History TheProblemWithLicensedGames / WesternAnimation

** ''Rugrats: Totally Angelica'' on the [=PS1=] in 2001 was yet ''another'' MiniGameGame. Starring our resident [[TheScrappy scrappy]] Angelica in a lame fashion show, it had crappy mini games, no replayability, and was too easy on the ''hardest difficulty level''. [[http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/915804-rugrats-totally-angelica/reviews/160720 The one review of it on the internet is well worth a read]].

** ''The Simpsons: Bart and the Beanstalk'', a Platform/GameBoy platformer released in 1994, has almost nothing to do with ''The Simpsons'', featuring only Bart, Homer, Marge, and Mr. Burns as characters; even the iconic theme song is absent. The platforming physics are dicey, the levels aren't interesting or fun, and it isn't even the FracturedFairyTale you'd expect from ''The Simpsons''--it's a completely straight retelling. It does have a soundtrack that's leagues above Imagineering's ''extremely'' hit-and-miss offerings for the same console, though it's still not much to write home about.

** [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] with ''VideoGame/NickelodeonAllStarBrawl'', an attempt to create their very own ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. On one hand, it was developed by Ludosity, who had already proven themselves with the decent ''VideoGame/SlapCity'', its roster featured several Nicktoons that hadn't been seen in years such as ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys'', and upon release the gameplay itself was widely regarded to be decent if not outright great, with a lot of clear care put into it. However, the game launched with an astounding lack of content: voice acting (once again), items and alternate colors and costumes were missing from the initial release, recognizable characters such as [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron]], [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents Timmy Turner]], [[WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot Jenny Wakeman]] (although she did become DLC later on) and perhaps most glaringly [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Donatello and Raphael]] [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter were excluded]], and both the graphics and the sound effects gave away that it was [[NoBudget made on a dime]] - especially considering its $50 price tag at launch. Not helping matters were the reports of issues with its online multiplayer and competitive balance: which had been hyped up as the dominant features of the game. Despite promises to address the most glaring issues, within mere days Twitch views dwindled to single digits, and many ''Smash'' content creators dropped it as quickly as they picked it up. Regardless, the game's reputation did improve over time as patches, improvements, and fixes trickled in, and it did well enough on its own merits to warrant a sequel -- something very few ''Smash''-clone {{Platform Fighter}}s can claim. Fortunately, its direct sequel was more positively received, having a much more polished presentation than the first game (down to including voice acting at launch), and including a story mode.

* ''Franchise/Ben10'' has had several video games based on it released to home consoles, and all of them tend to be regarded as mixed-to-good. Additionally, one of them is a blatant Temple Run rip-off, and the very first one was exclusive to the widely-hated UsefulNotes/HyperScan console.

* ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkleAndFriends'' for the UsefulNotes/{{N|intendoEntertainmentSystem}}ES was a video game based on [[WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle the 1960s cartoon]]. It was released on other systems, but the most infamous one was the NES version, released in December 1992 by Creator/{{THQ}} and Creator/RadicalEntertainment. It features FakeDifficulty in DemonicSpiders, very stiff and unresponsive controls, no MercyInvincibility, subpar graphics for a late NES game, and the droning and annoying music in the background that loops every 20 seconds or so. You get a [[AWinnerIsYou YOU WIN!!]] screen as your reward for beating this wretched game.
** They would release two other Rocky and Bullwinkle games on the UsefulNotes/GameBoy, UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem and they were still not good. The Game Boy game was a generic platformer that suffered from awkward level design and was otherwise unremarkable. The Super NES and Genesis games were frustrating because of frustrating platforming and poor level design that otherwise captures the spirit of the cartoon. Both games are noticeably better than the NES game, but they have their own share of problems.

