Extremely Weird And Obscure Games

[thanonyx thanonyx]

Battle Arena Toshinden

It was the first 3D weapons based fighting game and it's really a shame that the series just fizzled out. After the 90s it just disappeared. It had one game on the Wii but it flopped HARD and it has almost nothing to do with the previous games. The first 3 games were really popular in the latter half of the 90s and it's a shame that the series is all but forgotten.

 

[Leon]

Phantasy star 2 innovated a few things that are used in rpg's today, namely the darker tone of the game was a first for the time.
Phantasy star 1 while archaic did innovate a couple of things with it's battle system but i forget what atm.

Dragon Slayer: Largely forgotten as one of the earliest action RPG series. There were spin-off games (Legend of Heroes series), with spin-offs to the spin-off (Trails series) that also got spin offs, but the original series has been mostly forgotten, mostly in favor of the Trails series.

Dragon slayer is often considered the first japanese action rpg, so it definitely deserves more credit.

 

[Mago]

View attachment 35341
Hunter is definitely one that deserves more recognition. An open-world 3D action game where you can travel in vehicles such as boats, helicopters and jeeps and complete missions. On the Amiga. In 1991.

It's extremely impressive. I recommend giving it a try.

Been wanting to play this! I'm not sure how similar they are but theres another Amiga game from 1989 called Midwinter thats open world and has vehicles. Its first person though.

Post automatically merged: Mar 2, 2025

Phantasy star 2 innovated a few things that are used in rpg's today, namely the darker tone of the game was a first for the time.
Phantasy star 1 while archaic did innovate a couple of things with it's battle system but i forget what atm.

Dragon slayer is often considered the first japanese action rpg, so it definitely deserves more credit.

I need to play the first two Phantasy Stars, I only played the fourth. I'm not sure what you mean by the darker tone being a first for the time though? I know there were several earlier Jrpgs with a darker tone at the time, I havent played them but there was Last Armageddon, Digan no Maseki, and La place no ma.

 

[Leon]

Been wanting to play this! I'm not sure how similar they are but theres another Amiga game from 1989 called Midwinter thats open world and has vehicles. Its first person though.

Post automatically merged: Mar 2, 2025

I need to play the first two Phantasy Stars, I only played the fourth. I'm not sure what you mean by the darker tone being a first for the time though? I know there were several earlier Jrpgs with a darker tone at the time, I havent played them but there was Last Armageddon, Digan no Maseki, and La place no ma.

I may be misremembering but i also forgot sweet home as well.
Though it did innovate a few things other than that, though i guess in a way it was innovative for the us with it's darker tone as those games were never released outside of japan i think.

 

[Deleted member 7989]

Honestly I feel like games such as LSD Dream Emulator paved the way for these new indie titles coming out with funky, stylized graphics and such.

 

[Mago]

I may be misremembering but i also forgot sweet home as well.
Though it did innovate a few things other than that, though i guess in a way it was innovative for the us with it's darker tone as those games were never released outside of japan i think.

Yeah true we didn't get the darker JRPGs at the time, at least I don't think. Sweet Home was too graphic for an NES release over here. There were some dark Wrpgs at the time like Ultima 5 and Wasteland though.

Post automatically merged: Mar 2, 2025

Honestly I feel like games such as LSD Dream Emulator paved the way for these new indie titles coming out with funky, stylized graphics and such.

LSD I definitely think has been influential, or maybe Osamu Sato in general. Eastern Minds is a classic as well. Synergy was also doing weird fascinating art games around that time, though I don't think they're as well known.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Dragon's Dream: perhaps the very first online RPG game on console ever created (predating Phantasy Star Online by three years).

Psycho Soldier for being the first game featuring a vocalised song

 

[DeusLatom]

I was wondering if anybody knew of some games on the stranger side of the older console gens, and if you do, please share i absolutely love stuff like this!!

Some personal favorites of mine are baroque for the ps1/Saturn, LSD dream emulator, and Galerians.

 

[Samatonic Samatonic]

I've played these and the Galerians altogether and these were quite interesting games of their time.

 

[DeusLatom]

I've played these and the Galerians altogether and these were quite interesting games of their time.

OHHH DUDE KODELKA WAS SO FIRE I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT ONE, though i did get the bad ending cuz i forgot to pick up one singular item lmao and god was shadow hearts 1 & 2 a trip man.

Rising Zan is actual crack writing its so strange yet funny, lowkey did DMC before DMC, and it reminded me a lot of samurai western for the ps2 in theming alone

the rest look super interesting, thank you!!

 

[Samatonic Samatonic]

OHHH DUDE KODELKA WAS SO FIRE I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT ONE, though i did get the bad ending cuz i forgot to pick up one singular item lmao and god was shadow hearts 1 & 2 a trip man.

