Share your hidden gems and insider tips

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.

TheRetroGamer

I got a good list of hidden gems right here (out of the games I play): (Super Nintendo/ Super Famicom)- Kirby's Dream Course, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. (Super Nintendo Arcade)- Super Buster Bros., Tetris/Dr Mario. (Game Boy Advance)- Mega Man Battle Network, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. (Game Boy Color)- Pokemon Pinball.

TheRetroGamer

@TheRetroGamer Edit: Tetris/Dr. Mario may be a big hit or not, but I don't know if yall play it or not. Another game that my mom likes to play: SNES- Tom and Jerry

thelostsoul

To me, most games on the SNES aren't hidden anymore, I researched too much. :D
@TheRetroGamer Well, Tetris isn't hidden by any means, :D but the specific version you play maybe. Which version do you play? If you like Tetris and Dr. Mario, there is a game on SNES literally called Tetris & Dr. Mario, where you play mixed mode. It is quite fun and underrated in my opinion.
For Mega Man Battle Network, I was never into it, as I never had a GBA (I wish, I had). After my research which version is the best among the fans, I came to the conclusion the third entry might be it. So, whenever I play it, this would be my starting point.

TheRetroGamer

lol. as we speak, my mom is playing her favorite SNES game right now (mentioned above in edit.) and yes, I was talking about Tetris & Dr. Mario. there is a third version, as you mentioned, called Mixed Match, where you play both games against a human opponent.

thelostsoul

@TheRetroGamer Oh, my mistake, I thought you categorized Tetris & Dr. Mario as GBA. I was searching the web for it and couldn't find. :D damn its too early in the morning (05:20 a.m.), my brain does not work. …the good ol' Jerry. :D Your mom might also like the Tiny Toons games.

BadFurDay

Kuru Kuru Kururin on the GBA is a brilliant puzzle game that doesn't seem to be mentioned much.

thelostsoul

@BadFurDay There is a good reason for, it didn't got an US release and so many people didn't know. I personally never played it, but looks simple (in terms of a straightforward idea) and fun. There is a successor to it, which even didn't got a EU release, Kururin Paradise.

BadFurDay

@thelostsoul I was none the wiser about that, thanks for sharing. Will have a look for the sequel.

brianon

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but....

ZX Spectrum : Batty.

Great little bat and ball game. Even has a great two player co-op mode where P1 takes left of screen and P2 takes right.
Easy enough to configure to use joypads. Looks great also.

skraz

Terranigma on the SNES is amazing, the best rpg i have ever personally played, created this account just to say this lol.

Brigane

@skraz Welcome to the forum and thanks for contributing :)