Seventh Generation Cult Classics

[prfsnl_gmr]

Doesn't a game have to be considered "Classic" to be considered as a "Cult Classic"?

No.

*Dragon's Dogma and Binary Domain*

Dragon's Dogma is probably too pupular to be added to the list. I am intrigued by your defense of Binary Domain, however, and I will add it to the list. (It has also been added to my personal "want list" based on your description! )

I'm just throwing these games out as suggestions...

Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage (PS3, 360)

Operation Darkness (360)

Aliens: Infestation (DS)

To keep the number of games under consideration (and to avoid "generation" confusion), we are only considering console games; so, Aliens: Infestation (DS) is out. I am intrigued by the others, however, and I will try to gather some more thoughts form the community.

Mushihimesama Futari (360)

Great choice. I will add it to the OP.

Some of my picks for the Wii...

Flake, Omerta, and I may be creating a Wii "hidden gems" article at some point, and when we do, I will certainly reach out to you to determine if you are interested in contributing. (I proposed many of these games for consideration, and some of these should appear in the forthcoming Wii "defining games" article.)

I think that many of these are more "hidden gems" than "cult classics" due to the lack of a vocal following. This is the second time someone has proposed Red Steel 2, however; so, I will add it to the OP. Likewise, Little King's Story, Sakura Wars, and Zack & Wiki all have vocal support on this site; so, I will add them to the OP (...and Sin & Punishment, of course, is already there ).

Sin & Punishment: Successor to the Skies - Treasure made this. That means A) It didn't sell huge amounts, and B) It's fantastic. Buy it.

Is this called something different in the States? I've got one called ": Star Successor."

Yes. Successor to the Skies (JPN/PAL) = Star Successor (NTSC)

.....

I picked up some PS3 games at a local pawn shop this morning, and they were priced $8 each or 3 for $18. There were two games I really wanted (Demon's Souls and R&C Future: A Crack in Time), but I struggled to find a third game. I am not going pass up on a $2 PS3 game, however, so, I grabbed Conan. From what I have read about it on GameFAQs, critics hated this game, but it receives consistently high "reader review" scores, particularly from fans of Conan fiction. Moreover, users posting about this game admit loving it, defend it against detractors, and write about multiple playthroughs. I - obviously - have not played through it yet, but does anyone elese have any thoughts on whether it could be considered a cult classic?

.....

I am looking for thoughts on:

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise/Rhythm Heaven Fever
Conan
Cursed Mountain
De Blob
Disaster: Day of Crisis
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Kororinpa
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars
Operation Darkness
The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
Sleeping Dogs
Splatterhouse
Stranglehold

Are they "cult classics" or just "hidden gems"?

[Luke]

Doesn't a game have to be considered "Classic" to be considered as a "Cult Classic"?

No.

So these days a Cult Classic doesn't have to be a Classic or have a Cult following.

Riiiiight. Sorry FREAKS the movie, TWILIGHT is the new cult classic.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Doesn't a game have to be considered "Classic" to be considered as a "Cult Classic"?

No.

So these days a Cult Classic doesn't have to be a Classic or have a Cult following.

Riiiiight. Sorry FREAKS the movie, TWILIGHT is the new cult classic.

One movie year is equal to seven video game years; so - in video game years - many of these games are 30 to 35 years old now. As stated in the OP, however, vocal defenders of merit is still a requirement, however.

[Luke]

One movie year is equal to seven movie years....

You're thinking about dog years.

In all honesty I can't think of a game for the 360/Wii/PS3 that was a huge sleeper hit for a niche market. And the games I can see someday having a cult following are all games even my own friends would rather not play or simply find the game to be "okay".

I really enjoy Endless Ocean on the Wii, but it certainly doesn't have a strong following. My friends agree that Child of Eden is great, but everyone else does too and when I talk about Eden people usually tell me to "settle down".

So many of the "new" games are ones and dones that do not offer the opportunity to become a cult classic. But when I mention "Puzzle Fighter for the Dreamcast" a few out of many people will go bonkers on how much they love the game.

[prfsnl_gmr]

My friends agree that Child of Eden is great, but everyone else does too and when I talk about Eden people usually tell me to "settle down".

I thought of your defense when I decided to add it to the OP.

The word "classic" is certainly stretching it given that many of the games are not that old, but I think we can use it here the same way people use it in the term "modern classic". Moreover, the basis for the thread was the "Current Gen Cult Classics" article in Game Informer, and I wanted the thread title to reflect its basis. ("Seventh Generation Games With a Cult Following" does not have quite the same ring to it.)

