10 Video Games That Didn't Deserve To Fail THIS BAD
3. MadWorld
Even though the Wii had plenty of mature games like No More Heroes and Manhunt 2, MadWorld really left an impression, due to its beautiful (and gross) art style. Similar to Sin City, this beat 'em up utilises a monochromatic colouring scheme, which is regularly interrupted by torrents of blood, as your character eviscerates enemies with his arm-mounted chainsaw.
Being Platinum Games' debut game, it's no surprise MadWorld has many commonalities with the company's defining series, Bayonetta. Both franchises have over-the-top characters, unabashed gore, creative killing animations, and a catchy soundtrack. Because Bayonetta was a hit, it felt like MadWorld would receive the same level of success.
Sadly, MadWorld only sold 123,000 units in the US in the first six months, while Bayonetta sold nearly ten times that in the same timeframe. Because of its ludicrous violence, MadWorld was banned in several countries, impairing its sales further. Although Platinum Games hoped the title would fair better in Japan, its sales there were almost non-existent.
Despite the fact the positive reviews allowed a semi-sequel called Anarchy Reigns to be green-lit, it's still a shame to see how badly MadWorld floundered.