10 Games That Overpromised & Underdelivered

gameranx

9 Jun 202415:41

Summary

TLDRThis video script discusses 10 games that, despite high expectations and promises, failed to deliver on their hype. Titles like the Fable series, Halo Infinite, and Star Wars Battlefront are highlighted for their underwhelming experiences compared to their ambitious marketing. The script also touches on games that had potential but fell short, such as Two Human and Star Citizen, which has yet to fully release despite its long development. The list concludes with Forspoken, which notably did not meet the high bar set by its initial reveal.

Takeaways

😔 The Fable series was overhyped with promises of ambitious features that were never fully realized, such as the life and death decisions and the tree-growing mechanic in Fable 3.
🚀 Halo Infinite was expected to be a game that would keep players engaged indefinitely, but it failed to maintain its player base and the hype, feeling like a missed opportunity to compete with major titles like Fortnite.
🎮 Star Wars Battlefront, released by EA, was anticipated to be a great return for the franchise but was released as an unfinished package with too few maps, modes, and no campaign.
🤖 Too Human was Silicon Knights' last game, which had a decade-long development and multiple platform changes, but ultimately released as an underwhelming and 'okay' game that didn't live up to its potential.
🌌 Starfield was marketed as a space exploration game with exciting planetary discovery, but it fell short in delivering the promised exciting space exploration experience, with repetitive and bland planets.
🛸 Advent Rising had the potential to start a new franchise with its sci-fi storytelling and worldbuilding, but it failed to captivate audiences and didn't deliver on the promise of sequels and a lasting franchise.
💣 Battlefield 2042 was touted as the ultimate multiplayer experience for Battlefield fans, but at launch, it was a glitchy and unfinished mess that didn't meet the high expectations set by its marketing.
🌟 Star Citizen has been in development for years and continues to promise a lot, but it has yet to fully release, leaving many waiting for the final product that has been hyped for so long.
🏗️ Brink was supposed to be a groundbreaking multiplayer experience with innovative gameplay mechanics, but it ended up being a game that came and went without making a lasting impact.
📚 Forspoken (formerly known as Project Athia) was initially revealed as a next-generation game with stunning graphics and high-speed gameplay, but the final product was underwhelming and failed to deliver on its initial promise.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script discussing?
-The main theme of the video script is discussing video games that were overhyped and ultimately underdelivered on their promises.
Why does the Fable series make the list of games that underdelivered?
-The Fable series makes the list because, despite the original games being loved by the speaker, the series was known for overpromising and not meeting those high expectations, particularly with Fable 3 and its lack of depth in the 'king' role.
What was the initial promise of Halo Infinite that it failed to deliver at launch?
-Halo Infinite initially promised to be a game that would keep players engaged indefinitely, living up to its name 'Infinite'. However, at launch, it failed to maintain player interest and did not meet the expectations of a strong multiplayer foundation that could sustain the game for years.
How did Star Wars Battlefront's launch compare to its pre-launch hype?
-Star Wars Battlefront was highly anticipated due to its developers and the franchise's legacy, but upon release, it was seen as an unfinished package with not enough content, maps, or modes, leading to disappointment.
What was the development history of Too Human, and how did it affect the game's reception?
-Too Human had a development history spanning over a decade, with shifts between different platforms and development deals. Despite the hype, the final game was received as just okay, not living up to the expectations set by its long development and industry interest.
What was the main criticism of Starfield's planetary exploration feature?
-The main criticism of Starfield's planetary exploration was that the planets were boring, repetitious, and bland, lacking the excitement and depth that were promised during the game's marketing.
What was the initial promise of Advent Rising, and how did it fail to deliver?
-Advent Rising was initially promised as a new big franchise with a rich sci-fi world and storytelling. However, it failed to deliver a compelling sequel or a franchise, despite having elements like a spin-off comic book series and the involvement of famous creators.
What were the main issues with Battlefield 2042 at launch, and how have they been addressed?
-Battlefield 2042 at launch was criticized for its lack of compelling content, glitches, and an unfinished feel. The character operator system was not well-received, and the game was missing features expected from a Battlefield game. In recent months, the developers have improved the game and added features that players wanted.
What is the current status of Star Citizen, and why does it make the list of games that underdelivered?
-Star Citizen is still in development and has not yet had a full release, despite being in the works for a long time. It makes the list because it has promised a lot but has not yet delivered the final game, leading to skepticism from outsiders.
What were the expectations for Brink, and why did it fail to meet them?
-Brink was expected to be a unique and innovative multiplayer experience, with ambitious gameplay systems combining single-player, co-op, and multiplayer elements. However, it failed to meet these expectations, receiving mixed reviews and not capturing the audience's interest as anticipated.
What was the initial reveal of Forspoken like, and how did the final game differ from this vision?
-The initial reveal of Forspoken, then known as Project AA, showcased a game with high-speed movement in stunning environments, promising a generational leap in gaming. However, the final game did not live up to this vision, offering a less impressive experience that was criticized for its lackluster story and world.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Overhyped Games That Underdelivered

