Capcomis one of the oldest video game companies out there. They helped make the NES a household name with hits such asMega Manand the various Disney games includingDuckTales. They also made a huge scene in arcades from brawlers to fighting games.
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A majority of their properties were one-offs at the time, so the possibilities for this list are nearly endless. While it’s great to get sequels, it’s also interesting to look atCapcomand applaud how many chances they took on random ideas. Even though these games went nowhere, they’re still worth looking into decades later. Maybe, one day, a sequel will be made.
8Cannon Spike
Cannon Spikebegan in arcades before it wasported to the Dreamcast. It is a top-down brawler/shooter that crossed over a good amount of Capcom series together. Players got to choose iconic characters likeMega Manfrom his titular series or Cammy fromStreet Fighterto fight with.
Capcom has made a name for itself by making a lot of crossover titles over the years likeMarvel vs Capcom. While that series got a plethora of sequels and spinoffs,Cannon Spike’swilder concept apparently did not make a big splash.
7Captain Commando
If there is one genre Capcom had a hand in perfecting, it was brawlers. There aretoo many brawler one-offs to namein their catalog butCaptain Commandocomes to mind. Players could choose to play as the titular Captain Commando or three other subordinates, including a ninja, mummy, or a baby riding a mech.
Captain Commando has made cameos in games over the years, like the aforementionedMarvel vs Capcomseries. Sadly, his solo career ended with this single title.
6Darkwatch
Darkwatchwas a collaborative effort with High Moon Studios. It was a first-person shooter set in the Old West, which was a setting Capcom was all too familiar with.Gun.Smoke,Sunset Riders, andRed Dead Revolverall come to mind.
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It was about a vampire gunslinger on a tour of vengeance after getting turned. The kicker here is that italmost got a sequelbut it was eventually canceled. Spiritual successors have cropped up over the years though, such asEvil Westin 2022.
5Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detectivewas a puzzle adventure game with a unique twist. Players controlled the spirit of a young man who lost their memory in their death. They’re trying to solve what happened to them as anyone would in this situation.
Players could possess objects and move them around to interact with the world. It was a gripping and fun story from minute one. While it didn’t get a sequel yet, the game will at least receive a remaster sometime in 2023.
4God Hand
God Handalso took place in a setting reminiscent of the Old West, although there were multiple scenarios within. The game was a brawler by nature, but one with a lot of goofiness to it. Perhaps one of the best things about the game is the end credits theme, which screams “God Hand” so many times while characters dance around.
It was thebrainchild of Shinji Mikamiwho is best known for helping create theResident Evilseries. It was a big loss for Capcom when Mikami left the company, but at least he has gone on to make other weird one-off games like this.
3Mega Man X: Command Mission
Mega Manis one of Capcom’s biggest franchises. It has received a lot of spinoffs over the years, including a board game reminiscent of Monopoly along with a soccer title.Mega Man X: Command Missionwasa turn-based RPGthat borrowed heavily fromFinal Fantasy 10.
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While there have been other RPGs, likeMega Man Battle Network, this particular spinoff never received a sequel. It didn’t nail every aspect of its world design, but it was still a cool concept to find the titular hero in.
2Remember Me
Remember Mewas a collaboration between Dontnod Entertainment and Capcom. It was their very first game in 2013 and a lot of the gameplay mechanics would go on to inspire future titles. Part of the game revolved around exploring the futuristic city of Paris like a typical action-adventure game. Players could explore by climbing or fighting enemies with a time-based combat system.
There were also moments wherein players could manipulate time within simulations to solve puzzles. This time mechanic is what Dontnod would explore further in their next title,Life is Strange, so in a wayRemember Medid live on.
1Sweet Home
Sweet Homeis a game most Western players may not be familiar with. It was, and still is, an exclusive turn-based RPG for the NES in Japan. It’s based on a horror movie of the same name and stars a group of researchers who go into a mansion to explore its ruins. Every character has a unique function from opening locks to lighting areas and players could only take so many characters at a time.
While the West never received this title, it did go on to help inspire thecreation ofResident Evilsans RPG elements. For those interested, there are English fan translations of the game.