Rising Zan is actual crack writing its so strange yet funny, lowkey did DMC before DMC, and it reminded me a lot of samurai western for the ps2 in theming alone

the rest look super interesting, thank you!!

there was also a game based on the Movie "The Mummy". and not to forget this gem as well.

 

[HextarVigar]

 

[Mago]

Probably my favorite ps1 JRPG but i still need to finish the third chapter.

Dying to play Kowloons Gate. Planet Laika is translated and from the same people.

This game had vibes.

Theres also the Love-de-Lic games. I only played some of Moon Remix Rpg though.

Also hoping to see this get translated but its by the same guy who did LSD.

Yeah thats an issue a lot of the games I think of I cant even play because no translation :( Also if you include pc games from that era i could name a lot more like Garage Bad Dream Adventure and Obsidian.

 

[DeusLatom]

there was also a game based on the Movie "The Mummy". and not to forget this gem as well.

unironically insane that pepsi man somehow did snowboarding down the streets of Santiago before sonic, AND the truck chase too LMAO

Post automatically merged: Mar 3, 2025

Probably my favorite ps1 JRPG but i still need to finish the third chapter.
View attachment 35785

Dying to play Kowloons Gate. Planet Laika is translated and from the same people.
View attachment 35799View attachment 35804
This game had vibes.
View attachment 35807
Theres also the Love-de-Lic games. I only played some of Moon Remix Rpg though.View attachment 35808
Also hoping to see this get translated but its by the same guy who did LSD.
View attachment 35810

Yeah thats an issue a lot of the games I think of I cant even play because no translation :( Also if you include pc games from that era i could name a lot more like Garage Bad Dream Adventure and Obsidian.

Translation be a cruel mistress matey, still so many weird games that dont get a lot of eyes on that i want to play, but they're trapped in asia half the time lmao

Also i've heard of a lot of these, i remember Linda being absolute nightmare fuel on my mind, it does great work at just making you feel uncomfortable, and planet laika is a strange looking one for sure, i cant help but get the amazing uncanny valley feeling i love so much seeing those goofy movie aliens, i definitely need to give it a shot sometime soon...

the rest also look interesting, thank you!!

 

[Mago]

This just recently got a translation btw. Its kinda weird i think lol. Its a Hot Air Balloon simulator.

 

[DeusLatom]

This just recently got a translation btw. Its kinda weird i think lol. Its a Hot Air Balloon simulator.View attachment 35815

if you end up playing this one and enjoying it, they made a similar game called Aquanaunts holiday! its basically a mix of this, subnautica, and LSD, you wander around the ocean and you'll find weird stuff all around, its also just got a real errie vibe to it, loved it to death though it gets stale fast.

 

[Mago]

if you end up playing this one and enjoying it, they made a similar game called Aquanaunts holiday! its basically a mix of this, subnautica, and LSD, you wander around the ocean and you'll find weird stuff all around, its also just got a real errie vibe to it, loved it to death though it gets stale fast. View attachment 35818

I think ive heard of it or maybe im thinking of something else but thanks i'll look into it!

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I was wondering if anybody knew of some games on the stranger side of the older console gens, and if you do, please share i absolutely love stuff like this!!

Some personal favorites of mine are baroque for the ps1/Saturn, LSD dream emulator, and Galerians.

Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (or just call it "Ore Shika" like all 5 of the people who know this game) (PS1): Probably one of the most unique JRPGs out there. You know how Phantasy Star III had that mechanic where the kids of the protagonists became the new protagonists? Well this game is a more fleshed out version of that idea. It's a game about a family cursed by a demon to die relatively fast, I think like 5 years each. So the aim of the game is to progressively have your current family members slowly reach the top of the tower to kill that demon, which takes numerous generations worth to do. It's what happens if you combine Baroque with Phantasy Star III and the permadeath mechanics pioneered by Fire Emblem. The game hasn't been fan translated (yet), but it has a sequel game on the PS Vita that did get localized that unfortunately wasn't nearly as good, killing any hope of this game getting localized. It's a lot to describe so take the only video essay on it, I genuinely believe this could be a cult classic after fan translation like what happened to Linda Cubed and Baroque.

Racing Lagoon (PS1): Gotta tell ya, a racing game with random encounters sounds insane on paper but is actually really cool especially with customisation parts being won. I am also a certified South Yokohama enjoyer (this shit so peak)

Eternal Poison (PS2): I'll take my focus off of PS1 to shout out PS2. Eternal Poison is a SRPG with...mixed reception (some love it, some hate it), gothic art style that looks so good you would've thought this was a Vanillaware game (it isn't), and some pretty neat music. It's a typical "save the princess" story but with a FF6 style twist on it because there's no central main characters.

Gungrave: One of the franchises that was featured in the infamous crossover game Chaos Wars. It's a character action third person shooter game with free range and a focus on coffins and some shit. I don't know much of this game, I've never played it. Go check it out.

