Greatness Comes in Threes: Best Trilogies in Gaming - Part Three

It's the third day of August and the third day of the work week-- what a perfect time to bring back an article series celebrating its third entry about the best gaming trilogies!

The trilogy-- in movies it's a common occurrence with hugely successful blockbusters whether it's Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Toy Story, or Back to the Future. Trilogies are also pretty common in gaming as well, but at the same token, an actual good trilogy is a completely different matter. This new article series details some of the very best trilogies that our hobby and industry have been able to create in its much shorter lifespan. Check out parts one and two to see the past trilogies mentioned in this article series.

The Batman Arkham Trilogy:

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)
Batman: Arkham City (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC)
Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, XB1, PC)

Rocksteady made a name for itself by creating one of the first truly masterful Batman games, much more a truly masterful superhero game, with Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game felt somewhat like a Metroid-structured game with new gadgets allowing Batman to access new portions of the titular asylum, where the inmates indeed ran it. Batman: Arkham City opened up things with a large open world to explore, as well as keeping multiple dungeon-like indoor areas available as well. Lastly, Batman: Arkham Knight, released last year, took the series to a larger open world area, complete with Batmobile. The tale told by the Arkham series is one that tells one of the greater Batman stories in the video game medium. Controlling Batman felt fast and fluid, taking out henchmen and other malcontents could be done with ease and finesse, and you really felt like you were the Dark Knight throughout all three games. While Arkham Origins is also an excellent entry, a prequel to Rocksteady's games, its story isn't as important to the overall Arkham trilogy, nor was it developed by Rocksteady. Hence why it's not included.

The Gears of War Trilogy:

Gears of War (360)
Gears of War 2 (360)
Gears of War 3 (360)

Epic Games came off the wild success of the Unreal Tournament series with a new franchise for the Xbox brand, Gears of War. Taking the already revolutionary third-person shooting gameplay from Resident Evil 4 and somehow revolutionizing it further with a highly remarkable cover-and-shoot mechanic, the Gears of War trilogy is something macabre and marvelous to behold. From running, gunning, and taking up cover, to shooting a Locust into submission before tearing into them with a chainsaw, the brutality available to players was exceptional. The popcorn movie blockbuster-like story across the three games saw your crew of four buff and gruff soldiers sticking it to the Locust horde all the while spouting off smooth one-liners. The other piece to Gears of War's success as a series is the incredible multiplayer, though it did hit a bit of a snag with the second game. However, Gears 3 brought things back to how they should be with addicting and visceral multiplayer action goodness for all.

The Mass Effect Trilogy:

Mass Effect (PS3, 360, PC)
Mass Effect 2 (PS3, 360, PC)
Mass Effect 3 (PS3, 360, PC)

Despite all of the arguments both founded and not about the ending of the Mass Effect trilogy, that by no means ruins the entire time many of us spent with the three games in the Mass Effect series. Filled to the brim with different character classes, races, planets, areas to explore, and lore that would give other sci-fi series like Star Trek a run for their money, Mass Effect brought players into its universe and grabbed them, never letting go until long after Mass Effect 3's credits rolled. From the engaging third-person shooting gameplay to the RPG-like customization for your own specially crafted character, Mass Effect as a series is a wonderful one. Again, the trilogy might not have ended on the highest of notes, but that doesn't detract from the overall greatness that the Mass Effect trilogy has and will continue to endure for (console) generations to come.

The Jak and Daxter Trilogy:

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
Jak II (PS2)
Jak 3 (PS2)

This trilogy is an interesting one. Despite having a formula and tone set for the original Jak and Daxter, after The Precursor Legacy, Naughty Dog went for a much darker angle with Jak II. In essence, it was very tryhard and almost embarrassing to see. That said, while the original Jak and Daxter was a 3D collectathon like a Super Mario 64 or a Banjo-Kazooie, Jak II took the series to an open world, darker setting where instead of attacking with Jak and Daxter's limbs, Jak used weaponry such as guns, turning the platformer series into a third-person shooter with platforming elements. Jak 3 ended the trilogy with a great capstone to the story, and it was a more polished and less frustrating game. While I would have preferred that Naughty Dog not lose the narrative on what makes a platformer fun, the Jak and Daxter trilogy is a fun one despite the tonal shift the series saw.

