Underrated games...

[Skeleben]

Everyone always gasses up Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer as a peak Incredibles game. And sure, it's pretty kickass. But I never see much love for the actual movie tie-in game on the ps2. It's actually a really fun time, the 3d models look great, and Dash's speedster levels are crazy for the ps2.

 

[NachoChi]

Brave Story: New Traveler for the PSP (2007)

• Pretty solid JRPG with a good story even though it's carried through the OC from the book and movie. BUT, it does serve as a sequel of sorts.
• A JRPG that despite it's ramped up random encounters, respects your time.
• Characters are fleshed out to a good point.
• One of the few JRPGs on the handheld that has an overworld to traverse.
• Bosses are pretty cool with a nice theme to accompany it.
• ENG/JAP voices.
• Look at that cool ass box art. I remember buying it specifically for that reason and stayed for everything else.
• Graphics may be dated but that date sure as hell as a charm to it.

 

[nintara]

yep. i appreciate it for being one of the few games to follow the jumping flash standard of 3d platformer design rather than the super mario 64 or crash bandicoot one, and the primitive graphics are charming.

 

[Izzy]

Albert Odyssey! Nice. Always thought of this as a hidden gem. Played this many years after it's release. I'm surprised that it wasn't appreciated more when it came out!

Post automatically merged: Apr 5, 2025

I don't care what people said about it, I always thought other Metroid Other M was a decent game in it's own right. People bashed it quite hard despite it being one of the best games for the Wii in my opinion.

Yeah I had the Saturn version myself.

 

[spacebear]

Bit of a hot take here but I have always vouched for Virtual Hydlide. People treat it as an irredeemable punching bag but when I finally tried it out about ten years ago it's actually a surprisingly neat stupidly ambitious game. Does it have flaws? Absolutely. But it's not the flaming pile of trash the majority of the gaming populace make it out to be and is pretty enjoyable if you can get around some jank.

 

[Stare best girl]

everyone calling Solatorobo a underrated game or a hidden gem and they don't know WHAT is a actual CC2 and Bamco underrated game that even CC2 is surprised to see people asking a remake of this game instead of dothack IMOQ or Solatorobo

 

[ChojinRamenStan]

I'm an avid emulation gamer, and Im always on the look out for a new game or two, especially now that my laptop has windows 11. anyone know any criminally underrated anime fighters, mecha RPG's, or anime RPG's or Mecha fighters for the PS1, PS2 or PSP?

 

[micjohvan]

MS Saga - A New Dawn on the PS2. Its a Gundam turn based RPG but it does not lean into calling itself Gundam. All the famous suits are there and its all official. The cool part is you can swap parts like arms, legs, heads around to make custom suits with parts from other Gundams. I remember it being really great at the time!

 

[diapered]

Here's a mecha rpg I didn't know about: vanguard bandits. I haven't gotten too far though and was just playing to try it out to play later, so I don't know how good it is. But the little I played was pretty neat.

 

[Jaminox]

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations (J+English Patched) PS2 ISO – CDRomance

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations (J+English Patched) PS2 ISO Game ID: SLPS-25733. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation 2.

retrogametalk.com

This is a good one that is popular with those who know it but I feel like is mostly under the radar. Really good collection of the OG Super Robot Wars games (1 and 2). They were originally released for GBA but a fan translation of the PS2 version is the best version of these.

 

[Deleted member 77791]

Hmm. There is this game I played because I watched its anime long time ago: https://retrogametalk.com/repository/ps2-iso/eureka-seven-vol-1-the-new-wave-usa-undub/

It's not a recommendation because I really forgot about the game but I think you may like it?

It's first game in the series. You are some kind of a soldier in a mecha unit. You can walk around, talk to people and all. What's different in the game is your mech can fly by riding a device allow it to fly or something. I really can't remember much lol.

 

[FillerBunnyNinjashark]

Wolf Fang: Kuhga 2001 (PS1)
Omega Boost (PS1)
Remote Control Dandy (PS1)
Gundam: Climax U.C. (PS2)
Gundam: Ichinen Sensou (PS2)
Chou Jikuu Yousai Macross (PS2)
Robot Alchemic Drive (PS2)

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Mech-
CUSTOM ROBO GO
VIRTUAL ON GO
GOTCHA FORCE GO
ZONE OF THE ENDERS GO
SUPER ROBOT WARS GO

 

[diapered]

MS Saga - A New Dawn on the PS2. Its a Gundam turn based RPG but it does not lean into calling itself Gundam. All the famous suits are there and its all official. The cool part is you can swap parts like arms, legs, heads around to make custom suits with parts from other Gundams. I remember it being really great at the time!

That looks pretty cool, I'm gonna give it a try. Screenshots though kinda remind me of the show SD Gundam, and I am not a fan of the "chibi" look for ms with over sized heads >_> But I think that is just how the ms are proportioned in the art here, so I can get used to it.

 

[DigitamaMun]

Gonna throw in my recc for SRW OGs as well. It's the cream of the crop, and has so much content I still don't feel like I'm half done after 100+ hours. The animations and story make the modern games look like slop. Seriously, give it a go.

Hopefully Gaiden and 2nd OGs get a translation soon, and maybe a retranslation for Moon Dwellers.

 

[PSVitaForever]

Two PSP titles:

"Mytran Wars" is a tactical rpg and it has mechs/robots in it

And could "Black Rock Shooter" be included in anime rpg? (I played and liked the game, learnt only later that it was an anime character)

 

[Clippy]

Ring of Red is pretty neato, especially if you like Front Mission.

 

[diapered]

Ring of Red is pretty neato, especially if you like Front Mission.

I just so happen to LOVE Front Mission ( 4). Will have to give it a try! Looks cool.

