Bad Mechanics That Almost Ruined Good Games

Summary

Bloodborne’s flawed Blood Vials mechanic detracts from its great gameplay, requiring tedious farming for healing items.
Resident Evil 4’s static shooting limits player movement, making gunfights tedious and boss battles trickier than necessary.
Breath of the Wild’s weapon durability system forces constant switching, turning combat into a game of choices over action.

Video games can offer both enjoyable moments and challenges, but there are certain titles that may have faulty mechanics or issues which can ruin an otherwise fantastic gaming experience. These problems might make the gameplay feel stiff or unresponsive, or simply take away from the overall fun of the game. It’s unfortunate when a small problem spoils the entire experience.

Frequently, these mechanics are birthed from exploration and efforts to deviate from convention, with the risky move sometimes leading to success or setback for the game. Notably, these games are often acclaimed as some of the finest within their genre. However, eliminating specific elements might elevate them even more swiftly, transforming a 9/10 rating into a perfect 10 in an instant.

Blood Vials (Bloodborne)

Unnecessary Grind That Pushed Many Players Away

Bloodborne, a beloved title among gamers in the soulslike genre, stands out for its stunning visual design, fast-paced action, and intricate world-building that immerses players into a gloomy Victorian setting that is equally harsh and alluring. However, it’s not without its flaws; one such issue is the peculiar choice to eliminate replenishable healing in favor of a limited resource called Blood Vials.

In a game where challenges are intensified dramatically and errors are severely penalized, having to gather healing resources early on can be disheartening. This feature transforms what should be thrilling battles into tense experiences that result in either success or another round of farming. While the larger storage capacity and rally system offer some relief, it nevertheless feels jarring within such an outstanding game.

Static Shooting (Resident Evil 4)

Slowing The Game To A Halt

players are unable to move and fire simultaneously, which can make gunfights more laborious and battles against bosses more challenging than they should be.

In the reimagined version of the game, this issue was addressed, demonstrating that with a handful of user-friendly enhancements, it could surpass its already impressive status. However, despite some awkward instances and outdated mechanics, the original version continues to be revered as a classic in the horror genre.

Weapon Durability (Breath Of The Wild)

More Annoying Than Immersive

In a simpler phrase, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” presents an awe-inspiring open-world journey through the kingdom of Hyrule, filled with incredible verticality and diverse activities that will keep players engaged for hours on end. One of the game’s standout features is its combat system, offering a vast array of weapons, each with unique strengths and abilities to aid in the fight against the game’s many threats.

One aspect hindering the game from achieving complete perfection is the durability system. This feature compels players to alternatively use different weapons or search for new ones, rather than enabling them to exclusively wield one throughout their gameplay. While switching between items can be acceptable, it can become tiresome at times due to the knowledge that an appealing weapon will soon expire, thereby transforming combat into a decision-making game instead of an action-oriented experience.

Hollowing (Dark Souls 2)

Additional Punishment In An Already Brutal Game

As a devoted fan, I’d like to champion Dark Souls 2, often perceived as the rebellious sibling in the franchise. Despite its reputation, this game is an exceptional piece of work with a multitude of compelling aspects. It boasts an impressive roster of bosses and offers diverse weapon classes that cater to any fantasy you can imagine, making it a captivating journey for fans and newcomers alike.

Despite the positive acclaim the game receives, the incorporation of hollowing mechanic remains an oddity. Although it could potentially enrich the game’s backstory, it significantly worsens the gaming experience whenever a player dies. The fact that the player’s health bar is halved upon dying multiple times seems illogical, especially given the game’s intricate difficulty level. However, the overall gameplay compensates for this inconvenience, even if it can be aggravating at times.

Intentional Input Delay (Red Dead Redemption 2)

Adds Realism, But Takes Away From Gameplay

In its class among top-tier games, Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) pushes the boundaries of what an open-world game can achieve when it comes to realism and exceptional storytelling. Each character and setting within the game has been intricately designed with authenticity in mind, creating a believable wild-west environment that encourages players to delve into its depths at their leisure.

Advancing into a realistic gaming experience brings about a drawback in playability. While animations now seem lifelike, basic actions like firing or riding a horse may feel slow and unresponsive, detracting from overall enjoyment. The game remains fantastic, but the concerns are valid as the sluggish mechanics ultimately cause more problems than benefits in the long term.

Negative XP (Starfield)

A Consequence That Discourages An Entire Playstyle

Starfield stands as Bethesda’s fated open-world space game, embodying the RPG charm that has won their studio widespread adoration. It transports this cherished quality into the cosmos, offering players a captivating and immersive experience with the resources to assume any role they desire within the galaxy.

Despite its promise of freedom in player choices, the game penalizes unconventional paths excessively, such as becoming a space pirate, making it feel unfair. After violating laws and serving time, players are given an XP disadvantage that significantly slows down progression. Players must exercise caution when selecting which items to pilfer and deciding whom to spare in the game, as the rest of it is engaging.

Status Effects (The First Berserker: Khazan)

Adding Artificial Difficulty To Every Fight

Khazan is a phenomenal soulslike that basically came out of nowhere. It blends a more cartoony art style with visceral action that tests veterans of the genre to their limits in some incredibly challenging bosses and battles that keep the intensity high right until the credits roll.

It can get repetitive dealing with all the status effects that the game adds to boss battles. Most bosses in this game have at least one effect, so if a player doesn’t have a way to remove them, they’ll feel the impact. Despite the fights being enjoyable and gratifying, the status effects can become irritating after experiencing them for the 10th time.

Lack Of Consistent Fast-Travel (Hollow Knight)

Backtracking Over And Over

In simpler, more conversational terms:

Hollow Knight raises the bar for the Metroidvania genre by offering players a stunningly beautiful world that conceals a complex and satisfying combat system beneath layers of mystery. The characters, along with the world design, are seamlessly integrated, fostering an immersive atmosphere where the player and the environment feel inextricably linked.

Although a game focused on exploring new territories should ideally be thrilling due to its unexplored nature, the restrictions on quick-travel often result in map navigation becoming monotonous rather than engaging. Players seeking to revisit certain spots must first make their way to a train station or elevator, then walk the entire distance. While some players might find this journey fulfilling, others may perceive it as an unnecessary hurdle that could be effortlessly circumvented with more convenient travel options.

2025-08-09 00:58