Summary
When developers release a completely new IP, they’re taking a massive risk, as public reception can go one of two ways; the game can either be critically acclaimed, or it can receive terrible criticism, resulting in poor sales and no profit. When the reception is positive, more often than not,sequels are developed, building on the original concept.
While some jewels are so good that, no matter the effort, a sequel can’t surpass them or even match them in quality and the experience they deliver, otherspale in comparison to their successors. Here are somesequels that are superior to the first game in every possible way.
When it was first announced,Killzonewas expected to be the “Halokiller”, but it unfortunately fell short on its promise, delivering an experience that, while not bad, left players desiring much. Luckily for Guerrilla Games,when they releasedKillzone 2five years later, they finally delivered on many of their promises, leaving players satisfied with the experience.Killzone 2is arguably better than the original due to its improved AI, better shooting mechanics and overall stronger campaign.
The game’s multiplayer was also praised as it felt deep and required several strategic elements that far exceeded anything that was available in the previous installment.Killzone 2also put the PS3’s hardware capabilities to the test.
WhileCastle Wolfenstein, the franchise’s first true installment came to players' screens way back in 1981, it wasn’t until 2009 that the reboot would revolutionize everything about it. And the same happened withWolfenstein: The New Order, andWolfenstein: The New Colossus, as each installment improved on the previous title.Wolfenstein: The New Order, delivered action that felt fresh and much more fluid than the 2009 game. The 2014 reboot also had a stronger story and a nice balance between the feel of a 90s FPS and modern elements.
Wolfenstein: The New Colossustook things even further by not only introducing a family-oriented narrative for B.J. Blazkowicz, but also likable characters that players couldn’t help but relate to, raising the stakes and making the possibility of their deaths much more concerning. The game’s mechanics were also greatly improved, and the crazy premise that Hitler was still alive in a mansion on Venus in the late 60s and early 70s is very interesting.
When the Nintendo Wii was first announced,there were many gamesthat claimed they could take advantage of its motion-sensitive capabilities, and one of them wasRed Steel. Unfortunately, when players finally managed to get their hands on the console and this title, the result was a little underwhelming.Red Steel’s controls felt imprecise, clunky, and overall unresponsive. What’s more, players complained about the levels feeling bland and unexciting.
Luckily,Red Steel 2greatly improved on the game’s motion controls and introduced a more pleasing art style that worked well with what was presented.Red Steel 2also had an odd, but interesting concept, combining katana combat with the Wild West, helping the sequel stand out. It would appear that the only thing theRed Steelfranchise needed to shine, was a few more years for developers to learn how Wii control sensitivity worked, andRed Steel 2is the proof.
While it wouldn’t be fair to say thatThe Crewfranchise has had any bad titles,The CrewandThe Crew 2were not as good asThe Crew Motorfest, which strongly improved upon many of its predecessors' mistakes and landed in much stabler territory with both veteran fans and newcomers. Some of the key issues fans allegedly had with the original game were unpolished handling, server and connectivity issues, and an ambitious design that often felt underutilized.
WhileThe Crew 2’s developers listened and corrected the course in many aspects, players still weren’t happy with vehicle handling physics and felt the progression system needed more work. Luckily, withThe Crew Motorfest, Ivory Tower finally hit the nail on the head by implementing stunning visuals, polishing vehicle handling, and featuring a much stronger and complete multiplayer experience.
While the originalAssassin’s Creedwas great and Altair served as a wonderful main character, many players complained that the overall story lacked more depth, and that at times, it could feel repetitive.The combat game mechanicswere good, but sometimes felt clunky and limited. Despite this, the game managed to get positive reviews and kicked off what would become one of the most profitable franchises in gaming to date.
That said,Assassin’s Creed 2completely changed the game by introducing an even more likable main character, giving him a tragic backstory that fueled his desire for revenge, and letting players explore Italy in the Renaissance period. Ubisoft truly hit the ball out of the park by introducing double hidden blades, poison, and NPC distractions, as they made both open combat and stealth assassinations much more interesting and varied.Assassin’s Creed 2also had an incredible soundtrack and kicked off the famedEzio Trilogy,which veteran fans of the franchise still play and cherish to this day.
