Obscure Games

[SegaAges]

Of course more and more people know about Katamari, but do you play any other games that people have no clue existed and truly enjoy it for Current Gen Consoles (PS2, 360, PS3, Wii [I bet there are a few for this]).

If so, throw out the name. This could be cool to see what games people play on 360 and PS3 and stuff that not many have heard of.

For me, it is Project Sylpheed for 360. The game is awesome. Arcade style space shooter (not schmup). It is uber fun. I play it as much as I play other, more popular 360 games.

[exit]

I had a blast playing Raw Danger, a game I tried to tell a few buddies about and couldn't convince them to get, regardless of it being in a $5 cart at my job.

[SegaAges]

I should have said, if it is possible for you to say the system the game is on as well, that would be awesome (Some games we talk about in this thread it is possible that many people have not heard of).

Raw Danger, what system is that for?

Who knows, I will check some stuff online about it, if it sounds cool, I may look into it further or something.

[exit]

It's for PS2 and is the sequel to Disaster Report (also for PS2), another obscure game that has a nice little following. I never had a chance to really get into Disaster Report, despite me looking for it everywhere after finishing Raw Danger.

The concept of the games are that there's some kind of natural disaster happening (ones an earthquake the other is a hurricane/flooding) and you have to get through it, while trying to save people a long the way. There's multiple paths and a some minor objectives to be done that keep things interesting, some resulting in multiple endings.

Martain Gothic (PSX/PC) is a very overlooked survival horror game and an extremely well made budget title. You're a team of astronauts that are sent to an abandoned spacecraft where something is strange is afoot, of course something very bad happened and death awaits you all. You're able to switch between the 3 people (much like Maniac Mansion) and do different tasks to meet up with each other.

Of course no obscure game is complete without mentioning Siren (PS2), it's hard as hell and drove people away because of it. Still a very well put together survival horror despite it's flaws, you just need patience and a good guide to get you through it.

[norkusa]

I agree with you exit on Raw Danger but I think Disaster Report was the better of the two. Check it out if you ever get a chance. Basically the same game but the graphics and controls are way better.

Firefighter F.D.18 is another obscure favorite of mine. Some crazy disfigured guy is starting fires around town and you gotta put them out. There's even boss fires at the end of the levels!

[Xian042]

I like Mad Maestro for PS2,
Many people didnt go for the classical music and couldnt get used to the pressure sensitive gameplay. But once you got the hang of it I found it quite rewarding and charming.

[MarkMan]

Obscure game....

ObsCure.

^_^

[ProgrammingAce]

Scrapland for the Xbox

[MrSparkle]

bible adventures lol

[SegaAges]

It's for PS2 and is the sequel to Disaster Report (also for PS2), another obscure game that has a nice little following. I never had a chance to really get into Disaster Report, despite me looking for it everywhere after finishing Raw Danger.

The concept of the games are that there's some kind of natural disaster happening (ones an earthquake the other is a hurricane/flooding) and you have to get through it, while trying to save people a long the way. There's multiple paths and a some minor objectives to be done that keep things interesting, some resulting in multiple endings.

Martain Gothic (PSX/PC) is a very overlooked survival horror game and an extremely well made budget title. You're a team of astronauts that are sent to an abandoned spacecraft where something is strange is afoot, of course something very bad happened and death awaits you all. You're able to switch between the 3 people (much like Maniac Mansion) and do different tasks to meet up with each other.

Of course no obscure game is complete without mentioning Siren (PS2), it's hard as hell and drove people away because of it. Still a very well put together survival horror despite it's flaws, you just need patience and a good guide to get you through it.

Oh sweet. I heard of Disaster Report, but had no clue they made a sequel.

[Clownzilla]

Well, I imported a game for my Wii called "Eyeshield 21". It is based on a manga series in Japan that deals with American style football. Now, I hate manga but I like football and weird Japanese games so I gave this a shot. This game is absolutely hilarious! It's hard to explain this game but it's pretty much a football game that uses over the top anime cutscenes for the plays. Each team you play are the "bad guys" and they each have special football playing powers (one team even fires machine guns when they reach the endzone). The biggest problem with this game though is that the menus into the games are hard to understand if you can't speak Japanese. The plays are easy to understand though if you can read a standard football playbook. Good pickup if you can find it below $20.

