Games that need sequels

[theblackw0lf]

Inspired by the thread about what movies need sequels. What games can you think of that demand sequels?

The biggest one I can think of is Anachronox. The story was supposed to span two games but unfortunately at this point it doesn't look like the sequel is going to happen, at least for the near future. Tragic because it was by far one of the most fascinating stories I've seen in gaming. If I ever become a multimillionare I'm going to by the rights to Anachronox and give it to Tom Hall so he can finish the game. Yeesh, writing this makes me despressed :(

[mtkafka]

Total Annihilation because no other RTS has RADAR, ANTI-RADAR, KROGOTHS, COMMANDERS and a BIG BERTHA (and other assorted stuff that TA had)!

etc

[SimplyCosmic]

Robot Alchemic Drive.

Only this time without the intentionally poorly done cheesy dubbing.

[Matthew Gallant]

Robot Alchemic Drive.

Only this time without the intentionally poorly done cheesy dubbing.
The dubbing was the best part. What they need to get rid of is the constant interruption of the gameplay.

[SimplyCosmic]

How about we agree on "Longer gameplay, online multiplayer, and an option to run the game in japanese with english subtitles like .hack, and the head of the game's music director on a pike" and we'll call it even.

[Brian Koontz]

Inspired by the thread about what movies need sequels. What games can you think of that demand sequels?

The biggest one I can think of is Anachronox. The story was supposed to span two games but unfortunately at this point it doesn't look like the sequel is going to happen, at least for the near future. Tragic because it was by far one of the most fascinating stories I've seen in gaming. If I ever become a multimillionare I'm going to by the rights to Anachronox and give it to Tom Hall so he can finish the game. Yeesh, writing this makes me despressed :(

Its criminal that Hall and Romero are playing small-ball. I'm pretty sure its temporary, but I'd rather have that temporary eliminated and them moving back to the big time. I'm betting Hall is not a money whore, but some developer should DEFINITELY test that prospect by dangling a fat-ass carrot in front of his face to see if he bites. And if not, Plan B of knocking him unconscious, dragging him to a major development house, chaining him to a PC, and encouraging him to work on a major title is always feasible.

If they had taken the time to do Anachronox right, they'd have the money and encouragement to do the sequel. Even with its problems, Anachronox is still a must-play.

[theblackw0lf]

If they had taken the time to do Anachronox right, they'd have the money and encouragement to do the sequel. Even with its problems, Anachronox is still a must-play.

I don't know about that. Even if it hadn't had the problems it had I just don't think people were aware of the game, or because of the debacle with Daikantana people refused to believe anything good could come out of Ion Storm. Believe me I remember the message boards back then where people were making fun of Anachronox solely because it happened to come out of Ion Storm. I fully believe if it hadn't been for Daikantana that Anacrhonox would have sold at least twice what it did.

[RichardC]

"Taken the time"? You jest, of course.

Although I did really enjoy Anachronox - the game itself was pretty meh, but the directing and story were excellent.

[Talisker]

Master of Orion 2 needs a sequel. Someone tried to convince me that they already made one, but I think it was just a bad dream of some sort.

[Denice Cook]

Anachronox-- some of my all-time favorite gaming characters reside within that game!

The Last Express sorely needs a sequel, too, and Amber 2 would be cool.

Can this list also include games like Tex Murphy's, that were a series but could use another installment anyway? (Did Tex and Chelsea survive the crash?) Of course, System Shock 3 would be great in that case as well...

PS/ And if nothing else, at least we have Thief 3, The Longest Journey 2, Sam & Max 2, Half-Life 2 etc. coming for real...

[RichardC]

Can this list also include games like Tex Murphy's, that were a series but could use another installment anyway? (Did Tex and Chelsea survive the crash?)

You can find out what happened next here:
http://www.unofficialtexmurphy.com/theater/theater.shtml

There's also been plans for an online game floating around for a few months. Not sure what the state of play is, but they wanted prototypes ready for about nowish.

