Game series that consistently improved

[midgey]

So, I've got absolutely nothing to do at work right now and my mind started wandering. As usual the first stop is video games.

I'm usually not a fan of sequels, as its very rare that a developer can produce multiple sequels while keeping the generally same premise to make it the same game but adding enough to keep it fresh. The more respectable developer's (Treasure) for example know this and fear the wrath of the video game gods and their ability to destroy watered down sequels. Nevertheless, it has occured before, and I'm sitting here trying to think of as many series of games that improved as they were chronologically released. For extra fun, I'm keeping the series within the same generation of consoles. So no punch-out, etc.

So far, all I've got is:

Super Mario 1-3...This one was actually what spurred this challenge. I was trying to debate whether or not I thought Mario 2 or Mario 3 was a better game. Super Mario 1 was a great game, but was pretty glitchy and lacked in length. So I chose it to be the worst of the three easily. Mario 2 was much more refined, featured tons of different backdrops, had the big cast with player specific abilities, and was all in all a great game. Mario 3 was great, there's no denying it. It is/was the number one selling game of all time, featured an even greater diversity of levels, and was a solid game with few glitches. It also featured a more of an attempt at putting together a story, albeit a very loosely strung together story, but a story regardless.

And I'm still debating on:
Ninja Gaiden 1-3...These games are so close together for me that its hard to tell. I'm pretty sure that 1 was the worst, but depending on what day it is, I feel that 2 or 3 was better.

Double Dragon 1-3...Very similar situation to Ninja Gaiden. Except I can honestly say that Double Dragon 1 was the worst to me. 2 was a big step up with simultaneous co-op and was probably just as good as 3. DD3 however had the stepped up difficulty and the ability to run, which was a definite improvement. Some days I prefer 2, others I prefer 3.

Thats all I've got so far. What about you guys?

[dmhawkmoon]

I wonder if anyone will agree with me on this...

Breath of Fire has gotten better with each release. Part 1 was ok, part 2 was slightly better, part 3 was great, part 4 was really great, and part 5 was sensational.

[Half Japanese]

I'd say that Neversoft has added enough to each new installment of the Tony Hawk franchise so that it gets a little better every time. It does get tiresome, but little tweaks and tricks make it a little better than the previous one every time.

[downfall]

It's kinda sad to say that there really aren't a lot of 'em. I can think of way more than have gotten a lot worse over time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) - These got better as they went, and even up into TMNT IV for SNES. But then they disappeared, and the recent Next Gen release isn't anywhere near the NES games (Specifically TMNT 3)

WCW vs. nWo World Tour - Virtual Pro Wrestling II (N64) - These were great to begin with, but consistently got better throughout each release as well. I guess it technically ends with No Mercy, but VPW II is my favorite out of the entire series. Doesn't mean that No Mercy was worse or anything.

[davidbrit2]

Guitar Freaks and Drummania used to be in this category, up until GF6/DM5. Then Konami released GF7 and DM6, and they were absolutely terrible. The series has not recovered since.

Pop'n Music, however, just gets more and more awesome every time.

[dmhawkmoon]

The Game Boy "Final Fantasy Legend" games got better each time. So did the major console F-Zero games. I never played the GBA one so I can't comment there...

[Quintracker]

Dragon Warrior 1-4, the worlds just kept getting bigger and bigger and more characters being added.

[midgey]

Its probably just me, but I actually enjoyed THPS 2 more than the rest. Granted thed latter releases were obviously better, I enjoyed 2 the most.

I thought about including TMNT but for some reason I REALLY like the original. Maybe I'm sadistic...

Good call on the VPW though. But I don't know if I can consider them all the same series as a whole though. The 2 jpn games yeah, but the domestic stuff is a bit harder to place on the account of the federation change. To me thats like saying a fighting game that uses the same engine as a different fighting game with completely different characters is the same series.

You're right about Pop'n Music though, they're great every time. I don't know if I'd consider them good sequels though. They're more of appendices than actualy sequels. Hell, some of the PSX games were even titled Append. To me, a sequel needs to provide something to either keep the series fresh or polish an already good premise. Most of the PNMs don't do much other than new songs. Rightfully so though, there's only so much you can do with a Rhythm game. Regardless, they are all still good games.

I haven't played the gamecube F-zero yet, but I'd definitely say all the ones before that were improvements.

