10 Video Game Franchises That Have Lost Their Way

7. Tony Hawk

Once upon a time, the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series was untouchable; it was a unique take on a sport rarely featured in the world of video games, and Hawk himself made for a likable, cheeky face on which to promote the product. With its alternative soundtrack, quirky sense of humour, and increasing pushing of the boundaries - allowing players to create their own parks and so on - it was a series that had a firm grasp on how to evolve, and how to keep fans coming back for more. That was, at least, until Activision took the momentous - and thoroughly misguided - gamble to introduce peripherals into the game, in a fashion not dissimilar from their aforementioned Guitar Hero games. A skateboard device - which would reflect your orientation and hopping on-screen - proved awkward and clumsy despite having sure potential, and was almost universally panned by critics, which was reflected in its poor sales, and eventual cause of the series' demise.
 
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Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.