Hidden Gems!
Absolute classic video games that may have slipped under the rader of most gamers, not however for our retro gaming guro with his unpresidented knowledge Retro Gamer Tom.
RGT has played a plethora of video games in his life, and has unearthed some awesome games that you may have missed...
This is hidden gems!
Playstation
The Red Star
Release Date: 2007
Action/side scrolling shooter
Metacritic Score:
PS2 72/100
PSP 71/100
Price: £7 - £12
Developed by xs games (Siberia Series) the red star was a bit of a hybrid game, but a very good one at that, and out of the vast xs games library, one of their best in my opinion, part side scrolling beat em up / shooter, part shoot em up. The Red Star is graphically impressive with lovely depth to the 2.5d graphics and some nice parallax scrolling. It's a basic Russian based story, an evil leader that needs to be overthrown by his own army. Now gameplay is arcade like but tough, you can vary your actions from weapons to melee, using different actions on different enemies. Now some boss battles instantly go to an almost top down shooter style battle, unique and very well implemented. Like I say it's a tough game, but it's got that replay factor. Now I paid pennies for this game years ago but has started to creep up as the PS2 gets older (happy 23rd birthday PS2 ) . So if you collect for the system or even have a PS2 ( psp was download only ) and want something quite original and great fun to play then I can't recommend this title enough.
Colony Wars
Release Date: 1997
Space Sim Shooter
Metacritic Score:
PS1 91/100
Price: £4 - £7
Developed by psygnosis this PS1 space simulator shooter is probably one of the best you'll play, and I mean ever. Even though it's in an era of blocky polygons, they managed to make this game stunning for the time, and still really good for today. There's a bit of a complicated story to learn and the difficulty is quite steep, but it's got that one more try factor, plus depending on how you do in the levels depends on what ending you get, and warning there not all happy. Control wise there close to perfect, and still gives you that feeling of being in space, yes some of the acting is straight out of res 1 and some of the cutscenes are the blocky polygons with the PS1s favourite trick of warping, but for sheer gameplay alone this game was way ahead of its time. Good news is you can pick this up for less than a fiver! And mint at that. And even more good news is there's 2 more in the series, vengeance and red sun, and believe it or not they get better as the series goes on. If you have a PS1 and like collecting for it, then this is a must, for the value Vs gameplay alone.
Sega Soccer Slam
Release Date: 2002
Arcade Football
Metacritic Score:
PS2 66/100
Price £5 - £8
This to me is Sega's attempt at mario strikers. Now it's not as good as the mario version but for its price there's some great fun to be had, whether it's in single player quest mode where you work your way through playing various teams saving money for power ups to give your team the edge or in multiplayer mode playing against friends earning bragging rights scoring some unbelievable goals! Great little arcade sports title which is also available for GameCube and Xbox.
Driver 76
Release Date: 2007
Driving
Metacritic Score:
PSP 57/100
Price: £4 - £8
Driver 76 is if GTA and driver had a baby, is was met with better scores by users rather than critics. Now I loved this little gem, by all means not perfect but it's got decent controls, a generic but decent story, and doesn't over stay it's welcome. This video game is what I would call a holiday game, short story, not to hard to complete, cheap to buy. You can have this completed in a week away by just jumping in for an hour a day and doing a few missions. Now psp consoles and some games are creeping up in price now so this being the price it is, is the definition of a hidden gem!
Shox
Release Date: 2002
Arcade Racing
Metacritic Score:
PS2 78/100
Price: £4 - £6
This to me is a real hidden gem, it's easy to get hold of, it's very cheap, and it's great fun. Shox is an arcade racer with lovely graphics for the era, with quick fun racing. A cross between rally and rally cross, it's basically an EA version of sega rally. It's got 24 licenced vehicles, and tracks that vary from desert, jungle, snow etc but tracks have 3 shox zones where the player is graded for their driving style in each zone, 3 gold's and you unlock a night track. It's a very arcade style game, whether it's the pumping music or the commentators, it's high octane all the way. It's a tough game and hard to master, but that gives it that replay value.
