Source: seganerds.com
It’s no secret Sega has some of the best franchises in all of gaming history. And for some reason that baffles mankind, they choose to ignore these popular franchises to create new and far less attractive ones like Yakuza or Billy Hatcher.
Consider this us calling you out, Sega.
Sega, for once, give us Sega Nerds what we want. Give us the games that made us love you to begin with. We don’t care about Yakuza, Billy Hatcher or Charlotte’s Web.
These are the games we want to play again.
10. ChuChu Rocket!
I think this game screams “Bring me to Xbox Live Arcade!” Even if Sega didn’t make this into a full-blown sequel, but added some new content and brought it to XBL Arcade, I would be a happy camper. Playing four-player against your friends was one of the most fun, hectic and rewarding games I’ve ever played. Sega, I want this one.
9. Samba de Amigo
Samba de Amigo is a rhythm-based game in the vein of Guitar Hero and Taiko Drum Master, but get this … you use maracas! Yeah, this game was one of the most pure fun Dreamcast games ever made, and this game would translate remarkably well to the Nintendo Wii and it’s motion-sensing remote.
8. Legend of Oasis
This top-down action title is the closest thing to a Zelda game that you’ll find from Sega. But the Oasis series is so much more than just a Zelda clone. With a magical armlet that allows you to summon elemental spirits, this game was one of the very best action-adventure games on the Sega Saturn. I think this game would translate perfectly into 3D, but Sega would have to bring back Yuzo Koshiro to compose the game’s music to get my full stamp of approval.
7. Ecco the Dolphin
There have actually been quite a few games in the Ecco the Dolphin franchise, with the last being Ecco: Defender of the Future on the Dreamcast and PS2. The thing is, I thought Defender of the Future was an absolutely amazing game and that Sega did a great job at bringing the franchise to 3D. Plus, it’s still one of the most gorgeous Dreamcast games I’ve ever played, so it’s confused me that we haven’t seen a sequel yet.
Sega did such a good job at successfully recreating a believable oceanic world in Defender of the Future, and I’d be very interested in seeing what they could do with the power of the Xbox 360 or PS3.
6. Phantasy Star
Okay, Sega, enough is enough. We’ve taken Phantasy Star online and even journeyed to the Phantasy Star Universe, but these games have gotten so stale with little to no innovation, repetitive gameplay and a ridiculous monthly charge. I want to see this series return to its roots where we first fell in love with it in traditional RPG style.
5. Skies of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia was one of two extremely awesome Dreamcast RPGs (the other being Grandia 2). The game took the Airship concept a few steps further with actual flying pirate ships, complete with insanely awesome ship-vs.-ship battles. Sega, if you do ever decide to make a sequel to this awesome franchise, you better leave the ship battles in or else I will write you a very nasty letter, and you won’t like it one bit. Trust me.
4. Panzer Dragoon Saga
Sega took a big risk transforming the successful Panzer Dragoon series from a shooter to an RPG during the Saturn’s heyday, and it worked … really well. Dragoon Saga is now one of the Saturn’s most valuable titles due to its low production numbers and incredible amount of awesomeness. Hey Sega, please produce more copies the next go around.
3. Streets of Rage
Back in the 16-bit days, there were tons of 2D brawlers, and none were better than Streets of Rage, not even Final Fight. However, Sega, if you do decide to ever make a new entry into this series, please keep it 2D. I’ve seen far too many of my beloved 2D franchises meet untimely deaths due to developers who think 3D makes for a better game. It doesn’t.
All Sega has to do is update the game’s graphics, give us some new gameplay elements and throw this puppy online and they have a winner. Pretty simple, eh?
2. NiGHTS into Dreams
Taking control of Claris and Elliot in hopes of saving Nightopia was an absolute blast back in the day on the Saturn. And like Samba de Amigo, I think NiD would make for a great Wii or PS3 title, since both controllers make use of motion and tilt technology, respectively. Heck, even series creator, Yuji Naka, said the Wii would be perfect for a sequel.
Hell, I’ll even pay full price for a graphically-updated, but otherwise straight port of the original. Throw in the Christmas NiGHTS expansion, and Sega, you have a winner.
1. Shenmue
Did you expect anything else? Sega Nerds the world over have been clamoring for this game’s release for a long, long time. And it seems every time we get wind of the game’s possible realization, we are just letdown again.
When I first experienced Shenmue, I had never played a game that so perfectly recreated a living, breathing world. And while some gamers thought the story and gameplay was a tad boring, I was completely blown away by the epic feel of the game and lovable characters (That silly Fuku-san, will he ever learn?). And I thought Shenmue 2 kept the series heading into the right direction. Unfortunately, gamers didn’t agree, and sales never met expectations.
And if things couldn’t get worse for the franchise, it now seems like Shenmue Online will never see the light of day. However, hope will still remains among the Sega faithful that our beloved franchise will see a third title added one day.
Sega, I promise if you give us Shenmue 3, my letters to you will stop. Seriously.
