These days, I'll take inspiration from wherever I can get it.
I'm not a huge fan of social media, but I've found myself really enjoying the community on a platform called Channel 3 in recent weeks. It's a really great group of gamers that seem to have a lot of great discourse on gaming. I also like the gameification features, which focus on generating interaction and discussion. One of my personal favorite parts of C3 are the quests, which provide XP for completing a task or answering a question.
It was a quest they offered last week that inspired this week's post. Communitiy members were asked about a game series they want to see return after a long hiatus. Since disucssing series' like that was kind of part of my mission statement when I started GOTBP, I figured I would take it a step further and talk about my top 12 series I want to see make a comeback.
Before I get into this, I have to set some ground rules as to what series are eligible for this list. My criteria for this list was as follows:
-The series must not have had a new title in 10 years
-Remasters, re-releases and compliations do NOT count as new titles, nor do gimmick titles, Gacha games, mobile only side games or any similar junk
-What separates a series and a side series will be considered on a game-by-game basis (IE: Mega Man and Mega Man X are separate series, but Final Fantasy X and X-2 are not separate from the Final Fantasy series)
-I am looking specifically at games released in North America. If a series has 10 titles that never left Japan, but hasn't had an entry in the West since 2006, it's eligible.
Anyway, I figure we should get started with a few honorable mentions, including:
Deus Ex - To me, the Deus Ex series has always been criminally overlooked. These games have always hit the sweet spot between openness and direction I like in games. Part of the reason I feel like DX falls through the cracks is consistency, it has two all time great games and two just okay ones. This series would have been number one or two on the list...had it been eligible. DX just missed the cut as its most recent title, Mankind Divided, came out nine years ago.
Lost Odyssey - An exceptional XBox 360 RPG that has never been released on any other platform. It's an awesome game, but it's only a one off. As such, it's not really a series and just missed the list.
Mega Man X - The original is one of my top five games of all time. The other games in the series are almost all worth playing. But I feel like I can still get the gameplay I am looking for from other franchises, so MMX just misses the list.
And with that out of the way, let's get started with the official list.
12. Half Life
Last Release: Half Life 2: Episode 2 (2007)
No, the VR game that came out in 2020 doesn't count. I definitely want a new Half Life game, but I feel like there are so many other franchises that have this gameplay style now that it just doesn't feel as essential as it would have in previous generations. Even then, I'm not sure even modern titles pull it off quite as well as the Half Life series. The series is incredible and I think it could be even moreso on modern hardware. I know it's unlikely we will ever get a true Half Life 3, but it would be a major gaming event if it ever did happen. Hey, I guess we are going to get GTA 6 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, so it could happen, right?
11. NFL Blitz/NHL Hitz
Last Release: NFL Blitz (2012)/NHL Hitz Pro (2003)
I am lumping these two arcade sports franchises together for obvious reasons. Anyone who wants a realistic simulation of football or hockey should stay far, far away from these two titles, known more for their WWE-style slams and over the top arcade gameplay. The home console versions of these games had a surprising amount of content and Blitz even dabbled in story driven games after briefly losing the NFL license amidst the concussion scandal of the early to mid 00's. The 2012 was fairly well received by critics, but torpedoed by a number of factors. Chief among them was the selection of then-Ravens running back Ray Rice as their cover athelete, because,well...if you know you know. Still, I would love to see either of these franchsies make a return on modern hardware. I doubt their respective leagues would allow it in modern times, but maybe something unlicensed?
10. Timesplitters
Last Release: Timesplitters: Future Perfect (2005)
Timesplitters is a series that is near and dear to my heart. For one, I used to drive XBox fanboys crazy when I would tell them I'd rather play Timesplitters 2 than Halo. To this day, I still stand by that. One of the thing I have always appreciated about the series is variety, something the FPS genre as a whole lacks a bit. There's variety in locations, maps, guns, characters, gameplay, modes, anything you could think of. I personally think the multiplayer maps here are among the most underrated in the genre, I've always had tons of fun with them. There are so many game modes that it always feels like there is something unique to do. But in the modern gaming climate, I think the biggest differentiator Timesplitters would provide is its atmosphere. There are so, so many super serious, dark, edgy FPS games out there that I think the series' irrevernce would be a welcome change of pace.
