Many great games have suffered from poor sales due to various reasons. One such reason is being released towards the end of a console generation. Ico, for example, faced this issue as it arrived less than a year after the release of the PS2. Despite being released during a time when new properties tend to sell well, Ico struggled to capture the attention of shoppers due to its weird name and unappealing box art. This was before the era of digital distribution for console games, and first impressions played a crucial role in a game’s success.
Another factor contributing to Ico’s underappreciation was the holiday season of its release, which saw the popularity of action games like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Grand Theft Auto III. As a minimalist adventure game that subverted expectations, Ico did not align with the mainstream preferences of gamers in 2001. However, over the last 20 years, Ico’s impact has been undeniable, particularly in the indie game scene.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is another game that deserves more recognition. Despite being released during the PS3 era, it has been largely forgotten. Developed by Ninja Theory and written by Alex Garland, the game features performances by Andy Serkis. The combination of this talented team would undoubtedly generate significant hype if the game were released today. Enslaved offers solid platforming and combat in a future where mechs have taken over a war-torn Earth. While it draws inspiration from the Chinese novel Journey to the West, it incorporates unique twists that set it apart. Notably, ideas from Enslaved can be seen in Sony’s successful Horizon series.
Beyond Good & Evil suffered from being overshadowed by the multitude of quality games released in 2003. Nintendo released new entries in popular franchises like Pokémon and Zelda, while classics like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City dominated sales. In this crowded market, an action-adventure game about a photojournalist and her pigman uncle with a title inspired by Nietzsche’s book struggled to gain attention. Despite the game’s positive critical reception and sales of its HD port, the long-awaited sequel remains stuck in development limbo.
These games exemplify how various factors can contribute to deserving titles being overlooked or underappreciated. Yet, their impact and influence have not gone unnoticed among dedicated gamers.