[RJ]

Disaster Report was great. The main prob. is some slowdown when large graphics (chunks of building, etc) are moving or falling onscreen. It's also easy to beat, due to the water/save system (you need to stop at water faucets/drinking fountains to survive.) If these aspects dont bug you, track it down. It does some things Ive never seen any other games. I saw Raw Danger for $15 but passed on it. :(

Martian Gothic was- strange to say the least. Kind of Resident Evil set in space. Intriguing gameplay (3 astronauts sent to an abandoned(?) Mars base, they must stay separate or they all die) but I recall an end-game program bug ruining the ending, & I didnt want to do it all over again. To be fair, there was another ingame bug that helped me thru a situation, in fact IIRC you had to take advantage of this bug to get past that part.

& Siren is presented in acts involving different characters, but having to do them over & over ad nauseum really turned me off & I gave up. I cant imagine the payoff is worth it. I see that game everywhere now for cheap but I dont want to try it again.

I was lucky enough to grab a used FF FD 18 at Blockbuster (had case art but no manual) when it was going for $100 on eBay. I got a ways into it but stopped for some reason quite awhile back. I've been meaning to get back into it.

[dbiersdorf]

Eh, I guess it's not technically current generation, but it's not THAT old.

http://www.tycromedia.com/images/GameCube%20Go!%20Go!%20Hypergrind.jpg

Loved this game. I think four people played it.

[Nebagram]

Flipnic (PS2). That game must've been designed by people on acid, yet it goes unplayed virtually everywhere.

[Cryomancer]

EDF! EDF! EDF!

aka everyone go buy Earth Defense Force 2017 on 360 right now. If you live in Europe, you can also get the other games in the series, under the titles Monster Attack, Global Defense Force, and Global Defense Force Tactics for PS2. EDF2017 = prettiest, highest framerate; Global Defense Force = most varied gameplay. If you can only get one I'd say GDF, if you are US like myself, get EDF. Great games.

[snes_collector]

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns(PS2)

Favorite. Game. Of all time.

I'd say these days, if playing a console video game 85% of the time its this. I'd wanted to try a FP game for years but I had no idea how good they are. However, to really enjoy the game you gotta buy an Action Replay Max or a Codebreaker to download saves people have made. Nothing like it out there, it's so awesome.

[Swamperon]

Eh, I guess it's not technically current generation, but it's not THAT old.

http://www.tycromedia.com/images/GameCube%20Go!%20Go!%20Hypergrind.jpg

Loved this game. I think four people played it.

For some reason, I really want to play this! Did it ever get released over here in Europe?

[norkusa]

Disaster Report was great. The main prob. is some slowdown when large graphics (chunks of building, etc) are moving or falling onscreen.

Yeah, that happens a lot in the game but it's not really that big of a deal. It's no different than the sprite slowdown you'd get in Metal Slug or a million other games.

One of the things I liked about Disaster Report was all the different endings you can get. Some are triggered by weird decisions you make. I think there's one that you get if you climb a ladder and spy on a girl from the outside of her apartment while she's getting dressed.

[dbiersdorf]

For some reason, I really want to play this! Did it ever get released over here in Europe?

Doubt it. But I seriously do think it's worth checking out anyway. Look at some YouTube videos, there really won't be another game like it again.

[shoes23]

Anybody here play Second Sight? It ended up in a lot of bargin bins, but I thought that it was a fantastic game (made by Free Radical nonetheless). Smart and intellegent story and combined some memorable action and stealth sequences. May have been overshadowed by Midway's Psi-Ops as the two games share a bit in common, although I much preferred Second Sight than Psi-Ops.

[dao2]

Scrapland for the Xbox

I liked scrapland for the PC ;p (same thing cept better ;p)

[EX-Soldier]

overblood for the ps1, kinda resident evil in space, but i remember it being really emotional

anyway, kind of off topic but i remember a whileee back reading about some game that was coming out on the ps2 i believe, had to do with zombies in a city & and you had to survive by finding safehouses or something, modifying your car and driving around (possibly looking 4 survivors?) anyone know what game im talking about?

