Single-Player Games That Would Make Great Hero Shooters

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2016 marked a significant impact on the video game industry. The debut of “Pokemon GO” revolutionized mobile gaming and significantly expanded the “Pokemon” brand. Additionally, this year saw the launch of “Overwatch,” which, although not the first hero shooter, redefined the genre and sparked widespread interest in it.

Could it be possible for Overwatch to lose its crown in the hero shooter genre? While many have attempted and succeeded like Valorant, others such as Concord failed. Then there’s Marvel Rivals, which has significantly raised the bar. It demonstrated that there is still room for innovation beyond Overwatch. So, what franchise or series could potentially bring fresh ideas to this genre with a spinoff next?

8. BlazBlue

Fighting For Dominance

The BlazBlue game series is primarily known for its fighting games, but it’s deeply cherished by hardcore fans. Interestingly, the series has ventured into other genres before, such as the roguelike game, BlazBlue Entropy Effect. This spin-off was successful due to the abundance of diverse characters in the series, each with their unique abilities and weaponry. For instance, Ragna wields a massive sword, while Noel fires twin guns. Many fighting games could potentially thrive in the hero shooter genre, although it’s unlikely that something like Street Fighter would fit well within this style of play.

7. Final Fantasy

Bye Bye Foamstars

As a devoted fan, I believe Square Enix made a strategic blunder with Foamstars by introducing it as an original IP instead of tapping into their most successful Western franchise: Final Fantasy. With numerous crossover games already under their belt, such as Dissidia Final Fantasy – a series of action-packed fighting games and Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street – a collection of Monopoly-esque board games, Square Enix has an array of characters to draw from.

Characters like Balthier and Vincent, who specialize in gunplay, as well as mages such as Vivi or Lulu, could bring new dimensions to the game. And let’s not forget about fan-favorites like Cloud, a melee striker, who could ignite the excitement of fans with his powerful moves. By incorporating these beloved characters into Foamstars, Square Enix could have capitalized on the vast potential this move would offer.

6. Lego

Build Your Own Hero Shooter

This is the initial trick on our list, as it can encompass multiple franchises. Before “Lego Star Wars: The Video Game” in 2005, there were Lego games, but it was this particular game that significantly boosted Traveler’s Tales’ reputation.

Subsequently, they moved on to develop other high-profile film series such as Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings. Moreover, they have collaborated extensively with DC and Marvel productions. A Lego-style hero shooter game that encompasses various properties could be particularly attractive, especially for encouraging children’s participation.

5. Metal Gear Solid

A Boss-Heavy Series

One standout aspect of the Metal Gear Solid franchise lies in its memorable boss battles. These encounters showcase unique and creative characters who don’t rely solely on weapons, but employ various strategies to outmaneuver our protagonists. To give you a taste, in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Fat Man would scatter bombs throughout an arena while skating around Raiden, sipping wine all the while. In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, The Pain would unleash swarms of bees upon Naked Snake. Yes, bees! This series seems ripe for a hero shooter adaptation with such an intriguing roster of villains.

4. Persona

They’ve Done Every Other Genre

Since the release of “Persona 4“, Atlus has ventured into more experimental territories for the series, moving beyond traditional RPGs. The first major deviation was the introduction of “Persona 4 Arena“, a fighting game, followed by a string of dancing games. With their “Persona” franchise expanding into various RPG and non-RPG genres, it seems they might be open to experimenting with a shooter game next. It’d be intriguing to observe characters from the series engaging in an arena battle while summoning their Personas for assistance. They could even incorporate characters from other Atlus games that the Persona team has collaborated on, such as “Catherine” and “Metaphor: ReFantazio“.

3. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Concord Failed So That This Hidden Gem Could Be Revived

In much the same way that Square Enix stumbled with Concord due to it being a fresh idea in a highly competitive market, Sony faced similar challenges because Marvel Rivals demonstrated success by leveraging pre-existing popular characters. If Sony aims to triumph in this saturated genre, they might find success with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, a game that resembles Super Smash Bros. in style. This game was released on the PS3 and PS Vita as a one-time production, but reviving it could be an effective strategy.

Since the game was launched in 2012, there have been numerous first-party and third-party titles released as well. For instance, “The Last of Us”, “Astro Bot”, “Ghost of Tsushima”, “Horizon Zero Dawn”, and “Returnal” are just a few examples among many others. These characters could potentially serve as compelling heroes in a hero shooter game.

2. Rare Replay

Xbox’s Hidden Treasure Trove

Rare Replay was an exceptional game compilation for the Xbox One, offering HD remasters of most Rare games up until 2015. This collection, rather than being a particular game itself, serves as an intriguing starting point for Microsoft to invest in a hero shooter. Imagine the excitement if characters like Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads, Conker, and others engaged in arena battles! Although it might not generate as much buzz as a fresh Banjo-Kazooie platformer, a Rare-inspired hero shooter could potentially thrive on Game Pass. After all, they managed to make Sea of Thieves successful despite a rocky start, didn’t they?

1. Super Smash Bros.

Get This To Launch On Switch 2

As a dedicated gamer, the idea of Super Smash Bros. being transformed into a hero shooter for Nintendo enthusiasts would be an absolute dream come true! Though it’d certainly be exciting to welcome another fighting game on the Switch 2’s launch day, nothing could surpass the sheer joy and exhilaration of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

To take this experience to new heights, the developers might consider introducing a fresh twist: arena matches! Imagine Diddy Kong wielding his peanut guns, Samus firing her faithful blaster, Pit brandishing his bow, and even Mario using FLUDD from Super Mario Sunshine. This blend of iconic weapons would make for an engaging and dynamic gameplay.

Now, the question is: how could they top this? One possible answer lies in pushing the boundaries of arena match design – a new challenge that would test the team’s ingenuity and keep us gamers on the edge of our seats!

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2025-02-08 07:06