Uncovering the Games That Had Potential but Missed the Mark

#8: Alan Wake

Don't be misled; Alan Wake's presence on this list is rather peculiar. I hold a genuine affection for the first Alan Wake and believe it has endured quite well over the years. However, there's a significant disparity between the Alan Wake we got and the original concept. Initially, Alan Wake was envisioned as an open-world survival game, similar to Silent Hill or Resident Evil. The idea was to gather supplies during the day in Bright Falls and engage in side quests. But at night, one had to face the onslaught of evil enemies. Unfortunately, that's not what we got in the actual game. Instead, we have a good, albeit linear, game that takes you through different areas based on the chapter. I'm curious about how open Alan Wake 2 will be, as I would have loved to experience the "original" version.

The first Alan Wake managed to create a captivating atmosphere and a unique story. The characters were well-developed, and the setting was immersive. But the execution of the open-world survival aspect fell flat. The game became more focused on linear storytelling rather than giving players the freedom to explore and survive in a vast open world. It's a shame because the potential was there.

#7: Fallout 76

To be fair, Fallout 76 has improved significantly since its launch. It now has an actual story, NPCs, and plenty of things for players to do. But when it first came out, it was a chaotic mess. The game was almost devoid of actual content. There were a few audio logs guiding players to places like the elementary school or the grocery store, but upon arrival, they would only find more audio logs. Even the multiplayer aspect, with a player limit of around 24, is not particularly great.

The idea of a "Fallout MMO" was promising, but the implementation was bizarre. The game lacked the depth and variety that fans expected from a Fallout game. The lack of proper exploration and the repetitive nature of the gameplay made it a disappointment. It's clear that the developers had a great vision for Fallout 76, but they failed to execute it properly.

#6: We Happy Few

This game has always been a major disappointment for me. That initial trailer was truly remarkable, setting a mood with its inventive aesthetic and leaving us intrigued about what was happening in the city. But when the game was released, it turned out to be a fairly mediocre survival game.

Some parts of the game still work, like the beginning of Arthur's story. The atmosphere and the setting are still captivating. However, the actual gameplay, especially the stealth sections, is just average at best. It's as if the developers focused more on creating a unique aesthetic than on delivering a solid gameplay experience. The concept of a game where everyone is on "Joy" but the player feels no joy themselves is a clever meta-commentary, but it doesn't make up for the lackluster gameplay.

#5: Superman

There have been numerous bad Superman games, making him a prominent figure on this list. While Superman Returns, the last actual Superman game, wasn't terrible, it certainly didn't live up to the expectations. The core problem with a Superman game is that the character is virtually invulnerable. So, how do you create challenges and stakes for the player? The answer is, you don't. Instead of coming up with innovative gameplay mechanics, developers often rely on cheap contrivances like "Kryptonite Gas" (Superman 64). It's a lazy approach that fails to capture the essence of Superman.

A Superman game should be an ultimate power fantasy, allowing players to feel like the Man of Steel. Instead, most Superman games settle for mediocre gameplay and lackluster storylines. It's a shame because Superman has so much potential to be an amazing game.

#4: Payday

It's astonishing that there have been three attempts at making a Payday game, and none of them have been particularly outstanding. While the games aren't "awful," they certainly aren't great either. The question remains: why is this the case? It shouldn't be difficult to create an online bank robbery game, but something just doesn't feel right about them.

The controls in Payday games are a bit too unresponsive, and the shooting feels strange. Instead of addressing these issues and improving the gameplay, the developers focus on releasing more masks and other dumb cosmetics. It's a clear sign that they are more concerned with making money than with delivering a quality gaming experience. This is why GTA Online has become one of the biggest money-makers ever, while Payday 3 "failed to meet sales expectations."

#3: Brutal Legend

The concept of a "Heavy Metal Legend of Zelda" game still appeals to many today. Sadly, that's not what Brutal Legend actually is. Brutal Legend is more of a strategy game with a small dose of action. It's similar to an old Shiny game called "Sacrifice," where you have a third-person RTS element but also a main character who can engage in battles.

For the first half hour or so, the game plays like a regular action-adventure game, with you getting your guitar and rebuilding your car. But then it suddenly switches to a strategy game, leaving you with a sense of being conned. The transition is jarring, and it ruins the flow of the gameplay. It's a missed opportunity to create a truly unique and immersive gaming experience.

#2: Watch Dogs Legion

Writing a story where "The Government" is the bad guys is relatively easy in a game. But the real challenge is creating a story with a main character that players can connect with. From a gameplay perspective, Legion is decent enough; stealth, combat, and exploration all work. However, the problem lies in the lack of a main character.

Watch Dogs 1's Aiden Pearce may have been a flawed character, but at least he was a character. In Legion, you have only cookie-cutter, indistinguishable NPCs that you recruit to be your player character. These characters have no personality or agency in the story. In fact, the whole point of the game is that they can die or get captured, and you simply become a new character. It's a bizarre and frustrating concept that ruins the game for many players.

#1: Comix Zone

I love almost everything about Comix Zone, from its decent story to its amazing visuals and good soundtrack. The punk rock attitude it exudes is unique and sets it apart from other games. But unfortunately, playing the game itself is a disappointment.

Comix Zone is essentially a beat'em up game, but it offers a very limited set of moves. You only have one attack button, and the other buttons are mainly for jumping and selecting items. Blocking is automatic but not very effective. Beating up regular enemies is fine at first, but it quickly becomes repetitive. Additionally, losing health when attacking certain environmental objects to progress through levels adds an unnecessary layer of frustration.

The core idea of having a real-world character in a comic book world is brilliant, but Comix Zone fails to deliver on that promise. It's a shame because with a few tweaks and improvements, this game could have been a classic. Instead, it remains a game with great potential that was poorly executed.