Top 10 Worst Entries in Beloved Video Game Franchises
#10: “Devil May Cry 2” (2003)
The 10 Hardest Devil May Cry Bosses
Although 2013’s reboot entry upset a lot of fans by redesigning Dante, at least “DmC” was still fun to play. “Devil May Cry 2,” on the other hand, wasn’t. Interestingly, this game was also criticized for changing Dante, making him far less cool and much more serious than in the first game. But it had a lot of other problems, too. Although environments were criticized for looking worse, their actual design wasn’t great either. Big open spaces meant weaker potential for combos, a standout feature of the original’s combat. The game was also way easier than it needed to be, from regular enemies to boss fights. At least Capcom then knew what pitfalls to avoid for “Devil May Cry 3.”
#9: “Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight” (2010)
The real-time strategy genre had its major boom on PC throughout the 90s, and “Command & Conquer” helped lead the charge. The franchise continued to grow in the 2000s through sequels and spin-offs, until 2010’s “Tiberian Twilight” brought it all to a screeching halt. There wasn’t much about the game that didn’t tick off its diehard fanbase. The single player campaign was a major slog due to a number of reasons. Changes in gameplay, like the removal of building bases and the need to collect resources, made going it alone a chore. And when it wasn’t boring, you ran the risk of losing progress due to its required internet connection. Given the negative reception, it’s not surprising we haven’t heard much from “C&C” since.
#8: “Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel” (2004)
Every Fallout Game Ranked
“Fallout 76” had a rough couple of years, but Bethesda has managed to update it to a point that some fans are pleased with it. Back in 2004, there wasn’t much Interplay could do to fix “Brotherhood of Steel” after it was released. The spin-off followed an initiate of the Brotherhood, a powerful group ruling in the wasteland. Not much about the game impressed fans or critics. Gone was the series’ open-ended exploration, replaced by linear action filled with repetitive enemies and even more repetitive gameplay. It grew tired very quickly, especially since the story was overly edgy and the levels were both uninteresting and tended to drag.
#7: “Metroid Prime: Federation Force” (2016)
Every Metroid Game RANKED
“Metroid” is best defined by its labyrinthine design and its feelings of isolation on deadly planets. “Federation Force” tossed all that out the window, replacing it with multiplayer-focused action and a lighthearted tone. Fans were upset from the get-go, condemning Nintendo for taking the series in this direction. When it was released, it turned out to be just as generic and un-Metroid-like as many had predicted. Matters were made worse by the fact that it had been six years since the last game, “Other M,” which itself was met with mixed reception (Xref). Nintendo would bring the series back strong with 2021’s “Dread,” but this was a definite low point for the series.
#6: “Silent Hill: Book of Memories” (2012)
Resident Evil Vs Silent Hill: Video Game Showdown
“Silent Hill” is on the cusp of its resurgence, but it’s a genuine shame how the franchise initially left things. The series became a survival horror mainstay in the 2000s, deservedly earning a passionate following. Unfortunately, things eventually started going downhill, culminating in the awful “Book of Memories.” Released for the Vita in 2012, it was a dungeon crawler instead of a survival horror game, but it wasn’t even a good one. Gameplay was extremely basic, which is to say it got old quickly. But worse than that, because of this change in mechanics, the franchise’s signature tone was gone. It was a far cry from what made “Silent Hill” great in the first place.
#5: “Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival” (2015)
Top 10 Things Animal Crossing: New Horizons Doesn't Tell You
Beginning on the GameCube, “Animal Crossing” gained a devoted fan base thanks to cute critter neighbors and its ability to deliver utter relaxation. Unfortunately, even the franchise’s adorable characters couldn’t save “Amiibo Festival.” Released on the Wii U in 2015, it was a party game that utilized Amiibo for various features. If you think that sounds like a cash grab, that’s because it was. Director Aya Kyogoku admitted the game was created because she and the team wanted Nintendo to make “Animal Crossing” Amiibo. It wasn’t any fun to play anyway. The virtual board game’s spaces caused “Animal Crossing”-like events to occur, like catching a fish or finding bells. But without the fun gameplay to tie it together, it was a total bore.
#4: “Metal Gear Survive” (2018)
Every Metal Gear Solid Game Ranked
Following the departure of series creator Hideo Kojima, Konami tried its hand at a “Metal Gear” entry without him. Sadly for fans of the series, “Survive” was a soulless husk merely propped up by the IP’s name. Set between “Ground Zeroes” and “The Phantom Pain,” it placed players in an alternate dimension almost immediately. It then descended into a by-the-numbers open world survival game with uninspired, zombie-like enemies and boring quest design. Hatred was further fueled by how Konami had treated Kojima prior to his exit, and the needless inclusion of microtransactions. It was not only disappointing as a game, but it left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
#3: “Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness” (2003)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Review
Whether you’re a purist fan of the originals or a defender of the grittier modern installments, one thing is for certain: at least they’re all better than “Angel of Darkness.” The game was meant to kick off a brand new trilogy for Lara Croft, but ended up falling flat for a number of reasons. An abysmal camera and extremely dated controls made playing it a lesson in patience, and overshadowed anything that could be considered ‘good.’ That’s not to mention an abundance of technical issues and the fact that the PlayStation 2 was otherwise stacked with terrific action-adventure games. “Angel” was a sad send-off for original developer Core Design before development was given to Crystal Dynamics.
#2: “Sonic the Hedgehog” (2006)
The Truth Behind the Sonic 06 Failure
At a certain point, talking about “Sonic ‘06” is just beating a dead horse. But until the series produces a worse entry, our hands are tied. The game is now an infamous trainwreck, with a number of terrible elements all attempting to be the most successful at ruining your experience. The atrocious controls and irritating camera make Sonic’s quick-paced gameplay an absolute nightmare. Even if they did work properly, there would be too many bugs and glitches to enjoy them. The voice-acting was also subpar and the story horrendous, including a cringe-inducing romance between Sonic and a human woman. The blue blur’s popularity has stood the test of time, but this certainly didn’t help. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.
“Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite” (2017)
Top 20 Greatest Marvel Video Games Ever
A Severely Watered-Down Version of Everything That Came Before
“SimCity” (2013)
Dealt a Fatal Blow to the City-Building Giant
“Dead Rising 4” (2016)
10 Video Game Characters Who Were DEAD The Whole Time
A Change in Tone & Removal of Key Features Led to Unhappy Fans
#1: “Umbrella Corps” (2016)
Origins of The Umbrella Corporation
To many, “Resident Evil” is the pinnacle of what survival horror can offer. Several games have leaned more into action to varying degrees of failure, but none of them have reached the depths of “Umbrella Corps.” The game was a competitive multiplayer shooter designed to be part of the eSports crowd, which is the exact opposite of what any fan wanted. It didn’t help that Capcom made it the most generic, vanilla experience possible. However, ‘generic’ could’ve still been mildly enjoyable if not for the poor map design and clunky controls. Nothing about the game worked, and it was quickly left in the dust by those it sought to compete with. Which of these games soured you on a fantastic franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments and be sure to subscribe for more great videos every day!
