The lights are on
You've often heard that Atari 2600's E.T. movie tie-in game is the worst game ever. I didn't think that was true when I was playing the game back when it came out when I was seven years old.Now, I'm not saying that it's a great game, and drawing strictly on memory (I haven't played it since and have no desire to) I can remember plenty of frustrating things about it. Then again, I can also recall the experience not being all bad, and as far as childhood memories go, you can't complain about that. This doesn't just have to apply to the past, however; it can apply to any game.Obviously, I, and all the people here at Game Informer, review games for a living, and our scores reflect our honest opinions about those titles. But people forget that a game doesn't have to get a 9 or even an 8 to be fun. Sometimes even a bad title has some good qualities, and I know that you've played games where it didn't matter what score it got – you just liked it in some way.While we take our scores seriously, you don't have to. I get a lot of mail from readers who take issue with a score that I, or someone here, might give a game, and that's fine by me. Have your own opinion. Let's talk about the game and agree and disagree. If you like a title, regardless of its shortcomings, then don't let someone stop you. Especially not the guy who once had fun playing the so-called worst video game ever made.
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I was thinking about this actually. I read yous guys mag religiously. When I see you gave a game an 8, I tend not to bother. There have been cases though where I play a game anyway. Dragon Age:Origins, for instance, will be one. The reason that is in most cases I think is because I hold this generation's games to a higher standard than I did, say xbox or ps1 or ps2. Why. I don't know. But little flaws in games make me so mad. I QUIT playing far cry2 (I thought it would be awesome) because the respawning of the enemies and save points just frustrated me beyond beleif. It pissed me off so bad, because the game enviornment was beautiful. One of the best looking games of 09 graphics wise. So, when I see an 8 or a 7.5 I know that there is some little aggravating flaw to it, and I find myself saying don't bother with it. Talking about it though makes me want to pop in Far Cry2 since I just got a samsung series 7 1080p TV:)**Loved playing with their built in editor**
We were just talking about this, but E.T. is a much better game than the terrible Pac-Man port for the 2600.
This is a good point. Even the worst games usually have some mechanic which is at least slightly redeeming.
i liked mercenaries 2,i know it was glitchy and the graphics were pretty bad,but i played it quiet a bit.
i'd like the find the landfill that has all those E.T. cartridges. wouldn't that be something.
and i don't looks at reviews as the sole reason i buy a game. i so what problems the reviews had with it and then i decide.
I think we all have our guilty pleasures, as far as running against the grain of general consensus and indulging in a "bad" game is concerned. When somebody relates one of these preferences, I find it far more interesting (and useful) to learn what about that particular game they found to be be worthwhile and engaging. You aren't going to convince anyone that they're "wrong" if you happen to disagree with their views, and like I said previously, you yourself have more than likely enjoyed at least one such game in the past.
Well said.
I usually go with your guys review since I don't want to waste my time on a game that I read and saw gameplay on showing how bad it is, but some games I'll play because they are just pure addicting and fun.
And yeah even some of the worst games ever made have some qualities that make it memorable.
I still remember when you gave Army of Two a 6.75 or 7 I think. I thought It was much better than that and I loved it. Probably the only game I've played in recent memory that got less than an 8 from you guys.
That's how I feel about some of the shovelware Wii games. Some of those stupid mini-game collections are pretty good when you've got four friend cracking up as two of you are waving the controllers yelling "for God's sakes Mario RUN!"
Theoretically, we could go to Arizona and dig up some copies.
Anyway, I play the games I'm interested in. A game doesn't have to be reviewed well to be fun, at least in small quantities. If you guys happen to like a game I like as well, then I just use your review as an affirmation. If not, I pretend I never read it.
For some reason, there was something about Chibi-Robo (Gamecube) that I really enjoyed. It was pretty much just picking up trash, shooting spiders, and talking to dogs, but I played it for a good two weeks and enjoyed every bit.
And you guys gave it a 5.5. Shame on you :-P
This is why the invented Gamefly :)
One series that I am hung on forever is Dynasty Warriors. I LOVE that series with a passion and it is one that gets 6's whenever a new installment comes out, but for me those games are some of the best games I have ever played.
Well not the best games, they have flaws, but some of the most fun rather.
Reviews aren't the final decision for me, but when it ranks less than 5 in your magazine it definitely helps make me wait till a price drop or a cheap used copy hits the market before i try it out.
I remember playing this game too when I was young. I didn't think it was that bad either even though I had a heck of a time figuring out how to get out of those holes. This might have to do with the fact that E.T. might have been like the third video game I had ever played in my short life. I had nothing to compare it to so it had to be "good" almost by default.
E.T. was also one of my first gaming experiences, and try as I might, I could never bring myself to say anything good about the game. It definitely gets my vote for worst game ever.
I will keep playing Shellshock: Nam 67 until someone makes a better Vietnam War game. WWII is played out. I haven't missed anything have I?
I concur with your thought process.
Yeah I agree a lot with you. Haze was widely labeled as bad, but since I loved Timesplitters FP I couldn't resist buying it the day it came out. It was the first game I've ever played online and I loved it. =)