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Humanity has made great strides with technology these last two decades, which in turn has extended our lifespan, exceeded our physical limits, and helped us explore the great beyond. In creative fields of art, music, and fashion to name a few, we have pushed our boundaries and helped to usher in a higher form of thinking that has influenced our everyday lives – “life imitating art imitating life.” It’s amazing to witness and dwell on our advancements, praising the best of the best for their great work. Many greats of the last 25 years like Michael Jordan, Will Smith, Dolce and Gabanna, Kanye West, and Christopher Nolan have an unmatched talent that sets or have set them apart from others due to their expertise and keen eye.
Unfortunately, not all men are created equal. Sure, we are all human and we all make mistakes, but for some, those mistakes are astronomical. Maybe we’re exaggerating here, but nothing feels worse than sitting through a terrible 2-hour movie or a torturous 8-year presidency. The same holds true for gaming. In fact, it may be worse.
Let’s say you flipped through your Gamepro or Nintendo Power and fell in love with a game that you begged to get for your birthday, and once you pop that game in and play it you’re left with the biggest piece of shit imaginable. Now that’s not exaggerating. What’s so appalling about piss poor video games is that you’ve wasted valuable time and brain cells on such a game. Now some shitty games are a dead giveaway, but some you believe in so much and still manage to get let down. Yeah, let down, that’s the best way to describe it. These let downs are all created equal. They have poor controls, choppy graphics, and barely any replay value. You'll notice a trend in game developers, not to say that they're bad but they have managed to scar us for life. Clutch your pearls and take a trip down memory lane with us as we check our list of the 25 Worst Video Games of the Last 25 Years.
South Park
South Park
Developer: Iguana Entertainment, Appaloosa Interactive, Gradiente, Acclaim
Console: Nintendo 64, Playstation, PC
Year: 1998, 1999
Complex Says: We wouldn’t be surprised if this game was a practical joke from Trey Parker and Matt Stone. South Park’s huge following peaked our interest with this title, but the Playstation version was disappointing. The Nintendo 64 version is enjoyable, but we grew tired of the title quickly afteru hearing the same lines repeated over and over. This game left quite the lasting memory, but not one that surpassed the show's genius.
DragonBall Z Ultimate Battle 22
Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Battle 22
Developer: Bandai, Atari, Infogrames
Console: Sony Playstation
Year: 1995 (JP), 1996 (EU), 2003 (US)
Complex Says: I think it’s safe to say we were all huge DragonBall Z fans at one point in our lives. That’s why this game was so heartbreaking. Of course, we had to make due with what Bandai and Atari offered us, despite it being total trash. The game was not as relatable as future DBZ games like Budokai or even earlier installments like Super Butouden. We were stuck with this one against our will though it could have been worse.
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever
Developer: 3D Realms, Triptych, Gearbox, Piranha, Aspyr, 2K Games
Console: Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Year: 2011
Complex Says: Not only was this game the most anticipated game for several years, it was also the biggest disappointment of 2011. That’s on us here. Duke Nukem Forever’s poor controls and load times were enough of a hair puller to deem it one of the worst. We wanted a nostalgia fest, not a dated piece of work.
WCW Backstage Assault
WCW Backstage Assault
Developer: Kodiak Interactive, Electronic Arts
Console: Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation
Year: 2000
Complex Says: EA felt the need to expand on WCW Mayhem’s backstage areas by creating a game based solely on that. Though the premise would work better for an ECW game, they opted to roll with WCW and produced an abysmal wrestling game. Keep in mind that in the same year WWF No Mercy was released as well as WWF Smackdown. You would think that they would come up with a better idea to compete. Hell, no idea would be fine. Give us the wrestling ring that the sport centers around. It didn’t help that the controls and graphics were unforgiving. You can blame this game for the death of WCW. R.I.P.
Batman Vengeance
Batman Vengeance
Developer: Ubisoft
Console: Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows
Year: 2001
Complex Says: Batman Vengeance had a lot of promise and potential. The artwork and voice actors taken from the Animated Series motivated us to buy and try out the game. We got trolled however. The controls were not as smooth, which didn’t help that the AI would whoop your ass so easily. This game was a major headache, and that’s before the awful flying and driving segments...
NFL Quarterback Club 2000
NFL Quarterback Club 2000
Developer: Iguana Entertainment, Acclaim
Console: Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast
Year: 1999
Complex Says: Despite the travesty known as WCW Backstage Assault, you shouldn’t mess with EA. Acclaim’s attempt at a NFL football game resulted in a title with the typical problems game developers struggle to overcome – poor control, crappy graphics, and unfair AI. We haven’t spent much time on this game. You see, we’re not quitters, but we would rather stop playing than destroying our controllers out of frustration.
