10 Amazing Ideas Wasted On Terrible Video Games

3. A Multiplayer Shooter With A Story - Brink

For a while in the 2000s, developers were really doubling down on trying to figure out the best way to eliminate the single-player story mode from games that were predominantly bought for their online components without pissing fans off. One 'genius' ideas was to tell a 'story' through multiplayer matches, which usually resulted in a talking head spouting exposition that didn't actually effect the action.

With Brink though, Bethesda were truly trying to create an expansive, story-driven RPG that took place entirely within the confines of traditional multiplayer shooter modes. The idea was that you'd join one side in a two-way civil war for control of a floating city called The Ark, being able to choose a specific class and customise your soldier to personalise the experience even more.

Each faction had their own set of objectives that contextualised each match as well, really driving home the war of attrition for control of the city. It was great in theory, and the Mirrors Edge-style movement made for a shooter that was rather unique at the time, but its ambitious vision was far from realised in the end result, and while it has gained something of a cult following now, it limped out onto shelves at launch.