25 Sega Franchises We Want To See Revisited
Sonic still gets love, but Sega's got a catalog of classics waiting for a new chapter.
Image via Complex Original
INTRO
When it comes to our favorite hobby, it's amazing that Sega's responsible for so much greatness. Many of us feuded with our Nintendo buds over which system had better content and a cooler mascot. Sadly, Sega has been out of the hardware game for a long time.
After conducting some light R&D on the amount of awesome franchises Sega created (translation: we looked up “List of Sega video game franchises" on Wikipedia), we were surprised by how many titles we hadn't seen in a while. Usually Sonic (hedge)hogs all the Sega love, but this one time we're spreading that love to some other old favorites. Enjoy.
25 Sega franchises we want to see revisited...
RELATED: The 50 Best Dreamcast Games Ever Made
RELATED: The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games Ever Made
Fantasy Zone
25. Fantasy Zone
First Release: Fantasy Zone (1986, Arcade)
Last Release: Super Fantasy Zone (1992, Sega Mega Drive)
How trippy is this thing? Kids must have copped a super high off this game when they hit up the movie theaters and took it for a ride. Yeah, that was us.
This lil' side-scrolling shooter stars another one of Sega's mascots, Opa Opa. The main attraction here is the Lite-Brite presentation and the oh-so-cute carnage. This game could get a simple HD revival that's perfect for PSN and XBLA. Give us more weapons, let us customize Opa Opa (IT'S SO DARN CUTE!), and give us some online co-op.
Two Opa-Opa's are better than one.
Space Harrier
24. Space Harrier
First Release: Space Harrier (1985, Arcade)
Last Release: Planet Harriers (2000, Arcade)
This Sega franchise makes us think the developers delved into some magically baked goods. So there are a lot of reasons to love it...
This third-person, on-rails shooter takes us back to the Fantasy Zone. What do we get to shoot into oblivion this time? Dragons, aliens, one-eyed prehistoric animals and all types of other ill shit!
Yo Sega, we smell another HD re-release or sequel job. Multiplayer, weirder things to shoot and new plasma to unload on some fools?
Check, check and check, son.
Altered Beast
23. Altered Beast
First Release: Altered Beast (1988, Arcade/Sega Mega Drive)
Last Release: Project Altered Beast (2005, Playstation 2)
RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE! This beastly beat-em up wowed us back in the arcade days. It was oodles of fun to hang in graveyards and kick off zombie heads field-goal style. And when we got three orbs in our warrior, we transformed on these ho's! Werewolves, dragons, grizzly bears… OH MY!
We need this game brought back for this generation. Japan got a taste of what a modern Altered Beast could be on the PS2 so now it's time we Americans got a stab at it.
Make the battlefields larger and we will wreak havoc on our enemies. No orbs for animal transformations this time. One button press shall do if we feel like goin' beast mode. Sound good, Sega?
Bonanza Bros.
22. Bonanza Bros.
First Release: Bonanza Bros. (1990, Arcade)
Last Release: Puzzle & Action: Treasure Hunt (1996, Sega Saturn)
In our younger days, we preferred to be the robbers when our friends opted to be cops. Sega must have picked up on our hunger for criminal activity 'cause this game let us rob people blind.
Bonanza Bros. was a dope 2-player game that mixed elements of stealth, action and co-op gameplay. Sega was ahead of the curve with this one. We had a blast with the thieving brothers. Loot this, loot that, shoot that guy, get to the roof, hop on that blimp and win!
Imagine how much more awesome this game would be with an HD re-release? Keep the animation style but spruce up the graphics a bit. Keep the same concept, add on online co-op, present us with some new places to jack and VOILA!
Los Hermanos Bonanza are back in business.
Burning Rangers
21. Burning Rangers
First Release: Burning Rangers (1998, Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Burning Rangers (1998, Sega Saturn)
Only the most hardcore of the hardcore know about this one. The Sega Saturn had a bunch of underrated and sleeper games during its lifespan. Burning Rangers is one of them. The game let you take hold of several futuristic firefighters and dous flames, boost through burning buildings and save would-be victims.
