Video game fans are passionate: they have convinced developers to fix games, created mods that keep games relevant, and supported games that were panned by critics. Series like Sonic the Hedgehog and Tomb Raider have only been revived thanks to fan support.
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Yet sometimes even fans get it wrong. Some games generate mixed reactions when they come out: maybe they're too modern. There are times when a game gets a bad reputation in online discussions despite being very popular. As the years have gone by, some games have been hailed as classics, even though they've received a lot of hate over the years. Here's a list of some of the most important ones that have undergone the reevaluation treatment.
1. Tekken 4
Tekken 4 is a great example of how it pays to stick to your goals as a creator. When the game came out, fans hated it for its small team and gimmicky locations. These stages featured uneven terrain and walls, which added excitement to the game and made the story darker in tone. For over a decade, Tekken 4 maintained its reputation as the worst game in the series.
Still, director Katsuhiro Harada did not deviate from his vision. The things that Tekken 4 was disliked for became a staple of future titles. Tekken 4 was where the series matured: the use of walls and projections completely changed the gameplay. The grittier story gave Tekken the opportunity to grow into a fighting game series where the plot actually mattered. While it was once considered the worst game in the series, many now consider Tekken 4 to be the best.
2. Resident Evil 4
Now that the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 has arrived, it may be hard to believe that the 2005 version of RE4 was ever so divisive. The game became very popular and remains one of the most influential third-person shooter games to date. Its over-the-shoulder aiming system has influenced nearly every third-person action game made since.
Still, RE4 was met with a lot of dislike in online communities for much of the 2010s. The game was blamed for taking the RE series in an action-oriented direction, with the older games being seen as a pure form of survival horror, where tank control and resource management mechanics were almost mandatory. The launch of the remake eventually silenced these criticisms, as the gaming community quickly realized that RE4 had always been great, and that all of this was just reflective prejudice.
3. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
Among its contemporaries, MGS 2 is one of the most ambitious games ever made. Yet, upon release, fans of the game were divided because Raiden was its main protagonist. Trailers featured Snake as the main character and Raiden in a supporting role, so many fans felt they were being fooled. The deep, philosophical discussions on the memetic nature of artificial intelligence (AI) and content creation in the game were dismissed as excessive technical nonsense.
Over the years, MGS 2 has been met with lenience. Ask anyone now, and they'll tell you it comments on socio-political issues that weren't even in the public consciousness in 2001. Fans now appreciate how ahead of its time MGS 2 was in its gameplay: it has deep, immersive stealth gameplay as well as excellent enemy AI, and all of this at an astonishing 60 frames per second for an early PS2 title.
4. Final Fantasy 12
Square Enix didn't hold us back with the launch of Final Fantasy 12: after the incredible story of FF10 and the vast world of FF11, Final Fantasy 12 offered equally impressive production value. No expense was spared: the game had a vast world, fantastic characters, a fantastic dub, a new combat system, and a massive story told through CGI cutscenes that were more beautiful than feature films of the time.
It's true that Final Fantasy never gave up its tendency to experiment, despite being one of the most popular JRPG series worldwide. This time, the experimentation didn't go well with fans: the combat alienated many, and was often equated to an MMO game with bot companions. However, when the game was reworked as The Zodiac Age, the fighting finally started. Its indirect controls may take some getting used to, but it's worth it. Despite its similarities to Star Wars, the game was also loved for its more mature story.
5. Spec Ops: The Line
The best way to describe Spec Ops: The Line is like the best Silent Hill game that isn't actually Silent Hill. Although the game claims to be a typical military shooter, it's a psychological horror masterpiece, a meta title that asks the question: does fighting a fictional war make you feel like a hero?
The game was not a critical success due to its mediocre gameplay, and many felt that the events depicted were shocking and far from patriotic. This is exactly the point the game was trying to make: video games glorify war, as long as it involves shooting someone else. It took a few years, but today Spec Ops: The Line is hailed as a classic game that captured the mindset of its protagonist in a way that very few games ever can.
6. Deadly Premonition
Released as a budget title when the seventh console generation was more than halfway through, Deadly Premonition didn't raise high expectations. There are plenty of games that have come and gone, but few people who bought them at launch liked them. And Deadly Premonition received very poor reviews for its bugs, awkward characters, and terrible graphics - the visuals are so unbelievable that the text on items in the game is illegible and has to be conveyed via subtitles.
Still, Deadly Premonition caught on. Over the next ten years, it garnered a fan base that loved the game for its interesting plot and absurd main character. Due to its newfound popularity, the game received a Switch port as well as a sequel.
7. Super Mario Sunshine
It's a sign of the Mario series' consistency that even its weakest game has a 92 score on Metacritic. For a long time, Super Mario Sunshine was seen as the odd one out in the series because of its tough difficulty and unusual gameplay. Fans didn't like the camera controls and FLUDD system, and welcomed Super Mario Odyssey.
SMS has become popular again in recent years. One reason for this is that fans who grew up playing the game on the GameCube are now becoming active participants in online discussions. The game is now praised for its water mechanics and bubble presentation. While popular opinion will never consider it the best Mario game, SMS is now seeing better days.
8. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Nintendo has had more successful movies than unsuccessful ones, but according to many, The Wind Waker was an unfortunate flop. After a massive remake of the series on the N64, The Wind Waker introduced a new aesthetic that prominently featured cel-shaded characters and cartoonish water effects. It also featured tall ship scenes.
The game was well received by critics, but received complete disdain from fans. Toon Link was not a popular look for Nintendo's second most popular hero, and many fans complained that it was too watered down. The game sold 4.6 million copies: a success by any other measure, but a huge drop from Ocarina of Time's 7.6 million. However, today, The Wind Waker is seen as a great game with a fresh aesthetic and fun gameplay. Toon Link became so popular that he was even included in Smash.
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