[algahar]

i would vote for Nocturne, i really like the background story, though i think they need a new interface

Darklands would be nice too!!

[DrDel]

BAKE ME A DAIKATANA SEQUEL!!!!!

[Tyjenks]

Netstorm. I thought this game was great as a multiplayer game, but the single player mode was incredibly puzzlish. Whoa is me for Activision for not making a sequel.

[Denice Cook]

You can find out what happened next here:
http://www.unofficialtexmurphy.com/theater/theater.shtml

There's also been plans for an online game floating around for a few months. Not sure what the state of play is, but they wanted prototypes ready for about nowish.

Hey, thanks! It must be tough for Chris Jones to work at Microsoft knowing they own the Tex license yet refuse to do another full-boar game with it... :(

[Peter Olafson]

i would vote for Nocturne, i really like the background story, though i think they need a new interface

Darklands would be nice too!!

BloodRayne is essentially a sequel to Nocturne.

Peter

[RichardC]

[quote=Charybdis]
Hey, thanks! It must be tough for Chris Jones to work at Microsoft knowing they own the Tex license yet refuse to do another full-boar game with it... :(

Yeah. Although Overseer absolutely bombed - it never even got a full price release over here. It got shunted to EIDOS' short lived budget label, basically ignored by the press, and in a final stab wound, they screwed up the duplication so that a typto Disc 5 wouldn't work (it had the version name 'Oversser_5' or similar rather than the obvious and the game didn't recognise it) so it's not overly surprising. I'd like to see more of them - they all had such wonderful character to them. Those jokes were just on the right side of "I cannot BELIEVE he just said that..."

[solomani]

Torment

[JP]

Games that do NOT need and should not have sequels:

- Grim Fandango: the story and character arcs are so nicely contained within the story any return visit to the land of the dead would just be boring.
- Loom: Ditto. The universe was pretty sparse as it was.
- Neverhood: you just know they'd try to pull off the claymation look in realtime 3D and shit all over it.
- Quake: I have a little scrap of paper with Quake1's story written on it by John Romero back in early 1995. It reads "Cthulu Hell Techno Shit".
- Quake2: the Strogg backstory / universe is arguably the most uninspired thing id has ever come up with. Yet it's being revisited in Raven's Quake4.
- Full Throttle: same deal as with Grim Fandango. Yet another sequel that didn't need to happen.
- Any Final Fantasy game: It's actually fortunate that there's no story continuity from one FF title to the next (aside from the mainstays like Chocobos, Airships and a guy named Sid), because they generally do a good job of taking the main cast through their arcs by the end.
- Resident Evil: the first one didn't do anything new under the sun, subsequent titles have been pure milkage.
- Worms 2: I really wish they coulda just put all the stuff from WA and WWP into Worms 2. Incremental upgrades at retail aren't a good idea unless you're making the Sims.

Ah well, not like any publishers are chomping at the bit to make sequels for games like Grim or Neverhood anyway.

[JP]

Torment

Add this to my above list. I liked Torment's story enough to want it to keep going when it ended, but the whole point of the game is that it *shouldn't*. Given how the game ends, digging up tNO and bringing him back into undeath for more adventures would just reek of anticlimax (on top of being really damn cruel to the poor guy). The narrative frame for the game is that you're guiding him through his LAST incarnation.

You could maaaybe justify a new Torment game by introducing a new character who has an unholy curse similar to tNO, but they establish that he's pretty unique, even in the infinite universe of Planescape. Also sounds pretty chintzy.

[RichardC]

Divine Divinity 2: Riftrunner has an interesting concept, which could have worked pretty well.

[curst]

Given how the game ends, digging up tNO and bringing him back into undeath for more adventures would just reek of anticlimax (on top of being really damn cruel to the poor guy). The narrative frame for the game is that you're guiding him through his LAST incarnation.

Alternately, a TNO-based sequel could take place in the Blood War. Still, I can't imagine such a thing being as amazingly compelling as the original story.

