Hidden Gems !

[GVSE]

So, i thought it would be interesting to have a topic here about our unexpected discoveries! I'm personally interested on weird retro games that tried to do something diferent, even though they heavily failed (just as the recently translated Ancient Roman, for example). With all the efforts of the preservation, emulation and translation community, we keep growing this horizon of inventive, experimental.... funny.... ugly??? and "i've never heard of this shit before" games!

Then i'd like to ask you guys to share recent experiences like this, of "ok i'll just check this weird unkown thing" that just "wooooow!!!" you somehow. The same for upcoming ones, that happens to inspire you to scream to the world "hey everybody you NEED to check this out cuz i feel like i have nobody to talk about it".

 

[Smiley Cat]

Well, we're currently approaching Halloween, so I will recommend "Ghost Sweeper Mikami" on the SNES.
It has very fun/fluid gameplay, as well as a good sense of humor (and a spooky theme).

I feel like a lot of people haven't played this yet, so it's my hidden gem recommendation for now.

 

[GVSE]

Well, we're currently approaching Halloween, so I will recommend "Ghost Sweeper Mikami" on the SNES.
It has very fun/fluid gameplay, as well as a good sense of humor (and a spooky theme).

I feel like a lot of people haven't played this yet, so it's my hidden gem recommendation for now.

ohhhh i loved the visuals!

sad that it's JP only.. is it okay to play without undestand anything? at least graphically and gameplay wise it seems very charming and fun

 

[Sayo]

Do yourselves a favor and play Stretch Panic (Hippa Linda) for the PS2. I believe this was Treasure's one and only foray into the 3D platformer genre and it's a really good one at that. Most of the stages are fairly simplistic and/or abstract, and the main gameplay gimmick consists on using these appendages attached to your character's head to stretch the environment, enemies, etc and ensuing shenanigans. It's pretty short too and over in about 3 or 4 hours but good lord is it fun.

 

[mandrakes]

Flame dragon (MS DOS)
gameplay similar to shining force on sega megadrive and sega saturn

Stonekeep (MS DOS)
Gameplay like elder&scrolls but in the realm of doom

Eradicators (MS DOS)
gameplay similar to duke nukem 3D but with buff and 3 playable characters

already bought trimui smart pro for $55 and 35 cents
this is how i play stonekeep gog version inside this little thing
create dosbox.bat

CLS
mount C .
imgmount d "stonkeep.gog" -t iso -fs iso
C:
D:\data\SK.EXE %1

 

[DunkeyKong]

All of these are actually hidden gems, wow. I don't know if mine counts but Ghosts 'n Goblins on the PSP
It was one of those games that I like seeing the visual change
Honestly, I don't even know if I did played some hidden gem, most of the games I played always have a huge fanbase, no matter what kind of games and consoles

 

[Kyyo]

I don't know if it counts as a retro game, but Farland Symphony is a JRPG that many people doesn't care about the existence and I found it pretty fun.

There's an english translation for it made by Mirror Moon.

 

[GVSE]

Do yourselves a favor and play Stretch Panic (Hippa Linda) for the PS2. I believe this was Treasure's one and only foray into the 3D platformer genre and it's a really good one at that. Most of the stages are fairly simplistic and/or abstract, and the main gameplay gimmick consists on using these appendages attached to your character's head to stretch the environment, enemies, etc and ensuing shenanigans. It's pretty short too and over in about 3 or 4 hours but good lord is it fun.

I'm in love with it now! I've never seen it before or heard about it. Nice that it's short too, i'm super curious.

Flame dragon (MS DOS)
gameplay similar to shining force on sega megadrive and sega saturn

The pixel art here is so gorgeous! I wonder if i can make MS DOS run on my RG35XX, and if the controls configuration will work properly. I tried PC-98 and the emulator runs fine, games runs fine, but there's no option to set the buttons :c MSX is another i need to see some tutorials...

All of these are actually hidden gems, wow. I don't know if mine counts but Ghosts 'n Goblins on the PSP
It was one of those games that I like seeing the visual change
Honestly, I don't even know if I did played some hidden gem, most of the games I played always have a huge fanbase, no matter what kind of games and consoles

I think it counts. People oftern ignore those psp remakes and consider the ghosts n goblins in pixel art as the "correct one" to play and recommend.

Anyway, don't you have curiosity for the less known titles?

I don't know if it counts as a retro game, but Farland Symphony is a JRPG that many people doesn't care about the existence and I found it pretty fun.
View attachment 667
There's an english translation for it made by Mirror Moon.

Cute sprite work for the characters! And the drawing style of the portraits and cover reminds me of some 90's animes i used to see in anime magazines when i was young but never watched (nem lembrava mais dessas revistas lol, acho que era Ultra Jovem e AnimeDo??)

 

[Smiley Cat]

sad that it's JP only.. is it okay to play without undestand anything? at least graphically and gameplay wise it seems very charming and fun

You don't need to know Japanese to enjoy it.
If you want to know more about the story then you can watch the English subbed anime.
It would be nice if we ever get a fan translated version of the game though.

 

[GVSE]

You don't need to know Japanese to enjoy it.
If you want to know more about the story then you can watch the English subbed anime.
It would be nice if we ever get a fan translated version of the game though.

