I was just catching up on the latest news for Culdcept Saga (X360). Here's a little game that most won't have on their radar yet many more people would like it if they gave it a chance. Culdcept Saga is essentially a game that blends tactics (Final Fantasy Tactics, Ogre Tactics, Advance Wars, Band of Bugs, etc.) with TCG elements (Magic The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Chaotix, etc.) in a simple-yet-sleek package. As a reviewer here on GameSpot said, the graphics are no Gears of War (Unreal) but they are quite impressive in their own rights.
The funny thing about it (well, not funny "haha", more like funny "wow, really.. that's crazy!") is that most of the hit games of today borrow elemens from cult classics and sleeper hits that never really got a chance to hit the mainstream. Some of my favorite games of all time are little-known games with tons of reply value yet no franchise status. Some games get lucky, however. Fallout is a good example. I remember being blown away by this game "back in the days" and now Fallout 3 is slated for release on the XBox 360 - EXCITING!! If they're smart, they'll offer a limited-edition version with the first two games as full ports. That'd be HAWT!
I'd like to go through a list of games that you may have never heard of but you've probably played in some shape or form. Mind you, there are lots of these gems out there so I'll just cover some of them...
* Desert Commander (NES/PC) - Arguably the inspiration for Advance Wars (DS), Desert Commander was a simple tile-based game that allowed you to play the role of a general and lay down the whoop in a turn-based format. War strategy has always been a favorite of mine so this game keeps a special place in my heart. I still have my NES and this game in near- mint condition.. Indeed.
* Maniac Mansion (NES) - Before the famous mansion in Resident Evil, there was the Maniac Mansion. This game was survival horror with a comedic twist. The interesting mechanic in the game was the ability to switch between characters to accomplish tasks. Hmmm... Resident Evil Zero, anyone?
* Herzog Zwei (Genesis) - This game was way ahead of it's time. Before Warcraft and loooong before Total Annihilation/Supreme Commander, Herzog Zwei presented a unique twist on Real-Time Strategy (RTS) gameplay: the general is actually part of the battlefield. WOAH! This game featured some nice cartridge technology and the extra memory made for a deep game with tons and tons of replay value. This game was sort of like Command & Conquer meets Transformers. Due to system limitations, you could only have around 50 units deployed, which includes defensive units and scouts but, even with those constraints, this game was phenomenal both as a single-player and split-screen multiplayer game.
* Laser Squad (PC) - Microprose, I believe, made this game. Bless their souls. That company along with Psygnosis, Bullfrog, Blizzard, and Westwood kept me very happy with spiffy little games. Good times. Laser Squad was a turn-based tactics game that usually had you perform assassination, rescue, and other missions. The game had such depth in customization alone that it was amazing it didn't hit the mainstream. You could equip your soldiers with all sorts of tactical goodies. My favorite moments came from having snipers placed near windows shooting guys I would lure with my soldiers on the inside. WAHAHAHA!!
* Tegel's Mercenaries (PC) - This game was like XCOM but more upbeat and silly. You got to hire different mercenaries and take on missions across the galaxy. Controls were a bit cumbersome but this was one of the first squad-based games I recall really enjoying. Your team members each had their own personalities which lead to some funny dialogue and random in-game behavior, such as running away during the heat of battle or laughing at a foe bursting into flames.
* Lost Kingdoms (GC) - What would you get if you mixed Yu-Gi-Oh!, MTG, Pokemon, and Kingdom Hearts together? Probably something like Lost Kingdoms! This game allows real-time battle using pets living inside of magical cards. Yes, it's been done before but this game had some interesting takes on the mechanics.. It makes me happy in the pants - metaphorically, of course (pervs)!
It's nice to see web sites out there dedicated to the underdogs. As a game designer, my goal now is to make retro-style games focusing on fun, addicting gameplay. My games will be all about multiplayer too. Naturally, you'll see some mechanics from these old-school favorites as well. I can't wait!
In the meantime, I hope Culdcept Saga pleases.. The previous installments were great when I tried them as imports (damn the Japanese for keeping all the good stuff to themselves). Good to have a fully-translated American version finally!! =oD