10 Outstanding Games With Terrible Opening Levels

Key Takeaways

Undertale is a unique RPG, and it’s worth slogging through the introductory area.
Doom Eternal’s slow-paced first level with tutorial interruptions falls short of high standards.
Games like Nier: Automata, and Driver have challenging or convoluted early stages.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that these opening levels in some classic games have always left me scratching my head and wishing for better pacing.

The best video games are ones we can look back on fondly, but some have trouble getting started.

Even impressive game titles may falter at the initial stage, so here’s a collection of exceptional games that are initially held back by some illogical or confusing elements at the beginning.

10 Undertale

Those Ruins Are A Killer

10 Outstanding Games With Terrible Opening Levels

In a nutshell, “Undertale” is an exceptional role-playing game offering a distinct style of combat unmatched elsewhere. However, it’s worth noting that the initial part set in the Ruins might initially deter some players before they even begin their journey.

In a more conversational tone, Undertale boasts endearing humor, but it sometimes feels contrived at the beginning of your adventure. The Ruins have minimal fighting, and the discussion about butterscotch pie with Toriel might come off as unnatural.

The issue lies in the fact that the initial part is quite extended, and the pace and occurrences do not reflect the general flow of the gameplay as it continues.

I absolutely love playing Undertale, so much that I’ve even tried my hand at speedrunning it. However, the Ruins section of the game can sometimes linger too long and potentially deter new players.

Luckily, the Ruins have a concise introduction compared to several others on this list, and it’s free on PS Plus for those interested in giving it a go.

9 Doom Eternal

I’m Serious

I thoroughly enjoy Doom Eternal, particularly its fast-paced battles, spectacular glory kills, and fantastic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the initial level of Eternal fails to create a strong first impression.

As a gamer, I must say that the initial mission in this game feels like a tranquil stroll compared to the fast-paced action it promises. While I understand that it might be necessary for newcomers to grasp the mechanics, the frequent tutorial pop-ups can be quite overwhelming and interrupt the flow of the gameplay experience.

The Chainsaw transports you to a training zone from which you can’t exit until you press a button thrice times, and this setting seems entirely incongruous. Additionally, the music remains subdued, choosing to rumble faintly in the background instead of taking center stage.

By the high standards of Doom Eternal, it’s not exactly exceptional, but it falls short in certain areas. However, despite a shaky start, Doom Eternal stands out as an incredibly stylish Boomer Shooter game, making it a must-play for fans who love this genre.

8 Pokemon Sun and Moon

I’ve Already Done This A Million Times

I absolutely love the Pokémon games to such an extent that when I finish the original versions, I move on to modified ones (ROM Hacks). Unfortunately, many of these modifications have painfully slow introductions, with Sun and Moon being particularly guilty of this problem.

In the games Pokémon Sun and Moon, they leisurely delay introducing you to your initial Pokémon. The dialogues are lengthy and abundant, making for a rather chatty experience! It might take as long as 20 minutes before engaging in your first battle, which can feel like an excessive trek, particularly if you’re already familiar with the Pokémon series.

The Sun and Moon aren’t at all problematic, but they certainly move at a leisurely pace, even compared to the fast-paced nature of Pokémon.

7 Golden Sun

Setting The Scene For A Little Too Long

Golden Sun 1 and 2 are among the cherished games in the collection of the GameBoy Advance, boasting the reputation of being outstanding turn-based role-playing games. While both games excel at this genre, it’s worth mentioning that some players find the intro sequence of the first game to be somewhat superfluous.

In The Village, the stage is set for the adventure in Golden Sun, where you struggle unsuccessfully to aid the townspeople. There are numerous explanations and lengthy dialogues that seem excessively prolonged. The pace at which text appears is relatively slow, and there’s a lot of reading as you become acquainted with various characters.

As a gamer, I find myself grappling with the fact that the beginning is set some years ago and it feels like they could’ve used a quick cutscene instead. Typically, RPGs have a gradual build-up, but here, it takes more than 30 minutes before anything significant unfolds.

6 Okami

Boom, Exposition!

As a seasoned gamer, let me tell you, I’ve been captivated by the timeless charm of Okami – a breathtakingly beautiful 3D adventure that’s more than just a pretty face. The HD remaster preserves the original PlayStation 2 vibe while giving it a fresh coat of paint, and the intricate puzzles and immersive world design give me nostalgic vibes of the Legend of Zelda series.

Starting off, the initial stage of Okami can feel quite laborious, considering its lengthy introduction video that runs for approximately 10-15 minutes and a substantial amount of text to go through, equivalent to a small book.

