It’s always disheartening when a video game franchise starts out stunning, but owing to commercial concerns, greed, or simple creative bankruptcy, begins to founder, somewhat ruining the fond memories you might have of the stellar earlier instalments. Still, some of these franchises aren’t past redemption if the developers pull their socks up, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed, as many of them have new instalments emerging in the current months.
10. The Sims
The Sims series has been chugging along for 12 years now, and though many might object to its placement in this list – as they will argue that the series never found its way in the first place – the three interstitial Sims games are great fun, if ostensibly better-pitched towards casual and non-gamers. The problem comes with the maddening, countless number of spin-offs that EA continues to release, usually without much publicity, because they’re aware of their dedicated fanbase, who will throw down cash for the latest expansion no matter what the content (recently moving on to peculiar gimmick packs like “Medieval” to keep ardent fans interested).
Is a new Sims game every 3 or 4 years not enough for EA? Apparently not; but what began as a novel concept has been well and truly run into the ground, such that while we still enjoyed The Sims 3, we’re not the least bit fussed about a fourth game, unless EA and Maxis somehow rejuvenate the formula significantly, rather than just enhancing the graphics a bit.
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5 Comments
what about mass effect or does that not count yet
I was fully expecting Splinter Cell to be in here somewhere…
@mass effect
Mass Effect didn’t lose its way, 3 games released in a timely fashion which continued on from each other and didn’t stray from the formula that made the original so good.
I can agree to some degree (rhymes HAHA) on some of these franchises.
But things like silent hill and call of duty are not losing their way at all.
Yet you praise all the franchises on the list but you say they should halt
Because their going stale.
Firstly, Call Of Duty is huge. It’s powerful and big, innovation might not be
It’s strongpoint but it attracts a lot of attention and brings enough new stuff
to the table every year. That’s enough for it to carry on. Besides, who the
hell in the Industry is going to agree that it should end? Because it makes millions
So regardless your fighting an invulnerable enemy with that one.
Anyway, I think we can safely say that Final fantasy won’t end let’s get
That straight. I mean c’mon…. It’s square enix..
Silent hill has brought a new pawn to the horror board, ever since its
Birth it’s been brilliant. Sims however i have to agree with you on that one..
Sonic can piss off
Socom too…
But everything else seems okay to me, Resident evil is still going strong
From the release of 6 too, still story driven and action packed. A bit like ‘lost’..
Never really stops.. But still okay.. I guess (why compare it to ‘Lost’ I don’t know)
I’m just really glad need for speed wasn’t on this.
Because I could of gone on for longer..
Good article anyway haha 7/10
They’re* going stale. You’re* fighting an invulnerable. Sorry it just bugs me so much when idiots like you don’t know the difference between these.