Main Video Sport Franchises That By no means Recovered After One Dangerous Sport

After ready years, and even a long time, it may be a tremendous feeling to see a franchise return with a very good sport. For instance, 2025 was a giant yr for reviving the Ninja Gaiden franchise, full with two new video games—Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound — and a remaster, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, with all three receiving good critiques.

That’s the dream for followers and builders, however not each franchise can come again with a bang, particularly in the event that they launch a sport that is so unhealthy, it upends your complete model. These franchises might return with a cool new sport sometime, however for now, their fates are sealed due to one unhealthy sport.

Dino Disaster

Past Extinction

• First Sport: Dino Disaster (1999)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Dino Disaster 3 (2003)

Dino Crisis debuted on the PS1 in 1999 as a Jurassic Park-like model of Resident Evil. The primary two video games on PS1 have been extensively praised, seemingly opening up the door for one more large horror franchise for Capcom, however then the subsequent technology of consoles noticed a dip within the franchise.

Dino Stalker was launched in 2002 as an on-rails gentle gun spinoff, which not too many appreciated. Nonetheless, because it had a unique title and it was a by-product, it didn’t harm the model an excessive amount of. However, Dino Disaster 3, launched on the unique Xbox in 2003, was an enormous blow for PlayStation followers. The sport was critically panned in most gaming magazines and early web sites on the time for having poor digital camera angles and weak gameplay general, which killed the franchise proper then and there.

Duke Nukem

All Out Of Bubblegum

• First Sport: Duke Nukem (1991)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Duke Nukem Eternally (2011)

Most avid gamers might not know this at this time, however Duke Nukem began as a side-scrolling shooter for MS-DOS computer systems in 1991. Whereas that sport was effective, the sequence would explode a number of years later with Duke Nukem 3D in 1996, additionally for MS-DOS computer systems. It supplied one thing followers of Doom and Wolfenstein 3D have been lacking: humor.

The titular Duke was well-liked due to his catchphrases, and the video games have been beloved for his or her motion and scantily clad girls. For a number of years within the 90s, Duke was king, and even the ports and remasters obtained effectively by critics. What didn’t evaluate effectively was Duke Nukem Eternally, a sequel that took over a decade to develop. When it was launched in 2011, nobody thought it was worth the wait, because of poor humor that didn’t age effectively and a disappointingly brief marketing campaign.

Ultimate Battle

From Brawling Champion To Dud

• First Sport: Ultimate Battle (1989, Japan)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Ultimate Battle: Streetwise (2006)

Final Fight premiered in arcades in 1989 in Japan and a yr later in North America as a giant new beat ‘em up franchise. The trilogy was met with reward from followers who went to arcades and spent their quarters like there was no tomorrow. On consoles, there was a cuter model referred to as Mighty Ultimate Battle, together with eventual ports of the principle sequence.

Issues have been going effectively till Capcom determined to rebrand the sequence as a preventing sport in 1999. Debuting in arcades was Ultimate Battle Revenge, which preventing sport followers didn’t like mechanically. That was one occasion the place the sequence died, however it could be revived in 2006 with a 3D brawler on PS2 and Xbox referred to as Ultimate Battle: Streetwise. That was the ultimate nail within the coffin, as it’s nonetheless thought to be one of many worst video games on both system because of its unsatisfying brawling mechanics.

Genji

A Promising Samurai Collection Lower Quick

• First Sport: Genji: Daybreak of the Samurai (2005)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Genji: Days of the Blade (2006)

The Genji sequence was very short-lived, which is unlucky as a result of there was loads of promise with the primary sport. Genji: Daybreak of the Samurai is the sequence’ debut title. It was a brief however enjoyable samurai action game that was unique to the PS2 in 2005.

In 2006, Sony was getting ready to launch the PS3, and alongside it could be a sleeker sequel referred to as Genji: Days of the Blade. Sadly, the preview for the sport was already met with criticism after the “giant enemy crabs” debacle on stage at E3. Dangerous demos are nothing, as video games can get well from these, however sadly, the ultimate product was simply as poorly obtained, largely as a result of slower fight and a heavy emphasis on quick-time occasions.

