Overlooked classics.

super_furry

I recently started playing Alundra (PSOne) for the first time and can't believe I've never got around to it before. The game mechanics are very similar to the classic 2D Zelda games, only with great hand-drawn graphics, a wonderfully dark story and some of the most fiendish puzzles I've come across in a game. I'm almost annoyed that I haven't played it before, it's that good.

So what gems have you played that have slipped by most gamers?

Burning Eclipse

Wasn't completely overlooked, but the average joe on the street won't have played it.

No-one lives forever!! Really enjoyable FPS with a great sense of humour!!! The best sense of homour in fact.

I loved it but most people missed it!!

mcgovern

Well I see Burning Eclipse has played it, and its not really a classic (yet) but Viva Pinata. Has to be the most overlooked game of the last few years.

P.S. I like your sig

Kinetic^

Not sure if anyone else will agree but Destruction Derby 1 for the PS1 was a great game and I spent many hours playing it in a friends.

gizmo

Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, not completely overlooked but many dismissed it as a poor movie-to-game adaptation and how wrong they were. Easily one of my fave FPS' ever.

Retr0gamer

Alundra really is a great zelda clone. Pity the sequel is average at best.

I've only just started playing Freedom Fighters on the PS2 (although it's available on all formats) and it really is a wonderful overlooked gem. It suffered the same fate as Oddworld: Strangers Wrath with EA failing to promote it properly. It's by the same developer behind the hitman series.

It's a third person squad based shoot'em up set in a fictional modern world were the Soviets became the dominant superpower and are invading America. The over the top patriot vibe and the soviet newscasts are often hilarious. However it's the structure of the game and the firefights that make it standout. Each chapter is separated into 3-4 levels that can be tackled in any order and you can switch between them. Any objectives you take out will affect all other levels, such as taking out a helipad means the ruskies can't use their helicopters.

The firefights are excellent and usual involve you taking on a heavily fortified position. It will be impossible to take head on but there are always ways of flanking the positions to increase the odds of winning. The game isn't stunning looking but the excellent AI of your team mates makes up for this and you can have up to 12 freedom fighters join you depending on how well you do.

A lot of people also ignored Gradius V. Forget GTA, GoW or any other well known PS2 games, Gradius V is by far and away the best game of this generation of consoles. I'm sorry but if you say you don't like 2D shoot'em ups you are an ignorant idiot. You won't get a more exciting or enjoyable game than this. It also came out at a budget price and should be going for pocket money prices now.

Everybody should also play Gitarooman. It was the best rhythm action game until Quendan arrived and was actually made by the same people. Great sountrack and the best use of the dualshock controller ever.

I know it's nobodies fault that they were overlooked due to low print runs but anyone interested in console RPGs needs to play Suikoden 2 and Panzer Dragoon Saga, especially people who think Final Fantasy VII is the be all and end all of console RPGs. Both are excellent games, especially Panzer Dragoon Saga which is a truly exception game. Saturn emulators are currently at a level were PDS is perfectly playable so there is no excuse.

I was thinking of making a list of overlooked games from this generation, might do so tonight and post it here.

johnny_ultimate

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath has the be the most overlooked of recent years. A beautifully original game of two halves, it is probably my favourite game on the original XBox. While other games such as Beyond Good & Evil / Psychonauts have their cult internet following, I think Stranger's Wrath has a much smaller fanbase, but it deserves to be played by anyone who enjoys original, unique gaming.

I'm not too sure on which classics to pick here though... Astro Boy on the GBA would be one, and I remember loving Tombi on PS1 - that doesn't get a huge amount of love.

AntiVirus

gizmo wrote:

Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, not completely overlooked but many dismissed it as a poor movie-to-game adaptation and how wrong they were. Easily one of my fave FPS' ever.

I have to second that 2! Easily one of the best FPS out. Great game.

Zero Tolerance on the Mega Drive, G Police on the PS1.

User45701

wow...

are ps1 classic games now?

how old am i.....

Try Tie Fighter for one of the best games ever that is never in any top lists.

Rapter Call of The shadows is a good one as well, i remember playing that on a "Wang 2mb Ram pc" at least i think thats what pc it ran on... could have been the dell 16mb ram with the 10 gb HD! soon 10 gigs wont even be one movie in hd or blu ray

tman

mcgovern wrote:

Well I see Burning Eclipse has played it, and its not really a classic (yet) but Viva Pinata. Has to be the most overlooked game of the last few years.

