10 divisive games worth a second chance

Video games have surpassed music and movies in terms of having the most loyal fans. But sometimes games can be divisive. It may feel like it's too different from the other entries or the series is becoming stale. Few long-running series can escape the curse of getting one game that even fans dislike.

But over time, some divisive games began to be defended. Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 2 originally divided fans, but history has proven that. The former revived interest in the original through a remake, and the latter was proven through reassessment. Here are 10 other games that deserve a second chance.

10

Batman: Arkham Origins

Upon release, Arkham Origins was criticized by critics and fans alike for recycling much of Arkham City's content instead of advancing the series. That shortcoming was blamed on WB Games Montreal, on behalf of Rocksteady, as the developer was busy working on Arkham Knight.

Arkham Origins sometimes feels like a smaller, buggier version of its predecessor. But the plot was well executed, especially the part where Joker manipulates Harleen Quinzel into becoming Harley Quinn. It's not the best Batman game, but it's better than it gets credit for.

9

Hitman: Absolution

Absolution appeals to newcomers precisely because it turns away longtime fans. It's linear, cinematic, and focuses more on set pieces than open-ended gameplay. IO Interactive itself seems to hate this stuff. The World of Assassination trilogy returns to the combination of stealth and lateral thinking that earned the series its stripes.

Hitman: Absolution may not be the game fans were looking for, but that doesn't make it a bad game. The story is more complex than previous entries, and the cornfield section of Attack of the Saints is an example of good level design that should have been implemented during the game's development.

8

death stranding

It's easy to mock Death Stranding. After all the hype, it was easy to mock the game with a Monster Energy commercial filled with cameos from Hollywood celebrities and ridiculous names like Die Hardman (along with Norman Reedus).

But if given the chance, it's a fascinating title that turns the simple act of movement, fundamental to all video games, into a challenge. Even if the story is excessive, the cutscene direction is excellent, and Hideo Kojima deserves credit for trying to still overcome the creative barriers that most developers follow with the formula. Also, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker had a character named Hot Coldman, which was a lot more fun.

7

DmC: Devil May Cry

Ah, dear. This reboot became nearly indefensible when the creative director hit back at fans of the series with a PowerPoint presentation that used homophobia to criticize Dante's previous design. Ninja Theory made a big deal out of it. Not to mention the gritty tone that feels like a rehash of a B-movie from the 2000s.

Now that the series has returned to its original continuity, it's easier to reassess DmC: Devil May Cry as a standalone game. The combat isn't as deep as other DMC titles, but the art design and soundtrack are great. The QLOC's PC port is also fantastic, so even budget computers won't have trouble rendering the stunning visuals.

6

Tomb Raider: Chronicles

Criticisms of Chronicles are that the team was cashing in on the moribund PS1 while focusing on the upcoming PS2. The Tomb Raider series did little to win over critics and was easily criticized for not abandoning its tank control scheme. Core design veterans disowned the game as a result of burnout.

It's not as good as the glory days, but compared to Tomb Raider 3 and The Last Revelation, Chronicles is a lot more straightforward. Gameplay finally returned to skill-based platforming and logic puzzles, the last two of which had frustratingly trial-and-error solutions. It's still not a great game, but Chronicles isn't at the bottom of the hyped series. The crown of thorns goes to the angel of darkness.

5

3rd birthday

Parasite Eve fans would rather pretend this doesn't exist and have a new entry that scraps it entirely. This game gets a lot of hate due to its confusing plot. Hello, this is Nomura Tetsuya Game. What did you expect?

All story elements are resolved by reading archive text items between missions. It changes with each instance of time travel. Of course, that's not the best way to convey the plot, and that itself may still not be to your taste. But the graphics, music, and gameplay are exquisite. This game needs more love for what it achieved on the PSP.

4

chrono cross

Over time, Chrono Cross garnered overwhelming dislike from fans of Chrono Trigger. Mentioning this to them was like poking a hornet's nest. Ignoring Trigger's happy ending is ~ no Sitting well leads to tunnel vision where every aspect is flawed. The cast is too large, the story is too complex, and the combat is too simple.

But on its own merits, Chrono Cross is an incredible game, with an incredible amount of content, a moving story, and one of the best video game soundtracks of all time. Now, it would have been nice if there was a way to let Chrono Trigger fans know that their favorite characters are finally coming back to life.

3

Valkyria Chronicles 2

Valkyria Chronicles 2 is much better than the console entry, but few people have given it a chance. The game was a commercial failure and was ignored by fans of the first title due to its lack of the acclaimed visuals of its predecessor. The school environment was also one where I was constantly ridiculed for being a teenager.

We can only hope that Sega can remaster this game someday and put these criticisms to rest. Valkyria Chronicles 2 offers better gameplay than the first game and comes with a more colorful supporting cast. The school environment is a military academy in a country devastated by war, which cadets are also expected to participate in. In the first game, the militia adopts flying pigs. Which one is more juvenile?

2

Silent Hill 4: The Room

For a brief period in the early 2000s, Konami's Silent Hill shook up Resident Evil. It was the best horror series with a heartbreaking story and amazing music. The last game developed by Team Silent and the first to be set outside of the canonical city, SH4 is considered by many fans to be the beginning of the doom. The second half is also a huge escort mission that is not easy.

For all its flaws, SH4 is the most interesting installment in the series that explores the theme of isolation. It also features some of the most haunting enemies and oppressive environments in the series. Instead, vent your anger with Origins or Homecoming. The Room (this game, not the Tommy Wiseau movie) may be the last true Silent Hill.

1

final fantasy 13

Final Fantasy spent the better part of two decades dividing its fan base, but the most serious case occurred with the 13th installment. More people criticized Final Fantasy 13's linearity than actually played the game. The Lightning's cold nature also divides fans.

People who ignored the game for that reason had to keep playing it because at the halfway point FF13 switches to an almost open world. Lightning also warms to the party over time. This is called character development. game is It's shockingly linear for the first 20 hours, but it's not the world-ending glitch it turns out to be.