History TheProblemWithLicensedGames / ComicBooks

* While not a ''terrible'' game per se, ''VideoGame/SpawnArmageddon'' for the Platform/GameCube, [[Platform/PlayStation2 PS2]], and Platform/{{Xbox}} is a painfully mediocre brawler even with Creator/{{Todd McFarlane}} himself handling direction. The game has a laughably small amount of combos, a large variety of weapons that barely feel any different from one another, frustrating level design, enemies that are either cheap or don't put up a fight at all, and combat that shamelessly apes the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series without any of the depth and style that makes it one of the best in the genre. It says something about its underwhelming quality that we haven't seen another ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'' game since then.

* The ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' UsefulNotes/PlayStation game is an incredibly mediocre side-scrolling BeatEmUp filled with elevator music enticing the player to take a nap instead of continue playing.
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk: The Pantheon Saga'' was a game based loosely on the "Fall of the Pantheon" arc from the comics and developed by the otherwise competent Creator/EidosInteractive. It would simply be an unremarkable puzzle platformer, but it also has graphics that do little to take advantage of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and is NintendoHard in spite of its short length, as the Hulk goes down in far fewer hits than he realistically should. At the very least, it has a great soundtrack, the AssistCharacter mechanic was interesting if not weakly implemented, and the cutscenes can veer into [[invoked]]SoBadItsGood territory.

* The idea behind ''VideoGame/JusticeLeagueTaskForce'' isn't a bad one, but a mixture of bland graphics, LimitedAnimation, clunky gameplay, unresponsive controls and a roster of only nine characters (three of which are bosses) make for a completely underwhelming cash-in. The fact that it was only released for the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} and [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis]] also means it lacks the flashiness of the games it was either [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII copying]] or [[VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom trying to compete with]].
* To give credit where it's due, Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''ComicBook/ScudTheDisposableAssassin'' for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn Saturn]] does faithfully capture the tone of the comics it adapts, has a rocking soundtrack, and creatively mixes 2D Run-And-Gun action with 1st Person Gallery Shooting (that's also fully compatible with the Sega Stunner Light Gun), but unfortunately, all of its positives are canceled out by two glaring issues: The controls are sluggish and the unforgiving difficutly that will leave you for dead before you even reach Jeff.
* ''VideoGame/SilverSurfer1990'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]]. The game controls well, has decent graphics and ''incredible'' music. However, it found its position here due to the severe BadassDecay of the titular character (the ComicBook/SilverSurfer is a OneHitPointWonder), combined with the [[NintendoHard absolutely]] [[DeadlyWalls unforgiving]] and sometimes downright [[FakeDifficulty unfair]] difficulty, [[ItsHardSoItSucks really diminishing]] the fun factor.
* While not a ''terrible'' game per se, ''VideoGame/SpawnArmageddon'' for the UsefulNotes/GameCube, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} is a painfully mediocre brawler even with Creator/{{Todd McFarlane}} himself handling direction. The game has a laughably small amount of combos, a large variety of weapons that barely feel any different from one another, frustrating level design, enemies that are either cheap or don't put up a fight at all, and combat that shamelessly apes the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series without any of the depth and style that makes it one of the best in the genre. It says something about its underwhelming quality that we haven't seen another ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'' game since then.

** The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] [[PortingDisaster version]] of ''VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows'' is borderline unplayable. It's got graphics on par with an early '''UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1''' game, next to no voice acting, [[NoEnding no actual ending]], and just plain bad 2D fighting mechanics.

** ''Return of the Sinister Six'' fared no better: it's an [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] game that is way too difficult for the wrong reasons, featuring clunky controls (not helping that B jumps instead of A) and only one life and one continue, with no way of getting extra continues.

** While the ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan2005'' game is [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames pretty good]], the same cannot be said for its sequel/prequel, ''VideoGame/SpiderManBattleForNewYork'' [[PortingDisaster on GBA]]. While the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS version is alright at best and SoOkayItsAverage at worst, the [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]] counterpart is an awful game loaded with glitchy collision detection (since enemy attacks and hazards can hit you even if they never touch you, while your own attacks can pass through enemies without damaging them for no reason), enemies and turrets are often placed in spots where you can't see them, [[NintendoHard a grueling difficulty curve]] made [[FakeDifficulty absolutely unfair]] thanks to the above issues, mediocre graphics (even by GBA standards) and a forgettable soundtrack.

