Top Ten Games That Need a Sequel

No School Like The Old SchoolA few weeks ago, GamerWok asked its readers what game most deserves a remake.  It was a real toss up between the listed contenders and of the titles that were listed, Final Fantasy won by a fair margin (pulling in 38% of all votes).  In a poll that only has enough space for four titles, it’s not very indicative of the amount of great games that can possiblely be remade or sequalized.  FatYoshi has also made a list of his favorite retro titles recently and you can see what our community thought about those choices in our forums.

This list won’t be a list of my favorite retro games, since I am in agreement with some people that certain games should stay retro and not be remade into 3D monstrocities since the potential for error is so high.  But this list will be a collection of games that I feel deserves a second take or a retooling for this generation.  I will also name a developer I feel is best suited to the task.  Read on to find out what I believe are games that sorely deserves a second life on current gen hardware.

1. Kings/Space/Police Quest
   
   

   VGA Graphics FTW!Why are adventure games dead?  Probably for the same reason casual games are on the rise.  No one has the time to invest into a “Choose Your Own Adventure” type of narrative anymore and clicking around the screen to further along a story just doesn’t intrigue.  And as we all know, lack of interest leads to lack of sales which then leads to projects canceled.  But the charm of Sierra’s line of Quest games is how immersive they were for being just a rung above text adventures.  Gaming was slim pickings back in the early 80’s but if these games were to be remade with updated graphics but holding true to the roots of puzzle solving, character comedy, and engaging stories, I am willing to bet that the Adventure games genre could be revived.

   Developer of choice: Blizzard
   
   Reason: Blizzard, before the World of Warcraft cash cow, was a developer that had a quirky sense of humor (Lost Vikings for example).  With its technical know-how and its attention to story and lore, they are a perfect fit.  Even though development timelines are long, they would still ship its products unlike 3D Realms!



2. Master of Orion
   
   

   Hours of My Life…MANY Hours…The grand-daddy of all 4X games (eXpand, eXplore, eXploit, eXterminate).  The last iteration of this series was in 2003 with Master of Orion 3, and probably the nail in the coffin for Infograms.  MOO3 was not well received by critics and fans and was cited to have a horrendous user interface and game breaking bugs.  Infograms were not known for its high quality of customer service and these bugs were never fixed.  But this still doesn’t change the fact that Master of Orion 2 was one of the most intense 4X strategy games I have ever played.  It’s expansionist concept, the ability to win multiple ways, and the satisfaction of being a galactic dictator made MOO2 sessions a thing of legend.  There has been a recent resurgence for these epic, long, and deep strategy games for the PC and it’s high time the king of all strategy games makes its long awaited return.

   Developer Choice: Stardock

   
   Reason: Stardock was responsible for the PC Strategy game of they year in 2008 - Sins of a Solar Empire.  They were very capable with Sins in blending 4X with RTS elements.  Coupled with its development support with patches and expansions, which is essential to the longivety of these games, Stardock is a no-brainer choice for taking on MOO’s reboot/sequal.



3. HomeWorld
   
   

   Epic Space Battles!Sierra published the first HomeWorld in 1999 and was responsible for taking the RTS model and flipping it on its head.  HomeWorld introduced players to a true, 3D, space RTS where you had to strategize on the Z axis as well as the X and Y axes.  The premise of the game featured a tale befitting of the “Space Opera” moniker and was much elobrate than what players were used to in RTS games.  The follow up HomeWorld 2 came in 2003 and was met with similar success.  For the same reason MOO redefined the 4X genre, HomeWorld redefined the space RTS.  No other RTS game has made such seamless use of the X axis since HomeWorld and the ability for ultimate scalability has been copied in many other RTSes since (Supreme Commander, World in Conflict).  I imagine a HomeWorld sequel to resemble something like Sins of a Solar Empire with a deeper single player campaign and a much more engaging story while hammering home the point that you are alone in space with no one to come to your aid.

   Developer Choice: Gas Powered Games
   
   Reason: This was a tough decision since either Blizzard or Stardock would have been great choices due to the depth of the narrative in the HomeWorld series but all the narrative in the world can’t save a game engine that sucks.  With its experience with massively scaled games such as Supreme Commander, they make a logical choice for taking on the grand scale HomeWorld is known to inspire.



4. Final Fantasy 7
   
   

   Look Ma! I have three polygons for a head!Ah, the winner of our reader poll and the most requested remake ever (which can be contested).  Personally, I have NOT finished Final Fantasy 7 because I was quite late to the 32 bit console era and never got the chance to enjoy FF7 until after the PS2 was launched.  As such, I’m forever intrigued by the devote following this game has.  To be sure, the game sports a very interesting story and part of its success can be attributed to being the first 3D polygon based JRPG to hit North America.  However, because it was the first 3D JRPG, it also means that it looks like ass on a stick compared to the PS2 JRPGs.  Which is primarily the reason why I have not finished FF7 - I simply can’t stand the polygonal ball Cloud has for a hand.  It’s high time Square-Enix stop with the spin off titles and actually sit down and do its golden egg right.  Unless they are waiting for Holodeck technology to be invented, I really don’t understand why they won’t remake this title.

