Jordan Jones with five franchises that Capcom should revive…
I grew up with Capcom, and you probably did too. If you grew up in the ’90s, and were a gamer (which, if you’re reading this, I’m assuming that you were/are), chances are good that Capcom has played some kind of role in your life. Personally, I can reference many major events in my life in terms of Capcom games. When did I graduate elementary school? Without thinking: 1996. How do I remember so quickly? Resident Evil came out that year. With every new console, there was a Capcom game to go along with it. Which is why it was so disappointing when it felt like Capcom began to lose its way. While Resident Evil 4 was a ton of fun, further installments in the franchise paled in comparison to the earlier entries. Mega Man has been all-but-forgotten. Dino Crisis 3 was practically unplayable. If you ask a child about Bionic Commando, their thoughts may jump immediately to the awkward 3D reboot, if they are aware of the franchise at all. Ghouls and Ghosts? Keep dreaming.
Well, dream we may, and while we did, perhaps Capcom was listening. Recently, alongside the announcement of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the company revealed that they were prioritizing the revival of their older, dormant franchises.
Here are a few franchises that I hope Capcom gives the Green Herb…
Dino Crisis
When I was very young, and still knee-deep in Jurassic Park fever, hearing that Capcom was essentially developing “Resident Evil with dinosaurs” sent me into fits of joy. I played through the first game twice, the second only once, and enjoyed both immensely. Dino Crisis 3 was a huge disappointment for a number of reasons, and is probably the primary reason that we have not heard from the franchise since. I say it’s time for the series return. I could see this franchise working really well with the recent Resident Evil’s over-the-shoulder control scheme, and more action oriented approach. On the other hand, with Capcom wanting to return to its Survival Horror roots with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, it wouldn’t be the worst time to see if they could so the same for the Dino Crisis franchise. First-person Dino horror? Sign me up.
Ghouls and Ghosts
This game was absolutely legendary as a child. It was the sort of game that would give you this feeling of deep reverence every single time you passed it on the rental store shelf. Ghouls and Ghosts was the game that you would rent when you, and a group of friends had decided that you needed a stiff challenge that weekend. If you were lucky to get past the very difficult first stage, you were rewarded with… well, even more insanity. With the new appreciation for difficulty in games these days, it makes total sense to revive this franchise for 2017, and onward. Dark Souls has made gamers respect death in games, and eager to learn from their mistakes. This is the kind of mentality that was absolutely essential to beat Ghouls and Ghosts, and the epic Super Ghouls and Ghosts. Capcom could make the game 2d, or 3d (remember the Maximo franchise!?). As long as they keep the quirky spirit of the franchise intact. So long as brave Arthur can fight the forces of evil in his boxer shorts.
Onimusha
If Dino Crisis was basically “Resident Evil with dinosaurs”, then Onimusha was marketed as “Resident Evil set in Feudal Japan”, although it’s quite a bit different. This is another series that would do well with the formula popularized by Resident Evil 4. Onimusha was a much more action-oriented franchise: not unlike Devil May Cry, but with a much bigger emphasis on story. I could certainly see this series thriving with the big-budget action feel that didn’t really work for Resident Evil 6. One of Onimusha’s coolest aspects, at the time, was the use of motion capture. With all of the major advancements in that tech, let’s see some more well-known actors filling the shoes of brand new characters, and incorporate some truly jaw-dropping cutscenes, fluid action, as well as top-notch voice acting. Give us more enemies on screen. Double the amount of weapons players can use throughout the game. Make it longer, and go absolutely crazy with the types of enemies you face. While you may be pulling things back with Resident Evil 7 this year, Onimusha is your chance to go really big Capcom!
Bionic Commando
Not long ago, Capcom really nailed the feel of Bionic Commando with the fantastic XBox Live reboot Bionic Commando: Rearmed. The game was praised as a faithful update to an NES classic, which inevitably paved the way for a sequel. Unfortunately, Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 was not as praised as it’s predecessor. Perhaps this was due to all the focus shifting to a full 3D reboot of the beloved franchise simply titled Bionic Commando. It was supposed to be a grittier retelling of the first game, but the reality was a bit different. Unless you consider awkwardly guiding a generic looking character around ugly environments ‘gritty’. As a result of this failure, it’s been seven years since we have heard from the series, but I do think it’s time for Capcom to give it another shot. Bionic Commando is a totally viable franchise that would be a perfect fit on the Nintendo 3DS. Keep it 2D, and keep it faithful. Also, develop a version for Nintendo Switch so players can play on the big screen, and on the go.
Viewtiful Joe
What happened to you Viewtiful Joe? We’ve seen cameos, sure, but where is a proper entry? Maybe the Wii wouldn’t have been the best fit for a series that requires precision controlling, but surely you could have graced us with your presence on Wii U, XBox 360, PS3? So many questions! Listen Joe: come back to us. It’s time. With the current trend of episodic gaming, you would be a surefire hit on XBox Live, PSN, and… whatever the Nintendo Switch marketplace ends up being called. Episodic content would work perfectly with your movie aesthetic. Have every new episode modeled after a new film set over the course of several stages. This could keep the content rolling out consistently, and prices low. Maybe that will get more people playing this time around. Frankly, I have never felt like you got the respect that you deserved, Joe.
LED Storm
Personally, I have never played LED Storm, but there are definitely more than a few fans of this title on the Flickering Myth team. LED Storm is a top-down racing game developed for Arcade, ZX Spectrum, and the Commodore 64. Personally, my vote goes to a reboot developed exclusively for the 3DS. Keep the retro aesthetic, perspective, and make it look awesome in 3D. Also, give me more of this great music!
Forgotten Worlds
This is another request from the Flickering Myth team, and yet another game that I have not touched. This goes to show just how many franchises Capcom has to choose from. At first glance? I’d like to see a digital remaster of the original available for digital download across all platforms. From there? Who knows.
… the revival of dormant Capcom franchises could be huge. Not just for players, but for Capcom as well. Add the upcoming Resident Evil 7: Biohazard to the mix, and it looks like Capcom is making that steep climb back to the top. I hope they start with one of the franchises above.
You can find Jordan on Twitter (@JordJJones), and Facebook.
