Well, it's been quite a while since I even bothered to write anything. So I thought, "Think of a simple topic that you can write about". This is what came up: Underrated gems. These are far from perfection, but they are certainly fun in their own right and either overlooked or underappreciated.

.Shinobi (PS2)-This game is never really talked about and is, unfortunately, not as highly regarded as Ninja Gaiden. While I do think Ninja Gaiden is a better series, this revamp of the series is actually rather unique in its own right and the gameplay is just as fun and challenging (even if the level design is drab and boring).

.Sonic Heroes (Gamecube, PS2, Xbox, PC)-Sighted as the last of the good or the beginning of the bad. In some aspects I actually find this to be a little more enjoyable than the Sonic Adventure games, mainly because the gameplay manages to focus more on speed than the Adventure titles. In Sonic Adventure's case: there is Big and Amy, as well as a hubworld in between stages (during story mode at least). In SA2: No hub world, but there are more treasure hunting and mech levels compared to Sonic/Shadow running stages. But what gives the Adventure titles a bit of an edge is that it adds more variety, whereas Heroes is rather repetitive. Aside from that Sonic Heroes does serve to be a good, fast-paced game that many fans of the series tend to look down on.

.Splatterhouse (360, PS3)-One of the most underrated games of last year. The technical issues were an issue (cursed load times), but Splatterhouse served it's purpose as being a fun, mindless throwback to the original games. I may overlook what some may see as repetitive simply because I am a big fan of the genre to begin with, and in all honesty I didn't find it dreadfully repetitive as some of the professional critics have viewed it. The 2-D section were not only challenging, but rather fun as well, and any deaths I had there were my fault a great majority of the time. Couple the action with an awesome soundtrack and you get one of the best beat-'em ups on the 360.

.Astal (Sega Saturn)-Astal was released at an unfortunate time for 2-D games; A time where 3-D was to become a dominant industry standard and 2-D will be hitting the backburner for some time. It was a shame too since this was a prime example of the Sega Saturn's strong 2-D capabilities. The gameplay was steadily paced and rather unique compared to the usual Mario-Styled platforming. The visuals are simply beautiful; very bright and colorful with a unique art style. The music was also great to listen to, even if the voices can get on your nerves.

.PilotWings 64 (N64)- At the launch of the N64, only one game was on everyone's mind, and I am pretty sure many of you know what I am talking about. This legendary title would severly overshadow a rather undiscovered gem. This 3-D flight simulator featured a variety of fun mini-games which often like to test your skills, with great controls and catchy music to add to the experience.

.Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)-I definitely hear a lot of complaints out of this game, and in some ways I can see where people would be coming at with their arguments. To me, this game had two big issues: It was too short and it was an absolute waggle-fest. But despite that I managed to squeeze enjoyment out of this title. It was beautiful to look at, full of fast-paced action and combat that I find more enjoyable than the Werehog, not to mention the excellent soundtrack and surprisingly good voice acting.

Well, that's enough of my ramblings for now. Care to share any underrated gems?