So you’ve heard by now that Sega is heavily invested in bringing back some of its classic favorites. We’ve heard the rumors about AAA-level follow-ups to Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi, and there’s a lot of talk about them bringing in other revamps and remakes as well.

The funny thing is, however, they didn’t actually mention which games. That leaves a lot of us hanging and wondering just what the company will bring around in the next year. But we here at Gamerhub aren’t waiting, as we’ve got five suggestions that are perfect for hitting the comeback trail. We want these games something fierce, and something tells us that you’re going to want them too. So…let’s get started!

Golden Axe

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Credit: AL82 Retrogaming Longplays

It’s hard to believe that the last “new” game we got in this series was Golden Axe: Beast Rider back in 2008. Since then, we’ve only seen the classic games resurface in one form or another. But what we need – what we really need – is a Golden Axe sequel along the lines of Streets of Rage 4.
That’s right, a sequel that features trailblazing visuals, along with revamped gameplay and classic four-player action, including some combatants from Revenge of Death Adder. For that matter, throw in some all new spells and maybe even an option to play as some of the bad guys this time around. We know Sega’s last indie projects scored well in the hands of other devs, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t give this one a try.

After Burner

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Credit: World of Longplays World of Longplays

It absolutely boggles our minds that After Burner Climax didn’t get more love. Released as a deluxe arcade game and then getting a solid home port on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game didn’t nearly get enough exposure on Sega’s part. That’s why now is the perfect time for it to get a revival, either with a revamped port of Climax or a sequel that really flies off the handle.

We could use a next-gen version of this game with mind-blowing visuals and fast gameplay to keep us entertained. For that matter, maybe even throw in the classic games as well. After all, if Top Gun can get a handy revival with the forthcoming Maverick, why can’t After Burner make a glorious comeback?

Skies of Arcadia

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Credit: LongplayArchive

Sega has proven that it has no trouble reviving its classic role-playing brands, as it’s shown with the universe of Phantasy Star Online. So why in the world is it ignoring Skies of Arcadia so much? It’s still aware how much of a hit the franchise is with fans, as we saw from its inclusion of content in Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed. That’s why we’re hoping to see some sort of revival – or better yet, a revamp of the original game.

The original was a hit when it came out for Dreamcast and, later on, GameCube, with fans of both systems overjoyed by what they got. That said, we think it’s time for this adventure series to be reborn. I mean, who doesn’t like pirates in the sky? We sure do.

Shinobi

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Credit: Varia the Hunter

We’ve seen Ninja Gaiden go through a fun revival over the past few years. So, um, what’s the deal with Shinobi? The last we saw of this brand, it got a pretty good PlayStation 2 hack and slasher that delivered the goods. But since then? Nothing. Honestly, we’re not sure why. Even the cheesy entries in this franchise (looking at you, Shinobi Legions) were a lot of fun.

This game is due for a return, with dialed-in, kick-ass action, refreshing visuals and a whole lot of hack-and-slash fun that we can get behind. Imagine a game like the PS2 classic, but redone to fit the PlayStation 5’s level of design. We’d totally get behind that.

Gunstar Heroes

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Credit: World of Longplays

Last but not least, you know what company we haven’t heard from in a while? Treasure. Yep, the makers of some of the best action games in the past couple of decades has been pretty quiet as of late. We’re hoping it’s because the team is working closely with Sega on a revival of a long-lost franchise – Gunstar Heroes.

The Genesis classic has been included in countless collections over the years, and its Game Boy Advance follow-up, Gunstar Super Heroes, has been outstanding. But outside of that? Nothing. Nada. Zip. We need the Gunstar team back, now more than ever. Please?