Non-Shmup games that got no love but we love.....

[louisg]

OK, well, in that case, here are some more obscure (semi-obscure?) games to play before you die:

Lock-On (Arcade).. fun arcade first person futuristic jet shooter. I used to be addicted to this.
(no video available)

Speed Buggy (Arcade/C64/Amiga, all good versions, Tatsumi.. Amiga is probably the best one which is actually controllable at home)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YQo3hVfvIw
This is an excellent racing/obstacle course game. It's really addictive.

Hot Rod - Arcade .. I don't know that I can rightfully call this one obscure, but it never really got a good home port and most people haven't heard of it. It's still an excellent game. It's like Sprint, but a lot more entertaining in my opinion. Or, like a non-crappy Moto Roader.
(see? not even a mame video )

Realm of Impossibility (C64)
Seriously, seriously, amazingly overlooked. This is a gem that's a lot of fun with two people. You run through surreal M.C. Escher-like mazes, grabbing treasure, and foiling enemies. You can't shoot enemies, but you can drop crosses which freeze them in their tracks. You can also pick up and cast spells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdGBA0FG7Gk#t=2m

Ninja Gaiden - Arcade. OK, I'm one of the only people who think this is better than the generic home Ninja Gaiden games. But it is! It's one of those rare beat 'em ups with really solid "I'm getting hit because I messed up, not because it's random" gameplay. So, it's got goofy enemies and runs choppy. So what! Go play it. Plus, you have to like that continue screen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaO0M8THQoM#t=1m30s

Breach 2 (Amiga)
This is a great squad strategy game. If you like X-Com, you need to play this. The level editor used to keep me busy for hours. Screw Laser Squad!

Six-Gun Shootout (C64/Apple)
Great strategy game with detailed rules which simulates popular old west battles. Nobody knows this, but they know Law of the West :/

Psi-5 Trading Co. (C64)
Sweet space trading game where you have to run a starcraft populated by your eccentric crew, battling pirates along the way to deliver goods.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yre8waZlJSI

Arcade Game Construction Kit (C64)
I don't think many people know about this one (compared to SEUCK). It lets you design classic style arcade games with all different kind of AI patterns and goals. You can even do Gauntlet-esque games or side view platformers with all kinds of switches. I sunk an unbelievable amount of hours into this, and it's got groovy title screen music too.

Park Patrol (C64)
Fun game where you're a park ranger rescuing people in a raft. I think it's pretty obscure, but fun. It's one of the last classic style Activision games. I almost didn't include this, but I didn't have the heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k-dReIfz00

EDIT: Added more vids

[Drum]

OK, well, in that case, here are some more obscure (semi-obscure?) games to play before you die:

Lock-On (Arcade).. fun arcade first person futuristic jet shooter. I used to be addicted to this.
(no video available)

Speed Buggy (Arcade/C64/Amiga, all good versions, Tatsumi.. Amiga is probably the best one which is actually controllable at home)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YQo3hVfvIw
This is an excellent racing/obstacle course game. It's really addictive.

Hot Rod - Arcade .. I don't know that I can rightfully call this one obscure, but it never really got a good home port and most people haven't heard of it. It's still an excellent game. It's like Sprint, but a lot more entertaining in my opinion. Or, like a non-crappy Moto Roader.
(see? not even a mame video )

Realm of Impossibility (C64)
Seriously, seriously, amazingly overlooked. This is a gem that's a lot of fun with two people. You run through surreal M.C. Escher-like mazes, grabbing treasure, and foiling enemies. You can't shoot enemies, but you can drop crosses which freeze them in their tracks. You can also pick up and cast spells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdGBA0FG7Gk#t=2m

Ninja Gaiden - Arcade. OK, I'm one of the only people who think this is better than the generic home Ninja Gaiden games. But it is! It's one of those rare beat 'em ups with really solid "I'm getting hit because I messed up, not because it's random" gameplay. So, it's got goofy enemies and runs choppy. So what! Go play it. Plus, you have to like that continue screen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaO0M8THQoM#t=1m30s

Breach 2 (Amiga)
This is a great squad strategy game. If you like X-Com, you need to play this. The level editor used to keep me busy for hours. Screw Laser Squad!

