Feature: Under-appreciated Gaming Gems

ICO



One of the most beautiful and emotive games ever made, ICO should have been a far bigger hit than it was. With the aid of some wonderful animation, a dazzling soundtrack and bewitching art style, the developers managed to stir a myriad of emotions within the heart of every gamer lucky enough to nab a copy during either of the game's release periods. From the sense of loneliness and isolation that typified the early stages of the game, to the feeling of companionship and love that crept in with the introduction of Yorda, Team Ico are one of the few developers to have crafted a video game experience on par with the finest that Hollywood has to offer.

What went wrong: Before it was re-released to coincide with the launch of Shadow of the Colossus in 2005/2006, Ico was near impossible to get a hold of without shelling out some serious cash on websites such as eBay. It has achieved moderate success, but for a game of its quality, it deserved a far bigger promotional push than it received.

Where is it now: The original PS2 version can be purchased without too much hassle and for a reasonable price from online retailers, although the limited edition with postcards still fetches a pretty penny. This September also sees the release of the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus collection for the PS3.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem



In many respects, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem was way ahead of its time. Players control a series of characters throughout the course of history, each somehow linked to Alexandra Roivas, the game's primary protagonist. Each character has their own weapons and can use magic to solve puzzles and lay waste to the hordes of monstrous baddies roaming the land - all of which sounds fairly conventional, that is, until the sanity effects kick in and the game becomes truly terrifying. Up becomes down, left becomes right, walls drip with blood and desperate cries of pain and suffering can be heard at every turn, making it one of the better survival horror games to have ever been released and a must for H.P. Lovecraft fans.

What went wrong: Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem would have probably stood a better chance on the PS2, which was far more popular than Nintendo's ill-fated Gamecube. It also faced stiff competition from Capcom's Resident Evil franchise. New Resident Evil games were exclusive to the Gamecube at the time, leaving Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem with the difficult task of carving out a following in the face of such sterling competition.

Where is it now: With Gamecube compatibility disappearing with the Wii U, now's the time to pick one up on the cheap. The game, on the other hand, might cost you more than the machine. New copies are quite pricey from certain online retailers, although second-hand copies are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Beyond Good & Evil



Beyond Good & Evil is an adventure game in a similar vein to The Legend of Zelda, but achieved nowhere near the same amount of commercial success. As Jade, a photojournalist and guardian of orphaned children, players are charged with uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving a diabolical dictatorship. The game contains a nice blend of action and stealth gameplay, and utilises Jade's photojournalist skills, as well as her uncanny knack to use a bo staff and pilot vehicles. The game won numerous awards largely thanks to its absorbing plot and superb storytelling techniques, which were finely complemented by the varied and enjoyable action.

What went wrong: Some attribute its failure to a lack of marketing, or the publishers not being able to find the right kind of audience. As with any game that is released in November, Beyond Good & Evil faced a great deal of competition from other Christmas releases, which may have been another factor in its poor performance at retail.

Where is it now: A HD remake of Beyond Good & Evil was recently released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, and a sequel is due for release on next-generation systems.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath



Featuring a combination of first and third-person gameplay, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is a rather unique video game, typical of the team who bought us Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exodus. As Stranger, a bounty hunter with a bit of Clint Eastwood about him, players must hunt down wanted outlaws in order to raise some serious moolah. In addition to forcing players to catch their own ammunition, Stranger's Wrath also gives gamers an enormous amount of freedom to tackle missions in their own way. Whether going in all guns blazing and killing everything in sight, or taking a stealth approach and capturing outlaws alive, there is a multitude of ways to see the game to its conclusion. It also features some of the best graphics seen on the Xbox, as well as a really enjoyable storyline, making its lack of success all the more difficult to understand.

What went wrong: First-person shooters have never been in short supply, especially on the Xbox, which is the home of Halo after all. Alternatively, maybe the platform gameplay proved a turn-off for those craving a straightforward shooter. Also, the cartoon visuals may not sit too well with most FPS fans more used to plugging Nazis with machine guns instead of bandits with Boombats.

Where is it now: Unfortunately, the game was never made backward compatible with the Xbox 360. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath can be downloaded from Steam, however, and a PlayStation Network re-release is on its way this summer.