Now that's a game we could see reborn for this day and age. A firefighting game with anime archetypes would attract a few gamers in downloadable game form. A graphical upgrade backed by new firefighters, new methods of extinguishing fires and multiplayer would do the trick.
Throw in some new jet thrusters and offbeat boss fights and we're sold instantly.
Virtual On
20. Virtual On
First Release: Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Operation Moongate (1995, Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz (2003, Playstation 2)
Robots blasting each other to bits? Sounds like Armored Core, right? Yeah, sure. But Sega took care of our Transformers fix when this dropped in the arcades. Fighting games were a dime a dozen back in the day, but this one stood out among the also-ran's. One big battlefield, two robo-battler's and plenty of carnage. It was a recipe for greatness cooked up by Virtual On.
Since fighting games are back in the forefront these days, how about a new entry in this robotic beat-down series. We imagine a Zone of the Enders-style anime entry with our favorite bots and plenty of new weapons. Give us some four-player battles too, Sega.
Damn, this sounds fun!
Space Channel 5
19. Space Channel 5
First Release: Space Channel 5 (1999, Dreamcast)
Last Release: Space Channel 5: Part 2 (2002, Dreamcast/Playstation 2)
Lady Ulala! We missed you so. This Dreamcast series was a trip. Space News Reporter Ulala was tasked with saving the universe from aliens. How did she drive back these extraterrestrial beings? Through dancing... and with Michael Jackson as a sidekick. Yep, no lie. We were tasked with memorizing dance moves that led to blasting aliens out of the solar system.
Since motion controls have prompted a rebirth of dancing games, we have a hunch this game would be a hit with today's casual audience. Ulala's an awesome character so there's your cover girl! Keep the same basic mechanics, add in a freestyle mode, motion controls and multiplayer then BAM! Don't stop 'til you get enough!
You're welcome, Sega.
Dynamite Cop
18. Dynamite Cop
First Release: Dynamite Deka/Die Hard Arcade (1997, Arcade/Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Dynamite Cop (1998, Arcade/Dreamcast)
Another Dreamcast goodie, y'all! Dynamite Cop hearkened back to the days of Die Hard Arcade (another ill game, BTW), which let you bash in terrorists' faces all over the world. We utilized our world protectors to dropkick dudes during QTE's and back-fist our enemies in restaurant kitchens. Two Dreamcast controllers with this bad boy on a dull Saturday? Heaven.
Now Sega, we totally understand the whole Die Hard license situation. That's how we got this game in the first place. But Dynamite beatdowns in HD would make our day, so it's time to dust off this IP. Clean up those graphics, keep the co-op local and online and just give us more weapons to bug out with. Vehicle sections wouldn't hurt, either. A tank, maybe?
Gain Ground
17. Gain Ground
First Release: Gain Ground (1988, Arcade)
Last Release: Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 9: Gain Ground (2004, Playstation 2)
Here's a game most new gamers don't know much about. Gain Ground was a spiffy little top-down action game that dropped in 1988. The game: Pick from an assortment of 20 armed characters, shoot down all your enemies or reach the exit before time ran out to complete the level.
When Sega reintroduced this joint in 2009 on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, our girlfriends were unpleasantly surprised at how addictive this thing was. Three-way cop-op meant plenty of good times blasting baddies with our friends. It got us thinking: This would sell like hotcakes on PSN and XBLA! Keep the top-down perspective, make it 4-way co-op this time, introduce 20 more killers and away we go. Some tower defense elements wouldn't hurt.
The concept for greatness is here, Sega. Bring this shooter back from the dead!
Ristar
16. Ristar
First Release: Ristar (1995, Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Ristar (1995, Game Gear)
We think Sonic Team needs to take a break on our hedgehog buddy and get back to Ristar. This platformer starred lil' Ristar, who had stretchy arms and a whole lotta personality to match. Dude was shaped like a star, people. Hence the silly name. So simple in concept, yet so complex in when it came time to play the game.
