Our Top 8 lists make a triumphant return this week and I’ve decided to do this one up a little differently than normal. While most of our readers cry about how we never included other consoles exclusive titles, we’re going to do so now. We may represent PlayStation, but I guess it’s only fair to let the other guy compete for our spots in the Top 8 countdown. We’re also going to start listing the Top 8 in reverse order and start off at number 8. This Top 8 is all about those franchises that have been going on for a little bit too long now and it’s about time the developer and publisher behind the title give it a rest. It’s almost as though the team behind the scenes aren’t comfortable creating something new and fresh this generation and instead look forward to feeding us the same title we’ve been playing for the last 10 to 15 years.
Chances are, if you’re a gamer and you have a favorite franchise, this list will piss you off and I think that’s just something you need to deal with on a personal level. When it gets to the point that you’re trying to shove soda down our throats while advertising a game that has already had far too many iterations as it is, it goes too far. When we walk into a retail outlet and the opportunity to buy clothes for your over-produced titles is there, it’s time to think of a new IP. Let’s try and push gaming forward with something new and exciting. Watching a video game legend have to wear hand me downs year after year is getting a little tiring. If you don’t understand the point of the list by now, you’re a lost gamer. So without much else to say, let’s start the list.
8. Grand Theft Auto
Alright Rockstar, we get it. Killing hookers and driving over people while creating riots on the streets of some random city is a good time. Great. We’ve only had the opportunity to do this 5-6 times now throughout different iterations and spinoffs. After Grand Theft Auto 4’s disappointing replayability experience, it’s time to do something different. While we applaud you for picking up PS3 exclusivity through The Agent, we’re hoping that you plan on disappointing everyone and not announcing a Grand Theft Auto 5 – and if you do, it better be set in some exotic city like Tokyo, where the opportunity to provide a refreshing atmosphere is abundantly clear. Also – If you bring out another, don’t shortchange the consumer by cutting off all of the fat of the title. Did you see Saint’s Row 2? They left the fat on and because of it, it left a lot of stuff to do after the main story line. Learn from that.
7. Metal Gear Solid
Hey Kojima, we love you, we really do, but enough is enough. Metal Gear Solid 4 was your masterpiece. It lasted me 15-20 hours and I watched every cut scene as though it was the new bible of gaming. You did it. You earned your lifetime achievement award in the gaming industry and now it’s time to do something great for your supporters and create something new. We’re not asking for the next Mona Lisa of gaming, but at least give us something that we haven’t been playing for the last 15 years already. Snake is a good dude, but there is only so much badassness we can believe before it gets to the point where this guy should be dead already — if not from the years of smoking, from the definite show down against enemies who don’t look to be slowing down in general. Do you know who another famous badass protagonist is? Rambo. He went over the hill too, it wasn’t pretty. Either bring Zone of Enders back for everyone or jump ship and create something fresh.
6. Guitar Hero (Does not include World Tour)
This can be thrown in with the entire “Evil Empire” of gaming article I wrote earlier. Guitar Hero has been milked to death and it’s getting a little old. What’s even worse is after releasing a blockbuster hit like their rip-off Guitar Hero World Tour (Rock Band which is appropriately named beat you to it and you should have conceded), the company still felt the need to create Guitar Hero 5 and then not allow any of its songs to be backwards compatible with World Tour. Great call, Activision. You guys have the business model down to suck in the stupid gamers to a T. However, it’s only a matter of time before they realize they’re buying the same damn game (right?) for the last 5 years. Let’s get a new IP together and start a new milkfest. We all know the company is capable, after all, it has two more titles in the Top 5 alone.
5. World War II Call of Duty
Let’s do this thing. Killing Nazis is popular and nobody hates killing one, except maybe the Germans. Seriously though, when we found out that you were forcing developers to stick with the World War II theme instead of allowing them to grow creatively, it made us a little sick. Anyone who is trying to prevent gaming from evolving and offering something new to the gamers who spends countable millions of dollars (we don’t you don’t count it all) on your product is unjustified. Modern Warfare has proven that you can change the formula and still sell millions, hasn’t it? Just think, your own ridiculous greed almost prevented you from ever reaching that point with Infinity Ward. You owe them an apology at the very least and who knows what Treyarch could do if they were given a choice to develop out of the tired realm of the 1940s. It might end up working out in the end.