   Developer Choice: Square-Enix

   
   Reason: There’s really no reason FF7 needs to go with anyone else.  Square-Enix hasn’t been very good with its stories and battle systems as of late and its experiments with the Unreal engine hasn’t turned out all that hot.  Despite its recent track record, there is no doubt that if all FF7 needs is a graphical update (which I believe should definitely be the case) then Square-Enix is the developer I would want to do it since they did do the original and are still the best in the business.



5. Final Fantasy Tactics
   
   

   The evolution of Battle Chess!Final Fantasy Tactics was originally released for the PlayStation 1 in North America in January 1998.  The game was styled after the tactical strategy RPGs by Atlus, namely Tactics Ogre (coincidentally, FF:T was developed by the same team that did Tactics Ogre and Ogre Battle).  What made FF:T different than the rest of the SRPGs that came out before it was Square’s focus on the story elements as well as the combat system.  They brought in Jobs/Classes from the Final Fantasy series, which basically allowed you to customize your party members whichever way you felt like playing.  Do you want a magic welding heavy knight?  You got it!  Or a dual welding, ninja jumping, Black Mage?  No Problem!  The story in FF:T was mature, not filled with lost princesses and young boys searching for crystals (there are young boys and princesses mind you).  This was a much more streamlined SRPG than previous Ogre titles as there was really only one story you progressed through.  But the whole package was done so well that it’s sad to see the “kid-ified” versions that were released for the Gameboy Advance/DS and the poor port for the PSP.

   Developer Choice: Level 5
   
   Reason: Level 5 brought the excellent Jeanne D’Arc to the PSP in 2007.  Although that game received much critical acclaim, it was not a market success.  Level 5 has shown that they have a healthy respect for the genre and can develop an excellent 3D engine that works perfectly in an isometric view.  They would be my first choice to do a full fledged sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics.

6. Mech Warrior
   
   

   These boots are made for stomping!For the longest time during the 80’s and the early 90’s, there were really two schools of Mech design.  The Japanese mobile suits that were basically giant robotic ninjas and the North American BattleMechs that were more like bipedal tanks.  The closest reboot of the franchise came with Steel Battalion for the original Xbox.  That game featured a gigantic controller with over 40 buttons that resembled the cockpit of a Mech.  Although the price tag was considered extreme for the time ($200 USD - which isn’t much compared to Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour!) the game did receive critical success but only broke even in sales.  What was great about Mech Warrior was the sense that you are indeed piloting a bipedal tank and came as close to a “Mech Sim” as you could without these things actually being made in reality.  Players were made to feel like they were in a Mech training simulator and had as many instruments to watch as any advance fighter jet.  Can you imagine what could be accomplished with today’s hardware?  How can you not want this?  Three words: Metal Gear Mod!

   Developer Choice: DICE
   
   Reason: There hasn’t been a good arcade simulation in a long time and the folks still doing the Flight-Sims are way too hardcore to tackle a fictional sim such as Mech Warrior.  But DICE, the folks behind the awesome shooter series Battlefield, has shown that first person action is its forte and with its extensive multiplayer experience, there’s no question they will do a good job.  With Mirror’s Edge, they have shown the industry that they aren’t afraid to take risks and are capable of more than the cookie cutter shooters and a good story isn’t beyond them either.  Its experience with vehicular combat will also serve as a nice background for fast-paced mech fights.



7. Jackal
   
   

   Watch out for those dots!!1986 was when Jackal graced the shores of North America.  Konami basically took the top down shooter formula, mixed in a dash of Contra, and added Jeeps to make Jackal.  There was really no story to the game, much like the rest of the 80’s action titles but the charm of this title was that it was so close to a top down shooter yet not quite.  The closest incarnation of this gameplay would be the XBLA titles Assault Heroes but that doesn’t hold the same sense of destruction as Jackal.  In a typical Jackal game, you would team up with a buddy, try and grab as many power ups as possible, and blow the living hell out of everything.  It’s hard to explain the feeling of excitement as you traversed the levels, rescuing hostages, and defeating bosses.  It wasn’t as hard as Contra was and the Konami code still worked!  Many an afternoon did I waste on this game with friends after school - good times!

   Developer Choice: Criterion Games
   
   Reason:  Why would I pick a company that does arcade racers to do what essentially is a shooter?  Because Criterion does racers so well and in the reimagining of Jackal (in my own mind), the game will more resemble Twisted Metal than a shooter.  Criterion’s work on the Burnout series is superb and focuses on balls out fun.  They also have the reputation for supporting a title long after release (Burnout Paradise) and who can say no to free expansion packs for years to come?  As long as they don’t turn Jackal into a “Cart Racer” game, I’m happy!



