Under/Rated

[cutmymilk]

I collect and play obscure underrated games, almost to the detriment of mainstream games, and there are hundreds of amazing classics out there (Hardcore Gaming 101 is practically built on the foundation of underated retro games). But to save energy I'm just going to mention:

Everblue 1 & 2
Both on PS2, you spend time swimming calmly under the sea, collecting rubbish to sell. Certain bits of junk are valuable to specific islanders, and some items are needed to create newer items or special gear. So you swim, use sonar to find screws, tin cans, wooden items, or rummage through sunken ships for rare paintings and furniture to sell. It's like being an underwater binman and it is incredible.

Both games are great, though mostly identical.

Just googled that site. Now I have dozens of games I want to play. Thanks...

[nakamura]

I hope you played them! Both absolute gems I felt - very little else quite like it. Aquanauts maybe, but I love the salvaging in Everblue. Would kill for a current-gen update.

Not yet I haven't but I am slowly chipping away at my PS2 collection.

[Neon Ignition]

Nothing epic but I remember having fun with this, Burning Road:

[Neon Ignition]

Chase the Express:

[Team Andromeda]

Chase the Express:

Yes that was a great game, looked stunning too

I'll Like to add some more

Exhumed



I think one of the last FPS (along with Halo) made for love of the game and genre, rather than for cooperate and money reasons (trying to cash in). Just playing this game would can tell it was made with love, care and a passion. Overlooked by so many, such a shame.. has it's level design is matched only by Mario IV for perfection and cleverness (some of the puzzles were so well played out) and just when you thought you finished the game, you could start all over and collect the Team Dolls, which was even more challenging. Also the sound in this game was just fantastic, I also **** my pants the 1st time I heard that Lava dragon (SEGA wanted shagging for not helping the corp out)

Maxen X



A FPS with some original gameplay and Art. Loved it from start to finish .

AITD IV



One of the scariest and jumpiest Horror games I've ever played and was super game in its own right & right up with RE, and the DC version to this day looks simply stunning

Pen pen


Just simply pick and play gameplay and Japanese Madness. Can I be the only one that liked this gem ?. So wished we would have got a sequel with double the tracks and 4 player online play (the game real short comings)

Star Flight


The best space game I played after Elite and WC. A stunning game, that was really ahead of its time, and the MD port was simply fantastic; Lost hours and hours in Playing Star Flight. Should have sold so much better

[Sketcz]

Maxen X



A FPS with some original gameplay and Art. Loved it from start to finish .

Star Flight


The best space game I played after Elite and WC. A stunning game, that was really ahead of its time, and the MD port was simply fantastic; Lost hours and hours in Playing Star Flight. Should have sold so much better

Wow, Maken X looks really good. An EGM back in the day absolutely slated it, so I avoided it. Looks like I should ahve checked it out.

Also, if you like Starflight, you should check out Star Control 2. Some sections of SC2 were helped with by the Starflight creator, and it's basically the concept of Starflight but improved exponentially. Better combat, more ships with tweaked balancing, bigger dialogue trees with improved writing, voice acting, a larger star map, a more easily navigated starmap, a slight trading system, and resource salvaging. It's not really an underdog though, it won about 20 awards on PC and is now open-source and multi-platform. Get the latest version with the voice acting packs (it's also been ported to PSP and XBox if you've got those modded):

http://sc2.sourceforge.net/

[nakamura]

Good calls on Burning Road, the race leader banner was a big thing in our house when playing link mode! Good fun game overally and pretty tough to beat.

Maxen X was really good too, loved the smooth fps combat and style.

Pen Pen needed a follow up as you say TA as the ideas were there. I just found the main game lacking.

[Team Andromeda]

Pen Pen needed a follow up as you say TA as the ideas were there. I just found the main game lacking

Shame the building blocks of a classic was there, and I really miss those wacky games on the consoles

Add a Few more then I'm done ( I think)

POP (Snes)



Not so much underrated as more overlooked and under praised by so many (even Snes fans0 . Its the best version and the best POP game fullstop , that I have ever played (be that 2D or 3D) I just can't believe how so few people talk and praise the game up, to this day

Dracula Unleashed



FMV might get a lot of Flack, but there were some great ones made, and this is the best of the lot. Used the media to full effect, the crappy acting and wooden sets all helped with the B-Movie appeal and the game had the depth and multiple ending's of a Point and Click game . I true classic imo

Batman Returns (Mega CD)




Far too many people moaned about the cart sections , and looked over the best racer of the 16 bit generation imo . It was like having a Arcade machine in your home and it played as good as one, with incredible graphics music & sound and some of the most challenging gameplay and time limits ever seen.

[Flabio]

There's an argument that every game released on the Mega CD could qualify for this thread.

[Family Fry]

Will just leave these here for consideration.

Urban Chaos Riot Response PS2/Xbox


Glover PS1/N64

[Decider-VT]

Batman Returns (Mega CD)

It's even better with the "proper" music:

[Family Fry]

Oh and if we go down Mega CD route.
Hook will always stay in my head, the music was awesome!
Remember it being a great wee action platformer if a bit easy.

[ShadowDancer]

Xiii gamecube/xbox/ps2

Cold winter Ps2.

and mentioned a page back or so, Urban Chaos.

[monel]

Feud on the Spectrum, simply because I never see it mentioned anywhere. You play one of two wizards trying to destroy each other, and need to pick up ingredients for spells to cast on your enemy.

I think it was a great game at the time, don't think I ever completed it though.

[nakamura]

Urban Chaos Riot Response is superb. I picked it up as a filler in the 3 for 2 in gamestation last summer. I turned it on for a laugh and ended up completing it withing a couple of ideas. I really enjoyed the modern police setting and the news cut scenes were very PS1 style and gave me quite a bit of nostalgia.
Gameplay was decent too, hostage situations were genuinely well done and burning buildings were exciting to explore.