Feature: 9 Semi-Obscure Games That You Should Definitely Try

     The end of this year has been pretty intense in terms of new game releases.  Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3, Resistance 3, Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim...So many high quality titles, so little time.  However, although each of these games have their own merits, and deserve the praise that they receive, there are other games out there in the world that should be getting some proper attention as well.  And by golly I'm going to give it to them!
     The games on this list are all perfect choices for any gamer who is looking for something new and interesting to play.  Most of these titles have a pretty impressive cult following, complete with active fans and glowing critical reviews.  However, there are still a large number of people in the world who have no idea that these games even exist.  So, allow me to bring a few of these games into light...




9.  Cave Story (PC, Wii, DSi, 3DS)
     Cave Story is a textbook example of a "cult classic" video game.  It's a free downloadable game for PC that has garnered thousands of loyal fans.  It even has its own fan site where users can discuss the game in forums and share fan art.  So, just to clarify, gamers are still drooling over and talking about this free little downloadable game, which has existed for over five years.

And for good reason.

      Pixel, the sole man responsible for creating this game, spent several years of his life crafting a love letter to fans of Metroid and Castlevania.  Personally, I never cared for either of those titles, but I absolutely fell in love with this game.  The subtle charm of the classic SNES style never loses its appeal, and the engrossing upgrades and weapon power-ups always kept things fresh and interesting.  On top of all of this, the game also features an engaging story as well as a killer chiptune soundtrack that will make you bob your head within the first seconds of starting it up.
     Currently, this game is available for download on Nintendo's WiiWare and DSiWare services.  It is also scheduled to be released as a retail game for the 3DS.  Or, if you're incredibly stingy with your money, you can download the game for free on your PC.


8.  Super Meat Boy (PC, PS3, Xbox360)
     I realize that this game has seen a great deal of success already.  Gaming sites have been singing its praises all over the place.  If you spent even a few minutes on the Internet during the time of its release, you are already very familiar with this game.  As such, this game is not on the list to address you guys, sorry.
     Nope, I'm mentioning this game for those who seemed to have missed the rush the first time around.  I'm bringing this up to those people who think they can't get into "dinky little downloadable games."  These people don't see the worth in dropping $8-10 on something that supposedly has less to offer than a retail game.  Allow Super Meat Boy to prove you wrong.

...As it repeatedly slaps you in the face with its soul-crushing difficulty.

     SMB is a deceptively simple game with a basic objective.  Start at point A, get to point B, and try not to die.  The entire premise is so straightforward that you wonder how it can stay interesting and engaging for hours at a time.  The secret lies with the game's difficulty.  You see, Super Meat Boy doesn't hold your hand while you play.  In fact, it grabs your hand and twists it behind your head while you cry in pain and frustration.  And you will love every second of it.
     It's true, the game is incredibly hard, but it's never unfair hard.  When you die (and you will, a lot), it's almost always your fault.  A misplaced jump or hesitant step could splatter poor Meat Boy into chunks in an instant.  This causes you to start the entire level all over again. 
     This sounds like it would be frustrating, but certain mechanics prevent you from feeling compelled to chuck your controller at the screen.  First of all, the levels never usually take more than a minute or two to complete.  Secondly, when you die, the level instantly restarts, giving you zero time to utter a single expletive.  Death becomes a minor inconvenience, and you eventually become even more motivated to beat the level.

You will feel compelled to conquer the spinning blades of death,
and when you finally do, it will feel glorious.

     You can download this game on the cheap for Xbox360, PS3, and Steam, and it's definitely worth your time.  Just make sure you have a lot of it to spare.


7.  Shadow of Colossus (PS2, PS3)
     This is yet another game that had a good deal of glowing reviews and raving fans.  However, when I mention it to other people, I'm still met with confused looks.  This is a shame, as Shadow of Colossus offers an experience that is unlike anything else I've played.  At its most basic, the game is essentially a compilation of 16 bosses.  And that's it.  Seriously, the entire game consists of you riding around a countryside on a horse, looking for a boss to face, and then killing said boss.  Rinse, and repeat.
     Oh, except pretty much all of the bosses are the size of buildings.  They are colossal, if you didn't see that coming.

