10 Video Games That Deserve A Second Chance
Bloodrayne owned.
Transcript
00:00 It's no secret that companies within the video game industry have taken a step back
00:04 to evaluate what made their games so popular.
00:07 From characters having an addictive personality, to the plotlines of the game being something
00:11 fresh to fans, to something so simple as the graphics or game mechanics being revolutionary
00:16 at the time of release, something about previous releases of current franchises have fans wishing
00:21 for more.
00:22 With constant remakes of great games being released in new engines, we're looking at
00:26 URESI 2, people tend to speculate what remakes of games could possibly be around the corner
00:31 for current-gen release, but are almost always disappointed when their favorite games are
00:36 overlooked for something more appealing to the masses of new-age gamers.
00:40 That's got us thinking about all the great games we used to play before the days of achievements
00:44 and trophies, and which ones we'd love to see get some love once again.
00:48 I'm Jess from WhatCulture and here are 10 video games that deserve a second chance.
00:53 10.
00:54 Death by Degrees (2005)
00:57 Despite this Tekken spinoff gaining mixed reviews from critics, the overall plot of
01:01 Death by Degrees was widely praised for both its depth and ability to mix well with the
01:06 Tekken lore.
01:07 A huge problem fans had with this game was the difficult camera angles paired with the
01:11 complex fighting mechanics.
01:13 Granted, at the time, Namco didn't have much experience with using Tekken as an intricate
01:17 game, rather than just an arcade-y fighter.
01:20 With the release of Tekken 5 and 6, they included extra modes that granted similar
01:25 gameplay as Death by Degrees, but with less complicated mechanics and a more smooth way
01:30 of controlling everything on screen.
01:32 With technology advancing and new engines being made, it shouldn't be out of the question
01:36 that Namco attempt another Death by Degrees-esque game.
01:39 If it's a remake, it may generate more buzz within the community.
01:42 However, a sequel or a different spinoff revolving around another character may be the best step
01:47 forward.
01:48 9.
01:49 Pandemonium (1996-1998)
01:50 For at least a decade, platform games dominated the screens of many people.
01:57 We still see platformers, but they're less frequent when it comes to mainstream games
02:01 — except, of course, for the Mario franchise.
02:03 For this reason, after the second installment of the Pandemonium games, the franchise suddenly
02:08 disappeared without word, much to the disappointment of some fans.
02:12 This game was often overlooked, despite its innovative gameplay mechanics and aesthetically
02:16 pleasing graphics, at the time.
02:18 It was a fun, challenging game that allowed you to pick between two characters, both having
02:23 unique qualities.
02:24 Games like Pandemonium deserve a modernized remake, changing the platformer into something
02:29 more open-world.
02:30 Although, having another platforming mode or side missions and quests would be a nice
02:35 touch to commemorate the original material.
02:37 8.
02:38 X-Men Legends (2004-2005)
02:40 Who doesn't love a good Marvel game?
02:43 With the recent Spider-Man, Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy games, it's a wonder
02:47 why no one has revamped the X-Men Legends games.
02:50 They had a vast range of characters to choose from, with the ability to unlock even more,
02:55 as well as an intriguing storyline for both installments.
02:58 With the current-gen consoles and PC, it seems like such a missed opportunity not to bring
03:03 this one into the new ages, when online gameplay especially is common amongst the gaming community.
03:09 Whether or not it would continue to use the original three-quarter isometric tilt camera,
03:13 or use a third-person over-the-shoulder camera could be up to the player with an in-game
03:17 options menu.
03:19 As much as a smash 'em up with Marvel characters keeps fans at bay, these series of games in
03:24 a new engine with the possibility of DLC in the future is a chance that any gaming company
03:29 would be a fool not to take.
03:31 7.
03:32 EA's Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
03:36 Even though light has been shone on EA and the microtransactions within their games,
03:40 there's no denying the company once made excellent tie-in games.
