Stay tuned all this week as we reveal the our nominees for the very best games of 2007. Winners will be declared on December 27th.Every year, no matter what console you own, there are a few games that fall to the market with such a thud you feel your reputation for playing video games drop a little. Yes, these games damage everything we've come to support and whether the game itself is bad or suffered from a gigantic hype machine that everybody jumped on for no apparent reason, the games simply didn't do what we wanted. This award isn't for "worst" game of the year, no, but the biggest disappointment. The games that could have been something, but weren't. For all intents and purposes, this award could actually be construed as "worse" than the "worst".
Assassin's Creed
Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft
A lot of things worked well in
Assassin's Creed -- jostling through a crowd, battle mechanics, a decent story with a lazy (read: exciting and unexpected) twist all worked out well for the game. But don't you remember how this game was going to be "the best ever" and looked "better than anything else in development" or whatever other pseudo-quote we want to use? The game is good, but for over a year this previously PS3 exclusive game was getting so much buzz about blowing our minds we couldn't help but feel an overwhelming stench of disappointment when we played the final version. Especially when we see how weak the PS3 version was in comparison to the 360 one.
Heavenly Sword
Sony Computer Entertainment
Reminder: this award is not for a game that is deemed "bad" because all things considered,
Heavenly Sword is an okay action game with a decent and amusing story. What makes the game disappointing is the whole time you play it, you feel something is going to come along to raise the bar into awesomeness, but instead you get a smattering of mediocre shooting missions relegating use of the SIXAXIS. It breaks the rhythm of the gorgeous game and before you know it, it's all over. Nothing happened. Quite disappointing.
Lair
Factor 5 | Sony Computer Entertainment
When it was first announced, people thought the game looked nice but controlled horribly. Factor 5 promised the media the game was in an early demo stage and would look completely different when it was closer to completion. The game did get some graphical upgrades, but was slaughtered by the media for having a horrid framerate and controls more difficult to master than a lightsaber. It didn't help the otherwise mediocre title that there was a horribly long train of hype running for it. People wanted this game to be fantastic -- a
Rogue Squadron with dragons -- but it ended up being one of the biggest disappointments of the year, hurting the PS3's image.
The Orange BoxEA Games | Electronic Arts
The attention on the framerate problems of PS3's
The Orange Box were largely exaggerated. However, to say that they're non-existent would also be a lie. While we're glad EA Games took the effort to bring the game to our console, we're utterly disappointed that Valve refused to develop for the PS3, forcing development to an external team that delivered a less-than-stellar port more than a month after the Xbox 360 and PC versions. Ouch.
Stay tuned to PS3 Fanboy on December 27th for the winners. Best of 2007 image based off of work from
Studio469.
{ Dec 21st 2007 at 5:00PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mike @ Dec 21st 2007 5:21PM
I'd say Lair for sure.
ilike2game @ Dec 21st 2007 5:27PM
Heavenly Sword is not a disappointment at all. If i could go back in time to before i bought that game, i would re-buy it. Lair is a disappointment.
Haiddasalami @ Dec 21st 2007 5:49PM
Come on you didnt like riding on a dragon...its way better than bug filled Assassin's Creed
KHCloud @ Dec 21st 2007 5:23PM
Maybe it's because I'm on the developer side but considering the amount of Level Design that went into Assassin's Creed I can't possibly consider it a disappointment. It's beautifully done and I mean if bad hype makes a game a disappointment then Pete Molyneux wouldn't have a career.
Dehshizknight @ Dec 21st 2007 8:46PM
What do you think about the level designs in Lair? I thought it had some pretty good graphics. The blurring affects were really cool to me but I don' think of Lair as a disappointment.
KHCloud @ Dec 21st 2007 9:21PM
Some of the levels were pretty good, others were really poorly done. Assassin's Creed's levels are just massive and I know probably multiple level designers worked on them but I mean the amount of time it must have taken is staggering. Tediously adding each hook point...
comtar @ Dec 21st 2007 5:26PM
(About Assassin's Creed) "Especially when we see how weak the PS3 version was in comparison to the 360 one."
What? What are you talking about? Game looks and runs great to me. I love it.
Lair for sure by the way.
ndoerr @ Dec 21st 2007 7:07PM
Interestingly, I didn't write that. Once again, my actual voice is getting tossed into a garbage disposal to ring in the tone of some other person. I didn't even have the Orange Box on here. What the hell is the point in me doing these if they're so heavily altered?
doc j @ Dec 21st 2007 8:26PM
Nick-
How does the posting work here? If you didn't write it like that then who has the authority to alter what you said before it's posted? Just curious, because as a reader when I see an author's name at the top I assumed that is whose opinion I am reading.
