In the massive universe of video games, there are shining stars that light the way to success and black holes that suck in and wipe out entire franchises.
In this second part of our exploration, we delve into five more video games that unfortunately led to the demise of their respective franchises.
Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
First on our list is Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. The original game, “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men,” was a gritty, dark, and violent third-person shooter with mixed reviews. However, it sold enough to warrant a sequel.
Dog Days tried to give the franchise a new direction with a unique visual style that mimicked the look of amateur handheld camera footage. Moreover, this aesthetic choice, while bold, was not well received. Similarly, coupled with a mediocre story, unimpressive gameplay mechanics, and a short campaign, Dog Days was a critical and commercial failure. The dismal performance of the sequel brought the franchise to an end.
Crackdown 3
Next up, we have Crackdown 3. The original Crackdown was an unexpected success, offering players a sandbox-style city they could explore and destroy at leisure. The sequel, Crackdown 2, was not as well received but did enough to justify a third installment. However, Crackdown 3 suffered a troubled development cycle that lasted nearly a decade.
It was disappointing when it was finally released; the graphics were dated, and the gameplay mechanics seemed stuck in the past. As a result, poor reception and sales have called into question the future of the Crackdown franchise.
Command And Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight
Command And Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight is another victim of franchise decline. The Command and Conquer series was once the pinnacle of real-time strategy games, but Tiberian Twilight deviated too far from the formula that made the franchise successful.
The game abandoned the base building, a core mechanic of the series, and introduced a new class system that was met with widespread criticism. In addition, the game’s story was also not well received, resulting in a lukewarm reception and poor sales. Ultimately, the franchise has been dormant ever since.
Red Faction Armageddon
Red Faction Armageddon is the perfect example of a franchise losing its way. The Red Faction series was known for its destructible environments and open-world gameplay. However, Armageddon traded the open-world setting for a linear campaign and focused more on scripted events and stories. This change in gameplay was not well received by fans and critics alike, and the game’s sales were disappointing. Since then, the franchise has not had a new installment.
In conclusion, these games serve as a warning to developers and publishers. Changing a franchise’s established formula, long development cycles, or unresolved narratives can lead to fan dissatisfaction and low sales, ultimately leading to a franchise’s downfall. Moreover, innovating while still meeting the expectations of a franchise’s fans is a delicate balancing act. However, as these games demonstrate, getting it wrong can have dire consequences.
