10 Video Games Ruined By Overhype

It may live on largely as a glorified meme these days, but you know what? Sony's platformer Knack is actually a pretty fun time - certainly not a genre classic by any means, but a solid, at times unexpectedly challenging romp.

The big problem with Knack is that it was hyped up pre-release as one of the PS4's cornerstone launch titles - an apparently innovative platformer that'd serve as a stunning showcase for both the PS4 console and its nifty new DualShock 4 controller.

Adding to the anticipation was the game being directed by Mark Cerny, a pivotal voice in the earlier Crash Bandicoot games and who touted Knack as a "21st century Crash Bandicoot."

Yet as is often the case with console launch titles, Knack was far more of a mid-tier experience, and certainly far away from the creativity and iconic appeal of Crash Bandicoot.

But the fundamentals were all there: Knack was a colourful platformer with a solid form-changing gimmick that, had it launched at any other time in the PS4's life cycle, would've probably been embraced as a more modest genre throwback.

Tellingly the 2017 sequel was considerably better-received, enough that a small-but-loyal legion of fans are still hopeful that Knack III might eventually see the light of day on PS5.