10. Castle Crashers
Developer: The Behemoth
Publisher: Microsft Game Studios,
Release: 2010
Castle Crashers is a side scroller beat em' up that incorporates light RPG elements. The vibrant graphics and whimsical tone blend perfectly to create a cartoon like atmosphere, while the nearly flawless game play mechanics provide an instantly addictive adventure.
What makes this game stand out from other side scrollers is the ability to play up to play four player co-op. Each player chooses from a number of pre-made characters, all with different strengths and abilities, that they may level up and customize as they see fit.
If you are looking for a light hearted adventure that will keep you and your friends busy for hours, this title is a must.
Why you Haven't Played It: Castle Crashers is an Indie game, only available as a digital download on XBOX Live, and PSN. Those who have had the pleasure of playing the game, most likely stumbled upon it randomly.
9. Pirates of the Carribean
Developer: Akella
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release: 2003
An action/role playing game that is loosely based on the Disney Franchise. The game follows the political upheaval as various countries vie for control of trade routes. Players take control of Captain Nathaniel Hawk, who must traverse the dangerous waters of the 17th century Caribbean and choose a side in the growing political struggles.
Pirates of the Caribbean preceded Assassins Creed III with it's spectacular naval combat. Hawk begins the game with a single small ship, but throughout the course of the game can acquire an armada to be used at his disposal. Players can play one faction against another, or go full on pirate, smuggling illegal goods, plundering cities, or ambushing military vessels.
Why you haven't played it: Pirates of the Caribbean was plagued by technical issues. The game would often crash without warning, leaving players to load their previous game. This caused obvious frustration for gamers. Also, pirate themed video games have never had a very large market. I had never even heard of this game until I found it hiding in a corner at the local rental place.
8. Thief: Deadly Shadows
Developer: Ion Storm Inc.
Publisher: Eidos Interactive (Now Square-Enix Europe)
Release: 2004
Ever play Oblivion, or Skyrim, as the thief class? I always enjoyed the stealth aspects of those games, but was frustrated that I would have to break character in order to progress in the game. Sure there were side quests associated with that type of class, but just try fighting a Daedric Lord with nothing but a dagger and leather armor. Thief: Deadly Shadows side steps traditional combat elements in favor of pure thieving goodness.
The game takes place in a fantasy world which resembles the Victorian Era and follows protagonist, and master thief, Garret who is contracted to steal two rare artifacts and subsequently becomes the target of political intrigue. Players must unravel the mystery of the Keeper prophecies while avoiding the wrath of city guards, assassins, and other worldly creatures who are task with capturing and killing the legendary thief.
Why you haven't played it: While Deadly Shadows admittedly gained more recognition than it's predecessors of the series, the game was over shadowed by more publicly known and action driven stealth games such as the Metal Gear Solid franchise.
7. Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: U.S. Gold (U.S.), Sunsoft -(Japan)
Release: 1992
Flashback: The Quest for Identity is one of those rare classics that you've probably never even heard of, let alone played. Best Described as a Cinematic Platformer, this one combines a Prince of Persia style of game play with a Science Fiction story reminiscent of Total Recall.
Players take control of Conrad B. Hart, an amnesiac agent of the Galaxia Bureau of Investigation. After waking up in a forest on the planet Titan, Conrad must embark on a journey for his own identity while uncovering an alien conspiracy to destroy Earth.
Why you haven't played it: Internationally, Flashback: Quest for Identity was a huge success. It was actually listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling French game of all time. The game was kind of a big deal for a while, but for some reason it managed to slip under the radar here in the U.S.
6. Vampire: The Masquerade
Developer: Nihilistic Software (Redemption), Troika Games (Bloodlines)
Publisher: Activision
Release: 2000/2004
Vampire: The Masquerade is a unique set of games. The first game, Redemption, was a more traditional RPG that followed fledgling vampire Christoph Romuald from Dark Era Prague to modern day New York. It utilized an automated turn based attack system with the option to activate abilities on the fly, much like the D&D system used in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
The second game, Bloodlines, changes formats a bit and is more in line with modern day action and shooter games. The game play is fluid and everything takes place in real time. Despite the difference in combat, RPG elements still take center stage allowing the player to customize most aspects of their character, from original classes to skills gained throughout the course of the game. Bloodlines is similar to Modern Elder Scrolls games in this regard.
There's so much I can say about this series, and none of it would do it justice. Both games are fantastic in their own right. Despite the differences between the two, Bloodlines feels like a true sequel to Redemption, expanding upon the world and continuing the theme of its predecessor. Essentially these games are less about individual characters, and more about the world as a whole. Each game centers on newly formed vampires that must learn to survive not only the persecution of humanity, but also the almost tyrannical rule or an underworld government that dictates rules and regulations for supernatural beings.