[xahlt]

Divine Divinity 2: Riftrunner has an interesting concept, which could have worked pretty well.

Just to note, these are actually two different games because Larian is making Riftrunner (in the DD universe) as well as a true sequel, presumably called Divine Divinity 2.

[Tyjenks]

Divine Divinity 2: Riftrunner has an interesting concept, which could have worked pretty well.

Just to note, these are actually two different games because Larian is making Riftrunner (in the DD universe) as well as a true sequel, presumably called Divine Divinity 2.

Just for further clarification. Here is the press release:

Larian Studios Announces Riftrunner, The Latest Adventure From the Divinity Universe
11th June 2003: Belgium developer Larian Studios today announces the first details of their upcoming RPG, Riftrunner. Based on the award winning fantasy universe first introduced in Divine Divinity, Riftrunner is set to capture the imagination of RPG players yet again, and provides a strong stepping stone for the planned extension of the Divinity World.
Development on Riftrunner secretly started last year and has been borne by the demand from the legion of Divinity fans. Development is nearing completion, and the timing is set for the official announcement. Riftrunner will be part of the growing Divinity Universe, which will also include Divinity 2, later next year.
Divine Divinity won awards and accolades worldwide after its launch in 2002. Its huge fantasy world, strong storyline, unparalleled levels of interactivity, and unique character development system captured the hearts of RPG players. The feedback from these players convinced Larian Studios that their efforts were worthwhile, and they should continue.
Swen Vincke, Project Leader, says, “Riftrunner is a continuation of the Divinity Universe. We’ve had thousands of true fans that loved Divine Divinity, who came to our forums and voiced their appreciation, and subsequently have craved for more. Riftrunner has been developed with these fans in mind.
Using an enhanced version of the Divinity engine, and incorporating suggestions from the fan base, Riftrunner focuses on the strengths of its predecessor. Featuring a strong and compulsive storyline, a random quest generator, a new and unlimited character development system, and the unique interactive environment, Riftrunner is appealing to the true RPG fanbase. Other enhancements include 3D character animations, a new combat system and the introduction of a party. The main focus during Riftrunner’s development was to extend the RPG experience and universe.
Riftrunner: The Quest Continues In Riftrunner, you become soul-forged with a Death Knight. Your fate is to spend the rest of eternity bonded to this creature of evil, unless you can undo this curse. You and your unlikely partner embark on a great adventure to unlock the secret of rift-running your only answer to this life of darkness.
Riftrunner is due for release in Q4 2003 for PC CD-ROM. A Macintosh version will follow later.
Further information, new screens, and an FAQ can be found at www.riftrunner.com

Random quest generator...hmmm

[DennyA]

Why, with some of the titles you guys suggest, a developer could make hundreds, perhaps even thousand, of dollars on a sequel!

Me, I'd say Infocom's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which never actually ended, other than the minor problem that you'd have to deal with the designer using seances.

I'd be more interested in seeing some modern remakes rather than sequels... Chuck Yeager's Air Combat and Their Finest Hour: BoB done with modern graphics, AI, and physics, but without losing their charm and playability.

Or modern remakes of some of the EA classics: Starflight, MULE, 7 Cities, Pinball Construction Set...

[awdougherty]

Here's some I'd like to see.

Darklands 2
Syndicate 3 (the first was awesome, the second never did it for me)
Tie Fighter 2
Freelancer 2 (not that I thought the first was so great, but there seemed to be so much untapped potential)
Fallout 3 (rumored to be in production)

Here's some that I'm glad are coming.

Half Life 2
Deus Ex 2
Thief 3
HALO 2
Operation Flashpoint 2

edit: Also add X2:The Threat to the list of coming sequels.

[theblackw0lf]

Oh how can I forget Freespace 3. Another game that has lots of loose ends to tie up. I wish Interplay would just give Volition the rights to the game

[Robert Sharp]

There are too many to choose from!


