Bad Games from Great Companies

[@aeonian4560]

Need to do a "Great games from bad companies" episode 😅

[@CrypticCocktails]

LJN, we’re looking at you

[@aeonian4560]

@@CrypticCocktails exactly

[@mr.selfimprovement3241]

These days that's literally every AAA company though.

[@kadosho02]

​​@@CrypticCocktailslaughing joking numb nuts! I always wondered what the LJN actually stood for Huh. Did a Google search.. turns out it was the founders name as an acronym Lewis J. Norman

[@qmto]

Yep. There’s a few gems from craptastic companies like Acclaim, 3DO, THQ, Infogrames, and Accolade.

[@Majuular]

Mr. Bones looks like one of those fake video games you'd see on a TV show.

[@mr.selfimprovement3241]

Probably on BONES too.

[@nazgulsenpai]

Majuular in my GameSack comments? Is it my birthday?

[@Zontar82]

But at least mr bones has style

[@ShinYaguchiSama]

Majuular Sack anime crossover plz

[@chrisbent5734]

The cycle is now complete.

[@TrueSolunar]

For Balan Wonderworld, you had to buy an ebook if you wanted to learn ANY of the lore…

[@aaronko3480]

“Tailspin” a show about a cargo pilot, high flying adventures and air pirates. Let’s make a game where you run left to right on foot 90% of the time!

[@infinity2z3r07]

i actually like the tailspin game

[@Tommylop1982]

The NES game from Capcom had you flying?

[@yordansic]

@@Tommylop1982 But this video isn’t about that version. Try actually watching the video next time. 🙄

[@joefekete4384]

That einhander reference was a trully deep cut. I bought that game on actual store shelves due to my love if square. I wasnt a huge shooter fan, but low and behond, that game had me so addicted i cant even describe it. Something about the gloomy nature of the game mixed with the idea of a lone individual eradicating an entire planets army really struck a cord in me. I could beat that game on the hardest difficulty without dying once. And remember, i wasnt a fan of shooters. Took me MONTHS of constant playing to become a REAL einhander! Havent ever enjoyed a shooter like that again ever. Edit: on a side note, when programmers for the game were asked if they would ever make a sequel in the year 2010 or so, they answered "are there people who actually want one?". Obviously, they did not share the same love as i had for their own game.

[@jayoconnor5430]

There is no way in hell a greendog tshirt exists without your contribution to the internet

[@jsmith3946]

ya because it's not like greendog ain't a ip made by some surfer and it was the surfer who decided to put on the t-shirt no it was this random jack asses doing and no one else

[@leblorstoftimes2766]

Why are you this mad about this. Are you that surfer?

[@AnaverdGaiden]

*G R E E N D O G*

[@mythplus4689]

Also there is 0 chance that an actual surfer was the genesis for Green Dog. It was the 90s and radical tude was all the rage. Just another soulless corporate product.

[@marakarthegreat]

my biggest gripe is the fact that Mr. Bones has no checkpoints, no lives, no continues. leaving you to start all over from the level you were at if you get a game over.

[@1-eye-willy]

Mr,bones? more like Mr,cheat code level skip to even see the whole game

[@The_Boctor]

The game's bizarre story and memorable main character are also what a player would be curious to see more of, even if the gameplay is slogging. It feels like it was cursed with rental difficulty.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

Pretty much all games have you start the stage you died on from the beginning. None of the levels last longer than 5 minutes, so it's really not the end of the world.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

​@DE-GEN-ART Mr. Bones is not hard to beat at all.

[@skrubbyentertainment]

Mr bones was amazing

[@bitwize]

90s beat-em-ups: Let's make the city look gritty with lots of color and life and messy bits interesting weird criminal characters to beat up. 00s beat-em-ups: Oh, the city needs to look gritty? BROWN. EVERYTHING IS BROWN.

[@daywalker3735]

Dude exactly hahaha

[@chichocooks]

Man I remember growing up playing Top Gun at my uncle's house. I remember how happy I was when I was finally able to land that damn jet. Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@SuperHns]

I think Top Gun is great on NES

[@ZBR_ProXP]

“This one is a racing game but instead of being fun, it’s not” 😂😂😂

[@BakiX]

Mr.Bones gets elevated from crappy to entertaining simply because of how likeable the protagonist is and how trippy and odd the entire ride can be, I love it! Buuuut you certainly wouldnt be wrong in saying its extremely flawed outside those peramiters lol.

