Gaming Playability of a sequel to a game I've never played?

[Sora de Eclaune]

There are two Nintendo DS games that are sequels to games I've never played. How playable are they without knowing anything about the previous game?

The games in question:

• Blue Dragon Plus
• Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume

 

[shadowmanwkp]

Blue dragon plus: You'll be missing a lot of the story from the first game, if you're going for the story of the game, it is better to have played blue dragon first because this is a direct sequel.
Valkyrie Profile: covenant of the plume: No serious ties to it's prequels, probably mostly cameos from the first games. This game has an independent story, so you can play this game without knowing the story of the games before it.

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

Blue dragon plus: You'll be missing a lot of the story from the first game, if you're going for the story of the game, it is better to have played blue dragon first.

Thanks. I was going to rev up that DS and play it like I did with Awakened Shadow (I'm glad that one was nearly independant of the other two games and only had SOME strange concepts I couldn't understand), but now I'll hold off until I can get a copy of the first game.

Valkyrie Profile: covenant of the plume: No serious ties to it's prequels, probably mostly cameos from the first games. This game has an independent story, so you can play this game without knowing the story of the games before it.

Hooray!

...Also, are there any other games on the DS that are sequels to games on other systems? The concept of a game on the DS continuing the story of a game on, say, a PS2, intrigues me.
...I also...uh...have too many SRPGs and Rhythm games on my Micro SD and would like to actually have other kinds of games.

 

[Qtis]

Valkyrie Profile: covenant of the plume: No serious ties to it's prequels, probably mostly cameos from the first games. This game has an independent story, so you can play this game without knowing the story of the games before it.

Hooray!

...Also, are there any other games on the DS that are sequels to games on other systems? The concept of a game on the DS continuing the story of a game on, say, a PS2, intrigues me.
...I also...uh...have too many SRPGs and Rhythm games on my Micro SD and would like to actually have other kinds of games.

I really recommend it, but it's quite hard to make a killer combo on the first run of the game. If you're interested in the PS2 version, it's quite good too (though story wise not really the same).

 

[choconado]

Well, as far as DS games that are sequels to say, Playstation titles, the "Lunar" game comes to mind. Though I haven't played it, I doubt you would get lost at all playing it. Also, technically the original two games are remakes of Sega CD games so it goes WAY back!

 

[zygie]

I also recommend giving VP:Covenant of the Plume a try, I already played through it thrice and clocked in 60+ hours. If you like SRPGs you'd find it nice.

Okami -> Okamiden, although it's only a spiritual sequel. I heard Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a true sequel, albeit from the GBA, focus being the past games' kids. Radiant Historia is also only a spiritual sequel to Radiata Stories (PS2), so... more or less from the top of my head, I can't name any direct sequels that I've played, but there's probably something.

 

[Schezo92]

I thought Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume was actually a prequel to the first game?.
and Okamiden is a sequel, kinda a sidestory sequel but a sequel nonetheless.
I haven't played Radiata Stories but from what I know about it, there's no connection at all to Radiant Historia, other than some staff members working on Radiata Stories. The gameplay isn't even similar.

 

[Janthran]

...Also, are there any other games on the DS that are sequels to games on other systems? The concept of a game on the DS continuing the story of a game on, say, a PS2, intrigues me.
...I also...uh...have too many SRPGs and Rhythm games on my Micro SD and would like to actually have other kinds of games.

Phantom Hourglass comes to mind.

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

Phantom Hourglass comes to mind.

Though it explains everything in the beginning. It's very easy to play this without having played Wind Waker.

Okami -> Okamiden, although it's only a spiritual sequel. I heard Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a true sequel, albeit from the GBA, focus being the past games' kids. Radiant Historia is also only a spiritual sequel to Radiata Stories (PS2), so... more or less from the top of my head, I can't name any direct sequels that I've played, but there's probably something.

Yeah, I've played those. We're going to be getting the originals soon. Or at least Okami. I've heard Alessa occasionally say that she's played Radiata Stories and didn't like it one bit, so Chell doesn't want me to buy it. And we don't have GBA games at our game shop.

Well, as far as DS games that are sequels to say, Playstation titles, the "Lunar" game comes to mind. Though I haven't played it, I doubt you would get lost at all playing it. Also, technically the original two games are remakes of Sega CD games so it goes WAY back!

I've thought about that series, but I haven't been able to find anything at the game shop (I like owning my games legitimately unless they're translated or I'm trying them out because I'm unsure about them). Even the Playstation 1 titles they have don't include Lunar (or PS1 memory cards, which we will need if we get any PS1 games, but that's beyond the point).

I thought Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume was actually a prequel to the first game?.

That's what I've heard, too, though I can't find much about that.

 

[xist]

I've heard Alessa occasionally say that she's played Radiata Stories and didn't like it one bit, so Chell doesn't want me to buy it.

She's wrong, it's amazing. Jack Russell (the protagonist) is one of my favourite ever lead characters. As for Valkyrie Profile CotP, any story bits you'd gain from the PSX and PS2 games would be incidental.

Edit - Ok maybe not amazing, but it's fun and entertaining...

 

[choconado]

well, I'm not surprised you couldn't find the lunar games. It seems like they're deliberate "cult" games in that they've ALWAYS been rare. Either versions of the two original games are notorious because Working Designs made the very liberal idea to only make the translation roughly accurate (pretty much only the plot points) and spend time making the scripts funny (or at least funnier, I have no idea how comedic the original version is), and Americanized with pop-culture references all over. Oddly enough, the redux editions on the PS1 are dramatically different, not only in the way the game's encounter system works, but the whole damn plot after a certain point changes completely. Also, the characters are all aged about 5-7 years to more "mature" character designs. (this doesn't mean they're "edgier", just older)

 

[Vampire Lied]

I would say the FF Crystal Chronicles games, but it's more being used to the world and gameplay than actually needing to have played the original gamecube game to understand it. It is helpful though.
I'd say about 90% of game sequels explain enough to let you grasp what's going on without having to play the previous ones to not be confused.
Games are getting better and better overall about giving a little back story so the sequels can stand solidly on their own.