Summary
There are still some franchises around that started in arcades, likePac-Man,but most of the biggest ones began on the NES. There were internal franchises likeKirbyorThe Legend of Zeldaalong with third-party series likeMega ManandFinal Fantasy. These franchises have been around for decades and are as beloved now as they were when they debuted.
However, other series others to lose their steam in the PS1 era, when they might have died, or started and then died. Some of these games can be played easily today via collections, or maybe got ports after the PS1, but they haven’t seen a new game since the PS1 or other adjacent consoles of this era is the point. Let’s look to the past to see if these franchises ever have a chance of returning.
Alundrawas a series that began on the PS1 in 1997 in Japan, and a year later in North America. It was a top-down action-adventure game similar to thetop-downZeldatitles. There was one sequel,Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins, which was a 2000 release for North America. The graphics were a leap forward, featuring 3D environments and character models, but it was still an action-adventure game. Of the two, many find the first game the superior title, but after the PS1, there has never been another sequel or even a collection for these two games.
Bushido Bladeis similar to theAlundraseries, as there were only two games on the PS1 and then that was it. The first game was released in 1997, which was afighting game published by Squaresoftand centered on samurai and ninjas duking it out with various weapons similar to theSoulcaliburgames.
The catch was that players and their rivals would die in a single blow. Weapons could be deflected, but the results were always the same once a blade made contact. The sequel, which was released a year later, added more characters, weapons, and bigger environments, but that was it for this feudal fighter.
Chrono Triggeris one of the most belovedRPGs on the SNES, releasing in 1995. In Japan, there was an attachment for the SNES called the Satellaview, which offered players online games.Radical Dreamersappeared on the service in 1996, which was a light novel and semi-sequel toChrono Triggerthat set up events more for the real final game.
Chrono Crossmade its North American PS1 debut in 2000. While Square Enix has filed for trademarks likeChrono Break, and there have been ports of all these games, theChronoseries has yet to receive anything major in the realm of a sequel or remake.
Fighting Forcewas a brawler that was released in 1997. Players could choose one of four characters, and then go to town on hundreds of baddies throughout a handful of levels. There was even co-op, which all good brawlers should have. Its 1999 sequel was still technically a brawler, although gunplay factored more into the action. The game also focused on one character and eliminated multiplayer, which was an odd choice many fans disliked. Still, there was going to be a third game set up for the original Xbox andPS2 but it was later canceled.
3Gex
Slip Of The Tongue
A million and one platformers popped up on the PS1, but one of the more infamous series wasGex. It started as a side-scrolling platformer on the 3DO and PS1 in 1995 before making the leap into 3D in 1998. What set theGexseries apart from other mascot platformer characters was its comedy along with its levels, which were based on TV themes like old horror shows or cartoons.
Dana Gould, a famous comic who has written for many shows,includingThe Simpsons, brought Gex to life. Technically, the last game was a Game Boy Color port of the third entry in 1999, but since the PS1 version was also released in 1999, it counts as either way.Gexhas only had three games in total. That said, the PS1 trilogy of games was it, but theGexseries is seeing a small resurgence via a new collection from Limited Run Games. Will this lead to a new game, or is the series still gone for good?
Jumping Flashwas released in North America in 1995, shortly afterthe PS1’s launch. It featured a robotic rabbit who could jump through levels in first-person. It was a unique style of platformer at the time, and still technically is to this day.
North America did get its sequel in 1996, and that’s when fans thought the series died. Japan received two games in 1999 calledPocket MuuMuuandRobbit Mon Dieu,but either way, the series still stopped on the PS1.
Mega Manmade his debut on the NES in 1987 with too many sequels and spinoffs to count. One of his biggest spinoffs started and ended on the PS1 via the action-adventure seriesMega Man Legends. The first game was released in 1998 in North America, followed soon after byThe Misadventures of Tron Bonneand thenMega Man Legends 2.
Beyond these games getting ports, the series almost had a triumphant return after a decade of being in the dark. Capcom was going to releaseMega Man Legend 3on the 3DS. People even played demo builds, but then it was canceled. It was beyond heartbreaking, to say the least.
