With all of the game remakes and sequels to decade(s)-old games, it makes me think that there is a slew of games that would seem right for the picking to have a modern-day sequel or remake on current-gen consoles or computers. Here is my list of games that surprise me that they have not been remade: 1. Battletoads: Everyone loved Battletoads in the day. Where are they now? I think it has been about 15 years since the last game. Maybe today it would just seem like an TMNT rip-off? 2. Mutant League Sports: These would be so fun today with current-gen graphics and depth. I saw something on the PC that looked kind of similar the other day, so the idea is still alive and well. 3. Low-G Man: While this is a bit more of an obscure NES game, I still think it would be great in modern 3D. Imagine having a game character that starts off with a realistic jump, but after a few power-ups, he can jump over sky-scrapers. 4. Turrican: Turrican was all the rage during the 16-bit era, and Super Turrican is still considered one of the legends of the SNES. Some liken it to a cross between Metroid and Contra. 5. Streets of Rage: This is probably the most likely. Sega could convert their little "Final Fight clone that could" into a modern beat'em'up of epic proportion. I am sure there are plenty more, but those immediately jump to mind. I know that some of the developers to these games are closed, but another developer could still buy the license. Besides, most of these are never going to happen anyway. What can you think of that seems ripe for a remake or modern sequel?

Quote: Original post by jackolantern1
4. Turrican: Turrican was all the rage during the 16-bit era, and Super Turrican is still considered one of the legends of the SNES. Some liken it to a cross between Metroid and Contra.

Can't tell about the others, but this one had a nice freeware remake. Have a look at http://www.hurrican-game.de . It's actually really good, very polished for a freeware game.

Some EA testers did

">a pretend showreel for a Mutant League remake, but of course they didn't go forward with it.

It's disappointing to see nothing come of it - both of the Mutant League games were great.

Sega was working on a new Streets of Rage game, but that died with the Dreamcast, I believe.

Quote: Original post by Schrompf

Quote: Original post by jackolantern1
4. Turrican: Turrican was all the rage during the 16-bit era, and Super Turrican is still considered one of the legends of the SNES. Some liken it to a cross between Metroid and Contra.

Can't tell about the others, but this one had a nice freeware remake. Have a look at http://www.hurrican-game.de . It's actually really good, very polished for a freeware game.

OOooo, I will have to check that out :) Thanks for the heads up!

@Ravuya:

Hmm, I didn't know about the showreel. Awfully sad that they scrapped it. There is potential just oozing out a modern "Mutant League" franchise.

I was waiting for a new Dungeon Keeper, until EA killed everything I ever loved.

Quote: Original post by AndrewBC
I was waiting for a new Dungeon Keeper FireFly, until EA Fox killed everything I ever loved.

Somehow that sounds familiar...

I was curious too. Here are my notes after a bit of Google, Wikipedia, IGN, and other sites...

Quote: 1. Battletoads: Everyone loved Battletoads in the day. Where are they now? I think it has been about 15 years since the last game. Maybe today it would just seem like an TMNT rip-off?

Battletoads developed by Rare, published by Electronic Arts. Rare was purchased by Microsoft.

There's a slim chance the NES game may end up on Wii's Virtual Console. Since EA was the publisher, it might be difficult to get MS and EA to agree on how to split the money.

Otherwise, I don't anticipate either EA or Microsoft will invest the money in reviving the franchise. MS wouldn't want to have the game published by EA, and neither is likely to buy rights from the other.

Remember that the cost for the big companies to bring the games to market are in the millions of dollars. There is very limited shelf space, and digital distribution makes it hard to fight for eyeball space.

Not only do the extra games require lots of purchases to break even, the extra games are fighting for gamer's dollars. There are too many mediocre games out there, so most of us reserve our money for the best of them. If the companies invest in making these games into the 'best' titles they are cannibalizing their other 'best' and mediocre titles.

Quote: 2. Mutant League Sports: These would be so fun today with current-gen graphics and depth. I saw something on the PC that looked kind of similar the other day, so the idea is still alive and well.

