Niche titles that most people missed but you loved

Here are a couple fighters for you to consider:

Virtua Fighter 5 - Why is such a popular title making my list of "niche" titles? Because most people know Virtua Fighter5 but most people either haven't played it or just are flat out intimidated by it. It is a very deep fighter that easily stands toe to toe with Super Street Fighter IV on it's level of quality. The problem is that people just don't know how to do the moves and combos and are, therefore, not willing to learn how to play it. Don't be fooled! The game has one of the best and most extensive training modes of any fighter I have seen. It even displays the timing of each frame of motion and will demo the move or combo you are trying to execute so you can be sure to get the timing just right. The game allows for deep customization of each character so you can make them your own and it plays flawlessly online (only for the Xbox 360 version). Everything about this title screams quality and it is such a shame that it has neverfound its audience here in the States. You can find it dirt cheap at Gamestop or you can download it on Xbox Arcade. The game is available on the PS3 but without the online play. This is one that is totally worth the time and effort.

Project Justice - The Dreamcast was known for many things to those of us who were hardcore players back then. One of those things was the system was home to some world-class fighters. Project Justice was an absolute blast to play. It was a 2.5D (3D graphics on a 2D plane like Street Fighter IV) fighting game that continued the Rival Schools series from the arcades and PSX. The graphics are blocky by today's standards but they still look fine. There was a very rich story that just reeked of Japanese charm. If that isn't for you then you can just skip it and play in arcade mode. Sakura, everyone's favorite teenage girl from Street Fighter Alphaand Street Fighter IV,is one of the many playable characters in Capcom's often overlooked fighters. If you like Japanese quirky titles that are also full of deep game play, then this one is for you! Pull out that Dreamcast and track this one down. You won't be sorry.

condemned criminal origins. excellent atmosphere

Who hasn't played Cave Story yet? Its an awsome game as well.

It doesnt mean its bad just because its freeware. Its definitely in my best indie games list.

Two titles that I thought were awesome but I hear little about are

Painkiller (the first one) and

Star Wars Republic Commando (what a fun game!)

The Pursuit Force games;twonear completely unknown games for the PSP, but very high quality and fun, with a fantastic soundtrack and graphics to boot. Basically, for the unitiated, you play as an "Extreme Justice" special forces cop, ramming criminals off the road, having window-to-window shootouts at 150 MPH, and even jumping to criminals' cars for shootouts while clinging to the hood, then later commandeering their vehicles, all while trying to keep innocent civilians out of the crossfire. They're both a ton of fun and can be found for about eight dollars each, I'd reccomend playing the second one first though, the original one is punishingly difficult.

Okami.

The Pursuit Force games;twonear completely unknown games for the PSP, but very high quality and fun, with a fantastic soundtrack and graphics to boot. Basically, for the unitiated, you play as an "Extreme Justice" special forces cop, ramming criminals off the road, having window-to-window shootouts at 150 MPH, and even jumping to criminals' cars for shootouts while clinging to the hood, then later commandeering their vehicles, all while trying to keep innocent civilians out of the crossfire. They're both a ton of fun and can be found for about eight dollars each, I'd reccomend playing the second one first though, the original one is punishingly difficult.

CD-i_ownz

Yeah, I loved the Pursuit Force games. They feel like early 90's arcade games.Fighting with the gang members and deciding whether or not it would be easier/faster/more efficient to destroy a carload of thugs (by ramming them and shooting them) or get out of one's speeding vehicle and jumping onto their vehicle never got old. Also, I liked how one lost Justice Points for hurting civilians or commandering their car and getting it blown up (Justice Points were a good thing to have since a full Justice meter could repair a damaged vehicle or allow one to slow down time).

It was a damn shame when Big Big was assigned to make a Motorstorm for the PSP. I skipped Motorstorm PSP primarily for that reason.

