When a video game franchise starts off with a strong first entry, fans will usually expect the sequels to improve on everything that made the original so special. While there have been many well-documented game series that gradually lost their luster over time, often fading into obscurity in the process, there are some that looked like they were on their way out for one reason or another, only to make a grand return to form, allowing them to live on for many more years to come.
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This is what many fans will often refer to as a 'dark' or 'rough' period for a franchise, specifically referring to when a series had seemingly lost its identity due to the developers getting a bit too experimental and carried away. Thankfully, though, while all the popular franchises listed below experienced this troubled stage at some point in their history, they have all managed to come out the other side better than ever, thanks to the developers getting back on track and paying close attention to what the fans truly expect when they jump into the latest entry.
Sonic The Hedgehog
The Transition To 3D Was A Little Rough For The Blue Blur
- Mainline games: 15+
It's difficult to describe just how absurdly popular Sonic the Hedgehog was throughout the 1990s. The lightning-fast hedgehog was the cool and rebellious contrast to the slow and innocent Mario, with the high-speed gameplay of early Sonic titles providing an exhilarating platforming experience that had never really been seen before at the time. As a result, the Sonic franchise enjoyed enormous success for more than a decade, but as other game series started transitioning to 3D, Sega was having trouble doing the same with the Blue Blur.
While the Sonic Adventure games were definitely stand-out titles which are still fondly remembered today, the franchise would really take a noticeable dip in quality with Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Despite being advertised as a truly next-gen Sonic game, Sonic 06 was riddled with bugs, technical issues, and unfinished levels. While this was admittedly a very experimental era for the Sonic franchise, as seen with games like Sonic Boom and Lost World, it admittedly took a little while for Sega's mascot to become truly relevant again, with the immensely popular Sonic Frontiers bringing the hedgehog out of his slump and placing him back on top of the industry.
Resident Evil
Too Much Action, Not Enough Horror
- Mainline Games: 9
Considering Resident Evil is by far the most popular horror franchise in the industry right now, it can be difficult to believe that there was once a time when it started to become somewhat of a joke, but this certainly didn't happen overnight. With the first three classics defining the modern survival-horror template, Capcom continued innovating the horror genre with Resident Evil 4, creating what still stands as one of their most highly acclaimed video games to date.
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One thing that fans instantly picked up on when playing the fourth mainline game, though, was how much it began to integrate action into the gameplay loop, and this was only amplified in Resident Evil 5. Though Resident Evil 5 was still well-received, it was clear Capcom was steering a little too far into the action side of things, and this would become an even bigger issue in Resident Evil 6, which many agree was a pretty big disappointment. This is why so many long-time fans were overjoyed that Resident Evil 7 returned the franchise to its survival horror roots, since, for a while there, it seemed as though it had fallen into an entirely different genre, which had taken over its core identity.
Silent Hill
Silent Hill Experienced A Slow And Painful Decline, Before Springing Back To Action
- Mainline Games: 4
Another famous horror franchise that experienced a similar troubled period, albeit for slightly different reasons, is Silent Hill. Team Silent had mastered the art of inserting psychological horror into video game form with the first three Silent Hill games, so it was always going to be difficult to top those three original entries, no matter how good the next game was. Silent Hill 4, while a game that features unique ideas and mechanics, didn't feel like it was doing all that much to push the franchise forward in any real way.
The next few games would be developed by Western studios, and all received mixed reception from fans and critics. Shattered Memories, Homecoming, and Downpour all include intriguing enough stories and a spine-chilling variety of monsters, but it wouldn't be until the remake of Silent Hill 2 that the series was able to once again prove why it is considered the king of psychological horror. Despite all the doubts, Bloober Team managed to replicate everything that made the original game so great, while also modernizing it for a brand-new audience, breathing new life into a franchise that had been left dormant for so long.
