With the sheer amount of marketing and star power involved in AAA games, it's easy for hype to build beyond a reasonable threshold. And, it can be difficult for developers to walk the fine line between changing their beloved series enough to make something innovative and new, while also making sure to not lose sight of what made it popular in the first place.
There are always going to be fans that defend the divisive (and sometimes flawed) products, while others will admit disappointment when a much-anticipated new series entry isn’t quite up to scratch. Then again, is what we just said a fair assessment, when so much of w♕hat dictates our enjoyment is subjective in nature? Either way, each of the games below is a controversial entry in a huge series. You decide whether the risks paid off.
Before we continue, please note, we reference some hefty spoilers in a handful of these entries. Please skim right on past any games you've not yet played but intend to do so!
Updated on March 7, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: Since we've gone ahead and given this list a fresh coat of paint and reworked a few sentences for easier reading, we figured you, dear readers, might just want to give it that read.
8 Bꦦios💖hock Infinite
Aesthetically, Bioshock Infinite may as well hail from a new series, altogether. Following on from the massive hits that took place in the underwater city of Rapture, Infinite went in the complete opposite direction: up. Not only did the airborne, floating city of Columbia abandon the dingy, horror-influenced design of the first two games, but the gameplay was less survival-themed and more ciಞnematic FPS.
Even with those d﷽epartures, many fans were pleased with the stylistic changes and more sophisticated combat technology, but others longed for a return to the algae-ridden, murky depths of Rapture. In the years since relℱease, the game has also come in for criticism on its approach to politics, with protagonist Booker DeWitt dismissing the white supremacist leaders of Columbia and the revolutionaries who opposed them as two sides of the same coin.
7 SSX
Of all the extreme sports franchises, the SSX series is one o꧂f the most beloved. Highl🌜ights like SSX Tricky and SSX 3 were masterclasses in laid back, effortlessly cool boarding games with a roster of eclectic characters and unique moves.
When the series was rebooted in 2012 though, fans were torn. While the wild tricks and outrageous combos were there, so were a few new features that highlighted the danger of the sport. In order to advance, players had to navigate mountainous slopes with the aid of ice picks, flashlights, wingsꦏuits, and more, which put some players off the easy-going of the originals. Fortunately, the game has aged well and is appreciated for its awesome visuals, great controls, and soundtrack.
6 Fallout 4
When you create one of the most highly regarded RPGs of all time, is that a sign to quit while you're ahead or a challenge to make the next one better? In the case of Bethesda, it was an invitation to the latter. Unfortunately, to many, Fallout 4 still paled in comparison to its predecessor, which was released almost eight years prior.
Despite obvious graphical and technical enhancements, Fallout 4 proved that often aesthetic isn't everything. The game is still loved by many fans, and has a large and systemically rich open-world, but it lacks the seemingly more universal appeal among RPG enthusiasts of Fallout 3.
5 Crash Of The Titans 🦹
A constant battle for any major series is𝓡 the fight to sustain rele𝐆vancy. Developers must ask themselves what led their initial games to become so popular, but how do you then build on that without merely repeating yourself? Unfortunately, Crash of the Titans was an example of experimentation that didn’t go down too well with many players and critics.
Classic Crash Bandicoot gameplay was scarce in this 2007 game, instead introducing a possession-style game that allowed players to control an array of monsters with unique abilities. Though the game has a fan following, the series has since returned 🐼to its traditional and beloved platformer format. This beastly beat ‘em up certainly wasn’t for everyone.
4 ඣ Super Mario Sunshine
From one game to the next, the developers at Nintendo are always under pressure to find new ways to innovate on the Mario formula. Though met with favorable reviews from critics upon release in ♐2002, Super Mario Sunshine wasn’t an immediate classic in the eyes of many fans.
The game’s primary new feature came in the form of FLUDD, a water container device that Mario wore as a backpack. Though FLUDD made traversing the idyllic island of Delfino a lot of fun through backflipping, slip-and-sliding, and jetpacking, many players felt like the game was too reliant on this platforming mechanic to delvܫe into anything else. A cult classic in the Mario series, Sunshine does have ꦰa loyal fanbase, but it isn’t regarded as highly as other milestones like 64 and Galaxy.
3 The Last of Us, Part 2 𓆏 🐼
How do you start a sequel to one of Sony's biggest original titles? Most developers probably wouldn’t opt to kill off the main character within the first two hours. But most developers aren’t Naughty Dog. Needless to say, this aggressively bold move in the much-anticipated follow-up made fans either livid or in awe of the unconventional approach to storytelling.
The post-apocalyptic revenge story had players tracking down that character's killer. More controversially, for much of the game, the perspective shifted to that of the killer, asking players to feel empathy for a character that they were more inclined to hate. Combine that with gameplay that hadn't evolved too much in the seven years since its predecessor's release, and some fans hated The Last of Us, Part 2 - though the game's new characters and impactful relationships also drew plenty of new fans in.
2 🌠 Batman: Arkham Knight
There are some formulas in games that you just don’t want to ever change, and one of those is the combat in the Arkham games. As influential and imitated as the Dark Souls combat system, the Ark🌃ham games became renowned for their fluid and stylish action. As great as it continued to be in the fourth game, Arkham Kn𒁏ight, the inclusion of the Batmobile was more divisive.
Though graphically impressive, the Batmobile tank fights that took place in the streets of Gotham pulled focus from the elements that had won the series legions of fans. The numerous tank battles didn’t ruin the gamꦜe for everyone🐻, though, with many still seeing the bright side of the Dark Knight’s Arkham escapade.
1 Final Fantasy 13 ൩ 🎶
Much like Crash of the Titans, with the thirteenth Final Fantasy installment, Square Enix probably thought it’d be best to mix things up a bit. This entry in the legendary RPG series boldly experimented with the combat system, introduc🌌ing paradigms which dictated how your party would behave in battle.
The result was a much-needed reset for some, whil🎃e others preferred the formula that had worked for the past twenty years. However, despite this alteration to the main gameplay feature, Final Fantasy 13 inspire further debate surrounding its characters, linearity, and𓂃 complicated story. Thankfully, it looked gorgeous, which made playing it a joy.
