10. Micro Machines (NES)
A stellar racing game for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, Micro Machines was exactly what a game based on a toy should be. Incorporating a good variety of the tiny cars, players raced on the most absurd tracks, including a pool table (complete with cues and playing cards), a breakfast table with spilled orange juice and cereal, and a bath tub full of bubbles. Races were fast, fun, and unique: I’ll never forget how you can fall off the edge of the racetrack and plummet to your doom, just like the actual toy car would. Keeping some of the same themes and adding new ones while also incorporating online multiplayer for 10 or more racers at once would make this a fantastic arcade-style racer! |
9. Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (PS2/Xbox/GC) 
My friends throughout high school will attest that I’ve spoken nothing but praise for this game (for better or for worse). Metal Arms is a little known third person action/shooter with a great sense of humor, strong atmosphere, and entertaining gameplay. I think the game simply got overshadowed by similar games at the time (Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter), but gamer’s that gave it a shot should have found something to love with the mechanical protagonist Glitch. The game saw a re-release on the Xbox 360 as a downloadable title, but I fear Sierra may stop the game’s series there. A new story, co-op gameplay, and wicked fast multiplayer combined with the game’s sense of humor would make for a fantastic and original game. |
8. Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (PS2/Xbox/GC) 
I spent months… MONTHS playing this game with my brother. If you want to talk about an addicting game, you’ve got to at least mention Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (Or it’s prequel Gauntlet: Legends). The concept is incredibly mundane: kill enemies, destroy enemy generator, defeat boss, repeat. But the grind to another experience level, the allure of becoming stronger, and finding more gold and weapons made this one hell of a fun game. They tried a revival of the series with Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, but that game failed to capture what made Dark Legacy so special. A sequel to this game would be epic: 4 (or more) player co-op, 100+ levels to gain, tons of items, loot, and customization options, and the same simple-yet-excellent control setup and you’ve got a winner in my book. |
7. Phantasy Star Online (DC/GC/Xbox/PC) 
The game was very popular when it first came out, and yeah, I know that there have been a few sequels already, but none have compared to the greatness that is the original Phantasy Star Online. 200+ levels, insanely addictive gameplay, and a true online experience made PSO like nothing else at the time. This game is easily, easily, the single game I’ve invested the most time in. I put over 250 hours into one character on the GameCube, and I didn’t even play online! If there’s a game that could benefit the most from the online heavy game’s industry now, it’s Phantasy Star Online. Let’s just forgive and forget about the attempted reboot a few years back and let’s see a proper Phantasy Star Online 2. |
6. Jet Force Gemini (N64)
It’s a shame that’s Rare’s put out nothing but garbage as of late, because they had such a great lineup on the Nintendo 64, this game included. Jet Force Gemini was my first trip into third-person shooting, and it won’t be forgotten. Featuring a selection of vastly different guns and power-ups, Jet Force Gemini was one of the most unique gaming experiences one could get on the system. Remember saving a village of Tribals only to use them for target practice before reloading the save? I liked how you could collect enemy heads to unlock special cheats for the game as well. A revival of this song is set up perfectly to include two to three player co-op, and the setting and gameplay are already tight as is. Let’s bring back Juno, Vela, Lupus, and, of course, Floyd. |
5. Banjo-Kazooie (N64) 
Disclaimer: I loved this game, but I actually have never played the sequel Banjo-Tooie. Regardless, the N64 original Banjo-Kazooie is one of the greatest adventure/platformers our there. Beautiful graphics, a childish yet compelling story, and some of the greatest levels on the system, Banjo-Kazooie is perhaps the greatest of Rare’s titles. I can still imagine the sounds from this game: Banjo’s guttural chuckle, Kazooie’s squawks, and those little Jinjo’s saying “Jinjooooo!” when you find them. If there were any game that could compete with Super Mario 64 for the king of the 3D platformer, this is it. The recent Nuts & Bolts is nothing but a joke: Come on Rare, give us Banjo-Kazooie 3! |
4. Left 4 Dead 2 (PC/Xbox 360) 
Left 4 Dead 2 has in no way overstayed it’s welcome: in fact I think the game is still quite fun. But just think about how a new game in the series could add so much to an already sweet zombie game. 4 new characters to guide to survival, a new onslaught of weapons to obliterate the undead, and maybe even special skills or items for each character or level. Hell, even if they just released another game with the same weapons, characters, and mechanics from the first two games just with brand new levels I’d be ecstatic. I’m happy with L4D2 right now, but I wouldn’t mind another zombie-survival fest at all. |
3. Darkstalkers (PS1/Sega Saturn/PSP) 
This one still doesn’t make any sense to me: Capcom’s Darkstalkers games run on basically the same engine and mechanics as their Street Fighter franchise, feature memorable characters that keep coming back in games like Morrigan and Felicia, yet there hasn’t been a word on a Darkstalkers 4. A sequel to this series would make so much sense given that Capcom struck gold with their revival of the Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom franchises. Give this game the same 2.5D treatment as SFIV and you’ve already got the formula for success. The dark tone, supernatural characters, and heavy rock soundtrack would fit right in with the other big names in the fighting game ring. |
2. Strider 2 (PS1) 
Again, another game franchise that doesn’t make sense to me. You’ve got the first Strider for the Sega Genesis, which is arguably one of the best games on the platform, and then there’s Strider 2 for the PS1 that’s not quite as memorable but still a blast to play. So why isn’t there a Strider 3? Lightning fast swordplay, high-flying acrobatics, and visceral action made Strider and Strider 2 some of the best ninja based action games out there. Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi have been in the ring as the only hardcore ninja experiences for too long. Capcom: Bring back Strider Hiryu, his massive blade, kick-ass red scarf-mask thing, and let us dice up foes in style. |
1. Power Stone (DC/PSP) 
Power Stone. If there was one game, just one, that I would wish for right now that would have a sequel, it would be this one. Crazy fights, tons of wacky weapons, entertaining characters, and fast-paced action put both Power Stones at the top of the Dreamcast’s best fighters. Playing very similarly to the Super Smash Bros. series, Power Stone would fill the niche genre of party game as well as the rising fighter genre. More characters, more weapons, more players per battle, and that same ol’ Power Stone charm would make Power Stone 3 the surprise hit of the year. |
I’ll be the first one to say that a developer that puts out a new IP instead of a sequel deserves a bunch of credit. But I’ll be damned if there aren’t a good deal of games out there that I think should have been given the sequel treatment. I recently did some pondering a thought what a future would be like if a handful of my favorite video games were given a second, third, or even in some cases fourth installment. There’s hope out there, as some games I’d include on this list have already been green-lighted for a sequel (Kid Icarus; earlier Marvel vs. Capcom 3). I can wait for any other game, but these ten need to be made, and need to be made well.
