10 Video Games The Critics Were DEAD Wrong About

It's all too easy to defer to a critical review of a game, lest you risk taking a gamble. It's only natural, as nobody wants to waste time or money on a potentially rubbish expenditure.

And for the most part? Sure, they're usually right. After all, it's a critic's job to weed through the good and bad to help us, the unknowing consumer, make an informed decision.

But what if... they're not always right? Just because ten reviewers didn't like a game doesn't mean you won't. Or worse yet, what if the practice of paid reviews has overwritten journalistic integrity, as it has done? They'll swear a steamer of a bad game is actually quite good to appease their paymasters, regardless of those that will then waste money on it.

So instead, let's have a look at some games that are not actually as bad as they were initially made out to be - or otherwise came out completely different to the general consensus.

(And yes, I am aware of the irony of me telling you what is good or not after chastising those that get paid to do it. But I'm doing it for your benefit, remember.)

The Tony Hawk's series was renowned for its soundtracks, daft storylines and physics-defying skills and tricks. It may not have been realistic, but it was fun.

So why would making players stand atop a plastic skateboard and take any of the craziness out of what made the games great?

Well, because Activision had made millions from Guitar Hero, and set their sights on expanding.

Cries of it being "just like real life" and "the evolution of skateboarding games" came forth to an unsuspecting public. People crave immersion, after all.

Except it wasn't. It was hot garbage wrapped up in an expensive gimmick, which certainly didn't help the legacy of the already-declining franchise.

What could make this travesty worse? Only a bloody sequel! Oh, but this has snowboarding in it too. Hallelujah.

It was like putting out a garbage fire with more garbage fire. Which you could take as a metaphor, or something you could literally do with the board.

But from a distance, obviously. Burning plastic and all.