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[collige]

My choice for this is basically a tie, so I'm gonna go with the lesser known game.

El-Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

What Is It?
A 3D action game in the style of DMC/God of War with a biblical inspired plot and surreal visuals.

Why Is It Overlooked?
It's from an obscure developer (Ignition Toyko), put out by an obscure publisher (Ignition) and suffered from a total lack of hype or promotion as a result.

Why should we play it?
It's hands down the best looking game of last gen and I would put it in the running for best looking game ever. The stylized graphics easily beat out similar things like Okami and Killer7 (see the screenshot below). As for gameplay, while it doesn't have the depth and complexity of say Ninja Gaiden, it easily makes up for it with its story (which is loosely based on an ancient religious text) and diversity as the game frequently throws in platforming sections to break things up and spends a good amount of time entirely as a 2D platformer. It's basically what I imagine DmC could've been if it ditched all association with the source material and embrace the surreal aspects.

 

[Melchiah]

1. What is it?
WipEout HD - The epitome of futuristic arcade racing for the PS3.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Apparently the sales were so underwhelming, that Studio Liverpool was closed. I only know two people who own the game, and neither of them has medals past the two first zones.

3. Why should we play it?
If you enjoyed the WipEouts of old, the original SSX, TrackMania series, or Stunt Car Racer on Amiga, you might enjoy this one as well. It's punishing, but highly rewarding, and an absolute blast to play. And it's 1080p/60fps.

 

[Mulgrok]

1. What is it?

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It's janky as hell, and the combat is extraordinarily crap unless you work out how to either avoid it using stealth or game the system to the point where you might as well be skipping it.

3. Why should we play it?

It's the best example of a fully reactive interactive narrative ever made. The player is continually making choices, and those choices always have consequences which feel believable. It also demonstrates that you can do a pulp-thriller with no aliens and a largely grey moral yardstick in a game without the writing being terrible or dull.

<3 this game... what Mass Effect marketed itself as, but actually achieves it. I wish Obsidian would get more love from gamers.

 

[Sojgat]

1. What is it?
Charlie Murder for the Xbox 360.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
I feel it is underrated due to the art style Ska Studios uses for their games, the punk rock/heavy metal themes, and the fact that it was released in what might be the worst Summer of Arcade event ever.

3. Why should we play it?
You should play this game if you want a 4-player beat-em-up that's pure excellence. The gameplay is solid, the variations between band members keeps the experience fresh, an immense amount of hidden items and secrets are available, a story that's engaging, a radical soundtrack like no other, and it is a fun time with/without friends.

I'm on mobile, so I can't post pics or go in more depth, but go play it. It's totally rad.
Oh BTW the demo is terrible and doesn't show what the game really is about.

Just downloaded this, it's part of the christmas sale.

I love this thread.

 

[Blues1990]

Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars

1. What is it?
A team-based fighting game, which introduced several interesting mechanics (such as the Baroque system), that has a varied cast of characters from the Japanese Animation Studio Tatsunoko Productions, & the famous video game studio, Capcom Japan.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
It had gotten lost in the shuffle when the over-rated Marvel VS. Capcom 3 was announced, and it didn't help that the game was exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. It was also problematic that there was a lack of familiarity with the Tatsunoko cast, along with several questionable choices in the Capcom roster.

3. Why should we play it?
Ultimate All-Stars was a fine example of being a great crossover fighting game, one that had moved at a brisk pace, with great controls (which made it easy to seamlessly combo & switch between characters), and it offered wonderful competitive gameplay. It had also felt deeper & was much better balanced fighter than the dumb-dumb Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Which was dumb. And Stupid. And possibly dumb.

In addition, the North American version included 4 new characters (Zero & Frank West for the Capcom side, while Joe the Condor & Yatterman 2 rounding out the Tatsunoko cast), along with a toe-tappin' soundtrack.

 

[Alcotholic]

As soon as I get to a computer I'll do a full post about CULDCEPT SAGA

I await this. I watched my brother play the game once, and I've always wanted to play it since, but never got the chance.

 

[Rhaknar]

Gray Matter

1. What is it?
A classic point&click adventure game by Jane Jensen, creator of Gabriel Knight. Available for Windows and XBOX360.

