A great video game can be like lightning in a bottle. That one perfect game that comes out at the right time and place. A breakthrough title that rewrites the script and shatters expectations.

Then comes the sequel. With a publisher breathing down your neck and fan expectations sky-high, can any sequel really live up to that first legendary title?

Even the most revered video game studios have put out a blunder or misstep when it comes to their flagship franchises. Whether it's rushing a title to cash in on a lucrative holiday season or simply a limited budget or an unrealistic deadline - many video game sequels have left fans with a bitter taste in their mouths, either by missing the mark completely to just being "okay".

Obvious disappointing video game sequels include Duke Nukem Forever - a game that took 14 years to release to a triumphant "humph"; Nintendo's Metroid: Other M - a game with a laughably bad story and frustrating controls; Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link - a game that upended its predecessor and lost a lot of what made the first game so esteemed in the first place.

But, what are your most disappointing video game sequels? Did a sequel to a game ever resonate so poorly with you that you lost interest in the franchise altogether?

Let us know your most disappointing video game sequel in the comments below.

 

[mrmagicm]

Jayro, Not so true to me for Silent hill 4, it was a good game with quite fair review....7/10, it's just other episode are more known

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[naughty_cat]

This abomination...

 

[Jayro]

Jayro, Not so true to me for Silent hill 4, it was a good game with quite fair review....7/10, it's just other episode are more known

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The PC version was an absolute MESS when it launched. Might have been a better console experience, but I hated it on PC.

 

[raxadian]

Did I mention Earth Worm Jim 3D?

 

[Snintendog]

Not a sequel per say but LiveALive Remake was just so infuriating its a souless cashgrab with some of the worst 2d art i have seen in a long time. Played the Snes Patched version and man was it a treat and was Hyped as hell for the remake.

 

[UltraDolphinRevolution]

Pretty much every console game since 2006/2007 which does not use the Wiimote pointer is a disappointment to me. It is like playing Mario 64 with a Dpad: possible but outdated.

VR games are even more impressive but too convoluted. The Wiimote was the ideal compromise between immersion, precision and simplicity.

mouse: lacks immersion
thumbstick: lacks precision
VR: lacks simplicity

Wiimote:

 

[BaamAlex]

precision and simplicity

Well...opinions differ on that. The Wiimote was already good in terms of precision. But it wasn't really the be-all and end-all. Even when later the Wiimotes got the extension "Wii Motion Plus" it was not really better. But that's just my opinion. In and of itself, I thought the Wii era was great. The thing is still plugged into my living room today.

But in terms of simplicity...totally agreed.

 

[UltraDolphinRevolution]

Well...opinions differ on that. The Wiimote was already good in terms of precision. But it wasn't really the be-all and end-all. Even when later the Wiimotes got the extension "Wii Motion Plus" it was not really better. But that's just my opinion. In and of itself, I thought the Wii era was great. The thing is still plugged into my living room today.

But in terms of simplicity...totally agreed.

I specifically mentioned the Wiimote pointer. Motion+ had no effect on the pointer. In fact, the pointer had a higher resolution than the Wii.

When sniping with the Wiimote I sometimes caught myself controlling my breath. Some Wiimote games (e.g. CoD W@W) did the Wiimote justice in that respect while others still implemented artificial swaying and a button to temporarily stop that (e.g. CoD MWR and beyond).

 

[susbaconhairman]

Mario Kart 64, or Metroid Federation Force

 

[Maximumbeans]

Not a sequel per say but LiveALive Remake was just so infuriating its a souless cashgrab with some of the worst 2d art i have seen in a long time. Played the Snes Patched version and man was it a treat and was Hyped as hell for the remake.

Would you recommend just going for the patched original then? I've been interested in the remake as I never played the original and I've seen good things, but if I can just grab a ROM and get a better experience, then that's great.

 

[Snintendog]

Would you recommend just going for the patched original then? I've been interested in the remake as I never played the original and I've seen good things, but if I can just grab a ROM and get a better experience, then that's great.

OG is better in a ton of ways both from a story perspective game play and Graphically is some of the best pixel art out there.(Subjective I absolutely hate the Octopath art style of the remake especially when they mix random 3d models into it.)

The gameplay is on the Mid to Hard in the OG instead of brain dead that the remake has but it doesnt have the "New Story" tacked on that reads like a bad fanfic extension, the QOL additions (I can almost guarantee there are Cheats to add most of them) and the super high EXP drops the remake has(og never had a grinding issue but remake your constantly over leveled).

 

[Maximumbeans]

OG is better in a ton of ways both from a story perspective game play and Graphically is some of the best pixel art out there.(Subjective I absolutely hate the Octopath art style of the remake especially when they mix random 3d models into it.)

The gameplay is on the Mid to Hard in the OG instead of brain dead that the remake has but it doesnt have the "New Story" tacked on that reads like a bad fanfic extension, the QOL additions (I can almost guarantee there are Cheats to add most of them) and the super high EXP drops the remake has(og never had a grinding issue but remake your constantly over leveled).

Welp, I'm sold. Thanks for that, I'll definitely give the original a good look