Guilty Pleasure Gaming

[KEDavidson]

So we've got all these "favourite game" threads and hidden gems and all that, and I thought it might be interesting to look at the end of the list.
you know the ones, games so universally panned that you don't admit to having them or claim it's just for the easy acheivment points. The only rule is you have to actually like something about the game yourself; raging about Dora's First Play Date or Diakatana without secretly loving them just makes you mean;)

the first one that comes up for me is Superman Returns: the game. So let me get the obvious out of the way first, this is a movie tie-in, and it was made by EA about 3 years before they decided to at least try and put a little effort into things.
The graphics were dated when it came out, the story is, uhm, well there's a cutscene and I think there was some voice over dialogue at one point.... The combat, oh my god the combat: if you lock onto an enemy (which is the only way to keep them on the screen at the same time as you) then Supes stops in mid air to execute his combo, even though 9 times out of 10 the enemy isn't actually within stricking distance. And ultimatley the entire gameplay experience is based on flying as fast as you can to a randomly generated robot attack! except when it's cloned Dragons of course...

The game is broken-up into chapters, and while there are a few attempts at diversity such as a very very drawn-out fight with Bizzaro, racing Mr. Mxyzptlk around the city and saving godamn cats from godamn tree's and building ledges, 98% of the game is still based on flying as fast as you can to a randomly generated robot attack! except when it's cloned Dragons of course...

So why do you play it you ask? Because like web-swinging in Spiderman 2, EA absolutely nailed the flying mechanics, from the supersonic sound effects and screen-blurring to hovering 10 000ft over Metroplis (which is actually decently designed if not executed) this is exactly what flying in a Superman game should feel like and I freakin love it.

oh, and this being an art forum, the unlockable concept art is actually pretty awesome,

[Lamont]

24: The game. It's like watching the show.. Aiming was awesome and the interrogation mini games were fun although they should have more branches.

[Gavin]

For me, other than The Sims, I think it's Conan (the one that came to consoles a little while back) it didn't do very well in the ratings, but I liked it. Boobs, violence, cheesy one liners...I think it fit the universe well. Not 'awesome' gameplay (but definitely not the worst I've seen)

[JacqueChoi]

50 Cent Blood on the Sand.

It's Gears of War but you're playing as 50Cent.


Graphics and gameplay are surprisingly good. Very surprised that more liscenced games follow the same route, and just go for an exact clone, but with reskinning.

[KEDavidson]

I picked up Conan back in the summer but my 360 died before i got to far into it, I remember it being decent enough but Batman and L4d2 kept me from getting back to it.... ( i think i've got about 6 unfinished games on the go right now)

Xbox magazine just rated 50 Cent the Best (unintentional) comedy game of the year, and I didn't even know it came out...

[Ace-Angel]

Psychonauts
Space Siege
Wolfenstein
Saboteur

Hmm...more, but still.

[KEDavidson]

i haven't actually played any of those, but are they really what you would consider bad? and not just games that didn't sell so well?
there's a difference and it's kinda important to the whole topic;)

[Frump]

Well... I guess it also depends on who considers it bad, general opinion or reviewers, metacritic. Like, I might not be the only one who likes these games because most of them have some popularity, every game does. And every games also has haters.

Some of mine:
Sonic Adventure Battle 2. I love this game for so many reasons, including chao gardening.

Animal Crossing. Yeah, I spent a lot of time running errands, fishing and moving furniture.

Final Fantasy X-2: Okay, I don't really like this game, but I own it and I think the battle system is actually pretty cool.

Resident Evil's fiction. People always hate on the Resident Evil fiction, but I actually follow it and even read a couple of the novels! Do I win the prize for this one?

WoW. Although this is an extremely well liked and popular game, I spent years hating on it and I still have an extremely love/hate relationship with it. It makes me feel guilty and shameful that I play it, and that's what counts.

[frigi]

Ace-Angel: Actually Psychonauts was plain awesome :)

[crazyfool]

yea, I really liked that conan game for some reason and Animal crossing haha, me and my friends would be exchanging fruit on a daily basis.

I guess mine is viva pinata, I loved it!!!!! lots of people dismiss it but its actually really good and has alot of depth to it. The characters are really cool too.