The LittleBigPlanet Trilogy:

LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4, PS3)

Play, Create, and Share-- that is the mantra and motto of the LittleBigPlanet series. The first LittleBigPlanet game was such an exciting prospect, and it turned out to be really good execution-wise by Media Molecule. Not only were the worlds fun to explore, but the ability to create one's own levels and creations and share them with the world was added to the longevity of the game. Though the creation tools took some learning to create masterpieces, being able to craft your own designs whether levels or enemies was stupendous. LittleBigPlanet 2 added even more creation options with it being my favorite of the trilogy. Finally, LittleBigPlanet 3 released a couple of years ago on both the PS3 and the PS4, though under the care of a new developer. New characters and level types were included, but so were unwanted glitches and bugs that I think still permeate throughout both versions of the game. SuperPhillip Central has yet to review the third installment, but don't worry, dear gadders, it's coming!

The Original Mario Party Trilogy:

Mario Party (N64)
Mario Party 2 (N64)
Mario Party 3 (N64)

While all of the other trilogies on this list are trilogies by story, Mario Party's trilogy is based on being on the same system, the original party machine, the Nintendo 64. Call it an unofficial trilogy! Mario Party brought Nintendo 64 gamers and party-goers multiple boards and a multitude of mini-games for four players either in a battle royal, 2 vs. 2, or 1 vs. 3 form. Many mini-games would see a second time in the spotlight with Mario Party 2, such as crowd favorite Bumper Balls. Thankfully, with the sequels of Mario Party, the need to turn the control stick of the N64 controller was long gone, which meant no more blisters on palms or thumbs due to super fast spinning of the stick! Mario Party 2 also brought costumes into the forefront, while Mario Party 3 introduced new characters to play as. All in all, my favorite Mario Party games still remain the first trio. What about you?

Top Five Desired PlayStation IP Revivals for E3 2016

E3 is next week, and the carnival of fun, excitement, and occasionally utter stupidity will consume the industry. Last night, I posted the five Xbox IP that I would like to see revived come this E3. Tonight it's the PlayStation's turn, having me name the five long, lost franchises of yesteryear that the PlayStation fan inside me would absolutely love to see get the revival treatment next week.

5) Wipeout

Fans of high speed futuristic racing haven't had much to satiate their hunger and thirst for a new racer in the direction of Wipeout. The last entry of the series arrived with the PlayStation Vita's launch, and brought its fast-paced weapon-based combat with it. Just imagine the series in glorious high definition on the technological beast that is the PlayStation 4. You can go ahead and skip Wipeout being on PlayStation VR, Sony, unless you provide a complementary barf bag with every purchase. Regardless, though the traditional developer of the series is no more, that doesn't mean a new developer can't take its place for a new Wipeout.

4) Ape Escape

We haven't seen the Ape Escape franchise in a while. The last run-in with the PlayStation brand's mischievous monkeys was a throwaway tech demo for the PlayStation Move peripheral for the PlayStation 3. I yearn for another traditional Ape Escape game, venturing around colorful platforming playgrounds, discovering locations of the titular apes, and figuring out efficient ways to capture them. Sony's Japan Studio has some good stuff coming with The Last Guardian and the new Hot Shots Golf, but I'd love to see them deliver a satisfying new entry in the Ape Escape franchise.

3) Syphon Filter

Gabe Logan is growing restless on his extended vacation away from doing secret missions and starring in video games in general. Not only did the last Syphon Filter, Logan's Shadow on the PSP, end with an unresolved cliffhanger, but the third-person shooting, mission-based gameplay that the series executed so brilliantly is greatly missed by many fans. Once a strong PlayStation IP in the PS1 and PS2 days, Sony has left the series to rot. Now's as good a time as any to bring Gabe Logan, the Agency, and everything else that made the Syphon Filter series so engaging back.

2) Jak and Daxter

Jak and Daxter is a bittersweet series for me. The first was a wonderful collect-a-thon 3D platformer, and then Naughty Dog lost the plot horribly, making a try-hard, cringey, edgy, Grand Theft Auto-inspired turn for the series, a total turn-off for me personally. Jak 3 brought a more worthwhile game, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the cartoon innocence of the original, or the collect-a-thon formula. We already have one PlayStation platformer with guns in it, and that's the wonderful Ratchet & Clank, so why not have a more skill-based, precision-platforming Jak and Daxter instead? Just keep Naughty Dog away. Please.

