This post has not been edited by the GamesBeat staff. Opinions by GamesBeat community writers do not necessarily reflect those of the staff.

Note: A few months ago I wrote a piece about the PSN outage. It got torn to shreds by an unnamed community of gamers. Against my better judgment, I decided against prefacing the piece with an explanation that it was merely allegory perpetuating the strange circumstance that occurred within Sony and among a variety of (fanboy) consumers. A few excerpts excluded, it wasn’t really meant to be intrinsically funny.

That said, here is this post’s note. This is a top 5 list. But more importantly, it’s a commentary on sequels and the role they play in this industry. That’s why it’s so long and that’s why I wrote it. Permission to read only the bookend introduction and final word sections… Granted.

I know what you’re thinking. “Really, John? You want MORE sequels?” Well, yes. I mean, if I’m going to accept the fact that we’re going to getting a constant barrage of sequels based on last year’s titles, why not hope for sequels to games from last decade (or further, even)?

The Video Game industry is a franchise-based beast. The only thing publishers want more than “the next big game” is the sequel to that game. Love it or hate it, that’s the way this business is. If it sells a million copies, sequels will come.

I kind of miss the environmentally disastrous cases Genesis games came in.

It’s always been the nature of the beast. When Sega released their Mega-Drive, they were clamoring to find a mascot that could compete with the likes of Mario. Their response was Alex Kidd, an adolescent monkey boy. Delightful. Eventually they introduced the upgrade, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Even in the 32-bit era, I remember reading in message boards that there was a concern over the lack of an official Playstation mascot. Who was it? Crash Bandicoot? Spyro the Dragon? Sweet Tooth? No one knew. The truth was, however, no one really cared.

Consoles were never sold by mascots, they were sold by franchises. If fate had played a different hand to Alex Kidd, and he was the star of Super Mario Bros., it would be Alex Kidd who would be the big guy Nintendo is synonymous with because Super Mario Bros. was an awesome, awesome game. Yeah, that’s right. I utilized the overused “awesome” two times in a row. That’s how awesome it is.

It’s true that there are some characters that have become mascots for their respective companies and I can go on and on about this, but that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here because I know how to fix Sega.

I was lying in my own filth the other day, and it dawned on me. Sega needs to use some Moon Atomizers on some of their franchises. That is to say, they need to revive some of those great IP’s that have been left on the wayside.

So here it is, The 5 Sega Franchises that can change the course of their future… According to this genius (albeit, delusional) mind…

… All opinion, remember. *smiley face followed by a flirty (creepy) winky face, for the ladies*

5. Jet Set Radio (Debut: 2000, Dreamcast)

Back when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the bee’s knees (as the kids from the 1920’s like to say), everyone wanted a piece of the extreme sports pie. Meanwhile, the talented folks at Sega were hard at work with a graffiti-based roller-skating game that had an art style unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Jet Set Radio, on their new Dreamcast hardware, was a cel-shaded revelation.

Not only could you skate around a city inspired by all the craziness Tokyo has to offer while doing physics defying tricks, but you could tag walls and vehicles with graffiti. You had the option of using pre-created tags or you could create your own in the cumbersome, but somewhat useful, tag creator. The best part, though, is that with an internet connection, you could download porn pictures off of the internet and use those, instead.

After Sega became a third-party publisher, they released Jet Set Radio Future on the X-box. I enjoyed that as well, but they took out the download feature, which was originally one of the big draws for me. They adjusted the game play and streamlined everything. While, generally, not as good in my opinion, I still had a great time in playing it. It helped that the sequel was able to retain the funky vibe of the first game, complete with its crazy soundtrack.

With the current hardware, there is an opportunity to make the illest Jet Set Radio to date. Re-establish the ability to download pictures for tags and gamers will herald it as the sickest game ever. Total diarrhea, they’ll say… I don’t understand slang anymore, so sometimes I just make stuff up.

4. Panzer Dragoon (Debut: 1995, Sega Saturn)

I’ll be honest with you; my first experience with Panzer Dragoon was in 2003 when Sega released Panzer Dragoon Orta on the X-box. I purchased it the moment my local retailer got some copies. I had heard about the Panzer Dragoon series in the past, having been told that it was “kind of like Star Fox, but with dragons instead of that space crap.” Considering that the SNES Star Fox was the very first game I ever owned, of course Orta was on my radar.

