10 Sega Games Desperate for a Modern Reboot

Somebody, please, stop slacking.

Nov 10, 2013
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Remember the feelings that flooded your tiny pre-pubescent brain when you discovered a new Sonic title was forthcoming?

Back in the day, the idea of seeing another installment in the franchise was enough to start writing out your Christmas wishlist in early June and hoping for the best. It probably looked something like this:

The idea of buying a new Sonic the Hedgehog in any contemporary incarnation is now met with equal parts nostalgia fueled pity and open disdain. Take for example the recent Nintendo Wii U release of Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. A flop of the first order that's plagued by generic controls, a boring concept, and the fatigue of seeing the immediately recognizable mascots of two gaming companies trotted out for another flaccid go around. Why is Sega, when they sit, either directly or indirectly, on licenses that go back the better part of 30 years adamant about making Sonic the face of their waning relevancy?

Mining the titles of the Dreamcast, Saturn, Genesis, and arcade cabinets Sega would be given an arsenal to at least make it seem like they were aware that other titles exist aside from reanimating Sonic for another entry in the series. Games like Road Rash have been given a second lease on life thanks to vocal supporters of the series. Road Redemption was a Kickstarter success and is meant to be the spiritual successor to the Road Rash series.

Other Sega properties have been met with less success on Kickstarter. Both Ecco the Dolphin and Mutant Football League failed to meet their funding goals and will probably never see new life on a console, but that doesn't make support for classic Sega titles any less impactful. Here are 10 Sega Games Desperate for a Modern Reboot.

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10. Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio

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Last seen: An HD release on Xbox Live Arcade in 2012

This seems like a goldmine just waiting to be re-discovered. The series maintains a huge fan base thanks to its release on the Sega Dreamcast. Sega would be foolish to think that one of the most visually dynamic titles they ever had a hand in releasing wouldn't be met with open acceptance if the series were given a complete reboot.

9. Space Harrier

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Last seen: A port is currently in development for Nintendo 3DS 

All right, this is a bit of a stretch but, this on-rails shooter holds a special place in the stable of Sega games that will probably never get a reboot. The game centered on a flying/running battle mechanic that allowed for battle to take place on both the ground and the air. The title was fucking bonkers in its narrative as you are tasked with battling your way through the Fantasy Zone. While that sounds closer to happy ending massage parlor, the game still had a kinetic pace that would be welcome on today's systems.

8. Shining Force

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Last seen: A PSP entry in the Shining series dropped in 2013

Ignoring for a moment that your series is now relegated to releasing titles on the PSP, the Shining Force series defined RPGs for Sega. With over 15 titles spanning consoles from the Sega Mega Drive to the Nintendo DS, the Shining Force series seems primed for a properly robust console reboot. JRPGs are still rabidly consumed by a large percentage of Western audiences and Shining Force was one of the originals.

7. Yakuza 5

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Last seen: Kicking it in Tokyo

Yakuza 5 has already been released in Japan and Sega has no plans for a localized Western release, which is kind of bullshit. This technically doesn't count as a reboot, but Sega would still curry the goodwill of North American gamers by releasing Yakuza 5 stateside.

6. Altered Beasts

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Last seen: A 2005 PS2 dumpster fire of an attempted reboot

The 2005 title was bad. Like, really bad. The premise of the series is so simple and, yet, Sega has managed to fuck up every attempt to revisit the series. The original arcade title dabbled in light Greek mythology as the main character was a fallen centurion able to imbibe a serum that transformed him into a werewolf. Aside from mixing Greek and Roman eras, the series is still pointed to as a highpoint of early arcade beat-em-ups. A complete overhaul with a modern approach would be a huge boon for the Sega and the Altered Beasts series.

5. Skies of Arcadia

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Last seen: A 2003 GameCube port of the original series

Another series that engendered a massive following thanks to its release on the Dreamcast. A third-person RPG that dealt in an anime/steampunk aesthetic, Skies of Arcadia remains one of the most popular titles of the Dreamcast era. The 2003 GameCube port expanded the original title by adding extra backstory, but there are legions of fans that would snatch up a new Arcadia title the moment it hit shelves. Sega has stated before that it was open to fan suggestions for revisiting old titles, here is a perfect title for the opportunity.

4. Shinobi

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Last seen: Limping along as a 2011 3DS release 

The Nintendo 3DS release of Shinobi 3D in 2011 was a bummer. The game was a generic dry-hump that could have been any random ninja title. As the twelfth entry in the Shinobi series, 3D was a major letdown. Update the series with an added emphasis on stealth in the same vein as Mark of the Ninja and Sega could produce a ninja title worthy of the Shinobi name.

3. Streets of Rage

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Last seen: A 3D remake was in development before being scrapped

Streets of Rage was another beat-em-up that stands out as a defining title of the Genesis era. Spawning two sequels, the series could do with a modern revisit. With an expanded cast of playable characters and an updated soundtrack the popular series would most certainly find support in today's gaming landscape. The series even got a shoutout in the very recent Saints Row IV mission. "Saints of Rage" was a playable level in the last Saints title.

2. Guardian Heroes

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Last seen: A remastered version hit XBLA in 2011

The original Guardian Heroes was considered one of the high points in the short-lived life cycle of the Sega Saturn. The side-scrolling, 2D beat-em-up is most often compared to Final Fight in terms of playability. The 2011 Xbox Live remaster looked like animated garbage and left fans of the original understandbly miffed. With titles like Castle Crashers and the new Dungeons and Dragons  killing it on XBLA, it only makes sense for Sega to consider a complete overhaul of the Saturn title.

1. Shenmue

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Last seen: Breaking hearts since 2003

This is too fucking obvious. The fact that since 2003 over a dozen Sonic games have been released and a third Shenmue has never seen the light of day is a crime. Aside from the series ending without a shred of resolution, a petition with over 100,000 signatures demanding the third installment still hasn't moved Sega to finish the series. Look, Sega, I'll come over to your place. We can talk it out. Backrubs. Let's figure this out together.

Video GamesNext GenSega

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