Share your hidden gems and insider tips

thelostsoul

@Clyde @caver01 Actually, I never watched the movie Krull! Now, I think this is the perfect opportunity.

Clyde

@thelostsoul Do so. The movie may seem old-fashioned and flawed from today's viewpoint, but it is a classic with many fans nonetheless. At the very least, it is a part of cinema history that I would consider a must-see for fans of the genres that Krull is a mixture of.

thelostsoul

@Clyde Hell yeah, here you have more reason to hate (I know what you mean) and love me (which evens out it, so its fine).

5 New Games

After my last big post, I thought I was done. Then I saw that strange arm wrestling game by Nintendo and while doing my research about it, I also discovered an old school shoot'em up, which lead me to another and ... Yeah, here we go, that's how things in life works. These shmups was ignored by me until now. To my surprise, they are quite good or unique and I think you should have a look into them.

Arcade / MAME2003 (4 Games):

lr-mame2003 v0.78

Blast Off 1989 - VERTSHMUP
Romname: blastoff

A shmup by Namco, which serves as a sequel to Bosconian. But don't expect same type of game, it is a straight vertical space shooter. There are no power ups, you can switch your weapons at any given point by a button press.
Gemini Wing 1987 - VERTSHMUP
Romname: gemini

The overall theme of the game is set to a world of bugs and insects. The power up system works quite different and is unique among all shmups. The player collects some orbs, which follow you and are a sort of special bomb attack. They can be used once in the order you collect them.
Strike Force 1991 - HORIZSHMUP
Romname: strkforc

A modern (for its era) remake of Defender. It is the same type of non linear gameplay, but with nicer graphics. In addition there are special weapons and a world map to explore new planets. And it got a 2 player co-op mode!
Xexex 1991 - HORIZSHMUP
Romname: xexex

This is the most modern game on this list, made by Konami. It plays like R-Type with the expanded tentacle satellite from "X Multiply". The graphics and stages are nice detailed looking and looks gorgeous for its time and could easily rival any Neo Geo game. The Japanese version however have a better weapon system and don't have the life bar mechanic.

Arcade / FBA (1 Game):

lr-fbalpha (v0.2.97.44)

Arm Wrestling 1985 - SPORT
Romname: armwrest

WTF?! An arm wrestling game by Nintendo? From the same guys who made Punch-Out!? I wouldn't believe this, but turns out... to be true. Gameplay is quite simple, as you have to click left and occasionally right and button. The enemies and animations are outstanding, as you would expect from Punch-Out developers.

IanDaemon

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Super Burger Time 1990 - PLATFORM
Romname: supbtime

A super modern deluxe version of the old classic Burger Time formula. Even a two player mode is integrated, so a big plus here. A gameplay difference to previous title is that he don't just walks over the burger parts, but have to jump on them, so they fall down. That's what professionals nowadays do, they don't just walk over your food.

Two player simultaneous is awesome. In Super Burger Time you can just stand on top of the food and stomp your foot to mash it through the floor. It's faster, although no more hygenic. Plus in the old version you had limited pepper for an unlimited time. In the new version you have unlimited pepper for a limited time. And the new version gives you weapons to pick up when you run out of pepper. (the weapons are hanging on the walls)

robertvb83

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Arcade / FBA (1 Game):

lr-fbalpha (v0.2.97.44)

Arm Wrestling 1985 - SPORT
Romname: armwrest

WTF?! An arm wrestling game by Nintendo? From the same guys who made Punch-Out!? I wouldn't believe this, but turns out... to be true. Gameplay is quite simple, as you have to click left and occasionally right and button. The enemies and animations are outstanding, as you would expect from Punch-Out developers.

