What critically-panned game do you just love?

[DinoRexMax DinoRexMax]

• Nearly anything by Grasshopper studios.
• Oneechanbara Bikini Zombie Slayers, Z2, and Origin.
• Yaiba at the time, but I only play that to have fun with the bonus arcade mode. You couldn't get me to do that again.
• Street Fighter V, but I didn't really play it until after all, the updates and champion edition came out.
• Double Dragon Neon, Double Dragon IV, & Double Dragon Revive.

Aww, this list is a trip. Sure, Yaiba eats, and Oneenchanbara probably got bombed for sexism or something, but nearly ANYTHING by Grasshopper? That's pretty harsh. Killer 7 was pretty well reviewed, review scored average 70% and above (Gamepro gave it low 1.5/5, I imagine that one was personal) and all 3 of the No More Heroes games got pretty decent reviews.

And what is it that makes Neon, IV, and Revive so much more critically panned then Gaiden, y'think? Double Dragon Revive looks like it handles weapons better than Gaiden does, and the TMNT style background bounce looks pretty satisfying.

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

I'll change my answer to this

 

[BrawlMan]

That's pretty harsh. Killer 7 was pretty well reviewed, review scored average 70% and above (Gamepro gave it low 1.5/5, I imagine that one was personal) and all 3 of the No More Heroes games got pretty decent reviews.

Yeah, but a lot of non-YouTuber reviewers, started having more mixed opinions on later Grasshopper or Suda directed games after Killer Is Dead. A lot of games journalist hated on the game and accused it of "sexism", and apparently predicted/hoped the game's "failure" would kill Suda's career. Those fuck heads were all proven wrong, and a majority people don't remember or are nothing more than scattered memories.

And what is it that makes Neon, IV, and Revive so much more critically panned then Gaiden, y'think? Double Dragon Revive looks like it handles weapons better than Gaiden does, and the TMNT style background bounce looks pretty satisfying.

The 80s in Neon you either lover or hate. This includes DD fans themselves. I like Neon, but I don't like it as much as I used to back when it came out. Not helping matter is that the game becomes a grind fest (mainly on harder difficulties.) for those mix tape buffs/stances. Constantly having to pause the game to change them ruins the pace, until you find the exact two that work best, upgrade those, and never bother with the rest either again. Neon has technically the worst replay value, as their is not much else to after the player(s) beat the game, other than harder difficulties.

Gaiden's weapon handling is actually pretty good, but the only problem is that only Billy and Jimmy can grab and use weapons. Everyone else either use the grab button for a special attack, or a specialized grab only they can do. Not even Sonny Lee can grab weapons, and he's related to Billy and Jimmy. Sonny is their cousin in this version.

Revive there is barely a difference in panning, but the game is technically worse visually or bland looking in certain stages or environments. The character models animate great and look good. Revive does have the best environmental interaction and weapon variety, outside of maybe DDA. There is some minor jank and bullshit platforming, but thankfully the platforming is not too long in either of the two stages they show up. Though it is really annoying in Linda's second half of her stage.

Double Dragon IV is a decent game, but feels like a fan made game at times, even though it's from the original creator himself. The game sells at a cheap price (unless you're buying the LRG physical) on digital stores, and is even cheaper on most sales. DDIV has the advantage of either better or more bonus characters/bonus modes than Neon or Revive. Tower Mode is super addicting, and it is funny plalying certain bosses due to how over powered most of them are.

Double Dragon Gaiden I consider the best of the modern Double Dragon titles. It is ironic, as I was skeptical/somewhat against, because of the rouge-like elements. Those are actually done so well, and it makes Gaiden really addicting and what I consider the best rouge-like brawler ever made. The game still get updates, content, and new characters. Though I think they may have tapped out this time after the update about 3 months ago. Secret Base has done so much and supported this game for three years now. If this is there final character update, I can happily live with that! Take a bow ladies and gentleman of SB, you did this DD fan and many others proud! I am glad you proved me and many others fans. wrong.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

Rampage: World Tour was fucking awesome, too.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

Shadow the hedgehog

 

[JustLooking456]

 

[Lunard]

For me, Forza Motorsport (2023).
The game had a complicated launch, but it was improving with updates, but in 2025 half of the development studio was laid off and now the game is unfortunately abandoned.
But I still enjoy playing it.

 

[G.L.a.D.O.S.]

