10 Levels That Should've Been Cut From Recent Video Games

[@lnsflare1]

I mean, what is a Yakuza game, really, without the goofy awkwardness?

[@MaxWeb2599]

​@@Jonathanking88 I'm not sure that's what Insflare was getting at

[@-RickySpanish-]

I did it for the achievement. Iykyk

[@RenegadePandaZ]

If you get to the hostess missions in a Yakuza game and are somehow surprised or upset at their inclusion, I'd argue you shouldn't play Yakuza games. They're supposed to be silly and awkward, thats the entire point of every side activity in the series. Also you don't have to actually succeed at it, if it bothers you just turn off the TV and hit X a few dozen times until it's over. Hell, I'd argue that the arena fights were significantly more tedious because it forced you to stop everything and fight way too many times, which would have been fine if the normal exploration didn't involve a billion arbitrary fights too.

[@jarrah1364]

My only beef with the MJ missions is that shes OP. Both Spidermen need to wail on kravens men whilst MJ just runs up on the them with a stun gun for an instant takedown. However, the section where the Venom suit takes Peter for a joyride is great stuff. It isn't jarring or a complete tonal shift to the point it causes whiplash either. 😊

[@GamingNationShm]

I accept it as a necessary difference for gameplay purposes. It would be boring to just one-hit everyone as the Spider-Men.

[@NadeemShekh-uy9zn]

I quite liked those sections but yeah MJ was way to OP but i appreciate the effort to try something different than the first game

[@pockylovingranger]

Oh boo hoo, Mary Jane is broken and can hold her own against trained mercenaries…did she hurt your fragile man feels?

[@jarrah1364]

@@pockylovingranger You sound like a bit of a loser mate.

[@ldcg106]

​​@@pockylovingrangerWhat a pathetic b¡tch-made simp response. What, are the people with too many neurons wanting immersion in video games giving an owie to your soy-infused widdle fee-fees? 👶🍼

[@matthewcosman9446]

The most hilarious thing about Like a Dragon Gaiden's Hostess Club minigames is that the achievement for defeating the fairly strong superboss that takes a lot to unlock has a higher percentage clear rate on Steam than the achievements for completing either hostess club (yes there are 2, 5 girls in total).

[@PricefieldPunk]

Mary Jane is absurd in those Spiderman games. Fact that she's a journalist but can take out an army of Kraven's hunters by herself is one of the most unbelievable things in a game with superheros.

[@frozenninja4030]

Yeah, I remember thinking: Oh good. I get to play as MJ again when I could have chosen from TWO DIFFERENT SPIDER-MANS! At least by the last one she gets a projectile making it more of a third person shooting section. For some odd reason. They aren't as bad as the first game, but seriously not needed for part 3.

[@rinraiden]

They'll be back in part 3.

[@the1stassassin422]

​@@rinraidenUnfortunately

[@misterbukit]

2 hour unskippable tutorial means you can't refund the game when you figure out it's trash.

[@Sam-nn9hv]

I could not believe the horrific gameplay design of Starfields power mini “game”. I was honestly shocked after the 5th time doing it that it was EXACTLY THE SAME. I can’t remember the last time I was so gob-smacked at the lack of actual gameplay development for a critical pillar of a game. That’s how I knew I would never finish Starfield as it was not even worth my time if it was not worth their time to come up with anything else.

[@chrisburrows7478]

The perfect game doesn't exist, this is true but the closest I've ever come to in my 25 year gaming experience is Persona 5 (Royal). Gameplay, Soundtrack, story, development all 10/10

[@caiofraga1968]

Greatest game ever

[@citkat1234]

the hostess game was a really good time. No idea what she was talking about

[@ZaxFSO8083]

When something feels ‘too cringe’ to someone it’s tough for them to find positives. Hel, Engage is a prime example in that regard.

[@popatsot1]

As someone who got everything in Resi 4 Remake I can vouch for the pain that is Ch. 15. If you have not mastered the parry mechanic (as well as having some slight amount of future sight) this area is bullshit. So many enemies that can hit you from nonsense angles that you often can't see them but they can see you. Not to mention just the sheer amount of enemies will wear down your ammo supply if you haven't been hording for this exact stretch. Thank God for the grenade on the turret cheese that you can do to skip some of it and get Mike back on whatever slight help he gives you.

