The path of improvement is paved with failure. The same can be said with video games, which carry the unique ability to still be fun despite glaring issues.
Unfortunately, games don’t always live up to players' expectations, leading to disappointment and underwhelming reactions. However, that doesn’t mean the game isn’t memorable.
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Some video game mechanics still stand out, even in those disappointing games — a fond memory in a bad era. Sometimes, these mechanics are the only redeeming quality about the game, either in concept or execution.
It feels like an unfortunate waste, of a concept, of missed fun, of all that could have been. However, players don’t have to look back in melancholy; hopefully, these mechanics will return in new games, so it may get the experience it deserves: of being beloved.
10Take Away Senses
The Quiet Man
Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking wastes of potential isThe Quiet Man, aBeat ‘Em Up action gamebySquare Enix. The game follows the protagonist,Dane, who is deaf — thus introducing the game’s main premise and central mechanic.
The game has little to no sound, putting players in Dane’s shoes, which is amazing as a concept. Unfortunately, Square Enix didn’t seem to understand that telling the story of a character with a disabilityinvolves not turning said disability into a gimmick.
While the game ended up failing colossally, the idea of taking away senses is still incredibly unique. It’s one of the few things about the game that’s remembered somewhat fondly, even if it could have been done significantly better.
9Jedi Mind Tricks
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Warsfans are notoriously hard to please — however, they were particularly disappointed upon the release ofThe Force Unleased II. To several fans, it clearly didn’t live up to the first game, despite the anticipation leading up to it.
While it ended up being a sad installment as far asStar Wars video gamesgo, there’s still one mechanic that players remember fondly: the Jedi Mind Trick.
Unfortunately, this mechanic isn’t introduced until the latter half of the game, but it was still loads of fun. Being able to control enemies and getting rid of them without lifting a finger is an absolute power move, reminiscent toKnights of the Old Republic.
8Aiden’s Connection
Beyond: Two Souls
The works ofDavid Cagecontinue to be divided among players, but none as much asBeyond: Two Souls. UnlikeQuantic Dream’smagnum opusDetroit: Become Human, Beyond: Two Souls remains incredibly divisive among critics and fans alike.
StarringHollywood Actor Elliot Page, the game followsJodie, and her spiritual and supernatural connection with her twin brother,Aiden.
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Aiden is a formless spirit, one that can actually be controlled as an integral mechanic to the game. He’s able to move objects, possess other minds and many other powerful feats that help with combat, puzzles and progressing the story.
While the game had mixed reviews, many were impressed with Aiden, and how wonderfully he fit into the narrative and gameplay.
7Threatening With Guns
I Am Alive
I Am Alivehad the misfortune of being just not enough of what players were looking for.Post-apocalyptic survival gameswere all the hype in the early 2010s, but I Am Alive managed to hit all the staples and none of the cravings.
However, one unique feature of the game still stands out, even in comparison to modern games: how the NPCs in the game react to guns.
Sure, in games likeThe Last of Us, players are able to hold hostile enemies at gunpoint as a human shield, but that’s not quite how it’s done in I Am Alive. In perhaps the most rational human reaction, the NPC won’t immediately fight back.
The enemy doesn’t know if the gun is loaded or not, and doesn’t want to take any chances. In other games in the same genre, enemies would fight back, becoming immediately hostile upon sight (especially upon sight of a gun). However, the logic in I Am Alive is striking, and hopefully will be incorporated into other survival games.
6Weapon Crafting
Dead Space 3
Dead Space 3is the black sheep of theDead Spacefranchise. By straying away from itsspace horrorroots and being more of an action game, many fans claim it’s theworst in the franchise.
However, that doesn’t mean it did everything entirely wrong. In fact, theweapon crafting system is still fondly rememberedby many fans.
It makes sense in lore and in execution, withIsaac Clarkebeing a literal engineer, it’s logical for him to craft and upgrade his weapons on the fly. Plus, it’s just downright fun and creative, allowing players to have the exact weapon that they need and reap the rewards.
The mechanic is remembered due to how creative players are allowed to be with their weapons, regardless of the resources at hand. Imagination is the only limit when creating weapons or modifying existing ones, allowing for insane and incredibly powerful combinations.
5Memory Mixing
Remember Me
Remember Mewas released to mixed reception, mostly met with disappointment overall. It wasn’t exactly a terrible game, just genuinely underwhelming, but players can’t ever forget one core mechanic of the game: being able to literally remix memory.
For many, memory mixing is the defining feature of the entire game; being able to rewrite history to the player’s exact specifications is mind-blowing. No pun intended.
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It’s ironic, for a game titled “Remember Me,” it’s been forgotten in practically every way. Yet, sometimes, it creeps back in, a call begging to be remembered.
Or perhaps, it’s players’ memories being remixed, reminding them of a really cool video game mechanic.
4Soul-Jumping
Tchiais an adorable, yet underwhelming game that follows the titular character in her exploration journey through the game’s island, inspired by the country of New Caledonia. Exploration is integral, withgetting lost being part of the fun.
One particularmechanic of the gamestands out, though:Soul-Jumping.
Soul-Jumping is Tchia’s primary power in the game, allowing her to possess any animal or small object that she chooses — and yes, thisincludes a coconut.
It’s a mechanic tied to New Caledonia’s mythology and folklore, adding a heartfelt element to an otherwise underwhelming game. It creates a whimsical experience that is almost reminiscent of playing outside as a child, which is a magical feeling in its own right.
The connotation of flight with freedom has been a constant in humanity and the media for decades, centuries, even. So, naturally, flight in video games should feel freeing, andBioWarenailed that withAnthem.
Despite how poorly Anthem was received upon release,the flight is still talked about fondly by players. With the pure feeling of freedom and the childlike awe of the skies, for some, it made the entire game worthwhile.
Some fanshope that BioWare will return to Anthem’s world, but others are still skeptical. One thing everyone can agree on, though: if flight is involved, it will at least be fun.
2Imperial Succession/Generation Mechanics
Romancing SaGa II: Revenge of the Seven
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
The story ofRomancing SaGa II: Revenge of the Sevencentres around an entire empire rather than one particular protagonist. It ended up being an underwhelming entry in theSaGaseries, struggling to live up to the hype of the firstRomancing SaGagame.
That said, theGeneration Mechanics(often going hand in hand with theSuccession Mechanics) in this game more than make up for its downfalls.
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Focusing on the wellbeing of the empire, players keep track of each incoming generation with the passage of time, watching the impact of every decision unfold with the reveal of each century. It’s a fascinating feature, one that really has players focusing on their legacy overall.
Not all events trigger a generation skip, as it depends on the players' actions and the state of their whole empire. The battles they fight are accounted for,the bossesare incorporated into points, it adds weight to everything that players do in the game, as it affects not just these current characters, but their descendants as well.
1Doubt/Lie Facial Mechanics
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noirecaptured lightning in a bottle. Despite the game itself being rather disappointing in terms of story and overall gameplay, one special mechanic made the game suddenly revolutionary.
Following detectiveCole Phelps, players have to follow clues to solve cases — more crucially, they have to interrogate witnesses to figure out the story.
The game used motion capture to create different faces and expressions that indicate if someone is lying. By doubting an NPC’s testimony, players can watch their face twist into suspicion or maintain innocence, a concept thathas players still begging for a sequel.
It fully comes off uncanny thanks to graphical limitations, but it ended up creating an experience that was truly unique and quite special.
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