[Glass Rebel]

What was the premise? Maybe we can discuss it here.

I thought about making a thread asking what games or series can only continue as prequels for whatever reasons. Would have been mostly a list thread though so I changed my mind. Still would leat to some interesting discussion I think but it's rather specific.

[hey_it's_that_dog]

How about we just stop with both?

It's not economically feasible to develop a big budget game and then not capitalize on that work further by making a sequel or prequel (provided the first game is a success).

And I don't think the industry should abandon big budget games altogether (although they clearly need to rethink some things).

But I agree with the spirit of your comment.

[Magnus]

I appreciate the sense of drudgery and sameness that accompanies a prequel these days. You truly feel like you're getting a 'known' quantity when it'd be much more exciting to delve into unknown sequel territory, especially where the story is concerned.

That said, there's something magical about a well done prequel element that binds a story together and creates moments of realization that unexpectedly fill in gaps, shed light on old mysteries or reveal things that positively transform aspects of the original game, making a replay of that game all the more special.

[Hansel]

Well considering DMC3, MGS3 and SotC are all prequels, I think prequels are usually my favourites.

[Anteater]

I don't care, it's up to the dev to think whether there are potentials with the sequel/prequel, I would let them make up their minds on whether there are room to expand with a prequel and whether or not a sequel will be better, same goes to genre, single player or multiplayer. They are all fun if they're done right.

As long as it's fun and awesome. If they come up with something that doesn't work then I could just play something else, they could do whatever they want that they think will be best.

[Incendiary]

I think prequels can be good if they're done right. Wasn't Devil May Cry 3 a prequel? That, Metal Gear Solid 3, those kinds of prequels are fine. I wouldn't ever judge a prequel just on its prequelness, because the gameplay could still be the most refined of the series.

Prequels are kind of necessary as well, when you get to a pretty finite end of a story.

[Ricky_R]

I thought about making a thread asking what games or series can only continue as prequels for whatever reasons. Would have been mostly a list thread though so I changed my mind. Still would leat to some interesting discussion I think but it's rather specific.

Yeah that would make good discussion. I guess you can still make the thread since this one will probably die out soon. Anyway, even though it would be about prequels, threads will be different in core discussion I think.

[Shrinnan]

I don't really care as long as the prequel is set significantly far from the series in question and that the prequel is not a numbered part of the series.

[Derrick01]

Sequel every single time. I don't want to go backwards and only deal with a smaller story because all of the big points were already covered. Give me new important stuff.

[LuchaShaq]

ODST/Reach are the only prequels I've ever liked but that was 99% gameplay.

[PsychoWARD23]

One of the reasons I was so interested in playing Reach's campaign was no mater what, Reach fell, and the player knew that.

So I respectfully disagree OP.

Sequel every single time. I don't want to go backwards and only deal with a smaller story because all of the big points were already covered. Give me new important stuff.

[fernoca]

As far as better or worse, that depends. What I always find weird are prequels were technology and other things are more advanced; which is kinda weird but no biggie. I like when they put teases to the other games or you meet them when they were younger or something.

Or the "reboot" side of things, like in Mortal Kombat. Were the game it's a prequel/retelling of the first 3 games; it's kinda cool too.

In general, don't mind. As long as there's quality and the story serves a reason and is told well, not a "well, here's a prequel or something while we make a sequel".

[Derrick01]

Not sure why you did that. Deus Ex is all about gameplay.

[dummydecoy]

That sounds like a quirk OP, but mine is even worst. I refuse to play a sequel if I don't have a copy of the prequel, and most importantly, the prequels have to be on the same platform as the sequel I want to play.

So now that I play on the PS3/psp, games like Max Payne 3, Mass Effect 2 and (if ever) Diablo 3 are insta-pass. :( I want continuity god damnit!

[Gandara]

Devil may cry 3 was the correct way to do a prequel and we knew what was going to happen to Dante's Brother

[Frankfurt]

Prequels in the vain of MGS3 are fine. The time gap has to be significant enough so that the game has you play with a new character in a completely different time period/setting. Prequels in the vain of GoW4 and Chains of Olympus are generally uninteresting to me.

