Sega is one of the most iconic video game companies on the planet. From the days of bitter console wars with Nintendo to the rise and tragic fall of the Dreamcast, Sega is a company that gamers know and love. Over the years, both as a console developer and a software creator, Sega has amassed an incredible catalog of beloved series and titles, many of which lay dormant.
With Sega's long history and deep catalog, the company would do well to revitalize and renew some of the old favorites that fans loved and still continue to pine for. Here are four classic Sega series that deserve new, next-gen entries.
Golden Axe
It has been 12 years since Golden Axe has seen the light of day, with 2008's Golden Axe: Beast Rider releasing with a resounding thud as far as critics and fans were concerned. However, a reimagining of this classic sidescrolling beat 'em up could be a nostalgic treat for fans of the original arcade title that featured ax-wielding dwarf Gilius Thunderhead and barbarian Ax Battler amazon Tyris Flare taking on the evil Death Adder.
A throwback style co-op beat 'em up featuring the spell casting power ups, strange rideable beasts, and '70s inspired heavy metal aesthetic would be a great start for reintroducing this unique series to a new generation of fans. Not too long ago, Sega even released proof of a failed reboot attempt in Golden Axe: Reborn to much controversy given a dispute with the developers hired to bring back the series. If the ship can be righted, perhaps Golden Axe fans will see a new release someday.
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio is one of the most unique gaming series of all time. It features stylish graffiti artist characters zooming around near-future Tokyo on magnetic in-line skates, spraying tags, doing cool tricks and resisting a totalitarian government all to an incredible soundtrack by the legendary Hideki Naganuma. Jet Set Radio has amassed a die-hard cult following over the years, and although Team Reptile is working on a spiritual sequel, Sega still owns the rights to the real deal.
An open-world, neon-drenched future Tokyo would look absolutely incredible on the new powerful consoles, which would allow players to zoom around at 60 frames-per-second, tagging over rival gangs' graffiti at on magnet skates. A new entry could even feature a custom graffiti editor, allowing players to create and show off their own works of art, much like the impressive custom livery feature in the Forza Motorsport series.
Crazy Taxi
Anyone who ventured into an arcade during the early 2000s has played Crazy Taxi -- or has at least heard the booming announcer voice informing anyone in the vicinity that Crazy Taxi was in the building. The original arcade game and its equally successful Dreamcast port instantly gave Sega another iconic franchise. Crazy Taxi's easy-to-play but hard-to-master wacky time-trial taxi driving full of colorful characters and unique levels made for a driving game unlike any other.
Not since 2017's mobile management sim, Crazy Taxi Tycoon, has the Crazy Taxi license been utilized. Again, with a new set of consoles out in the wild, a remake or new edition of Crazy Taxi could, once again, entice fans with its arcade high-octane driving and haywire action, forcing players to do anything they can to keep up the loop of picking up and dropping off fares going furiously. With indie titles like Horizon Chase Turbo and Hotshot Racing working to bring back arcade racing to consoles, the time seems right for a Crazy Taxi resurgence.
Shinobi
Before Sonic the Hedgehog became Sega's official mascot and foil to Mario, Shinobi was the unofficial face of Sega. The 1987 arcade classic featured ninja Joe Musashi in a fast action side-scrolling brawler. Shinobi was an impressive game at the time, featuring satisfying combat and a rush of enemies constantly attacking the player, and today, it still exists as a solid entry in the beat 'em up pantheon.
Sega already brought back Shinobi once with 2002's excellent 3D debut for the PlayStation 2. However, not since 2011's poorly received Nintendo 3DS sequel has Joe Musashi been able to don his signature white ninja garments and flip back on the scene. However, with the success of roguelikes on the indie scene, a reimagining of Shinobi as a side-scrolling, difficult roguelike seems like a great fit for the legendary ninja.