[@IAmtired-gy2ny]

Dude. Mjs missions should have been cut out in the first game. The new ones were a big improvement

[@HylianGeekBoy]

I agree with Mary Jane missions but for me I'd like them to add more storylines/gameplay with other characters like playing with Black Cat and that would be more interesting than the missions with MJ and would reward players with a new heroine/antihero or whowever they put.

[@caseymcpherson5245]

You forgot the awful pacing setback of the Atreus sections in God of war ragnarok especially the ironwood section

[@stevenstump246]

Honorable mention: unlocking talent trees in Hogwart's Legacy. Sure you can skip most of the side quests and exploring and just focus on main story. But few people do and it feels like it takes forever. And tbh, some of the talents are game changing for the combat on hard difficulty.

[@benfletcher8100]

@@stevenstump246I thought a lot of the talents were fairly useless

[@NerdRahtio]

On the subject of Mary Jane, I am very annoyed that both Peter and Mary Jane look like they got downgrades in their face designs, when the ps4 release of the first game , for it right the first time. Now Peter looks as young as Miles!

[@necrolicious]

Making the tutorial two hours is an economic move, anyone who finished the tutorial and was pissed off was met with another slap when they realized they were over the two hour refund mark.

[@giomb778]

Yeah, ask RGG to remove all the fighting from Yakuza while you're at it

[@blazep629]

I’ve already gone through LADG, but I’d probably go back for the hostess mini game. That forced “make it rain by doing almost ALL the mini games” though…

[@pesky716]

What’s with all the comments defending the MJ missions? Not only were the levels painfully slow and tedious, but the worst offense was how they completely undermined the threat of Kraven’s Army given how easily she took everyone out.

[@MxEuphemia]

How does it undermine them? If they spot you, they can take you out pretty quickly, and it's mentioned in her first mission that she was trained by Silver Sable during her time in Symkaria. If anything, it shows just how capable MJ has become in the almost 2 years since the first game

[@pesky716]

@@MxEuphemia a regular citizen was trained enough over a 2 year span while working a full time job to take down an entire Army in stealth armed only with a stun gun?

[@MxEuphemia]

@@pesky716 You talk like she wasn't already skilled at sneaking around and able to take down several Sable International mercenaries with that same stun gun in the first game

[@pesky716]

@@MxEuphemia it didn’t make sense in the first game either

[@MxEuphemia]

@@pesky716 Sure it did One of the main points of her story arc in the first game is that she is far more capable than Peter gives her credit for and that he should treat her as a partner rather than a damsel in distress who needs saving all the time Her arc and missions in the second game are a natural progression of that

[@AnimusPrime87]

“The perfect video game doesn’t exist” *Coughs in Metroid Dread*

[@Coolcoolcoolcoo]

I've played every Yakuza game and i have to agree with the inclusion here. A lot of people are saying the games are full of awkward stuff like this but honestly, they just aren't. The whole time, i couldn't stop thinking about the actress recording these choppy cringe interactions in front of a crew of game devs, not least because of the visible ringlight reflecting in the eyes of the "hostesses". It didn't feel like goofy fun. It really felt like i was supposed to be enjoying this girl reading painful dialogue and squeezing her chest together.

[@sterlingkart9562]

Oooooh the goofy awkwardness in Yakuza, yessss

[@cppblank]

The MJ sections aren't bad, but putting it higher than the Forza, Starfield and Like a Dragon ones is insane.

[@thembill8246]

What? I loved the Mary Jane missions in Spider-Man 2. Yes they slowed the pace down, but at least she was freaking capable this time and it wasn't just a slow, "One false move and you're dead" scenario like the first game. Also showed great growth on her character and Peter's for trusting her to do important work and working together in general.

[@ZaxFSO8083]

It’s definitely a lot more improved than last time. Better to be able to defend yourself than just running away and hoping you won’t be caught. I did not hate it this time around at least.

[@lnsflare1]

I liked the MJ/Miles sections in the first game well enough. They were fairly short, you snap back from failures quickly enough, and it gradually reacts up in terms of their options.

