What's the most underrated game...

[Storm]

... That you feel should have gained more attention, whether that be worldwide or in your region?

I personally believe that everyone needs to play Earthbound at some point in their lives. It's a part of the Mother series in Japan, and has a massive following there.

It never gained enough popularity in the U.S. to have its prequel or sequel ported over, but people still recognize many of the elements of the games from them being implemented into the Smash Bros. series.

The game itself has a unique storyline and take on RPG elements at the time, which was mostly restricted to a medieval era story. Instead Earthbound was set in what the creator felt represented America's culture at the time, offering a completely new perspective on turn based RPG titles.

Anyways, there's my two cents. Anyone else have a particular title which they feel is underrated in some way or another? You don't have to break it down and go into an extreme amount of detail if you don't want to lol.

 

[LuxSmash]

the Characters,Music and History are very strange but i am a big fan of Earthbound (the Final Battle was disturbing i will never forget it )

if you never played or heard about this game... you are missing a great RPG

 

[Raul Tha Monk]

Any of the GBA Fire emblem's I loved them so much i put alot of hours into them

 

[Storm]

never heard of it and I only them some of it from Smash bros
and overrated game it would be WoW

There are plenty of overrated games out there, but only a few genuinely underrated ones I can think of.

But like I said, most people haven't even heard of Earthbound. They just know Ness from Smash Bros.

 

[Spitfire'd]

Almost any game in the Monster Hunter series. The most prominent in our region would Monster Hunter Tri.

This game is amazing. This game has shot off like crazy in Japan and for good reason. It is you and your trusty weapon versus some of the most ferocious monsters you have ever seen.

Why won't this game be successful in North America? Patience. If you go out there and try to go blow for blow with a monster you're going to get your butt handed to you. You have to study the monsters, learn how they move, learn how they attack and learn when and where to strike them.

I mean lets face it, as western gamers we have a lot of that stuff handed to us on a silver platter. If there is a major challenge in a game it is usually because of a bug or a glitch that will get fixed in a later patch.

There are NO excuses in Monster Hunter. You get angry when the monster takes you out, but no matter what whining you make or what excuses you try to use, deep down you KNOW it was your fault because you attacked when you should have dodged.

You craft your weapons and armors out of the pieces of the various monsters. You grind the monsters to get those parts but it's never a drag. This is an action adventure game at it's finest. That moment when you get that kill on a beast you thought you couldn't beat is an amazing feeling. That accomplishment you have when you craft the final piece of armor that you wanted is incredible.

This game series needs a bigger audience. The last few games that have come out for it look phenomenal, and currently they are only sold exclusively in Japan. Capcom (that could be the problem) has promised for a few years now that Western MH fans have much to look forward to, but we have yet to hear any word on the next great game we will get our hands on.

Heck, I've become so impatient in waiting for the next North American release that I actually imported a copy of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. It wasn't region locked and I have to use a website to site translate the menus to do what I want to do in it. You can call that crazy, but it is that great of a game and it is well worth it.

 

[IrateDonnie]

Almost any game in the Monster Hunter series. The most prominent in our region would Monster Hunter Tri.

This game is amazing. This game has shot off like crazy in Japan and for good reason. It is you and your trusty weapon versus some of the most ferocious monsters you have ever seen.

Why won't this game be successful in North America? Patience. If you go out there and try to go blow for blow with a monster you're going to get your butt handed to you. You have to study the monsters, learn how they move, learn how they attack and learn when and where to strike them.

I mean lets face it, as western gamers we have a lot of that stuff handed to us on a silver platter. If there is a major challenge in a game it is usually because of a bug or a glitch that will get fixed in a later patch.

There are NO excuses in Monster Hunter. You get angry when the monster takes you out, but no matter what whining you make or what excuses you try to use, deep down you KNOW it was your fault because you attacked when you should have dodged.

You craft your weapons and armors out of the pieces of the various monsters. You grind the monsters to get those parts but it's never a drag. This is an action adventure game at it's finest. That moment when you get that kill on a beast you thought you couldn't beat is an amazing feeling. That accomplishment you have when you craft the final piece of armor that you wanted is incredible.