Wow thanks for this. This is what i call a hidden gem! Really outstanding and uniqe. Is this a pure timing based game. Meaning i have to press directions and buttons with correct timing? This looks fun to play i need to try it out next week

thelostsoul

@robertvb83 From my quick testing (first opponent only) and reading, you have to press left, left, left again and again. Then suddenly a warning appears and you have to click right and then I suppose in right timing a button to confuse the enemy. Then you can left, left further, until that timing thing happens again. I don't know if later enemies are working the same way.
Btw, it is not that far from original Punch-Out gameplay, if I think about it.

robertvb83

i would like to add super flappy birds to the list of hidden gems. it is a port available from the retropie setup script

this game was just introduced by @Rincewind here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/21130/i-made-an-original-game-for-retropie

i cant get my hands of this little fun game. it catches everyone emediately and is a total no brainer and game party starter!

simpleethat

I completely forgot about this thread for a while and it was always one of my favorites to check out. Anyway I came across a couple interesting games and thought I would share.

NES
Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth-I haven't gotten very far in this yet but the first section was pretty awesome. It starts off with a side scrolling shooter and then jumps into a first person view for boss fights, after that you get into a cool little platforming sequence. Considering the time period I wouldn't think they could pull off that kind of diversity but I sure had fun poking around in it.
Juuouki: I didn't realize that they had ported one of my favorite Sega games to NES with Altered Beast! Definitely not as graphically exciting as its counterparts but it was some interesting pseudo nostalgia and they transformations are different! It was a Japan only release but it is Altered Beast and apparently I have something of a translation.

NEOGEO
Crossed Swords: Definitely a game that is going to get me to make an arcade build since it seems like it would do better with a joystick but I've definitely killed some time in this first person beat 'em up

SNES
The Firemen: (okay I'm in the US so we didn't get this game) I never thought I would have so much fun trying to put out fires.

ATARI 7800
Ninja Golf: It's golf... and a side scrolling beat 'em up sort of thing. Pure madness!

ClassicGMR

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Arm Wrestling 1985 - SPORT
Romname: armwrest

WTF?! An arm wrestling game by Nintendo? From the same guys who made Punch-Out!? I wouldn't believe this, but turns out... to be true. Gameplay is quite simple, as you have to click left and occasionally right and button. The enemies and animations are outstanding, as you would expect from Punch-Out developers.

One of my favorite arcade games. :)

Clyde

@simpleethat said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

ATARI 7800
Ninja Golf: It's golf... and a side scrolling beat 'em up sort of thing. Pure madness!

Bwahahaha … madness indeed. I didn't know this one!

IanDaemon

@Clyde Ninja Golf is definitely my favorite 7800 game. Has it ever been remade?

thelostsoul

04 New Games in Total

Hello guys, how are you doing? Here is some food for you.
At the current time, I am busy with other stuff, but that don't stop me from coming back from time to time and play and try old games out. I lost track of what was posted in this thread or in others, so forgive me if you saw some of these. These are new to my RetroPie collection and aren't well known. I definitely recommend to check them out.

NES (2 Games):

lr-nestopia 1.50-WIP

Ufouria: The Saga / Hebereke jp:1991 eu:1992 - Metroidvania

A quality SUNSOFT game never released in the US! The game structure plays similar to Metroid or Blaster Master with cute Kirby like style. It also has fantastic graphics and soundtrack. Definetely check this out, if you are a NES fan.
Egypt jp:1991 - Puzzle

Nothing ground breaking, just another logical puzzle game, but with character and style. The game starts quite easy and becomes more challenging the player goes. The player must push entire rows to get to the orbs.
I think this one came out in Japan only, here is a translation patch: https://www.romhacking.net/translations/524/

Mega Drive (2 Games):

lr-genesis-plus-gx (v1.7.4)

Mystic Defender / Kujakuou 2 jp:1989 us:1990 - Platformer

A somewhat Shinobi like inspired platformer by Sega. It is set in a Japan fantasy world with big and detailed monster graphics based on an Anime. The sound isn't that spectacular, but some places and enemies are looking reaaaallly good. Gameplaywise its just average.
Battle Mania - Dai Gin Jou jp:1993 - Vertical Shoot'em Up