[@pesky716]

This has to be a bot 🤖 account right? Not only were the levels painfully slow and tedious, but the worst offense was how it completely undermined the threat of Kraven’s Army given how easily she took everyone out.

[@thembill8246]

@@pesky716 definitely not a bat. I just have an opinion that's different from yours. How very dare I.

[@StarkeRealm]

I would bet that the mandatory 2 hour tutorial on Forza is specifically intended to push players past the refund period for Steam.

[@markkevorkian]

You said sonic was enjoyable at the begining and at the end said it was disappointing. Which is it?

[@Pancake_ice_420]

MJ missions in Spider-Man 2 were 🔥

[@drgonzo123]

With AAA budgets getting out of control, I hope devs realize that they don’t have to bloat their games with meaningless side content, or learn to cut content all together when it kills the pacing. Movies do this all the time, and while I know games do this too, it’s still not enough. My go-to example is GoW Ragnarok’s Atreus and Angrboda section. That could and should have been a 10 minute scene.

[@infern0711]

Should the power collecting mini game have been cut? Yes. Is Starfield disappointing? Not in the slightest if you have ever actually played an Elder Scrolls game.

[@seanbroccoli2698]

Yea it is the most mind blowing complaint to me. Its Fallout in space. Its exactly what I expected. Are there things I hate? Sure. But as someone who has played all Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, Starfield came out exactly as expected. The next complaint that annoys me is the loading screens because they are like 5 seconds long

[@Dillville321]

Mary the Jaw Jane

[@iveyyewitt1621]

Nope. MJ stays. After the missions she had in the first game she deserves to kick some ass. I said the same thing about Miles, but he was inevitable. MJ was a happy surprise.

[@giannis8568]

And here I thought that only Driver's notorious tutorial would be the only one hated in gaming's history!

[@Ubu90]

U dare put yakuza in this list

[@waalex11]

I never minded the MJ missions. It's cool that she has a bit of action, character-wise.

[@elwincarstens192]

I didn't mind the stealth sections (Miles or MJ) in either Spider-man game. The stealth segments in the second game, especially got my heart racing a couple of times.

[@jadedheartsz]

Starfield is damn good and not "Dissapointing" at all.

[@MxEuphemia]

The stealth missions in both Spider-Man games are absolutely necessary to the story imo and are better than just having extended cutscenes, and I do think that they are better in Spider-Man 2, but they are definitely still frustrating

[@nathanelb721]

Yeah, like the part where spider man is fighting crime while sleeping. it would be less impactful if you just played as miles or Peter for that part.

[@jadedheartsz]

@@nathanelb721 there's still better ways to handle them then bland stealth though

[@newageBoundhippie]

and here I thought there was no way a Like A Dragon game could be included here....DAME DA NE

[@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499]

I would argue Gran Turismo 7 committed a far worse sin than Forza. Why Sony wouldn't let veteran GT Sport players just import their in-game license(s) so they could skip the tedium of GT7's driving tests blows my mind.

[@juanpablofont3151]

The worst of the worst was the original gran turismo Licenses tests.

[@King-QueenHalen]

I really didn’t mind the MJ missions in the 2nd one.

[@scrappy5207]

With hundreds of hours played, it is truly annoying how repetitive Starfield is when it comes to obtaining powers at the same looking temples

[@BTBSOUNDS]

There. Were. THREE. MJ missions. THREE. Fucking hell i hated playing as Miles doing the museum quests more than MJ

[@milanbajic242pcgaming]

Great video, have a awesome day.

[@matt3606-o3l]

Kinda like the editor telling the author of the story "that shouldn't be there." Like wtf are you? You want something different, DO different.

