Underrated games of 2011 you didn't play, but should have
- Thread starter MrPliskin
- Start date
cartman414
Member
If ports/remakes count:
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP)
Why it was overlooked: Came out on an aging platform. Released opposite the super-hyped Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Dragon Quest 6 DS came out on the same day and suffered the same fate. Plus, the pending release of Pokemon Black/White was seemingly sapping away any portable RPG attention.
Why you should play it: If you've enjoyed Final Fantasy Tactics in the least, this one's a no-brainer.
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP)
Why it was overlooked: Came out on an aging platform. Released opposite the super-hyped Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Dragon Quest 6 DS came out on the same day and suffered the same fate. Plus, the pending release of Pokemon Black/White was seemingly sapping away any portable RPG attention.
Why you should play it: If you've enjoyed Final Fantasy Tactics in the least, this one's a no-brainer.
UnluckyKate
Member
Dead Space 2, no more heroes paradise, alice, shadow of the damned, infamous 2, little big planet 2.
Why? Others priorities.
Every game that came out after July: because I'm away from my consoles until march.
Yes, I'll have 30 games to catch up when I'll be back...
Why? Others priorities.
Every game that came out after July: because I'm away from my consoles until march.
Yes, I'll have 30 games to catch up when I'll be back...
LuchaShaq said:
No, I'm saying this thread isn't for "those games are mediocre". Discussion is cool, but I'd really prefer this not to turn into a thread of bickering. I thought it would be cool to have a thread to hopefully generate some interest for titles that didn't get a lot of attention or under-performed in 2011 (respective to what they "should" have done).
MW3 doesn't really fit that bill
Everyone and their Grandmother has it 
Yakuza 4
Why it was overlooked: Sega seems to have a habit of releasing games during overwhelming busy months. This past March was no different. The franchise as a whole got introduced very, very late into PS2's life cycle so I don't think a lot of people are even familiar with it.
Why you should play it: Despite being made in Japan and set there, it deviates a lot from the horribly stale JRPG formula. The combat is all in real time and handled extremely well. The story is great, and playing as four different characters adds a lot of variety. The side missions are like some strange Japanese version of Fallout - they can range from random, to hilarious, to as good as portions of the main campaign. The game has a ton to do and none of it is reptitious or boring.
Why it was overlooked: Sega seems to have a habit of releasing games during overwhelming busy months. This past March was no different. The franchise as a whole got introduced very, very late into PS2's life cycle so I don't think a lot of people are even familiar with it.
Why you should play it: Despite being made in Japan and set there, it deviates a lot from the horribly stale JRPG formula. The combat is all in real time and handled extremely well. The story is great, and playing as four different characters adds a lot of variety. The side missions are like some strange Japanese version of Fallout - they can range from random, to hilarious, to as good as portions of the main campaign. The game has a ton to do and none of it is reptitious or boring.
Kirby: Return to Dreamland (Wii)
Why it was over looked: Wii game, released in the middle of the "big fall lineup", cute visuals, not as "unique" as last year's game (Epic Yarn).
Why you should play it: Because it's classic Kirby gameplay, and allows for up to 4 players-coop + 2D gameplay, powerups, bosses, and *SPOILER ALERT* the first boss is Whispy Woods.
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (Wii/360/PS3/PC/3DS)
Why it was over looked: At least of GAF, because of: this is not Spyro, cute visuals, toys, Spryo's face,...
Why you should play it: The consoles/PC version is technically Gauntlet: Dark Legacy with a new visual style; while the 3DS version is a classic platformer akin to the original Crash games. During the game you level-up your characters, raise their stats, ..and yep, collect hats too. Info is stored in the figures, so you can transfer and continue playing with anyone, no matter the version. Plus, you don't need to buy all figures to play much less finish the game.
Motoheroz (WiiWare)
Why it was over looked: Wii-digital release, not wanting to pay $15 for a digital release
Why you should play it: Anyone that liked/played Trials HD should play it. Heck, it is fromthe same developer (Redlynx). There's a single player mode and a multiplayer mode..that can be played online (well, at least exchanging/beating scores in a leader board...no actual multiplayer). There are possibilities of DLC, but..well... more people need to buy it first.
F.A.S.T. (WiiWare)
Why it was over looked: Wii-digital release, from an unknown developer; released to little (if any) hype.
Why you should play it: Is a mix of: Wipeout + F-Zero [i.e. speed, loops, futuristic design, ground energy] + Ikaruga [black powerups can only be used with the ship in black, white ones with the ship in white]
Why it was over looked: Wii game, released in the middle of the "big fall lineup", cute visuals, not as "unique" as last year's game (Epic Yarn).
Why you should play it: Because it's classic Kirby gameplay, and allows for up to 4 players-coop + 2D gameplay, powerups, bosses, and *SPOILER ALERT* the first boss is Whispy Woods.