[@AgsmaJustAgsma]

The end cutscene in Mr. Bones is absolute kino.

[@AndalusianLuis]

He’s not likeable and it’s not trippy or odd. You’re just trying to feel special by liking it.

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

@@AndalusianLuis Skeleton pro tags are inherently likeable by default sorry but its just fax

[@gc8972b]

​@@MILDMONSTER1234 he's already consumed by his own bitterness

[@BakiX]

@@AndalusianLuis Guess you have me figured out. Thanks for the heads up.

[@rodzandz]

Keep in mind that several of these games (like 0 Day attack, Crime life, Spyborgs, etc.) were not even developed by the big companies. They were just published by them (probably just as a quick cash grab).

[@AmberShort]

I think Mr. Bones could have had great potential if they spent more time fixing it's issues. Oh well. At least we got the awesome music from it. No bones about it. :P

[@ChaossX77]

😂

[@David-qm3sx]

He didn't mention the "Stand-Up Comedy" level, where you had to trial-and-error your way through several rounds where each button triggered a different setup or punchline (with a timing component. It was the most bat-shit part of a game that was mostly made of bat-shit insanity. When someone in a meeting said "There are no bad ideas here" these maniacs took it as a challenge. And gods bless them for it

[@AskDrannik]

Balan Wonderworld: a game so bad, the creator went to prison for insider trading.

[@Zontar82]

The fact that in a 3d platformer most costumes won't let you Jump was the most evil of the sins

[@jaylucien669]

Not too mention the over abundance of meaningless dialogue that Naka just can't get enough of in his 3D Platformers.

[@StormsparkPegasus]

He was too busy insider trading instead of working on the game.

[@Adamtendo_player_1]

Balan Wonderworld compounded a fitting end for Yuji Naka the criminal.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@Zontar82 The problem is Yuji Naka can be a great producer, but he never directed a game before. Except for that one puzzle game on the Dreamcast, but I don't count it.

[@asnowpoff]

Theres one thing you didn't mention about the quick time event minigame in balan: if you get anything that isn't an excellent, not only do you not get the statue but in order to retry you have to beat THE ENTIRE WORLD INCLUDING THE BOSS FOR THE MINIGAME TO RESPAWN

[@DeAthWaGer]

The only reason I was able to tolerate Streetwise until completion was unlocking (buying) all the Shadows Fall songs, then at least it had a fun soundtrack.

[@retroboomer3197]

Still one of my favorite channels. Thank you for everything after all these years!

[@SAerror1]

The only way I can explain Balan Wonderworld is that Yuji Naka must have been an undercover agent planted by Sega trying to put a competitor out of business

[@juliannocartagena2007]

So THAT’S why he’s in jail!

[@The_Prizessin_der_Verurteilung]

But who was the competitor, Square Enix? They're not even close to the same level. And they've been out of the console business for yonks, so Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft wouldn't be a competitor to them. Unless Yuji Naka's real enemy was himself all along.

[@shiftfire4511]

​@BlueEyedVibeChecker Square Enix is one of the most prolific Japanese game devs in the industry. Especially in Japan itself, they are one of the top dogs. In fact, they are the second most profitable Japanese game company worldwide, and the 13th overall. Sega, despite the monumental heights they have fallen from, are the 6th most profitable in Japn, 21st worldwide. So they're generally in the same ballpark, alongside Bandai Namco, Konami, and Nexon. Yeah, a surprise that Capcom doesn't even have half of Sega's revenue, but in this wild world of Yuji Naka (maybe) being a double agent taking the fall, anything is possible.

[@avideogamemaster]

I think its more believable for Naka to work undercover for Nintendo during the Sonic X-Treme/ Sonic 06 development lol

[@penguinreloaded7756]

I did get some enjoyment out of the game! There were a number of baffling decisions, though. Could have been like 10 costumes with polished traits to each. All characters needed to be able to jump. The keys needed to be removed. It just needed some guidance and direction. Some of the costumes are almost completely useless. - I was looking forward to the game when it was announced! Played demo... and waited to pick up a $5 clearance copy.