Plot summary from metacritic: " Gray Matter is the first adventure game by renowned author Jane Jensen since the release of Gabriel Knight 3: the story mixes eerie goings-on with supernatural events in best Jensen-style. Neurobiologist Dr. David Styles is one of the game's central characters: since losing his wife in a horrible accident some several years ago, he has become a recluse, seldom leaving Dread Hill House, his English country estate. "

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Lack of marketing and a troubled development and release meant that many missed that it was even released. It's very rarely talked about in gaming forums, few game journalists talks about it.

3. Why should we play it?

It's probably the closest thing to a classic Sierra adventure game we've had since Sierra closed. The 3d models are hardly the best ones, but it has great sceneries and nice comic book cutscenes, along with a fantastic soundtrack from Robert Holmes who did the music for the Gabriel Knight games. While the plot doesn't hold up at all times, it's still a very interesting one, that's told in a good pace, with good cliff hangers for each chapters. The puzzles are very old school and fun, and they come with som nice helpful features. The game set goals for each chapters for what you're supposed to achieve, and it tells if you're done with a location.

I would probably put it in my top 10 list for the genre if I had to do such a list.

Anyone looking for recent old school point&click adventures, with actual puzzles, should buy this one, and play at least two chapters of it.

why isnt this on Steam, that screenshot is gorgeous

 

[cormack12]

Alice: Madness Returns

Came in to post this. Was not disappoint.

 

[antitrop]

My pick is, unsurprisingly, Spec Ops: The Line.

1. What is it?

Spec Ops was a shovelware franchise created in the late 90s, and then petered out with the death of the PS1. Someone at 2K realized they still had the IP and that modern military shooters are kind of an "in" thing in video games, right now, so they revived it with... surprising and delightful results.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

In a time where people are beginning to get sick of modern military bullshit like MoH: Warfighter, the latest annualized Call of Duty, and the miserable excuse for a SP campaign that Battlefield 4 has, Spec Ops: The Line is a breath of pure fresh air.

I think most of the big game reviews focused on what the game doesn't do as well as those others in production values, rather than what makes it so unique: The story and characters. Everyone loves to complain about how lame the characters in military shooters are (and on the whole, they are some of the worst written characters in all of gaming), but Spec Ops actually presents a compelling narrative (loosely based on Apoc Now and Heart of Darkness, with a modern twist) and (comparatively) deep characters.

3. Why should we play it?

Because you like the idea of a military shooter that goes against the grain of the same old rah-rah dudebro bullshit that the Call of Duty and Battlefield games have been putting out for the last few years.

 

[BPoole]

Dark Messiah:

I bought it on a whim after playing Dishonored (same developer, Arkane) and really enjoyed the combat in it. It's a first person melee/magic game that has a similar feel to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. Although the game is linear, exploration is encouraged by finding hidden items or unique weapons. The upgrade system isn't as in depth as a proper RPG, but there is enough room to make more magic based, stealth based (although some fights are unavoidable), or aggressive type build. The 360 version got pretty bad reviews, but the PC version fared a bit better. I don't know many people that played this, but I would definitely recommend it. The story and characters are pretty forgettable, but the setting and combat were enough to keep me engaged throughout the 9-12 hour quest.

For those that may be interested, it is $5 on Steam right now and also has a demo available.

 

[cj_iwakura]

why isnt this on Steam, that screenshot is gorgeous

It's on GOG, even better!

 

[TheTylerRob]

1. What is it?

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Activision didn't give a shit about it because it wasn't COD. Gamers didn't give a shit about it because it looks like another COD like shitfest

Why should we play it?
Story's not awful, structure and pacing is decent.

The moment to moment game play, fucking amazing!.
Great enemy design, great weapons and great mechanics.

This was a really great shooter that falls directly into the Bioshock/System Shock subgenre, but with tighter, more responsive gameplay. The ending(s) were slightly cliche but I really liked it's faux-Russian time travel story.

It was also the first game to make me realize Arthur Gies had bad opinions about pretty much everything.

 

[jamsy]

1. What is it?
A third person action/adventure game made by Ninja Theory.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It's just such a great experience, top to bottom. It's got beautiful visuals with stunning art direction, featuring lush and vivid environments full of color and detail. The motion-captured cutscenes look incredible and are still very very impressive even by today's standards. It's got a really cool story all the way to the end, and the main characters are very well fleshed out and acted. Music and voice acting are excellent. And the game itself is fun, and action-y, with platforming and stealth bits throughout.

