A game that started out terrible but ended as legendary

Not every game can be perfect from start to finish. In fact, some of the best titles on the market struggle to find their footing until they fit into the story in the right way. Many games suffer from this problem. Because it's hard to keep players invested in the world if the first few hours aren't enjoyable or engaging enough to hold their attention.

It doesn't matter if the game starts out boring, takes too long, or is incredibly challenging. Even negative signs in the early stages can alienate even the most devoted fans. But if you stick with it until the end, you will be presented with a breathtaking experience that cannot be found anywhere else. They are just hidden under the shell of something else. Slow and mediocre start.

death stranding

Beyond the slow burn

• Secret cutscenes that have absolutely nothing to do with hours of slow walking.

• Unlocking vehicles and other transportation options makes exploration less tedious.

death stranding It starts with long cutscenes, wide open spaces, and slow exploration that can feel more punishing than enjoyable. The early hours are dominated by these moments of isolation, with little reward, and for many, the opening may be too boring to handle.

But once the world fully opens up, the game enters a whole new realm. New traversal tools are introduced, suddenly moving between large spaces becomes much easier, and the story begins to connect with each new interaction. What begins as a strange and abstract adventure quickly turns into a bold and unforgettable experience unlike any other game on the market. death Stranding 2, of course).

Red Dead Redemption 2

trudge through the snow

• Heavy tutorial and long, limited prologue.

• Experience an immersive open world like no other.

Red Dead Redemption 2 The prologue stands in stark contrast to the award-winning open world. Players start out on a snowy mountain with limited movement and a constant tutorial, making it feel limited when you really want to explore.

But overcome the boredom and players will be rewarded with detailed landscapes filled with dynamic NPCs and environments that come to life throughout their journey. The story itself is among the best in the business and blossoms into an emotional rollercoaster that overturns all initial impressions.

persona 5

One of the longest prologues in history

• Even in the early hours, we continue to hold hands.

• Refined combat and long-term storytelling bring the world to life.

persona 5 The opening hours are dominated by a tutorial, slow social systems, and a heavy narrative setting that limits the player to a strictly scripted path. A lot of the action was interrupted, and the rhythm of the game didn't really come together until the story really got going.

As players progress, the game transforms into an ambitious and impressive RPG masterclass. Combat is highly customizable, allowing players to control every encounter and craft it in a variety of ways. at last, persona 5 It's an emotionally charged yet mechanically rich RPG that delivers on its promise to rival the best.

Kingdom Come: Salvation

Cruel at the beginning, beautiful at the end

• Players start out weak and the combat is incredibly harsh.

• Realistic progress will make you feel like you've achieved every milestone.

Kingdom Come: Salvation Players will journey from farmer to knight, experiencing all the weaknesses and difficulties that come with the journey. Initially, combat feels awkward and even basic tasks like reading can be difficult, highlighting the fragile nature of life itself in medieval Bohemia.

As your skills improve and systems open up, the game shows its true colors as an immersive medieval RPG that simulates every aspect of existence in that era. As the player progresses, the mechanics begin to click, and the story branches naturally, culminating in a powerful yet heartfelt conclusion that sets Henry up for his next adventure without forcing the player down a set path.

Yakuza 0

Set time before the madness begins

• A slow-paced, dialogue-heavy opening.

• The world opens up to a variety of crazy side quests that completely change the feel of combat.

Yakuza 0 It starts players off with limited combat options and a more limited exploration style that removes the chaos many have come to expect from the series. The early chapters focus on narrative setup, which can feel overwhelming for players unfamiliar with the atmosphere and density of the franchise's world. The time it takes to overcome these obstacles may be too long for many to cross.

But with a full set of moves unlocked and more locations to explore, the world becomes a sandbox for the action, and side missions can be just as rewarding as the main quest. The story later unfolds at a more organic pace, turning into an exciting crime epic filled with unforgettable character arcs and moments that will keep players coming back desperately for more.

Dragon's Dogma

Turning many players away from the start

• Typical fantasy tone with confusing systems.

• Excellent storytelling that unfolds throughout the play.

Dragon's Dogma takes a very generic approach to introducing the world, giving players some basic combat mechanics and repetitive quests that don't position them beyond your typical fantasy RPG.

Then, as new classes are unlocked and higher-level monsters appear, the game's combat morphs into something special, allowing players to take on massive enemies in spectacular cinematic fashion and scale up the scale. The narrative also takes a shocking philosophical turn late in the game, completely re-contextualizing the adventure and subverting initial perceptions in every possible way.

Okami

Gorgeous yet tiring

• Excessive text that makes the tutorial drag.

• The environment later becomes a playground, no longer limited by guidelines.

Okami It starts off with a very long tutorial section filled with constant interruptions and minimal mechanical depth, making it difficult to appreciate the beautiful art style. The early hours are heavy on dialogue and meaningful player freedom, often leading many players to leave before the sense of awe truly takes over.

After a lackluster opening, players are treated to an incredible action-adventure epic that becomes more expressive and vibrant with each passing moment. Puzzles become more complex and immersive, combat feels fluid, and the story flows seamlessly with the action, resulting in moving and deeply memorable outcomes.

driver

Define barriers to entry

• Incredibly difficult tutorial section.

• Innovative driving mechanics and cinematic sequences ahead of their time.

driver The infamous garage tutorial is one of the game's harshest openings, requiring advanced driving maneuvers with little instruction. Even though the rest of the experience was exceptional, many players never made it past this starting hurdle, and its reputation is often far more negative than it really deserves.

Once the initial barrier is removed, driver It reveals itself to be an ambitious open city driving game that was far ahead of its time. Realistic vehicle handling, cinematic car chases, and large-scale city maps create an illusion of pure recreation unrivaled in its era. The opening now feels like a misguided gatekeeper to the foundational titles that defined an era of modern driving games.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

You can learn a lot at once.

• It starts very slowly with no hope of expanding.

• As soon as the tutorial ends, the unparalleled quest and narrative design begins.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt It takes place in White Orchard, an area with many tutorials. This area focuses on following the beaten path and learning the basics the way the game intends. This pacing style makes many of the early encounters feel stiff, and despite the expected rave reviews, the narrative seems very basic.

But as the story moves to the big cities of Velen and Novigrad, the true scale of the game becomes clear. Players quickly become caught up in an interconnected web where quest lines overlap and connect with each other, and combat evolves into a creative experiment limited only by the player's imagination. It may start out as a walk, but by the end, players will be soaring through the sky.

Assassin's Creed 3

Action is significantly delayed

• Access to the protagonist was delayed.

• It's the large-scale battles that give the game its unique identity within the franchise.

Assassin's Creed 3 It begins with a few hours of historical setting before the actual protagonist becomes playable. The initial narrative focuses on Haytham Kenway, a fascinating character in his own right, but without traditional assassin gameplay, many players find themselves frustrated after expecting an immediate sense of freedom.

Once the story fully begins, the world expands into an ambitious landscape filled with intense combat and engaging quests to keep players on their toes. Despite opening slowly, AC3 It remains one of the best entries in the franchise and is a great example of how rewarding a compelling story can be when experienced gradually rather than being rewarded right from the start.