Developed and published by Electronic Arts, for Genesis.

The games themselves may be revived for virtual console.

It was ported and re-released in 2006 for PSP.

Electronic Arts has more sports games than they know what to do with. I agree that it would be a fun add-in for Madden or other games, but the investment in design, programming, modeling, animations, audio, testing, and other production tasks would be another million or so bucks. They'd also need approval from the other franchise owners, like the NFL and Madden.

Given the costs and the low ROI, don't expect it.

Quote: 3. Low-G Man: While this is a bit more of an obscure NES game, I still think it would be great in modern 3D. Imagine having a game character that starts off with a realistic jump, but after a few power-ups, he can jump over sky-scrapers.

Developed by KID, which has gone bankrupt and sold their IP to CyberFront in 2007. Jointly published by Nintendo and Taxan.

Again, there is the Virtual Console possibility.

With the fairly recent acquisition, a bunch of consumers MIGHT be able to convince CyberFront to revive it.

Quote: 4. Turrican: Turrican was all the rage during the 16-bit era, and Super Turrican is still considered one of the legends of the SNES. Some liken it to a cross between Metroid and Contra.

This one is tricky. The various titles were developed and published by several different companies. It looks like the consistent company was Rainbow Arts for both development and publishing. I'm guessing the other companies were contracted to develop ports. Rainbow Arts is now owned by THQ.

Some of the editions are Virtual Console systems, others are not.

Just like above, THQ is too big to want to invest in the franchise. They have too many other highly-valued products.

Quote: 5. Streets of Rage: This is probably the most likely. Sega could convert their little "Final Fight clone that could" into a modern beat'em'up of epic proportion.

Developed and published by Sony.

Released on Virtual Console in 2007.
Released on iPhone & iPod touch in 2009.

I'm sure if sales are big enough they will consider it.

Quote: I know that some of the developers to these games are closed, but another developer could still buy the license. Besides, most of these are never going to happen anyway.

You are right. Buying licenses from Microsoft, EA, or THQ is going to be expensive. Probably more than the entire property is worth.


Many games were fun back in the day, but have mechanics that are too simplistic for the games to survive today. The changes to make the game modern might easily kill the target market. That makes it a higher risk that companies try to avoid.

Maybe out of topic, but I'm currently making a remake of Eye of the Beholder RPG game. The latest beta was released a few days ago. You can have a look here.

Quote: Original post by frob
There's a slim chance the NES game may end up on Wii's Virtual Console. Since EA was the publisher, it might be difficult to get MS and EA to agree on how to split the money.

There goes my dream of playing Snake Rattle n Roll on the virtual console.

Quote: Original post by jackolantern1
1. Battletoads: Everyone loved Battletoads in the day. Where are they now? I think it has been about 15 years since the last game. Maybe today it would just seem like an TMNT rip-off?

Everyone? I thought they were the underdog of housemade beat-em-up. As far as I can remember, NES versions were insanely difficult.

Quote: Original post by jackolantern1
3. Low-G Man: While this is a bit more of an obscure NES game, I still think it would be great in modern 3D. Imagine having a game character that starts off with a realistic jump, but after a few power-ups, he can jump over sky-scrapers.

Yeah, that rocked! The stages were pretty good. Frozing enemies and tearing them apart would be an outrageous PhysX demonstration those days. Prey somewhat gave me some Gravity-oriented phun but quite a different experience.

Quote: Original post by Binomine

Quote: Original post by frob
There's a slim chance the NES game may end up on Wii's Virtual Console. Since EA was the publisher, it might be difficult to get MS and EA to agree on how to split the money.

There goes my dream of playing Snake Rattle n Roll on the virtual console.

I was prototyping a clone a few (ok, alot of) months ago, until real life took over and I got a real job. Considering how it's going, I might as well revive it some time this year. I like to set realistic estimation so I suppose I could release it somewhere in the next 10-12 years (LOL intended).