misunderstood due to skill issues
filtered
whether it be due unconventional controls, confusingly explained mechanics, or the players' own incompetence - this is a selection of titles that alienated a solid chunk of people due to their own misunderstandings despite actually being pretty good
if you see a game here that you gave up on for one reason or another, give it another shot!
whether it be due unconventional controls, confusingly explained mechanics, or the players' own incompetence - this is a selection of titles that alienated a solid chunk of people due to their own misunderstandings despite actually being pretty good
if you see a game here that you gave up on for one reason or another, give it another shot!
32 Games
THIS NOT A COVER SHOOTER
bullets are to stun. covering/diving is for regaining stamina
melee EVERYTHING
bullets are to stun. covering/diving is for regaining stamina
melee EVERYTHING
my brother in christ you made the decision to let your party members act freely
if only i had some kind of "look ahead" button to prevent these offscreen deaths
there's no point in explaining because these mfs will never learn
use the spindash
use the spindash
fake hide n seek fans when a real radar comes thru
on a more serious note: this game is kinda designed for you to suck at it initially. it's not really a matter of control or camera problems. it's just different. this is a very floaty, fast-paced platformer which requires a different mindset than most others. and it's very gratifying to figure that out
yes - this applies to the mech stages too
on a more serious note: this game is kinda designed for you to suck at it initially. it's not really a matter of control or camera problems. it's just different. this is a very floaty, fast-paced platformer which requires a different mindset than most others. and it's very gratifying to figure that out
yes - this applies to the mech stages too
just dodge
it doesn't matter that there's 5 helicopters after you when you're capable of knocking them out of the sky while moving
it doesn't matter that there's 5 helicopters after you when you're capable of knocking them out of the sky while moving
people who complain about the time limits despite the game literally continuing as a sandbox if you miss story events are do-not-interact tier
the same applies to anyone who thinks the controls are bad - moving and aiming is excessive when your enemies already trudge slower than molasses by default
the same applies to anyone who thinks the controls are bad - moving and aiming is excessive when your enemies already trudge slower than molasses by default
i really love how trico actively fucks with you if you mistreat him
also this applies to all team ico games in one way or another. sotc has controversial controls for no justified reason, and ico's in a similar boat
intentionally cumbersome movement isn't jank
also this applies to all team ico games in one way or another. sotc has controversial controls for no justified reason, and ico's in a similar boat
intentionally cumbersome movement isn't jank
the tank controls perfectly complement the more grounded and realistic take on platforming. it isn't mario (it's better)
the controls are deliberately quirky but it's completely playable once you get the hang of it
same applies to i am bread
same applies to i am bread
yeah the stage design can be haphazard in places but who gives a shit when it's this fun to play? the weapons are great and nightmare effects are cool stage modifiers
there is absolutely nothing wrong with how this game controls
it's unfortunate that avgn misled a lot of people into believing this game was bullshit when it is in fact totally fair and really good
please read the manual
there's a good amount of menuing but it's pretty vastly overstated. initially daunting but plenty rewarding beyond the learning curve
this game would be made infinitely worse with a lock-on button
punching yourself is not an effective strategy. projared lied to you
"i can't believe this tank controls like a tank"
i do not in any way see how this game is janky. just learn the swing mechanic
i guarantee 90% of the people who don't like this game just straight up do not understand the tate system
in brief it works like this:
kill someone and your sword gets stronger. continue slicing through enemies quickly and you'll be able to finish everything onscreen with an instakill. this applies to bosses too
if that's not the sickest ninja shit then idk what is
in brief it works like this:
kill someone and your sword gets stronger. continue slicing through enemies quickly and you'll be able to finish everything onscreen with an instakill. this applies to bosses too
if that's not the sickest ninja shit then idk what is
the tutorial is right next to the starting area. it's a little daunting but it's very important and only takes about 15 minutes to fully digest
please do the tutorial
please do the tutorial
often gets a bad rap for being assumed to be a devil may cry knockoff and most people not caring to understand what it actually is (a strategy game with an action lead)
learn the difference between organic/metallic enemies and how to utilize the legion lock-on
learn the difference between organic/metallic enemies and how to utilize the legion lock-on
ai tactics-based combat at its most hostile, but it's pretty cool once you actually get it!
