Everyone I know can name a franchise that used to be "awesome," "da ****," "bodacious," or otherwise flat-out cool. Used to be.

Then it changed ownership, got rushed out of the gate, whatever, and the newest installment "flat-out sucked." So did the next. And the next. And the next. And so on.

Let's look at a few examples. Spyro the dragon; we all know it. The three Insomniac titles were great. Then it was bought out by Vivendi, and that was the end of that.

Next is Dynasty Warriors, which I'm going to fix today. Koei kept it, but hasn't done anything new with it. So, each installment is more derivative than the next. Ugh. Nobody likes to pay for the same game twice (unless it's so completely awesome and jam-packed with stuff that it won't all fit in one game, and said stuff is good).

Both of these franchises have taken nosedives, but a little video-game CPR should get them back on the road. Here's the how-to:

STEP I) Give it a tune-up.

This one is the most painfully obvious, and yet it's the method devs try to avoid most of all. Fix what doesn't work. If it's buggy, comb out the knots, so to speak. If it's clumsy, make it intuitive. If it's boring, spice it up. But make sure you aren't messing with your own magic. Many a developer has killed themselves getting rid of something that made the game in the first place. Look at Looney Toons: Acme Arsenal! Look at the PS1 Syphon Filters! Heck, look at the PS3 controllers! The trick with this one: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

In the case of today's patient, Dynasty Warriors, the applicable problems are pop-in, AI, and repetitive gameplay. So, fix the renderer; no more now-you-see-me-now-you-don't Chinese people. Teach the grunts group tactics. Have them use one guy as bait, then have the others jump down from a tree in a whirling dervish. There goes your doofus brigade. Then, add variety. Let us actually pilot the siege engines, or maybe give the option to actually set traps, rather than just walking somewhere and triggering a cutscene. Just make the game more immersive, and there goes that problem. We're looking at a better game already.

STEP II) Add something new.

This is the most common way devs try to fix a game. Unfortunately, it's also the easiest to screw up. If what you add doesn't mesh with the core game, or if it feels rushed, it's going to feel worthless. This is a huge problem with special editions, remakes, and other second chances for games. More doesn't always equal better.

Dynasty Warriors definitely has a lot of stuff, so what could we add? Perhaps a revised Destiny or Xtreme mode, that functions like a traditional RPG? Buy better armor/weapons? Have different weapon skills? Or perhaps turn Empire mode into a full-fledged game of Chinese Civ? I personally want to sit back and let the other warlords do the fighting. Fund them both, then watch them slash at each other's throats. Ah, diplomacy. Or better yet, a scenario editor! Make our own battlefields, scripted events, campaigns, etc. Tell your own story. Now the game is looking even better. Oh yeah, add more characters and scenarios too, you always do that. Just one last thing.

STEP III) Make it worth our simoleans.

So you have this awesome game that you want the whole world to play. But what if I'm on a budget? I want a game that's worth every penny. Well, with the gi-flippin-normous capacity of modern game discs (and the possibility of downloadable content), you can cram tons of stuff into that game. Maybe make a compilation! Or perhaps include a previous installment of the franchise as a bonus! Easter eggs! *Decent* Multiplayer! The possibilities are endless!

Our now suped-up Dynasty Warriors game has just one thing left to do: shoe-horn in as much refined (if recycled) content as it can. No problem; DW is notorious for it's Xtreme Legends and Empires add-ons. Well, why not just include all of that stuff with the final release? The answer: there's no reason not to. Including refined versions of Xtreme, Legend, Destiny, Empire, Create-a-Character, Camp, and everything else will up the value of the game by at least $20. Just don't actually charge more.

See? In 3 easy steps, we took one of the most deriviative, generic hack-and-slash games out there, and gave it such a huge facelift that anybody with a pulse and a lust for blood (hellooooo, God of War fans) should make it their game-to-get for this year! Now, if only Koei would read this...