7 Worst Game Mechanics That Everyone Hated

Summary

This video highlights some of the most frustrating and disliked game mechanics that players wish would disappear. From *Yakuza Like a Dragon*’s illogical character death rule to *Elden Ring*’s illusory walls and *Breath of the Wild*’s rain-induced climbing struggles, the video takes a deep dive into mechanics that disrupt gameplay and annoy players. It also critiques unnecessary features like *Heavenly Sword*'s motion controls and *Alone in the Dark*'s mandatory blinking, providing a humorous yet insightful look at why these mechanics fail to enhance the gaming experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Game mechanics play a critical role in determining whether a game is fun to play, sometimes even more so than graphics or story.
• 😀 Some game mechanics, although designed to challenge players, can end up being extremely frustrating or confusing, ruining the overall experience.
• 😀 In 'Yakuza: Like a Dragon', the mechanic where the game ends if the main character, Ichiban, is knocked out—despite his party remaining healthy—can be infuriating, especially during long boss battles.
• 😀 The incessant beeping when low on health in 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' adds unnecessary stress to the player, rather than helping them make better decisions.
• 😀 In RPGs with morality systems like 'Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion', the fiddly and unpredictable lockpicking mini-game is a major deterrent to stealing, which is otherwise a tempting action.
• 😀 Elden Ring introduces illusory walls that are difficult to identify, forcing players to smash into every wall in hopes of uncovering hidden areas, creating a frustrating gameplay experience.
• 😀 In 'Heavenly Sword', motion controls for aiming projectiles (like arrows and cannonballs) were frustratingly finicky and felt unnecessary, leading players to disable them for more traditional controls.
• 😀 The idea of manually blinking in 'Alone in the Dark' (2008) is a mechanic that players overwhelmingly disliked, as it was an unnatural addition to the gameplay that distracted from the experience.
• 😀 'Breath of the Wild' introduces a mechanic where rain makes climbing impossible due to Link's slipping, making exploration during rainy weather particularly infuriating and punishing.
• 😀 Players often find themselves annoyed with 'helpful' messages in Elden Ring, as many are trolls rather than actual tips, especially when it comes to discovering illusory walls.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video discussed in the transcript?

The video focuses on identifying and discussing some of the worst game mechanics that players universally dislike or find frustrating.

What was the notable change in 'Yakuza: Like a Dragon' that the narrator highlights?

The notable change was the transition from a beat 'em up action game to a turn-based RPG, which added a party system and turn-based combat mechanics.

Why is the mechanic where the game ends if the main character, Ichiban, is knocked out criticized?

It is criticized because it doesn't make sense in terms of gameplay and realism. The rest of the party can still be healthy, but the game ends if Ichiban is knocked out, which frustrates players, especially in long boss battles.

What is the issue with the health low indicator in 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'?

The issue is that the health low indicator involves a constant, piercing beeping noise, which creates anxiety and makes the gameplay experience more stressful rather than helping the player.

How does the 'Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion' lockpicking mini-game frustrate players?

The lockpicking mini-game is difficult due to the unpredictable speed of tumblers, the risk of breaking lockpicks, and the resetting of progress, making it one of the most tedious and frustrating mechanics in the game.

What gameplay mechanic in 'Elden Ring' is criticized for being annoying to completionists?

The illusory walls mechanic is criticized because players must hit or roll into every wall they encounter, hoping to find the one that is illusory, leading to tedious and frustrating gameplay, especially with misleading messages from other players.

Why do players dislike the climbing mechanic in 'Breath of the Wild' when it rains?

Players dislike this mechanic because when it rains, Link continuously slips off surfaces while climbing, making navigation nearly impossible and frustrating players who need to rely on climbing to get around.

What frustrating motion control mechanic is discussed in 'Heavenly Sword'?

The frustrating mechanic involves using the PS3’s Sixaxis controller to steer projectiles, like arrows and cannonballs, by tilting the controller, which feels imprecise and adds unnecessary difficulty to the game.

What unusual mechanic was introduced in 'Alone in the Dark' regarding blinking?

In 'Alone in the Dark,' players had to manually control the character’s blinking using the right stick. Failing to do so would cause the screen to blur as if the character's eyes were drying out, which was widely disliked by players.

What is the central theme of the video in terms of gaming mechanics?

The central theme is a critique of game mechanics that, while intended to add challenge or realism, end up frustrating players and negatively impacting the enjoyment of the game.