Top 10 Signs That A Game's Gonna Suck

You hear it all the time in marketing: x game is a “World of Warcraft” killer! This game will completely usurp “Overwatch!” If you liked “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” then you’ll LOVE x game! And so on and so forth. Only problem is, these games are usually terrible. The marketing team knows full well that name-dropping a highly successful game will immediately grab viewers’ or readers’ attention, and then they only need to make vague promises about how their game is SO MUCH BETTER, and they’re golden. They’re using brand recognition to promote their trash. If something is marketed as an x-killer, stay far, far away, because they never are.

If a game changes teams midway through development, run for the hills. It usually means that the process has been a nightmare and that there are a host of behind-the-scenes problems getting in the way of development. Case in point: “Duke Nukem Forever.” 3D Realms served as the game’s original developers, but that turned to crap. After downsizing, Gearbox Software finished the product (with the help of a few ex-3D Realms employees), and we all know how that turned out. Similarly, “Aliens: Colonial Marines” was created by a hodgepodge of teams, including Gearbox, Nerve Software, and TimeGate Studios. It’s not always a bad sign, but it’s certainly cause for precaution.

Similarly, if the developers themselves have had enough of the game, you know it’s going to be bad. Gaming development is no walk in the park and we all know it – it’s a hard, gruelling, time-sucking process which takes a lot of dedication and coffee. However, when a developer says “f this” and walks away, it likely means that they think the game isn’t worth it, and therefore, neither will you. This problem is especially prevalent in the indie market, as individual developers and creators leave their projects all the time. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but if you hear of developers leaving, stay clear. That is, if the game is even finished.

We don’t know what it is with family-friendly games going dark and edgy, but what we do know is that they suck. There’s nothing wrong with being a family-friendly series. Characters like Mario have been reaping the rewards of staying within the childish realm for years. Other childish franchises and characters, like Sonic, Bomberman, Spyro, and even Mickey Mouse have all gone through a bit of an edgy teenager phase, and like real edgy teenagers, they just come across as cringeworthy rather than cool. We get trying to cater to your aging audience like Harry Potter, but Harry Potter these games ain’t.

If the game’s trailers show quotes without a score, chances are that it was ripped from early press coverage or taken out of context. And while you’re at it, look at those “awards” that they’re proudly spouting. If they’re from E3 (or a similar event), it simply means that the game looked good – it doesn’t necessarily mean that it IS good. Of course, many of them DO turn out to be good, but many of them turn out to be massive disappointments as well. We have critical and user reviews at our fingertips. Don’t watch launch trailers or critical advertisements for your information – they’re just trying to sell a game.

Most gamers love them some graphics. Some people spend well over $1,000 on a PC, and there are console “upgrades” like the Xbox One X which provide players with a more stimulating visual experience. However, like we all know from movies, visuals do not a good game make. The visuals are meant to enhance the experience, not make it. Therefore, if a publisher is trying to market the game through its graphics, it usually means that the game itself is quite shallow. Remember how great “No Man’s Sky” looked at E3? Notice how it was little more than scenery admiration? Graphics are nice and all, but the gameplay is always more important.

If review copies are not given out, or if the embargo is lifted after the game releases, chances are that it is not a good sign. Of course, various companies employ this tactic. Bethesda recently instigated a no-review-copies policy, and most of their games are killer. However, they are the exception. As with movies, the lack of an embargo means that the game will probably suck. More often than not, it means that the publishers have little faith in the game, and as such, they want as much money as possible before word gets out that their game is terrible. Use your discretion, people. Don’t just blindly buy any old game.

If the game has the exact same title as an upcoming movie and features the movie’s poster as its cover art, it is not a good sign. In fact, it’s a terrible sign. While it doesn’t seem to be as much of a problem anymore, movie tie-in games were the bane of a gamer’s existence back in the day. Remember LJN? Bleh. While there have been a few decent tie-in games, most of them are nothing but rushed, sloppy, and subsequently terrible experiences which are meant for nothing but cashing in on an existing franchise. They are not good games, and you should never play them.

Showing off the graphics while playing a bit of the game is one thing. Showing no gameplay at all is something else entirely. While Rockstar seems to adhere to the show-no-gameplay philosophy, they’re the only company who can get away with it. They have brand recognition out the butt. If it’s any company other than Rockstar and they aren’t showing any physical gameplay in the trailer, it’s a good sign that the game sucks. If they’re not confident enough in showing their own game off, you shouldn’t be confident that it will be any good either.

Marketing your game is perfectly fine. It’s a way to get the name out there, it builds recognition, and it provides prospective players with a (hopefully) tantalizing glimpse into the game and its world. But then there’s over-marketing, and that is never a good thing. These games not only show trailers, but the developers go on talk shows, they advertise all the cool microtransactions and pre-order bonuses, and they constantly mention how amazing the game will be on social media. Not only does this usually mean that they’re over-compensating for the game and not letting it speak for itself, it also leads to nothing but disappointment. After a time, the hype far exceeds the reality.