Editorials
The Top 10 Worst Games of 2017
2017 was an excellent year for games. Not only did it mark the glorious return of seemingly dead genres with titles such as A Hat in Time and Resident Evil VII, but 2017 might as well have been the year of the indie game thanks to titles like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Cuphead standing head and shoulders above most other games. However, the universe has a weird way of balancing things, as the worst games of 2017 are beyond the pale. These are the kinds of games you would expect in cartoons or SNL skits that make fun of video games, not in reality. If my top 10 best games list made you excited for the games of 2018, this list might make you swear off video games for life. As always, I’m only counting games that were released this year and are not ports or rereleases of old games, so don’t expect Life of Black Tiger, no matter how much you want me to tear into that mess. If it makes you feel any better, consider that crime against video games a dishonorable #11.
10. 1-2-Switch
Normally, I don’t have anything against minigame collections. The Mario Party franchise relies on minigames and makes them feel fun with fantastic presentation and (usually) novel concepts. Heck, even the minigame collections packaged with Nintendo’s previous consoles, Wii Sports and NintendoLand, are fun and enjoyable. But, 1-2-Switch is about as barebones as you can get. Nintendo didn’t get creative with any of these minigames, and since gamers don’t even need to use the Nintendo Switch or television screens to play 1-2-Switch, you would be forgiven for thinking it isn’t even a video game. The only reason the game isn’t higher on the list is because, thanks to its barebones nature, a woman was able to play it with her blind husband. I can’t help but somewhat appreciate this oddly advantageous design flaw.
9. Sonic Forces
As you might expect, this list is absolutely crawling with entries from my most disappointing games article, and the first one is Sonic Forces. Just about everything about the game screams poor design, especially the levels. When you can complete a level by only holding down the boost button for just under two minutes, that’s a sign the developers didn’t do their jobs properly. All the groundwork is present for Sonic Forces to be a good game, but it falls short of what it could/should be.
8. Hello Neighbor
Many gamers had high hopes for this game (I didn’t, which is why I wasn’t disappointed enough to add it to my most disappointing games list). Hello Neighbor seemed to have everything going for it, especially in terms of concept and art style, but the final result flounders. The game is billed as a 3D action puzzle game, but the “puzzles” are the worst part of Hello Neighbor and aren’t even puzzles. Instead, they’re annoying little frustrations with no logical rhyme or reason that force gamers to guess what the game developer was thinking instead of work out a solution that makes sense. Hello Neighbor would be higher on the list, but the earlier alpha and beta versions of the game didn’t have these kinds of design problems, which demonstrates that Dynamic Pixels can make a good game, but the studio choked during the final lap.
7. Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty is a zombie at this point: Activision basically releases the same game over and over again with a different paint job. This year’s paint jobs were “World War II,” and “non-regenerating health.” Call of Duty: WWII adds nothing new to the table, which forces the game to rely on mechanics that are meh at best. Ok, technically the game added microtransactions and loot boxes, but that’s hardly a positive. If anything, these microtransactions bring the mediocre game down thanks to their horrendous implementation.
6. Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite should have been good. The previous entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise was an absolute joy, but Capcom basically ruined Infinite with numerous baffling choices. Get rid of many fan-favorite/series staple characters? Check. Swap out the iconic 3v3 combat for a more mundane 2v2 system? Check. Completely botch the graphics and art design? Check. Limit the budget to less than half that of Street Fighter V‘s DLC? Check. Any one of these issues on their own wouldn’t have ruined the game, but all of them together turned Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite into a disappointing mess outshined by indie fighting games like Brawlout and Nidhogg 2.
5. Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back
We live in a time where nostalgia rules and much of our entertainment is dominated by remakes/reboots of great shows and games that vary in levels of success. However, Bubsy was never good, so who thought bringing that game back would result in anything but failure? Not only is Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back a mechanically flawed game, but the titular character Bubsy is far too annoying (and talkative) to be likable. The original Bubsy games also suffered from these problems, and The Woolies Strike Back‘s developers easily could have fixed these mistakes and turned the game into Bubsy’s first good game. However, would The Woolies Strike Back really have been a Bubsy game if it didn’t carry on the tradition of being a paw-sitively awful (sorry for the pun)? Regardless, an intentionally bad game is still a bad game.
4. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Mega Battle
The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers movie is bad, so it’s only fitting its tie-in game Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Mega Battle (which actually has more in common with the original TV series than the 2017 movie) is also bad. The game plays like a quick cash grab — probably because it is — and is a buggy, glitchy mess. Missing music, bugged enemies, and game crashes are only a few of the problems prevalent in the game, not counting the issues with the combat mechanics. I played the other movie tie-in game, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, and found it to be flawed but infinitely more enjoyable. Plus, unlike Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Mega Battle, Legacy Wars is free. I now know how Rita Repulsa felt back during the first season of Power Rangers, because this game gives me such a headache.
3. Vroom in the Night Sky
At first glance, Vroom in the Night Sky sounds like an awesome concept: an anime witch flies through the air on a motorcycle or scooter and completes various missions. It’s the glorious kind of stupid most gamers would have a difficult time not enjoying, but the developers did everything in their power to make the game as unenjoyable as possible. The controls are an absolute nightmare, and you can’t tell if the devs intentionally designed the environments to look textureless or if they actually forgot to texture the game world. And then there’s the English localization. Dear god, the English localization. Either the person responsible for translating the game intentionally went for a Zero Wing “All your base are belong to us” vibe, or he or she doesn’t speak English. The only redeeming part about the game is that it is the most bonkers, anime thing I’ve seen in a long time.
2. Road Rage
Not to be confused with the fantastic Road Redemption, Road Rage is an abject failure and commits every cardinal game design sin. The controls are bad; the graphics look terrible even by last gen standards, and the open world is empty. Worst of all, Road Rage is boring. Utterly, inescapably boring. At least Vroom in the Night Sky has a zany premise that gives it an odd, awkward charm (and nothing else), but Road Rage reminds me too much of Ride to Hell: Retribution. That is not something any game should strive for.
1. Star Wars Battlefront II
Well, you all saw this coming. Star Wars: Battlefront II, the most disappointing game of 2017, is also the worst game of 2017. Sure, the gameplay is fine from a mechanical standpoint, and the game has fantastic graphical fidelity, but everything else about Star Wars Battlefront II is just horrendous. The single player campaign is bland and unoriginal to the point of plagiarism; the multiplayer is more of a downgrade than an upgrade from the original Battlefront, and worst of all, the game is insulting. The only way gamers who don’t play Battlefront II twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week can “reasonably” obtain iconic characters, classes, and vehicles is to buy them with microtransactions (assuming, of course, microtransactions aren’t removed by the time you read this article). And that’s on top of the $60 price for the game. And Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus subscriptions. The insults don’t even end there, because EA decided to implement loot boxes that contain character, class, and vehicle upgrades that are completely broken; literally the only way for players to counter these upgrades is to buy loot boxes and pray they get the same upgrades, because no amount of skill can stand up to an upgrade that makes a character invincible. Had EA not included microtransactions, Star Wars Battlefront II would have been an ok game at worst and a good game at best, but thanks to corporate greed, Battlefront II is the worst game of 2017 bar none.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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