4. Tony Hawk
In case you haven’t heard, Tony Hawk Ride is going to release for a lot of money and come with a skateboard you actually stand on to play. Let’s forget the fact that it’s ridiculously overpriced and will probably sell next to nothing because its competitor Skate offers a much better experience for over 50% less money. We can also forget the fact that Tony Hawk has been slowly dying off the gaming shelves for the past three years. Believe us, you’re not revolutionizing skateboard games by adding in the skateboard peripheral. I don’t know if you missed this or not, but snowboard peripherals beat you to this punch and they sold very poorly. Welcome back to reality. Let’s turn this positive energy into something productive, like a new title!
3. Tomb Raider
Lara Croft, thank you for your service. We loved your treasure hunting abilities. We loved your archeological problem solving skills. And, we loved the way your butler would follow us around into every room of your ridiculously oversized mansion. However, there comes a time to step aside, retire the guns, and just get married and pop out a few kids. It’s probably not your thing, but you should make it your thing. In case you haven’t noticed, most of us have been cheating on you with a younger, sexier model named Nathan Drake. He’s everything you used to be and he’s doing nothing but improving upon himself. It’s time you take that nap and pass the crown down to the new King of treasure hunting and thievery.
2. Halo
Fanboys prepare to take up arms. We get it. You’ll keep buying this garbage no matter how many there are. $60 expansion pack? Who cares?! Ship two million! Is that Mountain Dew with Master Chief on it? Let’s buy four cases. Holy crap, is that a Master Chief helmet that will result in my discs being loose, creating massive amounts of scratches on them so that I can’t even play on launch night? Big deal. It’ll look fantastic next to my life-size replica cutout. Great. Yes, we understand there is a whole universe created for Halo and plenty of novels to continue this franchise for the next 20 years in 15 different iterations. It’s old hat by now. When you get to the point that you’re willing to spend $60 for a 4-hour campaign, you’re a little over the top. It’s time to put down the controller and realize what is being done to you. Stand up for something new and fresh, Bungie sure as hell is. They’re tired of making Halo games. Halo: Reach you say? Yes. It’s coming. It’s also going to be the last Halo title that Bungie develops considering their desire to create a new and improved IP. Surprising? Hardly. Only the fanboys want this series to continue. Don’t worry, you’ll always have Red Vs Blue to fall back on.
1.Super Mario
If there is ever a king for this list, it’s that fat little plumber who enjoys pasta, pizza and princesses. Of course, Mario has started to look like he’s getting in better shape over the years and he’s done so by working out and saving princesses in about 1,000 different games. It’s not overkill anymore, it’s just annoying. I’ve never seen a more iconic character continue to deliver on a mass scale. This guy could be released on a game full of nothing but glitches and technical issues and people would buy 15,000,000 copies of it within the first year. Mario isn’t really a plumber, he’s an entrepreneur worth billions. However, despite all of that, it’s time for Nintendo to create something new. I understand the man behind Mario tried that with Wii Music and failed immensely, but that doesn’t mean you give up. Go back to the drawing board and bring us that next Mario. Show us you’re capable of delivering something new. The saddest part about this all is that now that you’ve run out of spinoff ideas, we’re starting to go back to just remaking the old games with light twists to them. It doesn’t have to be like this Mario. You’re better than that. Go home to the wife and kids and show someone else the path to the spotlight. We, as gamers, won’t mind. I promise.
When I said always I meant it as in children aimed products always have a higher chance of being successful in sales than adult aimed products simply due to the ratio of the child population to the adult population. Forgive me for not writing it all out, but I was trying to shorten my 10 page essay lol. Now that has been cleared, I asked are Wii Fit and Wii Sports the greatest…not one of the greatest…using the same logic you have about pokemon. The answer is still no. Please read more thoroughly next time.
