Most over hyped/over rated game?

[Captain Wrong]

I don't recall seeing this topic (at least not any time recently) so let's talk about it. I'm just interested to hear what people think about this. (Hopefully this won't devolve into flaming or people trying to defend a game. Let's hear what you really think.)

IMHO, the most over rated game of all time is Radiant Silvergun. Why? Well, basically it boils down to this: it's boring as far as shmups go. OK, it's very pretty and I will give Treasure credit for designing some pretty kick ass levels, but it's FAR from the be all end all of shmups that some people (mostly people who haven't played many shmups) would have you think it is. I've played a lot of shmups in my time and I tend to like the total twitch "oh shit!How am I going to make it out of this mess?" sort of game and RS is just not that.

Yes it's hard and no, I haven't beat it yet. But let's put it this way; when I bought my ST-V board it came with 2 carts, Radiant Silvergun and Soukyugurentai. Of the two, I was much more interested in RS and I think I've logged all of 1 hour on that and many, many more on Soukyugurentai.

The funny thing is, all the people who are hyping Radiant to the heavens seem to be people who aren't diehard shmup fans. Not to say there aren't shmups fans who like this game. There are. But it just seems like Radiant Silvergun is big among people who haven't played as many shmups and really isn't the holly grail people (or non-shmup fans anyway) make it out to be.

OK, not to diss those of you who love Radiant Silvergun. But let's hear what you think is the most over rated game of all time.

[maxlords]

I'm thinking Radiant Silvergun runs a close second to Final Fantasy VIII. Hell, people still talk it up like it was just released! And not only that, but IMO it's one of the worst RPG stories ever! However, please don't get into a merits of FF8 argument in this thread people...not trying to sidetrack it!

Oh....and Cap'n? I'm on your side for RS....I played it for the first time about 6 months ago and flat out hated it. It wasn't all that good. Then I played Soukyugurentai for the first time and *BAM*, instantly addicted. IMO, Soukyugurentai is one of, if not THE best shmup for the Saturn!

[BenT]

I generally agree about Radiant. The rote memorization it requires and the ultra-picky nature of its scoring system / gameplay are a huge turn-off for me. I sure love the graphics and sound, though.

Other somewhat to terminally overhyped games:
Battletoads (NES)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Heart of Darkness (PSX) (partially due to Next-Gen's coverage)
Daikatana (PC)
Metropolis Street Racer (DC)
The Bouncer (PS2) (good fucking lord, was this ever)
Munch's Oddysee (Xbox)
Blinx (Xbox)
Unlimited Saga (PS2)

[GaijinPunch]

Grand Theft Auto X

[Captain Wrong]

The Bouncer (PS2) (good fucking lord, was this ever)

Heh, I'd forgoten all about this one. Granted, I never played it, but I was real interested...until it actually released and I read some reviews.

[atomicthumbs]

Tomb Raider III
nuff' said.

[WiseSalesman]

Final Fantasy 7

[Drexel923]

I'll second the Bouncer as overhyped crap. Final Fantasy X is right up there too...I almost convinced myself that I enjoyed playing the game, till I came to my senses.

[The Manimal]

Battletoads (NES)



However, it is much better than the sequels...like Battletoads and Double Dragon (where Billy and Jimmy fight like Battletoads).

[hezeuschrist]

Halo, and I'm sure soon to be Doom III and Half-Life 2. Whoopdy do, you made a pretty FPS? Congratulations for the steaming pile of originality.

[Dirty Tiger]

I played Tomb Raider (the first one) for the first time about 3 Months ago...Played for less than 5 minutes and traded it.

[Kid Fenris]

I'm coming down on the other side of the Radiant Silvergun argument. The game's level design, weapon selection, boss encounters, and pattern-intensity mix make it the best shooter I've ever played. And I've played quite a few.

