In the latest issue of PSM, there's a nice little feature called, "Buried Treasures," in which the PSM staff lists their favorite titles which were "lost in the shuffle."

Here's there list:

Randy:
Contra: Shattered Soldier
Kinetica
ICO
Rez
Rygar: The Legendary Adventure
WRC: World Rally Championship

Eric:
Battle Engine Aquila
Disaster Report
Dynasty Tactics
RAD: Robot Alchemic Drive
Shadow Hearts

Stephen:
Fatal Frame
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
Gitaroo Man
Ring of Red

They also listed their favorites on the PSOne as well:

Ape Escape
Bust-A-Groove
Einhander
Future Cop: L.A.P.D. 2100
Rollcage Stage II
Tomba! 2
Tobal No. 1

I love lists like this, so let's have all of us DVDTalkers here contribute. The rules:

• Each person can only list a total of three underappreciated titles, across all platforms
• Consoles and PC titles are welcome, but let's stick to the current generation of games (Xbox, GC, PS2, GBA. The Sega Dreamcast is also welcome)
• Each title selected must be in the format below:
  
  1. It must have a description of why it was selected ("jrutz picked it because:")
  2. It must say how to find a copy ("Where you can find it," for example: either in B&Ms, online stores, or auctions, depending on its availability - or lack of)

Alright, let's dig up those buried treasures!

Jeremy

Xbox:
Sneakers (This game for some reason is fun)
Monopoly Party

PS2:
Activision Anthology

Cube:
Super Bubble Pop

GBA:
Krazy Racers
Buffy

Dreamcast:
Typing of the Dead
Disney Racing

God I love it when people don't read the rules...

Please, let's keep it to three titles! No honorable mentions! This way it will force everyone to really think about which title's they are choosing, and will avoid redundancy.

Let's try this again please!

Jeremy

I can't think of ANY. Usually if a game is underappreciated, it's for good reason. i.e. - it's just not that good.

Oh dear god! I am so SORRY! Most go burn things...

Eternal Darkness (gamecube)- got decent reviews but didn't sell well. Great atmosphere, with great controls (unlike Resident Evil), great story, good replay value as you have to play it 3 times to get the real ending, great magic system.

Seaman (Dreamcast)- i've never liked vitual pet or sim games, but this one was pretty neat. The voice recognition worked pretty well, and it was fun to piss off your seaman.

Can't think of a third one of current gen systems off the top of my head. BTW, the "Judgement Day" show on G4 occasionally has a buried treasure segment as well, though they're always on older games from past generations (i.e. PSone, N64, GBC etc.) that were overlooked back then.

My vote goes for PS 2 Mark of Kri. One of the greatest action games ever made and deserves a sequel.

1. Zoo Cube - GC and GBA

Toyko Xtreme Racer Zero (PS2)
jrutz picked this because: Forget the Gran Tourismo series, this one has just as much depth and ten times the fun. The Tokyo Xtreme Racer series really grew it's roots on the Dreamcast, and this release is an enhanced (i.e., improved) version of the original title's Dreamcast-only sequel. Over a hundred cars that can be customized and tuned until your heart's content. Some people may complain the lack of tracks, since it's really just a couple intertwining highway passes, but the tracks themselves are breathtaking. There's something about cruising through the highways of Japan in the dead of night, surrounded by landmarks, bilboards and office buildings buring the midnight oil that's, well, beyond words. Take an exit here, a bridge there, with the lounge-techno music keeping the 100 mph pace but soothing nonetheless, just to hunt down that one member of the street racing gang. And when you flash your brights at him for a challenge, that's where the title earns it's true marks. The nature of the battle is also unique, with each driver having a health meter akin to the fighting genre. The farther you are ahead, the faster your opponent's meter drops, until one of your meters has completely depleted. Drivers are smart, the driving controls are drifty yet customizeable, the graphics are beautiful, and oh those replays!

Where you can find it: I haven't seen this one in stores for a long time, not since Best Buy cleared their stock on a Black Friday way back in 2001. Your best bet would be to bid on an online auction, they range from $18-$25.

Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox)
jrutz picked this because: Orta is a worthy successor to the series that graced the Sega Saturn. Sure it has all the problems which has plagued each iteration of the franchise (shooter-on-rails, short length, high-difficulty level), it also has the same strengths - beautiful graphics, fine-tuned gameplay, and haunting music. Not only do the graphics enhance the experience, they also perfectly complement the awesome design of the world of Panzer Dragoon. Never has the franchise seen such a wonderous world, probably the closest to what the original creators had conceived but never been able to achieve until now. Plus the game's "pandora's box", an extension of the main game, gives the player many many more chances to retread the world of Orta by offering tons of extras, including the original Saturn title (which shows just how far the series has come).

