10 Video Game Moments That Shouldn't Have Worked But Did
These genius gaming moments sounded so dumb on paper.
Video game developers are constantly challenging themselves so they can create the most engaging experience for players. To avoid doling out the same-old, same-old, the creators can find ways to keep things fresh, by throwing in a shocking betrayal, a blooming relationship, or an unexpected death. (When all else fails, tossing in a jaw-dropping twist is a simple way to leave an impression.)
Of course, some ideas don't come together despite sounding great in theory. On the other hand, there are certain gaming moments that seem so absurd, it's hard to believe they weren't dismissed in early development.
Stranger still, several of these bewildering notions turned out better than anyone could've possibly imagined. Following up a tragic battle with a goofy sequence sounds ridiculous, but it can work. Revealing the origins of an enigmatic character can dilute the mystery, but it can also make things better if the backstory is compelling.
Even though the ten entries on this list come across like a bad joke when explained out of context, they ended up being one of, if not the defining part of the entire game.
10. You Got To Be Smithing Me - The Matrix: The Path Of Neo
Although The Matrix is renowned for its gun-fu action and bullet-time effects, it's much more than a blockbuster. The Wachowskis' mesmerising franchise explores philosophies and religious allegories in a way that's original but universally relatable. Even though Neo battles machines and AI, it's easy to connect with him (especially nowadays).
So, when Shiny Entertainment started developing a game centred around the original Matrix trilogy called The Path of Neo, they needed to take these ideas into account. After all, it'd be frustrating if this complex story was dumbed down.
However, The Path of Neo supposedly jumps the shark during the finale. After battling a superpowered Agent Smith in the same vein as The Matrix Revolutions, Neo faces off against a Godzilla-sized version of his arch-nemesis. When you phrase it like that, it's like the developers didn't understand the source material at all.
However, this idea was put forward by the Wachowskis themselves. Prior to the fight, the directors talk directly to the player, explaining how a philosophical showdown wouldn't work for a video game, so they thought it sensible to wrap things up with a conventionally epic battle.
With the benefit of hindsight, they were right. The last brawl is lavishly over-the-top but The Path of Neo would be anticlimactic without it.