10 Best Sequels From Terrible Video Games

No matter how powerful a gaming franchise is, it's bound to pump out a bad entry or two at some point. Luckily, the occasional dud isn't the end of the world, so long as the developers get back on track. 

However, it's a different matter if the first entry in a potential series falls short of expectations. If a new IP is shredded by the critics, the chances of it receiving a sequel are slim.

Even if a follow-up gets green-lit, hopes aren't high, especially if the project is developed by the same team as the disappointing original.

Fortunately, some game franchises successfully moved onto greener pastures, despite dropping the ball at the beginning. By avoiding the pitfalls of the first instalment or by tackling the sequel from a new direction, things can work out better the second time around. 

When Just Cause, Shadowrun, and Killzone underperformed, not many were pining for more. As such, it's astonishing how these unwanted continuations pulled out all the stops, offering players the jaw-dropping experience they should've got the first time around.

If you saw how badly this sorry bunch started, you'd never believe they had any potential. Luckily, each of these games managed to spawn an absolutely killer follow-up.

In 2015, Platonic announced a Kickstarter campaign for Yooka-Laylee, a love letter to Rare's beloved platformer, Banjo-Kazooie. Amazingly, the team hit their target of £175,000 in 40 minutes. By the end, they raised £2 million, proving Banjo-lovers had a firm belief in the project.

Despite all the buzz, Yooka-Laylee failed to deliver. Even though this spiritual successor nails Banjo-Kazooie's aesthetic and  humour, this outdated clone didn't match the creativity and fluidity of the bear-and-bird's adventure saga.

Though expectations were significantly lower for the sequel, Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair turned out far better. With its smooth gameplay, beautiful level designs, clever puzzles, and catchy tunes, this cutesy collectathon did Rare proud.

But what makes this follow-up stand out is its unconventional set-up and structure. Unlike most platformers, our titular heroes can enter the final stage immediately. However, they don't stand a chance due to the level's extensive length and brutal difficulty. For this reason, Yooka and Laylee must navigate through various levels and collect dozens of bees, each of which will increase our heroes' defences.

Similar to Shovel Knight, The Impossible Lair scratches that nostalgic itch without relying on it, since it has plenty of unique mechanics to satiate die-hard platforming fans.