In my enthusiastic journey, I find myself stepping into new text boxes repeatedly, each one detailing how to leap. This pattern persists much longer than it needs to, leaving me eager for the next challenge.

The barrage of explanations and text is a sight to behold. I understand the scene is being set, but it’s a lot to take in after the extensive word salad introduction. Spare a thought for those who played on the PlayStation 2 as that version had unskippable cutscenes!

5 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Snowballs, Really?

It seems I might be criticizing the Game Boy Advance (GBA) library a tad too much, yet I must say that “Final Fantasy Tactics Advance” certainly pushes one’s tolerance to the limit.

The game Tactics Advance swiftly plunges you into an extended combat tutorial right from the start. This tutorial is disguised as a snowball fight where the rules are gradually revealed during battle. If you don’t promptly pause the game and accelerate through the text, you might find yourself stuck in this fight for an eternity.

Waiting for your chance in the battle can be quite tedious, since you have to pause for some time as the artificial opponents maneuver and seem limited to executing just one attack at a time.

Fun typically kicks off no sooner than an hour into the game, providing ample time for even the most patient gamers to unwind their minds before things get interesting.

As a devoted gamer, I’ve developed a special fondness for Final Fantasy Tactics Advance that resided on my GameBoy Advance SP for an extended period. This game is one I wholeheartedly endorse, and while its initial pace might seem leisurely, it certainly doesn’t reflect the fast-paced action that follows in the rest of the game.

4 Nier: Automata

Compulsory Permadeath

Automata” is an action role-playing game that stands out for its captivating freeform battles, breathtaking science fiction graphics, and a storyline with various conclusions. The initial part of the game, called the Prologue, is rich in background information and quite extended, lasting approximately 60 minutes.

One truly bizarre feature of the Prologue is how progress is handled. There is no autosaving in Nier Automata, which isn’t bad as long as you frequently update your progress.

The issue is that saving is completely disabled in the Prologue, and if you manage to die in the first boss battle, you have to restart the entire game. The first boss is relatively easy, but that’s not the point. Even the most die-hard gamer will wince if they lose an hour of progress. Many will just never turn the game on again.

3 Kingdom Hearts

Get Me Off This Island!

Just finished playing Kingdom Hearts again, and it shocked me how slow-paced and tedious the Destiny Islands segment felt.

In your mission, you need to construct a raft to depart from the islands. This involves participating in a series of tasks that might seem quite tedious, such as gathering resources and provisions for the voyage. There are several collections required to amass the materials needed for the raft and supplies for the journey.

On Destiny Islands, there are numerous cutscenes that significantly slow down the game’s pace. If only these scenes weren’t lengthy, I wouldn’t mind them. However, since they consume a significant amount of time, my initial hours on this island feel quite uneventful compared to the rest of the game.

In Kingdom Hearts, the game significantly enhances when you acquire a Keyblade, yet that part of the game feels excessively tedious!

2 Assassin’s Creed 3

I Wish I Was Ezio Again

In simpler terms, the initial part of Assassin’s Creed 3 seems overly detailed, not essential, and a surprising shift from what made the beginning of Assassin’s Creed 2 enjoyable right away.

A fascinating aspect of the introduction to Assassin’s Creed 3 lies in the fact that you actually start off as a Templar, not an Assassin. This is only revealed after more than an hour of gameplay. The player never takes control of the character again, making it feel like valuable playtime has been wasted.

Instead of the unconvincing disclosure and inconsistent speed, the flow seems disorderly: Following the Templar segment, there’s an extended tutorial and narrative sequence that lingers excessively.

By the time you start doing “Assassin” things, there’s a good chance you’ve already checked out.

1 Driver

Hey Man, Watch The Paint!

The driver in this game has one of the poorest onboarding experiences ever seen in gaming history. It’s a pulse-pounding, mission-driven racing game, and you take on the role of an undercover police officer.

The issue is you must beat one of the most obnoxious tutorial stages ever conceived before you can enjoy the main game. You’re given a list of maneuvers to complete in a dull, lifeless parking lot, and you had better get used to those beige walls.

As a gamer, I’m constantly battling against the clock, often finding myself restarting after three crashes. The most frustrating part is that many of the tasks aren’t clearly defined. How quick should I execute a “Reverse 180,” and where on the track do I need to perform a “Slalom?

The standout feature is that there isn’t a guide video. If you struggle with understanding the game mechanics, you miss out on most of the game experience. Nowadays, you can find solutions on YouTube. Back in 1999, you could only pray that a friend had solved it or wait for your favorite magazine to explain it.

In addition to their renowned installment, the Driver games generally hold up well, and Ubisoft has affirmed that they’re developing additional games for the franchise as well.

2024-10-17 20:09