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero for the PS1. It was as stiff as a circuit board coaster. Controls were fairly awful, it tried to be a side-scrolling beat 'em up using the arcade Mortal Kombat controls and was generally just a bad game. However, I absolutely love playing it because of its very clunkiness. It looked really good for the time, though.

 

[DinoRexMax DinoRexMax]

I'll change my answer to this

Crazy to think that King's Field was so popular at one point that you could just slap "From the creator's of..." on the front of a game like it meant something, especially considering they still weren't putting FromSoftware on the front covers of the games they made (all the way into the 2000s, since both Lost Kingdoms games had Activision on the front) and it was why people were shocked to find out Armoured Core is made by the same people as Dark Souls.

It is ironic, as I was skeptical/somewhat against, because of the rouge-like elements. Those are actually done so well, and it makes Gaiden really addicting and what I consider the best rouge-like brawler ever made.

Bro, don't even @ me about DDG token farming, I think I have to go to a clinic for that shit. Best version of Bimmy ever, I was also pretty skeptical on the game. Something about the graphics made it look sort of stiff in screenshots for some reason.

Gaiden's weapon handling is actually pretty good, but the only problem is that only Billy and Jimmy can grab and use weapons. Everyone else either use the grab button for a special attack, or a specialized grab only they can do. Not even Sonny Lee can grab weapons, and he's related to Billy and Jimmy. Sonny is their cousin in this version.

I find that half the cast being unable to handle weapons not super great, and there such an afterthought they don't have any real depth to them, especially when compared to the specials. Holy fuck, I'm a hardcore proponent against "Giga-Crush" style specials, but tone it down DDG! I just killed half of the known universe with that combo string.

I know about the deal with the Lee brothers, Sonny was player 3 in Double Dragon: The Sacred Stones arcade right? Like how they made him "lazy" because he hardly appears in any games. And they made Bimmy Lee into a Vegito/Potara style fusion? Way better than the dumbe Bimmy/Jammy clone bosses in Neon.

Yeah, but a lot of non-YouTuber reviewers, started having more mixed opinions on later Grasshopper or Suda directed games after Killer Is Dead. A lot of games journalist hated on the game and accused it of "sexism", and apparently predicted/hoped the game's "failure" would kill Suda's career. Those fuck heads were all proven wrong, and a majority people don't remember or are nothing more than scattered memories.

I would much rather Suda fail as a result of his pretentiousness than any perceived sexism. People like him and Kojima just need an editor.

The 80s in Neon you either lover or hate. This includes DD fans themselves. I like Neon, but I don't like it as much as I used to back when it came out.

Lol, that's Neon for you. It was a commodity on release, but eventually, everyone started banking hard on 80s nostalgia and it became less special. Firebird and Glad I Am are killer, but what really hampers the experience is the writing. I'd cover my entire house in wood panelling and neon pain if it meant I never had to hear another "Dude, are we, like in a video game?!" joke again.

Double Dragon IV is a decent game, but feels like a fan made game at times, even though it's from the original creator himself.

Looking at it, I can feel the negative reaction coming from it being too retro, in a way most audiences aren't prepared for when they claim to want a "retro game" experience. Like, they want Donkey Kong Country Returns with all of it's spectacle and refinement rather than a DKC game that uses all of the old prerendered assets. Which is a shame, sort of, because it's not as if no one has ever thought of making a game like that (especially if the original creator is invovled) and there's no way there isn't a niche audience who just wants 8-Bit Zelda (or even 64-bit) for 40 more games.

Revive there is barely a difference in panning, but the game is technically worse visually or bland looking in certain stages or environments. The character models animate great and look good. Revive does have the best environmental interaction and weapon variety, outside of maybe DDA. There is some minor jank and bullshit platforming, but thankfully the platforming is not too long in either of the two stages they show up. Though it is really annoying in Linda's second half of her stage.

Ah, so it's bland? I can see that, especially with the muted colour pallet and it's paint-by-number Unreal engine hit sparks. Still leagues above shit like Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons, so I suppose the liscence is doing alright in Arksys' hands as of late.

 

[BrawlMan]

Something about the graphics made it look sort of stiff in screenshots for some reason.

The graphics/art style was the least of my issues before and after release. My main concern was strictly the rouge-like. DD Gaiden is not the best looking indie game, but still looks and animates pretty good. I prefer it over Neon. Neon's isn't bad mind you, but it has that clear, we were also on a budget and doing our best here for you to not notice. Screenshots don't do justice for me in most cases. I need to see how something looks, animates, and plays.

there such an afterthought they don't have any real depth to them, especially when compared to the specials. Holy fuck, I'm a hardcore proponent against "Giga-Crush" style specials, but tone it down DDG! I just killed half of the known universe with that combo string.

