In the video game industry, it’s common for new titles to draw inspiration from beloved franchises within the same genre. Iconic names like Street Fighter transformed the fighting game landscape, while Sonic the Hedgehog pioneered a slew of platformers centered around animal mascots, and Halo ushered in a new era of futuristic first-person shooters. However, many games that try to emulate these successes tend to lack the originality that can make them stand out.
Occasionally, developers take a lackluster approach, leading to creations that bear an uncanny resemblance to their successful predecessors but fail to capture what made those games special. The result? A collection of titles that are often met with disdain from fans and end up being commercial failures, primarily due to their uninspired execution.
This article takes a closer look at ten of the most blatant video game rip-offs that were ultimately doomed from the start. While not all of these games were poor in quality, they pale in comparison to the franchises that inspired them, and most were met with commercial disappointment.
10 Mighty No.9
Couldn’t Capture The Mega Man Magic
Describing Mighty No.9 strictly as a Mega Man clone would be overly simplistic. While it indeed mimicked the classic NES aesthetics, it was billed as a spiritual successor, crafted by Keiji Inafune, the original creator of Mega Man. Excitement surged when Inafune launched a crowdfunding campaign, as fans longed for a return to the glory days of a franchise struggling under Capcom’s management.
Sadly, those expectations fizzled as delays plagued the game’s development. When Mighty No.9 finally launched in 2016, it bore little resemblance to the original; its gameplay felt uninspired and its level design lacked the intricate structures that fans cherished.
Inafune’s simultaneous efforts on another project, Red Ash, further diluted his focus, leading to disappointing results. The combined failures of these titles marked a significant blow for fans seeking a revival of their beloved franchise.
9 Super 3D Noah’s Ark
Textbook Example Of Why Religious Games Mostly Suck
The ’90s witnessed a peculiar trend in gaming: the emergence of numerous Bible-themed video games. One of the most baffling examples is Super 3D Noah’s Ark, essentially a reimagined Wolfenstein 3D where players control Noah feeding animals aboard the ark.
Unlike its predecessor that offered unique, dynamic levels, Noah’s Ark presented repetitive gameplay that quickly became mundane. Visually, it also fell short, lacking the immersive graphics of Wolfenstein. Unsurprisingly, the game failed to resonate with audiences and served as a prominent illustration of why religious games rarely achieve mainstream success.
8 Fighter’s History
This Street Fighter Knock-Off Got Capcom To Sue
The debut of Street Fighter II in 1991 triggered a wave of imitations in arcade fighting games. While some competitors like Mortal Kombat achieved tremendous success, Fighter’s History fell far short of this mark.
The game closely mirrored Street Fighter II, with its standout feature being a weakness system designed to stun opponents, which was hardly innovative. Character design was notably unmemorable, and it was plagued by accusations of plagiarism, leading to a lawsuit from Capcom against its developers, Data East. Although Capcom ultimately lost, Fighter’s History could never secure the traction it desperately needed.
7 Way of the Warrior
Mortal Kombat Wannabe
As rivalries in the fighting game genre intensified, Way of the Warrior emerged as another clone attempting to capitalize on Mortal Kombat‘s fame. Developed by Naughty Dog, it quickly became infamous as one of their least reputable projects.
Despite the impressive graphics for the 3DO console, the gameplay failed to engage. The roster lacked excitement, and the game mechanics frustrated players rather than providing enjoyment. Consequently, Way of the Warrior bombed upon release, though Naughty Dog rebounded with the success of Crash Bandicoot.
6 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Sony’s “Answer”To Smash Bros.
In the wake of Super Smash Bros.‘s success, multiple clones sought to enter the fray, with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale being one of the most anticipated. However, what players received in 2012 was a game riddled with shortcomings that failed to reach even a fraction of its predecessor’s charm.
While titles like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl were relatively low-budget endeavors, Sony’s production was expected to reflect a higher level of polish. Instead, it seemed rushed and rushed features detracted from overall enjoyment. Online connectivity issues and a flawed character roster further hindered its reception. Many high-profile icons were notably missing, leaving fans yearning for what could have been.
Despite its failures, many fans still believe that a reboot or sequel brings promise, especially with the plethora of new characters from Sony’s expansive library since its release.
5 Dante’s Inferno
Never Stood A Chance Against Kratos
Dante’s Inferno, released by EA in 2010, presented players with an engaging hack-and-slash experience loosely based on the Divine Comedy. However, competing with the monumental success of God of War proved to be formidable. While it offered similar mechanics, it struggled to establish its individual identity.
Furthermore, the experience became monotonous, lacking the captivating elements that kept players enthralled in God of War. Though it garnered reasonable sales, it was insufficient for a sequel, compounded by subpar marketing efforts. Echoing sentiments of lost potential, many believe in the possibility that it deserved to carve out a distinct place within the genre.
4 Nickelodeon Kart Racers
A Really Bare-Bones Version Of Mario Kart
Drawing from the legacy of Mario Kart, the Nickelodeon Kart Racers series aimed to tap into familiar kart-racing elements with mixed results. Unfortunately, it stands out not for its strengths but rather its letdowns. Despite the potential inherent in Nickelodeon’s vast character roster, the original game delivered an underwhelming experience.
With only twelve characters spread across four series, the gameplay felt empty, and production values seemed reminiscent of the less reputable titles from earlier generations. Thankfully, subsequent sequels improved the formula, but the initial entry remains largely forgettable.
3 The Simpsons: Road Rage
Crazy Taxi Wannabe Was No Hit & Run
The Simpsons franchise gained notoriety for its playful homage to other video games, with titles like Hit & Run lauded as some of the best in the genre. In contrast, The Simpsons: Road Rage fell short as a blatant imitation of Crazy Taxi, even venturing into legal issues with Sega over its concept.
Unfortunately, Road Rage lacks the dynamic gameplay and lively world that made Crazy Taxi a classic. While it does present pleasant nods to fans of the series — featuring various locales and characters — the experience as a whole fails to compete with its inspiration, making it a game better left in the past.
2 Sonic Shuffle
Sega’s Answer To Mario Party Was One-And-Done
The realm of Mario Party-inspired games is vast, yet few exemplify a failure like Sonic Shuffle. Unlike other franchises that sought outside assistance, Sega opted to develop this game in-house, even enlisting help from the creators of Mario Party. The outcome, however, was disappointing.
Board designs proved lackluster and confusing, while mini-games failed to engage players adequately. Featuring a mere eight playable characters, the title seemed limited when it could have expanded its roster significantly. While a sequel could have improved upon its ideas, Sega’s retreat from the console market hindered any chance for revisitation.
1 K. C.Munchkin
A Pac-Man Ripoff So Blatant It Got Banned
|
Publisher |
Philips |
|---|---|
|
Platform |
Magnavox Odyssey 2, Philips VG5000 |
|
Year of Release |
1981 |
If you think you’ve heard this game premise before, it’s likely because it borrowed heavily from Pac-Man: a circular creature traverses mazes, consuming dots while evading colorful ghosts, gaining the ability to chase them down upon obtaining power-ups.
Indeed, K. C.Munchkin was an overt imitation of the beloved classic created for the Odyssey II console. Although it offered some innovations, such as customizable mazes, it lacked the charm of the original. Subsequently, Atari filed a lawsuit against Philips, leading to a ruling that forced K. C.Munchkin off the market, leaving a lasting impact on copyright law in gaming.
In the aftermath, Philips attempted to capitalize on this failure with a sequel, K. C.’s Krazy Chase, which presented a far more unique concept. However, the tarnished reputation of the original cast a long shadow, relegating it to undeserved obscurity.
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