I, Robot (1984)
Weird 3D platformer before 3D even was a thing. I, Robot was the first arcade video game rendered entirely with real-time, flat-shaded, 3D polygon graphics. It was also the first video game to feature camera-control options. Being a pioneering thing the game could not provide gameplay people would like a lot. It received badly and was commercial failure.
Major Havoc (1983)
Vectrex arcade game. It was made with vector graphics. Mixed genre game including platformer. And not just a platformer but all directions scrolling. The game also has impressive transitions into SHMUP mode. Do not play this game without special filter. Pixels would not make it look as the game actually looked, because vector lines looked smooth on vector monitor.
Elite (1984)
Space trading, resources management, action, 3D simulator. Cult following game with remasters and sequels. What was so brilliant about Elite, was that there were so damn many ways to play the game. Trading, Mining, Smuggling, Space battles, Scavenging, Pirating. With a vast universe, economic markets to plunder, great space battles, and the rotational docking, it was a game that fully realized it’s own mechanics. It was addictive without ever having a plot line. With thousands of unique planets to visit, and all that fit on a one floppy disk.
System Shock (1994)
Every other game coming out at the time was just trying to be like Doom, but this was an FPS/RPG hybrid which placed you alone on a space station where everything has gone awry – a malevolent and insane AI has taken over with plans to destroy earth, having turned most of the crew into mutants or cyborgs. System Shock‘s 3D engine, physics simulation and complex gameplay have been cited as both innovative and influential. Critics praised System Shock and hailed it as a major breakthrough in its genre. It was later placed on multiple hall of fame lists. The game was a moderate commercial success, with sales exceeding 170,000 copies, but the developer Looking Glass ultimately lost money on the project.
The Guardian Legend (1988)
Mixed genre game of SHMUP and top down adventure. Also known for very fast scrolling and many objects on screen, impressive for NES/Famicom console limitations. You are walking over the planet Naju and finding corridors. Found a corridor you transform into a space fighter and enter a SHMUP mode. The blend done extremely well. Game had no commercial success and was very obscure until the raise of youtube and some popular retro games videobloggers started to mention the game. Then it got out of darkness of obscurity and gained a reputation of NES/Famicom hidden gem number one.
As you may noticed, ahead of time games often have no commercial success. It’s a big risk thing to do something unfamiliar and new. So the next time you might be mad at another new game that look like a clone of a clone of a clone of previous games, recall that. Making game can take tons of effort and it’s sad when it doesn’t pay off. And it happened all the time even with really good games, movies, music or whatever. Some art pieces got appreciated and praised only many years later when the original author would be already dead in poverty on streets.
If you like the site, please consider to make a donation! The site needs your help to pay for the hosting and domain.