[DiabolicalAdvocate]

Not sure if these are considered "obscure", but Haunting Ground and Crimson Sea 2 for the PS2 come to mind. Neither break new ground in their respective genres, but I enjoyed both.

[maxlords]

A few lesser played titles off the top of my head:

PS2:
Shadow of Destiny
Trapt
God Hand
Blood Will Tell (AMAZING!)
Bujingai: The Forsaken City
Legend of the River King

XBox:
Sphinx & The Cursed Mummy (Also on PS2 and Cube)
Sega Soccer Slam (Also on PS2 and Cube)
Call of the Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Gun Valkyrie (Trust me...it IS good when you get used to the controls!)

DS:
Sprung (funny if you give it a chance!)
Chessmaster: The Art of Learning (best chess sim ever)

[Sabz5150]

Flipnic (PS2). That game must've been designed by people on acid, yet it goes unplayed virtually everywhere.

Flipnic tries to be waaaaaay too much of an oddity and less like a pinball game. However it is a decent little title.

[heybtbm]

EDF! EDF! EDF!

aka everyone go buy Earth Defense Force 2017 on 360 right now.

I'll second that. Earth Defense Force 2017 (Xbox 360) is pure bizarre Japanese goodness. If you're into killing gigantic enemies (think of taking on Godzilla with a M16 and rocket launcher), or hordes of enemies covering the landscape, that should give you an idea of the gameplay.

http://www.my360.com.au/img/game/Earth-Defense-Force-2017-1.jpg

As always...please don't forget the excellent (and equally bizarre) Godhand for PS2...

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5462/2h/images.gamezone.com/screens/29/5/58/s29558_ps2_18.jpg

[maxlords]

Personally I thought EDF for 360 was complete garbage. Got rid of it almost immediately after purchase.

[heybtbm]

Personally I thought EDF for 360 was complete garbage. Got rid of it almost immediately after purchase.

Sure, EDF isn't an A-list game. Its appeal is similar to a hilariously over-the-top B-movie. It's way too cheezy to be taken seriously...but then again, that's kind of the point. EDF is still worth the budget price IMO. You can get it for <$20 anywhere.

[Chadt74]

I can 2nd Trapt since I enjoyed that game. As for Godhand, I love the fact that you show a SS of the two weirdest 'bosses' in the game. I can see how people wouldn't like Godhand, but it was a fun game if you didn't try and take it too seriously.

[maxlords]

Sure, EDF isn't an A-list game. Its appeal is similar to a hilariously over-the-top B-movie. It's way too cheezy to be taken seriously...but then again, that's kind of the point. EDF is still worth the budget price IMO. You can get it for <$20 anywhere.

True....but it wasn't the cheese that put me off. It was the piss-poor controls and interfaces. Regardless of how appealing the hokey-ness is, I don't like games that control poorly. I didn't like the clunky camera either, and the level design was pretty weak. It's just "here's a big open area, blow up everything that moves and level the buildings. Bleah.

[Queen Of The Felines]

anyway, kind of off topic but i remember a whileee back reading about some game that was coming out on the ps2 i believe, had to do with zombies in a city & and you had to survive by finding safehouses or something, modifying your car and driving around (possibly looking 4 survivors?) anyone know what game im talking about?

Sounds like Dead Rush. Cancelled. :(

[SegaAges]

EDF, anything like sw battlefront?

I was told by others, but curious what you guys think.

And no, Katamari is kinda mainstream now. It is for the people that think they are into obscure games, but it is like the sex pistols of obscure games.

Randomly got good from the simpleness and enjoyment of them
(don't knock my punk reference, I couldn't think of anything better, hahaha)

[j_factor]

Aquaman. I played it for Xbox, but I think it's on PS2 and Gamecube as well. You might know this game exists, but very few people have actually played it. It got a lot of really bad reviews. Those reviews were not only unfair, they tended to be factually incorrect. I can't tell you how many reviews stated something like "the fights can be won simply by pressing the A button repeatedly". The A button is the block button! No matter how many times you press it, you will not win a single fight. And yet multiple reviews made this same exact mistake. A lot of them don't even sound like they really played the game at all. Most people, I imagine, assumed "Aquaman = suck" and moved on. It's really not a bad game if you give it a chance.