1) Crash Bandicoot

What else could it be? Another franchise once under helm by Naughty Dog, Crash Bandicoot has been with Activision for more than a decade now. With the next Skylanders game supposedly having the PlayStation brand's former mascot in it, that certainly can't be all the Crash news for this E3... right? While I don't think Naughty Dog is the right fit for either Jak and Daxter or Crash Bandicoot since its focus is more on AAA blockbusters in present times, that doesn't mean another worthy developer couldn't revive the bandicoot currently on hiatus. We'll definitely know for sure come next week. Fingers crossed!

10 PlayStation Franchises I'd Like to See Revisited

The PlayStation is home to a great many awesome franchises, and since the very first PlayStation, the brand has accumulated a wealth of exclusive first-party series. Sony as a publisher is not afraid by any stretch of the imagination to take a risk on new IP, and while that is no doubt incredible and worthy of praise, there are a lot of classic franchises in the PlayStation's past that need attending to, as well. From platformer classics to arcade racers, this list of ten PlayStation franchises is full of the ones that I'd love to see Sony return to. Note: The franchises on this list are ones that Sony (for all I know) has rights to, so no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro the Dragon, for instance.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

The idea of a PlayStation crossover akin to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. seemed like a brilliant way to receive millions upon millions of sales. After all, if any publisher outside of Nintendo has enough big franchises to put into an all-star fighter it's Sony. However, the execution of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale left a lot to be desired from most players. The need to perform all-star moves on opponents to score points made the actual fighting seem lacking in comparison. The PlayStation brand also has a sizable amount of characters and franchises to draw from, so the character selection in the finished product didn't excite too much. With a sequel, I'd love to see a new developer at the helm, trying to better understand what makes Super Smash Bros. so successful, even if it's a blatant copy or something more akin to Power Stone, a 3D brawler.

Jak and Daxter

With this next franchise, I don't really mind if Naughty Dog doesn't have a hand in this. After all, the studio turned a lighthearted 3D platforming series into a gritty, tryhard platforming series, so I don't really have as much trust in them as other fans do. In a perfect world, Jak and Daxter would receive the same type of reboot treatment as Ratchet & Clank's upcoming film and game releasing in April. The PlayStation brand already has a third-person shooter/platformer hybrid, so why follow the Jak II route? Instead, a new developer could put their spin on the 3D platformer with colorful worlds, characters who aren't eye-rolling-ly extreme and gritty like Jak II and on, the same humor the series is known for, and huge worlds to explore. Less like Jak II, Jak III, and The Lost Frontier, and more like the original Jak and Daxter.

Wipeout

Nintendo's F-Zero is on indefinite hiatus, and has been for over a decade now. Now, Sony's Wipeout has also careened off course and is in hibernation as well. While there have been similar futuristic racing games from indie developers, nothing comes close for the PlayStation brand than the lightning fast, weapons-filled fun of the Wipeout series. The original developer of the series is no more, but hopefully that doesn't mean that no other developer is able to take control of this blistering fast racing franchise. Just imagine how astonishing a PlayStation 4 Wipeout title would look. The series was already amazing to look at and play on the PS3 and Vita, but can you possibly fathom how the upgrade to the PS4 would be? Make it so, Sony!

Sly Cooper

The last time we visited the world of Sly Cooper it was on the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. That game ended on a cliffhanger, and I'd definitely like to see the conclusion to it. Much like Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper and his merry band of thieves are receiving their own full feature film, though with a much altered art style. Whether the cliffhanger from Thieves in Time will be resolved or not is unknown. It does make sense for a game tie-in to release around the time of the movie, again like Ratchet & Clank. Whatever happens, Sly Cooper deserves another chance to shine, and the PlayStation 4 can never have too many 3D platformers, a genre sorely lacking in gaming these days.

Ape Escape

Ape Escape was a cult classic series on the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PSP. On the PS3 it received a PS Move-enabled title that was more of tease of what could have been than a real game that fans of the franchise wanted. Ape Escape as a series generally has players roaming around levels, searching for monkeys, and using a variety of tactics to catch them, whether stealthily sneaking up behind them or chasing them down and nabbing them with a net. After a decade of waiting for a successor to the series, Ape Escape fans like myself are chomping at the bit for a new sequel that plays like the traditional games. Until then, I guess we can just catch monkeys in gorgeous HD in our dreams.

