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[Weltall Zero]

It has been 13 days since I've posted about Robot Alchemic Drive.

OK, what the hell? I was going to post RAD thinking not a lot of people would know about it and it's the second post? You never cease to amaze me, GAF.

Spoiler

Play the undub version if you have the means, the English dubbing is horrendous.

Its followup Graffiti Kingdom is pretty neat as well

I actually liked it quite a bit more, as it lets you take direct control of your creations in a platformer world, instead of RPS RPG Pokemon-like battles.

As for my pick, would Odin Sphere be considered hidden?

Its gameplay is not for everyone and like all VanillaWare games suffers from repetition, but it looks and sounds amazing, has a very well realized story, and its alchemy/phozon/planting interlocking systems are fascinatingly unique.

 

[afternoon delight]

Every time I see this mentioned I'm reminded we never got a sequel. Absolutely fantastic game for its atmosphere, local matches, and destruction despite its maybe too-simple combat.

WotM2 plz

 

[TomShoe]

Loved this game as a kid.

 

[GKFinns]

This game was definitely one that caught me by surprise, and I know not a lot of people got to play. I absolutely loved it.

 

[Death Metalist]

Every time I see this mentioned I'm reminded we never got a sequel. Absolutely fantastic game for its atmosphere, local matches, and destruction despite its maybe too-simple combat.

WotM2 plz

The Irony is with today's arcade games plus the emphasis on online this would work so well. Shame we would never get it though, same thing with Resident Evil Outbreak 1&2. Those games are meant to be played now, it's the perfect environment for these games.

 

[Dez_]

Loved this game as a kid.

Yeah, I remember this game. Kind of Zelda-esque in the design if I remember, as you dive into people's minds and go through various themed dungeons. I think I picked up the game because the pictures on the back had a UI that reminded me of Zelda. Found it to be really enjoyable.

 

[GKFinns]

And before I forget about it, I am still salty this game never got enough love. I would love a current gen remake or sequel to this.

 

[Robert at Zeboyd Games]

My contribution are the ones I have imported so far:

Siren 2 is a truly amazing survival/horror game. Lots of great ideas there and it's not as crazy hard as the original. Well worth importing it if you're in the US.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

I always wanted to play this game I think was called Rogue Galaxy. Wasn't it made by the dq8 team? I really never understood why Sony did not go all out on the ps2 classics on PS3, especially in the rpg genre..

 

[clarkision]

You guys are awesome. All good picks. I'll double down on Shadow Hearts: Covenant for my pick. Because of these (forgive the fullscreen prints, I played it on PCSX2):


Play Shadow Hearts: Covenant, dammit.

It's almost tragic how many people overlooked this series.

Never forget - the second game spawned this amazing Penny Arcade strip:

Fine! I haven't even finished the first yet, but saw it nearly new on Amazon for $23. Pulled the trigger without thinking.

 

[afternoon delight]

The Irony is with today's arcade games plus the emphasis on online this would work so well. Shame we would never get it though, same thing with Resident Evil Outbreak 1&2. Those games are meant to be played now, it's the perfect environment for these games.

I've maintained it would be perfect no matter when it was released, but damn, thinking of online lobbies, 2v2, bigger cities....

Who knows though. HD towns are hard. The wizadry of PS2 might be too hard to emulate.

Thinking back, it even had an endless series of unlocks based on currency won from campaign matches. PERFECT DLC / SEASON PASS OPPORTUNITY!

 

[Hades Hotgun]

Is that a screenshot from the game because it doesn't look like it. I'm thinking that's End of Darkness.

Yeah, I searched for Twilight but this came up on google instead. Honestly I can't seem to find much in the way of decent screenshots of the actual gameplay. The game has a pretty small media presence online from what I can see.

 

[Imbarkus]

And before I forget about it, I am still salty this game never got enough love. I would love a current gen remake or sequel to this.

The Star Wars Force Unleashed games were pretty much sequels to this, with a Star Wars skin.

Surprisingly they had less subplots involving blowing up moons than the original.