In other news: I agree. My PS3 plays Assassin's Creed just fine.
Dahk @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:58AM
Yeah, I thought the same thing Nick lol.
In any case, Assassin's Creed runs beautifully for me. A bit of a bore, yes, but I dunno... I never got bored of the actual assassination missions heh. The whole leaping stabbing thing is awesome 100 times later =P. And the game is just GORGEOUS. The levels are amazingly done, animations are frickin' awesome, and the crowd mechanics work well. It's just... quite... boring and with extremely long dialog scenes =P That's all.
LAIR on the other hand was painful and extremely frustrating to play. So my vote definitely goes to that.
I can't say much for the other two, cuz I haven't had the chance to play them. From what I saw though, Orange Box wasn't actually THAT bad. Apparently it was just the auto saves (initiated by the user) that screwed things up though. I could be very wrong however lol.
AK @ Dec 22nd 2007 9:13AM
probably joystiq getting in their insults now that ps3 is slowly creeping up the sales charts.
Ishimaru @ Dec 21st 2007 5:27PM
Definitely Lair...without a doubt.
frankym @ Dec 21st 2007 5:27PM
The worst game was Lair. However, the most disappointing game was Assasins Creed. Ubisoft did everything to overhype the game...from advertising in bus stops to using that skanky, disgusting and ugly Jade Raymond as the face of the game.
Haiddasalami @ Dec 21st 2007 5:42PM
How did HS end up as a disappointment? It was awesome..better short than some dragged out story waiting for someone to kill it. Orange Box: meh i would get it just for portal as I already played Hl2 and Episode 1 but for some reason any game that runs Source engine gives me terrible migraines. Lair was mindless fun and yes you have to wrestle control sometimes but still it was fun. Assasin's Creed is the biggest disappointment. How much hype went into that game and look what we got. A game which apparently no QA tester probably tested.
Joe @ Dec 21st 2007 5:42PM
What the hell - AC PS3 version is weak compared to the 360? Dont know what you guys have been smoking personally, but I had no issues with it at al.
Ranus Studios @ Dec 21st 2007 5:43PM
Most of the games are largely subjective, but Lair is pretty much just bad.
watcher @ Dec 21st 2007 5:44PM
I say Orange box. Sucks that Valve didn't want to do the work and just chucked it over to another company do churn out the botched up PS3 version.
Jevanzz @ Dec 21st 2007 5:44PM
Assassin's Creed for me. I didn't buy any of the other games, but I was REAL disappointed by it, though I feel it was partly my fault by being overhyped for it.
JD45093 @ Dec 21st 2007 5:47PM
Lair
Haiddasalami @ Dec 21st 2007 5:47PM
And again for the second time, PS fanboy ate my post.
Assassin's Creed pick up your award!
P.S Does anyone get terrible migraines from HL2 or any game powered by Source engine.
watcher @ Dec 21st 2007 5:48PM
Oh, btw I see nothing wrong with the PS3 version of AC. It plays just like the 360 version. That setup comparison done by gametrailers didn't come close to convincing anyone who has seen both versions as I have. There is nothing wrong with the visual elements of the PS3 version and it's definitely not washed out like they wanted people to believe.
I liked Heavenly Sword. It's an awesome game and I enjoyed every minute of it. My only gripe is the length of the game. Other than that it's awesome.
Jevanzz @ Dec 21st 2007 5:49PM
Assassin's Creed for me. I didn't buy any of the other games, but I was REAL disappointed by it, though I feel it was partly my fault by being overhyped for it.
P.S PS3fanboy, what is up with comments? Sometimes my comments go straight onto the page, other times I have to verify them by e-mail, but I never get the e-mail.
John @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:04PM
This happens to me all the time. Basically you're only allowed to post something with no carriage returns, so I have to write one single paragraph, then it will take it. I'm waiting for a better ps3fanboy to happen. I like all the writers on here, but I don't like management, the ones responsible for altering the writers' views (without even telling them) and for limiting the commentary on here. It's a fanboy site. It was much funner when we could all write commentary-- often I learned more from the comments than from the articles themselves. But someone in 'management' has decided that this should be a fascist publication. Probably got their fingers in Microsoft.
aaron wedo @ Dec 21st 2007 5:51PM
ah, lair duh.
