I attempted to find 10 IPs that made their debut during the current generation of consoles, with no currently released or announced sequels, that I personally wanted to see more of, and that felt like there was room to expand upon. I failed, and was stuck at 8 until I allowed myself some exceptions. Now, moving on to the list, and why these titles made the cut.
The Last of Us - This was a title I had been excited for from the first trailer all the way until release day. The subject of countless exceptional reviews, with an astoundingly deep world to play through. We've seen Joel and Ellie's story through to the end, and I wouldn't change it in any way, though there is plenty of room to expand on this universe. 20 years have gone by since the start of the story, and there are countless characters who have had to cope with loss and learn to survive in the reformed world. We've even found pieces of some of their tales, in the form of notes and personal artifacts. The secondary cast was also well rounded, and there is more that could be told of their pasts, and even their futures. I would love to know more about the illusive Ish, how Tess and Joel came to work together, or the founding of the Fireflies. There's even room to expand the universe and introduce characters we never met, in locations we never got to play through. To leave this IP as it stands right now would be a huge mistake for Naughty Dog, but to make a true sequel, continuing to follow Joel and Ellie would be a larger misstep. To abandon what may potentially be the most well-realized world in games to this point would be an atrocity, but would it be worse than damaging the perfect ending of the first installment? I trust their instincts and artistic direction as a company, and can't wait to see if they revisit it in the future, or let it stand alone, a shining pinnacle of gaming as an art form.
Bulletstorm - While the story of Greyson Hunt and co. may have been a cliche, over-the-top mess, this game was one of the most fun I have played in a long time. With it's short length, low barrier to entry, and nearly infinite room for player creativity, this was a game I did not regret playing through on my 5th, 6th, or even my 7th time. It's been a fair number of years since it's release, and it's about time we give Bulletstorm another shot. The built in streaming and game capture of the next-gen consoles could be easily used to make videos showing off your highest scoring kills, and with the additional power, there could be room for a much needed multiplayer in a Bulletstorm 2.
Outland - Part Ikaruga, part 2D platformer, Outland was an incredible title, and one of the best digital games released on XBLA and PSN. While it felt very complete, there was some room left for a potential prequel, however, the focus of this game is more on the mechanics and abilities than on the story. Even if the game took place on another planet, in another time period, as long as it builds on the core mechanics and unique art style introduced in Outland, it will please the fans, and hopefully pull more into this unique meshing of genres.
Sine Mora - Sine Mora is another one of those digital titles that feels complete as a standalone, yet does something mechanically in a way that I'd like to see more of. Something of a "Why has no one done this before?" title, Sine Mora implements a slow motion power, more commonly known as "Bullet Time", in a 2.5D side-scrolling bullet hell shooter, while also not immediately destroying your craft when you are hit. The entire game is about time, and in something of an arcade revival, you're on the clock. Every hit you take drains your time balance, and making it to checkpoints increases it. When your time is up in the literal sense, your character's time is up in the euphemistic sense. There's something beautiful about it's simplistic ideas and grand execution, and is certainly something that could benefit from being expanded upon in the future.
Shadows of the Damned - Who would've ever thought that Shinji Mikami and Suda51's vision of hell would be so outlandishly hilarious, and still so shocking? Shadows of the Damned was an amazing ride, though it was held back by poor marketing, some technical problems, and some mindblowingly low review scores. In an industry obsessed with pushing heavy-handed stories down our throats, and increasing the relative "realism" of their titles, it was a breath of fresh air to get a title that didn't take itself too seriously. It is incredibly difficult, however, to put into words what made this game so great, and harder still to say much negative about it. I wouldn't want to spoil the experience for anyone who has yet to get the chance to delve into it, or even hear about it. It's an underrated gem from some of the finest minds in gaming, though some may not "get it", which is more of a sign of their style, in opposition to the homogenization of every other title.
RAGE - I feel like RAGE totally got a bum rap. It suffered from too many comparisons to Fallout 3, while less buggy and crash prone than Fallout 3. It had entirely solid shooter mechanics, though I wouldn't expect less from id, to which people reacted with "Uhh, meh." It also had co-op sidestories, some vehicular combat that wasn't all terrible, including a competitive online mode, pretty decent crafting and looting mechanics, and most importantly, wingsticks, which were the best weapon in any shooter I can think of in recent memory. Wingsticks were basically boomerangs that decapitated your enemy if you were skilled enough. I liked that. Let's also take into account that the ending leaves a lot open, and the small portion of the world you actually see. With Doom 4 being, by all accounts, the Duke Nukem Forever of id Software, it might be time to revisit this, and put the next visit to Hell and Mars on the back burner for a bit.
