Series With Sequels That Are Prequels

[GSZX1337]

I've been meaning to get back into Deus Ex since Human Revolution released, but I'm not sure which game to start with since HR is a prequel. Should I start with the original game since it's the best game ever made the first title released, or should I start with Human Revolution since it's the first title in the canon? I have a similar quandary with the recent Batman games. Arkham Oranges is a prequel to Arkham Asylum, and like Human Revolution, it's a later release.

Then, I come to Devil May Cry 3. I haven't played it, but I have played the previous two and I don't think I'd suggest starting with the third title. While DMC 3 takes place before the first game, there are gameplay innovations that I'd imagine would make the first title seem stodgy in comparison. However, the difference with Deus Ex and Batman is that unlike DMC I actually care about the story in those two games. With DMC I put gameplay above the story, but with Deus Ex, and Batman especially, I'm likely to put the story above the gameplay.

So what say you? Do you have a rule when it comes to prequel sequels?

[dsheinem]

All prequels are sequels

[Xeogred]

I laughed...

Release date order is what I generally prefer 90% of the time, with games, anime, movies, etc anything. Not always, but a lot of times there are probably things in prequels you'd never get unless you've experienced the original(s) or whatever.

[aaron]

i always play/watch in order of release. prequels are supposed to give you that "ah-ha!" moment from filling in gaps left by the original. if you aren't familiar with the first game, you won't really get that same feeling. plus, the way they were originally intended to be played is in release order, and that's likely the way everyone else played them as they came out.

[Nemoide]

I typically aim to play series in order. For me, that's release-order with the exception of remakes counting as the original.

Prequels might shed light on elements of earlier games, but it's not like there's a game developer thinking "I hope that people don't play this until they play the NEXT game which will come out a few years from now."

[Damm64]

Release date order

There. You don't need to even think about it.

[Gunstar Green]

Prequels are usually meant to be taken in the context of the older works. For example you might miss important references or plot points by playing the prequel first that only make sense if you've played the earlier games even though they happen later in the timeline. You almost always get more out of a prequel by following the order of release and not the in-universe timeline.

[Violent By Design]

Prequels are sequels, so the proper order is to play them in release day. The chronological order doesn't really matter.

Like sequels a prequel plays on stuff that has happened in the original title, so the impact of seeing something like a character who was old in one game is now young, would mean relatively little to you.

[MrEco]

Pretty much what everyone else says. Play them in release order for the best experience both in story and gameplay mechanics. I use to wonder the same thing to be honest, so I know where you're coming from.

[tintinmayo]

agree with what everyone says. Release date order, because you won't get those special moments when the prequel fills in gaps from the original and references stuff.

Also, similar to movies, the prequels may look better than the originals so you'll be disappointed if you start with the prequel first. I mean, we can all harp about graphics being secondary to gameplay, but I'm betting that there are people out there who started with Crisis Core and was disappointed with Final Fantasy VII's crude visuals.