My answer to why pokemon hasn’t died yet is the same reason titles such as Dynasty Warriors, Sonic the Hedgehog, DragonBall Z, and other series are still around, because of audience’s acceptance of mediocrity. People such as yourself will buy the game not because of its incredible content, which I say with extreme sarcasim, but for its TITLE. It does not matter how ORIGINAL or REVOLUTIONARY the game is, as long as its named “Place Name Here” you’ll buy it. Don’t worry, there are pleanty other mindless followers out there who are just like you.
For example, Halo fans don’t care about what anyone says about their precious game, no matter how truthful it may be, they’ll still blindly follow the franchise into oblivion simply because it’s Halo. Proof of this is their support of ODST, which is a solid game but in no way should it have been $60 and this fact alone should’ve caused a lot of chaos within the fanbase but it didn’t. Why? They don’t care, it’s Halo. Just like you don’t care, or somehow don’t see, that pokemon is the same recycled system over and over again.
I’m not saying it’s crap, I’m just saying the sequels are pointless and once again are nowhere near better than top rated rpgs such as FF, Farcry, Fallout, etc. You have to either be a moron or a total fanboy of the series to believe it truely is the best (which you are obviously the later). I will also repeat myself and say if you PREFER or shall I say LOVE it the most, then fine that’s you, but don’t you dare say it’s the best and give some GENERALMLD response using sales as support to your claim. All sales prove is that it SOLD the best, NOT that it is the best. If you want to prove it’s the best then discuss its content vs. another rpg’s content, that’s what big boys do. But you won’t because as I stated before, all the rpg titles I’ve named easily outbeats pokemon in content.
In conclusion, don’t get all butt hurt because I pulled your head down from the skies and reattached it to your body. All I said is that it is NOT the best and that it is the same recycled game over and over again with a few, or less, additions. I did not say it sucks, just that it’s continuation is pointless. The only truly original and revolutionary games were the first two versions, which I proudly own. After the first two games the franchise steadily transitioned into a mere shell of its past self. I’m sorry if you feel anger towards or pain from this but that is the reality of pokemon. Good day.
@BBeetle
I’m one of the believe that Halo brought the FPS genre into the Modern Gaming scene, but feel free to think otherwise.
@ The Dean – Wii Sports Resort was NEVER mentioned by anyone – stop making things up. Wii Sports Resort hasn’t sold NEARLY the number of copies that Wii Sports has so where is the comparison??? LOL – dumbass.
@ Extra – By your logic Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, Call Of Duty, Fifa, Smackdown Vs Raw, Pro Evolution Soccer and basically any other game that has been around a good few years has survived because of mediocrity too. What you are basically saying is that unless it’s a brand new IP it’s automatically garbage.
Also, i already told you Wii Sports doesn’t count because nobody actually “Buys” it. That would be the equivalent of saying Solitaire has been bought more times than any other game because it comes free with a PC – pay attention.
this is the best list ive ever seen couldnt agree with you more. GTA IV was fun for a bit but then same old crap, and even though ill still buy gay tony episode your right its time to move on.
Man you simply can’t read can you? Allow me to quote myself for a second
” All I said is that it is NOT the best and that it is the same recycled game over and over again with a few, or less, additions. I did not say it sucks, just that it’s continuation is pointless.” – Extra
Already your reply has been negated because you said I assume continued titles are automatic garbage when I clearly stated above that this is not how I think.
Quoted:
“What you are basically saying is that unless it’s a brand new IP it’s automatically garbage.” – David Macphail
Although I have already defeated you latest post allow me to continue my victory dance by adding that franchises such as FF, and Grand Theft Auto have provided their consumer with brand new totally DIFFERENT storylines AND far more side quests, new areas, and overall capabilities than the previous title. So therefor even though it’s the same title it’s basically a brand new and totally different game that keeps key elements the same such as fighting style (but even that has changed in the past FF titles and in GTA it was improved on some aspects).
In my personal opinion I believe sports games should come out every 3 or so years and just update the roster when necessary until the next game comes out. In the past they couldn’t do this, but now there really isn’t any excuse. It is rediculous to buy the same game year after year with minor improvements and an updated roster, which is the reason I stopped buying them years ago, just like pokemon.
