On Video Game Sequels

[azncutthroat]

Recently, there's been a tide of video game sequels, such as L4D2, Mass Effect 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Bad Company 2, Lost Planet 2, Killzone 2, UnCharted 2, Modern Warfare 2, Bioshock 2etc. You get the point.

So my question to you, Escapists, is, if you are interested in a game sequel, will you buy the first game before you get the second one? If no, why not?

Personally, I feel obligated to get the first game. It's kind of an OCD thing, and not exclusive to video games. I like things to be in sequential order. I have to watch the first episode, read the first book, get the first volume etc. Another part of me also wants to get the full set of material, and also to understand exactly what is going on. So, Escapists... what say you?

 

[Irridium]

I try to.

But in cases like Mass Effect 2, where your decisions from the first game carry over, I always play the first.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

If i haven't played the previous game and the sequel gives me an interest then i feel compelled to get the original so i know what the fuck's going on and can have a better understanding.

 

[S.R.S.]

I did it with Uncharted because your not really a play(station)er until you've played it.
With most titles it's just to get the back story.

 

[Robert632]

I absoulutly hate seeing things out of order. Doing that makes me feel like a hypocrite, as i love stories like a herion addict loves that purple dragon.

 

[Hippobatman]

Well, no. Not really.

It's nice to have played the original and all, but I tend to see a sequel as a plain game which may or may not be an improvement on the previous installment. I'm probably getting Mass Effect 2, without having played the first.

I absoulutly hate seeing things out of order. Doing that makes me feel like a hypocrite, as i love stories like a herion addict loves that purple dragon.

Heroin Hero, much?

 

[Robert632]

I absoulutly hate seeing things out of order. Doing that makes me feel like a hypocrite, as i love stories like a herion addict loves that purple dragon.

Heroin Hero, much?

Who told you of my addiction?

I thought I kept it secret

 

[NeutralDrow]

I usually at least try to. Except where it doesn't especially matter (off the top of my head, Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2, and CoN Revolution 2).

 

[Hippobatman]

I absoulutly hate seeing things out of order. Doing that makes me feel like a hypocrite, as i love stories like a herion addict loves that purple dragon.

Heroin Hero, much?

Who told you of my addiction?

I thought I kept it secret

DAMNIT! You never catch the dragon!

 

[Robert632]

I absoulutly hate seeing things out of order. Doing that makes me feel like a hypocrite, as i love stories like a herion addict loves that purple dragon.

Heroin Hero, much?

Who told you of my addiction?

I thought I kept it secret

DAMNIT! You never catch the dragon!

DAMMIT! you just spoiled it for me. Now there's no point in playing it anymore.

 

[Hippobatman]

DAMMIT! you just spoiled it for me. Now there's no point in playing it anymore.

Ah, my work is done, you are now on the way towards sobriety.

You may thank me now.

[sub] Go on, don't be shy.[/sub]

 

[Robert632]

DAMMIT! you just spoiled it for me. Now there's no point in playing it anymore.

Ah, my work is done, you are now on the way towards sobriety.

You may thank me now.

[sub] Go on, don't be shy.[/sub]

Thanksfor ruining my entire weekend exam cooldown. Hmmm...maybe i should go out with some friends instead. Naw that's just silly

 

[Generator]

It depends: if its a game where the story of the first game is necessary to understand the plot, then yes, unless I just so happen to be unable to play a game until the sequel comes out and it got ridiculously better reviews than the original (like in the case of Assassin's Creed II). But for the most part, I play the series.

I did it with Uncharted because your not really a play(station)er until you've played it.
With most titles it's just to get the back story.

Positively EPIC avatar, by the way. I loved Tai Fu; wish they would release it on PSN.

 

[Hippobatman]

Thanksfor ruining my entire weekend exam cooldown. Hmmm...maybe i should go out with some friends instead. Naw that's just silly

You have friends? Blasphemy!

Thou shalt let thy games consume thyself. As long as 'tis not Heroin Hero.

 

[Robert632]

Thanksfor ruining my entire weekend exam cooldown. Hmmm...maybe i should go out with some friends instead. Naw that's just silly

You have friends? Blasphemy!

Thou shalt let thy games consume thyself. As long as 'tis not Heroin Hero.

Well... by friends I mean all the old N64 games in and around here somewhere.I might get back to you after I find Banjo-Kazooie. Keyword being might.

 

[Ultress]

I always like to see where the series started so most of the time I do unless it's prequels weren't that good.

 

[Dr. Paine]

I've only had one case where I played the sequel first... wait, no, two.

Half Life 2 and episodes, and I do intend on playing Half Life 1 sometime (especially after watching Freeman's Mind); and FFX-2. I honestly liked it more than X itself, characterization will make or break a game for me.

No one shoot me please D:

 

[AndyFromMonday]

If a sequel is out and I haven't played the first game I CAN'T get myself to play through number one. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that sequels are usually vastly superior to the last entry in the series so whenever I try to play the first one I start missing the things they introduced in the 2nd game.

 

[JeanLuc761]

It's nice to have played the original and all, but I tend to see a sequel as a plain game which may or may not be an improvement on the previous installment. I'm probably getting Mass Effect 2, without having played the first.

Truth be told, Mass Effect 2 is a much more fulfilling experience if you played the first one and port your character over. I'd even go so far as to call it a requirement.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

It's sort of underwhelming, because 2 improved on it in every single way.

Except the characters. Ugh. I still hate them all except Ellis.

I had the beta for Bad Company 2, but canceled my preorder since I didn't like it much, and I haven't played the first one either. I don't always feel like I need to play the first one first, but sometimes it helps understand the game. For example, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 was on sale at Circuit City for $5-7 one weekend, so I went and bought it. This was before knowing anything about the Half-Life series or playing any of the games. So, I didn't know what the hell was going on, or about the physics puzzles or anything. It was the first time I had ever seen physics used like that in a game. Few months later I did buy Half-Life 2 and better understood it.