P.S. I like your sig

Seconded.
The constant interruptions of the tutorial level kind of put me off playing, but it's most definitely a fantastic game that shouldn't be overlooked due to its cutesyness.

Shame that Stranger's Wrath isn't on the 360's BC list yet, wouldn't mind a go on that:(

Riesen_Meal

super_furry wrote:

I recently started playing Alundra (PSOne) for the first time and can't believe I've never got around to it before. The game mechanics are very similar to the classic 2D Zelda games, only with great hand-drawn graphics, a wonderfully dark story and some of the most fiendish puzzles I've come across in a game. I'm almost annoyed that I haven't played it before, it's that good.

So what gems have you played that have slipped by most gamers?

Seconded, Alundra is a great game

Couldnt agree more, fantastic game, god you brought me back there!

Old game of the moment im playin is Shenmue 2, only because I hadnt played it until now....

TheAlmightyArse

Gitaroo Man is bit naff. The Dualshock's anolgue stick isn't really up to it and that flippin' shark level is inexcusible. It's very charming and all, but it's a game you really have to want to like.

Rhythm Tengoku is digital loveliness in a little GBA cart. 40-something minigames of the purest, count-to-ten rhythm tapping from the charming WarioWare people. 'Tis the pinnacle of music games.

Gizzle

Project Zero. Bloody screamifying so it was, even moreso than any of the Silent Hills, which I also think are brilliant.

Retr0gamer

Dragon Quest VIII. People are ignoring this wonderful game and getting the borefest that is FFXII instead. DQVIII blows it out of the water and is the best RPG since FFX.

o1s1n

Thanks for reminding me I have Alundra there. Completely forgot about it. Still hasn't been anywhere near my playstation.

johnny_ultimate

tman wrote:

Shame that Stranger's Wrath isn't on the 360's BC list yet, wouldn't mind a go on that:(

The BC is getting worse and worse as I try it out more. Not only do some games only half work *coughPanzerdragoonortacough*, some of the best aren't even supported at all (read: Stranger's Wrath, Riddick). And speaking of Project Zero, I decided to give that another go the other day. It was on the BC list (well, Fatal Frame is anyway: same thing), stick it in the 360, download the update and guess what: didn't work at all - not supported or some such nonsense. I for one am glad I kept my old Xbox.

Gizzle

johnny_ultimate wrote:

The BC is getting worse and worse as I try it out more. Not only do some games only half work *coughPanzerdragoonortacough*, some of the best aren't even supported at all (read: Stranger's Wrath, Riddick). And speaking of Project Zero, I decided to give that another go the other day. It was on the BC list (well, Fatal Frame is anyway: same thing), stick it in the 360, download the update and guess what: didn't work at all - not supported or some such nonsense. I for one am glad I kept my old Xbox.

I'm just glad I cleared all my Xbox games before I got my 360. Except for Otogi 2, but then again I never did really get what the hell was going on in that...

L31mr0d

Star Wars: Republic Commando

I think because it was released around the same time as Battlefront II, a lot of people overlooked it. But imo its one of the best FPS i've played. Great character development, plot and immersion.

Jelly 292

Hidden and Dangerous -
The Original Squad/ Tactical shooter. Patch it up and its still great to play, ground breaking, for me anyway.

Hidden and Dangerous 2 -
Never really took off because of the rep that H&D1 had with bugs but a fantastic game I have played thru a million times, great atmosphere and AI

thelordofcheese

Retr0gamer wrote:

I know it's nobodies fault that they were overlooked due to low print runs but anyone interested in console RPGs needs to play Suikoden 2 and Panzer Dragoon Saga, especially people who think Final Fantasy VII is the be all and end all of console RPGs. Both are excellent games, especially Panzer Dragoon Saga which is a truly exception game. Saturn emulators are currently at a level were PDS is perfectly playable so there is no excuse.

oh really?
Excellent. I was never able to get my hands on a copy back in the day, it's about time i got to play this.

