History CondemnedByHistory / VideoGames

* When the UsefulNotes/{{Kinect}} launched for the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 in 2010, it was highly acclaimed for its revolutionary motion-tracking technology which gave potential for new immersive gameplay experiences far beyond what the UsefulNotes/NintendoWii or [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 [=PlayStation=] Move]] could offer. It also sold exceptionally well with its pack-in game, ''VideoGame/KinectAdventures'', becoming the 360's best-selling game. However, the novelty wore off as consumers began to notice that the devices' capabilities were far below [[NeverTrustATrailer what had been initially advertised]], severely limiting its gameplay potential beyond mini-game collections and dancing games. Microsoft would attempt to salvage the Kinect's reputation by announcing that a newer version of the Kinect with a better camera and mic would be bundled with the UsefulNotes/XboxOne with no plans to release a version of the console without the Kinect. This backfired as consumers saw this as Microsoft admitting they had been misleading regarding the Kinect's capabilities, making none too eager to spend $500 for the device they were promised three years prior. In 2014, Microsoft would offer a cheaper version of the Xbox One that excluded the Kinect as a means to bolster system sales. This combined with the continued lack of any software beyond mini-game collections and dance simulators lead to the peripheral being discontinued in 2017. These days the Kinect is seen as, at best, an interesting experiment that only managed short-term success, and at worst, a useless gimmick that heralded an AudienceAlienatingEra for the Xbox brand.

* While ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder'' was very popular, and seemingly issued with every CD-ROM drive in the '90s, in hindsight it's one of the least-liked games in the series. Many players still loathe Cedric, it is far too easy to make the game unwinnable, and the "multimedia" version is remembered as a [[TechDemoGame glorified tech demo]]. Even ''King's Quest'' fans tell players to avoid this installment.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews and sold very well for a ''Sonic'' spin-off game when it was released. Reviewers praised its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, with any flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things that could be fixed in a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former writer of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', Creator/KenPenders, attempted to sue Creator/{{Sega}} under the belief that the titular Brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic series. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews and sold very well for a ''Sonic'' spin-off game when it was released. Reviewers praised its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, with any flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things that could be fixed in a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former writer of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', Creator/KenPenders, attempted to sue Creator/{{Sega}} under the belief that the titular Brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews and sold very well for a ''Sonic'' spin-off game when it was released. Reviewers praised its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, with any flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things that could be fixed in a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former writer of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', Creator/KenPenders, attempted to sue Sega under the belief that the titular Brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews and sold very well for a ''Sonic'' spin-off game when it was released. Reviewers praised its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, with any flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things that could be fixed in a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews and sold very well for ''Sonic'' spin-off game when it was released. Reviewers praised its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, with any flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things that could be fixed in a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews an sold well when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition by Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what was once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near-perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews an sold well when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition Creator/ElectronicArts, and any chance of the sequel going to a different developer was squashed when a former ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what were once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]] and requiring perfect or near perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews an sold well when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition Creator/ElectronicArts. With any chance of a different developer getting squashed when a former ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what were once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]], requiring perfect or near perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews an sold well when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition Creator/ElectronicArts. With any chance of a different developer getting squashed when a former ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Creator/Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what were once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]], requiring perfect or near perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews an sold well when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized as [[Creator/{{Bioware}} Bioware's]] Handheld division was shut down following their acquisition Creator/ElectronicArts. With any chance of a different developer getting squashed when a former ComicBook/ArchieSonicTheHedgehog writer Creator/KenPenders attempted to sue Creator/Sega under the belief, that the titular brotherhood plagiarized characters he previously created for the comic. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what were once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]], requiring perfect or near perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

