Summary
- Resident Evil overwhelmed Alone in the dark Improvement of horror mechanics of survival and significant increase in the popularity of the genre.
- Diddy Kong Racing and Crash Team Racing succeeded in overcoming Mario Kart 64 With more ambitious features and more intense gameplay.
- Pizza Towerdirectly affected Wario Land 4It offers a more chaotic, advanced and modern experience as a spiritual successor to the original GBA classic.
Copycat video games They are always some of the most controversial products in the field. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the fact that the developer is inspired by someone else's game and implements some of its best elements into its own project, but it is another story when the new game is clearly created to replicate another success.
But how polarizing, as these types of video games can be, have several instances in history, in which they actually overcome the original in terms of quality. The following Copycat games are perfect examples of this strange but fascinating phenomenon.
Resident Evil
Better than alone in the dark
Alone in the dark He laid the foundation of what would become a 3D horror genre for survival, with his sinister atmosphere, shocking jump fears and unpredictable firm angles of the cameras. But not many people did not actually play. It's because the original Resident Evil (which came out four years later) did the same but much better.
While it was also inspired by the 1989 Capcom game Sweet home, Alone in the dark served as an apparent source of inspiration for Resident EvilAnd both games were often compared back on the day. However, by implementing the gripped and grounded land, more complex characters, even darker atmosphere and refined horror mechanics survival, Resident Evil Quickly gained considerable tracking. The Alone in the dark IP has never been able to replicate the success of its debut game.
Team Diddy Kong Racing / Crash Team Racing
Better than Mario Kart 64
Super Mario Kart founded a modern genre of go -karts and its monitoring N64, Mario Kart 64He was better in all directions. As a result, this game is now kindly remembered as one of the most nostalgic experiences for multiplayer on home console. Many other important gaming mascots have tried to replicate Mario Kart 64 The formula, but only two of them were actually successful.
Rare Diddy Kong Racing I feel like a spiritual successor Mario Kart 64When you see how the title character is technically part of Mario franchise. But more ambitious courses of this game, 3D characters' models, more vehicle types and a unique story mode compared to the much more fun and interesting.
The main competitor of Nintendo, Sony, also immersed his fingers in the Cart-Racing genre with Crash Team RacingWhich quickly happened #1 ”Mario Kart Killer “of that time. The races were faster, the drivers felt better and like Diddy Kong RacingHe had a large and engaging single player campaign. Although it can be said Mario Kart The sequel in 2000 eventually exceeded the two copying, is still better than the classic N64 record.
Perfect darkness
Better than Goldeneye 007
Sometimes developers eventually create copying games they created in the first place. Perfect darkness It is one of the best examples of this unusual phenomenon. In 1997, Goldeneye 007 – rare adaptation James Bond The film of the same name – revolutionized the FPS genre on the home console with its brilliant control scheme and the addictive regime for multiple players. But shortly after the studio started working on tracking on the basis of Will never die tomorrowElectronic art has taken over the rights to James Bond IP.
With this project, however, the rare gradually moved and reworked it into a brand new IP Perfect darkness. In the end it turned out to be a good thing. This FPS Copycat eventually was much better than its predecessor, with more refined weapons, smoother controls and fun and unique new weapons. This also represented a much more complete multiplayer mode and fascinating sci-fi settings that distinguish it from other titles in the genre.
The Simpsons: Road Rage
Better than crazy taxi
Crazy taxiSega's over-the-top and rapidly developing 3D taxi simulator was one of the best arcade games at the beginning of 2000. This is exactly what EA and Radical Entertainment did with The Simpsons: Road Rage.
This game is basically Crazy taxibut saus Simpsons Color layer. The Cynic cheerfulness of this show increased the rapidly developing driving game, not to mention that the digital version of Springfield was exciting for long -term fans. Sega noticed into glaring similarities The Simpsons: Road Rage and its Crazy taxi The series A filed in 2003 a action for a violation of the patent against Fox, EA and Radical Entertainment. The case was later settled in private by all parties involved.
Stardew Valley
Better than the story of the seasons
As for life simulators, very few of them are as influential and famous as iconic The story of the seasons franchise (formerly known as Moon harvest in the west). However, the decline in the quality of modern games in the series, associated with the legal battle between Natsume Inc and Xseed Games, left fans in the mouth with an acidic taste. Fortunately during the middle of 2010, India decided the developer concerned The story of the seasons franchise.
Stardew Valley It is now celebrated as a typical farmer's life SIM. It's like the right development The story of the seasons Formula, thanks to its comfortable atmosphere, beautiful sprite work, nice characters and addictive playing loop. Even better, Stardew Valley He emphatically obtains significant updates and has been transferred to almost every modern system, which means it is accessible to a wide audience.
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Better than Battlegrounds Playerunknown
Everyone knows it Fortnite: Battle Royale It is currently the largest and most popular video game in the world, but not many people are aware that it has begun to copy another popular name. In 2017, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (aka Pubg) took the world a storm with its refreshing and exciting FPS game formula. Up to a hundred players would fight each other on a large map until only one left.
Fortnite was originally a third -party shooter about the zombie tower, but when epic games noticed growing popularity PubgHe started to create a new Battle Royale mode with a pre -made asset. By the end of 2017 he became much more well -known and successful than the game she tried to replicate. While Fornite: Battle Royale He was awarded for his colorful artistic style, more accessible games and entertaining characters, the mystery of his success was his price. This game was (and still is) completely free, while Pubg was a paid product until 2018.
Pizza Tower
Better than Wario Land 4
Wario land It is one of the most underestimated Nintendo series. Although it started its life as a general Mario Spin-off in the lead role of his evil opponent has evolved over time his own identity and style of playing. Wario Land 4 He was particularly praised for his detailed sprite and the rapidly developing gaming focused on Wario's shoulder Bash. However, after the release of 2008 Wario Land: Shake It!This series was sleeping while her title character moved and star in a more popular WarioWare series.
However, Wario Land 4 directly affected the development of an independent title Pizza Towerwho released back in 2023. This game wears inspiration on the sleeve, because the main character, Pepino Spaghetti, is obvious Wario Copycat. Playing feels faster, messy, advanced and modern reinterpretation of classics Wario Land 4 formula. This was quite deliberate, as MCPIG developer said he had created Pizza Tower As a spiritual successor/evolution Wario land series.
Arzette: The jewel of Faramore
Better than Link: Faces of Evil and Zelda: Wand of Gamelon
Most players are familiar with Nezvamous Legend of Zelda Games released for Philips CD-I: Link: Faces of Evil and Zelda: Wand of Gamelon. Their cartoon and exaggerated animated cutscenes had a bizarre charm for them, which led to becoming legendary Internet memes. But the same cannot be said of the real game of these two games. Their playing is frustrating and boring because of their unpleasant control scheme, confusing graphics and slow movement.
So what happens when someone takes the unique cutscenes CD-i Zelda Games and put them in a really solid video game? This is exactly what the Independence Developer Seth Fulkerson decided to answer when he created Arzette: The jewel of FaramoreCopycat/parody/spiritual successors of two of the worst traditional video games ever made. Arzette It is a 2D Sidescroller with a solid design at the level, natural control controls and fast fighting, but with several bizarre animated animated cutscene. This special concept ended surprisingly well.
