Sequels are not bad

[Vault101]

Its always good when a game comes out that isnt a seaquel, but that dosnt mean a game is bad because it is a sequel, even though it seems to be the main complaint about the industry, fact is sequels are a safe option for both the buisness people and in a way the consumers (they know what they are getting)

althouh it seems that Nintendo donsn't get criicized for sequels being the ONLY thing thease guys do (most of the other stuff on the wii is crap, prove me wrong) are they good? yeah sure if Mario is your thing its great, but there are also many great sequels in the non-causl section, but that seems to be where the criticizm is (double standard here?)

A good sequel:

has a reason to exist, due to story or a new gameplay mechanic

improves upon the orginginal, as in fixing anything that didn't work and improving what did

adds somthing new

A bad sequel:

is usually the lastest in a LONG line of seaquels, everyone is sick of the franchise by now, or the first one didnt really leave room for a seaquel so this one feels forced

adds nothing new

screws up everything previously established by the previous installments WITHOUT improving the game

 

[Zhukov]

You make some fairly valid points.

Sadly, I am unable to evaluate those points in a fair manner because you kept spelling "sequel" with an extra "a".

 

[Vault101]

You make some fairly valid points.

Sadly, I am unable to evaluate those points in a fair manner because you kept spelling "sequel" with an extra "a".

spelling was never a strong point, I think I fixed it

 

[DustyDrB]

There's pretty much a thread (from today, first page on the forum) already going on about this here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.259415-Why-do-you-guys-downplay-sequels].

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I actually thought that Bioshock 2 was a pretty good seaquel.

.>

No, I really did enjoy it. You make a good point about Nintendo, though. I really hate it when it when people accuse series like "Halo"(6 games, including spin-offs) of milking the franchise when Final Fantasy currently has 14 games(Not counting spin offs) and more on the way. Including Final Fantasy 13:2. Yeah. Halo could NEVER get away with that shit.[footnote]I realize that FF is not a nintendo game. The point still stands.[/footnote]

 

[PeePantz]

Dear Ms. Vault101,

We here at the Escapists (members) tend to have the sheep quality. If anyone such as Shamus Young or Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw tell us that sequels are destroying games and are not allowing originality or smaller studios to succeed, we will all spit on the notion of sequels. If we're told that "games are art" or Roger Ebert is a fool, we will blindly go along with these statements (as long as it's okay with LRR or EC).

Hypocritically, when the new Mass Effect or Gears of War is announced, we will flood the forums with sentiments of "can't wait" or "I'm so excited, this will be the best game since checkers". Despite previous rants about how sequels are the devil's work, new rants about Dead Rising 2 being the best game of the year will surely flood in. How many threads about Portal 2 or when Half Life: Episode 3 will grace us, are there?

I personally find no problem in sequels. If a game is good, then it's good. If a game is bad, well then it's bad. It makes no difference if there is a number next to it or not. I also get excited when a game that I like announces it will be get a sequel, I get to enjoy what I liked in a new environment. Games tend to be finite, even if I wish some were not. Sequels allow me to continue this joy.

The only downfall there can be, that I find with sequels, are when they're on a dead line and people like Bobby Kotick (Escapists' anti-Christ) only make them to rake in cash and make each sequel faster and less enjoyable. This is not a problem with sequels, but rather one company's business practices.

In conclusion, you just need to realize the source of the hatred. People don't actually hate sequels, they just love taking buzz topics and regurgitating certain people's thoughts.

Yours Truly,
PeePantz

 

[Vault101]

Dear Mr. Vault101,

We here at the Escapists (members) tend to have the sheep quality. If anyone such as Shamus Young or Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw tell us that sequels are destroying games and are not allowing originality or smaller studios to succeed, we will all spit on the notion of sequels. If we're told that "games are art" or Roger Ebert is a fool, we will blindly go along with these statements (as long as it's okay with LRR or EC).

Hypocritically, when the new Mass Effect or Gears of War is announced, we will flood the forums with sentiments of "can't wait" or "I'm so excited, this will be the best game since checkers". Despite previous rants about how sequels are the devil's work, new rants about Dead Rising 2 being the best game of the year will surely flood in. How many threads about Portal 2 or when Half Life: Episode 3 will grace us, are there?

I personally find no problem in sequels. If a game is good, then it's good. If a game is bad, well then it's bad. It makes no difference if there is a number next to it or not. I also get excited when a game that I like announces it will be get a sequel, I get to enjoy what I liked in a new environment. Games tend to be finite, even if I wish some were not. Sequels allow me to continue this joy.

The only downfall there can be, that I find with sequels, are when they're on a dead line and people like Bobby Kotick (Escapists' anti-Christ) only make them to rake in cash and make each sequel faster and less enjoyable. This is not a problem with sequels, but rather one company's business practices.

In conclusion, you just need to realize the source of the hatred. People don't actually hate sequels, they just love taking buzz topics and regurgitating certain people's thoughts.

Yours Truly,
PeePantz

Thank you for youre insight, and I do agree with everything you said (though I do belive games are art, if films are art why not games?)

also Its Ms. Vault101

 

[PeePantz]

Thank you for youre insight, and I do agree with everything you said (though I do belive games are art, if films are art why not games?)

also Its Ms. Vault101

Sorry ma'am, I'm correcting that right now.

 

[Sixcess]

If anyone such as Shamus Young or Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw tell us that sequels are destroying games and are not allowing originality or smaller studios to succeed, we will all spit on the notion of sequels.

That's the second time I've seen this today. Where is the idea that Yahtzee hates sequels coming from? Sure, all of his worst 5 were sequels, but so were the top 2 of his top 5.

OT: One of which was Just Cause 2, a sequel that, like Saints Row 2, completely overshadows the first game. I think everyone agrees that these two alone prove that not all sequels are bad.

I think a lot of the current sequel hate is coming from the fact that a lot of last year's sequels were poorly received (to put it mildly) by a large part of the fans of their series. As unfashionable as it is to do so I can only point to Yahtzee's worst 5 for 5 prime examples of that - FFXIII and Metroid Other M probably being the worst offenders.

 

[PeePantz]

That's the second time I've seen this today. Where is the idea that Yahtzee hates sequels coming from? Sure, all of his worst 5 were sequels, but so were the top 2 of his top 5.

OT: One of which was Just Cause 2, a sequel that, like Saints Row 2, completely overshadows the first game. I think everyone agrees that these two alone prove that not all sequels are bad.

I think a lot of the current sequel hate is coming from the fact that a lot of last year's sequels were poorly received (to put it mildly) by a large part of the fans of their series. As unfashionable as it is to do so I can only point to Yahtzee's worst 5 for 5 prime examples of that - FFXIII and Metroid Other M probably being the worst offenders.

I was just using him as an example of how people will blindly follow certain contributors of the Escapist. He may of not made direct references to sequels being shit but people will take a lot out of context and combine that with what certain articles by other writers here say, and *bam*, you got sheep.

 

[Justanothergamer300]

Yes everyone knows Sonic 2 is better than Sonic 1 because you can spin dash. And go super sonic with cheat codes