10 Video Game Sequels That Utterly Ruined Their Franchises

2. Grand Theft Auto IV

Take one look at GTA V and you'll see a developer completely lost in a world that expects something completely different from what they actually want to do - all thanks to GTA IV. IV took the series in a bold new direction back in 2008; gone were the jetpacks and ludicrous plot-lines of San Andreas or Vice City, as Rockstar were attempting to do a more grounded-in-reality tale, incorporating comments on how the 'American Dream' can effect someone overseas alongside the machinations of what it means to live in America. Sadly thanks to some truly awful driving physics and a colour palette that was more bleak than protagonist Niko Bellic, it ended up being the first major backfire for the franchise in years. Come GTA V Rockstar then tried to tick both boxes old and new - you had Trevor and all his off-kilter 'hilarity' as service for the majority of GTA's players who just want to explore and blow everything up, whilst trying to do something of a serious arc with Michael's family, Franklin's wealth and that torture scene - the latter easily being the most misguided thing in video games since Custer's Revenge. When the biggest takeaway from the highest selling game of all time is just to remark on how much they've perfected the original GTA III formula (or to admire the city itself) there's something sadly wrong, especially when you factor in just how bold they were with Red Dead Redemption's narrative choices. Rockstar had all the potential to take the more serious angle on crime they attempted through GTA IV, but with V (and the recently announced GTA VI) all that's coming our way is a franchise helmed by people who have no idea how to please the vast majority.