Top 10 Most Improved Sequels

MasonicGamer.com: This top 10 most improved sequels idea hit me when I was recently looking through some of my editorials and noticed something. Whenever I did a list it was always a top five and usually negative towards the games featured so I’ve decided to remedy that by expanding to ten and talking positively about the games instead.

As per usual there is no order to my list, whatever game I mention last isn’t necessarily the best sequel and as with all lists I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. I’m not here proclaiming I’ve played every game ever created and to be honest I’m not much of a PC gamer although that Steam Box talk does interest me so I’ll be keeping an eye on that.

Also worth mentioning is that a sequel is not limited to a second entry in the series, it can be the third, forth, sixth entry in the franchise and it still counts. Right now that I’ve loaded up my flame shield let’s get started with one of my favourites.

[Snookies12]

Uncharted 2 is the thing that comes to mind first for me... Not sure if I'd say that was in fact the most improved, but it basically took everything great about the first game and made it 10x better. That, and Dissidia Duodecim are the first two I can think of off the top of my head.

[Irishguy95]

I thought the first one was pretty average. The second one really brought it up a notch. The story in both of them were abysmal so I didn't really care about it(since alot of people like 1's story over 2)

Yeah it's overrated Ps3bestsellingconsole. There are better games than it, Uncharted lacks a great story to go along with it's gameplay. Other games have everything done great...like MGS3

I have played the 3 of them dude, if you want you can attempt to tell me whats so special about it. It has humor, decent Tps gameplay and nice set pieces. But I don't consider interactive cutscenes a highpoint of gaming, there is room for so much more than that in this medium

[superterabyte]

What are you on about? uncharted has a fantastic story.

[Gamehard]

I'll admit the stories in the Uncharted series aren't anything that haven't been done before in movies and other games. But Uncharted shines in how well the characters are portrayed and how they interact with each other. It's pretty rare for games to have characters with so much personality and to feel as human as they do in Uncharted.

[Hicken]

Troll harder, Irisghuy95.

Although I'd prefer it if you just stopped commenting, altogether.

[GenericNameHere]

"Yeah it's overrated Ps3bestsellingconsole"

Yeah, I think you're butthurt.

[OhMyGandhi]

you want to talk about an overrated storyline? how about Metal Gear Friggin Solid.
Jesus, convoluted, overlong and nearly nonsensical.

The first one was pretty average?
Seriously man, don't give me the "interactive cut scene" argument against the game: it nearly perfected them and made them interesting, it heightened the experience, and enhanced the immersion while not detracting from the experience. Don't be that "I'm too cool for the acclaimed franchise" guy, the very least you could do is appreciate it's very existence.

[Panthers]

Am I the only person who liked the first Uncharted more? The second is amazing, as is the third, but the first one just blew me away. The story was a lot better than the sequels.

[Knushwood Butt]

I still love the first one.

[Eyeco]

I beat the 1st one like 10 times, the only game I've ever taken the time to plat, had some good times with it

[The_Devil_Hunter]

Uncharted games are fantastic. But their stories arent that incredible it kind of Indiana Jonesy like...The games are fantastic in general, set pieces, action sequences and gameplay, but the stories in them are nothing special.

[EmperorDalek]

I loved Drake's Fortune. And I hated Among Thieves. I really don't see how you can think Uncharted 2 was THAT big of an improvement when Uncharted 1 was already great. 10x better..... Right.

[Eyeco]

Mass Effect 2 aswell

[ZBlacktt]

Borderlands 1 to Borderlands 2 for me. I just got the BL1 GOTY edition to go back and play all the DLC. Man, did they do a lot of improvements from BL1 to BL2.

That and MGS2 to MGS3 to MGS4. Each went way ahead of the other is possibilities.

[Hingle_Mcringleberry]

Burnout 3 > every other arcade racer ever. Ever!

[icecoldfire]

true but blur does have a comparable quality to burnout 3 but i prefer burnout paradise from all of them.

[BladerunnerZX]

Back in the 8-bit days Mega Man 2 was a big improvement over Mega Man 1.

Then in the 16-bit generation Phantasy Star 2 was a vast leap over the first PS.

More recent improved sequels would be God of War 2 and Burnout Revenge.

Great article btw!
I completely agree with the comments on both Super Metroid and Resident Evil 4.

Super Metroid is without a doubt the single greatest 2-D videogame ever made and I still play RE4 on my trusty Gamecube when its time to give my PS3 a rest.

[InTheLab]

inFamous 2 looks like a completely different game than the original.

[Y_5150]

So true, not in a bad way either! First and second inFAMOUS are amazing too!

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Most recent for me ACI to ACII. Everything possible was made better in Assassins creed 2.

[dreamoner]

Still, ACI was more realistic than any other AC game, Combat/Decapitations were brutal, plus had better graphics with DX10 on PC :P

[Gamehard]

What about Devil May Cry 3? Miles better than 2 for sure lol. And a huge improvement on part 1 :D Man I miss when Capcom was good.

Zone of the Enders 2 was a huge step up from 1 as well.

This gen I'd say the biggest one that comes to mind that isn't Uncharted 2 would be Assassin's Creed 2.

