Today is 2/22/22, and what better way to celebrate than talk about the best and worst sequels in gaming? Unlike the movie entertainment industry, the video game industry absolutely thrives on sequels. Once a player falls in love with the gameplay, story, or atmosphere of a game, they’ll want to keep playing that game over and over. Naturally, because of this, you’ll see sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and remasters constantly releasing that keep franchises alive for years or even decades. Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst sequels in gaming.
Best
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog released Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune back in 2007 on PlayStation 3. Nathan Drake starred in this treasure hunting game that people had described as Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible mixed into one action-packed video game. The game was so well received among critics and players that it almost immediately received a sequel in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in 2009 for PlayStation 3. You can see the leaps Uncharted 2 takes from the original with tighter shooting, more open and detailed areas; it is masterfully written. Uncharted 2 is considered the best in the series, and even one of the greatest games of all time.
Mega Man 2
Widely considered the best in the series, Mega Man 2 took the simple formula where you pick a robot boss, fight through their level, defeat them, and earn their power up and expanded upon it only slightly, but perfectly. Mega Man 2 felt better to control, gave you levels that were a little more challenging, yet fair, and had bosses that were satisfying to learn and exploit, In addition to the fantastic gameplay, Mega Man 2 had some of the best music in the series. If you ask any Mega Man fan what their top two games are in the series, Mega Man 2 is surely going to be mentioned.
Worst
Devil May Cry 2
When the original Devil May Cry released in 2001 for PlayStation 2, it was an instant classic. You took control of Dante, a demon hunter, who uses his business to carry out a lifelong vendetta against all demons. The gameplay was brilliant and strategic, which made it incredibly satisfying to defeat bosses. Unfortunately, Devil May Cry 2: Dante was a major disappointment. Capcom traded in textures for open spaces, which made enemies spread out much further apart from each other and made it difficult to combo; they dumbed-down the combat which made the game too easy, and they basically stripped Dante of his personality. Devil May Cry 2: Dante will go down in history as one of the worst sequels of all time, and will be a black sheep in the series.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Who didn’t see this one coming? The original Legend of Zelda game was considered one of the most beloved and popular games among Nintendo fans and has carried the franchise well into the 2020s. However, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was hardly anything to write home about. Developers traded the top-down view for a side scrolling adventure, went with an abysmal story, horrible translation, and just plain old boring gameplay. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is easily forgotten and should stay that way.
Those are my favorite and least favorite sequels in gaming, what are yours? Let us know in the comments section or join our Discord using the QR code below!
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