Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

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Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Key Takeaways

  • Games like Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry underwent major genre and story changes before becoming iconic titles.
  • Franchises like Halo and BioShock were initially envisioned very differently from their final iterations.
  • Altering original concepts led to the creation of influential games like Splinter Cell, Donkey Kong, and GoldenEye 007.

As a seasoned gaming historian, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the evolution of some truly iconic video games. One such tale that always leaves me awestruck is the transformation of GoldenEye 007 from an on-rail shooter to the masterpiece we all know and love today.

Developing a game can be quite challenging, as titles such as “Black Myth Wukong” often undergo numerous years of production before they become available to the public. On occasion, a game may begin life as a single concept and transform dramatically over time, changing its genre, aesthetic, and even the intellectual property it represents.

Many would be surprised to find out that some of their favorite games were going to be almost completely unlike the final product. It’s an example of how, sometimes, a setback or simply having second thoughts can be beneficial to a project’s final release, resulting in something that is a success or becomes part of gaming history.

10 Resident Evil 4

Leon Was Supposed To Be Busting Ghosts

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Following the release of Resident Evil 3 and several side installments, Capcom aimed to explore uncharted territories with their groundbreaking title, Resident Evil 4. The development process for this game underwent numerous revisions and conceptual changes before settling on the over-the-shoulder third-person perspective that revolutionized gaming as we know it.

One version of the game has advanced enough that video clips can be found online, demonstrating that Resident Evil 4 would lean towards a more supernatural theme. This isn’t just Leon Kennedy battling zombies in a castle reminiscent of Dracula films, but also encountering and fighting spectral entities, as the footage suggests.

9 Devil May Cry

Leon Kennedy Was The Original Dante

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

The exhilarating, excessive action and blood-curdling gameplay of Devil May Cry is so extravagant that it seems unimaginable that it initially originated as a concept for Resident Evil 4. One of the numerous proposals for Resident Evil 4 was to potentially shift from survival horror and move towards action and exploration.

Fortunately, the concept veered significantly from Resident Evil and transformed into what eventually became the renowned Devil May Cry series. From Dante to Nero, the gameplay of the Devil May Cry games was engaging, but given the backlash when Resident Evil 6 switched to an action format, the outcry would likely be far greater if Resident Evil 4 mimicked the style of Devil May Cry.

8 Halo: Combat Evolved

The Franchise Almost Started As A StarCraft Clone

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

In terms of the first-person shooter category, it’s quite common to hear discussions about Halo: Combat Evolved being among the best, which is surprising given that it wasn’t initially designed as a shooter. Interestingly enough, the original idea behind Halo actually started out as a real-time strategy game similar to StarCraft, featuring armored humans battling against alien adversaries.

After initially being a third-person shooter, Halo underwent a transformation due to budgetary limitations, compelling Bungie to alter it to meet their deadline. This transformation led to the game becoming a groundbreaking first-person shooter, and its success has continued ever since, with the Halo franchise remaining popular today. Fortunately, the series was able to preserve its essence by introducing a real-time strategy spin-off titled Halo Wars at a later stage.

7 BioShock

Rapture Was Almost In Space And An Island

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Initially, the backdrop of the video game BioShock was envisioned as a derelict space station inhabited by genetically altered monsters and a harmful cult. However, instead of being the underwater city we know from BioShock, this concept was later reimagined and evolved into the developers’ upcoming game, Judas.

It seems that, with Electronic Arts (EA) preparing to unveil Dead Space, which shared a similar premise, BioShock was initially set in a zombie-ridden island and underwent another redesign. The final result was an underwater city called Rapture, leading to BioShock’s ultimate status as one of the most memorable games of the 2000s.

6 Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos

What Could Have Been The First 3D Yoshi Game

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

During the mid-90s and early 2000s, game studios were putting in their best efforts to establish mascots for fresh gaming series, like Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos, as they sought to challenge giants such as Mario. Interestingly, Croc was initially conceived as a 3D prototype for a Yoshi game, but when Nintendo declined the concept, the team at Argonaut transformed it into the foundation for a new game instead.

