Why did the game fail?

[Vertex]

So, recently I discovered my love for stealth games and I bought the complete Thief and Hitman series (also Silent Hunter which is some kind of stealth plus simulation imho).
When I saw that this game has an interesing theme, good looking graphics and is only 5€ I picked it up.
However, I wonder why people and critics rated the game so bad. Is that really necessary or did they expect something different?
I dont get it, please enlighten me !

[Vertex]

[+ she is probably the most attractive character in gaming history besides Cate Archer]

:D

[Freeeeeed!]

Weeeeeell, if you really want to know why the critics rated the game "bad" you should read the reviews... :-D

Or you could play the game and see for yourself... :-D

I believe most people didn't like Velvet Assassins unique style and visuals, and approach to its deadly gameplay (its either the guard or you and its probably 50/50), it feels quite mature, has brilliantly chatty enemies and isn't as straight forward (one might say boring) as, lets say, Splinter Cell. Velvet Assassin reminds me a bit of Blood Rayne, which didn't get good reviews either, and yet I enjoyed it. Both games have some problems with their gameplay and gameplay usually gets more attention than style. Some other games with the same "issue": Wet. Enslaved. And I loved both of them. Wet is incredibly difficult on the higher difficulty settings and Enslaved just looks amazing though a bit too easy to get through...

However, if you like what you get, ignore the critics and play what you want. :-D And listen to every guard you will encounter! And always go for the silent takedowns!

I agree with Cate Archer, by the way, that game needs a third part!

[matrixmod]

I think it's quite nice game some action scenes, its color, and really great visuals. I guess this game was underrated by its classical side. It doesn't make enough convenience to play stealthy , for example, you can't walk normal without doing crawl and the position of perspective camera isn't flexible and it makes harder to observe the corner to proceed.

[Vertex]

Thanks for the comments!

Originally posted by Freeeeeed!:

However, if you like what you get, ignore the critics and play what you want. :-D And listen to every guard you will encounter! And always go for the silent takedowns!

Yeah I do that, its really nice to have those kinds of details

[Julius]

Its one of the most underrated games this generation in my opinion. You really can't go wrong for $5 right now.

[Cygnus]

I got hooked, finished the beggining to end , liked the graphics, environment charactors and stealth.
I think the checkpoint system was the only issue, impatient people cannot cope.
Didnt bother me though, ide love to have quick saves but I'm not going to let that get in the way of a good stealth game.

I seem to really like underated titles,ignored most critics and glad I did.

[Drain]

I remember writing a lengthy review for it back the year it came out. It was FULL of problems, as if it was an beta game dropped into stores 6+ months before release. I'll try to dig up my ancient review of it...
Ah, yes, here it is:
http://www.gamespot.com/velvet-assassin/user-reviews/677208/platform/xbox360/
Man was my typing bad back then. But since it now costs less than I originally paid to rent it, I guess I may as well pick it up an try it again. I won't miss 1.3$...

[Drain]

Game did fail, and it failed hard. No one compared it to CoD, lol. They looked it at AS a stealth game, and AS a stealth game, it's mostly a flop. It also had a big pile of technical issues; as if released in an unfinished state. But still, it's now only <2$; not really much to waste if you want to play it or liked it. I got it knowing it's probably still the trash it was back in 2009 just because I won't miss a buck and a half. I spend more than that at vending machines.

[Love]

WARNING: the following is just an honest observation on the state of society. You may or may not agree- and that's what makes living life the shiznit! Antyways- read on....

2 words- Sam Fisher. Or Chris Redfield. Or Leon Kennedy. Or Max Payne.

See, the average male gamer (yep, even you self-proclaimed "pro-gamers" are average in mine eyes) tends to stick to the "Alpha Dog" groupthink. And believe me, I use the term "Alpha Dog" VERY loosely there. This game features a female character in the lead role (albeit an attractive female, but a female just the same). Not realistic to the average joe. Not relatable to the average joe. And therefore- not purchased by the average joe.

Men generally scoff at women in lead titles, and often feel it's "gay" to want to be playing as a woman in a video game (some even claim the only reason WHY men play women in games is to pick up other men- wtf? Seriously, hop on an MMO, make a female character, and give it time- you will get hit on. Once you tell them "Stop hittin' on me dude, I'm a dude", it instantly becomes a homosexual witch hunt).

It's a shame people's insecurities keep them from enjoying great titles such as this. You can bet that if the lead female character isn't either scantily dressed or have jigglebones in her breasts (or both), then a lead female character is probably not going to generate much excitement out of the masses (seeing as how the industry is sadly ruled by insecure men- both designing AND purchasing the products).

