Your most-improved sequels

[Yopaz]

How about Super Mario Brothers 3? I don't really count Super Mario Bros. 2/Doki Doki Panic or the real Super Mario Bros. 2/Lost Levels as the true sequel to the first game. The REAL Super Mario Bros. 2 is just a hard rom hack of the first game really. Anyway. SMB3 took everything from the first game and improved on it. The game physics are better, more levels, more variety in the levels, mini games, different bosses, a map screen, more power-ups, the ability to select and use power-ups before a level, and the ability to fly. A HUGE improvement.

I disagree that Super Mario 2 was that hard, but I agree that Super Mario Bros. 3 was far superior. So many power-ups and a lot of cool worlds, a really great game.
Also if Super Mario World can be considered a sequel to that game then that one too.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Without any doubt : Mass Effect 2 and Morrowind 2 : Skyrim

 

[Kingjackl]

To name a few:

Metroid Prime 3
Metal Gear Solid 3
Mass Effect 2 & 3
Halo: Reach
Portal 2
Wii Sports: Resort
Call of Duty 4
The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2
Ratchet & Clank 2 & 3
Destroy All Humans 2
Crash Bandicoot 2 & 3
Half-Life 2 (and Episodes)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (though technically a prequel)
Spyro 2 & 3
Star Wars Battlefront 2

This is pretty much a list of my favourite games. Guess I'm just a sucker for sequels.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

Dead Space 2 was mentioned last page and I agree with that to the fullest extent. A friend bought my the two games on steam during a sale so I got to play both, one after the other. The really polished everything after the first, not to mention revamping the anti-gravity system to make it so much fun!

And just cause I'm on a Castlevania binge, Symphony of the Night completely renovated 2D Castlevania for the better.

 

[Kyrian007]

I'll agree with Silent Hill 2 for #2 on improved sequel list. Not that I didn't like 1, but 2 was so good, any game in front of it would seem pale by comparison. But no question, without a doubt, the most improved sequel of all time... Kagero: Deception 2. Tecmo's Deception was an almost unplayable, ugly (even for ps1,) boring, with difficult gameplay camera and control issues. Plus... it just wasn't really fun, a good concept but terrible execution. Kagero improved in every area (except for story, it added a story so bad it became kind of a running joke in the franchise.) Plus they took that good concept and turned it into a game that is exceptionally fun and works even with several flaws. And, Deception stands alone as the only franchise I can name that actually IMPROVED with every new release. Although 3 wasn't much of an improvement, just a little improved. And Trapt was only better because it was on better hardware.

It's too bad so few are aware of that franchise... it needs to come back.

 

[The Madman]

System Shock 2, it had a better story sure, and more terrifying enemies yes, but what set it apart from the first one was YOU CAN LOOK AROUND WITH YOUR MOUSE!

The original System Shock despite being amazing for its time really, really, really hasn't aged well. I agree, System Shock 2 was better in pretty much every single way. Good call!

 

[Dryk]

Pokemon Gold/Silver were way better then Red/Blue. Better story, better graphics, more gyms, and more Pokemon. It was just awesome and great sequels.

Yes! There's my answer.

For the longest time I started to suspect that all my complaining about them being great was nostalgia... but no when Heart Gold and Soul Silver came out I realised that no. That is where the series kind of peaked. Beating the Elite Four and having an entire half of the world open up, getting to wander around and see how Kanto has changed in three years. It's just... wonderful.

 

[Amaror]

dragon age 2, 1 was awful from the ground up, the whole game was shoddy, but 2 was brilliant not a single issue

Now i am gonna tell you exactly why this is wr....

Awww dammit i just can't do it anymore, too often.
I just leave you there with your (supress insult) opinion.

On Topic: I really liked the story of kotor 2 better than the story of the first one, although it bugged me a little bit, that nearly everyone in your party could be made into a jedi.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Resident Evil 4

A fucking revolution that was.

If only Shinji Mikami could be this genius all the time.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

The three Muv Luv VN's. It starts with Extra, which is kind of generic and boring, gets slightly better with Unlimited and then blows most other sci-fi stories away with Alternative. It's hard to believe that the third one is part of the same thing.

 

[Korenith]

Devil May Cry 3 over 2 but when the predecessor is as bad as 2 the only way is up. And I still actually think the first one is the best of in the series.

 

[Spydercake]

Okay, LIST TYPING FINGERS, ACTIVATE!

1. Witcher 2
2. Dark Souls
3. Penumbra Black Plague *and by extension, Amnesia.*
4. Persona 3 and 4
5. Half Life 2
6. System Shock 2
7. Team Fortress 2
8. You know what, scratch 5 and 7, im just putting Valve Sequels here.
9. Mount and Blade Warband.
10. Red Orchestra 2
11. Assassins Creed 2
12. Just Cause 2

 

[Pandabearparade]

I'll second New Vegas, great improvement upon a great game. At least it is now that the bugs are fixed.

The story and dialogue in Fallout 3 are, to be blunt, terrible. New Vegas fixed that.

 

[Pandabearparade]

dragon age 2, 1 was awful from the ground up, the whole game was shoddy, but 2 was brilliant not a single issue

You be trollin'.

Why you troll?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Witcher 2.

My god, it was one of the biggest improvements on one of the most over-rated RPGs of the past decade. The first Witcher was poorly-presented, horrible voice-acting, and atrocious gameplay that was somewhat uplifted by excellent writing and deep C&C.

In the Witcher 2, everything was perfected, paving the way for CDPR to become of the top dogs of the RPG developers.

Seriously was shocked just how big of an improvement the second game was in comparison to the first.

I'll add my vote for Witcher 2. I recently tried out Witcher for the first time, and while the original game has a certain rugged charm, I found myself easily torn away from it by Grimrock, and once I was off it I had little volition to return. Combat was sloppy, inventory and looting was a chore, and most unforgivably the voice acting and writing teetered between "acceptable" and "hilariously awful". Geralt was arguably the worst offender, which was most unfortunate, as he was the most frequently heard from.

The second game isn't just better, it's MILES better. It's gone from being an awkward, poorly translated and badly acted mess to a gorgeous game with a fantastic story and voice acting on par with Bioware's offerings. THIS is the dark fantasy we were meant to get with Dragon Age and never did. Even the juvenile nature of the OMG TITTIES segments has been toned down from the original.

Now if only looting was less of a chore.