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[Teggy]

The Saboteur

What is it?

An open world sandboxy blow stuff up game.

Why is it underrated?

Probably because it has some janky climbing controls and just generally isn't GTA.

Why should we play it?

Because it's just fun. It takes the Mercenaries formula and takes out the pain of ordering up weapons. You can climb all over the place and blow stuff up and just smile. And if you want there's boobs (although it may not be possible to get that DLC anymore). One of the only games I 100% achieved on 360.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Alice: Madness Returns



Sent out to die by EA with little to no support such is the way of EA when it comes to titles that wont do stupid numbers in the sales department. And I feel because of the old school feel it has many reviewers just didn't give it a fair shot.



A very beautiful game with a wonderful art style. It has a great old school platformer adventure feel which you just don't get anymore. It does have some camera issues but nothing to worry about. The combat is surprisingly good for a title like this with various weapons to collect and power. It manages to feel fresh and varied throughout the game. The story is also quite good and worth investing in.

Came to post this, such a criminally underrated game. My next tattoo will be one of Alice.

 

[OniBarubary]

I hate these lists because they basically just become a comprehensive look at my games library after a while. Seriously, all the games I love are bombas or criminally under-rated. This thread should be titled "All the Games Oni Loved That Two Other People Thought Were Pretty Okay"

If I wasn't on a friend's computer, I'd throw up Radiant Historia which I literally believe to be the best RPG in about 7 or 8 years.

 

[Goli]

Gyromancer
It´s Bejeweled 3 x Final Fantasy, basically.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/23380/

 

[benjammin]

Darksiders.

It's a Zelda clone that manages to tell a decent story with a very compelling art style. You play as a powerful character and the bosses that you encounter actually fear you to an extent. You should play it because it's easily the best Zelda game that was released this generation. Fun combat, plenty to explore, a good sized overworld with some Easter eggs scattered throughout, and some creative dungeons. It's a very underrated game

 

[Harlequin]

The Simpsons Game

1. What is it?
It's a fun mix of 3D Jump'n Run and Beat'em Up with light puzzle elements and lovely cartoon visuals.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Being a licensed title I feel like it did not get the attention it deserved from "hardcore" gamers. It has sold four million copies but my guess is that a lot of those were to sold to casual gamers. It was obviously criminally underrated at its publisher EA, considering they cancelled the sequel .

3. Why should we play it?
It's a fun, funny game that doesn't take itself seriously and successfully carries over The Simpsons' humour into the video game world. It makes fun of many popular game franchises and gaming tropes and is just generally hilarious. It's definitely not just a game for diehard Simpsons fans. The levels are also extremely varied which, combined with the fact that you get to play as every member of the Simpsons family, means the game never gets boring.

Close seconds: WET and Alice: Madness Returns

 

[RedSwirl]

1. Crush - a puzzle platformer where you solve problems by switching between 3D and 2D perspectives.

2. Uhh... people on 1up and such talked about it for a while, but then it was just forgotten, even as it was re-released on the 3DS. I feel like it never came out on any really popular platform.

3. It's one of the best puzzle games to come out this generation.

 

[bishopcruz]

Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

1. What is it?

An old school JRPG by Falcom, set in an incredibly fleshed out world, and most importantly, done right.

2. Why did no one play it?

Because, while Xseed is great at bringing out niche titles, they aren't the best at promoting them. This game got next to no coverage, got late reviews, and overall got ignored by the bulk of the gaming press. To this day I think jscheirer is the only guy who actually writes about games for a living that has played it. Plus its for the PSP.

3. Why should we play it?

Because it's Falcom, and they do old school to perfection. It's a JRPG that feels like it was ripped out of the 16-bit era and expanded upon. Great characters, next to no pandering, a fun combat and magic system, and a deep story. On top of that its world actually feels alive, characters change what they say after each event, there is a newspaper that updates based on events in the game. Hell there is even a serial novella to track down. And that's before getting to a very well put together main scenario.This is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, and no one has played it. It's still on PSN, and will be coming to PC in early 2014. BUY IT!

 

[Night Hunter]

Man, so many good games on the Wii got sent out to die it's not even funny. They never even had a chance ...

This thread really makes me sad.

 

[Roubjon]

Gray Matter

I bought this last year and still haven't played it. Adventure games are one of my favorite genres, so I'm thinking I need to change that.

 

[DY_nasty]

Space Rangers 2.

It's a masterpiece and it makes even the most obscure game mentioned so far in this thread feel "mainstream as fuck" in comparison.