Wet - This one is sort of an exception. At one point, there was a sequel announced, but then it was cancelled. Wet was by no means a perfect game, but it was one of those games, like the arcade giants of the past, that was really fun for about 30 minutes at a time. It had enough style for 3 titles, but the sluggish controls, frustrating checkpoints, and overall lack of polish all added up to a quick trip to the bargain bin. However, these are the exact things that can be refined in a sequel, and I would love to see more of Rubi in the next-gen.
Vanquish - Vanquish was something of a sleeper hit, and a mixed bag as far as the reviews came down, but as a blend of ideas that spanned multiple genres, it's hard to please everyone. The majority of it's problems stem from a C-grade story, lack of multiplayer, and overall short length per playthrough. To be fair, I just didn't see how multiplayer would work in this game, and dragging out the playthrough length with the easy-to-ignore story would have made it seem overdone, and likely worse overall. It still holds the same charm after multiple playthroughs, though, and with it's stat tracking and scoring, it's really hard to not want to blast through it again and attempt to improve on your personal best.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Yes, this is technically part of a pre-existing franchise. Yes, that franchise is receiving one of the most anticipated sequels of E3. HOWEVER, Metal Gear Rising is a spinoff of a completely different vein than Metal Gear Solid, replacing the need for stealth with a greater focus on action, and is an absolute blast because of it. While the game itself is short, it has near infinite replay value, much like Vanquish above, as there are countless enemies to slice, and hundreds of ways to cut them up.
The Last of Us - This was a title I had been excited for from the first trailer all the way until release day. The subject of countless exceptional reviews, with an astoundingly deep world to play through. We've seen Joel and Ellie's story through to the end, and I wouldn't change it in any way, though there is plenty of room to expand on this universe. 20 years have gone by since the start of the story, and there are countless characters who have had to cope with loss and learn to survive in the reformed world. We've even found pieces of some of their tales, in the form of notes and personal artifacts. The secondary cast was also well rounded, and there is more that could be told of their pasts, and even their futures. I would love to know more about the illusive Ish, how Tess and Joel came to work together, or the founding of the Fireflies. There's even room to expand the universe and introduce characters we never met, in locations we never got to play through. To leave this IP as it stands right now would be a huge mistake for Naughty Dog, but to make a true sequel, continuing to follow Joel and Ellie would be a larger misstep. To abandon what may potentially be the most well-realized world in games to this point would be an atrocity, but would it be worse than damaging the perfect ending of the first installment? I trust their instincts and artistic direction as a company, and can't wait to see if they revisit it in the future, or let it stand alone, a shining pinnacle of gaming as an art form.
Bulletstorm - While the story of Greyson Hunt and co. may have been a cliche, over-the-top mess, this game was one of the most fun I have played in a long time. With it's short length, low barrier to entry, and nearly infinite room for player creativity, this was a game I did not regret playing through on my 5th, 6th, or even my 7th time. It's been a fair number of years since it's release, and it's about time we give Bulletstorm another shot. The built in streaming and game capture of the next-gen consoles could be easily used to make videos showing off your highest scoring kills, and with the additional power, there could be room for a much needed multiplayer in a Bulletstorm 2.
Outland - Part Ikaruga, part 2D platformer, Outland was an incredible title, and one of the best digital games released on XBLA and PSN. While it felt very complete, there was some room left for a potential prequel, however, the focus of this game is more on the mechanics and abilities than on the story. Even if the game took place on another planet, in another time period, as long as it builds on the core mechanics and unique art style introduced in Outland, it will please the fans, and hopefully pull more into this unique meshing of genres.
Sine Mora - Sine Mora is another one of those digital titles that feels complete as a standalone, yet does something mechanically in a way that I'd like to see more of. Something of a "Why has no one done this before?" title, Sine Mora implements a slow motion power, more commonly known as "Bullet Time", in a 2.5D side-scrolling bullet hell shooter, while also not immediately destroying your craft when you are hit. The entire game is about time, and in something of an arcade revival, you're on the clock. Every hit you take drains your time balance, and making it to checkpoints increases it. When your time is up in the literal sense, your character's time is up in the euphemistic sense. There's something beautiful about it's simplistic ideas and grand execution, and is certainly something that could benefit from being expanded upon in the future.
