I’m a RetroAchevements nut and I can confirm many many games were complete jank. I tend to play them out of spite and achievements, but since events have me playing non-classics, I can confirm a lot of nostalgia is just survivor bias.

Like, I had to play Sly Cooper-- good game; followed by Rocket: Robot on Wheels, the game they made before Sly. Interesting game, but the camera made it a chore. Now they’ve made the Ghost of games which might be their legacy. Talented team, but nobody ever talks about Rocket, lol.