1. What is it?
Quoting myself from another thread:
it's like "Pirates!" in space. Plus EVE Online spaceship fitting. Plus text based adventures as side quests. Plus occasional RTS sections. But with more story and RPG in it. And the universe is alive and goes on by itself regardless of the player input.
In short, it's freaking massive and awesome.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Because everyone who bothered playing it loved, and those (rare and sparse) reviews were all stellar. While not a great metric in general, a 97 user score on Metacritic says a lot about how good this game is.

3. Why should we play it?
Why shouldn't you? It's awesome and its replayability is virtually unlimited.

I was just thinking about buying this on Steam.

 

[semiconscious]

I have multiple games I could mention.... Little King Story (Wii), Lost in Shadow (Wii), Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS)...

what is it?

a fantasy adventure / card battle game?

why do you feel it's underrated?

not sure anyone other than me & maybe a dozen other people bought it, or even heard of it...

why should we play it?

the graphics & art design are gorgeous, & the story's pretty charming. the music's great. the card battle system's simplistic, but very well done. & the many mini-games are clever, & make great use of the touch pad. all in all, a truly unique & enjoyable experience...

 

[EdibleKnife]

What is it?
Resonance of Fate is an action RPG developed by tri-Ace and released for the PS3 and 360

Why did no one play it?
It dropped in the US right after FF 13. In retrospect, especially with Sega's usual minimal promotion, it had no chance.

Why should we play it?
There's two absolute stand out things about this game: The main characters and the battle system.

The characters are 3 hunters who essentially perform odd and sometimes dangerous jobs in the steampunk (maybe more steel or factorypunk if I can invent a new phrase) setting. The best thing about them though is how they interact. If I were to take stock of most main casts in RPGs this past gen, these three are probably the ones who seem like they become real friends.

Out of all three, Zephyr is probably the only one who could probably fit into the usual trope of the angsty protag but his too cool for this attitude is balanced by Leanne's enthusiasm and Vashyron's wackiness.

The battle system, as someone on the internet described, is basically like playing a John Woo movie. Characters can fire at a distance, which rarely does much, but to get the most out of it, you charge in with your characters, flipping, leaping, and dancing over and around your foes to stuff them with bullets. It's all extremely cinematic, dynamic and very fun and beats out several other pre-gen battle systems by a country mile.

Overall, this game does a lot of really interesting things with the jRPG formula

Edit - Missed Kazama Sogetsu's post but our point still stands. Play this game.

 

[badcrumble]

Valkyria Chronicles

What is it?

A Third Person Strategy RPG I believe.

Why do I feel its underrated?

Because it just wasn't given a chance. It got good reviews and people who have played the game liked it a lot.

Why should people play it?

The story isn't original, but it's good for a JRPG (And I usually dislike JRPG). There's a lot of diversity among the cast and a lot of variety of who you can use and how you can play the game. Honestly, I haven't played a lot of jrpg's but there was nothing like it. The beginning is slow, but by mission three when you inherit squad 17 (?) the game takes off.

The thing that really impressed me about Valkyria Chronicles was that it effectively created an entirely new subgenre/gameplay style of SRPG, but everything it did as far as gameplay is concerned felt so immensely confident and polished that it was as if this new idea had had years of predecessors and history and inspiration to draw on.

 

[Daante]

DARKSIDERS 1

1. What is it?
A third person action game with Zelda/rpg elements.


2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
The game has an incredible atmosphere, with great art design, combined with very good voice acting and memorable characters. It´s a Metroid-vania style game in its best, and the combat system is very good aswell. It put MANY games on shame! , its that good of a overall package!.


3. Why should we play it?
Buy the PC version. Force AA and all sorts of beauty trough AMD/Nvidia control panels, and you will experience fantastic looking environments, combined with the best mix between a mature Zelda and Devil May cry game this generation had to offer. DONT be discouraged by the opening of the game and the non fantasy setting. The game open ups shortly after, and the fantasy atmosphere grows and just deliver an amazing journey/experience.

 

[L3G3ND6]

1. What is it?

An Action Hack & Slash RPG made by Cavia (Their last game *tears*)

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Released on the same week as Final Fantasy XIII and was ignored by Square Enix with small budget but the entire game feels like a mix of risky experiments not seen in other games

3. Why should we play it?

It has some of the best soundstrack of all time. The story is one of the most depressing stories ever. The characters are all lovable with amazing dialog exchange between them. Drakengard's sequel (in a way). GOTTA RIDE THAT BOAR ALL DAY EVERYDAY!