"Put up ya' dukes!"

     Almost all of the bosses are huge enough to be their own level maps.  You have to figure out a way to climb on top of them and stab them in their weak points.  This is where the true greatness of the game shines the brightest.  If there's a ledge on the monster, you can grab it.  If there's hair, you can cling to it.  No exceptions.  This makes climbing onto the monsters feel incredibly organic and natural.  The game doesn't guide you where you need to go.  You have to figure out a path to reach the monster's weak points, based on the architecture of the giant, and you have to climb your way up there to apply your deadly acupuncture.
     However, don't expect the colossi to just stand by while you crawl around.  They're going to be shaking, flailing, and doing everything they can to try to fling you off.  In other words, they're going to be moving, and you're going to have to manage that when you're trying to do something like jump a gap between a monster's chest and its arm.  The whole experience can make your palms sweat, and the sheer scale of it all makes it feel epic and invigorating. 

Don't slip...

       Because this game was originally released for PS2, it's already pretty old.  Therefore, you can usually find it pretty cheap online or in used game stores.  Also, an HD version has recently been released for PS3, and it's bundled with ICO, another game made by the same people.  You owe it to yourself to check this game out.  Boss battles will never feel the same again after playing this.


6.  Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Wii)
     Banana Blitz is one of those games that was actually met with a lot of criticism when it was released.  Long-time fans were not happy with the game's new mechanics, and they quickly dismissed it as a lazy way to cash in on the Wii's new motion controls.  However, when approached with an open mind, this installment of Super Monkey Ball can be one of the more entertaining games in the series.

It's not often you see a game these days filled with color and charm.

     Banana Blitz employs what I'm going to start calling the "Meat Boy Factor."  It can get pretty tough, but what it asks of you is usually fair.  Every time you die, you feel even more motivated to beat the level.  You rarely feel compelled to rage-quit, and the satisfaction of passing through the goal hoop is always worth it in the end.
     A lot of people complain that the jump mechanic weakened the game by breaking the "Super Monkey Ball" style.  However, I would argue that it allowed the developers to create even more complex levels that could only be traversed through the aid of jumping.  The mechanic itself added variety to the series, and it did little in terms of making the game too easy.
     Bottom line, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is just as creative as its predecessors, and you can pick it up pretty cheap for Wii nowadays.  It will definitely be worth the several hours of your time.


5.  The Phoenix Wright Series (DS, Wii) 
     On the surface, the Phoenix Wright games are nothing special.  They're just simple point-and-click murder mystery games.  However, there are certain aspects that make the entire series a pleasure to play through.  Once you get past the fact that you're going to be reading a lot, you can really appreciate the true nature of the game.

Is this clown a murderer?
That's up to you to find out!

     Almost all of the characters in the series are memorable in some way, and interacting with them is one of the most engaging aspects of the game.  Some might make you laugh; others might make you seethe with rage.  Also, as you look for clues at a crime scene, you begin to piece together who the real culprit is.  As a result, the way you view certain characters almost always changes as you play. 
     The games are all well written and suspenseful, and the dialogue that is shared in the courts and on the crime scenes can be engaging and memorable.  Also, although all of the cases revolve around murder, the game never usually adopts a dark and cynical tone.  On the contrary, there are times when it's light-hearted and genuinely hilarious.  You feel invested in the characters, and you want to keep playing just to see what happens next. 

...and I did mention that you will spend the majority of your time reading, right?  If you hate that kind of stuff, this game would still probably entertain you.  It's that engaging.

If you yell this a lot in real life after playing this game,
you are perfectly normal.

     These games can be pretty tough to find, because they're fairly old.  If you find them at your local game store, you should definitely pick them up, as they'll probably by pretty inexpensive.  However, if you don't feel like going on a hunt, you can find all three games on WiiWare for 1000 points each.