Galaga Destination Earth
Release Date: 2000
Shoot Em Up
Metacritic Score:
PS1 72 - 100
Price: £8 - £15
When it comes to Galaga every gamer thinks of the original arcade cabinet from the 80s, which has also had numerous ports on various systems. Now not everyone liked this version because they really did change it up from the original. For me I think it's really unique, decent graphics and definitely worth a play if your either into your shooters or a playstation collector. This game will flip between side scrolling, top down and behind the ship 3d. It's weird to start with but once you get used to it it's great fun, but essentially it still has that Galaga DNA. Bit of a story to which helps keep you invested, plus they've flipped the standard gameplay a bit too, whereas you could free one of your captured ship's to fight along side you in original you now have a tractor beam of your own to capture enemy ships to fight with you. For the money a bargain as shooters are only going up nowadays.
Beyond Two Souls
Release Date: 2013
Metacritic Score:
PS3 - 70/100
PS4 - 72/100
PC - 76/100
Price:
PS3 - £1.50
Steel book - £5-£10
PS4 Double Pack with Heavy Rain - £10-£15
This game is in my all time top ten. If you're a stranger things fan then play this as it's similar in certain ways. It's amazingly acted from names like Elliot Page and Willem Defoe. It's a very good story that if you play in the original mode is random snipets of her life which is fantastic. It has that sixth sense story drop that's incredible and really hits, I even piped my eye at how powerful it was delivered. It's the David Cage/Quantic Dream Game that gamers don't talk enough about. If you've played Detroit Become Human and you enjoyed it, then do not miss this. Especially at it's current fantastic price point.
X-Box
Crimson Skies
Release Date: 2003
Arcade Flight
Metacritic Score:
Xbox 88/100
Price: £5 - £10
FASA Studio done a fantastic job making this original Xbox exclusive. And what an exclusive it is. This game is set in an alternative steam punk like 1930s. This is like pirates of the skies, you'll pilot different aircraft on various missions to take out the evil pirates in an almost movie like setting. For me this is an absolute must own if you collect for the system, and one of the many great exclusives the original Xbox has. Cheap to buy for now, amazing tight controls, and a variety of missions that will keep you coming back.
Blood Wake
Xbox exclusive
Release date 2001
Naval combat
Metacritic score:
Xbox 71/100
Price: £5 good £10 near mint (as of December 2022)
Definitely worth picking up if you have an original Xbox for the price alone, great fun, basic story, great controls, and quite unusual to have a boat combat game so it's a little something different.
Nintendo
Zombies (ate my neighbours)
Release Date: 1993
Run & Gun
Metacritic Score:
SNES N/A
Price: under £20
Now if your a Super Nintendo/Megadrive fan and you haven't played this then get yourself a copy now! This game is absolutely fantastic, it's got that 1950s b movie aesthetic in pixels look, that looks stunning, it's controls are spot on, great sound effects and music too. You basically have to rescue all your neighbours from various different enemies from zombies to aliens to evil dolls, you'll have various different weapons and bombs to help you achieve this through 48 plus bonus levels. This plays so well and is very addictive, but best of all you can purchase this on the main 3 modern systems with it's follow up ghoul patrol for cheap! No excuse now gamers!
Super Mario Party
Release date: 2018
Party game
Metacritic Score:
Switch 76/100
Price: £20 - £30 like most first party Nintendo games this is never gonna be a £5 bargain bin find. But if your lucky you might find a sale or a good eBay buy for around £20.
This is probably one of the best easy to pick up and play party games and only introduced to me in recent times after a little ucp meet up. If you regularly game with friends and you have a few joycons give this a go. Even for the most casual of gamers or as I've found out, for anyone that doesn't normally play at all, the ease of play and fun factor makes it a no brainer.
