I was recently listening to an episode of Screen Smash (the best gaming podcast this side of YouTube), and the topic of Disney in games came up. Disney recently bought a decent amount of EPIC stock and said they want to get into the gaming scene. If you remember, Disney had its fair share of games back in the day, and not just movie games. You might point to Disney Infinity or Disney Universe, both of which were co-op games designed for family play (and a bunch of little toys for infinity). But, Disney did have its own original video game series that has been left untouched since 2009, Spectrobes. These RPGs were some of the most fun I had on the Nintendo DS and Wii, and it’s a right shame that it’s been ignored for so long. So, Disney, I know you’re reading; here’s why you need to bring back Spectrobes NOW!
Spectrobes was Disney Interactive Studios first original video game IP (intellectual property) and was published by Disney Interactive Studios (R.I.P Disney Interactive). The premise of the series is the seemingly never-ending battle between humans and the planet-eating Krawl. The main way to combat these evil forces is with the Spectrobes, powerful creatures that hold the key to saving the galaxy. You play as Rallen, a member of the Nanairo Planetary Patrol and new Spectrobe master. The plot follows Rallen and his partner Jeena as they traverse the galaxy in an attempt to put an end to the Krawl. Unlike other monster-collecting series, you don’t capture Spectrobes; you find them as fossils across all the different planets you visit. Then, after you revive them, you can add a new friend to your roster. You can train, evolve, show them love, and then send them out to crush your enemies; what’s not to like? As the series progresses, more Spectrobes are introduced (about 100 by Spectrobes: Origins), and the games constantly tried new things to keep each entry fresh.
The gameplay loop for each Spectrobe game (Spectrobes, Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, and Spectrobes: Origins) was relatively similar. Each game had you travel to different planets, excavate some Spectrobe fossils, train up your new friends, and then deal with the Krawl presence in the area. You’ll also be able to buy and upgrade your equipment to keep you ready for whatever challenges you’ll face. But even though each game shares the same basic loop, they each put their own spin on it to ensure each game is a unique experience.
The first game is very linear in exploration, with most environments being fancy corridors and the combat has you control Rallen and order your Spectrobes to fight. Beyond the Portals is a bit more open with more opportunities for exploration while the combat has you take direct control of your Spectrobes, giving you greater control over each fight. Origins has large open zones with a lot more exploration (including finding Hidden Mickeys’), and the combat incorporates aspects from both of the previous games and is the most dynamic of the three. This constant evolution is one of my favourite things about this series, and I wonder what we could’ve seen if the series continued.
Now I know, with close to 15 years since the last game and with Disney Interactive having been shut down, the likelihood of a new Spectrobes game is slim. Unless Disney drums up some interest with some rereleases on modern hardware! Just picture it: Disney is announcing that they’re bringing the entire Spectrobes series to the Nintendo Switch this holiday season. It capitalises on people like me who grew up with the series and brings in a new generation to experience the wonder of Spectrobes. And once this rerelease is super successful, Disney can green-light a new Spectrobes entry, and it’ll be great, and all will be right with the world. I can already picture the world where we Spectrobes games every couple of years, and every game is a 10/10. Then we can get an animated series, maybe even a movie! (they’ve already made some shorts. Why stop there?)
Reviving the Spectrobes series would not only make me one happy camper, but it would also give Disney the foot in the gaming door they so desperately want. Don’t bother dumping stupid amounts of money into EPIC Games and Fortnite; instead, focus on your own original gaming IP that you’ve ignored for far too long. If you revive Spectrobes, Disney, I guarantee your gaming renaissance will begin in earnest. To stay up to date with when Disney eventually brings back this fantastic series, keep it locked to Couch Soup.
Have you played Spectrobes? Which game is your favourite? Am I delusional for thinking they’ll bring it back? Let us know in the comments where we can talk about our favourite forgotten series.
