Opinion Fest 2009: Most Overrated

There is always a lot of confusion surrounding this particular award, so let me come out right up front a clarify this: Just because a game receives the Most Overrated award does not mean I think it is a bad game!

The Most Overrated award, instead, goes to RPGs that, for better or for worse, have received far more than their fair share of the spotlight this year. The games may be good, and worth your time, especially if you love the developer/genre/series, etc. However, even in this pathetic year, there have been enough all-around good games that have received less than half the attention these spotlight hogs have.

The following RPGs have received way more attention than they deserve this year.

3rd: Borderlands - Gearbox, 2K - PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Though Borderlands didn't receive perfect ratings all across the board, it has demanded a lot of press attention. Don't get me wrong, Borderlands combines a very interesting mix of first-person shooting with addictive RPG elements like leveling up, equipment upgrading, and even a hint of story. But at the end of the day, it is still a shooter with heavy RPG elements. There are still better FPSes, and still better RPGs in every area. The internet should not be as obsessed with this game as it is.

2nd: Cross Edge - Compile Heart, NIS America - PlayStation 3

Cross Edge is not a good game. Mediocre is probably a better description. Sure, you've got fanboygasmic crossovers from several different developers and series, but a poorly executed mishmash is still poorly executed, regardless. Perhaps the reason this game got so much gushing is simply indicitive of the PS3 fanboy nature, which demands that any exclusive to the system be heralded as the second coming of its particular genre. Along with that, it's interesting to note the significant drop-off of fanboy love for this game when the Xbox 360 port was announced shortly thereafter.

1st: Demon's Souls - FromSoftware, Atlus - PlayStation 3

A FromSoftware-developed wannabe Western RPG with a nonsensical name, clunky animation, irrelevant story, and brutally punishing difficulty? Why, that sounds like the sure-fire recipe for a disaster! And yet Demon's Souls is the highest acclaimed RPG of the year from nearly every gaming news source I am aware of. Why is a game that has been described as "made for people with OCD" received hundreds of times more praise and attention than other, more complete titles? I have theories about that, mostly relating to PS3 fanboys and the Atlus name attached to it, but I will keep them to myself.

Whatever the cause, though the game may definitely have appeal to certain gamers, and may even be a stellar title within its territory, there is no way that it is as complete or comprehensive as many other titles this year, which you no doubt haven't heard of because the media wants you to know about Demon's Souls instead. That seems very wrong to me on so many levels that I had no choice but to grant this award.

Opinion Fest 2008: Most Overrated

Let me preface this award by stating clearly that none of the games that are on this list are bad games. Not one. Each is a great game in its own right, and many may be deserving of your attention. However, the titles that receive this award do so because they have received so much press, so much critical claim, and so much gushing from every press outlet imaginable, yet in the end, remain just a regular game, far from deserving of stealing so much spotlight.

3rd: Fable II – Lionhead, Microsoft – Xbox 360

The original Fable, though a solid game in its own right, was a far cry from what designer Peter Molyneux made it out to be. Fable II definitely comes much closer to its promises, and truly provides a robust, enjoyable game. However, it probably doesn’t deserve a lot of its critical acclaim, as it is still, at its heart, a linear story-driven title with a metric tonne of side quests. Nothing more.

2nd: Chrono Trigger – Square Enix – Nintendo DS

Chrono Trigger is a timeless tale, and a game that rightfully deserves its position as one of the best RPGs of all time. It also happens to be one of my favorite RPGs of any generation.
However, it’s recent DS port, though very complete in all facets, is far too overrated for its own good. This is the third release of the game in North America, and though not the worst (hi, PSX version!), it certainly isn’t its best either. The game’s added content fails to add anything noteworthy, and the new translation – though perhaps more true to the original Japanese – feels odd to a long-time fan of the game.

Yes, I know that you can play through it in its original SNES release form, but why would I want to when I already have the SNES version?

If you have never played Chrono Trigger before, I highly recommend this port. Otherwise, this port should be completely forgotten, not paraded around the gaming community like some resurrection of perfection.

1st: Fallout 3 – Bethesda – Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3

I don’t think anyone should be surprised to see Fallout 3 take this cake. As I noted earlier, Fallout 3 is not a bad game by any stretch. However, it has been so universally heralded as such high-caliber masterpiece, that, inevitably, it falls short of the rantings of the press.

I’m sorry, but Fallout 3 is too buggy, too clunky, too monochrome, and too Oblivion with a new coat of paint to ever be my game of the year. Enjoyable? Definitely. The second coming of Western RPGs? Not by a long shot.