** ''Arthur's Absolutely Fun Day!'' for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor is a MinigameGame. The music is horrible and often emits high-pitched notes, the graphics are lazy and look badly drawn (you control ''a disembodied head of Arthur's in a circle'' in the map screen) and the games are boring and repetitive, if not downright frustrating. The main goal is to win 16 minigames, and there are only 10, [[FakeLongevity so you will have to play them multiple times in a row]].
** Also not very good is ''Arthur: Ready to Race!'' for UsefulNotes/PlayStation. The game is supposed to be namely a downhill racer, but the races are mediocre at best since they are very easy and are only played by one player, and can't be lost unless the player truly tries. Most of the rest of the game is running around Elwood City to finish small jobs for other people, simply so Arthur can raise the money to buy the parts to build a better cart. This is all in the form of redundant minigames that are also impossible to lose. The player can also visit familiar locales such as the Sugar Bowl, which are home only to flat mannequin characters standing behind a counter. Build the new car, race it, repeat once more, and the game is over in almost an hour. That is if anyone can stand playing it for that long when the characters have voices that are low-quality and not by the same voice actors as the series and none of the same personalities are there. There is also a multiplayer mode for up to four players if they really want to take turns playing just the racing levels.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' for the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} is an uninspired platformer that's NintendoHard on even the easiest difficulty, largely in part due to [[FakeDifficulty a multitude of cheap shots and unavoidable enemies]], has gameplay that consists almost entirely of "go right and don't die", and the plot is stupid even by the show's standards. To add insult to injury, ''Beavis and Butt-Head in: Virtual Stupidity'' for the PC is, by and large, [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames the opposite of this trope]].
** The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' game has shades of this. On one hand, the game's visuals and humor are perfectly in line with the show's, it's filled with many references to episodes, and it manages to avoid the most GuideDangIt aspects of many adventure games. On the other hand, it's a [[NintendoHard relentlessly difficult game]], due to EverythingTryingToKillYou, highly ineffective means of attacking[[note]]Butt-Head's standard attack is a {{fart|illery}}, but this means he needs to be turned ''away'' from the enemies to hit them; plus the boys' rate of fire, either with their [[{{Gasshole}} body gas]] or with the plunger gun, is much slower than the enemies, which allows them to get more shots at you than you at them (Todd's oil spray at the front door of Burger World is an excellent example)[[/note]], an immediate GameOver [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou if either Beavis or Butt-Head's health runs out]], and the difficulty of actually regaining health. While the game has a password system, the passwords do not save your collected inventory...but ''do'' save your remaining health, which can even result in an UnintentionallyUnwinnable situation if you don't have enough health just to ''get more health''.
** There was a ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' game released for the UsefulNotes/GameGear that followed the plot of the SNES game, in which the pair are trying to earn enough money to buy tickets for the upcoming Music/{{GWAR}} concert. The game feels awkward and slow thanks to the stiff-feeling controls, as and due to the small size of the Game Gear's screen, you will get hit by offscreen enemies or fall into holes. The only good thing this game has is its cutscenes filled with an impressive amount of digitized speech.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' was described by its developer in a UsefulNotes/PlayStation Blog interview advertising the game to be their favorite Cartoon Network show and somehow, Gumball ironically got the worst treatment of all the shows; every character, including Steven, is able to use attacks somewhat based on their respective series, as disrespectful as it comes off in the final product. You'd think with a comedy cartoon so entrenched in reference/parody humor and being the developers' favorite show that Gumball would have something more interesting then one vacuum cleaner attack, his special ability being [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway cleaning up filth on the ground]], and his buddy move being nothing more than a clip from a season 2 episode. It's no surprise the game was critically panned by both Cartoon Network fans and critics and ended up on one Website/YouTube top 10 list as the worst game of 2016.