Where you can find it: Pretty much every gamestore should have a new or used copy, and if you missed out on Best Buy's recent $9.99 sale, damn you!

Sword of the Berserk: Guts Rage (DC)
jrutz picked this because: When Sword of the Berserk was first released way back in early 2000, barely anyone knew of the manga or anime of which it was based. In 2003, things have changed, but remarkably the title's strength has remained. It's 3D action beat-em-up with a few twists. First is the beautiful graphics which really pushed the capabilities of Sega's orphaned little one. Even though it's not as beautiful now, it still looks great in motion. Copious amounts of blood spew from every foe, human or otherwise. And when Guts gets mad, the "berserk" mode lets you unleash some wicked combos at high speed. And every time Guts swings that ungodly enormous sword, I can't help but think he's conducting some sort of violent opus for all of us to enjoy. Admittedly, it wouldn't be on my list if it weren't for one thing - the great story. This game's story unfolds through lengthy, rather impressive cinemas through the in-game engine that would make even Solid Snake envious. On top of that, Eidos recruited the great voice cast from the Legacy of Kain series to lend their talents toward Sword of Berserk, making the cinemas that much more credible. The game isn't perfect - it has a few bumps in the road, such as the insane difficulty of some of the boss battles and the rather short length of the game, but it does warrant repeat visits throughout the years and serves as a nice tension breaker in short doses.

Where you can find it: Surprisingly, the game is still available at your local game shop, either new or used, for around $10.

Jeremy

1. Playstation 1, Game: Alundra(not the shitty sequel). Think The Legend of Zelda:A Link to the Past, but on steroids. Higher difficulty,great music,great writing and puzzles that will make you tear your hair out
It's difficult to find a new copy but EB has it for 14.99 used

2. Playstation 1: Tobal No. 1. Square fighting game,added 3d dungeon crawl, character designs by Akira Toriyama(Dragon Ball Z,Dragon Quest). I'm never gonna forgive Square for not releasing the sequel in the states . Still need to repurchase it though.. Can be purchased cheaply at EB for 2.99

3. Playstation 2: Ico Great gameplay, beautiful game and good story. If you own a PS2 you must play this game. Still need to pick this up again before it's to late. Can be purchased new but getting harder to find. Used at Gamestop for 14.99


So many more to list but I will follow your stifling rules. Couldn't help myself

1. Playstation 2 The Mark of Kri Can be purchased new and a variety of places. Used at Gamestop for 14.99

2. Gamecube Ikaruga Great vertical shooter. Not to many shooters come out anymore. Can be purchased at BB for 19.99 new

I could remove the two Playstation 1 games but I'm not gonna.

Dreamcast:
Virtual On... I got the twinsticks, and it is one of the best games I have ever played. I picked this game up for $10 new, talk about unappreciated!

Xbox:
Steel Battalion. Not very many people played it b/c it is so limited, and the price is quite prohibitive to most people (and many idiots knock it just b/c it is $200 without ever trying it). Funny how this is another mech game on my list of buried treasures but it is completely different than VO.... Simulation of something that doesn't exist, at its best!

PS2:
Rez. Some people get it, some don't. I can play this for hours, I don't know why, the gameplay is simplistic, but it is so much fun and addictive, it is one of those games that I don't think I can ever get sick of.

Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

And thanks to everyone contributing. Your selections are really great! This is fun!

Jeremy

I don't think anyone has "knocked" it for that reason. Most just say it's ridiculous to pay that much for one game. That's not knocking the game without trying it, as it's not saying anything about it's quality.

I'm having a hard time coming up for 3 within this generation.. if Gitaroo Man counts than I'll add that to my list because I LOOOVE the game, although the PS2's crappy analouge controller makes the harder levels a pain in the ass. Jet Set Radio Future for Xbox.. I love the game. I bought a Dreamcast for Jet Grind Radio, and I bought an Xbox for Future. I'd buy whatever system they make the next one for (Hell, I'd buy whatever system the next Smilebit game appears on, those guys ROCK!).

I like seeing games I was thinking of on here, Eternal Darkness, Ico and Alundra all are great mentions. Maybe it speaks of this generation that there aren't many hidden gems. 3 games I think deserved more are:

Shenmue series. This series would have been HUGE if it had been on ps2.

Akuji the Heartless (ps1), I think that was the name, very fun, addictive little 3d platformer. Could be beaten without taking a year off of your life.

Broken Helix (ps1) Fantastic sci-fi horror 3-d adventure, with a main character voiced by Bruce Campbell, throwing out great one-liners and keeping you company all through the cool story.

Exactly. Thank you for confirming what I wrote earlier. Prejudging at its best.

You're delusional or can't read.

Someone saying $200 is too much to pay for a game isn't prejudging. It's saying nothing about the quality of a game. Just saying it's more than they are willing to pay for any game.