also it doesn't help that the 360 version is 10x more brutal than the rereleases
also it doesn't help that the 360 version is 10x more brutal than the rereleases
enemies are not tanky or frustrating if you know what you're doing. grabbing literally instakills monsters
not the hecking ONE (1) additional damage type!!! or the tactical shooter elements!! as if they weren't in oldgen at all!!!
it's two new mechanics it's not that complicated
stop trying to move the camera with the right stick. you have a perfectly good l1 button that centers it for you
also pay attention to shadows on aerial enemies and don't bother killing enemies that aren't glowing gatekeepers
also pay attention to shadows on aerial enemies and don't bother killing enemies that aren't glowing gatekeepers
stop mashing the triggers
stop trying to sprayfire weapons while moving
you can disable automatic lock on
get good
stop trying to sprayfire weapons while moving
you can disable automatic lock on
get good
harshly slammed for being a stealth game without stealth mechanics. it's not. it's a game where you run away from enemy fire like a coward and a damn good one at that
oh, you bri-ish?
L
L
take your time and don't play it like metal slug
also press start on the options screen whenever you have two lives left in order to get more continues
also press start on the options screen whenever you have two lives left in order to get more continues
somehow i get the impression that i'm not supposed to be trying to shoot the vampires 99% of the time
81 Comments
nah i'm not gonna argue in favor of discomfort. this is all purely either about not grasping mechanics or not seeing the value in unconventional design choices. like chaos legion for instance appears to have really spongy and cheap enemies if you don't understand what enemies are weak to and how to use your tools effectively. breakdown is borderline unplayable if you can't get the hang of melee attacking with lt/rt and directional inputs. stuff like that can come across as bad design to someone too lazy to learn the game's own rules
i hate bad controls as much as anyone, but i also believe there are many cases where they're just misused
i hate bad controls as much as anyone, but i also believe there are many cases where they're just misused
even though Sonic CD was mentioned already, i still want to say Sonic 1 and CD due to players only aiming for a fast time instead of overall score and get confused or frustrated from the design choices of the game as a result. (if you have spare time on you, i think it'll be worth aiming to get as high a score possible you can get in those games since that's how i ended up appreciating them more)
Kirby as whole. (not even kidding)
Fair they don't really complain that much about God Hand. Carry on.
@7viix idk about that. i think most people rightfully don't give a shit about high scores unless there are ranking systems or leaderboards in place. i see the merit but i feel that's a lot more niche either way
@lpslucasps nah kirby requires pretty much zero brainpower and it's rightfully not for everyone. the closest thing to a filter is amazing mirror's structure and that's really pushing it
@lpslucasps nah kirby requires pretty much zero brainpower and it's rightfully not for everyone. the closest thing to a filter is amazing mirror's structure and that's really pushing it
How about several?
The Umihara Kawase games - Yes, they're really hard, but they're definitely learnable. Learn how the fucking physics work and you'll get somewhere. The later entries also allow you to cast your lure diagonally upwards and downwards using the left and right shoulder/trigger buttons, respectively. Use that as well, it makes it way easier.
Lesser example, but any Puyo Puyo game - The game is all about large combos and planning ahead. Learn how to plan ahead better.
The Legend of Kage - Despite what a lot of people think, it controls fine. Just use a decent d-pad, or even better, a proper 8-way joystick. The game is built around the latter in mind and it really shows. And when you play it with a joystick, up being jump in this case makes a LOT of sense.
Syvalion - Ditto as above, but with a trackball. It suddenly made a lot more sense to me when I played it with a proper trackball.
The Fairyland Story - Might be biased on this one, as one of the biggest fans of the game. For starters, it's not a Bubble Bobble clone like a lot of people say it is. It literally came out a year BEFORE Bubble Bobble. It also plays more like a puzzle game, than an action platformer game like Bubble Bobble. People really don't get you're supposed to smash the enemies with the cakes by pushing them off the ledge or whatever, which is a HUGE part of the game, and is the basis of the scoring system. The game also (in a show, not tell way, in their defense) pushes you towards doing most of the important gameplay mechanics and strats within the first 15 or so levels of the game, when most don't play more than 5. I guaran-fucking-tee more people would like this game if they played more than 5 minutes of it in Taito Legends 2 or whatever.
The Umihara Kawase games - Yes, they're really hard, but they're definitely learnable. Learn how the fucking physics work and you'll get somewhere. The later entries also allow you to cast your lure diagonally upwards and downwards using the left and right shoulder/trigger buttons, respectively. Use that as well, it makes it way easier.
Lesser example, but any Puyo Puyo game - The game is all about large combos and planning ahead. Learn how to plan ahead better.
The Legend of Kage - Despite what a lot of people think, it controls fine. Just use a decent d-pad, or even better, a proper 8-way joystick. The game is built around the latter in mind and it really shows. And when you play it with a joystick, up being jump in this case makes a LOT of sense.
Syvalion - Ditto as above, but with a trackball. It suddenly made a lot more sense to me when I played it with a proper trackball.
The Fairyland Story - Might be biased on this one, as one of the biggest fans of the game. For starters, it's not a Bubble Bobble clone like a lot of people say it is. It literally came out a year BEFORE Bubble Bobble. It also plays more like a puzzle game, than an action platformer game like Bubble Bobble. People really don't get you're supposed to smash the enemies with the cakes by pushing them off the ledge or whatever, which is a HUGE part of the game, and is the basis of the scoring system. The game also (in a show, not tell way, in their defense) pushes you towards doing most of the important gameplay mechanics and strats within the first 15 or so levels of the game, when most don't play more than 5. I guaran-fucking-tee more people would like this game if they played more than 5 minutes of it in Taito Legends 2 or whatever.
@tremirodomi thanks for all the suggestions! i'll address each one individually:
umihara kawase: while i agree, i also don't think this game's really misunderstood at all. it's hard and there's a learning curve but i think everyone knows that pretty well
puyo puyo: pretty much the same as above. everyone i know who doesn't like puyo just doesn't like puzzle games in general and the latest entries explain their mechanics pretty blatantly
legend of kage & syvalion: i get where you're coming from here but i wouldn't really consider them fair inclusions since they have arcade versions which are the intended ways to play the game in addition to admittedly gimped console versions. kage on a dpad isn't the worst thing ever but it's sure as hell not optimal. thankfully with syvalion you can at least simulate the next best thing to a trackball via analog stick - marble madness is the same way
the fairyland story: i'm not saying you're wrong here, but can you vouch for this game's reputation? because i really don't see many people talking about it at all, and the ones who do seem to like the game overall. regardless, thanks for mentioning this one cause you encouraged me to give it a try just now and i like it quite a bit
umihara kawase: while i agree, i also don't think this game's really misunderstood at all. it's hard and there's a learning curve but i think everyone knows that pretty well
puyo puyo: pretty much the same as above. everyone i know who doesn't like puyo just doesn't like puzzle games in general and the latest entries explain their mechanics pretty blatantly
legend of kage & syvalion: i get where you're coming from here but i wouldn't really consider them fair inclusions since they have arcade versions which are the intended ways to play the game in addition to admittedly gimped console versions. kage on a dpad isn't the worst thing ever but it's sure as hell not optimal. thankfully with syvalion you can at least simulate the next best thing to a trackball via analog stick - marble madness is the same way
the fairyland story: i'm not saying you're wrong here, but can you vouch for this game's reputation? because i really don't see many people talking about it at all, and the ones who do seem to like the game overall. regardless, thanks for mentioning this one cause you encouraged me to give it a try just now and i like it quite a bit
UK/PP - Fair, I'm just tired of my friends complaining so hard about those games on stuff that's squarely their fault.