[Hazardous]

Kingdom Under Fire - its like conan, didnt do so well, everyone at work was hating on it so bad - but some of the enviros looked fantastic - the character models were great and awesome animations too. I thought it was a simple run from a to b hack some dudes up rinse repeat kinda game!

[Mask_Salesman]

Small children look away.

My friend showed me this game aaagggesss ago but it's the first thing I thought of when reading the thread title, despite what the thread is actually about, but anyway.

BattleRaper.... the other kind of guilty gaming pleasure ;P

It's so hilariously perverted japanese it's sort of awesome that something like that can actually exist. Basically it's an exact clone of soul calibur but as you battle their armor breaks off, alot like todays soulcalibur SC4 oddly. But at the end of the battle you can rape your opponent... O_o
Seriously you actually full on rape them, whole other part of the game I was not expecting to see. Battle system wasn't bad.

All those people that complain about game censorship/banning should go to japan and see why we have that system here lol.

[grimdc13]

Oh Gaul, I have a few...

Destructo'match and pretty much alot of games on Neopets.com I loved this game because of the explosions when I detonated matching blocks. But sadly they dulled down the sound fx> (cries)

Playing Phantasy Star Universe online with my bf and playing against a four person boss called the control room.

Playing DDR, Para pAra (hand signal version), rockband and not caring if I suck at them.

I love a good old button Mashing game like MORTAL COMBAT(SCORPION RIPS YOUR HEART OUT) or PUZZLE FIGHTER (streetfighter vs Dark stalkers in chibi form) or any Tekken game where I cna just bicycle kick to victory with forrest law or pummel and power drive with King. OH YEAH FUN!! :D

[McPandaBurger]

star gladiator on psx it's like a less cool tekken with a vader ripp off as a bad guy made by capcom. for some reason I love that game, also apocalypse the bruce wilis game on psx

bloody raw a fighting game where you can change into giant rabbits and wolves and shit. again complete toss but the animation have a sense of cool to them. kinda like liono's back flip in the thundercats intro.

lol and disney's psx tarzan game no idea why i liked that too.

wcw vs nwo revenge on n64. i thik this was pretty popular anyway but I still play it now days.

herdy gurdy anyone, I thought this game was awesome but it didn't do too well.

mark of kri, again I thought this was the dogs danglies but it did bad.

to be honest I have loads of pants games that have a little bit of charm enough to make me play em again.

though I have to return to awesome ones to cleans afterwards

[Shadownami92]

Muscle March, It just came out in the US but it's so ridiculous that it's actually pretty fun to play.

[Marcus Dublin]

One game that immediately comes to mind Kameo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBTJQ3Qc_94).

This game was a launch title for the xbox 360 and had the unfortunate pleasure of coming out around the same time as Call of Duty 2, which overshadowed the title and became the launch game of choice for most gamers. Kameo was a throwback game to the days of the Nintendo 64 and pretty much encapsulated everything Rare was about for better or worse.

The graphics are pretty good but the art style leaves a bit to be desired. Either you're on board with the way Rare designs their characters or not.

As for the game play it's actually quite good and very familiar to anyone old enough to remember the kick ass platformers of the 32/64 bit era of gaming.

With all that said game certainly isn’t a masterpiece but it’s a pretty fun and colorful platformer on a console starved for games of the same ilk.

So yeah I like to fire this game up ever so often to get my fix.:inocent:

[Ksan]

Luigi's Mansion. That's right, what ya gonna do about it.

I think I really just loved the music and the idea in general. It was rushed to be a Gamecube launch tittle, and entirely too short. I played it when it first came out, and then later just to see if I was cracked. All in all, adorable to me.

wigiman.

[FluxAmbassador]

Luigi's Mansion. That's right, what ya gonna do about it.

Love that game. I must've hummed that same tune that Luigi hums for like 3 months after playing. Damnit. Now it's stuck in my head again. Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm :p

My favorite guilty pleasure game has got to be the two Maniac Mansion games. Love the multiple endings and twisted humor of the 1st and the animation of the 2nd. I got them to work on SCUMMVM play them on my NDS whenever I get the chance.

