My Top 5 Most Underwhelming Games of 2009

2009 has been a long and eventful year for gaming. This is the first year that I followed almost every release and kept track of them. This is easier said than done, because a lot of them came out. So I'm here to chronicle my Top 5 Most Underwhelming Games of 2009 These are all, of course, my own opinions. And off we go:

5. F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin
I guess you could say I wanted this game to be good, although I wasn't a huge fan of F.E.A.R 1. However, I found the game boring and bland even when I should have been thrilled about shooting a man in half. Overall, it was probably my least favorite shooter this year, which is saying something because Darkest of Days exists.

4. The Wheelman
I was really anticipating this games release. I really should have seen the warning sign of Midway, who haven't released a good game in who knows when. Unfortunately, uber-nerd Vin Diesel (another reason why I was looking forward to the game) didn't deliver at all. Granted, it's got some really cool ideas and was executed sloppily, so I'm hoping someone with a good pedigree will pick it up and remake it or take the ideas and do something else with them.

3. The Godfather Part II: The Game
Really, it's just a poor mans version of Mafia which doesn't come out until January. I absolutely loved the first Godfather game and sunk tons of hours into it. I, again, eagerly awaited it and as soon as it came out I, again, was sorely disappointed. The developers seemingly made no effort to forward the game's mechanics other than the "Don's View". Overall, it just felt unfinished.

2. Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
I love Westerns. I love first person shooters. But I don't love Call of Juarez. I had expected something else out of it, maybe a good shooter. The story and writing were great, but the core gameplay mechanics felt sloppy and loose. Shooting never felt so unsatisfactory. I only wish they had left this sort of game to someone who knows how to make first person shooters.

1. Brutal Legend
As much as it pains me to say it, Brutal Legend just wasn't that great. I love Tim Schaefer, but for some reason his games just don't click with me. Both Pyschonauts and Brutal Legend have left me a little underwhelmed. I had long, long been anticipating Brutal Legend only to have been let down, like a midget getting out of his high chair. I think it had tons of good ideas, but was weighed down with just too much stuff. For shame, Tim, for shame.

Honorable Mention: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Technically, this doesn't count, only because I wasn't eagerly expecting it. I always had a feeling it'd be a mediocre game. So disappointing, Activision, so disappointing.

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Jake Johnson

December 06, 2009

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Suriel Vazquez

5 - yes
4 - yup
3 - uh-huh
2 - Haven't played it, but likely.
1 - I respectfully disagree.

Why so? I mean, I understand why a lot of people like it. I mean, I love the humor and writing, as well as the music. But, man, if the mechanics weren't messy.

Yes, the interface was clunky, and it wasn't the most varied strategy game out there, but I believe it offered a great Strategy experience. The character combat was bad, but that wasn't the focus of the game as much as the RTS.

I think a lot of people didn't like it because they were expecting something else, and when it wasn't completely an action/adventure game, people were kind of bothered by it.

What people got instead was good, it just wasn't presented well.

That said, it isn't the best game of the year or anything, but I don't feel as it was an utter failure in that regard. But, then again, that's just my opinion.

I can see where you're coming from. I guess I was just one of the people expecting something else. I figured it was going to be less strategy, more balls-out brawling.

Alex Bowen

You ARE kidding about Modern Warfare 2, right?

Nick Giunta

I haven't played any of these games, and looks like I won't have too!
thanks!

David Matos

OH MY GOD! Someone who is not easily swayed by community hype. Modern Warfare 2 is so plain and generic and retard-friendly, I thought I was the only one who saw what it is.

As for the others on your list, haven't played and was never going to. I hope you didn't but all those.

Jeffrey Sandlin

I insulted Brutal legend with a lot more vigor then you did.

I didn't even mind the strategy battles. The entire presentation and framework of the game was more what pissed me off.

http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/omg-wtf-brutal-legend-.html

It's easier for people to read that then for me to explain every last detail but yes. Brutal Legend struck me as very underwhelming and I support it's place on this list.

Also it shouldn't surprise anyone that their is one person on the entire internet who dislikes modern warfare 2. It's not like it's possible for a game to be so good every last person will like it.

Bryan Glynn

Agreeing with most everyone else, Brutal Legend was also my biggest letdown of '09 (maybe my only letdown).

The game just isn't that fun to play. I was not expecting it to be so RTS-heavy, and the secondary missions are god-awfully mundane and repetitive. I also question the usefulness of the Motor Forge. Why, if the RTS elements were going to be so prevalent, are you not able to permanently upgrade your army? Sure, it's nice to give Eddie and his car some little upgrades, but it's a pain in the ass to have to start from scratch for every stage battle.

The pacing of the game is also a big issue. Being one very short game, the plot moves way too fast; in the span of about 6-7 hours, characters will come and go, relationships developed and broken, and the battle between good and evil continuously swaying back and forth. Don't get me wrong, what's there of the character and writing is solid, but it could have been fleshed out much more.

The game simply did not play like I hoped and assumed it would. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but this game really let me down.

Daniel Feit

I didn't play any of these, so I'll take your word for it. I have a friend who really enjoyed Brutal Legend but most people seem to be pretty down on it.

My biggest disappointment might be Uncharted 2, but that's only because the game was drenched in hype by the time I got my hands on it, so "underwhelming" is about the kindest thing I can say about it.

Alex Gagne

The pacing of the game is also a big issue. Being one very short game, the plot moves way too fast; in the span of about 6-7 hours, characters will come and go, relationships developed and broken, and the battle between good and evil continuously swaying back and forth. Don't get me wrong, what's there of the character and writing is solid, but it could have been fleshed out much more.

Echoing my thoughts perfectly.

I bought the game with the mindset of "Even if the gameplay sucks I can deal with it, as long as the plot and characters and story are great; which is a given". Well, unfortunately the RTS elements failed to grab me, and the plot was so terribly paced that it broke everything else down. Playing Brutal Legend was like reading a book and skipping every third chapter. In comparison to Psychonauts which had an epic quest in terms of story, this one was short and simple (yet confusing due to lack of explanation) and felt like it had been chopped in half.