Deadly Creatures
Release Date: 2009
Action Adventure
Metacritic Score:
Wii 72/100
Price: £5 - £10
This THQ Wii exclusive game is something very different not only from the Devs but also in general. You will alternative between being a tarantula and a scorpion on a survival mission. It's actually quite realistic and graphically on Wii very good. It's split into chapters and you'll switch between the two with the odd boss battle chucked in. It is motion controls but implemented very well and easy to learn. Plus it uses the voices of Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Hopper strangely enough! ( Thanks @FatZangief )With all the amount of shovelware on the Wii sometimes little gems like this get easily overlooked, but this really is something well made and different, whilst trying to utilise the Wii controls. It's cheap and is a real decent edition to any Wii collection.
Lumo
Release Date: 2016
Isometric classic puzzle adventure
Metacritic Score:
PS4 73/100
Xbox One 73/100
PC 77/100
Vita N/A
Switch 77/100
Price: £8 - £15
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This little game is basically a love letter to the isometric puzzle platformer of yesteryear, and that's where it's fan base really lies. Anyone new to the genre would fall off this game pretty quick, but if you played the likes of knightlore, or batman on the 8 bit micros back in the day, then this will resonate with you. ( Really showing my age now! ) It's a light hearted little story which sees you go back and forth through the rooms solving puzzles with light platforming which is a really great little retro adventure. Whether it's the sound effects which will transport you straight back to the late 80s or the collectable cassette tapes, it's a proper nostalgia fest worth any retro gamers time.
Cursed Mountain
Release Date: 2009
Action/Adventure/Survival Horror
Metacritic Score:
Wii 67/100
Price: £3 - £5
Cursed Mountain is to me a bit of a res 4 clone, yes the critics didn't rate it much but was better received with the Wii massive, but it's got that 3rd person action adventure/survival horror feel about it. Yes it's motion controls but there ok not to bad at all. But I think where it really shines is making this style of game in the Himalayas. You play as Eric looking for his lost mountain climbing brother, where along the way you'll encounter demons and ghosts of lost souls. Can you find Eric's brother alive? I really enjoy this title, there's not many horror titles on the Wii, but I think deep silver done a great job making one for the system. If you like res 4, have a Wii, or just want a bargain underrated title then give cursed mountain a go.
SEGA
Wing Arms
Release Date: 1995
Flight Simulator
Metacritic Score:
Sega Saturn N/A
Price: £15 - £25
Wing arms is probably one of my favourite flying games on the system. Described as a flight sim it's more on the arcade side but with amazingly tight controls it definitely a fun experience. Story wise it's slim pickings but really doesn't need to be much as it's all about the gameplay. Basically the company Avalon had been producing weaponry and planes for the war, after 1945 when the war finished there profits dropped so they started fighting allied countries to keep the war going. Yep pretty weak, but the game is so much fun don't worry. You can fly cockpit view or chase cam and take part in various missions from dogfights to bombing bases. Because gameplay is so addictive it's great fun and a game that regularly goes under the radar when talking all things Saturn. If you collect for Saturn or just want a decent flight combat game then why not give Wing Arms a try.
Starlight
Release Date: 1991
Space Trading/Combat/SIM/RPG
Metacritic Score:
Megadrive/Genesis N/A
PC N/A
Amiga/C64 N/A
Atari ST/Mac N/A
Price: £20 - £30
Bit more retro this one, but it is one hell of a game for the generation and platform it's on. I played this on the Megadrive and recently, still amazes me how in depth this game is, 270 star systems and 800 planets on a 16 bit cartridge! You'll start in a space station where you can buy and sell minerals and artifacts you found and mined. You can build your crew here, and upgrade ship parts. You can find planets to mine, and you'll have an terrain vehicle once on the planet to explore. You can even log planets for colonization. Now this is a mere sample of what you can do in the game. This is no man's sky 1.0. If you collect for the Megadrive, this is such a great title for the system and one of my all-time faves. Yes it's £20 plus, but with the price of retro nowadays and the hours you can put in this game it's a bargain.
