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There are three consoles and a handheld available, each with an impressive library of games to choose from. However, excellent games that may not have an immediate appeal can sometimes slip under the radar. It's not that they're not as good as the Zeldas and Metal Gears of the time, but their subject matter can sometimes seem a bit abstract. Or they may not have enough marketing money behind them to make a big splash. This week's Game Collector is dedicated to games that are certainly worth playing but have not received commercial success. Know that these games come highly recommended and are worth checking out for the more adventurous.
ICO - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $24.99
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Anyone interested in witnessing the cutting edge of art direction and atmospheric design in games will want to check out ICO. Few games are as seamless, and none are more elegantly bold, from a visual standpoint. ICO serves as a strong testament to the potential of video game aesthetics and boldly asserts that a strong production can indeed drive a game, when it's coupled with solid play mechanics.
4x4 Evolution - Dreamcast (2000)
Street Price: $17.99
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4x4 Evolution may seem like a game with limited appeal, but the incredible amount of customization available guarantees that more than just the Billy Bobs and Jimmy Rays of the world will enjoy it. It's refreshing to play an off-road game that isn't littered with nitros and oil slicks, yet the high-flying nature of the game keeps it from seeming too sterile. If you're into off-roading, you may never have to buy another video game.
Gitaroo Man - PlayStation 2 (2002)
Street Price: $41.08
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Gitaroo-Man is arguably the most original and inventive rhythm game since the advent of Dance Dance Revolution or the original Parappa the Rapper, and it's easily one of the best rhythm games for the PlayStation 2. This is a must-own title for rhythm-game junkies, but the whole package is so compelling that it will also appeal to anyone who isn't a fan of the genre.
Incredible Crisis - PlayStation (2000)
Street Price: $9.99
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Incredible Crisis follows a Japanese family through what is, without a doubt, the worst, most bizarre day of their lives. If, on some lazy Tuesday afternoon, you've got a couple hours to kill, you've got enough time to beat Incredible Crisis. The length keeps the game from achieving greatness, but with its great cast of characters, fun story, and toe-tapping soundtrack, Incredible Crisis still provides an incredibly satisfying, albeit incredibly short, video game experience.
Silent Bomber - PlayStation (2000)
Street Price: $19.60
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Offering great control, compelling twitch gameplay, and a fully realized game environment, Silent Bomber is what the next step in the Bomberman franchise should have been. While the two-player mode could use some help and is more of a throwaway feature, the single-player mode is worth every penny. If the world were a just and fair place, Bandai would see fit to release a sequel at some point in the future. As it is, don't let this one pass you by.
Vagrant Story - PlayStation (2000)
Street Price: $9.50
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Let's just get it out of the way--Vagrant Story is a groundbreaking game. A melange of the action, adventure and RPG genres, Square has truly beaten all odds and produced an engaging, seamless epic unlike any other. Despite a few interface and complexity issues, Vagrant Story is a rare and nearly perfected game. Unfortunately, it never sold as well as Square's other RPGs bearing the Final Fantasy name, but that makes it even cheaper for the smart shopper.
Einhander - PlayStation (1998)
Street Price: $19.99
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The various difficulty settings and challenging bosses likewise lend Einhander much more play life than your typical shooter, and on top of all that, the game even sports a fascinating plot (fully revealed only in the last stages of the game). It's an excellent game that boasts all the assets that the best of its genre have to offer. Rest assured, if you like shooters, you'll love Einhander.
Pac-Man World 2 - GameCube (2002)
Street Price: $43.73
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Pac-Man World 2 is a great platform game overall, one that anybody who might be into the lighthearted style of the game would do well to check out. There are a fair bit of extras packed in as well, which extends its longevity--the most significant of these is the arcade full of classic emulated Pac-Man games that you'll find in Pac-Village. Pac-Man World 2 is a great game that is presently being overlooked.
Klonoa 2 - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $39.99
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Like its predecessor for the PlayStation, Klonoa 2 is an amazingly fun platforming game that might be a little on the easy side, but it's perfectly suited to a younger audience. The game maintains a nice equilibrium between simple switch-based puzzles, platform jumps, hoverboard levels, and boss fights. Though there are only a few core types of levels in Klonoa 2, they all manage to stay fresh and interesting, thanks to some truly inspired level design and art direction.
Skies of Arcadia - Dreamcast (2000)
Street Price: $19.99
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Skies of Arcadia is the product of a legacy of role-playing games that hearkens back to Sega's earliest days in the home console market. The game's developer, Overworks, was responsible for the first, second, and fourth games in Sega's classic Phantasy Star series, which is partly why Skies of Arcadia got so much attention when it was first announced last year. Yet the game lives up to the high expectations.
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