Summary
Segais one of the most important companies in the video game industry,competing head-on with Nintendo’s console offerings before eventually shutting down this department and focusing solely ondeveloping high-qualitygames.
This approach has paid dividends, with some of the best gaming franchises flourishing under Sega’s watchful gaze. This has led to somesurprise hitsfrom this company that players love, even though they had little to no expectations for these titles before they launched.
Sonic fans have had a rough time, with the games featuring this beloved hedgehog being all over the place in terms of quality. So, while the promise of an open-worldSonicgame was tantalizing, fans knew better than to get hyped for an experimental 3D series entry inspired byBreath of the Wild.
Therefore, fans were pleasantly surprised whenSonic Frontiersturned out to be a pretty riveting open-world platformer. Barring some odd visual design and on-rails platforming, most of the gameplay inSonic Frontiersis solid and worth checking out for fans.
When RGG Studio announced thatYakuzawould go turn-based with its seventh mainline entry, fans had no idea what to expect. The real-time combat was satisfying and iconic to thd series, and players didn’t know why the studio was discarding a tight combat system for something so experimental.
Thankfully, it was clear that the developers loved JRPGs and crafted a riveting combat system that fit perfectly with Ichiban Kasuga’s RPG-obsessed personality. It made for a fun time andturnedYakuza: Like a Dragoninto one of the best entries in a seriesthat fans already loved.
Two Point Hospitalis a game that fans of classic simulation titles likeTheme HospitalandRollerCoaster Tycoonwill feel right at home with. The quirky illnesses and equally hilarious remedies make every level inTwo Point Hospitala joy to witness.
Fans love how great it feels to make progress in each stage, slowly turn a profit, and unlock the opportunity to tackle more complex diseases. This satisfying progression curve ensures that players will have a surprisingly great time withTwo Point Hospital, which many fans were initially unsure about, only for the game to release and quickly endear itself to players.
After theSonicIP suffered a string of mediocre releases, Sega decided to let the fan community attempt to create a mainline 2DSonicgame instead. The results were incredible, transformingSonic Maniainto one of the best games in the series.
The creative levels and excellent takes on classic stages ensured that Sonic fans would be more than happy with this entry. It was a title that players had low expectations for, so to seeSonic Maniathriving is a welcome change of pace for the series.
Alien: Isolationis one of the best video games ever made, a phrase that no one would’ve thought about uttering before this title’s release. Most people expected this title tocapitalize on theAlienIP and let players enjoy a sinister but uninspiredhorror game, akin to what the franchise had been stuck with leading up to this release.
Instead, the immersive sim elements ofAlien: Isolation, coupled with some impressive enemy AI, turned it into one of the best titles in the genre. Amanda Ripley’s adventures in search of her mother are riveting, especially given the odds she must overcome with every step.
Fans were expecting a spooky detective mystery with jump scares whenCondemned: Criminal Originscame out. What they didn’t expect was a chaotic and engaging combat system that made every encounter as crunchy as can be.
Fights were swift and frenzied, forcing players to prioritize both defense and offense equally against their foes. It made for a great time as players took on numerous unhinged maniacs in their quest to clear their name andfigure out the truth behindCondemned’s central mystery.
ThePanzer Dragoonseries had been an on-rails shooter for the longest time, with compelling worldbuilding that did enough to keep fans invested. However, with Square pulling out the heavy hitters on the PS1 and turningFinal Fantasy 7into a household name, Sega realized that they wanted a big-budget JRPG on their console, too.
This led to the release ofPanzer Dragoon Saga, a game that blew expectations out of the water and became one of the best titles in the series. It transformed anarcade-style shooting game intoa memorable JRPGwith excellent gameplay that more fans shouldcheck out.
