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00:00For every great game that comes out and is a hit, there are plenty of great games that fall
00:04through the cracks. If a masterful platformer shooter or beat-em-up is only available on a
00:10lesser-known system, what chance does that have? Then there are games that get a lot of love
00:14initially, but fade into memory once players move on to the next big thing.
00:19Even though the entries on this list are masterpieces, they've mostly been forgotten about,
00:23which is a huge shame. But we're here to remind you of them, or perhaps tell you about them for
00:28the very first time, so you can have an even bigger to play pile. Sorry.
00:33I'm just from WhatCulture and here are 10 forgotten masterpiece video games.
00:38Number 10. Final Fantasy XII.
00:40Final Fantasy lovers are endlessly debating which game in the franchise is the best.
00:46You'll hear lots of people talking about Final Fantasy VII, plenty more talking about Final Fantasy
00:51VI, and then there are those who love X or XIV, and that's totally fair enough as well.
00:56Yet, Final Fantasy XII is rarely spoken about with the same admiration, despite how beautifully
01:02crafted it is. It was bold to do away with the random encounters, but this decision gave players
01:07far more freedom in exploring. Ware also made progress in Final Fantasy XII less reliant on
01:13grinding, which has been a major flaw in the series since day one. Even though the franchise regularly
01:19relies on nostalgia, Final Fantasy XII incorporates none of the iconic summoning monsters,
01:24creatures like Afrit, Ramu, or Bahamut. Instead, the creators devised all new creatures you could
01:30summon, and you could control them in the open world for the very first time.
01:34Even though modern games still struggle with AI partners, the gambit system that governs the
01:40actions of the protagonist's teammates is easy to manage and incredibly efficient. Since the
01:45Zodiac Age remaster has been released on most systems in recent years, now is the perfect time
01:50to revisit Final Fantasy XII.
01:52Number 9. Virtua Fighter IV
01:54Because Tekken, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Smash kind of dominate the fighting genre,
02:00it's really easy to forget about Virtua Fighter. Considering Sega's Punch Fest was the first 3D
02:05fighting game ever and laid the foundation for many beloved titles, it's a shame Virtua Fighter
02:12has been living in the shadows. If any entry in the series deserves more recognition,
02:16it's Virtua Fighter IV. Upon its release, there wasn't a single element that didn't receive
02:21universal praise. Like, even the tutorial was considered a work of art. This installment was
02:26touted the best fighting game since Street Fighter II due to its balanced roster, jaw-dropping realism,
02:33fluid movements, diverse fighting styles, and responsive controls.
02:37It's also really satisfying when you win a match, since success totally relies on your ability
02:42to block and pull off counterattacks, as opposed to dumb luck and button mashing. That does mean
02:48I wouldn't win any matches, but probably good if you're skilled.
02:51Virtua Fighter IV was so ahead of its predecessors, it should have elevated the series overnight,
02:56allowing Sega's underrated franchise to finally stand shoulder to shoulder with the big dogs.
03:02But here we are over 20 years later, and Virtua Fighter IV still remains underappreciated.
03:08Number 8, F-Zero GX. F-Zero GX gave gamers an experience unlike any other racing title.
03:15Mario Kart is heaps of fun, but there's nothing as exhilarating as zooming around a gravity-defying
03:21track while piloting a futuristic hovercraft at 1,000 miles per hour. Because the levels are
03:27surrounded by things like asteroids and lava, there's also a greater sense of urgency while
03:32you're racing, since each participant can die mid-race. Even though the series is renowned for
03:38its catchy tunes, Hidenori Shoji and Daiki Kaiso outdid themselves here, creating some absolute
03:45head-boppers. GX was also among the most graphically impressive titles on the GameCube, barely showing
03:50its age even after over two decades. Although GX did sell 1.5 million copies, which is obviously a lot
03:58of copies, Mario Kart Double Dash, which came out around the same time, sold quadruple that.
04:03Since it was clear where the money was going, it's easy to understand why Nintendo stayed with
04:08Mario Kart, while F-Zero was left in the dust. Sadly, GX was never re-released, giving racing fans
04:14little chance to give it a shot.
04:16Number 7, Lost Odyssey.
