Great Games With Bad Sequels – Investment Policy

Even the most beloved game series occasionally stumble and release titles that don’t appeal to everyone. Sometimes these games are universally disliked, and other times they sharply divide the fanbase. We’ll be looking at examples of both. While not necessarily bad games, these entries are often ones fans would prefer to forget, for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes a game will change a key character or move the story to an illogical location. A complete removal of established characters is another telltale sign. While these games aren’t necessarily bad – some people might still enjoy them – they generally aren’t considered the strongest entries in their series.

Devil May Cry 2

Is That Really Dante?

Many fans were disappointed with Devil May Cry 2 after enjoying the first game. The original Devil May Cry was praised for its stylish combat and Dante’s witty, fast-paced dialogue.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed with the second Devil May Cry game. Dante barely spoke, and while the combos were neat, the game itself felt way too easy. Looking back, it’s an okay action game, but it just doesn’t live up to the amazing standard set by the rest of the series. It’s almost like Capcom wishes they could pretend it never happened!

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

A Weird End To A Remake Trilogy

Out of all the Call of Duty games, only one has been completely restarted. Originally launched in 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revolutionized the series and spawned a beloved three-game story arc.

After successful reboots in 2019 and 2022, expectations were high for the 2023 release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Unfortunately, the game disappointed many players. Issues with bugs, a brief and unusual story, and a lack of overall refinement meant it didn’t live up to the usual quality of Call of Duty titles.

Metal Gear Survive

The Phantom Game

Following Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami, Metal Gear Survive was the first new Metal Gear game released. While fans felt uneasy about the change, they hoped Konami’s remaining team could still deliver a quality experience.

The game had potential as a survival experience, and the enemies were genuinely unsettling, but ultimately it lacked the depth to really grab your attention. It also didn’t feel like a proper Metal Gear game, feeling more like a strange survival title simply using the franchise’s name.

Metroid: Other M

The Baby

Metroid: Other M is a divisive game. Many players enjoy its core gameplay – the transitions between 2D and 3D sections are excellent, the combat is fast-paced, and the level design is intricate and well-crafted. However, other aspects of the game have caused disagreement among fans.

The biggest issue with the game is its story. Giving Samus a voice and portraying her as someone who takes orders from other characters didn’t resonate with fans. Samus is a legendary, strong, and silent character in video game history, and seeing her so obedient in Metroid: Other M was a letdown for many.

Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite

A Weird Return

Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is the fourth main installment in the series, and it’s the first to include a detailed story mode similar to the 2011 reboot of Mortal Kombat. Though a bit cheesy, the story is enjoyable, and the gameplay is solid overall. However, it didn’t quite reach the high standard set by other Capcom fighting games.

Fans were most disappointed by the game’s character selection. X-Men characters have a long history with Capcom fighting games, debuting in X-Men: Children of the Atom back in 1994. Removing them from Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite due to decisions made by Marvel and Disney about the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt like a major letdown.

Dino Crisis 3

Borrowing From Jason X

Around the turn of the millennium, many games started focusing on futuristic settings, especially in space, as seen in titles like Jason X. Dino Crisis 3 followed this trend, shifting from the Earth-based facilities of the first two games to a space station setting for this installment.

I’ve always loved how Capcom doesn’t take itself too seriously in games like Resident Evil – they know how to have fun with horror! And honestly, the concept of fighting dinosaurs in space sounded awesome. But this sequel… well, pretty much everyone hated it. The controls were just awful, and the camera angles made everything way more frustrating than it needed to be. It really ruined what could have been a great idea.

Mega Man X7

Go Home, Axl

The Mega Man X games on the Super Nintendo were all well-received, and the PlayStation versions were decent. However, Mega Man X7 marked a noticeable decline in quality. One major change was that the main character, X, was unavailable for much of the game, forcing players to choose between playing as Zero or Axl, a brand new character.

Axl felt like a new puppy trying too hard to be cool, and it didn’t quite work. He came across as a bit of a show-off. The game’s controls, with its 2.5D style, also weren’t as fluid as those in other games.

Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded

Digital Doubles

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded first came out on mobile phones in Japan, and was later remade for the DS. It’s generally considered the most skippable game in the Kingdom Hearts series, and most fans haven’t played it.

This game mostly revisits the Disney worlds from the original Kingdom Hearts, and it doesn’t really add anything new to the story. While it’s a decent action game for the DS, it’s not one of the best in the Kingdom Hearts series. Fans can safely skip Kingdom Hearts Re:coded without missing out on important plot details.

2025-12-06 14:39