Empire Of Steel
Release Date: 1992
Side Scrolling Shooter
Metacritic Score:
SEGA 72/100 (Nintendo DS)
Price: £20 - £30 boxed £5 - £10 loose cart £2.50 steam.
Empire Of Steel or Steel Empire in America, is a steampunk side scrolling shooter that has a more relaxed difficulty curve. Has a basic but nice little story, lovely graphics, and even some basic upgrades and levelling up. This had various different releases with a graphical upgrade on the Gameboy advance, but it's really expensive. But it should be getting a switch port and is currently very cheap on steam. Overall this shooter is very reasonable for the original system, it's definitely worth your time and had quite a few different ways to play it. Enjoy
Haunting Staring Polterguy
Release Date: 1993 / 2006 (psp EA replay)
Action isometric
Metacritic Score:
SEGA N/A
Price: £20 - £40 £5 - £12 (EA replay)
This is your classic 90s 16 bit game, all the tude, different to anything else, with a funny story. That's it in a nutshell. Avenge your untimely death on a faulty skateboard by haunting the company owner! Seriously though this is great fun. Isometric game that has you planting traps and scaring each family member till they leave the property. Then you move on to the next. With over 400 items to use, 4 different houses to scare, and with your own ecto meter, that once it's ran out you drop to the under world to replenish. Great game, great fun and not a bad price, especially for a psp owner if you buy EA replay!
Fire & Forget 2
Release date:
1990
Metacritic Score:
N/A
Price:
Master System
£5 (cartridge only)
£30 (mint CIB)
This is a great little arcade game on the master system. If you're into 8bit/16bit driving games then give this a try. A pretty much unheard of game along the lines of spy hunter/outrun or even chase HQ. Nice controls good graphics for the system, and a very good price for an understated classic. Great one to add to that master system collection.
Multiple Platform
Driver San Francisco
Release Date: 2011
Driving story based game
Metacritic Score:
PS3 79/100
Xbox 360 80/100
PC 80/100
Wii 64/100
Price: £7 - £12 depending on version, or for around £30 - £40 you could pick up the special edition with John Tanner's car model.
Nice little edition.
This was quite a unique driver game but really got the series back on track after the last few car crashes! (Sorry that's terrible ) . The story itself is your average standard affair, your detective John Tanner hunting down a crime lord. The difference being the 'shift' mode where you can zoom out of your car and enter the mind of a person in any other vehicle on the road and take charge of that vehicle, which makes missions and chases so different to any other driving game out there. If you like your driving games definitely give this ago just for the use of 'shift' alone. ( But I would probably steer clear of the Wii port, definitely the weakest ).Out of all the games I could of randomly chose with my eyes shut this was a good un.
Lara Croft And The Temple Of Osiris
Release date: 2014
Isometric action/adventure/puzzle
Metacritic score:
PC 73/100
PS4 74/100
XONE 72/100
Price: £8 - £12 but for £10 - £20 you could pick up the gold edition with Lara figure, artbook, and map.
It's a lovely little set, but it's only available for PC/PS4.
This is a great little game with fantastic replayability. Great on your own but comes into its own with up to 4 players. If you like games like diablo then you'll enjoy this, awesome controls lovely graphics and very easy to learn and get into, from fighting enemies together to working out the really enjoyable puzzles. This game goes under the radar when it comes to Lara, but don't let that put you off, definitely worth a play through.
Puzzle Chronicles
Release Date: 2010
Puzzle RPG
Metacritic Score:
PSP 62/100
DS N/A
Xbox 360 57/100
PS3 N/A
PC NA
Price: £2 - £8
This konami based puzzle RPG is something a little bit different, don't be put off by the lengthy tutorial or the mediocre metacritic score, there's a good little game at its heart. Part puzzle part RPG, Puzzle Chronicles works well doing both. Your a barbarian who sets out to rescue your people, and you'll do this by fighting your enemies in a gem matching puzzle game battle. At the end of the day the slightly crude graphics or the story isn't gonna win any awards but it's great fun, something different and for under £5 for a decent physical copy you can go wrong, great pick up play ability and not to long to complete.
