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.

 

[CarlosEFML]

A lot of people talked about PSO2:NG, but for me, the worst sequel ever was (Genesis/SMD) Phantasy Star 3.

 

[NeroAngelo]

How come? I haven't played it yet but I'm looking forward to it. Played the first one through co-op with friends and it was great.

they kinda threw all the good stuff out the window

 

[VMHoss]

Probably Anubis 2, but is that even a sequel?

 

[duwen]

Actraiser 2

 

[phalk]

The 3rd Birthday

Post automatically merged: Oct 24, 2022

Croc 2.
I can't believe how they f-ed the controls so badly. It was just ok in Croc: Legend of the Gobbos.

Old person detected.

 

[Megadriver94]

The 3rd Birthday

Post automatically merged: Oct 24, 2022

Old person detected.

>OlD pErSOn DeTeCtEd
How is he old or elderly, Plebian?

 

[SG854]

The 3rd Birthday

Post automatically merged: Oct 24, 2022

Old person detected.

Those games are a croc of shit

 

[mattdog1000000]

Yoshi's Story was soul-crushing, especially after Yoshi's Island had set expectations so high.

 

[RyanAnayaMc]

I know Call of Duty is generally disliked in this forum, but I'm a fan of the series. Regardless, the campaign for Black Ops 3 was terrible. World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops II had a pretty good and cohesive story going for it, but Black Ops 3 had the worst campaign in the whole series. Its only tie to the previous games is the mention of the bad guy's name from Black Ops II only ONCE. Aside from that, it's an uninteresting story with very stupid dialogues, most notably "train go boom". Maybe that shitshow is why Black Ops 4 didn't have a campaign lmao

 

[my2k2zx2]

Hold on, you grew up with a 3DO?

Like, it was your childhood console?

…can you tell us more, please?

Born 1980, grew up in the golden age of gaming. I bought a 3DO when they were being blown out cheap at the back of gaming magazines. I think I got the System, Need for Speed and Escape from Monster Manor for $150ish.

 

[City]

Born 1980, grew up in the golden age of gaming. I bought a 3DO when they were being blown out cheap at the back of gaming magazines. I think I got the System, Need for Speed and Escape from Monster Manor for $150ish.

Was it at its late stage/was discontinued already? How easy was it for you to find games to buy? Or was it easier to pirate?

 

[Defiance]

Crysis 2. I have always loved the first– mainly for its story– but also for the exploration/world-building, characters, and of course graphics. Warhead was also very engaging.

The sequel, however, was just rather muddled and flat in comparison. Felt like a completely different game, more in the style of CoD. Never even bothered with the third game..

 

[oBluEx]

Halo 3. Not for the campaign though, as that was wonderful. It was the mess of the Multiplayer Online. It's amazing that Halo 3's hit registration was finally fixed 2-3 years ago. Made the online finally playable and I was back to my old god like Halo 2 self. Casuals or people that didn't play Halo 2 online from start to finish would not notice this and how awful the MP actually was.

 

[my2k2zx2]

Was it at its late stage/was discontinued already? How easy was it for you to find games to buy? Or was it easier to pirate?

Late state for the 3DO, was around 1996-1997 when we got the system. Games were still available at places like Funcoland, Babbages, Software Etc. Home CDR burners were very expensive and having dialup internet did not help. Game rental was where it was at, we had 4-5 places in our town that had games for just about every system, was $2-$3 per night.

 

[derYASIN]

Rune Factory 5.
I can't even put it into words.

 

[Deleted member 586536]

Yoshi's New Island. It was absolute soulless trash that didn't need to exist.

my brain does not like to remember it's existance. My god the OST makes me want to scream.

 

[The Catboy]

my brain does not like to remember it's existance. My god the OST makes me want to scream.

You mean the same song just slightly changed?! Seriously, why? This brain also locked out the most of the memories of the game.

 

[Deleted member 586536]

You mean the same song just slightly changed?! Seriously, why? This brain also locked out the most of the memories of the game.

I was about to go on a rant about how the OST want's to make me tear my ear drums out with the absolutely god awful instruments. But then I realized/re remembered that only some of the OST is as awful as here.
Still also doesn't fix that well, it's extremely bland and the level design is just... generic. Oh look, giant egg. I wonder I'm going to get a concussion and forget that this game existed.

 

[LainaGabranth]

Overwatch 2 :^)

If I say why, the soyboy jannies will get mad at me for not liking a game made by sex pests and played by people okay with sexual harassment.

 

[The Catboy]

I was about to go on a rant about how the OST want's to make me tear my ear drums out with the absolutely god awful instruments. But then I realized/re remembered that only some of the OST is as awful as here.
Still also doesn't fix that well, it's extremely bland and the level design is just... generic. Oh look, giant egg. I wonder I'm going to get a concussion and forget that this game existed.

I legit don’t remember any of OST because sold the game and went to piracy