MediEvil

Like some franchises on this list, Sony hasn't completely forgotten about these games, as Sir Daniel Fortesque, leading skeleton in the MediEvil franchise, had an appearance in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. However, since his last starring role in 2005 in the re-imagining of the original game for the PSP, MediEvil: Resurrection, Sir Daniel hasn't had much to get excited about, nor his fans. MediEvil might have been resurrected on the PSP, but since then, the series has stayed dead and buried. The series was known for its quirky humor, ghastly enemies, clever puzzles, and hack-and-slash combat. It'd be quite the treat to see Sony revive this classic PlayStation series, as it was one of the first that allowed the PlayStation brand to make its mark on gaming.

ModNation Racers

Essentially combining the intense arcade racing action of the Mario Kart series with the customization and creation aspects of the LittleBigPlanet series, ModNation Racers allowed players to craft their own racers, vehicles, and tracks. While the tools aren't as sophisticated or as convoluted as LittleBigPlanet's, ModNation Racers did offer a multitude of creative tools to let players make some truly wondrous creations. The actual racing was top notch and balanced, not having the same item spam that more recent Mario Karts have been known for. Sony's great selling console is in desperate need of an excellent cartoon-y mascot racer, and ModNation Racers is the perfect series to take the checkered flag.

Resistance

I'm one of those outsiders who considers Resistance to be Sony's superior first-person shooter, over Killzone. While journalists and bloggers were quick to label Killzone as the Halo-killer and whatnot, Insomniac's Resistance series gave me more enjoyment than before, something I'm obviously in the minority on. Regardless, the lore of the Resistance series, its level design, and even its multiplayer enthused me more with each entry, save for the Vita versions of both Resistance and Killzone, which was the only time I thought Killzone was easily the better of the two games at the time (to be fair, Killzone: Mercenary IS one of my favorite FPS of all time). I'd love for either Insomniac or another developer in Sony's control to give Resistance another chance. This might be a fool's wish, however, as both Resistance 3 and the Vita's Burning Skies did little sales-wise to give much in the way of encouragement.

Puppeteer 

This PS3 game had the misfortune of releasing during the same time period as the PS4's launch, making it grossly overlooked by pretty much everyone but a small few. Those of us who got to play Puppeteer found a charming, spirited platforming adventure that played out like a theatre production. Sure, the story oftentimes got in the way of the gameplay, but that's always something that could be fixed with a sequel. Heck, I'd even be satisfied with a remaster, giving this under-appreciated PS3 game a second chance in the sun. Whatever the case may be as to how Puppeteer is once again put on PlayStation, I hope it's given some attention this time around.

Wild Arms

This final PlayStation franchise pick that hasn't seen the light of day in a while is a science-fiction RPG series that takes place in the Wild West, Wild Arms. The signature ARMs are powerful weapons that carry a stigma to them, reminding the people of Filgaia of mysterious and ancient technology of war. Wild Arms has since seen six entries since its debut in 1996. The most recent entry is the PlayStation Portable Wild Arms XF, which was an atypical game in the series, being a tactical RPG rather than a turn-based one. It would be wonderful to see Wild Arms return to the PlayStation with a new title. The combination of sci-fi and the Wild West is a clever one, and it would further boost the PS4's increasing lineup of JRPGs.

Best Levels in Gaming History - Volume Thirteen

It's time for a new volume in Best Levels in Gaming History! What's special about this volume, the thirteenth one, is that it has a special theme this go around. Since us North Americans are in the middle of a brutal winter full of snow, sleet, ice, and frigid temperatures, I figured it would be a great opportunity to talk about some of my favorite winter-themed levels. From Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to Metroid Prime, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, this volume of lovable levels is sure to warm your heart despite the cold temps!

If you missed a past volume of Best Levels in Gaming History, check out the following links:

Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six
Volume Seven
Volume Eight
Volume Nine
Volume Ten
Volume Eleven
Volume Twelve

And with that out of the way, let's get to the levels!

