Let’s face it- game developers have to manage a tough situation. While the need to share their art and experiences is always the most important thing, making money also plays a role. That’s the reason why the industry is flooded with sequels. However, as we all know, not all sequels are created equal.
In this exclusive Old School Gamer list, we share five game franchises that desperately need sequels.
Berzerk/Frenzy: Back when Alan McNeil captivated the world with Berzerk, the core gameplay was what made it so special. Imagine if McNeil was able to craft a story around a game that at one time, was the king of the arcades?
A Dennis Dyack-run production of Blood Omen: Everyone knows the story behind the original Blood Omen and what happened to the series after Dennis Dyack left. The series of sequels were fun and the franchise thrived financially, but they were never, ever even close to having the narrative and tone that Dyack and his team had in the original. It would be wonderful to see what that team could do with new technology.
Dark Cloud: Dark Cloud 2 stands as one of the PS2’s greatest RPGs. While Rogue Galaxy was a special game in itself, designed by essentially the same team, why hasn’t there been a sequel to Dark Cloud?
Rockstar Games Presents: Table Tennis: One of the best sports games ever and Rockstar’s first game on the 360, Table Tennis is still played to this day. So why not release a sequel?
Yars’ Revenge: Arguably the best original game on the Atari 2600, Yar’s Revenge remains as a classic that is beloved by fans. The Nintendo Switch would be a perfect console to explain the backstory and develop the wonderful shooting action further. While there are other versions of the game and “sequels” out there, lets set the record straight. No Yars’ game is a Yars’ game without Howard Scott Warshaw’s involvement.
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Patrick Hickey Jr. is the author of the book, “The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Video Game Developers,” from McFarland And Company. Featuring interviews with the creators of 36 popular video games–including Deus Ex, NHLPA 93, Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Wasteland and NBA Jam–the book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega-publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming’s classic titles.
Patrick Hickey, Jr., is the founder and editor-in-chief of ReviewFix.com and a lecturer of English and journalism at Kingsborough Community College, in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past decade, his video game coverage has been featured in national ad campaigns by top publishers the likes of Nintendo, Deep Silver, Disney and EA Sports. His book series, "The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult and Classic Game Developers," from McFarland and Company, has earned praise from Forbes, Huffington Post, The New York Daily News and MSG Networks. He is also a former editor at NBC and National Video Games Writer at the late-Examiner.com
