Video games have entertained many people around the globe for several decades. They didn't really become mainstream until recently, but their popularity isn't going to dwindle anytime soon thanks to the higher demand for quality titles and box-office rivalling sales.
Hits like God of War, the Halo series, and Gears of War have brought this medium to a new level of realism, but old-school titles will always be known as the building blocks of gaming. None of the previous series would have ever existed if Pac-Man, Galaxia, Super Mario Bros. or any of the other classics had never been made.
After Sega released a new NiGHTS for the Wii, it seemed as if several long-abandoned franchises were suddenly being revived. Samba de Amigo and Punch-Out!! are two other examples, but there are many more that have the potential to work if brand new sequels are ever made.
The following three games are some of the most well-polished of their time and most of them have great potential for a 3D release.
Jet Grind Radio/Jet Set Radio
Sega's Jet Grind Radio (Jet Set Radio in Europe and Japan) was a breath of fresh air back in 2000. With a catchy j-pop/hip hop/electronic dance soundtrack, spray paint controls, and fast-paced gameplay, it took graffiti and roller blading to a new level.
In Jet Grind Radio, Players took on the role of Beat, a teen rudie who lived up the street life and hadn't a care in the world. That is, until a brutal businessman named Rokkaku Gouji stepped in, attempting to rid Tokyo of all the graffiti artists so he could take over the city.
When Rokkaku's corrupt cops became too much for the average folks to handle, it was up to Beat and his street-punk friends to fend them off without violence, but through the power of their art.
Jet Grind Radio even spawned a couple of remakes on the Gameboy Advance and X-box, but the series went on hiatus after 2003 and hasn't had a true sequel since. This could be because it wasn't one of Sega's popular games, doing quite poorly in sales after its release.
Some of the main characters have appeared in a few Sonic party and racing games recently, so here's to hoping that this is a sign that a Jet Set reboot is just around the corner.
Battletoads
If people thought the idea of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was strange, then they haven't seen the Battletoads. Developed by Rare in the 1990s, this series was known for its side-scrolling 2D gameplay, brutal difficulty and wacky, humorous character animations during enemy fights.
The Battletoads consisted of three members: Rash, the comic relief, scientific genius Zitz, and a tough guy named Pimple.
The storyline in their first NES adventure was an unashamed rehash that had been done time and time again in video games, especially with the likes of Super Mario Bros. and Zelda. Princess Angelica and Pimple had been captured by their sensuous archenemy Dark Queen and it was up to the two remaining Battletoads to rescue them--nothing too complex, but the Battletoads still offered tons of hip style to go with the fairy-tale plot.
Like the other games in this list, this series seems to have halted after the '90s and is in desperate need of a new installment. In fact, people want it so much that there was even a Battletoads Wii internet hoax about a year ago.
Kid Icarus
Heavilly based on Greek mythology, Kid Icarus became an instant cult favorite. In the 1987 original players were introduced to Pit, the main hero who looks a lot like Cupid and Icarus combined. He was forced to fight his way through Angel Land in order to rescue the Goddess of Light, Palutena, from Medusa, the Goddess of Darkness.
Gameplay in Kid Icarus was similar to previous Nintendo games. It functioned as a side-scrolling platformer where Pit could pick up items and fire them at enemies à la Metroid, Zelda, and Mario.
Although there hasn't been a sequel since 1992, there are rumors that a new game could be developed for the Wii thanks to a few quotes from Shigeru Miyamoto implying the possibility of old franchises returning to the console. The fact that Pit was added to Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 2008 may support this idea as well.
In the End
It's unsure if any of these games will ever see the light of day again, but nothing can change the fact that they have provided as much challenge and enjoyment as any other high-end title over the years. In an industry run by eye candy graphics and linear gameplay, these series can bring difficulty and non-linear exploration back to video games if given the chance.
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