The Ones Left Behind: Gaming’s Forgotten Franchises

With all this talk of overrated and underrated games, I thought it would be nice if we started talking about franchises that have been left behind by the current generation of consoles. We all have those games that we love and that deserve a sequel, but it never occurs. Year after year goes by with nothing to be heard about our forgotten games…*tear*

Personally, I can’t believe that Square never did more with the Chrono Trigger series. Sure, Chrono Cross was a pseudo-sequel, but the less said about it, the better. Syphon Filter was a popular series back in the PS1 days and aside from some silly PSP offerings, I don’t think anyone has mentioned it in a long time. If you want to blow someone’s mind, mention Panzer Dragoon. That game was responsible for selling systems back in the day.

What games do you think have been wrongfully left behind? What would you like to see get a revival, whether it’s a reboot or a sequel?

Written by

Age: 34 PSN ID: Starkiller81. I've played games since before I can remember, starting with my dad's Atari and I haven't stopped yet. Keep them coming and I will keep playing them.

27 thoughts on “The Ones Left Behind: Gaming’s Forgotten Franchises”

  1. Time Splitters
    I loved the first “time splitters” on the ps2, and loved the 2nd even better. I wish they would make a GOOD sequel for the ps3.

  2. I already mentioned the Syndicate series in another post. Great games. Series died when Bullfrog either went under or got bought out.

    But my number one choice would probably be Road Rash. The technology is finally there to do this series justice; I don’t know why it never successfully transitioned out of the 16 bit era.

    Much like Anthony mentioned with the Syphon Filter games, there hasn’t been a proper Phantasy Star game in 15 years. Phantasy Star Online was fun and all and I know a DS game came out recently, but I want a full on, next generation Phantasy Star 5 that can go toe to toe with elite JRPGs like Final Fantasy XIII.

    Is that too much to ask, Sega? Oh, wait, you didn’t hear me because you’re too busy working on another craptastic Sonic game.

  3. @Gadfly Jim Last I heard, the BG&E sequel was on indefinite hold. Considering that Ubisoft delayed Splinter Cell to April, I’m surprised any of their games come out at all.

    @Greenagainn Heck yeah, Rayman. I’d settle for an XBLA release of the Rayman game for Nintendo 64.

  4. I’ve always heard good things about Beyond Good and Evil; never did play it, though.

    I’d like to see the Soul Reaver series make a return as well (though maybe with a less convoluted backstory).

  5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3alcCeZVww – its a year or so old now so a couple have been fulfilled, but its still a good list

    In addition to these 10, im gonna throw one more in the ring – a proper banjo kazooie 3, none of this nuts and bolts crap. and i’ll definitely agree with anthony with chrono trigger.

  6. Well I know there are a lot of games that I want competent sequels for, but I either forgot about them (hence) or they are in fact making sequels or have teased us with misleading trailer.
    So I’m looking forward to the incoming Golden Sun 3 and BG&E.

  7. I would like to see a actual sequel to the X-wing/Tie fighter series. That game is the reason i own a flight stick. Also i want somebody to pick up System Shock. That game was great.

  8. [quote comment=”9856″]I would like to see a actual sequel to the X-wing/Tie fighter series. That game is the reason i own a flight stick. Also i want somebody to pick up System Shock. That game was great.[/quote]

    I think Bioshock is as close to a sequel to System Shock that you are getting.

  9. Oddworld…got canned right after they made their best game. Shame.

    And Anthony, you didn’t like Chrono-Cross? Is that a popular opinion? I loved that game.

  10. I almost brought up Oddworld. After Stranger’s Wrath, I thought they were going to do a whole bunch of spin-offs set in that world. Would have been a great idea.

    Whatever happened to the Wing Commander series? Is blowing up guys in cat makeup just not appealing to a new generation of gamers?

    Oh, and count me among those who loved Chrono-Cross. Although I could have done without that stupid final boss where you had to do the elemental colors puzzle to be able to beat him.

  11. [quote comment=”9848″]Republic Commando!

    *shakes fist[/quote]

    Originally I was going to say Spyro the Dragon, but then I read that and remembered all the great times I had with Delta Squad. RIP, Sev…

  12. Unfortunately, a lot of the games I could name from the 16 bit days really have no place in today’s gaming environment. 2d shooters/platformers have been a dead genre since the ps1 brought gaming into 3d. Same goes for beat-em-ups; I’d LOVE to see a new Streets of Rage game, for example, but who’s going to pay retail price for what’s ultimately a repetitive gaming experience. Just look at a game like Madworld, a really fun, old school brawler that unfortunately doesn’t have a whole lot of depth or replay value.