* ''WesternAnimation/EekTheCat'' for UsefulNotes/{{S|uperNintendoEntertainmentSystem}}NES, from the developers of ''Cheesy'' ([[WebVideo/{{Caddicarus}} yes,]] ''[[Horrible/VideoGameGenerationsFifthToSixth that Cheesy]]''), is a miserable platformer. Instead of simply moving Eek! through the various levels, Eek! has to safely guide an NPC to the exit by kicking or pushing him or her out of harm's way. This is frustrating, as the NPC constantly walks forward. Combined with miserable controls, the game is jam-packed with FakeDifficulty. Additionally, the Eek! game features some of the [[http://www.emuparadise.org/Super%20Nintendo/Snaps/Eek!%20The%20Cat%20%28U%29.png darkest, dingiest graphics]] on the platform, and possibly ever. To add insult to injury, it's a mere DolledUpInstallment of an UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} game called ''Sleepwalker'', with only one original level up its sleeve.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyDog'' wasn't a particularly memorable prime-time animated series back in 1993, so one must wonder why the show got a video game adaptation for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. In the game, you play as the Binsford family's dog, dodging such enemies as spinning tops, flying books, angry cats, angry guard dogs, bees, snakes, and spiders. Your basic method of attacking them is with a bark that you can run out of. The game is also short, having only three worlds; the Binsford Family House, [[PrisonLevel the Dog Pound]], and [[TheLostWoods the Haunted Forest]], and can be beaten in under fifteen minutes with precise movements, ending with [[AWinnerIsYou the dog landing in Billy's arms as he and the rest of the Binsford family stand in front of their house]].

* While Creator/{{Taito}}'s games based on ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], UsefulNotes/GameBoy, and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis belong on [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames the other list]], the modern Stone Age family has had a few games that aren't necessarily winners:
** Grandslam's ''The Flintstones'' game for the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} and 8-bit computers is a subpar minigame collection. The game has four levels, the first of which is perhaps the most frustrating. In it, Wilma wants Fred to paint the whole wall [[TimedMission within a time limit]], and every so often, Pebbles will stray from her crib and mess the wall up, prompting Fred to bring her back. The wall must be painted perfectly, or Fred will lose a life. The second level involves Fred and Barney getting to the bowling alley before it closes, the third level involves Fred and Barney playing a bowling game, and the fourth level involves Fred [[ConstructionZoneCalamity rescuing Pebbles from a construction site]] within a time limit. As for music, the game has a decent 8-bit rendition of the show's theme song. Unfortunately, it is the only song in the game, and it plays throughout the entirety of the game (though the game does provide an option to turn the music off). Your reward for beating the game is [[AWinnerIsYou an image of Fred holding a certificate and a trophy in front of his family and friends]].
** Many ''Flintstones'' games between the Taito games and the Android game ''The Flintstones: Bring Back Bedrock'' -- which, despite being less spectacular than its predecessors, is seen as a return to form -- were disappointments, but ''The Flintstones: Big Trouble in Bedrock'', a joint effort from [=H2O=] and Conspiracy, really stands out. Released for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance at the end of 2001, it suffers from shoddy graphics, wretchedly boring gameplay, extremely long and confusing levels, and a mediocre plot where Fred must save Barney from the game's antagonist, Dr. Sinister. The famous theme song is missing and the cut-scenes resemble poorly edited stills from the show. Wilma and Dino are present, but they just serve as spectators in the first two levels, leaving Gazoo as Fred's only major helper. Additionally, there is no ability to save, meaning if you want to complete the game, you have to do it all in one sitting. The Website/YouTube channel World of Longplays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHpNTKIUgkg did a 100% run with every last Gazoo token and clam]], and even this "[[AWinnerIsYou gives you nothing as a reward.]]"

* ''Highlander: The Last of the [=MacLeods=]'', based on ''WesternAnimation/HighlanderTheAnimatedSeries'', was a 3D ActionAdventure game vaguely resembling ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark'' released for the unpopular, technically unreliable UsefulNotes/AtariJaguar CD add-on. The player character, made of all too few polygons, animates like walking through quicksand and controls as if drunk. [[CameraScrew The camera changes angles constantly]] and isn't too clever about not obscuring the player or enemies. The combat has bad hit detection and {{Mooks}} who can force you into a CycleOfHurting if you let them get in their melee range. There are a lot of items which [[CombinatorialExplosion can't be used except for the one puzzle they were intended to solve]] and otherwise just clutter up the inventory.
* The NES game based on ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleCrashDummies'', where your character's on a runaway unicycle for some reason, your only weapon does nothing but freeze enemies for a second, and it's possible to have your head knocked off thereby reversing all your controls, is usually regarded as one of the more frustrating licensed games on the system. The UsefulNotes/GameBoy one, which instead of being a action-platformer is made up of quirky minigames of the dummies working as stunt doubles or quality control at a munitions plant, tends to be regarded a bit more favorably.

* ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'' received a video game released in 2011 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. The plot involves Johnny messing around with his sisters' real-life simulator, which somehow results in Dr. Wacko, Brain Freezer, and Bling-Bling Boy kidnapping Gil and plotting to enslave Porkbelly. The game plays like a generic 2.5D platformer with dull graphics and music that tries to sound like the show with maze-like levels that go on for far too long. Not even playing as Johnny's alter egos could break the monotony: Johnny X could only use his hurricane hands and power poots (in contrast to his multiple powers in the series), while the Trooper J stages involve aimlessly shooting at robots. The boss battles are all the same, involving Johnny running around a small room while the villains throw fireballs at him (even Brain Freezer). It's clear the developers didn't even watch the show, given the inaccuracies regarding its source material (Johnny X's powers are referred to as "cyclone hands" and "backside fire blast").

** WesternAnimation/BugsBunny had two disappointing [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] games, ''VideoGame/TheBugsBunnyBirthdayBlowout'', which in spite of good graphics was frustratingly difficult and generic, and ''VideoGame/TheBugsBunnyCrazyCastle'', which was a shallow platformer focused on puzzle-solving that lacked a jump button (says something about how pared down the gameplay was in that all its sequels were portable games!).
** While the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and [[UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem Master System]] versions of ''[[VideoGame/TazManiaSega Taz-Mania]]'' are considered good, or at least passable, the UsefulNotes/GameGear version is an atrocious wreck. The graphics are hideous and the controls are sluggish and awkward, which only adds to the FakeDifficulty that's already present.[[note]]The first level involves outrunning a boulder and requires absolute perfection and ends with a LeapOfFaith, while the second requires you to know the exact route through a runaway mine cart level or else you'll hit a dead-end and die.[[/note]] The only boss in the game is a serious case of GuideDangIt,[[note]]You have to jump up and hit hanging icicles with your spin attack, which for some reason causes fire to shoot out from the floor.[[/note]] and the sound and music ...well, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BISQ1A4VFxg just have a listen for yourself]].

** ''VideoGame/NickelodeonPartyBlast'' was one of the very first ones, and it was near unanimously considered a complete and utter joke. The graphics were very bland and ugly; looking about on par with a UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 game (and this was a game released on the [=GameCube=] and the Xbox). The gameplay itself was lambasted for its terrible controls and just being boring, and the less said about the sound effects and music, the better. The icing on the cake was that the game was developed by Data Design Interactive, the same company that would later become infamous for their many crummy shovelware games for the Wii.

* The only impressive thing that could be said about the ''WesternAnimation/OzzyAndDrix'' game released for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance in 2003 is that it used real-time rendered 3D models for each of the game's characters. Everything else about the game is a complete and utter snorefest, lacking any variety between the two titular heroes, music that is bland and repetitive, and loads and loads of FakeDifficulty caused by stiff controls that half the time, may not even register your input.

** Also not very good is ''The Powerpuff Girls: Chemical X-Traction'', released in 2001 for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation PS1]] and [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 N64]]. The plot of the game is that the girls bake a pie which Bubbles adds Chemical X to. The show's RoguesGallery steals and eats the pie, gaining superpowers, and the girls have to defeat them to knock the Chemical X out. The game is a fighting game, but the girls are far more powerful than the villains, [[ItsEasySoItSucks making the game far too easy]]. Story Mode has individual stories for each girl, with no differences in gameplay aside from which girl you play as. The [=PS1=] version is by no means a good game, but [[PortingDisaster the N64 version is even worse]]. Console hardware limitations cut out the CGI cutscenes, as well as most of the music present in the [=PS1=] version, leaving the N64 version with only one song that plays throughout the whole game. The N64 version also gives the girls an explosion attack, which eats away at the enemies' health when used in quick succession, making it even easier than the [=PS1=] version.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer''. It's a MinigameGame, but the big problem is that there are [[ItsShortSoItSucks only four of them.]] Altogether it takes 15 minutes to beat the game, and it's a disc-based game rather than a downloadable title. Sadly, the LoadingScreen is the best part.

