Hidden Gems - 360, PS3, Wii, Etc - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

QuickSilver · 2009-07-12, 05:00 PM

I saw this on another forum I frequent and thought it might be fun to see what others think as their hidden gems among games they bought with low expectations but were pleasantly surprised. Mind you some of my choices are commercial successes but I had little to no expectations going in:

Dead Space - Number 1 in wow factor for a game that I was picking up just out of pure impulse.

Dark Sector - Friend online told me about this game and picked it up at EB for $10. Very fun and half decent story.

The Darkness -Just got this one and am having fun. Good grpahics and in my opinion was quite under rated.

Alone in the Dark (360) - Other than some frame rate issues and control "issues" it is quite fun. Not for everyone but I enjoy it as the story goes along.

Will add more as I go on my "cheap game" buying spree. I do it about every 6 months. I try to buy around 6 games under $20.

hockeymancw · 2009-07-12, 05:59 PM

Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction for PS3. I think it is part of the 29.99 specials now and it was excellent.

nospam · 2009-07-12, 06:55 PM

Ditto on Dead Space and Dark Sector.

I thought Timeshift was a fairly underrated FPS. Yes, the time control mechanic can get a little tedious after a while, but the game has great graphics and offers a good challenge.

dezzpayne · 2009-07-12, 07:32 PM

Valkyria Chronicles PS3 exclusive - My favorite game this generation bar none. No competition. In my opinion Valkyria will be mentioned with the likes of Ico and SotC in years down the road assuming they never do a sequel. Just a beautiful game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bceYkhQjxGY&feature=fvw

You won't however find it anywhere for $30.

eimaj · 2009-07-13, 02:15 AM

Condemned: Criminal Origins. Very cool, very creepy fp game. Not so much a shooter as you have to use a lot of the stuff in the environment to bash criminals with in order to conserve that very precious ammo. It has some neat forensic applications as well.

Ditto on dark sector and dead space. These were both better than expected, especially DS. I hope a sequel to DS is coming with some 2 player coop and multiplayer.

I still have the Darkness in its plastic wrap as it was a bonus game when I bought Bioshock (which is an UNBELIEVABLE game). I still have no interest in opening it. Maybe it will be worth something in 20 years when its still in unopened mint condition and the Darkness movie is a huge hit...BWAHAHAHA!!!!

tjl · 2009-07-13, 12:09 PM

Agreed on Dead Space and Alone in the Dark (except I'm finding it really hard in spots). I really didn't like Darkness though.

I think my favorite that I didn't have any expectations going in has been Crackdown. I've had tons of hours of fun with it.

FortMacDude · 2009-07-13, 12:29 PM

360 : DIRT, and on the arcade : Assault Heroes, Heavy Weapon
PS3: Zen Pinball on the PS network.

PrimeBane · 2009-07-13, 02:06 PM

Crackdown... purchased for the Halo 3 beta, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Dioneo · 2009-07-13, 02:18 PM

The Orange Box - I'm not a FPS guy, so I was very skeptical about playing any of the Half-Life games, or Portal. But I do appreciate value, so I decided to give it a shot. Loved them all. Still haven't tried Team Fortress 2 though.

g011um · 2009-07-13, 09:13 PM

+1 for both Crackdown and Orange Box.

Crackdown was an awesome game, and finding all the orbs super addicting.

I don't think there's a better value for your money than Orange Box, even at the $60 I paid when it was new. Now that it's $20, there's no reason every 360 owner shouldn't have it.

asif9t9 · 2009-07-13, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockeymancw

Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction for PS3. I think it is part of the 29.99 specials now and it was excellent.

This came to mind before I even read your post. My PS3 was bundled with R&C and I can honestly say I wouldn't have ever bought this game, even at a reduced price. Just would have figured it was too kiddie or something. Great game, some of the best PS3 graphics and actually some funny writing.

Ended up paying for the downloadable Quest for Booty last year and I'm looking forward to Crack in Time.

Gord Lacey · 2009-07-14, 09:17 AM

I'm not a golf fan, but I really enjoy "Hot Shots" for the PS3. Fun characters, an easy approach to the game, and good graphics make this one a winner.

Gord

prufrock · 2009-07-17, 05:17 PM

I paid about $20 each for The Darkness and Dark Sector a year or so ago and really enjoyed both. I think Dark Sector was very under-rated.

For the PS3, if you still don't have Folklore in your library, seek it out.

Dioneo · 2009-07-17, 08:52 PM

For the Wii - Zak & Wiki. Great adventure/puzzle game, and decent use of the motion controls.

Altaman · 2009-07-20, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortMacDude

PS3: Zen Pinball on the PS network.

In the demo I found the flipper action a little delayed from the time you hit the button till the flipper actioned. Is the full version better?