Six-Gun Shootout (C64/Apple)
Great strategy game with detailed rules which simulates popular old west battles. Nobody knows this, but they know Law of the West :/

Psi-5 Trading Co. (C64)
Sweet space trading game where you have to run a starcraft populated by your eccentric crew, battling pirates along the way to deliver goods.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yre8waZlJSI

Arcade Game Construction Kit (C64)
I don't think many people know about this one (compared to SEUCK). It lets you design classic style arcade games with all different kind of AI patterns and goals. You can even do Gauntlet-esque games or side view platformers with all kinds of switches. I sunk an unbelievable amount of hours into this, and it's got groovy title screen music too.

Park Patrol (C64)
Fun game where you're a park ranger rescuing people in a raft. I think it's pretty obscure, but fun. It's one of the last classic style Activision games. I almost didn't include this, but I didn't have the heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k-dReIfz00

EDIT: Added more vids

Who was that guy trying to defeat me in my Yu Suzuki troll thread many months back? I should have made him eat Buggy Boy and Lock-on. Yu Suzuki, smh.
You should play Night Stocker if you haven't already - you will really like it.

[dcharlie]

Wizkid - The Story of Wizball 2 (Amiga)
Generally praised very highly apart from a few idjits on release, but came out late on a platform that never took off in the places that apparently matter, and has been largely forgotten by Amiga fans - possibly because they are dumb:

so good to see Wizkid get some love - absolutely love it.

Got no love :

Conflict
Played the Atari ST version. Sims being the PM of Israel - really simple, totally addictive.

Ranarama
Again, ST version. Gauntlet clone with a frog, spells, and even some samples

The Sentinel
Well, okay, this probably does get some love but one of the greatest games i've ever played (C64 version). Shame the PS1/PC remakes ran a bit poorly. Probably play great now, though iOS Survielance is a good homage.

[EinhanderZwei]

Gunbuster would have to have counted as incredibly influential-- if anyone played it (first mouse-aim style fps game, first deathmatch-focused arena fps-- both by several years)

And seems like it was released a year before Marathon, the first PC (well, Mac to be exact) FPS with 'true' mouselook controls

[louisg]

so good to see Wizkid get some love - absolutely love it.

Got no love :

Ranarama
Again, ST version. Gauntlet clone with a frog, spells, and even some samples

The Sentinel
Well, okay, this probably does get some love but one of the greatest games i've ever played (C64 version). Shame the PS1/PC remakes ran a bit poorly. Probably play great now, though iOS Survielance is a good homage.

Whoa, I had no idea about WizKid, and I'd previously written The Sentinel off as just one of those first person adventures. It's really ingenious! I've found some new classics on my favorite systems.. thanks!

Also, I'd played the C64 Ranarama and liked it except for how it controlled (seemed laggy). Is the ST one much better in that regard?

Who was that guy trying to defeat me in my Yu Suzuki troll thread many months back? I should have made him eat Buggy Boy and Lock-on. Yu Suzuki, smh.
You should play Night Stocker if you haven't already - you will really like it.

Hey, OutRun rules! But I can't praise it on this thread. Turbo Outrun on the other hand.. unappreciated and solid. And Super Hang-On too.

I will try Night Stocker; it seems like my cup of tea.

And seems like it was released a year before Marathon, the first PC (well, Mac to be exact) FPS with 'true' mouselook controls

Hmm, did that have the strafe/fore/back + mouselook controls? I remember you could do it with a lot of games, but you'd have to change all the controls or, in the case of Quake, even hack up a config file in a text editor (shudder). I don't remember anything really properly supporting those kinds of full 3d modes, especially as the main control scheme, until the late 90s. If Marathon did it, that's pretty cool. I've been actually messing with that series via AlephOne lately. It's not a lot to look at now, and it doesn't quite play as well as Doom (imo), but it really did introduce a lot of elements into FPS games that we now take for granted.

[EinhanderZwei]

If Marathon did it, that's pretty cool. I've been actually messing with that series via AlephOne lately. It's not a lot to look at now, and it doesn't quite play as well as Doom (imo), but it really did introduce a lot of elements into FPS games that we now take for granted.

