PS1 PS1/PS2 Hidden Gems?

Skeetos · Jan 13, 2025

I commented on another post like this with completely different stuff than I'll put here. But one of my all time favorites is Oni. It was made by Bungie West, it was their first and last project. Rockstar Games developed the PS2 port and published the PC and PS2 versions. I think Bungie themselves published the Mac port as at the time they were a Mac centered company. The PS2 version if not emulated has a lot of frame drops, especially in the later levels with a lot of particle effects like vats of acid and such, so I'd recommend the PC version over it. The plus of that being there is still a very dedicated community trying to preserve the game and make it work on as many PC's and Mac's as possible. And there is a decent Modding community as well, with the easiest way to play the game on modern PC's being to download the Anniversary Edition Launcher, which makes it easy to download mods to the game and launch it without messing with compatibility settings and deprecated windows installers for old api's. Give it a try sometime. It's a Third-Person Action game with a mix between Brawler and Third-Person Shooter gameplay, with a world and story based on anime like Ghost in the Shell.

Viviana Santos · Jan 14, 2025

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Vanity Crow · Jan 14, 2025

Ícaro Oliveira Santos said:
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I'm more partial to the JPN exclusive Robbit Mon Dieu myself.

Wiki Page
Gameplay

If you haven't played before, it's basically Jumping Flash deluxe. It really changes up the style of gameplay that you experience even if the gameplay controls are generally the same.

I am aware I have mentioned this game before, but I figured I might as well take it a step up and give out more information for some games I'm mentioning again. I hope that the wiki, gameplay and image helps to be able to identify this game easier and faster for the unfamiliar.

thanonyx · Jan 14, 2025

2 words

Tiny Tank

Vanity Crow · Jan 14, 2025

Keaks said:
I have asked a lot of places the same question: PS1, PS2; What are true hidden gems?

I am trying to expand my gaming with these systems and this would be huge to find games I never knew about, that are sick.

Cheers, post them up!

Well because we're also doing other consoles, because I'm sure I've mentioned way, way too many PSX and PSX2 titles. I'll list off a couple of neat ones from other consoles too. I'll try to be more brief about my listings this time. Add some images. Videos, wikis if I feel like it.

I'll give out 3 Gamecube games that I highly recommend to anyone who's wanting to get into some of the best and most interesting the console has to offer.

Gamecube:

Go! Go! Hypergrind

Go! Go! Hypergrind is a really niche and obscure game exclusively for Gamecube. It is essentially a cartoony itchy and scratchy show esque tony hawk game that supports local multiplayer and is highly desired. But is also a heck of a lot of fun!

Gameplay:

Wiki Page

Gotcha Force

Gotcha Force is a great game especially if you loved games like Custom Robo, or Robots for everyone. If you like mechas, mech fighting games, or arena fighting games like Project Gaiaray, you'll absolutely love this entry. If you're unfamiliar with the gameplay, I have a long play below. But a really recommended game if you haven't tried it

Wiki Page

Amazing Island

Amazing Island is a hard game to explain or describe for me. Mostly because I don't have enough experience playing it. But it is very similar to Spore on PC. It's a great game to play and pass by the time. And although it doesn't show the Gamecube at its fullest capabilities, it definitely shows the console's versatility quite well in my opinion.

Wiki Page

I hope I did my formatting on this right, and you find this helpful

Boo Man · Jan 14, 2025

thanonyx said:
As long as there are obscure games people want to bring to light then were probably going to keep getting threads like this.

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I know a bunch so I may post more later.

PS1:
Alundra 1 & 2
Battle Arena Toshinden 1, 2, & 3
Bloody Roar 1 & 2
Brave Fencer Musashi
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time
Bushido Blade 1 & 2
Ehrgeiz
Galerians
Gundam Battle Assault 1 & 2
Jumping Flash 1 & 2
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Legend of Legaia
Motor Toon Grand Prix
Nightmare Creatures 1 & 2
Omega Boost
Persona 1 & the Persona 2 duology (It's all about 3, 4, & 5 these days. Show some love for the first 2!)
Psychic Force
Rising Zan: the Samurai Gunman
Rival Schools
SaGa Frontier 1 & 2
Star Ocean: The Second Story
Tiny Tank
Threads of Fate
Tobal 1 & 2
Tomba ! 1 and 2
Trap Gunner
Vagrant Story
Vib Ribbon
Wild 9

N64:
Bakuretsu Muteki Bangai-O
Beetle Adventure Racing
Buck Bumble
Chameleon Twist 1 & 2
Custom Robo
Goemon's Great Adventure
Jet Force Gemini
Mischief Makers
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Penny Racers
Rocket: Robot On Wheels
Sin & Punishment (known in Japan as Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishousha)
Space Station Silicon Valley
Tetrisphere

Wexcellent list ? first time ive seen someone mention Wild 9 ?