Ready 2 Rumble Revolution
Ready 2 Rumble Revolution
Developer: AKI, Atari
Console: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2009
Complex Says: Buy Punch Out!! instead. Any Punch Out!! will do, it doesn’t matter. The third game from the awesome Ready 2 Rumble Boxing series is a joke. A very bad joke. AKI and Atari’s attempt to combat Punch Out!! Wii with an established boxing series resulted in controls that needed more work, and characters that we do not want to play as. We missed Afro Thunder and the good ol’ boys.
Final Fight Streetwise
Final Fight Streetwise
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 8, Secret Level
Console: Sony Playstation 2, Xbox
Year: 2006
Complex Says: Poor Final Fight. If it weren’t for the Street Fighter series, our favorite characters would have been mercilessly dragged through the dirt with no saving grace. Though the series followed a new character, they still managed to take a dump on our favorite fictional city. They should have stuck with the Final Fight arcade rerelease for the Xbox and PS3, and called it quits there.
Street Fighter The Movie
Street Fighter The Movie
Developer: Capcom, Incredible Technologies
Console: Arcade
Year: 1995
Complex Says: Well, the movie sucked, how do you think the game was? Midway gave Capcom a run for their money believe it or not. The digitized graphics trend led Capcom to this travesty that looked horrible and played just as awful. We wonder what would have happened if this was Street Fighter 3.
King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood
King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment, Sammy
Console: Game Boy Advance
Year: 2002
Complex Says: This game’s release was pretty sneaky since there was no real date announced. Screenshots of the game looked promising and gorgeous due to it being a KOF ’99 port. The additional character did not save the game however. Choppy graphics ruined the combos, the music and sound spoiled the game, and not to mention the poor controls. KOF EX2: Howling Blood was a great redeemer.
Amy
Amy
Developer: VectorCell
Console: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Year: 2012
Complex Says: This downloadable survival horror title is passable. Save your console’s memory. There is no motivation to finish the game, better yet, even play the game. Thanks for nothing VectorCell.
Simpsons Wrestling
Simpsons Wrestling
Developer: Big Ape Productions, Fox Interactive, Activision
Console: Sony Playstation
Year: 2001
Complex Says: How and when will this game be a good idea? The answer is it won’t. We love The Simpsons, so it’s implied that we ate up the humor of the game, but we would rather opt out of suffering through the gameplay. The title had more fighting than wrestling, and it was difficult to look at. Instead of wasting time on this game, you’re better off playing any Smackdown game and watching The Simpsons. They shouldn’t mix aside from the Bret Hart episode.
Pit Fighter
Pit Fighter
Developer: Atari, Tengen, Konami (JP)
Console: Arcade, Amiga, Commodore 64, Game Boy, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Atari 7800, Xbox Live Arcade
Year: 1990, 1991, 1992
Complex Says: We find it amazing that this game had this many ports despite being a terrible game. The arcade version was lame, and every port that followed was below par. Very lackluster. You can’t expect to beat the game unless you pick Ty, the kick boxer, and of course have tons of patience. A good indicator that a game is bad is when the characters you're forced to pick lose in literally every demo. And why did I buy this game again?
Space Jam
Space Jam
Developer: Sculptured Software, Acclaim
Console: Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, PC-DOS
Year: 1996 (NA), 1997 (JP)
Complex Says: Space Jam was a very hokey, yet fun family movie for the children and parents that loved Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes cartoons. The game? Not so much. Acclaim and Sculptured tried to recreate the movie, which they pulled off, but also created a terribly boring basketball game. You were better off with Looney Tunes B-Ball.
Shaq Fu
Shaq Fu
Developer: Delphine Software, Electronic Arts
Console: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Nintendo GameBoy, Sega Game Gear, Amiga
Year: 1994
Complex Says: This joke of a game starring Shaquille O’Neal pits him against several adversaries in another dimension. When you’re young, you buy into any idea. When you’re a loyal Shaq fan, you buy stupid games (and watch terrible movies.) Shaq Fu was one of several attempts by O'Neal's PR team to defame his public image and end his career. Okay, that may have not been the case, but you could’ve fooled us.
Kasumi Ninja
Kasumi Ninja
Developer: Hand Made Software, Atari
Console: Atari Jaguar
Year: 1994
Complex Says: This game is karma. When you rip-off a game, you run the risk of falling flat on your face. This is especially true when your team of developers are asleep at the wheel. Atari tried their luck with digitized actors, and managed to produce a piece of garbage. I’m sure it was harder than it sounds.
