GRcade

I'm pretty out of touch with the next gen machines as I don't own any of them. I guess its current gen now? Either way, I don't as yet feel like I'm missing out as I'm on a mission of death or glory through time & space. Otherwise known as picking up 'cult' PS2/GC games on the high street. Or at least, cheap games that catch my curiosity. Diamonds in the rough.

Not the Xbox mind, most games that interest me on there are on PC but I digress.

Its not an easy task as there is a lot of shizdiz out there. I wondered, has anyone else found themselves doing the same? It be nice to hear some recommendations of PS2/GC games that might have slipped under everyone's massive hooters.

To kick things off, here is a few I've found to be of interest (in no order):

Cold Winter
PS2
Bought for: £2.50 (Gamestation 4 for £10)
A great console FPS. Controls are a little sluggish but its full of interaction and it has a satisfying Soldier of Fortune gore dynamic. It does a few of things that some modern FPSes are yet to pick up on. It feels like the developers really enjoyed making it.

Fahrenheit
PS2
£3 (CEX, 2nd hand)
Quite an experimental game as the game seems to want to change the way the player interacts with a game. Not sure if its as successful as the lead designer planned but it makes for a real interesting attempt. Reminds me of a modern day Dreamweb. No bad thing.

BCV: Battle Construction Vehicles
PS2
£2.50 (Gamestation 4 for £10)
Spectacularly shite. A game involving head to head battles with construction vehicles, surprisingly. Its worth an experience just for the inappropriately cockney voice acting: "Look 'ere!", "Bloody 'ell. We'll never get up them apple n' pears.", "Move or I'll smash your sodding face in" etc etc

Global Defence Force
PS2
£10 (Gamestation, new)
How could I not put this in? Actually, I half think it isn't an undiscovered title anymore. Still, I don't think I've played a better co-op.

Extermination
PS2
£2.50 (Gamestation 4 for £10)
I've yet to play this so I can't say owt about it. Got it on a recommendation. Anyone played it?

Neo Contra
PS2
£2 (CEX, 2nd hand)
I know a lot of Contra fans, rightfully, dislike this game but if you play it not expecting the Contra experience it isn't that bad. Its far too easy and the controls stink but for the price its going for, the box art and the boss character 'Animal Contra' make it worthwhile. In my book.*

That should be a good start to anyone interested in the same market. I realise I haven't listed any Gamecube games, that's because the best I could think is Rebel Strike as I think its underrated as an overall package. But I felt its wasn't obscure enough for this list.

Still, I'm open to any suggestion.



*my book is easy to please. As it were.

Among many I'd recommend both Urban Chaos and Shadow of Rome on PS2

Mashed, dammit. It's amazingly amazing.

The guys behind Urban Chaos are doing the new Batman game, aren't they? Which instantly makes me more interested. I enjoyed Urban Chaos quite a lot, actually.

Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

This is me breathing wrote:Among many I'd recommend both Urban Chaos and Shadow of Rome on PS2

Combat in this awesome has a great feel, recommended budget buy for sure.

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Not sure it quite counts as ignored or undiscovered, but I suppose the timing is right with Yakuza 2 finally out here next week.

more heat than light wrote:Mashed, dammit. It's amazingly amazing.

This is like Micro Machines yes? If the multiplayer is as good as the aforementioned then I'm sure it'll be worth a look. I bet it'll be around £4 second hand. This reminds me of buying Spectrum games. Good times.

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Good call. I forgot about that one. Best part is, with the sequel due a release, the PS2 has one more great game one the way.

Not that I've played the second game.

Chibi-Robo!
Such a fun original little title, it was great pottering around that big house!
One of the last GC games if I remember.
Think it sold about 3 copies and hardly any store stocked it when released.
Will have to play the DS sequel sometime.

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Not sure it quite counts as ignored or undiscovered.

It sold about 14 copies. If it seems as if the internet's been banging on about it ever since, then that's just because I'm a member of far too many forums.

Mancrusher wrote:

more heat than light wrote:Mashed, dammit. It's amazingly amazing.

This is like Micro Machines yes? If the multiplayer is as good as the aforementioned then I'm sure it'll be worth a look. I bet it'll be around £4 second hand. This reminds me of buying Spectrum games. Good times.

See, the funny thing is it's actually a lot better than Micro Machines. Some amazing tracks (the icy figure of eight is hilarious) and the added bonus of becoming a crosshair when you die (able to fire rockets at those who remain) makes it a complete winner at parties. One of the best multiplayer games I've ever played.

Hero of Canton wrote:

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Not sure it quite counts as ignored or undiscovered.

It sold about 14 copies. If it seems as if the internet's been banging on about it ever since, then that's just because I'm a member of far too many forums.

Well I bought it at launch (and its still on my shelf).

Oh and the post above yours, I meant to mention it, but then I forgot.

More deserving and sold less than Yakuza I would have thought, surprised you didn't mention it either actually, you did like Chibi didn't you?

more heat than light wrote:and the added bonus of becoming a crosshair when you die (able to fire rockets at those who remain) makes it a complete winner at parties

Awesome, that's got to piss someone off. I think I'm sold.

andythevillan wrote:Chibi-Robo!

They have this in my local Gamestation. For £35(!) I know GC games are over the odds but, damn. Having seen footage, I can imagine I wouldn't care less if I got the game though.

Giving those sucka M.C.s 35 beans turns my blood pretty cold though.

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Not sure it quite counts as ignored or undiscovered.

It sold about 14 copies. If it seems as if the internet's been banging on about it ever since, then that's just because I'm a member of far too many forums.

Well I bought it at launch (and its still on my shelf).

Oh and the post above yours, I meant to mention it, but then I forgot.

More deserving and sold less than Yakuza I would have thought, surprised you didn't mention it either actually, you did like Chibi didn't you?

Adored it. Wrote a piece about it for NGamer back in the day.

I have an unplayed copy of Yakuza on my shelf.

I don't think Chibi can really count because pretty much everyone with a GC on GR played it.

Hero of Canton wrote:

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:

This is me breathing wrote:

Hero of Canton wrote:Anyway: Yakuza Yakuza Yakuza. No-one bought it but it's ace.

Not sure it quite counts as ignored or undiscovered.

It sold about 14 copies. If it seems as if the internet's been banging on about it ever since, then that's just because I'm a member of far too many forums.

Well I bought it at launch (and its still on my shelf).

Oh and the post above yours, I meant to mention it, but then I forgot.

More deserving and sold less than Yakuza I would have thought, surprised you didn't mention it either actually, you did like Chibi didn't you?

Adored it. Wrote a piece about it for NGamer back in the day.

I'm never selling my copy.
I loved the pirate in the basement!

It's golf, played with frogs damnit.

Incredibly charming.

+1 for Chibi Robo. It's still definitely worth getting, even at the £35 mark, as it's one of the best games available on the cube.

I'm not sure if many people imported Baten Kaitos Origins, which is a real shame, as it's a fantastic RPG, very much like a longer version of Eternal Sonata (apart from the battle system, which was a little too streamlined, IMO)

Red Dead Revolver, Full Spectrum Warrior, Warioworld & Freedom Fighters