Nice! I'll add it to a list i did of games to play randomly drinking with my friends. The graphical style looks like Kendo Rage and Hyper Iria, other two uncommon games that i've seen people mentioning as hidden gems:

 

[mandrakes]

The pixel art here is so gorgeous! I wonder if i can make MS DOS run on my RG35XX, and if the controls configuration will work properly. I tried PC-98 and the emulator runs fine, games runs fine, but there's no option to set the buttons :c MSX is another i need to see some tutorials...
/ISPOILER]

already tried on trimui smart pro it works fine, pc98 emulator work but with no control option, so i decided to give up pc98 and use sharp x68000 instead

 

[VampireLord1024]

Possibly Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 on the PS2.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I think it counts. People oftern ignore those psp remakes and consider the ghosts n goblins in pixel art as the "correct one" to play and recommend.

Anyway, don't you have curiosity for the less known titles?

I think I have? I don't know, most of the less known games I played are either in a mobile phone or from a romhacks

For example, Jump Jerboa is a 2D platformer games for mobile phones made by Chinykian. The sprite work is simple and some of the levels are too, but what makes it fun (and probably frustrating) is the cannon mechanic. Just like Donkey Kong, you can shoot yourself out of the cannon. It has some replayability like time trials and also while trying to collect all of the points. It can be quite painful in the harder levels of course since it's like one of those games that make you die over and over again.

And that's for the mobile games, for the Retro stuff though...maybe Drill Dozer? A game about a Driller Machine defeating other Machines using a Drill, that's about it...and it's fun!

 

[GVSE]

I think I have? I don't know, most of the less known games I played are either in a mobile phone or from a romhacks

For example, Jump Jerboa is a 2D platformer games for mobile phones made by Chinykian. The sprite work is simple and some of the levels are too, but what makes it fun (and probably frustrating) is the cannon mechanic. Just like Donkey Kong, you can shoot yourself out of the cannon. It has some replayability like time trials and also while trying to collect all of the points. It can be quite painful in the harder levels of course since it's like one of those games that make you die over and over again.

man we talk about hidden gems always thinking about traditional/portable consoles and totally ignores the world of mobile games. I can't even imagine the amout of good games that maybe exists in the middle of tons and tons of candycrush-likes

 

[DunkeyKong]

man we talk about hidden gems always thinking about traditional/portable consoles and totally ignores the world of mobile games. I can't even imagine the amout of good games that maybe exists in the middle of tons and tons of candycrush-likes

That's true, those indie developers deserve some recognition

 

[moonbits]

Silent Bomber on PS1
Blade of Darkness on PC
Muscle March on Nintendo Wii

 

[Sayo]

Silent Bomber on PS1
Blade of Darkness on PC
Muscle March on Nintendo Wii

Silent Bomber is an absolute blast that was sadly overlooked during its time.

 

[Gorse]

I was going to say Silent Bomber, too! Awesome, original PS1 game that plays like a cross between Bomberman and, I dunno, the Gamma campaign from Sonic Adventure. I always liked how well the story played out across each level — without spoiling anything, the way the tutorial integrates into the plot is extremely cool and unique.

We could just fill up this thread with obscure PS1 games and no one would be the wiser. What a great console!

 

[DunkeyKong]

It kind of has a similar visual style to Monument Valley

It has that feel to it, maybe because of the scenery

 

[Don Patch]

Nice! I'll add it to a list i did of games to play randomly drinking with my friends. The graphical style looks like Kendo Rage and Hyper Iria, other two uncommon games that i've seen people mentioning as hidden gems:

HYPER IRIA!!!!

Pop'n Twin Bee: Rainbow Bell Adventure

Not a shooter, but a 2D platformer with all kinds of crazy weapons and enemies and CO-OP multiplayer!
Tis a hoot.

Hagane

This game rules.
It's like if Keita Amemiya designed the art for Shinobi.
No, really, he did the art for this game and it plays like an SNES Shinobi joint.

 

[GVSE]

HYPER IRIA!!!!
View attachment 801

Iria's character design is so good that keeps working really well on differente drawing styles

 

[Boo Man]

There is a game called Rocks N Gems on a PS1 demo disc that i consider a hidden gem
its not an official game or anything
i had forgotten about it for years until i found it again here:

https://cdromance.org/psx-iso/83-in-1-net-yaroze-collection/

 

[Kannibal]

Gamera 2000 is a 3D Shooter with a unique gimmick where you can use a kaiju for strong attacks.

Goiken Muyou II is a pretty obscure fighting game that is as simple as virtua fighter. the mechanics are not as deep but it's still a very solid 3D fighting game.

 

[Don Patch]

Iria's character design is so good that keeps working really well on differente drawing styles

For real!
Moriyama looked great in the get-up, too!

Also, that game is pretty rad! Kinda a Beat-em-up/Fighting game.

 

[Geass]

Wow tons of cool stuff posted here gonna have to try them.
Summon Night Swordcraft Story - Really awesome action rpg on the GBA that has some light dating sim aspects but is mostly centred around dungeon diving and fighting in the tournament to progress the main story. Love the game to death.

Bust a Groove - Awesome and unique rhythm game on the PS1, its got a ton of characters and some really cool stories for each of them with their arcade mode endings. Also the music kicks ass 100% reccomend every at least check out the music for this one.