Games you want to like but can't

[dumpster]

Alongside the Games You've Never Played thread and the Disappointing Games thread, what games do you really wish you could like but don't?

 

I've never 'got' Bayonetta. I have 2 copies here, one still factory sealed, not sure why. But despite the Edge 10 I just don't get it.  I find it to be button bashing where I should be doing intricate combos but it doesn't happen - I bash bash bash buttons and I'm completely aware I'm doing it wrong.

 

Also Persona 4 Golden on Vita and PSTV. I've played for a full 20 hours and done a handful of dungeons because I really really want to like it, I want to see what everyone else sees but it just doesn't click with me.

 

And I barely dare say this but Breath of the Wild.  The puzzles look and seem (and are) intuitive but in a way my brain doesn't click with. I just find myself feeling lost and bewildered by it's scale and I struggle to do any shine palace without reading a walkthrough.  My brain just doesn't work in the way they want me to think.  

 

Over to you. What game do you really want to enjoy playing but don't? 

 

 

 

 

[BadgerFarmer]

Outer Wilds springs to mind. I really like open investigation games of this sort and it's obviously well structured and full of interesting stuff to discover. But I found the tight time loop plus awkward first-person platforming to be a frustrating combination, and I guess I'm just not really into all the clever quantum-sciencey wrapping, which made it hard to follow.    

[Mr. Gerbik]

Outer Wilds for me too. It sounds like something I should love but the flight controls in combination with the time limit just kills it for me. Struggling with the controls is of course just me being old and cack-handed and I would be able to see past that were it not for... the time limit. I generally don't get on with time limits in this kind of game.

 

I found myself exploring a subterranean area on sone faraway planet. Clumsily platformed my way until I reached some advanced buildings hidden underground. There was lore to be read on the walls so I settled in, taking my time to read everything and making sure I explored every nook and cranny. Then while I was reading something - whoosh back to the start.

 

I struggle-flew back to the planet. Took awhile to find the same cave entrance. Clumsily made my way to the underground buildings again. Quickly confirmed that I'd indeed read everything. And then I wanted to continue but couldn't see where I was supposed to go. Ran around a few times, but before I'd made any progress - whoosh.

 

Impatiently flew back to that planet but I was in such a hurry that I crashed and - whoosh.

 

Deleted and never went back.

 

You'll never catch me saying it's a bad game though because I know most of this is on me. 

[JoeK]

Any/all of the Soulsborne games I'm afraid. 

 

I have played every single one of them in the hope that eventually things might click and I can join in the fun.

 

Alas, I find no fun in them

 

 

[Qazimod]

Dark Souls. Not the series, just the first one.

 

The sequels were great, Sekiro was fine, and BB and Elden Ring are in my all-time top 10, but I don't find the first game's challenge satisfying - just annoying. Corpse runs can be too long, I have to proceed at a snail's pace to get anywhere, having to choose between being hollow and being invaded got old, the status ailments are brutal, and the only version I have right now is the Games With Gold release on a 360 with no working controllers.

 

I've never played the remaster, and I keep being tempted to pick it up when it's on sale - but if my progress is just as pitiful there, it will feel like a waste of money.

 

5 hours ago, dumpster said:

Also Persona 4 Golden on Vita and PSTV. I've played for a full 20 hours and done a handful of dungeons because I really really want to like it, I want to see what everyone else sees but it just doesn't click with me.

 

I think I tell myself that it has a lot more broad appeal than it actually does, because I had a lot of issues with the traditional JRPG dungeon-crawler format and P3 addressed many of them, before P4 and 4G refined things further. But I can see people coming at it from the opposite viewpoint, where the series' unique style has none of what they want out of a dungeon crawl.

 

(Also, I'm pretty much indifferent about the Japanese high school framing; the gameplay and systems are more important. Hell, I'd argue that Yakuza LaD borrows heavily from the gameplay of Atlus' series without using the school stuff - and it's great.)

[Jolly]

I'm a big Nintendo fan all told, but just can't connect to Breath of the Wild in the same way that everyone else does. I do think part of my problem is that it rejects so much of was Zelda (I'm also annoyed at the narrative that Zelda had to move on from its template - despite really being the only game of its type). But I also find chunks of the new mechanics irritating, particularly the climbing which just seemed an exercise in not quite being able to go where I wanted to.

 

I still put 80 hours into the thing and I think it was my eighth placed game of the year in 2017, but I always feel like the ghost at the feast whenever it's discussed. Unpleasant.

 

[SpagMasterSwift]

Bloodborne. What I tried of it felt like a complete slog with a punishing combat system and just generally hated me as a player. Which is a shame as it’s stopping me from playing the Rllmuk game of the year. Once bitten twice shy tho I guess.

[marcus]

Another vote for Zelda BOTW, really wanted to like this, but after a failed third attempt to get into it I just gave up.  It just seems to dull, and what's with that graphic style.  Same goes also for Plague Tale 2, I feel like I should play it as I enjoyed the first but each time I load it up it feels like I am really forcing myself to play.

