With the sheer number of unnecessary sequels being released these days, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there are still some much-loved games which never got a chance to return to our consoles or PCs. Here is a list of my ten favourite one-hit-wonders which are crying out for a 2nd instalment.
Beyond Good and Evil
This cult classic was released for PC, PS2, GameCube and Xbox in 2003, amid high critical acclaim, but failed miserably in terms of sales and was dubbed a financial flop by the publishers. It did, however, gain a loyal fan base who have been clamouring for a sequel ever since. The game has you taking control of Jade, a wildlife photographer in a war-torn dictatorship, who lives with a bunch of animals in an orphanage, (I know, it’s a uniquely weird game.) But those photography skills attract the attention of both the invading overlords and the plucky resistance movement and she soon ends up embroiled in a fight for freedom.
Likelihood of a Sequel – Very Likely
The developers always envisioned the game to be the first in a trilogy and announcement of the second game was made way back in 2008. This was followed by several years of uncertainty until finally, it was announced in 2014 that the game is in active development for the current generation of consoles.
Skies of Arcadia
The flagship (no pun intended) RPG for the Sega Dreamcast was a big hit back in 2000 and despite a re-release for the GameCube in 2003, it remains without a sequel. Skies of Arcadia has you sailing the very high seas in air ships, swashbuckling your way through an extremely compelling story with Vyse and Aika, blue rogues and pirates of the sky. The game is one of the most sought after collectibles on both the Sega Dreamcast and the GameCube and copies of the GameCube version regularly sell for more than £60($90).
Likelihood of a Sequel – No Chance
The Dreamcast spelled the end of Sega’s long-fought battle in the console market. Subsequently, many of their IPs now lay dormant and I could probably populate this entire list with Dreamcast and Saturn games. Furthermore, it has been alleged that the CEO of Sega sent a letter in response to a fan, effectively stating that there will be no sequel.
Psychonauts
Tim Schafer is considered by many to be the master of creating cult classics which flop financially. Grim Fandango, Brutal Legend and Full Throttle were all commercial failures which have subsequently become fan favourites. The difference with Psychonauts is that the ending of the game actually sets itself up for a sequel. The game itself takes place at a summer camp for psychic kids and has the player diving into the disturbed minds of its various inhabitants in order to solve their somewhat bizarre neuroses and save the camp from destruction. It is a truly unique experience and of all the games on this list, this is perhaps the one which most deserves to be noticed for its quality. Re-releases on Steam, PSN and XBL have brought it to a slightly wider audience, but it still remains an obscure gem and I would highly recommend picking it up.
Likelihood of a Sequel - Maybe
The willingness from Tim Schafer is definitely there. In a reddit AMA he actually cited Psychonauts as the game he really wants to make a sequel to. Unfortunately, all attempts to make this a reality have fallen through, including a potential deal with Minecraft creator Markus Person for funding. It could still happen, but I doubt we’ll see it any time soon.
Red Dead Redemption
I could list a whole bunch of Rockstar’s games on here and I imagine many people would nod in agreement. Bully was great, L. A. Noire was a flawed gem and could definitely come into its own in a sequel. But no game has been anywhere near as highly requested by fans as Red Dead Redemption 2. Now before you all go slamming this into the comments section, I know that Red Dead Redemption is a sequel itself, but let’s be honest, it’s really an IP all of its own and deserves to be viewed as such. In case you’re one of the Amazonian tribesmen people who haven’t played it yet, Red Dead Redemption has you horse-riding and gun-slinging your way through the old west in a Clint Eastwood inspired adventure of epic proportions.
Likelihood of a Sequel – Likely
Despite Rockstar’s refusal to say anything about a potential sequel, this game was just far too popular and made way too much money for them to not capitalize on it. It may be a year or two, but the PS4 and XboxOne will almost certainly see another Red Dead game.
Heavenly Sword
Back in 2007, this PS3 exclusive was a reason to buy the console. Despite its somewhat short play time, it boasted amazing visuals, tight hack ‘n’ slash gameplay and made use of the somewhat novel six-axis controller. The game has you playing as Nariko, a warrior on a quest to rescue her captive clansmen, imprisoned by the evil Lord Bohan. The story was simple but well executed and the characters were a delight, especially the ridiculously mean and sarcastic Lord Bohan
Likelihood of a Sequel – Unlikely
Creators ‘Ninja Theory’ seemed up for a sequel back in 2007, stating that they even planned a second instalment from the start. But fans were left waiting and they have since gone on to make Enslaved, DMC and are currently working on Hellblade. If a sequel ever does happen, chances are it will not be made by the original team and will probably suffer a lot as a result.
