Most Overlooked DS Games - Part Five

We've reached Tuesday and the fifth installment of the Most Overlooked DS Games. This list provides you with information regarding games that were glossed over by the gaming community or sold poorly by consumers. With that in tow, let's get started, but first, check out past installments of this series:

DS - Part One
DS - Part Two
DS - Part Three
DS - Part Four

Now it's time for the main event...

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride


The second of the Dragon Quest remake trilogy on the Nintendo DS, Hand of the Heavenly Bride is one of my favorite Dragon Quests period. This game is pretty rare nowadays at it sold so badly that only print run was given to it. However and recently, Amazon has restocked the game indicating that there might have been a second printing of the game. Track down a copy while you can as this game is one of the best in the Dragon Quest series.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn


Camelot returns to the Golden Sun franchise with a new entry exclusively for the DS. It's been years since we've seen the Isaac and the gang, and this time we're playing as their descendants. The new 3D models might not be as charming as the Game Boy Advance installments' 2D sprites, but don't let that deter you from picking up this excellent RPG. A bit on the easy side battle-wise, the puzzles are intuitive, the secrets are many, and the soundtrack is terrific. Look out for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn today.

Radiant Historia


Travel to the past to save the future in this time-traveling RPG with turn-based combat, multiple endings, and a brilliant soundtrack. Radiant Historia is the type of game that Best Buy doesn't carry in its stores, so you can bet that this game is going to get rare soon. The sprites used in this game are simply exquisite, and the story and script are both sublime. If you're looking for an innovative and charming JRPG for your DS, look no further than Radiant Historia.

Okamiden


While I didn't appreciate Okami's second offering as much as most, Okamiden came out to little fanfare. In between the launches of Pokemon Black and White and the Nintendo 3DS, Capcom couldn't have picked a worse time to release this game. It follows the story of Chibiterasu and his partners as they attempt to save Nippon from impending doom. The stylus controls make drawing a breeze unlike the console originals, and Capcom really pushed the DS to its limits graphically with this one. For a Zelda-lite experience on the DS, Okamiden is the game for you.

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors


This Mature-rated game features an excellent, gripping story in this dark thriller. A college student wakes up to find himself aboard a ferry with numbered doors littered all over the place. He has to play a game of life and death to escape with his soul intact. Solve puzzles to unwind the threads of this mystery and seek out the true ending to obtain the ultimate satisfaction in Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors for the Nintendo DS.

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There goes another edition of Most Overlooked. Do you have any games you'd add to this list? Let me know in the comments section.

Most Overlooked Wii Games - Part Five

Something that is common with most games on any overlooked list is that most of them lacked any sort of television advertising. There's not always an excuse as to why a game fails to sell, however. Sometimes, the fan base just isn't there or, in the Wii's case, have moved on from growing tired of waiting for third parties to get their act together. Here's part five (sad there's already five parts, huh?) of the Wii's most overlooked and/or underrated games.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Unlike every other game on this list, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers actually had television advertising, so there's really no reason this title shouldn't have sold. Did the reviewers get to the consumers? I think we hold reviewers in too high of standing. Nonetheless, The Crystal Bearers main storyline followed a vast assortment of mini-games with unorthodox battles in between. There's over 300 different achievement-like medals to earn in the game, one of the best soundtracks to ever grace the Wii, and some fabulous graphics to boot. Wait until this title goes down in price before snagging it as it's definitely worth it.


Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

Take a walk on the darkside with Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, a Wii-exclusive on-rails shooter taking place during the Resident Evil 2 and Veronica X scenarios of the series. There's even a brand-new scenario entitled Operation Javier that shows Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser teaming up on a mission to take out a South American dictator. With plenty of unlockable content such as enemy models, voice samples, upgradeable weapons, secret files, and much more, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is one of the best on-rails shooters I've yet to play. Only House of the Dead: Overkill triumphs this excellent game.


Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Is it time to put the Silent Hill franchise to sleep? The series continues to go into a rapid decline. First with Silent Hill Homecoming and now Silent Hill: Shattered Dreams for Wii, PS2, and PSP. The Wii version was definitive with better controls, better visuals, and some fun Wii remote tricks. What's to blame for the decline of the series much more the failure on-- count 'em-- five platforms? Lack of interest in the Silent Hill name? Lack of advertising? Regardless, whether you're a fan of the series or not, Shattered Memories is a great game to hop into the Silent Hill series with.


Castlevania Judgment

This unusual fighter takes place in a fully three-dimensional arena. You use the Wii remote to attack your foes, block with the nunchuk, and whip your opponent into submission. While not the world's most intricate fighter-- this game won't be showing up at EVO-- Castlevania Judgment is a good game for fans to leap into. There's nearly twenty different fighters to select from, all designed by one of the lead artists from the Death Note anime, each with their own attacks, hyper moves, and personalities. Of course, all that's standard for a brawler, right? Throw in multiple modes such as Dracula's Castle, story, arcade, and online modes, and you have a competent fighter that many overlooked and over-criticized.


A Boy and His Blob

"C'mon, blob!" the boy yells, calling his friend, the blob, over. The two go off on an adventure to save the world of Blobonia from sinister shadow creatures in this platformer/puzzler. The eponymous blob has a lot of shapes he can take from a rocket to a weight to a jack that can be used to lift objects high into the air or to be used as a platform. To add to the forty plus levels there's several treasure chests hidden throughout each of the game's levels. These chests when collected open secret challenge levels, the ultimate test in A Boy and His Blob. These are levels where you have to go through them flawlessly or start from the beginning all over again. Whether you like vibrant visuals or rewarding gameplay, A Boy and His Blob has something for you.


There goes another edition of Most Overlooked into the books. Have any games you'd love to see in future editions? Let me know in the comments section!