Niche and underrated games-thread

[MrEco]

I think The Bards Tale and Lord of the Rings: Third Age are both very underrated.

[Youngie]

The Discworld Series is hugely underrated IMO. Along with Alpha Centauri for PC.

[onemanfilmcrew]

Nobody has mentioned the greatest Brawler ever made. Alien Vs. Predator (Arcade). It takes the Final Fight style game play and perfects it. Plus it is a million times better than the craptacular movies.

[BurningDoom]

I picked this one up at Goodwill today for only $3.99. Got home and went to test the disc and found myself going into race after race. The racing is fun, the cars handle well, there are plenty of car choices, and it has a great soundtrack that keeps you pumped (which is great in a racing game!).

But then I noticed bad reviews about the game when I went to check it out as I added it in my collection, surprised the hell out of me. Guess everyone back then was spoiled by the likes of Gran Turismo and Metropolis Street Racer.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I don't think the game is really bad, it's just not great. I played the hell out of 5 on the PlayStation.

I think a lot of the complaints stem from the fact that it abandoned what the original Test Drives were about: half-hour long tracks through various environments.

But yeah, the soundtrack is great.

[BurningDoom]

I don't think the game is really bad, it's just not great. I played the hell out of 5 on the PlayStation.

I think a lot of the complaints stem from the fact that it abandoned what the original Test Drives were about: half-hour long tracks through various environments.

But yeah, the soundtrack is great.

Yeah, I have 5 too, and I enjoyed it. But 6 definitely looks and sounds better, IMO.

[noiseredux]

I actually haven't played any of the Test Drive games, but now y'all got me interested.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I actually haven't played any of the Test Drive games, but now y'all got me interested.

Well, they're all a bit dated now, but, II on the Genesis is a pretty good console port, though you wont get to experience any of the expansion packs. The original is a bit bland. 3 is very good, but it will require DOSBox or a DOS PC.

5 and 6 on the PlayStation are merely okay. Steer far far away from 4. It's awful. The soundtracks for both 5 and 6 are the high points of the game. Seriously some of the best arcade racing music of any game series. Take the car select music from 5 for instance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IybrQkEJd0k

The reboot on PS2 blows huge chunks. Do not play!

Test Drive: Unlimited on PS2/360/PC is great but not quite what the original series was about. If you play any of these the PC version is the best. While the 360 has HD graphics, a lot of the physics ended up a bit screwy and the car handling is a bit twitchy. The PS2 version is complete sans the pretty graphics and has much better physics and handling. The PC version combines the best of both.

The novelty of Test Drive back when was the inclusion of extremely long tracks, drivin from a first person perspective and relatively realistic handling. Unfortunately, because of this, they haven't aged that well. 2 is a bit fun to pick up now and then for me but it really does feel sluggish at this point.

[elmagicochrisg]

I tend to call games like SoR or Golden Axe Beat 'em ups and Street Fighter clones as Fighters. I think it's important to have the distinction.

Exactly...

One-on-one combat in a confined space = fighter

Scrolling levels in which you have to physically attack multiple enemies = beat 'em up

AFAIK it's no different in Europe...

I could go even further...

Scrolling levels in which you have to attack multiple enemies with guns = shoot 'em up

Shoot 'em up with crafts in the air = shooter

[o.pwuaioc]

I think The Bards Tale and Lord of the Rings: Third Age are both very underrated.

How's the rest of the LotR series? And I thought Bard's Tale got a lot of praise?