Vanity Crow · Jan 16, 2025

Here's one I didn't mention that some of you may like. Not sure if I remember it has been already mentioned.

Koudelka

Koudelka, developed by Sacnoth. President and CEO Hiroki Kikuta who also worked on Secrets of Mana contributed as a director, producer, writer and composer. He with fellow former Sqare employees in 1997 started to work on and develop Koudelka. released in 1999 with three endings and a very unique take on turn based strategy and Resident Evil style gameplay set in 1898. You may or may not know that this title is part of the Shadow Heart series on PS2. But Koudelka is a pretty interesting title. If you like JRPGs, or survival horror, I don't believe that there are many games like this one.

Some Honorable Mentions

GERMS: Nerawareta Machi // GERMS: The Targeted Town

Mizzurna Falls

Heart of Darkness

Jeff · Jan 16, 2025

I found a few hidden gems.

Viviana Santos · Jan 17, 2025

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Omega Chad · Jan 18, 2025

The last game that utilized the AKI Engine, it was worth it (in Japan).

Amag0k1 · Jan 18, 2025

Some find it Janky, but i think that gives it more charm.

These two Jo Jo titles for the same reason.

Yousef · Jan 18, 2025

Ícaro Oliveira Santos said:
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Funnily enough, these are going to be my “test games” for an emulator I’m trying out called GAMMA. I know nothing about the emulator but I’ll use it as a chance to finish some psx games I never have a chance.

BubblegumAthena · Jan 18, 2025

Got a few PSX recommendations, Elemental Gearbolt got a patch recently that fixes the absurd difficulty of the western release, Kensei got released in the west but Critical Blow didn't and it hasn't received a translation patch, as far as I'm aware.

Viviana Santos · Jan 18, 2025

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ouyrtuy · Jan 18, 2025

Viviana Santos · Jan 18, 2025

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ouyrtuy · Jan 18, 2025

Did people mention this before?

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Fatal Frame series

spectresfrommercury · Jan 18, 2025

thousand arms

Vanity Crow · Jan 20, 2025

a PS2 JPN exclusive I've mentioned before: Hungry Ghosts

Shadow Tower for PS1

Panzer Bandit, another JPN exclusive for PS1 which has been mentioned a few times in this thread.

and Clock Tower 3 for the PS2. Which I believe I've also mentioned before already, if not has been mentioned before.

Anyways some other neat console mentions.

From the N64, Conker's Bad Fur Day

From the Sega Genesis, Master of Monsters

From the SNES, Donkey Kong Country 2

From the GBA, Astro Boy Omega Factor

Keaks · Jan 20, 2025

Ícaro Oliveira Santos said:
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I am already a HUGE fan of these games. I had 1 as a kid, never tried 2! Lets get it!

Prism_Red · Jan 21, 2025

Blood Will Tell on PS2, they should have use Dororo as a title instead.
If you know the manga then you know the drill, you play as Hyakkimaru, your job is to hunt down demons to retrieve your human body. I love how they incorporated this into gameplay, you start off playing in monochrome until you retrieve your eyes, then slowly learn new abilities as you regain your body, like double jump from the legs, or sensing enemies with your nose.

Oh and you might notice that Amemiya Keita is part of the design team, mostly known directing dark and grittier Tokusatsu shows before this, he is also the character designer for Onimusha 2 and 3. His handiwork and style really stand out in this game, I mean you can add almost all of the demons here to Garo tv series and no one's gonna notice.

Keaks · Jan 21, 2025

Prism_Red said:
Blood Will Tell on PS2, they should have use Dororo as a title instead.
If you know the manga then you know the drill, you play as Hyakkimaru, your job is to hunt down demons to retrieve your human body. I love how they incorporated this into gameplay, you start off playing in monochrome until you retrieve your eyes, then slowly learn new abilities as you regain your body, like double jump from the legs, or sensing enemies with your nose.

Oh and you might notice that Amemiya Keita is part of the design team, mostly known directing dark and grittier Tokusatsu shows before this, he is also the character designer for Onimusha 2 and 3. His handiwork and style really stand out in this game, I mean you can add almost all of the demons here to Garo tv series and no one's gonna notice.

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Absolutely certain that I heard about this game when it came out as a kid, back when video games had a TV show. Really cool concept.

dr grim · Jan 21, 2025

This Fun racing game.