Most overrated games and franchises (no order)

I think the problem, IMO, is that "overrated" games are often times GOOD games actually, that maybe for whatever reason, receive a little (or alot) more attention than they really deserve.
And so people who aren't big fans resent their huge appeal and popularity, and I think out of anger or spite or frustration or whatever put the game down far more than it deserves and say its terrible or whatever as a backlash.

It's like with Halo. When Halo 2 came out, it was this gigantic global "gaming event". Even if you don't care for the series and feel there are many better FPS out there, you have people who say it "sucks" and is "terrible". Well, really, no it isn't in any justifiable way. But is it overrated?? Most would say yes.

I'm the first to admit that most of the games I find overrated are actually pretty good, but I feel they just get more attention than they probably deserve..

I just hate to see people exagerrate a game's negative points just as a backlash to the attention it gets. It's unfair.

I think Doom3 and Halo were definitely overrated. I'm not sure FEAR lived up to its hype either. It was a good game, but not a mind blowing awesome game that the reviews would have you think.

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Originally Posted by Boneycat

I think Doom3 and Halo were definitely overrated. I'm not sure FEAR lived up to its hype either. It was a good game, but not a mind blowing awesome game that the reviews would have you think.

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I'm always very skeptical of all reviews until I actually play a game myself. Then I can find the reviews I agree with, and say they are good. ;) (I'm just joking about that last part.)

Reviewers that I really do not like: movie reviewers. Especially the major "critics" out there. All they really do is review based upon how well the movie fits the hollywood agenda.

halo series i definately agree, imo they are the MOST overrated games ever!

Halo is probably the most overrated ever, but Baldur's Gate is up there, especially part 2. A game that takes place almost exlcusively in one town, seeing things and talking to people that are all almost identical. And it probably had the most boring battle system, too. For some reason, many people are convinced that BG 2 is the best RPG ever.

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Originally Posted by Zoma

Halo is probably the most overrated ever, but Baldur's Gate is up there, especially part 2. A game that takes place almost exlcusively in one town, seeing things and talking to people that are all almost identical. And it probably had the most boring battle system, too. For some reason, many people are convinced that BG 2 is the best RPG ever.

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I own BG 2, but I've never played it yet because I want to wait and play the original first, so I can't really comment, but seeing how highly regarded the game is around here, I'm sure that's going to ruffle a few feathers. ;)

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Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

I own BG 2, but I've never played it yet because I want to wait and play the original first, so I can't really comment, but seeing how highly regarded the game is around here, I'm sure that's going to ruffle a few feathers. ;)

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You could mention pretty much any game out there and it's going to ruffle at least someone's feathers a bit.

For example, I really like Halo. I've played it a lot, probably more than I'd really like to admit, but there you have it. Some people love it, some people hate it, and others just don't give a crap.

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Originally Posted by schultz

You could mention pretty much any game out there and it's going to ruffle at least someone's feathers a bit.

For example, I really like Halo. I've played it a lot, probably more than I'd really like to admit, but there you have it. Some people love it, some people hate it, and others just don't give a crap.

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No, there are VERY few games on these forums held in higher esteem with most users than the BG series.

Like I said, I have no opinion on it so I don't want to take sides since I've never played the games more than a few minutes, but in my time on these boards, there are few games more praised than the BG series.

Halo doesn't even come close. ;)

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Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

Halo doesn't even come close. ;)

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Heh, I know that. :) And I do understand what you are saying. You do understand my point, though.

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Originally Posted by Zoma

Halo is probably the most overrated ever, but Baldur's Gate is up there, especially part 2. A game that takes place almost exlcusively in one town, seeing things and talking to people that are all almost identical. And it probably had the most boring battle system, too. For some reason, many people are convinced that BG 2 is the best RPG ever.

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For those who played AD&D...

BG was a good game. But I thought that it was lacking in the monster department. Too mnay fights with humans and dopplegangers.

BG had plenty more monsters.

BG also had a LOT more customization options with characters abilities.

There was also a lot more options with magic items.

I can understand why some may not have liked BG... but for most AD&Ders... it was the best computer game.

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Originally Posted by Zoma

Halo is probably the most overrated ever, but Baldur's Gate is up there, especially part 2. A game that takes place almost exlcusively in one town, seeing things and talking to people that are all almost identical. And it probably had the most boring battle system, too. For some reason, many people are convinced that BG 2 is the best RPG ever.

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Umm....no. There are something like 8 different general areas, all of which are pretty big. The magic system is well developed. The party system is excellent. The quests are good. The story is awesome. I could go on and on...

Quake
Unreal
Halflife
Painkiller


all the same games.

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Originally Posted by vairox

Quake
Unreal
Halflife
Painkiller


all the same games.

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When you say Unreal, do you mean the Unreal Tournament games?