Final Fight Revenge
Final Fight Revenge
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 8 (Capcom USA)
Console: Arcade, Sega Saturn
Year: 1999 (AC), 2000 (JP)
Complex Says: Capcom can’t win em’ all. They took the iconic Final Fight series and turned it into a fighting game in typical Capcom fashion. It’s not a bad idea until you make it a hideous, cheap 3D fighter that was better off on the drawing board. Final Fight 2 and 3 were never considered canon sequels, but unfortunately this was as well Streetwise. At least Streetwise stuck to FF’s roots though it sucks as bad as this game.
Clay Fighter 63 1/3
Clay Fighter 63 1/3
Developer: Interplay
Console: Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console
Year: 1997
Complex Says: Clay Fighter is a cult classic for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Interplay rode it into the dirt though. 63 & 1/3 was clunky like the prior versions, but it wasn’t fun this time around. The game was almost a year behind its intended release, hence why the game felt unfinished. The Sculptor’s Cut that was released after was meant to be an upgrade, but like the prior game it was rushed. A mint condition version of the Sculptor’s Cut did manage to sell for $900 due to how rare the game is (only 20,000 copies were made and were meant for rental only.) It doesn’t make the game good however. Don’t be fooled by the price record it set.
Cruis'n
Cruis'n
Developer: Just Games, Midway
Console: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2007
Complex Says: Do you own any Cruis’n games? Cool, just play those instead. This game could have been the Wii killer if it wasn’t kept under wraps. You can let out a hearty sigh of relief for that. Midway intended to make Cruis’n Velocity for the Nintendo Gamecube before scrapping the idea to make Fast and the Furious. Unfortunately, they lost the license during production. This game is a good idea as to why…
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces
Developer: Midway
Console: Sony Playstation
Year: 2000
Complex Says: The dark days of Mortal Kombat were upon us in 2000. Midway decided to move away from fighting games to bring adventure games that would serve as a side plot and character development. The success of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero was an indication that they were onto something. Then they blew it. To their defense, they rushed the game after John Tobias left during production. Can’t knock them for trying, though they failed miserably…
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Developer: Neko Entertainment, Ubisoft
Console: Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube
Year: 2003
Complex Says: It’s a shame that Ubi Soft’s name is tied to this travesty. This is the video game equivalent to the BP oil spill. Beat-em-up games have never really translated well onto 3D platforms, so that would be your first indicator. The graphics, though it was in 2003, could have been much clearer and improved. We’ll call that strike two. Lastly, like most terrible games, this one is boring, dreadful, and downright pointless.
Kabuki Warriors
Kabuki Warriors
Developer: Genki, Lightweight, Crave Entertainment
Console: Xbox
Year: 2001 (NA), 2002 (JP)
Complex Says: This game is just plain weird. The worst game of 2001 goes to Kabuki Warriors since you can allegedly win the game by “bashing the controller against my ass” according to Andy McNamara. The game’s major flaw is how confusing it is. The controls are very simple as well as the concept, but the confusion comes in when you try to figure out why you bought the game, why you’re playing the game, and why this game was even made?!
Bebe's Kids
Bebe's Kids
Developer: Radical Entertainment, Motown Games, Paramount Interactive
Console: Super Nintendo
Year: 1994
Complex Says: A true SMH game. This buggy beat-em-up game based on the hilarious movie based on the late Robin Harris’ stand-up routine was homage in poor taste. Why don’t development teams stop what they’re doing and realize their game sucks? Picking LaShawn will result in a frozen game or walls that cannot be passed. Yeah, you’re forced to switch the game off. At least they made it easy for you to give up.
Superman 64
Superman: The New Adventures
Developer: Titus Software
Console: Nintendo 64
Year: 1999
Complex Says: For every absolute great there is an absolute failure. With a masterpiece like Ocarina of Time in existence, the Nintendo 64 needed a piss poor game to balance the library. Enter Superman 64. Like most terrible games, the controls were lousy and inconsistent. At times, the controls were too responsive resulting in over activity, and other times the controls were totally unresponsive. Not to mention fighting as Superman was embarrassing with his wimpy punches. There was a silver lining for Titus Software despite the Playstation game cancellation. After the game’s release, Superman 64 went on to be the third best-selling Nintendo 64 title. Thank the 6 year olds of America.
Ballz
Ballz
Developer: PF Magic, Accolade
Console: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, 3DO
Year: 1994 (Sega, Nintendo) 1995 (3DO)
Complex Says: This game had to have been thought up during an acid trip, since we're certain that the only way to truly enjoy this game is when you’re on an acid trip. The graphics suck, the music sucks, and the AI is incredibly cheap. I can just picture the development team high-fiving each other while testing this crap-tacular piece of work. Accolade's true triumph in gaming came with Bubsy, but their gamble on this terrible concept put the nail in the coffin for this company. We wouldn't say that Ballz was Accolade shooting themselves in the foot. Rather, this game was suicide.