Summary
- In most games, tutorials will introduce controls and mechanics early on, and throughout the adventure
- Some games introduce key items and abilities much later, perhaps if they're quite powerful tools.
- However, some things are just too much fun to have so late in the game.
Video games usually start with a tutorial. The purpose of a tutorial is to introduce the controls and mechanics, allowing you to acquaint yourself with what you'll be doing throughout the whole experience. Sometimes, tutorials can be very quick and brief; other times they can be spread out throughout the game.
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PostsIn some games, when new items, weapons, or pieces of equipment are introduced, tutorial elements are brought back to explain their uses to the player. There are also the odd few times when such a thing happens very late into a game, coming across as sudden and occasionally forcing you to adjust how to play the rest of the game.
Updated on May 4, 2024: If you want to hear a little more about the games that gave us really cool stuff just a little too late, check out the video we've added at the top of the page! Who doesn't love a good ol' video?
Beware of some minor spoilers for the games mentioned in this list.
12 God Of War Ragnarok
Draupnir
God of War Ragnarok
Action Adventure Released November 9, 2022 Developer(s) Santa Monica Studio Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand CollapseGod of War Ragnarok feels like the second and third parts of a trilogy packed into one game. Because of this, it feels super long and you don't get some of the best items and abilities until way later on in the game.
The replicating spear Draupnir isn't in your hands until the tenth of 18 chapters. That's over halfway through the game. It can be enough time if you do a lot of the post-game content, but if you are one to stop after the credits roll, then you don't get as much time with Draupnir as it deserves.
11 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Switching Between Hawaii And Japan At Will
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
RPG Released January 26, 2024 Developer(s) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Publisher(s) Sega Platform(s) PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC Powered by Expand CollapseInfinite Wealth is a massive game even by the standards set by the series. It comes as a surprise to many that at the eigth chapter the game splits up into two parties; one in Japan and one in Hawaii.
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PostsYou alternate chapters with them and only once you beat the game are you able to switch between them whenever you want. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the game made you understand beforehand how it structures itself and reasured you that you won't miss out on any side quests or bonus content.
Much of Infinite Wealth's post-game content is locked behind the Master Vacation DLC. Two massive dungeons and new game plus are locked behind this additional purchase.
10 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Autobuild
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Adventure Action Open-World Released May 12, 2023 Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 Powered by Expand CollapseThe ability to stick parts of the environment together to craft your own original creations adds a whole new world of possibilities to Tears of the Kingdom's open-world playground. Some players might find the constant crafting and losing their creations frustrating, however.
It wouldn't be so bad if the game gave you the Autobuild ability earlier or at least pointed you in its direction faster. Once you have it, you can craft vehicles and various objects instantly and even save your own creations.
9 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
The High-Frequency Blade
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Stealth Released November 13, 2001 Developer(s) Konami Publisher(s) Konami Platform(s) PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita Powered by Expand CollapseTowards the end of Metal Gear Solid 2, Snake hands Raiden the High-Frequency Blade. It's a cool, slick weapon, one many fans of Metal Gear had seen used in stylish, flashy ways in cutscenes. This finally allowed players the chance to use the weapon themselves.
Sadly, the introduction of the High-Frequency Blade came a little too late. You can only use it in two sequences right at the end of the game. One has you mowing down enemies in an extended corridor, and the other is a boss battle. The controls take some getting used to, and it never looked or behaved as good as you wanted it to.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Subsistance and subsequent re-releases feature VR missions, some of which let you use the HF Blade more.
8 Infamous: Second Son
Concrete
inFAMOUS Second Son
Action Adventure Released March 21, 2014 Developer(s) Sucker Punch Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PlayStation 4 Powered by Expand CollapseThroughout your adventure in Infamous: Second Son, you unlock new powers and abilities, allowing you to play as the superhero or villain you want to be. You gradually learn to control various elements in the environment. One of the elements you can manipulate towards the end of the game is concrete.
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PostsConcrete allows you to throw concrete as a weapon, as well as shield yourself from damage. It might not be the flashiest or coolest of powers, but it's useful. Sadly, it didn't make an appearance until far too late.
7 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Sword Fighting
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Third-Person Shooter Adventure Released May 10, 2016 Developer(s) Naughty Dog Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand CollapseThroughout Uncharted 4, you battle enemies with guns, grenades, and fists; you swing on ropes, drive vehicles, and explore semi-open environments. It's a little odd then that, in the final boss fight of the game, all the mechanics and controls you have used up to that point are thrown aside, and you are instead given a sword, and new controls to figure out.
The controls of the sword fight are fine, but they take some getting used to. Mechanically, the final boss fight is slower than prior battles in the game. It allows for greater drama and atmosphere, but such a swerve can cause frustration right at the end of the experience.
6 Hydrophobia
Water Manipulation
- Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Released: September 29, 2010
- Developer: Dark Energy Digital
- Publishers: Dark Energy Digital, Xbox Game Studios
Hydrophobia is an action-adventure game where you navigate a ship that has been overtaken by terrorists. You play as Kate, climbing, swimming, and shooting your way through the ship. Kate has some unusual scars spreading across her arm, which must also be dealt with.
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PostsRight towards the end of the game, those scars grant you superpowers. You can manipulate water, sending it crashing into enemies, uncovering areas, and more. It's visually impressive and cool to do, but you barely get to do it because the game ends right after you unlock it. Later updates tweaked the game, introducing this mechanic slightly earlier.
5 A Plague Tale: Innocence
Rat Control
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Action Adventure Stealth Released May 14, 2019 Developer(s) Asobo Studio Publisher(s) Focus Home Interactive Platform(s) PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Switch, PC Powered by Expand CollapseA Plague Tale: Innocence is a bleak, action-adventure, stealth game based loosely on true events. Amicia and her brother Hugo must escape hordes of rats as they spread disease and eviscerate everything they come upon. Meanwhile, there's a group out there hunting Hugo down because his blood is of value.
Towards the end of the game, A Plague Tale: Innocence fully embraces its fantasy side, something it had only teased up to that point. Hugo discovers he can control and manipulate rats, sending them at enemies. The mechanic is at odds with the grounded, dark narrative up to that point and the game barely lets you use the power much outside of the final boss fight and a couple of sequences before it.
4 Horizon Forbidden West
Flying Mounts
Horizon Forbidden: West
Adventure Action Powered by Expand CollapseIn the Horizon games, Aloy can mount various robotic dinosaurs, riding them across the open world as a means of faster traversal, and battling enemies with them too. Late in Forbidden West, Aloy finally garners the ability to mount flying dinosaurs too.
The flying mounts are among the coolest and fastest in the game. Sadly, they are introduced too late, not allowing much opportunity or reason to ride them outside the specific missions that require them. Unless you've completed the main story and left plenty of side quests to do.
3 Days Gone
Hordes
Days Gone
Open-World Action Adventure Released April 26, 2019 Developer(s) Bend Studio Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4 Powered by Expand CollapseDays Gone is an action-adventure game where you play as a biker surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. Much of the promotion and marketing for Days Gone focused on the number of enemies you could face. It made it seem as though you would be battling hundreds of zombies at once.
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PostsHowever, the specific sections of the game that feature the mass hordes of enemies aren't introduced until you're about 20–30 hours into the game. Up until that point, Days Gone lacks the very thing it promised you.
