In all media forms there can be found those titles that just never seem to die.
I don’t mean go away forever, or die as in be destroyed; I simply mean that there are those sequels and worlds whose creators can’t seem to just let go.
Think of any entertainment medium and I’m sure you can rattle off a half dozen series’ that surprise us all with their invulnerability; although these rare immortal story lines appear to be limited to mostly horror and children’s genres (Winnie the Pooh, Saw, Friday the 13th, Silent Hill, The Land Before Time, Super Mario Bros., etc.).
And while perhaps there are some diehard The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends fans, I’m going to take a stand and say that at a certain point a sequel becomes not only incomparable to the original, but demeaning to it’s memory.
This isn’t to say that I’m not a fan of sequels; absolutely I am- as long as they’re fun, can logically fit into the world of the original, and aren’t offensive to my sense of rational storyline law, I am always eager for the next installment in a great series (Bioshock Infinite anyone?).
However, after even the briefest of glances at the game selections available these days it appears that a great sequel is hardly the norm. With the Final Fantasy franchise in the triple digits, no end in sight for the Modern Warfare titles, and every game company eager to prove it’s newest release as the next great series, the sheer volume of bad sequel games screams right past overwhelming territory and camps out in overbearingly annoying.
The newest discussion about these sequels that won’t die appears to be revolving around the Killzone series the rumors circulating that Guerrilla Games and Sony Computer Entertainment will be soon announcing a surprise new installment, which is hinted at during the end credits of Killzone 3.
Yet while there are millions of fans and several reasons to keep this series going, I have to argue that it would be better to let the excellence that is the Killzone series end.
The Killzone series is one I’ve been with since the beginning, possibly my first first-person shooter on my first real love console the PS2 (that’s a lot of firsts) and when Killzone 2 was announced I was ecstatic, perhaps even made more so by the release of Killzone 3. But then at the end of Killzone 3to have it be hinted at that there was more to come, that this world I had come to know and love (well, respect) was going to keep spouting stories…
Well, let’s just say it would have been on par if at the end of The Return of the King, Frodo had jumped off the boat last minute with a, “Just kidding guys! Let’s have more adventures that J.R.R. Tolkien can tell everyone about!” (Oh by the way, The Lord of the Rings is historical non-fiction, in case you weren’t aware).
So while the idea of more adventures is exciting at first, the reality that your anticipated closure was all a ruse to get more of an emotional investment out of you begins to feel like emotional manipulation.
Which you shouldn’t let your parents do, let alone a game company (which is even worse because they manipulate you for money, and not into doing something morally decent like attend a cousin’s wedding).
Basically the sentiment here is that no matter how great a premise, world, or setting it has to end sometime, why not let it end on a high note? Go out with a bang rather than watch it slowly fizzle away into a sad, sputtering memory of what it once was?
Consider the stories and games that really made an impact on your life. I’m sure there a few sequels in there, but how many people can claim that Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones changed their perspective on alien life when there are five other (and arguably better) episodes?
I suppose gaming companies need to begin making difficult decisions about sequels, decisions companies like Nintendo and Square Enix never made and whose once respected and beloved characters have assuredly suffered for it.
Sure, you can milk a storyline and setting for every moment and penny it’s worth, or you can create something worthwhile that will undoubtedly earn your company more fans (and profits) in the long run.
I guess in more basic, and relatable terms; does the Killzone franchise, and any gaming franchise for that matter, want to be remembered as comparable to great defined sequels like The Lord of the Rings, or the never ending dribble that is The Land Before Time?
Do you disagree? Agree? Are there any sequels out there that continue to keep getting better? Let me know!
