Jordan Middler, VGC, talks about some classic Activision titles he would like to see MS retrieve from the vault
Image Credits: Activision
As the dust settles on the biggest takeover in gaming fans and critics alike are already wondering what it could mean for some old, long untouched franchises’ under the Activision banner. While a lot of gamers are eager to know what the move has in store for live service titles like World of Warcraft and Warzone but it’s the past that has me most excited, like a kid on Christmas 22 years ago unwrapping that PS2 for the first time , HBD PlayStation…
With HD remasters and ground up remakes becoming a staple in the industry over recent years, it’s hard to see a world where Spencer and Microsoft don’t tap in to the vast back catalogue at their disposal. It’s a formula that has clearly worked wonders. Resident Evil 1, 2 & 3 all getting ground up remakes to breathe new life into the series. A HD remaster of Demon Souls if you are like me and missed the first train and the epic full remake of FFVI the PS1 hall of famer after nearly 21 years on ice and it looks (mashed potato doors aside) fantastic. It is a tried and tested formula that has more or less guaranteed success over the years.
Activision themselves have even seen success doing the same with everyone’s favorite, daily existential crisis having, middle aged skate god, Tony Hawk getting full remakes of its original 2 games. A move Jordan Middler, Game Critic at VGC sees as a perfect starting point for reviving old classics. He said:
“Most realistically, because the 1&2 remakes were so good. I think a new Tony Hawk remake is inevitable. That game felt like they had planned to put 3&4 in it with the two blank boxes in the menu, so I would be surprised if that wasn't already way down the line.”
One game that has inevitably been brought up as people scour the Activision back catalogue and one almost every gamer will have some memory of is any one of the “Hero” games, I mean we all grew up with dreams of being rock stars right? Now licensing in today’s DMCA world would be near impossible and inflation would probably mean the guitar would cost ONE THOUSAND POUNDS but it is a bad decision that Jordan would love to see made. On the classic series, he said: “ I mean it would be a stupid business move but I would like to see them get back into the plastic guitar game. I loved Rock Band and Guitar Hero.” On being reminded of the superior “Hero” title , he replied: “ Yes! DJ Hero. The first collector’s edition, the Jay-Z and Eminem gold deck is one of my favourite things I’ve ever bought. The music was insanely good, they could never release it now with all those mash ups it would just be impossible. An answer could be to maybe sign an exclusive deal with a record company but I’m not sure.” So while the ides of a Gorillaz and Marvin Gaye mash up may be a distant fever dream, it is nice to hold out hope.
Another area Jordan thinks MS may shift their focus to after the acquisition is trying to improve existing character IPs under their banner, with massive platformer studio Toys for Bob now on board it’s an opportunity Spencer would be foolish to pass up. Jordan sees this as a chance for MS to create a title of their own that can compete with legendary characters at Sony, saying:
“ I think Microsoft will start with will start with Toys for Bob who done the Crash and Spyro remakes to work on like Banjo and Kazooie and other stuff they own. Microsoft don’t have a Ratchet and Clank but they have bought themselves into easily having a platformer on that level if they put enough money behind it.”
Some fans may have also held out hope for remakes of some of the many great film/cartoon games Activision has had a history of making over the years with games like Transformers and well, any Marvel game ever but these are likely a bridge too far. Much like DJ Hero these would get wrapped up in licensing issues as movie studios tend to pass these rights around like hot cakes.
However, with massive IP’s I literally grew up with like Prototype, True Crime , Gun, , the list goes on, all under the same banner, there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful. The key to Microsoft capitalizing on this big deal in the future may lie in the past. I for one can’t wait to see who reappears first.
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