....

In any event, I passed on a $5.5 copy of Endless Ocean this morning. Should I have grabbed it?

.....

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the games listed in my earlier post?

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise/Rhythm Heaven Fever
Conan
Cursed Mountain
De Blob
Disaster: Day of Crisis
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Kororinpa
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars
Operation Darkness
The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
Sleeping Dogs
Splatterhouse
Stranglehold

Are they "cult classics" or just "hidden gems"?

[Luke]

In any event, I passed on a $5.5 copy of Endless Ocean this morning. Should I have grabbed it?

.....

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the games listed in my earlier post?
Disaster: Day of Crisis
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Sleeping Dogs
Splatterhouse


Are they "cult classics" or just "hidden gems"?

Endless Ocean is like "playing" a fish tank screen saver, but in the Ocean. It's calming, soothing exploration and nothing more. The game should be prescribed to the clinically stressed, as it is a great game to help anyone unwind.

I wouldn't even classify the mentioned games as hidden gems.

[brunoafh]

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the games listed in my earlier post?

Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage

This is a weird one to think about. The game series is niche, the franchise its based on is niche (it was quite popular in its day, but unlike Dragon Ball it hasn't kept massive international popularity).

Hidden gem? No. It's Dynasty Warriors. You either love them or hate them, and pretty much everyone is aware of the existence of this franchise. Although it's one of the best Dynasty Warriors games, and quite arguably THE best Fist of the North Star game, its appeal is (generally) limited to these two groups of people, and it is far from hidden from them.

Cult classic... the thing is, it definitely has a pretty sizable and devoted fanbase. Fist of the North Star fans went crazy for this game, myself included. But ultimately I feel like its one of those cases where the following isn't quite large and passionate enough for it to be considered a cult classic. I don't really have any sources for this claim, but its coming from someone that has been in the little community it spawned since it was announced.

It might be more interesting to look at the sequel now that I think about it. It was a commercial and critical failure unlike the first game (by DW standards), but it still does have its community.

[Blu]

I think the definition of the term is lending to some difficulty. Cult Classics in film have a hard time with early success at the box office, but slowly garner success. That and cult classics develop over a "period" of time. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a cult classic. Twilight, is not.

I think the hop from film to video games is proving difficult for a lot of the posts I'm reading. Are there some criteria we can agree on?

- No Greatest Hits Versions?
- No Popular, well-established franchises?
- Limited Print Runs?
- Did it not sell well?
- ???
- PROFIT!

I think discussing a few of these qualifiers might lead to some other games emerging onto our lists, while crossing out a few too in the process.

[prfsnl_gmr]

- No Greatest Hits Versions?
- No Popular, well-established franchises?
- Limited Print Runs?
- Did it not sell well?
- ???
- PROFIT!

I think that games with "Greatest Hits/Platinum" releases are probably too popular to be "cult" games. That said, I do not think games in popular, well-established franchises should necessarily be excluded. (I think that College Hoops 2K8 was a great addition to Game Informer's list.) Likewise, I do not think that a game must have had a limited print run to be on the list.

Ultimately, however, I am much more interested in discussing games than arguing semantics or debating the meaning of the term "cult classic", and I hope that this thread inspires people to discuss relatively obscure seventh generation games and the "cults" that surround them.

That said, here are the criteria from the OP:

"[G]ames that are "cult" classics as games that: (1) were released on consoles or PC (i.e., no hanheld or mobile games); (2) are or were generally ignored by most video game players upon release (i.e., games that did not quickly meet or exceed sales expectations, games that most video game players no longer play, etc.); (3) received less than overwhelming critical acclaim; and - most importantly - (4) have a relatively small, dedicated fan base willing to argue the game's merits passionately."

If you think of any games that meet these criteria, please list them, and I will add them to the OP if I agree with your assessment. (Based on Brunoafh's description, I think that Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage fits perfectly, and I will definitely be adding it to the OP.)

[Blu]

Hmm. I agree then slightly that digital releases could be included on this. Capcom and Sega's releases of Ducktales and Castle of Illusion would be considered cult classics, given they've already received acclaim in generations past.

That and there are other series I think of, like the original Pokemon that started slowly then exploded.

To Contribute and Second:
Yakuza 3, 4 and Dead Souls
Binary Domain
Vanquish
3D Dot Heroes
Journey / Flower / Flow
Lost Odyssey - Mistwalker has some decent titles.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution

I think by the criteria, these games all have been shortly in the limelight, or overshadowed by other games around the time of their release. Still excellent titles, but not given the acclaim other games were given.