The recent triumph of Marvel Rivals, a new entry in the hero shooter genre, has stirred curiosity about why other prominent gaming franchises haven’t ventured into similar territory. With Marvel’s extensive roster of heroes and villains effectively creating an engaging and balanced game, one might wonder what prevents other mega-franchises from following suit.
The primary challenge for many major franchises lies in their character diversity and the depth needed to create a compelling hero shooter. Successful games often require a wide array of character abilities, unique weapons, and intricate map designs. Although a varied character pool is essential, it’s not the only determining factor for success, as demonstrated by Ubisoft’s XDefiant.
Nevertheless, a handful of franchises seem perfectly poised to develop a hero shooter that could thrive. Join us as we explore the captivating possibility of these gaming giants stepping into the realm of hero shooters.
10 Final Fantasy
Picturing Life As A Sephiroth Main
Starting our list is the iconic Final Fantasy series, boasting sixteen mainline games and numerous beloved spin-offs, offering an impressive array of characters for selection.
While quantity does not guarantee a successful hero shooter, Final Fantasy‘s larger-than-life characters can certainly be harnessed to craft an engaging experience. With memorable locations like The Gold Saucer and The Hideaway, developers have ample opportunity to create vibrant maps.
From braces like Squall and Garrus to melee masters like Cloud and Sephiroth, the game’s character variety could easily form a well-rounded roster of roles, including tanks, DPS, and support. With such a rich heritage, the question lingers: is a Final Fantasy hero shooter simply waiting to be realized? Here’s hoping!
9 Mortal Kombat
Finish Them!
For Mortal Kombat, the word “Fatality”evokes an unmistakable energy that sets the franchise apart and suggests an exciting potential as a hero shooter.
Long associated with visceral violence that sparked controversy in the ’90s, this franchise has maintained its appeal. Now, it could benefit from exploring new genres beyond traditional fighting. Although earlier spin-offs received mixed reviews, optimism remains for a possible hero shooter adaptation.
Imagine characters like Scorpion, wielding his classic ‘Get over here’ ability, mirroring a Roadhog-style play. Meanwhile, Sub Zero could take on a Mei-like role, and Raiden could deliver ranged electric attacks. Though translating Mortal Kombat into a hero shooter might be challenging, the depth of its character roster offers significant potential.
8 Super Mario
Just Think Of The Power-Ups
For those pondering iconic gaming franchises, Super Mario immediately springs to mind as a symbol of success across generations.
This beloved series, renowned for its mix of timeless platforming and innovative mechanics, seems ripe for a hero shooter adaptation, especially considering its penchant for spin-offs.
Envision transforming Mario Kart style power-ups into unique abilities, utilizing various game levels for dynamic maps, and allowing Laiku to manage the action camera. While the franchise’s family-friendly tone may limit violent combat scenarios, Nintendo has a knack for creative thinking, suggesting potential for viable gameplay alternatives.
7 Kingdom Hearts
Donald, As A Healer, Obviously
While some may dismiss Kingdom Hearts as a mere Disney project, its original characters offer a wealth of possibilities for a hero shooter.
Beyond the iconic Keyblade wielders, mixing members of Organization XIII into a shooter roster presents fascinating possibilities. Imagine characters like Xigbar as a sniper or Lexaeus as a tank, alongside dynamic drive forms that could alter gameplay strategies.
Don’t underestimate the opportunity to render iconic Heartless playable, providing unique strengths to the roster. Most notably, for humor’s sake, Donald must become a healer!
6 Borderlands
Guns Galore
Many entries on this list require significant adaptation to shape them into hero shooters, but Borderlands naturally aligns with the genre due to its extensive variety of firearms.
The game’s colorful cast of Vault Hunters, alongside the wild NPCs and villains in Pandora, creates a strong case for successful hero shooter gameplay. Each class could easily slot into defined roles, with Berserkers as tanks and Sirens as support.
With iconic weapons and locations at their disposal, team developers could concoct an engaging experience. If it ever materializes, I’m staking my claim to Handsome Jack!
5 Sonic The Hedgehog
Green Light This One, Fast
If you seek character diversity, the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise is unrivaled.
With a range of abilities from speedsters like Sonic to heavyweights like Big The Cat, the gameplay possibilities are limitless. Imagining the melee brawlers, ranged attackers, and strategic support roles creates a fun vision for multiplayer chaos, especially in zones like Green Hill or Chemical Plant.
Though the franchise’s character selection could impose limitations, it’s all about innovation. Perhaps the chaos emeralds could offer unique enhancements for new playable characters!
4 Pokemon
Forget Heroes, Give Me Monsters!
The character selection in a hero shooter directly influences its success, and Pokemon has a staggering roster of over 1,000 creatures packed with distinctive powers, creating endless gameplay possibilities.
This franchise has successfully branched into various genres, making it well-suited for yet another innovative endeavor. Picture using Cubone to throw a boomerang made of bones—sign me up for that experience!
3 Dragon Ball
Give Me Your Power
Although Dragon Ball may blur the lines of conventional gaming franchises, the series has been a staple in fighting game collections for years.
With classics like Budokai Tenkaichi 3 and current titles such as Sparking! Zero, this franchise’s characters offer a wealth of abilities ripe for exploration beyond the fighting genre. Goku’s Kamehameha, Cells’ regenerative skills, and Bulma’s tech prowess provide a fantastic mix for multiplayer gameplay.
Integrating humor into gameplay would be essential, especially when strategizing how to make Yamcha a viable addition!
2 Hades
Overwatch Meets Olympus
Envision a hero shooter distinctly centered on mythological figures, a proposal that fits Hades beautifully.
The incorporation of Greek gods—from their established abilities to character narratives such as Meg and Cerberus—presents a compelling prospect in this genre. Its stylish presentation makes the game visually mesmerizing, while the character skills create diverse gameplay opportunities.
Transitioning from 2D art to 3D mechanics might be a hurdles, but overcoming this challenge could easily lead to a successful hero shooter adaptation.
1 League of Legends
A Stone’s Throw Away Already
To conclude, let’s discuss arguably the most popular franchise that seems primed for a hero shooter: League of Legends.
The immense popularity of the franchise, further bolstered by the acclaimed series Arcane, highlights its potential beyond traditional MOBA gameplay. With countless spin-offs to its name, the transition to a hero shooter feels almost inevitable.
The game boasts a diverse champion roster with rich abilities that would seamlessly fit into a hero shooter dynamic. Given how many established champions have fully fleshed-out abilities, the transition appears not just feasible, but exciting. Thanks to Arcane, perhaps we’re closer to seeing this dream become a reality!
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