Most underrated video games of all time (ever)

[soozenw]

Any game where you are attacked by a pack of genetically enhanced cows is cool.

I'm totally sigging that.

[Reinforcements]

Okay, so, it's not out yet, but I'm so afire with anticipation that I have to mention it. If Odin Sphere doesn't get the attention it deserves, I may lose all faith in humanity.

[Fri]

Planescape torment isn't underrated. Critics love it, and gamers who had played it worship it everywhere. It's just underplayed.

On second thought, can anyone give me the difference between underplayed and underrated?

[Tom_Violence]

Anachronox
Surrealist adventure game in a similar vein to Final Fantasy, but with more puzzles and less faux-epic.

And David Bowie!!!

[PlatinumJester]

Tales of Symphonia for GC. Harvest Moon and Battle Realms are also underated.

[turtleant120]

Okay, so, it's not out yet, but I'm so afire with anticipation that I have to mention it. If Odin Sphere doesn't get the attention it deserves, I may lose all faith in humanity.

Yeah that does look pretty good. Actually, now that I think about it, all the PS2 games that came out after the PS3 launched have been pretty good. It's kinda wierd don't you think.

[Innis Cabal]

i have that one pre-orderd to, may 22nd cant come fast enough, oh and earthbound and Okami are up there

[Sneak]

Giants
The unintelligent and unoriginal drivel that fills our game shelves now is a highly deserved punishment for this game not selling well. You knew it was a good game because it had cockney aliens in it.

Yes! I was just about to mention Giants! I love that game!

In fact, I just bought a new copy because I couldn't find my install CD.

So, my vote goes to Giants. I will never know why Kabuto is a citizen, but the game is still cool as hell.

[Om]

Evil Genius
Same situation as Startopia, but with less aliens and more evil.

Uggh. I never got past the first island. When I got it I was thinking "Goldfinger evil" but it turned out to be "Pointy Haired Boss evil" with all the micromanagement that goes with it. Click, click, click on the stupid little men!

[Maldraugedhen]

Majesty. This game captured the spirit of an adventurer's world without being an RPG which is an accomplishment in and of itself. But its also a really fun game.

Wow, massive coincidence for Majesty, here--I was thinking of it before I read your post, AND I wasn't the only one.

The early entries in the Gothic series outside of Europe bombed, but were excellent if you managed to get ahold of them. The first two were much better than what I have played of the third.

LucasArt's old adventure game Loom was underrated. An adventure game in which your goal is not actually to kill someone--AND you aren't really forced to along the way, unless you count that guy who basically kills himself on you--was a refreshing change. Still waiting for the rest of the trilogy. Probably'll come after we stop revisiting Hoth.

Star Wars: Force Commander was pretty horribly underrated. Just mute the game and avoid the music, better yet, run some Evil Genius Orchestra versions of the same songs in the background, too (Cocktails in the Cantina is an excellent and hilarious CD, their version of the Imperial March gives a very clear mental image of Darth Vader swinging from tree to tree George-of-the-Jungle-style). It's actually a fairly solid strategy game.

Not enough people have heard of Golden Sun for me to be satisfied, but those who have played it don't rate it poorly, so I don't know if it qualifies. Also waiting for the final game in the trilogy.

Phantasy Star Online (and now Universe) seems to get very little press for such a solid game.

[Dispozition]

Not enough people have heard of Golden Sun for me to be satisfied, but those who have played it don't rate it poorly, so I don't know if it qualifies. Also waiting for the final game in the trilogy.

My whole year level knows that game, and likes it a fair bit. The gameboy rom was floating around last year and everyone got their hands on it...Much killing was done :P

[Khantalas]

Woodruff and the Schnibble of Azimuth was underrated. I don't think it was even rated.

*sniff* I could never finish it, though. Stupid disappearing nut.

[The Evil Thing]

Uggh. I never got past the first island. When I got it I was thinking "Goldfinger evil" but it turned out to be "Pointy Haired Boss evil" with all the micromanagement that goes with it. Click, click, click on the stupid little men!

Ugh, the game certainly was a nightmare to play. By the second island I got fed up and used the money cheat. I also hacked the game files and quadrupled my minion limit. Funnily enough, I got a lot more enjoyment out of it.

[Corlindale]

Planescape is wonderful, best dialogue and story I've ever seen in a CRPG.

Giants most certainly deserves a mention, very fun and original game, with interesting and varied gameplay.

In the same vein we have Sacrifice - my all time favourite RTS. Great graphics, and insane gameplay with some very interesting twists. The whole soul-gathering aspect in particular is interesting, as it means that merely killing the enemy army is just a minor setback if you don't manage to convert the souls of the fallen to your cause as well. And you ALSO have to manage spellcasting and tactical movement while you're at it. No other game can get my adrenaline pumping like this.

Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura is among my favourite CRPGs. It had a few issue with bugs and with magic being extremely powerful compared to tech, but that aside it was a great game with a very interesting and detailed world, and great roleplaying oppertunities with multiple quest solutions, especially nice for evil characters(something alot of CRPGs sadly lack). The soundtrack was very stylish as well.

[Sereneprophet]

I pick....FINAL FANTASY X...totally underrated. :P


But seriously, lets see here... definitely Vampires: Bloodlines. One of the best games I have ever played, period. My only complaint was the poor graphics coding.

And just so I dont seem like im jumping on the bandwagon, I will also add

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. I have heard barely anything about it besides reviews on sites, but I enjoyed the game immensely. Decent graphics, fun story, and great atmosphere. Its just a shame Headfirst ended up going down.

