I wrote this for Caltrops, and got like six replies. So I'm posting this shit here, too. Expect to see it on the front of JC in a bit to make you even more sick of it !
I know the whole concept of "underrated" is sort of weak, so consider this a "post games other people probably haven't heard about or played much" thread instead.
I wrote this for the Atari Age forum, and nobody replied to it.
I wrote this for Caltrops, and got like six replies. So I'm posting this shit here, too. Expect to see it on the front of JC in a bit to make you even more sick of it !
I know the whole concept of "underrated" is sort of weak, so consider this a "post games other people probably haven't heard about or played much" thread instead.
10. Zoo Keeper (arcade)
Probably not underrated on retro forums, but the thing is never mentioned along with Galaga and Centipede and Ms. Pac. Which is too bad, because it really did have unique gameplay and the three different kids of levels it has are sufficiently different that you don't get bored doing the same thing trying to set a high score.
9. Spike's Circus (Vectrex)
This was a Vectrex homebrew game that came out last year and was one of my favorite games of 2006. It involves the Vectrex mascot character doing various circusy things involving balance and juggling and such. I really think it has unique gameplay for the most part. If you have a Vectrex, head over to vectorzoa.com and get a copy. It's awesome.
8. Front Page Sports: Football Pro 98 (DOS / Win98 / XP)
To this day it completely buries every single version of Madden, ever, in the gameplay department. In a perfect world, Sierra would not have destroyed this franchise and the developers would have been funded well enough to see what they could have all done in the 21st Century. I, too, once thought that Madden games were good, but once I started playing this for the PC I could never (and will never) go back. The running game works, the passing game is realistic, the sim options are fantastic and if you start looking at the third party add-ons, it will add another five years (real years) enjoyment to the game.
7. Breach II (DOS)
It's not X-COM or Jagged Alliance, but few games are. It's the best game of the second "tier" of turn and squad-based tactical strategy games, though. Was destroyed by Breach III, which is possibly one of the worst games ever made.
6. Circuit's Edge (DOS)
This is a graphical text adventure written by George Alec Effinger and developed by Westwood (and published under the "Infocom" label once Activision bought it). Based on the book When Gravity Fails, by Effinger. A cyberpunk game that has you figuring puzzles through the chip-based modifications our hero (and other game denizens) can plug into himself. Arabic-themed, and the sound is absolutely amazing for a game released today, much less in the 80s. Great combat, fun graphics, deplorable characters that will nevertheless charm you.
5. Spellcasting 101: Sorcerers Get all the Girls (DOS, Amiga, Atari ST)
Steve Meretzky, formerly of Infocom, wrote a game about a dark-haired, nerdy, would-be magician who goes to school to learn how to practice sorcerery. Maybe for her next series J.K. Rowlings can rip off Planetfall.
4. Rise of the Triad (DOS)
Everyone here probably remembers it, but this franchise is in desperate need of a modern-day sequel, especially since BioShock's success will spawn 100 grim and gritty shooters. Rise of the Triad is utterly preposterous, sometimes brimming with nonsense, but every single second of it was interesting and fun. <i>Ludicrous gibs!!</i>
3. Rocket Jockey (Win 98)
A unique game where you pilot a "crotch rocket" around an arena and play one of three game modes. Virtually impossible to get going on anything but Windows 98. Features a great soundtrack by Dick Dale. You can knock guys off their scooters and send out grappling hooks as they try to run back and throw them around the arena like rag dolls. Filled with similar sick fun. You know how many games try to be "cyber sports" games but are really unfun? The shooting-tires-into-soccer-goals part of Rocket Jockey is honestly the best fake sports game ever made.
2. Sentinel Returns (Win 98 / XP)
Now that Glide can be emulated easily, you can go back and play this modern-day version of Sentinel. A lot of people who played the original version by Geoff Crammond didn't like the remake, but having played this one first I think it's one of the best games ever made. The entire game is about battling for position based on energy levels, while the ever-watchful eye of the sentinel tries to knock you back down. It's gorgeous and filled with tension.
1. Knight Orc (DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, C64, 8-bit, etc.)
This is a graphical text game that came out around 1987 - it is basically a single player MMORPG, as the dozens of other characters grief each other, steal from each other, insult each other and try to get over on one another. Lots of emergent gameplay if you like that sort of thing. The text parser never gets in the way of the fun and the end game involves telling a bunch of psychos what to do so you can win the game.