This.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Resonance of Fate / End of Eternity

1. What is it?
It's an (action?) RPG from tri-Ace for PS360.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Not much underrated, more like hardly anyone played thanks to being a new IP coming out a week after FFXIII, also within a week from God of War 3, a new Battlefield, a new Pokémon... It didn't have a chance.

3. Why should we play it?
It has believable/likable characters (as believable as you can have in a jRPG, that is) and one of the damn finest combat systems in any RPG, ever. Also, you can make a gun with a dozen barrels if you want.

and its kinda hard so alot of people avoided it.

but great game

 

[djtiesto]

Marble Saga Kororinpa

What is it? A ball-rolling maze game where you have to collect orange crystals and reach the goal of each stage by tilting the stage with the Wiimote.

Why should you play it? It features the most flawless controls of any game of its type - the stage tilts in a perfect 1-1 accordance with your arm. The simple, natural, flawlessly executed control scheme makes negotiating tight turns and hazardous obstacles a breeze. Not only that, but the level designers really flexed their muscles in this sequel to the first Kororinpa (which you should also play), with hundreds of unique stages filled with devious layouts featuring mechanics such as rolling on walls, firing out of cannons, reversing gravity, and turning entire stages upside down, in addition to traditional platforming obstacles such as spikes, moving platforms, varying types of terrain, and more. Each stage also features hidden items such as green crystals to unlock bonus stages, and "junk" items that open up the game's extensive level editor. But the time trials are what really adds to the game's replay value, as you can spend dozens of hours looking for ways to shave seconds off of your times in an attempt to collect all of the game's platinum trophies.

Why is it underrated? As a low-budget release for the Wii, it had a hard time standing out from the mountains of shovelware titles that were released early i the system's life. The original Kororinpa did manage to pick up somewhat of a cult following, but Marble Saga didn't do itself any favors with fans of the first game - it changed the physics, presumably in an attempt to dumb down the game to make it more casual-friendly, but this change ended up making the slower marbles that you have access to early in the game feel like they were rolling in molasses. Thankfully, after suffering through a handul of stages (or by putting in a cheat code at the start of the game), you unlock faster marbles that are a joy to control and let you experience the game in all of its glory.

I LOVED the first Kororinpa and was really hyped about the sequel... unfortunately I couldn't get over the wonky physics of the initial marbles. I'll have to try again now that I know there's a cheat code to allow you to unlock better marbles.

Thread has a lot of my favorites from generation past in it - loved Soul Hackers, Hard Corps: Uprising, Mirror's Edge, Nier, Resonance of Fate, Valkyria...

 

[EmCeeGramr]

What is it?

A great doctor... simulation? puzzle? adventure? game from Atlus and published on Wii. Unlike the previous entries in the series, it focused on six different specialties, rather than just surgery.

Why do I feel that it's underrated?

Because it came out on the Wii in 2010, in the same month as Mario Galaxy 2. Because the Trauma series had become worn out in peoples' eyes after New Blood and UTK2 didn't really innovate on the mechanics that existed in UKT1 and SO. Because when it finally came out, it bombed like crazy and probably killed the series.

Why should people play it?

It's a great game with a vibrant visual style, a unique method of nonlinear storytelling where you can follow each doctor's path at your own pace, tons of different gameplay mechanics ranging from the original reflex and muscle memory stressing surgery on a time limit, to point-and-click-ish crime solving. The music is great, the gameplay is great and varied (though endoscopy was a bit fiddly), and while the story has a few glaring holes and absurdities in it, it's got tons of charm and neat twists in it to keep you going. It was Atlus's big attempt to revitalize the series into something really new and cool, and it commercially failed despite their best efforts. It's totally worth a look at the very least.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Valkyria Chronicles

What is it?

A Third Person Strategy RPG I believe.

Why do I feel its underrated?

Because it just wasn't given a chance. It got good reviews and people who have played the game liked it a lot.

Why should people play it?

The story isn't original, but it's good for a JRPG (And I usually dislike JRPG). There's a lot of diversity among the cast and a lot of variety of who you can use and how you can play the game. Honestly, I haven't played a lot of jrpg's but there was nothing like it. The beginning is slow, but by mission three when you inherit squad 17 (?) the game takes off.

its on my top 5 games of this gen

one of the best games ever designed

 

[nel e nel]

+1 on Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, it's a lot of fun. It's currently $0.99 on iOS devices. Just download the demo, and purchase "All Chapters" from the in-game store.

On to my pick:

What is it?
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom. A criminally underplayed action-adventure-platform-puzzler with an adorable magical creature companion.