If there's a "panned" game I love going through over and over it has to be the two Legends of Wrestling games on the Gamecube. Not the fanciest wrestling games around, but hella fun.

[Beartastic]

JacqueChoi: Haha, I just bought that game based on your comments. :D

I usually play Midnight Resistance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beoHC4KCq4I) and COD4.

X-Men Origins is also serious fun, very much a blasty, underhyped Arkham Asylum. Especially when you play using old school wolvie outfits.

[KewopDecam]

Kane and Lynch.

I don't care what anyone says, that game is awesome, but ONLY in split-screen coop. Lynch is one of the best characters ever

[Ace-Angel]

@Scudz: Well, here is the thing:

Psychonauts: EXCELLENT GAME! Almost everyone called it 'weird' and a whole set of other slander, but in my eyes, it was perfect.

Space Siege: Dungeon siege, but in space. You could upgrade yourself, your bot, and the character idea and lore behind it was quite unique.

Wolfenstein: Yeah, ok, the game isn't 'epic' or anything, but seriously? Some of the heat it got was uncalled for.

Saboteur: Another game. GTA like, yet people seemed to dislike it. Double-standard much? I still found it quick and nifty fun.

I think overall, all games have a charm and should be expanded on. It's just certain people cannot appreciate them and end up debunking them at the first possible chance.

[Razvan-Sedekiah]

http://i19.tinypic.com/498zckj.jpg
Final Fantasy X-2 : I... I... I LIKE BEING ABLE TO CHANGE MY CHARACTERS OUTFITS AT THE DROP OF A HAT... *huff huff* there.. I said it. I hated that the game didn't seem to really follow up the story of FFX... but.. I liked having an all girl team and making them wear pretty outfits and talk to pretty boys. There are sooo few games that cater to my girly side that I take what I can get.

http://i37.tinypic.com/in605g.jpg

Sword of the New World : Okay, so it's a grindfest.. but it's a grindfest with beautiful outfits, attractive characters, lovely cities, and great music. Free to download, free to play, and a couple of bucks will get you some more cool costumes and hair. I wish sooo much that they would add a color slider so that I could at least change my character's hair color... but... still.. I love this game. I like playing three characters and creating a "family" of characters. It fills my need to NAME characters.

See link for photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ParaParaParadise
PARA PARA PARADISE : I look like a dork playing it... but I don't care. It's so much fun. It's like DDR for your arms. I really REALLY want a home version.

http://i39.tinypic.com/68adug.jpg
Marvel VS Capcom 2 : it probably wont make it on to my favorites list... but I do love this game. It's so FAST!!! And it's so animated! ^_^ Chun-Li, BBHood, Morgan FOREVER! ^_^

http://i29.tinypic.com/t8w5rk.jpg
Pocky and Rocky : This game has always stuck in my head... I really liked it as a kid. I need to find a Rom.

[ReplicA]

I'd really love to take part in this conversation, but I don't feel guilty about any game I play. Not trying to be all "aren't I cool for not bowing to society?" it's just that I really don't feel guilty. If I like a game, I like it. If I don't like it, I don't like it. Simple as.

However, there are games that make me feel old, that I LOVE. Mainly arcade classics, like Strider, and Shinobi. Or Heavy Barrel (I'd LOVE to see a modern retelling of that game. Oh the violence!), and Midnight Resistance, the spiritual successor to Heavy Barrel.

As for console games, Act Raiser on the SNES kicked more ass than should be legal. Mixing action platforming, with RTS was a mark of genius back in the day. I think that game could use a modern makeover as well.

I've gone over some of the other comments, and psychonauts came up. I liked the IDEA of that game, but the controls, and level design were sooooooo awful it killed the game. I like Platforming, more or less, but the levels were designed to be so frustratingly annoying, that it sucked all the fun out of the game. But the art direction was fantastic, and the level IDEAS were great as well. Better execution would have made it a better game.

[KEDavidson]

well you don't actually have to feel guilty, the idea was more about truly awful games that you still, for whatever reason, like to play.
I've only ever heard good things about Psychonauts (before your post Replica) which is why i didn't think it belonged but really thats just my own oppinion.

though to be honest i would have expected at least 1 mention of DOA volleyball by page 2... but whatever...

