What series has gotten BETTER with age?

[Sylentwulf]

No sports :P

Big long time series, we have games like mario, final fantasy, dragon warrior, sonic, castlevania, metroid, Zelda, etc... etc... (lots of nintendo ones heh) Feel free to nominate your own, I just spouted out a few off the top of my head.

What ones have actually gotten BETTER each time (forgiving one or 2 transgressions)

Here's my opinion of course.
Final Fantasy got better with each sequel until 6/7 then it's been going downhill with 8, 9, 10, x2, xi. I haven't played XII yet.

Mario peaked with SMB3/Mario world. I hated mario 64, and didn't care for sunshine too much (good game, but not superb)

Dragon Warrior - Here's a contender 1-4 got SIGNIFICANTLY better each time, and considering they wer all excellent games, thats quite a feat. We missed 5 and 6, 7 was good, 8 was.... just about perfect.

Sonic - I haven't played this much, but I know damn well that the adventure series can't hold a friggin candle to the genny titles.

Metroid - Another good candidate, except super metroid was such a work of sheer magnificence that it would be REALLY HARD to top that, and th DS game REALLY SUCKED IMO.

Zelda - Ups and downs for me. 1 was excellent obviously, 2 I liked more than most people. OOT I didn't like (sorry!). Wind Waker was fun, unique, etc... no real complaints I guess, but it didn't leave me with THAT FEELING.

Castlevania - Most likely my number one choice, except for some really weird entries. 1, 2, 3, rondo, then SOTN!!! and all of the gba/ds titles... It's like orgasmic! But then there are the current gen 3d games, and a few others that were OK. Nothing BAD, but they didn't improve on SOTN thats for sure.

[lendelin]

Your interesting list makes two things clear:

1) If a successful series tried to manage the big jump from 2D to 3D it failed measured by the 2D success. Even Metroid Prime couldn't match the outstanding 2D experience on the positive end, the Castlevania series on the negative end of the spectrum shows that clearly. Devil May Cry was what a 3D Castlevania should have been.

2) If a series stayed true to 2D gameplay (like the Mega Man series which is the longest running, gradual, least changed series in game history)
we complain rightfully about the lack of innovation. Even the new old Castlevanias get less criticism in this regard only because they stayed in the handheld realm while the big 3D Castlevanias attract the criticism. The more the criticism about the 3D Castlevanias the more the handheld games can shine in splendid innocence in the well protected retro-handheld realm. Imagine the handheld Castlevanias on the big screen, one sequel each year...the gaming crowd would get tired as it did with the Mega Men.

I have to opt for Final Fantasy; the series is the most balanced between staying true to its roots and innovation when it comes to gameplay. This is probably because it isn't a series at all; it is a couple of independent RPGs with the same title and splendid developed references to older games. When it comes to FF it is a big uphill battle. I enjoyed actually FF X the most and prefer it over the tedious, one more leveling up session of the first games which was so typical of the first RPGs.

[whoisKeel]

Yeah, I agree mostly...except that OOT is the peak :)

I like RE4 A LOT, but don't care for the others in the series, so I nom that one.

Gradius V kicks ass. I dunno, F-Zero, Sports, SimCitys, Unreal...

Really only certain types of games are going to keep on getting better like Racers and Sports and Sims and FPSs due to their nature. Platformers and action games will always hit their peak, and after that they are just trying to balance the old with the new until either the old part or the new part fails.

[dbiersdorf]

Resident Evil.

[iamchris]

I think videogames series' are something that normally get better with additional installments, as opposed to movies.

Video Games are like how the Japanese create car concepts. They keep the things that are good, and tweak the things that dont work. If a movie were to do something like that, it would never fly. But as far as video games go, it works for them. Lookat the Metal Gear Solid Series. One was awesome, 2 was meh, (they tweaked the wrong things) and 3 was back to awesomeness.

