For me, the overall feel of the game does a lot for how fondly I feel about it even when there are technical things lacking about it. The charm, the personality, the ambition, the quirk. I'd never hold up Yakuza's combat to something like Bayonetta, but it's all the other things about that game and its world that win me over. Similar story with Shenmue. I'll still be buying Yakuza 4 when it comes out, even though I have no intention of getting my PS3 fixed anytime soon.

Earth Defense Force 2017 and Robot Alchemic Drive are two other games (made by the same company) that fit a different category. They are technically sloppy--EDF is a worse-than-average 3rd person shooter, R.A.D. has an incredibly cryptic control scheme--but both of them have so much personality to them that it's hard for me not to love them. EDF has you fighting giant bugs with weapons of mass destruction, and eventually giant armoured alien dinosaurs in completely destructable environments. R.A.D., as a giant robot fighting game, has you fighting other giant creatures in completely destructible environments, though in R.A.D. you actually get penalized for breaking stuff. Both of them have voice acting so bad that it just has to be intentional. Love both of 'em though and can't wait for the new EDF.

Deadly Premonition is a game that did tip against my favour, but I do have fond feelings for the game. I generally do not like 'horror' games, and Deadly Premonition really does control horrifically, but there is so much charm in it. I was luckily able to watch most of the game get played by other people, so I'm not too worried about the $20 it cost me to get it.

I'm glad someone mentioned Way of the Samurai, as I almost forgot it. #3 is one that I go back to regularly just to mess around in. Definitely more fun than it deserves to be.