We miss these worlds: 7 forgotten PlayStation franchises that wouldn't be a sin to continue

By: Vladyslav Nuzhnov | 07.09.2024, 09:00

Over its 30-year history, PlayStation has given us a large number of game franchises. Some of them appeared relatively recently, like Horizon, and have already gained a large audience, and there are many more games to come. God of War, for example, has been around since 2005, and the series has even gone through a relaunch, and it has done it good. The Last of Us celebrated its first anniversary last year and still has big plans ahead (let's just mention that the game already has a TV series). However, recently, it has not always been a beautiful story. At the end of August 2024, the online shooter Concord was released, and on 6 September, its servers were closed due to the lack of interest among players. The game took at least 4 years and $100 million to develop, and it lasted only a couple of weeks. But at the same time, there are franchises that Sony has abandoned (or forgotten) for various reasons and we haven't heard about them for years, although the same 100 million could have been spent on reviving what players loved so much in their time. The gg editorial team decided to recall 7 forgotten PlayStation franchises that players would love to return to.

Killzone

Killzone is a series of sci-fi first-person shooters created by Guerrilla Games. The game world of Killzone is set in the distant future, where two interplanetary powers, the Helgast Empire and the Vekta Alliance, are engaged in an eternal war. The series is known for its gloomy and atmospheric setting, combining futuristic technology and military conflict. Each part of the franchise provides players with large-scale combat, cinematography, and a good story.

In total, there are 6 games in the series. All of them received good ratings, but Shadow Fall, the last part of the series, received mixed reviews, although the multiplayer mode was highly praised. Now Guerrilla is busy with the Horizon series, but one day Sony may revive Killzone and we will get a space shooter that will offer both storyline and online battles again.

Killzone	2004	PlayStation 2
Killzone: Liberation	2006	PlayStation Portable
Killzone 2	2009	PlayStation 3
Killzone 3	2011	PlayStation 3
Killzone: Mercenary	2013	PlayStation Vita
Killzone: Shadow Fall	2013	PlayStation 4/5

inFamous

inFamous is a series of open-world action games developed by Sucker Punch Productions. Each game is centred around a protagonist with supernatural powers that he uses to fight crime or achieve his own goals. The first game and the second inFamous games tell the story of Cole McGrath, a courier who accidentally gains electrical powers after an explosion. The third game in the series, Second Son, takes us to Delsin Rowe, who gains fire, neon, and gaming powers. The series is known for the possibility of choosing between the path of a hero or a villain, which affects the development of the plot and relationships with other characters.

The coolness of inFamous lies in the combination of dynamic gameplay with moral dilemmas that affect players and make them think about the consequences of their actions. Superpowers such as electricity and fire control allow you to create a real epic. The last game in the series received good reviews from players and critics, but Sony seems to have forgotten about this franchise altogether, and Sucker Punch is now busy with Ghost of Tsushima, and Second Son made me want to buy a PS4 at one point, so the hope for a revival of the series will be the last to die.

inFamous	2009	PlayStation 3
inFamous 2	2011	PlayStation 3
inFamous: Festival of Blood (DLC)	2011	PlayStation 3
inFamous Second Son	2014	PlayStation 4/5
inFamous First Light (DLC)	2014	PlayStation 4/5

Jak and Dexter.

Jak and Daxter is a series of platformers developed by Naughty Dog. The main characters are a young boy Jack and his best friend Dexter, who is a funny creature. Together, they explore different worlds, solve puzzles, and fight enemies in an effort to uncover the secrets of the world and defeat evil.

The Jak and Daxter series has managed to combine humour, adventure and a fascinating story. The dynamic between Jack and Dexter created unforgettable moments, and the diversity of the world filled with secrets and dangers kept players interested until the end. The last game was released back in 2009 and completed the main story of the characters, but fans would like to plunge into at least 1 more adventure.

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy	2001	PlayStation 2/3/4/5
Jak II	2003	PlayStation 2/3/4/5
Jak 3	2004	PlayStation 2/3/4/5
Jak X: Combat Racing	2005	PlayStation 2/4/5
Daxter	2006	PlayStation Portable
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier	2009	PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2

The Order

The Order: 1886 is a third-person adventure shooter developed by Ready at Dawn. The game is set in an alternative version of Victorian London, where technology has reached an unprecedented level and the mysterious Order of the Knights protects humanity from supernatural threats such as lucanthropes - hybrids of humans and animals. Players take on the role of Sir Gallahad, one of the Knights of the Order, and immerse themselves in an atmosphere of conspiracies, betrayal, and confrontation with ancient enemies.