Allow me to end this long winded debate by once again stating your beloved pokemon is nowhere near the best rpg title (btw Golden Sun, which is also on the gameboy, crushes the whole pokemon series put together, not in sales but in content). I’m once again sorry if I offended you, even though you are a fanboy, but I’m simply telling it as it is. Also when you reply, reply to the whole post addressed to you and not just one section or sentence. It’s the only way to win a debate. Good day.
Oh I forgot to add that Call of Duty has changed things up by once again taking us out of the WWII era and brought us back to good old present day warfare.
@ Extra – it’s clear now that you’ve never even PLAYED a GTA game if that’s what you think. The setting for GTA3, Liberty City Stories and GTA: IV were all exactly the same – how is that a completely new adventure? ROFL!
Also – in case you didn’t notice the Pokemon games always change things up with new Pokemon, characters, side missions and locations every time as well – so you just contradicted yourself – moron. Also, just to rub it in, Pokemon lasts about 5X LONGER than any Final Fantasy/Fallout game. Please research theese games before posting. Right now you’re displaying the actions of a typical fanboy – writing any half – baked argument down without even thinking it through.
I could continue my victory dance but i think by now it’s clear to everyone you don’t follow the games industry at all – a blind monkey knows more about the history of video games than you do.
Next time you reply (IF you have the courage to show your face here again) make sure that the point you make in FAVOUR of one game cannot contradict the exact same reason you DISLIKE another, it’s the only way to win an argument.
Good day – idiot.
Sonic should be on the list…
looks like everyone is crying over this. I think the liost is good, devulopers have a habit, they make a good game and try 2 remake it over and over, we need new things not Halo 7 or GTA 43
Lol read man, I never said the whole GTA franchise had different settings (although 3 do, VC, SA, and Chinatown). I said they all have new areas to explore, meaning each city in each game basically has a different structure and therefor have new places to go. Yes Liberty City is different in GTA 3 and 4. Also the plot and side quests are very different as well, which is what really matters.
As for pokemon, after Yellow version, the areas, sides, and char are indeed different but the story remains basically the same in all of the mainstream games (not including spin-offs like pokemon snap, though a great game, and others). It’s still all about attempting to catch every pokemon you come across, defeating the 8, sometimes 16, gym leaders to obtain the gym badges in order to compete in and win the tournament. This is what makes the sequels, and the anime, pointless. Yeah sure they add some new things but you still basically know what is going to happen throughout the whole game story wise.
If you’re thinking pokemon has more gameplay when considering catching and maxing the lv of every pokemon, you are correct for that is the longest side quest in the game, but on average all the other side quest won’t take 1/4 as long. Also the amount of side quests in FF, and especially fallout, and farcry completely over-shadows the amount in pokemon. This is what is meant when one speaks of a games content. It’s not just how long it takes you to complete 1 or all events but how many there are to complete and how long it takes to complete them.
Man I don’t understand why you’re so upset with me stating that pokemon isn’t the best rpg, when it isn’t. It’s still is a great game, it’s just not refreshing enough to continue buying and playing all of the titles. Not to mention, the anime is just so dissapointing that I don’t want to think about it anymore. It breaks my heart to see how far the anime has fallen. Pokemon use to be one of my favorite animes and games, but as I said it’s just a mere shadow of itself now. I was extremely addicted to Red version and loved Silver, but Ruby is where I noticed the game was recycling itself and decided to stop playing it.
If you continue to love the game and/or the anime then fine, but don’t lie and say it’s the best hands down. Just say you love it the best, it’s that simple.
I don’t understand why you get so upset when i say Pokemon is better than Final Fantasy/Fallout (Which it obviously is). I have an idea – why don’t you go look up the sales figures for Final Fantasy XII, Fallout 3 and Pokemon Diamond/Pearl then see which comes out on top? Then, when you realise that Pokemon D/P outsold the other RPG’s by a country mile don’t blame it on the fact that Pokemon is aimed at all age groups because that’s already been disproven.
I like the people like Doug over there trying to show off on the internet even tho he is probably rehearsed that whole message he typed many times over in his head, Im glad if makes him feel better about who he is tho even tho he most likely is what he is claiming everyone else to be
have fun with you fake 2nd Life dream buddy you earned it!
and as for franchises that need to die i only really agree with the list on halo and guitar hero games
Keep Mario as a platfoming games, but no spin-offs .