As a video game enthusiast, there is nothing more enticing than getting your hands on the latest games in the market. The anticipation of a new release and the excitement of exploring new worlds are what fuels the industry. However, what happens when the games that we expect to awe us fail miserably? The video game industry has had its share of ups and downs, and one aspect that has caused significant damage is poor reviews.

Here are some of the worst game reviews that almost tanked the industry, leaving gamers, reviewers, and enthusiasts alike baffled and disappointed.

🌟 ET the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

In 1982, the American sci-fi film, ET the Extra-Terrestrial hit the big screen and became a massive hit with audiences worldwide. With the success of the movie, Atari decided to venture into the video game industry and release a video game that would cash in on the movie’s popularity.

However, what seemed like a guaranteed hit turned out to be disastrous, with the game ranking as one of the worst video games ever made. The game was complicated, unintelligible, difficult to play, and kept crashing, leading to a massive number of unsold cartridges and a significant financial loss for the gaming company.

 Screenshot of the ET the Extra-Terrestrial game

🌟 Superman 64 (1999)

The highly anticipated Superman 64 was released in 1999, with gamers excited about taking on the role of the iconic superhero in a video game. Much to everyone’s surprise, the game turned out to be a massive disappointment, with players finding the navigation and controls tedious and frustrating.

The game’s poor graphics, repetitive gameplay, and bugs almost tanked the entire gaming industry, causing significant financial losses for Developer and Publisher Titus Interactive. It’s safe to say that this game is one that even Superman would struggle to save.

 Screenshot of the Superman 64 game

🌟 Daikatana (2000)

Daikatana was a long-awaited first-person shooter game developed by John Romero, considered one of the pioneers of the video game industry. However, the game’s release in 2000 was met with criticisms from reviewers and gamers, rendering it a massive commercial failure.

The game’s various bugs, uninspired level designs, and poorly developed AI caused gamers to lose interest before they could even complete the first level. The game was considered a cautionary tale for video game developers, highlighting the importance of quality control before releasing a game.

 Screenshot of the Daikatana game

🌟 No Man’s Sky (2016)

No Man’s Sky, a space exploration game, was released in 2016 and generated significant hype due to its expansive universe and randomly generated planetary systems. This game was expected to be the new frontier in gaming, allowing players to explore an infinite number of planets and galaxies.

Unfortunately, the game’s launch was met with disappointment as a result of poor graphics, repetitive gameplay, and limited multiplayer features. The backlash against the game was so severe that the game’s developer, Hello Games, released various updates to improve the game’s features and regain the favor of gamers.

 Screenshot of No Man's Sky game

🌟 Duke Nukem Forever (2011)

Duke Nukem Forever was a highly anticipated first-person shooter game that was released in 2011, more than a decade after its initial announcement. Gamers eagerly awaited the game’s release, expecting it to live up to its previous versions.

However, what they got was a poorly executed, repetitive game with poor graphics and gameplay mechanics. The game’s development was plagued with extensive delays and numerous setbacks, leading to many of the issues gamers experienced upon release.

 Screenshot of Duke Nukem Forever game

In conclusion, game reviewers have the power to sway public opinion and impact the industry’s success or failure. This list highlights some of the worst game reviews that almost tanked the industry, leaving a mark on the gaming industry for years to come. It also emphasizes the importance of quality control in video game development and the need for developers to live up to the hype generated before their game’s release.

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