Memes is one of the most universal languages within the gaming world. People of all ages and cultures can easily understand memes, whether it is a video clip, still image or animated GIF. But, simply because something was purchased at a low price doesn’t make it less valuable.
While Sony got catfished with the numerous Morbius film memes, several companies have capitalized on their un-intended reactions. Some titles gained a new life with the help of many comical images, tweets and videos.
One of few instances in which internet humors and memes lead to quality titles, Marvel VS. Capcom 3 is a fighting game crossover many people thought they wouldn’t see. This second installment was an essential part of EVO and fighting game conventions.
One such tournament was a hit on the internet thanks to Michael “IFC Yipes” Mendoza’s smack talk. Clips of the Seasons Beatings II fighting game tournament went viral due to quotes such as “Where yo curly mustache at? ” Deadpool would even pay homage to Mendoza in one of his victory quotes for MVC3.
9 Duke Nukem Forever Didn’t Exactly Make Players Hail The King
After Duke released his jump to 3D, many of the character’s one-liners were used by Ventrilo’s VolP software to fool people. Ventrilo Harassment was a video compilation of these interactions. During this time, 3D Realms led a very protracted development of a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D that wound up taking 12 years.
Without the help of Gearbox Software the title might not have been published. Unfortunately, the title didn’t live up to its hype due to cringeworthy cultural references and outdated mechanics.
8 Sony Fell For The Morbius Gambit Years Ago With Knack 2
Knack was one of the most prominent titles on the PlayStation 4. The final product was disappointing, despite being presented as an example of the new console’s powerful hardware. Knack was given a second life by Dunkey’s frequent joke of placing the title at the top of his Game of the Year list. Sony apparently wasn’t in on the gag and commissioned a follow-up in 2017.
Sadly, Knack2 tried to make the game more interesting and challenging, but they didn’t do enough to change its dull gameplay or monotonous combat.
7 Deltarune Fills Undertale Fans With Determination
Toby Fox’s Undertale became an overnight sensation following its initial 2015 release. Gamers as well as critics fell in love with the characters and dialogue of Undertale. In a matter of minutes, characters such as Sans and Mettaton were appearing in memes, videos and GIFs.
A live band even performed the track Megalovania for the Pope in 2022. With a following like this, it was only a matter of when and not if Fox would release a follow-up to Undertale. Deltarune is an episodic spiritual successor receiving its fair share of praise and memes.
6 Shenmue III Provided New Meme Material And Not Much Else
The first two Shenmue titles are considered the first bold steps toward open-world sandbox titles, but fans and critics laughed at many aspects. After years of videos poking fun at Ryu’s search for sailors, his forklift, and the game’s dubious vocal performances, a third entry was finally announced at E3 of 2015.
Or to be more precise, a crowdfunding campaign. People who had waited literally decades for Ryu’s satisfying ending were disappointed. It was a welcome oasis for all those who enjoyed the joy of previous games.
5 After Two Decades, Players Could Have Battletoads Once And For All
Rare attempted to capitalize on the trend of crime-fighting animals such as the TMNT with their beat ’em up hybrid Battletoads titles. On the internet, the toads gained notoriety for a series of crank calls where pranksters asked Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars, “Do you have Battletoads? “
Critics were polarized on the toads’ 2020 return to the gaming scene, with some admiring its blending of different genres and design changes from the original games while others lambasted its attempts at self-aware humor and idiosyncratic structure. Yahtzeecroshaw ranked the title as the third worst of the year.
4 The Typing Of The Dead Showed There’s No Kill Like Overkill
The House of the Dead titles proved sidesplitting thanks to their unintentionally hilarious vocal performances, but Typing of the Dead took the franchise’s silliness and cranked it up to 11. Players were also equipped with keyboards which would enable their WPMs, to send these monsters back into their graves.
Although the game was not a commercial hit, it became a popular series through Let’s Play segments on shows like Game Grumps. House of the Dead Overkill took the series into a Grindhouse direction with a 70s film presentation and gleefully profane dialogue. Typing the Dead Overkill merged these two titles as peanut butter and chocolate.
3 Yo Noid! II Is A Fan Sequel Fans Won’t Want To Avoid
The Noid was a mascot for Domino’s Pizza that represented the obstacles that the company’s delivery people could avoid in order to deliver within 30 minutes. Capcom made many changes when they localized Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru to the States.
The game was renamed Yo Noid and released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Despite being retired in 1995, the character and his 8-bit tie-in game were constantly lampooned in several shows and internet jokes. In 2017, an indie team led by Dustin Bragg made an unofficial sequel that aped the look and feel of 32-bit platform titles on the PlayStation.
2 Bubsy’s Nine Lives Were Squandered On Yet Another Sub-par Title
Whatever goodwill that the bobcat gained with his two previous numerical titles, was completely destroyed by his jump into the third dimension. Years after Bubsy seemingly exhausted the last of his nine lives, Black Forest Games announced a 2D platforming follow-up known as The Woolies Strike Back.
This revelation caused confusion, even hostility among gamers and journalists alike. It didn’t help, however, that the bobcat decided to make a comeback in the same year as the launch of superior platforming throwbacks like Sonic Mania and Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy ,, as well the Super Mario Odyssey ..
1 Shaq Fu A Legend Reborn Is A Shaq Attack To Several Senses
Developed by Delphine Software Shaq F departed heavily from French studio’s history of narrative-heavy graphics adventures to become a one-on-1 fighting game. The game maintained the same animation quality as their previous games, but it was less playable, which made for an extremely frustrating fighter. The game’s concept of Shaquille O’Neal, a NBA player facing a group of fantasy fighters was also widely criticised.