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (Wii/360/PS3/PC/3DS)
Why it was over looked: At least of GAF, because of: this is not Spyro, cute visuals, toys, Spryo's face,...
Why you should play it: The consoles/PC version is technically Gauntlet: Dark Legacy with a new visual style; while the 3DS version is a classic platformer akin to the original Crash games. During the game you level-up your characters, raise their stats, ..and yep, collect hats too. Info is stored in the figures, so you can transfer and continue playing with anyone, no matter the version. Plus, you don't need to buy all figures to play much less finish the game.
Motoheroz (WiiWare)
Why it was over looked: Wii-digital release, not wanting to pay $15 for a digital release
Why you should play it: Anyone that liked/played Trials HD should play it. Heck, it is fromthe same developer (Redlynx). There's a single player mode and a multiplayer mode..that can be played online (well, at least exchanging/beating scores in a leader board...no actual multiplayer). There are possibilities of DLC, but..well... more people need to buy it first.
F.A.S.T. (WiiWare)
Why it was over looked: Wii-digital release, from an unknown developer; released to little (if any) hype.
Why you should play it: Is a mix of: Wipeout + F-Zero [i.e. speed, loops, futuristic design, ground energy] + Ikaruga [black powerups can only be used with the ship in black, white ones with the ship in white]
TheShampion
Member
The Stanley Parable
Why it was overlooked: Because it was a mod for Source and not a retail release.
Why you should play it: Because it has the most memorable story and plot of any game I have paid for. It is equal parts funny and disturbing and all brilliant. The best part is that it's free! Download here! http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-stanley-parable
Why it was overlooked: Because it was a mod for Source and not a retail release.
Why you should play it: Because it has the most memorable story and plot of any game I have paid for. It is equal parts funny and disturbing and all brilliant. The best part is that it's free! Download here! http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-stanley-parable
MidnightScott
Banned
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter
Why it was over looked: Because it's a Nintendo DS game released while the DS is on a downhill slide and the 3DS is taking over
Why you should play it: Because it is one of the best DS games to released in a good long while and a fun Action RPG and has a great story to boot.
Voila!
Why it was over looked: Because it's a Nintendo DS game released while the DS is on a downhill slide and the 3DS is taking over
Why you should play it: Because it is one of the best DS games to released in a good long while and a fun Action RPG and has a great story to boot.
Voila!
I'm secretly hoping that NoA releases it, but if not I'll import it sometime next year or buy it off a Gaffer who already did.LotR: War in the North
Why it was over looked: Terrible release date, coming out after BF3 and before MW3 and Skyrim, with Skyrim being the only fantasy game of November on everyone's minds.
Why you should play it: There's a fun combat system, enjoyable co-op, and some pretty good loot to collect in a story mode that lasts for 10-15 hours and also comes with New Game Plus.
Why it was over looked: Terrible release date, coming out after BF3 and before MW3 and Skyrim, with Skyrim being the only fantasy game of November on everyone's minds.
Why you should play it: There's a fun combat system, enjoyable co-op, and some pretty good loot to collect in a story mode that lasts for 10-15 hours and also comes with New Game Plus.
I'm darn sad that Resistance 3 didn't sell better. Insanely good game. I just started playing online a couple of days ago and it's fantastic there as well, but not a lot of people play it. It's disappointing that if you're not Call of Duty or a small handful of other games, you won't get many players, even if the game is better than those games.
bigboss370
Member
if i had money i would totally buy Fight Night Champion. its a beast of a game, really awesome!
d00d3n
Member
Dead Island
Why was it overlooked: Unjustly panned by lots of critics (EDGE!). Kind of buggy at release, especially for PC. Graphics are not great. Requires a lot of time to be fun in combination with being buggy -> a hard sell. Borderlands had more polish.
Why should you play it: Has fantastic melee combat that requires strategy and skill to succeed. They nail the feeling of threat and panic when a bunch of zombies rush you. The boss zombies are also interesting to take out. Has a great open world to explore, especially the tourist resort in the first act. Works flawlessly in coop. The slower speed of the melee combat really suits co-operative play. The actual item/skill development part was good, but very derivative of Borderlands. I think the setting and atmosphere beats Borderlands by a mile, though.
Why was it overlooked: Unjustly panned by lots of critics (EDGE!). Kind of buggy at release, especially for PC. Graphics are not great. Requires a lot of time to be fun in combination with being buggy -> a hard sell. Borderlands had more polish.
Why should you play it: Has fantastic melee combat that requires strategy and skill to succeed. They nail the feeling of threat and panic when a bunch of zombies rush you. The boss zombies are also interesting to take out. Has a great open world to explore, especially the tourist resort in the first act. Works flawlessly in coop. The slower speed of the melee combat really suits co-operative play. The actual item/skill development part was good, but very derivative of Borderlands. I think the setting and atmosphere beats Borderlands by a mile, though.
d00d3n said:
Wasn't Dead Island pretty successful for it's budget? I thought the game did exceptionally well and a lot of people played it (at least that's the impression I got).