Master of Magic (damn it! make it already!)
X-Com (just update the graphics, and I will be happy)
Shining Force 3 (in English this time!)
Dragon Force (there was a sequel in Japan, but not here)
Team Fortress (I heard a rumor they were working on this, but no one can confirm it!)
Planescape: Torment (forget the main character...there were TONS of interesting sideline quests/worlds to follow up on)
Rage of Mages (the sequel wasn't as good as the original, which I liked a lot...try again)
Diablo (just keep makin 'em)
Darklands (alchemy done right)
Fantasy General (some of the best music ever in a game)
A REAL recreation of the Warhammer games (fantasy, 40k, Space Hulk, whatever)


That's enough for now. I could go on for days, but the rest of you have some good ideas out there already.

[MattKeil]

At the risk of besmirching the thread with console games, it would be nice to see Sonic Team do some sequels to their worthwhile games rather than rehashing Sonic over and over until they finally end up with something good.

NiGHTS and Burning Rangers need some love from Sequel Land, IMO.

~MJK

[Luke M]

I'd really like to see another game set in the Planescape universe. I don't want the Nameless One to be in it, but it'd be cool if the game served as a back story to one of the Nameless One's friends in the original Torment. How about one for Anna? Wouldn't a female lead in a RPG be cool? At least City of Doors Initiative is working on tons of Planescape stuff for Neverwinter Nights.

I also want to see Starcraft 2, just because the universe that the original game takes place in is so rich. I want a Diablo 3, too. I think there is a lot they could do with the game. Totally seamless game universe (as seamless as GTA 3), randomly generated quests, user created content on the level of Neverwinter Nights...sky's the limit.

Freelancer is absolutely begging for a sequal, or at least an expansion pack. There is so much potential in the series. As fun as it is, it saddens me to think of the great things that could have been done. Cap ships, greater variety of random missions, much more dynamic universe...again, sky's the limit.

I'd like to see another RPG in the Fallout universe, too. Again, I think it needs to be done because of the richness of the game world. I don't know what should be added gameplay-wise, but I think there are many stories yet to be told and many facets of the post-apocolyptic world yet to be defined in Fallout.

A System Shock 2 sequal is a must.

That's all I can think of for now. Certainly many more games need sequals than movies, if only because many game sequals improve on the originals. Can't say the same for the vast majority of movie sequals.

[olaf]

Darklands
System Shock
Fallout
Master of Magic
Baldur's Gate 2 (not the baalspawn storyline, but a game that has the same scope and NPC flavor)
Jagged Alliance
Pirates! (yay, this one actually being made)

olaf

[Jason Becker]

CYBERBALL

[Tyjenks]

CYBERBALL

Amen, brother. A friend of mine has two of the dual screen set ups at his house and that is the best team arcade game..ever

[Albert Woo]

Games that do NOT need and should not have sequels:



Mortyr.

[runesword forger]

Rescue Raiders as a GBA title.

Okay, I know that one's obscure...

[Bub, Andrew]

Oh my god. I've been remembering Rescue Raiders as Choplifter for, like, a decade now. All the while wondering why Choplifter never played like Rescue Raiders. Damn!

I found the Rom. Can anyone recommend Apple II emulator?

[Desslock]

In order, of what I'd like to see sequels to:

Freespace 2;
Ultima 7;
Star Control 2
Star Raiders;

[Peter Olafson]

Speedball!

[Tyjenks]

Final Fantasy Tactics.

And for the 100th time, no not the damn GBA version that is coming out. Although, that is one of the reasons I bought an SP last week, I still want a friggin' PS2 sequel and do not understand why they have not done one.

[runesword forger]

Oh my god. I've been remembering Rescue Raiders as Choplifter for, like, a decade now. All the while wondering why Choplifter never played like Rescue Raiders. Damn!

I found the Rom. Can anyone recommend Apple II emulator?

AppleWin is good. You can get it from the runesword.com site, as well as a certain 1985 CRPG.

[Jazar]

Most were already mentioned but they deserve another nod.

