Franchises that need to take a long vacation?

[ChrisBardon]

I finally got around to finishing Splinter Cell DA this weekend, and while it was certainly a decent game that did a good job revitalizing bits of the series, the gameplay was really starting to get a little long in the tooth. Taking away your gadgets/weapons in some of the levels was a great idea, but the core sneaking mechanics haven't really changed all that much since the first game. This got me thinking that the best thing for Splinter Cell would be for it to take a good long vacation (3-5 years). Not only would this mean that new game mechanics could be developed, but that even the old ones might seem fresher due to the lack of overexposure.

 

This got me thinking about franchises that did it right, and Prince of Persia and Ninja Gaiden. Sands of Time was the first POP game in a long time, and it managed to take everything we remembered about the original and bring it into the modern age. Had there been many iterations in between, it might not have been near as impactful. The same goes for Ninja Gaiden-having a long break between Ninja Gaiden 3 and the Xbox version meant that the stage was set to completely reinvent the IP with a quantum leap forward.

 

Any other franchises you can think of that you need a break from? Castlevania also comes to mind-SoTN was fantastic, then the first GBA one was a great follow up (it looked like it'd be SoTN on GBA), but then the plethora of follow ups that haven't done much differently have sort of diluted the experience.

[Ricky G]

Madden. That game needs a new graphics engine badly. NFL2k5 looked much better. You can argue the core gameplay forever, but most people feel that the 2K series looked and "felt" better.

[JFo]

Duke Nukem.

[PackFan]

Madden will never take a break as long as they are making the money that they are...

 

But you're right.

[Bruce B]

Madden. That game needs a new graphics engine badly. NFL2k5 looked much better. You can argue the core gameplay forever, but most people feel that the 2K series looked and "felt" better.

 

Ricky(happy birthday by the way you are one month older than me!), I couldnt disagree more. I bet Dean and I have played 40 games of Madden and we still see animations we havent seen before. The game looks stunning and the AI is 100 times better.

[EnemaEms]

Madden. That game needs a new graphics engine badly. NFL2k5 looked much better. You can argue the core gameplay forever, but most people feel that the 2K series looked and "felt" better.

:rotflmao

 

Oh man, that is rich. I am done arguing about a game that is 3 years old especially talking about a graphics engine.

 

-Dean-

[Bruce B]

To me this years Madden is simply the best football game ever made. Its bulletproof.

[Romier S]

I am done arguing about a game that is 3 years old especially talking about a graphics engine.

Then don't. Disagree with it as Bruce has above and leave it at that. I'm not sure why anything needs to be argued about. If you enjoy Madden then what's left to say? That's an entirely fair opinion that not everyone is going to share. The NFL2k series is one that many folks enjoyed. Including yourself mind you, as I plainly remember a time when you outright refused to touch a Madden game and commented as much to me online. (you know during one of those matches where you kicked my butt:furious ). Things change. As do peoples' tastes.

 

Regardless, the topic of the thread is to discuss franchises that folks feel need to take a break. Feel free to disagree but I'd like to make sure we have some variety in here and I definitely would hate to seethis turned into a referendum on which football franchise is best (save that for when 2K8 releases gentleman;)).

[Romier S]

Castlevania also comes to mind

As one of the more loyal Castlevania devotees on the forum even I have to agree with this. Portrait of Ruin was a disappointment for me and the entire metroidvania formula has run its course. I'd like to see a return to the old level based structure. Even better I'd love to see someone worth a damn take thier shot at a good 3D Castlevania title. God of War and Devil May Cry have done a great job in providing Konami with at least a blue print of what to do. I wouldn't even mind if they stole wholesale from both those titles as long as they kick out something half decent.

 

That having been said, I am very much looking forward to Dracula X on the PSP. Rondo is one of my old school favorites and Symphony will always be a classic IMO.

[Parrish]

Sonic - at least until the folks at Sega remember why Sonic was fun originally.

[Sparkz]

Pokemon.

 

I'll admit I never played a game or collected the cards, so I don't know if these are fun games or not. I just feel as if there are always new Pokemon games coming out. I'm sure there will be one for the Wii before Mario and Metroid.

 

If I had to catch them all, I would probably be broke by now.

[Bruce B]

:rotflmao

 

Oh man, that is rich. I am done arguing about a game that is 3 years old especially talking about a graphics engine.

 

-Dean-

 

:ban :ban

 

Ridge Racer. Enough!

[exile]

Madden.

 

I much much much preferred the 2k system. 2k felt like a sim, Madden feels like an arcade game.

