What underrated games did you find amazing?

[UberMario]

Basically this is the opposite of the underwhelming thread, instead of talking about hyped and popular games you didn't like, what hated or obscure games did you find very fun?

For me the Survival Kids/Lost in Blue series and the Hamtaro series were pretty good, the former I just find really appealing for some reason (probably due to the numerous modes and strategies needed), and the latter I just found better than I thought, I was expecting the Hamtaro games to be ridiculously easy but they actually take some thinking to get through the games. Stunt Race FX, the Game & Watch Gallery series, and Destruction Derby 64 are a couple other games that surprised me how much I liked them.

Have any of you played games like that? Where you thought they'd be bad but after playing you found them to be pretty enjoyable?

 

[finalark]

Kirby's Air Ride, sure the game got a ton of hate but that could never tarnish the memories I have of my friends and I staying up to some ungodly hour playing city trial.

 

[Kole]

Roller Coaster Tycoon 2.

So many possibilities with hacks and mods.

For example: http://www.nedesigns.com/images/stories/gold/virginia_key_resort_casino/aerialf.png (Picture is 5633x2937 waaay to big for me to post.

 

[MrBlueSky]

F-Zero GX. I cant believe the game sold poorly even after so much hype at old E3. F-Zero needs more respect that it has now.

Also Cheetah Man 2 lol. Great game to speed run. And all the glitches just make it hilarious to play.

(I too liked Kirby's Air Ride)

 

[finalark]

F-Zero GX. I cant believe the game sold poorly even after so much hype at old E3. F-Zero needs more respect that it has now.

I second this motion.

Another game I liked that everyone hated was Star Fox Adventures and Assault. It's probably because I played these two long before I played Star Fox 64 (I had a PS1 back then), but whatever. I liked them both.

 

[The Real Gamer]

I agree with F-Zero GX. Highly underrated and unappreciated game.

I'm still patiently waiting for a new F-Zero on the Wii... WITH NO MOTION CONTROLS!

 

[MikeHaggarTHAKJB]

F-Zero GX. I cant believe the game sold poorly even after so much hype at old E3. F-Zero needs more respect that it has now.

hell yes, f-zero gx was ****. way better then x (cept the music)

 

[Jimnymebob]

I second this motion.

Another game I liked that everyone hated was Star Fox Adventures and Assault. It's probably because I played these two long before I played Star Fox 64 (I had a PS1 back then), but whatever. I liked them both.

I'd probably have to go for the first Bubsy on the Mega Drive, man that game was fun.

However, I'm slightly confused how the two Star Fox games were underrated? They may not have been as popular as Lylat Wars, but they're hardly as underrated as something like Zool or Lure of the Temptress XD.

 

[finalark]

However, I'm slightly confused how the two Star Fox games were underrated? They may not have been as popular as Lylat Wars, but they're hardly as underrated as something like Zool or Lure of the Temptress XD.

They weren't really underrated critically, but as far as the gaming community as a whole goes it can best be described as, "It isn't Star Fox 64 so it sucks."

 

[:mad:]

Turok: Evolution was one of my favorite games back in the day and I still enjoy playing it today.

 

[JesiahTEG]

@ the OP- Survival Kids was amazzzzzing omgggg

also, star ocean 3

 

[finalark]

also, star ocean 3

SO3 really isn't underrated or obscure, many sites gave it positive reviews and most people I know who played it said it was really good.

Another game that falls into this category was the very, very obscure Game Boy Color game Magi-Nation. The game's premise is simple, you explore the world and you capture different creatures and fight with. Here's where the similarities to Pokemon end, you can summon up to four creatures at once using your own HP and you can get into the fight yourself by casting spells to help your critters. The story and characters were both silly and interested at the same time and the game was really fun to play. Sure, it was flawed (schizophrenic difficulty, sometimes hard to figure out where to go next, the fact that your inventory doesn't tell you what your items do) but there was so much potential for such a good series.

 

[BBQTV]

i dont even know where to start

 

[Firus]

*Points at avatar*

Mirror's Edge. I love that game to death, but it was received pretty mediocrely critically and most everyone I know doesn't like it at all.

 

[Fuelbi]

*Points at avatar*

Mirror's Edge. I love that game to death, but it was received pretty mediocrely critically and most everyone I know doesn't like it at all.

What are you talking about? A lot of reviewers rated it positively. Although some of them DID point out that you either love it or you don't.

Personally, the animated cutscenes sets me off from buying it (yes, I did check out some screenshots on the web)

 

[Dru2]

War of the Monsters. 'nuff said.

 

[Lythium]

What are you talking about? A lot of reviewers rated it positively. Although some of them DID point out that you either love it or you don't.

