Favorite Obscure Video Games

[digitalpress]

Since I saw this pop up on the main forum, thought I'd bump this one up for all to see.

While I'm at it, allow me to add an old one.

Towering Inferno (by Vidtec, for Atari 2600). This flickery little game can actually get away with being flickery since the flicker occurs in rapidly shifting walls of flame. The goal is to rescue people on the floor, extinguish and avoid the walls of flame, and get to the window. Then onto the next level. It's mindless fun but great action, and a great two-player game to boot.

[123forever]

Only obscure to me... I haven't seen the arcade versions of Rygar and Ninja Gaiden since the '80s. I remember them being very different from the NES versions. I spent many a quarter on them both.

And since Lucky and Wild is on here, I have to mention Cops, the Laserdisc game based on the TV show. It was also driving and shooting, but not at the same time. In my opinion a laserdisc driving game has to be the worst gaming idea ever.

[RetroYoungen]

I have a soft spot in my heart for No One Can Stop Mr. Domino!!!. That game is so bad ass, y'all don't even know...

And yes, I used the word "y'all".

[Aswald]

Snap Jack, Jump Bug, ColecoVision Illusions, Major Havoc, Pulsar, Killer Comet, and a rather strange 2-part game called "Cuber." If you smacked the side of that machine once or twice, the red on the screen would disappear, and it would actually look better- sort of like a spooky, haunted maze. This game is not listed in the Killer List Of Videogames website, by the way, and that arcade in Holland in 1982 was the only time I've ever seen it.
Ah, memories...

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

for me the games i played were these 2

Baseball simulator 1.000 (NES)
Gravity well (PC)

[The Clonus Horror]

What was that old, OLD arcade game where you are driving the fire truck around--one of you steers the front and the other steers the back? It was done in all black and white block graphics, so I'm guessing it was late 70's/early 80's...at least that's when I played it. It was very frustrating at the time.

[NE146]

What was that old, OLD arcade game where you are driving the fire truck around--one of you steers the front and the other steers the back? It was done in all black and white block graphics, so I'm guessing it was late 70's/early 80's...at least that's when I played it. It was very frustrating at the time.

FireTruck
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7814

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/F/cFire_Truck.jpg

[Prismpunk]

Cubivore.... is really obscure. I mean how often is it that you see square boxes having sex with each other then stealing their limbs to become powerful.

[Jasoco]

Fire 'N' Ice
Kickle Cubicle
Mighty Bomb Jack
Comix Zone

[atomicthumbs]

Incredible Crisis would count as obscure I believe.
and
Mister Mosquito which is close enough to obscure in my opinion.

[Nick Goracke]

Legacy of the Wizard - NES - awesome sidescrolling adventure game. IIRC, this is the 4th part of the Dragon Slayer Series. Legend of Heroes: Dragon Slayer also got a US release on the Turbo Duo.

Shadow of Destiny - PS2 - Puzzle/Adventure game. Very interesting "mystery" story. Good change of pace.

Just a couple off the top of my head, anyways...

[Uncle B]

'GHETTOBLASTER' for the Commodore 64.

You control a Rasta with a boombox on his shoulder who has to collect tapes from different locations in a virtual town, shoot music notes at passers-by to make them dance, and avoid nasty characters who damage your boombox/nick your tapes/attack you etc etc..

All with the nastayest funk music ever written for the sid chip! 8-)

I loved that game and still play it from time to time even though I completed it in 1986! Games seemed to have so much more humour then. :(

If only someone would re-make this, with the technology available today..!

http://www.lemon64.com/

[Ed Oscuro]

Woo, that sounds like a blast :D

[Uncle B]

It is, Ed!
My advice is to track it down and give it a try, let me know if you like it!
Regards, Uncle B! :)

[Balloon Fight]

Comix Zone (Genny)
Firestriker (SNES)

Most entertain me for a while. :)

[Ed Oscuro]

Comix Zone...its lack of popularity mystifies me. Sure, the game is damned hard, but as a 12 year old I'd go downstairs almost every day and play it in windowed mode on our new Packard Bell PC (this was '96). I know there's a couple problems in the Genesis version compared to this one, first and foremost the music, but the thing came with a CD (which I've never listened to!) The Genesis version fares much better than the Genesis version of another Sega (Novotrade, really) game on that PC which I enjoyed (and recently played through some more), which required the CD for music: Ecco the Dolphin.