Tie Fighter 2
A Planescape game (although *not* with TNO as the main char)
Ultima 7
Strike Commander
Bioforge
Anachronox
Privateer

[DennyA]

I found the Rom.
Man, this is a pet peeve. Not singling you out, because you didn't start the trend, but you're the one who most recently used the word.

If you're pirating an old SNES or 2600 game, or an Atari or Commodore *cartridge*, or a C64 or Apple II BIOS, it's a ROM. But I see references to "Amiga ROMs," to "Commodore ROMs" which are actually 1541 disk images, etc. They aren't ROMs!!! ROM should not become a universal term for "old software for an emulator."

[Tyjenks]

I found the Rom.
Man, this is a pet peeve. Not singling you out, because you didn't start the trend, but you're the one who most recently used the word.

If you're pirating an old SNES or 2600 game, or an Atari or Commodore *cartridge*, or a C64 or Apple II BIOS, it's a ROM. But I see references to "Amiga ROMs," to "Commodore ROMs" which are actually 1541 disk images, etc. They aren't ROMs!!! ROM should not become a universal term for "old software for an emulator."

Do you have a problem with this*:

http://www.tomheroes.com/images/rom12.jpg
*I think this is even one of the two issues I have

[Bub, Andrew]

On the page where I downloaded it, it was called a ROM. I plead ignorance since I only scored 17% on the geek test.

[wumpus]

I don't mean to rain on Peter's parade, but there was a sequel to speedball. (http://img.neoseeker.com/view.php?pid=3979')

[BloodKnight]

Mutant League games - You know they were fun. Now imagine it with today's tech.

System Shock - The second ending begged for a sequel.

Syndicate - Now with multiplayer action. Hell, I would like to see this become an MMOFPS or MMORTS.

Top Gear 3000 - For some reason Top Gear 3000 for the SNES was hated upon by some of the fanboys because it was 'dumb and sci-fi', unlike the previous versions. It wasn't totally sci-fi like F-Zero or Wipeout, but the blend was nice.

Anything Warhammer - Too bad the greedy folks at Gamesworkshop who overprice their merchandise (you need to spend at least 300 dollars just to compete 'normally') won't make their miniature games onto PC.

Fallout - Nuff said

Freedom Force - If the first one had better multiplayer support, I wouldn't be asking for a sequel.

Tribes - Just like the damn game, didn't care about the 30580 patches or bugs.

Elite - What more can I say?

Colony Wars - One of the greatest action sci-fi games

[BloodKnight]

Mutant League games - You know they were fun. Now imagine it with today's tech.

System Shock - The second ending begged for a sequel.

Syndicate - Now with multiplayer action. Hell, I would like to see this become an MMOFPS or MMORTS.

Top Gear 3000 - For some reason Top Gear 3000 for the SNES was hated upon by some of the fanboys because it was 'dumb and sci-fi', unlike the previous versions. It wasn't totally sci-fi like F-Zero or Wipeout, but the blend was nice.

Anything Warhammer - Too bad the greedy folks at Gamesworkshop who overprice their merchandise (you need to spend at least 300 dollars just to compete 'normally') won't make their miniature games onto PC.

Fallout - Nuff said

Freedom Force - If the first one had better multiplayer support, I wouldn't be asking for a sequel.

Tribes - Just like the damn game, didn't care about the 30580 patches or bugs.

Elite - What more can I say?

Colony Wars - One of the greatest action sci-fi games

[Peter Olafson]

Elite - What more can I say?



I believe a multiplayer Elite game is in the works. :)

Peter

[Luke M]

Elite - What more can I say?



I believe a multiplayer Elite game is in the works. :)

Peter

What's this now? I haven't see any announcements or anything.

[Peter Olafson]

Elite - What more can I say?



I believe a multiplayer Elite game is in the works. :)

Peter

What's this now? I haven't see any announcements or anything.

It was announced quite a while ago. David Braben's company (Frontier Developments) is doing it, I think.

Peter