Top 10 Lists: The Top 10 Greatest Sequels of All Time

There had to be a MMORPG on this list somewhere. World of Warcraft wasn't a true sequel, and Conquer Online, and Knights aren't really contenders. Runescape 2 isn't truly commercial, and Everquest 2 is really less popular than Diablo 2. The leveling system in Diablo is superb, and the graphics are magnificent. (Although you never really see the characters that well, being a bird's eye view) One small factor that limits Diablo 2's position on the Top Ten is the horrible balance among the classes, however it is still quite enjoyable. The true reason Diablo II is an important game on this list is its complete renovation of the Massive Multiplayer experience. It really lays the foundation upon which many games are built around today.

Five years after the original Knights of the Old Republic (which was great, by the way), The Sith Lords takes place. One of the great things about The Sith Lords is that you don't have to have played the original, or even be a big fan of Star Wars to enjoy it. (Those people that dress up for the release of the movies, etc... kinda scare me off of some Star Wars games) This game, and its predecessor revived the Dungeons and Dragons system, by utilizing Dice Rolls and the like to allow certain sequences function, such as combat, or persuading somebody. The open RPG factor is really great, allowing you an extraordinary degree of customization over your character, your party, you advancement, and the story. You can choose between the Light and Dark Side of the force, or try to maintain a specific balance. How you interact with others has an effect on your alignment. The graphics were crisp, and the speedy framerate worked wonders. In addition to other players having audio speech every time they initiated dialogue, (which provided a great cinematic experience) the background and sound effects were very fitting. The story left you aching for more, and the endings were spectacular. The battle system was unique and well-made. In short, this is one of those games that you will simply remember.

Many gamers consider Halo 2 a sorry dissapointment, but the fact remains that it was ground-breaking in many aspects. Never before has a game been so eagerly awaited by so many people and featured so many players online playing at once. Halo 2 is phenomenal. The graphics make the most out of its platform(s) and the gameplay itself is fast-paced. You are practically flung into the action. Where Halo 2 particularly shines is its AI capacity. The computer seems almost human in how it plays, utilizing complex artificial thought processes to try to strategically out-manuever you using aliens. Replayability is one thing that all games should strive for, and the Multiplayer aspect certainly delivered replayabilty. Upon intitial release, you heard about people quitting their jobs and staying up all night to play Halo 2. This is one of those games that is responsible for mass sleep loss across the globe, and certainly brought both the Xbox and Microsoft into the light. Like Super Smash Bros. Melee is for Gamecube, you "nobody" who has an Xbox is lacking Halo 2. Addicting, and simply incredible, Halo 2 is memorable and certainly one of the top sequels (and games) out there.

The Civilization series can be considered the complete redesign of Turn-Based strategy games, much like how Final Fantasy VII brought RPG's from the relatively small genre into something greater. While Civilization III and Civilization IIII were certainly strong possibilities for this list, I feel that Test of Time was the one that hooked me. I remember staying up all night to play this game. It wasn't as limited as Civilization III, since it included the Lanlade levels, where you could conquer multiple planets, along with the orbital ring surrounding them, in an attempt to come back to Earth. You had to deal with aliens, (or be one) and an entirely new set of scenery for each world. Would you focus on one planet at the expense of the others? Or would you spread yourself among them and risk losing concentration? Test of Time also included the Midgar scenarios, in which you had to build a war machine to stop an evil wizard from ressurecting. You could play as the Bluteos and live among the clouds, the Merfolk of the deep sea, the Goblins and Stygians of the Underworld, or the Humans and Elves of the Surface World. Since each race had unique units and strengths at their disposal, it truly became a strategic game. And of course, there was the timeless classic mode that the Civilization series is today, where you have to be the first to eliminate your rivals, and build a space ship to fly to Alpha Centari. But in Test of Time, there were aliens already there - aliens that had had thousands of years to build themselves up, and you had to maintain your empire on both Earth and Alpha Centari. You must also consider that this is one of the shakers and movers that helped start the trend of larger and more in-depth manuals. All in all, this game easily surpassed the original and brought light to the Civilization series.

The game that brought so much hype definately has a place on many Top Ten lists. It was certainly controversial, striking a lot of rough ends of many who disliked violence in video games. It also was a driving force in the stricter enforcement of Mature and Adult rated game sales and rentals, along with sparking a number of serious discussions and policies, the least of which being the seeking of a solid defense for crime in court stemming from violent video game playing. Long before I played any of the GTA games, I had fantasized about a good Crime game, and when I played Vice City I was shocked. It was so good it was disturbing. It satisfied all my needs as a virtual criminal - all sorts of jobs, extreme violence, lap dances, property ownership, a variety of weapons, escaping from law enforcement, building a record, grunts, and of course a meaty storyline. This is simply one of those games that everybody has to experience, and I love the detail put into everything. I can change the radio stations in cars I steal, and the vast world I explore is well laid out and a believable town. I can recall rushing through meals and not being able to sleep because I so desired this game. Work quality suffered, but this game made me abandon all other thoughts. Vice City is simply one of those games that everybody has to experience at one point or another, and definately has a place among the best of the best.