9. Jak and Daxter
Last Release: Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (2009)
A unique mix of sandbox game, 3rd person shooter and 3D platformer, Jak and Daxter was a huge deal when it debuted during the sixth generation. The first game was one of the PlayStation 2's key exclusives and was heavily promoted, to the point where the duo supplanted Crash Bandicoot as Sony's unofficial mascot. The second and third games continued the series' story, even delving into darker and more mature themes as it progresed. But after the fourth game, "The Last Frontier," disappointed, Sony seemed to sour a little bit on the series. It's a weird case where they didn't distance themselves from it, Jak still appears in quite a bit of advertising and they have released various compilations. But for whatever reason, there hasn't been a new entry in over a decade. Jak and Daxter kickstarted a mini-revivial of 3D platformers when it came out, with games like Ratchet and Clank and Sly Cooper following soon after. But JandD was such a big deal during the 6th gen that I was surprised to see it fall off.
8. Onimusha
Last Release: Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (2006)
Our first game that's due to come off this list, a new Onimusha title is slated for release in 2026. You could also argue the series shouldn't be eligible in the first place, but I consider the VR game that came out a few years ago to be a gimmick title and not a proper entry into the series. By next year, it will have been 20 years since that has happened. It's a little shocking, frankly. You can't find an audience for a mixture of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry set in feudal Japan? Seriously? DMC was actually born from a glitch in the first Onimusha game that allowed for juggling of enemies, which is cool. This was another series that was a huge deal in the 6th generation and then just died out. It's great that we are supposed to be getting a new game, but I will believe it when I see it.
7. Eternal Champions
Last Release: Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side (1995)/X-Perts (1996)
With just about every other series on this list, I would have the concern that a modern update wouldn't do the series justice. But I think an Eternal Champions reboot would be able to improve upon the original in every single way. You could get really cinematic with the character stories here. I always thought the whole "warriors from throughout history who died with regret" thing was awesome. Give each one a really cool intro cutscene, middle cutscene and ending, and build a deep lore around the whole cast. I know I listed X-Perts, a side scrolling beat em up for the Genesis, because that's sort of part of the series. But I want a really awesome 2D fighter with a story mode, something in the vein of the newer Mortal Kombat games.
6. Mega Man Legends
Last Release: The Misadventures of Tron Bonne (2000)
I know some diehard fans of the original series didn't like it, but a Mega Man game with RPG elements was always going to be right up my alley. They built such an awesome world around these games and gave a new dimension, figuratively and literally, to the character and world. Maybe a modern day version could have some level of robot masters, but I would be okay retaining the dungeon crawling the series was known for and just making it bigger and better. Open up the world a little bit, add tons more items, make Mega Man even more customizable, the potential for this is limitless on modern hardware. You could essentially create a brand new series using an already established character.
5. Lunar
Last Release (Unfortunately): Lunar: Dragon Song (2005)
I really wanted to prentend Dragon Song doesn't exist, but I GUESS it's an actual original game in the series. Unfortunately, I think it's one of the major reasons that the series essentially died out, though the recent remaster of the first two games gives me hope it could be revived again. There have been a few remakes of the first game, but far fewer of the second. It's a shame, because this is an absolutely exceptional RPG series, one I think would have been held in much higher regard if it didn't come out on the largely forgotten (but massively underrated) Sega CD. By the time the complete versions came to the PS1, many gamers had already left games with this graphical style in the past. But now, with the re-emergence of pixel art RPGs and HD 2D games, could Lunar 3 become a reality? I'm not holding my breath, but I hope so.
4. Shadow Hearts
Last Release: Shadow Hearts: From the New World (2005)
Comprised of PS1 RPG Koudelka and the three titles with Shadow Hearts in the name, this series was a rare example of RPGs that were actually direct sequels to each other. At least the first three games are related, the "From the New World" is kind of its own thing. All of the games exist in a sort of fantastical version of the real world, with the story built around real world events like World War I and the Russian Revolution. You have actual historical figures involved here, Rasputin, Anastasia Romanov, Roger Bacon and all sorts of similar folks heavily involved in the game's events. Of course, the fully original characters are amazing too and series protagonist Yuri Hyuga is in the running for one of the best RPG protagonists of all time. There are plenty of dark, brooding, horror elements, but plenty of lighthearted stuff as well. Frankly, there just aren't that many RPGs like these games and I absolutely think the series would be successful if we brought them back.
3. F - Zero
Last Release: F-Zero GP Legend (2003)
This one might be a little bit touchy, but I don't really consider F-Zero 99 a proper release in the series. Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool that they put it out, but it isn't a fully fleshed out title in Nintendo's most forgotten first party franchise. The most recent ones of those came in 2003, with GP legend on the GBA and, perhaps more importantly, GX on the GameCube. The latter is one of my all time favorite games...and I don't even like racing games. There was so much to do, so many things to unlock and so many tracks to race on that it made the game feel so much deeper than most racing titles, at least to me. Oh, and the actual racing was pretty awesome too. I don't think I've ever gotten the sensation of speed I get when I play the 3D F-Zero games (GX and X for the N64). Again, F-Zero 99 is great, but I want a real, proper entry in the series on modern hardware with modern tech.
