Criminally Overlooked Games - Game Sack

Episode 265 - Here are some games I feel just don't get the love they deserve. Some are obscure, some aren't, but all deserve more than to just be a footnote in videogame history.
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[@mbe102]

Criminally Underrated KZbin Channel!

[@vintygti]

And criminally good ✌.

[@TG-ge1oh]

Yup. Needs more views.

[@sjake8308]

Agreed.

[@kammyabhainn3053]

Yup 👍🏻

[@therogueheero]

Facts.

[@sppspharmdude]

long overdue comment: thank you for the excellent captions (from a hearing impaired friend)

[@DukeDudeston]

Joe takes his video production seriously, thats what makes Game Sack different.

[@Lileya]

Yes, thank you very much from a non-native English speaker! I cracked up a few times at the music description. XD

[@stevemclovin1566]

[Playing hard corps] "Yes I finally got enough cp to." "FBI OPEN UP"

[@jesusmartinezrodriguez9545]

OK Eipstein.

[@Rountree1985]

@Fox Gabanna CP stands for something bad. Figure it out yourself.

[@eggsalad007]

The Master System is HIGHLY underrated.

[@FinalBaton]

This. I grew up with an NES and adore that machine but I cant help but be impressed with the SMS. Very solid 8-bit machine, beautiful colors to the graphics and several good games in all genres.

[@eggsalad007]

EAD519 ... it didn’t have the 3rd party publishers. As a system- it was much better.

[@inphanta]

Not in the UK...

[@DesperadoBloo]

I can’t believe someone finally mentioned Hard Corps Uprising! Such an amazing game that no one played.

[@garagelifee3460]

Is it still available for download???

[@DesperadoBloo]

@@garagelifee3460 yes :)

[@likwit7165]

I have it for the PS3, Hard Corps Uprising is such an awesome game.

[@ChaossX77]

It's absolutely insane how much money Konami is leaving on the table by not re-releasing games like this for the current systems.

[@lvl5Vaporeon]

Guess someone stole the "Hidden Gems" title right Joe?

[@zobu312]

Did someone say HIDDEN GEMS?

[@anyongflerderber4958]

Gidden Hems yo

[@TheSerpentsEye]

*grows double chin*

[@UuddlerLeRoyBaStart]

@@TheSerpentsEye LOL. I see what you just did

[@poble]

this hidden gem is ass

[@7ten]

I can't say how happy I am to see you choose Silent Bomber. It was so amazing back in the day. Played the hell out of it. True sleeper hit!

[@gez9145]

Shatterhand is awesome - I love how zoomed out the camera is, and the art style makes the most of the hardware limitations

[@PastoKage]

So glad you talked about "The Ninja"! One of my favourite game from my childhood!! Btw Ninja Princess is also on the SG-1000!

[@WalrusFPGA]

looking forward to 49 other episodes in this series ^ - ^

[@noside.foxhound]

Hard Corps Uprising is so "Anime" looking that it doesn't feel like a legit Contra game.

[@V0YAG3R]

Too weabo! Doesn't look and feel like Contra at all 🤢🤮

[@ARIOCH_VL]

The Ninja was one of my favorite SMS games, great to see it getting some love.

[@Millenium-Mige]

Note: Marvel Land has a different name in Europe. Here it's Talmit's Adventure.

[@AlanJones1984]

ButtmasterFlex69 Triggered.

[@souljastation5463]

I wonder why, after all the Marvel name is so copyright free.

[@Akuzastar]

Finally someone talked about silent bomber. I love it. Everyone needs to give it a go at least!

[@vincentizghra6144]

Shatterhand might be my favorite NES game. Thanks Derek for letting me know about it. Thanks Joe for featuring it here.

[@Michirin9801]

Glad you gave Super Adventure Island 2 a shot, that game is great!

[@honigdachs.]

20:33 Shatterhand was one of the best looking NES games with a pretty cool soundtrack too. I loved that game and always wondered why it wasn't generally mentioned more.

[@Genkaku]

Kabuki quantum fighter is such a big part of my youth. That soundtrack is legendary to me🙌🏼

[@AlfaTrion]

Love the subtle camera panning and other techniques you add here and there every episode

[@rocklight86]

Vagrant Story, Wild ARMs, and Legend of Mana are my three. Great Games with amazing storylines, solid characters, and great soundtracks. I never hear enough love for them.

[@Jack_80]

i bought vagrant story when it first came out and didn't have the patience to learn everything and traded it in a few days later. many years later i saw it on the ps3 store for 10 bucks and decided to give it another chance and loved it once i fully learned how everything works. it's a great game but you have to be in the right state of mind to get into it, it's a very complex game with many different systems that take patience to really understand.

