if a game is "bad"* on purpose to make a thematic or artistic point, is it actually good
yes
yes i mean unless its genuinely ass
no, this is a bad way to accomplish this
no, this is a bad copout
idk it depends
*this could be monotonous and unfun gameplay, poorly written or empty characters, "bad" graphics, etc
It's a bit difficult to ascertain or describe what an intentionally "bad" video game looks like because a lot of core features of games (basic controls, relatively little chance to encounter glitches) need to be preserved in a way that actually makes the game in and of itself actually something that can be interacted with in a meaningful capacity.
But, also, compared to intentionally "bad" movies, there is obviously shovelware but that doesn't carry with it the same connotations as the early 2000's rom-com or the Syfy original movie in terms of something that is understood amongst the audience as being "bad" in a coherent manner that has some noteworthy features. There aren't a ton of widely known terrible games that are similar enough to each other and retroactively have enough appeal to recreate them with purposeful intent, or there are games that were necessary steps to eventually get to something better down the line that we would now say are missing basic quality of life features. Would some making a JRPG inspired shitty game include stuff like certain stats and (de-)buff features not being programmed correctly to invoke Final Fantasy (Famicom) or Pokemon Red/Green/Blue? Would someone making a fighting game want to make it so you only have a 15 frame input window for special moves on top of needing to RELEASE a button, not press it, to attack a la Street Fighter (1987)?
But, speaking of fighting games, the world could use more kusoge titles, everyone legitimately loves Dino Rex:
And Sailor Moon S is played competitively enough to warrant people discovering and documenting tech:
Personally I'm waiting for an official re-release of Alien Challenge.