Why do you feel it is underrated?
I think alot of things went into this:
- it previewed really well, but reviews seemed to be disappointed with the final product
- inexplicable price drop right before release, which I think led people to believe it was an inferior product that the publishers/developers didn't have confidence in
- the art style is very...cartoony for lack of a better word. I think it gave many the impression that it was a 'kids game'.
- the voice-acting was very average, and the repetitive barks from the Majin split many people who played into two camps: "annoying" or "endearing".

Why Should We Play It?
It's a light hearted fun adventure. The story is cookie-cutter 'village-scamp-must-save-princess' fare, but the gameplay is surprisingly fun and addictive, combining simple hack-and-slash with elemental combos; light puzzle-platforming utilizing the Majin to move heavy objects around to facilitate your traversal; Metroidvania elements where you unlock abilities to go back and get to previously unreachable areas; and a light RPG unlock system that lets you create a lightly customized gameplay experience.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

What is it?

An action/adventure game based on biblical apocrypha, which boasts some of the best artistry ever in a video game.

Why do I feel that it's underrated?

The game was chided for lacking the depth of actioners like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. And that's entirely true -- it does. But that's missing the point. This isn't a game about the combat -- it's about the journey. The combat, while enjoyable, is just peppered in as a distraction.

Why should people play it?

It's one of the most unique action/adventure titles in years. Great visuals, great music, and the atmosphere is so bizarre that I can honestly say that I've never played a game quite like it before. The combat is enjoyable and has just enough strategy that it's not too basic, and the story is... well, interesting.

Really, El Shaddai is more about the experience than intricately designed gameplay mechanics, and if that's going to bother you, then yeah, you're probably better off skipping it. Go in with an open mind, though, and you'll find something really special here.

 

[Sojgat]

I hate these lists because they basically just become a comprehensive look at my games library after a while. Seriously, all the games I love are bombas or criminally under-rated. This thread should be titled "All the Games Oni Loved That Two Other People Thought Were Pretty Okay"

If I wasn't on a friend's computer, I'd throw up Radiant Historia which I literally believe to be the best RPG in about 7 or 8 years.

I know these feels.

 

[Silvawuff]

Okami.

It got a port or two and an HD re-release. It's a gorgeous game and I think it was underrated because Capcom never bothered to really push it, and the artstyle/main character might be a turn off for some. Followed up with Clover's disbanding after making this masterpiece, and a so-so 3DS sequel of sorts made it seem like this game never got the full attention it really deserved.

People should give it a shot because it's an amazing action/adventure game that hits all the right notes. It's got a great story, interesting characters, great combat, clever puzzles, loads and loads of secrets to discover, and the artwork is incredible. It's also incredibly long. Zelda fans should take special notice.

 

[Yawnier]

Folklore

1. What is it?

An ARPG set in Ireland in the present day developed by the now defunct Game Republic and released in late 2007 in NA and Europe. There are two main playable characters, Ellen and Keats.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It released early in the PS3's life-cycle and at the time it was released too not a whole lot of fanfare because of the PS3's small install base in 2007. Even today after more people have played it and it has become a bit of a cult hit on GAF and other places not too many people still bring it up in conversations on gaming in this past generation. Folklore is a very underrated and often overlooked game I suppose you could say.

3. Why should we play it?

Play this game if you are in the mood for a 15 - 20 hour long RPG that deviates from the norm and has mystery elements to it. The combat in this game is also a bit different in using folk (basically creatures) for combat and this game probably involves the greatest use of the sixaxis in the Dualshock 3 I can think of, the closest game I can compare it for the combat is to the Kingdom Hearts series but they aren't really all that similar to each other. Moreover, for a game that released earlier in the generation it has aged well graphically, in thanks to the great art-style Folklore has.

This game is also becoming harder and harder to find in stores, so if you want to buy this game at a decent price at sub 20 dollars I would do so soon (along with Valkyria Chronicles and Nier).

 

[Tambini]

Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars

1. What is it?
A multiplayer physics based game for PSN in which you play football (or soccer) with cars. The cars have rockets on the back (hence the name) and you can perform boosts and tricks in mid air and such...it's better than I can describe it.
2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
It's hidden in the PS3 store and didn't get much exposure by any big gaming sites. A lot of the reviews I read also talked a lot about the single player which is just some challenges, but the game shines in multiplayer. A lot of the games criticism was due to a fairly steep learning curve which I feel is true but it shouldn't be marked down for it.
3. Why should we play it?
Amazingly fun game to play with your friends, you can do 4 person split screen and play online at the same time. You don't have to be interested in football or cars either, the game is just so wacky and fun. Only problem is not many people play online anymore and the learning curve can be quite rough. The single player helps guide you through the basics and there are a number of different bots you can play against.