The Getaway

London’s GTA

• First Sport: The Getaway (2002, Europe)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: The Getaway: Black Monday (2004, Europe)

Grand Theft Auto was large on the PS2 in 2001, resulting in many GTA copycats, together with Sony’s personal The Getaway sequence. It debuted first in Europe in 2002, adopted by its North American launch a yr later. Because of the extra mature story, its London setting, and novel gameplay views, it was one other promising begin, however the sequel, The Getaway: Black Monday, dampened that momentum.

Gangs of London was a PSP spinoff and an try and proper the ship, which it wasn’t in a position to do, which means that plans for The Getaway 3 have been canceled. Curiously, the sequence technically lives on at this time by way of a loosely related TV sequence referred to as Gangs of London, which debuted in 2020.

Misplaced Planet

Starship Bloopers

• First Sport: Misplaced Planet: Excessive Situation (2006, Japan)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Misplaced Planet 3 (2013)

The Lost Planet sequence debuted as an Xbox 360 unique in 2006 in Japan, then referred to as Misplaced Planet: Excessive Situation, which obtained a Western port a yr later. Horror and shooter followers alike cherished it, because it was extra about motion with terrifying vibes somewhat than one other puzzle-heavy horror sport from Capcom. After this, it didn’t appear to be Capcom fairly had a grip on the place the franchise ought to go. Misplaced Planet 2 was extra like Monster Hunter, because it centered on multiplayer and slaying large enemies. The sequel did obtain some reward, though not as a lot as the unique sport.

The third entry obtained worse critiques. It switched issues up once more and have become a extra heartfelt story a few father making an attempt to earn cash for his household again residence. Previous to this, Japan received an unique spinoff on 3DS and PS3 referred to as E.X. Troopers, which was like a hyper-stylized anime tackle the franchise. Sadly, because of poor reception for the sequence within the West, neither model left Japan, and the franchise as a complete died.

Medal Of Honor

Can’t Emulate Name Of Responsibility

• First Sport: Medal of Honor (1999)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Medal of Honor: Warfighter (2012)

Earlier than Name of Responsibility and Halo, the Medal of Honor series was the premier army first-person shooter franchise on consoles. Medal of Honor debuted on the PS1 in 1999. Followers cherished the World Struggle 2 setting, resulting in many sequels. Medal of Honor: Frontline is usually thought to be one of the best within the franchise, which debuted on the PS2 in 2002, revolutionizing how D-Day is depicted in video games.

Even with Halo and Name of Responsibility gaining traction, EA nonetheless supported the MoH model for a few years, even rebooting it in a extra trendy setting with 2010’s Medal of Honor. This was the start of the tip, despite the fact that it obtained first rate critiques. Regardless of that, its sequel, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, launched with an audible thud in 2012. EA tried to revive the model in 2020 with Medal of Honor: Above and Past, however attributable to it being a VR unique expertise and few stellar critiques, it looks as if Medal of Honor actually is toast.

Metal Battalion

Hit The Eject Button!

• First Sport: Metal Battalion (2002)
• Disastrous Sport That Spelled The Finish: Metal Battalion: Heavy Armor (2012)

Steel Battalion was adored by unique Xbox followers in 2002, for many who may afford it. This mech sport was costly, because it got here with a controller that mirrored the cockpit of the in-game mech. It even had an eject button, which was cool, though it would delete the current save file if gamers did not hit it earlier than their mech exploded.

The primary sport reviewed very effectively, and whereas its sequel, Metal Battalion: Line of Contact, wasn’t as well-received, followers and critics alike nonetheless thought it was good general. The model would take a break for primarily eight years earlier than it reawakened with the Xbox 360 title Metal Battalion: Heavy Armor. To name it an enormous failure could be an understatement. Gamers simply didn’t reply effectively to the sport’s Kinect-based controls, resulting in abysmal critiques, which was par for the course for many Kinect video games.