The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
After a weekend of playing my hired copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 I was amazed at the depth and graphics of the game. Every little detail that had gone into building this excellent game was spot on. Though I had only got halfway through the game I felt Konami had done a brilliant job, Metal Gear Solid 2 was a prime example to any game-company out there that wanted to create an amazing sequel.
During my very emotional departure with the game as I dropped it into the video shop on my way to school it made me think, what makes a good sequel?
Sequels are very common these days in the console industry. Most games that get in the top ten video games chart usually have a sequel, whether it’s the fact that more money is needed or fans are crying out for a chance to play there favourite game through new levels with new armour piercing weapons against more darker, horrendous enemies.
Now before I start off on what makes a good sequel I’ll tell you what makes a bad sequel. Now some people may not agree with me and in some cases my opinion’s wont apply. But a squeal is not a game that has that bit better graphics, a sequel is not a game that has five more vehicles or three new racetracks. As I type these word’s Tomb Raider springs to mind, as Eidos first released Tomb Raider onto the Playstation people were like ‘WOW… I’m in gaming heaven’ while Tomb Raider was topping charts and winning awards those sneaky guy’s at Eidos were bulding plans for the sequel – Tomb Raider 2. Many people loved the game and yes, it topped a few charts though people weren’t crazy over it, gamers across the world were thinking ‘WOW… Though I think I’ll play a bit of Final Fantasy for an hour or three.’ Then came Tomb Raider 3, there was nothing new except a few weapons and Lara Croft had learnt a new roly-poly but apart from that there was nothing to Tomb Raider 3 that you couldn’t of got out of the previous two. You can guess what I’m going to say about the next two Tomb Raider games, yep, that’s right, they weren’t very good sequel’s* either. I know a lot of people do not agree with me but what I’m basically trying to say is the Tomb Raider games went from being excellent to not so good.
Now lets have a look at a good sequel* shall we – The Final Fantasy series. Though there not everybody’s cup of tea you’ve got to admit, there a pretty good bunch of games. I personally have lost track of what certain story plot goes with what game with FF due to the fact there are so many, which is a bit of a problem when your actually writing about the games but I do know why each Final Fantasy game from number 7 and onwards has been so good. Because FF doesn’t have a set character, or set weapons or set worlds. What I mean is each Final Fantasy game is completely different in each one. When your fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 9 you’ll be fighting it for a totally different reason than when you’d be fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 7. Get me…? Thought not.
What makes a good sequel is too get the game and turn it upside down, I’m not saying you need completely new character’s too make a good sequel. You need new options that the gamer can get use to instead of being an expert at it due to playing the previous game so much. This is why MGS2 is such a good sequel. In MGS2 you can take your enemy hostage, you can collect dog tags; you can shoot in first person mode, all these things weren’t included in the first, which makes the game a true sequel.
I hope you understand what I have written and I hope you understand my opinions. You may have noticed that I’m not very good at expressing them.
So the answer to my question, what makes a good sequel? Making the sequel more original than the original.
Thanks for reading.
During my very emotional departure with the game as I dropped it into the video shop on my way to school it made me think, what makes a good sequel?
Sequels are very common these days in the console industry. Most games that get in the top ten video games chart usually have a sequel, whether it’s the fact that more money is needed or fans are crying out for a chance to play there favourite game through new levels with new armour piercing weapons against more darker, horrendous enemies.
Now before I start off on what makes a good sequel I’ll tell you what makes a bad sequel. Now some people may not agree with me and in some cases my opinion’s wont apply. But a squeal is not a game that has that bit better graphics, a sequel is not a game that has five more vehicles or three new racetracks. As I type these word’s Tomb Raider springs to mind, as Eidos first released Tomb Raider onto the Playstation people were like ‘WOW… I’m in gaming heaven’ while Tomb Raider was topping charts and winning awards those sneaky guy’s at Eidos were bulding plans for the sequel – Tomb Raider 2. Many people loved the game and yes, it topped a few charts though people weren’t crazy over it, gamers across the world were thinking ‘WOW… Though I think I’ll play a bit of Final Fantasy for an hour or three.’ Then came Tomb Raider 3, there was nothing new except a few weapons and Lara Croft had learnt a new roly-poly but apart from that there was nothing to Tomb Raider 3 that you couldn’t of got out of the previous two. You can guess what I’m going to say about the next two Tomb Raider games, yep, that’s right, they weren’t very good sequel’s* either. I know a lot of people do not agree with me but what I’m basically trying to say is the Tomb Raider games went from being excellent to not so good.
