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What feels like the most underappreciated videogame?
- Thread starter lvl 99 Pixel
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Truth, after about a year or so of improvements. It's damn good tbh.
For me, the Ghostbusters videogame.
The full cast reunited for the first (and only) time since GB2, it's basically GB3, and it's a well made, well playing game with really neat ideas that offers a new spin on the third person shooter formula... with a dash of whimsy and light horror.
The full cast reunited for the first (and only) time since GB2, it's basically GB3, and it's a well made, well playing game with really neat ideas that offers a new spin on the third person shooter formula... with a dash of whimsy and light horror.
Chimera Beast
Granted, it hasn't even been officially released. But it's a shmup from the 90s where you play as a monster!
Granted, it hasn't even been officially released. But it's a shmup from the 90s where you play as a monster!
Well then now I shall play Omori. And it's interesting that people dismissed LISA for being too edgy or depressing when TLoU is so popular. I think if it had a console release a lot more people would have given it a go.
I don't think It's underappreciated at all, I thought it was great fun, but on the other hand I thought some fans got really on the offensive, protective of the game, when you say you personally don't like the weapon shattering.
This is a good one. Got great reviews and a smidge of excitement and then dropped off the face of the Earth.
The opening cutscene where the protag "enters the comic" and the ending cutscene where he "exits the comic" was incredibly stylish.
Psi-Ops and Second Sight are a great double feature of suspiciously similar PS2 psychokinesis sci-fi thriller action games that somehow both came out in the summer of 2004. Despite all that they're still very different where it counts.
I feel like no one but me remembers this game, but it was amazing and set the stage for things like Control later.
Based on your examples I interpret your definition of underappreciated to mean games with the greatest disconnect between critical acclaim and the amount the game is cited within the popular gaming discourse. From that standpoint I would probably say something like Stephen's Sausage Roll is the most underappreciated, an incredibly intricate and difficult puzzle game that has had exceptional influence, particularly on independent game designers.
But, if I could change the meaning of underappreciated to refer to games that have had significant impact on modern games yet are rarely discussed, I would throw out Passage. Though, as a quick aside I would point out that the developer, Jason Rohrer, is someone I would politely describe as "controversial". Because I am citing his work in a public forum, I want to make sure I do not ignore this aspect of the creator and thus cannot blindly endorse his work, but still feel there is value discussing his art.
That said, to those unfamiliar, Passage (fully playable at the link) is an extremely short (~5 minutes) experimental game about....
Thematically the game is straightforward - I really didn't need that writeup, anyone who plays the game will "get it" - but this type of expression wasn't as mainstream at the time, especially not in flash games, and I believe paved the way for a significant increase in experimentation and desire to push the limits on what games can really mean as works of expression.
But, if I could change the meaning of underappreciated to refer to games that have had significant impact on modern games yet are rarely discussed, I would throw out Passage. Though, as a quick aside I would point out that the developer, Jason Rohrer, is someone I would politely describe as "controversial". Because I am citing his work in a public forum, I want to make sure I do not ignore this aspect of the creator and thus cannot blindly endorse his work, but still feel there is value discussing his art.
That said, to those unfamiliar, Passage (fully playable at the link) is an extremely short (~5 minutes) experimental game about....
"Literally" the game is about the passing of time and inevitability of death, but more thematically the game is about choice, consequence, and control.
The game is presented horizontally, and as the player progresses they age, visually depicted in the sprite work and the player physically moving within the camera view from the far left to the far right of the screen. While the right side is initially foggy, as the game progresses it becomes clear and the left side of the screen is muddied. The player also has the opportunity to move vertically through the world to explore further, through the numerical value increasing as they progress to the right (an abstract representation of progress, perhaps a metaphorical "age" meter) will never decrease.
What this project expressed more explicitly than other games at the time was the visual metaphor presentable through the language of games, and how the choices players make in games can have dramatic emotional impact because the player is making the decisions. Visually, the future (right side of screen) becomes clearer as you age while the past (left side) gets forgotten, and the impact of aging on the character sprite and player movement is felt directly. This is almost a simplified version of MGS 4 microwave sequence, with the player physical feels the character's age.
