10 Underappreciated Videogame Gems - Page 2

04 Apr 2011 at 16:45:00 by John Robertson

Beyond Good & Evil (Playstation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC)

What should have been one of the top-selling titles of the previous console generation is now largely remembered as being one of its highest-profile flops; resulting in the original plan for it to become a trilogy being scrapped. The story of young, plucky reporter Jade and her attempt to uncover an alien conspiracy taking place on her home world of Hillys has recently been re-released via Xbox LIVE Arcade but, the fact remains that Beyond Good & Evil deserves more (much more) than a shiny new HD upgrade.

Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Eternal Sonata may not be the most original or dynamic of RPGs but, what it attempts to do it accomplishes with flair and finesse. Sporting a cutesy, vibrant art style, enjoyable battle system and a genuine affection for classical composer Frederic Chopin, Eternal Sonata is a game that’s incredibly easy to fall for. While it bucks the Japanese RPG trend of delivering something that’s going to take at least 50 hours to complete, the content of Eternal Sonata is deeper and more rewarding than anything offered up by the likes of recent entries in the Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest franchises.

Alan Wake (Xbox 360)

Okay, so Alan Wake sold well enough but, it deserved to do much better. Clumsy combat aside, the story of a horror writer being absorbed into his own creation is one of the most memorable experiences you can glean from your Xbox 360. The characters, the story, the location, the atmosphere may all be very Twin Peaks but, then again, what’s wrong with that? Many games have tried and failed to create imposing, claustrophobic atmospheres – Alan Wake nails it.

No One Lives Forever (PC)

A stealth-shooter set in sixties in which you play as female protagonist Cate Archer, an agent of the secret organisation UNITY that aims to keep the world at peace... yes please I'll have some of that. Just why No One Lives Forever didn't perform better at retail is a mystery. For its time it had incredibly impressive animation, A.I. and many a unique gameplay element. Despite the fact that (compared to other games in this list) it has aged quite dramatically, it's still worth playing for its wonderful sense of humour alone.

Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)

Say what you like about the state of Japanese RPG’s but, if one thing’s for certain, it’s a genre that knows how to do ‘epicness’. Featuring meteor strikes, warring nations and struggling monarchies, Lost Odyssey is a prime example of a JRPG storyline as it should be done. Lost Odyssey represents everything that Final Fantasy XIII should have been - it’s fun, it provides a battle system that rewards tactical thinking and it features a cast that is in some way likeable.

Honourable Mentions:

- Rez (Dreamcast, PlayStation 2)
- Psychonauts (PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC)
- Killer 7 (PlayStation 2, GameCube) 

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