Series With Sequels That Are Prequels

[GSZX1337]

Hmm, I was hoping for a bit more in the way of diversity; it looks like almost everyone goes in order of release date.

Also, similar to movies, the prequels may look better than the originals so you'll be disappointed if you start with the prequel first.

Now that's something I haven't considered.

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.

Even if you take that standard to heart, it is a bit hard to take Cloud's Popeye arms seriously. That's especially true after seeing the high budget CGI cutscenes in Dirge of Cerberus.

...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."

Well, I don't think Ion Storm had a Deus Ex prequel planned back in '99.

I laughed...

I'm kinda afraid to ask, but were you laughing at my post or dsh's.

All prequels are sequels

Prequels are sequels

I'm going by Dictionary.com's definitions:
prequel - a literary, dramatic, or filmic work that prefigures a later work, as by portraying the same characters at a younger age.

sequel - a literary work, movie, etc., that is complete in itself but continues the narrative of a preceding work.

[MrNash]

I'll add my voice to the chorus of people who play their games in order of release. I do have some games in my collection that are from incomplete series, but those I pick up as I come across them. ie. I have Digital Devil Saga Pt. 2 and I've played a fair bit of it, but still don't have the first game in my collection. Granted, the second game tries to recap a lot of stuff from the first so players aren't totally lost. Also, there's the Star Ocean series. It only started in the West with the second game, so I had to start with that game and eventually track down a fan translation of the first game. Those two examples are much more the exception than the rule for me, though.

[SirGawain]

I would say for a first play through a series, go with release date. After that, it is up to you. There are some that I have played and always went by release date, it just depends. I would play Devil May Cry by release date, but Metal Gear chronologically. No real reason for either, just how I do it.

[CavZee]

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.

This is how I generally look at it. Especially in regards to games since they're constantly refining or adding ti the mechanics of the gameplay.