Personally, the animated cutscenes sets me off from buying it (yes, I did check out some screenshots on the web)

Um, Mirror's Edge did terribly. You can find it for like 10 dollars in bargain bins. Not saying that it's not a good game, because it was interesting and innovative and had great gameplay. I enjoyed it a lot. But it didn't sell well at all.

 

[darksamus77]

ODST doesn't get enough credit, and I liked it much better than Halo 3...not sure if it's really underrated, but it certainly doesn't get the credit it deserves...

 

[BBQTV]

shadow hearts

nocturne

digital devil saga

devil summoner

 

[Lythium]

nocturne

digital devil saga

devil summoner

Agreed. Megaten games do not get enough credit.

 

[BBQTV]

Agreed. Megaten games do not get enough credit.

yeah but their halo compared to shadow hearts

 

[DCLXVI]

Godhand is by far my favorite single player game. It also helped put Clover Studio out of business...

 

[Lythium]

yeah but their halo compared to shadow hearts

I haven't played Shadow Hearts myself, so I cannot give an opinion on it. I have heard that it's very good though.

Also, Persona is pretty underrated, even if it's the most well-known of SMT games.

 

[BBQTV]

I haven't played Shadow Hearts myself, so I cannot give an opinion on it. I have heard that it's very good though.

Also, Persona is pretty underrated, even if it's the most well-known of SMT games.

persona put atlus on the map. probably cause its Animesque

 

[Luigitoilet]

Godhand is by far my favorite single player game. It also helped put Clover Studio out of business...

Hell yeah man!

For me, almost every game made by Treasure is incredible, and they are mostly all underrated.

Dynamite Headdy (see my avatar) is probably my favorite Sega Genesis platformer. You attack enemies by throwing your head at them. You can also get powerups for your head. It's weird and quirky and I LOVE IT. It's also really hard. The game is unique, in that the North American version is actually significantly harder than the Japanese version. In most cases it is the other way around.

Gunstar Heroes is another Genesis gem. Everyone who plays this game likes it. It's just nobody ever mentions it nowadays. It's a really intense, action packed shooter/platformer. The intensity never lets up. It's just full-on awesome nonstop fun. This game is unique because you have two weapon slots. You pick up several different powerups for your gun throughout the game, and you combine two of them to form a new weapon. There are lots of cool combinations, but only two good ones. This isn't as hard as Dynamite Headdy, but there are some tough sections/bosses.

Mischief Makers is agreat N64 2D Platformer. I haven't played it since 1997 but it was by far one of the most memorable games on the system. There's a neat story, and the gameplay is episodic and cool, and similarly action packed as Gunstar Heroes although it's a bit more strategic.

My personal favorite game ever, though, is Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon for the N64. Here is one reason why: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzt65nNigjA&feature=related

 

[Crazy_mofo213]

F-Zero GX. I cant believe the game sold poorly even after so much hype at old E3. F-Zero needs more respect that it has now.

Yes. F-Zero GX was one of the best games on the Gamecube and is my favorite racing game. I Really wish they'd make a sequel

 

[Firus]

What are you talking about? A lot of reviewers rated it positively. Although some of them DID point out that you either love it or you don't.

...No they didn't? A handful did, but most that I saw were around 7/10. Its Metacritic is 79 -- not bad, but not what I'd call positive.

Hell, I wouldn't even rate it that well, because as a game it's lacking in general replay value, has collision flaws, annoying parts with floods of enemies, it's short, and it's generally pretty unfun for the first run-through because you die multiple times and spend time trying to find where you're going rather than enjoying high speed running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop. If you don't really love the experience it has to offer you're not going to get a whole lot out of it.

Personally, the animated cutscenes sets me off from buying it (yes, I did check out some screenshots on the web)

That's just silly. The cutscenes are incredibly unimportant. Whether you like the actual gameplay or not depends on your taste, but to me it's an unrivaled experience. To shun the game because of its cutscenes is missing the entire point of the game.

 

[Crimson King]

A few games really fit on this list for me:

Emperor: Battle for Dune - an AMAZING RTS in the Dune installment. The game, like others in the series, featured House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and House Ordos in an intergalactic struggle for control over spice - a mineral fuel. The story is live acted, and the level of depth given to the game is exceptional. Sadly, when EA consolidated Westwood, Dune was left to die for now.

Altitude - I LOVE indie games, and this game isn't getting the respect it deserves. It's a fun title, that really should be played by everyone. Look up vids.

Others that I liked:

- Penumbra
- Overlord
- Second Sight
- Psi Ops
- Startopia

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

Glover. bought it for $5 new. played it many times. PLayed it again recently, still a blast.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

Quite a few.

