10 Forgotten Masterpiece Video Games

In hindsight, it's baffling how the Dreamcast failed, considering how so many of its games were ahead of their time. Although Shenmue and Samba De Amigo eventually earned the recognition they deserved, Skies of Arcadia never got its due, despite being arguably the console's best title.

Like most RPGs, the gameplay relies on turn-based battles, earning experience points, and racking up stats. However, Skies of Arcadia puts a much heavier focus on exploration. The map is initially blank, necessitating the player to navigate through this steampunk world to fill in their atlas. This gives the player the sense they're rewarded for their curiosity, enticing them to scavenge for secret paths, allies, and hidden chests.

The random battles never get repetitive, since they involve strategic awareness and thorough planning. Each encounter has our hero, Vyse, and his squad spouting banter while unleashing their attacks, making the experience more entertaining and personal.

Since airships play a huge part in the plot, it's neat how the sky vessels are incorporated into battles. The ship-on-ship fights are epic, as they allow Vyse to command a crew, and utilise a variety of innovative and devastating weapons.

Despite being hailed as one of the best JRPGs ever, few people have heard of Skies of Arcadia, and even fewer have had the opportunity to play it.