Why you haven't played it: As I said, this is a unique set of games. I included them both because they are the only two that were made. Both have acquired a cult following over the years, but the franchise was never able to garner mainstream attention. I had never even heard of Redemption until it was given to me as a gift many years ago. Whatever the reason, these games never got the attention they deserved and are a must play for any RPG fan. Bloodlines is currently available on Steam, but Redemption is much harder to find.
5. Legend of Grimrock
Developer: Almost Human Ltd.
Publisher: Almost Human Ltd.
Release: 2012
Being released just last year, Legend of Grimrock is by far the newest game on our list. Taking inspiration from classic role playing games of the 80's and 90's, LoG focuses more on it's dungeon crawling game play than on story.
Players begin by creating their own 1-4 person team from a list of character classes. This is the team that will be with you for the entire game, so choose wisely. Each character class has their own unique skills and abilities that can be further customized depending on equipment and skills chosen at at each character level.
The premise of the game is simple. Location: An elaborate, booby trapped prison. The final resting place for criminals who are beyond redemption. The goal: Escape. Upon character creation, you are immediately thrust into an overwhelmingly large dungeon that is the setting for the entire game. There are no shops, no NPC's to guide you, and no reprieve from the constant danger. The player must be completely self sufficient in order to survive.
This game manages to create a claustrophobic and frantic environment, and I can't stress this enough; there is no help in sight. Everything must be scavenged to keep you team on it's feet, from cave moss that can be used as food, to weapons pilfered from fallen corpses. The dungeon is divided into 10 levels, each more cunning and elaborate that the one before it. If you manage to reach the final level, you just might be in for a surprise.
Why you haven't played it: Much like Castle Crashers, Legend of Grimrock is an indie game, and outside of Fez, Braid, Super Meat Boy, etc, many indie games are criminally under appreciated.
4. Icewind Dale 2
Developer: Black Isle Studios
Publisher: Interplay Entertainment
Release: 2002
Release: 2002
Not for the casual or faint of heart. Icewind Dale 2 is an old school RPG based on D&D rules and is a predecessor to games such as Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Dragon Age.
Set in the spacious tundra of Icewind Dale, IwD2 is one of several games, along with the Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate games, that represent the Forgotten Realms world of Toril. In each of these games, players take control of characters who are a small part of a much larger world. This is one of the games strong points. You don't control a legendary hero who is destined to save all of humanity, you are simply a group of people who find themselves on a quest.
As with other games of the genre, character development is key here and players are given an overwhelming number of options. The characters are your own, and elements of the story and game play will vary according to your choices. For example a righteous, law abiding Paladin will conduct his or her self much differently than their evil Drow counterpart. It's all about playing the game that you want to play, and crafting events as you see fit.
Why you haven't played it: Key word here is "Accessibility". The game mechanics are fairly complex and those who are unfamiliar with the D&D table top rules will find a very steep learning curve waiting for them.
3. Dwarf Fortress
Developer: Tarn Adams (Independent Developer)
I've decided against including a video for this game, and anyone familiar with Dwarf Fortress will understand why. This may the the most frustratingly fascinating game I've ever played. In fact, i'm not really even sure how to explain it, but lets give it a shot.
Dwarf Fortress can best be described as a top down, Dwarf simulator. The goal is to guide your clan to survival and prosperity. This is much....MUCH easier said than done. Each game world is randomly generated, and the player must guide every action of his clan, from building shelter to gathering food to crafting weapons to setting up businesses and shops to just about every activity that can be imagined. Even eating, sleeping, and making little dwarves are primary concerns.
Along with dictating the actions of the clan, each dwarf has his or her own skills, preferences, and personalities which must be catered to and taken advantage of. For example, a dwarf with an affinity for mining would be ill placed as a cook in the dining hall. Furthermore, each dwarf increases his skills based on the activity he or she performs.
The difficulty with this game is multi-tiered. As I said before, sustenance is a real concern and must be provided lest your clan starves to death. That, however, is merely an immediate concern. Pretty much everything in the game can kill you. If you dig too deep in unstable ground, a cave-in can easily wipe out your miners. If you forget to train a military, you are open to attacks from other clans. In one particular case, one of my craftsmen created a work of art that defined his career. Afterwards, he became so depressed that he had reach his crowning achievement....that he committed suicide. I've seen dwarves become so unhappy that they actually became serial killers and started murdering other clan members. I couldn't make this up if I tried.
Anyway, back to my lack of video. This game doesn't have graphics. Let me repeat that. This game. Does not have. Graphics. The entire game is presented in ASCII format, and every item is given a colored number or letter as a visual representation. Luckily there are graphics packs that can be downloaded but don't expect any award winning visuals.