** ''VideoGame/ScoobyDooClassicCreepCapers'' for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64, developed by Terraglyph Interactive Studios, was an adventure game that played similar to ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'', involving static backgrounds and similar camera angles. It didn't exactly translate well, because the levels were confusing to navigate and the constantly shifting camera angles switched the controls around whenever you released the control stick. Because of this, it is almost impossible to run from monsters without losing health, through a mix of the monsters running faster than Shaggy, as well as the wonky controls and confusing camera angles.

** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheCyberChase'' had a game released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation that bore no relation to the film other than having the name. It's a slow moving platformer bogged down with simple (and samey-looking) level design, the gang constantly interrupting the game to provide tutorials, and bosses that range from stupidly easy (they outright tell you when you have a chance to hit them with pies), to infeasibly hard (The Phantom Virus).

** ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsBartmanMeetsRadioactiveMan'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] was filled with abysmal collision detection and barely-functional fighting controls. Bartman's punches were horribly slow and did next to nothing, even if he hit an enemy. Levels were long and insufferably boring with no variety in them whatsoever. The only thing people are willing to defend about the game is the music.
** ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsBartsNightmare'' and ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsVirtualBart'', both developed by Sculptured Software, boast decent graphics and sound, and some creative level concepts. Unfortunately, they're brought down by overly finicky controls, and difficulty that ranges from somewhat unfair to absurdly NintendoHard -- and that's without taking into account a couple of levels which fall into outright LuckBasedMission territory due to poor design. And the kicker? Even with all these flaws, they're ''still'' near-unanimously considered the best ''Simpsons'' console games prior to the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 [=PS2=]]] era.
** ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsWrestling'' was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation in 2001. It had unbalanced gameplay, ArtificialStupidity and shoddy cel-shaded graphics, even for a late-gen [=PS1=] game. You're unable to block your opponents' attacks, and the controls were also poor. Ned Flanders is an SNKBoss due to his attacks being overpowered and you have to pin him four times to win. The only good thing going for it is the surprisingly good music and the voice acting. Unfortunately, the characters tend to repeat their lines a lot.
** ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsSkateboarding'' was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. It was a ''VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater'' [[FollowTheLeader clone]] with terrible gameplay, odd blocky graphics, very limited moveset, and poor controls. It also has the oddity of a skating contest where the prize is a mere $99 and some annoyance in Kent Brockman's ''constant'' commentary. It is widely considered to be the worst ''Simpsons'' game ever.

** ''The Simpsons: Bart and the Beanstalk'', a UsefulNotes/GameBoy platformer released in 1994, has almost nothing to do with ''The Simpsons'', featuring only Bart, Homer, Marge, and Mr. Burns as characters; even the iconic theme song is absent. The platforming physics are dicey, the levels aren't interesting or fun, and it isn't even the FracturedFairyTale you'd expect from ''The Simpsons''--it's a completely straight retelling. It does have a soundtrack that's leagues above Imagineering's ''extremely'' hit-and-miss offerings for the same console, though it's still not much to write home about.

** The ''VideoGame/SouthPark'' [[FirstPersonShooter FPS]] has been accurately described as "the Mr. Hankey of FPS games: A turd of a game who comes to people who don't read [[ReviewsAreTheGospel game reviews]]". It got 8% from PC Gamer magazine in the [[UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom UK]] and a 30/100 from a Finnish games magazine which also sourced the previous quote. The PC and UsefulNotes/PlayStation versions of the ''South Park'' FPS were horribly buggy and had performance issues, which is part of the reason why they were reviewed so badly by most. The [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 N64]] version was generally rated much better, although that's not saying much (Game Stats gives it an average of 5.9/10 from the major sites). At the very least, it had the good fortune of being built on the ''VideoGame/{{Turok}}'' engine, so most of the bugs had been ironed out beforehand.