This game series needs a bigger audience. The last few games that have come out for it look phenomenal, and currently they are only sold exclusively in Japan. Capcom (that could be the problem) has promised for a few years now that Western MH fans have much to look forward to, but we have yet to hear any word on the next great game we will get our hands on.

Heck, I've become so impatient in waiting for the next North American release that I actually imported a copy of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. It wasn't region locked and I have to use a website to site translate the menus to do what I want to do in it. You can call that crazy, but it is that great of a game and it is well worth it.

Hmm I might have to try it again. I bought it a while ago & played it for like five minutes & haven't touched it since.To me it seemed like the dialog was written by a five year old, it seemed kind of silly. I'll give it another shot after reading your recommendation though.

 

[Spitfire'd]

Hmm I might have to try it again. I bought it a while ago & played it for like five minutes & haven't touched it since.To me it seemed like the dialog was written by a five year old, it seemed kind of silly. I'll give it another shot after reading your recommendation though.

Yeah, don't play it for the story and the dialogue. They have been comically terrible or non-existent in nearly every title. They are horrible and don't do the gameplay justice lol. Monster Hunter Tri starts off really slow too. Use online guides to find out which early quests (1 and 2 star) you have to do so you can get right to the good stuff asap.

Those translation websites that I use for Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, they don't translate the story. Just the good stuff lol.

 

[Gizzmo]

I wish I Monster Hunter Portable 3rd would come out in NA already. I am a big fan and have been waiting so long for it. Also, about Fire Emblem... Yes, yes, and yes.

 

[Klion]

I agree with earthbound i watched a lets play on it . I think though Mother 3 is a much more underrated game. Its the sequel but most of it being unknown is due to it only being released in japan. If you did not know that's where Lucas comes from its an AWESOME game and still has the emotional feeling that earthbound had but more. I do not want to spoil the ending but it made me cry :.[
Another underrated game that has got some popularity of the over years is Okami. You get to play as a wolf god its fun running on water =].

 

[IrateDonnie]

The Chronicles of Riddick games are underrated in my opinion. Escape from Butcher Bay is an amazing game.

 

[ChocolateVillain]

Mount & Blade Warband

Don't know many who play but the single player with all the add on makes the game AWESOME.

The add on only make it 10 game for the price of one.

Nothing like invading Paris with a 1000 armor clad troops dodging volley after volley of arrows.

 

[Liliana]

Almost any game in the Monster Hunter series. The most prominent in our region would Monster Hunter Tri.

I wish I Monster Hunter Portable 3rd would come out in NA already. I am a big fan and have been waiting so long for it. Also, about Fire Emblem... Yes, yes, and yes.

Quoted for complete truth.
Also wish MHFO and MH3G would be released here.

(Lol I'm evil and am playing MHP3rd in half-English)

 

[Storm]

I agree with earthbound i watched a lets play on it . I think though Mother 3 is a much more underrated game. Its the sequel but most of it being unknown is due to it only being released in japan. If you did not know that's where Lucas comes from its an AWESOME game and still has the emotional feeling that earthbound had but more. I do not want to spoil the ending but it made me cry :.[
Another underrated game that has got some popularity of the over years is Okami. You get to play as a wolf god its fun running on water =].

Yeah, I actually bought the game about 3 months ago. It ran me $150, but I feel that it was worth it. I'm sort of a collector though, so my opinions might a little... skewed lol. I'm sure you can find a free version of the game online, just like with Mother and Mother 3. The only reason I bring up the collector thing is because I like to have physical copies of the games I'm playing, (besides Steam games) so I haven't actually gotten to playing Mother 3. Though I have heard great things about it.

And I definitely agree with Okami. It was surprisingly good and very different. I never did beat it, though I did get quite a ways through it...


And as far as Monster Hunter goes, I have heard quite a lot about it honestly, but I've never really looked into it. I think you're right about it being underrated here, seeing as I've had the same typical reaction of "Huh, that looks decent", but never really looking into it. I'm sure I would love it based on the description given; it sounds like my kind of game. I suppose I'll have to dust off the Wii and give it a shot.

 

[Zero711]

I have a few.

On the PC, I would have to say Sanctum, a fun little co-op FPS Tower Defense game that's fun with or without friends.

