For many players,Metacriticis the go-to resource for deciding which games to play and which to avoid. Metascores can, therefore, have huge effects on both the income that the publisher makes and the reputation of the developer. For this reason, it can be devastating for companies if they receive a score that they justifiably feel is too low.
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The constant rise of the video gaming industry,along with the influx of indie titles, means that players can ignore games with sub-70 Metascores, as it’s only a matter of time before the next 80+ game is released. Certain games, however, are all underappreciated gems that may have their fair share of flaws but are definitely worth checking out, especially as they’re probably available for a cheap price.
10We Happy Few (62-67)
ConsideringWe Happy Fewwas one of the most highly anticipated releases of its year, it’s fair to say that the Kickstarter funded game’s Metascores, which fell between 62 and 67, were painfully disappointing.
The game took players to a dystopian 1960s Britain and tasked them with escaping Wellington Wells. It was ambitious, extremely well written, and had a collection of memorable character models. The game was recognized for its writing efforts at the2019 Webby Awards with the accolade of Best Writing.
9Crash Bash (68)
The first Crash Bandicoot game notdeveloped by Naughty Dogcertainly isn’t a classic, but it is a fun party game with plenty of hours of content; making it deserving of a higher score than 68.
Along with the enjoyableMario Party-like multiplayer,Crash Bashalso has a lengthy single-player campaign with trophies, crystals, gems, and relics to collect. Consequently, this is a game with something to offer for groups and solo players.
8Golf With Your Friends (68-69)
Much likeCrash Bash, there won’t be many people claimingGolf With Your Friendsshould have been a game of the year contender, but the hours of fun on offer made it deserving of a 70+ score.
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Golf With Your Friendslets players take on their buddies in excellently designed mini-golf courses that will artificially realize the childhood wishes of many players.
7Blitz: The League II (62-68)
Following the news fromMino Raiola that around 300 soccer players are planning to take legal action against EA for the use of their likeness in theFIFAseries, licensing in sports games may be called into question soon. Thankfully, there are numerous sports games, likeBlitz: The League II, that proved that they could be great without official licensing.
Blitz: The League IIexplored the dark side of the NFL by allowing players to inflict bone-breaking injuries on opponents, take performance-enhancing drugs, and even play a few brutal games of Prison Ball when the playable character gets locked behind bars.
6Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (68-69)
Following the success ofEA’s first twoHarry Pottergames, it was only a matter of time before the company fulfilled fans' wishes for a AAA Quidditch game.
The game is undeniably slow to start; the Hogwarts tutorial section is far too easy, and considering its length, many players will think it’s indicative of what the rest of the game has in store and stop playing. Once the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup is won and players move onto the World Cup, the game becomes far more challenging and subsequently enjoyable.
5Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (67)
The first entry into theMario and Sonic At The Olympic Gamesseries aimed to recapturethe simple addictiveness ofWii Sportswith the help of two of gaming’s biggest icons.
The game sold extremely well and is remembered fondly by many players as one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences on the Nintendo Wii. Despite this, the game received a score of just 67 on Metacritic, which would, unfortunately, set the tone for the rest of the series.
4Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo (63-67)
A platforming game featuring the iconic claymation characters Wallace and Gromit may sound like an odd combination, but Frontier Games managed to put together a solid adventure that is worth fans of the platforming genre considering.
Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoois certainly not a groundbreaking title, but it has an enjoyable mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and collectathon gameplay that will keep players engaged for its 10-hour story.
3The Godfather II (63-67)
Creating a movie tie-in game for one of the greatest films ever made was always going to be a tough ask, but EA managed to do a solid job with 2006’sTheGodfather,which received a respectable score of 77 on Xbox 360. The game also sold well, so it was only a matter of time before a tie-in game was released the movie’s equally impressive sequel.
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Unfortunately for the industry giants, the second game was a flop both critically and commercially, causing EA to scrap their plans for a third game. This is surprising when playing the gameThe Godfather IIthough, as itoffers a fun spin on theGrand Theft Autoformulawith the player’s ability to recruit members into their crime family.
Different members have different abilities, allowing players to tackle the game in a variety of ways. For example, players can go for a confrontational approach by recruiting an Arsonist or Bomber, or they can opt to be more stealthy with the help of a Safecracker or Engineer.
2Turok (2008) (65-69)
Just over five years after the disappointingTurok: Evolution, Propaganda Games and Disney Interactive Studios teamed up to try and recapture the magic ofthe classic N64 trilogy.
2008’sTurokcertainly didn’t reach those heights, but it did provide a fun dinosaur hunting adventure. It should satisfy fans of the original games who are looking for a more up-to-date iteration of the corresponding comic series.
1Crash Twinsanity (64-66)
Following criticism thatCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortexwas too similar toCrash Bandicoot: Warped, Traveller’s Tales drastically changed the gameplay formula for their next Bandicoot game,Crash Twinsanity.
The game had a difficult start to life, as it was originally going to be titledCrash Evolutionand have a more serious sci-fi tone, but this idea had to be scrapped afterthe release ofRatchet & Clankwhich has a similar theme.Despite this, Vivendi Universal Games reportedly told Traveller’s Tales to keep to the same release schedule,leading to an unfinished game with over 400 glitchesand tons of cut content.
This undoubtedly hurt the final product, but the short platforming adventure is still a blast to play and the high ambition that Traveller’s Tales clearly had for the game doesn’t go unnoticed.Crash Twinsanityhas wonderfully designed open levels, especially in the first half of the game, numerous different gameplay styles to keep the player engaged, and the best soundtrack in theCrash Bandicootseries.
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