Also, did anyone ever get their hands on Shining Force 3 (Chapter 1) when all of 5 copies were released to europe?

evad_lhorg

Viewtiful JOe, Killer 7,

User45701

Sorry but i was wondering, how old does a game have to be for one of you to consider it a classic?

id say 10+ years if not more

Cravez

Kenny 5 wrote:

Not sure if anyone else will agree but Destruction Derby 1 for the PS1 was a great game and I spent many hours playing it in a friends.

LOVED that game! Nothing more satisfying than going full throttle up a ramp and see what mess you could make at the end

Personally I think X-com Apocalypse is an overlooked game, it does have a fan base but it seems to be a very dedicated fanbase and i haven't heard alot of the general gaming public talk about it. Iv still yet to play a real time/turn based tactical squad game thats better than it(and the game is a MS-DOS game!)

johnny_ultimate

User45701 wrote:

Sorry but i was wondering, how old does a game have to be for one of you to consider it a classic?

id say 10+ years if not more

Nah I think a game can be granted classic status as soon as its released. I doubt anyone would argue that Resi 4 is anything but a classic, and that is only a few years old - and it's effect on games in general was pretty instantenous.

Although it is probably more accurate to call older games classic on the whole - there are very few modern games which could be called classics already.

Or something.

Creamy Goodness

it totally depends on your definition of classic.

for me Tie Fighter and Day of the tenticle are overlooked classics.

Fnz

Another vote for the rhythm action game Gitaroo Man. The shark level, TheAlmightyArse, was a pain alright but is something you should be able to handle if you hope to complete the latter stages. As for the analogue stick... all that's required of it is to be able to point in any direction. Dunno how you can conclude that it "isn't really up to it" unless you are not used to it.

I'd like to give an honorable mention to the game Mashed/Mashed: Fully Loaded. I'd consider it the spiritual successor to the good (early 90's) Micro Machines. It's soooo much fun 4 player.. many laugh out loud moments.

tman

User45701 wrote:

Sorry but i was wondering, how old does a game have to be for one of you to consider it a classic?

id say 10+ years if not more

A classic game becomes a classic instantly imo, the likes of Metroid Prime, Resi 4 etc were all classics from the moment they were released.
Tis just my opinion though, I'm sure others will argue the point...

MooseJam

serious sam should have sold millions so I'd rate it as an overlooked classic

mcgovern

johnny_ultimate wrote:

The BC is getting worse and worse as I try it out more. Not only do some games only half work *coughPanzerdragoonortacough*, some of the best aren't even supported at all (read: Stranger's Wrath, Riddick). And speaking of Project Zero, I decided to give that another go the other day. It was on the BC list (well, Fatal Frame is anyway: same thing), stick it in the 360, download the update and guess what: didn't work at all - not supported or some such nonsense. I for one am glad I kept my old Xbox.

Slightly off-topic but Riddick isn't supported as its being re-done and re-released for the X360 and possibly the PS3 with some extra content.

eamon234

I remember one of the first games I got for my PC (IBM Aptiva 32 meg ram 2 gig hard drive AMD K-6 haha!) years ago around 1999 - Privateer 2 (one of those trader/spaceflight games) was a great one - loads of filmed sequences and a great storyline starred none other than Clive Owen (well before he got famous) - John Hurt and a few others as well must have cost a fortune to make

Enjoyed the Bladerunner game and the X Files one too around the same time

Stephen!

The X-Flies one for me too, on the PC. Well im talking about the one that was made up of real pictures and movie sequences and not an animated one

Retr0gamer

Cremo wrote:

it totally depends on your definition of classic.

for me Tie Fighter and Day of the tenticle are overlooked classics.

They both weren't exactly overlooked on released, they sold extremely well.

I'm going to put a vote in for Psi-ops and Zone of Enders 2.

I'm pretty sure that Psi-ops should have been a terrible game. However the Havok physics engine and the excellent psychic powers elevated it to a brilliant one. You could use guns in the game but it was much more fun using your psychic powers and the enviroment to kill the bad guys. You never mind when you die because it was another chance for you to try an out an even crueler and unusual way to kill your enemies. Even the boss fights were immensely enjoyable.

I know a lot of people felt betrayed by Konami when they bought ZOE for the MGS2 demo and found out ZOE was a bit repetitive and could be beaten one sitting. ZOE 2 on the other hand is an entirely different beast. It is one of the best action games on the PS2 and one of the best looking. The game constantly surprises you with an amazing set piece that constantly out does the ones before. The train chase was amazing until you get to the part were you are hopping between ships in an armada taking them done only to be surprised later with an amazing pitched battle on the ground. Boss fights as are typical for Konami are amazing. The comedy translation job and terrible acting only add to the package.