There are quite a few female characters that have slipped through the craks over the years, becuase the masses unanimiously reject a strong, not-overly sexualized female character. I.e.- D'arci Stern (my all-time favorite video game hero), Kate Archer, Rubi Malone (seriously, how come "Wet" isn't more popular- it was wayyy better than "Bayonetta"), Joanna Dark, Violette Summer, just to name a few.

Overall, this was a great post! I appreciate this title, and I've often wondered this myself (tbh, I was getting on here to post something along this line- thanks for doin' it already)! I'd love to see some one prove me wrong- but after observing how this lil' rock of Hydrogen and Oxygen floatin' out in Space works, I already know the comments that will posted in response to mine, so honestly- save your breath (or in this case, the strength in your knuckles from typing). There is nothing new, information or insult wise, that anyone can say that will make me change my mind. And I know that sounds close-minded, but I'm more of a "fu(k what you heard, tell me what you SAW" kinda dude. I can't just be told people aren't like this- I have witnessed it done to me, and I have witnessed it done to plenty others. I am witnessing it being done right now as we speak (er, read? Or type?)

And if you DO manage to make me change my opinion on how insecure men interact with the rest of the world- I'll give you a cookie! ;) But you better have documentation to back your claims. Mine? Read any review of the titles with the females I mentioned- they're games were well-criticized but never mainstream. Not mainstream to the likes of BloodRayne, Lara Croft (although the rebooted Lara is WAYYYY toned down from where she was), Juliet (Lolipop Crapsaw), or Bayonetta, just to name a few Vuluptious Vixens that all have games that were both well-recieved and widely known. Ask somebody about Bayonetta, and they'll say "She's the naked chick with the hair outfit". Ask people aobut Rubi Malone, and nine times outta ten, they'll say, "Who?" or "What game is she from"?

P.s.- I'd also like to point out the double standard behind playing a female character and a male character. So, I'm a guy, and I prefer female characters with big breasts and virtually no clothes. I'm gay? But if I want to play a game with what I percieve to be "hot man on man gaming action" (I'm thinkin' buff men sweating fighting each other, ripped clothes- anything that was in the last GTA game, or the upcoming one- Any UFC title. wrestling, DMC ...new Emo dante looks like a fig- hehehe... and plenty more) then I'm straight? Boy, someone must have been REAL confused when they flipped the switch on that convoluted "logic". They'll never admit it, and THAT's what makes it the insecurity- a derrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

MORAL OF THE STORY- If the presence of a female character isn't packaged for the use of male consumption, then she's just in they way of the new "Call of Duty" title that's coming out this week.

[art of war]

Originally posted by ☥Fox Boogs☥:

WARNING: the following is just an honest observation on the state of society. You may or may not agree- and that's what makes living life the shiznit! Antyways- read on....

2 words- Sam Fisher. Or Chris Redfield. Or Leon Kennedy. Or Max Payne.

See, the average male gamer (yep, even you self-proclaimed "pro-gamers" are average in mine eyes) tends to stick to the "Alpha Dog" groupthink. And believe me, I use the term "Alpha Dog" VERY loosely there. This game features a female character in the lead role (albeit an attractive female, but a female just the same). Not realistic to the average joe. Not relatable to the average joe. And therefore- not purchased by the average joe.

Men generally scoff at women in lead titles, and often feel it's "gay" to want to be playing as a woman in a video game (some even claim the only reason WHY men play women in games is to pick up other men- wtf? Seriously, hop on an MMO, make a female character, and give it time- you will get hit on. Once you tell them "Stop hittin' on me dude, I'm a dude", it instantly becomes a homosexual witch hunt).

It's a shame people's insecurities keep them from enjoying great titles such as this. You can bet that if the lead female character isn't either scantily dressed or have jigglebones in her breasts (or both), then a lead female character is probably not going to generate much excitement out of the masses (seeing as how the industry is sadly ruled by insecure men- both designing AND purchasing the products).

There are quite a few female characters that have slipped through the craks over the years, becuase the masses unanimiously reject a strong, not-overly sexualized female character. I.e.- D'arci Stern (my all-time favorite video game hero), Kate Archer, Rubi Malone (seriously, how come "Wet" isn't more popular- it was wayyy better than "Bayonetta"), Joanna Dark, Violette Summer, just to name a few.

