Game Franchises that NEED Relaunches

[Lovelocke]

FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION, THIS IS WHAT QUALIFIES AS A GAME FRANCHISE:

1) A game franchise is defined as any series with direct sequels (Tomb Raider 1-5, Mega Man 1-9) or indirect successors based in the same universe (Super Mario Brothers, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, WWF/WWE) where the franchise has a ***MINIMUM*** of 10 entries.

2) On a technicality, some games DO persist and are continually added to, or modified (MMOs, large-scale offline RPGs, RTS, etc) and will ALSO qualify for Game Franchise status as long as they have, at minimum (excluding original release) 3 expansion packs. Examples would be Neverwinter Nights, The Sims, Anarchy Online, Guildwars, etc.

2a) "Modifications" shouldn't be taken to mean the same thing as a "Mod"... Mods generally are viewed as "their own game", y'know? A modification would be more like "Street Fighter II is more-or-less the same as Championship Edition, same for Super Street Fighter II, but they are each viewed as an official entry." (Accredited to: Rhob Anybody)

3) The *ONLY* exceptions to the above rules are games which have also been in existence for 10+ Years which, while still relevant, may not have a large number of sequels, direct or indirect. Examples include: Unreal Tournament, DOOM, Police Quest, Oddworld, Sim City, Mortal Kombat).

4) You may *NOT* count ports (Street Fighter II counts as ONE game), auxillary releases with no significant updates (Half-Life is equal to Half-Life: GOTY), or compilation releases (Super Mario All Stars wouldn't count towards Super Mario Brothers franchise, though it's individual original volumes would).

Yes, the rules for this debate are a bit stringent, but they have to be: We don't want any noobish assertations like "DEVIL MAY CRY 4 SHOULD BE AN RPG" or "KATAMARI DAMACY NEEDS CREATE-A-PRINCE". I don't wish to alienate younger gamers or genre-specific gamers, but we do need to address only the core franchises that directly influence other "big names" of a genre or platform.

I will leave this opening post "blank" as far as my thoughts on the topic, so that it may be a clear review of what this thread's about. Lovely time.

 

[oliveira8]

Legacy of Kain!

 

[Rhob Anybody]

Not sure if this will count under your rules about mmo's and expansions (the game has had 8 mods plus 12 mini updates since launch but all as free updates not paid expansions)but will still go with DDO. Without a doubt the best mmo to be released imo but to this day has suffered due to lack of marketing. A good relaunch could put this alongside any other mmo on the market and possibly save the only mmo to be brave enough to be different.

 

[Lovelocke]

DDO? Dungeons and Dragons Online perhaps? Modifications shouldn't be taken to mean the same thing as a "Mod"... Mods generally are viewed as "their own game", y'know? A modification would be more like "Street Fighter II is more-or-less the same as Championship Edition, same for Super Street Fighter II."

I shall update that.

EDIT: Also, if I may ask, what about "DDO" has gotten stale, or is in need of improvement? On one hand I understand the game could probably use a large ad campaign to introduce more players to the world, but on the other, it seems like plenty is being done to keep the game updated and fresh?

 

[TaborMallory]

I think the 2D Oddworld games need to get revived. They were excellent games; they're still a very nice breakaway from the mold of mediocrity.

 

[42manZ]

How about, instead of remaking, relaunching and reimagining, we make new games and series with fresh new game and story ideas.

 

[Lovelocke]

How about, instead of remaking, relaunching and reimagining, we make new games and series with fresh new game and story ideas.

Off topic. Besides, in reality there are hundreds more "fresh" and "original" games than mainstream releases every year... just because you aren't searching for them doesn't mean they're not there. They're award winning games made by one or two guys in their spare time that only grow in popularity via word of mouth. Sadly, most gamers that find these games "keep it to themselves" so they can brag about how bold and risktaking they are in their gaming habits.