** The infamous ''VideoGame/Superman64'' game for the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 [=N64=]]], based on [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries the animated series]], is another licensed game that's a contender for [[WorstWhateverEver Worst. Game. Ever.]] It features clumsy controls, mediocre graphics, a boatload of glitches, a disorientingly short draw distance (due to [[VoodooShark Kryptonite Fog]]), and a horrendously dull plot, where ComicBook/LexLuthor's diabolical scheme is to trap Superman in a virtual world... and make him [[PassThroughTheRings fly through rings]]. If you have the patience to complete that part[[note]]Because the part with the rings is frustrating enough to make most players RageQuit, a lot of people erroneously assume that's the entire game.[[/note]], the rest of the game consists of extremely dull puzzle-solving and even worse combat.
** Creator/{{Kemco}}'s ''[[http://www.somethingawful.com/rom-pit/superman/1/ Superman]]'' game for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], a side-scrolling ActionAdventure game which provides a fun experience in neither action (Superman has pathetic attacks, moves slowly and can be harmed by bullets) nor adventure (Superman's "flight" power works like a broken WarpWhistle, and there are places which he can only reach by [[ForgotAboutHisPowers riding the subway]], which [[NoHeroDiscount he needs a ticket for]]). Its [[GuideDangIt bizarre abstract nature]] is legendary. The original UsefulNotes/{{Famicom}} version at least has some decent renditions of Music/JohnWilliams' score from the films going for it, but the NES version doesn't even get ''that''.
* ''The Uncanny ComicBook/XMen'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], published by Creator/LJNToys and developed by an obscure studio called Pixel. The six available player characters are mostly blotchy {{Palette Swap}}s of each other, and the characters that use melee attacks have no animation for them. Computer-controlled characters have ArtificialStupidity. The level design, sound effects and music are like a bad nightmare. Those few players who make it through most of this poorly-designed, NintendoHard game are in for a nasty surprise: a secret code is required to unlock the last level. This code is hidden within the fine print on the cartridge, and even that's missing a crucial button. To uncover this last button, the player [[GuideDangIt has to kill an arbitrary amount of a certain kind of enemy on each stage]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'' on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], developed by Software Creations and published by [[Creator/LJNToys LJN]], is a NintendoHard side scrolling platformer where Wolverine's claws can be activated by pressing the select button. It's more effective not to attack with them out, since [[CastFromHitPoints hitting an enemy with the claws out reduces Wolverine's health]].

* ''Franchise/TheAvengers'' games:
** With ''The Avengers in Galactic Storm'', Creator/DataEast decided to make an Avengers FightingGame ''without'' most of the series' recognizable heroes. The only playable A-lister is Franchise/CaptainAmerica, with the rest of the roster consisting of Black Knight, Crystal, Thunderstrike, and a bunch of obscure Kree villains. Bizarrely, they ''did'' include some better known Avengers like Franchise/IronMan and [[Franchise/TheMightyThor Thor]]...but only as {{Assist Character}}s. The clunky CGI models, stilted animation, repetitive music and limited voice work don't help matters, nor does the fact that ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes'' [[DuelingWorks dropped the same year]], with a much more recognizable cast of heroes like Franchise/SpiderMan and the [[Franchise/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]].

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' games:

* ''Franchise/TheIncredibleHulk: The Pantheon Saga'' was a game based loosely on the "Fall of the Pantheon" arc from the comics and developed by the otherwise competent Creator/EidosInteractive. It would simply be an unremarkable puzzle platformer, but it also has graphics that do little to take advantage of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and is NintendoHard in spite of its short length, as the Hulk goes down in far fewer hits than he realistically should. At the very least, it has a great soundtrack, the AssistCharacter mechanic was interesting if not weakly implemented, and the cutscenes can veer into [[invoked]]SoBadItsGood territory.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' games:

* ''The Uncanny Franchise/XMen'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], published by Creator/LJNToys and developed by an obscure studio called Pixel. The six available player characters are mostly blotchy {{Palette Swap}}s of each other, and the characters that use melee attacks have no animation for them. Computer-controlled characters have ArtificialStupidity. The level design, sound effects and music are like a bad nightmare. Those few players who make it through most of this poorly-designed, NintendoHard game are in for a nasty surprise: a secret code is required to unlock the last level. This code is hidden within the fine print on the cartridge, and even that's missing a crucial button. To uncover this last button, the player [[GuideDangIt has to kill an arbitrary amount of a certain kind of enemy on each stage]].

* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' games:
** With ''ComicBook/TheAvengers in Galactic Storm'', Creator/DataEast decided to make an Avengers FightingGame ''without'' most of the series' recognizable heroes. The only playable A-lister is Franchise/CaptainAmerica, with the rest of the roster consisting of Black Knight, Crystal, Thunderstrike, and a bunch of obscure Kree villains. Bizarrely, they ''did'' include some better known Avengers like Franchise/IronMan and [[Franchise/TheMightyThor Thor]]...but only as {{Assist Character}}s. The clunky CGI models, stilted animation, repetitive music and limited voice work don't help matters, nor does the fact that ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes'' [[DuelingWorks dropped the same year]], with a much more recognizable cast of heroes like Franchise/SpiderMan and the [[Franchise/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]].

* ''VideoGame/SilverSurfer'' for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]]. The game controls well, has decent graphics and ''incredible'' music. However, it found its position here due to the severe BadassDecay of the titular character (The ComicBook/SilverSurfer is a OneHitPointWonder), combined with the [[NintendoHard absolutely]] [[DeadlyWalls unforgiving]] and sometimes downright [[FakeDifficulty unfair]] difficulty, [[ItsHardSoItSucks really diminishing]] the fun factor.