Ever finish a game and think, “Wow, someone is bound to copy this idea.” Although the exact words may not be correct, every video game fan has surely thought about how incredible a gaming experience has been. Most ideas are really copied and passed around and improved between iterations, like catching monsters with Pokémon franchise.
Then there are other game ideas that are so original, no one else has really nailed what they're doing. Why no one has copied them exactly is a mystery. Are these examples all 10/10 experiences? Not necessarily, but what they lack in quality they make up for with good ideas.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Haunting and beautiful all at once
Shadow of the Colossus was released for the PS2 in 2005, and minus the remaster and eventual remake, nothing else has captured what made this game special in two decades. The only example that has come close is Pray to the godsbut it's not as focused and adds too many other mechanics that get in the way. There have been tons of boss-focused games released since then Shadow of the Colossushowever as Cuphead and Titan Soulswhich is a positive sign of gambling. Anyway, let's break up Shadow of the Colossus as it appeared on PS2.
The game opens with the hero Wander sitting a woman down in a temple, followed by ethereal voices telling him something. Players then dare to find and kill their first titan, including climbing this giant and killing various power points. Other than running around on foot or on a horse, this huge world is practically empty except for the colossi running around. Who are these creatures telling Wander what to do? What exactly are the colossi? No one knows or says so explicitly in the game, which has created a dedicated fan base online with many theories. Shadow of the Colossus is undoubtedly a work of art in playable form.
Yoku's Island Express
A Pinball Metroidvania
The pinball genre was big in arcades, booming in the 70s and lasting until the 90s. Starting with the PS2 generation of consoles, there were fewer dedicated pinball games, but the digital age, which began in the next generation, as with the PS3, tried to bring them back. That's how Metroidvanias came back too, and one of the most interesting Metroidvanias is Yoku's Island Express. The game combined Metroidvania's maze and progression system with pinball-based gameplay.
Yoku's Island Express plays a little bug named Yoku, who is a courier on a new island. Thanks to some terrible weather, Yoku is tasked with delivering his mail through a series of challenges, all based on pinball games in different biomes. It's harder to explain than to sit down and actually play it. While the paddle-based controls can be finicky to get the ball going in the right direction, it's undeniably a compelling game and a Metroidvania that doesn't get enough love. It was a brilliant way to bring back pinball, but with a new twist.
Catherine
Pushing Blocks, Knocking Boots
Catherine is two games rolled into one, and there's definitely nothing else like it. Thought within Persona team at Atlus, Catherine takes place in a modern society, where the main character Vincent has girlfriend problems with Katherine. She wants to go ahead with the marriage and possibly have children, but Vincent doesn't feel up to the task at his age, creating a nightmare scenario. When Vincent falls asleep, he wakes up in his boxers and sheep horns among other sheep people.
This part of Catherine is a block puzzle game where players have to move cubes to get to the exit while being chased by some terrible monstrosity. Outside this dream dimension, Vincent must choose between staying with Katherine or meeting a new girl, the titular Catherine. Choices in the modern setting are easy, almost like a text adventure, but everything matters in freeing Vincent from his lust-filled hellscape. There is also a remaster, Catherine: Full bodywhich adds another character for Vincent to flirt with, and regardless of which version players have, they're in for a challenging love story.
Henry Hatsworth in the puzzling adventure
Platformer meets Tetris
Henry Hatsworth in the puzzling adventure took full advantage of the DS when it was released in 2009. The titular explorer will embark on linear adventures through levels reminiscent of 90s action platformers. Henry can attack enemies with his cane, and power-ups can summon a giant steam-powered robot to take down enemies as well. However, that's only half the battle, literally, as the lower screen is designed as one Tetris puzzle game.
If players don't destroy the tiles piling up below, they'll make their way into the platforming sections to impede Henry's progress. It can be a lot to manage two games at once, but thankfully enemies don't always pop out of the screen. If players need a break, they can take one to play the puzzle card game. There isn't always a good solution to this problem, but it works most of the time, and fans of this one-and-done DS game would love to see a sequel or remaster of Henry Hatsworth in the puzzling adventure.
Call Fit Adventure
Best new Nintendo RPG in decades?
Call Fit Adventure is one of the best fitness games of the last decade that actually works and is compelling to play. With the ring accessory, players inserted one Joy-Con into the peripheral and strapped the other to their leg. This measured movement with the legs of the players, along with control options for the ring. For example, if players had to run, they would jog in place, which would make their character move on the track.
The wild thing is that all the exercises were tied to a turn-based RPG system. By performing various arm and leg exercises, they would damage monsters they found in levels. Players could craft shakes to restore health or boost power, and there were mini-games outside of the campaign if players just wanted to grind. Exercise games have been around since the NES, and while there are plenty of fun ones, none are as compelling and sweat-inducing as Call Fit Adventure.