GhaleonQ said:
Watching this video, and I have no idea how this works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R7sCXlVfGE
dragonlife
Member
Oh.Billychu said:
Oh.
May have to look into it.
Dance Star Party
Why it was overlooked:
Because it was another dancing title much like Just Dance and Dance Central
Why you should just get it:
The dancing is so much fun, has 2 player Move support, uses real dancers not avatars, made by the Singstar team, is the perfect party dance game.
Why it was overlooked:
Because it was another dancing title much like Just Dance and Dance Central
Why you should just get it:
The dancing is so much fun, has 2 player Move support, uses real dancers not avatars, made by the Singstar team, is the perfect party dance game.
Guts & Puck
Member
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
Why it's overlooked: a weird name, small marketing budget and atypical visual design
Why you should play it: because it's fucking awesome
Why it's overlooked: a weird name, small marketing budget and atypical visual design
Why you should play it: because it's fucking awesome
TheApatheticOne
Member
Well, its already been mentioned, but the game that immediately came to mind when I read the title was Shadows of the Damned. Others that deserve mention, again, are Space Marine, El Shaddai, and Bulletstorm.
The_Player
Member
Brink. Probably, the most underrated game in the current generation. Still don't understand all the hate around it. It is like someone promised you a treasure chest full of gold and gems, and instead of that everyone received pile of dogshit covered with chocolate flakes.
Resistence 3
Why was it over looked? Too much else at the time, plus the sub HD had me thinking it would be unpolished again.
Why I should play it. Looks to be a fantastic game.
Forza 4
Why was it over looked? Initially was saving it for a new Fanatec wheel purchase. Then after testing out the forced assists I never bought either.
Why I should play it. Fantastic racer with a tonne of content and community options.
Arkham City
Why was it over looked? Just got lost in the mix.
Why I should play it. Potentially one of the best games of the year.
Why was it over looked? Too much else at the time, plus the sub HD had me thinking it would be unpolished again.
Why I should play it. Looks to be a fantastic game.
Forza 4
Why was it over looked? Initially was saving it for a new Fanatec wheel purchase. Then after testing out the forced assists I never bought either.
Why I should play it. Fantastic racer with a tonne of content and community options.
Arkham City
Why was it over looked? Just got lost in the mix.
Why I should play it. Potentially one of the best games of the year.
Fallout-NL
Member
edit: nm.
MrPliskin said:
The game is designed with the controller in mind, even if the ads say Move/Kinect. There's a very good and challenging scoring system. If you liked arcades from the 80-90s, then Child of Eden is a no-brainer, it's the closest you can get to an arcade game nowadays.
Driver San Franciscomysticwhip said:
Why it's overlooked: the Driver brand was seriously damaged by the previous game(s), Ubisoft's reputation isn't too hot either, the 'Shift' gameplay mechanic (and the storyline that comes with it) raised a lot of eyebrows, the game was pushed back then the online pass was borked, handling in the SP demo left a lot to be desired...
Why you should play it: the driving model is a lot of fun (halfway between arcade and sim), the incidental dialogue when you shift from car to car is quite funny as is the banter between Tanner and Jones, it's a 60 FPS open world racer with more than a hundred cars both old and new, the story and side missions are varied enough that you won't run out of things to do before 40-50 hours, the central mechanic is actually totally awesome because it allows you to make the game as hard or as easy as you wish (and driving a fire truck in the opposite lane never gets old), it has that garage mission from the first Driver, multiplayer modes are a breath of fresh air and never get old, and what's wrong with a videogame requiring suspension of disbelief?
To Far Away Times
Member
Bulletstorm
Why was it over looked? Looks like a dudebro game on the surface.
Why I should play it? Finally, FPS games are fun again! Bulletstorm never takes itself very seriously with lots of stupid humor, and the it has a fun twist on shooting people over and over again. A great game for people who are turned off by military style FPS games.
Why was it over looked? Looks like a dudebro game on the surface.
Why I should play it? Finally, FPS games are fun again! Bulletstorm never takes itself very seriously with lots of stupid humor, and the it has a fun twist on shooting people over and over again. A great game for people who are turned off by military style FPS games.
Sony PSP
Why it was over looked: Ha!
Why you should play it: Because this year it has had some exceptional titles. Dissidia 012, Trails in the Sky, Ys I & II Chronicles, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, The 3rd Birthday (hush, duckroll!), Tactics Ogre, Patapon 3, along with some great minis available on PSN (Where Is My Heart? especially).
Even with the number of great games out on consoles and PC, I've played my PSP the most this year.
Why it was over looked: Ha!
