Rockstar Games might be most famously known for its work on theGrand Theft Autoand theRed Dead Redemptionseries, but that doesn’t mean the developer’s other franchises are bad by any means. While Rockstar Games might not have the most diverse portfolio of games and franchises, it more than makes up for it with a consistently high level of quality in everything it produces.
However, the developer’s insistence to double down on just a couple of its franchises seems like a major missed opportunity. Many of Rockstar’s established IPs are bursting with potential, and keeping them on hold means that Rockstar is missing out on a lot of money.
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Bully
One of the most influential and inventive games of its time,Bullysees players take control of a mischievous brat Jimmy Hopkinsas he goes through his school life in Bullworth Academy as well as the surrounding neighborhood in the town of Bullworth. Genuinely interesting open-world activities and charming characters are two main reasons why Bully has so many fond memories amongst its fans.
Bullywas due a sequel sometime after the first game’s release, and there is a wholehistory of rumors regardingBully 2’s development and when the game was ultimately canned in favor of more lucrative projects. However, this doesn’t imply that a potentialBully 2would lack any potential today, and Rockstar seems to know this very well. Rockstar’s R* Warehouse recently released a set of Bullworth caps, which does indicate the developer putting the effort to keep its franchise relevant. While nothing can be definitively said as of now, it’s clear that a potentialBully 2would still be a blockbuster hit.
Max Payne
Not a Rockstar original IP, parent company Take-Two acquired the rights to theMax Paynefranchise back in 2002. The last entry in the franchise came in the form ofMax Payne 3back in 2011, which had great reviews but did not sell according to Take-Two’s expectations, which caused the franchise to be put on a hold for some time. Reviving a “failed” franchise would make little sense, but there are a couple of reasons as to why this might be the perfect time for such a revival.
Max Payne 3released in 2011, a time whereCall of Dutyreigned supreme and developers/gamers were fixated on big open worlds. However, as time passed on, players have gained a reinvigorated interest in linear experiences after being burned out by countless open-world releases and annualized franchises. Games like Remedy’s (Max Payne’s original developers) ownQuantum BreakandControlare proof as to how such titles can still be a huge success, which is a great nudge to bring back the hot-headed, bullet-dodgingMax Payne.
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L.A. Noire
L.A. Noireis another one of Rockstar’s great but underappreciated titles of its time. The game follows detective Cole Phelps as he works to untangle the various mystery given to him by the Los Angeles Police Department. The game featured excellent performances by the actors, and players would need to study such details very carefully to come to suitable conclusions.
L.A. Noireone of the more different games in Rockstar’s portfolio, as it seemingly is a much more methodical and slow-paced experience than the developer’s other offerings. This might be part of the reason whyL.A. Noiremight not have resonated with many fans, but such a thing doesn’t deny the possibilities for a sequel. It did have and still does have its own following. Rockstar has acknowledged the success of the game time and time again, and the re-release of the game for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch is a great testament to such a fact.
Manhunt
While not the most lucrative game to revitalize at face value,Manhuntis another in a line of long-forgotten video game franchises. The firstManhuntlaunched in 2003 and was a brutally violent stealth game, featuring an over-the-top and extremely graphic portrayal of violence.Manhuntmight have received great review scores for the time, but the over-reliance on violence did hurt the game’s sales reception and public image. Despite that, Rockstar did release a sequel in 2007, titledManhunt 2,which had an ambition of upping the ante for an even more gruesome depiction of violent kills.
However, Rockstar needed to cut quite a few corners pre-release to secure an M-rating for the game, which did leave a somewhat negative impact on the game itself, as it reviewed poorly as compared to the predecessor on account of its cut content. This did spell disaster for a potentialManhunt 3, but it seems that it could be a great time for the series to make a return. Manyrumors have surfaced over time regarding a potentialManhunt 3, but nothing substantial as of the time of writing. However, games likeWolfensteinandDoomhave proved that there is still a market for video games and the current reputation and fandom behind the developer would definitely drive humongous sales if aManhuntgame was to happen.
