Fighting games set the gaming world on fire during the 1990s. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat dominated arcades in the early 90s, while Soulcalibur and Dead or Alive triumphed on home consoles during the later part of the decade. While these games continue bringing joy to fighting fans worldwide, many other amazing fighting franchises never made it out of the 1990s.

One of the most notable dormant franchises today might be Bushido Blade. Although Bushido Blade enjoyed moderate success during the later stages of the 1990s, the series seemed to fall into obscurity after the turn of the millennium, with fans today still clamoring to see the unique fighting franchise make a comeback on next-gen consoles.

Related: The Biggest Video Games Coming in October 2020

PlayStation bushido blade 2

While other games relied on fast-paced action and combo-heavy combat, Bushido Blade focuses on precision striking and countering, requiring players to carefully plan attacks instead of bombarding an opponent with massive combos. A match could end in a matter of seconds thanks to a well-placed strike or go on for several minutes if players were elusive enough. Time limits, health gauges and rounds were thrown out the window, giving players an incredibly unique experience that very few games have been able to replicate successfully.

Unique for a fighting game of its time, players could run around each stage freely without worrying about ring outs or time expiring. Some levels even had elevated terrain so players could climb up and duke it out on various platforms or plateaus. The detailed 3D environments were extremely well done and never felt too generic; allowing players to explore each level and climb to different areas made Bushido Blade stand out from other games in the genre. Rather than straight fisticuffs, Bushido Blade focused on weapons combat. Players could choose from six different swordsmen and eight weapons, each with their own distinctive play styles. Some are fast and light, while others are slow and powerful.

Related: Minecraft Steve Joins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Today, games like Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice seemed to rejuvenate the samurai genre, while sword heavy combat continues to enjoy modern success. Resurrecting Bushido Blade could expose the unconventional fighting series to a whole new generation while capitalizing on contemporary gaming trends.

While Bushido Blade is still fun to go back and visit now and again, the franchise didn't age as well as some other '90s fighters. Next-gen technology could give Bushido Blade a much-needed facelift while taking its epic combat to new heights with upgraded graphics and improved controls. The PlayStation 5's innovative DualSense controller could enhance the game's intense battles in an unbelievable way, letting players feel the impact of each powerful strike.

Bushido Blade is a true treasure on the original PlayStation. The franchise's unique combat system and realistic nature made it one of the most innovative fighting games to come out of the late 1990s. A new entry on next-gen consoles could revolutionize the genre, just like the original games did more than 20 years ago. It could also bring in a new generation of fans that may not be familiar with the unconventional series. Nevertheless, Bushido Blade will always be remembered as one of the most original fighting games ever to grace home consoles.

KEEP READING: Mortal Kombat 11 Datamine Reportedly Reveals Rambo, Rain and Mileena