Also another game nobody bought: God Hand

Just playing it at the moment and after getting to grips with the punishing difficulty it really is an amazing game with probably the best fighting system ever. Ignore the dreadful IGN review and the other idiots that gave it a low score and trust people who have played it and agree it's awesome (i.e. hardcore gaming 101 and videogaiden). It's also absolutely hilarious. What other game gives you special moves such as spanking and the good old kick to the balls replete with comedy bell noise. The ridiculous script is played for laughs by the voice actors. The cast of bad guys is equally ridiculous and includes a fat bloke who fires fireballs from his cigar, poisonous chihuahuas, gorillas dressed as mexican wrestlers and a pair of extremely camp S&M clad freaks.

Zillah

Deleted User wrote:

Zero Tolerance on the Mega Drive, G Police on the PS1.

Oh my God, I had forgotten GPolice, I remember loving that game!

L31mr0d wrote:

Star Wars: Republic Commando

I think because it was released around the same time as Battlefront II, a lot of people overlooked it. But imo its one of the best FPS i've played. Great character development, plot and immersion.

I enjoyed it, but it was a little dry. I don't think I even finished it, played it for about two hours but it never really grabbed me.

RetroGamer wrote:

I'm going to put a vote in for Psi-ops

Huh, sounds cool.

Fnz

Retr0gamer wrote:

Also another game nobody bought: God Hand

What other game gives you special moves such as spanking and the good old kick to the balls replete with comedy bell noise. The ridiculous script is played for laughs by the voice actors. The cast of bad guys is equally ridiculous and includes a fat bloke who fires fireballs from his cigar, poisonous chihuahuas, gorillas dressed as mexican wrestlers and a pair of extremely camp S&M clad freaks.

... and punks that pull the mohawk off their head to throw at you. The mohawk regenerates over time. Oh, and the midget power rangers.

As for the plot:
"You have the God Hand because of reasons. Many people want to fight you. Some of them are bosses. YOU MUST PUNCH AND KICK THEM!"

Gizzle

Retr0gamer wrote:

They both weren't exactly overlooked on released, they sold extremely well.

I'm going to put a vote in for Psi-ops and Zone of Enders 2.

I'm pretty sure that Psi-ops should have been a terrible game. However the Havok physics engine and the excellent psychic powers elevated it to a brilliant one. You could use guns in the game but it was much more fun using your psychic powers and the enviroment to kill the bad guys. You never mind when you die because it was another chance for you to try an out an even crueler and unusual way to kill your enemies. Even the boss fights were immensely enjoyable.

I know a lot of people felt betrayed by Konami when they bought ZOE for the MGS2 demo and found out ZOE was a bit repetitive and could be beaten one sitting. ZOE 2 on the other hand is an entirely different beast. It is one of the best action games on the PS2 and one of the best looking. The game constantly surprises you with an amazing set piece that constantly out does the ones before. The train chase was amazing until you get to the part were you are hopping between ships in an armada taking them done only to be surprised later with an amazing pitched battle on the ground. Boss fights as are typical for Konami are amazing. The comedy translation job and terrible acting only add to the package.

Also another game nobody bought: God Hand

Just playing it at the moment and after getting to grips with the punishing difficulty it really is an amazing game with probably the best fighting system ever. Ignore the dreadful IGN review and the other idiots that gave it a low score and trust people who have played it and agree it's awesome (i.e. hardcore gaming 101 and videogaiden). It's also absolutely hilarious. What other game gives you special moves such as spanking and the good old kick to the balls replete with comedy bell noise. The ridiculous script is played for laughs by the voice actors. The cast of bad guys is equally ridiculous and includes a fat bloke who fires fireballs from his cigar, poisonous chihuahuas, gorillas dressed as mexican wrestlers and a pair of extremely camp S&M clad freaks.

Thumbs Down: Psi-Ops. Most definitely not a classic. A mediocre to good game marred by the fact I could never get past the infuriating last cave level.

