With each passing year, we see game studios commit to their existing IPs and deliver new experiences in the form of sequels and spin-offs. Every once in a while, a new IP is also born that aims to give us an experience we are unfamiliar with and takes us to new worlds. With so much in the works at the same time, there are some IPs and franchises that are left in the past and forgotten, which is unfortunate, to say the least. This could happen for multiple reasons, like not being so successful financially, or maybe the idea or the implementation of said idea gets dated and won’t work as well today as it did a decade ago. Regardless of whatever reason or excuse the companies may throw our way, some gaming IPs were gems that were way ahead of their time and deserve to return, be it for the sake of nostalgia or the creativity they unleashed. Let’s talk about some of those franchises and IPs that have been dead for a long time and need to make a comeback, be it in the form of a new game, a reboot, or a remake.
Midnight Club
The racing genre has seen leaps of advancement in terms of technology, fidelity, and presentation. Racing games are some of the best-looking games that come out, and we have reached the point where it’s really hard to differentiate a racing game from real life. There used to be a racing game back in the day that, in my opinion, stood tall above the rest and was the best racing game series that has ever come out. I am talking about Rockstar Games’ “Midnight Club” series. Believe it or not, Rockstar also used to make racing games, and incredible ones at that. What made “Midnight Club” so special and made it stand out from other games in the genre was the number of licensed customization options available, combined with the fact that this is the only racing game I can think of that allowed you to race in a car or bike without restrictions. The game also had special abilities for each type of car that charged over time and could be used in races or during free roam, which added a layer of strategy to your racing experience. It was stylish, and the cop chases here were some of the best and most balanced ones I have seen in any racing game. There’s so much that can be said about “Midnight Club” that even an entire article dedicated to the subject won’t be enough, but here’s hoping that Rockstar Games reconsiders and brings this IP back from the dead, if only for one last ride.
Killer Instinct
Fighting games have always been popular as there’s no other genre of game where you can 1v1 your buddy and put him/her in their place. These games have gained more popularity over the years instead of dying out, and if you think about it, we are living in the golden age of fighting games right now as “Street Fighter 6” is around the corner, “Tekken 8” is on the horizon, and the announcement for the next “Mortal Kombat” is imminent. All of these franchises are legendary, but there used to be one more here, known as “Killer Instinct,” a franchise owned by Rare (Microsoft now since they own Rare), that gave us a very unique and memorable fighting experience. Microsoft somewhat brought this franchise back during the early years of Xbox One, but it wasn’t enough, and I’ll even go as far as to say that they handled it poorly. “Killer Instinct,” if it comes back, will send shockwaves across the fighting game community, and this franchise deserves a proper welcome back, so making it happen should be a no-brainer at this point.
Conker
Who remembers the drunk squirrel who had a potty mouth and went on crazy adventures? If you know who I am talking about, then you know who “Conker” is and why this franchise needs a revival. “Conker” is unlike any other 3D platformer in that it retains the cute and colorful aesthetics this genre is known for but flips it on its head and delivers a very “interesting” premise with these games. Remember the Great Mighty Poo? Yeah, I’ll leave that at that. It’s crazy to think how many games Rare used to make back in the day, and “Conker” was just one of them, so do us all a favor, and Microsoft, bring back this squirrel, please. It doesn’t have to be a new game in this case, and even a remake of one of the original games like “Conker’s Bad Fur Day” would be enough. These games were hilarious and incredibly fun to play, and here’s hoping that Microsoft and Xbox don’t make a habit of just idly sitting on so many IPs and slowly but surely bringing them back and giving them another chance.
Banjo-Kazooie
Another 3D platformer and another Rare or Microsoft IP that has gone missing for unknown reasons, “Banjo-Kazooie” is incredible, memorable, and very fun to play, so it’s shocking to see that this IP came to a screeching halt instead of moving forward. There’s so much fan demand and love for this series, which makes it all the more baffling as to why Microsoft is silent on this one. People will chew up a new game if it ever comes out, so please make it happen. Microsoft, what’s stopping you guys? It’s not like they haven’t brought back any of their old IPs, as “Battletoads” is a good example of reviving and revamping an old game for modern standards. A remake for “Banjo-Kazooie” and “Banjo-Tooie” is bound to happen someday, and maybe we’ll even get a new game or even new games from this franchise; the question is when? And can that when be very soon, please?