3. Why should we play it?

Because you really don't have a reason not to, now that it's out for the PC and costing just a few bucks. In a world of rehashes, sequels and cliches, this game is truly a unique and memorable experience.

 

[Caayn]

1. What is it?
A space combat simulator made by Square-Enix. The folks I least expect such a game from. For me it came out of nowhere and quickly went under the radar as the reviews weren't very positive over this game.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
I think that due to MS failing to properly advertise this game and the reviews scared many people away that it tanked hard. It didn't really stand any chance.

3. Why should we play it?
It has a short campaign, normal for current day standards, but it has an amazing replay value. Just playing it once doesn't do it any justice. There's so many things you unlock on later playthroughs that completely alter how you play the game.
The space combat itself is really fun due to the variety of enemy ships, from fighters to dreadnoughts to ships the size of a moon, and weapons/customization at your disposal. The dogfights with the against the pilots in later missions can become a real challenge.
I've played through the campaign literally a dozen times, if not more.

 

[Steel]

Chromehounds. The absolute pinnacle of Mech game customization and map based online. Tons of maps, hugely tactical gameplay, Squads, the whole 9 miles. Sadly, the servers were shut down(And the single player game is basically a tutorial), so no one will be able to play it again............

I'll edit this later to put it into format.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

What is it?

A puzzle game from Q Entertainment (Lumines) and Masahiro Sakurai (Smash Bros. series/Kirby series) for the Nintendo DS.

Why do you feel it is underrated?

Because I hardly see anyone ever talk about it and I don't think it sold very well.

Why should we play it?

Because it's got a great art style and it's very addicting. I would say it's the most underrated puzzle game I've ever played.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Double Dragon Neon muthafuckaz, although some people did play it.

1. What is it?

The best Double Dragon game ever made.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Because dipshits such as an IGN reviewer gave it a 3.0.

3. Why should we play it?

It's the best Double Dragon game ever made. Tight controls, fun gameplay systems, totally badass soundtrack.

Is that Genzoman's artwork?

 

[Sojgat]

Is that Genzoman's artwork?

Yes.

 

[Ninja Dom]

Mark of the Ninja

What is it?
Developed by Klei Entertainment for Microsoft Game Studios, Mark of the Ninja is a side scrolling stealth based action game with great comic book style art set in modern times.

Why is it overlooked?
At first it was only available on Xbox Live and now on Steam for PC, Mac & Linux. It got plenty of great reviews but my guess is a lack of push from Microsoft Game Studios meant that many people missed out on this or simply wasn't aware. Not available on Sony or Nintendo platforms.

Why should you play it?
Because you control a Ninja. The stealth mechanic in the game are really good and you can play this game Hayabusa style (hack & slash everyone) or Solid Snake style (stealth & silence). Good story, great comic book style art, challenging gameplay, plenty of Ninja weapons.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

This game has made me go on the lookout for Trails in the Sky. Looks like it'd be right up my alley. I'll check it out on Steam for sure, at least.

I see a lot of praise for Nier on GAF but I'm somewhat skeptical due to its mediocre reviews. Still it looks like it's mostly criticized because of the visuals, which seems harsh. Too bad it seems retail only, I'd definitely check it out if it were cheap on PSN/PS+.

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

Seconded. A wonderful game, probably my favourite PSP game (not counting ports such as FFTactics).

 

[SonyToo!™]

Very tempted to mention some 360 shmups or a Sting SRPG but I'll go with this game.

1) What is it? Outland 360 XBLA (and PSN IIRC) Metroidvania platformer with sword combat (like the original Prince of Persia), use's Ikaruga's polarity mechanic (immunity to one of two colours)and adds platforming puzzles elements with it.

2) Why was it underrated? I'm not sure, since everyone who has played it loved it, but never it was talked about or hyped in the press and gaming communities. Probably because everyone couldn't stop talking about The Journey at the time. Considering Outland does something new and fresh in the 2D platforming genre, it should be more known even if it isn't by a Japanese studio like Treasure.

