Recently, I started to think about old games, specifically how some of them will get another shot at life after a few years away and it made me think about all those series that have not had that.

To be clear when I say another shot at life, I don’t mean via a remaster or a remake, but I mean a from the ground up, original entry in that series. A prime example is F-Zero, that series saw a number of games released over the first 14 years of its life, with F-Zero: GP Legend being the last one to release in the West. But then it went 19 years before it got a new game, or really any game.

So with that in mind, I wanted to have a look through the big publishers to see what series they are leaving behind. There are a few conditions for this list:

1. There must be at least 2 games in the series, so one off titles are not included.

2. There must be at least 2 console generations between the last game and now, so if a game was released on PlayStation 4, but there is no entry on PlayStation 5, that does not count.

3. We are not including Game of the Year, Deluxe, Complete or any other word used to describe a re-issue of the game with DLC or other extra content.

4. Finally, remakes and remasters do not count, they must be original.

So let us take a look at Square Enix, just one note here. A number of years back the company Taito was picked up by Square Enix, so their games are being included as well.

Chrono

First Release: August 1995 | Last Release: August 2000 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

While it would be easy to say that a company like Square Enix has many big name RPGs that players adore, there was something special about the Chrono series that just stuck with players over the years, starting with the Super Nintendo original.

When your game is made by Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii and Akira Toriyama, among many others people are going to take not. Between the two games that people know, a text-based adventure was released and it finally got a local release with the remastering of the second game. Both console games are RPGs and offer up the usual assortment of gameplay you might expect, though the stories are quite a bit different. In a weird twist, the PlayStation title used the previous Radical Dreamers text-based adventure for its story beginnings, but creating a lot more for players to discover.

Bushido Blade

First Release: February 1998 | Last Release: October 1998 | Total Number of Games Released: 2

A new game from then SquareSoft was always going to gain attention, especially after the release of Final Fantasy 7, but many were confused by the fighting game nature that was the Bushido Blade series.

Unlike other fighting games of the time, or even now, there are no health bars on screen here, because the idea was that a single hit could be enough to defeat your foe. As you might have guessed from the name, the game is based in Japan and uses a lot of traditional Japanese weapons like the Katana. While the series is a fighting game, the gameplay is more like Power Stone than SoulCalibur, with players encouraged to explore the work around them. The bushido part of the name also had an impact on the story, as fighting without honour can see the story end earlier than you might think.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

First Release: March 2004 | Last Release: February 2010 | Total Number of Games Released: 6

When I was pulling this list together, I honestly didn’t realise that the Crystal Chronicles sub-series would be included, but it turns out they had more games than the single one I knew of. Gameplay across each of the games does vary wildly, with the two WiiWare titles being more city management than RPG.

The Crystal Chronicles series is set in a world populated by four tribes, with recurring themes of crafting objects from memories and the significance of family. The gameplay is designed to appeal to a broad audience within its genre, typically involving cooperative play among multiple players or large groups. Notably, the series debuted on the GameCube, and after a four-year hiatus, it released five titles within three years. The GameCube game also had multiplayer and required players use a GameBoy Advance and link cable for all players, but it did let players manage their character while the action was happening on the TV screen.

Front Mission

First Release: February 1995 | Last Release: October 2010 | Total Number of Games Released: 14

I know players have seen a lot of Front Mission in the past few years, with the remakes of the first 3 games hitting Switch, but as remakes don’t count, the series is included here and what a series. The videogame part offers up 14 games, but there are also movies, manga, radio dramas and toys, there is a lot going on.

The primary appeal of Front Mission lies in its narrative technique. Set in the 21st and 22nd centuries, the series centers on military skirmishes and political strife among mighty supranational unions and their member countries. While the Front Mission video games feature self-sufficient, independent stories, they all contribute to a larger, comprehensive narrative that spans the series. At its heart, the gameplay is tactical; however, as the series has progressed, it has incorporated a broader array of elements, with the exception of Left Alive, which shifts towards an action-adventure style.

Parasite Eve

First Release: September 1998 | Last Release: April 2011 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

The first Parasite Eve game is actually a sequel to a 1995 novel of the same name and was the first game from then SquareSoft that was rated M, which was a big deal for the company. The game itself was also set in the real world, or at least a version of Manhattan, which was a very big change from the Final Fantasy series.

