On Wednesday, Capcom posted an overview of its strategies and plans for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. As part of that, the company provided insight into growth strategies, and its focus going forward.

Capcom first highlighted that, with new titles, it will “regularly release titles for major IP while also utilizing dormant IP and remakes”. A part of the company’s plan is also to “extend sales life of catalog titles” and “strengthen digital downloads for both new and past titles”.

Capcom definitely has a rich back catalog from which to draw inspiration, and here are five series that Capcom could do well to revisit.

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1. Darkstalkers

Capcom was on the verge of moving forward with a new Darkstalkers game a few years ago, but after sales of the digital re-release of Darkstalkers: Resurrection failed to impress them, they pulled the plug. Certainly the temptation would be to move the characters into the realm of 3D similar to Street Fighter V, but retaining the beautifully hand-drawn look of the original series would help set it apart from Capcom’s other modern fighting games. A new installment in the Darkstalkers/Night Warriors series would also give them the opportunity to include a story mode, which would be a welcome addition too, but can you make sure it’s in the launch version of the game this time, Capcom?

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2. Captain Commando

One of the more unique brawlers of the 1990s was Captain Commando. The titular character was once Capcom’s very own mascot, so it makes sense that Capcom could be exploring bringing the Captain back along with his Commando Companions: Ginzu the Ninja, blade-wielding mummy Mack the Knife, and infant in a mech suit Baby Head. Modernizing the series for the current market may be tricky considering that brawlers are not a particularly popular genre, but keeping the game at a reasonable price point while adding in some online features and some Capcom-related fan service could make a new Captain Commando game a nostalgic tour-de-force. I personally could go for more Mack the Knife action.

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3. Dino Crisis

Dinosaurs have yet to exhaust their popularity among the kids, and welcoming that new generation into a Jurassic-themed horror experience like Dino Crisis shouldn’t be too difficult a proposition for Capcom. Considering that Capcom’s other horror series Resident Evil has returned to a purely horror theme and adopted a first-person perspective with the seventh installment, Dino Crisis is well-situated to step into the action-horror shoes that games like Resident Evil 5 once occupied. An HD remake of the original Dino Crisis game on current generation consoles similar to the recent remake of Resident Evil would be a good way for Capcom to test the waters for a return of the series.

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4. Gargoyle’s Quest

It was difficult to make the call between a new Ghouls ‘n Ghosts or Gargoyle’s Quest, but assuming that we wouldn’t likely get both, Gargoyle’s Quest is probably the better choice. While Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is a more recognizable game title, it’s spinoff Gargoyle’s Quest (and later Demon’s Crest) had a gameplay formula that could allow for Capcom to be more innovative with a new game. Firebrand was able to fly, cling to walls, and switch attack styles by changing form (somewhat similar to the Mega Man series), which makes the arcade-y equivalent Arthur from Ghouls ‘n Ghosts seem a bit more basic. Either way, it’s about time that one of these two games gets a fully orchestrated soundtrack.

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5. Power Stone

Nothing makes fans beg for a re-release like games from the SEGA Dreamcast era. Despite being a Capcom title, Power Stone seems to be almost in the same league as Shenmue and Jet Set Radio when it comes to fan demand for a reboot. Both Power Stone and Power Stone 2 are 3D arena multiplayer fighting games, almost like a 3D version of Smash Bros., for lack of a better comparison. The quick, frantic nature of Power Stone made it a party game favorite, and there really isn’t anything quite like it on the market at the moment.

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5A. Onimusha

I know I said that five games would be listed, but dammit I need just one more. Onimusha is another series that is begging for a return. Originally conceived as a Resident Evil game set in feudal Japan, Onimusha evolved into a unique series with an action-oriented focus. Players slayed demonic forces through skillful swordplay and using supernatural upgrades to boost your abilities. Like Dino Crisis, even an HD remake of the first game would make a lot of sense for Capcom to explore, although there may be legal rights issues in using the likeness of Takeshi Kaneshiro, a Japanese actor who was the model and voice for the game’s protagonist. It’s been six years since the last installment in the Onimusha series, and that wait is long enough.

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Agree or disagree? What dormant franchises would you like to see revived? Yes, at the risk of drawing the ire of Mega Man Legends fans, it was not included on the list.

It’s also worth mentioning that Capcom’s strategic overview also mentioned eSports and mobile shit.

-BW

Source: Nintendo Everything

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