"The series doesn't do anything new"

[Svenparty]

I think with a lot of games they can't do anything new because they are either worried about changing the formula or aren't open enough to change stuff.

Take GTA for example most of the games only changed location and form of Wackiness because of Era Change but it works because it's an open world game they DO change the feel of the games, unlike Animal Crossing and lots of other games which churn more of the same.

 

[Jandau]

The irony is that if a sequel DOES do something new, it'll get crucified for going too far away from the original, betraying the fans, runing a good game, etc.

The trick is to find the sweet spot between innovation and the old stuff...

 

[51gunner]

In my opinion:

- A series should stick to its guns and keep going with what made it popular. People who bought God of War 1 are probably looking for the same thing if they buy God of War 2.

- A new series should try to bring something new to its genre.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Sequels to good games really shouldn't change since all fans want is more of the same.

 

[geldonyetich]

If you're telling me we should stop complaining about lack of originality in games, I'm going to respond by throwing my hands up in despair and saying this art is, at last, truly dead.

I didn't quite mean to stop complaining about a lack of originality. I like the idea of new games being made and I can enjoy originality in them. I'm saying that if you play a game called God of War 2, it's not a legitimate complaint to say that it's too much like God of War 1. Even if you are playing God of War 27, you still shouldn't complain that it's too much like God of War 26.

I can meet you half way on this one in that a God of War game should remain a game with mechanics similar to God of War, otherwise it's a misappropriation of the title. Like how Fallout 3 was nothing like Fallout 2 -- sure, the game was fine, but it's nothing like the previous Fallouts.

However, does this mean we really want the game to be completely the same as the previous game, with nothing more than a reskinning? I'd say the developer is under some obligation to innovate, otherwise we've got another .Hack series fiasco, where it appears they're trying to extend one game to four titles and charge you four times for the same thing.

 

[Nivag the Owl]

When I play sequals I try my hardest to disregard the fact that it's a sequal. I play it as a new game.

 

[Fightgarr]

I'd state some opinions here but it would just boil down to most of what geldonyetich said.