Remakes and sequels are a trend in the gaming industry, but spin-offs are just as popular. Whether it’s shifting the focus to supporting characters, telling stories in a different time and place, or imagining scenarios that are different from existing classic games, many game creators have chosen the spin-off route to try out their own franchises New creative direction. Sometimes these fresh ideas can polarize older fans. Other times, they add popularity to their series in an organic way, making the spin-off an instant hit. So, let’s take a look at some of the beloved spin-offs that took a bold risk.
Hyrule Warriors
The Legend of Zelda may be the most critically acclaimed game in history. Last year, Kingdom Tears was widely considered the perfect video game. While Hyrule Warriors may not live up to the lofty standards set by the 20th main installment of the iconic action-adventure saga, the crossover between Dynasty Warriors series gameplay and The Legend of Zelda characters brings the kingdom of Hyrule A completely new direction.
In this hack-and-slash game, young Link faces an attack by a horde of monsters unleashed by the Witch, who is consumed by her desire for the long-defeated Ganondorf, who is plotting his own resurrection. While the storyline sounds familiar, the plot quickly takes a back seat as Link and his comrades band together to stop Cia from conquering Hyrule.
Diehard fans of the original game can blast away with iconic weapons like bombs and swords, while new players can simply join in the melee without seeing some otherwise exciting Zelda fan service.
Like a Dragon Ishin!
With the release of a Kiryu-centric story in late 2023, and the highly anticipated Hawaii chapter coming soon, the Yakuza series is in full swing. Sega capitalized on the hype by releasing a Japan-exclusive spin-off game to international fans in 2014. The story surrounding the samurai Sakamoto Ryōma, Dragon-like Ishin! unfolds during the turbulent Bakuson period. Ryōma finds himself embroiled in a nationwide conspiracy and wrongly labeled an assassin. To prove his innocence, he will fight with his fists and his wits on his way to the Japanese capital of Edo.
True to the formula of the series, this samurai tale features a number of side quests and mini-games scattered throughout the seedy red-light district, ranging from bounty hunting missions to late-night entertainment. Experienced players can explore the online platform from anywhere and receive great rewards to continue their gaming.
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The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The “Ace Attorney” series has had many spin-offs in its 20-year history. In the late 2000s, a game centered on prosecutor Miles Edgeworth added some third-person investigative gameplay to the series. Unfortunately, the sequel to Ace Attorney is still only being released in Japan. Likewise, the crossover between Ace Attorney and Professor Layton has never been ported from the Nintendo 3DS to recent consoles.
Needless to say, die-hard fans of the series were furious when Capcom chose not to localize Great Ace Attorney Chronicles’ period courtroom drama. The international uproar may have been one of the reasons the Japanese publisher changed its mind about the adventures of Phoenix Wright’s ancestor finally being released in the West in 2021.
Set in the Meiji era, this prequel centers on novice lawyer Ryunosuke Naruhodo, who learns his newfound trade as an exchange law student at London’s Old Bailey. This historical drama is more of a history lesson than a comedy, as it delves into the actual relationship between the British Empire and Meiji Japan, weaving the story together. Written by Shu Takumi, creator of the original Barrister trilogy, this historical spin-off remains a heartfelt homage to the early days of the series, with modern mechanics and memorable characters that set the series apart It brings a whole new sense of freshness.