The video script discusses the phenomenon of games that were overhyped but failed to meet expectations. It highlights the Fable series, particularly Fable 3, for not meeting its ambitious promises, such as the depth of kingship and life and death decisions. The original Fable was also criticized for its unrealistic promises, like growing a tree from a seed over time, which never materialized. Despite these shortcomings, the speaker still appreciates the Fable games for their entertainment value.

05:01

🚀 Halo Infinite's Missed Mark

The script moves on to critique Halo Infinite for not living up to its name and promise of being a game that would keep players engaged indefinitely. Despite improvements, the game's launch was underwhelming with a fluctuating player base and a failure to maintain the excitement in the gaming community. The game's promise of a strong multiplayer foundation that could sustain it for years was not fulfilled, leading to disappointment among fans.

10:02

🌌 Star Wars Battlefront's Unfinished Promise

The third paragraph focuses on the new Star Wars Battlefront game by EA, which was highly anticipated but ultimately released as an unfinished product. The game was criticized for its lack of content, including maps and modes, and for feeling overpriced and undercooked. The contrast between the game's stunning graphics and its lack of depth in gameplay is highlighted, along with the fallout from the microtransaction controversy in Star Wars Battlefront 2.

15:03

🤖 Two Human: A Game That Couldn't Deliver on Hype

Two Human, Silicon Knights's last game, is discussed as a project that had a lot of hype due to its development history and the involvement of major gaming platforms. Despite the cool concept of Norse mythology combined with sci-fi elements, the game failed to impress after years of development and legal issues. It was seen as just an okay game that didn't live up to the potential of becoming a major franchise, leading to the closure of Silicon Knights.

🌌 Starfield's Underwhelming Space Exploration

Starfield is noted as a newer game that, while having its merits, did not reach the heights of Bethesda's best games. The game was criticized for its underwhelming planetary exploration, which was promised to be a major feature but turned out to be repetitive and bland. Despite enjoying aspects like combat and world-building, the game failed to deliver the exciting space exploration experience that was anticipated.

🛡 Advent Rising: A Franchise That Never Was

Advent Rising, a 2005 game with a sci-fi setting and third-person action, is discussed as a game that promised to be the start of a new franchise but failed to captivate audiences. Despite having a famous sci-fi writer and composer involved, the game was average and did not deliver on the promise of a rich, engaging world and multiple sequels.

💥 Battlefield 2042: A Launch Disaster

Battlefield 2042 is highlighted as a game that was a mess at launch, failing to deliver on its promise of being a multiplayer-focused game for fans. The game was criticized for its lack of compelling features, glitches, and unfinished state at full price. Despite recent improvements, the damage to its reputation may have already been done.

