It's a great time to be a gamer. Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 are both turning two this month, and there has never been a better time to dive into the current generation of consoles. From the triumphant return of classic franchises like Fallout 4 to experiencing the battles of Star Wars like never before in Battlefront, purchasing an Xbox One and PlayStation 4 opens up a whole new world of gaming possibilities.
But while there are plenty of stellar games for each platform now that we've hit the two-year milestone, we can't help but think there are some games missing in action. There are dozens of classic franchises from yesteryear that have yet to make the jump into the new console generation.
More than a few of those big-name franchises are exclusive first-party titles, ranging from huge names like God of War to more obscure titles like Phantom Dust. Considering how both Sony and Microsoft's first-party offerings are a little slim, it's a crime to see all of these forgotten franchises sitting on the sidelines. With that in mind, here are some of the missing first-party franchises we would love to see make a comeback on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as we look ahead to each console's bright future.
Xbox
Alan Wake
Developer Remedy may be hard at work on the Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break, but while the developer's latest game is intriguing, we are longing for a return to the world of their previous game: Alan Wake. A third-person shooter at first glance, Alan Wake proved to be far, far more. The game featured unique mechanics that used light sources to fight off enemies of pure darkness, a captivating psychological thriller storyline and an atmosphere as immersive as it was creepy, all wrapped up in an episodic television format. All of these experimental elements coalesced to form one of the best games on the Xbox 360.
Remedy has said that work began on a sequel, but that it was shelved as the team moved on to Quantum Break. That means there is still a possibility that Alan Wake 2 could happen on the Xbox One.
Phantom Dust
Microsoft made a big splash during E3 2014 when it showed off an impressive cinematic trailer for an Xbox One exclusive game titled Phantom Dust. Most viewers were left scratching their heads, but for the few who knew what was going on, the excitement levels were through the roof. Microsoft was rebooting a cult classic original Xbox title of the same name and bringing it to the next generation.
Phantom Dust played like a third-person action game, but rather than using weapons, players employed the use of magical skills. These skills could be customized and brought into battle in a way similar to using a deck of cards, giving players numerous options for combat. Microsoft has since stated that an Xbox One reboot is no longer in development, but we can only hope that this series eventually gets the second chance it deserves.
Crimson Skies
This arcade-style dogfighting game was one of the best exclusives on the original Xbox outside of Halo, making it more than a little confusing as to why it never saw another entry. Set in an alternate 1930s America in which the skies were ruled by pirates and aerial vehicles far outnumbered cars, Crimson Skies delivered a high-flying good time back in the day thanks to a great single-player campaign and its use of Xbox Live multiplayer.
The game saw a rerelease on the Xbox 360 as well, which led some to believe a sequel to be in the works. Alas, that never came to pass, but bringing back the franchise for the Xbox One would make more than a few longtime Xbox fans happy.
PlayStation
War of the Monsters
The folks behind numerous Twisted Metal titles tried something different in 2003 with War of the Monsters, and by most accounts they knocked it out of the park. War of the Monsters perfectly captured the style and fun of 1950s style sci-fi monster movies with a stellar roster of giant beasts and top-notch presentation. Developer Incognito Entertainment applied its multiplayer expertise gained from working on Twisted Metal to create a multiplayer giant monster brawler that still holds up surprisingly well today as players climb buildings, throw cars and fire energy beams from their mouths.
It's hard to say if Sony would ever return to the franchise, but just thinking about the mayhem that could be possible on current-generation hardware has us more than ready for some new and improved monster on monster action.
God of War
God of War is one of Sony's biggest franchises, and with good reason. It's top-notch visuals, satisfying hack 'n slash gameplay and absurd levels of violence have helped make the star of the series, Kratos, a video game icon. Sony hasn't officially confirmed a new entry for the PlayStation 4, but considering the franchise has graced the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, it seems like only a matter of time. Heck, a remastered version of God of War 3 even released earlier this year on the PS4, seemingly paving the way for a new entry.
It seems clear Sony isn't done with the franchise, but unfortunately Kratos is running out of gods to kill. Perhaps the next God of War will drop Kratos and follow a god of war outside of the franchise's traditional Greek setting? Regardless of whether the game includes Kratos or not, God of War feels like a must on Sony's latest console.
Syphon Filter
This series of stealth shooters is one of the longest-running franchises on PlayStation, with entries appearing on the PS1, PS2 and PlayStation Portable. We haven't seen the first-party franchise since Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow on the PSP in 2007, with the franchise skipping the PS3 entirely. That makes a return to the universe of Syphon Filter long overdue.
With games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain earning critical acclaim, a similar open-world stealth approach for Syphon Filter seems like a no-brainer, and would serve as a great way to introduce new fans to a classic PlayStation franchise.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
