Favouring Older Instalments

[AdorkableSoul]

The object of a series is to progressively get better, right? New features and gameplay tweaks based on player feedback should logically mean each new instalment in the series is better than its predecessor.

So why, fellow Escapists, do you find yourself favouring earlier games or films in a series?

Personally, I vastly prefer Assassin's Creed 2 over Brotherhood or Revelations, simply because the story was one of revenge rather than community service style vigilante work. The recent games saw much smoother gameplay, more variety in the missions and there was far more additional content with training up a personal army. However, I still prefer ACII simply for the fact it had a better reason backing up Ezio's actions.

 

[distortedreality]

Really depends on the series. Sometimes, it's almost impossible to improve on the first game. Deus Ex comes to mind. Invisible War improved on two of the more debated aspects of the original - graphics and shooting mechanics - but neglected the story.

Other times sequels have gone in an unexpected and not universally welcome direction - IE Mass Effect 2.

 

[skywolfblue]

I generally prefer the later installments. My self is littered with "2"s and "3"s that I loved much more then their first games.

 

[DustyDrB]

I prefer a number of later games in series:
-Mass Effect 2
-Knights of the Old Republic II
-Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (though I do find it hard not view 2 and Brotherhood as continuous)
-Arkham City
-Uncharted 3
-Portal 2
-Red Dead Redemption
-Fallout: New Vegas

 

[cjspyres]

I prefer a number of later games in series:
-Mass Effect 2
-Knights of the Old Republic II
-Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (though I do find it hard not view 2 and Brotherhood as continuous)
-Arkham City
-Uncharted 3
-Portal 2
-Red Dead Redemption

I'm just wondering, why do you prefer KOTOR II over the first? Not outraged or anything, I just don't know many people that prefer the second to the first.

OT: I have to say that I have a mix. I pretty much just prefer the better game. For example, I like Fallout 3 better than New Vegas. But at the same time, I enjoy Halo 2 more than Halo 3.

 

[DustyDrB]

I prefer a number of later games in series:
-Mass Effect 2
-Knights of the Old Republic II
-Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (though I do find it hard not view 2 and Brotherhood as continuous)
-Arkham City
-Uncharted 3
-Portal 2
-Red Dead Redemption

I'm just wondering, why do you prefer KOTOR II over the first? Not outraged or anything, I just don't know many people that prefer the second to the first.

OT: I have to say that I have a mix. I pretty much just prefer the better game. For example, I like Fallout 3 better than New Vegas. But at the same time, I enjoy Halo 2 more than Halo 3.

Story and some gameplay tweaks.

Story: I love how you don't have to be a blank slate protagonist. Much of your dialogue references your own history as well as your views. And some of the protagonist dialogue is just fantastic (your first encounter with Atris in the game can turn into a sort of verbal boss battle). The story itself is such a clever subversion of Star Wars lore, and is also a very inward journey. Much of the game centers around you trying to come to terms with an extremely traumatic event in your past. This is played out through the villains, the locations, your squad members, and your old masters. And there is Kreia, who I consider both the best character in games and in the Star Wars universe. She's both magnificently written and performed.

Gameplay: There are a few changes that make a huge difference for me. There's a crafting system that actually makes use of you and your squad's skills, and also allows for more customization with your weapons and armor. There is the Finesse feat (lets the higher of Strength or Dexterity determine how effective your are in whatever combat style you take the feat in), which allows you a ton of flexibility in how you build your character. There are the prestige classes, which gives even more depth into character building. And there are some times where you can use powers you've gained in clever ways (for example, you can use Battle Meditation to rally the troops of the side you align yourself with on Onderon. You can do this instead of joining the fight personally. It's a nice touch).

 

[Lucem712]

Metal Gear Solid 3 to 4.
4 was nothing but fan service.

I felt very connect to Boss and Big Boss in MGS3, so I prefer it to 4 (Though, 3 with 4's engine would be pretty cool)

I prefer later incarnations in series though, it tends to be in the middle.
Like, I prefer Digimon World 3 to DW1&DW2, though 4 is just horrendous.

 

[Tanis]

It's nostalgia and some series just seem to lose their crap as they go on.

SEE: Final Fantasy, Call of Duty, Red Faction, Mortal Kombat, ect.

Though, that's not to say they can't 'revive' themselves.
FF10-2 (game play wise) and some of the handheld games.

CoD - eh, I got nothing.

Red Faction - Guerrilla

Mortal Kombat - 9/2011

 

[WingedWalrus]

I think to an extent its nostalgia; if you play one of the first installments of a game series, you're introduced to it like "this is how this game is". When things are changed upon or improved in later installments, its natural to say "Hey, wait a second, it wasnt like this before!". At least thats what I find sometimes.

Also it may be a case that game developers/designers change things intending for an improvement, when you personally think it to be a step downwards. My own personal example of this is the Final Fantasy VIII junctioning stat system (which I know loads of people hated but I thought was really useful), and the stats/levelling up systems in subsquent FF games, for me, arent as good.

 

[The Night Angel]

I prefer portal 1 to 2, metal gear 3 to 4, final fantasy X to anything that came after it, and AC brotherhood to revelations. There are some very good sequels out there though, for example Infamous 2

 

[dickywebster]

Theres only one series i love that i can safely say has gone downhill a lot, silent hill.
Mostly cause the silent hill games after the fourth one werent really that scary or meaningful...
Yet to see how downpour holds up though

Actually yeah, MGS 3 is better than 4 (and 2 in my opinion)

Ive seen other people say final fantasy, but while i do love the series, i cant say which would be my favourite.
Not many people seem fond of XII, but i liked it