They got depth, but some require no thought, or you can just spam the same or certain moves and over again. I'd say a good 85% of the overall cast has depth somewhere, or you don't need to spam one attack all of the time.

And they made Bimmy Lee into a Vegito/Potara style fusion? Way better than the dumbe Bimmy/Jammy clone bosses in Neon.

The joke is fine and laughed hard the first time in Neon, but Gaiden does it better and turns him into a fused character with a tool kit.

Lol, that's Neon for you. It was a commodity on release, but eventually, everyone started banking hard on 80s nostalgia and it became less special. Firebird and Glad I Am are killer, but what really hampers the experience is the writing. I'd cover my entire house in wood panelling and neon pain if it meant I never had to hear another "Dude, are we, like in a video game?!" joke again.

Eh, still better than Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Though I can see why Neon can wear out its welcome with the jokes or lampshade hanging. Like I said though, mine is mainly from a gameplay and lack of replay value perspective.

Looking at it, I can feel the negative reaction coming from it being too retro, in a way most audiences aren't prepared for when they claim to want a "retro game" experience. Like, they want Donkey Kong Country Returns with all of it's spectacle and refinement rather than a DKC game that uses all of the old prerendered assets. Which is a shame, sort of, because it's not as if no one has ever thought of making a game like that (especially if the original creator is invovled) and there's no way there isn't a niche audience who just wants 8-Bit Zelda (or even 64-bit) for 40 more games.

Despite Double Dragon IV's problems, it is the most accessible of the 8-bit NES/NES style games. I'd play it any day over any version of III. You cat least get continues, and even you lose all of your continues, you can still start at the most recent stage with level select. So you have multiple chances to beat the game without having to start all the way from the top!

Still leagues above shit like Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons, so I suppose the liscence is doing alright in Arksys' hands as of late.

You're not wrong, and I appreciate the Revive love, but that's not a high bar to clear, and Neon already did that a over a decade ago. Some people, mostly Gen Z Alpha (but there are those from older generations who don't follow gaming news, who didn't know about this version of II either) don't even know about Wander, or that it doesn't even exist anymore. Arc System has been doing overall so far with the IP, more than Technos ever did.

I would much rather Suda fail as a result of his pretentiousness than any perceived sexism. People like him and Kojima just need an editor.

I stopped caring about Kojima before Death Stranding ever came out. Suda51 will never fail much, and I rather he and his team didn't. Neither are going anywhere for a long time. Kojima is really the only one who needs an editor. Suda at least has much better punchlines, or gets straight to the point.

 

[Metroid_Hybrid]

Robo Pit is another one that I really liked back in the day, but apparently reviewers didn't..
There was basically no real plot to speak of, and the graphics were bland, yet colorful & charming AF. The combat was smooth & intuitive, and you could change between multiple camera angles on the fly..

 

[JustLooking456]

My favorite game in the series, hated by reviewers and fans alike:

 

[csanjuro]

Drakengard

 

[Plasmadose]

Mass Effect 3. Its the one game I feel has the most unwarranted hate for mostly because of the final 5-10 minutes, which is stupid because most ending to video games aren't great to begin with. Just makes me think they don't beat many games to experience actual awful conclusions. Assassin's Creed 3 has an absolutely, indisputably terrible ending but no one ever talked about it as much as ME3.

 

[NOTthatHARD]

NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor’s Edge
Batman Arkham Origins
Assassin’s Creed Rogue
F.E.A.R. 3
Resident Evil 6
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT

I know all the problems and shortcomings those games have, but I still love them.

 

[fmsynthetic]

There's quite a few I can think of. The Last Guardian, the original GBA Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, The ending of Danganronpa V3. Not quite hated, but often looked over and called mediocre was Lost Planet 1 and 2. I've only ever seen people complain about Last Remnant, and while I do agree with their problems with it, the game had enough going for it to make me really enjoy what it had.

I liked The Last Guardian. I don't think people understood how to build the relationship between the boy and Trico properly. I'll admit to having unmanly emotions at the end.

Post automatically merged: Apr 25, 2026

I don't know whether Brandish is critically-panned, but I think that game's awesome.

 

[_Axl]

which is stupid because most ending to video games aren't great to begin with. Just makes me think they don't beat many games to experience actual awful conclusions.

lmao.