In today’s world, Hollywood is bereft of almost all innovative thinking banking instead on franchises that often become bloated and collapse under their own weight (Pirates of the Caribbean, I’m looking at you). This is also a tactic that game studios have opted to fall into as well, often with the same results (Halo, I’m looking at you). However, there are some franchises that stand the test of time and come out stronger than ever. Here’s some series that have long promised sequels, seem like a no brainer or should just plain happen.
The Avengers
I’ve talked before how I loved the Ultimate Avengers games. They’re fun, they’re full of Easter eggs and you get to play as all your favorite heroes. But, in case someone has just woken from a coma, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken the world by storm, its biggest movie being a little flick called The Avengers (or Avengers Assemble, depending on your global locale). So, how has Disney not capitalized on this mega cash cow with some sort of game? Even if it is a different style of game, can’t they give me something? I mean, it just seems like you’d be writing yourself a cheque. The movies, the kids shows, the comics, the toys; how is there not someone in a board room somewhere looking at a chart and not realizing they’re missing out on a HUGE demographic? This is a no brainer, Marvel and Disney. Also, how fun would it be to fly around as Iron Man and make snarky remarks to everyone else as you battle your inept adversaries?
God of War
Who’s played the first God of War? Good. Who’s watched all the videos that you can unlock, in particular, the Birth of the Beast? Cause they went out of their way to make it a trophy in the HD re-release, just to make sure everyone saw it. To those of you who haven’t seen it, the video tells the story of Deimos, Kratos’ brother, who is raised in the Domain of Death to avert a prophecy about Olypmus’ destruction. Fans of the game will know he did not do such a good job on that front. If you Google any of the above mentioned things, you get a bunch of stuff on him including some fan references to him being the main character of God of War 4. So, where the hell is it?! It won’t cheapen the original series since they’ve already cheated me out of seeing Kratos die an honorable death and they’ve already laid all this groundwork for a sequel, so why haven’t they made it? They could have Deimos as the main character as you carve your way through (almost) mythological Greece. You could have Deimos return as the villain and spill blood in his quest to slay his brother who he hates terribly. You could, and I hesitate to even say this because of how awesome it would be, play as them both as they try to defeat a greater evil! Either way, this is something that needs to happen… mainly because I miss Kratos and cutting monsters to ribbons.
Mass Effect 4
Yes, yes, yes, no list of possible sequels is complete without Mass Effect making its entry, especially since BioWare has made grand promises for many years, so I’ll keep this brief. BioWare built this massive universe, so anything could work. Set after Sheppard? Great. Set before humans even made their way into the universe? Great. Set at the same time as the original trilogy but with a parallel story? Not so great, but I’d take it! Basically, what this comes down to is just give me something already!
Star Wars
Oh, hey Disney! You’re back! Look at you with all those properties just brimming with potential. This one is actually in the works with Amy Hennig, the recently ousted scribe of the Uncharted series, getting snagged by EA to pen the script for the new game. However, outside of the underwhelming Force Unleashed games (honestly, how many times can you really go back to the ‘Vader doing things in secret’ well?), Star Wars hasn’t brought me any joy since Knights of the Old Republic. With literally a thousand years of Jedi stories to delve into, what the actual f***, LucasArts? What have you been doing? Why haven’t I been splaying lifeless bodies all over Dathomir with my lightsaber while battling the Night Sisters yet? I’m anxiously awaiting some new Star Wars action on a console any day now, people.
The Elder Scrolls
Yes, Bethesda is constantly releasing a stream of Elder Scrolls games which bounce all over about a millennia of time in Tamriel. So, no, I’m not going to bitch about not enough Elder Scrolls out there. What I’m going to bitch about is one particular aspect of the long, long, long history of Tamriel that each and every game has touched on, but they’ve never decided to explain. What happened to the Dwarves? Seriously, I’m asking. Because at this point, my curiosity is far past feline levels and it actually may kill me. In Skyrim alone, there are several books which talk about the Falmer and their war with the Dwarves which was the last time they were ever seen. You also get to run through lots of Dwarven cities which are really cool in their run down state, so imagine running through them while they’re functional! And seeing the Dwarves! And finally finding out what happened to them! Did they leave for another dimension? Did they leave for another continent where they’re hanging out with Bilbo, Gandalf and Legolas? No matter the answer, I really, really, really want to find out.
Game of Thrones
How does the biggest TV show on the air which features dragons, the undead and an epic, country wide war only have this game? With such a rich history and such an expansive and amazing world to dive into, it amazes me that only one studio has jumped on board to make a next-gen game. I’d like a game that’s set in the current Westoros game of thrones. Or maybe, any one of the dozens of Stark ancestors they name. Or, and this is the best yet, a game set in Old Valariya, before the volcano destroyed their civilization! I can feel all the excited quivering of the masses from here.
Half Life
Dear, Valve. Steam is great, and so is Portal. Good job. Oh, while I have your attention, where is Half Life 3!! Or better yet, where is Half Life 2, Episode 3! Why would you do this to me!? With no plans to develop either of these games, Valve literally built a massive fanbase just to screw with them. I mean, Halo may have ripped off the vast majority of its ideas from this game, but it at least had the decency to finish the series! Valve not only didn’t finish the series, but regularly addresses that they never did, just in case you forgot about how they left you high and dry. Come on, Valve. Stop being dicks and give us what we want already.