Due to the overwhelming number of requests I have received to do an article on this subject, I have been forced to do some research. Using an advanced scientific sounding process I have managed to find the best games that deserve sequels. My complicated and imaginary algorithm has also determined the best developers for said game. I have included these picks for your reading pleasure.

Shadowrun - Yes I am cheating just a tiny bit with this one since they recently made a Shadowrun game. However, since that was more a sort of crappy multiplayer only online shooter and not a glorious RPG, I don’t think it counts. For those unfamiliar with the Shadowrun universe, I highly recommend checking out either the Genesis or SNES versions of the game since both were excellent. Shadowrun does the seemingly impossible and welds sci-fi and fantasy together with cyberpunk to come up with pure kick ass. The games take place in the future where magic has reawakened and exists alongside computers and robots . This game should be a huge immersive RPG. You could have a party consisting of a cyborg ogre who can hack computer terminals, a dwarf toting twin gatling guns, and a Human with cybernetic enhancements or some other crazy combination. I just think a developer like Bioware or Bethesda could blow away the portion of your brain that handles rad. This one could work in single player or in an MMO setting and should still be amazing.

Conker - Conker was a foul mouth drunkard from the time when everything else was cute and cuddly. He is perfect for just about any kind of game parody. Imagine Conker (slightly drunk and horny) wandering around through Microsoft’s different games. He could slaughter Pinatas, or fight alongside Master Chief and Marcus Fenix shooting teddy bears. The comedic possibilities are vast. This one seems like such an easy and obvious choice that there has to be some strange and dumb reason it hasn’t happened. Double Fine, Rare, or Insomniac would be ideal developers since they all have a great grasp for what makes a platforming game fun and they all seem to have a genuine sense of humor.

Psi-Ops - If you were a WingDamagian from way back, then you might have happened to read my article on the Best Weapons in Games (if you haven’t go ahead and feel free to do so now. We’ll wait.) Psi Ops made that list because the game is delightfully evilly fun. Any game that lets you sneak up behind people and use your brain to make their head explode needs to have a sequel. If that is not in the Constitution then it needs to be.

Jade Empire - It was like Knights of the Old Republic but with Kung Fu. If that doesn’t sound rad you should visit a neurologist cause your brain broke. Check your ear canal for brain seepage.

Battletoads - Aside from being one of the most impossible games of all time, Battletoads also featured some of the best Double Dragon style brawling on the NES. A modern update could do amazing things with the animation, which was a highlight of the original. Capcom seems like an obvious choice to develop the game since they know how to make games with lots of character and are very proficient at fighting games. My left field choice would be Rockstar since they did such a great job with the Warriors, which in itself was a really well done brawler.

Adventures of Lolo - The Lolo games were always strange little puzzle games. They didn’t play like anything else that was out at the time. Instead of spinning blocks or matching colors you had to figure out how to get past instant kill enemies to get to the hearts which unlocked the chest. The game required you to examine the placement of enemies and the environmental obstacles to discover the best way to proceed. This often involved using one enemy to block another enemy or transforming an enemy into an egg that you could ride on the water. This was one of the few games I can think of that included a suicide button for when you got stuck. I think the DS or Wii ware would be the perfect spot for a new Lolo. Hal Laboratories or Level 5 would be perfect since both know how to do unique puzzlers.

Mega Man Legends - I think WingDamage’s thoughts on this one are pretty clear by this point, but I am obligated by my imaginary contract to mention it. Capcom is obviously the best choice to make this one but I think Insomniac or Naughty Dog could do amazing things with this one since they both excel at character driven platforming games with shooting.

Outwars - One of the fundamental truths of the universe is jetpacks = awesome. Marines in power armor fighting aliens while flying around with jetpacks = even more awesome. This one just seems like such a natural extension of the shooter genre that it is surprising that it hasn’t been done well on console. A next gen Outwars would have to have clan support and updated weaponry, but picture a 3rd person Halo with jetpacks. Imagine guys flying all over the place as giant insectoid aliens attack and explosions are exploding all over the place. Epic, Bungie, or Dice would be the best for this game since they specialize in making multiplayer shooters.

The Club - A shooter from one of the premier racing game developers that combined Gears style shooting with a unique combo system and ended with a gem of a game that a total of 11 people played. This is one of those games that a ton of other developers look at for inspiration even though no one played it. In 5 years when gamers are looking back at this generation this is one of the games that everyone will pretend to have been in love with from the start. If Sega started production on a kick ass sequel now they would be perfectly prepared for the inevitable upsurge when everyone realizes how cool the original game was.

Chrono Trigger (not Chrono Cross) - If I have to explain why the world needs a new Chrono Trigger then you obviously haven’t played Chrono Trigger. Go out now and buy it. They recently remade it for the DS. Then play the game and beat it. Then beat it again using New Game+ mode. Did you get all the different ending? Good. Now go write your congressman (or MP for Rob and Michelle) and tell him/her the government needs to mandate that Square Enix has to get the old team back together to make a new one. Now revel in the glory that is democracy.

What do you think? Do you have any favorite games that you feel deserve an update.

Tags: Adventures of Lolo, Battletoads, Chrono Trigger, Conker, Jade Empire, Mega Man Legends, Mega Man Legends 3, Outwars, Psi Ops, sequels, Shadowrun, The Club

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.