 

[dropsmegamega]

and talking about untranslated stuff, the devs of Garage did a fmv adventure for ps1 and while its nowhere as weird as garage, it really makes me curious:

 

[DeusLatom]

View attachment 35853View attachment 35854View attachment 35855


and talking about untranslated stuff, the devs of Garage did a fmv adventure for ps1 and while its nowhere as weird as garage, it really makes me curious:
View attachment 35858

the off handed mention of Garage bad dream adventure is insane cuz i was looking at that game not even an hour ago, it looks like how a tetanus shot feels lmfao

ALSO HELLKNIGHT MENTION???? its such a vibe dude i actually loved that game so much, though i never beat it cuz eventually the monster would just start spawning on top of me near the end game lol

These look interesting!! tysm

 

[stealthRUSH stealthRUSH]

Korokoro Post Nin

Chousentou Kyuugi: The Ultimate Ballgame Van Borg

Marby Baby Story

Shake Kids

Tsumu

 

[DeusLatom]

View attachment 35813
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (or just call it "Ore Shika" like all 5 of the people who know this game) (PS1): Probably one of the most unique JRPGs out there. You know how Phantasy Star III had that mechanic where the kids of the protagonists became the new protagonists? Well this game is a more fleshed out version of that idea. It's a game about a family cursed by a demon to die relatively fast, I think like 5 years each. So the aim of the game is to progressively have your current family members slowly reach the top of the tower to kill that demon, which takes numerous generations worth to do. It's what happens if you combine Baroque with Phantasy Star III and the permadeath mechanics pioneered by Fire Emblem. The game hasn't been fan translated (yet), but it has a sequel game on the PS Vita that did get localized that unfortunately wasn't nearly as good, killing any hope of this game getting localized. It's a lot to describe so take the only video essay on it, I genuinely believe this could be a cult classic after fan translation like what happened to Linda Cubed and Baroque.

View attachment 35819
Racing Lagoon (PS1): Gotta tell ya, a racing game with random encounters sounds insane on paper but is actually really cool especially with customisation parts being won. I am also a certified South Yokohama enjoyer (this shit so peak)

View attachment 35823
Eternal Poison (PS2): I'll take my focus off of PS1 to shout out PS2. Eternal Poison is a SRPG with...mixed reception (some love it, some hate it), gothic art style that looks so good you would've thought this was a Vanillaware game (it isn't), and some pretty neat music. It's a typical "save the princess" story but with a FF6 style twist on it because there's no central main characters.

View attachment 35840
Gungrave: One of the franchises that was featured in the infamous crossover game Chaos Wars. It's a character action third person shooter game with free range and a focus on coffins and some shit. I don't know much of this game, I've never played it. Go check it out.

I absolutely love this post sm for the gungrave reference, i used to be OBSESSED with it, ive beaten the game on the hardest difficulty, ive actually never heard of the chaos wars bit, thats actually so rad!! i remember beating this game and instantly watching the anime after i learned about it, such a great and amazing story, though the 2 newer games GORE and Overdoes werent the best sadly.

All-in-all an amazing game and anime though, love how you can just pick it up so easily and have a good time, kind of game you play piss drunk coming home from work lol

i haven't heard of the rest besides racing lagoon, while im not entirely into racing games i have heard of this games story being absolutely bonkers lmfao, if i remember correctly square made this at the time where they just had crazy final fantasy money and were just doing whatever, might give it a shot real soon!! thank you!

 

[LaserMoose]

Date Of Birth was a japanese music band who ended up having a tie-in game released by Hudson to coincide with their 1999 album "Planet DOB". One of the most obscure titles that I'm aware of on the PS1. The character on the cover is their mascot, and the playable character in the game. Has both first and third-person perspectives, and is visually pretty out there.

 

[DeusLatom]

Date Of Birth was a japanese music band who ended up having a tie-in game released by Hudson to coincide with their 1999 album "Planet DOB". One of the most obscure titles that I'm aware of on the PS1. The character on the cover is their mascot, and the playable character in the game. Has both first and third-person perspectives, and is visually pretty out there.


View attachment 35883

OHH DUDE THIS LOOKS SO RADDD, it radiates Y2K before we ever knew what Y2K was!! the game play and design really do look out there, this might be a favorite, i'm 100% looking into this one and the band too, thank you so much!!

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Date Of Birth was a japanese music band who ended up having a tie-in game released by Hudson to coincide with their 1999 album "Planet DOB". One of the most obscure titles that I'm aware of on the PS1. The character on the cover is their mascot, and the playable character in the game. Has both first and third-person perspectives, and is visually pretty out there.


View attachment 35883

Also, I gotta add this since people STILL get this wrong. The album does NOT play in the actual game, it's all bland short loops that aren't anything home to write about. Believe me, I'm also disappointed to not have "How Do You Think" play as in-game bgm