* When the UsefulNotes/{{Kinect}} launched for the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 in 2010, it was highly acclaimed for its revolutionary motion-tracking technology which gave potential for new immersive gameplay experiences far beyond what the UsefulNotes/NintendoWii or [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 [=PlayStation=] Move]] could offer. It also sold exceptionally well with its TechDemoGame ''VideoGame/KinectAdventures'' becoming the 360's best-selling game. However, the novelty wore off as consumers began to notice that the devices' capabilities were far below [[NeverTrustATrailer what had been initially advertised]], severely limiting its gameplay potential beyond mini-game collections and dancing games. Microsoft would attempt to salvage the Kinect's reputation by announcing that a newer version of the Kinect with a better camera and mic would be bundled with the UsefulNotes/XboxOne with no plans to release a version of the console without the Kinect. This backfired as consumers saw this as Microsoft admitting they had been misleading regarding the Kinect's capabilities, making none too eager to spend $500 for the device they were promised three years prior. In 2014, Microsoft would offer a cheaper version of the Xbox One that excluded the Kinect as a means to bolster system sales. This combined with the continued lack of any software beyond mini-game collections and dance simulators lead to the peripheral being discontinued in 2017. These days the Kinect is seen as, at best, an interesting experiment that only managed short-term success, and at worst, a useless gimmick that heralded an AudienceAlienatingEra for the Xbox brand.

** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog28Bit'' received positive reviews on release for expanding the mechanics and challenge of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit'', aided by the fact the game released a few weeks before the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 16-bit version]] in certain territories. While the flaws would be highlighted more with the passage of time, the game still has fans... on the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem that is. While the UsefulNotes/GameGear version was once considered an excellent way to play Sonic on the go, it's now seen as a giant PortingDisaster that heightens the flaws of the Master System version. The Game Gear version features ScreenCrunch amping up the difficulty significantly [[FakeDifficulty and not in a good way]], the poor visibility turns even the smallest challenge into TrialAndErrorGameplay, requiring the player to inch across slowly to have any chance of survival, which defeats the purpose of being a ''Sonic'' game. While the Game Gear port of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit its predecessor]] was and still is well-received for the numerous changes it made to accommodate the smaller screen size, ''Sonic 2'' did nothing of the sort - in fact, it ''added'' elements that clash with the lower resolution, like the iron balls in the first boss fight bouncing at random heights instead of the same fixed level. Even the novelty of the game being released on a handheld no longer matters, as many ''Sonic'' games designed specifically for handhelds coming out since, with far better difficulty balance and level design. To make matters worse, while the Game Gear version has received numerous rereleases, the Master System version's only rerelease was on the [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes now-defunct Wii Virtual Console]].

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' received decent reviews when it was released, praising its story, characters, and vast amounts of gameplay options. Its DialogueTree was also highlighted in positive reviews, seen as a way to give Sonic more depth and increase replayability. Many called it a bright spot in the AudienceAlienatingEra Sonic was suffering during the late 2000s, the flaws in gameplay and story getting reported in reviews being dismissed as things to be fixed with a sequel, which the [[SequelHook game's ending]] clearly showed was on the cards. However, said sequel never materialized due to a combination of lukewarm sales, its developer Creator/{{Bioware}} getting bought out by Creator/ElectronicArts, and an attempted lawsuit by Creator/KenPenders, where he accused some of the characters as being copied from his. With ''Chronicles'' now doomed to be a StillbornFranchise, what were once seen as minor complaints in the gameplay and presentation became much bigger issues with players now deriding its gameplay as [[LowTierLetdown severely]] [[GameBreaker unbalanced]] with combat that focuses too much on [[{{Waggle}} touch screen gimmicks]], requiring perfect or near perfect completion at all times to even accomplish anything. While the game's soundtrack and graphics were once seen as passable, they're both now seen [[SoBadItsGood as laughably bad at best]]. The DialogueTree has since been seen as unfitting for Sonic, with most of the choices doing nothing to affect the overall narrative aside from a RomanceSidequest with Amy. The vast majority of choices are limited to giving Sonic the option to [[TookALevelInJerkass be more of a jerk]], which would be a common criticism of the character starting in the 2010s. The fact its lack of follow-up turned the SequelHook into a gigantic SuddenDownerEnding [[AudienceAlienatingEnding overshadowed any of the story's merits for many]]. Combine all these factors and ''Chronicles'' is now seen as one of the worst spin-off games in the franchise.

** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog28Bit'' received positive reviews on release for expanding the mechanics and challenge of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit'', aided by the fact the game released a few weeks before the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 16-bit version]] in certain territories. While the flaws would be highlighted more with the passage of time, the game still has fans... on the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem that is. While the UsefulNotes/GameGear version was once considered an excellent way to play Sonic on the go, it's now seen as a giant PortingDisaster that heightens the flaws of the Master System version. The Game Gear version features ScreenCrunch amping up the difficulty significantly [[FakeDifficulty and not in a good way]], the poor visibility turns even the smallest challenge into TrialAndErrorGameplay, requiring the player to inch across slowly to have any chance of survival, which defeats the purpose of being a ''Sonic'' game. Even its handheld novelty no longer matters with several ''Sonic'' games designed specifically for handhelds coming out since, with far better difficulty balance and level design. To make matters worse, while the Game Gear version has received numerous rereleases, the Master System version's only rerelease was on the [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes now-defunct Wii Virtual Console]].

* When the UsefulNotes/{{Kinect}} launched for the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 in 2010, it was highly acclaimed for its revolutionary motion-tracking technology which gave potential for new immersive gameplay experiences far beyond what the UsefulNotes/NintendoWii or [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 [=PlayStation=] Move]] could offer. It also sold exceptionally well with its TechDemoGame ''VideoGame/KinectAdventures'' becoming the 360's best-selling game. However, the novelty wore off as consumers began to notice that the devices' capabilities were far below [[NeverTrustATrailer what had been initially advertised]], severely limiting its gameplay potential beyond mini-game collections and dancing games. The Kinect's star would fade even more when it was confirmed that a newer version of the Kinect with a better camera and mic would be bundled with the UsefulNotes/XboxOne with no plans to release a version of the console without the Kinect. Many consumers saw this as Microsoft admitting they had been misleading regarding the Kinect's capabilities, making none too eager to spend $500 for the device they were promised three years prior. In 2014, Microsoft would offer a cheaper version of the Xbox One that excluded the Kinect as a means to bolster system sales. This combined with the continued lack of any software beyond mini-game collections and dance simulators lead to the peripheral being discontinued in 2017. These days the Kinect is seen as, at best, an interesting experiment that only managed short-term success, and at worst, a useless gimmick that heralded an AudienceAlienatingEra for the Xbox brand.

** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog28Bit'' received positive reviews on release for expanding the mechanics and challenge of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit'', aided by the fact the game released a few weeks before the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 16-bit version]] in certain territories. While the flaws would be highlighted more with the passage of time, the game still has fans... on the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem that is. While the UsefulNotes/GameGear version was once considered an excellent way to play Sonic on the go, it's now seen as a giant PortingDisaster that heightens the flaws of the Master System version. The Game Gear version features ScreenCrunch amping up the difficulty significantly [[FakeDifficulty and not in a good way]], the poor visibility turns even the smallest challenge into TrialAndErrorGameplay, requiring the player to inch across slowly to have any chance of survival, which defeats the purpose of being a Sonic game. Even its handheld novelty no longer matters with several Sonic games designed specifically for handhelds coming out since, with far better difficulty balance and level design. To make matters worse, while the Game Gear version has received numerous rereleases, the Master System version's only rerelease was on the [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes now-defunct Wii Virtual Console]].
** While never a critical darling, ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'' was held in higher regard upon release than it would be in later years. Reviewers saw the game as an improvement over recent titles, particularly ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', with several praising it as a return to the faster-paced action that was deemed lacking in the series' console installments following the VideoGame3DLeap. The game was also liked for its use of motion controls, as well as Sonic being the sole playable character, as dislike of the franchise's ever-expanding cast (especially as playable characters) had become a common refrain amongst the fan community. In the years since, however, it would join its sister game ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' in being derided by critics and fans. The novelty of motion controls would soon wear off, with the gameplay controls now being seen as clunky and irritating to deal with; the plot was seen as more ridiculous, with Sonic being trapped in ''Literature/OneThousandAndOneNights'' now seeing the same dismissal and skepticism as [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed him becoming a werehog]] or wielding a sword, with the additional problem of lacking ''Black Knight'''s saving graces of Sonic's characterization and its HardTruthAesop; and the release of more universally-liked home console entries like ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' meant prior 3D games were now held up to even greater scrutiny.

