Viento, and even though I knew going in this was a lousy beat-em up. I had no idea how bad it actually was until I tried it. Enemies hide from you off screen in inaccessible places, lousy collision detection, lots of slowdown, mindless AI. It's hard to express how bad this game is.

What are some games you knew going in were going to be bad, but let you down even more than expected?

[geise]

Pit Fighter, Rise of the Robots, Darkwing Duck, Falcon.

Dan I also want to add I feel the same way about Annete Futatabi, since El Viento is also one of my favorites as well.

[bartre]

honestly, Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue.
*shudder*

[esteban]

I finally had the chance to play Annete Futatabi for Mega CD, the sequel to one of my favorite Genesis games El Viento, and even though I knew going in this was a lousy beat-em up. I had no idea how bad it actually was until I tried it. Enemies hide from you off screen in inaccessible places, lousy collision detection, lots of slowdown, mindless AI. It's hard to express how bad this game is.

What are some games you knew going in were going to be bad, but let you down even more than expected?

I like El Viento, but, DAMN, why does it have such a cult following, where other games of equal caliber are shrugged off? YES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VALIS SERIES! OK, maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive. 

PCE:

(1) Turrican — one of the FEW times I can say "meh", since I rarely feel "meh" (most games can compel me, hook me, at least a little...but I have NO FEELINGS for Turrican on PCE). Bleh. APATHY. INDIFFERENCE.

(2) Darkwing Duck — the pogo is fun, but my inability to discern any logic as to how the game responds to my actions renders me frustrated. This is more than merely bad "collision detection", this is a fundamental failure to communicate what I, as a player, am supposed to do at the very beginning of the damn game. I mean, I can't discern basic CAUSALITY in the damn game. Everything seems arbitrary, governed by rules that are unfathomable. HOW DO I PROGRESS. POGO. 45 DEGREE ROAD. CONFUSED. 45 DEGREE ROAD. POGO.

(3) Night Creatures — I want to appreciate this game, but I still haven't had a chance to channel Black_Tiger's soul and do what needs to be done.

[DragonmasterDan]

I like El Viento, but, DAMN, why does it have such a cult following, where other games of equal caliber are shrugged off? YES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VALIS SERIES! OK, maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive.  

I'm not sure if you're kidding or not. But, just in case you're serious. One major reason is that El Viento controls a hell of a lot better. The dash mechanic is a nice gimmick that adds speed and playability to it. The level design is more interesting, and overall I find the game far less aggravating than any Valis game I've played (being 1 on Genesis and Famicom, II on Turbo, Syd of Valis, III on Turbo and Genesis and Super Valis IV).

PCE:
(2) Darkwing Duck — the pogo is fun, but my inability to discern any logic as to how the game responds to my actions renders me frustrated. This is more than merely bad "collision detection", this is a fundamental failure to communicate what I, as a player, am supposed to do at the very beginning of the damn game. I mean, I can't discern basic CAUSALITY in the damn game. Everything seems arbitrary, governed by rules that are unfathomable. HOW DO I PROGRESS. POGO. 45 DEGREE ROAD. CONFUSED. 45 DEGREE ROAD. POGO.

I think this game is worse than Tailspin, though some disagree with me.

(3) Night Creatures — I want to appreciate this game, but I still haven't had a chance to channel Black_Tiger's soul and do what needs to be done.

I'll be kind and call this game a shit sandwich. Even if it had lofty aspirations of being "Symphony of the Night before Symphony of the Night". Terrible control, gameplay, level design and other issues caused it to fall flat on its face. A while back I made a thread about how this was the worst game on the domestic Turbo. I certainly think it's in the running with Falcon and Gunboat for that distinction.

[esteban]

I like El Viento, but, DAMN, why does it have such a cult following, where other games of equal caliber are shrugged off? YES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VALIS SERIES! OK, maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive.  

I'm not sure if you're kidding or not. But, just in case you're serious. One major reason is that El Viento controls a hell of a lot better. The dash mechanic is a nice gimmick that adds speed and playability to it. The level design is more interesting, and overall I find the game far less aggravating than any Valis game I've played (being 1 on Genesis and Famicom, II on Turbo, Syd of Valis, III on Turbo and Genesis and Super Valis IV).

PCE:
(2) Darkwing Duck — the pogo is fun, but my inability to discern any logic as to how the game responds to my actions renders me frustrated. This is more than merely bad "collision detection", this is a fundamental failure to communicate what I, as a player, am supposed to do at the very beginning of the damn game. I mean, I can't discern basic CAUSALITY in the damn game. Everything seems arbitrary, governed by rules that are unfathomable. HOW DO I PROGRESS. POGO. 45 DEGREE ROAD. CONFUSED. 45 DEGREE ROAD. POGO.