I once almost got into it with some petty thugs in San Pedro Sula, Honduras who tried to relieve of my PSP and Pursuit Force (which I had been playing to kill the time as I waited for my plane). I was playing and absorbed in Pursuit Force, then I looked up and there was this ring of young guys standing around me. Once expressed interest in my PSP, I showed them the game I was playing. He asked to hold the PSP, I told him 'Not gonna happen', then he asked me to give him the PSP, since I was American and rich.

I still had a long plane ride back to the States and there was no way I was going to board a plane without my PSP (the last plane I boarded without my PSP showed Fat Albert as the inflight movie).

Seriously, nobody showed any weapons and I was a muscular guy with a scar over one eye and all the gang membes were on the scrawny side, so I bet that airport security would happen along and break things up before the gang worked up the nerve to jump me. Happily, I guessed right.

Wipeout - This is a series that just has never gotten the recognition it deserved (here in the States thatis). It's fast, it's frantic, the graphics are great and it's a blast to play. Futuristic racing hovercrafts that shoot each other to wild techno music.... sign me up!

Time Stalkers, got super low scores, and I could see why, but any dungeon crawler fan that's up for a good challenge owes it to themself to play this game.

Shadow Hearts Covenant, has to be one of the most underrated Ps2 RPGs ever. Someone already mentioned it in detail a bit and it is truely a unique game.

Lost Planet 2, I really had tons of fun with this game. I don't get why it got such low scores really.

Nier, has one of the best soundtracks and most emotional storylines I've ever heard and seen.

Who hasn't played Cave Story yet? Its an awsome game as well.

It doesnt mean its bad just because its freeware. Its definitely in my best indie games list.

XenoLair

Machinarium- PC- You've probably heard of this one.Jonzey123

Mirror's Edge - a highly underrated game. I loved it. I just wish it was longer. I find that it's disliked by people who were expecting a shooter.

Shadow of the Colossus, it sold a mil, but that was on the PS2, AND EVERYONE HERE SHOULD PLAY IT! :D

Mirror's Edge - a highly underrated game. I loved it. I just wish it was longer. I find that it's disliked by people who were expecting a shooter.

JediXMan7

Kudos. Couldn't agree more!!!

[QUOTE="Jonzey123"]Machinarium- PC- You've probably heard of this one.muthsera666

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="Jonzey123"]Machinarium- PC- You've probably heard of this one.travisstaggs

Prey It's really a shame how Valve stole the spotlight from Prey's portals with their Portal...

[QUOTE="travisstaggs"][QUOTE="muthsera666"] Not nearly as good of a game as everyone thinks it is.muthsera666

I could definitely see why some people wouldn't like it since some of the puzzles are really meh.

Lunar Knigthsfor the DS.

Rise of the Argonauts. Everyone that followed my advice thanked me after buying itBlack_Knight_00

Well, there's Klonoa and Klonoa 2. I bought the game for the Wii last weekend from a Gamestop while I was at Kansas City. It's a fun game, but i'm only halfway through. I also bought Klonoa 2 through Ebay, and it's an awesome game. I hope the original is released through the PSN so I can at least have a Klonoa game for my PSP.

How about some Sega Saturn import love?

Radiant Silvergun - This awesome shooter is slated to be released on Xbox Live Arcade soon and it's a good thing. This game was awesome. It was insanely hard and blended every positive aspect of shooters anyone could ever hope for. It is widely regarded as one of the best shooters ever which is why it sells for $200 on ebay for a used copy.

Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter - I know, I know. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is everybody's baby. But this Saturn import was arcade perfect. It required the use of the 4-Meg RAM cart and it featured a Japanese only character. It was more of the Street Fighter IIilk due to utilizing all 6 buttons. The Saturn controller seemed tailor made for this awesome fighter. While the PSX saw a release of this game stateside, it was a far inferior product. In it, you could not switch characters and it was missing many frames of animation. Do yourself a favor if you are an oldschool fighter; get a Saturn and get an import copy of this game. It's freaking awesome!

Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter - I know, I know. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is everybody's baby. But this Saturn import was arcade perfect. It required the use of the 4-Meg RAM cart and it featured a Japanese only character. It was more of the Street Fighter IIilk due to utilizing all 6 buttons. The Saturn controller seemed tailor made for this awesome fighter. While the PSX saw a release of this game stateside, it was a far inferior product. In it, you could not switch characters and it was missing many frames of animation. Do yourself a favor if you are an oldschool fighter; get a Saturn and get an import copy of this game. It's freaking awesome!

shabulia

I would also like to mention Zone of the Enders: the 2nd Runner. It's probably the best mech game I've ever played.

yakuza 3 & 4, persona 3 & 4, blah can't think of anything else right now

Valkyria Chronicles. If only more people would give this beautiful game a chance maybe we would have a sequel on the PS3 and not on the PSP.EXEraserVS

I came here to say the exact same thing :lol:.
Easily one of my favorite games this gen, I love the visual StiIe of the game. Great characters and awesome gameplay, this game has it all.

Here's to you 7s ! * salutes *

So many...The Nomad Soul,Sanitarium,Outcast,Undying,Beneath a Steel Sky,The Longest Journey,BattleZone(1998),Ultima VII,Myst IV,Grim Fandango come to mind.

Viva Pinata

The Saboteur

Pure

Bad Fur Day

No More Heroes

Zoo Tycoon

I will have to say a game called Valkyria Chronicles.... it was a great RTS/RPG/3PS hybrid done perfectly... the first game that actually made me feel like i was truly playing a story...in a long time..not just some rehash storyline...

Illusion of Gaia (Illusion of Time in Europe). An oft-forgotten gem of Enix's. Story's simplistic but it has heart, despite the weak translation.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. A bit more known in the mainstream, but cannot be appreciated enough.

Final Fantasy Legend series (aka SaGa 1/2/3). RPG at its most unconventional. Still a great series with plenty of flexibility and open ended nature.

So many...The Nomad Soul,Sanitarium,Outcast,Undying,Beneath a Steel Sky,The Longest Journey,BattleZone(1998),Ultima VII,Myst IV,Grim Fandango come to mind.

Arach666

How long is Omikron The Nomad Soul?

Comix Zone - This was an awsome Sega Genesis title where action game meets comic book. The game is told in comic style and each panel of a comic book in the game is a new scene in the game. Totally sweet and very creative.

Comix Zone - This was an awsome Sega Genesis title where action game meets comic book. The game is told in comic style and each panel of a comic book in the game is a new scene in the game. Totally sweet and very creative.

shabulia

[QUOTE="Black_Knight_00"]Rise of the Argonauts. Everyone that followed my advice thanked me after buying itmuthsera666

I can't believe it took me so long to play this game.

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who's ever played this. It had amazing graphics and cinematics.

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who's ever played this. It had amazing graphics and cinematics.

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who's ever played this. It had amazing graphics and cinematics.

Darkwanderer000

Sorry to disappoint you, DW. I played this one too and I agree that it was gorgeous. It also was a ton of old school fun. Sweet game!

Kingdom Under Fire: By far the best blend of different genres I've ever seen. The action gives the strategy a more immediate and personal feel, and the strategy lends a much greater sense of urgency to the action than you'd find in other slashers. It's a shame that most people are familiar with the series for the crumby Circle Of Doom spin-off.

Shadow Of Rome: If you played Dead Rising you likely noticed that the shooting mechanics and style were taken from Capcom's other game Resident Evil. What you probably didn't notice is that the melee action was taken from another Capcom game Shadow of Rome. There are fewer weapons than in Dead Rising, but they all have a larger number of attacks and are generally much more satisfying to use.

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who's ever played this. It had amazing graphics and cinematics.

Darkwanderer000

Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power.

I've been playing this game for two years on a consecutive months basis.

NA > Shogun

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who's ever played this. It had amazing graphics and cinematics.

Darkwanderer000

Yes, Orta was amazing. Its a shame Sega put it on the Xbox (which killed any chance of Japanese sales) rather than PS2. If they had, PD might still be around today (or maybe not, the somewhat similar Rez didn't exactly tear up the sales charts).