 

[comedian]

Folklore

1. What is it?

An ARPG set in Ireland in the present day developed by the now defunct Game Republic and released in late 2007 in NA and Europe. There are two main playable characters, Ellen and Keats.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It released early in the PS3's life-cycle and at the time it was released too not a whole lot of fanfare because of the PS3's small install base in 2007. Even today after more people have played it and it has become a bit of a cult hit on GAF and other places not too many people still bring it up in conversations on gaming in this past generation. Folklore is a very underrated and often overlooked game I suppose you could say.

3. Why should we play it?

Play this game if you are in the mood for a 15 - 20 hour long RPG that deviates from the norm and has mystery elements to it. The combat in this game is also a bit different in using folk (basically creatures) for combat and this game probably involves the greatest use of the sixaxis in the Dualshock 3 I can think of, the closest game I can compare it for the combat is to the Kingdom Hearts series but they aren't really all that similar to each other. Moreover, for a game that released earlier in the generation it has aged well graphically, in thanks to the great art-style Folklore has.

This game is also becoming harder and harder to find in stores, so if you want to buy this game at a decent price at sub 20 dollars I would do so soon (along with Valkyria Chronicles and Nier).

I would buy 10 copies if they made a sequel.

 

[Storm360]

1. What is it?
Multiplayer Beat Em Up released by SEGA and Developed by Platinum Games, game also has single player, but again, the main focus was the multiplayer and it's where the game truly shines.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
The game took a long time to release over here, and when it finally did release, released as a budget title and zero advertising, the people hyped from the Japanese "MAX ANARCHY" release had lost interest, casual store-browsers saw the budget price and connected it with low quality, and no advertising meant the average gamer doesn't even know the game exists.

3. Why should we play it?

One of the best Multiplayer games of the generation, I have it on 360 and PS3, and while the 360 version is completely dead, it appears there still is a small community on the PS3 versions, the game is also extremely cheap to pick up, I picked it up off the Japanese PSN store (the MAX ANARCHY) release, which only cost 500 Yen, however, I also bought a physical copy of Anarchy Reigns release, for £6, this was the limited edition with the Bayonetta Character DLC too

 

[Gormless Noodle]

1. What is it?

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile for the Wii. A puzzle platformer developed by Namco-Bandai and a remake of the PS1 original.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Because it came in rather late when mascot characters where becoming a thing of the past and only the ones already established, were still selling well. Not to mention that there isn't a huge marketing budget attached to it, some of the amazing gaming press calling it a "Mario clone" because if it's side scrolling and it jumps, it MUST be a Mario clone. Then there's that thing where fuzzy anthropomorphic critters aren't really liked much these days due to certain internet cultures.

3. Why should we play it?
The charming visuals, wonderful music, but above all the unique and well thought out gameplay. It's a game with a lot of heart, which is why it's so sad that we'll likely never see another entry in the series. But that's all the more reason to get it while you still can.

 

[ironcreed]

Alice: Madness Returns



Sent out to die by EA with little to no support such is the way of EA when it comes to titles that wont do stupid numbers in the sales department. And I feel because of the old school feel it has many reviewers just didn't give it a fair shot.



A very beautiful game with a wonderful art style. It has a great old school platformer adventure feel which you just don't get anymore. It does have some camera issues but nothing to worry about. The combat is surprisingly good for a title like this with various weapons to collect and power. It manages to feel fresh and varied throughout the game. The story is also quite good and worth investing in.

I came to post this. A decent length, interesting story of a broken person struggling with suppressed demons and absolutely gorgeous art in a wide variety of environments. The gameplay may be nothing revolutionary, but it is still damn fun and requires certain tactics in order to get by. One of my favorites.

 

[royox]

What is it?
Resonance of Fate is an action RPG developed by tri-Ace and released for the PS3 and 360

Why did no one play it?
It dropped in the US right after FF 13. In retrospect, especially with Sega's usual minimal promotion, it had no chance.

Why should we play it?
There's two absolute stand out things about this game: The main characters and the battle system.

The characters are 3 hunters who essentially preform odd and sometimes dangerous in the steampunk (maybe more steel or factorypunk if I can invent a new phrase) setting. The best thing about them though is how they interact. If I were to take stock of most main casts in RPGs this past gen, these three are probably the ones who seem like they become real friends.