Why Comix Zone is so cheap nowadays is beyond me. I got a sealed one (and it will stay this way; unfortunately, that means I can't play this copy) from Buttasuperb just yesterday along with a ton (not literaly a ton, but close) of Genesis games and a complete Genesis 3 for a reasonable price...

Picking up the Japanese one is actually something I've commited myself to doing eventually, 'cuz the box art is much better. GRANTED, it's one of those Mega Drive titles that nets around $100 sometimes, but I'd say it's worth it :D

[Jasoco]

I only have one Mega Drive game. That's Kid Chamealeon. I had the choice of picking the Genesis version or the MD version. Short on cash, I went with the MD version because I liked the better coloring of the end label title.

[SpasticFuctard]

Hunt the Wumpus for the TI.

Best game EVAR!

SF

[Ed Oscuro]

I only have one Mega Drive game. That's Kid Chamealeon. I had the choice of picking the Genesis version or the MD version. Short on cash, I went with the MD version because I liked the better coloring of the end label title.

Hmm, I just got the Genesis version (from Butta). I'll have to look for it some time (if I feel that the game's any good...haven't booted it up yet, with three Genesis Shinobi games lying around :D)

[Solid Snake]

The A-Team (2600)
Sneak n' Peek (2600)
Tooth Protectors (2600)
Burning Desire (2600)
Boong-Ga Boong-Ga (Arcade)
Seaman (DC)

[Zubiac666]

Cho aniki - Bakuretsu Rantou Hen (SNES) : Hell! Gay half-naked ship-man hybrids fighting street fighter style in air! Can a game become more sick? No!

:embarrassed:

[TheSmirk]

Cho aniki - Bakuretsu Rantou Hen (SNES) : Hell! Gay half-naked ship-man hybrids fighting street fighter style in air! Can a game become more sick? No!

:embarrassed:

LOL, I was going to put that game , but I've only played the Saturn version (dunno if its the same) LMAO that game is insane!

Others: Mighty Bomb Jack (arcade) , Kid Niki(NES) , Guitarro-Man(PS2)

[Jasoco]

Mighty Bomb Jack (arcade)Classic! There's an Arcade version? I own now and played the NES version back in the day. This was a cool game with really unique music playing for the levels. I had it stuck partially in my head for 10 years after we returned it. Then I found it at a Game Stop and satisfied my curiosity.

One of my faves.

Was it on any other systems?

[RetroYoungen]

Cliffhanger, Samurai Showdown 3 (I've only ever seen it in one arcade, played it HARD!), and I don't know if it counts yet, but Eternal Darkness.

[TheSmirk]

Mighty Bomb Jack (arcade)Classic! There's an Arcade version? I own now and played the NES version back in the day. This was a cool game with really unique music playing for the levels. I had it stuck partially in my head for 10 years after we returned it. Then I found it at a Game Stop and satisfied my curiosity.

One of my faves.

Was it on any other systems?

Obligatory KLOV link

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=M&game_id=8690

AND.....a devoted fan page with some kickass info:

http://www.bombjack.org/games/bombjack/index.htm

It plays perfectly on MAME, how I enjoy it nowadays :D

[sabre2922]

EXPENDABLE: a hard to find Dreamcast game that is what Contra should have been on the PSone, even though the graphics are far beyond the PS capabilities.
If there are any gamers out there that have a DC and like contra or just shooters, do yourself a favor and pick up Expendable.
I bought this game used for 7 bucks and would have gladly paid full price for it back in the day.
Later gamers!!!