Most of all, The Order: 1886 is most impressive for its visual style. Even now, the game looks very beautiful, and in 2015, it was one of the most beautiful games ever released. The cinematic nature, immersion in late 19th century London, and an interesting arsenal such as electric and thermite rifles seemed to create a cool game, but at release it was criticised for its short running time (4 hours) and the franchise was forgotten. During the playthrough, it is clear that the authors were rushed in the development, so we simply did not see many things, although, again, the potential was incredible. Subsequently, Meta bought the studio and IP rights, and in 2024, it closed Ready at Dawn altogether, so a sequel to The Order can only be a dream.

The Order: 1886

2015

PlayStation 4/5

Sly Cooper

Sly Cooper is a platformer series developed by Sucker Punch Productions and Sanzaru Games. The protagonist of the series is the anthropomorphic raccoon Sly, who is a hereditary thief and leader of a gang specialising in stealing valuable artefacts. Together with his friends, such as the technically gifted tortoise Bentley and the strong hippo Murray, Sly embarks on various adventures to recover a family heirloom, fight other criminals and uncover the secrets of his origins. The games in the series are characterised by a balance between stealth, platforming and combat elements in

Sly Cooper was popular with players due to its style, which combines elements of film noir and comic books, as well as gameplay, which combines stealth, combat and puzzles. The series is also noted for its humour, charismatic characters, and interesting plot. Players and critics liked the series, but Sucker Punch can only work on one game (the Tsushima sequel), because even the last game was entrusted to Sanzaru, so we shouldn't expect new adventures of the raccoon and his friends, although we want to. In fact, the franchise was even supposed to get a cartoon, but it was cancelled.

Sly Cooper and the Thief Raccoonus	2002	PlayStation 2/3/4/5, PlayStation Vita
Sly 2: Band of Thieves	2004	PlayStation 2/3, PlayStation Vita
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves	2005	PlayStation 2/3, PlayStation Vita
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time	2013	PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Days Gone

Days Gone is an open-world action game developed by Bend Studio. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has been almost wiped out by a virus that has turned most people into aggressive mutants known as freaks. The protagonist, Deacon St John, a biker and former bounty hunter, tries to survive in this dangerous world while searching for traces of his missing wife. The game combines elements of survival, combat, stealth and exploration of a large and dangerous world filled with enemies, resources and quests.

The main feature of Days Gone is the hordes of freaks that you have to destroy with grenades, hammers, explosives, machine guns, and use your wits, because there are hundreds of them and you are the only one. The game also had a good story (sometimes even very interesting) and a beautifully conveyed atmosphere of Oregon with its picturesque nature. And we shouldn't forget about Deacon's bike, which was very cool to ride through the dead world. However, the game was not well received by critics at release and Sony buried the franchise. Although a petition on change.org demanding Days Gone 2 has gathered more than 200 thousand signatures, which shows the great love of players for this universe, it is unlikely to change the mind of the Japanese giant, although Bend Studio would be happy to take on the sequel.

Days Gone

2019

PlayStation 4/5, PC

Bloodborne

Bloodborne is a cult souls-like game by FromSoftware. The game is set in the fictional Gothic city of Yarnam, which is affected by a mysterious plague. Players take on the role of the Hunter, searching for a cure for their illness while facing the terrifying creatures and madness that permeates this fallen city. Bloodborne challenges players to be attentive, react quickly, and understand the game mechanics, as even one wrong step can lead to death.

Challenging battles with unforgiving enemies, a dark fantasy world filled with secrets, and a fascinating world to explore have made Bloodborne one of the most exciting games in its genre. Players loved the game and many consider it one of the best PlayStation exclusives, but Sony hasn't made an updated version for PS5 or released the game on PC, even though it's what fans are asking for most. And enthusiasts are actively trying to run the game on PC through the PS4 emulator, which shows how large the fan base is for Bloodborne. Perhaps we will hear news about one of the best FromSoftware projects when the PlayStation 6 comes out?

Bloodborne

2015

PlayStation 4/5

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