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[rollingstart]

almost every game listed here has people arguing for why its not. just as an example, I greatly disagree that No More Heroes 2 is better than the first. The first is much better. The second lacks the character and charm of the first game, and while mechanically it's a slight improvement, it's still a bad action game. You're left with a weak action game comparable to the C or D-rate PS2 games like Eve of Extinction. It jettisoned what made NMH1 bizarrely entertaining.

I've seen people prefer AssCreed 1, Mass Effect 1, etc.

Having said that, I haven't seen anyone say that Zone of the Enders 1 is better than Zone of the Enders 2.

 

[Radogol]

Assassin's Creed 2 is the classic example.
Another one would be Fallout 3. Disliked the first 2 but the different trajectory the third game followed made it one of my favorite RPGs of all time.

Must... Not... Attack... Different... Tastes...

 

[rar]

Took it from a simple brawler with a few Nintendo characters into the juggernaut it is today

at least for me, smash 64 is alot more fun. me and my siblings/friends still play it today

 

[Beowulf28]

 

[evanft]

Mass Effect 2. The overall story was better in ME1, but everything else was vastly improved.

 

[Rodney McKay]

Banjo kazooie----->Banjo tooie

although they're both excellent games

I disagree, but I know where your coming from.

On paper it sounds like the perfect sequel; it's bigger, you get more moves, more playable characters, and inter-connectivity between levels. To me it just ended up being too big and too complicated. It just became a chore trying to get anywhere or do anything

 

[Sinoox]

The improvement from Dark Cloud to Dark Cloud 2 was mind boggling. Level 5 must have literally listened to every single critical review they got and went all out on the sequel. You can tell they were serious when they put the "high quality games" slogan in their logo too. I'll always remember that as being the most impressive sequel for me.

 

[The Librarian]

Wow, you should be banned for this post.

How is Half-Life 2 better in every aspect? Soundtrack? No. Enemy AI? No. Atmosphere? Arguable. Pacing? Hell no.

Seriously, what the fuck?

Holy shit. He should be banned for posting an opinion. How dare he!

Seriously, dude. Chill out.

But if the shooting doesn't feel good then what's the point arguing about "incentive"? No one I know has EVER heralded Half-Life 2 for its combat: it's always been about atmosphere, story, physics, and the Gravity Gun. Half-Life, in addition to its storytelling, is known for its visceral combat with enemy AI that quite frankly puts the Combine to shame.

I've really come to enjoy HL2's gunplay/combat, especially in the sequel (hello house fight in "Under the Radar").

 

[Panzon]

Just Cause 2

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

I seriously hope SML 2 has been cited at least 300 times

 

[Frost_Ace]

I disagree, but I know where your coming from.

On paper it sounds like the perfect sequel; it's bigger, you get more moves, more playable characters, and inter-connectivity between levels. To me it just ended up being too big and too complicated. It just became a chore trying to get anywhere or do anything

I dunno man, unlike donkey kong 64 (which was a mess) in banjo tooie even with gigantic levels I never felt lost: they are pretty easy to navigate and as long as you use the teleport pads there should be no problem crossing long distances.

 

[Chamber]

Pfffffffft!

 

[KenOD]

I seriously hope SML 2 has been cited at least 300 times

Gameplay wise I'll agree, but atmosphere I still prefer the original. There is something all the weird and confusing things that can't be beat for me. I like 2, but I want to return to Sarasaland someday in other games.

 

[NeededSleep]

Games i would consider progression all around from their prior versions:
-Arc the Lad 2 (god damn great game, playing it again on psp atm)
-The Witcher 2 in some aspects
-Half life 2
-KOTOR 2
-Tekken 2
-Castlevania up to SoTN.
-Super Metriod
-Diablo 2

A few games that have got worse in their progression:
Final Fantasy Tactics > FFTA,FFTA2 (not sure if you can consider them a direct sequel though)
Mario 3, Mario 64 > Mario Galaxy 1 ( never played 2 because i didnt enjoy 1, too easy)

 

[Feindflug]

Yeah, that mess of a game only has 94/100 on metacritic.

...

And GTAIV has 98/100...does that make it the best game of this gen and one of the best games ever? I don't think so.

Back on topic the most improved sequels that came to mind right now are ZoE2, Onimusha 2 & Assassin's Creed 2.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

Gameplay wise I'll agree, but atmosphere I still prefer the original. There is something all the weird and confusing things that can't be beat for me. I like 2, but I want to return to Sarasaland someday in other games.

yes but graphics? music? Atmosphere-wise I agree with you, but seeing SML2 after SML was like night and day

 

[Special J]

i've never played through kotor but i always that that general consensus was that kotor2 wasnt as good.

as for super metroid it was much more incremental. i'd say the bigger jump was from metroid to metroid 2.

 

[Tuck]

Uncharted > Uncharted 2. The first was a fun Gears-esque game with some platforming. The second was cinematic, creative, and had a fun story. Oh, and a ridiculously fun multiplayer.

Debating whether to say Galaxy > galaxy 2. The second had more variety. But the lava worlds and final level in the second, while incredible, never reached the greatness of the lava worlds / final level of the first. Yoshi was fantastic. Lack of ice Mario was disappointing.

Portal > Portal 2. the first was a quick, fun little game. The second expanded on it in every way. So many 'Holy shit' moments.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

i've never played through kotor but i always that that general consensus was that kotor2 wasnt as good.

so you're saying that KOTOR 2 is better?

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

Spoiler

Greatest game of all time.

 

[LeleSocho]

Gameplay wise I'll agree, but atmosphere I still prefer the original. There is something all the weird and confusing things that can't be beat for me. I like 2, but I want to return to Sarasaland someday in other games.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

This thread comes up roughly once per month or so and I've yet to see a better answer than Street Fighter 2.

The vast majority of other games posted were building upon games that were at least competent. I'm somewhat shocked that SF1 ever had a sequel approved for development.

 

[Mendoza]

Link's Awakening for the Zelda series.

I'm assuming that you don't know that this came after 'A Link to the Past'. In fact, Link's Awakening is probably the worst Zelda pre-N64.


Warcraft 2 > Warcraft

WarioWare Twisted > WarioWare

 

[cartman414]

I'm assuming that you don't know that this came after 'A Link to the Past'. In fact, Link's Awakening is probably the worst Zelda pre-N64.

I just happen to know all this. And it's the best in the series. You fail.

 

[Special J]

so you're saying that KOTOR 2 is better?

i said "wasnt as good" meaning kotor > kotor 2. maybe you read it wrong.

Spoiler

Greatest game of all time.

disc 4 was amazing.

 

[Dan]

I'm hoping in a couple years we'll be able to say LA Noire 2. The first isn't bad by any means, it's quite compelling even, but there's so much untapped potential and flawed mechanics to fix.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

Super Mario World 2

 

[Chuck Norris]

Nearly all sequels are improvements, the better thread would be games that were worse than their predecessors

 

[Tagg9]

Actually, I'd argue that the majority of games are better in their second iteration. The first game allows developers to test the water, while developing subsequent titles allows them to refine the graphics, core mechanics, etc.

I'll add my vote to Assassin's Creed II and Mass Effect 2.