God of War was released at the tail end of the PS2 era in 2005 and was something more than most games on the system. Not only was it more mature thanks to the language, gore, and nudity, but it also featured a protagonist who was hard to root for. The more the series went on, the less heroic Kratos seemed.
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So, when the God of War series got the rebooted 2018 sequel, it made sense for the developers to soften Kratos up a bit. Now, as a father, Kratos wanted to put the past behind him to be a better man. So, of the PS2 era, are there any characters who could go through similar transformations for a similar reboot/sequel?
Jak And Daxter
Back To Naughty Dog
The Jak and Daxter series began and virtually ended in the PS2 era, with the last game, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, releasing on both the PS2 and PSP in 2009. Naughty Dog began the series, but didn’t end it, and fans have been waiting for a new entry for years.
Since Naughty Dog has matured over the years with both Uncharted and The Last of Us, perhaps now is the time for them to go back to their platforming legacy. The way the last game ended, it’s possible for a reboot to find Jak and Daxter in a whole new world, ready to adventure once again, perhaps as more grizzled heroes ready to take on the call once more.
Syphon Filter
A Bridge Of Spies
Syphon Filter began as a series on the PS1 in 1999, with it ending technically on the PS2 in 2010 via Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow, although that was based on a 2007 PSP game. Either way, this is another case that would work well to have an older character return. Gabriel Logan was the lead for this series, always tackling new terror threats.
A reboot could have him lead a new generation of spies, with a new character taking control. An older Logan tasked with going after an old foe would also work akin to what Ubisoft did with Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Conviction or the new Netflix series, Splinter Cell: Deathmatch.
Mega Man X
Rebuilding The Maverick Hunters
Mega Man X8
- Released
-
December 7, 2004
- ESRB
-
Everyone // Violence
The Mega Man X series began on the SNES in 1993, in Japan, as a reboot of Mega Man, and the last core title was Mega Man X8 in 2004 on the PS2. There was almost a chance at a dark and gritty reboot around 2010 called Maverick Hunter, which would have been a first-person shooter.
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While that game was canceled, it would not be a bad direction to restart the franchise as something more mature and less like another action platformer. The game could feature X being pulled out of storage as a rusty android, having to face Sigma once again in a post-apocalyptic version of the future. Only X, as rusty as he may be, can save the day.
Wild Arms
Breath Of The Wild
Wild Arms 5
- Released
-
December 14, 2006
Wild Arms began on the PS1 in 1996, in Japan, with the last numbered sequel hitting the PS2 in 2006, also in Japan. There was a PSP game and a mobile game after, but nothing like the main series of turn-based RPGs. Like Final Fantasy, every entry featured a different set of characters, with virtually no ties between them except the Western-themed planet of Filgaia and the powerful weapons known as ARMs.
The series couldn’t be rebooted with a returning character like Kratos, but it could star a more gritty take on the Western JRPG idea with darker themes and blood, perhaps taking note of Red Dead Redemption.
Legacy Of Kain
Modern Vampires
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain was the first game in the series, hitting the PS1 in 1996. The last main game was Legacy of Kain: Defiance in 2003, which was released on the PS2 in 2003. Like Mega Man X, there were attempts to bring the Legacy of Kain series back from the dead in the 2010s with Legacy of Kain: Dark Sun, which was canceled.
The titular Kain shares a lot with Kratos as he’s an angry vampire lord who is not exactly a hero and does not pull his punches. Now seems like the right time to bring the immortal Kain back, perhaps in the modern era.
Bloodrayne
Evil Never Dies
Bloodrayne is another vampire series worth returning to, but this one starred a female vampire, Rayne. It all began with the first game in 2002, with Rayne fighting Nazis in the 1930s. The sequel set the game in the then-modern age, which was an interesting move when it was released in 2004.
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There was a non-PS2 game in 2011, but this was a 2D action platformer. Since Rayne is immortal, and the series has already shown that it doesn’t have to take place during World War 2, there are infinite possibilities for a rebooted sequel.
Maximo
Of Ghosts And Goblins
Maximo vs Army of Zin
- Released
-
September 18, 2003
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory was a reboot of Ghosts ‘n Goblins on the PS2, which was released first in 2001 in Japan. Instead of a hard-as-nails action side-scroller, this reboot was a bit fairer as an action-adventure game, and started a new hero named Maximo.
There was a sequel, Maximo vs. Army of Zin, in 2003 in Japan, along with a planned sequel that was canceled. Since this series overall is known for being challenging, rebooting this specific Maximo timeline could work well as a Soulslike, with Maximo coming out to fight once again.
Manhunt
Suicide Squad
Manhunt was released in 2003 on the PS2, and it’s still one of the darkest games Rockstar ever put out. It starred a death row inmate, James Earl Cash, who was sent in to fight other criminals in a game of death for a snuff reality show. Cash escaped alive, and his whereabouts weren’t exactly spelled out after.
There was a 2007 sequel, but it was about someone else. A third game could star a new character as well, who gets thrown into a similar situation, or it could have Cash return with his past finally catching up to him. This latter idea could work well as an older Cash who turned his life around and had a family, and could be forced into murder again to rescue his family.
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.png?width=1200&height=630&fit=crop&enable=upscale&auto=webp&w=360&resize=360,270&ssl=1 "Game of Thrones creator says there’s “some talk” about Elden Ring film, but his involvement could be limited")