Overall, this was a great post! I appreciate this title, and I've often wondered this myself (tbh, I was getting on here to post something along this line- thanks for doin' it already)! I'd love to see some one prove me wrong- but after observing how this lil' rock of Hydrogen and Oxygen floatin' out in Space works, I already know the comments that will posted in response to mine, so honestly- save your breath (or in this case, the strength in your knuckles from typing). There is nothing new, information or insult wise, that anyone can say that will make me change my mind. And I know that sounds close-minded, but I'm more of a "fu(k what you heard, tell me what you SAW" kinda dude. I can't just be told people aren't like this- I have witnessed it done to me, and I have witnessed it done to plenty others. I am witnessing it being done right now as we speak (er, read? Or type?)

And if you DO manage to make me change my opinion on how insecure men interact with the rest of the world- I'll give you a cookie! ;) But you better have documentation to back your claims. Mine? Read any review of the titles with the females I mentioned- they're games were well-criticized but never mainstream. Not mainstream to the likes of BloodRayne, Lara Croft (although the rebooted Lara is WAYYYY toned down from where she was), Juliet (Lolipop Crapsaw), or Bayonetta, just to name a few Vuluptious Vixens that all have games that were both well-recieved and widely known. Ask somebody about Bayonetta, and they'll say "She's the naked chick with the hair outfit". Ask people aobut Rubi Malone, and nine times outta ten, they'll say, "Who?" or "What game is she from"?

P.s.- I'd also like to point out the double standard behind playing a female character and a male character. So, I'm a guy, and I prefer female characters with big breasts and virtually no clothes. I'm gay? But if I want to play a game with what I percieve to be "hot man on man gaming action" (I'm thinkin' buff men sweating fighting each other, ripped clothes- anything that was in the last GTA game, or the upcoming one- Any UFC title. wrestling, DMC ...new Emo dante looks like a fig- hehehe... and plenty more) then I'm straight? Boy, someone must have been REAL confused when they flipped the switch on that convoluted "logic". They'll never admit it, and THAT's what makes it the insecurity- a derrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

MORAL OF THE STORY- If the presence of a female character isn't packaged for the use of male consumption, then she's just in they way of the new "Call of Duty" title that's coming out this week.

I absolutely agree with this lol. People are just too sexist about games these days.

[essen]

It was a great game, like most games frowned upon by reviewers. These days you'd have more chance of finding a great game by looking at low scores than high scores. Seriously.

[adg211288]

Great post ☥Fox Boogs☥. This is a matter which has bothered me for a while now. As I see it, the story in some games is better suited to a female more than a male. In turn some games favour a male. Some it probably doesn't matter so much. Unfortunately many developers don't seem to have the guts to make their protagonists canonically female, and some won't even offer a choice in the matter. Velvet Assassin had to be female only though. Violette Summer was loosely based on a real life secret agent, Violette Szabo. Might not be relatable to the average joe to quote your wording, but maybe the average joe needs to pay attention to history before writing a title off due to a female lead.

You're spot on about this being the reason for the game failing (did it? I only heard of it recently, and loved it). I've read an article on the gender matter before which claimed games sell best if they have a defined, canonical, male protagonist. Not sure how much truth is in it but I personally believe it.

For the record, I'm male. And I don't think playing as a female is at all gay. If there's a choice, I nearly always make a female character. For me though, that's mostly down to being awkward. As soon as I see a game promoting its protagonist and they seem cliche, I go out of my way to make someone different. The easiest way to start doing that is to change the gender and since most games with a choice have a cononically male protagonist, that usually means using a female character. Doesn't bother me. I actually only know one game where there's a choice and the protagonist is canonically female and that's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II.

[Xephachi]

Gender has nothing to do with the failure of this game. The cheap/lousy AI, the pointless sad ending (reflecting upon what happened to the real life Violette but could've been handled more poignantly), the sloppy shooting mechanics, the repetition of the game later on besides offering new guns that promoted run&gun, parts of the game forcing you to break stealth and just shoot, etc. all contributed to this game doing poorly. It doesn't help that the publisher and developer are fairly unknown, tied together with this basically no hype or promotion before and after launch, and fairly average, non-exciting reviewer scores contributed to this game not being a success. I liked the game for what it was but it was underwhelming in a lot of ways, hopefully we see an improved sequel (spiritual of course).

[Drain]

Originally posted by essen:

It was a great game, like most games frowned upon by reviewers. These days you'd have more chance of finding a great game by looking at low scores than high scores. Seriously.

Couldn't be more wrong. Fortunately you're not any kind of critic.

[essen]

Everyone is a critic.