What 'hidden gem' of a game did you enjoy the most, that you haven't played in a long time?

[Kapone33]

Never played Project Snowblind but it brings to mind TimeSplitters 2.

Hands down, the most zany and fun FPS on the PS2. You fight enemies in 90s Siberia, Great Depression era Chicago, 1800s Notre Dame, 1850s Wild West, 2019 (lol) NeoTokyo, etc. All with era-appropriate weapons. Movement is fast and fluid, you get some interesting gadgets for puzzles, and the multiplayer was very GoldenEye with a more distintive flavor and updated for the PS2 era.

Fantastic music to boot. (Check out the Notre Dame and NeoTokyo track!). And the atmospheric mood on some levels is downright creepy.

This is what AAA games used to be like. Ambitious and audacious enough to claim the "game" label proudly instead of trying to copy the movie industry constantly.

You just triggered my Memory with Timesplitters 2. The PS2 was that good.

it's similar to Deus Ex Invisible War, both published by Eidos and you can tell people from Ion Storm worked on the game. If you enjoyed Invisible War you will probably like snowblind, if you are looking for a clone of the original Dues Ex you will probably be disappointed as many people were with Invisible War (I've enjoyed all the games in the series)

Dues Ex was Metal Gear for PC when I discovered it. I got stuck on a Mission and started playing Just Cause 2. Now that was a seriously proper Game as well.

 

[dirtyferret]

Never played Project Snowblind but it brings to mind TimeSplitters 2.

I played the original not sure why I never played the second one.

 

[rtwjunkie]

project snowblind (I played it on the PS2)

Save 85% on Project: Snowblind on Steam

Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game. An augmented super-soldier must stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world. Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt.

store.steampowered.com

Played it on PC. It was as close to a Deus Ex game as you could get without playing Deus Ex. Sadly, I think it’s heavily drm’d and not patched out, or I’d love to play again.

One sleeper that came to mind recently that I want to replay. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. It came out in 2004 amid a lot of truly great games so it just got lost and passed over by most. It used to be on Steam but it got pulled for some reason.

Love that game. I bought it years ago on GOG and replay it in a weekend about once a year.

 

[dirtyferret]

Played it on PC. It was as close to a Deus Ex game as you could get without playing Deus Ex. Sadly, I think it’s heavily drm’d and not patched out, or I’d love to play again.

via wikipedia

In 2003, following the release of Deus Ex: Invisible War, multiple attempts were made by series developer Ion Storm and publisher Eidos Interactive to create further entries in the Deus Ex series. One of these projects, planned as the third series entry following Invisible War, was titled Deus Ex: Clan Wars.[5][6] As development progressed, the game changed into its own identity and was rebranded as Project: Snowblind.[6] Preproduction for Project: Snowblind began in early 2004, being the first FPS produced by Crystal Dynamics.[7] During its early development, Crystal Dynamics had advice from Ion Storm and series creator Warren Spector. As development progressed, the game evolved into its own entity and took an original name.[7][8]

 

[GerKNG]

You fight enemies in 90s Siberia

the Demo Disc from the Playstation Magazine had this Level on it.
i played it probably a hundred times.

 

[Space Lynx]

via wikipedia

In 2003, following the release of Deus Ex: Invisible War, multiple attempts were made by series developer Ion Storm and publisher Eidos Interactive to create further entries in the Deus Ex series. One of these projects, planned as the third series entry following Invisible War, was titled Deus Ex: Clan Wars.[5][6] As development progressed, the game changed into its own identity and was rebranded as Project: Snowblind.[6] Preproduction for Project: Snowblind began in early 2004, being the first FPS produced by Crystal Dynamics.[7] During its early development, Crystal Dynamics had advice from Ion Storm and series creator Warren Spector. As development progressed, the game evolved into its own entity and took an original name.[7][8]

this is similar to what happened with Dark Cloud 1 and 2 on playstation 2, they had a niche cult following, both unique games in their own right (also hidden gems imo) - but the community has been clamoring for a Dark Cloud 3 for ages since Sony still holds the rights, but it turns out we sort of already have Dark Cloud 3, when it was in the works it morphed into its own game, Rogue Galaxy for the playstation 2.