Thematically, the game offers true choices and consequences in the most simplistic but impactful ways possible. You have the opportunity to gain a partner to join you on your journey, but they add to the physical space your character occupies making navigating tight spaces impossible. As the game progresses the characters age together, exploring the world as a two. Near the end of the journey, the partner dies, leaving the player once again alone, though this time at the end of their life. Is the heartbreak of having a partner die before the player worth the comradery the player feels exploring the world with a companion? Is the added difficulty of decision making and navigating the world with another person worth the erasure of loneliness experienced if an individual tackled these experiences alone?
The game is presented horizontally, and as the player progresses they age, visually depicted in the sprite work and the player physically moving within the camera view from the far left to the far right of the screen. While the right side is initially foggy, as the game progresses it becomes clear and the left side of the screen is muddied. The player also has the opportunity to move vertically through the world to explore further, through the numerical value increasing as they progress to the right (an abstract representation of progress, perhaps a metaphorical "age" meter) will never decrease.
What this project expressed more explicitly than other games at the time was the visual metaphor presentable through the language of games, and how the choices players make in games can have dramatic emotional impact because the player is making the decisions. Visually, the future (right side of screen) becomes clearer as you age while the past (left side) gets forgotten, and the impact of aging on the character sprite and player movement is felt directly. This is almost a simplified version of MGS 4 microwave sequence, with the player physical feels the character's age.
Thematically, the game offers true choices and consequences in the most simplistic but impactful ways possible. You have the opportunity to gain a partner to join you on your journey, but they add to the physical space your character occupies making navigating tight spaces impossible. As the game progresses the characters age together, exploring the world as a two. Near the end of the journey, the partner dies, leaving the player once again alone, though this time at the end of their life. Is the heartbreak of having a partner die before the player worth the comradery the player feels exploring the world with a companion? Is the added difficulty of decision making and navigating the world with another person worth the erasure of loneliness experienced if an individual tackled these experiences alone?
Thematically the game is straightforward - I really didn't need that writeup, anyone who plays the game will "get it" - but this type of expression wasn't as mainstream at the time, especially not in flash games, and I believe paved the way for a significant increase in experimentation and desire to push the limits on what games can really mean as works of expression.
Yeah, this one was a shame. I loved my time with Prey. So much of it is memorable in a way most games aren't
It "only" got 81 (and a poor 75% recommend). And sales were lackluster (-60% in the UK at launch compared to Dishonored 2 which was already -38% down compared to the first game).
The world failed Prey.
I don't think Super Metroid sold more than a million copies.
And yet its almost always in a conversation for the GOAT video game due to its insanely brilliant level design.
Granted people on this site are very familiar with the game but I wonder if the gaming public at large has played it or knows much about it. I would guess most gamers know of Samus (and probably several other characters) via Smash Brothers.
I would also include most of the Saturn's library and the best games on every other failed console.
And yet its almost always in a conversation for the GOAT video game due to its insanely brilliant level design.
Granted people on this site are very familiar with the game but I wonder if the gaming public at large has played it or knows much about it. I would guess most gamers know of Samus (and probably several other characters) via Smash Brothers.
I would also include most of the Saturn's library and the best games on every other failed console.
It is really strange to think how much smaller Metroid is as a franchise than its Nintendo peers, at least when we're talking sheer sales numbers. Super Metroid was my favorite game growing up and so I suppose I always assumed that it was as big to everyone else as it was to me. Even Dread, though it did well, didn't exactly set the sales world on fire.
Metroid is still pretty well known all things considered but I agree with you on the disconnect in how its viewed online and via publications and with the population at large.
When you think about it most gamers starting gaming AFTER the PS1. The industry was way smaller before that. And different regions focused on different systems, titles, etc.
I think you could honesty say most great Sega and arcade games are criminally underappreciated. I really think Daytona in the arcade is one of the best games I have ever played but how many people have ever played it in the arcade? Or honestly even been to a non Dave Busters Chuck E Cheese arcade?
BOTW is not "underappreciated", jfc. And the stuff you talk about is mentioned ALL THE TIME lmao
Hold on, Cyberpunk took 39 GOTY awards? Stop lying Lobster Roll.
Hadn't even thought about it, but yeah, 90% of the fanart i've seen is what the official account directly retweets.
Indies are almost always underappreciated unless they are FNAF or Undertale levels of success. So I'll leave out indies.