03:44 A huge example is their Harry Potter franchise.
03:47 The overall story is loved by generations of people, and with that, EA's games came
03:51 into play.
03:52 Their early games were extremely well-received and considered incredibly fun right up to
03:57 the Goblet of Fire installment.
03:59 Now co-op has become more prominent and new engines have the capability to hold up proper
04:03 and accurate remakes of these games.
04:05 Many fans would love to see their childhood revive for a new age, and a big part of that
04:10 would be EA's Harry Potter games.
04:12 They have the knowledge and understanding of how some of their games failed in comparison
04:15 to others, and have the skills to fix that the second time around.
04:19 With the Hogwarts Legacy game arriving soon, this probably won't happen, but maybe someday
04:24 we'll get that All-Stars collection of classics.
04:27 6.
04:28 BloodRayne (2002-2011)
04:29 Alright, hear us out on this one.
04:33 Even though the rights were bought for BloodRayne in 2020 and the original games were re-released
04:38 in 2020 and 2021, it took way too long for anyone to grab hold of the opportunity that
04:43 was, to some, the original Underworld.
04:46 Because the franchise was untouched for seven years before the release of BloodRayne Betrayal,
04:51 and the game varied so differently from the original and its sequel, it wasn't that
04:55 well-received by fans, and the fourth installment in the series was cancelled.
04:59 When the rights were finally passed over and the franchise was given a boost of life, it
05:04 wasn't enough to keep BloodRayne alive for very long.
05:06 As much as a proper remake sounds extremely appealing, a new, darker sequel made for modern
05:11 times has the potential to kickstart the franchise back to life, and grants the opportunity of
05:17 redesigning such an iconic female lead.
05:20 5.
05:21 Dead Rising (2006-2017)
05:24 The first three main games in Dead Rising were popular amongst critics and fans alike,
05:29 with Capcom letting the side down by the fourth installment.
05:32 Originally, a fifth entry was planned, taking place between Dead Rising 2 and 3, revolving
05:38 around Chuck Green, the protagonist from Dead Rising 2.
05:41 Unfortunately, this was cancelled due to the Capcom Vancouver team shutting down, and any
05:46 hope of a future Dead Rising installment going with it.
05:49 Bringing the Dead Rising franchise to the new ages would be a success, in theory, as
05:54 people tend to enjoy zombie games that don't take themselves too seriously.
05:58 In essence, it's the Zomcom of Capcom's zombie franchises, and considering the success
06:04 of Resident Evil's remakes, with Resi 4 just around the corner, it'd be a shame
06:08 not to grab the bull by the horns and bring back one of the most beloved franchises from
06:12 that particular game company.
06:14 Of course, fans would probably prefer Dino Crisis, as it's in much more dire need of
06:18 a revisit and update, and with the success of the recent Jurassic World films, it's
06:23 a surprise that Capcom hasn't cashed in on the dino-mania either.
06:26 4.
06:27 Silent Hill (1999-2014)
06:31 How could we make a list of games that need to be revisited without including Silent Hill?
06:35 Beloved amongst horror fans for 23 years, it's why disappointment hit so hard when
06:40 Silent Hills was cancelled in 2014.
06:43 The game had high expectations, with the involvement of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and actor
06:48 Norman Reedus, but it was never quite clear if it was a reboot of the franchise or a sequel.
06:53 With the two main prior releases before Silent Hills, Silent Hill Homecoming and Silent Hill
06:58 Downpour, fans didn't generally favor those games as they strayed too far away from the
07:03 original trilogy.
07:05 Silent Hill 4 The Room was also received poorly, but it's gained a cult following years later,
07:09 so that was ultimately rectified by the fans themselves.
07:12 Frequent teasers over the years have speculated that the Silent Hill franchise isn't as
07:17 dead as it seems, with rumors of a soft reboot, remakes and other teasers being made.
