RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
What I'd really like to see in this thread isn't just posts with a name like "Shenmue 3" and then nothing else. Lots threads do that already. I'm specifically interested in why these games SHOULD be made, not why we want them as fans. I believe that kind of requirement would make the ideas more interesting to read and more engaging to discuss. I'll start by giving a couple of examples.
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!!/Elite Beat Agents 3DS
To me, this one seems like it should be a no brainer. iNiS doesn't seem to be up to terribly much these days, and right now there are three music games hitting up the 3DS in short order in Japan (Rhythm Thief is already out, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy coming out shortly, and Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai hits in early March). Of these, one is coming stateside next month (Rhythm Thief) and one is probably likely to come stateside (Theatrhythm). The system is being buttered up by 3rd parties for music games, it seems like a perfect time to bring the Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents back to the scene.
This especially makes sense to me when you also take into account Nintendo's new found readiness to apply DLC to upcoming releases. Theatrhythm is already going to do this by having DLC song downloads, Nintendo and iNiS could easily add new Ouendan/EBA chapters/songs via DLC for increased longetivity/extra money. It is for these reasons that I think Nintendo would be foolish not to give it another go with our favorite dancing, cheering motivators.
New Legend of Zelda and/or New Metroid (3DS or Wii U)
Mario has always sold reasonably well, but there was a period after Mario Kart 64 where games with Mario on them sold modestly, but nowhere near the prime of his heyday. In 2006, Nintendo revived the Mario platformer in a MAJOR way by releasing a new game done mostly in the old style with only the addition of his new moves from the 3D installments and 3D models in place of sprites. It sold millions and became one of Nintendo's first modern "evergreen" titles. Upgrading the game for Wii provided more millions of sold copies for Nintendo's bin-o-money.
Zelda still does well in the US, but in Japan this series is nowhere near the prime it enjoyed during its Ocarina of Time release in 1998 or even Windwaker in 2002. Skyward Sword sold worse than the 3DS remake of Ocarina in Japan. Metroid: Other M bombed on all fronts. I think Nintendo can't afford to let these franchises in particular wane with only Mario to carry the torch of assured sales figures. The problem is that they've become convoluted and bogged down by stories and expectations. Similarly to how NSMB rebooted Mario platformers in 2006 and Donkey Kong Country Returns successfully rebooted that franchise back in 2010, a "return to form" reboot of these two franchises could do wonders, especially in Japan.
Streets of Rage (HD platforms)
There's a big market for Sandbox games in the west, and if handled properly Sega could easily adapt the setting/style of the Streets of Rage franchise into a open ended Sandbox style experience ala GTA or Saints Row. The IP is there, Sega just needs to use it wisely. Give it to the Yakuza team to make a great sprawling game after they finish Yakuza 5 and you could have a major hit in the states (unlike Binary Domain which will likely fail despite probably being very good.)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!!/Elite Beat Agents 3DS
To me, this one seems like it should be a no brainer. iNiS doesn't seem to be up to terribly much these days, and right now there are three music games hitting up the 3DS in short order in Japan (Rhythm Thief is already out, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy coming out shortly, and Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai hits in early March). Of these, one is coming stateside next month (Rhythm Thief) and one is probably likely to come stateside (Theatrhythm). The system is being buttered up by 3rd parties for music games, it seems like a perfect time to bring the Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents back to the scene.
This especially makes sense to me when you also take into account Nintendo's new found readiness to apply DLC to upcoming releases. Theatrhythm is already going to do this by having DLC song downloads, Nintendo and iNiS could easily add new Ouendan/EBA chapters/songs via DLC for increased longetivity/extra money. It is for these reasons that I think Nintendo would be foolish not to give it another go with our favorite dancing, cheering motivators.
New Legend of Zelda and/or New Metroid (3DS or Wii U)
Mario has always sold reasonably well, but there was a period after Mario Kart 64 where games with Mario on them sold modestly, but nowhere near the prime of his heyday. In 2006, Nintendo revived the Mario platformer in a MAJOR way by releasing a new game done mostly in the old style with only the addition of his new moves from the 3D installments and 3D models in place of sprites. It sold millions and became one of Nintendo's first modern "evergreen" titles. Upgrading the game for Wii provided more millions of sold copies for Nintendo's bin-o-money.
Zelda still does well in the US, but in Japan this series is nowhere near the prime it enjoyed during its Ocarina of Time release in 1998 or even Windwaker in 2002. Skyward Sword sold worse than the 3DS remake of Ocarina in Japan. Metroid: Other M bombed on all fronts. I think Nintendo can't afford to let these franchises in particular wane with only Mario to carry the torch of assured sales figures. The problem is that they've become convoluted and bogged down by stories and expectations. Similarly to how NSMB rebooted Mario platformers in 2006 and Donkey Kong Country Returns successfully rebooted that franchise back in 2010, a "return to form" reboot of these two franchises could do wonders, especially in Japan.
Streets of Rage (HD platforms)
There's a big market for Sandbox games in the west, and if handled properly Sega could easily adapt the setting/style of the Streets of Rage franchise into a open ended Sandbox style experience ala GTA or Saints Row. The IP is there, Sega just needs to use it wisely. Give it to the Yakuza team to make a great sprawling game after they finish Yakuza 5 and you could have a major hit in the states (unlike Binary Domain which will likely fail despite probably being very good.)