I'd say Astro Bot, Lone Echo / Echo VR, and Half Life Alyx are all heavily underappreciated. They are the most revolutionary AAA/AA games of the last decade, but get very little time in the spot light.
I'd say Astro Bot, Lone Echo / Echo VR, and Half Life Alyx are all heavily underappreciated. They are the most revolutionary AAA/AA games of the last decade, but get very little time in the spot light.
One of the most overlooked last gen was Full Metal Furies. A great co-op title, reviewed pretty well, but just didn't gain much traction.
I think Rain World is under rated, but at least that has a cult fan base.
I think Rain World is under rated, but at least that has a cult fan base.
The Evil With 1. It's by far the best tps action horror game since RE4 and 100000000000x better than it's broken overrated sequel
That 75% recommend rating is ridiculous man lol Prey is one of my favorite games and I would kill for a sequel...😭
It "only" got 81 (and a poor 75% recommend). And sales were lackluster (-60% in the UK at launch compared to Dishonored 2 which was already -38% down compared to the first game).
The world failed Prey.
Gravity Rush and Until Dawn are great mentions too.
You got me. It was actually 41.
2020
We're tracking Game of the Year (GOTY) awards from around the world. Discover what media outlets and players voted as the best titles every year.
Depends on what kind of underappreciated you're going for. Critically? Unironically I think Destiny is super underappreciated critically/awards wise and doesn't get enough credit for the amazing, living world and story it has created with lore to rival amazing sci-fi books + fantastic gameplay systems.
You got me. It was actually 41.
2020
We're tracking Game of the Year (GOTY) awards from around the world. Discover what media outlets and players voted as the best titles every year.www.gameawards.net
Honestly there's a dope game in there. I've been playing through it recently and it's waaaaay better than I expected because of the review scores. Yeah there were technical issues, but a ~50 MC makes me think it had a lot more issues than technical issues. After a year+ of patches, I've had no issues while playing it on a One X. And the game itself has been super great. I'm not THAT surprised by the number considering the hype levels + the fact that surely some people got through it major glitch free.
Indie games often face this problem. Maybe we need a thread where no self-promotion is allowed at all, and only the indie games we really like are recommended
The answer will always be Prey.
Recent example is Inscryption, game got a lot of buzz for a bit but that didn't last and it seems people straight up dismissed it.
Recent example is Inscryption, game got a lot of buzz for a bit but that didn't last and it seems people straight up dismissed it.
Super was pretty good yeah. Story wise it's definitely up there, though I didn't really like some of the gameplay changes they made. And as far as postgame was concerned, it just didn't seem as enjoyable to keep playing after the story compared to the DS titles. The connection orb thing was weird. As a fan of the series it was still a blast though.
The Forgotten City
I haven't played it yet and I already know that it's incredibly underrated (in a sense that it's not getting a lot of buzz despite scoring incredibly well).
I haven't played it yet and I already know that it's incredibly underrated (in a sense that it's not getting a lot of buzz despite scoring incredibly well).
They are Billions
store.steampowered.com
They Are Billions on Steam
They Are Billions is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. Build and defend colonies to survive against the billions of the infected that seek to annihilate the few remaining living humans. Can humanity survive after the zombie apocalypse?
Yeeep. Reviewers were on something when this game came out.
It "only" got 81 (and a poor 75% recommend). And sales were lackluster (-60% in the UK at launch compared to Dishonored 2 which was already -38% down compared to the first game).
The world failed Prey.
+1
So many games that will probably never see a release outside of the Saturn.
The first game that popped into my head was Death Stranding. However, I feel as if the general feeling on that game has only increased past it's launch.
Pound for pound, best hiking simulator of all time.
In reality, there is some indie game that fits the bill on this better.
I think the Pathless is one of the best games I played last year and the score is one of the best ever recorded for a video game.
Pound for pound, best hiking simulator of all time.
In reality, there is some indie game that fits the bill on this better.
I think the Pathless is one of the best games I played last year and the score is one of the best ever recorded for a video game.
Mass Effect: Andromeda. People hate it for what it isn't (an exact copy of the Mass Effect trilogy) instead of focusing on what it is, which is a fun as hell game about space colonists finding a foothold in a far-off galaxy. Also it has the best gameplay in the entire series, without question.