[Jasoco]

Mighty Bomb Jack (arcade)Classic! There's an Arcade version? I own now and played the NES version back in the day. This was a cool game with really unique music playing for the levels. I had it stuck partially in my head for 10 years after we returned it. Then I found it at a Game Stop and satisfied my curiosity.

One of my faves.

Was it on any other systems?

Obligatory KLOV link

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=M&game_id=8690

AND.....a devoted fan page with some kickass info:

http://www.bombjack.org/games/bombjack/index.htm

It plays perfectly on MAME, how I enjoy it nowadays :DWhere can I get the ROM? I am so curious to see the Arcade version in action! I didn';t even know there was an Arcade version! Great.. now I have to add it to my wishlist along with Bubble Bobble.

[stevec1636]

Oh there have been a few

Blast Corps for the N64

Dusty Diamond All Star Softball for NES, I love Breaking the windows at the school LOL

Shox for PS2, Great racing game check it out

Wizards and Warriors for NES

[Jasoco]

I loved Blast Corps. Only because of the explosions. But the later missions were too hard for me.

And Ironsword is my favorite of the three W&W games. Especially the music.

[Microbe]

Although the game may not be too obscure, I think Tech Romancer for the Dreamcast is a reallu underrated game. I think no Anime fan should be without it. It had lots of unlockables and mini games too. I never saw it in arcades around my area so it was quite neat to see it on the DC.

[Raccoon Lad]

Here's another obscure game I've loved for a while:
Chack'n Pop

This arcade game came out in 1983, and was the predecessor to Bubble Bobble in many ways. I'm not a huge fan of the arcade version, but when Sega ported this game over to the SG-1000, they improved the gameplay a bit, and I must admit, even though it has it's flaws, I really dig it.

[Ruffie]

Cheeky Mouse (Arcade)
Killer Bees (Odyssey 2)
Gopher (Atari VCS)
Solar Quest (Vectrex)
Forbidden Forest (Commodore 64 - Best Game Music EVER!)
Faxanadu (NES)
JJ & Jeff (Turbografx 16 - Strangest platformer I've ever seen)
BC Racers (Sega CD)
Tail of the Sun (Playstation)

Ruffie

[Jasoco]

Here's another obscure game I've loved for a while:
Chack'n Pop

This arcade game came out in 1983, and was the predecessor to Bubble Bobble in many ways. I'm not a huge fan of the arcade version, but when Sega ported this game over to the SG-1000, they improved the gameplay a bit, and I must admit, even though it has it's flaws, I really dig it.I had to Google for that and I found out about it. That's pretty neat. I love Bubble Bobble. I didn't know there was a predecessor to it. I even downloaded the NES ROM and the MAME ROM and that game is either hard, or I'm just not getting it. I'll take Bobble anyday, but wow. Something I never knew about my favorite Arcade game!

[youruglyclone]

Pepsi-Man for the PSX


you are the man!

but yeah that game and anygame that seems to have mascots seems to be appealing to me

Segata Sanshirou Shinkenyugi
UFO Kamen Yakisoban

Base Wars, Baseball with robots...that fight
Mutant League Series, this is before EA decided to change the date on their titles and called them games.

hmmm...traditional sports +violence=awesome! nah...

[Raccoon Lad]

Here's another obscure game I've loved for a while:
Chack'n Pop

This arcade game came out in 1983, and was the predecessor to Bubble Bobble in many ways. I'm not a huge fan of the arcade version, but when Sega ported this game over to the SG-1000, they improved the gameplay a bit, and I must admit, even though it has it's flaws, I really dig it.I had to Google for that and I found out about it. That's pretty neat. I love Bubble Bobble. I didn't know there was a predecessor to it. I even downloaded the NES ROM and the MAME ROM and that game is either hard, or I'm just not getting it. I'll take Bobble anyday, but wow. Something I never knew about my favorite Arcade game!

