10 Flaws That Stopped Video Games From Being Perfect
Lady Comstock ruined BioShock Infinite for many.
Every gaming developer sets out to craft the best product possible. Although nothing can be truly immaculate, there are a couple of IPs that teeter on perfection. Finding fault in Portal, Street Fighter II, or Final Fantasy VII is next-to-impossible, without getting unreasonably nitpicky.
However, there are some titles that could be hailed as bonafide masterpieces, if not for one obvious flaw. And because the creators put so much effort in fine-tuning every other aspect, it makes any mistake more apparent.
Just to be clear, we're talking about games with glaring issues, not minor gripes. Even though quality is entirely subjective, the defects in these platformers, RPGs, and first-person shooters annoyed the hell out of everyone. Whether it's an ill-conceived mechanic, a boring boss, a pointless fetch-quest, or a badly designed level, it's tough to find a single person who can justify these errors.
The ten entries on this list may have blown away critics, won countless gaming awards, and are adored by millions, but that doesn't change the fact they all harbour a specific flaw that stopped them from being perfect.
10. Chapter 13 - Final Fantasy XV
After the disastrous FFXIII trilogy and the failure of FFXIV's launch, Square Enix was desperate for a win. Fortunately, FFXV offered a magnificent return to form for the series. With an awe-inspiring open-world to explore, photorealistic graphics, imaginative real-time battles, a gushing score, and emotionally driven narrative, FFXV felt like the franchise was back in its element.
But during Chapter 13, everything that made this instalment special was inexplicably stripped away. Even though Noctis' dynamic with his allies is constantly engaging, this chapter forces the protagonist to head through Zegnautus Keep alone.
But that's not all. For some ill-advised reason, Square Enix thought this mission was the perfect time to incorporate a linear structure... the same confined gameplay which made Final Fantasy XIII infamous.
To add to the tedium, the Keep has a labyrinthine structure, meaning players must wander around aimlessly, with no idea whether they're making any progress. The Keep's design is so generic and bland, it jars with the game's otherwise colourful and vibrant aesthetic.
Because these negative qualities were heavily criticised in the previous two entries, it's mindboggling why FFXV's development team thought it was sensible to implement them here.