Now that we've gotten the oddities of this game out of the way, I need to make something clear. Anyone who takes the Dwarf Fortress challenge and subjects themselves to the insanity that is this game will discover one of the deepest, most addicting, and most fascinating game play experiences of their life.
Why you haven't played it: Quite simply the game isn't finished. Furthermore, you may never see a finished version. Don't get me wrong, the game hasn't been abandoned. Developer Tarn Adams has stated that this game is his life's work and even he may not finish it in his lifetime. Regardless, the game is entirely free to download and to play in it's current form and every aspect is so amazing you would never know it was unfinished.
Warning: Before undertaking Dwarf Fortress, be prepared to read/watch several hours of tutorials.
2. Advent Rising
Developer: GlyphX Games
During the height of Xbox popularity, Halo was king. It was a phenomenon that refused to be toppled by it's competitors. In the midst of our obsession with Master Chief and the Covenant, one game appeared from the shadows in a vain attempt to dethrone the reigning champ, only to be lost in the shuffle.
It's hard to look at Advent Rising and not draw comparisons to Halo. They're both Sci-Fi shooters with a solitary human fighting an alien race. Even the character designs are similar. The differences, however, lay in story and game play. While Halo is a traditional shooter, Advent Rising breaks some traditions and adds a much deeper experience.
Navy Pilot Gideon Wyeth find himself on the business end of an alien invasion after a space station is attacked and his brother, or girlfriend (depending on your decision) is killed. What follows is a breakneck adventure through space and a retelling of humanity's origins.
Advent Rising wasn't just a shooter. It was an action game that encompassed various forms of combat. Initially Gideon has access to standard weaponry, including hand-to-hand combat, but eventually gains a multitude of powers to be used at his disposal.
As great as the game play was, it's the story that stands out most. In a surprising twist, the game actually has a strong religious element that explores the untold story of the Book of Genesis, and the untapped power of God's chosen race.
Although the game was originally intended as a trilogy, GlyphX Games pulled a 180 and decided to invest their efforts in handheld games, cancelling their plans for future sequels.
Why you haven't played it: Halo.
1. DayZ
Developer: Dean "Rocket" Hall
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive (Arma 2, DayZ Standalone)
Release: 2012, No current release date for the Standalone.
Release: 2012, No current release date for the Standalone.
Speaking of phenomenons, it's not everyday that a MOD to a game that few have heard of gains critical acclaim. In case you have been living under a rock, this mod is called DayZ.
DayZ is actually quite simple. It's essentially a survival horror game that breaks conventions and tries something new. Something we have all dreamed about. Something nobody else had the guts to try. The results are indisputable. With roughly 1.7 Million active players, and a standalone title in heavy development, DayZ has become an overnight success that has only begun to scratch the surface of it's potential.
The first time you load up DayZ you might think to yourself, "Ok, it's a shooter. What's the big deal?" That initial reaction is short lived once you realize your character is hungry, thirsty, has a horde of zombies on his ass and bullets whizzing by his head.
The brilliance of the game is it's simplicity, an aspect that is perfected by it's incredible design and addicting game play. The goal is simply to survive, but the game offers a ton of options and a 0% success rate. Everybody dies in DayZ, and it's an easy task to accomplish.
The game has two key mechanics that really make it work. First is the incorporation of a permadeath system. Your character starts on the beach, in a random spot on the map and you have to traverse inland in order to gather supplies. Regardless of what you accomplish during your time as a survivor, death is permanent. Upon dying, you restart the game as a new character at a random spot on the beach.
The second component is that DayZ is entirely multi-player at all times. If at any time you stumble across another player, you are able to kill them and loot their bodies, and vice versa. This component adds a sense of danger that I've never experienced in a game. The world is huge, and entirely open to explore, but you are always aware that at any moment you may hear a sniper round being fired in the distance a moment before your screen goes black.
The result is a highly competitive experience where few people are what they seem. DayZ manages to create a realistic world where everyone is fighting for their own survival. I often find myself thinking, "This is what a zombie apocalypse would actually be like." As in real life, there is safety in numbers, and anyone wandering through the world of Chenaurus alone is not long for this world.
Why you haven't played it: The standalone game is still in development. All of the hype is about the mod for military simulator Arma 2. That's what people have been playing. This mod is free, and the game Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead is easily available through digital download. The problem is that DayZ can be a little tricky to get running. My initial attemp resulted in a lot of frustration and wasted time. Fortunately, there are programs such as DayZ Commander that will automatically download and install everything you need.
What are some of your hidden gems? Is there a game or franchise you feel never got the recognition it deserved? Leave a comment below.
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