Gaming Sequels

Unlike the film industry, sequels of games are often a lot higher in quality than movies. Sequels are a chance for the developers to get right some things that they maybe didn't nail the first time around. They can improve gameplay mechanics and even story elements as well as graphics and casting. Films tend to be about sucking more money from an already finished concept. It also prevents an idea being used to it's fullest as they wish to continue a series to make more money from it. More about that later, first let's talk about some positive sequels.

A good sequel will expand and improve on elements previously established such as the movement from Super Mario Galaxy to Super Mario Galaxy 2. Nothing much was really different about the gameplay itself, but there was new content, features and things to do in the game, making it well worthwhile the purchase. It wasn't a huge leap forward in direction for the series, but it was better thanks to the additions to the game. Sometimes, you just want to play more of a game, so using similar concepts and ideas in a sequel isn't often frowned upon. Dead Space was awesome, but Dead Space 2 didn't really add anything new. Sure, Isaac had a voice and there was a lame multiplayer, but nothing too inspired. But this really didn't matter as the game was good enough to be recycled. Dead Space 2 was also able to add more to the characters and story, so it wasn't just a cash in. While universally acclaimed, a note from critics did ask for a little bit more from the game as a new title. The developers heard this and added in Co-op to Dead Space 3 as a large change, showing they want to make more interesting and diverse experiences for the player, rather than just forcing them to play the same thing over and over.

Occasionally, sequels improve a fair amount on the original game formula while still maintaining the spirit and flavour of the original. Transformers: War for Cybertron was a great game with few problems. But there were things that were done wrong. For instance, the Transformers all pretty much felt the same despite the fact you could choose between three per level. This was fixed in the sequel Transformers: Fall of Cybertron thanks to the vastly improved level design that revolved around the character you were playing as in each level to accommodate for better gameplay. Another problem of the original was the scrounging around for ammo that needed to be done. The addition of the store system into the second helped with the weapons and added in a slight RPG aspect. Also, Grimlock and the Combatacons made for awesome! 

Every now and then, a game is drastically changed by the sequel that it feels like a different experience entirely. The best example I can say off the top of my head would be Darksiders 2. Adding in the vastly expanding loot collecting and RPG statistics alongside the open world and side quests as well as other features, it hardly resembles the original. This is by no means a bad thing however, as the new one is SO MUCH AWESOME! Another example I guess would be Mass Effect 2. Although the epic story and dynamic choice gameplay remain, the gameplay and cinematic feel were almost alien (pun...geddit?) to the series, which was previously an RPG focused game. 

Unfortunately, not all game sequels are better than the originals. A big telltale sign of a cash in sequel is removing all the powers and equipment that the character earned in the previous game. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is one of these. All the stuff you spent so long getting, all the armour and gear, all that health...gone, within an hour of starting the game. The story is also a bit of a last minute effort to make money. Basically, the piece of eden you spent the whole of AC2 trying to obtain is stolen...again and you have to get it and stop the Borgia...again. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was a fun game and the trailer for the sequel looked promising...however, there was little difference in the gameplay, more repetition, lackluster story and less than six hours of gameplay.


Are we running out of ideas? Are gamers in an industry of evolution and not Revolution? Will we never see another IP?!?!?!?!?!?!