[Textface]

Skyrim for me. After loving and playing the fuck out of Fall Out 3 I was hungry for more Bethesda open world fun. But for whatever reason it just didn't grab me. Maybe the setting or the prospect of another time sink, who knows?

 

I've tried a couple of times but it's probably just not for me.

 

[robdood]

Red dead redemption 2. I've tried multiple times but can't stick with it oast the opening chapters of story. Never got to the point where it opens up. It just bores me to tears.

 

I know it's not the game I want anyway. I want something that looks like RDR2 but is conceptually more like Don't Starve or something 

[womblingfree]

Soulsbourne games. I dutifully play every single one and then get bored.

[MattyP]

Another for Breath Of The Wild. I think for me Nintendo took it in a direction of games that I do not enjoy playing. Enjoyed the format and fairly linear story telling elements of the previous Zelda games kind of what made them magical for me.

 

With Breath Of The Wild it transitioned to fully open world and more of a typical RPG type formula. Having items that break etc just makes it feel like more work like than entertainment. Tried a few times but just gave up. 

 

All R* output. GTA and RDR. Appreciate the technical achievements with the game worlds but the mission structure etc I just don't enjoy. Not overly engaged with the stories either. Think last R* game I tried was RDR2 which I actually enjoyed until I got to the camp. Then I had to start chasing around to earn money etc. At which point I turned it off and never went back. Again it feels like work not entertainment for me.

 

I thought it was open world games I don't like however loved the original Crackdown on the 360.

 

Lastly the original Halo. Never finished this despite starting it countess times. Never sure why I never finish up on it. Don't think I dislike it just doesn't keep me engaged enough and interest tales off. 

[Vorgot]

Animal Crossing. Want to love it, get bored way too easily. Have played most versions, just don't get on with it.

 

Another for Outer Wilds too, the time limit is too restricting, I can't do with that kind of pressure and preciseness these days. My son finished it, and I can see why its great, but just not for me.

 

Souls games. I played Dark Souls up to the Chuckle Brothers and was done. Bounced off 2 hard. Bloodbourne I found the bosses impossible. I did play Demons Souls on the PS3 and got fairly far, have got the PS5 remake but not really played it much yet

2 hours ago, dumpster said:

Also Persona 4 Golden on Vita and PSTV. I've played for a full 20 hours and done a handful of dungeons because I really really want to like it, I want to see what everyone else sees but it just doesn't click with me.

 

I'm with @Qazimodon this, I think I believe it has more wide appeal than it actually has. I'll but anything Persona related but I do think its pretty niche in a lot of ways. I'd be interested to see how many people bounced of the new release of Royal and how well P3P and P4G sell.

[thesnwmn]

Joining @BadgerFarmer and @Mr. Gerbik on Outer Wilds.

 

I love the concept and the playground of the little solar system. I love the idea of investigating the mystery and the story it lays out. I don't really mind the controls I've never quite clicked with. I like not really knowing what I'm trying to do sometimes until I stumble upon it.

 

But the constant resets do nothing but spoil my fun. It places a pressure on my play that I detest.

 

I want to be in the camp of loving it. But my two attempts have failed. A real shame. Wish they'd build a version or mode without the loop off. Or without a timed loop and let me press a button to trigger it at will.

 

Having said all that I tell non-AAA only playing gamers that that they must check it out even though I don't actually enjoy the experience myself.

[Qazimod]

50 minutes ago, Vorgot said:

 

Souls games. I played Dark Souls up to the Chuckle Brothers and was done. Bounced off 2 hard. Bloodbourne I found the bosses impossible. I did play Demons Souls on the PS3 and got fairly far, have got the PS5 remake but not really played it much yet

 

Whilst talking people into spending more money on games they might not like is risky... Elden Ring is the most "welcoming" game of that type that I've played.  There are still annoying bosses in there, but the worst ones are optional, and you can always wander off and find other things to do on the map. I think it's probably the new "best game to start with" for people who find them offputting.

[Vorgot]

Just now, Qazimod said:

 

Whilst talking people into spending more money on games they might not like is risky... Elden Ring is the most "welcoming" game of that type that I've played.  There are still annoying bosses in there, but the worst ones are optional, and you can always wander off and find other things to do on the map. I think it's probably the new "best game to start with" for people who find them offputting.

 

Some others have said that to me as well. If I ever see it on sale, I will give it a go

[dumpster]

I just remember years ago an interview with Jim Davidson where he was discussing Vic and Bob and saying that he sits with his kids watching them in hysterics, wondering what it is that they find funny that he's not seeing.  I felt bad for Jim Davidson as he's never going to have that huge wave of pleasure I get from watching the Big Night Out.  Likewise, I feel like I am massively missing out by not 'getting' Persona 4 Golden, a game with a 500 page thread that's been going on for years. What are they seeing in this that I'm missing.  I just want it to click so I'm able to enjoy it too.

