When a video recreation is profitable, a string of sequels is normally inevitable. With followers clamoring for extra, builders need to ship. Sometimes these follow-ups run out of concepts, and plenty of collection overstay their welcome, however some are gone too quickly. We’ve handpicked a number of franchises that disappeared abruptly regardless of their success. All of them deserve a reboot, a remake, or a remaster.
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Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
This blood-soaked Gothic vampire collection was a smash hit on the unique PlayStation. Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and sequel Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver have been splendidly creative open-world action-adventure video games that touched on a number of genres, combining attention-grabbing characters and deliciously darkish storylines with puzzles and hack-and-slash fight. Another three respectable titles adopted, however they failed to match the standard and creativeness of their predecessors. It has been practically 20 years since this collection acquired a stake by means of the center, and it’s lengthy overdue for a resurrection.
Twisted Metal
Who can resist an insane vehicular fight event the place a muscle automotive can face off in opposition to a semi, a bike, and an ice cream truck, all bristling with lethal weaponry? The mysterious organizer Calypso presided over this last-vehicle-standing demolition derby that featured a weird solid of drivers. The cringe-inducing live-action video endings within the unique are bizarre, however the gameplay is value reviving. Twisted Metal: Black on the PlayStation 2 perfected the highway rage system with balanced fight and darkish flashbacks woven in to give the characters some depth. There was a string of canceled video games earlier than a stable reboot on the PS3 in 2012, however nothing since then.
No One Lives Forever
Sometimes design, artwork, code, and sound come collectively to craft a permanent masterpiece. That was the case with Monolith’s criminally underrated first-person spy caper, The Operative: No One Lives Forever (NOLF). It featured an enticing storyline, a big selection of attention-grabbing weapons and gadgetry, a feminine protagonist, and gags aplenty. There is not any trendy equal. The sequel No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way was equally good, however the prequel Contract J.A.C.Okay.? Not a lot. Sadly, the collection by no means attracted the viewers it deserved and has been languishing in authorized licensing limbo, which implies you possibly can not purchase it.
Jet Set Radio
A visually gorgeous recreation that pioneered cel shading, Jet Set Radio was a revelation when it landed in 2000. Playing as a gang of inline skaters intent on tagging every thing with graffiti, together with rival gang members, it had a robust anti-authority vibe and a kick-ass soundtrack. The actual genius, although, was the pure pleasure of leaping and grinding round densely layered city playgrounds at excessive velocity. Follow-up Jet Set Radio Future, launched in 2002, was certainly one of my favourite video games on the unique Xbox, however gross sales have been comparatively modest. Sadly, Sega has by no means greenlit one other recreation within the collection, however you possibly can really feel its affect in titles like Sunset Overdrive.
Dungeon Keeper
Stunningly unique and deeply absorbing, Dungeon Keeper turned conference on its head and solid you because the evil lord of an underground realm teeming with minions and monsters. The problem was to repel invading heroes intent on looting your ill-gotten treasures. It was a novel mix of technique gameplay, management sim, and darkish humor. The unique was the legendary Peter Molyneux’s final recreation with Bullfrog, however the sequel was better-looking and equally good. EA canceled the third recreation, clearing the decks for Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings video games. This collection deserves a correct sequel. (I refuse to acknowledge the horrendous money-grabbing microtransaction-ridden cell model.) Dungeon Keeper influenced many video games through the years, from Minecraft to the Dungeons collection.
Unreal Tournament
Boasting extremely frenetic first-person shooter deathmatches, Unreal Tournament was a fantastically balanced high-octane dependancy for me. The weapons and devices allowed for various play types (the flak cannon was chic), it was slick, and the extent design was very good. The idea of an intergalactic battle to the demise in purpose-built arenas gave the designers free rein to create a number of the finest maps the style has ever seen. I nonetheless frequently annoy my household once I win any recreation by saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega!” in Xan Kriegor’s voice. There have been a number of good sequels, and a reboot was introduced in 2014 to be developed by Unreal veterans and a crowdsourced team of modders. You can play it for free, however it was by no means completed, as Epic acquired a bit sidetracked by Fortnite.
