Bad Games from Great Companies

Episode 402 - Some companies release a lot more good games than others, but no single company is without at least a few stinkers. So let's take a look at some of these publishers and some of their games most people might rather forget about.
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[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@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.

[@DE-GEN-ART]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@gazzofdoom]

I think everyone railing on Croc forgets how good that theme song was.

[@ilikecurry2345]

Even the characters sing its theme song in Croc 2!

[@eadrian7108]

Legit my ringtone 😎

[@bencritterson640]

Croc was a good game. The lack of 3d platformers today makes me miss b grade platformers like croc and gex. We were spoiled back then.

[@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.

[@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).

[@ZBR_ProXP]

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

[@HedgehogY2K]

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

[@gligarguy4010]

This is the greatest thumbnail i have ever seen.

[@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.

[@prosfilaes]

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

[@kenrickeason]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@BlueEyedVibeChecker]

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.

[@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! 😤😤

[@therogueheero]

Pause

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@CatzM1928]

Watching gameplay of "Top Gun" brings memories. It was one of the last games I played on the NES (Famicom, in my case, which was quite common in Mexico during the 90s), and... well, I actually didn't have the slightlest idea of what I needed to do to actually play it. The game was like a complete enigma to me, and it reminded me that I had already played many of the good games for the console already. It was indeed rather surprising to see it was developed by Konami, a company that I had learned to love thanks to "Bucky O'Hare", "Tiny Toons" and "Sunset Riders" on the arcade, to name a few of their best titles. Keep up the awesome work, Joe.

[@AkiraHDR50]

As soon as I saw Top Gun, I got Angry Nintendo Nerd flashbacks.

[@ilikecurry2345]

The two sides of the Internet, everybody!

[@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.

[@trumangraham2602]

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

[@thereviewsbrothers3854]

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

[@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.

[@retroboomer3197]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@jiminboo]

“Samus! I’m authorizing missile use!” This is so stupid… 🙄

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@alexq2930]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@boffyb]

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

[@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!

[@Hidyman]

Mr Bones is one of my favorites.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

Amen!

[@AnaverdGaiden]

Mr. Bonbes, lol

[@dbzeh6837]

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

[@tayphone54]

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

[@titantim]

Gonna wait for the release of the vlog from Istanbul!

[@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!

[@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.😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@nene71286]

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

[@jagergerg9771]

Always love the Outros

[@bio_cat]

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

[@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!

[@HeadPats4Peter]

3:04 i guess for 3d platformers in recent years, some of the ones I can remember off the top of my head, which may be of interest: Pseudoregalia Corn Kidz 64 Cavern of Dreams Toree (Toree 2 is short, but it's nice. but maybe this doesn't fit in 3d platformer category, or doesnt have enough 3d platforming in it) Lunistice(has guest character Toree) Super Kiwi 64 Macbat 64 Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom Penny's Big Breakaway Dadish 3D (the dev was doing 2d games previously) Celeste 64 (oh ... wait, what?) Conbunn Cardboard (character isnt 3d. dont know enough other than collect CDs. It's part of the plot. also, the CD covers are pretty 😳) Spark the Electric Jester (only on game 3) A Hat in Time Rollin' Rascal (in kickstarter) Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

[@ilikecurry2345]

Orbo's Odyssey.

[@HeadPats4Peter]

@@ilikecurry2345 wasnt aware of that one 👍. I just remembered that Catastrophe Crow has happened, which Adam Butcher made a release video on his channel. He puts the itch io link in his vid description and it's playable on itch io, but no downloads. No volume controls though, so have to control volume on your computer.

[@AndalusianLuis]

Ok but how many of them aren’t complete trash?

[@madfinntech]

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

[@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

[@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

[@skins4thewin]

Gotta love late night Game Sack uploads! 😁

[@3diamonds524]

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

[@BlaximilianD00d]

Or in my case, sack when waking up.

[@covenant-exe-apo]

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

[@shoked99]

Another great series to continue. Thanks.

[@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

[@QF_Dan72]

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

[@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.

[@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 . .

[@LJW1912]

Love the Hotel Dusk-style intro

[@SirCaco]

Everybody makes mistakes!

[@PatrickLofstrom]

I need to start charging people for my mistakes 🤔

[@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.

[@neo6289]

Thanks Joe please never stop!!!

[@MikeEmilioOfficial]

That intro is amazing!

[@smokythecameraman]

i had a genesis and NES talespin, i had no idea there was a genesis game - that seems like greendog with a sprite swap-out that was 100% greendog music

[@charlottecorday8494]

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

[@dezm101]

Bonus points for having Mr Bones. Its one of those 'so bad its good' games imo, similar to Johnny Bazookatone & Bug Too

[@GameSack]

I dunno about Johnny Bazookatone... That one's not even interesting. At least Mr. Bones is unique.

[@oogrooq]

Pobody's Nerfect!

[@BB-te8tc]

That TaleSpin game has serious Greendog energy

[@Adamtendo_player_1]

Well, it is the same people that made greendog

[@superpan218]

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

[@anactualmotherbear]

"There are so many choices for bad Sega games, but I am going to pick a game that's a cult favorite!"

[@GameSack]

Cults tend to be brainwashed.

[@anactualmotherbear]

@@GameSack wh-what tha! boi-oi-oi-oing! *head explodes.*

[@orangeslash1667]

@@GameSack Wario Land Master of Disguise is so bad that it makes Other M look good.

[@jeremyjulkowski4844]

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

[@Chris.in.taiwan]

Notice how many of these games are of the "brown era" when games were just different shades of brown.

[@richfutrell753]

I really like the concept here. I'll bet you could make an entire series on Nintendo's bad games.

[@bnhik]

🎶 Mr. Bones and me 🎶

[@FastTquick]

I’ve got a few nominations from a little company called Ubisoft: Charlie’s Angels Skull and Bones Beowulf: The Game Call of Juarez: The Cartel

[@rodmunch69]

Don't be down on yourself - I love the new flowing locks. Plus God gave you two kindey's for a reason - you'll be fine!

[@Videogamelover58]

Another awesome video from game sack!

[@greentilde4751]

great episode! The Final Fight Streetwise footage was so funny

[@jamesstewart5005]

Love me some interactive entertainment satchel.

[@PlayStationPaul]

Ironically, you've made me want to check out a few of these.

[@nobodycares9579]

David White Forever shouldn't have had a sequel.

[@cax1175]

Hi Joe! Thanks for all the great content.

[@GameSack]

Thanks for watching it :)

[@Your_Degenerate]

A free hair transplant would be tempting but I'm attached to my kidneys and would like to keep it that way.

[@aquamidideluxe5079]

That intro looks really cool!

[@Scarflix]

Fire intro!

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Its always amazing when you recognise burning love from afterburner.... no matter the arrangement

[@darkgardenrecords9264]

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

[@brandname6]

Simply the best, better than all the rest. This show that is. Not the games

[@420haxx]

Joe rocking that GREENDAWWWG shirt.

[@PREPFORIT]

Thank you for reviewing all these and saving us from wasting our money playing garbage games.

[@FrankMackeySpam]

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

[@Martynde]

I thought Contra Rogue Corps would have been chosen for Konami

[@brendanroberts1310]

I still have my sealed copy. And thanks for reminding me to order operation Galuga.

[@GameSack]

I covered that one too recently.