10 Video Games That Don’t Deserve Their Masterpiece Status

As a medium of entertainment, video games can be among the most exciting and engrossing experiences of all, and when a certain title gets a formula so pitch-perfect, it's worth celebrating that achievement.

Unfortunately, the stubborn nature of so-called 'real video game fans' can occasionally lead to the merits of a particular game or franchise being a little overblown. The unwavering passion of the industry can be wonderfully refreshing and admirable at times, but sadly it can lead to some good games being considered better than they truly deserve to be.

Many titles have been incorrectly heralded as 'masterpieces' over the years, and while some are deserving, others... not so much. It's time we debunked some of those masterpiece myths once and for all...

10. Final Fantasy IX

Upon the release of Final Fantasy IX, many of its pandering reviews from the likes of IGN noted how the series could more than likely go on forever, simply by tweaking the game's baseline formula. While this could sound like high praise, it's actually just as much an indictment of lazy development from a studio that should know better.

While many were caught up in the rehashing of old titles, a more critical eye noted that Final Fantasy IX just didn't offer anything new to the series. Reviewers at GameCritics complained that it simply "rehashed bits from other Final Fantasy games and take them any further", concluding that the game was "more than a little formulaic". Game Revolution also noted that the experience was far too shallow to be considered an improvement, adding that even the most indoctrinated fans of the series "must start asking for more".

Final Fantasy IX is a very enjoyable game, and the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" can be applied as justification to a point. With little more than a dash of polish given to the series' already impressive visuals, though, Final Fantasy IX can't be considered the masterpiece that many believe it to be.