The best video games are ones we can look back on fondly, but some have trouble getting started.
Even great titles can stumble at the first hurdle, so here’s a list of phenomenal games gate-kept by some nonsense at the start.
10Undertale
Those Ruins Are A Killer
Undertaleis a fantastic RPG with a unique approach to combat you’re able to’t experience anywhere else. The downside is that the opening section inthe Ruins can put you offbefore you even start.
Undertalehas charming humor, but it can feel a little forced at the start of your journey. The Ruins are light on combat, and dialogue about butterscotch pie with Toriel can land flat.
It doesn’t help thatthe intro section is pretty long, and the speed and events don’t represent how the rest of the game plays.
I enjoyUndertaleso much that I even used to speedrun it, but the Ruins can definitely overstay their welcome and push newcomers away.
Fortunately, the Ruins are shorter than many intro sections on this list, and the game is evenfree on PS Plusif you want to try it.
9Doom Eternal
I’m Serious
DOOM Eternal
I adoreDoom Eternalfor its frenetic combat; glory kills, and kick-ass soundtrack. Most games like to make a good first impression, but sadly, the first level of Eternal does quite the opposite.
Hell on Earth is slow-pacedcompared to the rest of the game. This arguably makes sense as it’s the first mission, but the action is constantly interrupted with tutorial text boxes bombarding you with information.
The Chainsaw is introduced by teleporting you to a training area, which you may’t leave until you press the same button three times, andit feels so out of place. On top of that, the music never gets going, preferring to growl in the background rather than lead the charge.
It’s not a terrible level, but it sucks byDoom Eternal’s lofty standards. Despite a weak showing early on,Doom Eternalis a fantasticallystylish Boomer Shooterand a must-play for fans of the genre.
8Pokemon Sun and Moon
I’ve Already Done This A Million Times
Pokemon Sun and Moon
I adore thePokémongames so much that I even playROM Hacksonce I’ve exhausted the official games. The issue is that most of them suffer from horrendously slow intros, andSun and Moonare among the worst offenders.
Pokémon Sun and Moontake their sweet time giving you your first Pokémon.Conversations are slow and wordy, and there are so many of them! It can take upwards of 20 minutes to get into your first battle, and it’s anunnecessary slog, especially if it’s not your first Pokémon game.
Sun and Moonaren’t bad by any means, but they are exceptionally slow burners, even by Pokémon standards.
7Golden Sun
Setting The Scene For A Little Too Long
Golden Sun
Golden Sun 1&2are some of the most beloved games in the GameBoy Advance Library. Both titles areexceptional turn-based RPGs, but the first game has an intro sequence that feels wholly unnecessary.
The Village sets the scene forGolden Sunas you try in vain to help the townsfolk. There’sexposition galore and several long-winded exchangesthat go on far longer than they should. Text speed is pretty slow, and there’s a fair bit of reading as you’re introduced to multiple characters.
The issue is that the introduction is set a few years in the past and feels likea short cutscene would have had the same effect. RPGs often have slow starts, but it takes well over half an hour for anything to happen here.
Boom, Exposition!
Okamiis a stylish 3D adventure game with agorgeous art stylethat’s survived the test of time. The HD remaster remains true to the PlayStation 2 version, and the clever puzzles and environmental design feel akin to aLegend of Zeldagame.
With that glowing endorsement, the first level ofOkamiis a bit of a slog. The intro video is 10–15 minutes long, with a small book’s worth of dialogue to read.
When you’re finally in control, you walk a few feet into yet another text box explaining how to jump and this trend continues for far longer than it should.
Thebarrage of explanationsand 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!
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5Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Snowballs, Really?
I feel like I’m picking on the GBA library a bit here, butFinal Fantasy Tactics Advancereally tests your patience.
Tactics Advanceimmediately thrusts you into along mandatory combat tutorialthe moment you start the game. You’re in a snowball fight, and the rules are explained as you battle. If you don’t immediately pause the game and speed up the text, you will be here forever.
The fight is a real drag as you must wait a while for your turn while the AI combatants move around and are relegated to a single attack action.
The fun doesn’t really start untilat least an hour into the game, which is plenty of time for even patient gamers to check out mentally.
I have a soft spot forFinal Fantasy Tactics Advance, and it lived in my GameBoy Advance SP for months. I can’t recommend it enough, and the sluggish intro isn’t indicative of the rest of the game.
4Nier: Automata
Compulsory Permadeath
NieR: Automata
Nier: Automatais a stylish ARPG boasting beautiful freeform combat, stunning sci-fi visuals, and acampaign with multiple endings. The Prologue at the start of the game is heavy on exposition and pretty lengthy, clocking in at just under an hour.
One truly bizarre feature of the Prologue is how progress is handled. There isno autosaving inNier 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 torestart 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.
3Kingdom Hearts
Get Me Off This Island!
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
I recently replayedKingdom Heartsand couldn’t believe how much of a drag the Destiny Islands section was.
You’re tasked with preparing a raft to leave the Islands and must participate in a long list of yawn-inducing quests. There aremultiple collectathonsas you gather materials to make the raft and food for the journey.
There are cutscenes galore on the Destiny Islands, and theyslow the pace to a crawl. I wouldn’t have an issue with this section if it didn’t take so long. You can spend your first couple of hours here, and it’s so dull compared to the rest of the game.
Kingdom Heartsdramatically improves once you get your hands on a Keyblade, but wow, that section is an unnecessary slog!
2Assassin’s Creed 3
I Wish I Was Ezio Again
Assassin’s Creed III
The introductory section toAssassin’s Creed 3is long-winded, unnecessary, and a strange departure from what madeAssassin’s Creed 2so fun from the get-go.
The funniest part about theAssassin’s Creed 3intro is thatyou don’t even play as an Assassin. You play as a Templar, which is revealed after at least an hour’s worth of gameplay. The player never controls the character again, and the section feels like a colossal waste of time.
Beyond the reveal that falls flat on its face, thepacing is all over the place. After the Templar section, you’re treated to a hefty tutorial and story sequence, which overstays its welcome.
By the time you start doing “Assassin” things, there’s a good chance you’ve already checked out.
Hey Man, Watch The Paint!
Driverhas one of the absoluteworst onboarding levels in the history of gaming. The title itself is a thrilling mission-based driving game where you play as an undercover cop.
The issue is you must beat one of the most obnoxious tutorial stages ever conceived before you’re able to enjoy the main game. You’re given a list of maneuvers to complete in a dull, lifeless parking lot, and you had betterget used to those beige walls.
You have a strict time limit, and three crashes prompt a restart. The biggest issue is many of the tasks are unclear. How fast do you need to do a “Reverse 180?” and where do I perform a Slalom?
The best part is thatthere’s no tutorial video. You are locked out of 90% of the game if you can’t figure these out. These days, you can look it up on YouTube. In 1999, you had to hope a friend had done it already or your favorite magazine explained it.
Besides this legendary level, the Driver games are pretty decent and Ubisoft has recently confirmed they areworking on other titlesfor the series.
