The next generation of consoles is right around the corner, but sometimes it's hard to leave old favorites in the past. Sometimes, players want a bit more than upscaled ports. But which games deserve that coveted remaster, remake, or even a sequel?
Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot made nostalgia-infused comebacks as remakes recently, which feels like a ray of hope for fans of PS1-era games. Crash is even getting a brand new sequel, coming this year.
With the PlayStation 5 arriving this holiday season, it's time to take a look back at some PlayStation classics that need to make next-gen appearances.
Ape Escape
The first Ape Escape came out back in 1999. It quickly became one of the console's must-play platformers. Exploring the diverse environments while catching all of the escaped apes never got old.
Fast-forward a few years, and we have the latest mainline entry in the series. "Latest" may not even be the right word since Ape Escape 3 was released in 2005 on the PS2.
With its insane number of spin-offs, it's genuinely surprising that a real Ape Escape sequel hasn't been made in 15 years.
There are ways to play some of the games in the series on PS4, but nothing close to a true remaster, remake, or sequel. Here's to hoping that these apes are let loose once again on PlayStation 5.
Silent Hill
The Silent Hill franchise defined survival horror games with its first few entries on the PS1 and PS2. In fact, some would even say that Silent Hill 2 is one of, if not, the best game in that genre.
The creepy, mind-bending narratives stuck with players for years to come. This is even true for the demo for the canceled Silent Hill entry, P.T.
If anything on the level of P.T. gets released as a true sequel in the series for next-generation consoles, fans would absolutely lose their minds in the best way possible. Because of that, rumors of new entry have stalked the series for years, and iconic villain Pyramid Head has even made a recent appearance in Dead by Daylight.
Jak and Daxter
Naughty Dog has been a big name in the video game industry for a long time. Before The Last of Us, there was Uncharted. And before Uncharted, there was Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter on the PS1 and PS2.
The Last of Us 2 has been on a lot of players' minds for a few weeks now, but it wasn't too long ago that Jak and Daxter could arguably be called Naughty Dog's best work. It was one of the very best action-platformers around in the early- to mid-2000s.
The series has been brought to PS3 and PS4 with upscaled ports, which is nice, but Jak and Daxter is a franchise that deserves more.
It'd be a dream come true to be able to see more of the amazing story, fun combat and platforming, and loveable characters in a Crash Bandicoot-style remake or sequel.
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal started out as a classic PS1 game, and it just so happens to be the oldest entry on this list. The first game launched in 1995, while the latest game was a reboot released for PS3 in 2012.
It'd be interesting to see just how the PS5 could improve upon Twisted Metal's chaotic demolition derby gameplay.
The high-octane action needs to be experienced once more, and now would be the perfect time for a victory lap, especially considering the popularity of games like Rocket League.
Sly Cooper
Okay, so there are a few platformers on this list. They're all classics, though. Like Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper is another PlayStation franchise that gained most of its popularity during the early- to mid-2000s.
The latest entry came out in 2013 on the PS3, and at one point, there was even a movie in development, yet no signs of another sequel.
Unlike Jak and Daxter, the Sly Cooper games weren't made available on PS4 at all. Sly's band of thieves missed out on an entire console generation, but it might be just the right time to bring the series back.
Suikoden
Suikoden is an RPG series that honestly, didn't always sell well. Despite this, critics and fans alike have continuously praised the early games.
Suikoden 2 is the brightest of the bunch, being hailed as one of the best non-Square Enix console RPGs of all time. Unfortunately, none of the games made it to the PS4 in any capacity.
Even if a sequel or full remake seems unlikely at this point, we can still keep our fingers crossed for a remaster of the long series' most enjoyable titles.
Tenchu
Tenchu was one of the most notable stealth-focused games on the PS1, alongside Metal Gear Solid. In fact, they both released in 1998 in Japan.
The duo's stealth mechanics are where most of the similarities between the two end, though, as Tenchu incorporated ninjutsu, Japanese fantasy, and martial arts elements throughout the series. Metal Gear Solid is, well, Metal Gear.
FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki actually stated that Sekiro could have been a new entry in the Tenchu franchise, but plans changed. That confession alone should give fans hope for a Tenchu comeback.
Legacy of Kain
Legacy of Kain is, depending on who you talk to, one of the more obscure entries on this list. It's a series of action-adventure games dating all the way back to 1996.
At the time, these games were praised for their storylines and gripping gameplay. Kain is a vampire out for revenge, and he didn't exactly meet the conventional standards for a protagonist at the time.
Yet again, we have another classic PlayStation franchise that isn't available on PS4. It's long overdue for an upgraded version for fans to sink their teeth into.
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None of these games listed are guaranteed to get remasters, remakes, or sequels, but a little bit of hope can go a long way. Trust me. As a Spyro fan, I know the struggle well.
What classic PlayStation franchises do you want to see remastered or completely remade? Let us know over on Twitter!
Published: Jul 17, 2020 10:54 am