Obscure Gaming Legacy Volume 3

It's that time again! I apologize for the hiatus, so without further ado volume three of OGL starts here.

In this timeline of my obscure game findings, I'm just about ready for Middle School in the year of 1996 with my game console collection slowly building up as I got both a Super Nintendo console as well as the Sega Game Gear.


Asterix and the Great Rescue - 1993



It wasn't until much later that I recognized where this franchise came from, but in Asterix and the Great Rescue for the Sega Genesis you played as either Asterix or his pudgy friend Obelix as they venture into the land of Gaul to rescue their friends from Romans. The game is yet another platformer, but you have to use items to get by, such as a floating cloud as a stepping stone, or a bomb to take out an enemy on a platform that must be jumped to. You're also on a rather low timer, which can be a bit of a chore when going through a level.

Game Rating: 4/10


Demon's Crest - 1994



As the third part of a trilogy that consisted of a series of spin-offs from the Ghouls N' Ghosts franchise, you play as Firebrand, a lone gargoyle that searches for six crests with different powers, each offering him abilities such as flight, swimming underwater, and breaking stones. The game had a non-linear choice of levels, as you had an overhead map in which you fly to your destination with a Mode 7 effect. The levels are very diverse, as you'll be going to places from a burning forest to an underwater palace among a few others. The game pulls no punches as the bosses you face offer different strategies, but as a whole it's a fun experience albeit being one of the much harder to find SNES titles.

Game Rating: 9/10


The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse - 1992



Two games made by Capcom in one listing, hoo boy... The Magical Quest tells the story of Mickey and his friends playing a game of catch, when out of the blue Pluto goes after the ball that was being thrown, and ends up being nowhere to be found. This game takes an interesting concept as you could change into different costumes that offer their own unique powers, such as a janitor costume with a vacuum that can suck up enemies, or a fireman costume that can shoot water to push blocks. These costumes will also be required to take out some of the level bosses as well.

Game Rating: 8/10


Out of this World - 1991



Originally developed in Europe, Out of this World has you playing as a young scientist that becomes trapped on an uncharted alien planet after a menacing thunderstorm makes a latest experiment of his to go wrong. With a mix of 16-bit platforming action, there's also a mix of neat digital cutscenes added in, some done with early motion capture which was really jaw dropping at the time. It does have a steep difficulty, but there's a handy password system for that.

Game Rating: 5/10


Claymates - 1993



Aside from another clay related series that Interplay made, Claymates is a story about a boy named, err, Clayton as he sets out to save his father, and a clay forming formula from an evil scientist after stealing a clay forming formula. Unfortunately he's been under a curse as to be formed into a ball of clay, but throughout levels he can turn into a set of animals, each appropriate for the level you go through. It's not one of the best lost Snes games, but it's worth a try for its concept.

Game Rating: 3/10


Lucky Dime Caper - 1991



The Sega Game Gear had a short line of interesting and fun Disney titles, but this game seemed to be my favorite of the bunch. You play as Donald Duck as he sets out to retrieve Scrooge's lucky dime from Magica De Spell. It's fun and simple platforming at its finest as you can hop on your enemies as well as use a mallet.

Game Rating: 8/10


Aladdin - 1994



As a sort of step back from the Snes and Sega Genesis versions, the Game Gear Aladdin goes into a different approach. You'll be in one level running from a guard after stealing a loaf of bread for Jasmine, to infiltrating the palace while wearing the Prince getup. Unfortunately you can't defeat your enemies, but you can pick up rocks to stun them. Rocks are also essential in keeping floor buttons pushed in order to open doors or locked areas. It also includes key scenes from the movie as well included as small cutscenes as to move the game along. It can be beaten in less than an hour, but it's worth a shot if you haven't played this version.

Game Rating: 6/10


Garfield Caught in the Act - 1995



Based on its Genesis counterpart, you play as Garfield as he goes through different television channels as he needs to escape from the tv dimension. It's a basic platformer as you use a scratch attack to defeat your enemies along the way. It's also different from its Genesis counterpart, with both the form of attack, a different bonus level in which you trash Jon's living room, and two exclusive levels that were meant to be in the console version. It's a very rare version of the game, almost as rare as the PC version in fact. If you can manage to find a copy, give it a whirl.

Game Rating: 5/10


Well that wraps up this volume! I'll be concluding next volume as I list a set of Playstation and Sega Saturn titles from my library (and some from rental). See you then!