04:18On the surface, Lost Odyssey looks like a Final Fantasy clone. Not only does it have all the staples,
04:24Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi was the head writer. But in a way, Lost Odyssey actually
04:30feels like Final Fantasy without some of its negative qualities. For example, gameplay feels
04:35more skill-focused instead of just spamming the same attacks. The aim ring system is simple in concept,
04:41but forces our heroes to align their attacks, keeping gamers engaged in every battle.
04:46Another way Lost Odyssey disassociates from Square's iconic series is its straightforward narrative.
04:52There are no plot twists, last-minute bait and switches, or unnecessarily complex subplots.
04:58Instead, the sprawling saga focuses on the main character's personal journey and explores their
05:03relationships with one another. Thanks to the magnificent voice acting, it's tough not to get
05:07immersed in the ensemble's conflicts and hardships.
05:10Even though Lost Odyssey is gargantuan, don't get us wrong, nothing really feels like filler here.
05:16Even outside of the main mission, it feels like the developers have put their heart and soul
05:20into every submission, so you feel like you want to complete them all.
05:23Since Lost Odyssey was only available on the Xbox 360, few people experience this lost treasure.
05:30It's not easy to get a copy, but Lost Odyssey is definitely worth playing, especially for any RPG lover.
05:37Number 6. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
05:40In Nine Houses, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, college student Junpei is kidnapped alongside eight
05:46strangers, then placed on a sinking cruiser where they're forced to take part in life-or-death
05:51tests.
05:52What makes this Nintendo DS title surpass other visual novels is how nerve-wracking it is.
05:58Every time a challenge is completed, things take a sudden 180 turn, a truth bomb is unleashed,
06:03or it turns out that somebody's betrayed you.
06:06So you're constantly on edge, waiting for the next piece of the mystery to unravel itself.
06:10It's also refreshing to see that Nine Hours lacks many negative aspects of the genre,
06:15like pixel hunting, dead ends, and red herrings.
06:18We're looking at you, Grim Fandango.
06:20The puzzles are entertainingly diverse, demand a mix of logic, lateral thinking, and math,
06:25and the conundrums pose a fair challenge, but never reach Monkey Island levels of frustration.
06:30Because there are six endings, Nine Hours has a huge replay factor.
06:34After the story mode's beaten, the player can fast-forward sections upon the subsequent
06:38playthroughs, preventing the gameplay from getting tedious.
06:41Even though Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton are considered the kings of the visual novel
06:46genre, this one should definitely be up there too.
06:49Number 5.
06:50Nights into Dreams
06:51The Sega Saturn bombed so quickly, it's genuinely impressive.
06:55But that doesn't mean this doomed console didn't have a couple of awesome titles,
07:00most notably Nights into Dreams.
07:02In this action platformer, two teenagers called Elliot and Clarice enter the dream world with
07:07a meta character called Knight.
07:09After taking control of Knight, the player must soar through the sky in a predetermined
07:14route while passing through hoops and collecting orbs to maintain momentum.
07:18It might sound super simple, but Nights into Dreams requires a surprising amount of tactical
07:23thinking, since you have to constantly monitor your velocity, speed, and the time limit.
07:28Once the mechanics have been mastered, though, performing acrobatic feats across the sky is
07:34a thrilling experience.
07:35With the vibrant colours, charming jingles, and incredible controls, getting through each
07:40level is a blast.
07:41Nights into Dreams may be brief, but gamers can't help coming back to it just to beat
07:46their old scores.
07:47Although Nights into Dreams didn't sell well initially, it could have made a comeback after
07:52the release of the sequel, Journey into Dreams.
07:54Sadly, this follow-up failed to recreate the magic, driving the original further into obscurity.
08:00Number 4.
08:01Vibribbon
08:02Vibribbon follows a rabbit called Vibri, who lives in a rhythm-based world called Music
08:08World.
08:08On his journey, the whimsical bunny comes across pits, blocks, loops, and waves, which correspond
08:13to the beats of the track.
08:15To navigate through these obstacles, Vibri must press the corresponding button.
08:19As straightforward as that sounds, it gets tricky when the levels incorporate two obstacles
08:23into one, giving the player a little time to figure out which combination of buttons
08:27to push.
08:28Vibribbon has the potential to become absolutely unputdownable.
08:32Let's go with unputdownable.
08:34Since it also responds to any CD you put into the console.
08:37Like audio CD.
08:39Because the level design is based on the pulse of the song, the gameplay is only limited by
08:43the player's music collection.