[SMD]

never feel bad for jim davidson, the massive racist piece of shit

[ScouserInExile]

FPS games. Really want to play the new Warhammer 40K one. Can't, they all make me sick. 

 

I always want to play RPGs but I've tried and just can't. I've tried a few times with stuff like Baldurs Gate, Final Fantasy and the SNES Zelda. I especially really wanted to like Tunic, but just bounced off it almost immediately. I can just never work out what I'm doing and struggle to follow the plot. I just can't get into them.

[BongoInferno]

1 hour ago, thesnwmn said:

Joining @BadgerFarmer and @Mr. Gerbik on Outer Wilds.

 

I love the concept and the playground of the little solar system. I love the idea of investigating the mystery and the story it lays out. I don't really mind the controls I've never quite clicked with. I like not really knowing what I'm trying to do sometimes until I stumble upon it.

 

But the constant resets do nothing but spoil my fun. It places a pressure on my play that I detest.

 

I want to be in the camp of loving it. But my two attempts have failed. A real shame. Wish they'd build a version or mode without the loop off. Or without a timed loop and let me press a button to trigger it at will.

 

Having said all that I tell non-AAA only playing gamers that that they must check it out even though I don't actually enjoy the experience myself.

Removing the time loop from Outer Wilds breaks the story and it would break the game. You need to embrace the reset as it’s the mechanic for how the game teaches you what you need to do next. I did find it brutally difficult at times though and for those who have bounced off it would recommend using a spoiler free walkthrough at least initially to get you started. It’s a really special experience that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. 

[drkbfhmmr]

Return of the Obra Dinn. A brilliant and highly original game, but I just can't wrap my head around it.

[Timmo]

29 minutes ago, dumpster said:

I just remember years ago an interview with Jim Davidson where he was discussing Vic and Bob and saying that he sits with his kids watching them in hysterics, wondering what it is that they find funny that he's not seeing.  I felt bad for Jim Davidson as he's never going to have that huge wave of pleasure I get from watching the Big Night Out.  Likewise, I feel like I am massively missing out by not 'getting' Persona 4 Golden, a game with a 500 page thread that's been going on for years. What are they seeing in this that I'm missing.  I just want it to click so I'm able to enjoy it too.

Persona is for people who like to follow the lives of schoolchildren in extreme detail

[HarryBizzle]

Elden Ring springs to mind. Love lots of From games but this one just didn’t click for me. Too easy, feels like I’ve seen it all before and I found the lore all pretty uninteresting. 
 

I think I’ve put like 40 hours into it and it was all passable or even enjoyable but just felt like I was going through the motions. 

[Popo]

Smash Bros. Hate it. Press a button to block; character doesn’t turn to face opponent automatically; noticeable delay between button presses and action. It should be fun, but it’s the opposite of fun. 

[Siri]

Honestly, unless the 3DS version or PC Decompile is a big benefit, probably Ocarina of Time.

 

From the times I've played it and dropped it from original hardware and straight ports on GameCube/Wii, I can't see it being little more than a retread of Link to the Past with dodgy early 3D graphics, a shit camera and bad targeting mechanics. I want to actually play a version with those relics of early 3D removed so I can go through it and have my expectations blown away, but I can't see past it right now.

 

At least Majora's Mask is somewhat alluring to play even with how it was on the N64, because of how the game's structured and goes off the beaten path in terms of the tropes the Zelda series sticks to, in the same way BotW and Link's Awakening was when I played them.

[thesnwmn]

44 minutes ago, BongoInferno said:

Removing the time loop from Outer Wilds breaks the story and it would break the game. You need to embrace the reset as it’s the mechanic for how the game teaches you what you need to do next. I did find it brutally difficult at times though and for those who have bounced off it would recommend using a spoiler free walkthrough at least initially to get you started. It’s a really special experience that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. 

 

I have no doubt it's busted as is without the loop. Although, I'd be willing to accept that and play it anyway. Happy to accept it might damage the experience but I'd like to explore for fun

 But unfortunately I've found it a deal breaker.

 

Any kind of walk through seems too much here for me. It's just throwing out what I do find interesting about it. The exploration.

 

I simply accept it's not for me due to this system.

[Jg15]

Another one for Souls Games here. I think if I had the time and patience, like I did 20 odd years ago, these games would be perfect for me. As an old git with little of both these days I just can't be arsed!

 

Also Prey! Another game that, despite sounding brilliant, I bounced away from hard. Maybe one day.

[Thor]

Another one for Outer Wilds here. Just didn't grab me at all.

[Benny]

Seeing a lot of the usual suspects in here so how about...

 

Thunderforce IV

 

I just love the presentation and the soundtrack is one of the best ever made in games. But I just can't get on with how hard it actually is to see bullets in all the visual noise, and it just feels even more punishing and learning by rote than something like R-Type. Whenever I've tried to go back to it I just nope out every time.

[Colonel Panic]

I tried a couple of times with Persona 4, and it’s coming to Game Pass soon, but desire loving the music and the general presentation, I bounce off it.