A game may come up short of the original vision, but that doesn't mean it's without merit. Sometimes, developers simply don't have the time or resources to fulfill their ambitions. This results in various bits of cut content. While fans lament not being able to play those lost levels, they can still appreciate what they get.
An unfinished game may boast enough good qualities to offset its shortcomings. Some developers cover the holes so well that audiences may not even notice the missing content. That's a credit to both the solid foundation and the passionate creatives at the center.
5 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2 - The Sith Lords
- Platform: Xbox, Windows, iOS, Linux, macOS, Android, Switch
- Developer: Obsidian
The folks at Obsidian have a reputation for unfinished masterpieces, and their most notorious work is this Star Wars title. Brought on to follow BioWare's defining hit, the developers had 14 to 16 months to make Knights of the Old Republic 2. That's evident in the reused assets and familiar environments. In addition, the game cut a bunch of narrative content, much of which involved the villains. That said, the core role-playing was more involving than the previous entry, bolstered by arguably the most thoughtful writing in all of Star Wars. Fans recognized that greatness and took matters into their own hands.
Since its release, KOTOR 2 has seen a slew of mods restoring its content. When a wall pops up, the devotees find a way around it. For example, they may move quests from an unfinished planet onto others. There's still stuff on the cutting room floor, but the main game is now far more cohesive and conclusive. This lets KOTOR 2 cement its place among the best Star Wars games ever.
4 Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage
- Platform: PlayStation, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
- Developer: Insomniac Games, Toys for Bob (Reignited)
The sequel to Spyro the Dragon improves on its predecessor in every conceivable way. It boasts tighter controls, creative platforming, more engaging levels, and stronger characterization. As good as it is, though, it was originally even bigger. The clues lie in the structure.
Spyro 2 spreads its levels across three hub areas: Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, and Winter Tundra. This lineup leaves out Spring, hinting at the original plan of having four hubs. This is even more likely given the following game goes all the way with this theme, taking fans through Sunrise Spring, Midday, Evening Lake, and Midnight Mountain. Insomniac likely couldn't fulfill that plan for the second entry due to the short turnaround. They only had a year. Again, though, they made sure to polish the content to a tee. To this day, some consider it the best Spyro game.
3 Sly 2: Band Of Thieves
- Platform: PS2, PS3
- Developer: Sucker Punch
In the same way, the second Sly Cooper game is a massive step up from the debut title. Sly 2 fine-tunes the graceful stealth platforming and puts it toward a more well-realized concept. Players complete various setup missions, which build naturally toward a climactic heist. They do so within multi-layered hub areas across the globe. These range from Paris streets to Indian palaces to Prague castles to the Canadian wilderness. Each task has a purpose, and seeing them all come together is immensely satisfying. That's partly thanks to the different flavors brought by the exotic locales. That said, the course originally had a larger palette.
The Evolution of Sly--a behind-the-scenes video in Sly 3--reveals that the second entry had a Monaco level. The place showcases the same personality as the other hubs. However, it's unclear how this area would have fit into the story, which is tight enough without it. In fact, most see it as the best in the Sly series, so maybe Monaco's loss was the players' gain.
2 Final Fantasy 15
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- Developer: Square Enix
Final Fantasy 15 started as Final Fantasy Versus 13. Though tied to the divisive Final Fantasy 13, it promised an exciting direction for the series going forward. Sadly, it languished in development hell for a decade and went through several creatives along the way. How miraculous that it finally released in a playable state, let alone an enjoyable one. In lieu of turn-based combat, fans indulge in real-time action across a sizable sandbox. They travel this sandbox in what essentially amounts to a road trip with four friends. These guys take on quests at the various gas stations and rest stops before camping. They then sleep under the stars and enjoy a myriad of meals for stat buffs. The formula is solid, but it's also rudimentary. That's especially the case given they could drive through the whole sandbox in a few minutes. Something's clearly off.
It's no surprise that the developers made compromises. Fans can easily find footage of numerous biomes absent from the final product. On top of that, the game abandons its open world about two-thirds of the story. The heroes then navigate smaller, hallway-based areas for the remaining chapters. Stack on a heap of DLC, anime, and even a CG-animated film, and FF15 becomes the most piecemeal title in the series. Even after consuming all of this extra material, players still don't get the full picture.
1 Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
- Platform: PSP, PS3, PS4
- Developer: Square Enix
This prequel has a respectable lineup of Disney worlds for any Kingdom Hearts title. It's more impressive considering Birth by Sleep was originally a PSP game. Not only do these areas have more dimension than those in 358/2 Days (the series' previous portable entry), but they contain a separate story for each of the three protagonists. Unbelievably, Square Enix planned yet another.
The developers initially wanted a level based on The Jungle Book. Footage shows the BBS heroes exploring King Louie's palace. However, this movie's plot is thin at best, so who knows how it would have factored into the characters' journeys? Apparently, the creators didn't know, either, since none of the subsequent games have gone near it.