[@tokiwartuthe]

Idk about yall but when i play a Spiderman game the LAST thing i want to do is play as spiderman

[@jsmith3946]

ya there is Aunt May when is she going to get her own game I want a Aunt May beat em up game where she is voiced by Gary Busey

[@WhatTheFirstAidSpray]

Got to love the irony in a what culture presenter criticising a game for lacking any originality given how often you recycle lists and content 😂😂

[@YoungAce904]

The mission in Final Fantasy 16 where you have to go on a fetch quest to help Mid build the ship parts is the most tedious thing I've done in a game in awhile. It's like half an hour of doing nothing interesting. And the fact that it comes directly after the most hype boss battle in the game up to that point makes it even worse. Plus it didn't help me personally that I hopped back into FF16 because i didn't feel like grinding through the first Atreus section in GoW Ragnarok, and that's what mission I had left off on. Imagine my disgust

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

I kind of agree. I did like that the side missions often served to flesh out the side characters as well, but especially near the end, they just threw a ton of them at you. I have come to hate all things Dhalmekia because there's so much damn sand 😂. I would quote that infamous Star Wars line here if I knew it by heart, lol.

[@YoungAce904]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley I won't even lie I'm like 25 hours in and haven't done any of the non "plus" side missions based off of how dumb the first few were, and the fact that every discussion I've seen about the game says they aren't worth it. If they're mostly like how that one main mission was then I think I've made the right choice

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

@@YoungAce904 I didn't hate them, they just got to be a bit much and felt like padding. But I'm more of a story-driven player (despite choosing Action Mode to play the game on instead of Story Mode), and I like learning more about the world of the game I'm playing and it's people so I could withstand the side missions probably more than others. But yes, if you do make it to the end, get ready for a bevy of them, lol. I recommend at least doing the two that have Joshua and Jill as it adds them to your party again when they'd been removed from your team during the story. And you WILL want to do any mission dealing with Blackthorne, the blacksmith! They're called Blacksmith Blues and there's a total of four parts to it. It's the only way to get the strongest swords in the game (you have to play the game one more time on the unlocked Final Fantasy mode to get the ultimate strongest weapon). These things will also make knocking out the hunt missions easier, if you haven't already been doing them (which, I usually knock them out as they're released, as the EXP ensures I stay evenly leveled or ahead of the enemies I'm fighting).

[@Wickedred413]

No way in hell that a racing tutorial should be 2 HOURS.That's fucking ridiculous which sucks because Forza Motorsport is a game on my to play list.

[@TheMarcHicks]

Honourable Mention: The entirety of Starfield 😆

[@mradz6751]

I strongly disagree with the Spider-Man take, I love the MJ missions in the sequel. It was really boring in the first game but they really did well to upgrade it

[@duhmzdaih]

The perfect video game doesn't exist? WRONG. IT'S TETRIS. What flaws does Tetris have? IT'S PERFECT, it succeeds at everything it wants to achieve.

[@woodchopper1752]

just a heads up modders came to the rescue about the starfield entry for pc versions

[@Franklinsbrother]

Again, forced Stealth Sections should really be phased out, aside from some Horror games.

[@landonewts]

I know these lists are subjective, but I loved playing Starfield, and unlocking the powers was satisfying for me - especially the music/sound design. I didn’t mind that the temples were the same, I kind of liked knowing what to do, especially early in the game. Unlocking and using the powers was fun. Again - for ME.

[@CoreyKaha]

We get it Todd Howard, you think players are being too harsh on Starfield.

[@rinraiden]

The perfect video game does exist. It's called Metal Gear Solid 3.

[@Thanatos--]

Whoa, that was a pretty searing opener on Starfield. I had to Google "Bethesda egregiously cutting corners" and I was surprised to find that this is a listicle written by someone else at WhatCulture from a week ago read aloud at about 90% verbatim. There is obviously nothing wrong with reading a 'script' for the video version of an article, but the way that this is presented and knowing it is a read-off makes it cringe worthy.

[@jeanmalave1823]

BABES I have low blood sugar and am in need of NEW EPS!!!! STAT!!😂

[@Tonii_Say_So]

The MJ sections aren’t that bad though I don’t understand the complaints about them. They don’t even last that long.

[@Tonii_Say_So]

But I agree they should be optional

[@EnigmaticLich]

The freakin Silent Realm from Skyward Sword...

[@casedcrusader]

I disagree with the writer on the MJ missions. They started off better than the first game, and they just kept getting better. The horror one was cool and her last mission was straight out of Insomniac's own Ratchet & Clank, if set in the world of Aliens. It was one of my favorite moments of 2023. They totally redeemed themselves for me.