Ristar had a pair of super stretchy arms that let you propel him all over the place and bounce off nearby platforms. Once he got those arms around an enemy, he'd stretch himself out and murder dudes with some sickening headbutts. Oh, so now you're intrigued?
Sonic Team, listen to this: make a new entry for Ristar. Keep it 2D, let the side-scrolling stay intact, make the lil' dude move a bit faster, and introduce more characters for co-op play.
And with that, we just brought Ristar back into the public gamers' eye. Your move, Sega.
NiGHTS
15. NiGHTS
First Release: NiGHTS into DREAMS... (1996, Sega Saturn)
Last Release: NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (2007, Wii)
Yeah, we hear what you're saying: There was a Wii rendition of this beloved franchise. But as far as we're concerned, that game never existed. Something about it just felt wrong. But when it hit the Saturn... we fell in love. Gifted with the ability of free form flight, you could do the prettiest loop de loops with your swagged out Nightmaren.
The graphics were beautiful, the music was calming and the character design was appealing. Ever since we saw what good developers could do with the Kinect (Child of Eden, people), we thought this series would turn out great with Microsoft's fancy doo-dad.
We don't know how Sega and its Sonic Team could replicate the complete NiGHTS experience sans controller, but we trust they can find a way. So what if we want to explore our dreams again. There won't be pills this time.
Eternal Champions
14. Eternal Champions
First Release: Eternal Champions (1993, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (1995, Sega CD)
Fighting games are like, what…THE GREATEST THING EVER NOW? Yep, and it's time a few classics get reborn before the genre takes another long hiatus. Eternal Champions needs to be brought back and it needs to be brought back now!
Most people remember the cover of the game, which happened to have a super swoll version of Geordi La Forge (Star Trek reference, yeah!). The game's cast of female assassins, beastmen and gladiators was so offbeat, it made them more awesome. The fighting was nothing special but with today's fighting game mechanics, we see this series getting a major overhaul in the fisticuffs department.
And those “Overkills?” Make 'em as gruesome as the fatalities in the last Mortal Kombat. Imagine that drive-by in an HD sheen. Nice…
Kid Chameleon
13. Kid Chameleon
First Release: Kid Chameleon (1992, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Kid Chameleon (1992, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
We wanna be this kid soooooooooooo bad. Anybody who enters a video game world to save the neighborhood kids is an automatic G. Kid Chameleon had you jumping to and fro, picking up masks that gave you different abilities. Red Stealth let you get all samurai on fools.
This platformer is ripe for a sequel. The platforming can get better and any new masks would mean even more abilities to equip. We'd like to see the graphics get a cartoon sheen with plenty of wild locales to showcase the graphics.
And those 103 levels in the original? Keep 'em in and give us a level editor while you're at it.
Golden Axe
12. Golden Axe
First Release: Golden Axe (1989, Arcade/Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Golden Axe: Beast Rider (2008, Xbox 360/Playstation 3)
We will not speak of that blasphemous Beast Rider BS that came out in 2008. That sucked beyond measure. We're thirsty for a return to the side-scrolling glory days of this once great franchise.
With all the fantasy-helmed beat-em-ups out nowadays, Golden Axe needs to show 'em how it's done. Make every character from every past entry playable (dibs on the axe-wielding dwarf!), add on 4-player co-op, and bless it with new spells. Matter of fact, add in the ability to combine spells with your buddies' playing alongside you.
Now go enjoy the fireworks, my fellow warriors.
Daytona USA
11. Daytona USA
First Release: Daytona USA (1994, Arcade/Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge (1998, Arcade)
DAYTONA! Oh how we missed thee! When the original was re-released on PSN and XBLA last year, we lost our shit! This is the OG of arcade racing games from back in the day. It was an awesome sight to see more than 3 people sitting next to each other racing their own Daytona chairs.
Sega, don't put a new Daytona on consoles. Here us out! We're sure the Dave & Busters crowd would love another racing game cabinet. Why not offer the arcade crowd another one of our favorite racers? Clean those graphics up, add on more addictive songs, offer more than three stages, and that's that.