JimyD @ Dec 21st 2007 5:55PM
Hands down, it's Lair. It takes a lot to screw up a game where you can fly a dragon and Factor 5 failed on all fronts. Heavenly Sword could have been better but I wouldn't consider it a disappointment. I plan to play The Orange Box on 360 so no vote there and I haven't played Assassin's Creed yet.
proog @ Dec 21st 2007 6:05PM
I wouldn't say The Orange Box is such a disappointment on the PS3. I too am pissed about Valve, but the problems, like the article said, really aren't so bad. Sure, there are a few bumps in the road but it's not at all enough to ruin the experience of the game(s).
I'd say the EA team did an ok job considering that they are porting another developer's games, some of which are quite new. Not great, but not far off either.
Microdot @ Dec 21st 2007 6:06PM
wow... some pretty harsh crap here.
assassins creed and heavenly sword are great games. i have no clue what the hell you guys are thinking adding those two to this category.
it should have been a toss up between gundam and lair. each suck HARD in their own way.
Popfrogs @ Dec 21st 2007 8:25PM
Re: Gundam:
What, you don't enjoy super boring combat which consists of hitting the attack button as fast as you can while pushing up on the left analog stick? Oh wait, there's a twist: sometimes you have to block.
Yeah Gundam was dogshit, so was Timeshift.
Hyams @ Dec 21st 2007 6:16PM
Heavenly Sword actually exceeded my expectations. But then, I was never all that hyped up for it, so my expectations perhaps where's as high as other people's.
I'm gonna say Assassin's Creed. It's a good game, but you're constantly being punished for getting the most fun out of it (eg. going on killing sprees will result in you becoming desynchronised). But, I've seen both PS3 and 360 versions running, and didn't see much difference?
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Dec 21st 2007 6:21PM
Definitely Lair....it was a crushing disappointment.
ESPECIALLY from Factor 5
Jevanzz @ Dec 21st 2007 6:23PM
Assassin's Creed for me. I didn't buy any of the other games, but I was REAL disappointed by it, though I feel it was partly my fault by being overhyped for it.
P.S PS3fanboy, what is up with comments? Sometimes my comments go straight onto the page, other times I have to verify them by e-mail, but I never get the e-mail.
sami @ Dec 21st 2007 6:33PM
lair... nothing else on this list really fits this list... except maybe Assassin's Creed, but not for the reason's you gave. the reason it would be disappointing is because it apparently gets very boring very soon... i haven't played it yet, so i can't really comment.
Seba501 @ Dec 21st 2007 6:46PM
Orange box ????????????????????????
What are u thinking, orange box is awasome and the framerate problem is insignificant.
Where is juice 2, blacksite area 51, sonic ????? these game are horrible
jadedcritic @ Dec 21st 2007 6:53PM
Lair for sure.
It didn't help that factor 5 clung to the sinking ship. I have a problem with their tactics more then anything else. Rather then admit they screwed up - they kept trying to publish and distribute pamphlets to explain to the reviewers why they're right, and the rest of the world is wrong. If they'd admitted they screwed up, they could have been more constructive. Perhaps patch it so players could choose btween using the 6axis or the thumbsticks for control.
jimmyink @ Dec 21st 2007 7:02PM
AC. Way to repetitive, predictable and hardly innovative
shagee @ Dec 21st 2007 7:28PM
Something must be wrong with me...I liked Lair. I liked the motion controls, thought the flying/mid-air 2d fighting/god of war style button presses gameplay mechanics worked well, didnt have a problem targeting, dealt with the framerate chugs when they happened, and loved the sound.
The fire could have used more work though...I'll give you that.
Leo @ Dec 21st 2007 7:42PM
Lair hands down (at least it wins some sort of award!).
drdre74 @ Dec 21st 2007 7:44PM
Heavenly sword a disappoint? LOL O man i'm pissing my pants on that one. lol! HOW? That game is a classic.
boxmyth @ Dec 21st 2007 7:48PM
Lair. That game was game of the year in concept. Not so in execution.
r3acer @ Dec 21st 2007 9:50PM
Orange Box????? Maybe it's not the best version available around, still the issues are VERY minor, and it's one of the best titles currently available for PS3!
Better include Kane and Lynch on the list... Oh, I forgot, someone could get fired...
Robobagins @ Dec 21st 2007 9:17PM
Orange Box. Being the last version to hit, and loading issues. I never had faith it would be better then the PC version, but still, those loading issues are unacceptable.