Shadows of the Damned - Who would've ever thought that Shinji Mikami and Suda51's vision of hell would be so outlandishly hilarious, and still so shocking? Shadows of the Damned was an amazing ride, though it was held back by poor marketing, some technical problems, and some mindblowingly low review scores. In an industry obsessed with pushing heavy-handed stories down our throats, and increasing the relative "realism" of their titles, it was a breath of fresh air to get a title that didn't take itself too seriously. It is incredibly difficult, however, to put into words what made this game so great, and harder still to say much negative about it. I wouldn't want to spoil the experience for anyone who has yet to get the chance to delve into it, or even hear about it. It's an underrated gem from some of the finest minds in gaming, though some may not "get it", which is more of a sign of their style, in opposition to the homogenization of every other title.
RAGE - I feel like RAGE totally got a bum rap. It suffered from too many comparisons to Fallout 3, while less buggy and crash prone than Fallout 3. It had entirely solid shooter mechanics, though I wouldn't expect less from id, to which people reacted with "Uhh, meh." It also had co-op sidestories, some vehicular combat that wasn't all terrible, including a competitive online mode, pretty decent crafting and looting mechanics, and most importantly, wingsticks, which were the best weapon in any shooter I can think of in recent memory. Wingsticks were basically boomerangs that decapitated your enemy if you were skilled enough. I liked that. Let's also take into account that the ending leaves a lot open, and the small portion of the world you actually see. With Doom 4 being, by all accounts, the Duke Nukem Forever of id Software, it might be time to revisit this, and put the next visit to Hell and Mars on the back burner for a bit.
Wet - This one is sort of an exception. At one point, there was a sequel announced, but then it was cancelled. Wet was by no means a perfect game, but it was one of those games, like the arcade giants of the past, that was really fun for about 30 minutes at a time. It had enough style for 3 titles, but the sluggish controls, frustrating checkpoints, and overall lack of polish all added up to a quick trip to the bargain bin. However, these are the exact things that can be refined in a sequel, and I would love to see more of Rubi in the next-gen.
Vanquish - Vanquish was something of a sleeper hit, and a mixed bag as far as the reviews came down, but as a blend of ideas that spanned multiple genres, it's hard to please everyone. The majority of it's problems stem from a C-grade story, lack of multiplayer, and overall short length per playthrough. To be fair, I just didn't see how multiplayer would work in this game, and dragging out the playthrough length with the easy-to-ignore story would have made it seem overdone, and likely worse overall. It still holds the same charm after multiple playthroughs, though, and with it's stat tracking and scoring, it's really hard to not want to blast through it again and attempt to improve on your personal best.
Mirror's Edge - Okay, so I'm cheating a bit on this one. A reboot was just announced at E3, to be released "when it's done", though I don't actually consider a reboot to be a sequel when the series only has one title. This first-person parkour simulator was generally well-received, though it was not a commercial success. Combat was not done terribly well, though I do applaud it for trying something different. It was very good at feeling nonrestrictive, whilst simultaneously being incredibly linear. The story mode was short, and many were turned off by the cel-shaded cutscenes. There's not a lot more that can be added on the subject that hasn't been repeated to death elsewhere, so I'll save you the trouble and move on.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Yes, this is technically part of a pre-existing franchise. Yes, that franchise is receiving one of the most anticipated sequels of E3. HOWEVER, Metal Gear Rising is a spinoff of a completely different vein than Metal Gear Solid, replacing the need for stealth with a greater focus on action, and is an absolute blast because of it. While the game itself is short, it has near infinite replay value, much like Vanquish above, as there are countless enemies to slice, and hundreds of ways to cut them up.
Honorable Mention
Okami - There's been a semi-sequel to this game in Okamiden for the Nintendo DS, and this IP originally released for the Playstation 2, but while it was a critical sweetheart, commercially, it didn't do all that well until the re-releases for the Wii and Playstation 3. With a wider audience now, and touchpad functionality built into the Wii U and PS4 controllers, hopefully this title can get a true sequel. The original release was often compared to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, and could easily be improved upon if Capcom could stomach working with Platinum Games, where most of the Okami team went after the closure of Clover studio.Closing Thoughts
While there have been many other IPs introduced this generation, many of them have already spawned sequels, or even entire franchises, and I felt the need to bring the spotlight to some of the often overlooked ones. There's a lot more to be said for each of these games, but I tried to keep it to a reasonable length, partially because there was a lot of ground to cover, partially because it's been a while since I've played some of these games, and partially because there's still a very good chance that I could do a re-review on any one of them in the future. I feel that it's time to start embracing individuality and innovation in gaming again, as opposed to voting with your dollars for any title with a 5 or 6 at the end of it, or buying into one of the many annualized franchises, while simultaneously not dismissing them completely, simply because of the fact that they are sequels.
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