From Mario Kart to Street Fighter; Goldeneye to Halo; Metal Gear to the all conquering GTA, everyone has their favorite game. But what about the games that didn’t conquer the whole world, or the forgotten gems that helped pave the path that led us to here? Game enthusiast, Adi Shankar, producer of Netflix’s animated series Castlevania, as well as the upcoming adaption of Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (based on Ubisoft IP), and an animated version of PUBG, spills the beans on 5 obscure games to check out.
SNATCHER
“A cyberpunk graphic adventure and Hideo Kojima’s second directed game after the original Metal Gear. Snatcher was way too dark, gory, and mature for video games at the time. It was also released on the Sega CD console for Western audiences, which was not a huge commercial success causing a lack of exposure. However, if you play it today, you’ll see it’s a forerunner for a lot of the innovations in modern video games. Acclaimed for its storytelling, Snatcher has had a lasting impact on the science-fiction and cyberpunk genres.”
EARTHBOUND
“The role-playing game (RPG) was not a popular genre in the United States at the time of Earthbound’s release, which is one of the reasons why the game is obscure. In retrospect, now that role-playing is huge globally, you can look back and see how Earthbound promoted the genre by being a masterclass of subversive art. In taking traditional RPG mechanics and giving them a unique and weird twist, such as suffering from “homesickness” as a status ailment, Earthbound was able to stand out in a crowded marketplace and leave a lasting impact that allowed RPGs and video games in general to step into eccentric and exciting territories.”
DEAD CELLS
“One of the best designed games of the modern era, it uses a modified Castlevania mechanics to create something that feels like a homage to the SNES era while being wildly fun and addictive in its own right. Easily digestible, while being surprisingly deep, Dead Cells offers a vast amount of experimentation in its gameplay, leading to late nights where you say to yourself ‘just one more run’.”
DUKE NUKEM
“At one point Duke Nukem 3D was one of the biggest games in the world and its titular series protagonist was one of the most famous characters in video games, so it’s weird to call the game obscure. One could argue that Duke Nukem was even a gaming mascot in the same breath as Lara Croft or Master Chief. Due to shifts in culture, the game is mostly remembered for its violence, language, and strippers. However, what I remember it for, is its John Carpenter-meets-Alien inspired vibe, satirical tone, and a plethora of innovative weapons and advances in destructible environments that marked a paradigm shift in the first-person shooter genre.”
DARKSTALKERS
“From the company that brought you the iconic Street Fighter comes Darkstalkers, aka Street Fighter with monsters. Faster and more frantic than Street Fighter, and featuring a more colorful and vibrant color pallet, its tone and style found its way into the mega popular and genre defining Marvel vs. Capcom series. Without this faster paced gameplay, the fighting genre would not be what it is today.”
CHECK OUT ADI
COMING SOON
As Producer of Captain Laserhawk
OUT NOW
As Producer of The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!)
BEST OF
As Producer of Netflix’s Castlevania
As Executive Producer of Killing Them Softly
As Executive Producer of The Grey
