Take the plunge

[?pint]

Well for the first time in the past year and a half, I'm no longer in debt, and have a little bit of cash which I can freely spend on anything I wish. And naturally, I'm going to ask you all what you think I should spend it on. Anything up to about ?100 is fine .

However, that's not what this thread is about - it's to encourage people to dive into obscure titles or genres they would otherwise overlook, because I know for a fact there are games out there I would love that I am just missing out on.

So I'll go first and recommend a couple of games. Firstly, there's Crash Nitro Kart on PS2. I know it's a game for the masses, and I know it's had poor reviews, but even now I'm still loving it and it's a great alternative to Mario Kart. Particularly if you liked Crash Team Racing, you'll have a great time with this.

Secondly, there's Tokyo Bus Guide for Dreamcast, and on budget for PS2. It's not the most fast paced game, nor does it have the best graphics. It's simply relaxing, and in a strange way. You don't get the urge to tear around the city running over pedestrians - you win the game by paying attention to everything you're supposed to. It's cheap, it's enjoyable, and I doubt most of you would play it. It's one of those games you really should just buy for the sake of it, to see whether you'd like it.

So then, name a few games that are like this... overlooked by most, but otherwise in you honest opinion great games .

[Commander Marklar]

I'm gonna be boring and suggest you keep it for a rainy day

[MartyG]

From past experiences I would agree with CM. If it's extra money you wouldn't normally spend, put it away, it doesn't stop you buying stuff you normally would.

There's something about having some extra cash that makes you want to spend it - but there will be a time when you go: ****, wish I'd saved that cash.

If you're really want to spend it - get something you're going to get a lot of hours of enjoyment out of (game speaking you smutty folk) - only you can decide what that it.

Regards
Marty

[wod]

save it , go play some other games you have/nt finished prehaps ?

[chevkoch]

DC Dream Studio might qualify, not in my collection though (for the supposedly heavy Japanese language usage), but the idea of being able to construct your own RPG in 3D is definitely appealing. And all the more at that price.

DC Bomber He He did always intrigue me. I don't own this either, but what can go wrong with a Dreamcast game where you blow up buildings. Whacky.

[Papercut]

DC Dream Studio might qualify, not in my collection though (for the supposedly heavy Japanese language usage), but the idea of being able to construct your own RPG in 3D is definitely appealing. And all the more at that price.

I actually have this, and its near useless to a non-japanese speaker.

Kero Kero King DX is a crazy frog golf game, only about ?20 from play-asia. A lot of fun, and different enough from normal golf games.

N20 is a criminally underrated ps1 schmup. Obvious Tempest/Wipeout splice, but with enough ideas of its own. Great soundtrack too.

The Bishi Bashi series, ps1 also. Track and Field recreated as Made in Wario 5 years earlier with better mini games.

Cool Cool Toon. My favourite Rhythm Action game, excellent character designs and nutball music.

Bust a Move/Groove. Probably one of the neatest Rhythm action games, and a good 2 player.

Tempest 3000 plus a Nuon might nudge about ?100. Brilliant zoned shooter, better than 2K though perhaps too difficult.

Space Channel 5 Part 2, pure bliss.

Cosmic Smash, best 3D pong there is. Beautiful design work too.


Xi Go, hellish puzzler. Takes a while to zone into, great once you're there.

IQ, nasty evil puzzler.

Seaman, he hates you and you love it.

Shenmue II, most immersive 'emotional journey'.

Headhunter, great MGS inspred stealth-em-up. Better than MGS2.

Wonder Boy series (after Monster Land). Fantastic depth and interesting innovations; monster transformations and little mookie helper dudes in later episodes.

Space Raiders, interesting 3D take on Space Invaders. Plays a little like Cabal/Nam 1975.

Pacman Vs, one of the best multiplayer games around.

Mini Moni Tambourine, its like Samba but with a Tambourine and way more obscure.

Twinkle Star Sprites, schmup/fighter, with SNK 2D charm.

Pop 'n' Music, purist's bemani game. Bastard hard too.

Aero Dancing, quality arcade flight sim.

Silent Scope (with mouse on DC), strikes the right level of cheese/realism, mouse controls are suprisingly good.

Confidential Mission, great light gun game unfairly overshadowed by Hotd2.

P.N. 03, excellent 3D combo shooter, with unique design aesthetic.

