Revitalizing A Game Series

[aboutasoandthis]

What is a popular commercial game series that you believe should be rebuilt from the ground up? What would you do to the gameplay? Would you change the storyline? Would you change the genre?

Personally I think Zelda should be completely redone. The basic game hasn't changed since the Super Nintendo game (There's an explanation). Generally you play the elf who dresses up like the legendary warrior in green clothes. The princess/kingdom/church needs your help. Ganon wants to take over the world. You must collect something. This worked well for the series because they were constantly able to debut the system on a new platform, and showcase off some new features.

To me, Twilight Princess was Wind Waker with a realistically proportioned Link. I can't really think of any new features the game had. Link transforms into a wolf, but this same system was done in Okami, with better controls. TP had a more serious storyline, but Shadow of the Colossus did a better one which kept the spirit of the original Zelda.

If I could rebuild the game, I'd return the game to its roots. The original game dropped you into the middle of nowhere with no weapons. If you didn't go into the cave to get the sword, you were screwed. There was also a tension and a loneliness to the game. I'd take the original Zelda game, rebuild it with better graphics, and then add an apocalyptic setting. I'd also make the game controls less clunky and videogame-ish.

 You are allowed to defend your games with explanations.

[Ben]

Ninja Boy.
Old school. NES/GB/SNES rpg.

It had a simple battle system
It was marketable, but just sort of fell into obscuraity




ALSO: Star tropics

[emiiru]

Originally posted by aboutasoandthis
What is a popular commercial game series that you believe should be rebuilt from the ground up? What would you do to the gameplay? Would you change the storyline? Would you change the genre?

Personally I think Zelda should be completely redone. The basic game hasn't changed since the Super Nintendo game (There's an explanation). Generally you play the elf who dresses up like the legendary warrior in green clothes. The princess/kingdom/church needs your help. Ganon wants to take over the world. You must collect something. This worked well for the series because they were constantly able to debut the system on a new platform, and showcase off some new features.

To me, Twilight Princess was Wind Waker with a realistically proportioned Link. I can't really think of any new features the game had. Link transforms into a wolf, but this same system was done in Okami, with better controls. TP had a more serious storyline, but Shadow of the Colossus did a better one which kept the spirit of the original Zelda.

If I could rebuild the game, I'd return the game to its roots. The original game dropped you into the middle of nowhere with no weapons. If you didn't go into the cave to get the sword, you were screwed. There was also a tension and a loneliness to the game. I'd take the original Zelda game, rebuild it with better graphics, and then add an apocalyptic setting. I'd also make the game controls less clunky and videogame-ish.

 You are allowed to defend your games with explanations.

Love your idea.

I'd bring back Kid Chameleon, but with cell shaded 3d graphics and for the Wii or DS. That game was pretty fun, if anyone knows what about it lol. I think a full 3-dimensional map would make even more fun.

Also the same with River City Ransom. Even though it got re-released (GBA, I think...)  I believe i would have done better with a wi-fi link or 2p co op on the wii.  

Don't let this stop you from adding any other side-scroller you liked lol.

[Archem]

Super Mario Bros.

The damned money train has gotten way off track, and I just don't like it as much as I used to. I blame the fact that he does more sports stuff than platforming these days.

[cherko]

I haven't played any of the more recent Zelda games. I've played every console Zelda game (well, except the CD-i ones) up to Majora's Mask, and every handheld Zelda game up to the Minish Cap.

Seems like you'd rather have the Zelda series take a more Metroid-ish approach. Well, I haven't played any Metroid games after Super Metroid, but that one was pretty lonely. I'd rather have the Zelda franchise take a more RPGish approach, with a really thick plot heavy game and a lot more nonlinearity.

Also, Shadow of the Colossus was boring as hell. The boss fights were pretty damn awesome, but finding them was a pain.

[aboutasoandthis]

Originally posted by Archem2
Super Mario Bros.

The damned money train has gotten way off track, and I just don't like it as much as I used to. I blame the fact that he does more sports stuff than platforming these days.

They say Mario Galaxy almost redefined platforming, so I think that counts as rebuilt.