Off the top of my head:
- True mouselook (yeah, an obscure fact, but that's because the series started as MacOS exclusive)
- Dual wielding
- Health regenerators on the walls
- Vacuum-filled levels
- BEST VIDEOGAME PLOT EVER. PERIOD.

Though Marathon trilogy doesn't fit in this topic - it does have a sort of underground following

[cools]

I always liked Golvellius (Master System) when I was a kid, although not many people had ever heard or played it in school.

I owned it Loved the music but found it incredibly difficult to play, though I did get many hours of fun out of it.

[Arcatech]

I remember playing that 3d cowboy game when I was a whippersnapper. The tech really impressed me back then. It would be bad ass to play the actual cab again.

Bet it costs a lot to buy one nowadays. Thanks for the nostalgia tip.

Fixeight is a game I like that doesn't get a lot of love. The sound in mame is garbage but gameplay still fun. All about the ninja and the girl with green hair in that one. She has a wicked close range special weapon. Good stuff

[Drum]

So this thread got me to pin Winuae to my start menu, get back into some Amiga emulation.
Problem: Emulated load times.
Anybody know a way around this? Tried dicking with the settings, nothing seems to work.

[Koa Zo]

Target earth (Assault Suits Leynos) on the genesis, i always thought it was awesome, played it as a kid. I think it only got slightly popular in japan, the subsequent titles were not even released outside Japan.

The SNES follow-up was published in the US as Cybernator.
And I do believe the Assault Suit Leynos games were quite popular in Japan. One of the games was remade for PS2, and the resale price of the Saturn version has always indicated some sort of demand.


My suggestion for this thread is Q-Bert on Playstation.
I also like Q-Bert 3 on SNES, but the Playstation game is such a great sequel. Perfect and true-to-form gameplay made into a bit of a quest game. This version is also on Dreamcast, but that rev is a Windows CE game and just doesn't play as nicely as Playstation version.

Other favorites of mine that don't get enough recognition are the PS2 games, Snoopy vs the Red Baron, and Finny the Fish.
The Snoopy game is really one of the top PS2 games I've played.

[Skykid]

I always liked Golvellius (Master System) when I was a kid, although not many people had ever heard or played it in school.

I owned it Loved the music but found it incredibly difficult to play, though I did get many hours of fun out of it.

Quality, we're kindred gaming spirits.

It was a tough and quirky little RPG, although I did finish it in the end but remember desperately needing help at one point (can't recall where I got it.)

It was all to do with needing Bibles to increase the amount of money you could hold, or something weird like that, and at one point figuring out how to increase the wallet became really frustrating. Great atmosphere though, thanks Compile.

Also, I'd like to add S.T.U.N Runner in the arcade. Used to play it a lot as a kid and it was great.

[Evilmaxwar]

So this thread got me to pin Winuae to my start menu, get back into some Amiga emulation.
Problem: Emulated load times.
Anybody know a way around this? Tried dicking with the settings, nothing seems to work.

Yeah the load times are horrible, at least you often have a cool music for ingame load screens. I use Winuaex for original Xbox and it has a "fast forward" control that is very helpful to skip the loads, probably there is some hotkey to do it on PC ?

Also, there is a way to emulate the games as if they were installed on a HD, once again helps greatly for load time, probably doable on the pc version ?
Check this thread, its for Xbox version but can give you ideas maybe.

[Mortificator]

Yes, you need to set up a virtual hard drive in WinUAE's menus, install a Workbench OS to that, and then install WHDLoad to that. I expect you could get more info on the process at EAB, if it's worth the effort to you.

[GateofThunderforceIII]

Just finished Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for the 360. I'm sure this game was completely ignored by the masses despite getting 7s from many reviewers (personally, I would give it an 8.5). Great, great game with a light hearted feel. Not too long at around 13 hours and a very good balance between action and puzzles. Great job, Game Republic!

[DJ Incompetent]

It is the Donnie Darko of videogames.

What does that mean...