In MAME, you can set the Dip settings so you're invincible, makes the game rediculously easy. The NES version SUCKS, and doesn't have an ending, and is missing some stuff.
The SG-1000 version is the best, as the bombs explode a little quicker, and the enemy movements are a bit more predictable.
As I said, it's not all that great, but it can really grow on you after a while.

[Kejoriv]

MC kids for Nes. It was a game about kids and McDonalds. haha It was a platform game. And it still kicks ass.

[TNTPLUST]

Speed Rumbler - Arcade/MAME
Car Shooter. The object was to get through the Mad Max type setting. You can exit your car!

[cr0n0]

I would have to go with an old arcade game called Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters. I think it was by Atari. I use to play it back in 1989. SOMEONE PLEASE RELEASE THIS FOR A PLATFORM...ANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[NintendoMan]

CONKER'S BAD FUR DAY for the N64
+
Cave Man Games for the NES

Conker's was really a pretty good game as well!

[SegaAges]

Steep Slope Sliders (Saturn)

ESPN Winter X-Games Snowboarding (PS2)

Only 2 I can think of right now. Sorry, I don't know what it is, but I am drawn to snowboarding games.

[Neonsolid]

Gone.

[Neonsolid]

Gone.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Favorite obscure games.

6 in 1 (Caltron)
Pyramid (NES)
Great Escape (Atari 2600) If you haven't played it before then DO IT!!!!!!

[Professor Hector]

Cratermaze on the TG-16 is a nifty little puzzle game that plays kind of like an overhead version of Lode Runner. Another good (import only) game for the system is Honey on the Road, a weird platformer with branching pathways and a surprising amount of variety (once you get past the opening stages).

Umihara Kawase (SFC/PSX) is a very unique kind of game in which you control a girl who swings around the landscape with a string made of elastic which is attached to her fishing pole. What makes this game interesting is the semi-realistic physics that are involved, which means there's a huge number of undocumented sorts of moves you can (and are later expected to) pull off.

[fergojisan]

I have a few...

2600-Miniature Golf, Bumper Bash (I wish I had one; played once at NAVA)
NES/Famicom-Binary Land
SNES/SF-On The Ball, Sanrio Smash Ball (emulation only)
Gameboy-Flipull

Ferg

[Famidrive-16]

MC kids for Nes. It was a game about kids and McDonalds. haha It was a platform game. And it still kicks ass.

Heck yes. A bit challenging but very good platforming action.

More than half of my favorite games ever are obscure, so yeahs:

Snowboard Kids 1 and 2 - N64
Aerogauge - N64
Body Harvest - N64
Space Station Silicon Valley - N64
Live-A-Live - SNES

[Tatsu]

I don't know if this really can be considered as obscure (ok, it has the Addams Family humour, so I guess it can) but at least I don't know anyone who loves this games as I do: Fester's Quest on the NES.

I had such a hard time to kill the first boss but after a while I got used to it. It's so much fun to run arround as Fester, shooting aliens and collect items. Back then I was amazed when I could enter the alien ship for the first time, a highlight of my gaming career this was!

[SS-EatBeast]

O_O sounds weird but, stretch panic for ps2. very odd game, but once you figure it out kinda kool that almost tim burton way. @_@

[shawnbo42]

Arcade: Boot Camp - like Track 'n Field only with army recruits! :-D

Genesis: Arcana - neat concept at the time

I had the opportunity to play the machine at one time. Ever get to the end? We gave up. Even on EASY the damn game is HARD!! (Also having the machine in a second floor apt. restricted us from making all the necessary noise needed to win - by slamming the trackball around - lol). I do agree, great game though.