4.  The Fatal Frame Series (PS2, Xbox)
     As I've mentioned before, I'm an unbelievably large coward.  Games don't need to employ much effort to scare me.  However, for reasons I can't explain, I'm simply drawn to the Fatal Frame series.  Don't get me wrong, the games are absolutely terrifying.  Despite this, I still feel a desire to play them.

Well crap, there goes my bladder again...

     If you call yourself a fan of horror games, and you haven't played Fatal Frame, you're missing out on quite the experience.  Most horror games today like to focus on "shock scares" and grisly body horror and gore.  I'm willing to admit that those kinds of things will scare me every single time, but they will never compare to the suffocating sense of dread that I feel when playing a game where your only method of defense is an exorcising camera.
     The downside to Fatal Frame comes from trying to explain the premise to someone who has never heard of it before.  Basically, you have this magical camera, and you take pictures of ghosts in order to "kill" them before they attack you.  Sounds a little kiddish, right?  Believe me, I'm still looking for a better way to explain it, but that's the best I've got right now. 
     The fact of the matter is: Fatal Frame is downright terrifying.  As you play it, you slowly feel like your neck is being wrung from the tension that builds up.  The games are masters at messing with your head.  In the end, you will scare yourself just as much as the actual ghosts will scare you.  The entire atmosphere of the game is chilling and unnerving.  However, at the same time, the storylines are usually interesting enough to keep you playing.

You will spend more time contemplating what's down this
hallway than you will actually walking down it.

     If you ever see these games on the shelves, pick them up immediately.  They're harder to find than you think.  They're fairly old (the first one was released in 2001) and are apparently rare to boot.  You can find all three of them for PS2 and Xbox (original).  Seek them out while you still can.


3. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (PS2)
     Outside of the Internet, I feel like I'm the only person in the world who knows this game exists.  And let me tell you, it's really frustrating when I think that way.  In all honesty, Dark Alliance II is one of my most favorite games of all time.  I've drained countless hours on it, slashing up goblins, setting trolls on fire, collecting loot, customizing weapons...Despite not having an open world, there is a surprising number of things to do in this game.

I could gush about this title for hours...

     In general,  it's your standard fantasy RPG.  You choose a character at the beginning who specializes in a specific skill set, and you level them up as you progress.  Your weapons and armor can be customized to be pretty much anything you want.  Do you fancy having a sword that poisons your enemies as well as ignites them on fire?  If you buy the right gems, go right ahead!  You could spend hours customizing your equipment, if you wanted to.  Finishing this game from beginning to end will also eat up a great deal of your time, as the main storyline has a hefty number of things for you to do.

Flaming ice sword?  Yes, please.

     On top of all of this, you can play through the entire adventure with a friend.  Teaming up against an onslaught of baddies and essentially leveling up two characters at once makes for a unique experience that just doesn't get old.  If you've got a friend who willing to put in for the long haul, you're in for an incredibly engaging experience.
     In terms of picking this game up, once again: if you see it, buy it.  Few stores have copies of this game to sell.  It is without a doubt a rarity, which is not surprising, considering the fact that a used copy of this 6-year-old game is still fairly expensive.


2.  Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Wii)
     I heard nothing but positive, exciting things about this game before it launched.  People were ecstatic to play the game that would supposedly save the Wii from it's "casual funk."  As the release date approached, excitement grew, and buzz for the game was amplified.  Finally, when the game came out...not much happened.  I am absolutely baffled by the fact that Muramasa has only seen "mild success."  The game does more than just break away from the Wii's "kiddish" reputation.  It breaks the boundaries of how stunning a stylized game can look.

This isn't a cutscene for you to ogle at. 
You had better be ready to fight.

