6 reasons sequels should be better than originals

[Tinman]

6 reason sequels>original games

Why Sequels are Blatantly Better than Original IP

[Raven Gold]

List of exceptions:
Fear 2
C&C 3 Tib wars
RA 3
NFS most wanted
NFS Carbon
CoD 6 MW 2
Red Faction 2
Far Cry 2
Serious Sam 2
Soldier of Fortune 2
Metal Gear Solid 2
Tomb Raider 6 Angel Of darkenss

Just few great games ruind by sequels. But I allways say a series should be stoped at the trilogy mark and never to be touched again with the same characters.

A good examples of this is Prince of Persia: Sand of Time/Warrior Within/The Two Thrones, Than came the 2008 PoP that was a completely seperate game only with the same name. If they tried to continue with the SoT theme, it would have ruined it. And this is whats happening with Forgotten Sands, it's gonna have great gameplay, sure, but it's going to ruin the storyline completely. Guarenteed! And thats a high price.

The things that really make a great game great is it's gameplay and storyline. The graphics is just advertisement and nothing more. Up the graphics and the gameplay, but neglect the story, and you've taken out half the game. Is that a better game? Don't think so.

[Nictron]

I agree completely with the post above. 3 max or change the game dramatically to keep i fresh.

Final Fantasy is the ultimate example of using a brand but refreshing the story and characters with almost every installment!

[THIRT13N]

also because sequels are such cashcows, we get less new and fresh ideas like heavy rain, shadow of the colossus etc. Come to think of it.....sotc should soooo get a sequel!

[Jabberwocky]

more exceptions
Doom 3
star control 3
dungeon keeper 2
warrior within

[shadowfox]

Ah yeah - Star Control 3 completely ruined the series. The concept and the game itself had so much potential.

Another example I can add - Master of Orion 3. The original was done by Microprose as well (Sid Meier was with them when he started the Civilization franchise, I believe) - and they didn't follow on properly - MoO 3 was a nightmare of micromanagement and the pace of the game bogged down too much later on.

If they had followed on the formula set out by Civ - which I believe honestly only gets better with each installment (Can't wait for Civ 5) - it could have gone a long way. Maybe they should hand the franchise over to him - or at least ask for his input.

[BadgersixZA]

Same content, sometimes rehashed and sometimes not. Unless the content is completely redone, sequels will never be as good as the originals. (off topic is FEAR 2 any good?)

[BadgersixZA]

Doom 3 can hardly be regarded as a sequel, but nevertheless it is. Hence completely redone

[oltman]

i dont mind sequels, but goodness! refreshing the roster of players in a sports title and releasing them annually is just a rip-off! and in a world cup year you will get 2 games! (here's looking at you, FIFA)

[Blackhand]

For those that didn't catch it, the article is actually against sequels.