Alt

2009-07-12, 05:00 PM	#1
QuickSilver Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 3,128	Hidden Gems - 360, PS3, Wii, Etc I saw this on another forum I frequent and thought it might be fun to see what others think as their hidden gems among games they bought with low expectations but were pleasantly surprised. Mind you some of my choices are commercial successes but I had little to no expectations going in: Dead Space - Number 1 in wow factor for a game that I was picking up just out of pure impulse. Dark Sector - Friend online told me about this game and picked it up at EB for $10. Very fun and half decent story. The Darkness -Just got this one and am having fun. Good grpahics and in my opinion was quite under rated. Alone in the Dark (360) - Other than some frame rate issues and control "issues" it is quite fun. Not for everyone but I enjoy it as the story goes along. Will add more as I go on my "cheap game" buying spree. I do it about every 6 months. I try to buy around 6 games under $20.

2009-07-13, 12:29 PM	#7
FortMacDude Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oil Sands Capital of the World Posts: 566	360 : DIRT, and on the arcade : Assault Heroes, Heavy Weapon PS3: Zen Pinball on the PS network. __________________ FortMacDude FR : Hitachi 57F500, Pioneer VSX-1018AH, PS3, Bell 9200, Energy 5.1 LR: Samsung 40A530, Sony S550, Kenwood HTB 504, Xbox 360, Wii

2009-07-13, 02:18 PM	#9
Dioneo Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GTA IV Posts: 1,768	The Orange Box - I'm not a FPS guy, so I was very skeptical about playing any of the Half-Life games, or Portal. But I do appreciate value, so I decided to give it a shot. Loved them all. Still haven't tried Team Fortress 2 though. __________________ Long live the console war! Buy 'em all! Just don't give Sony any of your Personal info!

2009-07-13, 09:13 PM	#10
g011um Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 656	+1 for both Crackdown and Orange Box. Crackdown was an awesome game, and finding all the orbs super addicting. I don't think there's a better value for your money than Orange Box, even at the $60 I paid when it was new. Now that it's $20, there's no reason every 360 owner shouldn't have it. __________________ Sony KDL-52EX700, Toshiba HD-D3, Motorola DCT-6416, Popcorn Hour A-110, XBOX 360 w/HD-DVD

2009-07-17, 05:17 PM	#13
prufrock Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern BC Posts: 324	I paid about $20 each for The Darkness and Dark Sector a year or so ago and really enjoyed both. I think Dark Sector was very under-rated. For the PS3, if you still don't have Folklore in your library, seek it out. __________________ Panasonic TH50PX77, Choice 530, Samsung 40C650, Sharp LC3742U, Choice 505, Pioneer VSX-D409, Xbox 360, PS3 x 2

2009-07-12, 05:59 PM	#2
hockeymancw Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Calgary Posts: 937	Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction for PS3. I think it is part of the 29.99 specials now and it was excellent.

2009-07-12, 06:55 PM	#3
nospam Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 299	Ditto on Dead Space and Dark Sector. I thought Timeshift was a fairly underrated FPS. Yes, the time control mechanic can get a little tedious after a while, but the game has great graphics and offers a good challenge.

2009-07-12, 07:32 PM	#4
dezzpayne Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 1,374	Valkyria Chronicles PS3 exclusive - My favorite game this generation bar none. No competition. In my opinion Valkyria will be mentioned with the likes of Ico and SotC in years down the road assuming they never do a sequel. Just a beautiful game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bceYkhQjxGY&feature=fvw You won't however find it anywhere for $30.

2009-07-13, 02:15 AM	#5
eimaj Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,491	Condemned: Criminal Origins. Very cool, very creepy fp game. Not so much a shooter as you have to use a lot of the stuff in the environment to bash criminals with in order to conserve that very precious ammo. It has some neat forensic applications as well. Ditto on dark sector and dead space. These were both better than expected, especially DS. I hope a sequel to DS is coming with some 2 player coop and multiplayer. I still have the Darkness in its plastic wrap as it was a bonus game when I bought Bioshock (which is an UNBELIEVABLE game). I still have no interest in opening it. Maybe it will be worth something in 20 years when its still in unopened mint condition and the Darkness movie is a huge hit...BWAHAHAHA!!!!

2009-07-13, 12:09 PM	#6
tjl Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 68	Agreed on Dead Space and Alone in the Dark (except I'm finding it really hard in spots). I really didn't like Darkness though. I think my favorite that I didn't have any expectations going in has been Crackdown. I've had tons of hours of fun with it.

2009-07-13, 02:06 PM	#8
PrimeBane Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,766	Crackdown... purchased for the Halo 3 beta, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

2009-07-14, 09:17 AM	#12
Gord Lacey Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,746	I'm not a golf fan, but I really enjoy "Hot Shots" for the PS3. Fun characters, an easy approach to the game, and good graphics make this one a winner. Gord

2009-07-17, 08:52 PM	#14
Dioneo Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GTA IV Posts: 1,768	For the Wii - Zak & Wiki. Great adventure/puzzle game, and decent use of the motion controls. __________________ Long live the console war! Buy 'em all! Just don't give Sony any of your Personal info!

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