** The UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade game ''Tenorman's Revenge'' was scorned for being a dull time-travel based platformer with pandering references, lazy writing, and awful level design.

** ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsLegendOfTheLostSpatula Legend of the Lost Spatula]]'', published by Creator/{{THQ}} in 2001, is sort of an odd case; the graphics are decent for a UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor game, the music is [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic really nice]], and there are plenty of {{Continuity Nod}}s throughout. It has the potential to be a good game, but is almost completely wrecked by unintuitive jump physics and [[EventObscuringCamera a bizarre camera system that makes it impossible to see what's immediately above or beneath you]], and even then there are only four unique enemy behavior patterns (discounting bosses).

** ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge [=SuperSponge=]]]'' on the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation and [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]]. The spritework isn't that bad but it also looks very underwhelming in the PSX version. The controls are also slippery, making platforming a pain, and the admittedly catchy music is often drowned out by the obnoxious sound effects.
** The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 [=PS2=]]] version of ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsRevengeOfTheFlyingDutchman Revenge of the Flying Dutchman]]'' had a serious GameBreakingBug that would freeze the game when attempting to load a new area, thus making it impossible to play. Fortunately, this was fixed in the UsefulNotes/GameCube release. Unfortunately, the game is still bogged down with poor graphics, boring gameplay, a disappointing ending, and one song that plays throughout the entire game until you switch costumes, a far cry from what the video game series would [[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom later]] [[VideoGame/TheSpongeBobMovieGame put]] [[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsCreatureFromTheKrustyKrab out.]] Contrary to popular belief, this game did ''not'' kill development studio [=BigSky=] Interactive (whose only other developer credit is an even worse ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' game), rather it was a failed buyout by publisher THQ, who blacklisted [=BigSky=] in retaliation and prevented them from finding further work.
** ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'' is often cited as [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames a licensed game done right.]] The UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance version? [[PortingDisaster Not so much.]] With the [=GBA=] being, well, portable, the game needed to be scaled down into a 2D platformer. That wouldn't be bad on its own if it weren't for the expansive, labyrinth-like levels that are easy to get lost in and take forever to complete, wonky physics, requiring the player to take leaps of faith to progress, and robot enemies that can't hurt you. Thankfully, Creator/WayForwardTechnologies would take the reigns from this point and the [=GBA=] games would get [[GrowingTheBeard much better.]]

** While it's no ''Battle for Bikini Bottom'', ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsCreatureFromTheKrustyKrab Creature from the Krusty Krab]]'' is a great game in its own right and has gained a cult following over the years. The UsefulNotes/NintendoDS version has [[WellThisIsNotThatTrope decidedly not,]] and for a good reason. Once again, it was scaled down into a 2D platformer. However, for whatever reason, [=WayForward=] decided to force [[{{Waggle}} touch-screen controls on the game]], and it does not work at all. It's a puzzle platformer where you use the touch-screen to do ''everything'', including moving your character with no option to use the D-pad and face buttons instead. Unfortunately, the controls are slow and unresponsive, making for a frustrating experience.

*** ''[=SpongeBob's=] Surf & Skate Roadtrip'' (this time loosely based on ''[=SpongeBob's=] Runaway Roadtrip'', an anthology series of vacation-themed episodes) which is regarded as yet another barely functional UsefulNotes/Xbox360 Kinect shovelware title along the lines of ''VideoGame/SonicFreeRiders'' (even having the same style of slideshow cutscenes) and (though not a Kinect title) ''Tony Hawk: Ride'' and was the final [=SpongeBob=] game published by the original incarnation of THQ. The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] version isn't much better, somehow running at a choppy framerate despite the game using [=2D=] sprites.

