Summary
- Manhunt's controversial themes hinder a potential sequel due to graphic violence and potential bans.
- Pro Evolution Soccer's shift to eFootball signals the end of the beloved series, disappointing fans.
- Kane & Lynch's niche appeal and polarizing gameplay prevent any new entries, as developers show no interest.
There are times when many players would love to see a sequel or another entry in a beloved franchise, but it never comes to fruition for myriad reasons. Poor sales, lack of mass appeal, and too much controversy are some of the main reasons why a franchise meets an untimely end. The longer these franchises lie dormant, the less fan interest they seem to have.
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Some developers often fill the niche left behind by releasing a spiritual successor, but with some new ideas and a fresh IP tagged on. While you can never truly say a franchise is dead and never coming back, it certainly seems highly unlikely that these video game series will ever see the light of day again.
Manhunt
Boundary-Pushing Ultra-Violence
Manhunt
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Throughout its storied history, Rockstar has often flirted with controversy, pushing the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable to their absolute limits. Manhunt was just the kind of game to stir up hysteria among certain news outlets and politicians at the time, putting players in direct control of a prisoner who must brutally murder people on camera as part of a snuff film.
Given that Rockstar is trying to toe the line with slightly less edgy content these days, a third Manhunt game is off the table. While a new entry in the franchise may achieve high sales, it would likely be banned in multiple countries once again, especially if the graphics are as impressive and realistic as other games these days.
Pro Evolution Soccer
One Of Many Challengers To EA
Pro Evolution Soccer
- Released
- November 21, 2001
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PlayStation 2
Countless games have attempted to simulate the beautiful game over the years, but most of them have disappeared into obscurity, like This is Football and Adidas Power Soccer. Konami put up the best challenge to EA’s dominance with Pro Evolution Soccer, which has more of a focus on unpredictable and realistic gameplay with more tactical depth.
Since 2021, Konami has focused more on eFootball, a free-to-play online version of association football without the Pro Evo name. Despite a rocky start, the company is persevering, and with competitors like Rematch, EA FC, and 2K rumored to be developing a game with the FIFA branding, PES fans should give up on their hopes of a new entry in the long-running series.
Kane & Lynch
Poor Sales & Reception, But A Dedicated Following
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- Released
- November 13, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- IO Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Despite having two very unlikable anti-heroes and many players feeling relief when the game is over, Kane & Lynch still has a dedicated fanbase that remembers its games fondly. The two irredeemable protagonists are generally unpleasant on purpose and exist in a nasty world, yet there is some intangible uniqueness that draws players to the games.
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Apart from the tone perhaps not fitting with modern trends, there are also gameplay issues that would only be exacerbated today. Developers IO Interactive lost the rights to the series, and its current owners at Embracer Group show no signs of interest in reviving the series, which was polarizing and sold poorly in its time.
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Fast-Paced & Humorous Boxing Action
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
- Released
- September 9, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64
Featuring some top-notch cartoonish graphics and even gradually adding visual signs of damage to competitors as fights progress, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing remains among the best games for pugilists everywhere. The gameplay is simple, but surprisingly deep for those looking to master the mechanics, and the roster of colorful characters is larger-than-life, even including a former US president among its ranks.
The most recent release, Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution for the Wii, was received very poorly and seems to have killed the series as a whole. There are also issues with the trademark of Michael Buffer’s “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” catchphrase, which would add extra expense and risk to any potential project.
Tenchu
Stealth Games Now Overshadowed By Sekiro
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
- Released
- September 14, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Acquire
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
One of the best franchises developed by Acquire Corp., Tenchu is a series of stealth games that started well with Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, but gradually lost steam as the years went by. Since Tenchu: Shadow Assassins received mixed reviews in 2008, the series has been dormant and looks unlikely to ever return.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is said to have been touted as a new Tenchu game, but ultimately went in a different direction with a similar concept. While the original creator of the series would like to see Tenchu renewed or rebooted, FromSoftware owns the rights and only seems to be interested in capitalizing on the popularity of their more critically and commercially successful games, like Elden Ring, going forward.
Red Steel
Wii Exclusives With Innovative Motion Controls
Red Steel 2
- Released
- March 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Ubisoft utilized the motion controls of the Nintendo Wii, mixing swordplay with elements of the first-person shooter genre in the Red Steel games. The first game had a few issues, especially with the controls being troublesome when engaging in sword fighting, but the second game was a vast improvement, blending the feeling of the Wild West with samurai-style battles.
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As Wii exclusives, the titles will likely never become part of a trilogy, nor will they come to modern hardware, since Ubisoft has plenty of successful franchises on current-generation hardware. The two games never really sold enough copies for Ubisoft to consider exploring the franchise further.
SingStar
The Age Of Peripherals
SingStar
- Released
- May 21, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Lyrics, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Music
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
For a few years in the 2000s, peripheral-based rhythm games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band were among the most popular games on the market. Such rhythm games seem to be making a comeback, unlike karaoke games like SingStar and Lips, which shifted millions of microphones and countless installments across console generations.
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Despite performing well initially, the series gradually declined as more games with new tracks were released. The franchise eventually adopted a free-to-play model with players able to purchase songs from a dedicated store, but the servers shut down in 2020, and Sony shows no indication of ever bringing SingStar back.
Wii Series
Nostalgic Players Should Try Spiritual Successors
Wii Sports
- Released
- November 19, 2006
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Violence
In order to show off the capabilities of the motion controls on the Nintendo Wii and Wii U, the Wii series was created, emphasizing approachable and tight gameplay that everybody can enjoy. Wii Sports was a particular hit, selling millions of copies as a launch title included with the console itself, and it was lauded by critics.
Other titles like Wii Play and Wii Fit feature some fun minigames, with the latter making use of the balance board peripheral. Modern titles like Nintendo Switch Sports and Ring Fit Adventure are similar in nature, utilizing simple gameplay mechanics, user-created Miis, and motion controls, and acting like spiritual successors to the popular series.
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