The first game offered up an adventure that was described as a Final Fantasy 7 meets Resident Evil, where as the second game kept most of the same elements, but dropped the Active Time Bar from the battle system, making battles more real time. There was a 10 year gap between the second and third game along with a genre update. While the first two games were more like the original Resident Evil, the third was more like a cover shooter, but it still kept the RPG elements from the first two games. While the first two games were well received, tank controls not withstanding, the third game was mixed.

Drakengard

First Release: May 2004 | Last Release: May 2014 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

So while this was a popular series, the spin-off has since eclipsed it, you might have heard of it, Nier. But before that series began, Drakengard was the series that Yoko Taro was best known for.

The Drakengard series unfolds in a dark fantasy rendition of Medieval Europe known as Midgard, where humans are the dominant species amidst dragons, fairies, and elves. Drawing heavily from Northern European lore, the games feature a blend of action-packed hack-and-slash and aerial combat, alongside RPG-style leveling. In the original game, players navigate characters through ground battles against enemy clusters. Drakengard 2 retained the core gameplay with nuances, such as unique weapon types linked to specific characters, altering the character upon weapon change. Drakengard 3 offered a swifter pace, equipping the protagonist with a hyper-mode and seamless weapon switching mid-action.

Bust a Groove

First Release: November 1998 | Last Release: November 2000 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

PaRappa the Rapper kicked off a new craze of rhythm games and Enix were on hand to keep the action going with Bust a Groove, no relation to the song. The first game released everywhere, the second game skipped Pal regions and the PlayStation 2 entry was Japan exclusive, the series also got an Arcade release and a weird mobile game.

The game play revolves around the beat of the music playing, displaying arrows that correspond to directions on the D-Pad, as well as the symbols for the circle and X button. By every fourth beat of the song, the player must match the commands on the screen, causing their character to complete a dance move, or else it is considered a miss. When the player performs a combo of eight dance moves, advanced paths with more complex moves allows the player to earn more points. The games are packed with characters, all of which have their own backgrounds and as there are just as many unlockable characters, there was a lot to enjoy.

Battle Gear

First Release: August 1996 | Last Release: June 2005 | Total Number of Games Released: 6

First released in arcades and then known as Side by Side, the series changed its name with the 3rd game, which is when the first original game came to PlayStation 2. The PlayStation release was a compilation of the first two arcade games.

There are a few differences between the two names, the original arcade releases leaned into the Japan racing scene, including tracks based around mountain passes from the country. When the series went to the West, it started to include other tracks, along with more Western car makers like Ford and Volkswagen. The PlayStation 2 release also added online leaderboards, but in a weird twist was the last one to release outside of Japan. There were three additional releases after that one, but they were all Japan exclusive. For some reason when Battle Gear 2 came to Australia, it was renamed Tokyo Road Race by the distributor, and was the only one to do it.

Final Fantasy Tactics

First Release: January 1998 | Last Release: June 2008 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

Final Fantasy Tactics is a series that any Final Fantasy fan knows, but there has only been three original releases since the first title dropped and all have been well received.

The genre of the series is a turn-based tactical adventure, so players would complete in battles as they progress through the story. The series is set within the world of Ivalice, which was original for a few years but was the setting of Final Fantasy XII and while tactical in nature, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is considered a sequel to the main RPG and not part of the series. PlayStation got the original release and then PlayStation Portable got a reimagining of it some years later. Nintendo fans got Revenant Wings of course, but also Tactics Advance, which was a not-sequel to the PlayStation original, with Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift being the final game in this unique sub-series.

Psychic Force

First Release: July 1997 | Last Release: October 1997 | Total Number of Games Released: 2

Another arcade fighting game that got a home console port, Psychic Force was unique in that it put psychic powers in among the punches and kicks, go figure. The series was brought to the west by Acclaim, but the sequel never got a local release.

In Psychic Force, all battles occur within a cubic arena enclosed by a magical barrier. Combatants have the ability to float and move freely in all directions within this space. Although the game presents a 3D environment, the actual gameplay mechanics are 2D. The force field's walls are integral to the game's strategy; characters sustain damage when an opponent forces them into a wall. What is interesting is that the only sequel, not one of the many re-releases and ports of the first game, but actual sequel is a puzzle game, much like Puzzle Bobble.

The 7th Saga

First Release: September 1993 | Last Release: July 1995 | Total Number of Games Released: 2

A rare RPG from then Enix that was not Dragon Quest, The 7th Saga and had players choose from one of seven characters, in a quest to locate runes to save their world.