[Magness]

I think the fantasy RPG is getting a little stale lately... No particular title in mind and to be fair there are some that change the formula enough to feel fresh but, I could use a break from fantasy themed RPG's for a while. How about more Sci-Fi or alternate timeline RPG's or something other than D&D type swords and sorcery. Just my opinion...

[Bruce B]

Madden.

 

I much much much preferred the 2k system. 2k felt like a sim, Madden feels like an arcade game.

 

Please be more specific. How is it arcade? In sports arcade games the players are able to do things that a regular player really cant do.

I adored the 2k series. I mean addicted! But its almost like eating chicken. Chicken is good, but then someone introduces you to steak. Madden is steak, 2k was chicken. Again I believe a lot of you are victims of revisionist history. In 2k you could sub your punter in for the kicker on kickoff, do an onside kick, and get the ball EVERY time. Thats a sim??????

[Chris The Rock]

Starcraft.

 

Oh, wait - they are on vacation.

[Chris The Rock]

Please be more specific. Again I believe a lot of you are victims of revisionist history. In 2k you could sub your punter in for the kicker on kickoff, do an onside kick, and get the ball EVERY time. Thats a sim??????

 

I never thought I'd agree with this, being a hardcore 2K fan back in the day, but I do. I hope that while 2K sports has been on their long vacation, they've come up with some great stuff for us.

 

Seriously, how about a re-launch of Ratchet And Clank in a few years? Have they done anything new with that series since the first one? (Don't get me wrong, they're great games, but it'd be cool to see it completely re-vamped.)

[foogledricks]

Zelda and Metroid

 

I am 90% sure there is a manual for making a Zelda or Metroid game sitting on a shelf at Nintendo that they give to whomever the producer of the next game will be. Step 1, Step 2, Step 3. It's almost like Zelda and Metroid are their own genre with all the conventions they use.

 

I loved Metroid Prime, LOVED IT ! ...but Prime 2 coming so closely after, and being so similar, despite both being excellent games, have me less than excited about Prime 3. The only thing that has got my ear open is the fact that the controls are going to be reinvented somewhat... but if its not more than just laserpointer wiimote control, then I may opt out.

 

I loved OOT. Loved it . But Zelda is so obviously needing of a break and a rethinking. The conventions are so engrained in my head, that despite it being great every time, it feels so familiar an unegaging because of it. For this reason I think they should take a break, and rethink the approach of the game.

[EnemaEms]

If you think 2K5's graphics are better than the Next Gen Madden's please get your eyes checked. Gameplay wise I am with Bruce. Yes, I did say I liked 2K better than Madden back in the day and 2K did play a btter game....then. I still played Madden every year because all my friends did and We play 2 player locally. This years game, especially the PS3 version proved that EA can still make a great game of football. I will be more than happy to try out 2K8, but without an NFL license, I could really care less. If 2K was able to fix the bugs (and there were a lot of them), more power to them, but lets be honest, the game is going to be a gigantic failure financially. No NFL license means no sales.

 

As far as the topic at hand goes, Need For Speed. Between all the shit sequels, you get a real fun game like Most Wanted and then they go back to the turds. Jak and Daxter also needs a break. 1 and 3 were good (3 being my favorite) 2 was bad and Jak X was not fun at all. Mortal kombat is my final one. They will neve rmake a game better than 2 and 3, so please, put the fighting game to sleep. I'd rather them focus on the Shaolin Monk series, that game was fun...crappy load times, but fun.

 

-Dean-

[Camp]

Sonic - at least until the folks at Sega remember why Sonic was fun originally.

 

Best answer in this thread!

 

Ridge Racer. Enough!

 

The other best answer in this thread! er...

 

And...I hate to do this but I have to agree, in part, with Keith. I don't hate that I'm agreeing with Keith, I hate that I think Zelda has lost its mojo.

 

Not so much "lost it" as that would imply Twilight Princess lacks the soul of a Zelda game. It certainly still has the soul. My problem with Twilight is how similar it plays (mechanically, and stylistically) with the N64 Zeldas. It was less of a new game and more of a new episode. I realize that's part of the goal with Zelda games but Nintendo could at least infuse the series with modern production values. Drop the horribly amatuer editing in cut scenes, at least try to catch up with the rest of the industry in terms of storytelling, and give me voice acting damnit!! The nostalgia is great for die hard Zelda fans but Twilight just didn't capture me at any point.

[SCREWNUT]

hmmmm.....This is a good thread topic, yet also one that could cause some problems because there's some nice games that I like and yes I know they need to be retired but it's so hard to let go of a good thing!

 

So here's some franchises that come to mind.....

 

1. Bomberman. Enough. End it please. They've taken a game that use to be an awesome party game and have drained every ounce of fun out of it for profit. It's now like a lame horse. It's time to be made into glue.

