It’s funny to look back at video games before the 2010s. Social media hadn’t quite kicked off, and yet the reactions to some games were quite polarizing. For example, Night Trap made some parents (and congressmen) think that it was the literal devil, while those who played it were amazed by the cutting-edge technology of playing a video game featuring digitized people.
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Even big games like Fallout 3 could be divisive among the fanbase, as those who grew up with the franchise's isometric games weren’t all fans of the new FPS direction. Whatever the case may be, there can be controversies surrounding any game and for any reason. That said, let’s look at some polarizing games that are the most interesting to talk about since the dawn of the 2010s.
The Last Of Us Part 2
In Abby We Don’t Trust
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
The Last of Us Part 2 is every bit as beautiful and visceral as the original game, but there is a lot of divisiveness when it comes to the characters. Firstly, Joel takes a backseat in this one, with Ellie now being the main protagonist, accompanied by several characters throughout the journey.
As it goes, Ellie becomes more and more unhinged, doing things against her training and betraying her character from what she was in the first game. Also, there’s a second playable character, Abby, and she’s the main reason why players have a problem with the game, but saying exactly why would be a spoiler. Let’s just say Abby committed a major sin, and then players are pushed to see things from her perspective.
Death Stranding
This Is The Follow-Up To Metal Gear?
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Genre(s)
- Action
Death Stranding was the first game Hideo Kojima directed after leaving Konami. Fans expected a weird story, which they got, but they didn’t expect what the gameplay would be. It was a difficult open-world trek across the United States in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Death Stranding was essentially a game about being a courier, and while there was some action, combat was almost discouraged. The sequel thankfully got Kojima fans back on board with a lot of quality-of-life improvements, so at least Death Stranding was the beginning of a bigger universe.
Starfield
Not Quite The Next Big Space RPG
Starfield
- Released
- September 6, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Between The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout 4, Bethesda became very popular in the 2010s with open-world RPG fans. That’s why the hype for Starfield, a new franchise with similar gameplay hooks, had Bethesda fans over the moon. Unfortunately, after years of waiting, it was met with a lot of average reactions.
It wasn’t a bad game by any standard, as it was relatively one of the most glitch-free launches in Bethesda's history. The shooting was also much better than the Fallout games, but there just wasn’t that magic that made it pop on a grander scale. Questing and character building felt a bit bare-bones, the story wasn't particularly enticing, and despite the promise of 1,000 explorable planets, many of them were just empty rocks, diluting a lot of the potential fun that could have been found in the game's world.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
A Misleading Name
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Released
- April 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix Business Division 1
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
A remake of Final Fantasy 7 dates back to the PS3 tech demo Square Enix showcased at E3 2005, which depicted what the opening would look like on HD hardware. Even though it wasn’t an official announcement, fans wanted it to be true.
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Then, after years of speculation, an official trailer was revealed in 2015, but due to a troubled development, Final Fantasy 7 Remake didn’t launch until 2020. Also, it wasn’t a full remake. Instead, it was just part one in what was going to be a trilogy of remakes. That, on top of the wild swings it took with the story, didn’t resonate with every fan, but those who went in with an open mind thought it was another amazing entry in the grander Final Fantasy 7 universe.
DmC: Devil May Cry
Not My Dante
DmC: Devil May Cry
- Released
- January 15, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Genre(s)
- Action
DmC: Devil May Cry was a reboot of the series, and instead of having Capcom behind its development, it was Ninja Theory at the helm. The hero was still Dante, but he was younger, and he had black hair and a slightly different attitude. That alone rubbed fans the wrong way.
However, beyond Dante, the rest of the game was undeniably just as captivating as the rest of the Devil May Cry series. The action was fast-paced, the weapon-switching combos felt natural, and the story took some goofy swings, but it was ultimately a good take on the franchise if fans decided to look past Dante’s looks.
Metroid: Other M
The Baby
Metroid: Other M
- Released
- August 31, 2010
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja, Nintendo
Metroid: Other M is another example of a game that had a different developer take over the franchise. Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo collaborated with Nintendo to make the game, which had some Ninja Gaiden DNA thrown into the third-person and first-person gameplay. It was a bit hard to get used to on the Wii, but it was still a Metroid game at heart with a sprawling interconnected map gated by powers and items.
The real problem fans had was with the franchise’s heroine, Samus Aran. Samus was known to be a stoic badass who had little to say and got the job done anyway. In this game, she was hesitant, constantly asked for permission, and talked about a Metroid baby a lot. It was a wild departure, and while the gameplay did enough to earn its place in the series, the story was a struggle for long-time fans.
Heavy Rain
Not As Good If You Think About It Too Much
Heavy Rain
- Released
- February 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Quantic Dream
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Heavy Rain was a story-focused adventure game in which players controlled four characters between different segments of the game. The main focus was on Ethan, whose son was kidnapped by the Origami Killer.
Through many trials, Ethan was determined to get him back, and while Heavy Rain wasn’t the most interactive game, the story choices and quick-time events made sure it was a thrilling ride. What made it a bit controversial was the voice acting, as some actors were laughably bad. That, along with the litany of plot holes in the story that fans could drive a Mack Truck through, made it a difficult game to recommend, even if parts of it were major steps forward at the time.
Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
Bewildering Belmonts
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
- Released
- October 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MercurySteam, Kojima Productions
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was another reboot of a storied franchise handed over to a new developer, MercurySteam, with Konami’s blessing. Before Dracula darkened the corners of Eastern Europe, there was an organization known as the Lords of Shadow, and Gabriel Belmont was tasked with taking them down.
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This led to an unpredictable twist that left some fans reeling. Also, it was more God of War than a true Castlevania, which was another issue that split the fanbase. MercurySteam’s trilogy was ambitious, no doubt about it, but it was not exactly what most fans wanted from the franchise.
The Last Guardian
In Shadow’s Shadow
The Last Guardian
- Released
- December 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- JapanStudio, GenDesign
The Last Guardian was a spiritual successor to Shadow of the Colossus, one of the most celebrated games of all time. As such, it had a lot to live up to on top of its long development cycle. While gorgeous in its own right, both visually and in terms of the bond between the boy and the monster, it just couldn’t live up to the hype.
Also, the creature AI was not the smartest at times, leading players to scratch their heads over whether they understood a particular puzzle solution or if the game was at fault. It was more frustration than anything, as the creature largely behaved just like a real pet, obeying sometimes and doing its own thing other times. Still, as a game mechanic, that didn't resonate with everyone.
Deadly Premonition
The King Of Mixed Feelings
Deadly Premonition
- Released
- February 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Access Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Deadly Premonition is an infamously “bad” game that has a lot of fans thanks to the protagonist, Francis York Morgan. Agent Morgan is one of the most charismatic characters of all time, whose inappropriate comments can sometimes leave scenes awkward as he yammers on about movies and food in the middle of a murder investigation.
Playing the game itself is where fans are the most split, as the action is not challenging, the time management can be frustrating, and the driving is like pulling teeth. Still, this hodgepodge of weird ideas and characters is one game that everyone has to at least check out just to be in the know.
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