A pessimistic gamer might make the argument that all modern shooters are on rails… you’re just in control of the speed in which you progress. Well, excuse me, Mr. Fancy pants. But in an on rails shooter, you don’t have the luxury of taking a breather. They’re going to ram enemies down your throat and if your gag reflex kicks in, you’d better learn how to swallow puke, coz that crap is going down your gullet whether you want it to or not!

Orta is an amazing game. No past tense about it. It’ll beat you down if you let it. The sheer sense of accomplishment I felt as I watched those credits role for the first time is a feeling that few videogames have been able to replicate. Maybe it was because I don’t play many of these types of games, but this introduced to me a whole new meaning to the term “muscle memory.”

Thanks to the original Sega Saturn game being an unlockable, I was able to experience that one as well. Although it didn’t look like much, it was just as fun as Orta. There is a place for these kinds of games. Even if we had to endure episodic content over XBLA or PSN store, these games (done right) would be worth it. Truthfully, I’d pay a full 60 dollars for just 10 more levels.

3. Phantasy Star (Debut: 1987 JP – 1988 NA, Master System)

The first JRPG I ever played was Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom. At the time, I had no way of knowing that this was the perceived black sheep of the series. It got me into the genre, so at the very least, it’s “good enough.”

It wasn’t until recently that I started to play through this series and I got to tell you, for this gamer, They hold up. I enjoy Phantasy Star on the Master System a lot more then I enjoy Final Fantasy on the NES. I don’t want to open that can of worms, but not a day goes by where I don’t wonder why Final Fantasy has endured thirteen games plus spin-offs, but we haven’t seen a real Phantasy Star game since 1995.

How many other old school RPG's have such an amazing presentation?

Phantasy Star Online was great. I have no problems with that series. In fact, the PSO series has probably sucked more hours out of my life then just about any other series in existence. It introduced me to a kind of online gaming that in all honesty, no other game has able to duplicate for me. Even when it comes to the big online RPG’s, I’m always thinking back to aspects about PSO that I miss. But PSO continues to get its day in the sun. All I want is for them to bring the series back to its roots.

I can’t really believe I’ve ranked this 3rd. Even as I’m typing this, I’m completely vexed as to my train of thought. Obviously, something in my testicle-sized brain is breaking down the logic. This is such a classic series that any JRPG fan owes it to themselves to at least play Phantasy Star 2 and 4. Play them. Love them. Then join me in my weekly prayer service at the Yuji Naka Church of Past Glory.

2. Shenmue (Debut: 1999 JP – 2000 NA, Dreamcast)

Years ago, I played Assassin’s Creed for the very first time. This was back when the game was new. I loved it, but I hated the way it ended. Shenmue is the reason.

All I could think was “What if no-one plays the game? What if I’m the only one in the world who sees potential in this? What if I’m forced to sit here for years thinking of what could have been?” Yeah, Shenmue has turned me into a nervous wreck when I play planned multigame projects. That’s my nerd life, okay? Every day.

I remember seeing pictures of Shenmue in all the magazines. “What the funk is that?” I asked anyone who would listen. “Can you believe how amazing this looks? Look at them ears. Them has ears!”

After months of pining over every little picture and morsel of details, The Official Dreamcast Magazine finally put a video on one of their demo discs. It was just over 6 minutes long but in the weeks leading to Christmas, the culmination of time I spent watching it amounted to hours. Believe me when I tell you that when I finally got my hands on the final product, nerdgasms were had.

When it looked like North American audiences wouldn’t get to play Shenmue 2, the X-Box acted as a beacon of hope… before thusly becoming the harbinger of reality.

Gamers like myself, will likely only experience a fraction of Yu Suzuki’s full vision. With his decision to leave Sega in order to focus on his own studio, one can only delude oneself into believing that Sega is giving him the right to continue his masterpiece on his own dime. But I’m not holding my breath.

Assassin’s Creed was originally planned to be a trilogy, but at this year’s E3, they officially unveiled the final chapter of the Ezio Trilogy. That’s right, a trilogy within a trilogy. Christopher Nolan would be proud. Meanwhile, Shenmue, a game far ahead of its time, sits in a quiet corner, neglected. Remembered by some, but ignored by everyone else.

Okay. So what could possibly be next? Skies of Arcadia? Toe Jam and Earl? Sega Rally? Shinobi? Panzer Dragoon Saga? Well, whatever you’re thinking, prepare for a major disappointment. Seriously, mentally prepare yourself so that you don’t throw anything at your nice, high resolution, monitor. I hate it when I read these kinds of lists and they pick something controversial just for the sake of making the list unpredictable. The game on the following page is something I am very passionate about, so hear me out… and it’s not even Shining Force.