08:44So if the player wants to navigate through a level based on the melody of You Belong
08:49With Me, Red, 22, Fortnite, or a song that's not by Taylor Swift, they can totally do that.
08:55Although Vibribbon is staggeringly creative, its lack of popularity isn't much of a surprise.
09:01Due to its monochromatic design, wireframe aesthetic, and kiddie vibe, Vibribbon was a
09:06hard sell.
09:07Unfortunately, when its two spinoffs sold badly as well, that kind of killed off the franchise
09:12for good.
09:13Number 3 Skies of Arcadia
09:15In hindsight, it's baffling how the Dreamcast failed, considering how many of its games
09:20were so ahead of their time.
09:22Although Shenmue and Samba de Amigo eventually earned the recognition they deserved, Skies
09:27of Arcadia never got its due, despite being arguably the console's best title.
09:32Like many RPGs, the gameplay relies on turn-based battles, earning experience points, and getting
09:38your skills leveled up.
09:39However, Skies of Arcadia puts a much heavier focus on exploration.
09:43The map is initially blank, necessitating the player to navigate through the steampunk world
09:48to fill in their atlas.
09:50This gives the player the sense that they're rewarded for their curiosity, enticing them
09:54to scavenge for secret pods, allies, and hidden chests.
09:58Also, the random battles never get repetitive, since they all require strategic planning and
10:03tactical engagement.
10:04Each encounter has our hero Vice and his squad spouting banter while unleashing their attacks,
10:10making the experience more entertaining and personal.
10:13Since airships play a huge part in the plot, it's neat how sky vessels are incorporated
10:17into battles.
10:18The ship-on-ship fights are epic, as they allow Vice to command a crew and utilize a variety
10:24of innovative and devastating weapons.
10:26Despite being hailed as one of the best RPGs of all time, few people have even heard of
10:32Skies of Arcadia, let alone played it, and that's a darn shame.
10:36Number 2.
10:36Perfect Dark
10:37Even though GoldenEye 007 was a landmark title, the James Bond shooter hasn't aged well.
10:44Seriously, the controls are much worse than you remember.
10:47The same can't be said about GoldenEye's spiritual sequel, Perfect Dark.
10:51Despite having the same structure, this rare title had an original storyline, and incorporated
10:57many mechanics that the Bond adaptation lacked, including double feature weapons, voice acting,
11:02elaborate cutscenes, a shooting range, and most importantly, cheese.
11:07With the advances of the Nintendo 64's expansion pack, gameplay also got a hell of a lot smoother,
11:14and words cannot describe how darn good that soundtrack is.
11:17Sadly, Perfect Dark lacked one thing that GoldenEye 007 had in spades, and that's brand recognition.
11:24Being a new property, Perfect Dark couldn't sell the same as its predecessor, since GoldenEye
11:29007 was based on one of the most widely recognized IPs.
11:33The prequel and remaster were decent, but they didn't quite match up to that magical of the
11:38original, leaving the Perfect Dark series pretty dead in the water.
11:41Since there hasn't been another installment in 13 years, and the announced reboot is in development hell,
11:47it's easy to forget what an impact Perfect Dark originally had.
11:52Number 1. Planescape Torment
11:54There aren't a lot of games that are so ahead of their time in the way that Planescape Torment was.
11:59Although there are games like Bioware's Mass Effect and Dragon Age, which are heralded for how they
12:04allow the player to make choices, Planescape Torment was doing that all the way back in 1999.
12:10Even though the best games of that era had a simple storyline, Torment has a behemoth narrative
12:16that deals with obscure concepts like mortality, transcendence, interdimensional travel, and
12:22manifesting reality through thought. Torment tries to balance so many ideas it could easily
12:27collapse under its own weight, and yet the gothic roleplayer never wavers, weaving a magnificent
12:32story filled with philosophical musings, fascinating character arcs, and solid gallows humor.
12:38Every time you solve one of the game's captivating puzzles, a bunch of various parts are unlocked,
12:43which lets you explore even more gorgeously-terrained areas.
12:46As monumental as Torment is, it saves its best ideas for last. The mind-blowing twist,
12:52the glorious final boss, and the heart-wrenching ending is enough to stay with anyone forever.
12:58In a nutshell, Planescape Torment is an unparalleled masterpiece that doesn't just raise the bar
13:04for storytelling and world-building, but gaming in general.