10 most overrated games of 2009

Tom Chick wrote:10 most overrated games of 2009

It's December, which means it's time to roll out the year-in-review lists. We'll look over the overlooked, move on to the the disappointing, and finally celebrate the best.

But first, here are the most overrated games of 2009. Many of the following ten games are good. I would call a couple of them great. However, I think they're the most overrated games of the year for the simple fact that I'm surprised at how well received they were. I wouldn't recommend any of these without a few important caveats.

Read the 10 most overrated game of 2009 after the jump.

10) Demon's Souls
I love this game, and I am astonished that so many other people do as well. It's dark, oppressive, unglamorous, and often an exercise in fear and frustration. It is nearly the exact opposite of what most people look for in videogames. There aren't many people to whom I would recommend Demon's Souls.

9) Empire: Total War
There are so many things wrong with Empire: Total War, and almost none of them are mentioned in the glowing praise this game got because it was epic and pretty. As an interactive cut scene, Empire: Total War does a great job. As a strategy game, it's insulting.

8) Killzone 2
Generic shooter is generically generic. Even middling shooters like Wolfenstein and FEAR 2 were better than this warmly received forgettable sci-fi pap.

7) Infamous
In a year that saw three of the finest open world games ever made (four, if you count Batman: Arkham Asylum), why would you bother with this passable combat game that does such a middling job of world-building and a flat-out horrible job of storytelling?

6) Plants vs. Zombies
You'd never guess from all the enthusiasm that this is "just" a tower defense game. Sure, it's full of adorable twists and variations. But it is still "just" a tower defense game. Unlike Popcap's other insidiously addictive creations - Bejeweled and Bookworm, for instance, are for everyone - Plants vs. Zombies requires that you have whatever gene makes tower defense games tolerable.

5) Scribblenauts
Cute concepts are cute. But the really challenging bit is building a game around them. cf. Little Big Planet.

4) Forza 3
Two years ago, when it was called Forza 2, this would have been a fantastic racer. Instead, it looks a little dated, it has lousy campaign progression, and it's missing that visceral bite that makes the lastest great racing games so good.

3) Modern Warfare 2
Although this may very well be the best multiplayer game of the year, I am flabbergasted that anyone over the age of 12 thinks there's anything deep, insightful, or even relevant about the single player storyline in general and the airport massacre in specific. Modern Warfare 2 is an unimaginative retread that only stands out because Infinity Ward has no compunction about relying on tasteless shock value to whore for publicity they don't even need.

2) New Super Mario Bros Wii
This could very well be a "me" problem, but when I play these traditional Mario games, I go cold. Platformers have come so far in terms of gameplay, graphics, and even narrative. But these Mario games are built almost entirely out of jumping puzzles. To me, classic retro Mario games are like playing Pac-Man: fine for nostalgia's sake, but only once every several months and only for a few minutes at a time. And the co-op? It's ultimately pointless and even a liability if you're trying to play in earnest.

1) Uncharted 2
A solid game with great graphics and some cool multiplayer options, including a few fantastic variations of co-op. Unfortunately, a lot of the single player was disappointing. As a story, it showed very little of the creative spark and personality that made the first Uncharted such a revelation. When people gush appreciatively as they do about this game's characters and story, I have to scratch my head and wonder if videogamers are ready yet for characters and story.

Mary wrote:Surely Infamous and Plants vs. Zombies are underrated if anything?

What an awful list. Apart from Killzone 2.

Tom Chick wrote: 2) New Super Mario Bros Wii
This could very well be a "me" problem, but when I play these traditional Mario games, I go cold. Platformers have come so far in terms of gameplay, graphics, and even narrative. But these Mario games are built almost entirely out of jumping puzzles. To me, classic retro Mario games are like playing Pac-Man: fine for nostalgia's sake, but only once every several months and only for a few minutes at a time. And the co-op? It's ultimately pointless and even a liability if you're trying to play in earnest.

Mistlefro wrote:

Mary wrote:Surely Infamous and Plants vs. Zombies are underrated if anything?

What an awful list. Apart from Killzone 2.

KKLEIN wrote:It's cool to hate popular games on the internet.

Cue 900 comments of outrage. Job done. Evening wasted.