Nier has this simple dark story most people will follow, but it also has this radically different darker story layered underneath for thinking people where figuring it out almost requires a side book found online that explains what is really going on....just like Donnie Darko.

[dunpeal2064]

It is the Donnie Darko of videogames.

What does that mean...

Nier has this simple dark story most people will follow, but it also has this radically different darker story layered underneath for thinking people where figuring it out almost requires a side book found online that explains what is really going on....just like Donnie Darko.

Now i have to play this

I also fully agree with shadow hearts, way overshadowed by ff10

Speaking of, my pick goes to final fantasy x-2. I have only met 1 other person that enjoyed it, but i thought it was a blast

[sjewkestheloon]

I really enjoyed FFX-2, it was silly fun with a great battle system.

Star Ocean The Last Hope would be my main choice for the thread. Objectively the story and characters are terrible but I've already played it through 3 times and spent around 350 hours playing it. Basically the battle system is really good fun and there are some great mechanics at work. There are also a million Battle Trophies to collect which become quite addictive if you let them.

Two Worlds, with many reservations, also fits here. The single player game is undoubtedly horrible but when I started playing the 360 multiplayer game with some friends we all became thoroughly addicted to the weapon stacking and item forging mechanics, and the alchemy was great too. Figuring out you could use potions to gain stats in certain areas, then detrain your skills for a fee and reallocate them to a more useful area helped us create monsterous toons.

Too Human is also another good one. Sure it only has four levels but the combat is superb. It's a shame that people were too stupid or lazy to spend a couple of hours getting used to the controls as anyone who has played it for any length of time can do some excellent show boating. It also contains an incredibly deep customisation system for the armours sets with a huge number of ways to spec each class to keep things varied.

[EinhanderZwei]

Many people tend to dismiss Resident Evil 3, though I believe that it's as strong as the first two...

[dunpeal2064]

I really enjoyed FFX-2, it was silly fun with a great battle system.

Star Ocean The Last Hope would be my main choice for the thread. Objectively the story and characters are terrible but I've already played it through 3 times and spent around 350 hours playing it. Basically the battle system is really good fun and there are some great mechanics at work. There are also a million Battle Trophies to collect which become quite addictive if you let them.

Two Worlds, with many reservations, also fits here. The single player game is undoubtedly horrible but when I started playing the 360 multiplayer game with some friends we all became thoroughly addicted to the weapon stacking and item forging mechanics, and the alchemy was great too. Figuring out you could use potions to gain stats in certain areas, then detrain your skills for a fee and reallocate them to a more useful area helped us create monsterous toons.

Too Human is also another good one. Sure it only has four levels but the combat is superb. It's a shame that people were too stupid or lazy to spend a couple of hours getting used to the controls as anyone who has played it for any length of time can do some excellent show boating. It also contains an incredibly deep customisation system for the armours sets with a huge number of ways to spec each class to keep things varied.

I have not yet tried Star Ocean: The Last Hope.

I did really enjoy the ps2 Star Ocean. Thought the story did a really good job of making you tired of being around all these people that knew nothing, and then letting you know that your characters knew nothing as well (I was trying to write that and avoid spoilers, so it may not make any sense)

I'm not sure how well Blue Dragon did, and I have not gotten too far in the game, but so far I am in love. Final Fantasy 9 music and Dragonball Z mashed together.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Alpha Protocol.

It makes me wonder whether the reviewers actually played the same game, or whether the PC version is just miles better than the console ones. Totally didn't notice any broken cover system or a tendency for the AI to run at you and try to club you to death, which a lot of reviews spent time moaning about. In fact, I thought it was a thoroughly brilliant game with combat that was miles better than Mass Effect. I was a bit disappointed that the three main chapters didn't really connect in terms of storyline (your relationships generally stay within the chapter) and some of the boss fights were a bit daft, but otherwise I thought it was great.

The main stealth gameplay reminded me of Headhunter and was incredibly satisfying - but when you screwed up, the out-and-out action was almost as satisfying to fight your way out of. Loved the attention to detail with the conversation system, although you could make your character sound disjoined by hopping randomly between response styles. Gutted that, due to the overwhelmingly negative press, any chance of a sequel was canned practically before the game had a chance to sell.