Obscure/Underplayed Masterpieces

[JonesMcJones]

Okay, so I've been using Homebrew Channel as an emulation tool for awhile, and I've played nearly all the relevant and well-known games (Mario Bros., Zelda, etc.) for the emulators i have installed (NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, GB/GBA). Does anybody have any good obscure title suggestions for these systems?

 

[ThatsBullocks]

• Terranigma (SNES; an action RPG by Enix that is grand in scope, accompanied by some of the best visuals and sound the SNES can offer)
• Illusion of Gaia (SNES; another action RPG by Enix, and in fact the pseudo-prequel to Terranigma, this is a more linear and almost Zelda-like experience)
• Gimmick!/Mr. Gimmick! (NES, but play the Famicom version; this is one of Sunsoft's proofs that they were masters of the NES, and debatably their best game ever released, it's a clever, charming platformer with a Kirby-esque aesthetic, but unlike Kirby this game is short but tough as nails)
• Ufouria (NES; another Sunsoft classic and another cutesy type game, but this one takes more after the Metroid camp of open level designs)
• Marvelous!! (SNES; an action RPG akin to Link to the Past albeit more concerned with puzzles than fighting)
• Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis; CV itself is well known but this particular game tends to fall through the cracks, which is unfortunate because it kicks absolute ass)
• Mega Man: the Wily Wars (Genesis; a set of remakes of the first three Mega Man titles plus an extra little adventure, this one also tends to be forgotten easily)
• Metal Slug and Metal Slug X (NeoGeo; a once popular-ish run-N'-gun series that quickly became forgotten, these two particular games should absolutely not be missed out on for fans of hard action games in the vein of Contra)

There. That should hopefully be enough to get you started.

 

[JonesMcJones]

Much appreciated my dude. I'll be sure to check those games out.

 

[Spak]

There's a thread a few pages back that might help if you want to see more games that people have classified as hidden gems:

http://smashboards.com/threads/hidden-gems-the-games-that-seemingly-only-you-played.352883/

 

[Minato]

• Terranigma (SNES; an action RPG by Enix that is grand in scope, accompanied by some of the best visuals and sound the SNES can offer)
• Illusion of Gaia (SNES; another action RPG by Enix, and in fact the pseudo-prequel to Terranigma, this is a more linear and almost Zelda-like experience)

I love these two games so so much. Much nostalgia for Illusion of Gaia. Think I got stuck on Terranigma though, so it sounds like I have a game on my backlog to get back to.

 

[finalark]

I've been playing the Parasite Eve games. They're not masterpieces by any sense of the word, they sure as hell aren't Silent Hill or Resident Evil, but they're neat and worth checking out if you're a fan of old-school survival horror.

 

[ElectroLightning]

Splato- *charger shot*

What about Sunset Riders? I enjoyed that game.

 

[FamilyTeam]

Just a heads up: I think you should specify the title of your thread better to state that you want underplayed games from Nintendo systems.
I was about to recommend Spec Ops: The Line, but, yeah, it's not in any of those.
(not that you shouldn't still play it)

 

[Plunder]

Just a heads up: I think you should specify the title of your thread better to state that you want underplayed games from Nintendo systems.
I was about to recommend Spec Ops: The Line, but, yeah, it's not in any of those.
(not that you shouldn't still play it)

Good call on that, I finally just played it because I follow Kinda Funny and Colin Moriaty always talks about it constantly. It definitely fell through the cracks since there was a saturation of similar titles, it's superb and in another class.


I'd highly recommend Bionic Commando for the Game Boy (and NES). I mention this game because the original Game Boy version is overlooked but superior as far as controls and replayability (IMO I also like the GB soundchip better). The game itself is still very unique among platformers in that you don't jump, instead you have to grapple. I consider the controls and gameplay to be some of the most precise and satisfying across all the generations when 2D was king. Once you get proficient with the grapple mechanic, it approaches perfection as the barrier between your inputs and the gameplay vanishes completely. It's straight up skill based and fair, so it's possible to take no damage the entire game and speed-running it is a blast. At times I feel it surpasses early Mario games in precision and level design.

 

[Smudges]

Mother 3.
Maybe not obscure, but I feel it's definitely underplayed.

This game is actually amazing. Story-wise, it's heartwarming, yet heartbreaking at the same time. Bittersweet, is the term. The story telling is incredible, and the awesome soundtrack helps loads. Gameplay can get a bit stale, being esentially the same as Earthbound's, but it's quirky humor is still there, combined with a few darker undertones that come with the storyline.

Basically, if you enjoyed Undertale, you'll probably like it, as Undertale is heavilly Earthbound inspired.

 

[FamilyTeam]

Good call on that, I finally just played it because I follow Kinda Funny and Colin Moriaty always talks about it constantly. It definitely fell through the cracks since there was a saturation of similar titles, it's superb and in another class.

I actually played Spec Ops: The Line not long after it was released (I'm not sure exactly when I first got it other than I got it the same day I got Ghost Recon: Future Solder).
I had no idea of what it was gonna be about. I legit thought it was gonna be just another mediocre shooter for me to play before Black Ops 2 came out. Frankly, that's the best way to go into that game if anything. Even saying SPops The Line has a good storyline is a bit of a spoiler. When you finally get to that scene where everything changes, it's all the more impactful if you don't even know the game was supposed to be deep.