While players selected one character for their adventure, as they crossed the world they would encounter the other six and while you could team up with one for a bit, you could also fight them in order to get all the runes for yourself. The series was the first to include a radar so players could see where enemies were on the map, giving you advance warning before you were jumped for a fight. Mystic Ark, the sequel was meant to release in the West but it was cancelled during its localisation, but that might have been a good thing as the series cut back on a lot of what made the first game unique, including only having two playable characters to choose from.

ActRaiser

First Release: March 1993 | Last Release: X | Total Number of Games Released: 2

ActRaiser made a splash when it released in 1993, as it was not only a side-scrolling RPG, but there were times when the game let you become god, so people were hyped for the sequel, only to discover the side-scrolling RPG aspects remained.

The player plays as "The Master", the main protagonist of the game. Although the Master is never directly controlled, the player interacts with the world by controlling an angel and an animated statue. The player plays as an angel during the simulation sequences of the game, and as the statue during the action sequences. When the game embraced its city builder/god game aspects, it legit became SimCity with a touch of the Sims in the mix, long before that was a thing. The first game was received well by players and critics alike, but the second game was a little more mixed, it still sold well, but many were missing the city building aspect.

Ogre Battle/Tactics Ogre

First Release: May 1995 | Last Release: October 2000 | Total Number of Games Released: 5

The Ogre Battle series is a weird one, as there are only 5 games, but there are ports and re-releases out the wazoo, with games having the same name, but different aspects depending on the platform. The series also changes its name from Ogre Battle to Tactics Ogre, depending on the game.

The first game released for the Super Nintendo and was a real-time strategy game, but the sequel became a turn-based tactical game. The third and fourth games went back to the real-time route of gameplay, while the fifth game went back to turn-based. If the game was real-time it was labelled Ogre Battle, but if it was tactical then it had the Tactics Ogre name. The GameBoy Advance title was the last original and that released in 2001, the PlayStation Portable entry was a remake of the 1995 release, with Tactics Ogre: Reborn being a remake of the PSP port.

Lufia

First Release: December 1993 | Last Release: October 2010 | Total Number of Games Released: 5

The Lufia series is not a RPG you would think of when you think Square Enix and that is because it is one of the Taito games, with the first giving players a chance to find out what happened to a world after the heroes saved it.

The series then went all over the place with the story, the second game was a prequel, the third game was based around a single character and the fourth game on GameBoy Advance deviates wildly from the lore the rest set. The fifth game was a mobile phone game that has since been delisted and took a moment from the second game and expanded upon it. The Nintendo DS game is actually a re-imagining of the second game. There were a couple of other games in development and both were cancelled, with one of them eventually becoming the GameBoy Color release.

Sonic Blast Man

First Release: September 1992 | Last Release: November 1994 | Total Number of Games Released: 2

This series is perhaps one of the weirdest ones in the list, or any of them, as the series started as an arcade game that had a mechanical punching pad you had to hit, its Super Nintendo port was more of of a generic beat ‘em up.

The gameplay was just like every other beat ‘em up of the era, but where most games had two players on the screen, the Sonic Blast Man title was for one player only. The bonus stages in the Super Nintendo version of the first game attempted to replicate the punching pad by having players press the d-pad as fast as they could. The sequel was just more of the same, but it did add in more playable characters and a two-player mode, which did get it some praise. But the second game just didn’t sell well enough, which is likely why the series never got any more entries.

Chase H.Q.

First Release: June 1988 | Last Release: December 2007 | Total Number of Games Released: 4

Arcade racing games were a dime a dozen in the 1980s, but where they were all about racing, Chase H.Q. was about stopping them, as you were a police officer.

Although the narratives and stages differ throughout the games, the core gameplay remains consistent. At each level's commencement, players are briefed on their target, who is situated far ahead. They must capture the felon before the allotted time runs out. Since the outlaw's vehicle is always on the move, any frequent mishaps or sluggish driving will result in their escape. Occasionally, the road forks, necessitating a correct decision; a wrong turn will prolong the pursuit. Upon catching up to the vehicle, the time limit increases; players must then repeatedly collide with it until the criminal is compelled to halt and can be apprehended.

Chaos Rings

First Release: April 2010 | Last Release: May 2015 | Total Number of Games Released: 4

What’s this, a RPG series that has no connection to any exist Square Enix franchise, I didn’t think it was possible, but turns out it is when you create your games for mobile phones. The games began as iPhone exclusive, before coming to Android, Windows Phone, PlayStation Mobile and eventually PlayStation Vita. While the mobile versions are mostly offline now, you can still get the Vita release.