For handheld (GBA/DS in this case) I would say the Advance Wars series, colorful wartime Turn-Based-Strategy (alongside Fire Emblem, as mentioned earlier, just with tanks and stuff). Maybe the Megaman Battle Network and/or Star Force series(s) as a close second.

For console, Jet Set Radio and its sequel. I never owned them, but I've watched them and played them at a friend's house. Its creative, fun, and has great music. My second would be Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, loved them when I was younger and still do.

 

[Storm]

Advance Wars series...

Jet Set Radio and its sequel...

Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie...

I loved the Advance Wars series growing up lol. I haven't played it in awhile, but I may just have to now... Actually for some reason that made me think of a downloadable title that came out last year, Orcs Must Die. I know it's almost totally different, but it's a third person tower defense game. I don't know how well it did, but I loved playing it. It was addicting to try and to come up with the best strategy to keep the orcs from reaching your gate, and it pulled off a mix of third person shooting and trap setting strategy elements quite well.

I only remember the name "Jest Set Radio", but literally nothing else about it lol. I'd have to google that one. =P

I love Banjo-Kazooie as well. Was the series underrated though? I recall them being pretty popular as a kid... I don't know, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the outside world when I was young lol.

 

[Johnny]

For me it'll have to be a game called SubSpace(now called Continuum.) The game came out in 1997 and I've been playing it on and off since then. The owner of the game is Priit Kasesalu, which I have played many games with. He is a talented programmer and helped develop Kazaa, Skype, and Joost. The game is basically a 2-d space shooter, taking a lot of skill to be good at. It still has a decent following and STILL is very entertaining and addicting.

This is the promo video when Virgin owned it.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YwXzq_OwZI[/ame]

More about the game...

There are 8 ships in total, and depending on the server(there are two big servers, Trench Wars is more skill and Extreme Games is more fast paced.) The game is free to play and can be downloaded at either trenchwars.org or extreme-games.net.

 

[Spitfire'd]

Wow, that looks pretty sweet Johnny. I watched some gameplay after the trailer, it makes me think of Altitude but kicked up a notch and probably better since it came out first.

Does it run on Mac? Might have to try it out. I'll let you know if I do so you can pound on me lol.

EDIT: I forgot to throw in my support with those who have mentioned Advance Wars and Fire Emblem. GREAT games!

 

[Garlick Brad]

I think Dungeon Keeper was underrated. Despite some bugs involved in map editing and bonus levels, the game was really great and very unique. However, I don't know anybody besides my brother who ever played it. It was one of the first games I ever played, along with Diablo and Duke Nukem 3D and Abe's Oddysee back when I was 3

 

[Spitfire'd]

I think Dungeon Keeper was underrated. Despite some bugs involved in map editing and bonus levels, the game was really great and very unique. However, I don't know anybody besides my brother who ever played it. It was one of the first games I ever played, along with Diablo and Duke Nukem 3D and Abe's Oddysee back when I was 3

I bought Dungeon Keeper 2 a month or two ago and was thoroughly enjoying it via GOG. I never played it before, that's a long boring story though lol.

Great game. Really surprised a good modern take hasn't come out...I wanted to like Dungeons but it just wasn't the same.

 

[JunK]

ummmm for PC i remember the game called Raptor. it was a top view scroller, so it scrolled from up to down, and you were a fighter jet. you kill things and get cash, you purchase upgrades with your cash. if you beat the game you go through it again with a much harder difficulty with all your upgrades in tact (i believe).
its been awhile since i've played it, but it was one of the best and most addictive games i played back in those days. i played that sucker on my 486 woooo!!
there was another PC game i played then too. i think it was called dual or something. it was a racing game, first racing game where you needed to run from the cops and stuff. it was so awesome. i just remember that the porche was really the best car, but you could have quite a few choices.

ummm best nintendo game of all time - for real.....don't laugh, its underrated....KIRBY!
seriously still one of the best and most fun games i've ever played in my life.
second best nintendo game of all time. guerrilla wars. never forget how my cousin and i would just play that game day in and day out listening to ACDC. we beat that game a couple of times too - not easy to do, sucker was HARD.
third best nintendo game of all time. another i played with my cousin and we beat a few times - super spike V BALL BABY YAAAAA