     Calling Muramasa a "hack-n-slash" game would be accurate, to be sure.  You're going to be cutting up baddies left and right, racking up huge combos as you go.  However, what's rare in a genre like this is just how satisfying each attack feels.  With every blow you make, ribbons of color spray out from your sword, creating a vibrant scene on the battleground.  In terms of the swords themselves, you have a choice of over 100 of them as you unlock them in the game, and the majority of them look and behave differently from the others, allowing for a great amount of customization and replayability.
     The only fault I can find with this game is perhaps the fact that the game might even be too stylized for some people.  The game is distinctly Japanese, from the art style to the storyline.  Even the characters are subtitled as they speak in their native Japanese language.  You can heal yourself by eating certain Japanese meals that you've probably never seen or heard of before.

...What even is this?...

     I can imagine that many of these things would turn a lot of people off to the game.  However, for those of you who aren't bothered by an overflow of Japanese culture, and are looking for something interesting to play on the Wii, look no further than this game.  It's challenging, atmospheric, and incredibly satisfying to play.  Also, it just plain looks amazing.  I'm going to put another screenshot in here for the heck of it.  But seriously, the game looks even better in motion.

Still-shots do not do this game justice.

1.  The BIT. Trip Series (Wii, 3DS)
     Quick, think of all of the most memorable experiences you've had with video games over the past ten years.  Odds are, none of them looked anything like this:

If you've never played these games before, I'm
willing to bet that I was right.

     Without a doubt, the BIT. Trip series is something that every gamer who is looking for something unique needs to experience.  To say the games "ooze style" would be selling them short.  The entire atmosphere that these games create are just plain hypnotic.
     It's hard to sum up the essence of the BIT. Trip series in a few brief paragraphs.  All of the games have to do with maintaining some kind of rhythmic element, but each one is entirely unique from the other.  In one game you'll be reflecting little dots in nostalgic "PONG" style along to a track of music.  In another, you'll be shooting down robots as you progress along a specified path.  In still another, you'll be platforming across a landscape, dodging obstacles to the beat of the music.

Yes, this is part of the same series.

     The variety between all 6 of these games is impressive, to say the least.  Not only that, but they all employ the same "Meat Boy" style difficulty that makes them engaging to play.  As such, they are all crazy hard, but as you spend more time with them, you'll find yourself breezing through levels in a trance, unaware of what you're actually doing.
     One of the most interesting things about these games is the tone that each individual installment sets.  As Commander Video, the main character, progresses through each game, he is introduced to a new chapter in his life.  The first game revolves around the idea of his birth, and the tone of the songs help to portray a feeling of growing anticipation. 
     Fast forward a few games, and you'll be playing the moments when Commander Video experiences the excitement of living his own life, and the music is both peaceful and fast-paced.  Throughout the series, you'll follow Commander Video from his birth to his inevitable death, and everything is carried out so subtly that you wouldn't even notice that a story was being told at all if you didn't want to pay attention.

Pictured Above: A depiction of frustration and eternal struggle.
Yes, really.

     The music that's present in these games often has a "chiptune" feel to them.  However, all of it is incredibly catchy, as well as hypnotic.  Playing these games feels cathartic if you get into the groove of them, and struggling to reach that level of mastery is a fun challenge on its own.  As you play, you'll come to realize that the BIT. Trip Series is like nothing you've ever played, and yet it all feels pleasantly familiar.

Alex Neuse, the designer for the BIT. Trip games, commented
on the fact that screenshots for these games were never very good,
due to the fact that they were "just a bunch of squares."

     If you're hankering for something truly unique in a game, look no further than BIT. Trip.  Currently, all of the individual games are available on WiiWare for 600-800 points each.  However, there is also a compilation that has recently been released for Wii retail, which includes all of the games in one package, as well as bonus challenges for each game and an official soundtrack.  The 3DS offers a similar compilation of all of the games, but it lacks the bonus challenges and soundtrack, making up for it with 3D effects and portability.  Here is a fan-made trailer for both of them, which shows all of the games in motion.  In the end, the BIT. Trip series isn't just a game, it's an experience.  And it's one that gamers everywhere should familiarize themselves with.