The Game Fanatics: We Bet You've Never Played This Game! (And About 5 Others)

By: Jeff Smith
Published: May 23, 2012
at 1:19 pm

We’re all busy gamers here at The Game Fanatics, but we don’t get to play every game that comes out. Sometimes there’s too many games to play at once, and other times we just can’t buy everything.

If you’re a gamer, you can undoubtedly relate. As a result, some games don’t get the spotlight that others do, and even more are swept under the rug. Not just bad games, but genuinely inventive or entertaining experiences. These are some of our favorite games that we’re pretty sure you haven’t played, or maybe haven’t even heard of them.

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (PlayStation)

The Lunar series is unique among JRPGs. They were originally released on the SEGA CD, but saw most of their recognition when they were ported to the PS1. Probably one of the funniest RPGs I’ve ever played, they mix serious and convincing circumstances (aka the end of the world), with very real and relatable characters, who have more than a bit of non-serious banter between them. Lunar 2 is probably the lesser known of the two, because it has no modern console remakes (while Lunar was remade on the Game Boy Advance and PSP). It is also arguably the better of the two. It did literally everything right. Being a big time skip down from the first title, you were able to realize the aftermath of your exploits in the first game. Character cameos and involvement were done extremely well, while the newly introduced cast was just as likeable as the original. Not to mention the characters were not generic archetypes, They were unique, and real. They were convincing and it’s easy to believe they are how real people would have acted. The love story between the protagonist and his lady of interest was also very deep, even given the standards RPGs set in that category when compared to games as a whole. With the twisting plot and the genuine character growth, that progressed in a very believable fashion, this title is one of the best RPGs I’ve ever played, and it’s something more people need to experience. –William Harmon

OverBlood (PlayStation)

Released on May 22, 1997, OverBlood (read our review here) is a unique kind of game. No, it didn’t push the industry forward in any meaningful way, but it expertly walks the line between “decent game” and “fantastic accidental comedy,” and that alone is something worth talking about. I’ve mentioned before how the series is full of cool ideas with poor execution, but that’s half the fun of OverBlood. An ambitious story about the morality of cloning and human experimentation is turned into a man and his clone fighting over a clone of the man’s dead wife, and they all look no younger than age 32. As a side note, you could also play the game almost entirely in first-person, and it shows an eerie resemblance to Mirror’s Edge, which, along with OverBlood, was published by industry giant Electronic Arts. –Jeff Smith

Sneak King (Xbox, Xbox 360)

Sneak King. Burger King gave out free copies as a promotion if you ordered a specific item at the time, like the Omelette Sandwich or their BK Joe coffee. These appear in the game as food offerings from the King, who sneaks up to hungry characters. Missions are accomplished after feeding a certain amount of people, and you lose if you are spotted mid-sneak attack by surrounding people. There is no dialogue, no music, and silly sound effects. I’ll admit I played it for at least 6 hours. –Michelle Quillen

Cannon Spike (Dreamcast)

As the Dreamcast was fading out, Capcom released an unusual top down shooter very much like the classic Smash TV. Cannon Spike, (not just Cammy’s patented special move) was a shooter that was very addictive and challenging. This title gave players a variety of characters throughout some of Capcom’s classics, including Street Fighter’s Charlie Nash & Cammy, Capcom’s iconic Megaman, Author (Ghosts n’ Goblins), Shiba (Three Wonders), B.B. Hood (Darkstalkers) & Simone (who is very similar to Lt. Kurosawa from Capcom’s Alien Vs. Predator Arcadebeat-em-up). All these characters had unique attacks and specials throughout this action-packed title.The game was flawed. Having a practically non-existent storyline, a somewhat dull soundtrack and a low number of levels. However, these things didn’t stop Cannon Spike from being a tricky old-school shooter that was worth picking up and while not being the most successful game in the Dreamcast library, I would argue it to be a gem in the catalog, with gameplay that was difficult enough to require a life bar reminiscent of side scrolling Ninja Gaiden.That being said I’m still hopeful it gets HD-Remake treatment cause the frenzied shooting in this title is still perfect for “pick up and play” treatment whether it is for 5 minutes or 2 hours. –Chris Calasahan

Hybrid Heaven (Nintendo 64)

Back in 1999, people were looking very much forward to Hybird Heaven. If you owned an N64, there weren’t very many choices for RPG-loving Nintendo loyalists. What’s more the PlayStation had just received what would become a landmark title for the system, Konami and Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid. Hybrid Heaven, also from Konami, looked as though it would blend the style of the enviable Metal Gear Solid with interesting and new RPG battle elements. The final product, however, was disappointing. Viewed through a modern lens, Hybrid Heaven is still not the breakthrough exclusive fans were hoping for, but it’s entertaining in its own right. The story is completely nuts, with underground bases, cloning, aliens, government conspiracies, and genetic experimentation all having their own specific thread in Hybrid Heaven’s bizarre, unique cloth. The gameplay shifts from third-person shooter to an almost indescribable turn-based real-time menu-based arena combat system with a golf-swing meter. Dialogue is over-the-top, the enemy designs range from robot dinosaurs to the cherry pie man from Master of Disguise, but Hybrid Heaven is worth a look, as a relic of a bygone era, and as one of the N64’s best “accidental comedies” in the vain of games like OverBlood. –Jeff Smith

Killer 7 (GameCube, PlayStation 2)

Killer7 is one of the strangest games I’ve ever played. It’s also one of my favorites. It follows the story of Harman Smith, leader of the Smith Syndicate, a group of assassins tasked to take out a group called The Heaven Smiles, insane suicidal bombers. The Smith Syndicate is compromised of Harman and his 7 alternate personalities that (maybe) physically manifest themselves. And that’s only where the strange begins. Killer7 was made by Suda51, who later made games like No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, and the upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw. So he is definitely no stranger to weird. Really, the whole game is one giant mind screw.

Even the game’s controls are weird. It’s really more of a rail shooter with branching paths, with some minor puzzles and some really messed up enemies. When fighting the Heaven Smiles you have two options: 1) Find the sweet spot for an instant kill, or 2) shoot the hell out of them. Ammo is infinite, but reloading takes time, and if the enemies get close they will explode.

There really isn’t any other game like Killer7. Visually it is really impressive. One of the best example of cell shading done right. The characters are all really cool (Dan Smith in particular). The story is really bizarre and it’s worth playing just to see what’s around the next corner. There’s some really crazy gunplay, and the game has a very macabre sense of humor (see Kess Bloodysunday, or Susie Summer) It’s violent, dark, fun and insane. Some of my favorite words! –Greg DeVries

There you have it. Some are obscure, and some are just guilty pleasures, but I’d like to hear just how many of you have played these games. If you have a game like this of your own, let us know in the comments below.