Cold Fear
Release Date: 2005
Survival Horror
Metacritic Score:
PS2 68/100
PC 66/100
Xbox 71/100
Price £10 - £20
Cold Fear is the first entry into the survival Horror genre by Unisoft, and what an entry it is. This late sixth generation entry really goes under the radar and surprisingly has mediocre metacritic Scores, but don't let that put you off. This is a great 3rd person game with a bit of a different story setting. You work for the coastguard and get a call from a Russian whaling ship, and once you board that's where it starts going bad. Some really good controls with an interesting story, plus as it's at the end of the generation it looks fantastic, almost gen 7. With prices starting to rise on this gem, I'd recommend the Xbox version as it's cheaper and arguably the best.
Rad Rogers
Release Date: 2018
Action Platformer
Metacritic Score:
PS4 66/100
Xbox one 67/100
PC 73/100
Switch 62/100
Price: £5 - £10
I played the PS4 version of this and really enjoyed the game, the setting, that retro feel and the humour. You play as rad and you get sucked into your TV video game with your sidekick rusty the pc which allows you to have guns. You have to find 4 puzzle pieces on each level to progress, but with the nice added touch of a mini game where you play with rusty where you have to fix a glitch in the game. This is a decent good fun little action Platformer with good sound and controls. And as I always say, so cheap you can't go wrong!
Velocity 2x
Various platforms
Release date 2014 Shooter/puzzle platformer
Metacritic score:
Xbox one 84/100
PS4 86/100
Ps vita 90/100
Price: under £10 but recommend going for the PS4 critical mass edition with cd sound track and extra dlc levels.
Awesome game can't recommend enough, unique style of space shooter with warping which adds something different, and the platforming is almost run and gun in stages and really makes this something different to play.
Agatha Christie ABC Murders
Release Date: 2016
Mystery Investigation
Metacritic Score:
PS4 67/100
Nintendo DS 53/100
Switch 69/100
Xbox one 66/100
Price:
PS4/Xbox £6 - £10
Switch £20 - £30
Steam £11
I really enjoyed ABC murders even though it's in a genre I don't normally play. I played on the PS4 so can't comment on the other versions. This was pretty much played through in 2 sittings over one Xmas break, and with my dad! I love poirot and really enjoyed the cell shaded style of graphics, I think most people thought it was quite a shallow game, but I don't think all games need to be 100+ hour blockbusters. This is quite short but with a great story from Agatha Christie, good puzzles, and it keeps you locked in wanting to solve the crimes and find the killer. For how cheap it is and a great little mystery game it's well worth a purchase, and now it's on the switch, as in the words of George...'its perfect for gaming on the go!' Sorry George.
Blur Release Date: 2010
Racing Metacritic Score:
Xbox 360 82/100
PC 81/100
PS3 81/100
Price: £5 - £10
As a very highly rated racing game and I had high hopes for Blur.. and it didn't disappoint. The easiest way to describe Blur, is it's bigger boys mario kart. You have licensed cars and 8 different power ups, great graphics, with a decent career mode. But the really awesome part is you can play 4 player split screen. And that's what makes it worth it today, great fun to play on a game night with friends, especially if your all done with mario. It's still cheap, and the only disappointing thing is it never got a sequel.
Jackass The Game
Release Date: 2007
Party Game/Mini Games
Metacritic Score:
PS2 58/100
PSP 58/100
DS 35/100
Price: £8 - £12
Having never played the DS version and by the scores I'd give that a miss, the low scores for PS2 and PSP I find very low. Now don't go into this thinking it's a well engineered party game, it's Jackass!! It's crude, it's silly humour, but....above all it's great fun and hilarious to play with a few friends. It wasn't that long ago this was a 50p game that along with who wants to be a millionaire no one wanted, but it's starting to go up in price as people start to realise how much fun this is! So grab a copy and enjoy poo diving or zorbing on top of a sky scraper!