Rarely do you find such a successful series of games as the Pokemon series. Something that has expanded into Movies (Five in total, I think), a Television Series, a Trading Card Game, Clothing, and well over a dozen video games spanning across multiple platforms. There are very few games nowadays that will bring together adults and children alike all to huddle over a handheld console for countless hours on end. Doubling the original amount of Pokemon to 300 in total, Pokemon Gold and Silver sealed Pokemon's fate as one of the most epic series of all time. I think that the most prominent factor of this is the incredible replayability, bringing fans together to trade and battle all across the world. The endearing quality of the "cute 'lil pokemon" captures the hearts of new and old fans alike. 20 Gyms, or Boss Battles across two continents, and featuring never-before envisioned concepts in the relatively small Gameboy Color, Pokemon Gold and Silver are easily among the greatest sequels of all time, and have certainly earned their place among the top five.

Would this list be complete without Super Smash Bros. Melee? This game is still hot on the Gamecube market, well after its initial release. The second you think of Gamecube, you think of this game. The countless hours of beating down other Nintendo characters, and Melee added so much to the original. Passing over the handful of unlockable characters added, you have to consider the records, which was a spectacular feature that recorded such obscure facts as your highest hits, most damage taken, and characters most picked. The trophy mode was really a predecessor for the Nintendo Gallery Figurines featured in The Legend of Zelda games, The Minish Cap, and The Wind Waker. It added a lot to the replayability of the game, and made a competition between players form. The completely redone Classic and Adventure Story modes form the bulk of single-player gameplay and were completely different from the original. Super Smash Bros. Melee added so much to both the original and Gamecube in general, that it really speaks for itself about its place on this list.

Unique games are getting harder and harder to find, but Golden Sun was one of them. It was unusually good, and had me waiting for weeks on end for its sequel. The Lost Age wasn't a dissapointment by any means, and definately pushes the limits of the small Gameboy Advance console. Nothing about it was limited, and the graphics were as good as any on the GBA. What really makes this game stand out however is the amazing gameplay and attractive storyline. Equipping Djinn to change classes and master other spells was a revolutionary concept, and the battles even featured some 3D graphics and vivid effects. The boss battles were tough, and often times required leveling up to beat. The plot was the whole centerpoint of The Lost Age's greatness. It revolves around a quest to save the world, with the usual elements and Medevil themes. In The Lost Age, you take control of the minor characters in the original, and the experience is quite interesting to say the least. One of the things that makes this game stand out is its ability to turn an overused "Medevil boy saves world" type genre into something new and unique. It managed to avoid the familiar trap of falling into cliches and stereotypes. Audio was as good as it gets for GBA, and nothing short of quality. There is an enticing multiplayer element, which shouldn't go unnoticed. Another unique feature is the ability to "port" your character, either via Passwords or Link Cable, from Golden Sun to its sequel, The Lost Age. This made all that leveling count for something, and was a feature that impressed even me. This game can be summarized as one of those that is so good, you don't want your friends to know about it and play it.

Never before has the gaming community witnessed the sheer magnitude of a game like Morrowind. Game of the Year edition was something out of the realm of anything I had ever played before. It was countless hours of gameplay. This is just one of those games that leaves you feeling exceptionally happy with your purchase. Everything about the game is astounding. The graphics and their textures are realistic, and the audio is varied and exceptionally well composed. The story line and enormous amount of sidequests is completely fulfilling. You simply can't tear your eyes and thoughts away from Morrowind. Your mind will cloud and suddenly you don't care if Finals at School are tomarrow, or if your work is failing and you've been playing all weekend nonstop. You have to play just one more hour, just one more night. Morrowind is an open-end RPG, and certainly a driving force in the future of game development. Taking control of a personalized character with no identity of note, you set off to make a name for yourself. You can kill practically anyone you want, learn anything you need, do anything, all anytime you choose. The excellent Mod Editor and the Mod-Friendliness in Morrowind doesn't help to limit Replayability. Even if you beat the game five times, (at which point I doubt you are bored yet) you can play the mods, of which there are as many as the stars themselves, many produced and evaluated at the friendly and helpful Forums for The Eldar Scrolls series of games. The Reviews section here at GameFAQs is filled with praise for this fantastic game. While it is a stretch to call it a direct sequel, it takes place in the same world as its ancestors in The Eldar Scrolls saga, and it is the defining point for what games should be today.

Freespace 2 is the embodiment of what a sequel should be. While an older game that undersold at only 30,000 copies, it was so perfect that it was recently re-released in a Special-Edition Package. Freespace 2 is a space sim that is absolutely flawless in construction and execution. The story is positively engrossing and maintains perfect depth. It has plot twists at just the right spots - when you are unsuspecting, and even has branches and forks in the mission tree. The story is so perfect that you just can't summarize it. The difficulty curve has that "just right" feel, and while the game is complicated, a large series of optional tutorials give you a great hands-on learning experience that many games today even leave out. The manual is insightful, and the missions get progressively harder at the best times. The multiplayer integration was far ahead of its time, and the extremely advanced, yet amazingly simple and well documented mission editor allows a capacity for modding, which the game itself takes wonderfully, and makes for almost unlimited replayability factors - since you can make your own ships, weapons, music, maps, campaigns, missions, etc... Along with the badge/rank system, you really have no reason to quit this game once installed. Don't believe me? Just look at its review section. The graphics are superior to many games made today, and were absolutely breathtaking when this game was first released. The audio is sufficiently varied, but is tied together completely, giving a great theme to the game, and the cinematics still impress me, even today. The gameplay itself is something that puts Rogue Leader, Descent, and all other Flight/Space games to shame, and I wish developers would learn from this game's all encompassing perfection. In short, this game is exactly what the perfect sequel is - peerless, vivid, consuming, and brilliant. No game I have ever played since has lived up to Freespace 2's exceptional expectations, and having played, I doubt any game ever will.