10 Risky Sequels That Saved Dying Video Game Franchises

3. God Of War

Despite being one of Sony's premier franchises during the PS2 and PS3 era, God of War - just like Killzone - looked ripe for the chopping block when the PS4 came around. While still selling well, other franchises had put them to shame, making them feeling a little shallow in an era where narrative was king.

Consequently, after middling spin-off Ascension released in 2013, the franchise was thought to be complete. Kratos' story had been told, and the developers couldn't possibly top the spectacle established so far. Plus, there was the feeling that gaming as a whole had moved past the character's one-dimensionality.

But, after taking some time off, Sony and Santa Monica decided on an approach that seemed destined to fail: transform God of War into a story-driven, character-centric experience. Swapping out the setting, the combat mechanics and most of the cast, the new reboot/sequel humanised Kratos and transformed him into a sympathetic character.

Many thought there'd be no way the devs would be able to tell a properly affecting story in this world, but they ended up eating their words when God of War became one of the best-reviewed games of the generation.