Yep. Halo Reach - fine. The rumored Gears prequel from People Can Fly with Marcus before he was arrested? Not so fine.

[truly101]

As long as there is a truly good story to tell then I don't care.

[PsychoWARD23]

Not sure why you did that. Deus Ex is all about gameplay.

Still a prequel doe

[MigueelDnd]

I generally dislike prequels. For example, I'm not too keen on the premise of GoW:A but I can live with it because I don't play the GoW series for it's story, I play it for the nice combat, amazing graphics, and specially the great boss battles. But if they decided to make a prequel of a game like, for example, Zero Escape, even though I LOVE the series, I would definitely skip that game. It depends on the game series.

[LeadenStride]

I don't mind prequels. At least they rarely expand the story of a previous title into absurd directions, like sequels do sometimes.
New IPs are the best anyway. As longer series continue, the more likely the developers will fuck them up at some point. Not only story- but also gameplay-wise.

[SmartBase]

I hate, HATE prequels. No point in me playing it if I already know how it's going to end.

[Fjordson]

As long as there is a truly good story to tell then I don't care.

Yeah, this is how I feel.

If I have to choose, I'd probably say sequel. Always prefer a story or universe to continue into new territory. With a prequel, most of the time you know where you're going to end up in the fiction.

[MuseManMike]

Never prequels if I have a choice.

They can be better games that I do enjoy, but I don't prefer them. They feel more creatively bankrupt than sequels. I ultimately know what happens. Move on.

[kittens]

I have a slight preference towards sequels, but don't dislike prequels.

[Tribes of Trusty]

I don't dislike prequels, nor sequels, as long as the game is good.

And yeah, I liked most of the quoted prequels in this thread.

[TheShampion]

I don't understand the hate on prequels, especially for video games.

Also, the idea of prequels being bad because "you already know what's going to happen!" is ridiculous. Some of the best stories ever told (Romeo & Juliet, Oedipus Rex) are based on the audience knowing how it is going to end. Granted, video games do not have the greatest stories ever told, not by a long shot, but disliking prequels just in general is ridiculous.

Have people grown so used to "twists" and "spoilers" in media that stories that you know the ending are completely out of fashion? Man, historical fiction is FUCKED (sarcasm brought to you by Titanic 3D, coming to theaters near you).

[Sn4ke_911]

Depends on the game. For example the MGS series. I rather see a prequel with the birth of Solid Snake, Zanzibar, Gray Fox, Fight against Big Boss etc. instead of more over the top hightech shit as it was in MGS4.

[Black_Stride]

I actually like prequels, its like im getting further insite into the games universe....most of the time the prequels breath new life into series that are otherwise getting stale.

My excitement for Halo Reach was much higher than that for Halo 4.
Im looking forward to Ascension (not GOW4) much more than a true GOW4 sequel.
Metal Gear Solid 3 is still my favorite MGS, it was just what i needed at that time.
Deus Ex Human Revolution was absolutely brilliant, it made me appreciate Deus Ex so much more, while still be a good stand-alone game by itself.
Stalker: Clear Sky was awesome, the fact that you dont even play Sterlok yet meet him made it that much more awesome.
Knights Of The Old Republic, while not really a prequel to any game per say, it was a prequel pretty much to the whole universe.
Halo: Wars maybe just because i really enjoyed the game im being blinded, but i was absolutely ecstatic to see so many Spartans alive and kicking....without such a prequel we would only have MC
GTA: San Andreas....not a direct prequel i guess, but meet Claude and Catalina was a gift from the gods at R*

I think Prequels actually breath life into series, that might get otherwise stale.. God of War for me is the prime example....how much vengence can Kratos possibly get....he practically ended the world for vengence....so a prequel was the only way to make GOW relevent again(for me).

Same thing with Gears of War....now that the main storyline is finished, why not give us Gears of War: The Pendulum Years....i know how the story ends, but i want to know what happened before and/or inbetween games.

I vote prequels and sequels can both be good, but i feel prequels "can" add more(i know weird) to a game series than sequels.

[ScreenSplitter]

Prequels are the most stupid invention of creative artists everywhere, and I sincerely wish they'd die off. I can't think of a prequel I've liked.

