2022 is proving to be the year that SEGA has its comeback. Not only did the company launch the Sega Mega Drive Mini 2, but it was also announced that video games like Space Channel 5 are getting the film treatment and hit games like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio already have sequels/reboots in production.
SEGA fanboys and fangirls everywhere are likely hoping that the company finds success with these endeavors and continues to bring back beloved classics and cult favorites. And with a huge library of quirky, addicting, and charmingly offbeat games, SEGA surely has no shortage of awesome titles to resurrect for the modern era.
Ecco The Dolphin (Genesis/Mega Drive, Dreamcast)
Originally released for the Genesis/Mega Drive and last seen on SEGA's final console, the Dreamcast, Ecco the Dolphin became somewhat of an unexpected mascot for the company. The games were puzzle platformers where players took control of Ecco, a special dolphin who has to fight other marine animals and even mysterious aliens.
The games were convoluted and incredibly hard, but something about being able to play as a dolphin and explore the oceans was just so undeniably magical, especially in 1992 when the original game was released. Plus, with the recent success of ocean-themed video games like Abzu and Beyond Blue, it's clear that gamers are craving more.
Snatcher (SEGA CD)
Originally released for PC in '88, the SEGA CD was the first console powerful enough to handle such a big and intricate game, with Snatcher's port arriving in '94. The game has since been called one of the best SEGA CD games of all time and is set in a futuristic world heavily influenced by the cyberpunk genre.
The game is an adventure RPG and centers around a group of androids, called "snatchers", who have been killing humans and taking their shape, replacing them in society. The game is gritty, and the story is compelling, making it the perfect launching point for another entry, especially since choice-based games have had a bit of resurgence lately with titles like The Quarry finding success.
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (Dreamcast)
Many gamers might be surprised to learn that SEGA's ill-fated console, the Dreamcast, actually had an exclusive Resident Evil game (it was later ported to other consoles). Code Veronica, often called the "real Resident Evil 3", follows Claire Redfield in the events after the second game as she searches for her brother, Chris.
The story is also one of the most bonkers and outlandish of the entire franchise, involving an Antarctic base and evil twins, among other oddities. So far, the original Resident Evil, 2, 3, and now 4 have all received the revamp treatment...with Code Veronica sadly left behind, which is a shame because it's actually a really fun and absurd game.
Nights Into Dreams (Saturn)
Like so many SEGA games, Nights Into Dreams was a genre-blending title that isn't easy to describe. The basic gameplay allows players to navigate the protagonist, Nights, through a dreamworld in order to stop an evil force from taking over the world.
The story is shaky, and the game never really explains it, but the gameplay itself was tons of fun. Flying, twisting, and turning, the platformer levels allowed gamers to glide around effortlessly, creating an extremely fun experience. With modern controls, updated graphics, and a better-told story, a Nights Into Dreams sequel could easily become a hit.
Herzog Zwei (Genesis/Mega Drive)
Despite Dune II regularly being cited as the birth of the modern real-time strategy game, Herzog Zwei actually came first. In the game, players control a shape-shifting mech that also serves as a mothership. Through the mech, gamers can purchase and deploy units, creating armies to destroy opponents' bases.
On top of being super influential, it's also just plain fun. It has been released for the Nintendo Switch, but an updated modern remake, or even better, a brand-new sequel, would be awesome, especially since newer technology could help create a deeper story that the 16-bit era never could.
Power Stone (Deamcast)
Imagine if Super Smash Bros. and Mario Party were combined...that's Power Stone. It's a fighting game, but it takes place on 3D maps where players can move around, pick up items, gain power-ups, and interact with the environment.
It also has a colorful, cartoon aesthetic, giving the game a fun feel that most fighting games lack. Power Stone 2 turned the game into a multiplayer experience, allowing four players to duke it out in a bombastic extravaganza. Despite great reviews upon release and a devout following to this day, the game never got a sequel.
Vectorman (Genesis/Mega Drive)
In 1994, Donkey Kong Country was released for the Super Nintendo. Its pre-rendered graphics, lush colors, and beautiful soundtrack pushed the console to its absolute limits...and scared the crap out of SEGA. The game showed the world that the SNES could produce graphics almost on par with SEGA's new console, the Saturn, and it quickly became a smash hit.
In response, SEGA launched Vectorman, showing that the Genesis/Mega Drive could also produce improved graphics. While the game didn't have the gorgeousness of Donkey Kong Country, it was still a solid platformer that was tons of fun, even spawning a sequel the following year. Plus, games like Cuphead and Celeste have proven that platformers are still in demand, so it would be great to see Vectorman rejuvenated for a new generation of players.
Seaman (Dreamcast)
One of the weirdest video games ever is Seaman, where players were tasked with caring for a melancholy pet fish that had the head of a man and was just so over life.
Rude, crude, and hilarious, Seaman was like an adult Tamagotchi that was simply too bizarre to ignore. A Seaman sequel could work perfectly as a mobile game (which wasn't possible back in '99 when the game was originally launched) and could utilize elements from Pokémon GO to become a hilarious social experience.
Enemy Zero (Saturn)
This oddity has sadly fallen into obscurity, which is a shame because it's a fantastic horror game. Players wake up as Laura, who has just been pulled out of hypersleep aboard a space station. Something is running wild onboard the ship, killing everyone in its path. It's up to Laura to find out what it is and how to stop it.
Beautiful FMV cutscenes and (sometimes maddening) puzzles made Enemy Zero cutting-edge, beautiful, and terrifying. It showcased just how powerful the hated and misunderstood Saturn console could truly be. Plus, the main character, Laura, is a "digital actress" who was also the protagonist in other horror games like D and D2. The success of games like Until Dawn and Alien: Isolation could mean that now is the perfect time to bring Laura back for another round of scares.
Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)
Panzer Dragoon Saga is one of the most coveted and expensive games in the world right now. In fact, trying to find a copy will cost at least $1,500 on Amazon. The game was a sequel to Panzer Dragoon, a rail shooter where players fly on a dragon to save the world. Saga, however, took the game in a whole new direction, becoming a four-disc RPG epic.
It was one of the last games released for the Saturn, coming out just a little over a year before the Dreamcast's US release. It's a shame because the game received stellar reviews and the lucky few who got to play it absolutely loved it. Oddly enough, SEGA never produced a sequel for one of their highest-ranked games of all time. Now, some 25 years later, gamers still want the chance to check out a remaster, reboot, or sequel, which should be a clear sign to SEGA that a new game could be an instant hit.