[ReplicA]

Ah, ok. I get it now. Hmmm, still can't think of any awful games I love....

Just remembered one!! Wrath of the Black Manta on the NES. I rented it, and played it the entire 24 hours I had it. I loved it, but couldn't figure out how to beat the final boss. But I finally killed him about 5 minutes before we had to leave to return the game.

The game sucks massive amounts, but I loved it back then.

Also, Adventure Island for the NES. Terrible game, next to impossible to beat, but I played it for days. Me and my bro's GF had a deal, once the game is beat, we take it out to the quarry, and blow it up! We hated that game, but couldn't stop playing it.

There! 2 guilty pleasure games! YAY! I participated. I feel like a big kid now.

[Ksan]

Also, Adventure Island for the NES. Terrible game, next to impossible to beat, but I played it for days. Me and my bro's GF had a deal, once the game is beat, we take it out to the quarry, and blow it up! We hated that game, but couldn't stop playing it.



AH! Bite your tongue, I love those games, own up to 3 . C'mon, YOUR RIDING DINOSAURS in the third one!! :D

I can top my own guilty pleasure game.....The Little Mermaid for NES. Yes, a terrible movie game. I can't even tell you how many times I have beaten that, but it appeals to the 6 year old inside me who just wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up :o Actually, it was pretty fun, easy, but fun.

[SHockaday]

I'd have say that Oni (the PC version), was one of my favorite games of the time that received fairly mediocre scores. Sure, it could be a little repetitive, but I never got tired of the breaking backs, twisting necks, and all sorts of fun hand-to-hand maneuvers.

Reviewers also complained about the sterile, sparse graphics, but I felt that they gave the game a unique feel and atmosphere.

Overall, I felt the game really nailed the "anime-inspired" gameplay and world, as well as some of the most satisfying brawling combat I've played. Mirror's Edge is probably the only other game that's made me feel like such a hand-to-hand badass. That is when, I wasn't being gunned down. But that's a guilty pleasure for another day...

As for the person who mentioned "Muscle March"... that game looks terrible! Terribly awesome that is... I'll probably be wasting the 500 points on it when I get home tonight :D

[David-J]

One game that immediately comes to mind Kameo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBTJQ3Qc_94).

This game was a launch title for the xbox 360 and had the unfortunate pleasure of coming out around the same time as Call of Duty 2, which overshadowed the title and became the launch game of choice for most gamers. Kameo was a throwback game to the days of the Nintendo 64 and pretty much encapsulated everything Rare was about for better or worse.

The graphics are pretty good but the art style leaves a bit to be desired. Either you're on board with the way Rare designs their characters or not.

As for the game play it's actually quite good and very familiar to anyone old enough to remember the kick ass platformers of the 32/64 bit era of gaming.

With all that said game certainly isn’t a masterpiece but it’s a pretty fun and colorful platformer on a console starved for games of the same ilk.

So yeah I like to fire this game up ever so often to get my fix.:inocent:

My wife loves Kameo. It's a very good platformer.

[Shadownami92]

If it's bad games, or games that got bad ratings I would say that Chopper Attack for the N64 and Two Worlds for the PC were also some guilty pleasures.

[darkfox]

Im going with animal crossing that i wasted so much time on
and still occasionally go back and look over the DS version
like awesome crossing says "why do i love it so much":cry:

[KewopDecam]

I'd have say that Oni (the PC version), was one of my favorite games of the time that received fairly mediocre scores. Sure, it could be a little repetitive, but I never got tired of the breaking backs, twisting necks, and all sorts of fun hand-to-hand maneuvers.

Reviewers also complained about the sterile, sparse graphics, but I felt that they gave the game a unique feel and atmosphere.

Overall, I felt the game really nailed the "anime-inspired" gameplay and world, as well as some of the most satisfying brawling combat I've played. Mirror's Edge is probably the only other game that's made me feel like such a hand-to-hand badass. That is when, I wasn't being gunned down. But that's a guilty pleasure for another day...

As for the person who mentioned "Muscle March"... that game looks terrible! Terribly awesome that is... I'll probably be wasting the 500 points on it when I get home tonight :D

Oni, I played and beat the hell out of that game as a kid and loved it.