Spyro
The third 3D platformer in a row, and rightfully so. These games from back in the day were some of the most memorable experiences the gaming industry has seen, so it’s only fair that they deserve to be mentioned. Thankfully, we can’t blame Microsoft for this one yet as it is owned by Activision, who haven’t joined team Xbox but are in the process. When they released the remasters of the “Crash Bandicoot” games with “Crash Bandicoot: The N-Sane Trilogy,” we saw a great resurgence in the love of the gaming community for 3D platformers, and soon after, we got a brand new game in the “Crash Bandicoot” series with “Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.” It’s surprising because of that that the same hasn’t happened with the “Spyro” series, as they proudly re-released the remastered versions of the original games with “Spyro: Reignited Trilogy,” and yet we never got a follow-up. Everyone’s favorite purple dragon is bound to take flight once again, so can we speed up the process and get a new game with his name already?
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Putting “Splinter Cell” here is kind of cheating a bit because we are getting a full-blown remake of the original “Splinter Cell” game soon; however, this IP has been dead for such a long time that it deserves mention. “Splinter Cell” is a stealthy spy game where you play as Sam Fisher, who’s always lurking in the shadows and taking care of bad guys. The last game that came out from this series was “Splinter Cell: Blacklist” all the way back in 2013, and with it, the series went dormant. It’s good to know that Ubisoft is remaking the original, but it’ll be even better if we can get new games from this IP, as this is one of the only stealth games left on the market, and it’s so good that we can’t help but hope for more from it.
Prototype
You are not going to like what I have to say, but I am not a fan of “Prototype.” I never liked the first game or Alex Mercer, and the second game was more up my alley. Heresy, I know, but it is what it is. Despite my disliking of the franchise, there’s no denying that this anti-hero game made superhero games look cool and popular before they became cool and popular, and because of that, it needs to come back. The level of chaos you can spread in “Prototype” games is unmatched by any other game of the same genre, and the options at your disposal (in the first game) are truly mind-numbing. It’s a shame that this IP died before its time and that Radical Entertainment was shut down, but the beauty of the gaming business is its unpredictability, and because of that, there’s always hope that “Prototype” will return someday in the future.
Prince Of Persia
Another Ubisoft franchise and another game that kind of counts as cheating belong on this list. The “Prince Of Persia” games were all the rage from back in the day, telling us stories of the Prince and his handy powers of reversing back time. The reason I put this here because it qualifies as cheating is that we are getting a remake of “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” soon, but that’s not enough. How about a new game? I know this series laid the foundations for “Assassin’s Creed,” and Ubisoft didn’t continue forward with this because they felt like they’d be delivering two similar experiences and that “Assassin’s Creed” was more open-ended, but times have changed now, and this series can make a triumphant comeback if Ubisoft lets it. I think the remake and its success will define if this series will ever return, so here’s hoping that it’s good and a lot of people buy it when it comes out so we may finally get a new game in the “Prince of Persia” series.
Medal Of Honor
Finally, we have the “Medal of Honor,” which was yet another military first-person shooter in a sea of military first-person shooters. There’s a hardcore fanbase for this one, and while I am not among them, I do appreciate the efforts they put into it, which separated it from the rest of the pack. The problem for me with “Medal of Honor” dying is not its death itself but the fact that this series never got the chance to realize its potential before it went away. Will we see a new “Medal of Honor” sometime in the future? Your guess is as good as mine. Will I like to see one, though? I don’t mind. A good game is always welcomed, no matter how stale the genre itself may get.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty more dead IPs and franchises that deserve a second chance and should be revived, but these are a few off the top of our heads. These IPs will not only benefit from modern technology but also hold power in their hands to reignite the love they felt back in the day. What do you think? Do these games deserve to come back? If so, then should they come back? What are some of the games and IPs that have been long-dead that you’d personally like to see return? I hope these sparked some curiosity in you at least, and I hope that someday we’ll get these games and the second chance that they deserve. As always, see you at the next one!
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