** The original ''VideoGame/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|1989}}'' game on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] was considered by most an uber-example of NintendoHard, while the follow-up arcade games (especially the first one) and their console adaptations are considered classics of the BeatEmUp genre. Later adaptations of the various 2000 series' are a mixed bag at best.

* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' received many tie-in games, and while most of the games made by Creator/{{Konami}} and Creator/{{Treasure}} [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames were well-received and captured the spirit of the show well]], the vast majority of the games released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation were average at best and hot garbage at worst:

* The ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] game is just another bland platformer, where the player, as Jerry, plays through a series of stages, running around until he hits the end of each stage and fights Tom. Along the way, he can pick up peas that he can use to throw at his enemies. The music is composed of nothing but random beeps. The game's multiplayer aspect is no better; to quote a Website/YouTube commentator:

*** ''Winx Club'', a retelling of the events of the first season, was released in 2005 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation 2, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, and PC. The [=PS2=] and PC versions have hideous graphics and most of the cutscenes are still frames while characters talk in voiceover. The GBA version tries to be a ''Zelda'' clone and fails due to bad level design and also FMV sequences that result in LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading.
*** ''Quest for the Codex'' and ''Mission Enchantix'', both developed by Powerhead Games, were retellings of the second and third seasons in the vein of side-scrolling shooters released for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS[[labelnote:note]]''Quest for the Codex'' was also released for the GBA[[/labelnote]] where the main game involves fighting enemies whose sprites were much smaller than the girls themselves, coupled with bad level design and a constantly zooming-out camera, with minigames randomly interspersed between the main game, much of which rip-offs of other games (one of them is a knockoff ''Dance Dance Revolution''). The only thing anyone is willing to defend about these games is the music.
*** ''Join the Club'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable was another retelling of season 2, this time in the form of a MinigameGame. Much of the game consists of simplistic minigames (ranging from a racing mini-game to a memory challenge to a ''Luxor'' ripoff), with poorly compressed clips from the show that don't provide any context to the minigames you play. But the nail that seals the coffin are the eternal loading times, sometimes taking 90 seconds to load a minigame you will complete in less than half of the time it takes to load, meaning that you'll mostly spend time stuck in loading screens.

* VideoGame/FeriasFrustradasDoPicaPau (translates into ''WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker's Frustrated Vacation''), released by Tec Toy in UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}} in 1995, is an atrocious game for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, both for its sloppy design and for being extremely hard [[FakeDifficulty for all the wrong reasons]]. The levels are poorly designed (sometimes blatantly [[CutAndPasteEnvironments copy and pasted]]) and absolutely relentless in enemy placement, but the real issue is the very stiff controls combined with some of the [[HitBoxDissonance worst hit detection you'll ever find in a game]]--nine times out of ten, you'll get hurt by the enemies and boss fights more than you can dish it out on them with your nearly useless, short range peck attack. The graphics are abysmal and look like they were drawn in MS Paint, and the sound work is lazy and annoying (for example, the sound of Woody Woodpecker's laugh plays ''every'' time he grabs ''any'' item). Oh, and the Hard Mode makes the experience even more miserable, since Woody has no MercyInvincibility in it.
* The ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' game for the UsefulNotes/{{PS2}} and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} (the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] version was [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames surprisingly decent]]). It suffers from boring and repetitious gameplay, mucky graphics, extremely short length, you cannot die at all, and Dojo doesn't even have [[TheOtherDarrin his original voice actor]]. As one reviewer said, you can beat a level just by standing in a corner and letting the AI players eliminate all the enemies for you. The only redeeming thing about the game was the Showdown mini-games, but even ''those'' were boring and lacking. This is pretty messed up considering the fact that Creator/{{Konami}}'s [[VideoGame/TinyToonAdventures Warner]] [[VideoGame/TinyToonAdventuresBabsBigBreak Bros.]] [[VideoGame/TinyToonAdventuresBusterBustsLoose adaptations]] [[VideoGame/TinyToonAdventuresBustersHiddenTreasure from]] [[VideoGame/{{Animaniacs}} the]] [[VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfBatmanAndRobin 90's]] were generally well-received.