I think this game is worse than Tailspin, though some disagree with me.

(3) Night Creatures — I want to appreciate this game, but I still haven't had a chance to channel Black_Tiger's soul and do what needs to be done.

I'll be kind and call this game a shit sandwich. Even if it had lofty aspirations of being "Symphony of the Night before Symphony of the Night". Terrible control, gameplay, level design and other issues caused it to fall flat on its face. A while back I made a thread about how this was the worst game on the domestic Turbo. I certainly think it's in the running with Falcon and Gunboat for that distinction.

Darkwing Duck is definitely worse than Tailspin, in my humble opinion.

Night Creatures just ____________. I agree with you.

Valis III (PCE, Genesis to a lesser extent) is pinnacle of series and kicks ass. It is so satisfying. It's a shame the level design isn't too creative in the series, but at least III tries (slightly).  Valis II, for example, is a decent platformer, but it is generic (enemy AI) with very little flair in level design. Valis IV was a let down for me (PCE, SFC)... Not nearly as satisfying as III. Syd of Valis? Horrendous.

EL VIENTO does not crush Valis III. I guess that's what I should have said. I like El Viento.

ASIDE: EXPLODING OCTOPUS PIXELATION.  

[DragonmasterDan]

Valis III (PCE, Genesis to a lesser extent) is pinnacle of series and kicks ass. It is so satisfying. It's a shame the level design isn't too creative in the series, but at least III tries (slightly).  Valis II, for example, is a decent platformer, but it is generic (enemy AI) with very little flair in level design. Valis IV was a let down for me (PCE, SFC)... Not nearly as satisfying as III. Syd of Valis? Horrendous.

EL VIENTO does not crush Valis III. I guess that's what I should have said. I like El Viento.

I take it you haven't played any version of Valis 1?

[Black Tiger]

I had low expectations going in to Sword of Sodan and Techno Cop, even thouh each time it was before any reviews had been published. In both cases I remember thinking "wow, this is even worse than I expected".

[TheClash603]

I grew up loving Altered Beast in the arcade.  When I got my Genesis, I even loved the home game.

Years later I picked up the Master System version of the game, which I had heard terrible things about, but I figured it would just be a lower tech Altered Beast.

The game ended up being nearly unplayable, with a frame rate of maybe 5 fps once there is an enemy on screen.  Complete garbage.

[esteban]

I grew up loving Altered Beast in the arcade.  When I got my Genesis, I even loved the home game.

Years later I picked up the Master System version of the game, which I had heard terrible things about, but I figured it would just be a lower tech Altered Beast.

The game ended up being nearly unplayable, with a frame rate of maybe 5 fps once there is an enemy on screen.  Complete garbage.

OMG. I have never played the SMS version...or, if I have, I must have repressed it. I honestly can't be certain.

[esteban]

Valis III (PCE, Genesis to a lesser extent) is pinnacle of series and kicks ass. It is so satisfying. It's a shame the level design isn't too creative in the series, but at least III tries (slightly).  Valis II, for example, is a decent platformer, but it is generic (enemy AI) with very little flair in level design. Valis IV was a let down for me (PCE, SFC)... Not nearly as satisfying as III. Syd of Valis? Horrendous.

EL VIENTO does not crush Valis III. I guess that's what I should have said. I like El Viento.

I take it you haven't played any version of Valis 1?

I have played them on Genny and PCE, but it hasn't been recent. I don't remember being particularly in love with it...

ALSO I REALIZE THAT VALIS II ISN'T A REMARKABLE GAME, BUT I LOVE THE MUSIC.

Valis II music > all WolfTeam on Genesis/MegaDrive/MegaCD/what-have-you.

[DragonmasterDan]

OMG. I have never played the SMS version...or, if I have, I must have repressed it. I honestly can't be certain.

Well, the Famicom version isn't so hot either.

[_joshuaTurbo]

I think Golden Axe on our PCE CD shoots to the top of my list.

[DragonmasterDan]

I think Golden Axe on our PCE CD shoots to the top of my list.

I was thinking about it as well after the mention of Altered Beast

[EvilEvoIX]

Legend of Success Joe.  What a train wreck!  Controls are bad, colors are bad, the premise is bad.  Just a terrible effort.  I ran through it out of curiosity but never again,


Rise of the Robots is also terrible.