Out of all three, Zephyr is probably the only one who could probably fit into the usual trope of the angsty protag but his too cool for this attitude is balanced by Leanne's enthusiasm and Vashyron's wackiness.

The battle system, as someone on the internet described, is basically like playing a John Woo movie. Characters can fire at a distance, which rarely does much, but to get the most out of it, you charge in with your characters, flipping, leaping, and dancing over and around your foes to stuff them with bullets. It's all extremely cinematic, dynamic and very fun and beats out several other pre-gen battle systems by a country mile.

Overall, this game does a lot of really interesting things with the jRPG formula

Edit - Missed Kazama Sogetsu's post but our point still stands. Play this game.

>13-14 Chapters game.
>Plot Starts at chapter 13-14.

The game has great gameplay, Loved the battles and all the "power up your weapons"...but they failed at storytelling. The whole game was about sidequesting every chapter till the last one where everything happens and shit has to be done.

Liked the game...but won't play it again.

 

[BGBW]

Maestro! Jump in Music

1. What is it?
It's a rhythm based platformer/runner. A similar game would be HarmoKnight for the 3DS but the gameplay is not identical. The basic actions are tapping enemies, flicking strings to jump and collecting collectables (they change based on the stage) to play the parts of music i.e. the strings tend to be the melody and the collectables are the beat. There are other actions based on the worlds to keep things fresh.

Just watch this trailer to understand it.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Well it had a very limited release in Europe and that's about it I believe. It did get released on DSiWare and iOS but that only consists of the first world so the physical release is still the only way to experience the full game.

3. Why should we play it?
I feel this is an interesting take on the rhythm genre. I mean people sung praises for HarmoKnight and this game beat it to the idea of rhythm platformer by years. Obviously I'm not going to lie and say the game is perfect, it does require you to play the game on easy the first time round which shortens the length of each level so you'll only experience the meat of the game the second time round and the boss stages are not as great as the regular levels (they are a back and forth simon says duel) and if you are not a fan of classical music you may not appreciate the full tracklist (though there are some midi renditions of some more modern tunes like FAME!). But overlook those few flaws (and once you get freeplay two of them won't even be a problem anymore) you'll have a fun time.

 

[ironcreed]

What is it?
Resonance of Fate is an action RPG developed by tri-Ace and released for the PS3 and 360

Why did no one play it?
It dropped in the US right after FF 13. In retrospect, especially with Sega's usual minimal promotion, it had no chance.

Why should we play it?
There's two absolute stand out things about this game: The main characters and the battle system.

The characters are 3 hunters who essentially preform odd and sometimes dangerous in the steampunk (maybe more steel or factorypunk if I can invent a new phrase) setting. The best thing about them though is how they interact. If I were to take stock of most main casts in RPGs this past gen, these three are probably the ones who seem like they become real friends.

Out of all three, Zephyr is probably the only one who could probably fit into the usual trope of the angsty protag but his too cool for this attitude is balanced by Leanne's enthusiasm and Vashyron's wackiness.

The battle system, as someone on the internet described, is basically like playing a John Woo movie. Characters can fire at a distance, which rarely does much, but to get the most out of it, you charge in with your characters, flipping, leaping, and dancing over and around your foes to stuff them with bullets. It's all extremely cinematic, dynamic and very fun and beats out several other pre-gen battle systems by a country mile.

Overall, this game does a lot of really interesting things with the jRPG formula

Edit - Missed Kazama Sogetsu's post but our point still stands. Play this game.

I have come close buying this on a few separate occasions. Perhaps I'll give it a shot soon.

 

[Grief.exe]

I'll play this game when they remove GFWL, looks like a blast but I don't even want to deal with the service right now.

That cover looks horrible, I've generally seen it from downsampled shots, never in a higher resolution.

 

[Grief.exe]

Valkyria Chronicles

Sega has this love for PC now, but we still aren't seeing some of their more obscure titles.
I guess both of these came out before Sega made their big push on the platform, but Resonance of Fate sounds like a particularly good title to take advantage of the high framerates the PC can easily provide.

Valkyria Chornicles? The PC market is always hungry for more Strategy RPGs, game would have sold like hotcakes.

Sorry for double post, I meant to edit this into my Bulletstorm reflection.

 

[Azure Phoenix]

What is it?

A great doctor... simulation? puzzle? adventure? game from Atlus and published on Wii. Unlike the previous entries in the series, it focused on six different specialties, rather than just surgery.

Why do I feel that it's underrated?

