Inexpensive Games Provide More Than Cheap Thrills

What do a sandwich, a three-subject notebook, and a copy of the admittedly old yet still solid Madden NFL 2004 for Playstation 2 all have in common? They all cost less than $5. And even that is a bit misleading—whereas the bagel and the notebook will cost you upward of $2 each, Madden 2004 is listed for a paltry 99 cents on GameStop.com.

But a video game that costs less than a pack of gum must not be very good, right? Well, according to GameRankings.com, a Web site that compiles game review scores from various news sources, Madden 2004 earned an impressive aggregate review score of 91 percent.

With the newest systems selling for as much as $500, the latest game releases running for a nausea-inducing 60 bones apiece, and the average college student’s budget relegated squarely to the I-can-only-afford-beer and-food bracket, the idea that you can enjoy a good gaming experience without taking out another student loan may seem overly optimistic. But the hilariously inexpensive example of Madden’s vintage 2004 outing serves to illustrate the undeniable fact that there are solid gaming experiences available on the market that are both inexpensive and shockingly fun.

Madden’s “2004” label should direct you to where you need to go to find these games—a cheap cornucopia of entertainment awaits if you dig for older games that have since been updated or were overlooked upon their initial release. Despite their age, these slightly antiquated, under-appreciated treasures are absolutely worth your time. So what if the rosters are out of date and the graphics a little crusty? The core gameplay is still as fun now as it was a few years ago.

For those of you who have last-gen systems lying around and are having trouble scrounging up enough money for both food and video games, here is a rundown of nine under-appreciated, bargain-bin gems that will provide you with hours upon hours of serious gaming goodness without completely draining your faux-leather wallet.

All prices cited are from GameStop.com for the used editions of the games.

Wave Race: Blue Storm (GameCube—$5.99): Sick of conventional racing games that have you controlling cars? Then try out this phenomenal arcade-style Jet-Ski simulator as a means of satisfying your craving for an unorthodox racing experience. With incredible water physics, tight and responsive controls, and great multiplayer, this follow-up to the cult classic Wave Race 64 has aged surprisingly well and is definitely worth a look for racing fans.

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (PS2—$5.99, GameCube—price unavailable, Xbox—$6.99): While only the Xbox and PS2 versions are for sale on GameStop.com, this multi-platform action-shooter is a good pick on any system. Glitch mixes responsive controls with creative weapons and intense vehicle gameplay segments to great effect—think of it as a robotic, third-person Halo. The script is also surprisingly witty and well written, especially for an arcade-style shooter. If you like action games with a dose of humor, give this one a shot.

Skies of Arcadia Legends (GameCube—$19.99): This tragically underappreciated role-playing game was first released on the Dreamcast in 2001 to abysmal sales. It was then remixed and re-released for the GameCube in 2003, when it sold about four copies total. If anything, Skies’ poor retail performance is proof that the average video game consumer has atrocious taste—this sky-pirate adventure is hands down one of the most charming RPGs ever created. Despite its comparatively high price tag, its lengthy playtime (over 40 hours) renders it a great value and an absolute steal for anyone who likes RPGs.

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (PS2—$29.99, Xbox—$9.99): As the game’s subtitle suggests, Mercenaries’ claim to fame is its completely destructible environments—you can blow absolutely everything up. Solid mission structure and a vast assortment of playable vehicles augment this shooter’s blow-the-crap-out-of-everything theme. Make sure to buy the Xbox version though, since it’s cheaper and has better visuals.

Ape Escape 2 (PS2—$14.99): Tired of platform games where all you do is collect hundreds of coins/bananas/stars/feathers/widgets? How about collecting monkeys instead? While the idea of hunting an army of super intelligent simians sounds exceedingly stupid, Ape Escape 2’s cartoony style, catchy music, intuitive controls, and phenomenal level design will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who likes games or has a soul.

The Mark of Kri (PS2—$4.99): This cartoon-esque action-adventure game is surprisingly violent. In fact, enemies spew a ridiculous amount of blood upon their death, especially considering that they look like they could easily have come from a Disney movie. But in the end, this overlooked PS2 jewel has a gorgeous visual style and a smooth, satisfying combat engine. It’s definitely worth a look for gamers who want a solid action-adventure game.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PS2—$7.99, GameCube—$6.99, Xbox—$5.99): While the Order of the Phoenix game will set you back $60 and is about as good as a swift kick in the crotch, this long-forgotten treasure is far superior in quality and much easier on the wallet. A personal favorite of mine, the game’s straightforward Zelda-like combat, enchanting music, and faithful virtual recreation of Hogwarts will delight frugal Potter fans.

Viewtiful Joe (GameCube—$4.99, PS2—$4.99): This stylish, comic-book-inspired, side scrolling, beat-em-up game was quickly forgotten after its initial release in 2003. But to this day, it remains one of the best fusions of old-school two-dimensional gameplay mechanics and stylish three-dimensional graphics. And while it may be extremely entertaining and enticingly inexpensive, Viewtiful Joe is also insanely hard. Those of you looking for a hardcore challenge that will make you sweat and perhaps even cry, Joe’s your man.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2—price unavailable, Xbox—$4.99): While MGS2 was one of the defining titles of the last console generation, few people took notice when this remixed version hit store shelves. Not only does Substance include the original game—which, though hampered by a slightly ridiculous story line, is a truly amazing experience— it also includes a slightly smoother frame rate and a bevy of new modes, including virtual reality missions, a Tony Hawk-esque skating mini-game, and extra story missions featuring Solid Snake.