10 players racing simultaneously on a Daytona arcade cabinet? It's time for this racer to be reborn.
Comix Zone
10. Comix Zone
First Release: Comix Zone (1995, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Comix Zone (1995, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
*Elvis Presley impersonator voice* SEYYYYYGA...Remember that intro? Of course you do. That voice meant that you loaded up that Comix Zone cartridge. We loved the concept of this game when it dropped in '95. We played it for hours. Sketch got trapped inside his own comic book and was forced to combat baddies while talking in dialogue bubbles.
The whole “move from comic panel to comic panel” transportation method was so cool. And we always kept our pet rat in tow. Fools didn't wanna get touched by our lil' dirty sidekick. We could totally see a second entry for this dope beat 'em up. An HD remake or cel-shaded remix would make our day.
You should be able to play with another “starving artist” alongside Sketch and enjoy the game in a 2-player fashion, too. It's time to uppercut some sewer ninjas, son.
Fighting Vipers
9. Fighting Vipers
First Release: Fighting Vipers (1995, Arcade/Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Fighting Vipers 2 (2001, Dreamcast)
Virtua Fighter has gotten more than enough love, while Fighting Vipers hasn't gotten any. This fighting game featured some armor wearing badasses with plenty of time to kill. Our favorite feature of the game? Ending the last battle by epically knocking someone out of the caged arena.
Now we're ready to score some cage knockouts once more with another sequel. We imagine the game looking real perty in HD with the play and feel of modern Virtua Fighter. We'd like to see some more punk rockers and skateboard thrashers added to the mix, too. Tag team gameplay? Why not?
One more thing: Keep the whole “armor comes off the more you get beat up” mechanic. Real-time damage with today's graphics? Effin' incredible.
Fighters Megamix
8. Fighters Megamix
First Release: Fighters Megamix (1996, Sega Saturn)
Last Release: Fighters Megamix (1996, Sega Saturn)
Man, we just realized how many fighting franchises Sega has in the chamber. Since fighting game crossovers/character battle royals are still in these days, it's about time for another Fighters Megamix.
The first one had everyone from Virtua Fighter to Virtua Cop kicking and punching in 3D. Ever since that '90s release, Sega has added a plethora of new franchise characters that are ripe for this type of game. How about a new entry featuring even more of the greatest Sega icons?
Add on Bayonetta, the dude from Vanquish, Kazuma Kiryu from the Yakuza series, and anybody from Valkyria Chronicles. Keep the former cast (except those Sonic and Virtua Kid fighters) and add on some tag-team gameplay. Now that would put Nintendo and Super Smash Bros. on notice.
Skies of Arcadia
7. Skies of Arcadia
First Release: Skies of Arcadia (2000, Dreamcast)
Last Release: Skies of Arcadia Legends (2002, GameCube)
This cult classic makes another case for the Dreamcast being the most underrated console ever. Skies of Arcadia was a dope Japanese RPG that featured pirates, magic and ship combat. The anime-styled graphics sucked you into a living, breathing pirate saga that you could actually control.
Vyse, it's about time we saw you and your motley crew of female pirates make a comeback. Japanese RPG's aren't exactly the bee's knees anymore, but this series could inject some excitement back into the genre.
More pirates, more ship battles, noticeable gear changes, more booty to steal, and an overall upgrade in the graphics and questing departments would do the trick. An epic sequel to an awesome franchise.
Vectorman
6. Vectorman
First Release: Vectorman (1995, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: Vectorman 2 (1996, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Where the hell has this guy been hiding? The green robo-master with balls for arms and legs had two awesome games back in the Genesis days. We jumped, we shot, we rocket boosted and we hit our peace sign after boss fights with ol' Vector in tow. Ever since those two games, he's been sent to the scrap heap.
Let's forget that cancelled PS2 revival (which looked like crap, by all accounts). A new Vectorman for today's audience would be the ish. Keep the club-hop soundtrack, make the game a third-person shooter affair, and add on new side-scrolling and air combat levels for good measure.
