Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher

@greatestgames.bsky.social

880 followers 1.6K following 6.8K posts

There are tons of amazing video games that have been forgotten, overlooked or which never found an audience. I'm a researcher who's going through them and finding the Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played! Website: https://greatestgames.substack.com

greatestgames.substack.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · Mar 28

If you want to read about retro games you've never heard about that are still worth playing today (no nostalgia goggles needed!), I encourage you to check out my Substack, The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played.

You'll love it! And it's entirely free.

#Gaming #VideoGames #RetroGames

The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played | Sean J. Jordan | Substack

There are thousands of awesome video games you probably never knew existed! Here are some of them. Click to read The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played, by Sean J. Jordan, a Substack publicati...

greatestgames.substack.com

3 3 38

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 3h

Hot Chase can be one of the most infuriating arcade games I've ever played because you have a bomb on your car that will blow up if you don't make it to the finish line on time. I once lost mere seconds from the final checkpoint.

But that sense of high stakes action also makes it a lot of fun!

The Classic Arcade and Console Era (1972-1989) - Hot Chase

Love Out Run and Chase H.Q.? Konami’s racer adds a fun twist – you have a bomb in your car and you have to drive for survive!

greatestgames.substack.com

2 3

Reposted by Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · Jul 1

I'm finding myself nostalgic for the starry-eyed wonder of the Mass Effect games, so here's
"The Citadel" by Jack Wall, one of my favorite pieces from the first OST!

#videogames #vgm #videogamemusic #gaming

The Citadel

YouTube video by Jack Wall - Topic

www.youtube.com

3 2

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 14h

It's the only game in my house that everyone will stop to watch someone play. We all love it even though it's been beaten multiple times and we even got the platinum trophy for it

Any time that prickly glass tinkling sound comes through the controller, one of my kids runs in and shouts "Astro bot!"

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 14h

If you have waited on Astro Bot, you absolutely need to play it. It's one of the most magical games of the modern era.

I also recommend getting a PSVR and downloading Playroom, Playroom VR and buying Astro Bot Rescue Mission for the complete experience. You will not regret your decision!

Cheap Ass Gamer @cheapassgamer.com · 21h

ASTRO BOT (PS5) $49.99 via PlayStation Direct. https://ow.ly/bK0V50X8umL

PlayStation Autumn Sale via PlayStation Direct. https://ow.ly/rHM250X8umJ

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 14h

It looks sort of like anime, but it ain't anime, at least not strictly speaking, because Ruby-Spears was the primary studio behind it, with actual anime studio Ashi Productions providing support.

And you can tell, because the stills look OK but the animation doesn't move like anime at all.

Mega Man (1994 TV series) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 16h

Ironically, he's way closer to Inafune's original vision of the character before X and Zero were split into two different dudes.

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 16h

You have to love how X enters into this series as a Punisher-like psychopath instead of a peace-loving but conflicted Hunter forced to fight Mavericks out of necessity.

Retro Blast 🎃 @retroblast.bsky.social · 16h

Roll: who is that bot?!

Mega Man: idk but he's on our side!

X: *blows up the city instantly*

2 4 20

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 17h

Such a cool attract mode for such an otherwise standard scrolling shoot em up!

NoSoloBits @nosolobits.com · 20h

Pulstar
Neo Geo
Aicom, 1995

3 8

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 23h

I'm watching the Persona Super Live 2017 concert today while I work and it's put me in such a good mood because it's both incredibly goofy fun and also one of the greatest shows anyone ever put on, ever.

We are lucky to have video game concerts! Here's a thread I did showing you how to find 'em!

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · Jul 13

I was thinking today about how lucky we are to have so many video game concerts freely available online.

I would have absolutely loved to have these as a teenager!

Here's a round-up of a few of them.

#gaming #vgm #videogames #videogamemusic

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 23h

Strange Journey Redux is probably the best one to play if you do!

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux (2017) - MobyGames

A spatial distortion full of demons appeared in Antarctica, threatening to engulf the Earth in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. The United Nations responded by tasking a team of highly...

www.mobygames.com

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Without question, Strange Journey is one of the best Shin Megami Tensei games.

It's also one of the most unusual games in the series since it's not set in Tokyo or Japan and features an unfolding crisis in the Antarctic instead of a post-apocalyptic fusion of the demon world and material one.