1.  NFL 2K (Debut: 1999, Dreamcast)

I’m Canadian, so what I’m about to say might be considered light-treason. I love hockey, but I love football even more. I’m not even talking about the CFL (Go Riders — even though you suck this year). I’m a fan of the National Football League. I watch as many games as I can. If I’m home on a Sunday afternoon and for whatever reason a garbage game like Detroit vs. Buffalo is being aired, I’ll watch it.

I love football. A part of me lives for it. Why? It’s simple. One Christmas, and I don’t know how this was able to happen, but my parents blessed me with a Dreamcast of my very own (way to earn it, kid… I dodged guilt by convincing myself that other kids from my high school were getting Ford Mustangs). Not just any Dreamcast. The limited edition black Sega Sports Dreamcast. NBA 2K and NFL 2K were in the box! I used to be into basketball, so I was more excited to play the NBA game. One afternoon, however, I decided to try NFL 2K. I was hooked.

Fast-forward a few years, my love of football was reaching critical mass. Unfortunately, my pockets were loose with an abundance of space and I needed a football fix. Sega, in their infinite wisdom, released NFL 2K5 for $29.99 ($19.99 for you Americans). I bought it, being the type of gamer who buys a new football game every 2-3 years.

Vick enjoying the dog days of summer.

NFL 2K5 is one of my favourite games of all time. I’ve put more hours into that game than any other football game I have ever played… combined. I had the franchise mode down to a science. In the last full season I played (and it wasn’t that long ago), I was so meticulous in my trading and cap decisions that my Green Bay Packers were unbeatable. I drafted a running back in my final draft and by the end of his first pre-season, he had a 98 overall rating. Yeah. A science.

It was a better game than Madden. Technology is such that from a gameplay standpoint, current iterations of Madden have long since passed it. But the franchise mode has yet to be beat.

I miss it. I lament what the series could have been. What would NFL 2K12 be like? We’ll never know. EA and the NFL have seen to that. I don’t mean to disparage neither EA nor the NFL, but there is no way to deny that the series died because of those two organizations.

In a way, I’m grateful for the absolution. With every other game on this list, there remains the faintest of hopes. But with NFL 2K, I know that I have seen the last of that series… Too bad.

You could stop reading here… or you could endure one more page! … please endure one more page.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Five franchises that Sega needs to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to create and market. It’s that easy.

Really, though, it’s just a fantasy. The talent that created these games have moved on to other projects or studios. Sega isn’t the company it used to be. They have talent under their banner, with Platinum Games far and away outclassing just about every other Japanese developer out there. Heck, Vanquish and Bayonetta are, in my opinion, among the top 10 games released last year.

Although they had struggled to sell hardware, they’ve had incredible talent working on their games. Is the talent gone? Or merely misappropriated? Whatever the case, I’d love to see the company re-emerge to its past glory. I’d love to see them bring back the games we love and put some real effort into it. None of this Golden Axe crap.

Until then, Gamers will continue to write useless lists like this one. – What else can we do?

To compare Vanquish to Gears of War is an insult to Vanquish… This coming for a guy who thinks Gears of War is an amazing game.

Brand new IP’s are all well and good (great, actually) but the truth is, we get them often albeit sometimes on a smaller scale. 3 out of the 5 XBLA Summer of Arcade titles are brand new licenses. Bastion, From Dust, and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet are all new games.

The aforementioned studio, Platinum Games have developed 4 original games with a 5th original game in development. These are the only 5 games they have under them. Before that, Head honcho, Shinji Mikami was hard at work at Clover Studios creating Viewtiful Joe, Okami and Godhand. All great, original titles.

In the recent months, both coming and going, we have or will see the release of Catherine, Shadows of the Damned, Rage, Child of Eden, Dead Island, L.A. Noire and Brink. Be as selective as you’d like, but original content is out there. They might not always get the kind of media coverage that long-standing IP’s do, they may not be your style and they may be vastly outnumbered by sequels, but there they are.

At the end of the day, all I am saying is that if the industry is going to be driven by franchises. Why not give some older ones a chance? A legitimate chance. It may be just my nostalgic pipe dream, but it’s one (or five) that I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

Agree or Disagree? Notable omissions? Is this too damned long? (Yes). Let me know!