Budget/Rated

[Neon Ignition]

If memory serves me correctly this came out amongst the glut of THPS extreme sports era and was an attempt at finding a popular niche but the game didn't fare well at retail. Developed by the Incog inc, the team who worked on Twisted Metal Black and Warhawk, the game involved racing down fictional courses with the ability to knock rivals off their bikes. Players could power up their abilities to strengthen their attacks.

Game 004 - Downhill Domination
Playstation 2 - Description
Downhill Domination is the first downhill mountain bike racing game for the PlayStation 2. It's an adrenaline rush of speed, fierce competition and stomach-sinking drop-offs. Win races, pull off insane aerial tricks and rack up points for equipment upgrades from real-world manufacturers. Rock your competition with punches, hip checks, homing water bottles and more! Dominate races to gain corporate sponsorships. Survive it all and you'll earn a place in the downhill championships. Racing down mountainsides at eye-watering speeds and launching off 100-foot cliffs requires a different school of thought...a different calibre of rider. Do you have what it takes?

[Neon Ignition]

This was such a low key release I'd never heard of it till looking into the games that are budget now. This is a bit of an odd one out however, it can still be picked up but is easily the hardest to get hold of and whilst not expensive as such will still set people back around ?15 on average, however, it's quite unique amongst the games I found.

Game 005 - Echo Night: Beyond
Playstation 2 - Description:
Echo Night: Beyond takes players on a paranormal voyage into the future. The year is 2044, and scientist Richard Osmond is the last survivor of a tragic crash, during a flight to the first moonbase. Now he's all alone on Lunar Base Diana, with only a flashlight and his courage to face the horrors waiting for him in the dark. The game is a sequel to the low key Playstation 1 release Echo Night.

The game doesn't feature combat with the enemy spirits in the game, instead focusing on puzzles and isolation. It's quite the looker too.

[Neon Ignition]

Next up is another one of those games that I remember seeing haunting shop shelves but never buying it. I have now so will be able to see if there's anything to it.

Game 006 - Beach King Stunt Racer
Playstation 2 - Description:
Ingredients? Beaches, buggy?s and babes! You will be performing super tricks, jumps and stunts allowing for a sensational gameplay experience with continuing motivation to perform better, higher and more daring feats. Goal is to become King of the Beach and win the hearts of the cutest beach babes around. All against the backdrop of tropical tracks on world famous beaches and cool beach party music gives this game the ultimate atmosphere to kick back and enjoy hours upon hours of fun.Compete to earn points and find the hidden diamonds in the realistic tracks that have been recreated to give you a spectacular gaming experience. Use the specific objects in each location to perform your dazzling moves.... jump off of the reed roof tops in Bali, get air on the Rio Coppacabana while flying towards the famous Jesus statue, raise hell on the boulevard of St. Tropez and party crash the night life of Ibiza.

[nakamura]

Echo Night is something I have been wanting to play for a long time and that Beach King looks rather fun!!

[Neon Ignition]

Beach King seems to be one of those games that gets a really bad rap from peeps but every now and again someone says it was really fun so it being so polarising (and SEGA-Blue skies) tempted me

Echo Night should be quite interesting, the lack of enemies/combat gave it its criticism at the time but to me makes it sound more interesting than it having the same clunky combat most survival horrors have.

[nakamura]

No surprise that that chav-tastic PS2 magazines of the time whinging about the lack of enemies and guns etc.

[Skull Commander]

When I used to work in a games shop Beach King was the disc we used to test PS2 trade ins, as no one ever wanted to buy the copy we had and it was a blue disc (to show if a PS2 was on it's way out). It was like a crappy Tony Hawks game in a beach buggy, but became a cult classic in our shop.

[ItsThere]

I really enjoy these posts. Keep up the good work.

[Neon Ignition]

My tease for tomorrows game is that it will be a spin-off from a fairly long running budget series.

[Neon Ignition]

Today's game is one that I haven't picked up yet but I'm curious to. It's a spin-off from the Choro Q series.

Game 007 - Seek and Destroy
Playstation 2 - Description:
Take command of over 100 tanks, all based on actual military models from around the world. Still power hungry? Customize and conquer. Choose from hundreds of parts and dozens of weapons, including missile launchers, amphibious rigs and even aerial combat gear. Embark on 25 intense missions that take you from the frozen plains of Eastern Europe to the deserts of Africa. Compete in 2-player arena battles, surprizing mini-missions and fierce boss battles.

[Neon Ignition]

Today is a series again but I'll show both entries as they're fairly distinct from one another.

Game 008 - Splashdown & Splashdown 2
Playstation 2, Xbox - Description:
Blast through the waters of Bali, tear it up over the Great Barrier Reef, and manoeuvre through the Venice canals. Become one of eight rebellious riders as you throttle a Sea-Doo watercraft over water that looks so real you'll need a wetsuit. Catch massive air as you jump wakes and launch off ramps, and then pull off insane stunts like the Metronome and the Cyclone. Battle your way to the finish line through 18 incredibly detailed courses all around the globe. Power four authentic Sea-Doo watercrafts, each with unique handling to put you in the hot seat and give you maximum control. Choose from eight over-the-top characters with unique personalities. Show off your 30-plus acrobatic stunts, such as the Lazy Boy and the Handlebar Handstand. Blast through 18 photorealistic environments, including Tokyo, Venice, and Mission Bay. Crazy stunts equal more speed, so get out there and defy gravity...









The sequel was by the same devs but a different publisher and more extreme, OTT approach

[nakamura]

I love Splashdown. The first is the better game but the second is good overall too. Water looks amazing even today.

[Neon Ignition]

I just picked both up, properly in the mood for this type of game

[Neon Ignition]

Next up is a sequel I've never heard of to a game I'd never heard of which turned out to be a threequel to an original game I'd never heard of

From Genki, the Kaido Battle series contains three installments which have been released in a mixed fashion in different regions with the first game being released in the US as a spin-off from the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series.

Game 009 - Kaido Battle Series
Playstation 2 - Series Entries:

-Kaido Battle (JP) / Tokyo Xtreme Racer (US)
-Kaido Battle 2 (JP) / Kaido Racer (EU)
-Kaido Battle: Togue no Densetsu (JP) / Kaido Racer 2 (EU)

Description:
Developed by Genki Co. Ltd. Kaido Racer is a fast-paced racing title that faithfully recreates some of Japan's most famous mountain courses. The game features several authentically modeled courses taken from all over Japan, and invites players to test their skills in the mountain regions of Akagi, Zao, Aso and Haruna – each of which is fraught with danger and will challenge even the most accomplished drivers. Each race is fought against a number of CPU-controlled drivers or against a friend, and mixes official tournaments with more lucrative night-time events.

Removed image due to virus warnings
Kaido Battle


Kaido Battle 2


Kaido Battle 3

[nakamura]

I have the US version of Kaido Battle 3. It is a decent racer but i'm useless at it. There are some great videos online. Nice visuals.

Oh and that video is from Forza Motorsport.