There is a trend in pop culture, especially in the video game industry, that allows you to experiment with your works. Of course, we are talking about creating spin-offs. And I mean delivering productions that differ to a greater or lesser extent from the original. They share some common features, but some fundamental changes simply do not allow this to be considered a full-fledged continuation.
And though very often such attempts are subject to some risk, it sometimes turns out to be a success. And such solutions are probably holding two magpies by the tail. Not only can you develop the main series then, but also – a bit on its basis – an additional hit has been created, which you just need to put on your own feet and push a bit to start functioning by itself.
We have had plenty of such examples over the past decades, and I would like to present you ten of them, which I personally consider to be better than the prototypes in some respects. Sometimes they are small differences, other times a total excess of quality and popularity. Curious what I chose? Feel free to text and feel free to write about your favorite side parts in the comments!
Apex Legends
Let’s start with something relatively fresh – Apex Legends. The title is probably one of the most popular representatives of battle royale today, and it is worth recalling that it comes from the Titanfall series. Well, in fact, Respawn Entertainment wanted it to be the third installment in the series. The plans changed, they transformed the game a bit and I don’t think anybody regrets it. Apex is doing great.
Fallout: New Vegas
One cannot forget about one side-installment of the singleplayer game from the Fallout world. Although the refreshing of the entire formula and the transition to 3D on the occasion of Fallout 3 from 2008 turned out to be a bull’s eye for Bethesda, the release two years later just New Vegas opened many new gates. Let it be a confirmation that for many people it is the best version of the series. How do you perceive it?
Metroid Prime
Attempting to transform Metroid, which was after all a 2D exploration game, into a dynamic first-person shooter, was undoubtedly fraught with considerable risk. Perhaps for this reason Retro Studios decided to release something like a spin-off for us – Metroid Prime. And for many people it turned out to be not only a cool solution, but even a better way than the further development of the formula from the main series.
Mario Kart
Although Mario himself has had many different spin-offs, there is no doubt that the one that enjoys the greatest popularity and probably the best reception is go-kart racing – the popular Mario Kart. Each of the installments contributed something to the development of the cycle, and today the ninth part is one of the most anticipated games that Nintendo may be working on. And although I love the “eight” and the Booster Pass is an interesting idea, something is missing here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDGAaDmI0aY
Mega Man X
At the outset, it is worth noting that Mega Man X is not the same as Mega Man. The former is derived from the latter and is the fruit of work to improve a well-known formula. The creators wanted not only to improve the gameplay and improve the visual experience, but also to add a much more mature theme to it all. And what? And it turned out well. Suffice it to say that if you play “X” first and then the original, you can actually feel a certain “childishness” of the game itself.
The Sims
It’s short – The Sims is one of the most popular and most-bought game series in the history of the industry. This is enough to explain why we can speak of more success than the cycle from which it actually comes. What was the original? SimCity by Maxis! Yes, city management simulators have been moved to the microscale and reworked into people management. Not only a bull’s eye, but a gold mine.
Persona
Persona is a jRPG brand that probably enjoys one of the most loyal fan groups in the world. Today, when it has already managed to go beyond Japan, it is perfectly recognizable on a global scale. And yet it comes from the Megami Tensei series, the beginning of which dates back to the second half of the 1980s. Nowadays, not many people remember it and it is hardly surprising.
Forza Horizon
The Forza Motorsport series was well received by fans from the beginning and quickly won their sympathy. However, it is true that the most popular versions of Forzy Horizon, which are something derived from the main axis of the series. And yet today it has practically come to the point that the two are treated completely separate and probably even the younger one is stronger.
Super Mario Bros.
The plumber in a red suit is already such an inseparable element of the video game industry and even a legend that many people may not know that its beginning is the formula of a side series to Donkey Kong from 1981, where Marian himself first appeared. Not bad, right? Over time, of course, the character outgrown the gorilla itself, from which it actually comes. And she has side series that are difficult to count.
World of Warcraft
How many years has it been with World of Warcraft at the top of the MMORPG genre? It’s hard to count … Over the years, the series has gained such status and so many fans that many people may have forgotten that we are basically talking about a spin-off! Yes, WOW is after all a title that grew out of the real-time strategy that Warcraft was! And we are dealing here with the legendary spin-off overgrowth over the original.
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