It can be a good old regular trilogy like Mass Effect, or a trilogy that later "degenerated" into more games (like the first three of a series, i.e. Silent Hill), or a selection of three from a series (Kingdom Hearts and the first two games form a distinct trilogy, but then so would KH1, KH2 and KH3) or a trilogy of games by the same people with things in common (something akin to ICO and company, once the last bit gets released). So, basically, "title says it all" - what's your favorite videogame trilogy and why?
Here comenceth my lengthy OP:
I was thinking about Donkey Kong Country the other day. Maybe because Nintendo's releasing a new DK game, I dunno. I started reminiscing about my SNES days. DKC was my go-to game. It had gorgeous 3D graphics (that's what we called them anyway!) and co-op of the take-your-turn kind, which was very much appreciated by my littler sibling. And you could save the game, thank god, and pick it up later on. You didn't have to cheat with some BS password system, you could actually continue YOUR quest and your percent completion.
Yes, this is all a given now. Hell, it was a given back then, and for a lot of games. But DKC stuck with me in ways that very few other games have, both from the past and the present. Nostalgia, you say? I dusted my cartridges a few days back and have been playing the first couple of games intermitently. They hold up nicely. I can't think of any criticism, unless you want to talk about "character development" and "narrative arcs". The arc is as curvy as how many different theme worlds you explore, and how much darker can the music get. And speaking of music - what a sweet OST by David Wise and co. How many games can you think of where the audio becomes as vital to the atmosphere as the visuals, to the point of surpassing them at times?
The second game is a solid improvement on the first. We now have collectibles (the DK coins), vendor trash (the Bonus coins) and the game keeps a better track of completion by signalling how much you're missing from one level and exactly what. Plus, there's that precious gliding ability that carries over to the third game as well. And the music remains top notch in its quality, diversity and ability to be both an integral part of the game and work on its own.
This reminds me of that Extra Punctuation Yahtzee did on early videogame music. Basic beat in the background and a series of electronic beeps and boops going on in the foreground. They didn't have much to go on back then. But every tune carries so much character at the same time! Sometimes it doesn't even seem to go with the scenery, but you accept it as a source of emotion nonetheless.
I'm not sure each game is better than the last, but as a trilogy it works beautifully. Gameplay mechanics remain the same while incorporating stuff like the glide and the piggyback, you get a "dark and edgy" middle, there's always a slight graphical improvement, music remains top notch and above all, none of the games feels like a betrayal against anything. No outrages, no lamentations, no disappointments... it's the trilogy that worked the best for me.
Here comenceth my lengthy OP:
I was thinking about Donkey Kong Country the other day. Maybe because Nintendo's releasing a new DK game, I dunno. I started reminiscing about my SNES days. DKC was my go-to game. It had gorgeous 3D graphics (that's what we called them anyway!) and co-op of the take-your-turn kind, which was very much appreciated by my littler sibling. And you could save the game, thank god, and pick it up later on. You didn't have to cheat with some BS password system, you could actually continue YOUR quest and your percent completion.
Yes, this is all a given now. Hell, it was a given back then, and for a lot of games. But DKC stuck with me in ways that very few other games have, both from the past and the present. Nostalgia, you say? I dusted my cartridges a few days back and have been playing the first couple of games intermitently. They hold up nicely. I can't think of any criticism, unless you want to talk about "character development" and "narrative arcs". The arc is as curvy as how many different theme worlds you explore, and how much darker can the music get. And speaking of music - what a sweet OST by David Wise and co. How many games can you think of where the audio becomes as vital to the atmosphere as the visuals, to the point of surpassing them at times?
The second game is a solid improvement on the first. We now have collectibles (the DK coins), vendor trash (the Bonus coins) and the game keeps a better track of completion by signalling how much you're missing from one level and exactly what. Plus, there's that precious gliding ability that carries over to the third game as well. And the music remains top notch in its quality, diversity and ability to be both an integral part of the game and work on its own.
This reminds me of that Extra Punctuation Yahtzee did on early videogame music. Basic beat in the background and a series of electronic beeps and boops going on in the foreground. They didn't have much to go on back then. But every tune carries so much character at the same time! Sometimes it doesn't even seem to go with the scenery, but you accept it as a source of emotion nonetheless.
I'm not sure each game is better than the last, but as a trilogy it works beautifully. Gameplay mechanics remain the same while incorporating stuff like the glide and the piggyback, you get a "dark and edgy" middle, there's always a slight graphical improvement, music remains top notch and above all, none of the games feels like a betrayal against anything. No outrages, no lamentations, no disappointments... it's the trilogy that worked the best for me.