1997 saw the debut of “Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos” across platforms like PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn, and PC. This game combined the gameplay elements from “Super Mario 64” with mechanics similar to “Tomb Raider.” Although Croc’s initial launch received some criticism, it managed to spur a sequel and a planned remaster in 2024 due to its success.

5 Splinter Cell

Before He Was Sam Fisher, He Was Almost James Bond

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Initially conceived as both a spy thriller and stealth video game, Splinter Cell earned its popularity as UbiSoft’s response to Metal Gear Solid. In its initial stages of development, however, Splinter Cell was initially envisioned as a first-person shooter by Red Storm, and at one point, efforts were made to transform it into the next James Bond game.

The developers’ opportunity to obtain the rights for Tom Clancy’s books drastically altered their previous plans. As a result, Splinter Cell evolved into the third-person action-stealth game we know today, featuring Sam Fisher who has become a legendary character in gaming history.

4 Donkey Kong

Mario Would Not Exist Without Popeye The Sailor Man

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

The original concept for Donkey Kong was intended to feature Bluto instead of Donkey Kong, Olive Oyl in place of Pauline, and Popeye as the character originally meant to be Mario. Shigeru Miyamoto’s initial project was supposed to be a game inspired by the popular Popeye cartoon, but due to limitations at the time, he and his team had to alter the characters.

If Popeye hadn’t transformed into Mario, the globally recognized video game series we know today wouldn’t have come to be. Mario, too, would have remained a significant figure in gaming lore, spawning his own franchise and showing up in numerous Nintendo games. Interestingly, a game inspired by Popeye (later known as Mario) was eventually released on the original NES, adopting Donkey Kong’s structure and playstyle.

3 GoldenEye 007

From On The Rails To Revolutionary FPS

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but reflect on how GoldenEye 007 revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. If Rare had stuck to their initial plans, the rich gaming history we now enjoy might have been postponed significantly. Before it became the immersive FPS experience we know today, it was designed as an on-rail shooter like Virtua Cop or The House of the Dead.

Developers from Rare were given the opportunity to visit the sets of the GoldenEye film to gather reference images for an accurate recreation in the video game, GoldenEye 007. Unexpectedly, this resulted in GoldenEye 007 being released two years after the movie, but it went on to become a cherished classic.

2 Mortal Kombat

Ed Boon And John Tobias Almost Made The Jean-Claude Van Damme Game

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Back in the day, it was Mortal Kombat’s captivating blend of fantasy worlds, divine beings, terrifying creatures, mystical powers, mechanical marvels, and iconic fatalities that etched the game into our collective consciousness. Little did we know, if Jean-Claude Van Damme had accepted the role in the original version, it might have been more like a sequel to his classic film, Bloodsport.

When Jean-Claude Van Damme declined the offer, Ed Boon and John Tobias revised their concept, incorporating aspects from “Big Trouble in Little China” and “Enter The Dragon,” which eventually led to the creation of Johnny Cage’s character instead. Later on, Jean-Claude Van Damme lent his likeness and voice for a Johnny Cage skin.

1 Doom

Fox Denied The Chance To Make An Aliens Game

Games That Were Originally Meant To Be Something Else

Interestingly enough, some outstanding “Alien” games produced in the 90s drew influence from “Doom”, even though the original first-person shooter was initially intended to be a version of the “Aliens” movie. Instead, you have a space marine stranded on a desolate planet, battling terrifying creatures. In essence, it’s very much like an “Aliens” scenario, except the monsters here are demons from the underworld, not xenomorphs.

The primary cause that Doom never evolved into an Aliens game stemmed from failed negotiations with 20th Century Fox. As a result, Id Software developed their own unique game, leveraging their prior work on Wolfenstein 3D, which ultimately led to the creation of Doom.

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2024-09-02 10:34