🌟 Star Citizen: A Game Yet to Deliver

Star Citizen is mentioned as a game that has been in development for a long time and has not yet fully released. While fans are patient and enjoy the transparency from the developers, the game is considered an anomaly in the gaming industry for its long development cycle and lack of a complete launch.

🔄 Brink: A Multiplayer Experience That Faded Quickly

Brink is discussed as a game that was ambitious but ultimately did not live up to its promise of being a unique multiplayer experience. Despite having innovative gameplay elements like parkour, the game did not capture the audience's interest and quickly faded from the spotlight.

📉 Forspoken: A Failed Leap in Gaming Generations

Forspoken, formerly known as Project AA, is critiqued for its failure to deliver on the promise of being a next-generation game with advanced graphics and gameplay. The initial reveal was impressive, but the final game was underwhelming, with a lackluster story and world that did not meet the high expectations set by its early demonstrations.

📝 Conclusion: A Reflection on Unmet Promises

The script concludes by summarizing the list of games that promised too much and underdelivered, inviting viewers to engage in a conversation about the topic. It acknowledges that opinions may vary and encourages viewers to share their thoughts in the comments section.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Overhyped Games

Overhyped games refer to those that have generated a significant amount of excitement and anticipation but ultimately fail to meet the high expectations set by their promotion. In the video's context, this concept is central as it discusses games that were expected to revolutionize or significantly enhance the gaming experience but fell short. Examples from the script include 'Fable Series' and 'Halo Infinite', where the creator discusses the disparity between the pre-release hype and the actual gameplay experience.

💡Underdelivering

Underdelivering in the context of the video means that a game does not fulfill the promises made during its promotion or the expectations of the gamers. It is a key concept that ties into the overarching theme of the video, which is the contrast between the hype and the reality of certain games. The script mentions 'Star Wars Battlefront' as an example of a game that was anticipated to be great but was released with an unfinished package, thus underdelivering.

💡Fable Series

The Fable Series is a set of action role-playing open world games known for their storytelling and moral choices. The video discusses how the series was notorious for its ambitious promises that were not fully realized in the games, particularly highlighting 'Fable 3' and the original 'Fable' for their unfulfilled potential. The term is used to illustrate a game series that had a lot of promise but did not meet the high expectations set by its own hype.

💡Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is a first-person shooter game and part of the Halo franchise. The video mentions it as a game that did not live up to its name 'infinite', suggesting that it did not provide the endless entertainment that was promised. The game's launch was criticized for its lack of content and features that would sustain long-term interest, which is a central point in the discussion of games that underdelivered.

💡Star Wars Battlefront

Star Wars Battlefront refers to a series of first and third-person shooter games set in the Star Wars universe. The script specifically discusses the new Star Wars Battlefront game by EA, which was expected to be an exciting return to the franchise after many years. However, it was criticized for being an unfinished package with not enough content, underdelivering on the high expectations set by its development team and the franchise's reputation.

💡Two Worlds II

Two Worlds II is a role-playing video game developed by Silicon Knights. The video describes it as Silicon Knights' last game and discusses how it was in development for many years, generating a lot of hype due to its development deals with major gaming platforms. Despite the anticipation, the game did not live up to the expectations and did not become the franchise that many thought it would be, which is a key point in the video's theme of underdelivering games.

💡Starfield

Starfield is a newer game from Bethesda Studios, which was marketed with the promise of an exciting space exploration experience. The video argues that while the game has its merits, it underdelivered in the area of planetary exploration, which was a central feature that was expected to be more engaging and diverse. The term is used to highlight a game that did not fully deliver on its promises, especially concerning the aspects of space exploration.

💡Advent Rising

Advent Rising is a third-person action-adventure game from 2005 that was intended to be the start of a new franchise with a rich sci-fi storyline and worldbuilding. The video mentions it as a game that had the potential to be a big hit but underdelivered by not capturing the audience's interest for a sequel or a franchise. The term is used to illustrate a game that had high expectations but did not follow through with a compelling continuation.

