Dead game franchises

mr_m0nks · Post by **mr_m0nks** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:01 pm

i was thinking about this this morning.

long running franchises have always been a staple of videogames but i was thinking of some of my favourites that seem to have disappeared or been deformed from their original genere.

Mechwarrior. This was a fantastic franchise ruined by Mechassult, probably the best Mech simulator series ever and even the simplified versions Microsoft did were good games. There are whisperings of a new licence holder but I'm not holding my breath.

Wing Commander. From the great starfighter combat to the Hollywood like cut scenes you really felt immersed by these games. don't even talk about that XBL abortion! Im sure this franchise could take the good bits from Project Silpheed and turn it into something amasing

Road Rash. Ok so the other two were sims, a genre that seems to be in a current decline but road rash seems to tick all the current boxes. It is fast, very very violent and there is plenty scope for go anywhere racing.

Was the Playstation version that damaging to the franchise?
It just seems to have the potential to be the kind of game EA is pumping out at the moment.

there are others im sure

1up · Post by **1up** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:09 pm

I think Road Rash suffered under the "realism is the shit now" mentality since Gran Turismo hit the scene. All arcade racers got hit more or less.

But it looks like arcade racers are making a comeback. Look at games like Sega Rally Revo, PURE, Flatout etc.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:50 pm

I was an eXtreme G fan for some time. I actually have some fun with rally racers, but bashing and smashing shit up is even better.

mr_m0nks · Post by **mr_m0nks** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:19 pm

that's what i mean about Road Rash. It's fast, destructive and violent. Hell put online and you could get the ultimate clan fighting AND racing game.

imagine gangs of tooled up bikers racing round a street circuit with realistic traffic, punching, kicking and chaining 7 shades of shit out of each other.
it would be like motorbike burnout.... but better!

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:36 pm

Some of my favorite departed series:

Battletoads (well, not exactly long-running) - killed by 3D
Double Dragon - killed by declining interest in beat-em-ups
Langrisser - killed by a split NCS Masaya
Phantasy Star - killed by 3D
Ultima - killed by a money-grubbing company
Might & Magic - killed by a company that didn't know what it was doing
Wizardry - killed by lack of interest

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:38 pm

tony hawk

Daedalus · Post by **Daedalus** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:42 pm

Ganelon wrote:Some of my favorite departed series:
Wizardry - killed by lack of interest

The Wizardry series is still alive in Japan.

And if you like dungeon crawlers, you may want to check out Etrian Odyssey 2 for the DS. I'm normally not a huge fan of them, but I love this game.

Observer · Post by **Observer** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:26 pm

Homeworld series. God, I want another one like that. I have the original, Cataclysm and the second. The music was amazing and I really liked the whole "think in full 3D" strategy. I recall taking advantage of this and dividing my fleet with some elements striking at the engines of a heavy cruiser while destroyers would slowly go up and fire vertically and frigates taking the flanks backed up with bombers striking from below and towards the engines.

... And the Kadeshi freaking ruled. Multi-beam frigate ftw. The voice of their ambassador was top notch. Oh, The Beast was awesome too. Longest "Nooooooo" scream ever.

Apparently, the license is now stuck between Relic and another company with no hopes of any further titles.

Sly Cherry Chunks · Post by **Sly Cherry Chunks** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:34 pm

Turrican

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:48 pm

Sonic the Hedgehog

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:58 pm

Sly Cherry Chunks wrote:Turrican

Not dead at all. Just went into super-hyper-freeware mode

http://turrican.gamevoice.de/hurrican_site/

And yeah, I too wish they would ressurrect the Mechwarrior series but not as a dumbed down console version. Simulationstyle gameplay, proper online and Crytek's newest engine, please.

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:18 pm

Was the Playstation version that damaging to the franchise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryJVBBWQ-ck

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:54 pm

Ganelon wrote:Langrisser - killed by a split NCS Masaya
Phantasy Star - killed by 3D
Ultima - killed by a money-grubbing company
Wizardry - killed by lack of interest

Ooh, good choices here. As mentioned, Wizardry still lives in Japan. Shame about stuff like PS and Ultima though.

As for Langrisser, V really was the "end" of the series, so I am not too sad about it since it ended on such an ever so high note. Growlanser is kind of similar and shares some staff members, but never quite reaches the same epic scope of the Langrisser titles, especially Lang IV and V.

My own pick? I dunno...most the series I still like are alive in some form (thinking about Falcom in particular). Suikoden is a good one but hanging from a thread in some ways, and has had it's share of very low lows and high highs. Sad I have very little interest in the new DS chapter. ;P

I wouldn't mind a new Aleste!

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:12 pm

Ganelon wrote:Phantasy Star - killed by 3D

No, its main story is complete. The ultimate villain was destroyed. What else is there to tell? Acta est fabula!