[@chakrazoo]

"Muramasa-The Demon Blade" for the Wii. Underrated gem.

[@TheRandomGuyTheFarNoGameCat]

The sudden change from manic laughter ro normal talking was freaking comedy gold.

[@soad13malakian666]

A game I never hear anyone talk about, but one of my favorite games I feel is criminally under rated is a SNES game by Lucas Arts called “Big Sky Trooper”

[@MetaKnuxXbeats]

Hell yea man! Hard Corps Uprising is honestly my favorite shoot'em up game of all time. And that music!!!! Daisuke Ishiwatari never fails me

[@mikedavis9724]

Remembered one more: Xexyz was a great NES game.

[@Eleminop]

I used to love that game

[@BlueflagAlpha]

Oh yeah that game

[@noside.foxhound]

It turns out the original famicom game's story is about a turtle you rescue near the sea something like that.

[@diggerdog9205]

I just remember a lady in a bathtub lol

[@diggerdog9205]

I just remember a lady in a bathtub lol

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Joe had to go make a Greendog.

[@acecarrera1]

Thank you for giving these criminally underrated games justice.

[@spman2099]

Uprising getting a mention here warms my heart. I think it is one of the best games from the last gen. It is criminally underrated.

[@CiccioImberlicchio]

The Guardian legend is an amazing game that people rarely talk about, Snow Bros is one of my favourite games and so is Destrega, though for really enjoying it you must play it with a friend

[@FinalBaton]

Very fond memories for Guardian Legend here. One of my faves along with Crystalis and Faxanadu. A friend on our street was a sort of super-player and he would sometimes record high score runs or final- bosses montages on VHS, and Guardian Legend is one game he featured. As soon as I saw it I was like "What is that?". with it's giant skeletal fishes and action rpg elements, I was hooked and had to rent it. (and I'm not a shooter guy at all but having those weapons at your disposal at all times and finding which one is the boss' weak spot, is such a good formula. love it. so good in fact that I sometimes play the shooter-stages-only version of the game that's available on the cart)

[@jjenk911]

Shatterhand. Nostalgia. It's one of my favorite NES games.

[@corronchilejano]

I played the Famicom version, which was based on a TV series about cyber cops or something like that. I always thought it was based on a different series of japanese superheroes, Jiban. And apparently they're from the same franchise.

[@bigduke5902]

Nostalgia is pretty underated, too.

[@ryanchristensen5266]

Aw, Kabuki Quantum Fighter.. love that game. Really squeezing out the childhood nostalgia X)

[@brydon10]

Hands down the best gaming channel on KZbin. Thanks Joe! Keep it up.

[@BloodlessWolf]

Couple recent ones in my opinion: Double Dragon Neon, Tokyo Xanadu EX +, and an older one, Silhouette Mirage.

[@BloodlessWolf]

Oh, and High Seas Havok and Ranger X on the Genesis.

[@StopDropandLOL]

I really liked the music in shatterhand. Especially the title screen you showed.

[@kosmosyche]

I have level select music as my ringtone. One of the best soundtracks on the NES, despite what Joe says.

[@KarcusKorpse]

@@kosmosyche Never actually got to play this but I remember the GamePro TV show the host (JD Roth?), the way he said they title made it sound so cool.

[@anegwa]

Made by the same composer as megaman

[@cainmarchenoir4986]

It's an excellent game , the music are great. You should try the japanese version wich is quiet different.

[@gryphman]

@@cainmarchenoir4986 Yeah, the Japanese version is actually a tie-in to a live action series called Special Rescue Command Solbrain. The reason they changed two of the songs, is because they feature music from the show.

[@MVP_MAGAZINE]

Really love how joe is coming into his own comedically and being more charismatic The show has a totally new energy LONG LIVE GAMESACK! Ps.contra hardcorps rocks I still have my ps3 because of it

[@CtheDead209-zt8tj]

Glad you kept this channel going definitely in the top 3 gamming channels on youtube bar none you, snes drunk, and avgn are the only channels I watch anymore.

[@Edsavage404]

The sound when he inserts or connects something is so satisfying to hear.

[@MarioNintendoh]

A suggestion: Atomic Runner (Chelnov) for the Sega Genesis.

[@bashcrash9148]

I thoroughly enjoy waking up, sipping coffee and watching some good Sack.

