Fairly Low Profile Games You're Excited About and Why.

[Crispin]

What it says on the tin. Game sites seem to spend so much attention on the big titles. It's absurd. I know now what the first half an hour of Metroid Prime 2 will play like. Game sites always overlook the little guys. Well not this one.


Advent Rising (Xbox)
Large gametrailer Movie:

http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_adventrising_3.html

http://www.adventtrilogy.com/home/

Ok, so it's looks repetitive, some of you will berate it's simplicity, but this might be one of the first games that finally implements an action packed bullet-time fest properly. It's being developed in Utah. Don't worry. It's not by the same developer who did the atrocious war of the monsters on PS2.

Amazing Island (GameCube)
Smallish gametrailer Movie

http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_amazingisland_e3_2k4.html

Imagine the excellent minigames from Pokemon stadium mixed with character creation. With over 50 activities, this should be typical Sega fun. After the flawed delight that was Billy Hatcher (best 2003 platformer, pissed all over the Prince), I'm hoping Sega can once again remind exactly why I love them so. Coupled with the Sega development teams finally being brought back together under one roof, and I'm definitely importing this one.

Virtua Fighter Cybergeneration (Gamecube/PS2)

Ok, so possibly this isn't that low-profile, but it deserves some mention. My topic, my rules. When this was first announced, it created a storm of controversy on this site. Many gamers were hoping for it to follow in the footsteps of Shenmue I & II. Luckily, Sega weren't suicidal enough to do that. What we're getting is something that looks fun instead. A intriguiing combo system involving the use of a chain, mixed with a typical grandiose plot and conspiracy theories. The Virtua Fighter link appears to be rather tenuous, and merely a way for this to sell more copies, but who really cares if the game turns out to be gootd? At least they're riding on the back of games they created themselves *cough*Goldeneye*cough*. Again, will import as soon as the American version is released.

Evil Genius (PC)

http://www.howevilareyou.com/us/

Not the best looking game in the world, far from it, but when you see it all in motion it suddenly makes sense. A game, if ever there was one, that is perfect material to be filled with British humour. Hopefully Elixir studios will be able to do just that. The last game I can think of that included British humour of any form was total ****e to play. Yes, I'm looking at you Team17. Besides, my Theme Park/Theme Hospital gaming stomach section is beginning to sound hungry again.

May add more if I remember then.

[martTM]

Ribbit King (PS2/GC) - Golf, with frogs on catapults. Best idea ever.

And yes, I know it's already out on import, before anyone says anything.

[Concept]

In your dreams? No - I jest.

That sounds excellent. I wonder who'll pick it up for PAL?

[Yoshimoto]

Dunno if you'd class it as "low profile" or not but i can't wait for my Espgaluda to arrive.

If its anything like the quality that Esprade was then i'm gonna be a very happy bunny soon. I hate having to play stuff via Mame usually but i just can't resist when it comes to this amazing classic. A home release would just be the best thing ever.

My Espgaluda is currently at the "preparing order" stage at Play Asia...That means i might have it by early next week.

[Stuart Smith]

Read some stuff about Advent Rising a little while ago, really did sound extremely promising! Definitely one to keep an eye on.

I don't know if this counts as low-profile, but a game I more than most people really cannot wait for is StarCraft: Ghost. Whilst it will probably end up being a fairly throwaway, generic third-person actioner, the promise of wandering around the StarCraft universe in full next-gen 3D is just too much for me to resist!

[SharkAttack]

Virtua Fighter Cyber got completely slated at E3 from what I read. Let's hope it is at next years E3 and not rushed out.

Low Profile games I am looking forward too -

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - A new way of playing a game. Sounds great to me!

Odama - A new style of game. Sounds great to me!

[martTM]

In your dreams? No - I jest.

That sounds excellent. I wonder who'll pick it up for PAL?

Atari - I got an email about it this afternoon. Needless to say, the concept of using a mallet on a see-saw to literally catapult frogs around a course is coming to the UK. Can't wait.

