Top 10 Most Overlooked Games of 2009: The Hidden Gems

It happens every year. Hundreds of games are released, and only a handful go on to be blockbusters. There are numerous reasons that contribute to games being overlooked; everything from little to no marketing budgets, to coming out on the same day as a much bigger title. However, as we all should know, the size of a game’s marketing budget doesn’t directly correspond to the quality of the game, which means that every year there are good games out there that go unplayed. Here are some of this year’s best:

10. The Legendary Starfy

It took years for the States to see a Starfy release, and then one comes along, and what do we do, we overlook it. Sure, Starfy is no Mario, Samus, Kirby, or even Toad for that matter, but that doesn’t mean that the game itself isn’t good. In a world where platformers are a dying breed, “The Legendary Starfy” is a little glimmer of hope from across the Pacific. It may have been a tad bit on the easy side, but it’s still a fun little game, with a fun little character, on a fun little platform.

9. Swords and Soldiers

WiiWare, it’s where good games go to get covered by shovelware. “Swords and Soldiers” is easily one of the most addictive, enjoyable and funny games of the year, but you might have missed it by lumping it in with a lot of the other crap that shows up on Nintendo’s download service. It’s an accessible (in this case that’s a good thing) tower defense game that will have you coming back over and over again. You’ll more than get you Wii Points worth with “Swords and Soldiers” as you pour hours into trying to survive just a little bit longer to finally beat those damn Aztecs.

8. Half-Minute Hero

It’s not “Half-Minute Hero”’s fault that it came out on the PSP, which is a shame because the game is one of the most unique experiences you can have on a handheld. Before “Half-Minute Hero” came out, I bet you thought it wasn’t possible to save the world in under a minute, much less in just 30 seconds, but it is. Add to that speedy premise a retro-inspired art style, and you have an RPG that’s perfect for the A.D.D. generation.

7. Rabbids Go Home

Maybe people are just burnt out on the whole Rabbids things. It’s kind of understandable, since they’ve pretty much become Ubisoft’s defacto mascots, and seen a host of releases over the last few years, just about all mini-game collections. But, “Rabbids Go Home” was a different kind of game, completely sans Rayman, and actually included humans? Weird. Plus, it’s a game where you have to actually help the “bad guys” go home, and had a release date in the cluttered holiday season. But, if you’re down for a little “Katamari”-style collection gameplay with screaming bunny things, bring “Rabbids Go Home” home with you.

6. Shatter

“Shatter” put a new spin on the block-breaking genre for the Playstation Network. It’s obviously inspired by games like “Brick Breaker” and “Arkanoid” but there’s so much more game layered on top here than just clear out the blocks from above. If you’ve ever enjoyed breaking things with a tiny ball, and happen to own a PS3, “Shatter” is a game that should be sucking up hours upon hours of your life.

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• January 4, 2010 -- 2009’s Best Retro Revivals: What’s Old Is New Again
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