Cliffside Slide - Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

We begin this "winterized for your protection" edition of the Best Levels in Gaming History with a level from one of my favorite 2D platformers of all time, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U. The Kongs fought, rolled, slammed, and ran their way through five islands to finally reach their home. Unfortunately, Donkey Kong Island suffered the worst of Lord Frederick's arctic army. The whole island is frozen solid and has been turned into a winter wasteland. Bad for the Kongs, but good for players, as these levels are some of the best in the game.

There are eight main levels in this sixth and final island in Tropical Freeze, and each represents one world from the game's predecessor, Donkey Kong Country Returns on Wii and Nintendo 3DS. There are plenty of tantalizing picks for excellent levels in Tropical Freeze, but the one I'm choosing for this winter wonderland edition is 6-6 Cliffside Slide.

The level uses a signature silhouette look, having all characters, enemies, items, and the platforms all stand on have silhouettes contrasting against a silvery white background. The platforms in this level slide down the cliff side as part of a massive avalanche. It's up to the Kongs to use perfect precision to leap up the ascending, moving, sometimes undulating platforms in the severe snowstorm to survive.

Cliffside Slide is an absolutely astonishing level to play, pumping the player's adrenaline to fantastic heights as they perform death-defying leaps, blast out of barrels, and time their movements to survive this arctic obstacle course.

Phendrana Drifts - Metroid Prime (GCN)

We move from one Retro Studios-developed game to another with Metroid Prime. After trudging along in the intense heat of Magmoor Caverns, Samus Aran finds herself in a true winter wonderland, Phendrana Drifts. With the absolutely chill music, cool color pallet, frigid waters, and grand architecture, the Phendrana Drifts are a beautiful place to travel through and unbelievably fun to play in.

The Drifts are home to three main parts. One is home to since abandoned Chozo village and temples, as well an abundance of flooded areas. Opposite to this is a research facility operated by the Space Pirates, home to imprisoned Metroids due to their vulnerability to the cold temperatures of the area. Finally, at the edge of Phendrana are a series of mostly underwater chambers and caverns where the Gravity Suit greatly comes into play.

Phendrana Drifts is definitely a nice change of pace from being inside the molten innards of the Magmoor Caverns and its intensely red aesthetic. It's a breath of fresh air entering the wide open expanses of the Phendrana Shorelines, housing two village entrances on either side of the area and venturing deep into the aquatic blue whilst exploring Phendrana's Edge. It's my favorite area from one of my favorite games of all time in a game that has plenty of excellently crafted areas.

Ice Cap Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)

Without question what I consider the coolest (or is it coldest?) zone within the excellent Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Ice Cap Zone features a variety of gameplay mechanics and obstacles. It all begins with a blistering ride down a snow-capped peak via a snowboard, speeding past trees and gathering rings.

The two acts contain platforming and speedy action between outside sections filled with loops and indoor caverns with switches frozen inside ice cubes, pillars that strike down from the ceiling with the goal of crushing an unassuming hedgehog, slippery slopes, platforms that move upward based on Sonic's momentum, and enemies like robotic penguins and spheres surrounded by spiked orbs. Act 2 possesses two halves to it. There is the upper outdoor path, which like most Sonic games, requires a great deal of skill to remain on it, and there is the lower indoor cavernous portion, which introduces aquatic elements into the fold.

It's a zone that has a lot of variety to it in regards to obstacles, hazards, and visual aesthetics. It doesn't hurt that the zone also features some of my favorite music within the game, as heard here for Act 1 and here for Act 2.

The Ice Cap Zone was particularly special to me because back in the days before available Internet, my brother and I, like many players of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, got stuck near the end of Carnival Night Zone Act 2. This was because of the infamous red-and-white barrel of doom, which we never learned how to correctly get past until many, many years later. Having Tails continually jump on the barrel with the right timing to allow Sonic to sneak through a gap to continue the level wasn't the correct way to get past the barrel, nor did it work with any kind of regularity, but through doing so, reaching the Ice Cap Zone was an awesome reward. Since it happened so rarely for us as children, it just made the zone following Carnival Night to be that much more special to us.

Snowy Mountain - Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)

Located high above the Volcanic Crater, Jak and Daxter need to take a gondola up to the Snowy Mountain, a location in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy that is home to an amalgamation of challenges, enemies, and obstacles.