2. Twisted Metal
Last Release: Twisted Metal (2012)
Of any series on this list, a Twisted Metal reboot might be the most timely. As of this writing, the second season of the TM series recently dropped on Peacock to some fairly strong reviews. With 13 years between that and the last actual game in the series, there is a whole generation of viewers that probably don't even know the show they are watching is based on a video game. A lot of the series I've talked about are somewhat niche, I love Lunar and Shadow Hearts but I can understand why they aren't mainstream series. But the Twisted Metal games were as accessible as any I have ever played. You drive around in a car and you blow up other cars, what's not to like? I guess I understand why the car combat genre died out, but I still can't understand why it's never made a comeback. Really, how different is it than all of these battle royales that are out there right now? That's kind of what they tried to accomplish with TM2012 and they frankly, it was more technical issues that caused that game to fail than problematic gameplay. I am a huge fan of these games and I'm certainly not the only one. I would even be okay if the new game was based directly on the show, I just want more TM.
1. Breath of Fire
Last Release: Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (2003)
First and foremost, I want to make clear that the absolute embarassment of an excuse for a game that they called Breath of Fire 6 does not count, at all. When they hopefully do revive the series, the next game should have that as the title. Anyway, I have always been a major fan of this series and I never thought it got the respect it deserved. If anything, critics often try to find fault with these games in spots where they typically overlook such problems from other titles. Breath of Fire II, for instance, is often criticized for having terrible translation. I'm not going to call the translation good, but I don't think it's any worse than what you would see from other games of the era. In fact, I think the translation impacts this game less than some of its contemporaries, it rarely impacts gameplay and doesn't cause much more issue than a few goofy lines of text and silly item names. But there is so much that gets overlooked here. All of these games have exceptional stories, many of which cover topics that other series wouldn't go near. The quality of graphics, sound, everything here is top notch in both the SNES and PS1 titles. And even Dragon Quarter, which was heavily criticized at the time, had a lot of positive going for it and tried to take risks when it came to innovation. I don't think it's the most likely series on this list to be revived, but it's the one I want to see more than anything. Breath of Fire 6 (the REAL BOF 6) would be a launch day buy for me.
I'm not a huge fan of social media, but I've found myself really enjoying the community on a platform called Channel 3 in recent weeks. It's a really great group of gamers that seem to have a lot of great discourse on gaming. I also like the gameification features, which focus on generating interaction and discussion. One of my personal favorite parts of C3 are the quests, which provide XP for completing a task or answering a question.
It was a quest they offered last week that inspired this week's post. Communitiy members were asked about a game series they want to see return after a long hiatus. Since disucssing series' like that was kind of part of my mission statement when I started GOTBP, I figured I would take it a step further and talk about my top 12 series I want to see make a comeback.
Before I get into this, I have to set some ground rules as to what series are eligible for this list. My criteria for this list was as follows:
-The series must not have had a new title in 10 years
-Remasters, re-releases and compliations do NOT count as new titles, nor do gimmick titles, Gacha games, mobile only side games or any similar junk
-What separates a series and a side series will be considered on a game-by-game basis (IE: Mega Man and Mega Man X are separate series, but Final Fantasy X and X-2 are not separate from the Final Fantasy series)
-I am looking specifically at games released in North America. If a series has 10 titles that never left Japan, but hasn't had an entry in the West since 2006, it's eligible.
Anyway, I figure we should get started with a few honorable mentions, including:
Deus Ex - To me, the Deus Ex series has always been criminally overlooked. These games have always hit the sweet spot between openness and direction I like in games. Part of the reason I feel like DX falls through the cracks is consistency, it has two all time great games and two just okay ones. This series would have been number one or two on the list...had it been eligible. DX just missed the cut as its most recent title, Mankind Divided, came out nine years ago.
Lost Odyssey - An exceptional XBox 360 RPG that has never been released on any other platform. It's an awesome game, but it's only a one off. As such, it's not really a series and just missed the list.
Mega Man X - The original is one of my top five games of all time. The other games in the series are almost all worth playing. But I feel like I can still get the gameplay I am looking for from other franchises, so MMX just misses the list.
And with that out of the way, let's get started with the official list.