 

2. Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tekken etc. There's no new variety in these games anymore. Sure they add some new players, but usually at the cost of some of my favourite fighters. The Mortal Kombat crew is really guilty. I loved Armageddon at first but boy was I unhappy when I found out that they removed all of the characters special fatalities and instead added a bland combo system. What good is reptile if you can't kill your opponent with his acid finisher or Rayden's shocking end. Sad. Just sad. I foolishly thought they were going to end the series but noooooooooo. They leave a loop hole so that they can keep this poor sick person alive. Come on Midway. Pull the plug. It's time to "FINISH HIM!"

 

finally...one of my personal favourites.

 

Resident Evil. I loved them all. I loved the feel of Resident Evil 4! Best Resident Evil of all time. But come on guys! How much money does Umbrella have? Resident Evil four you guys say there done. Gone. Destroyed. But the ending clearly shows that they are far from finished. I feel like my neices kids will be playing "Resident Evil 25 years later". I would like to live to see what and why Albert Wesker eyes glow red and he moves faster then neo in the matrix. Please finish this storyline!!

 

Which brings me to the final game. Command and Conquer 3: Tiberian Wars. My complaints are the same as the resident evil franchise. Please end the storyline soon. Tell me what the hell Tiberian will do to us. How does Kane keep living?! And you need to change....please change. Not just talking about cool new toys and buildings but change the way you play or something. Take away the advance graphics and new toys and you basically stuck playing with Command & Conquer one.

 

 

Runner Up: Dynasty Warriors Series. What are we up to? 7, 8, I can't remember. I love this series but I usually only buy it once for a system and then ignore the extreme editions. Seriously Koei. Your on notice. How do you get away marketing the same game with the same storyline, with the same heroes and moderate graphic updates and find people like me who will buy it. I'm ashamed of myself.

[Cyberwoo]

I've never played one of the games but I'm pretty damn sure the gaming world could do without another Big Mutha Truckers game.

 

Also I wouldn't cry if the following franchises fell off the face of the earth never to be heard from again:

 

*Mortal Kombat

*Final Fantasy

*Star Trek

*Star Wars

*Grand Theft Auto

[ChrisBardon]

good point about Metroid-I think one of the things that made Prime so great was the fact that it'd been so long since Super Metroid came out that we were all ready for a game that fit the old formula again. I had a hard time with MP2 at some points though, because it was just more of the same. Yes, there were a couple of changes to the gameplay with the light/dark world stuff, and it certainly wasn't a bad game, but it just wasn't the same as Prime 1.

 

There are also lessons to be learned from Zelda, since the N64 Zeldas showed how to do a sequel right. OoT was fantastic, but Majora took the same engine and a lot of the same mechanics, but delivered a game that felt markedly different from its predecessor. I could go back and play either Ocarina or Majora, but I'd probably leave prime 1 or 2 to a coin toss given a choice. Yes, TP played like a rehashed Ocarina and I enjoyed it, but unless they're going to branch off in some new direction like they did with Majora (Phantom Hourglass could help the case) another 5 or 6 year wait for a new Zelda game wouldn't necessarily be a terrible idea.

[dogbert]

I've never played one of the games but I'm pretty damn sure the gaming world could do without another Big Mutha Truckers game.

 

I'm one of the freaks who got pleasure out of the first BMT game There's a fun game hidden inside it, but obvious budget constraints hampered its quality.

[marsrunner]

Well, I can't really agree about Zelda, Metroid or Final Fantasy. I'll take the "same old same old" those series give me anyday, as I know they'll be good, possibly even great games. Especially Final Fantasy, because if you like the series, each game is different enough to me to be enjoyable. Final Fantasy XII especially so. It took many of the cliches of the series and either got rid of it or did something completely new with it.

random battles: gone

boring repetitive leveling up: more automatic, less painful

syrupy love story: gone

psycho bad guy intent on destroying the world: gone

Also, in the past for me anyway, the game was not very hard except for one or two bonus bosses and occasionally the end boss. The difficulty level on this game was better, as bosses for the most part were challenging all the way through, and there were LOTS of sidequests to do with bosses and even normal monsters that were really difficult. As long as they reinvent the series every now and then (not even every game) Final Fantasy still remains a vibrant series for me.

 

Ones that need to go:

Mortal Kombat (even though I bought and played Armageddon...Deception was pretty good, but Armageddon is back to more of the same that has plagued this series since Mortal Kombat 2)

Castlevania (loved Symphony of the Night as its one of my favorite games, but they are very repetitive now)

Dead or Alive (one of my favorite series, but honestly not much has changed since 2, they could learn a lesson from themselves and Ninja Gaiden)