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The Weirdest Game Spinoffs

The Weirdest Game Spinoffs

 

Just like movies and television shows, the video game world isn't safe from the possibility of the spinoff. And just as much as we'd like to forget about most of them, there have been many that are so weird that they're worth checking out, if only for curiosity's sake. Then there are the ones that actually work or, at least, have been modified to serve another purpose so well that they have taken on a new life.

When it came to picking the games that should make the list for this particular post, there are five that stood out for being flat-out weird and, in some cases, completely useless unless you are some kind of super-fan. You'll understand that sentiment more if you continue reading. Let's get to it!

The Weirdest Game Spinoffs

Pokemon Snap



You know the aforementioned idea about certain games only being appealing to the fanatics of a particular franchise? Enter Pokemon Snap. While Smosh would lead you to believe this is one of the worst spinoffs in gaming history, it's actually a lot of fun. That is, of course, if you're a die-head Pokemon fan. If not, chances are you read about this Nintendo 64 title and passed on it based on the name alone. But if you continue to stay glued to your Game Boy of choice (including the newer DS options) with a Pokemon game loaded up, you probably loved Snap. Still, the idea of a game based on taking photos of animals is pretty strange, right?

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood



Given the fact he's one of the most prominent characters in gaming, Sonic the Hedgehog just had to make an appearance on here. While some will be quick to throw Sonic Spinball under the bus—like that aforementioned Smosh article—plenty of folks really enjoyed that game. Sure it got repetitive, but it was still a lot of fun. It also fit into the Sonic universe considering there were pinball-esque elements in previous games. But The Dark Brotherhood and its straight-up role-playing style? Surprisingly enjoyable, too! A little bizarre, yes, to throw a rather mindless narrative into an RPG presentation, but the reviews (including this one from IGN) prove that it's worth a try.

Street Fighter II: The Slot?



For anyone who hasn't dabbled in online casinos or at least checked them out once or twice, here's the deal: They're looking to appeal to gamers by throwing familiar franchises into the mix outside of your typical options. So right next to a game featuring your standard fruits, goofball cartoon characters, and the like, you'll find... members of the Street Fighter II cast? Yes indeed. This particular game's spinoff is featured at InterCasino UK, where users can actually try it for free to see how the classic fighting game has been translated. The adaptation is surprisingly accurate—well, minus being able to actually fight—and definitely a weird one. Who thought Ryu and company would be fighting M. Bison in a casino setting? Anyone? Didn't think so.

Metroid Prime Pinball



Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile, right? Yes, it's a cliche, but it holds true for a number of developers out there. Like Fuse Games, whose team must have thought: "Hey, Samus can turn into a ball, right? Well, why not make a pinball game starring her... as that ball!" File this one under one of the best choices on the lengthy list of weird spinoffs on Game Radar. It's cool and all that they executed such a left-field idea (and somehow created a narrative), but did the world really need this? Probably not. That being said, one could make the same argument for Pokemon Snap...

Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy



Similar to Sonic and, really, any much-loved (and popular!) gaming franchise, the Final Fantasy universe has been taken to some truly out-there places. One can easily say it's all to make a quick buck—surely that's what it is more often than not—but the certified oddball nature of a few games makes it seem like Square Enix was trying to mess with us. Like, on purpose. Take Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, for example, which basically jumped on the rhythm-based game bandwagon of the early-to-mid 2000s. Yeah... No wonder it topped a list of what-the-hell spinoffs at Game Dynamo.

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August 21 2014



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