Beach Spikers, unrivalled 2v2 multi player.

Super Monkey Ball 2, the tweaked mini games have huge replayability.

Amplitude, high speed online rhythm action.

Guilty Gear XX [and/or reload], visually stunning 2D fighter.

Napple Tale, charming 3D platformer with rpg elements.

Roommania #203, pretend you're a ghost and spy on some kid.

Sega Gaga, games developer rpg spoof with many inside jokes, and exceptional animated patriotic Sega company intro. Lots of language probs for non-speakers though.

Rent a Hero No. 1, another crazy rpg spoof with language problems. English Xbox version soon, hopefully.

Puyo Puyo, excellent battling puzzler, specifically the four player DC editon.

Mr Driller - Drill Land, instinct based single player puzzler, adrenaline pumped Boulder Dash variant. There aren't enough people playing the Cube iteration.

Serious Sam, what Quake should have been, the true successor to Doom.

Panzer Dragoon Orta, so few people bought this, why? One of the most visually stunning games around, with a solid shooter at it's core.

Cubivore/Animal Leader, fun animal evolution/survival game with quirky cubic design.

Vib Ribbon, too simple and easy, but utterly charming.

Um Jammer Lammy, unlike Parappa 2 the songs were just as good as the original with this pseudo-sequel. Once you've finished as Lammy you can rap your way through as Parappa.

Internal Section, little seen Square shooter and obvious part-inspiration for Rez.

The list goes on...

[Papercut]

Looks like I killed this thread then.

There must be other little-known gems out there, come on

[lordcookie]

Well Papercut has named nearly every game made in the past 10 years, but he did miss off a couple of ones that some people may have missed.

Naruto (GC) - I think the Edge review put a lot of people off but this beat em up was one of my most played games of last year. There was a surprising amount of depth to the combat, and if you had 2 players who were competent at the game it was very entertaining. The sequel is out now though and is supposed to be better so I would go for that.

Ridge Racer V (PS2 any version but PAL) - I was put off this game by all the negative reviews I had read regarding the PAL version but picked up a Japanese copy for about ?5 and never looked back. A brilliant racing game that can be bought for next to nothing.

[gossi the dog]

DC Bomber He He did always intrigue me. I don't own this either, but what can go wrong with a Dreamcast game where you blow up buildings. Whacky.

I had this. It intrigued me because it sounded a bit like Blast Corps. Unfortunately it's rubbish. Simply not worth the high price it's selling for.

[chevkoch]

gossi the dog, can you give me a gameplay overview of Bomber He He? What's this about really, besides, well, apparently blowing up buildings?

[?pint]

Well in the end I went into town and bought Mad Maestro for a fiver in the game sale, and Gregory Horror Show too. I'll probably look in to Bishi Bashi and Bust A Groove, BB was great at the meet and I have fond memories of the original BaG (which I stupidly sold ).

[Under the Bed]

Kula World, nice little puzzler that can realy get under your skin.

[?pint]

Arf, another one I used to own! My god, it was such a brilliant game . I did actually finish it, believe it or not, and got the bonus levels. Great game, but it's pretty rare and expensive now. Known as Rollaway in the US right?

[gossi the dog]

gossi the dog, can you give me a gameplay overview of Bomber He He? What's this about really, besides, well, apparently blowing up buildings?

It's a few years since I owned the game so I've probably forgotten quite a few details. Anyway from what I remember the game has two modes. The first one involves blowing up buildings by using carefully placed explosives. Place the explosives, then when your ready: detonate them, and with a bit of luck the building will demolish. You get a vast number of explosives to use which adds strategy as you must use the right type in the right area of the building otherwise it's unlikely teh building will crumble. Unfortunately you have to set up way too many explosives and it's hard to know what your doing wrong so tedium sets in quite quickly. The second mode is a bit like Blast Corps in that you have a set amount of time to demolish an area full of buildings with (if I remember correctly) a tank and maybe there was a helicopter or something too. More fun than the first game mode but still a bit rubbish. And the graphics in the game are appaling too. The only good thing about the game is that I got more from VGI as trade in than I initially paid for it off some guy on eBay.

Give it a miss. You'll thank me for it.

[Secombe]

You've sold it to me (Tokyo Bus Driver), I don't have a PS2 but I would love to get this on Dreamcast, any idea where it is available because I can't find it anywhere?