RPGFan @rpgfan.bsky.social · 1d

16 years ago, #ShinMegamiTensei: Strange Journey was first launched in Japan on the DS! And what a strange journey it was. With SMT's signature demon negotiation and fusion systems, its gameplay was incredibly addictive. Read our review below!

Review: www.rpgfan.com/review/shin-...

Graphic featuring Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey artwork.

1 3 7

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

So one of my kids LOVES the first two. I'll read your review, of course, but do you feel like this one brings anything new enough for her to get excited about? (She did enjoy the demo, but it was short.)

I was worried when I saw a different team was taking it on.

1 1

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

You can also check out this site:
www.macintoshrepository.org/games/

They have a ton of games listed and you can filter by years.

Games - Macintosh Repository

Any old Mac playable game

www.macintoshrepository.org

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Oids is another game to look into. It started on the Atari ST but got really popular on the Mac, hence its sequel appearing there.

And of course the Escape Velocity series by Ambrosia Software were big Mac games!

1 1

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

I would recommend digital archives of MacWorld: archive.org/details/macw...

You'll get a much better sense of what people were actually saying without it being filtered through ICOM and Bungie revisionist history.

Look into games like The Fool's Errand and Truth & Betrayal: The Legacy of Siboot!

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

1 1

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Quoted for truth!

Nothing says "I'm a low empathy human being" more than abusing an animal.

It's one of the signs of a villain in movies and evidence of sociopathy in real life.

Arron Automata @arrontk.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone who abuses an animal deserves to go straight to jail imo

1 3

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Happy birthday!

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

I haven't bought many games this year. But you can bet I own a copy of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 @expedition33.bsky.social · 1d

In April we released Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

5 months later, we’ve sold 5 million copies worldwide!

Since then, your artwork, your stories, your cosplays and your endless creativity has been loved and appreciated by all of us.

And for that we cannot thank you enough.

2 11

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Kintaro is based on a mythological character from Japanese folklore, so his rather unfortunate nudity and odd inclusion in this game makes a lot more sense if you read the legends about the mythological boy.

Kintarō - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

I'll also add that Power Instinct 2 rather infamously has a semi-nude little boy named Kintaro (or Kinta) Kokuin who wears nothing more than a haragake apron.

He can transform into a dog-man called Poochy who makes appearances as a standalone character in several of the games that followed.

NoSoloBits @nosolobits.com · 2d

Power Instinct 2
Arcade
Atlus, 1994

1 2 5

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Here it is! The game where the Power Instinct/Gōketsuji Ichizoku series achieves true greatness!

Magical girl Kurara Hananokoji (also known as Clara) could transform into the more risque teenaged skater Super Kurara.

Kurara was so popular she even got her own game called Purikura Daisakusen.

NoSoloBits @nosolobits.com · 2d

Power Instinct 2
Arcade
Atlus, 1994

2 3

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

My son is a big fan of the KC Green comic "This is Fine" featuring Question Hound. (Who isn't?)

So you can bet this is relevant to his interests - a game starring both the character and memes around the comic!

1 4

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

I wish either of these games lived up to their LucasArts pedigree. But they are definitely interesting.

Fracture has deformable terrain and a special "Entrencher" gun used for all sorts of things.

Lucidity looks great but is way too hard for a puzzle platformer with a weird indirect control syatem

LucasArts Memory @lucasartsmemory.bsky.social · 2d

Fracture (Day 1 Studios/LucasArts) was released 17 years ago today.

Lucidity (LucasArts) was released 16 years ago today.

These were Lucasarts' last two original (non-IP) games. 🫡

1 2

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Quoted for truth!

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 2d

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

Sean Jordan, Video Game Researcher @greatestgames.bsky.social · 1d

Peter Pack-Rat is one of my favorite arcade games of the 1980s, and it's not hard to see why.

It not only has great open platforming gameplay on inventive stages, but also amazingly well-animated graphics for its era!

#videogames #gaming #retrogames

The Classic Arcade and Console Era (1972-1989) - Peter Pack-Rat

You will love this amazingly well-crafted, beautifully animated arcade platformer where you retrieve items from complex vertical levels.

greatestgames.substack.com

1 4