 

[Deleted member 77791]

I just so happen to LOVE Front Mission ( 4). Will have to give it a try! Looks cool.
View attachment 71731

What about CRW: Metal Jacket? It was recently translated into English. It looks like a very retro version of Front Mission, lol.

 

[95tan - TheBestOS -]

I'm not sure if you'd classify it as underrated or not- I never see people post about it, personally.
Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is a great anime fighter, featuring a bunch of light novel/anime and anime game characters.
Taiga from Toradora, Kirito from SAO, DuRaRaRa, Virtua Fighter guy.
The assists has the likes of Kino's Jouney, Spice and Wolf, among so many others.
It even has the villain from Valkyria Chronicles as a playable character, and that's fucking rad.

I heavy recommend at least trying it.

 

[csanjuro]

Geppy-X on the PSX
Future Cop L.A.P.D
EOS - Edge of Skyhigh
Remote control dandy

 

[Baizou]

Probably just my weird tastes showing here, but if you're looking for obscure fighters, There's one that released in AU/JP for Baki the Grappler. There's also Gadouden: Fist or Twist which is absolutely fun to play and very unique. Body damage counts not unlike Def Jam. I wouldn't call it a particularly unknown title but The Last Blade 2 is also super fun and worth the time. As for RPGS...
Magic Pengle
Obake
Namco X Capcom
But my real MVP for a certified banger on the PS2 is Metal Saga. It's one of the only two entries from the Metal Max series to make it to the states. It's probably a crude description but if I had to put it any kind of way I'd say; "If you took Dragon Quest, World of Tanks & Fallout and blended 'em, you'd get Metal Max"
Also worth noting that most of the Metal Max games were translated & can be found on the NES, SNES, NDS/3DS & even the Vita. Big shoutout to Metal Dreamers!

 

[χKai]

Armored Core

 

[Sinmenon]

You are very well-served in the RPG department, so let me share fighting games.

I don't know how underrated, but Under Night In-Birth is a very good fighting game with original characters, and Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax has a bunch of known characters like people from Durarara!! and a bunch of visual novels.
If you like Fate/Stay Night, there is Fate/Unlimited Codes for PSP and PS2, although the PSP has extra characters. I can spend a while playing that.
Sunday vs Magazine: Shuketsu! Chojo Daikessen has character from Fairy Tail, Hajime no Ippo and Inuyasha, that one is for the PSP.
I'm trying to jog my memory for older games, for example, I can't remember if the Inuyasha fighting game on the PS1 is good or not. There are some pretty solid Sailor Moon beat'em up but it isn't what you are looking for.

 

[ChojinRamenStan]

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations (J+English Patched) PS2 ISO – CDRomance

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations (J+English Patched) PS2 ISO Game ID: SLPS-25733. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation 2.

retrogametalk.com

This is a good one that is popular with those who know it but I feel like is mostly under the radar. Really good collection of the OG Super Robot Wars games (1 and 2). They were originally released for GBA but a fan translation of the PS2 version is the best version of these.

I have multiple SRW games on my laptop, as well as multiple on my switch lmao

gotta say, with good reason

Post automatically merged: May 22, 2025

Probably just my weird tastes showing here, but if you're looking for obscure fighters, There's one that released in AU/JP for Baki the Grappler. There's also Gadouden: Fist or Twist which is absolutely fun to play and very unique. Body damage counts not unlike Def Jam. I wouldn't call it a particularly unknown title but The Last Blade 2 is also super fun and worth the time. As for RPGS...
Magic Pengle
Obake
Namco X Capcom
But my real MVP for a certified banger on the PS2 is Metal Saga. It's one of the only two entries from the Metal Max series to make it to the states. It's probably a crude description but if I had to put it any kind of way I'd say; "If you took Dragon Quest, World of Tanks & Fallout and blended 'em, you'd get Metal Max"
Also worth noting that most of the Metal Max games were translated & can be found on the NES, SNES, NDS/3DS & even the Vita. Big shoutout to Metal Dreamers!

Garouden is fucking fantastic

not only for being from the same nutters that worked on Baki, but also for beating Tekken to the punch when it comes to having slo mo hits and Rage Arts

Post automatically merged: May 22, 2025

Probably just my weird tastes showing here, but if you're looking for obscure fighters, There's one that released in AU/JP for Baki the Grappler. There's also Gadouden: Fist or Twist which is absolutely fun to play and very unique. Body damage counts not unlike Def Jam. I wouldn't call it a particularly unknown title but The Last Blade 2 is also super fun and worth the time. As for RPGS...
Magic Pengle
Obake
Namco X Capcom
But my real MVP for a certified banger on the PS2 is Metal Saga. It's one of the only two entries from the Metal Max series to make it to the states. It's probably a crude description but if I had to put it any kind of way I'd say; "If you took Dragon Quest, World of Tanks & Fallout and blended 'em, you'd get Metal Max"
Also worth noting that most of the Metal Max games were translated & can be found on the NES, SNES, NDS/3DS & even the Vita. Big shoutout to Metal Dreamers!

well alrighty then

Post automatically merged: May 22, 2025

I'm not sure if you'd classify it as underrated or not- I never see people post about it, personally.
Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is a great anime fighter, featuring a bunch of light novel/anime and anime game characters.
Taiga from Toradora, Kirito from SAO, DuRaRaRa, Virtua Fighter guy.
The assists has the likes of Kino's Jouney, Spice and Wolf, among so many others.
It even has the villain from Valkyria Chronicles as a playable character, and that's fucking rad.

I heavy recommend at least trying it.

id give that one a try, but sadly my laptops a potato and can only run emulators as advanced as PS2 before it starts to chug, especially for games with high framerates like fighting games, double especially when I try to stream on discord