Unreal itself I think was highly UNDERRATED, aside from the sequel, which was very mediocre at best. But the original Unreal, aside from getting recognition for its beautiful graphics, never got the attention it deserved, I guess because of Half Life being released in the same time frame.

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Originally Posted by Transfurzz

GTA: Uh-duh ? People like random violence. I like it either way.

You may call it just one gimmick after the other. And I agree with you on that point, GTA has barely changed since GTA3. What GTA truly offers is free roam. Thats its real strength.

All it really does is expand on that. If you noticed, that progressively the starting area your confined to for the GTA3 series have been getting larger. Quite a bit larger. Trust me a lot of people feel the same way as you do, but I enjoy GTA for its open-ended gameplay. Do whatever you want whenever you want. Its a lot like most RTS games, they gameplay wise have barely changed since their advent. The only real gameplay change so far is the population cap. The rest is just expanding on what RTS games do, massive battles. If there's anything changing gameplay wise in a genre, its usually more of the same thing. Refreshed and ready for the market. The only real gameplay change we've seen last decade ? Will Wright's Spore. And its not even out yet.

Violence ? GTA is actually barely more violent than most computer games I've seen. So I wouldn't worry. Whatever you do in it, including kill random peeps are all available in most games. Its the mature themes such as drugs, gangsters and swearing that I would look out for. And no matter how the critics try to place it, sex has always been the least of topics in the GTA series, hardly even a consideration. You might notice that even a few particular main characters, who get a lot of screentime, link drugs and sex as vice and disdain abusing either. With exception of Vice City, which showcased a mob town with you as a mobster. Probably why, its considered the best of the series despite its relatively small size. The sex jokes are pretty much what you would hear one guy say to the other. To be honest, the Godfather game is far more violent. It features intimidation and torture as a key game feature. Even the GTA dating system is bolt-on, what leads people to believe the game is sex-orientated ? It just is, most people have never seen a dev so open with views about sex. Pornography and certain 'aspects' of it are quite widely seen in the GTA world. Which as most people find hard to believe, quite very normal.

I would blame the lousy frame rate on the PS2. It doesn't even have a GPU. The GTA3 series runs just as well as San Andreas on any PC. The game hasn't changed much graphically, except for the detail on player models and car models. You may say it has a bad frametrate. But Rockstar has a proven track record of making fantastic ports with proper optimisation and better quality textures. Few have even come close to the quality of their ports. No framerate problems on those.

The GTA3 series are one of those titles which are take it or leave it. Its popularity with the adolscents just makes it obnoxious to be a GTA3 fan. Who appreciate it only for the violence. And I agree, it is gimmicky, but not so much as you think.

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If your idea of freedom is running around a city, being unable to enter anything other than quest triggers, killing people, driving around, then you clearly don't understand something. Every other PC RPG can be consider free roaming. There were many games exactly like GTA. The only thing different is that you kill people instead of monsters, pick up missions instead of quests, and pick up new guns instead of swords.

The framerate and graphics always totally sucked even on PC. 40fps is NOT smooth by my opinion especially with garbage-like textures.

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Originally Posted by Username

If your idea of freedom is running around a city, being unable to enter anything other than quest triggers, killing people, driving around, then you clearly don't understand something. Every other PC RPG can be consider free roaming. There were many games exactly like GTA. The only thing different is that you kill people instead of monsters, pick up missions instead of quests, and pick up new guns instead of swords.

The framerate and graphics always totally sucked even on PC. 40fps is NOT smooth by my opinion especially with garbage-like textures.

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Please let me hear your definition of free roam. :)

You can't really compare a third person shooter to an RPG. Whereas a RPG requires a lot more interaction with the enviroment. A third person shooter can get by easily in this aspect. All it needs is to have a believable and enjoyable enviroment. Interaction isn't a neccessity. An RPG has to have a solid quest structure, whereas a third person shooter only needs a linear albeit interesting storyline or goal to keep the action going. RPGs satsify those of us that crave for a totally new world and immersion. While third person shooters are there to just provide entertainment in the form of action. The scary thing about this ? Many RPGs are actually becoming nothing but third person shooters with an extremely linear storyline. Even worse, they take away the action and just implement a boring battle system. Unlike GTA, you get pent up in tiny areas with little to no content. Quests may be interesting but how far can you go till you hit that inevitable edge ? GTA requires a linear storyline to drive the player forward to new areas. While an RPG doing the same can fall well short of its expectations.

That in short, is actually a salute to Oblivion.

Thats just my two cents. Don't compare two genres with totally different aims.

Why don't you try upping the texture quality on something originally made for the PS2. :D A system that doesn't even have a GPU. 40 FPS ? Where have you been ? Its easy to run the game above that at 1024, a far higher resolution than what you see on your average TV. To be honest, I think Rockstar did a bang up job. In fact, lousy textures are definitely not their weakpoint. Tennis is probably the best looking game out for the 360 right now. ;)