I have yet to play Rogue Galaxy, but I plan to someday. Really wish they would start making tube tv's again, I'd buy one and dust/re-paste old consoles and game proper, that will never happen though, so emulation it is. maybe I will try my hand at garage/yard sales in the future, never know, might get lucky with a tube tv


edit:

just found this, so I guess if I ever get a PS5 Pro or PS6 someday I can play it this way too

Rogue Galaxy™

Experience Rogue Galaxy™ originally released on the PS2™ system with up-rendering and Trophies. Set Sail on a Space Pirate Adventure. Jaster dreams of exploring the galaxy. In a sudden turn of fate, he is recruited into a band of space pirates and takes flight on an adventure of a lifetime...

store.playstation.com

 

[Marcus L]

First game console was the sega master system, so many games on that evoke nostalgia, Sonic, Double Dragon, California Games, games were hard AF back in them days also with no memory cards/saves, N64 Mario Kart in split screen MP was a fricken blast, Road Rash on Mega Drive was amazing, when I first got into PC gaming Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell for me was a game changer, had seen it on the PS2 and the difference in graphics on the PC was night and day, predominantly been PC since those early days and enjoyed lots of similarly amazing games over the years, could never be a console gamer now #PCMasterRace

 

[Princess Garnet]

This is an interesting thread, but I'd have to really think. Unfortunately... I'm not sure if I'd be able to recall any because the ones I can think of are either pretty within the 10 year time frame you're asking for it to be beyond, or they're not quite what I'd consider a "hidden gem" because they were popular enough in their time. If the ten year time frame requirement wasn't there, I could probably name at least a handful or so.

With it in place, the closest I can think of is a lone title, and that's Cinders. I think that one juuuust qualifies for ten years since I think it was summer of 2014 that I mostly played it.

Cinders on Steam

A mature take on Cinderella that's all about player choices and breaking the classic fairy tale in any way you like.

store.steampowered.com

If you don't mind visual novels, if you like Cinderella, and if a mature take on the story sounds appealing, then I'd recommend it. I wonder how many people here that's even going to apply to, haha. It's a bit short but it has a quite a bit of replayability (though much of it will be rereading the same discussions) as choices matter and there's quite a lot of unique conversations depending on choices, and a ton of endings; there's a handful of key ones, and then each one has a handful of minor variations, so basically there's degrees of good, neutral, and evil routes you can take along with different endings, like end at the palace, run away, stay at home, and then there's different relations you can have with each character by the end, so there's a lot of total combinations.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Draken on PC and Draken's sequel on the PS2 were interesting.
Who doesn't like flying a fire breathing dragon?

 

[neatfeatguy]

project snowblind (I played it on the PS2)

Save 85% on Project: Snowblind on Steam

Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game. An augmented super-soldier must stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world. Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt.

store.steampowered.com

I actually enjoyed that game more than I thought I would. Was a pretty decent FPS.

I've got it on my list of games I'm going back through and replaying.

 

[mechtech]

10+ years ago

many
CS:S and a lot of the custom ones, zombie escape among others.
many from NES, SNES, N64

maybe it was just the flashback FM radio station

 

[Ruru]

Final Fantasy II and XIII. Nobody loves them from FF series but I do.

10+ years ago

many
CS:S and a lot of the custom ones, zombie escape among others.
many from NES, SNES, N64

maybe it was just the flashback FM radio station

V-Rock was my shit, though on GTA3 I loved Game FM

 

[Tomgang]

Red Dead redemption undead nightmare dlc for me. For the price i paid and the expectations i had and what this dlc delivered.

This was a hidden gem for me. A really good play throw on ps3 i have not played in over 10 years.

However with the newly announced pc version and the dlc, that might change soon.

 

[Apocalypsee]

One sleeper that came to mind recently that I want to replay. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. It came out in 2004 amid a lot of truly great games so it just got lost and passed over by most. It used to be on Steam but it got pulled for some reason.