I mean, I think $50 is too much to pay for a steak, that's not saying that the steaks at Ruth Chris steak house aren't good, but just that it's more than I'm willing to spend for any steak, regardless of the quality.

Play nice!!! You are ruining my thread!!! If you don't have anything nice to say, either don't say it or start your own thread that will inevitably get locked by a mod!!!

Now back to the program...

Jeremy

Lastblade, just remember, Josh really isn't into video games that much anyway.. so perhaps his view is jaded?

I'm not jaded at all, just stating that someone saying a game isn't worth $200 isn't "knocking" the game. It's saying nothing about the quality of the game, just that it's more than they're are willing to pay for a game. It's absurd to say that it's prejuding.

If someone said, "that game doesn't look good from the previews, I'm not paying $200 for it" then that could be construed as prejudging. If someone simply says "$200 is too much to pay for a game" that's not prejudging.

At any rate, this is offtopic and I should no better than to argue with him anyway.

PS1 : Omega Boost

Why: It felt like a realistic version of what a Mech might act like while one is flying it in space and in the air.

Dreamcast: Soul Reaver

Why: it was so expansive and I think it was a bit better than the PSX2 sequel Soul Reaver II

XBOX: Circus Maximus

why: just an all around fun game with neat characters, neat courses, and great DD 5.1

Soul Reaver is a great pick (I think it was on the PSX and N64 as well). A little too much wandering around trying to figure out where to go next, but great graphics, story and atmosphere.

VINCENT

Sausages taste good. Pork chops taste good.

JULES

A sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie. I'll never know 'cause even if it did, I wouldn't eat the filthy ************.


That's how I feel about a $200 game... It might be the greatest in the world, but I'll never know, cuz i wouldnt play the expensive ************!

Wow So many good answers!

I agree with a lot of them. For instance ICO is by far my favorite game I played on the PS2. And REZ I totally get into. Granted I prefer the Dreamcast version on a VGA monitor.

I will try to choose different ones that are not on the list so far.


Cosmic Smash for Dreamcast. It's the Old school gamer in me for this one. The game is combination of Virtual tennis and Breakout with the trippy visual flair of REZ. And this cool "Japanese" male and female voice saying simple phrases. Like "Thank You for playing Cosmic Smash!" And whats this..... Your reason for playing is to get a good Score!!!!! Back when it was still up you could go to cosmicsmash.com and enter the code the game gives you from your high score to see how you rank against others in the world. And one of the few Dreamcast games that came in a different packaging, it came in a cool clear white DVD shell.

This game can still be bought by online importers for between $30-$40 range. Recommend www.ncsx.com or videogamedepot.com

Helpful hint: Be sure to knock out the last block with a Power Smash for extra points! And don't lose your ball for the level for extra points!

RAD: Robot Alchemic Drive for PS2. Why? Cause it was cool design and concept. Controlling Giagantic Robot's (like the ShoGun Robots that we played with as kids) with your character's radio controlled controller that happens to look like a psx controller. Control scheme was neat with each analog stick controlling each arm. Playing it was like being in a godzilla movie. And the localzing development team made it campy like the monster movies.

Can be found for $20.00 at Gamestops actually costs more used at some places.

Deathrow for Xbox. Talk about Horrible Cover Art, A very bad name for the game, and just zero marketing for it! Yet the game is absolutely one of the Best Futuristic Sports games ever. Basically the name Deathrow is not about people who will be executed in the soon future but it stands for a type of "Throw" you can do in this game. A "Dea Throw" is basically a charged up throw of the Ball (actually a metalic Disc Like Xena's) that will knock over an opponent. The game is very similiar or you could say a copy of the classic Amiga/Genesis game Speedball done by Bitmap brothers. Two teams, trying to score points at each others goals. There are power ups, you can swear and beatup your opponents with no penalties or penalties if you want. The ball is a metallic disc. The goals, are like backboards with holes in them and can be scored from either side. The Game screams attention to details, to the characters, and various arenas.

The game is best played with friends!!! Ideal setup playing in Action mode (ie close up view of your character) on 8 individual xboxes and tv's all linked up! That way each team of 4 has there own Screen! And don't worry if you don't have 8 xboxes you can play up to 4 per xbox. Also be sure to use your own Soundtrack with the game.

Ok well there's plenty more buried treasures out there! Those were just 3 of mine that come to mind with this generation of games. And YES they are all easily obtainable now. So glad I can offer some insight on them. And remember this is just my opinion so if you disagree thats completely fine! But let's not spam the thread with arguments about it!

-AzelEdge-

Shenmue (DC)
Ok so its not THAT buried. Still a very underrated game. Not that many people have played it. Tied for best game ever imo.