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.

 

[Xalusc]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
While I love most of it, the core gameplay itself is just so... slow. Definitely a huge disappointment.

Pokémon X and Y

Danganronpa V3 (ugh)

 

[Bladexdsl]

OTHER M

 

[Spring_Spring]

Spyro: A New Beginning. But that was merely the start of his fall from glory.

 

[CeeDee]

It shouldn't have been a numbered entry (which I believe it wasn't in the first place).

Ding ding ding. It was always supposed to be "Sonic the Portable" a small phone game. The rebrand to "Sonic 4" was just a cheap marketing strategy.

Of course, if it were released as "Sonic the Portable" it'd still be a mediocre game!

 

[sombrerosonic]

Borderlands 3. Had such incredible gameplay that out classed b2, but the story and the characters made me want to stop playing every time.

Same, i would also say Sonic 4. That just sucked

 

[orangy57]

wolfenstein: the new colossus

not for any of the "ERMMM POLITICAL" reasons it just wasn't as fun to play

 

[RedoLane]

Too many to count, but one rather unpopular example would be V-Rally 4.

 

[Robotron2000]

There have been so many that were disappointing with Zelda 2 being up there. Games like Mass Effect Andromeda weren't really disappointing because most people knew it would be garbage. Quake 3 and FEAR 2 really hurt.

I would say it is a tie between PSO3 and Blood 2. Blood 2 was a real letdown because at the time I had a major LAN party basement setup and would have people over every week and Blood was a huge favorite so when #2 came out we were all hyped and I got it day 1, but what unfolded before our eyes was atrocious.

 

[JaapDaniels]

Tales of Monkey Island

 

[The_Fire_Shark]

Just Cause 4. Most of what made 2 & 3 fun was removed and combined that with E3 downgrade, awful story, and ugly graphics.

 

[raxadian]

Earth Worm Jim 3D definitely is bad.

 

[ChanseyIsTheBest]

Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Weak ass game.

I agree but I'd call this a technicality because it was originally only going to be for phones and called Sonic the Portable until SEGA realized they could sell it to console players. EDIT: Oops didn't read your second post. At least Episode 2 is an alright time and ahs some interesting mechanics.

 

[heathdogg]

Super Mario Bros. 2

 

[wartutor]

Super Mario Bros. 2

Mario bros. 2 was awesome loved it as a kid.

Now final fantasy 7 remake definatly needs added to this list. 10+ years to remake a game thats been around since og playstation days and they didnt get anything but a linear introduction to the actual game remade. Talk about a shit game with piss poor mechanics compared to the original and a half ass attemp to milk the original of all they can. Too bad all the sheep sat there and ohhh awwwed at the graphics to much to realize how fuckin boring and lame it actually was.

 

[Kioku]

Halo 4: It truly seemed like 343 didn't care about the previous games and the lore already in place. Not to mention the poor game mechanic changes that just were not necessary. They tried to copy COD... even had a control layout called "Fishstick" which was a Call of Duty default layout.

Borderlands 3: Honestly? I'd love to try and finish this game to see if the story is better but I can't stand what they did with UI elements, and having a Giant Lilith head take up a chunk of the middle of your screen really irked me.

Metroid Prime 3: It was not memorable, and really seemed to be pushed out to further sell the Wii's major gimmick. Gameplay was fine, but I never got past the second hour or so of story.

 

[HarveyHouston]

I dunno... I tend to like some sequels better than the original game. I guess if I was hard-pressed, it'd be something for the Switch, like Super Mario Odyssey (which was more awkward than disappointing, really).

 

[jt_1258]

Kingdom Hearts: RE Coded...litterally useless plot wise outside of one cutscene at the end and even without it you wouldn't be that confused. imagine playing kh 1 again...twice...and worse. wow

 

[Emperor_Norton]

Can't believe you'd diss Adventure of Link like that. Shaking my head in great disappointment right now.

 

[AshuraZro]

Red Faction 2. OG Geomod forever.

 

[SAIYAN48]

Chrono Cross: Nothing like Trigger.