Lake
Release Date: 2021/2022
Graphic Story Adventure
Metacritic Score:
PC 70/100
Xbox Series X 71/100
Xbox One 73/100
PS5 77/100
PS4 N/A
Price: £10 - £15
Lake is a game that intrigued me ever since George said he had played it. I eventually got round to giving it a go this year, and I loved it, it's so relaxing coming back to the little town to cover your father's mail delivery for two weeks, and you love it? With a chilled experience, a great story and an absorbing world to interact with will you come to the right decision?? Also it's only about 5/6 hours with a very easy platinum. A great all rounder that's cheap and different.
Sky force Reloaded 2016
Release Date: 2016
Vertical Shooter
Metacritic Score
PS4
74/100
Xbox One
86/100
Switch
74/100
Price: £8 (digital only)
This is a very underrated shooter, don't think mad bullet hell chaos, this is a shooter that rewards completing achievements from rescuing hostages to shooting every enemy to not getting hit yourself. In my mind one of the very best shooters that's very addictive in a kinder rogue like way.
Song Of The Deep
Action/Adventure Metroidvania
Metacritic Score:
PS4
69/100
Xbox One
66/100
PC
71/100
Price: £12.99 (digital only)
Beautiful little submarine adventure game about a little girl looking for her father. You explore, upgrade your sub and follow the story told by the narrator. There is some combat but mostly exploration. Fantastic little game that not many people talk about.
Gear shifters
Vehicle combat/horizontal shooter
Release Date: 2021
Metacritic Score:
N/A
Price: £15-£20 physical
£20 (digital)
If you like (or are old enough to remember 🤣) spy hunter, or you like side scrolling shooters like R-Type or Darius, then I think this is a must play! It's got a basic but enough story, it's got upgrades, great arcade action, awesome boss fights and very addictive gameplay. I ended up buying switch and PS4 special edition cause I love this game so much. It's perfect for the switch but still worth getting on other platforms, and oddly a better deal to get physical. This game is not spoken about enough, it's so much fun.
Battle Axe
Arcade isometric/top down hack and slash.
Release Date: 2021
Metacritic Score:
PS4
76/100
Switch
72/100
Price:
£12-£20 depending on platform
Battle Axe is an absolutely beautiful pixelart style hack and slash game from yesteryear. This game wouldn't look out of place on a mega CD or as the graphics are that good, on the Neo Geo. It's a nostalgia trip for sure, especially if you like your retro inspired games then this is a fantastic option. Like gear shifters another great game published by Numskull Games.
Shadow Complex Remastered
Release Date:
OG 2009 (Xbox 360)
Remastered 2015/2016
Metacritic Score:
PS4
80/100
Xbox One
74/100
Price:
Physical is unfortunately Limited Run so around £100 but digital from as low as £7.99
So glad this got a remaster, yes the limited run physical is very expensive but it's available digital on playstation store and Xbox, and it's cheap. It's a side scrolling platformer shooter but with some depth as you can shoot into the background. Standard 80s action movie style story line, but unique gameplay that's really good fun and doesn't over stay it's welcome.
Bloody Drive
Release Date:
2010
Metacritic Score:
PS3 - 47/100😮
Xbox 360 - 40/100🤯
Price:
PS3 - £10-£15
Xbox 360 - £3-£6
If Dead Rising and Twisted Metal had a baby it would be called Blood Drive! To cut to the chase it's a post apocalyptic gory racing game where the idea is to destroy your opponents (Twisted Metal) but while also mowing down hordes of zombies (Dead Rising), there's pick ups like Mario Kart from weapons to health and speed boosts. Play the 5 cups to start with, before going on to the Blood Drive Championship. It still amazes me that this got review bombed so low, cause it's a great game for any driving games fan, especially if you like Motorstorm etc. But as you can see from the PS3 price it's creeping up as gamers are now realising how good it is, so bag yourself a copy before it gets silly.