Trekking through the Snowy Mountain is quite a feat, as there is a canyon full of chasms that require precision platforming to overcome, icy bridges that don't offer much in the way of traction for Jak's feet, and many difficult platforming perils to persevere over to get all ten Power Cells hidden around the mountainous area.

The Lurkers loafing about the Snowy Mountain area as well as the ones in battering ram operations to retrieve Precursor technology frozen inside large glaciers make for an uninviting place. A cavern that is accessed through carefully maneuvering over a series of slippery platforms finds itself infested with small Lurker forces while a fortress full of the Lurker horde sits on the opposite side of a grand canyon.

Snowy Mountain pits players in a battle against the elements, the Lurkers, and the problematic platforming for those not ready for the challenge. It's an area that features a wide array of platforming challenges and unique locations, making it one of my favorite areas within Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy.

Frosty Village - Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

Wrapping this wintry volume of Best Levels in Gaming History up, Diddy Kong Racing's ultimate track in Snowflake Mountain is Frosty Village. Despite its name, most of the track take places in the outskirts of the titular village.

Racers start by taking a wide right curve and passing through a stone archway with three openings on it. Down a lengthy slope leads to a triplet of houses, the actual village part of the race. A quick curve leads into a twisted tunnel full of swift turns eventually making way for a large outdoor area of track. Here, one can stay on the wide road, or they can opt to go off-road into the snow and drive over a trio of boost pads (zippers) for a nice shortcut.

This expansive area with colossal-sized pillars set on the sides of the road leads to a part of track with water on the right side. If one is driving a hovercraft or piloting a plane, they can pass through the waterfall to access a clever shortcut. Otherwise, it's the outside path that must be taken, following the road where it makes its right turn and leads back to the starting line for the next lap.

Frosty Village has one of the most arduous Silver Coin Challenges in Diddy Kong Racing. These challenges require the player to collect eight silver coins sprinkled in oftentimes tricky locations and come in first place to successfully complete them. This meant my younger self spent a lot of time on this snowy circuit. Yet after all my accumulated laps and times with Frosty Village, I still enjoy racing on the track, loving every twist, every turn, every shortcut, and enjoying the ambiance all at once. Racing this track during Christmastime is a memory that I will always cherish.

Sequels, Please! - New Installments I'd Love to See - Christmas Week Edition

The holiday season has kids and kids at heart coming up with wishlists for the season. I have a Christmas wishlist, but it's less about getting a shiny new PS4 and more about game sequels that I would love to see made. I've gotten some of my pleas for sequels answered with titles like Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby Canvas Curse, and Resident Evil Revelations. Let's see if I get lucky with any of these seven picks for potential sequels.

Dragon's Dogma

The first game on this edition of Sequels, Please! is Dragon's Dogma, a game that to me is a very Eastern take on a series like The Elder Scrolls. It has you playing as your avatar, venturing through a massive world, battling everything from packs of wolves to overpowering ogres and dragons. An expansion came out for the game in the form of Dark Arisen, but that wasn't enough to whet my appetite for a completely new Dragon's Dogma experience. The pair of titles did well enough for Capcom to express interest in doing a sequel, and this is one of those series that would get me very interested in a current gen console other than the Wii U.

Jak and Daxter

While Naughty Dog is apparently set in their ways as developing realistic titles only now, that leaves their old creations, Jak and Daxter, hung out to dry. We all saw a glimpse of the dynamic duo in the PSP entry The Lost Frontier, but what I'd personally love to see is a reboot of the series by a different studio. Whether it retains the "edgier" look and feel of Jak 2 and on or goes back to the series' roots with Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie style progression and tone doesn't really matter as long as a new entry gets released. (But seriously, more like the original Jak and Daxter, please.) All I know is that the 3D platformer genre has been mighty empty recently, and Mario and Ratchet & Clank alone isn't enough for me.

Rayman Legends

Between Rayman Origins and its sequel Rayman Legends, Rayman and Ubisoft hit players with a one-two punch of 2D platforming awesomeness. If you followed the game at all, you should recall that Rayman Legends was originally planned as a Wii U exclusive, but poor sales of Ubisoft's Wii U launch title ZombiU put the kibosh on that. That version was delayed to release with the all-new Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ports. Anyhow, Rayman Legends felt content-starved, even with the extra nine months of development time. (It says a lot when a good portion of your game's levels are recycled from its predecessor.) I'd love to see a sequel that gets enough time in the oven, but seeing as how Ubisoft loves putting out unfinished games, perhaps it's better that Rayman takes a break for now.

