9 overlooked games that deserve a second chance

The video gaming industry is becoming so saturated that it sometimes prevents a worthy title from being able to get the spotlight.

Some video games like Cyberpunk 2077 have shown that, if given a second chance, they can redeem themselves and still live up to players’ expectations.

Some, on the other hand, are either a victim of a cluttered release window, a premise way ahead of its time, or even a game suffering from the prejudice of its predecessors.

These 9 video game titles deserve another shot for many of the aforementioned reasons.

Titanfall 2 (2016)

Despite the critical acclaim, Titanfall 2 failed commercially. But the main reason was the release of games such as Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare sandwiching it.

Respawn took care of the criticism the original title had received. However, many users avoided Titanfall 2 because of the original’s reputation.

The movement mechanics in Titanfall 2 are still superior to most FPS games on the market, and everyone who did try its campaign only wished for a longer one, which is proof of its quality.

Prey (2017)

Prey was a victim of naming, with many confusing it to have some relation with the 2006 shooter of the same name. The players who tried the 2017 game loved it.

Talos I is an excellently built space station, and the gameplay allows multiple solutions to every problem, encouraging creativity.

The enemies, Mimics, are hilariously deceptive and disguise themselves as inanimate objects, adding a new layer to the entire gameplay.

Days Gone (2019)

Days Gone had a trajectory similar to a modern hit, Cyberpunk 2077. The launch was heavily criticized for a slew of issues, and the slow opening introduction to Deacon’s world put off players really quickly.

However, subsequent updates salvaged the game’s reputation. And Days Gone is now considered one of the better titles in its genre.

Deacon comes across as a likeable character as the game progresses, and the Pacific Northwestern world is beautifully built, making Days Gone one of the most underrated PlayStation exclusives.

Remember Me (2013)

What a unique premise Remember Me put forward, with gameplay revolving around the ability to manipulate memories.

The protagonist, Nilin, is a memory hunter, and the journey of restoring her own memory is beautifully laid out. The game suffered because of its combat mechanics and a cluttered release window.

Many also state that Remember Me’s premise was ahead of its time, and the bold choice didn’t seem realistic back then. However, with technology coming as far as it has, the premise seems more plausible.

Alpha Protocol (2010)

Alpha Protocol was a victim of its own development issues, with the gameplay sluggish and not delivering up to players’ expectations.

However, Alpha Protocol championed the art of giving users control of the entire storyline. The added layers of excellent dialogue writing and replayability lend a lot of value to the game.

Even to this day, few games can satisfy the players’ greed for creative control within the storyline, something Alpha Protocol set the benchmark in.

The Evil Within 2 (2017)

While the series gained a cult following, The Evil Within 2 suffered from the mixed reviews the original title received.

However, the sequel improved in every aspect while maintaining the atmosphere from the first installment.

Sebastian Castellanos comes across as a much stronger protagonist in the sequel, with antagonists such as Stefano Valentini adding to the entire survival horror eerieness.

The gameplay is refined to include multiple ways to survive, and the town of Union provides the perfect setting for the storyline to play out.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)

Since Marvel’s Avengers failed to live up to the potential, Guardians of the Galaxy was expected to be more of the same, since it came from the same publisher, Square Enix.

The dialogue writing really gives it the Marvel touch of combining impact with humor, and the storyline is original and gripping, something that surprised the players who gave the game a chance.

The locations and the soundtrack really package the entire game into an unmissable experience, and the character-first approach is something every Marvel fan should be privy to.

Vampyr (2018)

Vampyr’s main fault lies in its prioritization of combat in the entire gameplay. The pacing of the game and progression mechanics are much slower compared to games like Devil May Cry.

But the premise of putting morality at the heart of the entire storyline is wonderful.

Just like Bound by Flame, every move you make will question your own morality, adding that layer to make the gameplay intriguing. And your choices shape the world of London during the 1918 influenza epidemic, so beautifully constructed by DON’T NOD.

Spec Ops: The Line (2012)

Spec Ops: The Line was launched in a time when the market was overflowing with shooters, and players dismissed the game as another generic title looking to capitalize on the trend.

However, Spec Ops showcased the ugly side of a shooter-based storyline through the gameplay.

It doesn’t glorify war but actually displays the horrors attached to it, with the protagonist, Captain Martin Walker, seeing the mental trauma and tragedy attached to violence play out inside the story.

Nolan North, voice actor for Walker, delivers perfectly, capturing the emotions so aptly that the story stays with you even after the gameplay ends.

Which video game do you think deserves a second chance, a shot at redemption?

Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!