3) Why Should We Play it? It's by HouseMarque the studio that usually specialises on PS3/4 shmups like Resogun. It's a truly unique 2D platformer, we don't see many of those anymore. And it takes a page from CAVE's book and uses highly contrasting colours, a truly beautiful game with fun Treasure-eske boss fights to boot. It has some special online co-op trials that I've never played too

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

This game has made me go on the lookout for Trails in the Sky. Looks like it'd be right up my alley. I'll check it out on Steam for sure, at least.

I see a lot of praise for Nier on GAF but I'm somewhat skeptical due to its mediocre reviews. Still it looks like it's mostly criticized because of the visuals, which seems harsh. Too bad it seems retail only, I'd definitely check it out if it were cheap on PSN/PS+.


Seconded. A wonderful game, probably my favourite PSP game (not counting ports such as FFTactics).

I thought Jeanne D'Arc came out in the PS2 era.

 

[LunaticLMD]

If you meant nobody beside neogaf, constantly mention every other day here, for good reasons. Not sure how it sold though

When it came out. . . I think a few months it sold like 80k.

Singularity and Enslaved are great games too.

My only complaint is they were too easy.

 

[JohnnyChase]

Maybe we are ten or twenty....

GARCIA HOTSPUR !

 

[DracoBlade]

I think everyone should watch this video then go and buy it.

BAHAHAHA!

 

[ironcreed]

Maybe we are ten or twenty....

GARCIA HOTSPUR !

Definitely.

 

[Pinko Marx]

Sine Mora

1. What is it?

It's a 2D horizontally-scrolling spaceship shooter game with a steampunk setting, gorgeous artwork, a time-shifting mechanic and a plot involving anthropomorphic big cats, genocide, racism and rape.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

The level of detail in this game is astounding; the creators must have put hours into creating a coherent sci-fantasy setting. The plot is (if you can get over the fact that the characters look like something out of Star Fox) deep and twisting. It features some of the best boss battles I've ever played and the soundtrack is fantastic, especially in the final - extremely dramatic - stages which take place underneath and then high above the enemies' capital city.

It could be underrated (by players, anyway) in that it's not the most accessible game. It's a 2D shooter which doesn't tick most of the J-shooter boxes (hit box not that clear, for example) and it takes a good few hours to get used to the rhythm of the game. It also only really opens up once you've cleared the story mode.


3. Why should we play it?

It's very cheap and is tremendous value for money, although I should say I've only played it on Vita where it feels right at home. There is apparently an iOS version which is rubbish, so you might be best avoiding that. Just give it a fair chance and don't judge it until it opens up and you get to the 'proper' difficulties. The game gets more and more rewarding when once you've cleared the stop-start story portion of the game and start delving into the 'arcade' mode and using the different time mechanics.

I used to be in the top 10 on the leaderboard, but I've stopped playing now - after about 75 hours. If you like trophies (I do) they're also bloody difficult to win.

I also think the designers deserve to make a bit of money based on the effort and love that was clearly put into the game. It would be a shame if they didn't continue where they left off.

Don't shout at me if this is actually a really well-played and well-loved game - if it is I'll just be happy.

Aw man. This was on PS+ for free but I passed it up cause I had it confused with another game.

 

[Infernal Monkey]

Giana Sisters DS

What is it?
The surprise revival of Giana Sisters years before 'Twisted Dreams' came along. A DS exclusive game (that was later somewhat butchered for an iOS port) that focuses on pure, simple platforming.

Why do you feel it is underrated?
Giana Sisters DS suffered badly from the hands of its publisher and extremely poor distribution. Initially it was only available to purchase in Germany, then picked up for an Australian release. It stayed that way for months on end, before eventually getting a UK release and other parts of Europe. It took about a year for the American launch to happen. Even then, the print run was low. There was no fanfare, no PR, and most video game sites didn't give a shit.

Why should we play it?
Giana Sisters DS is a basic platformer wrapped up in beautiful 2D sprites and an incredible, moody chiptune soundtrack that mixes the original theme. You go from point A to B, collecting hundreds of gems and jumping on enemies. It was refreshing to just see a platformer do what it does best. No over-the-top gimmicks, no storyline, no dialogue, nothing to bog you down.

 

[wouwie]

Pid

1. What is it?
It's a puzzle platform game with some really nice and fun gameplay mechanics.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?
Apparently, it sold very badly. The average review scores didn't help either.

