While third-person action games have been around for decades, it wasn’t until the release of the originalDevil May Cryin 2001 that thehack-and-slash gamebecame a popular genre, full of innovation and unique gaming experiences. It spawned plenty of rivals to the Son of Sparda’s crown too, likeBayonetta,the 3DNinja Gaidenseries, andGod of Waramong others.
But for every success story, there was a game that fell by the wayside. Some were rightly forgotten attempts to ride the bandwagon (does anyone rememberX-Blades?). Others were one-offs that didn’t get their due, but are worth revisiting to see their charm. Here are a few that are worth picking up again.
6Bujingai: The Forsaken City
There were reasons why this PS2DMC-alike disappeared from the scene soon after release. The level design wasn’t the most exciting, and the tale about its hero Lau Wong (modeled afterJ-Pop star Gackt) saving the titular city from his rival and his army of demons wasn’t as exciting as it sounds. Yet, the gameplay was fun and showed potential.
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It was enough to earn the game positive praise, and the Chinese futuristic wuxia design helped it stand out compared to the gothicDMCor neo-Japanese style ofNinja Gaiden.If Taito made a sequel improving on its faults, it could have been a contender. Instead, aside from an announced MMORPG spin-off that never got made,Bujingaiwas one and done.
5Ghost Rider
UnlikeBujingai, this game was roasted in hellfire on release. The moreCastlevania-esque GBA game received better press than the hack-and-slash PS2 and PSP entries. It didn’t help that it was a tie-in to the Nicolas Cage movie, which had yet to build up its B-movie cult fame. However, time has been kind to the game. WhileGhost Rideris not exactly a diamond in the rough, it’s still a solid gem.
It’s a competentDMC-clone with touches ofGod of Warwith the Rider’s chain whip weapon. The game’s presentation is suitably infernal and grim, and it throws in the vampire hunter Blade as an in-game rival and alternate player character. For a tie-in game, it didJohnny Blaze and Ghost Riderquite well.
4Dante’s Inferno
Fans may remember this game for its infamous advertising campaign. Mailing $200 checks to journalists to represent ‘Greed,’ running a contest to ‘commit acts of lust’ with booth babes at Comic-Con, and faking religious protests were the kind of stunts Acclaim would’ve done back in the day. But few people talk about the actual game nowadays. If they do, they often think it was a terribleGod of Warrip-off.
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While it does play akin to Kratos’ adventures, it did it quite well. Dante’s scythe-swinging was nippy and responsive, and the save-or-damn mechanic for the unfortunate souls he came across was unique. The graphics hold up even today, as does the art design and acting. Rumors of a sequel lingered right up until the closure of developers Visceral Games in 2017. Sadly, Dante’s journey is unlikely to continue.
3Heavenly Sword
Ninja Theory’s first big game was seen as a stop-gap entry for the PS3’s launch. It was aGod of War-alike made to keep fans happy until Sony Santa Monica made a true next-gen Kratos game inGod of War 3. DespiteHeavenly Sword’s unique feudal Japan look and striking protagonist in Nariko, it couldn’t out-rage the Ghost of Sparta. Nonetheless, it could have carved a good niche out for itself if Ninja Theory kept it going.
Saints Rowwas in a similar spot compared toGrand Theft Autountil its sequel gave the games their own identity. Instead, Nariko’s last appearance was inPlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale,where she felt like a weak inclusion next to Kratos, Nathan Drake, andTekken’s Heihachi. MaybeHeavenly Swordcan get its due through its fresh PS Plus Premium release.
2Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Even then,Heavenly Swordgot more attention than Ninja Theory’s follow-up.Enslavedwas a cool, cyberpunk take on the classicJourney to the Westnovel, where Monkey has to escort a young woman called Trip back home through the post-apocalyptic wasteland. He has to fight off mechs and other foes with his multipurpose staff. Trip can also help out by throwing bombs or interacting with objects.
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It’s akin to the 2018God of WarandBlack Myth: Wukong, but predates both by about a decade. It still had a few issues (unlike Atreus, Trip needs to be protected), but it showed promise for a sequel. Unfortunately, it didn’t sell enough units, which shelved any plans of a follow-up.
1The Wonderful 101
There’s still a chanceThe Wonderful 102could become a thing following the game’s escape from the Wii U into theRemasterededitions for PS4, Switch and PC. Though given it still didn’t meet financial expectations, it’s unlikely. Which is a shame. Designed byDMCcreator Hideki Kamiya, it saw the player control a cluster of heroes called the Wonderful 100 that could cluster together (‘Unite Morph’) into different weapons for combos and puzzle solving.
It also mixed up the gameplay with segments based onZaxxon, Punch-Out, andSpace Harrierto stop the evil GEATHJERKs from taking over the Earth. Given PlatinumGames has had a rough run of games lately,The Wonderful 101shows what the developers are capable of when they’re on form.
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