[@prosfilaes]

Konami's recent games are real coin eaters, which is why they have offices in Las Vegas.

[@kenrickkahn]

Konami actually has slots all over America in casinos.. Konami literally took "coin eater" to another level..

[@HedgehogY2K]

The Xbox 360 Microsoft Store will end in June this very year. Buy up your games now before it all ends.

[@RPC87]

Hey Joe. I have been watching KZbin gaming shows since 2007 and avgn in screw attack before that. Through old jontron, normal boots , game grumps etc. You are the only guy still going doing old school KZbin things. thanks for keeping this going. You make my hard days better!

[@LordBarros]

AVGN just put out a 20th anniversary video actually.

[@PeteSkerritt]

Joe channeling his inner E3 2008 self is must-see. :) Also- stay for the Urban Reign shoutout. I do have to admit that I’ll always have a soft spot for Top Gun NES. It’s one of those “I know it’s bad, but nostalgia!” cases for me.

[@cax1175]

Hi Joe! Thanks for all the great content.

[@GameSack]

Thanks for watching it :)

[@TonyLikeGames2]

Time to dive into another fresh Sack!

[@Jesse__H]

I love that new Sack smell 😐

[@jabrondestoroyah]

Where my fellow Sack Lovers™ at?!?

[@mr.selfimprovement3241]

The old Sack smelled better. Its just not the same without a little bit of whatever Dave left behind in the old one.

[@jabrondestoroyah]

@@mr.selfimprovement3241 We used to be a two man sack damn it! 😤😤

[@JohnnyWasabi]

Pause

[@charlottecorday8494]

I dunno, that "talking to Ray" line is about the funniest thing I've heard all day.

[@gligarguy4010]

This is the greatest thumbnail i have ever seen.

[@VBrancoPT]

Joe, you forgot to mention Naoto Ohshima. He's the character designer on Balan Wonderland. And, just like Yuji Naka, he also worked on the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. By the way, nice Greendog t-shirt! :D

[@zanegandini5350]

But, unlike Yuji Naka, he didn't sue Square Enix or go to prison for insider trading.

[@VBrancoPT]

@@zanegandini5350 No, he did not. I mean, why would he?

[@orangeslash1667]

@@VBrancoPT The problem is Yuji Naka can be a great producer, but he never directed a game before. Except for that one puzzle game on the Dreamcast, but I don't count it.

[@VBrancoPT]

@@orangeslash1667 Choo-Choo Rocket?

[@orangeslash1667]

@@VBrancoPT Yes

[@trumangraham2602]

11:00 *BEHOLD* *POTENTIALLY THE FIRST "DEEZ NUTZ" JOKE IN VIDEO GAME HISTORY*

[@tayphone54]

As a Turkish Game Sack fan hearing Joe talking about Istanbul is just something that I would have never expected 🤣

[@thereviewsbrothers3854]

Mr Bones is a game that on paper I’d love. Horror and music… but then I play it aaaaand… oh dear.

[@alessandrobaggi6129]

Crime Wars'voice acting is so bad it circles around and it's actually very funny, imo.

[@juliannocartagena2007]

Bad voice acting is funny.

[@mythplus4689]

I was really enjoying the clip!

[@josephpeeples5192]

I agree. Videos like this have saved me time and money, so I don't accidentally pick up a stinker. Thank you.

[@pbpraga3963]

Hey Joe, how about this for a video: games that saved companies from bankruptcie. Always great to watch your videos.

[@Nathan-rb3qp]

Gen 1 of Pokémon is the most obvious example.

[@pbpraga3963]

@@Nathan-rb3qp Final Fantasy is another one.

[@joshbigbee8733]

Joe! You rock dude! cant tell you how much i look forward to watching gamesack every few weeks!

[@kadosho02]

GameSack is part of a balanced breakfast. And I totally agree, it is awesome

[@robintst]

That Day One game looks like a dollar store knockoff of Armada on the Dreamcast. And that game's already kind of low budget but at least it's kinda fun.

[@jerrycoeurl]

I love Mr. Bones, though I will not deny its jankiness. One minor note, though-- there's a level select in the Options menu, and once you pass a stage you can always retry at the one you died at, you just have to navigate there every time. Which is admittedly annoying.