Kirby Air Ride was so much better than it was held for, going for 20 dollars after a few months.
Star Ocean 3 is amazing too me.
Final Fantasy XII is nice despite the hostility.
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Final Fantasy IX
Twilight Princess (It gets so much crap, but it's not a bad game..)
Lost Planet 2 (It may not be as unpopular as it is here)
The Naruto Fighting Games

 

[finalark]

Final Fantasy IX
Twilight Princess

These two, holy crap these two. And the sad thing is that generally the reasons I've heard for the hate can be boiled down to "It isn't Final Fantasy VII/Ocarina of Time so it sucks."

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

These two, holy crap these two. And the sad thing is that generally the reasons I've heard for the hate can be boiled down to "It isn't Final Fantasy VII/Ocarina of Time so it sucks."

Okay, let me tell you a story. It's my anniversary with my girlfriend, and she says, "What do you want?" (2010, this year). I could get a 50 dollar Wiii game, a ps3 game and use my friends ps3...but no. I get FFIX.

I will say I did not like Excalibur2. I'm a perfectionist, so when theres something I can't get it, it makes me upset. (And no, I will NEVER have that sword) I can get lv99 with max stats(I.e. getting to the end of the game @lv1, that's easy... I need to do that soon, I got halfdone and got lazy), but the sword is ridiculous. Other than that an a SSJ4 boss it was epic. Good storyline, brought back the old jobs and graphics, I loved it. All the realism in games today, SE needs to make another FFIX in my honest opinion. Oh yeah, cookie points because it had a good difficulty first time through.

Twilight Princess. I perfer cell shade, so yes I'm excited for SkywardSword. I mean come on, my main is Toon Link. Yet, I read the thread that disses it in the Zelda room, and that is a bit much. I don't see a "What did you not like about XXX" thread of any other Zelda game but it. And being a Wolf is cool, so whatever. My only complaint actually was Zant being outdone by Ganondorf. Zant is the best.

I have a suspicion we have a lot in common. XD. Don't get me wrong though, I like FF7 and Oot.

 

[finalark]

I have a suspicion we have a lot in common. XD. Don't get me wrong though, I like FF7 and Oot.

Eh, maybe.

I wasn't a big fan of FF7, though.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

If it means anything, I only was of the game, not the add ons. I think I said that earlier. I actually liked X more than any of them, because I'm emotional and like a good romance. When Tidus dies it is so sad..or always been dead, lol. X-2 was an abomination though. You know, they should stop sequels all together. FF13 Agito is already doomed based on their past.

You ever think a hardcore realistic type Megaman would be cool? I'm not really into the realisiticness of games, but I think it could work.

And another for my list: Lost Kingdoms (10 dollars to anyone who knows that game, j/k)

 

[finalark]

You ever think a hardcore realistic type Megaman would be cool?

No. It would be like this: http://www.beefjack.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/act_zero_cover.jpg

Baaaaack on topic. You know what game I found oddly entertaining? Dirge of Cerberus.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

It was "okay". Vince was an overrated character, to the point of Cloud almost. His backstory was overdramatized, but the gameplay was hard and fun. It deserved an 8 to be fair, and I'm glad I got it, but that is about it. The music by Gackt was amazing, though.

Edit: Nevermind on the Megaman idea.

 

[finalark]

It was "okay". Vince was an overrated character, to the point of Cloud almost. His backstory was overdramatized, but the gameplay was hard and fun. It deserved an 8 to be fair, and I'm glad I got it, but that is about it. The music by Gackt was amazing, though.

You don't even want to know how may awesome points you just gained.

Yeah, I Vincent always kind of pissed me of with his "... and that was my sin..." bull. Seriously, I never got what he supposed "sin" was anyway.

Ugh, FF7's plot was always all over the freaking map. It's like what happened to Metal Gear in MGS2 is what I've heard is correct.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

Just FF7 NOTHING BUT THE GAME, is okay if you research it. The addons make it a cluster**** of horse**** though.

And I love Gackt, though his DoC songs were his best songs... which is odd, lol. That one flying level with the Gackt song playing was epic, I was like "Okay Vince is cool"

 

[finalark]

Just FF7 NOTHING BUT THE GAME, is okay if you research it. The addons make it a cluster**** of horse**** though.

Even FF7 had that problem, the plot was all over the place and had some truly terrible structure.

And I love Gackt, though his DoC songs were his best songs... which is odd, lol. That one flying level with the Gackt song playing was epic, I was like "Okay Vince is cool"

Longing and Redemption are far from his best. Luna, Oasis, Mirror, Jesus, Ghost and so many others >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Longing and Redemption.

But yeah, this is getting waaaaaay off topic. So on topic:

Am I the only person in the world who was able to look past the Bongos and loved DK Jungle Beat?

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

I want to play it, but I can't find bongos anywhere. (And I like the songs you mentioned, but his voice makes a weird noise on half of those that erk me for some reason =x)

Bongos, I needz Bongos