10 Beloved Video Games That Left A Horrible First Impression
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
Although we've already covered Red Dead Redemption's tedious opening few hours, Rockstar had even more trouble when it came to the introduction of their previous game, Grand Theft Auto IV.
Moving away from the pulpy camp of previous GTA games, the fourth entry in the series attempted to reinvent the franchise with a more serious and character-driven tone by dropping the over-the-top shenanigans GTA was previously known for.
So, instead of throwing you straight into the action, Rockstar opted to open this fourth game in a more contemplative way, focusing on the the relationship between the characters and giving Niko a foothold in American culture.
But while the developers pulled off this new tone expertly, it was let down by repetitive gameplay that only had you partaking in menial tasks during these opening hours.
Games don't have to feature shootings and explosions all the time, but GTA IV had nothing interesting to replace these classic gameplay staples with, and as a result you spent the first few hours of the blockbuster living a life closer to that of a glorified taxi driver than an up-and-coming gangster.