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"Underrated Gamers"

The other day MwA (Monkey_with_Attitude) mentioned something to me about underrated gamers. He said I was one, and he was one and just made me realise that we are a dying breed.

Take a look at the last few games I've claimed and bought; Reign of Fire, Red Card, Worms Blast and Bomberman Generations. All highly underrated games but a whole lot of fun to play. Reign of Fire, for example, is one of my best GameCube games. I have 21, all including games such as Mario Sunshine, Eternal Darkness ad Resident Evil. Let's be honest, Reign of Fire didn't get much marketing; it's only selling point, to people who hadn't played it, was the fact that it was a film.

But there is a reason that many of these games are underrated. It's mainly because of the market dominance mascots have; consoles are hyped because of the Mario's, the Lara's and the Link's of today. But because of his hype, you can get let down very easily.

Just look at Mario Sunshine; a huge letdown. After about 30 minutes of play I wanted to run off and play Mario 64 and relive the true magic that once was.

But that's the beauty of being an underrated gamer; you're never disappointed. Because I've been gaming for a long time, I normally know what a good game is and what a bad game is. Out of all 21 of my GameCube games, I like all of them. Sure, they may get tiresome after a while; games like Doshin especially, but I can still sit down, fire them up and enjoy every single one of them.

Look at the future line up of games many people will want; Zelda, Metroid, Resident Evil Zero, all of which excite me, but the games I'm really looking forward to are the unnoticed, untouched, neglected games that don't seem to have a place in the gaming world and are seemingly ignored, no matter what people tell you. When I tell people about really good games they normally say 'I would, but I need money for Zelda' or something similar.

Me, MwA and the few more will most likely be looking forward to game like Robotech, Super Monkey Ball and Wario World. It, in a way, makes me sad that developers can spend so much time to make such a masterpiece and then it can simply be dislodged from everyone's 'Buying thoughts' simply because it doesn't include a leggy blond with big assets and one helluva' gun.

So while all of you were playing Mario Sunshine, convincing yourselves it was a brilliant game, I was playing Worms Blast, laughing in your face. No, I don't have spite for those of you who aren't underrated gamers; I just feel deeply sorry for you. We may be a dying breed, but I'm very glad I'm one of them.

So, next time you see Splinter Cell and Robotech side by side in a shop, which will you get? I know what I will...

Thanks for reading

RiCkOsS

I think it's safer to call them 'Underrated Games' as many of them are. I suppose much of it depends on taste though.

The sales this year have put me into a very good position as a gamer and also because I nearly have every 'big' Cube game I wanted.

So what did I do?

I took a look online and looked around the shops and got me some bargains on games I would never of bought before.

One of them being Extreme G3. Before I got it I took a look online at the reviews for the game and surprisingly it was all good yet I hadn't heard talk of this game or anything. So I got it and now I love it and I am happy I have it in my collection.

Another game I got as a GAD claim was Capcom vs SNK 2 EO which I normally wouldn't buy at full price but would pick up in the sales. Following reviews from people like Rickoss and just going with my instinct on "I want a 2D fighter" I got it.

Then I picked up Sega Soccer Slam for cheap which should of got ALOT more attention. I was amazed when I found out it was on the Playstation 2 and Xbox aswell, I never knew that and yet still nobody had played it.

I look at my N64 collection, it's all games which got great review scores and were hyped up but some of them I didn't like at all. I bought them at full price aswell and you know how much N64 games use to cost...a bomb.

Usually it's the bigger companys which have the money to advertise and stuff but that doesn't mean they make the better games. Just becuase a game which was big (like Mario) came out and was great it doesn't mean the sequel is going to be the same or anymore original. Infact, there are many small developers out there that make some great games which are simply ignored but are terribley fun to play.

FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Except for games like Fifa, which are the scorn of the world and they
> stop brilliant games such as Ico go totally unnoticed by the casual
> market.
> Ugh.

Actually, having played Fifa 2003, I must say that it's quite a good game, in comparison to earlier versions.

maddmun wrote:
> NGC gave it a 20, it's not that bad, but it's still utter rubbish. So,
> it's under-rated. Just because something is under-rated doesn't make
> it good. and if something is overrated, it isn't necessarily bad.

*Sigh*

An underrated game is something is said to be bad but is actually good and an overrated game the opposite. If somethingssaid to be crap but it's not as crap as people say, you can't say it's underrated can you?

But, once again, Reign of Fire got scores of about 6/10 when it really deserved a lot more; it's not bad it's good, not 'as bad'.

Okay?

... MGS2 being the perfect example. Its not very good, let's face it, but a lot of people just can't believe it.
Sequals sell, good or not (providing the original was)

Except for games like Fifa, which are the scorn of the world and they stop brilliant games such as Ico go totally unnoticed by the casual market.
Ugh.

Rickoss wrote:
> maddmun wrote:
> Take Jeremy McGrath Super Cross world, under-rated, but
> still crap.
>
> If it's crap, it isn't underrated, is it?

NGC gave it a 20, it's not that bad, but it's still utter rubbish. So, it's under-rated. Just because something is under-rated doesn't make it good. and if something is overrated, it isn't necessarily bad.

I feel the same why about Neverwinter Nights, it's just so dire.

I just leave it on the shelf under my desk, I can't be bothered to sell it.

I actually *tried* to play it again at the weekend. I cried.


I think one day I will just rush out of the door and fling it upon a passer by.

Rickoss wrote:
> It's crap at first, i'll give you that. The controls seem jerky but
> after the first level it starts to get really good.

I played to the third level, and it was still shít. I'd like to see the dragon levels, but I really can't be bothered playing through any more human levels to get to them.

Pong.

Insane Bartender wrote:
> But Reign of Fire is crap... I've had it for months, and the only
> reason I haven't sold it is I don't really want to have to touch it
> again.

It's crap at first, i'll give you that. The controls seem jerky but after the first level it starts to get really good.

maddmun wrote:
> Take Jeremy McGrath Super Cross world, under-rated, but
> still crap.

If it's crap, it isn't underrated, is it?