Finally, by UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, CapcomSequelStagnation got phased almost completely out in favor of fighting games adopting a season pass model, in which each year of the game's duration would be dedicated to a new season of releasing new characters and balance patches for it. This is due to the arcade decline finally catching up to Japan as well. Many fighting games saw their releases made first to Console and PC, and the arcade ports now had an internet connection, meaning that there was completely no excuse to give a game an updated rerelease. Some of the last games to follow the old method were ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear Xrd]]'', and ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'', which all offered upgrade paths through DLC.

* In the world of ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', disco was dominant in the '30s, two decades before the beginning of the game. It became emblematic of this time, an economic boom era known as The New in which centrist liberal capitalism had seemingly solved all problems and tacky ConspicuousConsumption was delighted in. Towards the end of the '30s, disco stopped being relevant after [[CapitalismIsBad the idiotic excesses of The New caused a recession]], making the disco lifestyle unaffordable to its largely working-class consumers. Disco singles started to fail to crack the charts, and major local disco star Guillaume le Million died at the height of his fame in an [[EroticAsphyxiation autoerotic asphyxiation accident]] (or contracting every venereal disease in existence, if Joyce's account is more reliable). By the time the game is set, [[PopularityPolynomial disco and the associated culture are seen as the height of passé]], associated with an embarrassing time and tainted by the misery that followed it. However, significant elements of disco culture [[RetroUniverse have stuck around]]. Calling something "disco" means that it is exciting, in the same way people in our world might describe something as "rock 'n' roll". Your player character loves disco and identifies heavily with it and with [[CelebrityResemblance Guillaume le Million]], which serves as [[RuleOfSymbolism a symbol]] of the character's outdated, misjudged commitment to [[AddledAddict substance-aided hedonistic self-destruction]].

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'', the Scarlet Book and Violet Book were once hailed as great by the people of Paldea for the discoveries of Area Zero recorded in them and could be found in every bookstore in the region. Over time, however, people began to doubt the claims regarding the Pokémon found in Area Zero that the books talked about and they fell out of favor, ultimately ending up in used book bins, although in the present day Professor Sada and Professor Turo still have a fondness for those books.

** In the 3D Universe games, [[Radio/GTARadio Lazlow]] is one of the hottest [=DJs=] and {{radio}} hosts in America, starting off as the co-host of V-Rock in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories Vice City Stories]]'' before becoming the sole host in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity Vice City]]'', and the host of various radio talk shows after 1986. By the events of ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV GTA IV]]'', however, several payola scandals and bizarre personal indiscretions have turned him into a joke, where he resorts to wandering around Liberty City to find people to interview (who view him with contempt). Whilst his career did recover, leading to him hosting a radio show and talent show in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV GTA V]]'', but his {{jerkass}} demeanor is cranked up, causing his colleagues to find him insufferable and [[TheProtagonist Michael DeSanta]] to humiliate him for his [[DirtyOldMan creepiness towards Tracey]] in the story missions "Fame or Shame" and "Reuniting the Family".

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'' was very well-received among fans at release, and in the early years of the fandom, was considered one of the best games, especially when compared to its sequel ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3''. It was praised for its cryptic minigames painting a captivating story, its amazing character designs, the Mask mechanic that meant you got up close and personal with the animatronics, and even the increased difficulty was embraced by more hardcore members of the fandom. But nowadays, fans are a LOT more vocal about the game's flaws, pointing out that [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny every single aspect it used to be praised for has been done better by other games in the series or fangames]]. The lore tidbits from this game are now some of the least important parts in the overall story, the cryptic minigames were done much better in ''Sister Location'' and ''Pizzeria Simulator'', the Mask and even Puppet's music box (due to being a worse version of Foxy's camera mechanic) are now considered [[ScrappyMechanic Scrappy Mechanics]], and there is so much RNG in the game's difficulty that it doesn't feel good to complete. Many people also point out that the game becomes so difficult in its later stages that any semblance of horror is gone. It doesn't help this game's case that ''Five Nights At Freddy's 3'' is now considered a downplayed case of VindicatedByHistory. Due to these factors, while no fan vitriolically hates this game, it has completely lost the SacredCow status it used to have in the early years of the fandom.

