QuickJump QuickPeek Special Edition – Where have these games gone?

Tekken 6. Modern Warfare 2. Final Fantasy XIII. Three of the hottest titles in the scene right now. But no matter how many Mishimas pop into the story and how poor breathing control can make you miss your snipe, these games still owe something to their older-gen ancestors. The fame of the name carries the game, after all. But for some reason, a few of the older-gen’s biggest franchises failed to make the seventh generation, or at least got a decent portable iteration.

 

 

Tekken 6. Modern Warfare 2. Final Fantasy XIII. Three of the hottest titles in the scene right now. But no matter how many Mishimas pop into the story and how poor breathing control can make you miss your snipe, these games still owe something to their older-gen ancestors. The fame of the name carries the game, after all. But for some reason, a few of the older-gen’s biggest franchises failed to make the seventh generation, or at least got a decent portable iteration.

 

We didn’t don’t mind that Cloud and company stand patiently still while waiting for their turn, nor was it a deal breaker that they didn’t have any fingers. Fortunately for them, they happen to be in one of the biggest RPG series ever, and is still sometimes mentioned in gaming spaces all over. Final Fantasy VII is still accessible to the seventh-gen, and Square Enix has nurtured the franchise to seven more installments since then.

 

These franchises weren’t as big, or as lucky:

 

Breath of Fire

What I wouldn’t give to see Ryu, Nina, and the rest of their variably named crew again. Just like Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire maintained in-game elements that survived with each new title. Characters of the same name, great mini-games, and even frustratingly powerful enemies that you have to grind up to beat. They were so cool that they didn’t even need to be up close to whack their enemies – the first three games, anyway. Whether in a re-release or in a new installment, Breath of Fire still has a lot of steam in its lungs that unfortunately didn’t get much huff and puff.

 

Would be cool to have: a re-release of the first four would be awesome.

Tweaks?: Raise the drop rate of that damn GooKing Sword.

 

 

Twisted Metal

 
There has been a lot of rumors about the return of Twisted Metal, but sadly, nothing has been set in stone for the ballistic road rager. The best in the series, to me, remains Twisted Metal 4, for being the only one that lets you fire different missiles in a string and for a versatile selection of weapons. Black wasn’t as fun to play, and Head-On just wasn’t the fix that would quench the TM thirst.

 

Would be cool to have: I think it’s time for Twisted Metal 5

Tweaks?: Online console gaming has gotten much better since Black: Online, stick with the TM4 gameplay but let’s have balanced Special for Sweet Tooth.

 

 

Bushido Blade

 

It didn’t hit off very long, but Square was really on to something here. One-hit slash kills had a realistic twist that current fighting games don’t offer. Add a fresh spatter of blood here and dismemberment there, then hey, we’d be looking for that kill in an instant. Imagine being able to go Battousai on your opponent with a well-timed, well-placed swing. I’d definitely go with that.

 

Would be cool to have: re-release or new installment would be interesting.

Tweaks?: Physics and intuitive control. Motion control would be fun too.

 

 

Theme

 

Whether it was running your own theme park, hospital, or Aquarium, the management sim series of Theme still holds a certain flavor that clones and similar games have failed to replicate. The combination of strategic placement, development, and of course, management, somehow gives the Theme series a Tower Defense feel mixed with the cribs-pimping fun of The Sims.

 

Would be cool to have: an HD-rehashed online downloadable

Tweaks?: Real-time online competitive modes, like hospital vs. hospital, maybe?

 

 

These games are but a very small fraction of the now not-so-active franchises. My list doesn’t even end here. I’m sure you have your own lists, and I’d be glad to compare with you guys at the comments below. But what’d be more fun if the publishers pick up on the trail and maybe give us a taste of the old games again. Until then, we have our beloved emulators and homebrew projects to keep us happy.