Developing a new video game isn't easy. Developers struggle with planning and building virtual worlds and characters before they can meet the needs of the audience while publishers dole out tight budgets and tighter deadlines.
There is also the challenge of preserving cohesion between the two parties--and if they can't agree with one another or if their audience doesn't show enough demand for what they have to offer, it could all come crumbling down. Hence, a canceled game.
It is understandable that not every video game makes it to shelves and there have been countless canceled games to list.
But the real question, however, is which of those games had the potential of being hits if ever completed. In this post, we will examine the Top 5 canceled games that could have been the best of their time...
5. 'StarCraft: Ghost'
Blizzard's "StarCraft" series started with a real-time strategy video game that quickly took the world by storm. But it's concepts carried the potential to branch out into other genres. Blizzard tried to capitalize on this with "StarCraft: Ghost," a stealth action game centered on a Terran Black Ops agent (or "Ghost) named Nova who would sneak around enemy bases, use psychic powers and engage in firefights while tangling with all three races in between.
Unfortunately, what could have given Ubisoft's "Splinter Cell" series a run for its money wounded up becoming a running gag as SCG slipped away unnoticed into several delays and reworks.
Though Blizzard never labeled SCG as a canceled game, too many other sources say otherwise. For now, it's considered vaporware.
4. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned'
Movie-tie in games are a dime a dozen, but it's rare to find one that's actually good. Unfortunately, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned" could have been that video game.
Developed by Propaganda Games for Disney Interactive, PCAD was an action RPG set in the swashbuckling open world of Disney's epic trilogy. It featured a brand new character called Jim Sterling; an up and coming pirate who must make a name for himself.
All the elements from the movies were there along with a few twists to help the game to establish it's own identity.
Exploration, looting, supernatural foes and battles on land and sea were already staples of the movies. But the game's biggest advantage was its character customization that not only shapes the character but the world he roams in. Sadly, Disney felt it was canceled game material instead.
Though it was still too soon to tell, this movie tie-in seemed like it would be a winner for GOTY.
3. 'Rendition: Guantanamo'
An actual video game that dares to explore the horrors of the Patriot Act? Sign us up. Developed by T-Enterprise for the Xbox 360 and PC, "Rendition: Guantanamo" was that game and it was meant to make a statement against the infamous black site programs.
It centered on a man who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to the infamous prison Guantanamo and must escape by sneaking and killing his way through mercenaries (not US soldiers) to reach freedom.
Given its name alone, it's no wonder the developers were facing pressure over approval. Eventually, RG was thrown into the canceled game category. Still, it could have been an interesting switch from the usual action games despite it hitting too close to home.
What a shame.
2. 'Mega Man Legends 3'
Unlike most of the games on this list, the cancellation of "Mega Man Legends 3" is an odd occurrence; it was considered as surprising as it was predictable.
The video game was a highly anticipated sequel to the popular "Mega Man Legends" sub franchise meant for the Nintendo 3DS; featuring the returning hero Mega Man Volnutt who would be joined a roster of old and new characters for players to choose from.
The game was suppose to have two versions; the first being the "Prototype version" that acted as a prologue to the full game that would come afterward.
It would have been an instant hit if Capcom weren't so bent on trolling the Mega Man fan base. The company canceled the entire MML3 project within the same year they canceled "Mega Man Universe," another highly anticipated MM game. Many attributed the culling of Mega Man and other Capcom franchises to the company's downward spiral in publishing and development.
Enraged fans decided they had enough, taking to the internet and forming a social groups petitions to bring the canceled game back from the brink.
1. 'Silent Hills'
Much like Capcom, fellow Japanese publisher/developer, Konami was facing its own dark times when many of their gaming franchises were compromised internally.
But the situation seemed much worse on Konami's side of the fence as their own devs who worked on such integral franchises would jump ship to other gaming companies seeking "career asylum" from the company's blacklisting.
The biggest casualty of this shift was "Silent Hills" and the team that worked on it. Silent Hills wasn't just any ordinary entry in the long running survival horror franchise; SH was under the development of an A-Team of sorts; assembled from all corners of the entertainment industry. The video game was under the creative directions of Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro. The former was Konami's most infamous developer and one of the game industry's well known prodigies--and the latter was a legend in his own right as one of Hollywood's best horror film director.
Joining the duo was the infamous horror manga artist, Junto Ito who is best known for works such as "Uzamaki" and "The Human Chair" to name a few. And finally, the renown American actor, Norman Reedus--best known for his role in AMC's The Walking Dead--provided the voice and likeness for the game's main character.
So far, everything seemed to click as evidence by the game's highly effective demo (P.T. for short) as it sparked an internet phenomena. But an estranged Konami would become embroiled in a civil war with Kojima and his team involved over the game.
Shockingly, Silent Hills' became nothing more than a canceled game. The decision reflected a foolish Konami's shift from triple A game development to mobile apps and pachinko machines.
Soon after, Kojima left the company to build his own development studio and together with the help of Del Toro and Reedus, is already hard at work at his next project; "Death Stranding."
Though Konami's future is up in the air, what is certain is that Silent Hills is a thing of the past.
