Lately, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki expressed regret over the company’s perceived scarcity of original IPs. However, it seems Sony might have overlooked a few cherished games from their past.
In a recent conversation with the Financial Times, Totoki mentioned, “Whether it’s for games, films or anime, we don’t have that much IP that we fostered from the beginning.” This claim came despite Sony’s impressive catalog of IPs that have been gathering dust for many years. This concern was perhaps triggered by the underwhelming performance of Concord, a hero shooter intended to be Sony’s latest new IP. Despite its diverse character roster and multimedia projects like YouTube vignettes, Concord failed to captivate audiences and is now offering full refunds after a dismal two-week run.
Yet, Sony has a treasure trove of forgotten classics that could easily rejuvenate its portfolio. Here are five such gems that deserve to be revisited.
Wild Arms:
The Wild Arms series is an excellent blend of fantasy and wild west elements, a combination rarely seen in any other franchise. Sadly, Sony seems to have forgotten about this series, with its last installment released back in 2007 for the PSP. Imagine the potential of a hero shooter set in the Wild Arms universe, with its diverse cast of characters and thrilling gunplay. If only Sony would remember this unique gem.
Ape Escape:
Sony’s pursuit of photorealism has somewhat overshadowed its knack for playful, fun games. Ape Escape, with its whimsical storyline and memorable apes sporting sirens on their heads, could be a refreshing change. Astro’s Playroom proved that Sony still has a place for playful mascot games, and rumors of an Ape Escape 4 brewing indicate a hopeful return. However, it’s been over a decade since the last game in 2010, making fans anxious for its comeback.
Jak and Daxter:
Naughty Dog’s shift to darker, more mature games has left fans longing for the light-hearted adventures of Jak and Daxter. The PlayStation 2 classic hasn’t seen a new game since 2009, except for some repackaged collections. The charm of Jak and his quirky sidekick Daxter could reignite the joy of platforming games that Naughty Dog once excelled at.
Gravity Rush:
Gravity Rush, with its enigmatic and distinctly Japanese style, offered something unique in the gaming world. Kat, the protagonist, had the potential to shine as a new mascot for PlayStation. Although the last game was released in 2017 and Team Gravity was disbanded in 2020, there’s still hope with talks of a movie adaptation. Kat’s graceful leaps and gravity-defying moves could still captivate a new generation of gamers.
Dark Cloud:
Developed by Level-5, Dark Cloud combined JRPG mechanics with a unique town-building system, where the player reconstructed towns sealed away by the Fairy King to fend off the Dark Genie. Its campy, anime-inspired style might be exactly what Sony needs to stand out. However, with Level-5 focused on a new Layton game and Sony seemingly uninterested, Dark Cloud remains a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered.
In conclusion, while Sony contemplates its future IP strategy, a glance back at these classic franchises could provide the inspiration needed to captivate audiences once more.
