As technology progresses, video games become more sophisticated in design. But the more they do, the harder it is to maintain stability. Yet some games are launched so haphazardly, their development can come off as being neglectful or straight-up sabotage.
It’s true that some developers are forced to work under absurd conditions that are not only restrictive but also quite criminal–and this has led to some of the most disastrous titles to litter the gaming market.
Given this trend, the year 2022 is already off to a bad start in this regard. Here is a shortlist of titles that are so avoidably bad, it could only have been the work of sabotage.
‘Battlefield 2042’ (PS5, XBSX/S, PC)
The Battlefield franchise had slowly slid down a pit of mediocrity over the decade, which is why the failed launch of ‘Battlefield 2042’ was somewhat predictable. On launch, the game lacked even basic features out of the box and ran like a car on squared wheels. However, unlike its predecessors, this entry didn’t have much to offer considering it was a multiplayer-only title. Ironically, this decision would have also been its saving grace as devs had less to focus on this time around.
‘Crossfire X’ (XBSX/S)
Initially, it seemed that ‘Crossfire X’ was in good hands. The latest incarnation of the popular South Korean, online competitive FPS franchise was being handled by two renowned studios; Remedy handled the single-player while Smilegate handled the multiplayer. Ultimately, however, it wasn’t in good hands after all. Both modes were executed with extremely poor results, which was totally unexpected for both highly renowned studios. However, there’s still plenty of time for an overhaul.
‘GTA: The Definitive Trilogy’ (PS4, PS5, XBONE, XBSX/S, Switch, Mobile, PC)
Publisher Rockstar Games and its developers have carved out the best action-adventure franchise to date. But when it comes to nostalgic catering for the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ audience, they fall short. Recently, when it came time for a remastered ‘GTA Trilogy,’ Grove Street Games would make the same mistake it did with the previous iteration; slip a mobile port of ‘GTA San Andreas’ into it. This combined with horrendous bugs made for the worst trip down memory lane to date.
‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ for PC
Two years after its release on the PlayStation platform, Square Enix’s ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ arrived on PC this year. Many had expected this to be the definitive port but it wound up on this list instead. The main gripe with the RPG is its graphical fidelity that's been strangely reduced and locked down, preventing players from tinkering. What’s worse is that the game also suffers from frame rate issues to worry about. Although a simple patch might suffice, most PC gamers felt cheated.
‘Dynasty Warrior 9 Empires’ (PS4, PS5, XBONE, XBSX/S, Switch, Stadia, PC)
‘Dynasty Warriors’ is by no means the greatest hack n’ slash franchise. But it has done its part to popularize the genre. However, the franchise hit a snag four years ago with the release of ‘Dynasty Warriors 9,’ an entry bereft of good storytelling, dynamic mission structure, superb voice acting, and any multiplayer the franchise is known for. Not even its revamped edition subtitled ‘Empires,’ released this year, managed to heal the wound. In fact, it only poured salt over it instead.