[PeteJ]

Absolutely regarding Jungle Beat, it's drum-tappingly good. I expect the fun will wear off within an hour or so, but if you've already got the Bongos then this is a must. Beating up that dark Kong...ahhh, gaming bliss.

Psi Ops is pretty decent too, especially as you can pick people up and throw them around the room. Plus you can pick up objects and ride them about the level, which is ace.

Midway are doing an Ubisoft on us.

[Concept]

Serious Mart?

These are changing times... Even three years ago, I wouldn't have thought an abstract concept such as this could make it out over here. Superb.

[Mr Spew]

The amount of interest in such titles means that the audience is pretty limited from the off, unless it's promoted and shown well on the website.

But yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing such a place.

[Fuddle]

Room Zoom on xbox.
it comes out in a few weeks (usa), and seems to be dirt cheap.
from the few screens i've seen it looks like a 3d micro machines.
havent heard much about the actual gameplay, but it looks ok, with the cheapo price and live play i might give it a shot.

[martTM]

Serious Mart?

These are changing times... Even three years ago, I wouldn't have thought an abstract concept such as this could make it out over here. Superb.

And as if by magic, a man with a catapult-bashing mallet appeared.

London, UK ? 15 June 2004 ? Atari announces the forthcoming release of Ribbit King, a ridiculously original sports adventure game from Bandai. The game in question isn?t golf, but ?frolf?, a new hybrid of the familiar gentleman?s favourite, where the clubs are replaced by a mallet, and the balls by, yes you?ve guessed it, frogs. And the squishy green creatures in question not only tolerate being hurled skywards, but even seem to enjoy it. But then, it must be quite a rush flying towards your goal at high velocity through the air. Of course, it?s an even bigger rush if you hit a tree.

In the game you play a young space creature named Scooter, sent on a mission by his king to restore his home planet?s supply of Super Ribbinite, the power source on which his world relies. Naturally, the only way to secure the Ribbinite is to travel the galaxy winning games of frolf. And so Scooter heads for the planets in his space craft accompanied by his faithful companion, a small picnic basket with limbs and eyes called Picwick.

A satisfying round of ?frolf? wouldn?t be complete without a range of different courses along which to send your own frog, Kero, hurtling. Bring the hammer down on the frog launcher and instantly give Kero a bird?s eye view of whichever planet you?re playing on, be it the shimmering blue ice-scapes of Planet Frosticle, Planet Lavatron?s lava rivers, or the green green grass of Ribbetopia. On landing, Kero will give a few helpful hops, but it?s not that easy. There?s plenty of strange and wonderful obstacles between Kero and your goal. Some can be a big help; a good rebound off a spider?s web is worth its weight in frogs for example. A broadside straight into an elephant, however, is unlikely to increase your chances of topping the leader board.

?Ribbit King is a fantastic fun game for novice gamers, or those who want to get to grips with a console for the first time,? said Martin Spiess, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Atari Europe. ?It?s packed full of amazing creatures and vivid worlds, and is great fun to pick up and play. And of course there?s no arguing with the concept of hitting frogs at a target with a great big mallet!?

As well as the main story mode the game offers a versus mode with stroke or match play options. The multiplayer mode allows up to four players to join in the battle to be the first to sink their frog.

Ribbit King for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube is scheduled for European release in September 2004.

www.ribbitking.com - 'nuff said. Between this and Kinnikuman Generations, I'm loving the Bandai goodness right about... now.

In addition, Psi-Ops (as Mr Pete said) is rather great - surprisingly great, in fact.

[Moodmon]

The new Robotecg game. If only because the developers showed in the last one they had a real passion for the franchise, and managed to create a quality game around it.

Even if I'm the only one that thinks so

[Cacophanus]

Tetsujin 28
Sandlot super robot CLASS!

The Daibijin
I was really looking forward to this, but it's pretty ropey. Really cool idea though.

Assault Suits Valken
This is clearly going to be utterly amazing, in every way imaginable.

Gradius V
Could be very very very good indeed.

Yoshinoya
Mental fun, and quite tricky!

[Square]

Gradius V. It looks like being everything Gradius 4 wasn't, but should have been.