10 Video Games That Fumbled AMAZING Premises
These games could have been so much better if it weren't for some frustrating missteps.
Throughout the decades, video game developers have been consistently creating incredible ideas for their games. From compelling, narrative-driven adventures that turn genre conventions on their heads to groundbreaking concepts that revolutionise the industry and everything else in between, every game starts off as a promising seed of an idea.
However, it takes more than just a clever idea to make a great game. It takes a lot of work from tremendously talented teams to transform these initial concepts into fully realised and playable games. When the hard work and talent pays off, it can lead to something that’s truly remarkable. Other times, though, what started off as a solid premise can sometimes fail to achieve its full potential.
Whether these missteps stem from some poorly conceived game mechanics, an underwhelming plot, or developers being overly ambitious, games with amazing premises can be let down thanks to lacklustre execution.
Although these types of games fumble great concepts, that doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily bad. Rather, it means that they fell short of their full potential. With some extra time to cook, these titles could have been so much better, and that’s the most frustrating part about them.
10. The Last Case Of Benedict Fox (2023)
The Last Case Of Benedict Fox was pitched as a 2D Metroidvania mystery with a Lovecraftian twist. In it, players take on the role of the eponymous detective as he returns to his family home to find his father dead. With the aid of a shadowy demonic companion, he enters a nightmarish representation of his deceased parent’s memories to uncover what happened.
Sporting some stunning visuals, this game seemed like an inventive spin on a familiar genre that was laced with a captivating mystery. Despite its promising premise, this game managed to drop the ball on almost every level.
While the art design and environments were genuinely fantastic, an absence of any sort of map markers made navigating each labyrinthian section far more difficult than it should have been. Without any guidance, players had to comb through every location to ensure that they hadn’t missed any vital clues needed to progress the forgettable story.
Unresponsive controls and rigid combat also dampened the overall experience, with aggravating chase sequences and instant death stealth sections only emphasising this game’s shortcomings. Even the intriguing puzzles were undermined with an option to instantly solve them with a single button press.
Missing the mark on almost every aspect, Benedict Fox missed the opportunity to be something wonderfully unique.