 

[Weaver]

How about, instead of remaking, relaunching and reimagining, we make new games and series with fresh new game and story ideas.

Off topic. Besides, in reality there are hundreds more "fresh" and "original" games than mainstream releases every year... just because you aren't searching for them doesn't mean they're not there. They're award winning games made by one or two guys in their spare time that only grow in popularity via word of mouth. Sadly, most gamers that find these games "keep it to themselves" so they can brag about how bold and risktaking they are in their gaming habits.

about as "fresh" and "original" as this thread.

 

[plastic_window]

I think the 2D Oddworld games need to get revived. They were excellent games; they're still a very nice breakaway from the mold of mediocrity.

I very much agree with this. Check Steam out, they re-released Oddyssey and Exoddus on it a couple months ago. They run a lot faster on PC, and for me it lost a little of its old-school feel by doing so. And I don't know if they put quick-save in Oddyssey. I hope so, though.

As for my contribution, I want to see Mega Man. Oh wait...

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Buck Bumble from the N64.

Don't even try to deny it, the game was awesome.

Especially the opening theme music.

"biggity buck bumble...."

 

[Woe Is You]

Anachronox.

And I want that sequel for it too.

 

[Simbacca]

World of Darkness. To be fair there are only two games following the Vampire mythos. However I would love to play an action CRPG using the new WoD rule set, especially if I can play as a Werewolf, a hunter, or just a regular human whose seen something he/she shouldn't have.

 

[Lovelocke]

I very much agree with this. Check Steam out, they re-released Oddyssey and Exoddus on it a couple months ago. They run a lot faster on PC, and for me it lost a little of its old-school feel by doing so.

A few years back there was a "High Res" remake of "Another World" released for PC... some of the backdrop illustrations were remade, otherwise the original title was all vectorized so the resolution up-sample was a very natural process. The game, though very rough by today's standards, is very beautiful and brought back tons of memories for me.

Back when I was still in Elementary school, "Another World" was released on the SNES as "Out of This World"... I asked for it on Christmas (back when you got ONE game for Christmas every year) and played through it time after time, just... captivated.

Y'know what? The age of "Another World", it's obscure but direct sequel Heart of the Alien (Sega CD) and it's recent HD re-release qualifies it for relaunch status... the world could use more games where thinking and reflex had MORE to do with your survival than "having enough ammo" or finding the nearest chest-high wall (thanks Yahtz...)

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Damn you and your rules. Oddworld thats all i got

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

Fallout, its concept is a very good one.. Just the developing studio is cursed to make some phenomenal games, but end up failing because of too much of a vision, or fail to obtain much needed money.

 

[Julianking93]

Soul Reaver and Kid Icarus!!!

 

[Lovelocke]

If only video game incarnations of Chess were still as popular as they were back when they were "undefeatable", I would also add to the list "Battlechess". There was also the commercial flop, Battlechess 2: Chinese Chess that was a joy to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thjy2eR8OiU

And the even more obscure/perhaps unofficial sequel Battlechess 4000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B232xdwKAxY

 

[Lord_Jaroh]

I would like to see a new Gauntlet refresh the series, much the same as Street Fighter IV refreshed its'.

I would like to see a new Contra as well, back to its 2-D roots in a way.

Seeing a new Actraiser would make my day. Those are my 3 for now...how do they stack up to your rules?

 

[Lovelocke]

I would like to see a new Gauntlet refresh the series, much the same as Street Fighter IV refreshed its'.

I would like to see a new Contra as well, back to its 2-D roots in a way.

Seeing a new Actraiser would make my day. Those are my 3 for now...how do they stack up to your rules?

Gauntlet had one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUOGr4qUa8A

Contra had one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O-u06cmmAg

Actraiser would be beautiful though... gotta bring back the light RTS element too: It's what really set the game apart.

 

[quack35]

Baldurs Gate. I've never played it, but I've heard good things about it, and I'd probably play it if it was remade.