Battletoads
How has this game not had a sequel? It pretty much has legendary status as a cartridge-era classic of insane difficulty and its main characters are some cool-looking animals, which was basically the formula for success in the ‘90s. Yet Battletoads, a game about….erm….battling toads remains the only game in the series. OK, that’s not strictly true. There was an arcade game released in 1994 and a sequel on Super Nintendo and Sega Megadrive/Genesis in 1993, but it garnered average reviews and less average sales and that was over 20 years ago. We want more Battletoads please!
Likelihood of a Sequel – Maybe
Microsoft big cheese Phil Spencer has recently expressed his love for and desire to bring back Battletoads as well as other ‘Rare’ titles. However, exactly how long that will take is anyone’s guess, especially considering the sheer number of eligible games from that back-catalogue, which includes the likes of Banjo Kazooie and Perfect Dark.
Eternal Darkness
Ask any hardcore horror fan what they think the most underappreciated horror game of all time is and most of them will probably respond with ‘Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem’ on the Nintendo GameCube. This game was amazing, from its Lovecraftian themes of Old Gods to its innovative means of getting under your skin. The game would break the fourth wall in an attempt to keep you on edge, even simulating hardware failures such as the ‘blue screen of death,’ combined with more traditional means of creeping you out, such as skewed camera angles, voices in your head and having the player walk on the ceiling. These were all tied to a sanity meter which measured the protagonist’s mental wellbeing.
Likelihood of a Sequel – Unlikely
I could actually write a whole article on the rise and fall of the proposed sequel to Eternal Darkness. It suffered multiple failed kickstarter campaigns, prior to one of the project leads being arrested for possession of child pornography, before the project was put on hold and the studio folded. This is truly a loss to us all and while I’m sure the potential for a sequel is there, I wouldn’t get any high hopes for it emerging any time soon.
Beneath a Steel Sky
Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the world of PC gaming was dominated by point-and-click adventure games. Their use of voice acting, combined with their almost free-roaming nature meant that they provided an extremely compelling experience in a time when most games were about killing bad guys and rescuing the girl. Beneath a Steel Sky has you take on the role of Robert Foster, a man who finds himself trapped in a dystopian city, where the rich live close to the ground, below all of the pollution and smog. The setting is one of the most original and compelling that I have ever seen and it is loaded with that uniquely British wit and humour that makes comedies such as Monty Python and Red Dwarf so enjoyable. It even has art work by Dave Gibbons, artist and co-creator of Watchmen.
Likelihood of a Sequel – Maybe
Despite talks of a potential sequel going back as far as 2004 and the 2012 suggestion by creators ‘Revolution’ that they have been inspired by the success of ‘Broken Sword 5’ to ‘greenlight’ the project, there are currently no plans to make the game any time in the near future. They currently have their hands full with the Broken Sword sequels and despite a loyal following, Beneath a Steel Sky remains the less famous of the two games.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
I earn my bread and butter by working in a retro game shop and we just sold a copy of this game for £180($275). Such is the popularity of Conker’s Bad Fur Day, a game which almost nobody bought due to an almost non-existent advertising campaign, right at the end of the Nintendo 64’s life-span. It was, however, a huge critical success, being praised for its excellent (very mature) humour, juxtaposed to its cutesy style as well as solid platforming and puzzle mechanics. We have since had a remake on Xbox but no sequel, leaving fans salivating for a return to Conker’s antics.
Likelihood of a Sequel – No Chance
Creator Chris Seavor stated several years ago that there is no chance of a sequel, adding that “Conker being made now, well sad to say but I expect I wouldn’t even get an audience these days with the initial idea, let alone a consideration for a budget. Safe Bets only in the big budget mainstream I’m afraid.”
Shadow of the Colossus
A game where the hero rides on a horse from boss fight to boss fight, doing battle with giant enemies, climbing their giant stone bodies to find the weak spot and plunging a sword in, all in the name of reviving his dead lover. What’s not to like? This game burst onto the Playstation 2 back in 2006, right at the end of its life-span and has since gained a legendary status for its originality and near-perfect mechanics.
Likelihood of a Sequel – Unlikely
In truth, this is a bit of a tough one to call. A game called 'The Last Guardian' has been in development since 2007 and was supposed to have been released in 2011 on the PS3. While it was initially billed as a sequel to Shadow of the Colossus, it actually seems to more resemble the studio’s previous release, Ico. Shadow of the Colossus was itself initially billed as a sequel to Ico before morphing into a totally different project altogether. The truth is that this studio doesn’t really do sequels and so I doubt we’ll ever see a return to those epic battles.
Well that’s it, my wish list. But I’m keen to hear what you think. What did I miss out of the list? What was I wrong about? Let me know in the comments below and if I haven’t played them, I’ll make it a priority.