If I was a more cynical guy, I might suspect that the resentment towards Radiant has less to do with the game and more to do with the mindset of hardcore shooter fanboys who hate the idea of non-shmupheads proclaiming anything to be the best blast-'em-up. Why, I bet these mindless, Mario-playing sheep couldn't one-credit Batsugun! They probably don't even own any imported Cave arcade boards! How dare they try to tell us anything about shooters!

Even if Radiant isn't as great as I think, it's still too far from the public eye to be the most overrated game ever. When I think of overrated and overhyped games, I think of titles that were crammed into our heads at every turn by magazines and advertising. I agree with most of BenT's list, but I'd add these:

The Legend of Dragoon (PSX)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Wild 9 (PSX)
Messiah (PC)
Space Channel 5 (DC)
Mortal Kombat 3 (Arcade, etc.)
Dead or Alive (Saturn/PSX)

Some of the above are pretty good games, but even decent stuff can be overexposed. I'll never be able to forget that goddamn opening song from Donkey Kong 64.

Daikatana got a lot of hype, but it was often unflattering. Remember this?

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php...99-11-22&res=l

[BenT]

Wild 9 (PSX)
Messiah (PC)

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! How could I have forgotten these?

Let's throw Earthworm Jim in there for good measure.

(And as for my Radiant distaste... it's purely for gameplay reasons. Though I admit I'm annoyed when people who don't know either way just parrot the "best shooter evar" line.)

[Arrrhalomynn]

Metal Gear Solid. It was a fun little game, that kept me busy for a few days, but that's it. Definately not the best game for the PSX. Not even close.

[orrimarrko]

Some of these titles were a little disappointing, because they wee hyped so much. Some of them aren't bad games, but they just weren't the blockbusters people thought they would be.

For me, there can be only one...

SHENMUE for Dreamcast.

I thought this would be the second coming - lots of hype, great graphics, etc.



Nothing like walking around for hours with your thumb up your butt.

Shenmue is my choice.

[Captain Wrong]

If I was a more cynical guy, I might suspect that the resentment towards Radiant has less to do with the game and more to do with the mindset of hardcore shooter fanboys who hate the idea of non-shmupheads proclaiming anything to be the best blast-'em-up. Why, I bet these mindless, Mario-playing sheep couldn't one-credit Batsugun! They probably don't even own any imported Cave arcade boards! How dare they try to tell us anything about shooters!l

*does Bobby DeNiro impression*

"You talkin' to me?"

Heh, not to stray off topic, but believe me, after plunking down so much $$$ to play the damn thing, I really wanted to like RS. Yes, it annoys me that you basically have the equivalent of me declaring Final Fantasy XXXVII (or whatever) the greatest RPG of all time, but I can honestly say my feelings for this game are not driven by that. I agree with your good points about it, but it just doesn't make my plams sweat, which is all I ask from my shmups.

I just feel if people were exposed to other games in the genre (including those by the afforementioned Cave :P) I'd have an easier time believing people were digging it for the game itself and not the notoriety of it being grossly overpriced and "the best shmup evar!!!1!!!" As it stands, I'll keep with what I said that it's far from the worst shmup I've ever played (Earth "Defends" breathe a sigh of relief here) but it's equally far from the best.

OK, back to the bashing. You guys are coming up with some killers here. I'd forgotten about a lot of these.

Could we add MGS2 to the list? I haven't played it (hated the first), but it seems like even the die-hard Metal Gear fanboys will reluctantly admit it was lacking in a few areas. I'm asking here, because I really don't know and I figured someone would mention this by now.

[Arcade Antics]

State. Of. Emergency.

[Raedon]

most over rated games of last year..

Neverwinter Nights - So overhyped.. They got me to buy it though :/ (shtinki)
Mario Sunshine - Mario does not need weapons. Way to destroy a classic
Zelda:WW - OOT revised and cut down to 4 year old level.

[1bigmig]

Ghosts and Goblins for the NES. Largely revered as a classic, but revealed to be ridiculously hard and little fun once played.

[Jorpho]

Battlecruiser 3000?
________
Risk equalization dicussion