[@V0YAG3R]

You sure love the sack, the ball sack! 👌🏻

[@wyldink1]

If anyone out there still isn't quite sure about El Shaddai, play it. It's a fantastic game. He didn't even show the cyberpunk stylized motorcycle stage! Glad to see it make the first episode, since I would have definitely suggested it for future shows.

[@Wheeljack84]

When it's 2 AM but there's a new episode of Game Sack.

[@TheTrout9000]

I need sleep. But I need game sack too....

[@davemudgett8252]

I'm going to sleep. Oh, new G S.

[@sjake8308]

It actually works quite well if you live in the UK. :P

[@lekanraposte6732]

6:42 I bet Wayfoward took note when designing Shantae.

[@mikerude4924]

Shatterhand can use more than his fists to get the job done. He can throw his little robot helper at enemies which is always fun. Also if you get the same robot twice you become Mega Powered!

[@certee]

Kabuki Quantam Fighter has always been one of my favorite NES games, proud to say I beat it when I was younger!

[@anyongflerderber4958]

I love your content sir. You've gone into more obscure titles, to me at least. It's been great. Thank you!!!

[@danielvillanueva3792]

As a Japanese language student, is so refreshing hearing someone on internet that understands that anime and cartoon are exactly the same!

[@Chaos89P]

That's because the only real difference is the country of origin, and maybe the budget. I mean, if Italian cartoons become popular in the States, would they be called "animazione"?

[@blaster5800]

@@Chaos89P Italian cartoons are called "Cartoni animati" tho

[@xxAntiOtakuxx]

I'm surprised the Otaku haven't dragged you out of your home and crucified you in the street yet. They can be ravenous especially when it comes to criticism and correction. I should know... Typo edit. Nothing to see here.

[@whitestriderable]

@@Chaos89P they would be called spaghetti cartoons (like spaghetti Western!)

[@CONSOLETRUTH2]

I gotta say that, considering popularity and the fact that when people say anime they usually mean (and others in convo) always assume Japanese animation that, while animated, seems different enough that it is seen as it's own genre I dunno I'm not huge I to anime but to me 8ve always seen it as sifferent.

[@arkvinin]

Criminally Underrated: Assault by Namco for the arcade. It was ported to the PS1 in the Namco Museum Vol. 4 collection.

[@femto5276]

Probably the most binge-worthy channel I've stumbled on in months

[@EpicEmberOriginal]

An underrated game I enjoy is Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu. It's a really solid platformer for the NES and PC Engine.

[@junjiezerocool3307]

G-Police in the playstation, that game was epic.

[@robertlatham4541]

Omg I had forgotten about g police! I never finished it back in the day maybe I should get an emulator? Unless you know of another way

[@Mari_Izu]

Shatterhand is based on a japanese super hero live action show called Solbrain. Some musics are actually renditions of the show's music, so in Shatterhand, they changed them.

[@sozaj]

Freedom Fighters!! Criminally underrated!!

[@MajoradeMayhem]

I'm seeing a theme here - "Too Japanese."

[@joesaiditstrue]

Dude I get more information from your videos than I ever did from EGM or Gamefan 😅

[@ZakkHung]

This has been my favorite episode to date. A: The maniacal laughter in the beginning was amazing. 2: The games selected are great and I learned of a few I haven't seen before. LASTLY: I absolutely LOVE Shatterhand. Even if it was a subpar game I would still play it because the soundtrack is so amazing.

[@rashadpreston7389]

The maniacal laughter is what I live for

[@stevejennings3960]

The ninja on the master system is one my all time favourite games ever!!!!!! Love it

[@BlackBiggot]

He's done a good job by himself since other dude left

[@DukeDudeston]

Thats when you know you got a good thing going, I am glad he didnt just replace Dave, I am sure he keeps his spot warm for those specials.

[@senditcars]

@SEA Server I also wanna know what happened to Dave

[@serbonkers4130]

@@senditcars hes busy with his work

[@senditcars]

@@serbonkers4130 oh comeon. Nothing is more important than game sack

[@WestSide1207]

That "other dude" is named Dave White and he did an excellent job on the show for many years. Learn some respect, you schmuck.

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

The majority of the NES games that never fail to deliver tons of fun

[@chaseman94]

The best part of waking up every other Sunday morning is watching a new episode of Game Sack.

[@Voultar]

Sharting Hand is one of the greatest games, ever.

[@SkullDraizer]

Liked because it's Voultar.

[@wojiaobill]

I haven't heard of that one, but maybe I'll strap on and give it a go

[@vectrex28]

Ayyy, Lord Voultar has some good opinions on NES games

[@epicboomshine6595]

I don’t know, Lucky Piss is much superior. Realistic sounds and graphics, with a reasonable balance between challenge and luck make it better than the polished turd called Sharting Hand.

