Cult Classics: PlayStation 2
Part 5: Horror, bugs, puzzles and anger.
Airblade
- Publisher: Sony
- Developer: Criterion
Between Burnout and Burnout 2, Criterion snuck out this rather overlooked trick-based hoverboard title. Following on from the much-admired Dreamcast title, Trickstyle, Airblade was more playable and technically rather lovely, riffing heavily on the Tony Hawk titles but just about managing to carve an identity of its own. Gamers hung up on Neversoft's peerless title weren't really in the mood for a futuristic take on extreme sports though, especially at a time when the market was rammed to the gills with copycat efforts. And yet Airblade is a far better game than many gave it credit for, with tight controls, great visuals and a good soundtrack. Criterion has always made great games, and if you agree then you could do worse than to hunt this one down.
What we said: "It may be worth Criterion giving the franchise another chance should they take note of the game's shortcomings."
Ebay price guide: Around GBP 1 (!)
Shadow of Rome
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
Back in the day we got excited about Shadow of Rome. It was Capcom heavweight Keiji Inafune's latest, which generally meant it was going to be big news, and, for the purposes of our Cult Classics series, this PS2-exclusive obscurity is definitely worth a mention - if only to celebrate some of the really good things about it. Forget, for a moment, that 50 per cent of the game is uninspired stealth nonsense, and instead revel in the glory of the excellent action segments, the rip-roaring gory action, memorable boss encounters and top-notch production values. It was also, lest we forget, one of the very first Capcom games where we didn't have to whine about control and camera issues. A flawed classic, like many of the games on this intriguing list.
What we said: "It builds into a genuinely captivating series of varied events and manages to present the futile bloodlust in an unsympathetic light, yet making the process of limb removal, beheading or carving someone's torso straight down the middle a thrilling experience."
Ebay price guide: Around GBP 10
Chaos Legion
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
Chaos Legion is closely connected to the Devil May Cry series in all but name. Visually it's the same style (except a bit whiter), the core gameplay's almost identical, and even the central protagonist is a "master swordsman" with similarly chiselled features and flowing wardrobe. Where it differs is in the use of Legions to back you up when the going gets tough, with L1 bringing heavies into the fray to smash things up on your behalf, or R1 to form a defensive shield. It's all a bit more stripped down and simpler than DMC, with a much more obvious level-based approach, but shorn of the adventuring and exploration aspects, it was pure action all the way. A bit intense, but definitely worth checking out if you're obsessed by the DMC series and fancy seeing one of Capcom's more experimental efforts. It's better than Devil May Cry 2, at the very least.
What we said: "It's a great looking game, full of delightful architecture, great animation and bizarre characterisation."
Ebay price guide: Around GBP 2