The Chaos Rings series offers a consistent gameplay experience, with players exploring dungeons and open areas in 3D using touch screen controls. It adheres to classic role-playing game mechanics, allowing players to advance the narrative through quests and earn rewards from side quests. The first three titles limit the party to two characters, while Chaos Rings III expands this to a three-character party with additional members in reserve. Players can attack, use various magic through "genes," utilize items, or defend against attacks. A unique combat mechanic is the 'break' feature, where successful attacks by the player can tip the break gauge in their favor, enhancing their power and weakening the enemy's.

Football Champ

First Release: April 1990 | Last Release: December 1994 | Total Number of Games Released: 4

It seems that everyone wanted a slice of the Soccer action at some point, because Football Champ, or Hat Trick Hero as it was also known, did get a number of entries across arcades and consoles.

The gameplay was just like you might expect, your team versus the other team, but where things changed here is that the teams had a hero player. You could choose from a list on all teams as to who would be that hero, with the characters having slightly different stats. In the arcade in order to keep playing you had to win your match, a draw did not count. The game changed its line up depending on the region it was released in, usually just the name and colours, but it was a nice touch. Hat Trick Hero 95 was a unique release at the time as the game included a streaker, who would attempt to run onto the pitch to disrupt play.

All Star Pro-Wrestling

First Release: June 2000 | Last Release: August 2003 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

When you think of Square Enix you think RPGs, that is what they are known for and 2000 they released a game that was as far removed from that as you can get, All Star Pro-Wrestling.

All Star Pro-Wrestling is based on Japanese wrestling rather than American. The game can be played in several modes selected in the "Match Make" menu; these include exhibition matches, championships, tournaments, or leagues separated by weight. Depending on the mode chosen, different wrestling rings can be chosen to battle. The first game was praised for its visuals but punished for the controls, the sequel brought in a more traditional control scheme, where the third game added the ability to create your own wrestler. All the games featured actual fighters from the Japanese wrestling scene, giving the series a bout of authenticity.

Musashi

First Release: December 1990 | Last Release: September 2005 | Total Number of Games Released: 3

The Musashi series had one game that never released outside of Japan and then two that did, and while the gameplay is similar between all three, the first was on the Famicom, so it was a 2d game.

It would be 8 years between the first game and the sequel, which jumped to PlayStation and added in a third dimension. The game involves real-time sword-based combat in a 3D environment; it also features segments of voiced over dialogue and role-playing game elements such as a day-night cycle and resting to restore energy. The third game on PlayStation 2 kept the same basic gameplay as the PlayStation game, but its bigger claim is that the characters were designed by Tetsuya Nomura. The PlayStation title was the best received from the trilogy, but all games have their fans, especially the Famicom release as that got a fan-translation many years later.

Magic Pengel/Graffiti Kingdom

First Release: June 2003 | Last Release: June 2005 | Total Number of Games Released: 2

This series is quite unique as it took two basic ideas and brought them together in a fun way, the collecting of monsters like Pokémon or Dragon Quest Monsters and combined them with the creativity of Mario Paint.

Magic Pengel is cantered on the player, as a character able to manipulate a "Pengel" to create a creature, or "Doodle". Using the Pengel as a cursor, the player simply sketches out the limbs, body, and other features. Depending on the amount of magic ink expended, and the types of body parts, the creature will be given certain statistics and created. The sequel kept that same mechanic but let players create their own attacks and moves, which also meant players were able to recreate some of their favourite beasts from other series. The first game was a turn-based system, akin to Pokémon, but the second game was more action oriented. Both games reviewed well enough, but there was just never any more.

Darius

First Release: February 1987 | Last Release: December 2009 | Total Number of Games Released: 8

Darius is one of those arcade darlings that made a splash, and for good reason, with fans sticking by it for years, maybe because of the triple-screen arcade machine setup and body-sonic seats.

The first game was a hit and has since been followed by six sequels and several spin-offs. The series takes place during the events of a war between humans and the Belsar empire, which plot to destroy all that is left of mankind. Darius is known for its branching stage paths, upbeat soundtrack, and cute sea life-inspired enemies. The series has been so popular, there are countless collections with various games being included, along with a host of remakes of games as well. While there are only 8 original games, there are around 15 releases, because of all those collections and remakes.

So there we go, Square Enix and Taito, all wrapped up. Any games in this list bring back a memory or two?