[@SuperBoomshack]

I play Sharting Hand every time i eat a Cesar Salad

[@serge2cool]

Kinda sad, but at 5:58 if Dave was still about, I'd expect to see 2 characters bouncing around on thr screen for that bit at least

[@mddifilippo89]

Well now that this video is published these games are no longer underrated and a complete public gold mine! Thanks for discussing Kabuki, can't wait to check it out!

[@darrnellnott07]

Joe... You're winner. I'm glad the live music finally kicked in

[@_zoinks2554]

Joe: let's play Tubeslider. Dave: I'm out

[@pengwin_]

* *slides out a tube* *

[@JSCG12]

Metal Arms Glitch in the System is an amazing game that no one talks about. Definitely a buried treasure worth checking out.

[@khristkannon1172]

Hell ya!

[@billybadass7718]

That was a fun game

[@KeepItRetro]

Another great episode of Game Sack! I love when you talk about underrated gems out there. Great work!

[@rickydicky5889]

If you don't have nostalgia for these games from living through the time and knowing them, just emulate. Shatterhand has been pretty well known in the community for years.

[@ricardod123]

I'm just on my way to a half marathon race out of town. This is perfect to keep my mind entertained on the journey. I've missed church for 31 years in a row on sunday mornings but I never miss a Game Sack!

[@DeadwingDork]

HELL yeah, Shatterhand. Power Blade is another underrated NES action shooty jumpo game.

[@slib4646]

Glad to see you also peruse good content on KZbin lol

[@Rountree1985]

That’s not underrated, everyone knows about it.

[@ObeliskTGS]

6:41 - Oh. My. God. I remember this game. I never knew the name of it because I was just a wee lad then and my friend had rented it from a local rental store so I always remembered it as "that NES game with the red character who hair wips like Shantae." Thank you for mentioning this as not knowing what this was called has been literally bugging me for *years*. As for criminally underrated games I'll reference Trails in the Sky. Compared to most of the known JRPGs out there (and the later Cold Steel games) I'd say it's often overlooked but worthwhile.

[@StanDefGaming]

Probably my favourite episode to date Joe, each new game you mentioned literally made me scream "YES!" I hadn't looked into Marvel Land, I'll definitely have to check that out.

[@DuckAlertBeats]

Suggestion: Otogi 1 & 2 on the OG Xbox!

[@terribletelevision6980]

DuckAlert Beats I still fire up the OG Xbox and play these two games regularly. Absolutely awesome style and gameplay!

[@haiasieel6099]

Otogi is awesome, I believe it came out right around the same time as Devil May Cry and was far superior, and was made by FROM SOFTWARE.

[@EarthboundX]

Those games are awesome!

[@goranisacson2502]

I only ever got to play 1 when I borrowed an Xbox, but yes- the way that game allowed you to just bash apart almost every part of the stage created a REALLY awesome experience, even if they then also decided to hide a bunch of stuff and stat boosts so you HAD to go through the level with a finetooth comb and wreck everything you saw just to make sure you had all the bonuses. Got a little tedious... but between very destructible environments and floating and dashing almost forever, there was enough fun just moving around that you didn't mind the minor details.

[@DuckAlertBeats]

@@terribletelevision6980 Very unique atmosphere too!

[@Pimpjira87]

Hard Corps Uprising is my favorite Contra game, it's actually possible to play it co-op because of the Uprising mode. The Arcade mode exists for those that want their one-hit deaths and limited continues though. A little surprised that wasn't mentioned here(maybe because the game has been covered before though). I think this episode could have used some more kabukis.

[@KarcusKorpse]

Looked it up, wow, screams ARC System Works all over.

[@bombfog1]

I absolutely agree that this is the very best Contra game. It’s so beautifully drawn.

[@anavash]

Holy cow I wasn't expecting another episode so soon after you did the big Shenmue review last week! Joe you rock! Long live the Sack.

[@doncreech]

Shatterhand goes for a pretty decent penny these days. It's a truly badass game.

[@Jesse__H]

Have you played The Messenger, Joe? I wouldn't wmsay it's underrated but it would fit nicely in a modern 2D games-type episode. Maybe you've already covered it and I missed it 🤷‍♂️ but if you haven't you're in for a real treat, and the OST is outstanding as well .

