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Top 8 Sega Series We Want Back NOW!

Top 8 Sega Series We Want Back NOW!

From the Mega Drive to the ill-fated Dreamcast, Sega’s consoles played host to a huge number of brilliant games across every genre imaginable. It was never a question that Sonic the Hedgehog would live on, but over the years, a number of cool and quirky series faded into quiet obscurity. A recent survey from Sega of Japan asked its overseas fans which of their favorite franchises they’d like to see brought back from the dead, and that got us pondering our own halcyon days spent with Sega titles past. It is with our eyes locked firmly upon the rearview mirror that we bring you this list of eight long-lost games and series we’d love to revisit on modern consoles.

Gunstar Heroes

Gunstar Heroes

Treasure’s seminal run-and-gun shooter is one of the most beloved games on the Sega Genesis, and for good reason: it features extremely tight level design, tactile control, and memorable bosses. A sequel, Gunstar Super Heroes , was released in 2005 for the Game Boy Advance, and while it’s a competent game, it’s a little too heavy-handed with the dialogue. We want a Gunstar Heroes revival with high-quality spritework a la Owlboy or Shantae , which would be a perfect fit for any digital distribution platform.

Altered Beast

Altered Beast

“Rise from your grave.” I’ve heard it, you’ve heard it, now we need Sega to hear it. Altered Beast is the rare series that I think could actually benefit from a gritty reboot. It could be a 3D action title in the vein of Devil May Cry centered around slick combos and a dirty but stylized low fantasy aesthetic. As long as we don’t get any hamfisted story about saving a princess in peril, a new Altered Beast would be a ton of fun.

Phantasy Star (offline)

Phantasy Star (offline)

Nothing against Phantasy Star Online – it’s a fantastic game, and was one of the first online games on console – but Phantasy Star V is a thing that needs to happen someday. No more Phantasy Star Universe , no more Japan-only Phantasy Star Nova . It’s time for a genuine Phantasy Star game that rivals Final Fantasy in terms of production values. We can only imagine the thrill of exploring Phantasy Star ‘s wild worlds with a cast of memorable characters in full high-definition glory.

ChuChu Rocket!

ChuChu Rocket!

What better place for ChuChu Rocket! than on a handheld system or a smartphone? In fact, you don’t have to imagine: ChuChu Rocket! was released on iOS back in 2010, but unfortunately, it was unceremoniously pulled from the App Store, never to return. The game is no longer accessible, and it saddens us to know that this piece of Sega’s history is gone forever. The Dreamcast and Game Boy Advance versions still exist, of course. But we hope that Sega sees fit to bring it back once more, this time with new ChuChu varieties and other additions. It would be perfect on the Nintendo Switch, now that we think about it…

Thunder Blade

Thunder Blade

With VR technology now in gamers’ living rooms across the world, now would be a perfect time to bring back a series like Thunder Blade. We could see the series coming back as an arcade-style shoot-em-up, where you rush through landscapes both urban and rural in pursuit of a high score. VR would allow you to look in every direction to gauge incoming threats and adjust your approach accordingly. Let’s get that deep, synth-y soundtrack pumping again while we’re at it.

Skies of Arcadia

Skies of Arcadia

Ah, Skies of Arcadia: one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and a crowning jewel in the Dreamcast’s library. This high-flying adventure followed Vyse and his band of sky pirates through a vibrant world of floating islands. It combined the turn-based combat of Final Fantasy with the addictive base-building elements of Suikoden , all polished to a beautiful 128-bit sheen. While a high-definition remaster of Skies of Arcadia for PS4, Xbox One, and PC would be a treat in itself, a fully-fledged sequel would be the stuff of dreams. To the sky!

Panzer Dragoon Saga

Panzer Dragoon Saga

Let’s go ahead and forget about Crimson Dragon, which released in 2013 to tepid reviews and failed to capture what made Panzer Dragoon special. We adore a solid rail shooter – Rez Infinite comes to mind – but we’re more interested in seeing a new Panzer Dragoon Saga. The original remains one of the rarest and most fascinating RPGs to ever be released in North America. It’s hard not to be excited at the prospect of seeing Manabu Kusunoki’s incredible art and postapocalyptic vision come to life in another large-scale Panzer Dragoon adventure.

Everything Else

Everything Else

There’s too much to list, so we’re cheating and including the runoff here. We already know that Shenmue III is in progress, which should bring much-needed closure to one of the most agonizing cliffhangers ever. Meanwhile, ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove was successfully Kickstarted in early 2015 and will be arriving next year, courtesy a publishing deal with Adult Swim Games. But to all the others – Seaman, Beyond Oasis, Sega GT, Golden Axe (we don’t talk about Beast Rider ), Alex Kidd, Fighting Vipers, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shining Force, Ecco the Dolphin – we salute you and await your return one day.

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