What is your favorite obscure retro game?

[Spectro87]

Sometimes, I stumble upon an obscure game that leaves a lasting impression, feeling like a rare find. Many fan-translated games have this unique charm. Which game stands out like this for you?

 

[Turbo Kid]

It's a bit less obscure these days with all of the "Hidden Gem" type videos on youtube, but the Red Star for the PS2 is still relatively unknown. I don't even remember what compelled me to play it, but I loved it. I don't play many bullet hell shooters, yet found myself weaving through bullets in this game with relative ease with a bit of practice and the beat 'em up elements were right up my alley.

The Ninja Warriors on the SNES used to be obscure, until the remake happened and now it's like every beat 'em up fan worth their salt knows about it. I'm glad to see it get the recognition now that it didn't have for many years as one of the best in the genre.

Three Dirty Dwarves on the Saturn. For years people talked about Guardian Heroes and this little masterpiece got ignored.

 

[Usselman]

I've recently been playing the cosmic fantasy collection on switch. Those pc engine rpgs are really cute, and were only translated to english for the first time with that collection.

Also I don't think most sega rally fans know there was a japanese ps2 exclusive entry to the franchise in sega rally 2006. Fun game. Better than sega rally 2.

also PEEP my profile pic. that game is a shinji mikami classic.

 

[Poppet]

Do 3ds and PsVIta count as retro now? Both came out more than a decade ago...

I'm always up for bringing Crimson Shroud propaganda to the masses. Short TTRPG inspired game by Yasumi Matsuno (Final Fantasy Tactics). It doesn't have anything deep going on, but is a fun game exclusive to the console.

And then on PsVita (also available on 3ds and Switch now) I played this little thing called Severed. I never find conversation around this game and, seriously, is really good. Fun gameplay even if touch control based and a solid soundtrack. Go play it.

Oh, WayForward made a Hotel Transylvania game for both the DS and 3ds that, without being amazing or mindblowing, is a little, short and fun metroidvania inspired game. Definitely a little hidden gem for the boring days where you just want something mindless to play.

Edit: Some corrections.

 

[Spectro87]

It's a bit less obscure these days with all of the "Hidden Gem" type videos on youtube, but the Red Star for the PS2 is still relatively unknown. I don't even remember what compelled me to play it, but I loved it. I don't play many bullet hell shooters, yet found myself weaving through bullets in this game with relative ease with a bit of practice and the beat 'em up elements were right up my alley.

The Ninja Warriors on the SNES used to be obscure, until the remake happened and now it's like every beat 'em up fan worth their salt knows about it. I'm glad to see it get the recognition now that it didn't have for many years as one of the best in the genre.

Three Dirty Dwarves on the Saturn. For years people talked about Guardian Heroes and this little masterpiece got ignored.

I'll have to check out these YouTube videos. Red Star looks like fun.

I've recently been playing the cosmic fantasy collection on switch. Those pc engine rpgs are really cute, and were only translated to english for the first time with that collection.

Also I don't think most sega rally fans know there was a japanese ps2 exclusive entry to the franchise in sega rally 2006. Fun game. Better than sega rally 2.

also PEEP my profile pic. that game is a shinji mikami classic.

Yeah, I've always wanted to try P.N.03. I didn't know Cosmic Fantasy Collection was a thing. That pixel art is really charming.

 

[Turbo Kid]

Drinkbox Studios always makes good games, and Severed is a great example.

 

[Dr.Kisaragi]

PopoloCrois 1 and 2
Azure Dreams
Jade Cocoon 1 and 2
Mystic Heroes
Yggdrasil Unoin we never fight alone
Deception 3

 

[Spectro87]

PopoloCrois 1 and 2
Azure Dreams
Jade Cocoon 1 and 2
Mystic Heroes
Yggdrasil Unoin we never fight alone
Deception 3

I've heard good things about Jade Cocoon. I love the insect mixed with anime theme.

 

[sneakyguts]

 

[Spectro87]

I have this on my shelf and I've never played it. I really need to get another PS2.

 

[Heku]

Alundra for PlayStation, a good action role-playing game It's like the legend of zelda but somewhat dark and interesting story.

Post automatically merged: Today at 7:43 AM

Later translated and reprogrammed by working designs and as always working designs making it a little more difficult than the original version.

 

[TinRattler]

Kenseiden (SMS)

 

[Aziamuth]

I think the most obscure game I know is Bahamut Lagoon on the SNES

 

[mcmillan]

DS has a lot of them:
KochiKame (Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo)
Nanashi no Game Me
Contact

Full Quiet and Alwa's Awakening for NES (both are homebrew)
Rent a Hero for Genesis
Keio Flying Squadron for Sega CD

 

[Nickakyoin]

Noitu Love 2: Devolution. I'm pretty sure almost no one ever heard about it or played it.

...2008 games sadly count already as retrogames, right?

 

[bjork]

Noobow on Game Boy. It doesn't take too long to play through, but I come back to it about once a year as a palate cleanser. Just a nice little jaunt about this handful of levels, and it's cute.

 

[PSVitaForever]

"Knights in the Nightmare" (ds and and then remade on psp): played twice - with help from cheat, I'm not ashamed in admitting it, or else I would haven't gone far. After trying it with the r4 I bought a physical copy for collection and also the artbook! I don't even know how to describe it, a gameplay must be watched. From Atlus and from the same series of "Riviera", Yggdra" and "Gungnir".

 

[UnDubious]

I've recently been playing the cosmic fantasy collection on switch. Those pc engine rpgs are really cute, and were only translated to english for the first time with that collection.

Also I don't think most sega rally fans know there was a japanese ps2 exclusive entry to the franchise in sega rally 2006. Fun game. Better than sega rally 2.

also PEEP my profile pic. that game is a shinji mikami classic.

Cosmic Fantasy 2 got an official release in English back in the day, it was one of the first Working Designs release if not the first. I played it long ago. Really badly balanced - most enemies do 1HP damage when they attack you through the whole game, except for one random hard part - but I liked the story and general setting. It was one of the only sci-fi/fantasy RPG series at the time, and kind of came off as a more anime-ish Phantasy Star (if you think about it, the titles are almost the same).
Always wanted to play Cosmic Fantasy 4, since it seems like the most evolved and has great SNES-like sprites. 3 has a super high encounter rate and 1 probably as well. I'm mad they're only on Switch, I would buy both collections if they were on Steam.

 

[Lobster]

For me it's the Earth Defense Force series. I dropped so many hours into those games and currently am at 150 hours on EDF 5 (PS4). A real guilty pleasure to kill giant spiders and ants from outer space.

 

[nobitakun]

Guardian Recall:

 

[John Cruelty]

Galerians
Chaos Seed
Radia Senki
Ninja Baseball Bat Man
Gunman's Proof

 

[Metroid_Hybrid]

While technically not that obscure, I've never met someone whose played through Legend of Legaia (PS1), much less it's PS2 sequel..

There's also Enemy Zero (Saturn); one of the best horror games I've ever played..

 

[Muftie2809]

I'm not sure to bring this, but this one have been in my SD Card for over 3 years ago. The game is called "Phantasy Star II Adventure", playable on Sega Genesis console.

As the name suggests, it have some connection to Phantasy Star II at some reason, seems picking on the backstories from every characters in the actual game. I also noticed the character names are quite different, since I got the translated version (I think...). The game though, it's mostly like text-based-ish game, almost resembles visual novel, perhaps? It's hard for me to explain it, honestly.

I completely forgot since when and where I got it, but I still have it on me. Not sure if I should upload it, or it's already exists on the repository.

 

[Burzuru]

i never played it but it is obscure