About Assassin's Creed, I think why so many people were disappointed was their own internal hype they placed on it. I look back at the marketing blitz and everything and it seems to me they held up their end of the bargain.
Cheapstereo @ Dec 21st 2007 9:20PM
Orange Box was the biggest dissapointment. A port that bad has the Xbox fanboys taunting me. As for the other ones... I can't bank on bunk ideas. I mean flying dragons? Stopped being cool when I was ten. Assassins Creed was nothing without the hype, I should have trusted my instinct on this one, although I'm sorta glad to have it in my collection as a period piece.
DEMAN @ Dec 21st 2007 9:45PM
Why dont we see The Darkness on this list?
Figboy @ Dec 21st 2007 10:12PM
Lair for sure. and i actually *BOUGHT Lair on launch day.
it's not Heavenly Swords *OR Assassin's Creed's fault that they were overhyped.
the games themselves are fine, solid pieces of entertainment (Heavenly Sword more than Assassin's Creed).
it's your fault for being swept up into hype generated by companies like Ubisoft, and the gaming media at large.
if maybe people would stop sensationalizing these games, and instead report on what the game *REALLY is, and not what PR 101 says it's supposed to be (i mean, does *ANYONE take Peter Molyneux seriously anymore?), lists like these would be more accurate.
look at Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank Future, for example. these games were actually *UNDERHYPED, but look at the review scores. people are commenting on how awesome the *GAMEPLAY is, the atmosphere, the humor, the writing, whereas in reviews for games like Heavenly Sword and Assassin's Creed, people were constantly complaining about what the game was *SUPPOSED to be ("Heavenly Sword was supposed to 'save' the Playstation 3, and justify the system, Assassin's Creed was supposed to be the second coming of Prince of Persia, etc).
Ratchet and Uncharted are being judged the way they are supposed to be judged; as *GAMES.
it makes no sense to me that ign, for example, gives Conan a 7/10, but gives that same exact score to Heavenly Sword, a game that is so far beyond Conan on every level it's not even in the same category of game.
it's absurd that games are now being penalized for not living up to the hype that the media themselves have perpetuated. it's the main reason why i don't base my purchases off of reviews, and instead off of my own personal preferences and hands on experiences. no body elses opinion supercedes my *OWN.
Starfire @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:11AM
I'd say Orange Box. Having read the reviews on Metacritic there seems to be no point in getting what seems to be a great classic in it's half-baked PS3 incarnation. If Call of Duty 4 can be so well done, then this is surely down to poor knowledge of the PS3.
Lair's another contender, but it seems pretty fun to me and I never expected it to be a real classic- Factor 5 have always made glorified shoot-em-ups- this just seems to be one with control problems and sadly, no option to change them.
jango fett @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:19AM
"Stay tuned all this week as we reveal the our nominees for the very best games of 2007."
as we reveal the our nominees... the-our nominees??? proof reading maybe slipped?
Carl @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:44AM
I never really like Half Life so I will judge the other 2.
Lair I didnt play because of all the stupid complains, although the plus side is PSP but still...thats also pretty crappy because of controls
Assasin's Creed. Good Gameplay, Good Concept, Nice Graphics, Poor Storyline
So I would go with Lair
RatBoy @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:49AM
Ahhh Lair... I wanted to love you so much. I even had friends who said "Lair is the game that will give me a reason to own a PS3." Then you were delivered unto us and you were fundamentally broken... not only that, it was something that could have easily been remedied, but alas the game designers said "we shall do no such thing" and now you must recieve my vote for dissapointment of the year... Ahhh Lair.
Dahk @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:12AM
test
B1gC72 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:20AM
Assassin's Creed on PS3 played fine for me. dont know what they are talking about. so much bias against Sony, and on the Playstation fanboy site no less.
anyway, all jack-ass-ary aside, i loved Heavenly Sword. certainly one of the best games i played all year. the voice acting and mo-cap was some of the best ive ever seen (Bohan was fantastic). the story was great, and even though the motion controls felt a little forced, they were still pretty enjoyable compared to other games. the color coded attack system also added another level of difficulty to the game, which was a plus.
my biggest thing with this game is that it was too damn short. i beat it in like 3 sittings. if a game is that short with no online play, i dont buy it, i just rent it because i know i wont play it again after i beat it. i also didnt like the block system too much. there were unused buttons on the control for crying out loud, why not at least give us the option to use one of them to block? the mass of generic soldiers was kind of boring as well.
overall one of the better games of the year in my eye.