Uncharted
The Naughty Dog-developed series has garnered a cult-like following since its first game was released in 2007. When Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was announced, Naughty Dog made it clear that this would be their last time leading the development of a game in the Uncharted series. The developers also made it clear that it would be the last time players would see Nathan Drake starring in a new title. Neither of those things mean the Uncharted series as a whole has to (or should) come to an end. In fact, Naughty Dog even admitted that they would be happy to welcome an Uncharted 5.
“If [new developers] made a great game I’d be excited… I’d want to play an Uncharted I didn’t work on,” creative director Neil Druckmann told GamesRadar. “It’d be a lot of fun.” He went on to say that Naughty Dog would still want to be involved with the fifth’s game creation since they were the ones that brought the series to life. So while there is no Uncharted 5 in the works just yet, it’s clear that Naughty Dog hasn’t ruled it out nor are they against it.
Killzone
Killzone was the PlayStation 2’s flagship first person shooter, and it started out as a pretty mediocre experience. Over time, however, it evolved into a more dynamic game that Guerilla Games could be proud of. By the time the third game in the series, Shadow Fall, was released it became clear that the developers were taking criticism seriously. The game started to take major steps away from a strictly linear gameplay experience and implemented a ton of new features that gave the franchise new life. Killzone was truly an example of a series that only seemed to get better with time. For that very reason, it would be absolutely fascinating to see what a new Killzone title would bring to the table roughly four years since the last main title was released, and especially following the studio’s work on Horizon Zero Dawn.
Twisted Metal
The entire Twisted Metal series is still considered a collection of some of the best car combat games of their time. The franchise had an undeniably dark entertainment value to it, featuring serious levels of gore, a psycho clown, and the scariest ice cream truck in existence. But hey, fun is fun, and the majority of the Twisted Metal games were just plain fun. It’s really that simple.
Looking back on the franchise, however, it’s clear that the graphics were less than impressive and gameplay could definitely receive a much needed boost. That’s all the more reason why Twisted Metal deserves another main title. Imagine wreaking havoc in a more beautifully crafted world with new quirky vehicles and playable characters that are even more delightfully twisted than the ones of the past.
Infamous
The entire Infamous series was a pretty solid experience with its second title, Infamous 2, standing out the most among the main titles in the franchise. The Infamous franchise had a lot to offer in terms of sandbox gameplay and was incredibly successful in its attempt to make players feel like decisions made within the game actually mattered. There was no handholding here and nothing forcing you to be good or bad. Who exactly Cole MacGrath turned out to be was completely up to your own moral compass.
Second Son introduced a new protagonist, but kept much of the game’s original appeal. Every addition to the series added a new main character that was complex, intriguing and easily coerced players into learning more about them. The main series hasn’t seen a new game in more than two years but with character development being a clear strongpoint for this franchise, there are more than enough narrative angles left open for Sucker Punch to explore in a new title.
Jak and Daxter
Jak and Daxter doesn’t get nearly as much love as Ratchet and Clank, but this duo certainly deserves just as much praise and critical acclaim. This was the first series that really allowed Naughty Dog to show off their prowess when it comes to storytelling and character development.
Jak and Daxter often felt like a series that was ahead of its time in many ways. Whether it was the beauty of the world you were engulfed in or the surprisingly smooth gameplay experience that made other games of the time feel extremely clunky by comparison, this Sony franchise never failed to deliver. While it’s extremely unlikely that Naughty Dog would revisit the series anytime soon, one can only hope to see this iconic video game duo brought back to life.
Resistance
All of the online servers for the Resistance games are long gone, but it would be a particularly special treat to see the title make a return. Earlier Resistance games had more of a military-style backbone to them while featuring alien-like enemies. The third title, however, definitely took a more survival horror game approach. Quite frankly, both seemed to work just fine, although differences between each of the titles created quite a stir among fans during the game’s prime. Either way, the Resistance franchise was one that just looked good and excelled at creating some truly captivating and horrifying bosses. A fresh take on the franchise could be yet another huge success if Insomniac delivers more solid bosses, great maps, an engaging narrative, and a buff to the multiplayer experience.
Ape Escape
Ape Escape first came to PlayStation back in 1999 and, let’s be honest, it just never stopped being fun. There was something surprisingly entertaining and rewarding about figuring out how to outsmart those clever little primates. As simple as the concept may have seemed, it was fun enough to keep the series alive through two sequels. The introduction of different gadgets, playable characters, and new environments to traverse kept Ape Escape entertaining throughout each new title. You can’t help but be curious about what kind of challenges an Ape Escape 4 would introduce.
If the rumor mill has any validity to it, this is an idea that Sony has pondered on as well. There has been a ton of speculation that Sony could be releasing a fourth main title for the Ape Escape franchise, but these past 12 years have been filled with a lot of disappointment and false alarms so far.
PaRappa the Rapper
Getting a remastered version of PaRappa the Rapper is exciting news, but that doesn’t fill the hole in our hearts that would love to see a third new title released for this one of a kind rhythm game. This is easily one of the most beloved rhythm games of its time and one of the only titles to truly tap into the appeal of classic hip hop and reggae sounds. Not only that, but this is one classic game that refuses to take itself seriously.
That’s where the real fun lies. Can you imagine a new addition to the PaRappa the Rapper franchise that allows you to “kick, punch” because “it’s all in the mind” all while combining the best of classic hip hop sounds and more current instrumentals? PaRappa the Rapper is simple, pure fun that deserves to reimagined for a new addition to the series.
Crash Bandicoot
This is yet another title that is getting a remastered version this year, and yet we still want more. Playing through the classic Crash Bandicoot experience with better visuals and performance will be a blast. It will take many gamers into the deepest part of memory lane, but long time fans of the series will still want something new. Sony’s downright kooky iconic character deserves new levels, new villains and some new companions that reimagine the lighthearted fun of the franchise. Not to mention the true potential of online gaming has been unlocked since the last time a new main Crash Bandicoot title was released back in 1998. The party and racing games that were released later could also receive a modern makeover.
Little Big Planet
Before you start any eye rolling and teeth sucking, hear me out on this one. There is no denying that Little Big Planet 3 suffered from some rather frustrating bugs and unfortunate issues with online play. That said, however, the original concept behind Little Big Planet was unique and surprisingly entertaining. Little Big Planet 3 was released in 2014 but a PS4 version of the game was released for free in February. For some, it sparked hope that maybe Sony would grant them their wishes of a Little Big Planet 4 that addressed all the bugs that plagued the third game. Fingers crossed that a fourth title would be developed by Media Molecule, who developed the first two titles, rather than Sumo Digital, who took over development of the third game.
Published: Mar 21, 2017 04:11 pm