Now lets have a look at a good sequel* shall we – The Final Fantasy series. Though there not everybody’s cup of tea you’ve got to admit, there a pretty good bunch of games. I personally have lost track of what certain story plot goes with what game with FF due to the fact there are so many, which is a bit of a problem when your actually writing about the games but I do know why each Final Fantasy game from number 7 and onwards has been so good. Because FF doesn’t have a set character, or set weapons or set worlds. What I mean is each Final Fantasy game is completely different in each one. When your fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 9 you’ll be fighting it for a totally different reason than when you’d be fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 7. Get me…? Thought not.
What makes a good sequel is too get the game and turn it upside down, I’m not saying you need completely new character’s too make a good sequel. You need new options that the gamer can get use to instead of being an expert at it due to playing the previous game so much. This is why MGS2 is such a good sequel. In MGS2 you can take your enemy hostage, you can collect dog tags; you can shoot in first person mode, all these things weren’t included in the first, which makes the game a true sequel.
I hope you understand what I have written and I hope you understand my opinions. You may have noticed that I’m not very good at expressing them.
So the answer to my question, what makes a good sequel? Making the sequel more original than the original.
Thanks for reading.
I didn't find any trouble understanding...
I don't think a sequel has to be more original, sometimes more of the same can be acceptable if they are continuing a story (like MGS2) and improving graphics, tweaking gameplay, correcting mistakes etc.
I don't think a sequel has to be more original, sometimes more of the same can be acceptable if they are continuing a story (like MGS2) and improving graphics, tweaking gameplay, correcting mistakes etc.
First and foremost, I'd say that if the original had a reputation, that it has to live up to that reputation, keep it and advance further on it, keeping the legend alive and well, disappointing nobody, and making everyone appreciate the game. There should be new characters (and as MGS2 showed), but they should have links to characters from the original game etc. The graphics should be enhanced (although it's not a must) and it'd be nice if everything was just generally tweaked.
As long as the game is enjoyable and worth playing, I'm happy with it.
As long as the game is enjoyable and worth playing, I'm happy with it.
After a weekend of playing my hired copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 I was amazed at the depth and graphics of the game. Every little detail that had gone into building this excellent game was spot on. Though I had only got halfway through the game I felt Konami had done a brilliant job, Metal Gear Solid 2 was a prime example to any game-company out there that wanted to create an amazing sequel.
During my very emotional departure with the game as I dropped it into the video shop on my way to school it made me think, what makes a good sequel?
Sequels are very common these days in the console industry. Most games that get in the top ten video games chart usually have a sequel, whether it’s the fact that more money is needed or fans are crying out for a chance to play there favourite game through new levels with new armour piercing weapons against more darker, horrendous enemies.
Now before I start off on what makes a good sequel I’ll tell you what makes a bad sequel. Now some people may not agree with me and in some cases my opinion’s wont apply. But a squeal is not a game that has that bit better graphics, a sequel is not a game that has five more vehicles or three new racetracks. As I type these word’s Tomb Raider springs to mind, as Eidos first released Tomb Raider onto the Playstation people were like ‘WOW… I’m in gaming heaven’ while Tomb Raider was topping charts and winning awards those sneaky guy’s at Eidos were bulding plans for the sequel – Tomb Raider 2. Many people loved the game and yes, it topped a few charts though people weren’t crazy over it, gamers across the world were thinking ‘WOW… Though I think I’ll play a bit of Final Fantasy for an hour or three.’ Then came Tomb Raider 3, there was nothing new except a few weapons and Lara Croft had learnt a new roly-poly but apart from that there was nothing to Tomb Raider 3 that you couldn’t of got out of the previous two. You can guess what I’m going to say about the next two Tomb Raider games, yep, that’s right, they weren’t very good sequel’s* either. I know a lot of people do not agree with me but what I’m basically trying to say is the Tomb Raider games went from being excellent to not so good.