 

[bomblord1]

OK, what the hell? I was going to post RAD thinking not a lot of people would know about it and it's the second post? You never cease to amaze me, GAF.

Spoiler

Play the undub version if you have the means, the English dubbing is horrendous.

I actually liked it quite a bit more, as it lets you take direct control of your creations in a platformer world, instead of RPS RPG Pokemon-like battles.

As for my pick, would Odin Sphere be considered hidden?

Its gameplay is not for everyone and like all VanillaWare games suffers from repetition, but it looks and sounds amazing, has a very well realized story, and its alchemy/phozon/planting interlocking systems are fascinatingly unique.

That is one i have played =)

 

[glaurung]

Never had a chance to play it, but this title caught my eye. It's Crimson Sea 2 by Koei. Was described as Smash TV in 3D. Anyone played this? Makes me want to buy a PS2 again and check out some of these gems.

I got this through some really dodgy means back then. I played it a lot. Even too much, I'd say. It was super grindy as I recall, with maps that were recycled over and over again.

I never played the first game of that series though.

 

[bomblord1]

Every time I see this mentioned I'm reminded we never got a sequel. Absolutely fantastic game for its atmosphere, local matches, and destruction despite its maybe too-simple combat.

WotM2 plz

I had a friend a long time ago obsessed with this game. Never played it myself.

 

[emperorspride188]

Valkyrie profile 2

 

[bomblord1]

Valkyrie profile 2

That is a good suggestion.

 

[witchedwiz]

Subbed for glory

 

[RiderKairuu]

.

Bless you. Bujingai was awesome.

 

[Zing]

So gaf what did the PS2 generation miss that needs to be played?

http://neogaf.com/showthread.php?p=80957009#post80957009

 

[LordofPwn]

All of this PS2 talk is just making me want an HD re-make of Dragon Quest VIII.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

also it's the 15th anniversary of the PS2, Gamestop is now bringing back PS2 games, the PS4 is essentially the 2nd coming of the PS2, and there were rumors that Sony was working on an HD-upscaling and trophy system for emulation.

Guys. E3 '15. PS2 games on PS4. you put in the PS2 disc and you play them on your PS4.

 

[Hades Hotgun]

All of this PS2 talk is just making me want an HD re-make of Dragon Quest VIII.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

also it's the 15th anniversary of the PS2, Gamestop is now bringing back PS2 games, the PS4 is essentially the 2nd coming of the PS2, and there were rumors that Sony was working on an HD-upscaling and trophy system for emulation.

Guys. E3 '15. PS2 games on PS4. you put in the PS2 disc and you play them on your PS4.

This is easily my most hoped for system update feature.

 

[Serviam]

Great game, fun gameplay. Like a Silent Hill beat em up.

 

[Imbarkus]

Great game, fun gameplay. Like a Silent Hill beat em up.

I liked the first one quite a bit but in this sequel I was shooting soldiers in a sewer at some point and just out it down out of boredom never to pick it up again.

 

[Weiss]

The original Klonoa was already the best platformer on the PS1, and while Klonoa 2 has to contend with masterpieces like Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, Jak & Daxter and Sly 2, it still stands out as one of the very best on the system.

It's more puzzle oriented, the design of the levels are gorgeous and each one has an excellent BGM attached to them. Anyone who's a platformer fan needs to play it.

 

[Dice//]

It's almost tragic how many people overlooked this series.

Never forget - the second game spawned this amazing Penny Arcade strip:

Just discovered it last year. I blazed through the first game, enjoyed the second a TON (one of those rare cases where it had one of the most unique/interesting endings I've ever seen), and still need to play the third.

I'd actually LOVE if something like this was made a TV series. Pre-war ghost, goblins, horrors, vampires, etc.

 

[B.O.O.M]

oh it's that time of the year again

I would pay so much to see a sequel to this

This one had some issues but was fun

 

[Ricck]

 

[Green Yoshi]

Some of my recommendations:

 

[SillyJoe]

Summoner 2 is always my answer when this is asked. I loved it.

 

[Sparkedglory]

AKA Bumpy Trot.

