The ’90s were a phenomenal time for gaming. Between systems like the SNES, the Nintendo 64, and the original playstation, some of most beloved games of all time were released throughout the ’90s. Whether one was a fan of fighting games, racing games, RPGs, or platformers, it was a defining era for many genres of games.
However, while there are many series that flourished in the ’90s that still receive many new entries to this day, there other others that haven’t been as lucky, falling into obscurity with the passing of time. To today, we’re going to examine ten under-appreciated cult classics from the ’90s that are overdue for a continuation or reboot!
10 Shining Force
Originally released for the Sega Genesis, the Shining Force series is one that has many similarities to the Fire Emblem series, but was released outside of japan nearly a decade before Fire Emblem. While the first entry was released in 1992, the series hasn’t seen a new game since the Japan exclusive release of Shining Force III in 1997.
While much of the series gameplay is reminiscent of other Japanese tactical RPGs, the game has a distinct tone, and uniquely features an overworld and towns akin to what one would find in a SNES-era Final Fantasy game.
9 Fatal Fury
One of the initial flagship fighting game franchises of developer, SNK, the Fatal Fury series is the home of beloved fighting game icon, Terry Bogard. Following the release of Garou: Mark of the Wolves in 1999, the series was discontinued, essentially being absorbed into the King of Fighters series.
Despite this, it feels as though much has been lost, as these two fighting game franchises possess quite distinct gameplay differences. As Terry’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has made him more well known to those unfamiliar with Fatal Fury, now is as good a time as any for a Fatal Fury reboot.
8 PaRappa The Rapper
Originally released for the Playstation in 1996, PaRappa the Rapper has a very special place in the hearts of many players. Through it’s combination of unique visual style and memorable music, PaRappa the Rapper is one of the most definitive rhythm games of the 1990s. Though the game has been ported to numerous consoles such as the PSP and most recently the Playstation 4, the series hasn’t received a new entry since Parappa the Rapper 2 was released for the Playstation 2 all the way back in 2001.
7 Darkstalkers
Capcom is a developer that is highly regarded for their fighting games, most namely the Street Fighter series and the Marvel Vs. Capcom series. However, throughout the ’90s, they released numerous other fighting game franchises that haven’t received new entries in decades. One of the most notable of these series is Darkstalkers.
Often regarded for its impressive sprite work and visual style, Darkstalkers is a game heavily influenced by a wide range of horror media. While numerous characters from the series have appeared in games such as entries in the Marvel Vs. Capcom series, a brand new Darkstalkers game hasn’t been released since Darkstalkers 3 released in 1998.
6 Earthbound/Mother
When it comes to cult classics produced by Nintendo, one can’t help but mention the Mother Franchise. While the first and third entries in the series were initially only released in Japan (with Mother 3 still lacking any form of localization), the second game in the series, Earthbound was released in the west. The home of Ness, who many players may know from the Super Smash Bros series, the game is often regarded for its comedic yet modern approach to a traditional turn based RPG.
While the series has a devout following, and even inspired games such as Undertale and Lisa, a new entry in the series hasn’t been produced since the Japan-exclusive Mother 3 in 2006.
5 Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Released by Lucasarts in 1993 for the Sega Genesis and the SNES, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a memorable “run and gun” of the era. Possessing a distinct horror-comedy aesthetic while drawing influence from a myriad of horror films, the gameplay of Zombies Ate My Neighbors is fondly remembered due to its excellent co-op multiplayer that allows two players to fend off the horrors of the night together. Unfortunately for its fans, while the game received a sequel in the form of Ghoul Patrol in 1994, aside from re-releases and ports, there have been no new entries in the series in over twenty-five years.
4 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was originally released in Japan in 1995, and is quite an influential release in the tactical RPG genre. Helping popularize an isometric view in tactical RPGs, Tactics Ogre helped pave the way for games such as the Final Fantasy Tactics series, and the Disgaea series. Additionally, the game featured revolutionary storytelling that helped to form what was possible to include within a game in the tactics genre. Though the game has been ported to numerous consoles, the last game to be released in the series was Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis in 2002.
3 Snowboard Kids
Snowboard Kids is a cult classic snowboarding racing series released by Atlus. While the games in the series are indeed snowboarding games, featuring elements such as the ability to do tricks and the requirement of downhill momentum, the series has many similarities to kart racers like Mario Kart, such as the inclusions of items and power-ups. Though Snow-Board Kids and Snowboard Kids 2 celebrated moderate amounts of success on the Nintendo 64, the last time we’ve seen the series was its failed attempt of a reboot for the DS with SBK: Snowboard Kids in 2005.
2 Rival Schools: United By Fate
Another forgotten fighting game franchise released by Capcom in the 90s, Rival Schools: United By Fate, is a game that features a cast of characters within a Japanese high school setting. The majority of the game’s roster are teachers, the heads of school clubs, or stars of various sports teams, giving the game a very unique aesthetic. While the majority of fighting games are 2D or 2.5D affairs, Rival Schools is a 3D fighter, like Tekken. While the game shares a universe with Street Fighter, and it has been announced that one of the game’s characters, Akira, whill be appearing as DLC in Street Fighter V, a Rival Schools game hasn’t been released since the release of Project Justice in 2001.
1 Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara is a well-tuned and celebrated traditonal arcade beat ’em up that takes place in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. While many other games in the genre feature characters that play completely the same from one and other, he game features numerous unique characters with abilities based on their corresponding class. This helps to provide the game with an extra layer of depth and strategy.
The game was notably ported to the Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network in 2013. As D&D is currently experiencing a notable degree of popularity, now seems like the perfect time to release a similar D&D beat ’em up for modern audiences.
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply