6 Video Game Sequels With Worse Graphics Than The Original

5. Crackdown 2

Microsoft Studios

Despite coming out three years after the original, Crackdown 2 was a step down in just about every department. Being more Crackdown 1.5 than a true sequel, the follow up phoned it in, going so far to introduce zombie-type enemies because that's what everyone else was doing in 2010.

The most egregious step backwards came in the visuals though. The charming, semi cell-shading was still there, but the world itself had devolved into a sea of grey and brown, perhaps in part to evoke the almost apocalyptic nature of the story. However, the change meant that despite taking place in the exact same sandbox as the first game, the streets of Pacific City were devoid of personality.

It didn't help either that a lot of the action was set in uninspired locations like warehouses and docks that were barely indistinguishable from each other, and only highlighted the poor textures on display. Even the explosions looked weaker than in the original.

It might have been okay if it came out a year after the first effort, but in 2010 the game looked immediately dated.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked full time as a content producer at WhatCulture for nine years. In that time he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple channels, specialising in subjects such as gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 most listened to gaming podcast in the UK that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, covered breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.