I second this, to be honest it fits well with other great title released in 2004 but because so many great games came out that year, it didn't get enough spotlight. I played it years later and really, game was amazing.

Not sure how hidden it is but Ridge Racer 7 is simply the best arcade drift-racer I've ever played and nothing comes close. It's just crazy that this series is dead. Maybe it's too goofy and unrealistic for modern audiences, I dunno.

For me I love Ridge Racer Type IV on PS1. Game is comedy handling, but the music is just perfection. Great driving song, I still listen to it while driving.

This one especially. one of the best driving song ever.

For my entry is this, it came out in one of the PS1 demo disk. Once I tried it I MUST BUY THIS GAME.

Absolutely love this game, the gameplay, the music, the comedy. It didn't get a lot of attention from media or everyone (of course all goes to FFVII) but turn-based isn't my forte. I still playing this from time to time.

I can't recall any 'hidden gem' for PC games. I'll post them if I remember them.

 

[stinger608]

Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

Unreal

Unreal Tournament 99

Unreal Tournament 2003

Just to name a few.

 

[Neo_Morpheus]

Always loved Ascendancy on PC.

Also Outpost Kaloki, xbox version.

 

[Hyderz]

Titanfall 2 and Bioshock Infinite are 2 titles that i will have no trouble replaying

 

[kneblasch]

Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land

 

[Uns1gn3d_C0d3]

Gothic. Played it for the first time 20+ years ago.
The first creature I encountered killed me. I swore up and down at the game, wrote it off as stupid and moved on.

About a year later I gave it a fair chance and fell in love with it. Great memories with that game.

 

[Hyderz]

I just remembered Defense Grid Awakening and 2 are my fav turret defense game... the english voice and humor is pretty cool which i enjoyed.. not sure if its for everybody
but the gameplay is fun, straightforward and can be found for a very low price on steam sales.

 

[LittleBro]

Gothic. Played it for the first time 20+ years ago.
The first creature I encountered killed me. I swore up and down at the game, wrote it off as stupid and moved on.

About a year later I gave it a fair chance and fell in love with it. Great memories with that game.

Gothic was one of these games where you had to work on your character a bit first and then slash. Sometimes you had to use enirovnment to your advantage to slowly kill something that you could not face directly. It was game with not an easy beginning. You became somewhat skilled at 3rd act only, which was basically half of the game. Game made you think and to explore. No quest marks and navigation, different creatures required different tactics. And the length of the game was amazing. I wish so hard that such games came out even today.

Gothic series was really revolutionary back then. Open world, so many options, crafting, hunting, alchemy, lock-picking, stealing ... Tried G3, Risen, Arcania and other "Gothic-like" stuff but there's no that type of feeling I was experiencing with Gothic 2. Looking forward to Gothic 1 remake. I haven't played that title, I got my hands straightly on Gothic 2.

Another gems:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Red Alert 2, Generals
Skyrim
Need For Speed Underground 2
Battlefield Bad Company 2 (best multi player experience, especially Vietnam DLC with hardcore mode was amazing)
Starcraft 2
Diablo 2
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Anno 1404

 

[AUTOEXEC.BAT]

Hmm, doesn't have to be your first game, just fyi to future posters. Just any game that comes to mind from years ago. I think there are a lot of hidden gems out there, and I am trying to see what other people enjoyed.

He didnt say its his first game ever played......

the first game I experienced on a 1280x1024 17" Trinitron.

Maybe the games before he played only on 640x480, 800x600 or 1024x768

 

[Devon68]

Crashday, worms armageddon and F.E.A.R
Come to think of it I should revisit these games again. If Covid was 5 years ago I guess I played them about 8-10 years ago

 

[AUTOEXEC.BAT]

For me there is not really a hidden gem.

The games i played till 10 years ago i still have, and played in the last 2 years.

But looking back to the 90's --> Quake 1, 2 & Doom 1+2
2000-2010 -->> Call of Duty World at War

 

[AleXXX666]

Hal-Life 2.
Played a bit recently.