Man, our dreams are still haunted by that train rail boss level from the first release. We imagine that would look mighty healthy on our PS3s and Xbox 360s, though.
ToeJam & Earl
5. ToeJam & Earl
First Release: ToeJam & Earl (1991, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis)
Last Release: ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth (2002, Xbox)
This series is proof that aliens have been listening to Rakim and Heavy D records. ToeJam & Earl featured two funky non-earthlings who threw tomatoes and collected presents. Sound weird? Yeah, but it was weird and fun when it was initially released.
The platforming-centered sequel was just as good, if not better than its predecessor. The dance off's with other aliens was a favorite. The Xbox sequel that dropped years ago left a lot to be desired, so now we're in the market for a new iteration for this generation of consoles.
How should it play? Side-scrolling run and jumping or open world gameplay? Who cares? These characters just need to show up. Motion-controlled “Jam Out” sessions must be present too. Word.
Crazy Taxi
4. Crazy Taxi
First Release: Crazy Taxi (1999, Arcade)
Last Release: Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (2002, Xbox)
HEY HEY HEY, IT'S CRAYZEEEE TAXI! Another Dreamcast gem, Crazy Taxi let you experience the life of a crazed cab driver. New Yorkers could finally take out their taxi frustrations on a video game. Drive fast, drive through crowds, then pick up passengers and deliver them to their destinations.
The cast of drivers was perfect and the soundtrack included some satisfying licensed tracks. Can another one of these wild taxi arcade drivers fly today? HELLS YEAH! Spruce up the zany visuals, add more recognizable tunes to the tracklist and include some destructible environments.
We feel like collecting cab fare and driving through Grand Central at rush hour all of a sudden…
Streets of Rage
3. Streets of Rage
First Release: Streets of Rage (1991, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis)
Last Release: Streets of Rage 3 (1994, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis)
Now we're totally flabbergasted at this transgression. This was the premiere beat 'em up series of the '90s… YET THERE WERE ONLY THREE OF THEM? C'mon Sega, y'all slippin'. There needs to be another Streets of Rage and it needs to happen in this lifetime!
Mr. X and his band of shirtless thugs and dominatrices were fun to beat up back then. The rosters were all cool in their own right. Some preferred to roam the streets with Axel and Blaze. Others toughed it out with Eddie “Skate” Hunter or Dr. Zan.
It's time we got another go at these raging streets. We envision a downloadable release that features all the characters from 1 through 3, an HD re-imagining of the visuals, 4-player co-op and multiple special moves. Oh, and whoever composed the soundtrack for this series, let 'em handle the music for this one too.
Shenmue
2. Shenmue
First Release: Shenmue (1999, Dreamcast)
Last Release: Shenmue II (2002, Dreamcast/Xbox)
You don't leave your dedicated fanbase with a cliffhanger and expect people to be content. Shenmue did that when the second version came out and gamers have been begging for another entry since God knows when. This open world epic sported crisp graphics, a gripping narrative and plenty of gameplay options.
Fans miss Ryo. We've heard rumors for years now, surrounding another game in this series. Sega, you'd better make those rumors come true. Get at Yu Suzuki and make him churn out Shenmue 3!
Another one of these games could take what the Yakuza series has done and improve upon it in every way.
Jet Grind Radio
1. Jet Grind Radio
First Release: Jet Grind Radio a.k.a. Jet Set Radio (2000, Dreamcast)
Last Release: Jet Set Radio Future (2002, Xbox)
This game was the definition of fresh. The whole idea of rollerblading miscreants tagging an oppressive city with graffiti simply worked as a video game. Plus the cel-shaded graphics were revolutionary at the time the game debuted.
The music was on point, too. Every track was on one. The characters oozed personality and using them to evade the po-po was fun. We want to tag up Japan again, Sega.
A new Jet Grind Radio would do wonders for our creativity. Make that trick system a lot crazier (akin to SSX or Tony Hawk), add on some new multiplayer modes, and don't make it insanely hard like the last one. Beat… we sure miss ya, buddy.
Ps, I'm Banksy.