[shawnbo42]

Not necessarily an old game, but one I enjoyed playing.....mmmm....maybe late 80's, early 90's was a game called Castles for Amiga. Friend of mine had a system, and I spent many mindless hours staring at the screen. Basically the game is, as the name suggests, a castle sim. As I recall it, you had a time limit and your "mission" was to build and defend your castle for the pre-determined timeframe. Of course, you could also freebuild, which just got to be ridiculous after 30 or 40 hours (But I don't understand, WHY do you need 3 moats around the 5 protective walls?!) Anyone else ever play this game, or know if I can get it emu'd anywhere? I would love to pick it up again!!

[josekortez]

I have to add the new multi-platform Haunted Mansion game because it's like Eternal Darkness-lite. I thought it would be a sucky kid's game, but it's been moderately challenging.

[Bloodreign]

Demon Sword, a sequel of sorts to Legend of Kage, with thesword hacking and throwing stars in both games, and both made by Taito. Every now and then I pull out the old NES, and plug this game in (NES is old as hell, therefore sometimes a little fight ensues) and just go crazy hacking monsters.

[Ruffie]

Cheeky Mouse - Arcade game. Smash the mouse with a hammer. Man, I miss that one.

Forbidden Forest - Commodore 64. Bizarre archery game with 7 stages, incredible mood music, and the best boss kill when you hit the Forest Phantom.

Faxanadu - NES. Nuff said.

Ultima Online - the granddaddy of all MMORPGs.

Ruffie

http://home.columbus.rr.com/turbwaters/TurbWaters/Combat/IMAG009.JPG (http://home.columbus.rr.com/turbwaters/index.html)

[Xexyz]

My most favorite obscure video game is probably the one I named myself after on these forums. Xexyz for the NES was just a blast. It was a mix of a platformer and shooter in one. It had good music and text too ;)

[rxd]

Roller Controller for the Coco 3.
Damn I wish I could get a copy of that and an CoCo emulator.
I used to play that all the time.

[Ed Oscuro]

Demon Sword, a sequel of sorts to Legend of Kage, with thesword hacking and throwing stars in both games, and both made by Taito. Every now and then I pull out the old NES, and plug this game in (NES is old as hell, therefore sometimes a little fight ensues) and just go crazy hacking monsters.
Hey, it's Bloodreign! YES, this game rocks. I've got two copies, and I'm waiting for a decent copy of the import to show up on eBay (16-bit has a loose copy of "FUDOUMYOU OH DEN" which is one of many ways of romanizing the title, that's the one. He also had a loose copy of Holy Diver up a while back, looks like somebody snatched it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Edit of sorts:

The ROM I found is labeled "Fudou Myouou Den," and I meant to say that I really prefer this version over the hastily-hacked NES version with the grating title screen tones and comically out-of-place cover art (though it's still good). You really can't go wrong no matter how you cut it, though :)

[qbertandernie]

terra cresta - NES

tough game to play but fun! kind of a 2-d ikaruga if you could get ship add ons that let you shoot in different directions.

[mr_jiggles_13]

ultimate stuntman for NES...........so many genres mixed into one.............its actually fun too

[swlovinist]

Dog Patch for the Astrocade........I nicknamed it "redneck pong"

Artillery Duel on the Vic-20.....this version has shrapnel that adds a unique twist on the game....awsome

swords and serpents for the INTV.....great early style gauntlet game

Smithereenes! for the Odyssey 2.....I loved playing this game, but I always lost!

[kirin jensen]

most of the O2 games in general
and, while it's not the most obscure: Empire City:1931
and U.N. Squadron

[dj898]

how about N.U.D.E. for JPN Xbox...

one hell of weird title - I wouldn't call it a game but more of interactive simulator sort of...

[Vroomfunkel]

I vote for ...

two Amstrad CPC 464 games (may have hit other platforms too, but not that I know of):

Harvey Headbanger .. you and your opponent swing round a grid, overhead view picking up coctails, the strength of which is indicated by a diminishing number. As you pick up cocktails you get more drunk, and harder to control, but also less susceptible to damage.