Kage - Also true. The reception on this game is mixed from what I've seen, though. Some like it, a lot fucking hate it for some reason, when I've researched the game. I'd imagine said gimped console ports didn't help, either. The NES port in particular blows. I've seen people completely diss the arcade version, too, when they clearly weren't playing it right.
Syvalion - Kinda ditto about this game, but it's more a side effect of trackball games in general now that I think about it, tbh. Most people not being able to setting it up properly and then getting mad at the game when it doesn't control right.
TFLS - Admittedly the tides are now kinda turning on this one in recent years (thanks to me and others, probably lol), but historically when it was brought up, it's usually dismissed as nothing special, and that Bubble Bobble is way better (I have some serious thoughts about that opinion, too, see my Backloggd review of BB on that). And then you see the gameplay footage of whatever reviewer that said that, and they're just spamming the magic on all the cakes, something you're only supposed to do when you got nothing else to kill that enemy with. It's incredibly deep and intricate for what it is, and you don't quite see all that if you're not a patient player.
That being said I can't think of any other examples atm. More will probably come to me.
Kage - Also true. The reception on this game is mixed from what I've seen, though. Some like it, a lot fucking hate it for some reason, when I've researched the game. I'd imagine said gimped console ports didn't help, either. The NES port in particular blows. I've seen people completely diss the arcade version, too, when they clearly weren't playing it right.
Syvalion - Kinda ditto about this game, but it's more a side effect of trackball games in general now that I think about it, tbh. Most people not being able to setting it up properly and then getting mad at the game when it doesn't control right.
TFLS - Admittedly the tides are now kinda turning on this one in recent years (thanks to me and others, probably lol), but historically when it was brought up, it's usually dismissed as nothing special, and that Bubble Bobble is way better (I have some serious thoughts about that opinion, too, see my Backloggd review of BB on that). And then you see the gameplay footage of whatever reviewer that said that, and they're just spamming the magic on all the cakes, something you're only supposed to do when you got nothing else to kill that enemy with. It's incredibly deep and intricate for what it is, and you don't quite see all that if you're not a patient player.
That being said I can't think of any other examples atm. More will probably come to me.
Can I get a Nights Into Dreams
NiD is always dunked on cause the whole game is score-based and people just don't know how the scoring system works.
In fairness the game sucks at teaching it to you but the point remains, I've seen a lot of people (myself included) go from dismissing to loving it just after learning the rules and scoring tech
In fairness the game sucks at teaching it to you but the point remains, I've seen a lot of people (myself included) go from dismissing to loving it just after learning the rules and scoring tech
NiD is a GREAT example, how did I not think of that wtf
Also ty for giving TFLS a fair chance, it's real good
Nier: Gestalt should be here.
i literally had nights in a separate tab while making this and forgot to add it. thanks for the reminder
also no - i'm a huge fan of nier and drakengard but neither game takes hardly any amount of skill or even strategy. hating the series for its tedium is perfectly valid
also no - i'm a huge fan of nier and drakengard but neither game takes hardly any amount of skill or even strategy. hating the series for its tedium is perfectly valid
I would put Vagrant Story here due to the creator intentionally wanting to make a hardcore gameplay experience.
Dead Rising
good calls on both of those
Reporting this list because it targets other users and is toxix
can we call these games grug-types
xenoblade 1 its not grindy you just have to complete some side quest
grug-type games list coming soon
i've never seen someone complain about grinding in xenoblade. hell in the time i spent playing it i kept my level as low as possible cause the game was too easy otherwise
how about early armored core
sure yeah
yakuza 3
monark
monark
nobody dislikes yakuza 3 for skill related reasons, and the most genuinely challenging aspect of monark is staying awake while playing it
Kid Icarus Uprising. Imagine not wanting carpal tunnel
StarFox Zero
FrozenRoy
2 years ago