[@gazwilliams-nc7jp]

The MW3 campaign was terrible because they made it last minute, so they could turn the year 2 DLC for Mw2, into a full release, and is the reason its the first cod i havnt bought in years

[@wittyithink9109]

"Stanfield. One of the most disappointing video games of 2023." I have heard literally nothing but good about this game. People who thought Bethesda couldn't do anything good think it's...good. "One repetitive thing. It's bad."

[@CromulonDan]

Not really a level but I feel like in Luigi’s mansion 3 should have cut the sections that they clearly made to pad the length when you have to go floor to floor looking for that stupid cat.

[@boi905]

It’s not a level, but Spawn of Oggdo should’ve been cut from Jedi Survivor

[@li-limandragon9287]

Just give MJ Spider-Powers

[@hadagee]

We love your videos but suddenly cutting off just aint it

[@swordbladez]

Original Dead Space (1) is pretty perfect :3

[@maloc1824]

I love list, but I love chapters in videos with chapters.

[@occupationalhazard]

I disagree with the Forespoken one. NYC was much more interesting than Athia. A low low bar.

[@dhehjej]

Re 4 shouldnt of cut anything as it should be faithful so that a new entire generation can experience the game

[@SomewhatSlightlyBored]

classic re4 has been ported to every non-handheld system in every generation since its debut. if they want it, it is there.

[@tubensalat1453]

I love you Mary-Jane (No opinion on Miss Watson.)

[@Ringadon]

I enjoyed the MJ missions... in both games.

[@giantnerd14]

I thought the remake version of the island assault was pretty good. Guess I was in the minority there.

[@pomelomarino7710]

PIZZA TOWER IS BASED ON BOOGERMAN FROM SEGA GENESIS AND I WILL IGNORE EVERYONE WHO DENIES IT.

[@lnsflare1]

I'm pretty sure that is mostly based off of Wario's platformers, though the aesthetic is similar to Boogerman's.

[@pomelomarino7710]

ignored xd@@lnsflare1

[@tycepickett1238]

Forspoken definetly had a shitload of problems and things to complain about, but honestly for the most part I really enjoyed it. But that prologue where you have to play in newyork and it is just so bland and boring and ugly? Oh yeah, that definetly needed to be either cut out entirely or heavily re-worked to make it actually fun and engaging.

[@jaredstangenberg5674]

I’m not going to say Starfield is perfect, but if it was truly the most disappointing game of 2023, then that just underscores how good games were in 2023.

[@seanbroccoli2698]

I didnt find it disappointing at all., I expected Fallout in space and thats what I got. Everyone else just had unrealistic expectations for the game. The only disappointing part of the game for me was the flight. I expected a little more out of flying. The design on how the star map works just isnt good. Having to hop in and out of the map multiple times is just too cumbersome. I can understand using the starmap to navigate star systems but you should be able fly from planet to planet manually or at least be able to fast travel directly to where you want to go. You should also be able to land on the planet while flying.

[@rodneyjohnson7730]

So u guys really didn't include the jotunheim atreus level from GOW 2...That joints blows...waaaay to long...

[@williamfrancecamera]

Haven't you flogged on the Mary Jane levels enough?!!! They're fine, and if they were all cut it cuts the context as well. Be careful what you wish for.

[@justinanderson4315]

The first Spider-Man game definitely had horrible MJ missions. The second game improved a lot. One thing, giving her the taser.

[@cppblank]

That Starfield things is terrible.

[@chasedrumheller1814]

Perfect video game doesn't exist.....me just playing baulders gate 3

[@jsmith3946]

ya that games not perfect it had a bunch of bugs when it came out so no it wasn't perfect

[@dustinhooper2260]

Highly disagree with Res evil 4 chapter 15 being on this list. Sounds like a personal problem.

[@erinhayes3563]

Why the hell does everyone hate on forsaken I played that game to completion and loved it

[@petermiller4953]

With Starfield, I don't really care about the "boring" "minigame" you go through for each power. I feel it just adds to the mysticism. Now, the names of the powers, THAT is a whole other can of worms! I mean "See Star Stuff"?????