Because it came out on the Wii in 2010, in the same month as Mario Galaxy 2. Because the Trauma series had become worn out in peoples' eyes after New Blood and UTK2 didn't really innovate on the mechanics that existed in UKT1 and SO. Because when it finally came out, it bombed like crazy and probably killed the series.

Why should people play it?

It's a great game with a vibrant visual style, a unique method of nonlinear storytelling where you can follow each doctor's path at your own pace, tons of different gameplay mechanics ranging from the original reflex and muscle memory stressing surgery on a time limit, to point-and-click-ish crime solving. The music is great, the gameplay is great and varied (though endoscopy was a bit fiddly), and while the story has a few glaring holes and absurdities in it, it's got tons of charm and neat twists in it to keep you going. It was Atlus's big attempt to revitalize the series into something really new and cool, and it commercially failed despite their best efforts. It's totally worth a look at the very least.

I'm glad someone brought Trauma Team up, it's a crying shame that it sold so poorly (and never even got released in Europe). Diagnostics, forensics and rapid response were perfect additions to the formula and being able to freely switch between each profession made it even better. I could happily hop around and try something different when I got tired, yet still unravel more of the storyline due to the way they all intertwine.

Unfortunately it seems that TT was just released too late, they'd put out many sequels that didn't add anything new to the mix and New Blood in particular was far too difficult for newcomers yet was the most common to find on store shelves.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Great thread. Just added a few of these to my Steam wish list.

I second Darksiders. Really one of my favorite GOTG. So depressed about how they screwed up DS2.

 

[Chezzymann]

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Ummm... Lots of people played that though. It sold over 3 million copies.

 

[-Horizon-]

1. What is it?
Sin and Punishment Star Successor (Wii)

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Because no one bought it. It dropped in price to $5 and I'm guessing barely any one bought it then either because I still saw it after the sale in multiple stores (anecdotal evidence).

3. Why should we play it?
This was my first rail shooter and it just blew me away. Not counting the main characters' designs, everything else just looked amazing; the environments and some of the enemy designs just looked good. Although the game was on the short side (typical of rail shooters I'm assuming), there is a ton of replay value and going through the stages again and again just never feels old.

 

[aznxchunky]

1. What is it?

Strategy RPG set in 15th Century France lighty based on Joan of Arc

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

This was one of the Earlier PSP Strat/RPG's to come out, but of course you had to own a PSP which in US didn't take off as much as in other countries.

3. Why should we play it?
It had an incredible battle system, and pretty awesome story. Did i mention that it was made by level 5? also this was Ken Levine's favorite PSP game. I really don't know what to say except to give this game a chance, It immediately hooked me with the story and ability crafting, and I hope/wish that everyone would champion this game a bit more

 

[Clarkus Darkus]

Two worlds 2

Rpg

Open world, Allowed you to be a mage/Warrior/ranger all in one way before Skyrim allowed you too, Beautifull sky with day/night cycle, Good graphics, Story was okish and voice acting mediocre but a well underrated game and quite easily be picked up for cheap.

 

[Wurstsemmel]

1. What is it?
Risen 2.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
The game is far from perfect. It has some technical issues (fixable on pc), a rather low budget and the combat feels broken, which is the reason number one for the bad reviews. But on the other hand it has this really great open world filled with pirates, grog, muskets, sabres and ships. There is more to do than it seems and the story is good enough to keep things going.

3. Why should we play it?
It's not a game about assassins with pirates, it's a game about pirates with pirates (lol). Just don't expect an AAA high budget action game with tons of cutscenes. It's a well made charming b-tier game.

Spoiler

I also want a third title of the series so buy it ;-)

 

[Harlequin]

+1 on Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, it's a lot of fun. It's currently $0.99 on iOS devices. Just download the demo, and purchase "All Chapters" from the in-game store.

On to my pick:



What is it?
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom. A criminally underplayed action-adventure-platform-puzzler with an adorable magical creature companion.

Why do you feel it is underrated?
I think alot of things went into this:
- it previewed really well, but reviews seemed to be disappointed with the final product
- inexplicable price drop right before release, which I think led people to believe it was an inferior product that the publishers/developers didn't have confidence in
- the art style is very...cartoony for lack of a better word. I think it gave many the impression that it was a 'kids game'.
- the voice-acting was very average, and the repetitive barks from the Majin split many people who played into two camps: "annoying" or "endearing".