** [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] with ''VideoGame/NickelodeonAllStarBrawl'', an attempt to create their very own ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. On one hand, it was developed by Ludosity, who had already proven themselves with the decent ''VideoGame/SlapCity'', its roster featured several Nicktoons that hadn't been seen in years such as ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys'', and upon release the gameplay itself was widely regarded to be decent if not outright great, with a lot of clear care put into it. However, the game launched with an astounding lack of content: voice acting (once again), items and alternate colors and costumes were missing from the initial release, recognizable characters such as [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron]], [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents Timmy Turner]], [[WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot Jenny Wakeman]] (although she did become DLC later on) and perhaps most glaringly [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Donatello and Raphael]] [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter were excluded]], and both the graphics and the sound effects gave away that it was [[NoBudget made on a dime]] - especially considering its $50 price tag at launch. Not helping matters were the reports of issues with its online multiplayer and competitive balance: which had been hyped up as the dominant features of the game. Despite promises to address the most glaring issues, within mere days Twitch views dwindled to single digits, and many ''Smash'' content creators dropped it as quickly as they picked it up. Regardless, the game's reputation did improve over time as patches, improvements, and fixes trickled in, and it did well enough on its own merits to warrant a sequel -- something very few ''Smash''-clone {{Platform Fighter}}s can claim.

** ''Arthur's Absolutely Fun Day!'' for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor is a MinigameGame. The music is horrible and often emits high-pitched notes, the graphics are lazy and look badly drawn (you control ''a disembodied head of Arthur's in a circle'' in the map screen) and the games are boring and repetitive, if not downright frustrating. The main goal is to win 16 minigames, and there are only 10, so you will have to play them multiple times in a row.

** ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsOperationKrabbyPatty Operation Krabby Patty]]'' released only for PC is a MinigameGame that served as the template for future ''[=SpongeBob=]'' PC ports such as ''[[VideoGame/{{SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom}} Battle for Bikini Bottom]]'' and ''Nighty Nightmare''. It's a piss-easy minigame collection with two story routes (though the only difference between them are the cutscenes and the minigame order) that put together can be beaten in roughly an hour. The cutscenes feel oddly not like ''[=SpongeBob=]'' despite the game recycling jokes from the show ad verbatim (with many of the original jokes making little sense) and the back of the box advertising the game as an interactive ''[=SpongeBob=]'' episode, though it probably doesn't help that the CG cutscenes look hideous (and they recycled this art style for the PC version of ''Battle for Bikini Bottom'').

** The 7th generation in particular saw a [[JustForPun tidal wave]] [[AudienceAlienatingEra of forgettable SpongeBob tie-in games]] (the exception being ''Boating Bash'', which is a pretty decent demolition derby/''VideoGame/MarioKart''-type game) that no doubt contributed to the temporary demise of [=SpongeBob=]'s video game career, were mostly based on specials, and coincided with [[SeasonalRot the show going through its own slump in quality]]. In addition to the aforementioned Creator/{{Activision}}[=-=]era games, offenders included:

* On the surface, Creator/{{MTV}}'s ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'' sounds like something tailor-made for an addictive brawler - annoying celebrities beating the snot out of each other until one of them finally lays down and dies, with a slathering of [[BloodyHilarious gratuitous violence and bloodshed]] on top. Unfortunately, it came with an incredibly small roster, a short story mode that could be beaten in two hours or less, a create-a-character mode more shallow than the celebrities that it was skewering, and crappy controls, condemning it to the bargain bin.

* ''VideoGame/AdventureTime: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!'' is an unremarkable dungeon crawler that gets few of the elements of other games in its genre right and [[PortingDisaster is even worse on the 3DS than on consoles]], yet the game is canon to the show and reveals [[spoiler:Princess Bubblegum's "parents" and real age]]. Its main saving grace would have to be its presentation and loyalty to its source material.