[Dispozition]

I pick....FINAL FANTASY X...totally underrated. :P

I do hope you are joking :P

But anyway...Still no love for Phantom Crash? Has no one ever even heard of it? Please tell me it isn't so...

[hanzo66]

I'd like to mention Devil May Cry 3. I'm pretty sure it got very little attention because the second one totally sucked in comparison to the first.

Most people blame the fact that God of War came out roughly the same time...

The schism between the two still has not been fixed...

[JadedDM]

I played a game on the PS2 called Shadow of Memories, where a guy turns up in a small German town and is murdered. He meets a being names Homunculus that has time travel powers to give him another chance, so the game is you, going back in time over and over to continue to prevent your own death my many methods.

I've never seen anyone ever talk about this game. The game said it had 5 ending on the box but I think I counted up to 8 endings.

For that it unlocked a bonus god mode where you (the character) already knew all the plot twists at the start and can resolve the entire game in a few small actions.

I rented that game once. It was quite entertaining, but I think it would have made a better movie than a video game. It primarily consisted of just moving your character around, talking to people, and watching cut-scenes.

[TheSorrow]

Psychonauts!!! amazing game from the guys who did Grim Fandango. Was on the short side but still a very pleasing and hilarious game. I wish it had a sequel.

[TheSorrow]

*By the way*

For american gamers "Shadow of memories" is called "Shadow of destiny" in the U.S.

[Maldraugedhen]

Psychonauts!!! amazing game from the guys who did Grim Fandango.

Huh, didn't know it was the same guys. That's certainly boosted my interest.

[Gungnir]

Jet Grind Radio and Jet Set Radio Future. Great games, but a lot of people are put off by the music.

[TreesOfDeath]

Bloody roar 2, and the inferior but still good 3. Pf is decent, though 1 and 4 can sod off.

Probably not the most underated game OF ALL TIME, but definately underatedd and dam awesome

[Oeryn]

I totally second the Tex Murphy games. God, but they were a pain to get working on any computer I've ever owned, but it was pure joy once you did. Those games STILL crack me up.

Also, I can definitely get behind "Beyond Good and Evil". Great game, I have no idea why it wasn't more popular.

As for my original selection, I'd have to say "Second Sight", for the PS2. I stumbled across it in a used game store for about $6. I didn't have high hopes, but it turned out to be one of my favorite all-time games. It's about a guy who wakes up in a top secret government installation with no memory, and tries to figure out his past. The story was really interesting, and the gameplay was totally awesome. One of the best and most intuitive control schemes I've ever played on a console. Not to mention, it's just plain fun. I'd heartily recommend it to anyone.

[Wyris]

I think a little game for the Sega Genesis called Lost Vikings doesn't get the attention it deserves. I hardly ever see it mentioned, but it ranks amongst the most challenging, fustrating, and enjoyable puzzle games I've encountered.

[Arlanthe]

Ah, I remember the Shining Force games. I concur that the series should have continued, and indeed the "tactics" series of games as we know it was probably birthed by SF.

I also concur Earthbound was underrated, and would love to see it re-released on DS. Or even a new one in development!

There was an old Sega game called Starflight (which was on an earlier console), which was great and in many ways ahead of it's time.

Ultima Online is still the best MMO, IMO. (Heh.) It's too bad most people won't touch it due to it's old graphics.

An old Nintendo game called Maniac Mansion was extremely clever. I miss the likes of it.

[Arlanthe]

I think a little game for the Sega Genesis called Lost Vikings doesn't get the attention it deserves. I hardly ever see it mentioned, but it ranks amongst the most challenging, fustrating, and enjoyable puzzle games I've encountered.

Sorry for the DP. The company that made it, Silicon and Synapse (who also made Rock & Roll racing, another classic) turned into a company called... BLIZZARD, and make other lesser known games.

In their niche game "World of Warcraft", the Vikings from Lost Vikings- Erik, Olaf, and the Other One, can be found in a cave in the game as Viking looking dwarves.

[Maldraugedhen]

Erik, Olaf and Baleog pop up in WoW!? Awesome! I'd seen throwback references to Starcraft in various WCIII maps, but I hadn't seen any extend as far back as Lost Vikings.

Played and beaten both Lost Vikings and Norse by Norse West, the sequel, and both were extremely fun.

[Pronounceable]

I got sigged? My plans for world domination are closer to fruition than ever...


And I had forgotten Woodruff and the Schnibble of Azimuth. It's very awesome. Even a better adventure than Larry series (the last one is NOT a Larry game). I should play it again sometime...

Is Larry series underrated?

[Archonic Energy]

Planescape torment isn't underrated. Critics love it, and gamers who had played it worship it everywhere. It's just underplayed.

On second thought, can anyone give me the difference between underplayed and underrated?

on release it was severly underrated.
since then it has acheived an almost cult like following... almost like Firefly.

i wouldn't part with my Torment Disks for less than £500. and the only people i *know* who've played it are online. i dare not lend it out to any of my mates because i don't want the disks to be damaged.

i think Alpha Centauri was underrated too. my mate gave me his disk because he didn't get it... more fool him! i had problems getting Crossfire when it came out. now it's nearly impossible to get.

finally i have to agree that Evil Genius is underrated... however it really needed work on release. i think that, that took some of the magic away from the game. i've played buggier though... (Elite: First Encounter anyone)