10 Underrated Video Games That Need Sequels

When a unique video game captures the hearts of players, sequels are made to satiate their demands. Unlike movie sequels which rely on narrative, their video game counterparts have it easier because they - usually - rely on gameplay. Feedback from the original also allows developers to improve the follow-up and in turn, be better in every aspect. Sequels also sell well because there is an existing community willing to play the new entry and with that assurance, publishers feel more comfortable and are willing to fund them.

But not all good games share the same luxury. This is due to different factors such as poor marketing. A game that doesn't have the proper exposure leads to low sales. If the title doesn't make money, then a follow-up is considered a financial risk. There are also cases when these franchises eventually stop because of diminishing returns or the fanbase losing interest.

With that said, these video games deserve to have new entries and a second shot at success. A strong, new entry could bring back older fans as well as entice a new generation of gamers.

Metropolis Street Racer was - as you may have guessed from the name - a racing game that featured a variety of vehicles and tracks. It was also known for introducing the Kudos system, a gameplay mechanic that encouraged players to drive stylishly to earn points. Due to the discontinuation of the Dreamcast, the series rebranded itself as Project Gotham Racing and moved to the Xbox. The last entry, Project Gotham Racing 4, was released for the Xbox 360 in 2007.

Like all sequels should, the game improved on every aspect of its predecessor. The driving was tweaked to be tighter and the Kudos system offered more variety. Aside from gameplay, the game had excellent presentation. The graphics were stunning for its time and showcased the power of the 360. It also had a killer soundtrack featuring artists such as The Prodigy and My Chemical Romance. Cities such as New York, London, Shanghai were recreated meticulously while the weather system added variety to these tracks.

Aside from standard racing, PGR 4 introduced a variety of modes such as relay races and obstacle courses. Finally, it was the first game in the series to introduce motorcycles.

It is unfortunate, then, that this content-packed release would be the last PGR game, as developer Bizarre Creations shut down in 2011. Still, true fans of the Xbox remember this series in the same league as other exclusives such as Halo, Gears of War and Forza Motorsport.