[@dorabrooks76]

So yesterday's list got an outro, but not today's? What gives?! Please bring back the outros- consistently. The abrupt endings just ain't it. Especially if you get an ad. Ugh!

[@88onewingangel]

The lack of outro segments on WC videos these days is pretty off-putting. The cold-close with no tie-up needs to go away...

[@RedDev1l757]

It wasn't Mary Janes parts that ruined cutscenes the game. It was all the cutscenes! I got bored of watching rather than playing it

[@RidireOiche]

I didn't think the new spiderman was as good as the first in feel or story but the MJ sections are narratively and psychologically necessary for immersion. Narratively ripping away your power raises the tension while serving as a low stakes moment where the story and the player can wind down before the next peak and psychologically without the power to steamroll everything in your way which you have amasted up to this point, you appreciate the power even more when you get it back. Affording the devs the opportunity avoid being forced to increase the power creep to stupid extremes so the game retains player attention. Sure, it doesn't work as well in the sequel but that is because the power creep was already raised to begin with as with any sequel, the story had no through line and that lack of cohesion threw off the balance.

[@headred76]

2:03 you spelled ‘game’ wrong.

[@robiu013]

i don't care i liked the mary jane missions. they didn't go far enough with that stuff. should have given her a bazooka and grenades too.

[@PacificStateGames]

I quit forza and deleted it during the tutorial, I just wanted to skip everything

[@jadedheartsz]

Superstars is damn good

[@gazwilliams-nc7jp]

Not played that sonic game, but kids today are so ungrateful haha we had similar last boss's in the Og sonic games on our sega genisis, but if we failed, we had to complete the entire game again, because we didnt get a save point before the boss, or at all... spoilt brats 😅

[@Varizen87]

The script author, be it Jess or someone else CLEARLY did not complete Trip's campaign if you're saying the final fight with Eggman is infuriating. That fight is a walk in a park for children compared to Trip's Story's final boss against Fang The Hunter (/Sniper/Nack The Weasle/Jerboa. So many names for 1 character). I was able to beat Eggman within about 15 tries. Fang though.... He is FAR more unforgiving as half of his attacks are instant kills where rings don't matter. The middle third of the fight is actually your time to catch a breather despite having the most mechanical variations as it's the only phase that DOESN'T have instant kills (Kind of. Still the Popgun shots, but those are more forgiving even with the Stun effect). The first phase involves 2 attack variations where you have to avoid spinning instant kill beams (remember, even if you have 999 rings, it's still instant death), while the other attack pattern puts up 2 kill beams as prison barriers while Fang makes after images that can all still hurt you, but the REAL one breaks the stage so if you mistime your hit, you can fall to your death. And then Phase 3 is just Phase 2, except he ditches the normal ways to hit him and replaces them with him destorying part of the stage with a VERY small window to do damage and to land back at safety. You pretty much have to save your Emerald powers for Phase 3 to reliably win on your first play through where you're likely not trying to do it perfect with no Emerald powers. And you will have died so many times, Trip's Super form won't be available without restarting the whole stage and keeping a hoard of rings.

[@Emil_Stoltz]

Starfield, one of the most dissapointing games ever? Sure. One of the most dissapointing games of 2023? Hell no. It *is* the most dissapointing game of 2023

[@zedsmf2880]

Much love from Houston, TX guys

[@jadedheartsz]

Open combat missions in MW3 were fun and it was a pretty good game you're nuts.

[@Canadamus_Prime]

No outro? Ok.

[@tyleroutland435]

I disagree I personally liked Marvel's spiderman 2s mjs mission they were improved she doesn't know what she's talking about

[@NcxX-c8f]

Agreed: they felt integral to the story this time around, especially the one with Peter going on the symbiote rampage

[@bulletmccarthur]

Mary-Jane going HAM with her tazer was goofy as hell in all the best ways.

[@RiddleMe4Funn]

Nahh shits dumb her mission make Peter and miles look weak when she one taps them with a taser but they get back up after being shocked by miles or slammed by Peter

[@tyleroutland435]

@@RiddleMe4Funn I disagree

[@Th0tpocket505]

The where some bunz to me