Vote for the best gaming prequel of all time.

The recently-revealed God of War: Ascension proves that prequels will continue to be an attractive way for developers to extend the life of a series without having to worry about the consequences and story concerns that come with making a sequel. Still, this announcement made us wonder which release is the greatest prequel in gaming history.

Well, we thought we’d find out once and for all. Below is a poll containing over 20 titles nominated by the staff of GamesBeat and Bitmob and our followers on Facebook and Twitter.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

MGS3. None can compete with Big Boss.

[THR1LLHOUSE]

I was all ready to come in here and say "everyone shut up, the answer is Snake Eater." and I got beaten to the punch!

But seriously, it's MGS3. One of my favorites OF ALL TIME.

[ATi_Elite]

Hey the list didn't have STALKER Clear Sky....

but once i saw "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" it really didn't matter what was on the list!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time best prequel ever and one of the FINEST games EVER made!

Go play it!!!

[Saladfax]

Sorry, but the guys from LoadingReadyRun in Checkpoint said it best:

"Speedrunner Cosmo has beaten Ocarina of Time in under 23 minutes, using a newly discovered glitch that allows players to bypass almost the entire game. This means it's finally possible to beat Ocarina of Time before the nostalgia wears off."

[GamingPerson]

Half Life 2!

[zeal0us]

Part of the reason I brought MGS HD collection was so I can replay MGS3. I'm glad the HD collection is available on the 360 b/c I would of been screwed.

[davidfca]

Well, it's better than MGS2 and MGS4. I will give it that.

[bishop-br]

Gameplay wise, MGS4 evolved a lot from MGS3. But story wise I agree with you.

MGS2 is not even up to comparison, it wasn't that good to start with...

[Solid_Snake37]

No the story was very good, you just didn't like playing as raiden

[bishop-br]

Oh, you know what I liked or not better than myself... Damn you psycho mantis powered guy, stop reading my memory card!

Seriously now, I never said that the story was the problem anyway, I just pointed at the story matter comparing MGS4 and MGS3.

But yes, I found the story pace much less engaging in MGS2 than in MGS1 or MGS3. That said, it's not just this, yes I hated playing as Raiden too, but there were more stuff there I don't like as much as I did the rest of the series. It's my opinion, if you don't like it, sue me.

[mike1up]

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time... surprised anyone?

Sorry A Link to the Past, it really was a tough choice.

[NukaCola]

Its kind of hard to graph the Zelda series though. In theory it is on a time line that could of been split, or who knows what. I think there is a time continuum that takes place around the Temple of Time in Ocarina that separates the story of the Legend of Zelda into 3 realms.

I personally think it's brilliant though.

And no doubt Ocarina is a part of the past. I believe it's a bit into the lineage but still before the majority of Zelda titles.

[360GamerFG]

From the Beginning you Know the End
Nuff said.

[MysticStrummer]

I'm not sure Ascension is a prequel. If Kratos travels back in time and saves his family, as some have speculated based on what's actually said in the reveal video, then it's not a prequel. Anyway, MGS3 gets my vote.

[suicidalblues]

Sony confirmed it to be a prequel the other day.

http://www.lensoftruth.com/...

I'm really looking forward to what they come up with for his beginnings.

[MariaHelFutura]

SOTC, being the prequel to Ico.

[Hicken]

This was my first choice. As Tolkoto says below, it's something of a spiritual predecessor, but it's also been confirmed that Wander is the originator of the horned boys of Ico.

A game that's so outstanding on its own, being a prequel to another spectacular standalone title, yet they're both related: it's a shoe in, in my opinion.

[Tolkoto]

SotC is kinda iffy as a prequel. Some consider it more of a spiritual successor.

[MariaHelFutura]

I know. I think it is a prequel though and TLG will be what happened inbetween them.

[arbitor365]

i hope halo reach doesnt win. the game contributed nothing to the halo universe as a prequel or tell us anything we didnt already know.

It is especially dissapointing compared to the book "fall of reach" which was just godly, way more interesting than the game.

[Hassassin]

Metroid Prime.
I'm baised because Metroid Prime is my favourite game ever. But I admit its VERY close too many on that list, specially zelda and MG3.

[GodKing1337]

its a tie for me, MGS3 n Ocarina of time

[byrnezy]

MGS3 hands down for me

[Tzunoy]

wtf this dude loves handhelds the majority of games are from handhelds(Sony's) i don't see any game in the list worth voting. Put up a real list next time not from handhelds.

[GunzBlazing09]

MGS3.. best game ever..followed by MGS4...

[trenso1]

KH:BBS and MGS3

[Sackboy305]

Snake... SNAAAAKEEEE !!!

[krazykombatant]

LoZ. But which one?!?!!

[MYSTERIO360]

Mr BB.......um i mean big boss

[gumgum99]

Yoshi's Island needs more love. :)