We rescued a series of titles (and sagas in some cases) already classic and veteran that, in our opinion, have not finished achieving the recognition that they should have obtained due to their quality. Eleven underrated classic games that deserve more recognition.
Throughout history we have been able to enjoy great games, many of which are already part of the legacy of this industry. However, and among so many sacred works, due to various circumstances some titles that should be part of the video game Olympus (or stay very close to it) have not finished obtaining the prestige they deserved due to their enormous quality .
That is why we have wanted to “rescue” a series of classic titles that, on many occasions, are omitted from the typical lists of large productions that the video game sector in general has left us. Of course, we wanted to focus only on rather veteran works and leave the most current productions aside, keep that in mind.
And as often happens in this type of report, it has been quite difficult for us to select the 11 candidates among the dozens of games that met the requirements to appear in this article, so you can leave all your suggestions in the corresponding comments.
Eggerland / Adventures of LoloHAL Laboratory – MSX (1985)
The HAL Laboratory studio, most likely, will always be remembered for gifting the world with such an endearing character as Kirby . However, there are many outstanding productions that this very veteran Japanese company has left us, with Eggerland (or Adventures of Lolo as it came to be called in its transfer to NES) one of the most significant.
Appeared for the first time on MSX in the mid-80s, this saga starring that kind of bluish ball called Lolo has always offered us a gameplay that is as addictive as, in its day, quite original. Puzzles and more puzzles were the absolute protagonists, being necessary to go around different enemies and obtain the corresponding keys to escape from each room that we had to cross to rescue Lala.
Gargoyle’s QuestCapcom – Game Boy 1990 / SNES (1994)
Capcom’s well-known work Ghosts’n Goblins was the starting point for this excellent spin-off that, in the end, ended up becoming a totally independent saga… and almost as outstanding as the one starring Sir Arthur.
In this case, the evil Firebrand (or Red Arremer) from the aforementioned original saga became the absolute protagonist of an impressive action and platform adventure that, for many, is one of the best that the veteran Game Boy left us in this matter … And which later gave life to an incredible sequel on SNES, Demon’s Crest . A franchise almost totally forgotten for Capcom … and for many users.
LandstalkerClimax – Mega Drive (1992)
The prolific team at Climax provided Mega Drive users with one of the best RPGs not only on this fantastic 16-bit console, but in any format of the time. A game that unfortunately is almost never remembered when the topic of traditional 2D RPGs of the 16-bit era comes up.
In an era in which SNES clearly dominated the market in this roleplaying facet and was home to dozens of excellent representatives of the genre, users of the Sega console could delight in a work that had little or nothing to envy to the best works of Squaresoft , Enix and other specialized studies on the same subject. A wonderful and well recreated adventure.
Rocket knight adventuresKonami – Mega Drive (1993)
With the current state that Konami is unfortunately in and whose only current contributions to the video game world are reduced to PES, Yu-Gi-Oh and little else, it is practically impossible to think that we will ever enjoy the company again. of Sparkster, the protagonist of this great saga (and that later gave life to a sequel of the same name for SNES).
This highly varied and fast-paced arcade platformer with high doses of action enjoyed quite a chameleonic gameplay given that beyond the “normal” levels, from time to time the game turned into a side scrolling shooter. A title that, later, Konami turned into a franchise with new installments … and that never achieved the same fame as other major series from the Japanese company such as Castlevania, Contra or Metal Gear.
HaganeCAProduction – SNES (1994)
Titles starring ninjas have always enjoyed great popularity among players … with the odd exception like Hagane, one of the best creations of its kind made for SNES that never enjoyed the prestige or recognition it deserved .
We do not know if it was because of the stamp of the unknown CAProduction team, because it was a little late to the European and American market (it did well into 1995, with the newly arrived 32-bit consoles) or for some other reason that escapes us. , but the truth is that the playable and audiovisual show that this marvel of side scroller left us did not finish receiving the effusiveness that it should have gained in relation to its extraordinary quality.
EinhänderSquaresoft – PlayStation (1997)
During the 90s Squaresoft did not lavish too much on works that had nothing to do with the RPG genre but, from time to time, it was encouraged to embark on other fields. And one of these unusual productions went to the first PlayStation and, under the name of Einhänder, was hiding a shooter with traditional development and polygonal graphics .
And not just any one, but one of the best exponents ever made for the Sony console. Excellent control, fantastic battles against final enemies, a very well recreated setting, FMV-like scenes between levels and a wonderful soundtrack gave life to a shooter that was not too popular but, even today, is still outstanding.
Burning RangersSonic Team – Sega Saturn (1998)
Not only did the famous Sonic Team studio create titles based on the well-known blue porcupine but was also able to sign outstanding works like the not-so-known Burning Rangers.
This original third-person action adventure in which we assumed the role of a kind of firefighters from the future had fully 3D graphics of an impressive quality for its time, quite curious and attractive game mechanics and some confrontations against final bosses very well captured. One of the best that Sega Saturn gave us.
Body HarvestDMA Design – Nintendo 64 (1998)
Within the catalog of Nintendo 64 titles, it is difficult to find any game that resembles this creation by DMA Design, the same team that left us another great and little recognized work for N64 called Space Station: Silicon Valley . Two very different productions from each other that shared several aspects in common, such as their originality in their approach.
In Body Harvest we had to travel from one era to another trying to appease the alien threat that loomed over humanity. A story backed by a very varied and uncommon open-ended gameplay for the time when exploration was mixed with action, the possibility of piloting several vehicles and RPG touches. It wasn’t the most colorful title in the world, but it was certainly very entertaining.
Jet Set RadioSmilebit – Dreamcast (2000)
Few times have we enjoyed a title as fresh, original, fun and exciting as this unforgettable Smilebit production for the Dreamcast console. A game that we continue without understanding why it is ignored over and over again even by Sega itself.
With skateboarding as the main attraction and graffiti as one of the main activities to be carried out during our walks through the city of Tokyo that hosted this work, we could delight ourselves with a very innovative and striking cel-shading visual section for the time and a sublime soundtrack. Not even the subsequent sequel (Jet Set Radio Future) released on Xbox years later managed to match the grandeur of the original title.
Viewtiful joeCapcom – GameCube (2003)
The great designer and creator Hideki Kamiya is one of the greatest Japanese creators of characters and sagas that are really outstanding and deeply rooted among players … something that unfortunately did not finish happening with Viewtiful Joe, a genius that did not quite perform well in its commercial aspect when it was released earlier this century on the GameCube (and later ported to PS2).
This curious and surprising beat’em up had a unique graphic style that was as colorful as it was spectacular in the 3D cartoon plan, although the gameplay was totally 2D and more traditional in style. Despite receiving a sequel and a couple of spin-offs for PSP (in addition to the version for GameCube) and Nintendo DS, many of us think that it is a totally underrated saga.
The Wonderful 101Platinum Games – Wii U (2013)
What were we telling you a moment ago about Hideki Kamiya and his great ability to create wonderful works? Well, when he joined the Platinum Games team after his time at Capcom (and other studios), he wanted to give Wii U users during its first life cycle The Wonderful 101, one of the works that, in the end, more they shone within the rather concise catalog of this console.
His particular game style in which we had to recruit and control a multitude of characters at the same time, his cooperative mode for up to five players and his excellent audiovisual section were not enough incentives for many to consider this production as everything. a great classic … which in our opinion it is.