A really good sounding and fantastic looking Shmup only released in Japan. If you like Anime girls and crazy bosses, check this out. The player controls 2 girls at same time and can change the shooting direction of one. At one level, the girls are in a car and shooting. So cool. The overall difficulty is quite easy.
The English patch: https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1075/

IanDaemon

@thelostsoul I loved Ufouria when it was available on the Wii's Virtual Console. It's kinda like Metroid in an "explore and backtrack" kinda way.

thelostsoul

@IanDaemon Ah yes, I read it came out on Virtual Console. Is it any good? I mean like a really good game? I just tested it for short time.

IanDaemon

@thelostsoul It's definitely an NES game. The game is really enjoyable for its time. Some of the attack concepts are just odd when you stop and think about it. I don't want to give anything away, but there was one attack that I found...bizarre. Now-a-days everything is tame, but for that time in gaming history... It's not going to "knock anyone's socks off" today, but I dug it.

space cadet

How about Land Stalker for the Genesis. Kinda has a Zelda feel to it.

thelostsoul

@space-cadet Landstalker is a cool game, not in the same league as Zelda to me. I wouldn't call it Zelda feel to it, its quite different. The isometric perspective and jumping mechanic gives it a whole different feel. The puzzles, items and backtrack aren't that prominent here. Can this game be called hidden gem in today's standards? To me, it was never one, because I grew up with it. It was an interesting and different experience and not even close to the game design quality of Zelda!

Through some research I did for this answer, I found this: Lady Stalker: Challenge from the Past on SNES, the spinoff to Landstalker! But I could not find an English translation patch for it.

thelostsoul

8 New Games in Total

No spam this time and I make it short: Here are some new games for you, mostly side scrolling platformer or shmups. But at least one very strange and obscure title by Nintendo is found, ... again! Enjoy.

NES (1 Game):

lr-nestopia 1.50-WIP

Joy Mech Fight - (jp:1993) - Fighting
English Translation
Did you know, a very strange and experimental fighting game by Nintendo was made for the NES? I don't know why this wasn't developed for the SNES, as it came out '93.

SNES (3 Games):

lr-snes9x 1.60

Metal Max Returns - (jp:1995) - JRPG
English Translation
The customizable tanks are the main attraction and idea and its an open world game. Unusual and far ahead of its time.
Sunset Riders - (us:1993) - Run'n Gun Action

This may not be hidden for many of you, but for me. It's a run and gun platformer with a wild western style. There are also an arcade and Mega Drive version.
Turbo Toons - (eu:1994) - Racing

An obscure racing game, where you control running toon characters. Not a particular good game, but I know it from my youth.

Mega Drive (4 Games):

lr-genesis-plus-gx (v1.7.4)

El Viento - (jp,us:1991) - Platform Action

A heavenly anime stylized platformer with gameplay mix of Shinobi and ActRaiser.
Empire of Steel / Steel Empire - (jp,us,eu:1992) - Vertical SHMUP

A side scrolling shoot'em up with steamunk design and style, inspired by animes from Hayao Miyazaki.
Gynoug / Wings of Wor - (jp,us,eu:1991) - Vertical SHMUP

Another side scrolling shooter. This one is horror themed about demons.
Ghostbusters - (us,uk:1990 br:1991) - Platformer Action

Some say its the best Ghostbusters game and I didn't know it existed. Developed by Sega.

EDIT: Edits are just some little cosmetics that nobody care.

IsabelleXL

@thelostsoul it’s been mentioned but Nightmare Busters is my first hidden gem since I started doing this. It’s friggin unbelievable but I can’t play it for more than 5 minutes. It blows my mind. If you can beat that game you’re good at video games.

thelostsoul

@greengrounds Nightmare Busters looks also fantastic. It's one of those late release games (2013) and was even available for purchase. I want play it too, looks really cool and its a Contra type of game.