I think Mario games are things that get better with every release. You could argue Sunshine wasnt up to snuff, but it didnt really take any severe steps backwards, either. It stayed the same. I think as long as people are willing to let go of the nostalgic feeling of games they loved, and accept new things (a lot of people here seem to have serious issues with this cough, kamino, cough,) you can find the fun in long running video game series and they do get better with each installment. Theres always going to be fuckups.


Though of course, its all subjective, and you could argue that some video game series have reached their pinnacle. I think thats just the case with some of them.

But, my anser to the question is A majority of them.

[Damaramu]

Hmmm....dare I say: Virtua Fighter

[theshizzle3000]

Mortal Kombat has definitely stepped up the ante since the first one came out back on the SNES.

[MrRoboto19XX]

Hmmm....dare I say: Virtua Fighter

Amen.

[udisi]

1) Castlevania--I may just be getting older but 3D versions of 2D series just don't carry on the series greatly for me, with that said I think the Castlevania Handheld installments have been excellant, and have met with the standard set by SOTN. By far the best standing series imo

2)Zelda---Although this series changed a bit between A link to the Past and OOT, This is one of the few series that made a transition to 3D while still holding onto the feel of the original series.

3)Dragon Warrior-- This series has for the most part evovled over its instalments while still holding on to the core elements that made it familar. Really this series has been great and could be ranked higher.

4)Final Fantasy--This is where I start to list series that have had up's and downs. I believe the series peeked at 7, but 7 was a big jump in 3D polygons and such from the sprite happy snes series, but the feel was there. 8 they went too far into realistic character design and the game seemed to futuristic. To me the FF series always felt like it was set in the past with technology mixed in until 8. I thought 9(The last installment I truely enjoyed) was a nice throw back, cartoony characters with that medevil/technology mix. X, X-2 seemed lacking imo and I think 12 really breaks away from the series by making it a real time combat rpg. I omit XI as it is a completely different genre of game. Really I've come to believe that this series will never feel like the series of old and thus will only live on in name now.

5) Mario--I loved the 2D platforming of this series. That's what a mario game was about. It peaked at SMW imo. Mario 64 was not a mario game imo, it was a whole new genre of game with mario in it. Many gamers love this game and I too don't think it's bad, but it's not mario, Nintendo continued this genre with Sunshine, also not a mario game. I loved New Super Mario Bros on the DS. It could have been a bit more challanging or longer, but it was a return to the series roots and I'd love to see more of it.

6) Sonic--Another 2D series that should have stayed there, although even some of it's later 2D installments seemed so/so. The first Adventure had some of the excitment of speed running through the sky's in 3D, but had too much gimmicky crap stuffed inbetween. Oddly enough I think think series would be neat in 3D if done right and if it were to stick to the classic series idea of running through stages collecting rings and beating bosses. I haven't played the new 360 game as I heard it was suppose to do more of this.

7) Metroid--This is where I end my ramblings with a series that has been amolst completly ruined imo. It peaked at Super Metriod, THe prime games of cube are alright, but once again, to me they didn't feel as much metriod as they felt futuristic alien FPS.

[sabre2922]

7) Metroid--This is where I end my ramblings with a series that has been amolst completly ruined imo. It peaked at Super Metriod, THe prime games of cube are alright, but once again, to me they didn't feel as much metriod as they felt futuristic alien FPS.

I disagree

Metroid only improved with age in my opinion with Metroid Zero mission on GBA perfecting the traditional 2-D version of the series and the prime series GC/Wii is solid as well. Ive never played the DS version though.

I vote:

Metal Gear solid- unlike a few hardcore fans of the series I luved MGS3 and I wouldnt be surprised if Metal Gear Solid 4:guns of the patriots perfected the series completely.

RE- always luved RE (still play the original on PSX) but the jump in gameplay quality for RE4 was amazing and exactly what the series needed to survive and continue.

Zelda - Minish cap basically perfected the 2-D version of this series and it has been near perfect in its 3-D console incarnations as well, probably THE MOST IMPROVED ongoing video game series ever. (console)

Splinter Cell- chaos theory was near perfect for this type of game genre.

