10 Video Game Sequels That Surpass Their Predecessor

Hey, not all sequels suck! Forget about Speed 2: Cruise Control, that movie was garbage. We’ve grouped together a few sequels of well known video game titles that prove that the game industry isn’t disintegrating year after year. Hit the jump to catch the nostalgia:

Tomb Raider 2

More guns and rounder boobs is more than enough reason for the sequel to Tomb Raider to surpass its predecessor. Retaining Lara’s English accent but adding player controlled vehicles makes this sequel one to be remembered.

Resident Evil 2

What made the sequel to Resident Evil so much better was pretty much everything. You start off fighting hordes of zombies in a chaotic city. Most of the time, running is a safer option than fighting and that’s what survival horror is all about. With tons of additions and an amazing amount of replay oriented content, it’s hard not to see why Resident Evil 2 is a fan favorite.

Street Fighter II

Has anyone even played the original Street Fighter? If you have, you probably don’t remember what a shit fest it was. However, the sequel is regarded as one of the best fighting games of all time if not the best. Great control scheme and a solid cast of characters set it apart from other fighting games of its time.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

With the addition of Tails and a more lenient objective overall, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 shines over its predecessor. It shows that players don’t enjoy being forced to collect every chaos emerald.

Tekken 2

The original Tekken was good, but Tekken 2 was Tony the Tiger great. Though not much was changed visually, reversals and additional throws were added into the game. You could say that this game set the standard for every Tekken game that followed

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

It’s difficult to surpass a great game with an even greater game but Tecmo is full of surprises. Maybe the intro cut scene isn’t as grand as the original Ninja Gaiden, the fact remains: it’s a faster paced game. They even added in the ability to scale the walls so you’re not caught with your pants down when birds dive down for a killing blow. Jaquio, the villain from Ninja Gaiden, is reborn in the sequel which means one thing: Ryu didn’t seal the deal the first time around. Even the box art looks cooler. Go ahead. Make me say “great” one more time. I dare you.

Mega Man 2

This is the definitive Mega Man game. The presentation and the music of the game far surpassed its predecessor and marked the series permanently in video game culture with some of the worst spin-offs known to man kind. Air Man? Quick Man? Enough said.

Diablo II

You cannot deny the effect the original Diablo had on the gaming world. However, its sequel ditched the sixteen level single dungeon in favor of a true adventure experience that had the player not only roaming multiple dungeons but multiple locales in the Diablo-based realm. More classes, more content and a multiplayer feature, what more could you ask for? How about a secret cow level…

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness

Orcs & Humans has the look of a game that came out three years too late. A year later, Tides of Darkness would polish the graphics in such an appealing way, it would launch the series into commercial success. Sure, the strategy elements were primarily the same, with added units on both sides of the battle. New voices with humorous repetition payed homage to the previous installment with higher quality sounds and quirkier dialogue.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

Lightsabers and force powers added to the classic Star Wars FPS, Dark Forces. What more needs to be said?