Exactly what I was going to post

 

[Imbarkus]

Oop someone posted Primal so now I must obligingly add:

 

[Syril]

All of this PS2 talk is just making me want an HD re-make of Dragon Quest VIII.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

also it's the 15th anniversary of the PS2, Gamestop is now bringing back PS2 games, the PS4 is essentially the 2nd coming of the PS2, and there were rumors that Sony was working on an HD-upscaling and trophy system for emulation.

Guys. E3 '15. PS2 games on PS4. you put in the PS2 disc and you play them on your PS4.

Man, if they did that I would get a PS4 instantly.

 

[Cheeseman Battitude]

Exactly what I was going to post

I played it to occupy myself while I was waiting for the Wii to launch and I couldn't quite finish it before the Wii arrived, so I need to get back to it. It's got the most wonderful setting and characters in it. It's one of the few games that gave me a feeling that I'm going into another world.

 

[Flachmatuch]

PS2, with the best lineup of the best generation and the games mentioned here are mostly all awesome.

I really liked the Shining Force ARPGs (Neo and Exa), Tokyo Bus Guide 2, the Everblue games (there are better ones out now though), Frequency/Amplitude, the Gungrave shooting games etc etc.

Mashed (multiplatform though) ice oval stage is still awesome.

The JRPGs are my favourites, much better than most of the later generations imo. There are way too many of them to list. I'll just mention Okage which was an early one I really liked.

Along with Bujingai, the Shinobi/Kunoichi games are also great.

Later generations are just completely incomparable. I'd take the OG Xbox lineup over the current crap, let alone PS2. And I bet the crap that is Watch Dogs cost more to make than the games I listed combined and it's not worth 10% of the worst game mentioned in this thread.

 

[afternoon delight]

Viewtiful Joe

Aw yes. I thought this was very well known at the time though.... A great use of cel-shading and really fun combo system. Infectious game for sure.


I still think the PS2 + PS1 library is the greatest of all time in terms of the games I replay.

 

[Peltz]

Subbed. I'm a fairly late PS2 slim adopter. I feel like I'm missing a lot.

 

[Wakka212]

Rogue Galaxy!!

Came here to post this!

This game was so incredibly fun. The combat was so satisfying and the art talent was used well because of the different planets you had to travel to.

I remember the weapon upgrade system was great as well.

I lost my copy and now I so dearly want to play it.

 

[Mr. Nice_Guy]

It's almost tragic how many people overlooked this series.

Never forget - the second game spawned this amazing Penny Arcade strip:

I played the second one, and every once in a while will remember this comic, the comic that made me pick up the game, and chuckle to myself. Heard the third one is good too.

 

[Tizoc]

Isn't that already available on steam and/or gog?

 

[To Far Away Times]

Contra: Shattered Soldier. Maybe the finest run and gun ever made.

Shinobi. A forgotten masterpiece.

Klonoa 2. Best platformer of that generation.

 

[afternoon delight]

Contra: Shattered Soldier. Maybe the finest run and gun ever made.

Shinobi. A forgotten masterpiece.

Much respect for these two, especially Contra - 2 Player was gloriously brutal hard.

I'll also add Armored Core 3

 

[Imbarkus]

Kinetica was another good one.

 

[eXistor]

Seriously overlooked survival horror sci-fi ghost-game by FROM Software. It's pretty damn decent.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Gungriffon Blaze

Modular stage progression + well-balanced HIGH-MACS customization and controls + several missions with multiple objectives and non-linearity = awesome.

Aero Elite: Combat Academy

Oh yes, I've heard accolades for this many times before.

AKA Bumpy Trot.

This one's fairly obvious, but a classic and impressive on its own merits.

 

[kaiju]

I'd say Swords of Destiny is a true hidden gem, I've never heard anyone talk about it let alone play it, but it's a great game that I enjoyed more than

Spoiler

Devil May Cry

.

Splatter Master is another one. Fun little beat em up.

 

[Absoludacrous]

I miss this generation so much

 

[N30RYU]

 

[Hikami]

I need to actually go back and finish this sometime.