[Cryomancer]

Anybody here play Second Sight? It ended up in a lot of bargin bins, but I thought that it was a fantastic game (made by Free Radical nonetheless). Smart and intellegent story and combined some memorable action and stealth sequences. May have been overshadowed by Midway's Psi-Ops as the two games share a bit in common, although I much preferred Second Sight than Psi-Ops.

Definitely an excellent game. The story seems generic at first but damn does it ever bring it around.


Regarding the complaint about EDFs controls, there are two control schemes, check the options menu and try out the other one if you don't like the default.

[SegaAges]

I actually started this thread after realizing that I am probably 1 of 4 people on this planet that have completely played through Superman 64 and enjoyed it. Not obscure, but not something most people sit through and enjoy.

[FanOPants]

A few lesser played titles off the top of my head:

XBox:
Gun Valkyrie (Trust me...it IS good when you get used to the controls!)


STELLAR game, one of my favorite of the generation.

[robotriot]

I'm not sure whether it qualifies as obscure, but Gitaroo Man (PS2) is a game I can really recommend. The way the guitar controls work are really cool. I remember it as being quite impossible to do on the higher difficulty level(s), but maybe I'm just a crappy player. Plus the story is really goofy, that's always a bonus.

[lanemeyer]

Anybody here play Second Sight? May have been overshadowed by Midway's Psi-Ops as the two games share a bit in common, although I much preferred Second Sight than Psi-Ops.

Yeah, I rented this game. Anything made by Free Radical has my attention. I agree. I enjoyed it more than Psi-Ops (which was also a fun game). Really interesting story.

[SegaAges]

I have been looking into some of these games, and some of these games really look awesome.

Hence the reason for the post, to get us all acquatned with good games we may have never heard of before now.

[Cobra Commander]

Ribbit King. Have you Frolfed today?
What an amazing game. Sort of.

[SegaAges]

Ribbit King, was the GC exclusive, or did it have a ps2 release?

[Cobra Commander]

Ribbit King, was the GC exclusive, or did it have a ps2 release?
Yeah there was a PS2 release as well, but as far as I know only the Gamecube version had the bonus disc.

[kingpong]

PS2 Ribbit King had the bonus disc as well. Ribbit King is possibly the only example of a game where cut scenes are of any value whatsoever (IMO, inclusion of a story, cut scenes, etc. detracts from a game).

[bcks007]

I also have Ribbit King for the ps2, and it does have a bonus disc, which isn't listed at sonyindex.com for some reason.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

http://i.testfreaks.com/images/products/600x400/177/obscure-56375.471473.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2329/93909896357frontrv2.jpg

Oh ... wait, that's not what you meant.

I've always been rather fond of Galactic Wrestling featuring Ultimate M.U.S.C.L.E. games. The PS2 version is a bit more obscure than the Gamecube, and has a lot more characters.

[Half Japanese]

All my usual replies, a few seconds and a few new ones:

ps2:
God Hand
Maximo
Blood Will Tell
The Red Star

Gamecube:
Bomberman Generations
Ultimate MUSCLE

Xbox:
Phantom Crash
Deathrow
Toejam & Earl III

360:
Culdcept Saga
Earth Defense Force 2017

PS3:
Everyday Shooter

[ScourDX]

- Flatout 2 (PS2/Xbox/PC)
- Yakuza (PS2)
- Gurumin (PSP)
- Crush (PSP)
- Zone of Ender 2 (PS2)
- Spartan: Total Warrior (PS2/Xbox/GCN)
- Steambot Chronicles (PS2)

[shoes23]

All my usual replies, a few seconds and a few new ones:

ps2:
Blood Will Tell


Great game as well! The concept of collecting all your body part was neat, including the all the swords you could find in the game. A neat gimmick at the beginning before you find your eyes and the game is in black and white. The coolest thing had to be your machine gun arm, and of course the giant cannon implanted in your knee. One of the few PS2 games I played and finished multiple times, and an obsure title for sure.