Tomb Raider
It Took A Little While For Lara To Find Her Footing In The Modern Era
- Mainline Games: 11
When most people think of action-adventure protagonists, their minds will usually go straight to Lara Croft, but despite how well-known the character is among the gaming community, she hasn't exactly maintained this level of relevance since her first game was released. Core Design crafted some of the most immersive and challenging adventure platformers with the first three Tomb Raider games, but by the time they released Angel of Darkness, it became clear the formula was starting to get a little worn out.
The Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld games are all fun installments that do their best to imitate the immense satisfaction that came from navigating the environment and solving puzzles in the original games, but they still struggle to stand out as unique and fresh experiences. By taking a drastically different approach with the much darker and more survival-oriented 2013 Tomb Raider game, Crystal Dynamics ensured that Lara wasn't just going to fade into obscurity like so many game protagonists already had, and since that game was released, the Tomb Raider series has seen a massive resurgence in popularity and relevance.
Dead Space
Before The Remake, Dead Space Was On Its Last Legs
- Mainline Games: 3
When it comes to creating an immersive environment that makes players feel like they've just been thrust into a horrific nightmare, there's no game that accomplishes this quite as well as the first Dead Space. While the second game is definitely a lot more chaotic and action-packed, the monstrous Necromorph enemies were still more than dangerous enough to ensure players never felt truly safe, even when activating one of the game's Save Points.
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In order to jump on the latest trend, however, Dead Space 3 made the bold decision to incorporate co-op into the experience. Though it's definitely fun blasting away a few aliens with a buddy, primarily thanks to the wide array of heavy weaponry on offer, to many people, the game just didn't feel like Dead Space anymore, causing many to wonder whether the franchise would ever return. Not only did Dead Space come back, but it returned with a ground-up remake of the first title, which is so refined and detailed that it's commonly regarded as the best way to experience not only the first game, but the series as a whole.
Street Fighter
Street Fighter Fought Through The Adversity To Become A Top Contender Once Again
- Mainline Games: 6
No Street Fighter fan will ever be able to forget the infamous launch of the fifth game in the series. While Street Fighter 4 was a tough but rewarding fighting game that ultimately brought the fighting genre out of the arcades and onto home consoles, Street Fighter 5 didn't do a great job at maintaining the momentum that had been accumulated from the previous entry. With a bizarre mix of characters and no Arcade Mode to speak of, to say that fans weren't happy when Street Fighter 5 was first released would be putting it mildly.
Over the next 7 years, Capcom would dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to polishing the game to ensure fans would be satisfied with the final product. Street Fighter 5 admittedly gradually became a lot better over the next few years, especially with the plethora of fun and iconic characters that were added to the roster, but Street Fighter 6 was the game that really blew away all expectations. With more accessibility options than ever, a brand new World Tour mode, and even a giant online hub where fighters can hang out and fight, Street Fighter 6 is far from a disappointment, unlike the game that came before.
Devil May Cry
Just As Dante Was Getting Started, His Rise To Prominence Reached A Sudden Halt
- Mainline Games: 5
Most franchises on this list only started dipping in quality after a few games were already released, but in the case of Devil May Cry, it didn't take long for it to reach its dark period. The original game was a weird, quirky, but incredibly addictive action title that put players in control of Dante, a powerful yet witty Demon Slayer who possesses a myriad of dangerous weapons and abilities to take out his enemies with. Though the action combat was at the core of the gameplay, the biggest draw of Devil May Cry was the effortlessly cool and stylish Dante, who stole the show every time he opened his mouth.
Much to the surprise of everyone, rather than sticking with this version of Dante for the sequel, Capcom instead turned him into a brooding, emotionless, and ultimately dull protagonist who just wasn't all that captivating. The difficulty of the gameplay had also been dialed down for Devil May Cry 2, to the point where much of the game can be completed by simply firing off Ebony and Ivory, Dante's powerful set of pistols. Just when it looked like the franchise was down for good, Devil May Cry 3 was released to the world, going on to become one of the most highly acclaimed action games of all time. The legendary franchise hasn't let its foot off the gas since the third entry, and considering the fifth game succeeded in bringing in a whole new audience, it doesn't seem like Dante and Nero's demon-slaying adventures will be slowing down anytime soon.
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