Does anyone else feel like a dream theme can actually hurt your chances of wanting to buy a game?

There have been a couple games recently which I really thought would be an instant, must buy for me. But then I just didn't like the integration of the theme. For example, for me, both Star Wars and Willy Wonka were games that I really thought I would have to own. But, to me, they missed the mark on theme integration, and that pretty much means I'm not going to buy them regardless of the game play.

Now, on the other hand, if the theme is so-so, meaning that I like it but don't care all that much about it, then my buying decision is based only on gameplay. If the theme is not well integrated, it doesn't matter much and in many cases I wouldn't even know if it's well integrated or not.

For example Deadpool is a really fun game, but I don't know the theme well at all, outside of seeing the two movies. But it's just fun to play. So at this point I'd be much more likely to buy DP than Wonka or SW.

Which when I think about it, seems crazy. Anyone else find themselves actually less likely to buy a game with their dream theme?

Yeah that's a great example, I know a lot of people who are big fans of the theme were disappointed by that one. But for me, that's a so-so theme, and I think I actually like the game better than a lot of people who love the theme.

Another example, I have some friends who are really into monster movies, including the Universal monsters. But, they're purists. So, they really dislike Monster Bash, because it presents the monsters in a humorous way.

But I think it's one of the best games ever.

So again, being too much of a fan of the theme makes them dislike the game.

Yeah you summed up SW perfectly. For me, the problem with that game is just that it's lacking... stuff. I mean there's so much they could have done.

With WW, the problem for me is not so much a lack of stuff, but that the way they used the things in the game (Wonkavision, Gobstopper) are not representative of how they were used in the movie.

As for MB, yeah my buddies are super into that stuff but they don't want the characters made out to look silly. I don't get it either! To me it's a blast.

I honestly think I'd like both Wonka and SW a lot better if I wasn't a fan of the themes.

Hmmm, maybe that’s a good thing? At least for anyone else who touches your games.