[lendelin]

Everblue 2 for the PS2 (developed by Arika, published by Capcom)

Interesting concept design, defines genre categorization, great gameplay design, overlooked and underrated, and one of the most enjoyable game experiences I had of the last gen games.

Unique about this game: it is probably the best of the neglected underwater game genre; it is a first-person scuba-diving game with heavy RPG elements like collecting a huge number of items and bartering, collecting of sea life, exploring new areas from the oh-not-so-exciting sunken airplanes to dark mysterious caves, and the overworld map is in plain 2D (point and click) where the heavy bartering takes place and the story develops.

The more items you collect the deeper and huger are the areas, the situations get more tense and the sea life more exotic and dangerous.

It is one of the games that start slow and mediocre, gets good and very good over time....and at the end delivers outstanding wonderfully paced gameplay.

I never enjoyed being underwater so much...well, except for the time with this incredibly good looking girl on my vaccation in France when we...well, you know...did NOT collect items underwater.

[Half Japanese]

Great game as well! The concept of collecting all your body part was neat, including the all the swords you could find in the game. A neat gimmick at the beginning before you find your eyes and the game is in black and white. The coolest thing had to be your machine gun arm, and of course the giant cannon implanted in your knee. One of the few PS2 games I played and finished multiple times, and an obsure title for sure.

The original manga has just started to be published in the States under its original moniker "Dororo". I picked up the first volume and it's pretty solid. I think the second one just came out, need to pick that up.

[Cryomancer]

God how did I not mention Toejam and Earl III.

[Ackman]

Doujin PC games (basically Independent JPN PC games from Japan)

Yeah they're awesome, mostly classic type games with lots of style and they don't usually need a beastly machine to run, my pc is like 6 years old (don't upgrade) and I can run 97% of them IIRC.

You may need to dl JPN language packs to play them though or you can install them off the WIN XP CD if you know how? Also you may need to make them compatible for windows 2000.

Ether Vapour (excellent shmup) 9/10
Ragnarock Battle offline (Double Dragon meets WOW offline) 7/10
Hinokakera (like SFEX on crack) 8/10
Drill Milky Punch (Bomberman meets gauntlet on crack?) 7.3/10
Noitu Love 2 - Devolution ( mega man type game) 7/10
Full Metal Sister Marilu (metal slug type game) 7/10

Fatal Fake Crucis 8/10 (beautifull cell shaded fighter with awesome super DM'S)
Akatski BK ( a 2d Fighter ) 8/10
Blood Over ( metal slug/mega man meets devil may cry?) 8/10
Tomoyo Fighter Plus 7.3/10 (double dragon but with erm ... rape and weird crazy funny JPN refrences, don't say I didn't warn you?)
LilianFourHand 8/10 (excellent shooter/shmup, music makes my sex fall out)

Other:
MashedPC and PS2 9/10 ( 3d isometric 4 players same screen Mario Kart meets micro Machines, only it's balanced but also chaotic so you don't lose because the system is broken and unfair looking at you MK64)

Severance Blade of Darkness PC, XBOX (conan multiplayer guts and gore, ghettoware friendly) 7.7/10
Trackmania United PC 8/10 (love the rally part)
Fear Persus Mandate, 8/10 (you can blast someone's head off, fight ed209 and tear ppl in half.)
Eragon multi 6.7/10 ( only if you get it in the bargin bin, it has co op and great survival mode, too short though I just have a soft spot for it must like the books too much?)

Will second Flatout 28.7/10 (love it too death) and will also note that there is an Obscure 2 (silent hill type games it's decent I guess if you like those type of games and it is co op so ?) 6/10 personally

Shikigami no shiro 1,2 and 3 DC.PC, Xbox and PS2 pretty good shmups 8/10

Return of Double Dragon MR Q, Open Beats of Rage engine stand alone game. 8/10 www.lavalit.com (A really great homage of Super Double Dragon for SNES) you have to register to download it though.