For the past few days, I’ve been dusting off my old retro consoles to play some old games with some friends, and during that time, I came across a bunch of retro gems that have never been given a re-release, remake, or much love since they were first created.
It got me thinking about what type of older retro games need a modern-day reboot or sequel, something to bring them to the limelight once more for the modern-day gamer to either enjoy or experience for the first time. It was while thinking about this, I realized that a lot of those older retro games likely wouldn’t resonate with today’s audiences, and some of them are quite obscure.
To remove all doubt, I am mainly talking about game series or mascots that haven’t been given a lot of love or been utilized at all outside of the old skin for a character or easter egg every now and again. And I think the first one I thought deserves the modern-day sequel might surprise you.
Oddly enough, one game I felt could do with some kind of follow-up was one of Nintendo’s oldest titles. Duck Hunt. For a game so well known and even represented in recent games like the Smash Bros. roster, it’s wild to me that there was never a Duck Hunt game for Wii during that console’s height. Granted, you could argue there isn’t much else they could do with the simple concept, but I feel like you could at least make something for Japanese arcades that would resonate with fans.
I also almost wanted to put Perfect Dark on this list after the recent remake got cancelled following the Xbox layoffs, but it feels too soon. Equally, other Rare properties like Banjo-Kazooie are in massive need of a modern sequel that wasn’t the disastrous Nuts and Bolts.
And now for the big one. Shadow of the Colossus has been one of the most sought-after sequels considering the game’s ending, and while there have been maybe times of spiritual successors, it’s a series I would love to see come back outside of its various remakes and re-releases.
This is just a few sprinklings of a wider pattern of thought, and I wanted to get this thought out there to have a discussion with others on Destructoid on what other retro games you feel are deserving of some kind of comeback. Do let me know in the comments below!
