Both luck and dedication have played a part in Sega’s comeback. In 2001, the company was on the cusp of shutting down after the Dreamcast’s failure. Chairman Isao Okawa gifted the company $695 million in shares to keep it afloat, allowing Sega to continue as a third-party publisher. Through the continued popularity of Sonic and the breakout success of Yakuza, Sega has managed to thrive.
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One of the biggest surprises came in 2013 when Sega acquired Atlus, whose Persona series would become the new flagbearer for JRPGs. With such a storied history, some Sega games are bound to be forgotten and misjudged: here are ten Sega games that need more love.
10
Phantasy Star Portable
Phantasy Star Portable
Action RPG
Adventure
Fighting
Shooter
- Released
-
March 3, 2009
- Developer(s)
-
Sonic Team
, Alfa System - Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
Like many Sega IPs, Phantasy Star lost its direction after the company withdrew from the console market. Unable to commit fully to the vision of either the first four games or the online titles that reinvented the series, Phantasy Star eked out a meager existence in the middle.
Although the Universe trilogy isn’t the most popular, all three titles are decent. The first portable title is the most underappreciated of the bunch, featuring a moving story of an android discovering what it means to have a heart.
Phantasy Star Portable supports local multiplayer for up to 4 players.
9
The Typing Of The Dead: Overkill
The House Of The Dead was once a respected zombie series but quickly lapsed into obscurity once rail shooters died out. It had a second shot at life with the Wii, where House Of The Dead: Overkill set a Guinness World Record for most swear words in a game.
This game is pretty much the same, except its main focus is a typing mode, which makes for quite an effective educational tool. Shoot zombies, improve your touch-typing skills, and laugh at the absurd grindhouse presentation.
The Typing Of The Dead: Overkill includes the entirety of the original, light-gun-based House Of The Dead: Overkill as a separate mode.
8
Last Bronx
Early 3D fighting games endured a free-for-all to become established series. Virtua Fighter never reached the heights it deserved despite its pioneering status; only Tekken managed to thrive. Another casualty of this harsh landscape is Last Bronx. Set in Tokyo, this fighter paints a gritty urban landscape where characters aren’t above picking up a steel pipe.
The game was an arcade hit in Japan, but its popularity had started to wane once the console ports and stateside launch came along. A Japan-only PS2 release in 2006 failed to revive interest.
7
Resonance Of Fate
Resonance Of Fate
- Released
-
January 28, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Tri-Ace
- Publisher(s)
-
Tri-Ace
, Sega
If you quit Resonance Of Fate within the first few hours, we can’t blame you. Its storyline is confusing enough to be classed as psychedelic. Cutscenes seem to happen out of order, and dialogue makes little to no sense. It takes too long for this game to become comprehensible.
That doesn’t change that it’s one of the most stylish and beautiful games of its generation. Resonance Of Fate mixes Valkyria Chronicles-style combat with a steampunk setting and action movie acrobatics. This game has to be seen to be believed, in both the good and bad ways.
Resonance Of Fate was titled End Of Eternity in Japan.
6
Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
- Platform(s)
-
PC
, Nintendo GameCube - Released
-
September 23, 2003
- Developer(s)
-
Sonic Team
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
While Sonic Team is best known for its namesake series, the studio does churn out a standalone gem every now and then. One of them is Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg, a charming sixth-generation platformer. With a vibrant aesthetic and child-friendly humour, this game wins you over right from the title screen.
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The game’s unique egg-rolling mechanic makes it both quirky and endearing, allowing you to squash enemies and solve puzzles. Unfortunately, the game’s sales prospects went over flat as well: poor Billy never got a sequel.
5
Shining Resonance Refrain
The Shining series has dipped its toes into a lot of RPG subgenres, unable to decide on a single one. The series has a scattershot, gem-encrusted history. Most would remember the Shining Force series fondly, but Shining Resonance Refrain is no less worthy. Though it didn’t shake up the sales charts, this game deserves to be on your RPG radar.
Roughly described as a Tales clone, Shining Resonance Refrain has a beautiful setting and an interesting, music-centric premise. Its graphics leave something to be desired, but the breezy gameplay and cute dating sim elements make up for it.
Shining Resonance Refrain is an updated re-release of the Japan-only Shining Resonance, and adds additional content to the base game.
4
Crush
The most likely explanation for Crush’s low profile is its genre: puzzle games are a hard sell. Even if you’re not into the genre, this game is worth a look. Crush is a truly mind-bending experience with a charming premise.
Playing a young insomniac, you shift between 3D and 2D perspectives to navigate levels. It’s easy to grasp the concept, but its simplicity makes for great layered puzzles as you keep progressing. It’s trippy and satisfying, with the handheld format making it suitable for short play sessions.
3
Vanquish
Action
Third-Person Shooter
- Released
-
October 19, 2010
A PlatinumGames production directed by Shinji Mikami was a dream collaboration, and Vanquish did everything to live up to its promise. It’s a fast-paced, inventive third-person shooter that’s fun and exhilarating in equal measure. PlatinumGames were on a winning streak during this period, but Vanquish didn’t enjoy the staying power of Bayonetta or Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
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Although its sales figures don’t reflect its merit, Vanquish is a gem of a game and one that any third-person shooter enthusiast should try out. Its Steam discounts are frequent and generous, so you shouldn’t hesitate.
2
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax
If you’re a Sega fan and enjoy 2000s anime, this fighting game is for you. Released on the PS3, PS4, and PS Vita, Fighting Climax features characters from a wide range of both Sega and Dengeki Bunko properties, and the namedrops alone should have been enough to sell this crossover title.
The roster encompasses characters from Durarara, Sword Art Online, Valkyria Chronicles, Shakugan no Shana, Virtua Fighter, and more. If characters with the same voice actor fight each other, there’s even some humorous dialogue about it; unfortunately, this game’s console exclusivity did it no favours.
1
Valkyria Chronicles 2
Valkyria Chronicles 2
- Released
-
January 21, 2010
While it enjoyed positive reviews and tie-in mangas in Japan, Valkyria Chronicles 2 was a commercial flop in the West, so much so that its sequel wasn’t localized. The game was dismissed by many as being a low-rent follow-up to 2008’s sleeper hit.
Although Valkyria Chronicles 2 lacks the visual flair of the original, it refines the trademark series gameplay to near perfection and is one of the most content-packed games on the PSP. A remaster is unlikely to happen, making this Sega’s most underappreciated gem.
