3 Hidden Gem Games for the Playstation

The Sony Playstation was released to the North American audience on Dec 3 1994, and it proceeded to grow one of the biggest, and best gaming libraries ever produced for home gaming systems.

Considering there are estimated to be over 3000 games, between the different released over the life of the system. I feel that personally a few games have been overshadowed over the years, and not given their due for their style, creativity and gameplay.

Now I must warn you dear reader. Early 3d graphics do not exactly age well. After a bit of playing the game, you will get caught up in it and hardly notice. So be strong and do it for the love of gaming.

I have a strange history with this game. I bought it one summer when I was a teenager, then I went to visit my uncle and grandmother in Alberta. My uncle after seeing the intro with a pentagon decided that this sweet little anime game was familiarizing me with the occult. Although I had brought my PlayStation a thousand miles, I could only play it when he wasn’t home. When he got home he would say to me, “I’m home, you can join reality now”

Beyond my teenage trauma. Azure game is an interesting, sweet and catchy game.

It suffers a bit from the classic translation problems of Japanese games of that era.

I mean what do you think a fuzzy caterpillar is? I don't know what it is. I don't want to know actually.

It follows the tale of koh, who travels up a monster tower to follow his father's footsteps as an adventure. Over the course of the game you can spend your hard found money on building up the town which gives you certain boosts and advantages.

One interesting aspect of this game is that your main character starts over at level one, every time he enters the tower. But his assistant monsters do not. So to develop and get strong, you need to build up your various minions with monster eggs you find in the tower. Give it a try, see where most modern roguelikes stole their ideas.

Boy where to start with this baby, I played it initially on a playstation demo disc, maybe one that game with a magazine? Back in the day they used to package demos in a magazine and it was pretty cool. I guess the internet ruined it like most things in life.

This game is a ride into insanity, you are a dog cop, who is riding a mech and you are fighting against evil cats, who most of them are moderately non violent, but they love to hide and cause trouble, like the popular game ape escape.

I remember playing the demo over and over. The game play is fun, and light hearted and the characters are likable. Little did I know that they would actually release this game in north america, i would have bought it back then. But of course a recurring theme in the playstation one and two library is that games I would give a right arm for are released, and I never hear about them. (Suikoden 5 anyone? Boy I got a story about that one. )

That's right, how could a game by Capcom be a hidden gem? Well simply because I don’t think that many people played it. Or atleast are thinking or talking about it anymore. I might be in the minority. I bet that I am, but I enjoyed the mega man legends games more then the standard mega man games, and I grew up on mega man 1 and 2 on the NES (Nintendo entertainment system.).

What did I like about the game? I just loved being in the mega man world, running around with characters you had met in other games, exploring the interconnected dungeons with some zelda like problems, solved by upgrading or getting new equipment.

The game had a sense of humour as well. They had fun with it. Now ill admit its ugly by today's standards. But you know what? For gamers, who only a few years ago in comparison to the entire of human history who suffered with the original gameboy, these graphics are pretty damn good.

The best part? They made two sequels! Two! So if you liked the game you can just keep going! Why not give it a try?

I think those three games, with a couple six packs of your favorite beverage, and a bunch of snacks would make a hell of a long weekend of gaming! Just like the old days. Maybe have somebody give you a call on monday and act like they are from blockbuster asking if you are going to return the games.

Do you think these three games are hidden gems? Or did I drop the ball on this one?