07:22 It isn't fair to the fans to keep them hanging on this long, but on the other hand, we need
07:26 Silent Hill back.
07:28 3.
07:29 Resident Evil Code Veronica X (2001)
07:32 With the releases of the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remake, Code Veronica would have been the
07:37 obvious next choice, continuing the chronology of the games released.
07:41 Instead, Capcom jumped straight past it to initially announce their release of the Resident
07:45 Evil 4 remake.
07:46 Of course, this is great news for fans of the franchise, but it also left a lot of them
07:50 wondering why they didn't announce Code Veronica instead, as it's been over 20 years since
07:55 its release.
07:56 Undoubtedly, Resident Evil 4 trailblazed a new generation of horror games, which is why
08:01 it's so easy to overlook its predecessor, even though it was generally well-received.
08:05 Resident Evil Code Veronica did have a really interesting story, seeing one of the protagonists
08:10 from Resident Evil 2, Claire Redfield, finally reuniting with her older brother Chris, as
08:15 well as bringing an old, iconic villain back from the dead.
08:18 Of course, the game had its faults, with fans, Steve Burnside being the most irritating character
08:24 until Ashley in Resi 4, but ultimately was critically acclaimed, with mass amounts of
08:29 praise directed its way.
08:30 Not to remake this iconic story into the new engine would be a complete disappointment
08:35 and fault on Capcom's part.
08:37 Ultimately, this isn't the only Resi game that should be revisited with new, smoother
08:41 mechanics and updated gameplay, but it should be the most prioritized.
08:45 2.
08:46 Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness (2003)
08:49 The Tomb Raider games are considered one of the pioneering factors of female leads in
08:53 video games, and have seen success with almost every release peaking with the 2013 reboot.
08:59 Unfortunately, the sixth installment in the original Tomb Raider franchise received negative
09:04 reviews due to the more technical side of the game, such as mechanics, bugs, and camera
09:09 movement.
09:10 The story of this game is much darker than the previous installments, and most of the
09:13 future ones, which was praised heavily.
09:16 With Square Enix purchasing the rights to Tomb Raider, it's no surprise that their
09:20 reboot was met with great success, however, it always seemed strange that they never capitalized
09:24 on the darker side of the Tomb Raider franchise until they made Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
09:29 Originally, Angel of Darkness was going to be the starting point of a new trilogy, but
09:33 was inevitably cancelled due to the negativity directed toward the game, which was a complete
09:38 disappointment for fans.
09:40 With times changing and darker subjects being brought into light more frequently in gaming,
09:44 the original concept of the cancelled trilogy should be given a second chance.
09:48 A remake of Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness would allow the creators to update and patch
09:52 bugs, making the game better than originally released.
09:56 1.
09:57 The Simpsons Hit and Run (2003)
09:59 With the way this list was going, it's expected that another horror would top the list, but
10:03 that's not going to be the case.
10:05 The Simpsons Hit and Run is the most popular Simpsons video game to date, despite the fact
10:09 that it was the 22nd installment in the Simpsons video game franchise.
10:14 Obviously for many, it was seen as a rip-off of the GTA series, but somehow it seemed more
10:19 child-friendly and quirky, which didn't gain the negative backlash like the other
10:23 seemingly ripped-off games do.
10:25 It has its meta moments, which generations now and then can both appreciate, and with
10:30 The Simpsons still running strong, despite the lack of favorable recent episodes, this
10:34 would be a perfect time to re-envision, re-create, and re-introduce the world to an updated,
10:39 smoother, and bigger version of The Simpsons Hit and Run.
10:43 That's the end of our list, but do let me know down in the comment section if you can
10:47 think of any other video games that you reckon deserve a second chance.
10:51 As always, I've been Jess from WhatCulture, thank you so much for hanging out with me.
10:54 If you're liking, come say hi to me on my Twitter account, where I'm @JessMcDonald,
10:58 but make sure you stay tuned to us here for plenty more great gaming lists.