20 Trailers So Bad They KILLED Video Games

8. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5

Up until Pro Skater 4, the Tony Hawk saga was regarded as the go-to gaming experience when it came to performing ollies, kickflips, and McTwists. For this reason, there was no reason to doubt the long-awaited fifth instalment would maintain that same high standard, despite the failed spin-offs in the interim.

But the property fell into a spot of legal bother. Realising the licensing for the Tony Hawk brand was set to expire, Activision rushed out Pro Skater 5 within months.

Due to the speedy development, the game wasn't close to ready when the promotions began. Even though the skateboarding IP had been synonymous with smooth gameplay and stylish presentation, everything in the trailer appeared stiff and janky. If viewed out-of-context, gamers would assume they were watching footage from a prototype.

The creators attempted to rectify the situation by smoothing out the poor graphics with cel-shaded animation two months before launch. This effort meant nothing, since Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 was noticeably unfinished by the time it released, resulting in a first-day patch.

Based on the universally reviled reception, learning that devs Robomodo shut down less than a year later wasn't particularly shocking.