    Actually, you probably could do a new version of Streets of Rage and make it competitive with modern games. You’d have to make it an open world, introduce rpg leveling elements, and perhaps integrate some form of branching, dynamic storyline that encourages replay to see different outcomes. Sort of like Square’s The Bouncer…only good.

  13. “Syphon Filter was a popular series back in the PS1 days and aside from some silly PSP offerings, I don’t think anyone has mentioned it in a long time.”

    Loved those games. Shame they couldn’t keep up with the times. lotta’ people say it started going downhill in the sequel, but that’s the first one I played, and I loved that even more than the first one (That warehouse level? Fucking kill me.)

  14. The first 2 Syphon Filters were great.

    Hitman – it has gone so DOWNHILL since the first game, which was amazing and so unique.

    Zombies ate my neighbours – how about a nice kick in the pants into HD?

    Mega Bomberman – I haven’t played the 64 game (still trying to find it at my local ol’skule’shoppe) but I think it was such a great series that almost everyone played on the SNES.

    TLJ/Dreamfall – Do a third one already and finish off the ‘trilogy’

    HL: Episode 3 – ??xx83684#&@#*$??. Apparently this has been forgotten… Not by us… But by the devs.

    Like all good things… we must wait.

  15. [quote comment=”9867″]The first 2 Syphon Filters were great.
    [/quote]

    Agreed. I loved the Russian levels in the second one, and the New York level(s).

    [quote comment=”9867″]

    Hitman – it has gone so DOWNHILL since the first game, which was amazing and so unique.

    [/quote]

    Haven’t played any of them except Blood Money, and the things I’ve read/heard from hitman fans who’ve played all of the previous games, this is one of, if not THE best Hitman game thusfar. Dunno about that claim, but I loved the hell out of Blood Money. It’s still fun to this day, and it looks pretty decent considering it’s 4 years old.

    [quote comment=”9867″]
    HL: Episode 3 – ??xx83684#&@#*$??. Apparently this has been forgotten… Not by us… But by the devs.

    Like all good things… we must wait.[/quote]

    I wouldn’t expect EP 3 anytime soon. We all know how it goes with Valve. We hate them with an ungodly passion when they’re making their games, but kiss the ground they walk on when it finally comes out. And, personally, I’d love to see episode 3 (or whatever they’re gonna call it) in a new engine.

    Oh yeah, and if Adrian Shepard isn’t in it, there will be riots. I SOOOO wanna see him kick the crap out of combine assassins (I get the feeling they’ll be in the next game under the decks of the Borealis)

  16. Julez, you should check out Bomberman Blast on wiiware (if you have a wii, that is). Great BM experience for 10 bucks. The Dreamcast version, Bomberman Online, is excellent as well.

    And yes, Zombies Ate My Neighbors DESPERATELY needs a sequel. At least they released the original on the virtual console.

  17. I loved Chrono Cross. Just not as a sequel to Chrono Trigger.

    SPOILERS

    They killed off most of the main cast before the game even started!

  18. [quote comment=”9871″]Julez, you should check out Bomberman Blast on wiiware (if you have a wii, that is). Great BM experience for 10 bucks. The Dreamcast version, Bomberman Online, is excellent as well.

    And yes, Zombies Ate My Neighbors DESPERATELY needs a sequel. At least they released the original on the virtual console.[/quote]

    They also have Bomberman Ultra on the PSN and Xbox Live

  19. Oh wow, I’ve really been out of the console loop for much too long haha, thanks for the updates guys. My roomates and I have actually been talking about getting a Wii lately just to play the new SMB. So maybe soon I won’t be just PC/NES/SNES guy.

  20. JUUUUULLLLLLLLLEEEEEZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Hitman Blood Money is my fave game of the series and my fave game of all time! Grrrr, lol. Contracts was a bit crummy IMHO.
    Also Anthony did you not like Dark Mirror and Logan’s Shadow? I didn’t like Logan’s Shadow’s story, but Dark Mirror’s gameplay and story were rock solid!
    For a series that has been forgotten, I’d say SSX is a good mention. On Tour, I felt, was rubbish especially after the offering that was 3.
    Also, I want a sequel/spiritual sequel to Gitaroo Man! C’mon Koei, you itterate the hell out of Dynasty Warriors so why not redo this!?!?!?!?

  21. I currently have Hitman: Contacts installed and no matter what I do, I can’t ever get myself to finish that game. BUT if you guys are saying Blood Money was actually good, I’m going to borrow it from my friend who has it. I guess it’s worth a chance, out of respect for the first game.

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