Thumbs Up: God Hand. I'm currently playing through it and I haven't laughed so much at a game in God knows how long. It has an aul DMC3 learning curve as well that starts off rock hard and gets harder but as you get more skilled it actually seems easier. "Get your feet OFF...MY...TABLE!""

gizmo

I'll second the thumbs up for Psi Ops, thoroughly enjoyed the game on the PC. Extremely fun, looked pretty good for the time and the story was excellent. The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that Midway announced that they won't be making a sequal to it in the foreseeable future as they're concentrating on the Stranglehold licence. BOO!

TheAlmightyArse

Oh yes, God Hand. Okami's ugly little brother, but he's on the ball, he knows what he's doing. He's a double-hard bastard but if you get hurt you know it was your own fault. A great lad, always up for a laugh.

L31mr0d

Michael Cravez wrote:

Personally I think X-com Apocalypse is an overlooked game, it does have a fan base but it seems to be a very dedicated fanbase and i haven't heard alot of the general gaming public talk about it. Iv still yet to play a real time/turn based tactical squad game thats better than it(and the game is a MS-DOS game!)

Apocalypse shat on the graves of UFO Defense and Terror from the deep. They left out a load of features that made the previous two games excellent. Plus all the suspense, eerie soundtrack and creepiness of the previous two was lost. It wasn't overlooked, it was played, its just people where so dissapointed with it, it never got spread around as a great game via word of mouth.

Clank

Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future.
I wish a sequel would be announced, If only more people would've bought this game.:mad:

Retr0gamer

The spanking move in God Hand has me in stitches every time

Check out the crazy jap God Hand advert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSZukIwfgs

Have to mention Panzer Dragoon Orta on the xbox. Far and away the best game on the xbox alongside Ninja Gaiden but criminally ignored on release. Probably the best looking game of last generation. The attention to detail is amazing, they even speak a language made up just for the Panzer Dragoon series. Great story, wonderful to play and a mind blowing soundtrack. The story won'tmean much to anyone who hasn't played Panzer Dragoon Saga but for anyone who has it provides an excellent closure to the game.

koneko

It saddens me that Killer 7 sold so few copies. It was funny to see Suda joking about it at the Snake vs Zombie event though.

Gizzle

koneko wrote:

It saddens me that Killer 7 sold so few copies. It was funny to see Suda joking about it at the Snake vs Zombie event though.

Brilliant game, lets hope Suda isn't so disheartened that he goes off on a complete tangent with "No More Heroes"...

Gizzle

Retr0gamer wrote:

Check out the crazy jap God Hand advert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSZukIwfgs

Heroic.

What always had me in stitches was that the guy who does Belze's voice is the guy who does Spotswoodes's voice in Team America.

Belze: "OK Elvis, now suck my c*ck!"

CiDeRmAn

Loved Eternal Darkness on the GC, scared me witless and I loved every moment of it, also Red Dead Revolver, not sure if it sold as well as it should but great, much better than Gun. Also Coldwinter on the PS2, absolutely fantastic, closest thing to Goldeneye out there and the guy from Inspector Lynley Mysteries does the heroes voice and swears and curses his way through the game! But it is fantastic and can be bought for the price of a sandwich and a cup of tea in your local gamestop.

Retr0gamer

I heard that F-zero GX sold an absolutely pitiful amount of copies. A real shame since it really is the best racing game this generstion bar Outrun 2006: coast 2 coast. It's insanely fast, wonderful looking and a huge challenge to beat. Screw the racing simulators like GT4 and Forza. I'd prefer to be going nearly 2000km/h in a hover car with 39 other racers. The only disappointment is that the 4 player mode reduces graphics quality significantly and it isn't any fun if people aren't used to the game already. It takes a while to get used to the twitch handling.

Stephen!

I dunno if its overlooked, but nobody i know has it or knows of it.

Primal for the ps2, really good game, and very very cool fighting things

Retr0gamer

Thought Primal was a load of arse in all honesty.

Stephen!

Really? I thought it was really good! ANd you had 4 huge levels aswell, but it wasnt the same objectives every time

Retr0gamer

Just thought it didn't excel in any area. The changing into a creature thing to do puzzles was done much better in other games and the combat became dull and repetitive very quickly.

stagolee

Not sure how well it sold but Shadowrun for the SNES was a classic. I was very disappointed when I heard the new game of the same name is some sort of quake 3 arena-like deathmatch game Instead of a modern update of the old classic:( .