3. Why should we play it?
While frustrating at times (due to rather high and uneven difficulty spikes), i ended up loving this game. The music is fantastic, the visuals are superb, the atmosphere is great and the gameplay was fun and fresh. One of my favourite games of this generation. If only that roof top boss was a tad easier so i could replay it some day...

 

[Weilthain]

The only game I've played this gen that some people won't have played is 3d dot game heroes. Such a wicked Zelda clone (literally), looks great as well.

 

[-PXG-]

Great thread. Good choices by many of you.

 

[Gen X]

1. What is it?

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

For the tuning and modding options. As great as Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport are no other console driving game has had a graphical representation of car modding like Import Tuner Challenge. Even n00bs can understand things like camber, toe in/out because you see the vehicle physically change in real time as you make mods. Want a Stage 2 Induction kit? It physically shows you the parts added into the engine bay from Pod filters to cold air intakes being fitted to your car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQmLGrIF8QY#t=256

That vid just goes straight to the suspension vid, but the very start shows the engine mods.

3. Why should we play it?

Because you love games like NFS Underground where you get to rice up your cars. For the entry price I think the game is incredibly fun and in depth with tonnes of rivals to unlock. Just a shame the online is dead but still worth experiencing if you love driving games.

1. What is it?
A space combat simulator made by Square-Enix..

One of my best impulse buys ever. Another way to sell it is that is is very very similar to X-Wing vs Tie Fighter but obviously without the Star Wars license.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Giana Sisters DS

What is it?
The surprise revival of Giana Sisters years before 'Twisted Dreams' came along. A DS exclusive game (that was later somewhat butchered for an iOS port) that focuses on pure, simple platforming.

Why do you feel it is underrated?
Giana Sisters DS suffered badly from the hands of its publisher and extremely poor distribution. Initially it was only available to purchase in Germany, then picked up for an Australian release. It stayed that way for months on end, before eventually getting a UK release and other parts of Europe. It took about a year for the American launch to happen. Even then, the print run was low. There was no fanfare, no PR, and most video game sites didn't give a shit.

Why should we play it?
Giana Sisters DS is a basic platformer wrapped up in beautiful 2D sprites and an incredible, moody chiptune soundtrack that mixes the original theme. You go from point A to B, collecting hundreds of gems and jumping on enemies. It was refreshing to just see a platformer do what it does best. No over-the-top gimmicks, no storyline, no dialogue, nothing to bog you down.

might have to try this one out.

 

[L.O.R.D]

What Is It?

its an action rpg game made by Capcom released for PS2 and PC

2. Why do i feel it is underrated?
i really don't know
maybe because its overshadows by Devil May Cry 2 which was released in the same yes by the same company ?

oh..and Dino Crisis 3

2 games destroyed in the same year by the same company

3. Why should we play it?

EPIC Battles with Bosses
Really good graphics in that time, when i first played the game on PC, i couldn't;t believe my PC is capable of showing this graphics
and the CGI is really good

AND
you can control and summon Knights to the field , not 1, or 2, or 3...5

you can upgrade their power the health


also archers

also, you can summon bombs , and kick them to the enmies


also, i loved the main villein design

soo cool



edit : i forget this thread about this Gen

 

[Triggerhappytel]

1. What is it?

Eufloria

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It's a quirky, interesting little indie RTS/tower defence game that never seems to get talked about.

3. Why should we play it?

It's achingly beautiful, addictive and with a surprising amount of depth. It ticks all the right boxes for being an indie darling, yet never gets mentioned that I've seen.

 

[GooeyHeat]

3. Why should we play it?
Ultimate All-Stars was a fine example of being a great crossover fighting game, one that had moved at a brisk pace, with great controls (which made it easy to seamlessly combo & switch between characters), and it offered wonderful competitive gameplay. It had also felt deeper & was much better balanced fighter than the dumb-dumb Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Which was dumb. And Stupid. And possibly dumb.

In addition, the North American version included 4 new characters (Zero & Frank West for the Capcom side, while Joe the Condor & Yatterman 2 rounding out the Tatsunoko cast), along with a toe-tappin' soundtrack.

This is such a good game. I just wanted to point out that there's actually 5 new characters in Ultimate All-Stars, since Tekkaman Blade was also new. However, there are only 4 more characters in UAS than the original because Hakushon Daimao was removed for licensing reasons.

But yeah, so fun. My favorite Capcom fighter of the generation, and second favorite fighter overall behind King of Fighters XIII.