8. Wing Commander
   
   

   Holy Luke Skywalker Batman!The genre of space sims have also gone the way of adventure games.  Console action has over taken the need for a flight stick and first person space fighters haven’t been seen in a very long time.  However, the area of arcade styled fighter jet games is alive and kicking thanks to the likes of Namco with its Ace Combat series and Ubisoft with H.A.W.X..  The appeal of space sims is the same as when you were a kid and pretended to be flying the Millenium Falcon or piloting an X-Wing into battle.  It allows you to live the experiences of a space pilot, something that’s almost realistic but completely not at the same time.  While Wing Commander added the space opera/cheesy FMV storyline, you have to give it credit for giving you a reason to fly besides gaining points (which was basically the only motivation mechanic used in space flight games before WC).  Wing Commander is what the 1970’s Battlestar Galactica was while a reboot would be something closer to what the 2000’s Battlestar Galactica was.

   Developer Choice: Ubisoft
   
   Reason: With its most recent effort, H.A.W.X, Ubisoft has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the arcade sim.  The dogfighting mechanics and the plane designs were excellent while controls and actions were simple to understand.  They took the Ace Combat formula and made it slightly more action packed and it definitely works.  I would love to see them tackle a space flight sim like Wing Commander while putting a nice spin on the franchise.  Because lets face it, calling Wing Commander a “sim” of anything is just silly.  Also, Ubisoft has shown with games such as Assassin’s Creed that a sci-fi odd ball story isn’t beyond them.  Having its writers take on the Human/Kilrathi war would simply be aces!

9. Duck Hunt
   
   

   Damn dog, always laughing at me!A good light gun game hasn’t been around since the first Time Crisis and even then, TC for the home console just didn’t have the same feeling for me.  But Duck Hunt, now that was Nintendo game design 101.  The game came packaged free with every North American NES along with the Blaster.  I’m not a hardware design engineer so I can’t say if there’s a reason light guns can’t work with LCD TVs but hardware limitations aside, Duck Hunt was as great of a game as Punch-Out!! was.  Gameplay was simple and was never ending.  The only limitation was your own skill and the only multiplayer was trying to bet your buddy’s high score.  It was basically whack a mole with a light gun, and I’m more than happy with that.  People often wonder where Nintendo all of a sudden came out with the most casual console ever.  You only have to look at Duck Hunt to realize that Nintendo has always been as casual as they are hardcore and they are always riding that fine balance between one or the other.

   Developer Choice: Nintendo
   
   Reason: As with Final Fantasy, there’s no reason to choose anyone else other than Nintendo to remake its own game.  They have shown us with the new Mario games, reimagining a series is like a walk in the park from them.  And with the recent release of Punch-Out!!, they proved that age old gameplay can still be extremely fun and rewarding even on today’s hardware.  If there is no technical limitations to a light gun game, then I say we go hunt us some ducks!

10. Shenmue
    
    

    Steven Segal is…the Cockpuncher!Yu Suzuki imagined this tale of a young man in search of answers around the mystery surrounding the murder of his father to at least a three part saga.  But because of the premature death of the Dreamcast, lackluster reception of the title after being ported to the Xbox, the story ended with part two in a cliffhanger that only Suzuki has the resolution to.  Shenmue was ahead of its time in many aspects.  It was the first open world RPG that had randomly generated weather effects, a night/day cycle that required life management (sleeping and eating), and it was also one of the first games to employ Quick Time Events during battles (made famous again by games such as God of War).  The game also had a $70 million budget, unheard of for a video game at the time, but it didn’t sell enough to break even for Sega.  Being such a pioneer in RPG and for breaking out of the mold which still defines JRPGs today, Shenmue desperately deserves a remake.

    Developer Choice: Bioware
    
    Reason: Undoubtedly, Bioware’s penchant for sprawling RPGs must have had some influence by Suzuki’s masterpiece.  With its numerous takes on RPGs ranging from fantasy to science fiction, Bioware singlehandedly invented the “Western RPG” genre.  Shenmue would be a perfect fit for Bioware to mold the title into a series.  Its take on the genre with Mass Effect, blending action and RPG elements together around a facinate story is only a glimmer of what possibilities may be with a Bioware Shenmue.  This will never happen but I can always dream!

There you have it.  A list of ten games from multiple genres that all deserve a remake or a reboot of some sort.  These choices reflect what I can remember playing while growing up in North America.  There are too many excellent games that have been made in the last 20 years to include in a top ten list but if there’s anything you believe desperatly needs a remake/reboot, then please let us know and leave us a comment!  Until this dream-list gets realized, enjoy the games you play today because they might just be “classics” one day!