At a certain point, a game franchise seems dead and buried. Putting out no new entries for several years, it’s simply not circulating in the gaming zeitgeist. This isn’t always the end, though.
Against all odds,some series return from the dead. They finally release a new chapter after years of silence. Most of these are mascot platformers. That’s not surprising since they practically went extinct in the mid-2000s. However, that just makes their resurrection more unexpected. They catch fans utterly off-guard and earn a second chance in the process. It just goes to show that anything can happen in this industry.
5Crash Bandicoot
Along withSpyro the Dragon,Crash Bandicootwas one of the platforming titans of the 1990s. The mutated marsupial jumped and spun his way through numerous brutal levels to stop other unhinged experiments and mystical menaces. Both series unfortunately floundered in the 2000s with underwhelming sequels, none of which involved their original developers.Crashtook this unhealthy trend one step further with a slew of kart racers and party games. He even tried to reboot with the mediocreCrash of the TitansandMind Over Mutant. The last of these excessive additions came withNitro Kart 2in 2010. This seemed like the final nail in the coffin.
Thankfully, the bandicoot jolted back to life in 2017 with theN. Sane Trilogy. Developed by Vicarious Visions, this collection featured ground-up remakes ofNaughty Dog’s first three classics. The subsequent success helped spur the modern trend of HD remakes. Among these were theSpyro Reignited TrilogyandCrash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled. In addition, fans finally got a worthy sequel in 2020 withCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. With this entry, Toys for Bob brilliantly evolved the platforming challenge of yesteryear and signaled that Crash was here to stay.
4Kao The Kangaroo
One might expect a kangaroo game to hail from Australia a laTy the Tasmanian Tiger. Instead, it was the developers at X-Ray Interactive (later Tate Interactive) who createdKao the Kangaroo. This whimsical platformer debuted in 2000. The plucky protagonist, fitted with magical boxing gloves, punches and jumps his way through various 3D jungle gyms tosave his humble home from supernatural threats. While never mainstream, the game did get sequels in 2003 and 2005. These then saw a couple of ports/updates for the following few years. Aside from these, though, the hero appeared to punch out.
That changed with the resurgence of platformers in the indie and middle market, giving the series another shot at the title. The developers released 2022’sKao the Kangaroo. This game reboots the franchise while maintainingthe snappy combatand collect-a-thon cuteness. At this point, though, it’s unclear whether this is a new beginning or the final tip of the hat.
3Bubsy
Not every dormant IP is worth resurrecting.Bubsy the Bobcatburst onto the 2D platforming scene in 1993 withClaws Encounters of the Furred Kind. The speed, sass, and technological villains tried to capture the appeal ofSonic the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, players lambasted the game for its poor controls and how annoying the hero was. However, that didn’t stop him from getting two more 2D entries in 1994 and a 3D attempt in 1996. These ranged from mediocre to outright awful. Afterward, it seemed Bubsy finally got the message that no one liked him.
That was a forlorn hope. Like an unholy necromancer, Black Forest Games brought the bobcat back in 2017’sBubsy: The Woolies Strike Back. Here, the hero returned to his 2D roots in a thoroughly unremarkable adventure. At least it was functional, though, which was apparently enough for Choice Provisions to create a sequel with 2019’sPaws on Fire!It was similarly inoffensive, but it still doesn’t justify the series' existence.Plenty of other platform mascots are more deserving.
2Donkey Kong Country
Who would have thought thatMario’s one-time enemy would become his most successful peer?Donkey Konghad embarked on several solo ventures by 1993, but none matched the notoriety ofDonkey Kong Country. The folks at Rare crafted a side-scroller where the eponymous ape and his nephew run, roll, and jump their way through the jungle. Aside from the revolutionary 3D sprites, the game boasted charming cooperative gameplay with notably more depth than most Nintendo titles. The mechanics expanded throughsimilarly acclaimed sequels in 1995 and 1996. The following years saw a few handheld ports and remakes but never a true continuation. It seemed the grinning gorilla had finished his business.
In 2010, though, he rolled out the old barrel withDonkey Kong Country Returns. This was a Wii revival by Retro Studios, maintaining much of what made the series shine. The only notable complaints stemmed from the motion controls. That’s no surprise, but the developers stuck with this imperfect system. The sequel,Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, landed on the Wii U in 2014. Although it was also accomplished, it was dragged down by its system. The Wii U was infamous for its sorry sales. It’s probably whyDonkey Kong Countryis once again dormant.With the ports popping up on the Switch, perhaps it can make another comeback.
1Shantae
Talk about humble beginnings.Shantaedebuted in 2002 on the Game Boy Advance, courtesy of developer WayForward. The system had no shortage of side-scrolling platformers, but many were ports or spin-offs of console titles. That may have been whyShantaedidn’t sell well. It’s a shame since the premise of a half-genie shapeshifting into various animals was enticing. The developers thought so, too, asthey tried to get a sequel off the ground for years.
That follow-up finally happened in 2010 withShantae: Risky’s Revenge. The sales were much better with this one. From here, the series has continued.Shantae and the Pirate’s Cursecame in 2014,Half-Genie Herofollowed in 2016,Seven Sirensemerged in 2019, andRisky Revolutionis set for 2024. These entries rarely broke into the mainstream, evidenced by their being shopped to various digital platforms, but they’ve all garnered a fine reception. The creators are clearly passionate about their work. It’s just a matter of finding the distribution.