 

[The Hermit]

1. What is it?

Eufloria

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It's a quirky, interesting little indie RTS/tower defence game that never seems to get talked about.

3. Why should we play it?

It's achingly beautiful, addictive and with a surprising amount of depth. It ticks all the right boxes for being an indie darling, yet never gets mentioned that I've seen.

Is it for PC?

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Is it for PC?

Mobile too

 

[wildfire]

1. What is it?

A delightfully silly party game wherein you play as babies doing various kooky things.

2. Why do you feel it's underrated?

Gamers wouldn't care to play the game in the first place.

3. Why should we play it?

It's genuinely enjoyable, which is why IGN gave it a 7.5 or whatever. Also, the hip-hop fancy dress unlockable is pretty great.

Runner-up: Guilty Party, probably the best game Disney ever made.

This is a bold recommendation. I'm still not convinced it would be a worthwhile party game over Dokupon or Rabbids let alone the twin 800 lbs gorilla called Mario Party and Smash.

Sin and punishment - star successor

1.Cabal shooter video game developed by Treasure and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to the Nintendo 64 video game Sin and Punishment.

2.Because Wii is only for casual gamers, these kind of gems tend to leave unnoticed.

3. It's absolutely thrilling adventure and it's extremely enjoyable experience to blast your way through this masterpiece

I don't get why this game failed. The only reason they even bothered making it was due to the original Sin and Punishment selling like gangbusters for a downloadable game. Did the rails experience turn off people who brought the N64 game that much?

 

[daydream]

Excellent thread.

1. What is it?

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

People were waiting for the "true" sequel on XBLA. Wii/DS didn't offer the same HD experience.

3. Why should we play it?

I'm talking about the DS version, since that's the one I played. It's perfectly adequate "port" of the core Geometry Wars experience with a few meaningful additions.

a) The level structure (= the titular galaxies) is perfect for a handheld. You can finish a level, try to get the Gold medal and die as soon as you're there, or continue playing for a highscore, just like in the original (there are leaderboards, of course).

The difference is that you have a whole lot of different stages, and thus, arenas, enemy patterns, etc. to choose from. A sense of progression also goes a long way.

b) I love GW2 to death, but it would have been even better if they had adapted Galaxies' drones, if only in one of the modes.

They are basically like the 'options' in Gradius, little automated helpers. There's a variety of them to choose from and you level them up with Geoms (little bits the enemies leave behind). The one that you have equipped during the level gets the Geoms at the end. They're really neat.

c) A variety of modes. I've described the main mode, but there's also multiplayer options as well as the original Retro Evolved (sans Retro mode) to choose from.

Bottom line: It's a great version of Geometry Wars with some smart additions (and the Wii version is probably just as good). And who doesn't love GW?

 

[elhav]

For me it's Asura's wrath:

1. What is it?

Bluntly speaking it's a QTE fest with some levels that either play like a generic 3d person action brawler, or like a Shoot 'em up. The story and cutscenes play out like an anime show, and for many of us it's the best Dragon ball z game that never came out.

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

It's a niche title, for sure, But it does seem like many people were put off by the low scores and the fact the entire game consists of cutscenes and QTEs. I would say it deserves more recognition(though I really dislike Capcom) and shouldn't be dismissed because of its weirdness.

3. Why should we play it?

I promise you this; if you enjoyed Dragon ball z, or just like cutscenes and QTEs in video games, you will enjoy this game. It has some really enjoyable shmup levels, in the vein of Sin and punishment, and the scale of the game is absolutely huge.

If you have ever played God of war 3 and thought "Wow, it's so epic!" and never played Asura's wrath, you don't know what true epicness is. This game has the most epic bosses and cutscenes you have ever seen in a game, and that's a guarantee.

 

[tornjaw]

This is a bold recommendation.

I see what you did there.

 

[cascardian]

What is it?
It is the direct A Link to the Past sequel we've never got. It's based on the built-for-it Solarus engine, which is an open-source clone of the original SNES game mechanics and graphics with its own quest editor (think Zelda Classic, but more user-friendly). The engine is still actively being developed, but the game itself is as bug-fixed as it's probably going to get. It is very playable.