Why you should play it: Because this year it has had some exceptional titles. Dissidia 012, Trails in the Sky, Ys I & II Chronicles, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, The 3rd Birthday (hush, duckroll!), Tactics Ogre, Patapon 3, along with some great minis available on PSN (Where Is My Heart? especially).
Even with the number of great games out on consoles and PC, I've played my PSP the most this year.
Space Marine
Why it was overlooked: Any new TPS that will launch now will be instantly labeled as a Gears of War wannabe. The release of the game without the co-op mode (patched 1 month latter) was also pretty damaging. Also THQ is the publisher.
Why you should play it: First of all if you are a WH40K fan/enthusiast this game is a must. It's pretty much fan service even to the detail of the mechanics of the game: no cover system, aggressive tactics rewarded with health regeneration, seamless transition from melee to ranged combat. But for those unaware of the franchise history it is a brutal fun game also, so even neophytes will enjoy the game. It is a simple, straightforward game, there's no true strategy involved, no team work coordination, it's just you as a Space Marine against every xenomorph filth and heretics that cross your path.
Finally two of the most fun guns/accessories you'll use in a video game this year:
Meltagun- Self explanatory name. A shotgun that melts your targets. You don't have a pulse if using this weapon doesn't bring a smile to your face.
Jetpack- It's completely overpowered, but it never gets old jumping to the air to fall and crush everyone that dares face you . It's God Mode basically but incredibly fun to use.
Why it was overlooked: Any new TPS that will launch now will be instantly labeled as a Gears of War wannabe. The release of the game without the co-op mode (patched 1 month latter) was also pretty damaging. Also THQ is the publisher.
Why you should play it: First of all if you are a WH40K fan/enthusiast this game is a must. It's pretty much fan service even to the detail of the mechanics of the game: no cover system, aggressive tactics rewarded with health regeneration, seamless transition from melee to ranged combat. But for those unaware of the franchise history it is a brutal fun game also, so even neophytes will enjoy the game. It is a simple, straightforward game, there's no true strategy involved, no team work coordination, it's just you as a Space Marine against every xenomorph filth and heretics that cross your path.
Finally two of the most fun guns/accessories you'll use in a video game this year:
Meltagun- Self explanatory name. A shotgun that melts your targets. You don't have a pulse if using this weapon doesn't bring a smile to your face.
Jetpack- It's completely overpowered, but it never gets old jumping to the air to fall and crush everyone that dares face you . It's God Mode basically but incredibly fun to use.
Alcoholikaust
Member
Dark Souls
Why it was overlooked?
From Software's original Demons Souls was brutally hard, people did not want a repeat of original.
Why you should play it?
Easier than the first, more forgiving health system, more open world, weapon variety, tons of hidden weapons, there is a 360 version (wider audience this time). Cool multiplayer features are refined. Guaranteed price drop any day now. Was 38 new at target in NJ YESTERDAY.
Why it was overlooked?
From Software's original Demons Souls was brutally hard, people did not want a repeat of original.
Why you should play it?
Easier than the first, more forgiving health system, more open world, weapon variety, tons of hidden weapons, there is a 360 version (wider audience this time). Cool multiplayer features are refined. Guaranteed price drop any day now. Was 38 new at target in NJ YESTERDAY.
Bulletstorm
Why it was over looked:
Because it wasn't a triple AAA game and it looked too much dudebro with cheap and boring gameplay.
Why you should play it:
The game is a lot of fun and the singleplayer is a great rollercoaster ride. The gameplay keeps fun and refreshing.
Definitely pick the game up, because you can find it pretty cheap now.
Why it was over looked:
Because it wasn't a triple AAA game and it looked too much dudebro with cheap and boring gameplay.
Why you should play it:
The game is a lot of fun and the singleplayer is a great rollercoaster ride. The gameplay keeps fun and refreshing.
Definitely pick the game up, because you can find it pretty cheap now.
CouchMaster
Member
Rayman Origins
Why was it over looked? "A full priced 2D game?", "I thought it was PSN/XBLA title" etc..
Why I should play it? Its basically NSMB Wii in native 1080p/60fps.
Why was it over looked? "A full priced 2D game?", "I thought it was PSN/XBLA title" etc..
Why I should play it? Its basically NSMB Wii in native 1080p/60fps.
Alex Connolly
Member
The_Player said:
Hear hear. We are in the smallest of minorities, but I still think Brink does great things.
MrPliskin said:
Poimandres said:
Dedication Through Light said:
BobsRevenge said:
LuchaShaq said:
UnluckyKate said:
wow. i remember when we would have these threads several years ago. underrated sure used to mean something else. i guess this is a sign of the changing gaming landscape and the increasing and exclusive focus on AAA games with little room for anything else. now we have people seriously mistaking some of these endlessly hyped big budget games with underrated gems.
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