Mike Schramm

The MSI's "Game On" exhibit has plenty of great video games on display, including "Adventure" on the Atari, the original version of "Pong" (with paddles), a six-player setup of "Bomberman" and one of three existing versions of the only Communist-created arcade game, "Poly Play." But here are four hard-to-find games you won't see at "Game On," or anywhere else unless you're lucky:

Thrill Kill

What it is: Mortal Kombat is known for being violent, but it's got nothing on this over-the-top bloody fighting game for the PlayStation. You can play as a French maid, a straightjacket-bound maniac, or Siamese twins connected at the waist, and each character has rather interesting abilities, such as beating opponents up with your own torn-off arm. Besides the blood, the game's notable for being one of the first four-player fighters, and for an innovative system that lets players throw each other in the path of opponents.

Why it's rare: Electronic Arts decided the game was "a sadistic killing game," and pulled the plug, leaving the game unreleased.

How to play:The only way you'll ever see it is if you get your hands on one of the few pirated copies still floating around.

Time Traveler

What it is: Sega created this Laserdisc game (kind of a choose-your-own-adventure video) as an arcade unit, with an interesting twist. Instead of a video screen, the videos were projected upside down off of a parabolic mirror, creating an early hologram effect. The mechanics were simple, but the colorful video and intriguing story about a time-traveling hero enthralled arcade audiences.

Why it's rare: The high price of the technology and the size of the arcade unit made it hard to find even when it was new in 1991.

How to play: A cabinet comes up for sale every once in a while, and they'll set you back about a grand, a small price to pay to visit a holographic future. If you don't want to shell out that much, a company called Digital Leisure sells a DVD of the video from the game for $20.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

What it is: This PlayStation version of the classic vampire fighting game wins retro fans over for being 2D when all the popular video games were 3D. The music is excellent; the graphics, while simple, are works of art; and the game play is renowned as some of the best ever seen on modern consoles.

Why it's rare: It was fairly popular at the time, but since then collectors and players alike have grabbed it up and not let go. Later versions of Castlevania haven't reached the same glory that "SOTN" did, and so while it's out there, those who already have it are keeping it.

How to play: While most old PlayStation games can be found for under $10, this one will set you back more than $40--if you're able to find someone who wants to part with their copy.

E.T.

What it is: Based on the Spielberg movie, this Atari 2600 cartridge heralded video gaming's first big failure. At the end of 1981, the world was Atari's oyster--it seemed they couldn't make games fast enough for people to buy and play them. After the overwhelming success of "Pong" and "Asteroids," Atari figured the public would buy anything, and decided to use parent-company Warner Communications' movie license to churn out the ultimate product: a hit video game based on a hit movie. So they rushed production, and quickly sent five million copies out to stores everywhere.

Why it's rare: The problem was, the game sucked, and mostly consisted of navigating a brown blob around (and usually into) pits. Atari was stuck with five million copies of what many call the worst game ever, and famously decided to put them all into a landfill in the New Mexico desert.

How to play: You can still find used copies around for pretty cheap, but no matter how much you pay, "E.T." still isn't worth playing.

(2005-03-08)

Also by Mike Schramm

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Bringing up Baby
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