ModNation Racers

The ModNation Racers series has seen three entries released on three different platforms. The most recent of these was the PlayStation Vita launch title ModNation Racers: Road Trip, a game I greatly enjoyed. Not only is the series a great introduction to kart racers, throwing in a lot of personality, charm, and creativity, but it's also fantastic for veterans of the genre, especially those who have a creative bone in their body in order to concoct their own player avatars, vehicles, and tracks. Road Trip made it very easy to create something out of nothing, and a PlayStation 4 installment would get me to jump on Sony's mad-popular machine quite quickly.

Wipeout

This next game series may be hoping against hope, as the original developer, SCE Studio Liverpool has since been dismantled. Alongside F-Zero, it truly seems like the futuristic racer is but a fantasy for many gamers. However, it's a hole that cannot be replaced, even by the anti-gravity hijinks of Mario Kart 8. It's just not the same. Wipeout was a lot like F-Zero, obviously taking a fair amount of inspiration from the series, but it also threw in a combat aspect in the form of weaponry. Just thinking about an all-new Wipeout running on the PlayStation 4 has my eyes watering with anticipation. Is the anticipation for naught? Perhaps, but bigger miracles in gaming have happened in the past.

The Legendary Starfy

Nintendo gave folks outside of Japan a taste of The Legendary Starfy series with the fifth installment. The DS game of the same name was the only one released in the West, and it's also the latest entry in the series as of 2009. Starfy reminds me a bit of Kirby in its platforming simplicity and accessibility. Whether it be a new Nintendo 3DS sequel or heck, even a re-release of all five Starfy games in one nice package, it'd be great for us lowly non-Japanese gamers to get another dose of the princely star... fish. Star? Starfish? Eh, it doesn't matter!

Wario World

I mentioned Jak and Daxter as a 3D platformer before, but what about a return to the 3D platforming of Wario World? It's probably a fool's errand, but "fool" just so happens to be my middle name. Wario World was the garlic-chomping portly plumber's first starring role in a home console title, and while it was on the short side, it exuded with action and engaging platforming. It doesn't even need to be a joint effort between Nintendo and Treasure, who worked on the GameCube original. All it needs are gorgeous environments to jump, charge attack, ground pound, and run through and a funky soundtrack.

Six Sony Franchises We Want to See On the PS4

With the confirmation that Uncharted 4 is in development, we here at SuperPhillip Central have taken a glimpse at past PlayStation franchises, and have chosen six that we would be glad to make their introductions on the PlayStation 4 hardware. Obviously, brand new franchises are fantastic things, but not only are we getting a steady supply of those with Sony's new hardware, we just want to see some familiar faves return into the PlayStation scene.

God of War

We don't consider ourselves to be the types of gamers who focus heavily on graphics, or use that as a primary reason to see a series reach the PlayStation 4's powerful hardware. However, with the God of War franchise, that's exactly what we'd be excited to see with a new installment and the franchise's debut on the PS4.

God of War III and to a lesser extent Ascension already gave us an extraordinarily graphically impressive set of games, but can you imagine how a PlayStation 4 installment would look on the powerhouse that is the PlayStation 4?

The only thing we'd ask for a new entry in the God of War franchise is a focus on a new character. We've pretty much grown tired of Kratos as a protagonist, and we think the various games in the series have told us all there is to tell about one of the only protagonists in gaming where we wish to see them fail due to their obnoxious personality and reprehensible behavior and attitude.

Perhaps also a nice tweak to the franchise's formula would be welcomed. Actually, there is no "perhaps"-- a change in the formula would be wonderful. The God of War series has used the same gameplay structure and mechanics that were established in the PlayStation 2 original, so we'd love to see a shakeup in the series for sure.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was seen as a ripoff of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series. When Battle Royale tried something differently gameplay-wise, it was derided for not being enough like its inspiration. There's some kind of double standard here, but that's not the point.