12. Half Life
Last Release: Half Life 2: Episode 2 (2007)
No, the VR game that came out in 2020 doesn't count. I definitely want a new Half Life game, but I feel like there are so many other franchises that have this gameplay style now that it just doesn't feel as essential as it would have in previous generations. Even then, I'm not sure even modern titles pull it off quite as well as the Half Life series. The series is incredible and I think it could be even moreso on modern hardware. I know it's unlikely we will ever get a true Half Life 3, but it would be a major gaming event if it ever did happen. Hey, I guess we are going to get GTA 6 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, so it could happen, right?
11. NFL Blitz/NHL Hitz
Last Release: NFL Blitz (2012)/NHL Hitz Pro (2003)
I am lumping these two arcade sports franchises together for obvious reasons. Anyone who wants a realistic simulation of football or hockey should stay far, far away from these two titles, known more for their WWE-style slams and over the top arcade gameplay. The home console versions of these games had a surprising amount of content and Blitz even dabbled in story driven games after briefly losing the NFL license amidst the concussion scandal of the early to mid 00's. The 2012 was fairly well received by critics, but torpedoed by a number of factors. Chief among them was the selection of then-Ravens running back Ray Rice as their cover athelete, because,well...if you know you know. Still, I would love to see either of these franchsies make a return on modern hardware. I doubt their respective leagues would allow it in modern times, but maybe something unlicensed?
10. Timesplitters
Last Release: Timesplitters: Future Perfect (2005)
Timesplitters is a series that is near and dear to my heart. For one, I used to drive XBox fanboys crazy when I would tell them I'd rather play Timesplitters 2 than Halo. To this day, I still stand by that. One of the thing I have always appreciated about the series is variety, something the FPS genre as a whole lacks a bit. There's variety in locations, maps, guns, characters, gameplay, modes, anything you could think of. I personally think the multiplayer maps here are among the most underrated in the genre, I've always had tons of fun with them. There are so many game modes that it always feels like there is something unique to do. But in the modern gaming climate, I think the biggest differentiator Timesplitters would provide is its atmosphere. There are so, so many super serious, dark, edgy FPS games out there that I think the series' irrevernce would be a welcome change of pace.
9. Jak and Daxter
Last Release: Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (2009)
A unique mix of sandbox game, 3rd person shooter and 3D platformer, Jak and Daxter was a huge deal when it debuted during the sixth generation. The first game was one of the PlayStation 2's key exclusives and was heavily promoted, to the point where the duo supplanted Crash Bandicoot as Sony's unofficial mascot. The second and third games continued the series' story, even delving into darker and more mature themes as it progresed. But after the fourth game, "The Last Frontier," disappointed, Sony seemed to sour a little bit on the series. It's a weird case where they didn't distance themselves from it, Jak still appears in quite a bit of advertising and they have released various compilations. But for whatever reason, there hasn't been a new entry in over a decade. Jak and Daxter kickstarted a mini-revivial of 3D platformers when it came out, with games like Ratchet and Clank and Sly Cooper following soon after. But JandD was such a big deal during the 6th gen that I was surprised to see it fall off.
8. Onimusha
Last Release: Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (2006)
Our first game that's due to come off this list, a new Onimusha title is slated for release in 2026. You could also argue the series shouldn't be eligible in the first place, but I consider the VR game that came out a few years ago to be a gimmick title and not a proper entry into the series. By next year, it will have been 20 years since that has happened. It's a little shocking, frankly. You can't find an audience for a mixture of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry set in feudal Japan? Seriously? DMC was actually born from a glitch in the first Onimusha game that allowed for juggling of enemies, which is cool. This was another series that was a huge deal in the 6th generation and then just died out. It's great that we are supposed to be getting a new game, but I will believe it when I see it.
7. Eternal Champions
Last Release: Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side (1995)/X-Perts (1996)
With just about every other series on this list, I would have the concern that a modern update wouldn't do the series justice. But I think an Eternal Champions reboot would be able to improve upon the original in every single way. You could get really cinematic with the character stories here. I always thought the whole "warriors from throughout history who died with regret" thing was awesome. Give each one a really cool intro cutscene, middle cutscene and ending, and build a deep lore around the whole cast. I know I listed X-Perts, a side scrolling beat em up for the Genesis, because that's sort of part of the series. But I want a really awesome 2D fighter with a story mode, something in the vein of the newer Mortal Kombat games.
6. Mega Man Legends
Last Release: The Misadventures of Tron Bonne (2000)
I know some diehard fans of the original series didn't like it, but a Mega Man game with RPG elements was always going to be right up my alley. They built such an awesome world around these games and gave a new dimension, figuratively and literally, to the character and world. Maybe a modern day version could have some level of robot masters, but I would be okay retaining the dungeon crawling the series was known for and just making it bigger and better. Open up the world a little bit, add tons more items, make Mega Man even more customizable, the potential for this is limitless on modern hardware. You could essentially create a brand new series using an already established character.
