For some people, the mythos of “sequels suck” is often used because the original game is so deeply beloved to them. And there are some notable exceptions, such as the original Doom being better than Doom 3 and Halo: Combat Evolved is leaps and bounds better than Halo 2. However, every now and again there are sequels that are better than the original and We Got This Covered takes a look at some of the most noteworthy sequels.
Gears of War 2
There’s nothing really wrong with the original Gears of War (except for the non-existent story) but Gears of War 2 just stepped things up in the sequel. This wasn’t a case of a shooter getting worse like the way that Tomorrow Never Dies was worse than Goldeneye 007, instead this game added better team AI, good online play and some awesome cut-scenes (I’m talking about everything with Cole Train, baby!).
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Pandora Tomorrow had big shoes to fill since the original Splinter Cell was so revolutionary in terms of lighting and combat. But the game somehow managed to deliver a great story, better graphics and some fun online multi-player. In fact, the multi-player was one of the biggest selling points of the game (since online play for consoles was at its advent). Pandora Tomorrow gave Sam tougher situations and the moves to take down his enemies, and that’s why this game is better than the original.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Now here me out on this one, cause most people seem to consider this the weaker game compared to The Legend of Zelda. However, Zelda II gave us Dark Link, an RPG based system of leveling up health and your sword and Link also got magic spells to help him on his journey. So while it was considerably more difficult than the original, Zelda II pushed the series into a different direction and forced the series to become what it is today.
Half Life 2
Half Life was one of those games that proved that Valve was a power to be reckoned with and Half Life 2 showed gamers that they know how to make FPS into an art form. The physics engine alone made Half Life 2 stand out amongst scripted deaths like in Call of Duty or Halo and it also meant that the game felt more realistic than other FPS of the time. Beyond that, it’s the one game that I can fully state is better than the original.
Star Fox 64
So Star Fox 64 is pretty much a remake of the original Star Fox and they sure did a great job bringing this game into 3-D for the Nintendo 64. The game featured hectic dog fights and 3-D goodness that Star Fox would be known as one of the best games to come from the Nintendo 64’s lifespan. Plus, the multi-player split screen (which the choice of being an Arwing, Landmaster or a character on foot with a blaster) was crazy fun.
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat was one of those games that really stepped over some boundaries with video games since it had excessive violence, but the sequel blew the original out of the water. More characters and cooler fatalities and it even made Reptile a playable character. And to top all of that off, they introduced the best MK villain of all time; Shao Kahn.
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
I’m going to be honest; I hated the original Turok. I thought the controls were sloppy and it felt boring for the most part. And that might be why I was so surprised with Turok 2, since it completely changed my perspective on the series and mythology of Turok. I think it’s safe to say that Turok 2 was a step up since they added new weapons, gave it a better story and made the graphics look crisp and clean for the N64. Also, I have to give a shout out to the cerebral bore as one of the best weapons of all time.
So there you have it. Proof that not all sequels suck. Do you agree? Have any other sequels that you thought were better than the originals? Let us know in the comments.