[@GameSack]

Right, which is why I didn't complain that you had to start the game over from scratch. Still if you can retry a level endlessly like that, why bother resetting to the title screen after you die?

[@jerrycoeurl]

@@GameSack My mistake, my attention was split between listening to this episode and trying to put my newborn to sleep! And you're right, it's just bad game design to not let the player restart immediately from the game over screen. I just thought it was worth mentioning since it wasn't immediately apparent to me when I played it back in the day, and I was originally under the impression that you had to start the whole game from scratch if you died. Great episode as always!

[@megamanmarchek8293]

​@@GameSack The Japanese version of the game does allow you to endlessly retry a level without going to the level select.

[@Relugus]

Mr. Bones has so many great ideas but doesn't execute them well.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

@Relugus I left a whole comment detailing my thoughts on the game. No matter what anyone says, I will proudly shout from the mountain tops that I love the game until the day I die!

[@TravisSmith-sg8rw]

Mr. Bones looks like one of those games EGM or your average game magazine would be all over, hyping up as a killer app, then it comes out, it sucks, and you never hear about it again.

[@austinreed7343]

See also: The Saboteur, Kane & Lynch Dead Men, etc.

[@robertxhacker]

Love your videos, editing, and opinions. Turning 40 in August, this is my new favorite channel. Wish I subbed years ago.

[@priestfan81]

I am 42 and subbed about 8 years ago. I wish I hadn't because I'd have an amazing backlog to watch. Enjoy.

[@brandonginsburg3120]

We love you, Joe Joe.

[@GameSack]

Thanks a bunch Brandon Brandon! :)

[@DigiPen92]

Hey @Game Sack, can you do might do a Game Sack Episode on "Great Games with Weird Commercials" or "Video Game Commercials" like say Final Fantasy IV & VI's Commercials for example?

[@GiordanDiodato]

how about Yoshi's Island's commercial?

[@SuppleAloe64]

Smash bros for n64, too

[@Hidyman]

Mr Bones is one of my favorites.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

Amen!

[@AnaverdGaiden]

Mr. Bonbes, lol

[@Wakkajakka]

I really didn't mind the Metroid Other M controls other than the missiles, that was the worst.

[@l3rvn0]

The controls are fine because the game was designed around it, but it could have been so much better...

[@nickparsons337]

Wow, Talespin on the Genesis might just be the biggest steaming pile with the Disney moniker that's ever been made. Thanks Joe; I was really looking forward to find something new to hate. My day is made.

[@GameJames-Arkveveen]

I hope I'm not the only one who can't unhear the fart sound effect of the sack hitting the table in the intro. LOL! Well besides random nonsense, your videos are always the most cozy, relaxing, and strangely informative of any gaming related channel.

[@dwood78part23]

This is going to be an interesting ep of Game Sack. & remember, even great gaming companies like Capcom & Konami had their share of misses too.

[@nene71286]

Hey Joe! Thanks for you commitment to Game Sack! A master of your own craft.

[@dbzeh6837]

I wasn't aware of this episode. In the words of Metal Jesus, a hidden Gem!

[@mattshuey1]

Joe is such a great guy. Anyone notice he wouldn't attack the doggos in final fight? Thats top lad behavior right there.

[@Kamikazeray]

28:18 What version of afterburner is this? I looked for the arranged version and only found other versions.

[@BluesElwoo2]

Great episode as always Joe! I thought it was a short episode, but just realized the time flew by because it was so good! I wish we could get more Sack, but the quality and the consistency of your content makes me look forward to every other Sunday! I don't mentally schedule out a release in my head like I do for GameSack!

[@S.Madman]

Top Gun was a lot fun, especially with a big crew of friends. Seeing how they crashed, everyone spill their sodas in laughter. And then that one guy landing it, the ooohhs, and the ahhhhss.

[@alexq2930]

A new series has born. Im waiting part 2 already🎉🎉

[@GregsGameRoom]

Thank you Joe! I keep forgetting that video game opinions ARE highly subjective! And here I was thinking that mine was the only one that mattered!

