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| The Ten Series We Need Back |
They come from all eras, spanning consoles and genres -- but they all share a common trait: the video game world would benefit from their return. Some are old pioneers that shaped the way we see gaming today, while others simply had much more story to tell.
Either way, they all deserve recognition. Here's our list for the best franchises that met an early grave. Enjoy!
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Last Worthwhile Entry: Earthworm Jim 2 (1995)
Earthworm Jim became a bit of a phenomenon in the mid 1990s, with a short-lived but hilarious TV show and a sequel that reached a high level of critical appeal. But a broken Nintendo 64 game and some poor quality ports trashed the momentum of the series, leading to its premature demise. The charisma and originality of the stories and characters weren't enough to keep it afloat.
Now, almost fifteen years since a strong Earthworm Jim title was released, the gaming world has a place for it: creative, off-the-wall sidescrollers are big hits, especially as downloadable games. It's a renaissance of sorts, and since Earthworm Jim was one of the first video game series to really break the mold and branch into full-flavored goofiness, it would be welcomed with open arms. Will the XBLA and DSi ports lead to an all-new game? We hope so?
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9. Star Fox
Last Worthwile Entry: Star Fox Adventures (2002)
The Star Fox series hasn't seen the kind of success that Metroid or Legend of Zelda or Super Mario have, but there were acclaimed Star Fox games on many of the classic Nintendo consoles. Well, up until recently. Now, our sightings of Fox and crew have been relegated to Super Smash Bros games.
Having Fox and Falco as playable characters in those games doesn't quite do the series justice. It doesn't capture the quirky dialogue of the crew, or the fast dodge-and-shoot tactics of the missions. Those can only be found when our hero and his team are allowed to suit up and jump in their Arwings -- something that can only be found in a true Star Fox title. We've heard that Star Fox 64 3D will be made for the 3DS, but our appetite for barrel rolls and bogeys won't be satisfied until we can pilot a new vessel, in a new game.
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8. Legacy of Kain
Last Worthwhile Entry: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 (2001)
Before Kratos, Kain ruled the land of the antiheroes. He was selfish and evil and brutal, but we loved following him through the ancient lands he inhabited. So much anger and violence was thrilling to watch, all the way through Legacy of Kain: Defiance. That was where the series abruptly stopped.
Though the series' main writer, Ann Henning, now works for Naughty Dog, a revival of the story would please many eager fans. The narrative hasn't been concluded, and there is much more to tell. And with such a vast amount of backstory, it would be a shame to leave it hanging in limbo. Plus, with the departure of Kratos from the main stage, the gaming world needs another bastard to adore.
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7. Killer Instinct
Last Worthwhile Entry: Killer Instinct 2/Killer Instinct Gold (1996)
Who wouldn't want a play a game that featured these two bodacious babes? When Killer Instinct hit arcades in 1994, it was met with high acclaim, a bit of controversy, and massive popularity. It was a hay-day for fighting games, but Killer Instinct never really made it out alive.
Not for lack of quality, though. It never successfully made the jump to consoles, and as arcades began to thin and kids stayed home to game, the series got left behind. It provided a dozen or so interesting characters with original backstories and a strong storyline -- things that are rare for fighting games. But now, with the big upcoming fighting games, Killer Instinct could stage a comeback and compete, like it did over a decade ago. And with shapely ladies like that, how could it not?
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6. Star Wars: X-Wing
Last Worthwhile Entry: X-Wing Alliance (1999)
Star Wars: TIE Fighter met an unprecedented level of success when it released in 1994. The game was at the forefront of space combat simulators, with voice acting, innovative graphics, and a variety of gametypes that have influenced many of the games we see today.
The franchise died in 1999 when the development team behind it dissolved. The final game, X-Wing Alliance, wasn't as praised as TIE Fighter, but it did push the series forward with its custom mission builder and an expanded spacecraft selection. The series has been defunct for a while now, but consistently high quality flight simulator franchises are pretty rare these days, and at the rate Star Wars: X-Wing's games were growing, a game now could have a massive impact on the industry. Plus there is a big cult following -- plenty of people would be standing in line to try it.
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5. System Shock
Last Worthwhile Entry: System Shock 2 (1999)
System Shock 2 creative director Ken Levine has claimed that BioShock is the "spiritual successor" to the beloved sci-fi horror franchise, but that doesn't mean it fills the void. System Shock places us in a world so wildly different than our own, it can only be succeeded with more titles like it.
When the System Shock titles were pioneering storytelling and design, the gaming world loved and applauded them. Now, the same sort of storytelling is dominating much of the video game world, and the System Shock series could capitalize on the trend. There is so much more to work with -- the visuals, the production, the gameplay of this generation -- all presentation capabilities are at the apex right now. And we could always use another pioneer.
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4. Shenmue
Last Worthwhile Entry: Shenmue II (2001)
The Shenmue games were hotly controversial when they came out. Not because of anything morally divisive, but because critics either fell totally in love with them, or found nothing at all to love about them. And the gaming community needs those sorts of games -- ones that are able to impact so many people in such different ways. They only comes around every once in a while (see: Deadly Premonition).
But they are good because they offer up stories that challenge us as gamers and as thinkers. Too many games have carbon copy protagonists, antagonists, sidekicks, and stories. A strong Shenmue game released today would be able to provide a much needed break from the typical -- something that only it and a very select few can achieve.
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3. Chrono
Last Worthwhile Entry: Chrono Cross (1999)
Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross are both considered to be among the greatest RPGs of all time. They both maintained strong sales and high critical scores on their release, but the series has been silent for well over ten years. For great RPGs, fan bases are usually loyal and persistent enough to keep publishers producing games for generations.
That's not to say that, if the franchise were to come back, it should necessarily follow the Chrono series lineally. Chrono Cross had a beautiful ending, open to the interpretation of the player, and that is perfect for the story it was telling. But they both had a certain aura around them that would translate well to today's RPG environment. And though the Wii's Virtual Console is bringing back games of the era on a regular basis, it's easy to imagine a new Chrono game sweeping the gaming world, awing critics, and selling out stores.
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2. Half-Life
Last Worthwhile Entry: Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (2007)
It has only been three years since the last Half-Life episode was released, but Valve has obviously been at work on something else -- the Left 4 Dead series has seen two releases and countless downloadable additions in that time. And while those games are quite good, they don't hold a candle to Half-Life. Three years have passed without mention of an Episode 3 project, and it makes fans of the franchise a bit restless.
And the cliffhanger that we were left with points the series in an incredible direction. The stakes are extremely high now, and the quest of Gordan Freeman and Alyx Vance appears to be at its most improbable. How, Valve, after so much love and adoring praise, can you leave us like this? Get Episode 3 out. We all want to see how it's going to end.
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1. Duke Nukem
Last Worthwhile Entry: Duke Nukem 3D (1996)
This series takes the cake because it has been through the ringer for so many years. Duke Nukem Forever has been long promised, often scrapped, and never released. Yes, it's an industry joke at this point, but that doesn't mean that we don't want to play it. We need to satisfy our craving for The Duke, and it just won't happen at this rate.
Since Duke Nukem 3D, the gaming community has been wanting more -- we haven't been able to get the same experience since. The hyper-machismo, clever writing, and ridiculous gunplay made Duke Nukem a fan favorite. And we've been getting considerable blue balls year after year, as we await the next game's release. It may never happen, but that's just another part of its legacy, and the sad truth for many of these titles: doesn't matter who wants to make them, or who wants to play them, good franchises will sometimes fall through the cracks.
Honorable Mentions: SSX, Rayman, Diddy Kong Racing, Road Rash, Desert Strike
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