10 animated franchises we can’t wait to play again

Sonic the Hedgehog

Last but not least, the fast hedgehog…

SEGA changed the game with its introduction of Sonic the Hedgehog, everybody knew Sonic and his fellow characters, because it was a really fun game!

Sonic's original developer, SEGA, has seemingly lost its way in recent years, unable to compete with the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, but this game has a lot more to give. Sonic the Hedgehog is much more than a game, it's a brand, a brand that we feel needs a revival on console.

Console gaming has become too focused on delivering the best graphics and has deprived gamers of truly fun animated games, Sonic and others could fill that void. The point remains true, the return of Ratchet and Clank on PlayStation more than proves that the big companies still believe in the old franchises, and we're pretty certain that Sonic deserves the same type of return.

We need Sonic back!

SSX Tricky

There are many realistic sports games nowadays and they do pretty well, but we can't forget the sheer simplicity of SSX Tricky.

This game looked pretty cartoon-like when it was first released in 2001, but that was probably down to the lack of developments in gaming graphics at the time. EA Sports stopped developing this game a few years back and many people would like to see a snowboarding game again.

It's certainly one animated game that we would like to see come back to console, and it definitely has potential to join the likes of FIFA, Madden and NBA Live as an annual EA title.

Jak and Daxter

Jak and Daxter, much like Ratchet and Clank, was a game based on a main character along with his companion. The game was first released in 2001 after being developed by Naughty Dog, the same company that developed Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted and The Last of Us.

The game was based around the adventures of both Jak and Daxter, offering gamers not only a good story, but action, puzzle solving and racing.

Jak and Daxter's last game was released in 2013, which in fairness wasn't that long ago, however with the launch of Ratchet and Clank on next-gen, it would only be fitting if this game was to also receive a remake.

Rayman

This game was extremely popular on Sega Saturn, PlayStation and later on Game Boy Advance, allowing gamers to play with Rayman, tackling obstacles and adventures to save and protect his world from the game's villain, Mr. Dark.

Rayman's strength was his ability to punch his enemies, a power that was granted to him by a fairy called Betilla in the original series. Since then, the game has punched its weight among the biggest fictional characters in gaming, but has lost its way in recent years.

Many fans would like to see Ubisoft bring back this fan favourite, sooner rather than later.

Pacman

Everybody loves Pacman!

Simple, addictive and fun. Pacman has become one of – if not the most – iconic video game of all time, and we believe it still has legs. Albeit, Pacman is probably more suited to mobile and handheld gaming, but it could still succeed on console as a mini-game.

Pacman as a concept, one thing eating another, could easily be transformed in a 3D remake. Many gamers would probably agree that if Pacman was re-launched on console as an online copy, it would do pretty well. This game has been at the very heart of gaming in the past and still has the potential to succeed in the future, especially now, with its exposure via the Pixels movie!

Pokémon Colosseum

This game was very different to other Pokémon titles, it had a good story and included a style of battle never before seen in a Pokémon game.

Pokémon Colosseum gave players the chance to catch Pokémon in a very unnatural way, stealing/snagging Pokémon from other trainers, which is a pretty cool concept. Theft albeit, but it had something special about it.

Unlike previous Pokémon games where players would travel from city to city with the ambition to reach and conquer the Pokémon League, this game was very much based in the desert, the region of Orre in fact. This game's standout features really set it apart from other Pokémon games and surely it deserves another chance.

Pokémon is a huge franchise and we are in no doubt that this game can return to its former glory!

Kingdom Hearts

You can't mention games that we'd like to see return without giving Kingdom Hearts a shout out.

The game had its own segment at the E3 trade fair this year, showing gameplay of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3 video game. Simply put… it looked incredible.

Kingdom Hearts was a crossover game between both Disney and Square Enix, allowing one of the game's main characters, Sora, to befriend the likes of Donald Duck and Goofy in some fun and crazy adventures.

The Simpsons: Hit and Run

There have been a few Simpsons games released over the years, but nothing compares to Hit and Run.

This free roaming game allowed players to explore Springfield in ways never before seen, completing all sorts of fun tasks with The Simpsons characters. Hit and Run has huge potential as a remake too, especially as an RPG, the opportunities are truly endless.

The Simpsons has a huge amount of characters too, which could make the possibility of an RPG game all the more interesting. The show itself isn't as good as it used to be and a new console might be the exact thing that they need!

Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot was awesome, plain and simple.

The game was based around an ongoing battle between both the game's main protagonist, a bandicoot named Crash, and his creator, named Doctor Neo Cortex. Offering all sorts of cool missions and tasks Crash Bandicoot was not only a fun game to play, but more than certainly one of the best animated fictional characters in Sony's history.

Reports have suggested that Sony have recovered the rights to Crash Bandicoot, after Naughty Dog sold them a few years ago, however nothing has ever been concrete.

It's been gone for a long time now, and we want it back!

Spyro the Dragon

This shrewd dragon quickly become an icon of PlayStation 2 gaming, working with his partner Sparx in an attempt to save his fellow dragons that have been captured by the demonic Gnasty Gnorc. Spyro was one of the most well-known animated characters in gaming but the series seem to have lost its way and faded away.

Albeit, Spyro has featured in the Skylanders series of late, but an actual title remake would make for a much more exciting opportunity!

Gaming just isn't what it used to be, I think most people can agree with that. Nowadays we look forward to playing a realistic shooter, or a realistic sports game, but now I realise that this has come with a price.

Fictional animated games like Super Mario, Rayman, Zelda and others were the very foundations on which great gaming companies succeeded in the past, and I believe these same games can succeed in the future.

EA's Peter Moore claimed last month that remakes show a lack of ideas, but nostalgia in gaming is a very lucrative concept and is a proven draw for customers. I mean, you only have to look at the buzz around the return of Ratchet and Clank and Doom, fans can't wait for these games to re-launch!

The industry has heavily invested in its ability to bring reality into gaming, but there is always room for basic, fictional animation. The opportunities to bring back old fan favorites are endless, so we're here to pitch a few ideas…