Now, a story that is not complete... where the fuck is Shenmue III?!

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:30 pm

captain ahar wrote:tony hawk

sk8?

For some reason I like the whole "killing your avatar in humorous ways" concept.

Needs more PVP.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:10 pm

Stormwatch wrote:
Ganelon wrote:Phantasy Star - killed by 3D
No, its main story is complete. The ultimate villain was destroyed. What else is there to tell?

What happened after the end of Phantasy Star III for starters. There are a whole lot of possibilities with that game, regardless of what the PS1/2/4 fanboys say.

Here are a few that popped into my head...

Descent- Sure, D3 wasn't as good as it could have been, but I think there's still plenty of life left in the franchise.
Shining Force- We only got one part of the trilogy for III. At the very least, it would be nice if someone were to bring out all three parts. Maybe it would spawn a real part IV.
Alex Kidd- Seriously. How could a popular franchise from back in the day be so utterly abandoned?
Darius- It's time for new fish bosses.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:22 pm

The Coop wrote:Alex Kidd- Seriously. How could a popular franchise from back in the day be so utterly abandoned?

What is there besides the character? Hey, we've got Charlie Brown, and he isn't getting into games. Why should I care about some random mascot? About as much personality as Opa-Opa and a lot less visually interesting. If anything, bring back the Ninja Princess.

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:59 pm

Rallisport Challenge.
Undying

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:18 pm

Descent for sure, it's really a shame that they stopped making those games.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:11 pm

Acid King wrote:Rallisport Challenge.
Undying

Mother-FUCKING Undying, hell yes.

I haven't gotten around to Jericho, hear it's a poor replacement though.

CStarFlare · Post by **CStarFlare** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:04 am

Clock Tower, which Capcom seems to have lost any interest in continuing.
Frequency/Amplitude series - Harmonix is too busy and IIRC Sony holds some rights they'd need or something.
Phantom Brave - doesn't qualify as a series I guess but it should
Um Jammer Lammy - why does parappa have two games and lammy has one god damn it I hate dogs
Chrono series - Square quit porting shit and make a new god damn game

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:24 am

Ed Oscuro wrote: Mother-FUCKING Undying, hell yes.

I haven't gotten around to Jericho, hear it's a poor replacement though.

You don't know how disappointed I was to find out that Undying was planned as a series and the follow ups were never made because of poor sales. Fucking shameful. I played the demo of Jericho, seems like it has good ideas, but I don't know how well they executed it.

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:36 am

As for Langrisser, V really was the "end" of the series, so I am not too sad about it since it ended on such an ever so high note.

Phantasy Star IV is kind of the same deal. Failing everything else, the games could always be continued via some alternate universe plots like most of the Gundam shows that Sunrise has been doing after Char's Counterattack.

What happened after the end of Phantasy Star III for starters. There are a whole lot of possibilities with that game

That whole backstory about the Orakio vs. Laya war, and the roles that Miun, Siren, and Lune played in it, seem like good game material also.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:02 am

Ed Oscuro wrote:Why should I care about some random mascot?

Care, don't care... doesn't affect me either way. I'm mentioning it for myself, and any others who enjoyed the games for the most part.

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:53 am

Freespace - What happened to Earth after the sol system warp gate got destroyed? What happened to the GTVA after the events of Freespace 2?

Gozer · Post by **Gozer** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:36 am

Monkey Island - The epic battle between Guybrush and LeChuck needs to continue. Lucas Arts needs to quit being such dicks and acknowledge their better franchises.
Rocket Knight Adventures - I'm surprised that this franchise only made it to three games.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:44 am

The Mana series.

BLEAGH · Post by **BLEAGH** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:46 am

Ganelon wrote: Might & Magic - killed by a company that didn't know what it was doing

Amen.

6, 7, and 8 were some of the best games I've ever played.

How awful 9 was.

Dark messiah was such a waste.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:16 am

[quote="Gozer"]Monkey Island - The epic battle between Guybrush and LeChuck needs to continue. Lucas Arts needs to quit being such dicks and acknowledge their better franchises.

Lucasarts seems to be completely tied up in Star Wars shovelware these days, and I seriously doubt they'd do it justice. I'd much rather see Telltale pick up the franchise, since they've done a pretty good job with the Sam and Max games.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:24 am

Stormwatch wrote: No, its main story is complete. The ultimate villain was destroyed. What else is there to tell? Acta est fabula!!

Well, the Algo story is complete. As The Coop mentioned, the PSIII story is still up in the air and it takes place a millennium AFTER PSIV in the JP timeline. Given PSIII was so rushed, there's plenty of material there to build upon. I'd also be thrilled if they ever decided to remake the game (like on the DS) and expand on all the loose ends.