Originally posted by cherko
I haven't played any of the more recent Zelda games. I've played every console Zelda game (well, except the CD-i ones) up to Majora's Mask, and every handheld Zelda game up to the Minish Cap.

Seems like you'd rather have the Zelda series take a more Metroid-ish approach. Well, I haven't played any Metroid games after Super Metroid, but that one was pretty lonely. I'd rather have the Zelda franchise take a more RPGish approach, with a really thick plot heavy game and a lot more nonlinearity.

Also, Shadow of the Colossus was boring as hell. The boss fights were pretty damn awesome, but finding them was a pain.

I can understand that. If you weren't into the artsy side of it, Colossus was boring, but this was mostly because there were no enemies or NPCs to the game. With Zelda you at least have enemies running around, and some NPCs in caves and cities. You could keep the extensive plots. TP had a really nice one. I just think it could've been more meaningful. I agree about the nonlinearity thing. Even with so much freedom they all feel linear.

--On a side note, why did it take so long too find them. Every one I can think of should only take 10 minutes tops. Did you use the sword and the sunlight enough?

[RuneBlade]

Donkey Kong Country should be brought back, for being awesome platformers. The first one was really nice, the second one MIND BLOWING, the third not really as good, but it passed as a good platformer. The art was nice, the music and mood overall was so great I sit there just passing time playing it because it just FEELS NICE, its so good you become happy playing it.

[Meiscool-2]

Resident Evil has always been a series that has kept me hooked. It and the Castlevania games always introduce something new to every game, making them fun and exciting to play.

If I had to remake a series... it would probably be the "of mana" series. The first one was amazing. It had 3 different characters, 2 player control-ability, and all three characters were on the screen at once. Each cpu controlled character had pretty good AI too. Sword of mana/Children of mana lacked that... even though it had online play. It should've been that two or three characters went through the main story together, and during online play other people could replace those characters. But blah blah... It was a let down that you could only raise one character rather than make all 3 characters powerful for their seperate occasions. It make killing enemies actually worth something.

[aboutasoandthis]

Originally posted by RuneBlade
Donkey Kong Country should be brought back, for being awesome platformers. The first one was really nice, the second one MIND BLOWING, the third not really as good, but it passed as a good platformer. The art was nice, the music and mood overall was so great I sit there just passing time playing it because it just FEELS NICE, its so good you become happy playing it.

They did make a pretty cool game for the N64. I just remember getting lost a lot. They also need to figure out how to remake Diddy's roll then normal jump in 3D.

[Moosetroop11]

Giants: Citizen Kabuto. That thing was amazing but was ruined by a few little things... I suspect that it didn't have much of a budget. Remake that with the power of the xbox 360 and take a look at some of the weak points in the game, such as the slightly boring last few missions, and it'd be fantastic.

[Phayre]

I dunno-- every series I've loved that changed has turned to crap. final Fantasy, Sonic.... yuck. So I dunno. Series should stay similar. Individul games are for individuality.

[aboutasoandthis]

I thought this was interesting.

http://www.modestarcade.com/video/get_video.MOV

http://spindash.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=461&Itemid=582

[WarxePB]

Referring to Zelda, I recall hearing a rumor that the next Zelda game would take place in a futuristic/steampunk version of Hyrule. Though it might turn some people off, I think it's exactly what the Zelda series needs.

Referring to Sonic, I point to Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Sega really dropped the ball with Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic 06, so here's hoping that Unleashed and DB turn out to be decent.

I think Nintendo in particular has some great retro franchises that are long due for a revival. Kid Icarus could be a 3D action/adventure game like Metroid Prime in third-person, Ice Climber could be something like Endless Ocean with some combat thrown in, Joy Mech Fight could be a more hardcore approach to Smash Bros, and Pilotwings is just begging for a Wii revival. Of their current franchises, though, I think Pokemon is the most needing of an overhaul; the four main generations all use the same basic plot, and I think a Pokemon game with a far darker and more in-depth story could potentially be one of the greatest games ever.

[ZeroKirbyX]

I'm actually fairly content. Yeah, they're all just rejashed, but I still enjoy them. But I'd say I'd like to see a new Tomb Raider that's as fun as the first, but not as shitty as new ones.

[Snood]

I liked the first two AoE games. I'd loved to see those remade.