Let's Skip the Next "Final Fantasy": 10 Other Franchises Square Enix Should Reboot

First release: Gex
Last release: Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko

Though the game never matched the appeal of the Mario(s) and Sonic(s) of the world, Gex was unique in the comical way it used pop culture. Interestingly enough, Gex also introduced light commentary on television addiction. Making everything pop was the awesome voice talent of stand-up comedian and former Simpsons writer Dana Gould. The series would reach its peak after making the transition from 2D to 3D with Gex: Enter The Gecko and disappeared after Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.

First release: Fighting Force
Last release: Fighting Force

If Square Enix doesn't believe in a reboot of The Bouncer, their acquisition of Eidos could potentially lead to the return of Fighting Force. Allegedly, the brawler was pitched to Sega as Streets of Rage 4 before becoming an original title. The best thing about Fighting Force was how it truly felt like a 3D version of Streets of Rage. Unfortunately, a horrible single player only sequel would follow, which played like a standard third-person shooter.

First release: The Bouncer
Last release: The Bouncer

Those who followed early coverage of The Bouncer understood the massive hype behind this PlayStation 2 release. Developed by DreamFactory, the brawler played a lot like Tobal and was flat out gorgeous. In fact, the visuals could, arguably, hold up today. Too bad an over-reliance on cut scenes and the lack of a co-op mode kept The Bouncer from reaching its potential. Tragically, the game was so short it could be completed within a few hours.Developing a cult following overtime, a second chance for the series would be dope.

First release: Bushido Blade
Last release: Bushido Blade 2

If Square wanted to get serious about fighters, they could revive one of the most unique entries in the fighting genre. Bushido Blade was known for having two ideas that have yet to be truely replicated in any contemporary fighter: one hit kills and an open environment. Technically, some could consider it the Counter Strike of fighting games. Bushido Blade wasn't about racking up huge combos or button mashing, rather it was about calculated movements and preocise timing. Developer Light Weight would deliver failed spiritual successors through the Kengo series but they failed to capture that Square quality many respected about the original.

First release: Ehrgeiz
Last release: Ehrgeiz

Whenever Square needed an arcade fighter, they always could count on DreamFactory for titles that bucked trends. The best examples were Tobal No. 1, Tobal 2 and Ehrgeiz. Released in the arcade first before getting a PlayStation port, Ehrgeiz was known for including characters from Final Fantasy VII. In terms of mechanics, it featured a fairly simple combat system which allowed for free movement around the 3D environment. Though the gameplay wasn't really known for advancing the genre, Ehrgeiz's Quest Mode was a step up from the fight-to-boss single player mode.. It's been several years since both Ehrgeiz and Final Fantasy VII. If a reboot ever happens, Square can choose from a number of new characters from their JRPG stable for guest appearances.

First release: Chase H.Q
Last release: Chase H.Q. 2

Before Electronic Arts dominated racer vs. cop action through Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Taito Corporation's Chase H.Q. was the closest anyone could get to chasing criminals as the fuzz. Each of the game's five stages were essentially one short high speed chase as players attempted to immobilize various criminal vehicles. The series spawned a few sub-par spin-offs including Special Criminal Investigation which added some new features ranging from nitrous boosts to weapon firing. A full-fledged sequel wouldn't see arcades until almost 20 years later through Chase H.Q. 2. Never seeing a release outside of Japan, it lacked the slick style of the original. Now that Square Enix has the license, it'll be interesting to see what they could do.

First release: Bust a Groove
Last release: Dance Summit 2001: Bust a Move

A short time before Konami's Dance Dance Revolution, ahem, revolutionized the rhythm genre, Enix released Bust a Groove. What set this game apart from many other dance-based games was the inclusion of fighting elements. Instead of being solely score based, the incentive was to out dance opponents through perfect inputs and usage of special moves. These special moves were used as disrupters similar to battles in some of the later Guitar Hero games. Considering how dormant the rhythm genre has become and the rise of motion control, a revival of Bust a Groove makes total sense.

First release: Rad Racer
Last release: Rad Racer II

Anyone who's seen the 1989 video game centric oddity,The Wizard, will recognize a scene featuring this racer and Nintendo's first attempt at motion control through the Power Glove. Along with the 3-D battles of WorldRunner, Rad Racer was a part of a line of games Square created for the NES which utilized a 3D effect through packaged 3D glasses. Since the lackluster Driving Emotion Type-S was the last time Square even touched the racing genre, the possibilities of reboot couldn't come at a greater time.

First release: Fear Effect (2000)
Last release: Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

The original Fear Effect was Eidos' take on Capcom's Resident Evil series without a trace of survival horror. Yes, that means the now archaic "tank" controls. More on the action-adventure side, this game featured some incredibly awesome cell-shaded visuals which contrasts nicely to pre-rendered environments. A prequel would be released a year later which improved on its predecessor significantly enough. A third entry was planned for Sony's PlayStation 2 subtitled Inferno but saw itself under the chopping block.

First release: Chrono Trigger
Last release: Chrono Cross

Both Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross are considered Squares biggest classics outside of anything having to do with Final Fantasy. The original SNES JRPG was a time traveling romp with a staggering 12 very different endings. Becoming a little darker in its narrative, Chrono Cross told the tale of a teenager finding himself in an alternate reality where he's dead. An interesting concept involved 45 available party members depending on paths taken during the narrative. While the two have their fair share of similarities and differences, both still stand equally side-by-side as shining examples of JRPGS.