I’ve played a lot of games in my life and as a result my tastes have shifted to the unique and quirky. I’ve played tons of the popular genres and and I’ve come to appreciate it when a game does something really different. Now that we’ve reached a transition point between console generations it’s a great opportunity to buy games I missed cheaply, but the games I’m interested in don’t usually get a lot of attention and so I’m turning to you, the SDMB. What distinctive, unique playing games are out there for the PS2, Gamecube, and original X-Box? To offer a few options that I already have:
Katamari Damacy (PS2) - The poster child for quirky and actually relatively well known compared to games I’m hunting for (which makes it a good example). The idea of rolling up clutter to grow is sublime.
Stretch Panic (PS2) - This game is built around the idea of stretching vertices and snapping them back. The core of the game is a set of what are effectively boss battles in arenas. And no mention of this game is complete without pointing out that the common enemies are women who have had their breasts enlarged to the point that they are nearly the size of the rest of their body (and its as freakish as it sounds).
Steel Battalion (XBox) - Much like Guitar Hero is elevated from being just another rhythm game by virtue of its controller, Steel Battalion is more than just another mech game due to it’s monster of a special controller. It’s just like being in the cockpit of a mech. The simulationist approach to the combat adds to the feeling.
Fatal Frame (XBox) - Most of this game falls along typical survival horror elements, but the player has a camera that catches ghosts and part of the game is trying to take quick photos of spirits as they appear and vanish. I think it makes the surprise elements more effective since you’re constantly on edge watching for things to photo.
Eternal Darkness (GC) - And speaking of survival horror, the sanity system used in this game takes the fourth wall and smashes it to bits. The game goes metatextual as the main character loses their wits and plays tricks on the player. To use a simple example, it can put up a warning that the controller is unplugged while monsters are closing in on the player. It does feel gimmicky toward the end but there were several moments when the game really got me.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GC) - A rhythm game about keeping rhythm rather than hitting particular buttons. It’s a platform game, but Donkey Kong runs by keeping a beat on a pair of bongos and jumping and attacking are done by performing other actions and breaking the rhythm.
So any recommendations on titles with distinctive gameplay that I should go out of my way for before they vanish?