Now lets have a look at a good sequel* shall we – The Final Fantasy series. Though there not everybody’s cup of tea you’ve got to admit, there a pretty good bunch of games. I personally have lost track of what certain story plot goes with what game with FF due to the fact there are so many, which is a bit of a problem when your actually writing about the games but I do know why each Final Fantasy game from number 7 and onwards has been so good. Because FF doesn’t have a set character, or set weapons or set worlds. What I mean is each Final Fantasy game is completely different in each one. When your fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 9 you’ll be fighting it for a totally different reason than when you’d be fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 7. Get me…? Thought not.
What makes a good sequel is too get the game and turn it upside down, I’m not saying you need completely new character’s too make a good sequel. You need new options that the gamer can get use to instead of being an expert at it due to playing the previous game so much. This is why MGS2 is such a good sequel. In MGS2 you can take your enemy hostage, you can collect dog tags; you can shoot in first person mode, all these things weren’t included in the first, which makes the game a true sequel.
I hope you understand what I have written and I hope you understand my opinions. You may have noticed that I’m not very good at expressing them.
So the answer to my question, what makes a good sequel? Making the sequel more original than the original.
Thanks for reading.
During my very emotional departure with the game as I dropped it into the video shop on my way to school it made me think, what makes a good sequel?
Sequels are very common these days in the console industry. Most games that get in the top ten video games chart usually have a sequel, whether it’s the fact that more money is needed or fans are crying out for a chance to play there favourite game through new levels with new armour piercing weapons against more darker, horrendous enemies.
Now before I start off on what makes a good sequel I’ll tell you what makes a bad sequel. Now some people may not agree with me and in some cases my opinion’s wont apply. But a squeal is not a game that has that bit better graphics, a sequel is not a game that has five more vehicles or three new racetracks. As I type these word’s Tomb Raider springs to mind, as Eidos first released Tomb Raider onto the Playstation people were like ‘WOW… I’m in gaming heaven’ while Tomb Raider was topping charts and winning awards those sneaky guy’s at Eidos were bulding plans for the sequel – Tomb Raider 2. Many people loved the game and yes, it topped a few charts though people weren’t crazy over it, gamers across the world were thinking ‘WOW… Though I think I’ll play a bit of Final Fantasy for an hour or three.’ Then came Tomb Raider 3, there was nothing new except a few weapons and Lara Croft had learnt a new roly-poly but apart from that there was nothing to Tomb Raider 3 that you couldn’t of got out of the previous two. You can guess what I’m going to say about the next two Tomb Raider games, yep, that’s right, they weren’t very good sequel’s* either. I know a lot of people do not agree with me but what I’m basically trying to say is the Tomb Raider games went from being excellent to not so good.
Now lets have a look at a good sequel* shall we – The Final Fantasy series. Though there not everybody’s cup of tea you’ve got to admit, there a pretty good bunch of games. I personally have lost track of what certain story plot goes with what game with FF due to the fact there are so many, which is a bit of a problem when your actually writing about the games but I do know why each Final Fantasy game from number 7 and onwards has been so good. Because FF doesn’t have a set character, or set weapons or set worlds. What I mean is each Final Fantasy game is completely different in each one. When your fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 9 you’ll be fighting it for a totally different reason than when you’d be fighting a monster in Final Fantasy 7. Get me…? Thought not.
What makes a good sequel is too get the game and turn it upside down, I’m not saying you need completely new character’s too make a good sequel. You need new options that the gamer can get use to instead of being an expert at it due to playing the previous game so much. This is why MGS2 is such a good sequel. In MGS2 you can take your enemy hostage, you can collect dog tags; you can shoot in first person mode, all these things weren’t included in the first, which makes the game a true sequel.
I hope you understand what I have written and I hope you understand my opinions. You may have noticed that I’m not very good at expressing them.
So the answer to my question, what makes a good sequel? Making the sequel more original than the original.
Thanks for reading.