What Games Would You Consider A "Cult Classic"?

[willard3]

Someone tell me, what's the proper definition of a cult classic?

Try reading the thread. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.89137.1382777

A summary could be thus:

A movie/game that was quietly released and sold badly at first, but has developed a sizable following in the years following its release.
OR
A mainstream movie/game that was critically unsuccessful, but later develops a large number of fans.
OR
Any movie/game that has its own little subculture.


Equilibrium could fall under those first two categories, because it wasn't critically or commercially successful, but now, what nerd hasn't heard of the gun kata?

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a cult classic under the third definition, simply because of all the quotes that it inevitably generates.

 

[lacktheknack]

Uru. Few played, fewer liked.

I LIKED.

 

[Your Mom is Attractive]

Out of This World + Flashback

 

[Fronken]

the Monkey Island series, easily the best franchise when it comes to point-and-click adventure games, great story, great music, great atmosphere, great puzzles, there's pretty much nothing wrong with it.

 

[sturryz]

alpha centauri
Anachronox
Thief Series
Deus Ex
Fallout 1/2
Baldurs Gate
Planescape Torment
Splatterhouse
River City Ransom
X-COM (i like how it was released with low expectations but then quickly sold well and gathered a following)


to name some more

 

[clicklick]

Painkiller
Indigo Prophecy / Fahrenheit

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Psychonauts, Shadow of the Colossus and Beyond Good & Evil are the game I've played that spring to mind. Excellent games sold jack shit, and have gained a cult following.

 

[SwampCandle]

Rollcage.

One of the best racing games I've ever played, and as I've played alot of them, I'd like to think I'm in a good posistion to say so.

 

[Siuss]

Hmm......I'd really have to say Aidyn Chronicles because it is a wonderful RPG that not a lot of people know about. It was for the N64, and it had fun combat and a good story.....if I remember correctly because I haven't played it in about 10 years.

This. I LOVED that game.

This! Still have that game.

 

[LaughingCrazy]

Jet Set Radioooooooooo

Pikmin

Drill Dozer

I also agree with people who mentioned Okami.

 

[new_age_reject]

Anything and everything by Team Ico
Super Mario RPG
Psychonauts (I played it before Yahtzee deemed it cool)
Bioshock
Okami
Oddworld games
Legend of Dragoon
Jet Force Gemini
Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
XIII
Killer 7

Those are probably all going to be mentioned in this thread eventually.

I don't see how Bioshock fits the bill but the others certainly.
I would also add Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening, but I don't know how widely known that one is.
Also: The Tombi series and about 90% of the PS1 catalogue, so many great games but so many were overlooked.

 

[D_987]

Silent Hill 2, in the future - Portal.

 

[stinkypitz]

Definately earthbound, I don't know anyone whos played it. Its such a brilliant game though. Also, twisted metal.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

DUKE NUKEM!!! And maybe.... GALLIGA BABY!!!!

 

[kickin wiing]

Freedom Fighters anyone?

 

[Worr Monger]

I think "Secret of Evermore" might be considered a cult classic

 

[KapnKerfuffle]

Anything by Troika, they always seemed to make buggy, not commercially great but lovable games.

Temple of Elemental Evil (definitely qualifies as "cult". See the Circle of Eight site)
Vampire: The Masquerade
Arcanum (Well, maybe not Arcanum - I'm reading it was a commercial success if Wikipedia is accurate)

Cults are small groups of fanatics. Any game that people say is "the best game no one is playing" qualifies as cult classic. Like Psychonauts.

 

[C. Blackwood]

In the US, I'd say the MegaTen games. They're supposed to be really popular in Japan but you barely hear about them Stateside.

I think they are not even so popular there. They have to fight against two big names there. Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.

Even so, from what I understand, they're considered fairly mainstream over there. Maybe not the number one title, but up there.

 

[SimuLord]

I think "Secret of Evermore" might be considered a cult classic

Absolutely, considering it really did get lost in the shuffle coming late in the SNES console generation and following FF6 and Chrono Trigger.

I'd add Mount&Blade because of the sheer fanaticism of the game's fans (myself included), plus throw in Koei's economic management games on the SNES (the Aerobiz and Uncharted Waters games.)

 

[MooseRyder]

Okami, Gitaroo Man, and Earthbound.

EDIT: Shadow of the Colossus.
Was there even a story to it?
If so, I must be oblivious.