In the last ten years or so, there has been a significant trend towards transitioning to digital media. This move would eliminate the necessity of reserving space on shelves for numerous cartridges and discs, which can deteriorate over time if not handled carefully, or if they have already been damaged. Furthermore, digital platforms like Steam often offer generous sales compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores like GameStop.
However, physical games have the advantage of being available for purchase at any time and from various locations, assuming the price is acceptable. On the other hand, digital games can be removed from distribution for any reason, whether it's a legal issue or otherwise. Games such as SoulCalibur V, P.T., the original ports of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy, and more have all disappeared from digital platforms. Though there's a possibility that they might make a comeback, as seen with Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, if they do return, these other delisted games should also be brought back.
Alpha Protocol
Obsidian Entertainment attempted to achieve for spy-fi what Mass Effect accomplished for sci-fi with their action RPG. In this game, players had the freedom to customize agent Michael Thornton's appearance and make choices from dialogue wheels to gain additional Perks. They also had the opportunity to enhance Thornton's abilities in Stealth, Technical Aptitude, Toughness, Martial Arts, and various weapons. Nevertheless, it couldn't quite reach the same level of excellence as Mass Effect and, upon release, received strong criticism.
However, the game's storyline, revolving around a spy's efforts to prevent war by uncovering a conspiracy, was better received, and many players appreciated the gameplay, despite its flaws, as an integral part of the experience. Unfortunately, the game was removed from digital stores by Sega due to the expiration of its licensed music rights. Nonetheless, it is still available for purchase on physical discs or as a Steam key.
Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
As Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is about to showcase the introduction of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales encountering the Venom symbiote, fans of the web-slinger might be interested in exploring how previous games tackled a similar concept. Developed by Shaba Games and Treyarch, Web of Shadows follows Spider-Man's efforts to prevent the symbiotes from taking over Manhattan, aided by other Marvel heroes like Wolverine and Black Widow.
The game features a morality system similar to that of InFamous, allowing players to guide Spidey's actions as either a virtuous hero or a malevolent character, depending on their choices. While it didn't quite match the level of InFamous, it managed to gather a dedicated following and became a cult favorite among fans. Thankfully, physical copies of the game are still available, as it was removed from online distribution in 2014.
Blur
Bizarre Creations developed a vehicular combat game that leaned more towards the style of Wipeout rather than Twisted Metal. Players had the option to select from a variety of licensed cars and compete against each other on tracks inspired by real locations. During races, they could collect and store up to 3 power-ups to use against opponents, enhance their car's performance in Career mode using points earned from stunts, and receive advice from real-life racer Danica Patrick.
Although the game received positive feedback from critics and appeared to be enjoyable, it didn't achieve significant sales upon its release in 2010. Nevertheless, Bizarre Creations remained undeterred and planned to create sequels to maintain the game's momentum. Unfortunately, their parent company, Activision, unexpectedly shut down Bizarre Creations only 9 months later. The game continued for a while but was eventually removed from distribution in 2013 when the license for the cars expired.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure HD Version
Prior to the 2012 anime series, one of the most well-received adaptations of Hirohiko Araki's surreal series was Capcom's fighting game interpretation of its 3rd part, Stardust Crusaders. This game, utilizing the same arcade hardware as Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, allowed players to take control of their beloved characters and execute their signature moves, such as Jotaro's Timestop or DIO's Road Roller.
Originally, the game was available on the Dreamcast and PS1 during its peak popularity in the late 90s. However, Capcom later re-released an enhanced version for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in high-definition with widescreen support and online play. This re-release offered crisp, clean, and chaotic gameplay, just as fans fondly remembered. Unfortunately, the game was removed from distribution just two years later in 2014 because, by then, the Jojo license had shifted into the hands of Bandai-Namco.
Marvel Vs Capcom Games
Numerous Marvel games have vanished from digital platforms, including the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series and Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth. However, the most significant loss was experienced with the Marvel Vs Capcom games. While Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 remains available for purchase on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, others weren't as fortunate.
Marvel Vs Capcom: Origins combined the original Marvel Super Heroes fighting game with the first MvC game, giving both titles an HD makeover and online modes. Regrettably, it was removed from digital shelves after just over 2 years, in late 2014. Similarly, Marvel Vs Capcom 2 appeared on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009, only to be taken down in 2013. Fans can only hope that someday they will receive a proper Marvel Vs Capcom collection, one that will remain accessible on storefronts for much longer than a mere two summers.
Project X Zone 1 & 2
The reason for the delisting of Banpresto and Monolith Soft's crossover action RPG games becomes evident when considering that they were designed for the Nintendo 3DS platform. With the closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop in 2023, these games would have been unavailable regardless. However, they were actually removed much earlier, in 2016 and 2017 respectively, due to the expiration of Bandai-Namco's agreement with Sega and Capcom.
Both games brought together the franchises of these companies, uniting them against a common dark force that threatened their worlds. They featured an array of guest characters from well-known games such as Xenosaga, Yakuza, and Resident Evil, among others. These games also acted as spiritual successors to Namco X Capcom, which had not been re-released since its initial debut on the Japan-only PS2.
Physical releases of the crossover games, Project X Zone 1 & 2, are available. However, fans would undoubtedly appreciate a fresh release that includes a translated version of Namco X Capcom as an added bonus.
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