10 Criminally Underrated Video Game Sequels Nobody Played

Where'd everybody go?!

Whenever a truly great game gets a sequel that lives up to its predecessor, it should, in theory, be a cause for grand celebration. Considering how many bad sequels there are in gaming - and the world of entertainment in general - you would think that anytime a developer manages to capitalise on the hype and defy the odds, their next instalment would immediately enter the minds of gamers everywhere. Yet, gaming history is filled with cases of great sequels that just went by without anyone ever taking notice. Now, maybe that's not strange for those that weren't into the original, but even the established fanbase the developers and publishers were counting on just let them pass by, all with barely any acknowledgment they exist. And that's a shame. Not only should good sequels be celebrated whenever they appear, but these 10 games happen to be particularly great experiences that not nearly enough people took the time to play.

10. Killer Instinct 2

Killer Instinct never quite achieved the same notoriety as franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, but it was a frantic and creative game that charmed nearly everyone who played it. Sadly, many of the people that loved Killer Instinct never got the chance to play the second instalment. Whereas the first KI gained a large chunk of its following thanks to its SNES port, Killer Instinct 2 was an arcade only game that wouldn't see a home release until it was repackaged as Killer Instinct Gold and ported to the N64. Unfortunately, that port failed to provide significant technological upgrades to make up for the time difference between the two releases and didn't then sell enough copies to establish anything of a legacy. The arcade version of KI 2 did a fantastic job of advancing the series and showcasing that it could hang with the biggest names in the genre. Sadly, its fumbled management would contribute to the series getting benched for far too long.
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Contributor

An entertainment enthusiast living in Brooklyn, trying to make his way by slinging words at blank pages.