I don't see what's so bad about online. Yeah, you get the ability to meet people you didn't know (Which, I don't understand why that is so bad. If they're good at gaming and fun to play with, why the hell should it matter if you know them in real life or not?), but it also makes it easier to play with friends. Instead of having to waste gas driving over to their house, I could just play online. Not to mention, if I had friends over, I'd have to waste a few hours making my house presentable, which I could've used to play with them.
Anyways, more on topic. While games might be vastly different today, one thing usually rings true: if you master the mechanics of the game, it can be beat. Seriously, once you understand the patterns and strategies needed, it all makes sense. This is easier to see in the older games, but it can be applied in lots of newer games, too.