Sin and Punishment was one of the last big games for the N64, and was left in Japan due to the impending release of the GameCube and the belief it would not sell well in the west. When the Wii Virtual Console launched years later however, the game was one of the title from the N64 brought to the service. Developed by Treasure, known for their great games such as Radiant Silvergun and Gunstar Heroes, Sin and Punishment was a rail shooter that took influence from a variety of other action games and shooters of the time. The game also managed to have some surprising twists in its story and gameplay, including a side scrolling level reminiscent of Contra III, which makes sense since Treasure was involved in that game as well. The game was a hit on the Virtual Console and Nintendo commissioned a sequel from Treasure.
Sin and Punishment: Star Successor (also known as Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies in some regions) was a massive upgrade over the original game and upped the action with more characters, a deeper narrative, and full use of the various control schemes the Wii had to offer. The on rail shooting sections now involved flight elements, and the game took a bit of inspiration for this part from Sega’s Space Harrier games. There were also melee attacks that could also be used to deflect some attacks, as well as a dodge roll mechanic to make use of. The various control methods made the game a blast to play, and the visual style made the action pop out more. Some of the levels took inspiration from shmups like the aforementioned Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, giving the game a bit of a different feel from the first game.
Sin and Punishment: Star Successor was later re-released on the Wii U virtual console along with the original Sin and Punishment, but there has been no word on the future of the series since then. Given the nature of the Switch, the game would work well on the hybrid system either using the joy cons for motion controls, or with a brand new control scheme. The series would look amazing in HD, and online play could allow more players to join in for co-op as well in order to bring more players together. Given the way boss battles work in the series, there is also potential for a versus mode, where two players face off against each other in battles.
There is an issue in that Treasure is no longer making games, and their unique touch is needed for this kind of game. Perhaps there is a studio that could pick up where Treasure left off, or Treasure could even make a comeback. Perhaps Nintendo could turn to PlatinumGames, who are known for their ability to handle action games and have handled shooters before with Star Fox. Either way, Nintendo should find a way to bring the series back on the Switch. With the right touches and additions, Sin and Punishment could be a true successor to classic Nintendo series like Star Fox and a worthy addition to the regular roster of Nintendo series.
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