Poll: Do you ever buy the sequels to games without ever playing the originals?

[Atomic Yazzy]

No. Well I try not to.

For example, my main console is a 360. I don't think HL1 is available at all.

I've played the first one on the PS2. It's actually pretty fun. Half Life 2 is waaay different compared to it.

 

[FretfulGnome]

For the most part yes. It seems like the majority of games that come out these days are sequels anyway. Although in anticipation for Gothic 4 I decided to play Gothic 1 and if I like it I'll continue on to play both 2 & 3. So far I'm really enjoying it. I have to admit though, it's a pretty damn hard game. I've been playing for about 15 hours and I'm only level 5 , most of that is do to reloads though. Damn glitches.

 

[Thaius]

If not for games being such an intensely amazing storytelling medium now, I would be fine with it, since most sequels have improves gameplay over the originals. But considering the importance of story continuity, I despise the very idea of it. I've only done it twice, and I still hate myself for it and want to go back and play the ones I missed.

 

[Anachronism]

It depends. If the series has a continuous storyline a la Halo or Baldur's Gate, then I usually don't. If, on the other hand, each game's story stands on its own, like The Elder Scrolls or Quake, then I will. And indeed have.

 

[The Austin]

I voted NO, but in retrospect, I should have said Yes.

Half Life 2, Saints Row 2, and some other junk.

 

[Woodsey]

Very rarely - I'm very big on story in games and I'd much prefer to experience it instead of reading it on Wikipedia.

 

[SenorFuzzeh]

Nope. Cuz then you usually miss so much and the game expierence isn't the same. Before I played MGS4 I went back and played 1-3 that I had never played before, and now its one of my favorite game series. Thatd be like if someone played Mass Effect 2 without playing the first, it wouldnt be the same expierence!

EDIT: the onyl time ive done it is one games where it doesnt really matter if you played the orginals, like the FF games or Street Fighter, or Elder Scrolls.

A little off topic, but I was wondering should I get Mass Effect? Im sure I could pick up the first one for like $20.

How are the gameplay mechanics, because I have played KotOR before and I was not a huge fan of the combat.

Does the combat flow nicely?

OT: If the sequel to the game relies heavily on the story of the original, with not recapping, then I like to play the original first.

The first Mass effects gameplay CAN (not always) feel a little bit stale, but it doesn't have gameplay anything like Kotor. Its a third-person shooter with cover systems, and powers you can use. Like if your an Adept you can use jedi like powers and in the middle of combat just throw a bunch of guys or cause them to forget what gravity is and just start floating around for pickings. Or if your an enginer you can take down shields or even take control over enemy robots. While doing this finding new weapons and armors all the times to trick out your Commander Shepard. But thats only half of the gameplay. The second half is all about deciding what your gonna say to people and other characters. Who to save, who to love, who to hate, who to sign autographs for. Stuff like that. Its got a lot of talking, but its all well written.

If its only twenty bucks you should try it out.

Plus the second mass effects gameplay is much more polished and feels ALOT better and mroe action-oriented (For all of you 10-13 year olds out there that cant go 5 minutes without shooting something) But it adds a more epic feel. So that'll be something to look forward too.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I only buy it if the story is unrelated to the previous one (GTAIV) or if the story isnt a major factor in the greatness of the game(Saints Row 2).

But I might skip one instalment of a series and do some catch up on what I missed.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

Hello escapists, I have always been late on the gaming curve. In all actuality I feel as though I have just caught up on "the times" so to speak.

And because of this I have a few games that are the sequels in the series, but have never played the original.

Honestly, I do feel bad playing the second part of a series without playing the first...makes me feel like a poser or something.

Anyway I own Halo 3 (and ODST), and Assassin's Creed 2 and have never beaten the originals of those games.

Have you guys ever done this, and if so does it make you feel bad?

You're not missing out with Halo 2, I can assure you! But Halo:CE is my absolute favourite out of the whole series, probably followed closely by ODST.

Assassin's Creed isn't worth playing if you've already played AC2, it's just more of the same, only more frustrating and boring.

Bought MGS4 having never played any of the previous versions. Like jumping straight into a crazy anime that's story heavy. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but I had to do some reading to catch up on what I was witnessing.

But yeah, I'll play sequels having never played the original. I, generally don't, but I have in the past.

Wow! I barely understood MGS4 even having played all three of the ones before multiple times! That was like the video game equivelent of suicide! However I commend you for your bravery!

OT: I have jumped into the middle of a series before with games like Fallout 3, Final Fantasy 13, Half Life 2, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Red Faction Guerilla, Resident Evil 4, Splinter Cell Conviction, Tomb Raider 4, Doom 3 and probably more.

But if I enjoy the game then I tend to go back and find copies of every game that came before it. My first taste of Silent Hill was with SH2 and that was when SH4 had been out ages. I loved it so went and got copies of 1, 3 and 4 as well.

 

[dfcrackhead]

I beat Half-life 2 and the Episodes without playing Half-Life 1, hell i still haven't beaten it.

 

[veloper]

sure

BG2 without BG
gothic2, no gothic1
MGS and only a few hours metal gear 1&2 on the MSX


The MGS would have had the most confusing story if I hadn't played a bit the originals at all.

 

[Leviathan_]

Funny thing, I picked up Kotor 2 the other day and I'm installing it now.

I haven't played the first one but I wanted to buy the second one anyways as it was pretty cheap. I'm also interested to see how good this game is as it's made by obsidian, who are also developing F:NV and I want to see how they make their games before buying New Vegas.

I do prefer having played the original though, adds more to the experience imo.

 

[Mr. McFuzzers]

Yup, I never played Halo 2 or finnished the first one but I love Halo 3.

 

[Dedtoo]

Assassins creed 2, fallout 3, saints row 2, cod:mw2...
Yeah, a lot actually.

 

[TheTaco007]

I TRY not too, but I bought Fable 2 and Just Cause 2 (Not to mention CoD4) without playing any previous games in those series.

 

[Durxom]

Funny thing, I picked up Kotor 2 the other day and I'm installing it now.

I haven't played the first one but I wanted to buy the second one anyways as it was pretty cheap. I'm also interested to see how good this game is as it's made by obsidian, who are also developing F:NV and I want to see how they make their games before buying New Vegas.

I do prefer having played the original though, adds more to the experience imo.

For the Kotor 2 thing, like most people will probably say (if you bought it for PC at least), download the Restoration Mod for it.

The game is great itself, maybe superior than the first one, but Lucasarts kind of $#%@ed Obsidian over making them release the game early for a holiday release causing them to cut out some major content (ie. some ending, and a major planet/area, and etc)

Back on topic, most of the time I won't buy anything unless I've played the previous one (fighting games are exceptions)

 

[bodyguarddied]

I got Gears 2, Fallout 3, Half Life 2 (just bought the original and both expansions a few days ago however)and MGS 2 without playing the ones before them. Wasn't too big an issue with Fallout, Gears isn't too plot heavy, and for Half Life and Metal Gear I just used the internet.

 

[craddoke]

I jumped into the Elder Scrolls series with Morrowind, played System Shock 2 but not 1, and that's probably just about it (I'm usually quite linear - Ultimas 1-8 in order, Bard's Tale 1-3 in order, all the gold box SSI games in order, all the Infinity Engine Black Isle/Bioware games in order, KOTOR in order, etc.)

Good god, I play a lot of RPGs.