It's taking all the subtle storytelling they established in the original film/game/book, and beating you around the head with "HEY! HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED!". We know Anakin turned to the dark side. We don't need to see that. We know it happened. We know he becomes Darth Vader.

With a game like God of War I guess the story matters less so, but when I see people crying for prequels to their favourite franchises I have to sigh. Because we know how it's going to end. Kratos is going to chuck himself off a cliff.

[TheShampion]

Prequels are the most stupid invention of creative artists everywhere, and I sincerely wish they'd die off. I can't think of a prequel I've liked.

You know, personal opinions and all, but if you don't like Yoshi's Island, Castlevania III, Dragon Quest III, Metroid Prime, DMC3, MGS3, and other great video game prequals, then I I just don't know what to say.

[Black_Stride]

Prequels are the most stupid invention of creative artists everywhere, and I sincerely wish they'd die off. I can't think of a prequel I've liked. It's taking all the subtle storytelling they established in the original film/game/book, and beating you around the head with "HEY! HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED!".

^Never played MGS3, ClearSky or KOTOR clearly.

P.S Prometheus will hopefully change your opini........nah this is GAF i shouldnt expect so much.

[Joei]

Anyone in here who is absolutely against prequels... I could write a long post defending them and all, but I'll just stick with this: you guys are idiots.

[Black_Stride]

Prequels are the most stupid invention of creative artists everywhere, and I sincerely wish they'd die off.

Anyone in here who is absolutely against prequels... I could write a long post defending them and all, but I'll just stick with this: you guys are idiots.

GAF

[Tambini]

It depends.

For God of War, I wanted to play God of War on my PSP, on the go, but I didn't want to play a sequel to 2, because we all knew it would kick more ass on PS3.

As for GOW4, I was a bit dissapointed when I heard it was a prequel but I think it could be interesting so I can't wait to see more.

[Dr.Palutena]

I like prequels when they don't outright lead into the next entry but give new light on something interesting that happened before the series started. I like sequels when they feel warranted and not like they are cashing in on a series who's story has already "ended".

I'm ok with either and don't prefer one over the other.

[Bisnic]

I know most of GAF disagree, but i'd love it if the next Mass Effect game was a prequel, before Shepard story. There is so much stuff they could show. Beside, it could be a good excuse to give us the awesome Saren's theme back.

[ctrayne]

.

[To Far Away Times]

I don't care for prequels as much because you usually know how the story is going to end.

[Ricky_R]

I don't understand the hate on prequels, especially for video games. Also, the idea of prequels being bad because "you already know what's going to happen!" is ridiculous. Some of the best stories ever told (Romeo & Juliet, Oedipus Rex) are based on the audience knowing how it is going to end. Granted, video games do not have the greatest stories ever told, not by a long shot, but disliking prequels just in general is ridiculous. Have people grown so used to "twists" and "spoilers" in media that stories that you know the ending are completely out of fashion? Man, historical fiction is FUCKED (sarcasm brought to you by Titanic 3D, coming to theaters near you).

I understand your point of view, but I think that it's a fair sentiment to dislike prequels for the reasons I stated. I also don't think it's ridiculous to feel that way. I can enjoy the games for what they are, but games like GOW, even though the story isn't anything special, are better for me when they keep expanding on it, instead of going back. I know that stories in video games are below the standard, yada yada, etc... But when I like a video game story or when I'm having fun with the characters and what's unveiling in them, I feel like wanting more of it going forward.

It's just how I feel, even with movies. I'm more tolerant with movies for some weird reason though, like I said in a previous post.

[RiderKairuu]

Stories that take place before a game I've already played = okay. Stories that just fill in the blanks and end exactly where the original game starts = sucks. It's just for fan service. Good example - MGS3. Bad example - Crisis Core

I agree with this but I'll also add that I quite enjoyed Crisis Core.

For me it mostly depends on what blanks are filled in and do those blanks necessarily NEED to be filled in that determines whether or not I like the prequel.

I'll use DMC3 as an example: even though the story in those games have never been a strong part of the series, this game served as a good prequel because it fleshed Dante and Vergils character and gave you a good sense of the relationship those two had prior to Vergils fate.