Summary
This may come as a surprise to younger gamers, but Sega used to be a huge deal in the video game industry. They were fierce rivals with Nintendo and were one of the biggest names in gaming before anyone had even heard ofPlayStation or Xbox. This was largely thanks to their rich stable of unique and beloved IPs.
Today, Sega has dropped out of the console market, and the IPs it’s most known for areSonic The HedgehogandLike A Dragon. But Sega seems determined to reclaim its past glory, with classic franchises likeJet Set RadioandGolden Axebeing revived. Hope is high among gamers that other classic favorites will be revived too.
Much likeGolden Axebefore it,Panzer Dragoontook a popular genre for the time and gave it a unique fantasy setting. While most rail shooters were firmly in the sci-fi camp,Panzer Dragoonshook things up by putting players on theback of a dragonin a rich fantasy world filled with monsters and ancient technology.
Further entries shook up the formula further by introducing deep narratives, character progression, and RPG elements. The result was something completely unheard of that won a massive cult fanbase. With rail shooters largely a thing of the past now, reviving this forgotten gem is sure to help Sega tap into an ignored market.
2Burning Rangers
A Cult Classic With A Unique Premise
Despite having only one entry, Sonic Team’sBurning Rangershas a huge cult following begging for its return. The 3D platformer featured a team of futuristic firefighters. The gameplay was centered around extinguishing fires and finding people in need of rescue.
Though the game hasn’t aged gracefully, fans loved it for its unique gameplay and excellent story. The game is also home to some excellent music, which continues to appear in Sega games likeSamba de Amigo: Party Central. Since Sega hasn’t forgotten aboutBurning Rangers, its fans remain hopeful it will see life again soon.
3Altered Beast
The Shapeshifting Gameplay Is Full Of Opportunities
While a simple side-scrolling brawler on the surface,Altered Beastgot a lot of mileage out of a unique-for-the-time gameplay mechanic. After collecting enough power-ups, the player wouldshapeshift into a beast form. This would give the player new attacks and even change how they moved in some cases.
Though the original is severely dated, the ability to shift the entire gameplay has plenty of opportunities for a modern entry. The ability to alter how the game is played would add tons of variety to keep players invested. WithAltered Beastbeing a regular feature in classic Sega collections, the odds of Sega attempting to resurrect this classic are high.
Easily one of Sega’s most famous light-gun shooters, many players creditThe House Of The Deadfor popularizing zombies as a video game staple. Players would automatically proceed through a shooting gallery of horrors and shoot the zombies before they attacked. The franchise is loved for both its extreme violence and so-bad-it’s-good voice acting.
In 2022, MegaPixel Studio releasedThe House Of The Dead: Remaketo huge fan acclaim. This proves that this classic zombie shooter still has plenty of life left in it. WithVR shooter gamesgetting more and more popular, Sega could revive an old favorite and tap into a growing market all at once.
5Virtua Fighter
An Innovative Fighting Franchise With A Loyal Fanbase
With fighting games being synonymous with arcades in the ‘90s, Sega’s entry into this highly competitive market was the much-lovedVirtua Fighter. To stand out amongst the distinguished competition,Virtua Fighterwas one of the earliest examples of a 3D fighting game. In a time when 2D fighters ruled, this really helped the game make a name for itself.
Now that many fighters have transitioned to 3D,Virtua Fighterstill has fans who appreciate its dedication to pure martial arts rather than flashy superpowers. Despite being long dormant, the classic fighting franchise is still hailed as astaple of the genre.
6Space Harrier
One Of The Progenitors Of A Classic Gaming Genre
BeforeStar Foxbecame king of the rail shooter genre, the way was paved by classics likeSpace Harrier. But what really helpsSpace Harrierstand out among more generic jet or spaceship games is its unique presentation. Players control a spandex-clad man with a keg-sized machine gun that lets him fly and fight dragons in a bizarre fantasy world.
This, coupled with amazing graphics for the time and one of the best soundtracks in arcade gaming, captured the imagination of ‘80s arcade-goers. The game was an arcade classic that’s still hailed as a masterpiece by retro gamers. A modern entry could flesh out the game’s bare-bones premise and create a fascinating mythology for a modern audience.
7Ecco The Dolphin
A Fascinating Underwater Fantasy Fans Would Love To Dive Back Into
Fans know that Sega is no stranger to animal mascots, andEcco The Dolphinwas one of the company’s biggest during the ‘90s. Players had traveled through time and fought aliens before, but never as a dolphin in a rich underwater setting. The game featured a deep amount of worldbuilding, especially for a game released in 1992.
Between its unique gameplay, setting, and storytelling,Ecco The Dolphinwas a hit among gamers. It earned a loyal following of fans who have been anxiously awaiting a new entry for decades. Withunderwater games being more popularthan ever, it’s a perfect time for Sega to bring backEcco The Dolphin.
8NiGHTS
An Often Forgotten Gem That Rivals Sonic
Aside from the legendarySonic The Hedgehog, Sonic Team’s most iconic IP is probablyNiGHTS. WhileSonicfocuses on the feeling of speed,NiGHTSgames focus on the majestic freedom of flight. Players fly through a gorgeous dream world to collect items and defeat enemies.
This unique gameplay has had fans begging for a new game since 2012’sNiGHTS: Journey Of Dreams. Unfortunately, the spiritual sequel by some of the original team, titledBalan Wonderworld, performed poorly. While this has put a damper on hopes for a trueNiGHTSsequel, fans still remain hopeful.
9Out Run
A Classic Driving Game That’s All About The Journey
While Sega has many arcade hits, one of the most revered is the 1986 driving gameOut Run. While driving games are a common sight nowadays,Out Runstands out by putting the focus less on racing and more on the road trip fantasy. Players drove their cars across a variety of beautiful landscapes and could pick their own route to one of five destinations.
With high-speed racing action dominating the market nowadays, a more relaxed but still intense game that’s about seeing gorgeous locales will surely stand out. With video game tourism becoming more and more popular, a newOut Rungame could do better now than ever before.
Skies Of Arcadiais one of the most beloved RPGs of the Dreamcast era, and it’s easy to see why. Set in a fascinating world of floating islands, airships, and sky pirates, players came toSkies Of Arcadiafor its world-building and memorable characters. They stayed for its excellent combat, both on foot andin massive airships.
With its perfect blend of great story and gameplay, aSkies Of Arcadiasequel has been in high demand for decades. With its characters making appearances in games likeValkyria Chronicles, it’s clear Sega hasn’t forgotten the game either. If they were to announce a follow-up, they would make the RPG community very happy.