💡Battlefield 2042

Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter game that was expected to be a fan-favorite with its focus on multiplayer gameplay and large-scale battles. The video discusses how the game launched in a messy state with numerous issues, such as glitches and an unappealing character operator system, which did not meet the hype and expectations built up around it. The term is used to emphasize a game that was highly anticipated but failed to deliver a polished and satisfying experience at launch.

💡Star Citizen

Star Citizen is a space trading and combat simulator game that has been in development for an extended period. The video mentions it as a game that has promised a lot but has not yet fully delivered on those promises, despite being in the works for a long time. The term is used to highlight a game that has generated significant interest and investment but has not yet provided the complete experience that was promised to its fans.

💡Brink

Brink is a first-person shooter game released in 2011 that was expected to offer a unique multiplayer experience with innovative gameplay systems. The video discusses how the game received mixed reviews and did not become the next big thing in multiplayer gaming as was anticipated. The term is used to illustrate a game that had a lot of potential but did not live up to the hype and expectations set by its initial reveal and promotion.

💡Forspoken

Forspoken is a game that was initially revealed as a work-in-progress project called Project AA, promising next-generation graphics and gameplay. The video describes how the game's initial presentation was incredibly impressive, but the final product did not match the quality and innovation that was showcased. The term is used to highlight a game that generated excitement with its early demonstrations but ultimately underdelivered in terms of meeting the high expectations it set for itself.

Highlights

The Fable series, despite its shortcomings, still managed to be enjoyable, with the original Fable being particularly praised and recommended to play on Steam.

Halo Infinite initially failed to live up to its name and the expectations set for it, with a fluctuating player base and a lack of sustained interest post-launch.

Star Wars Battlefront, developed by EA, was released with an unfinished feel, lacking sufficient content and depth despite its impressive graphics.

Two Worlds, Silicon Knights' last game, fell short of the high expectations set by its long development period and multiple platform deals.

Starfield was criticized for its underwhelming planetary exploration, not meeting the promises of exciting space gameplay.

Advent Rising, a sci-fi action-adventure game, failed to captivate audiences and did not deliver on the promise of becoming a major franchise.

Battlefield 2042's launch was marred by technical issues and an unpolished state, not living up to the hype of being a fan-favorite multiplayer experience.

Star Citizen, despite its long development and a dedicated fanbase, has yet to fully deliver on its promises, remaining in a state of anticipation for many.

Brink, with its ambitious hybrid gameplay, did not achieve the success anticipated from its initial reveal and ultimately faded quickly.

Forspoken was heavily criticized for its lackluster story and worldbuilding, failing to deliver on the initial excitement generated by its reveal as Project AA.

The video discusses the phenomenon of games that overpromise and underdeliver, sparking a conversation about audience expectations and game development realities.

The Fable series exemplifies the struggle of meeting high expectations, with Fable 3 particularly criticized for not fulfilling its promises of kingly gameplay.

Halo Infinite's initial failure to meet the 'infinite' promise highlights the challenges of sustaining long-term player engagement.

Star Wars Battlefront's lack of content and depth despite high production values underscores the importance of gameplay over graphics.

Two Worlds' development history and the closure of Silicon Knights reflect the risks and pressures of the gaming industry.

Starfield's reception suggests that even from esteemed developers, games can fall short of the mark in delivering innovative gameplay experiences.

Advent Rising's cancellation of sequels and spin-offs illustrates the impact of underwhelming initial releases on franchise potential.

Battlefield 2042's initial launch issues highlight the importance of polish and player feedback in successful game launches.

Star Citizen's ongoing development and community engagement demonstrate a unique approach to game development, albeit with its challenges.

Brink's mixed reception and quick fade from the spotlight reflect the high stakes and competitive nature of the multiplayer gaming space.

Forspoken's disappointing sales and reception indicate the high expectations placed on next-generation games and the consequences of not meeting them.