[@Pewpewpew182]

Joe, this is one of the best channels in the net….Will you be hitting any retro cons for 2024? Thanks for all the hard work you put into your channel 😊p.s. I miss Dave also.😊

[@MegaYoYo]

I can't believe I stayed up late enough to catch one of these before the hour mark. Late night treat

[@mr.selfimprovement3241]

Sleep is for the dead - Gamesack is for the living!

[@l3rvn0]

13:40 The story was actually good in the japanese version, the localization people that messed it up We really need a Other M retranslation project

[@titantim]

Gonna wait for the release of the vlog from Istanbul!

[@streetmagik3105]

I had Mr Bones back in the day on Saturn and always remembered liking it. I played it for a bit a couple years ago and, yeah, i was wrong, lol.

[@3diamonds524]

Funny episode, Joe! You never disappoint. There's nothing like some sack before bed.

[@BlaximilianD00d]

Or in my case, sack when waking up.

[@1-eye-willy]

can you emulate other M and bind the controlls with the anologue sticks on an 8bit do controller? i know emulating golden eye and binding the controlls to mouse and keyboard makes that game play soooo much better and other M looks like it could benefit from a proper control scheme

[@chrisd6287]

Wow, i completely forgot about Mr. Bones. A weird and upsetting weekend rental which i had erased from my memory until now. Thanks Joe . .

[@xnamkcor]

Just a reminder, in case you ever wonder why Samus doesn't seem to act like a bounty hunter sometimes. Nintendo ddidn't actually know what a bounty hunter was when they decided Samus was a bounty hunter.

[@mythplus4689]

I never thought about it 🤔 💬 but like she never actually hunted a single bounty did she

[@l3rvn0]

She was inspired by Space Cobra that almost never hunted a single bounty on screen

[@marbles8641]

FUN FACT - Spy Borgs in the US is the BETA VERSION The real, final patched and balanced release was only released in the Europe. According to the director, before Beta, Capcom sent the game code to a dev in Texas. The dev fixed all the "Lot Check" bugs and Capcom shipped that build. The team then finished the game for the European release.

[@metalex165]

Thanks for the info. I actually wanted to play this one, gonna get the European version 👍🏻

[@Sly88Frye]

12:56 That's just ridiculous. Just a few years earlier in Metroid prime 3 you were already able to play with the nunchuck plugged into the Wii remote and therefore control with the joystick on the nunchuck and still aim with the motion controls of the Wii remote. I mean there is no good reason to make players have to hold the Wii remote on its side and use a d-pad in a 3D environment and then keep going back and forth between holding it on its side and pointing it forwards to aim They could have easily done better I just don't understand why they would have designed it that way. This is the first time I've actually been made it aware of how bad the controls in Metroid Other M are.

[@madfinntech]

6:28 That must be the best compliment for the Croc I've ever heard! I loved that game back in the day.

[@jamesstewart5005]

Love me some interactive entertainment satchel.

[@rhysm.5915]

Mr. Bones was responsible for some of the funniest Oneyplays moments.

[@covecova]

Looks like Mr Bones game code must contain some sort of black hole glitches.

[@labeled1]

"But instead of being fun, it's not." I have no idea why that was so funny, but kudos.

[@boffyb]

Very nice, especially the little spins of your own you put on the guitar solos at the end.

[@BlackHammer0891]

Son, did you see that “Green Dog” in that puppy litter down in Florida????

[@Sly88Frye]

Another game by Nintendo that I think is quite bad but not noteworthy just wanted to mention is super play action football on the SNES

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Spyborgs was actually designed much differently at the beginning of its dev cycle. It was goofier, with little "saturday morning" comic style interludes between the levels, like you were watching a TV show. I think the publisher pushed the devs to make it more "grounded" and less silly.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

I'd completely forgotten I spent a week trying to pretend Donkey Kong Barrell Blast was fun. Must be a suppressed memory. 😂

[@bonesjackson81]

Mr Bones weeds out the non musically inclined. Thanks Ronnie Montrose! Ive always liked the concept more than the execution. Some stages are frustrating beyond tolerable. Some are fun. Needed a sequel on Dreamcast to iron out the bs. Still play it every October, cheat, level select style.