Castlevania- the 2-D aspect is basically perfected with the GBA/DS editions of course it has a loooong way to go with the 3-D versions, although I did like CURSE OF DARKNESS it was a decent game and at least a step in the right direction IF they plan on making another 3-D incarnation.

being a devoted Castlevania fan (ok fanboy) I have high hopes for a ultimate 2-D version on one of the new gen consoles xbox360 or PS3.
HEY it COULD happen there have been many rumors of Konami going with a 2-D version of GRADIUS for PS3 after all.

Gradius series - I think Gradius 5 PS2 was near perfect thankx to the 2-D gods at TREASURE.

[WanganRunner]

Killzone: I know it's a newbie series, but it went from "fun but not great" on the PS2 to "holy crap this is awesome" on the PSP. Hopefully they'll retain the same great minds for the PS3 release.

Metal Gear: This is a series that gets better with each iteration because more of the story gets fleshed out each time and it's *all* about the storyline. The gameplay has had its ups and downs, I don't like having the option to shoot in 1st person, but on the whole it gets better with each game.

Dead or Alive: While the biggest improvement came from 1 to 2, it has still been steadily getting better, stupid spin-offs notwithstanding.

Super Smash Brothers: I freaking HATE these games, but I hate the newer ones less.

Virtua Fighter: The only fighting game that matters. It will never get old, it will never get tired, it only gets better. My grandchildren will be playing VF60 and it will STILL be the best fighting game in the universe.

Gran Turismo: Each iteration is undeniably better than the previous one but for a few VERY minor exceptions (no more "racing" modification option, GT3 had a car # downgrade, etc..). These are minor flaws though, it gets better every time.

[Howie6925]

I would have to go with Metroid, I was a little worried when it was going to 3D but i was quite surprised how well it was done.

[xtremegamer]

Ninja Gaiden, I love the Xbox games.

[bangtango]

Many of the series I enjoy have gotten worse, or merely kept pace, as they aged. While I enjoyed the early games, I would say that the Sonic games got much better on Dreamcast. I still have a member or two here who gives me a ration of trash talk for giving a "biased" (his words) review of Sonic Adventure for Dreamcast on this site, since I put down Mario 64 in the process and say Sonic Adventure is better. The only regrets I have about the review is that I sent it in to Joe about 3-4 years ago without even proofreading it before clicking "Send." I'm sure that baby is filled with typos and errors. Too bad.

The Zelda games have always remained good but I wouldn't say they got "better." Just different........they have changed with the times and remained strong.

[suckerpunch5]

I think the Prince of Persia series has gotten consistently better, and it's one you might not think of right away.

[Ze_ro]

It's kind of tricky to define "better", since it's a little vague as to what you're comparing against here. In my opinion, almost all of the franchises mentioned have indeed improved over time, but the general quality of ALL games has gradually improved over time, so I would say that the franchises have simply "kept pace" and continued to be good.

However, one franchise I'd like to mention is Ultima. Up to Ultima 7, each game was truly remarkable when it was released, and set standards for the rest of the industry (though Ultima 8 and 9 were kind of a downslide as EA gradually ruined the franchise). Along the way too, the franchise basically pioneered the 3D first-person RPG with Ultima Underworld (know your roots Oblivion!), as well as the MMORPG with Ultima Online. If it wasn't for EA's blunders, the Ultima series might still be raising the bar today.

--Zero

[Richter Belmount]

Hmmm....dare I say: Virtua Fighter

yup =P

[Retsudo]

Ace Combat- The first one I played was AC2 and I still love it. I didnt get to play Air Combat way after I got my PS2 and I can say the series aged very well.

[dylan0228]

Out of the games you`ve listed, I think Zelda has faired the best.

[Golden Bear]

Oddworld Series started outstanding, got a little worse, then came back better.

[odyeiop]

Warioware.. the games just keep getting better and better.

The Wii version looks like it is going to be freaking amazing, I can NOT wait for it O___O

Zelda, as all have said, has been getting better and better, both in the 2d incarnations, and the 3d incarnations. I have yet to play an Official Zelda game that I have no enjoyed.

[diediemydarling]

zelda. hands down