Why do you feel is it underrated?
Because nearly nobody knows about it. It is surprisingly well designed and provides a reasonable challenge while still maintaining a steady difficulty curve. It really does feel an advancement over A Link to the Past. I don't know why it hasn't got as much community attention as the Zelda Classic engine, but it's probably one of the most well-developed quests you'll ever play for either one.

Why should we play it?
The game is just a lot of fun for those who like to replay A Link to the Past from time to time and would like something new in that same vein. It could honestly have been something Nintendo themselves released. Now, I'm not one to talk about legal matters here and I'm definitely not qualified for it anyway, but the game and the engine haven't yet have to endure Nintendo's zealousness thus far (same for Zelda Classic), it seems, so maybe not having much publicity has been a good thing for them. I'd hate to destory that in a Chrono Trigger: Resurrection kind of way, but it nonetheless deserves to be played.

Heck, maybe it'll even inspire other talented guys and gals to create their own quests. I love this style of game and would love to see what people can come up with. So far, both Zelda Classic and the Solarus teams seem to consist of a very small number of passionate people. Let's give them the recognition they deserve and spread the love, so we can see some more great games.

Download the game (and/or engine) here.

 

[sploatee]

Aw man. This was on PS+ for free but I passed it up cause I had it confused with another game.

You could always pay for it...I think it's only a few quid on UK PSN .

Go on, you know you want to!

(P.S. Don't blame me if I've overhyped it. No refunds.)

 

[SonyToo!™]

I don't get why this game failed. The only reason they even bothered making it was due to the original Sin and Punishment selling like gangbusters for a downloadable game. Did the rails experience turn off people who brought the N64 game that much?

I'd guess that alot of gamers had dropped the Wii by the time S&P2 came out. Giving it the same problems as W101 in that their main audience is on different consoles.

 

[Jerry Orbach]

[Singularity] was a really great shooter that falls directly into the Bioshock/System Shock subgenre, but with tighter, more responsive gameplay.

Not even close. The Shock games are characterized by their non-linear levels populated by wandering, respawning enemies. Singularity was an unapologetic Half-Life clone, a rollercoaster that passes through a succession of set pieces. The sheer variety of gameplay styles represented in those set pieces is antithetical to the consistent systemic design of a Shock-style immersive sim.

Singularity was okay, but I felt like the checkpoint-based save system clashed badly with the collectible-based upgrade system. You'd spend ten minutes rifling through dumpsters and filing cabinets looking for schematics, audio logs, and E99 cyber modules or whateverthefuck, only to die in some firefight and have to repeat all that tedious scavenging over again. Allowing quicksaves would've been an easy and very lazy fix; a much better one, if they insisted on diluting their (honestly pretty good!) action game with perfunctory item hunting, would've been to allow more backtracking and stick in some proper, player-triggered save stations next to the already existing upgrade stations.

 

[wwm0nkey]

A lot of people missed out on what I consider to be the best MP game of this generation.

 

[big_z]

gaf has failed for the lack of silent hill shattered memories in this thread.

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.

buy it on origin, gfwl has been removed from that version.

 

[wizzbang]

It is without a doubt the greatest co-op FPS ever made, similar in style to the Left 4 Dead games. It also has a solid SP campaign. Both modes empower the player with a unique set of upgrades and abilities, and an assortment of firearms which give rise to the best gunplay I've ever experienced in a shooter. Yes, even better than F.E.A.R.. If you don't believe me, go play it.

Quite frankly, it's the GOTG.

Note: I'm not sure how much luck anybody will have getting into a co-op game on the consoles.

Is it a great game or is it a great syndicate game?
I never played it, I'm one of those bad people - when I heard it was FPS my interest was 0.
I love L4D and coop games which "feel" single player - however I rarely rarely play them.

I prefer a good old fasioned SP game.

El-Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

I picked this game up thanks to a GAFer who posted some screenshots - plus the demo seemed ....... unique as fuck. I got an "Another World" (Out of this world for the savages) feeling from it. I haven't played it yet but it's on my backlog! It's... unique.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

1. What is it?

An arcade style FPS

2. Why do you feel it is underrated?

Due to the juvenile humor "dick tits" and shitty marketing it was criminally overlooked.

3. Why should we play it?

Gameplay was an absolute blast with a fun score-chase upgrade mechanic. It's a beautiful game with a surprisingly decent narrative and on top of it all one of the best SP campaign's this gen.

Good choice. Very good and underrated game.