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'' was very well-received among fans at release, and in the early years of the fandom, was considered one of the best games, especially when compared to its sequel ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3''. It was praised for its cryptic minigames painting a captivating story, its amazing character designs, the Mask mechanic that meant you got up close and personal with the animatronics, and even the increased difficulty was embraced by more hardcore members of the fandom. But nowadays, fans are a LOT more vocal about the game's flaws, pointing out that every single aspect it used to be praised for has been done better by other games in the series or fangames. The lore tidbits from this game are now some of the least important parts in the overall story, the cryptic minigames were done much better in ''Sister Location'' and ''Pizzeria Simulator'', the Mask and even Puppet's music box (due to being a worse version of Foxy's camera mechanic) are now considered [[ScrappyMechanic Scrappy Mechanics]], and there is so much RNG in the game's difficulty that it doesn't feel good to complete. Many people also point out that the game becomes so difficult in its later stages that any semblance of horror is gone. It doesn't help this game's case that ''Five Nights At Freddy's 3'' is now considered a downplayed case of VindicatedByHistory. Due to these factors, while no fan vitriolically hates this game, it has completely lost the SacredCow status it used to have in the early years of the fandom.

*
''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddy's2'' was very well-received among fans at release, and in the early years of the fandom, was considered one of the best games, especially when compared to its sequel Five Nights At Freddy's 3. It was praised for its cryptic minigames painting a captivating story, its amazing character designs, Mask mechanic that meant you got up close and personal with the animatronics, and even the increased difficulty was embraced by more hardcore members of the fandom. But nowadays, fans are a LOT more vocal about the game's flaws, pointing out that every single aspect it used to be praised for has been done better by other games in the series or fangames. The lore tidbits from this game are now some of the least important parts in the overall story, the cryptic minigames were done much better in Sister Location and Pizzeria Simulator, the Mask and even Puppet's music box (due to being a worse version of Foxy's camera mechanic) are now considered [[ScrappyMechanic Scrappy Mechanics]], and there is so much RNG in the game's difficulty that it doesn't feel good to complete. Many people also point out that the game becomes so difficult in its later stages that any semblance of horror is gone. It doesn't help this game's case that Five Nights At Freddy's 3 is now considered a downplayed case of VindicatedByHistory. Due to these factors, while no fan vitriolically hates this game, it has completely lost the SacredCow status it used to have in the early years of the fandom.

Come the UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, paid DownloadableContent became the new norm for doing upgrades to existing games and new characters would be released this way. Capcom, the namesake of this trend, caught an increasing flack for continuing to rely on the classic "arcade-first" methods of doing a new release rather than rebalancing the game through patches and DLC. They eventually did adapt to this by offering an upgrade path through DLC for ''Ultra Street Fighter 4''.\\

* ''VideoGame/{{Bubsy}}'' was rather popular upon his game's initial release, with his first game doing well enough in both sales and reception to kickstart several sequels and a pilot for a [[WesternAnimation/{{Bubsy}} cartoon]]. Even the now-notorious ''Bubsy 3D'' received only mixed reviews at the time, likely due to being one of the first 3D platformers. What caused many to turn on the bobcat was hindsight, as numerous internet reviewers (most notably ''WebVideo/JonTron'' and ''Creator/{{Seanbaby}}'') brought attention back to the original games, the cartoon, and ''Bubsy 3D''. These reviews were not at all kind to Bubsy, exposing many of the problems (poor level design, FakeDifficulty, and Bubsy himself being annoying) to a wider audience, which would subsequently cause Bubsy to become a notorious punching bag. Whatever good rep he had from his first game all but disappeared. When Bubsy was briefly brought back during the late-2010s, the common reception from people at the time was "''Why?''" This new game got torn to shreds by critics, citing that all of the problems that people had complained about for ages still hadn't been addressed, and Bubsy was promptly swept back under the rug. A spin-off was released to somewhat better acclaim, but it was nowhere near good enough to save Bubsy's reputation. These days, few people will admit to playing any of Bubsy's games, and even fewer will admit to ''liking'' them, even if the first game isn't quite as notorious as the others.