Silent Hill
Incredibly atmospheric, tense, and considerate, Silent Hill took horror video games in a extra severe course and spawned a collection that delved deep into psychological terror. The first three video games have been glorious, and I favored the brand new course within the fourth (The Room), however it was downhill after that, together with a disappointing HD remaster of elements 2 and three. What’s so painful in regards to the lack of a Silent Hill reboot is that we acquired a P.T. (playable teaser) to present the place the collection was going. Hideo Kojima had roped in Guillermo del Toro and lined up Norman Reedus because the protagonist for Silent Hills, however it was canceled when he fell out with Konami, and the trio made Death Stranding as an alternative.
GoldenEye 007
The world of James Bond has exerted an affect on numerous video games, however the formally licensed efforts hardly ever reside up to the potential, apart from Rare’s GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64. Easily the very best multiplayer first-person shooter on a console on the time, and for a great whereas after, GoldenEye 007 additionally had a robust single-player marketing campaign that allowed for stealth or fight approaches. Licensing rights have at all times been an issue for Bond, so we by no means acquired a remaster. Activision’s 2010 remake was good however very completely different, and the disappointingly bland 007 Legends is the one Bond recreation we have had since. The information that Hitman 3 developer IO Interactive is engaged on Project 007 may be very thrilling, however that one is a good distance off.
Starcraft
One of the best real-time technique video games of all time, Blizzard’s Starcraft was an epic battle for interstellar supremacy, pitting people in opposition to all types of alien races. The sequel took greater than a decade however was well worth the wait, and a few stable expansions adopted. The collection additionally spawned novels and even a board recreation. There was a wonderful remaster of the unique in 2017 with upgraded graphics and sound, so maybe it’s grasping to need extra, however Blizzard’s resolution to formally finish growth on Starcraft 2 with none point out of a Starcraft 3 raises the terrible specter that this franchise is perhaps left to die.
Project Gotham Racing
Packed with fascinating vehicles and graphically spectacular (for the time) metropolis circuits, Project Gotham Racing was to Xbox what Gran Turismo is to PlayStation. But PGR was at all times much less involved with painstaking realism and extra enjoyable to play, and the Kudos factors system rewarded expert driving and trendy maneuvers. The second recreation was my favourite, not least as a result of it had a map of Edinburgh, which was my hometown on the time. Strictly talking, the collection started with Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast, however it grew to become an Xbox mainstay. The hole it left appears to have been crammed by the Forza collection, so a reboot feels unlikely.
These Games Were Resurrected … Kinda
Back 4 Blood
Photograph: Turtle RockIt’s at all times potential {that a} recreation collection is mendacity dormant slightly than really extinct. The hope that previous titles will someday be revived springs everlasting for followers. Recent remasters for Quake, Mass Effect, Command and Conquer, Alan Wake, and sequels like Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time and Ghosts n’ Goblins: Resurrection proves it will probably occur. We might by no means get Half-Life 3, however the digital actuality spin-off Half-Life: Alyx was nice. The Broken Sword collection was revived by Kickstarter. Then there are religious successors, like Turtle Rock’s Back 4 Blood, which looks like a part of the Left 4 Dead collection.
Other video games that sprang to thoughts till I discovered of contemporary developments embrace Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which might have topped this record. But after engaged on the ports of the unique and its sequel, Aspyr is growing a full remake for PS5 and PC, although it is early days and there’s no release date yet. A Dead Space remake can also be within the works, as is a Fable reboot, and each Homeworld 3 and Skate 4 are on the horizon. There’s additionally an opportunity we’ll get a brand new Timesplitters recreation, in accordance to a number of the unique builders who’ve reformed the Free Radical Design recreation studio.
Sometimes Dead Is Better
The cynical might argue that some collection are higher left alone. It’s all too straightforward to sully the reminiscence of a real basic by botching a reboot or turning out a tepid sequel. There are polarizing releases like Shenmue 3 and Star Fox Zero, and there are outright duds. All my hopes for a Speedball 2 remake, remaster, or reboot worthy of the identify have been completely crushed by a string of disappointing efforts.
Some collection have aged badly, as confirmed by Duke Nukem Forever, Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded, and Double Dragon Neon. The 2013 SimCity reboot wasn’t a nasty recreation, however the launch was a digital rights administration (DRM) catastrophe, simply as EA’s microtransaction controversy overshadowed Star Wars Battlefront II. And in the event you stray too removed from the supply materials, issues can get ugly. Just ask Bomberman: Act Zero. I understand the terrible Dungeon Keeper cell recreation most likely belongs right here, however I’m not prepared to let go of the hope that we’ll get a good reboot someday.
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