5. Lunar
Last Release (Unfortunately): Lunar: Dragon Song (2005)
I really wanted to prentend Dragon Song doesn't exist, but I GUESS it's an actual original game in the series. Unfortunately, I think it's one of the major reasons that the series essentially died out, though the recent remaster of the first two games gives me hope it could be revived again. There have been a few remakes of the first game, but far fewer of the second. It's a shame, because this is an absolutely exceptional RPG series, one I think would have been held in much higher regard if it didn't come out on the largely forgotten (but massively underrated) Sega CD. By the time the complete versions came to the PS1, many gamers had already left games with this graphical style in the past. But now, with the re-emergence of pixel art RPGs and HD 2D games, could Lunar 3 become a reality? I'm not holding my breath, but I hope so.
4. Shadow Hearts
Last Release: Shadow Hearts: From the New World (2005)
Comprised of PS1 RPG Koudelka and the three titles with Shadow Hearts in the name, this series was a rare example of RPGs that were actually direct sequels to each other. At least the first three games are related, the "From the New World" is kind of its own thing. All of the games exist in a sort of fantastical version of the real world, with the story built around real world events like World War I and the Russian Revolution. You have actual historical figures involved here, Rasputin, Anastasia Romanov, Roger Bacon and all sorts of similar folks heavily involved in the game's events. Of course, the fully original characters are amazing too and series protagonist Yuri Hyuga is in the running for one of the best RPG protagonists of all time. There are plenty of dark, brooding, horror elements, but plenty of lighthearted stuff as well. Frankly, there just aren't that many RPGs like these games and I absolutely think the series would be successful if we brought them back.
3. F - Zero
Last Release: F-Zero GP Legend (2003)
This one might be a little bit touchy, but I don't really consider F-Zero 99 a proper release in the series. Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool that they put it out, but it isn't a fully fleshed out title in Nintendo's most forgotten first party franchise. The most recent ones of those came in 2003, with GP legend on the GBA and, perhaps more importantly, GX on the GameCube. The latter is one of my all time favorite games...and I don't even like racing games. There was so much to do, so many things to unlock and so many tracks to race on that it made the game feel so much deeper than most racing titles, at least to me. Oh, and the actual racing was pretty awesome too. I don't think I've ever gotten the sensation of speed I get when I play the 3D F-Zero games (GX and X for the N64). Again, F-Zero 99 is great, but I want a real, proper entry in the series on modern hardware with modern tech.
2. Twisted Metal
Last Release: Twisted Metal (2012)
Of any series on this list, a Twisted Metal reboot might be the most timely. As of this writing, the second season of the TM series recently dropped on Peacock to some fairly strong reviews. With 13 years between that and the last actual game in the series, there is a whole generation of viewers that probably don't even know the show they are watching is based on a video game. A lot of the series I've talked about are somewhat niche, I love Lunar and Shadow Hearts but I can understand why they aren't mainstream series. But the Twisted Metal games were as accessible as any I have ever played. You drive around in a car and you blow up other cars, what's not to like? I guess I understand why the car combat genre died out, but I still can't understand why it's never made a comeback. Really, how different is it than all of these battle royales that are out there right now? That's kind of what they tried to accomplish with TM2012 and they frankly, it was more technical issues that caused that game to fail than problematic gameplay. I am a huge fan of these games and I'm certainly not the only one. I would even be okay if the new game was based directly on the show, I just want more TM.
1. Breath of Fire
Last Release: Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (2003)
First and foremost, I want to make clear that the absolute embarassment of an excuse for a game that they called Breath of Fire 6 does not count, at all. When they hopefully do revive the series, the next game should have that as the title. Anyway, I have always been a major fan of this series and I never thought it got the respect it deserved. If anything, critics often try to find fault with these games in spots where they typically overlook such problems from other titles. Breath of Fire II, for instance, is often criticized for having terrible translation. I'm not going to call the translation good, but I don't think it's any worse than what you would see from other games of the era. In fact, I think the translation impacts this game less than some of its contemporaries, it rarely impacts gameplay and doesn't cause much more issue than a few goofy lines of text and silly item names. But there is so much that gets overlooked here. All of these games have exceptional stories, many of which cover topics that other series wouldn't go near. The quality of graphics, sound, everything here is top notch in both the SNES and PS1 titles. And even Dragon Quarter, which was heavily criticized at the time, had a lot of positive going for it and tried to take risks when it came to innovation. I don't think it's the most likely series on this list to be revived, but it's the one I want to see more than anything. Breath of Fire 6 (the REAL BOF 6) would be a launch day buy for me.
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