10 Gaming Franchises Sega Really Need To Resurrect
1. Streets Of Rage
I think every single Sega fan out there will have already guessed what was going to be no. 1 on this list before they even got to it, it could only be the iconic Streets of Rage series.
If ever Sega were guilty of ineptitude when handling their catalogue of classic games, then it would be the way they have failed to resurrect the Street of Rage franchise. It’s not that they haven’t tried, oh no, they have tried many times it’s just that every single one has ended in disaster.
First we had a 3D attempt at the classic beat ‘em up by Core Design, which ended up as a game called Fighting Force after Sega couldn’t secure exclusivity. Then we had Streets of Rage 4 on the Dreamcast, a first person take on the genre that was killed before completion after Sega decided that it didn’t work. And finally, and probably most criminal of all, was a superb looking modern interpretation by Ruffian Games that died with the studio in 2009.
The only one to make it out the door was Streets of Rage Remake by indie studio Bomber Games. Despite having spent 8 years creating the ultimate 2D Streets of Rage game, Sega shut it down without a second thought in 2011 shortly after release. Why oh why did they not just purchase the game and make it official? Only Sega can answer that question, but it was certainly a boneheaded move.
There is very little Sega need to do to resurrect this once legendary franchise. Just find the right team, people who remember and loved the original games, bring back all the original characters and reboot the series completely in 3D with online play. The world needs a gritty, dark, atmospheric back street brawler and there is no better brand to stick on it than Streets of Rage.