The object is to bash into your opponent enough times to knock them out. Obviously, you don't want to get knocked out yourself so you have to cushion yourself with as much drink as possible ... but this makes it harder to actually hit them!! SUperb game. I wish I could download it, but I can't find anywhere that has it.


Rock Star Ate My Hamster .. hilarious rock group management sim, in which you have to attempt to manage a world class rock group, get their singles and albums up the charts, feed them with extravagant amounts of booze and stuff to keep them happy and keep them from killing themselves.

Good stuff.

Vroomfunkel

[calthaer]

I vote for Hype: The Time Quest.

It's an obvious take-off of Zelda: OoT, and frankly it does a good job of it. The main character (and all other chars) are Playmobil people.

The English version is fairly rare; I haven't been able to find a copy myself. I have the German one which is relatively common (and which I got for around $10); it was well worth it. The game is a lot of fun, with interesting levels, four different time periods, and the ability to ride a dragon for one level.

[Damaramu]

I'm gonna go with:

Cosmic Fantasy 2 (TG16/Duo)- One of my all time favorite RPG's, not quite sure if it's obscure enough though

Alisia Dragoon (Genesis)- Another favorite of mine, a fun little platformer

Trouble Shooters (Genesis)- For some reason, I really enjoyed this game. Strange shooter.

[Cirrus]

Well, at least my double topic brought this thread back to life after 3 months. :)

I'll put in for Jumper, a little puzzle/jumping game you can find at Home of the Underdogs.

I'll also put in for "Seiklus", a really neat little action/adventure game.

Also Doukutsu Monotogari, "Cave Story", is a lot of fun.

[Joelius]

RoboTrek - SNES

That is of course if you find it obscure.

[Tron 2.0]

Arcade

Discs of Tron
Araknoid Revenge Of DOH
Clif Hanger
Burger Time jk still i find it werid ppl remember the, NES version more :hmm:
Silk Worm
Super Contra agian ppl just remember the NES version.
Ninja Gaiden nothing like the NES version but i enjoy it.
Bionic Commando
Willow
The Goonies well maybe not rare still didn't... seem many places carrry it.
Crossbow
ShootOut! one of my old favorites from DataEast.
M.A.C.H 5
Heavy Barrel
Kid Niki Radical Ninja
Krull

Console

Legend of Kage
Solomon's Key
Skull Monkeys
Prikura Daisakusen
Indiana Jones Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Trouble Shooters
Pulseman
Chiki Chiki boys
Arcus Odyssey
Keio The Flying Squadron

That's all that comes to mind for me.

[squidblatt]

For PC:

Starflight
Hard Nova
Magic Candle
Fool's Errand

[ClassicGameTrader]

Not sure if it is totally obscure or not but N2O on PS1 is one of my all time favs in this category. Certainly most mainstream gamers have not played this, which sucks because it is so friggin cool. Crystal Method soundtrack to kill bugs in a never ending psycadelic (sp?) tunnel. Now tell me what could be better then that?

[drwily008]

Clash at Demonhead for the NES. Man I love that game, it's great!

[shawnbo42]

For PC:

Starflight
Hard Nova
Magic Candle
Fool's Errand

Fool's Errand, I had forgotten about that one. Very fun and challenging game for PC.

[AFGiant]

I would say Gitaroo Man and Magic Pengel for the PS2, but everyone and their mom already knows that Gitaroo Man rocks. So I'm gonna say Magic Pengel. If you haven't played it, you draw your own monsters then fight with them. Its a pretty basic game, but I like it.

[ghostangelofcky]

Easy, MK Mythologies Sub-Zero. I've always loved that game.

[Ackman]

Nobody can beat this Dahna - Megami Tanjou for the Mega Drive.

It's like Golden Axe meets Rastan, really cool atmosphere kinda difficult in parts though but so impressive for it's time.

I'll list a few more I have if someone can beat that.