Summary
Capcom’s library of franchises is one of the deepest sets of IPs. Yet, many are sadly overshadowed series that have been neglected for a while now, some of which haven’t had a new entry for over 20 years. Due to the success ofCapcom’s best-selling games, such asResident EvilandMonster Hunter, some of the lesser-known game franchises haven’t been allowed the time to shine.
Capcom is now in a position where theyaren’t solely relying on the big guns, and has the potential to funnel a large amount of money from its top-selling games to fund new entries in long-forgotten series. The following games in this list seem like no-brainers for a team as skilled as Capcom to bring to the current generation; fans have pined for some of them for years. Hopefully, in the near future, Capcom will reinvigorate these classics for a new era.
Despite having three entries,Lost Planetis a franchise that never truly figured out what it wanted to be. Starting as a smaller-scale single player shooter and evolving into aMonster Hunter-esuqe boss battle simulator,Lost Planetcould find a new lease on life by emulating the success oflarge-scale multiplayer sci-fi shooterssuch asEarthDefense ForceorHelldivers.
This new approach could leadLost Planetto become the multiplayer-focused series that Capcom hopedExoprimalwould be. TakingLost Planetand turning it into a risky but rewarding live service attempt could breathe fresh air into this dormant franchise. Capcom has always found innovative ways to create breathtaking combat scenarios, and a boot-on-the-ground sci-fi epic would be a great new genre for the developers to flex in.
God Handis an infamous franchise for more than a few reasons. Often not fully understood and even downright disregarded by the critics at the time,God Handwas a highly innovative beat-em-up with a surprisingly in-depth combo system where players could craft each step in a combo to create their own wholly unique combos. This even included useless moves where the protagonist, Gene, would prod the enemy for zero damage to free-flowing and fast kicks and punches.
This series would benefit so much from a sequel or even a remaster, which doesn’t sound too ridiculous considering that gamessuch asLollipop ChainsawandShadows Of The Damnedhave recently got the remaster treatment. Although he didn’t lead the development ofGod Hand,Clover Studio’shead honcho, Hideki Kamiya, has returned to Capcom, and with him, hope that gamers might have a chance to wield the power of the God Hand.
Viewtiful Joeis a stylish side-scrolling beat-em-up directed by the previously mentioned Hideki Kamiya. The game oozed style similar to Hideki’s other classic release,Devil May Cry, so much so that Dante would be a part of the game as a guest character. The game was developed as a clear love letter to the classic Tokusatsu movies and series such asThe Power Rangers, with the series' protagonist, Joe, entering a variety of movies to save his girlfriend.
It’s a simple premise that gave way to clever gameplay mechanics based around time manipulation. Joe had the ability to slow down time to make his punches and kicks hit extra hard, or speed up time to fly through puzzles and stages at mach-speed. Hideki Kamiya has expressed wanting to return to the series since he left Capcom, even going as far as to telling attendees at PAX East 2020 toemail Capcom regarding formant franchises, particularlyViewtiful Joe. Kamiya’s return to Capcom has led many gamers to believe that these dormant franchises have a future, so long as he can convince the higher-ups that there’s still an audience out there.
TheMarvel vs. Capcomseries remains a beloved cornerstone of the fighting game genre. DespiteStreet Fighter 6’s successinrevitalizing the Capcom fighting gamescene after the rocky launch ofStreet Fighter 5, the demand for a newMarvel vs. Capcominstallment is unmistakable. This series has cultivated a fiercely loyal fanbase, with content creators such asYouTuber Maximilian Dood funding a fan-made modto improveMarvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.The mod fixes the issues the game was plagued with and makes it an overall better experience, demonstrating how starvedMarvel vs. Capcomfans are.
TheMarvel vs. Capcomgames stand out for their easy-to-approach, difficult-to-master gameplay, uniting Marvel’s iconic heroes with Capcom’s legendary characters. The franchise has technically received a new installment via theCapcom Fighting Collection, which has been very well received and is now the premier way to play those games, according to the pros. Still, a brand-new installment could put the franchise back on the map.
AlthoughDevil May Cryhasn’t been on hiatus as long as the other entries on this list, it has been almost six years since the last installment in the legendary franchise. The series is still as popular as ever. In their annual super-election event,Devil May Crywas voted one ofCapcom’s most popular franchises, and Dante was voted the most popular characte. Clearly, gamers crave more of these stylish action games.
Currently, there is an anime series in the works forDevil May Cryfrom the mind of Adi Shankar, best known for his work on the excellentCastlevaniaanime. Although this doesn’t guarantee a game is in the works, one of Capcom’s other action franchises,Dragon’s Dogma, had an anime series released on Netflix in 2020. Fast-forward four years, andDragon’s Dogma 2was released. This could be a trend that Capcom is adopting, releasing other media related to its franchises to gauge interest.