[@flmalegre]

Name checks out

[@beauwalker9820]

Unpopular opinion, but despite it's story, lack of exploration, and such I actually liked "Other M." Using the sideways remote style didn't bother me, because the game seemed built around that limitation, and compensated for it with it's clever camera angles and such. I think that third person 3D Metroid style should be rexplored again someday, and improved on.

[@l3rvn0]

Metroid Other M isn't a bad game at all, it's a lot better that the Castlevania games on PS2, but it's the worst game in the series, and for no reason The hardest part that was making the transition from 2D to 3D they got right, it's so much closer to the 2D games compared to what Konami did with Castlevania, but they had to screw up the exploration and add unnecessary gimmicks to the gameplay... oh well

[@metalex165]

Yeah, I actually love Other M. Beat it 3 or 4 times since it came out. I just like that it is a cool, fast, slick action game interpretation of Metroid made by Team Ninja.

[@ChibiFighter]

I'm surprised this concept hasn't been used in an episode before for game sack I can't wait to see what further games you pick

[@Greenalink]

Metroid Other M cutscenes are only skippable after first playthrough... which doesn't change the opinion much for people trying it out first time and then forget about it afterwards.

[@LikeSomeDude]

How did u miss the blue candles on the guitar section of bones? I’ve never even played it and I could see the visual cues

[@vespasian606]

Games were harder then so I think that was often used to hide the fact that there wasn't really much substance. Today they are usually easier but this time sheer size is frequently used to hide the shallowness and mediocrity. Overall I think our lives are still richer for their existence but that turd pool has turned into an ocean.

[@FrankMackeySpam]

You should've included The Quiet Man in the Square Enix segment. Would've been a great one two punch with Balan Wonderworld.

[@superpan218]

Yuji Naka was even arrested for insider trading charges while he was in Square Enix. Ouch.

[@bio_cat]

I was already having a good night. Now it’s even better! Thanks for the upload!!

[@jagergerg9771]

Always love the Outros

[@LJW1912]

Love the Hotel Dusk-style intro

[@nintendonicholas9141]

Can anybody tell me where that afterburner remix at 28:18 is from

[@projectmayhem6898]

Thanks!

[@GameSack]

Thanks so much! :)

[@GtotheNextLevel]

I just knew you were gonna pick some deep cuts for bad Sega games, Joe. Glad I'm not the only one that has a disdain for TaleSpin Genesis. Great vid as always!

[@QF_Dan72]

Yuji Naka was sacked from Square Enix and then got sent to jail. How the mighty has fallen

[@SuperNicktendo]

My neighbor was one of the voices for Crime Life. I got him to autograph my copy

[@MikeEmilioOfficial]

That intro is amazing!

[@matthewgagnon9426]

I always want to call it Balan Wonderland because that has more of a "proper" feel to it than Wonderworld does.

[@jeremyjulkowski4844]

I honestly forget that I even own Metroid Other M until I see it on my game shelf.

[@patrickbyrne5070]

Lol yo wtf is Mr Bones- that’s the first game (except for some random jrpg stuff) you’ve done in like ten years I totally never heard of. Thanks… I guess

[@ComeNNHot]

Dude, Joe, thanks for the outro. Make’s me appreciate my diminishing hairline. Oh, and I love your videos. My Favorite channel on YT currently.

[@ErnestSheptalo]

Will episode 403 be forbidden?

[@ShanetheFreestyler]

Wasn't expecting a Croc reference. That was part of my childhood right there. So was Top Gun: The Second Mission, my cousin owned that. I remembered the 2 player mode being better than the single player game.

[@zalgo80]

Did you ruin a perfectly good Greendog shirt for that bit at the end?

[@GameSack]

This shirt has been ruined multiple times, the last time with pizza for a skit. Thank goodness washing machines exist!

[@gammaphonic]

I was surprised to see Square-Enix as the first company. I forget how beloved those two companies used to be. These days I think Square-Enix releasing a good game is the exception rather than the rule

[@MrJechgo]

I fail to understand why there wasn’t any Bongo support on Wii, when the console itself was backward compatible with the Gamecube… As for Other M, it’s easy to point at the « varia suit scene ». However, in the Japanese version, Samus willingly brute-forced her way into the lava cave in order to scare Malkovich into easing his restrictions. He scolds her for being reckless, while in the English version, she was simply waiting for him to enable her suit’s thermal protection.