Why Should We Play It?
It's a light hearted fun adventure. The story is cookie-cutter 'village-scamp-must-save-princess' fare, but the gameplay is surprisingly fun and addictive, combining simple hack-and-slash with elemental combos; light puzzle-platforming utilizing the Majin to move heavy objects around to facilitate your traversal; Metroidvania elements where you unlock abilities to go back and get to previously unreachable areas; and a light RPG unlock system that lets you create a lightly customized gameplay experience.

This one looks really interesting. How combat-heavy is it (not very, I hope)?

 

[Yawnier]

I would buy 10 copies if they made a sequel.

As would I, well maybe not.

1. What is it?
Sin and Punishment Star Successor (Wii)

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Because no one bought it. It dropped in price to $5 and I'm guessing barely any one bought it then either because I still saw it after the sale in multiple stores (anecdotal evidence).

3. Why should we play it?
This was my first rail shooter and it just blew me away. Not counting the main characters' designs, everything else just looked amazing; the environments and some of the enemy designs just looked good. Although the game was on the short side (typical of rail shooters I'm assuming), there is a ton of replay value and going through the stages again and again just never feels old.

This was one of the first games I played when I got my Wii and I enjoyed it, good game and a tough one at that too.

 

[ironcreed]

Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll

Action RPG by Omega Force and Tecmo Koei. No, it's not another warriors game.

Fun battle system between 3 party members, each with unique abilities that can be learned as you level up. You have to switch on the fly in order to utilize the right abilities at the right time. Tons of quests, challenging monster hunts and a huge variety of both environments and enemies. Hell, there is even an arena with a load of increasingly hard battles.

While it lacks some voice acting and the towns are menu-based, it more than makes up for that with a gorgeous soundtrack, nice art and a pretty decent story. And again, the variety of environments and enemies is quite impressive. It's a huge game with plenty to do, a fun battle system and plenty of challenge for those who want it. A true gem.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I'll play this game when they remove GFWL, looks like a blast but I don't even want to deal with the service right now.

That cover looks horrible, I've generally seen it from downsampled shots, never in a higher resolution.

I have the PS3 version. It's probably the best xPS game I've played this year. Sniper Elite V2 would be a close second.

 

[eot]

The Nameless Mod

What is it?
A fully voice acted, full length (15+ hours) branching single player campaign for the original Deus Ex.

Why do you feel it is underrated?
It doesn't seem to have gained much awareness outside of the group of people who never uninstall Deus Ex.

Why should we play it?
It was one of the best single player games of 2011 and I think it's the best Deus Ex game aside from the original.

 

[Family Fry]

1. What is it?

Why it's Retro/Grade of course.



2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Somehow this game managed to seriously under perform in sales.
I always thought that rhythm games had a very dedicated fan base, non of which probably knew about this game when it hit PC or launched originally on PS3, it was free on PS+ as well.

Here's the developer talking at GDC about sales and his personal circumstance, a very honest and frank look at development of the game. Certainly worth a watch.
http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1017963/Obsessive-Compulsive-Development-Retro-Grade

3. Why should we play it?

It's a REALLY nice looking rhythm game, looks like side scrolling shooter and has you playing the game backwards from end to start, a great idea and concept that works really well. It also has some fantastic music in it and really should have been played by more people.

It's 75% off at the moment on Steam, so go on give it a go.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/222660

 

[Minister of the Dog]

1. What is it?

An indie game released in the summer of 2011, it's the first and only game by Fish Factory Games. Defy Gravity Extended is a 2D mix of puzzle and platforming, in which you control a Gravitymancer who can shoot gravity and anti-gravity wells, which you'll have to use to advance through the levels. The Gravitymancer is affected by those wells (unless you use the shield), some objects are affected by those wells, some aren't; and you can destroy the floating balls by jumping on them. Beware of spiky stuff, as always.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

I don't think it's underrated, more like it's not even rated- at all. Check out SteamCharts. I've seen it mentioned in a few places, even on IGN, but it's safe to assume that two and a half years after its release the game's all but forgotten.

3. Why should we play it?

The game's fun, the puzzles, while not that difficult (I think it can be beat in 3-4 hours), are well-designed; and there's a NG+ with a very interesting twist to the gameplay. Also, it's on sale right now at 0'49€, so it's a very low-risk investment. The OST fits the game fantastically.

Cons: the last two pics were taken by me, and it might be 720p only looking at them. I can't remember right now.

There's this "WTF Is... - Defy Gravity Extended?" video, so you can check by yourselves the actual gameplay.

edit: first person to PM me gets a free copy on Steam.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Everyday Shooter

It did grate me people refused to buy it because of a lack of trophy patch. Better than Resogun in my opinion.