Disappointing Games of 2010

With 2010 over, every gamer with a Facebook account will be announcing their "Best of 2010." That hardly seemed like an original idea, so instead we looked back to remember that, in addition to the good, there were games that failed to live up to their expectations.

3. Alpha Protocol

When it was first announced in 2008, SEGA promised that Alpha Protocol would be a new type of modern, spy RPG in which players could model their characters after the three J.B.s of espionage: Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer and James Bond. In addition, SEGA had also enlisted Obsidian Entertainment to develop the game who is most known for the masterpiece Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. Alpha Protocol was ambitious, but with an innovative new idea and an established developer, SEGA seemed to have a formula for success. What happened instead was a series of delays that severely curtailed any hype surrounding the game. Alpha Protocol was released in June, as one of the more obscure titles of 2010. Unfortunately, Alpha Protocol did not achieve the ambitious goals set forth by its publishers. In fact, it could not even deliver the basics. The graphics were dated, the plot was a poor attempt to recreate a season of 24, combat and stealth were broken, the dialogue system was ill-conceived, and it is difficult to express in words exactly how stupid the enemy AI was.

2. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2

For every gem like Knights of the Old Republic or Battlefront, there are 10 games like The Force Unleashed 2. The first Force Unleashed was a solid game, albeit somewhat short and repetitive. The strongest aspect was the plot, which provided insight into the events that occur between Episodes 3 and 4 of the movies. The game was ultimately fine but in need of polish. Instead of a polished sequel, gamers were instead given a terrible product that demonstrates Lucas Art's tendency to continuously milk the Star Wars cash cow. As if to completely ignore critics, The Force Unleashed 2 is even shorter and more repetitive than its predecessor. The plot lacks the coherence of the first game, and gameplay itself is insultingly easy. The Force Unleashed franchise could have been great with a few proper adjustments, but instead it remains mediocre at best.

1. Gran Turismo 5

Unlike the other games on this list, Gran Turismo 5 is a good game. Gran Turismo 5 undeniably brings a lot of content to the table, but it was victimized by the sheer hype that generated around it. Perfection was expected, but was not delivered. Of the more than 1,000 cars featured in the game, only 20 percent are considered "premium models." These premium cars are wonderfully realistic, feature detailed damage models and have an interior cockpit view. Yet, Polyphony did not bother to fix the awful driver AI that does not seem to acknowledge that the player is on the track. Such inconsistencies and oversights are uncharacteristic of a developer that has always prided itself on attention to detail.