I’ve been thinking a lot about sequels lately, and how so many original games these days will eventually have at least one sequel somewhere down the road. It really doesn’t matter if the game is good, great, mediocre, or utter crap, either, because sequels are low-cost, high-profit products. It makes a gamer really appreciate games that actually deserve a second, third, or even fourth edition.
I’m planning to spend a few weeks (maybe not all in a row) talking about sequels: games that need sequels, franchises that need to call it quits, exemplary sequels/series’, and more are all on the menu. Today I’ll begin with a short list of games that I feel are so worthy of sequels that it saddens me not to see them made. I hope and wish and dream that follow-ups for these gems will one day exist.
Psychonauts
If it isn’t already obvious that I’m a big fan of Psychonauts, Tim Schafer, and everything he’s ever been a part of, hopefully now I’ve made it abundantly clear. Psychonauts features top-notch platform-adventure gameplay and some of the best writing in all of video games, making it a it a can’t-miss title (that so many have seemed to miss). It also ends with the main character, Raz, becoming an official Psychonaut, then being immediately called off on some undetailed mission. We simply need to play that mission, and more.
Beyond Good & Evil
One of the best non-Zelda additions to its genre, Beyond Good and Evil managed to take elements from games across the board and seamlessly stitch them together into a complete, mature-themed (in the literal sense, not the ESRB one) adventure with a whole lot to say to gamers. Unfortunately, this colorful, truth-seeking journey came to an inevitable end, leaving the relatively few gamers who had the pleasure of experiencing it wanting more. The ending suggests that the story is not yet over, and those who played through this masterpiece would certainly agree.
Skies of Arcadia
One of the best games for the Dreamcast, and arguably the best RPG for the Gamecube, Skies of Arcadia is absolutely deserving of a sequel. It’s about airships and sky pirates, exploration and fighting evil, but this cliche extravaganza still feels fresh. I’d even go so far as to call it epic. The game will take away a healthy chunk of your life, but it’s interesting and enjoyable throughout. The only thing I would adjust is the frequency of random encounters, but honestly, the battle system was enjoyable enough that this slight is forgivable. Gimme some more!
River City Ransom
I can’t make it through a single “great games” discussion without mentioning this beat-em-up-with-RPG-elements from Technos Japan. This game had everything a gamer could want from the genre, plus a whole lot more to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. Players could learn new techniques by purchasing and reading books, increase their stats by chowing down on sushi, pizza, burgers, etc., and make use of all manner of impromptu weaponry. The action was fast-paced, and the fun of co-op RCR has been matched by few games since 1989. Current generation technology could really work wonders.
Eternal Darkness
This game is a breath of fresh air. Taking the horror genre to places it had never been before, Eternal Darkness weaved a tale of epically occult themes, spanning thousands of years and handfuls of protagonists. The writing, even in describing seemingly unimportant environmental elements, was well beyond what most gamers have come to expect, and pulled together a world that could keep even the most severely ADD-stricken gamers interested. With a unique combat system and its highly original insanity effects, Eternal Darkness stands out among horror games, infusing real-life fear into a virtual experience. Even a completely new story would fit the series, so it’s hard to believe Silicon Knights wouldn’t follow up on this gem of a game.
Earthbound
Earthbound is one of the most unique and clever RPG series’ to ever grace a home console. It is in no way formulaic, and never fails to be original. Unfortunately, this three-game series has only seen ONE U.S. release, so while its presence on this list may be nationalistically selfish, it is absolutely justified. Earthbound has an incredible following here in the west, and all these fans really want is to play Earthbound’s sequel in a language they can understand. Mother 3, the official follow-up to 1995’s SNES edition, was released in Japan for the GBA in 2006, and has no foreseeable future, stateside. Thus far, fansite Starmen.net has done more for the U.S. fans than Nintendo.
BioShock
A sequel to this August ’07 release is already in the works, planned for 2009, but I thought it necessary to say just how great a successor to this incredible title will be. BioShock required gamers to approach a first-person shooter in a way that deviated from the norm, adding depth and meaning with unique gameplay and excellent storytelling. This was my personal pick for GotY 2007, and I’d be willing to pay twice to play its sequel. The great thing about it is that the next game need not even continue the storyline of the first game – it only needs to create a game world as rich as its predecessor, using the tools and methods that 2K Boston has already put in place. That’s not to say that improvements can’t be made, of course…
There are plenty of other games that could use a good sequel, as well. These are just the ones that I long for the most. So, GN readers, what sequels do you want to see?