We think a second installment of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale would work well with a couple of alterations. For one, let the roster of characters actually represent the PlayStation's history and not just be a playable advertisement for random third-party characters to be a part of. There's plenty of PlayStation characters to be a part of the cast. You have all the PlayStation-related fighters from the original (including DLC like Kat and Zeus), and then you can include characters like Delsin from inFamous: Second Son, Iota from Tearaway, Tag from ModNation Racers, and Knack.

Additionally, a change from the you-can-only-earn-KO-opponents-via-supers rule. While that could still be a mode all on its own for players to choose from, a more traditional mode, perhaps with health bars or whatnot could make for a more appealing product to players and PlayStation fans alike. The fact of the matter is that we don't want to see such a great and potential-filled concept like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale get tossed to the wayside before it can come unto its own.

LittleBigPlanet

Play, create, share. That is the mantra of the LittleBigPlanet series. With the power of the PlayStation 4 we can only imagine the types of complicated and intricate levels and creations we would be able to assemble. The possibilities involving the system's features make us salivate in anticipation. Using the DualShock 4's touch pad to more carefully assemble pieces of levels, or using it in gameplay to do things like move objects, like seen in the PlayStation Vita installment of the series. There's also the built-in gyroscope that could be used for level gimmicks as well. The SHARE button seems built for a game like LittleBigPlanet, and the capabilities of sharing a given player's runs through levels is one seriously enticing proposition.

Ratchet & Clank

Recently the Ratchet & Clank franchise has seen multiple experiments to the formula of the game. For instance, All 4 One was a cooperative action game with little in the way of exploration, and Full Frontal Assault was a multiplayer-centric tower defense game of sorts. Into the Nexus returned the series to its humble roots, but it was a much shorter adventure than entries like Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal.

With a new console, Ratchet and his intelligent robot partner Clank can get a new start. What better way to get a new start than a full-length adventure that rivals the greatest games in the franchise! We drool at the idea of new weapons with devastating power, showcasing the amazing particle effects the PlayStation 4 can do. We froth at the mouth at the idea of what new planets we would be able to explore, as the PS3 installments already blow us away. It's these reasons why a new full featured Ratchet & Clank for the PS4 is high on our want list.

Jak and Daxter

Out of the triple threat of 3D platformers in Sony's arsenal, the one series that seems to get the shaft is the Naughty Dog created Jak and Daxter series. Now, one can argue that the series was only good with the first entry before Naughty Dog lost their minds and decided to put a heavy emphasis of a dark story into a platformer. (This was their start of emulating Hollywood instead of keeping gaming its own voice.)

Regardless, the collect-a-thon turned GTA-like series needs a rebound, maybe even a reboot. It need not be made by Naughty Dog, as Sanzaru Games has shown that you don't need to be the series' creator to make excellent entries in an established franchise. Sanzaru Games took over the Sly Cooper franchise from Sucker Punch, who moved onto the inFamous franchise.

We've seen with Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier that there's still some life left in the series, and we can only ponder the capabilities of an awesome 3D platformer for the PS4. We'd prefer if Jak and Daxter went back to their roots as a gun-free platformer, as Sony already has the Ratchet & Clank franchise to fill that niche.

Wipeout

If Nintendo won't give players a new installment in its long-running anti-gravity racing series, F-Zero, let's call upon Sony to revive its own brand of futuristic racer, Wipeout. Unfortunately, SCE Studio Liverpool, the makers of the series is now defunct, but that won't stop us from wishing for Wipeout's grand return to a home console.

Without a doubt for a supremely skill-based technical racer like Wipeout, the SHARE button is paramount for showcasing players' best times, best runs, and awesome moments. That alone makes the idea of Wipeout hitting the PlayStation 4 and desired concept that we'd love to see fully realized, even with a new studio at the helm.

Wipeout HD and its expansion Fury made jaws drop around the world at just how spectacular it looked and how fluid it ran. Now take a look at a screenshot of the graphics of that game and imagine how it would look on the PlayStation 4. With the substantial boost in hardware, there's no telling how crazy the courses could become, how many special effects would light up the tracks, how many total racers there could be in a given race, and just how much lower our jaws could drop than they already do with the series up until now.

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Agree with our choices of series from Sony's history that we want to appear on the PlayStation 4? Let your voice be heard in our comments section below!