These are all good suggestions though. Keep em coming, its making my boring day at work slightly less boring.

EDIT: Just remembered the Fire Pro Series. I don't have a chronological release list in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that they are all better than their predecessors. The only problem with Fire Pro Z. To me it was just Fire Pro D rev1.1.

[hydr0x]

i'd say Harvest Moon, while not getting better with every release the series has really evolved during the years

[PapaStu]

As said by DrJustinRamone, The THPS series has gotten better and has a new feel after EVERY game.
While on the sports kick, add in there the NCAA Football series by EA. Each one gets better over the prior installment. I would have said Madden except his commentary just gets to me more and more every time a new game gets released so poo poo on that.

I also think that the GTA series has gotten bigger, better and smarter with every release, and am interested in seeing how San Andreas actually plays, hoping that it adds to the series and doesnt take from it.

[Neil Koch]

Hmm... I actually like THPS3 the best. Part 4 and THUG were good, but I thought the levels and goals were designed really well on part 3.

And I like GTA3 better than Vice City. VC has more vehicles and the soundtrack is much better, but it seem smore cartoony to me, and Liberty City just seems more fun than Vice City, in which there are a lot of dead spots.

[Crush Crawfish]

Definitely adventure island. The 1st game was okay, but each game got better up until the last one, super adventure island 2, which totally kicked ass. It played kinda like metroid, which is always a good thing.

Other than that, I can't think of any. It's kinda sad, really.

[Dave Reinquest]

Hmm... I actually like THPS3 the best. Part 4 and THUG were good, but I thought the levels and goals were designed really well on part 3.

And I like GTA3 better than Vice City. VC has more vehicles and the soundtrack is much better, but it seem smore cartoony to me, and Liberty City just seems more fun than Vice City, in which there are a lot of dead spots.

Yeah but give weapons to all pedestrians,, make tem hate everyone, and ge ton the L-train at 1 am...It's a thing of beauty.

[Brian_Provinciano]

I think everyone would have to agree that GTA just keeps getting better. Compare GTA1 to GTAVC. GTA SA is to be incredible, with an entire state, vast majority of buildings open to enter, food, the ability to workout and get stronger, etc!

The Mario games, well, 2D ones definitely kept getting better and better, although I wasn't a fan of Yoshi's Island.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

I wonder if anyone will agree with me on this...

Breath of Fire has gotten better with each release. Part 1 was ok, part 2 was slightly better, part 3 was great, part 4 was really great, and part 5 was sensational.

I agree with you on the breath of fire games. I thought number 5 was awesome and highly original. Though i liked 2 and 5 the best all the other's were pretty blah.

I'd say any and all snk games before playmore and sammy butted in. :(

[Push Upstairs]

Mario 3 was great, there's no denying it. It is/was the number one selling game of all time, featured an even greater diversity of levels, and was a solid game with few glitches. It also featured a more of an attempt at putting together a story, albeit a very loosely strung together story, but a story regardless.

Mario 3 (IMO) is the high water mark for the Mario series. It was epic.

Mario World was overly "me too" and added nothing more than minor tweaks to previously perfected gameplay.

Yoshi's Adventure? That's a Yoshi game, not a Mario game.

[bcorgan19]

I think most great games follow a simple bell curve.
Original game > Expanded/Enhanced version 2 > Overkill or Sloppy later versions

This is also true for many excellent 2D games that fell off the curve when they later shifted to 3D.

As far as the THPS series, I spend less time on each new version. I played THPS1 more in its first year than all the others combined. However, THPS 2 and 3 currently have the most replay value to me (I love the 2 minute run style). I think many of the current goals are simply no fun.

[xenu]

i thought the legend of zelda series was consistently getting better, although i enjoyed ocarina of time more than majoras mask and the wind waker. tony hawk's pro skater is another series that comes to mind, but some of the new features planned for THUG 2 look kind of stupid, like the sticker slap. as far as grand theft auto, i kinda like the overhead view msyelf :>

[AMG]

Gran Turismo: From the first game to the latest, the game series has improved with every one.

Grand Theft Auto: Just keeps getting bigger and better.

Super Mario: Has improved IMO until it's peak at Mario 64.

Zelda: A mixed bag. I like the original LoZ better than Link's Adventure. But from Link's Adventure -> A Link to the Past -> LoZ:OoT there was great improvement with each one. I feel the series peaked with OoT.