The success of a game often leads to a sequel, and consequently, the franchise evolves into a series. However, it’s not always feasible to maintain a consistently high quality, and even among the most acclaimed and popular series, there can be equally notable failures.
This list features games that were expected to become famous but ultimately turned out to be a disappointment for their series. It’s likely that many franchises have similar underperformers, so this list could certainly be expanded.
Metal Gear Survive
A spin-off from the renowned series was developed without the involvement of Hideo Kojima, a detail that contributed to its downfall. Konami’s strategy was transparent – to transform the project into a “slot machine” designed to generate profits with minimal investment. Aspects such as gameplay, graphics, content richness, and other “minor” details, deemed unimportant by Konami, were neglected. Consequently, the game faced a barrage of criticism.
The classic stealth gameplay of Metal Gear has been transformed into a more aggressive “meat” style. Additionally, the game’s engine presents noticeable economic constraints: details are lacking, the color palette is uninspired, and the characters lack distinction. Moreover, the developers, as per player feedback, became overly invested in experimenting with microtransactions, which ultimately prevented the game from reaching the heights of a masterpiece.
Fallout 76
The multiplayer installment in the beloved post-apocalyptic series severely let down the franchise’s fans. Fallout 76 was released in a raw state, riddled with bugs, and it resembled the work of an inexperienced developer. Players experienced frequent crashes, disappearing items, non-functional servers, vanishing NPCs, and a proliferation of other errors that multiplied rapidly.
The criticism was warranted – rather than addressing the issues with its creation to regain fan support, Bethesda persisted in making mistakes. Initially, the company substituted the promised collectibles in bags with inferior alternatives, subsequently exposed players’ personal data, and finally, increased the subscription fee significantly.
Umbrella Corps
A spin-off from the renowned Resident Evil series was designed as a multiplayer team action game. It offered only two modes, which proved to be quite simplistic. The gameplay tends to become tedious rapidly; merely shooting everything in sight lacks excitement, and the tasks are rather repetitive. Additionally, the game was criticized for its lack of balance, often placing beginners and experienced players on the same team.
Overall, Umbrella Corps presents an archaic, unrefined, and dismal appearance, affecting every facet of the game. What was once a promising project has devolved into a mundane shooter, retaining only the franchise’s backdrop while completely deviating from its traditional framework.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
The game received widespread criticism from concerned parties. The sequel to the beloved space opera faced challenges from the outset. Development was handed over to a BioWare subsidiary, which lacked the experience needed to craft a grand-scale RPG. Internal disputes and conflicts arose, leading to a significant portion of the work being outsourced. With insufficient time for quality checks, the Mass Effect Andromeda project was ultimately released in a poor technical state.
Furthermore, the game suffered from awkward animations, dull gameplay, and lackluster direction. Bugs were present even in the trailer. The impressive graphics could not compensate for these numerous issues. Following the release, fans expressed their outrage, leading to the cessation of the game’s development and the dispersal of the development team to other projects under the direction of Electronic Arts.
Dead Space 3
The trilogy’s finale was, to say the least, a letdown. The shift from horror to action became evident in the third installment, coinciding with the project’s peak popularity. Unfortunately, this change caused the series to lose its unique allure. The reduction in jump scares and the increase in enemy count made the levels feel more like a standard shooting gallery, stripping away the gradually intensifying sense of dread that was the franchise’s hallmark.
Dead Space 3 no longer carried a hint of survival; weapons and ammunition were plentiful. Rather than necromorphs, the game introduced typical zombies and aliens. As a result, the game strayed from the intense horror atmosphere that had endeared it to fans.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint
The sequel to Wildlands was expected to address all prior issues and achieve great success; however, the outcome was less than ideal. Rather than enhancing and enriching the game, the developers inexplicably chose to rehash previous mechanics. This approach led to a disappointing result, exacerbating the studio’s typical issues with bugs, a lackluster plot, an uninspiring world, and poor graphics.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint began to seem like an incongruous blend of ill-suited mechanics and MMO elements, leading to a dull gaming experience. Additionally, the aggressive promotion of in-app store purchases also sparked complaints.
Mafia 3
Anticipation was high for the mafia setting, with fans eager to delve back into the romanticized world of mafiosi and criminal confrontations. Yet, Mafia III faced a hostile reception upon release, and justifiably so. The game was unpolished, riddled with bugs, suffered from poor performance, and was plagued by frequent crashes. While some issues were eventually addressed, no significant changes were made.
The gameplay raised some questions as well. Rather than crafting a cohesive narrative, the developers emphasized continuous grinding, which caused the more engaging tasks to be overshadowed by repetitive actions. Consequently, while the project turned out to be fairly decent, it strayed significantly from its original essence.
Assassin’s Creed Unity
The game could be seen as an attempt to capitalize on its name. The release was marred by numerous bugs, which were addressed with weekly patches, only for new issues to emerge. It appeared as though the project’s budget had been devoted entirely to recreating Paris. The game’s depiction of the city as it was in 1789 was impressively large-scale, complete with a multitude of residents, buildings, and intricate details.
Beneath the surface, the gameplay and storyline were neglected. The narrative was drawn-out, the protagonist was dull, and the franchise’s typical grandeur seemed almost farcical. Assassin’s Creed: Unity was also plagued by dreadful optimization and poor performance, leading many players to view it as the weakest entry in the series..
Alone in the Dark: Illumination
A cooperative online shooter intended to revive the legendary horror series instead had the reverse effect. The shift began with a fundamental change in the concept of Alone in the Dark. Traditionally, the franchise is known for its tense solitude amidst darkness teeming with monsters and nightmares. Yet, the developers of Alone in the Dark: Illumination inexplicably swapped the horror elements for action, resulting in a game that diverges sharply from the series’ norms.
The game is intended for cooperative play, and tackling monsters alone can be an overwhelming challenge due to their sheer numbers. However, even with multiplayer, the gameplay can become tedious due to the repetitive nature of the tasks. Additionally, the game suffers from numerous issues such as bugs, flawed animations, monsters getting trapped in textures, and subpar optimization, among other shortcomings.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst
The success of an original does not guarantee the popularity of its sequel. This was the case with Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst. The sequel seemingly lost its most crucial element—the emotional intensity and adrenaline rush that engaged players at every turn. The story’s continuation was dull; the open world felt barren, the city appeared lifeless, and the narrative lacked any element of surprise.
Issues arose in the gameplay as well; several introduced features proved to be tedious and superfluous, including the leveling system. The combat lacks diversity, with the protagonist relying solely on hand-to-hand combat. While the game may hold some appeal for enthusiasts, it seems improbable that the series will persist beyond this installment.
Dear Aeons, which games do you believe could be considered the disappointments of their otherwise successful series?