[cleverusername]

GTA just keeps getting better

[Relientk77]

Assassin's Creed 2 for me, its just simply amazing

[prototypeknuckles]

assassians creed 2
sly 2
prince of persia sands of time
DMC3
ocarina of time
infamous 2
God of War 2
Uncharted 2
Spyro 3
Crash Bandicoot 3
prince of persia 2008
resident evil 4
red dead redemption
arkham city
sonic the hedgehog 2
MK2
MK9
fallout 3
rayman 2

[WeAreLegion]

Great list! I would trade God of War II for God of War III though. II was just a lot like the first one, for me. III had an incredible story and the tightest combat in action game history.

[FrostyZipper]

Ah Spyro 3. Many hours were spent playing and replaying that little gem.

[Mikefizzled]

I would agree with Red Dead Redemption but is it classed as a proper sequel? Also I cant agree with Arkham City purely because of how could Asylum was.

[roadkillers]

I hope to see Resident Evil on this list again sometime in the future.

[kupomogli]

I agree with a few of those on the list, but not all. Here's some of my opinion.

Lufia 2 Rise of the Sinistrals-
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Xenosaga 3
Tales of Eternia
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Infamous 2

[doogiebear]

Dude the difference between persona 2 and 3 is mind boggling. P3 is wjat really put persona on the map.

[kupomogli]

I never said anything about Persona 3. Besides, listing SMT Nocturne on there is my opinion. My entire list, as I stated, is "opinion." SMT isn't Persona. Persona is a spinoff series. SMT Nocturne's press turn system was the first time it was seen in the series and any series for that matter. Not only being a massive improvement to its own series, but being an improvement to RPG combat systems in general.

Nothing Persona 3 did compared to Persona 2 can even compare to SMT Nocturne adding the press turn system.

[WeAreLegion]

I feel like this competition is unfair to Media Molecule. They made a perfect game... Then, they made a game that was even perfect...er.

[molsen81]

Mortal Kombat II was so much better than MK I and shocking in terms of the number of players and new character designs.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Most PS exclusive games came out better. I would name them but the list is too long. Here are some non PS exclusives

Gears of War 2
Halo 2
Assassin's Creed 2
Resident Evil 4
Batman Arkham City

[doogiebear]

Halo 2? Nope. Just more of the same.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Dual wield weapons
Newer weapons and vehicles
Better story and can play as an Elite in the story
First game to have online capability

Can't see how it's more of the same

[Bladesfist]

I would say Halo 3 deserves a place.

[TKCMuzzer]

@Bladesfist
Halo 3? That made me laugh.......thanks for making me smile...

[Danja]

Stupid list the Fact Grand Theft Auto 'Vice City' is listed there.

[PAYNEinc85]

Red Dead Redemption

[Old McGroin]

Red Dead Redemption ain't a sequel!

[EmperorDalek]

Ahhhhhhhh..... Yes it is.

[Old McGroin]

A sequel to what? And for the love of God don't say Grand Theft Auto.

[born2live]

Sequel to Red Dead Revolver, in a sense.

[Old McGroin]

"Sequel to Red Dead Revolver, in a sense. "

Ah. I'm an idiot :(

[sriki007]

mass effect 2 was so much better than 1 in every aspect.

[Old McGroin]

Uncharted 2
Final Fantasy 7
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Grand Theft Auto 3
Mario 64
Ocarina Of Time
Streets Of Rage 2
Resident Evil 2 & 4
Metal Gear Solid

[MizTv]

Good list

[Xer0_SiN]

whoever said dark souls...get outta here with that nonsense.

[JasonXS12]

Hitman 2

[zerocrossing]

Nice list I cant really argue with it.

honerable mentions would be, Z.O.E 2, FF-VII & Devil may cry 3, IMO at least.

[Cam977]

Grand theft auto: San Andreas.
MoH: Frontline.
AC2.
Uncharted 2.
GTA3.
Wife Beater 7 (this really was an amazing sequel to Wife Beater: 3: Pimps 'N Hoes).

[icecoldfire]

Mass Effect 3 > Mass Effect 2 >>>> Mass Effect

[MizTv]

Me1, me3 then me2

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Silent Hill II, Star Fox 64 and Haunting Ground.

[Parasyte]

Definitely agree with RE2 being better than RE1. Borderlands 2 is another sequel that made massive improvements over the first game.
I would also say each of the Killzone games has gotten better with each iteration in the franchise Although Rico's acting is still god awful.)

I also can't overlook the main entrants in the Ratchet & Clank franchise. 1>2>3>Going Commando>Up Your Arsenal>Tools of Destruction>Crack in Time are all better than or just as good as the game that came before it.

[MizTv]

Kz2 yes
Kz3 NO

[Silly gameAr]

Assassin's Creed is one good example I can think of off of the top of my head. Assassin's Creed 2 was a huge improvement over Assassin's Creed 1. 2 is what really made me want to continue the series.

I just wish they could make a huge jump for the rest of the series like from 1 to 2, It's starting to feel a little stale.

[hardcorehippiez]

manhunt 2

[Tetsujin]

Mega Man 2
Socom 2
Silent Hill 2
MGS 4
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Mortal Kombat 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles
CoD 4 Modern Warfare

[Plagasx]

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory...

[TKCMuzzer]

Going back a bit but Sensible World Of Soccer was like the greatest sequel to the greatest football game (back then). World leagues, player ratings, transfer markets. I lost some time to that game.

Sensible World Of Soccer and Geoff Crammonds Formula one really did command my attention back then.

Trip down memory lane complete.....carry on.