[@BenzaieLive2]

Wish you'd mention SOLBRAIN the original release of ShatterHand for Famicom which is based on Special Rescue Japanese show... Oh well only I cared

[@ElectricWolf1983]

I agree Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain was almost identical except main character looked like a guy in an armored suite or Robocop. I had this game on famicom called "Super Rescue Robocop 3."

[@arseniy]

Solbrain makes much more sense in that setting. In Shatterhand it's a Schwarzenegger kinda of sterotype.

[@matthewlane518]

Super Mario 3 on NES is a true hidden gem! 😂

[@ericbird4263]

Joe, your in the freaking gamechasers movie!!! Just saw a clip of you throwing bananas @ billy and jay !!!!! '"Hopefully, You were screaming your catch phrase's, like "Mode 7!" , & "Mega power!!!"

[@epp6681]

The most underrated game is "Dinosaurs For Hire"

[@WestSide1207]

"El Shaddai" is actually one of the names of God in Hebrew, for those of you wondering what it meant.

[@12feettall6]

Its all fantasy anyway xD

[@WestSide1207]

@@12feettall6 What's fantasy?

[@12feettall6]

the god the bible, religion all that crap. lol

[@WestSide1207]

@@12feettall6 Where's your proof that God doesn't exist, let's hear it.

[@ul6555]

@@WestSide1207 its literally just a fairy tale for adults to make the passing of life into death a little easier on the mind.

[@nodbomb]

Ring of Red for PS2. My favourite "tactics" style game ever. Nobody talks about it.

[@krakenloco]

None of these games are underrated, they're just overlooked or obscure. I hate when people think that just because something isn't as popular, it's just not considered good.

[@UNIRockLIVE]

Dude, u rockin lately. Keep going never stop

[@justinlink1616]

My recommendation: Kenseiden for the Sega Master System.

[@Darko1226]

Justin Link such an amazing game!!!

[@MrBen2177]

Man those training stages are pure killing though :)

[@HinanawiTenshi]

So happy you mentioned Silent Bomber in this video. What an interesting game

[@sabin1981]

Silent Bomber is AWESOME indeed! Definitely doesn't get anywhere near enough kudos :(

[@GameSack]

What are some games that YOU feel are criminally overlooked... and why??

[@mikedavis9724]

Please do Heavenly Sword on PS3. Similar feel to God of War, but with some unique mechanics and great storytelling. Awesome game.

[@6runge]

Grandia =D

[@WalrusFPGA]

Sopwith for DOS. One of the most underrated multiplayer games of the 80's.

[@lvl5Vaporeon]

Gain Ground. Nobody talks about it! It's great co-op fun!

[@ralphhoskins2115]

Game Sack .... ultra vortek for the jaguar!!! Totally overlooked awesome game..

[@martinlong5882]

Yes! Silent Bomber is my favourite PS1 game. I randomly bought it years ago in a 2-4-1 deal (the other game was Xena which I also really liked).

[@LastsailorEgy]

Unbelievable care for details and a great sketch

[@reagandow850]

Duuuuuude!! This is a great episode and it’s not even over yet. Amazing games in here and even a few I haven’t heard of. You are ‘Da Man’ !!

[@pentagen]

Praise Joe for mocking obsessive Japanese cartoon fans who think that Japanese cartoons aren't cartoons. "Anime" is the Japanese word for animation. Family Guy is just as much anime as Urusei Yatsura is anime.

[@spawn_13th]

i been trying to remember one of my favourite game on NES and then 20:32 Shatterhand i seen the background sprite and i remember playing the japanese version called Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain btw the main character is different from the US version

[@tolindaniel]

Interesting to note is that the US game is the original, and the Japanese game is a licensed rework based on a TV show. Solbrain is still great, and the carnival level is cool but I personally prefer Shatterhand a little more.

[@spawn_13th]

@@tolindaniel true on that sir, and for noted the japanese version price is more expensive than the US version

[@milesevans1073]

I love Sunday mornings, coffee and gamesack

[@sliltury2418]

This is the type of guy you can sit in a bar and have a conversation with... Kudos!!!! Some of these guys on here really turn me away because they act like their knowledge ascends them into the next plane. So genuine and rare thanks for the content!!! I smashed that subscribe button, licked the notifications and followed you on google+, yeah man. LOVE IT FOR REAL

[@JohnnyParrotJoe]

A new GS episode!!! Happy Sunday guaranteed!

[@bloodybones8027]

Check out Ninja for the PS1 it's one of my favorites.

[@lancelindqvist8848]

We need more of these type of episodes!

[@mikedierickx6405]

I like that you sit slightly stage-left as a tribute to Dave