9 Most Forgotten Game Sequels
Even great games can have forgotten sequels. Here's how to make one: release it in limited quantities at the end of a console's life, don't advertise it, and don't release it in every region. The problem with writing an article about this is that I might not even know about the most forgotten sequels. After doing some research, these are what I came up with, listed in order of their release. If the one you had in mind isn't on the list, drop a comment below and maybe I'll even add your suggestion to the post!
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992, SMS)
Yes, I know, everyone knows and loves Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but that's the Genesis version! This is the totally different game released at the same time on Master System and ported to Game Gear. Thanks to having the same name as the Genesis version and needing to compete with it, this 8-bit Sonic 2 gets a whole lot less love even though it ain't half bad.
Bubble Bobble Part 2 (1993 - NES, GB)
Even though the original Bubble Bobble is pretty unforgettable (probably thanks to its single-track soundtrack), I had no idea there was a second one for NES until last week. It's the same basic idea - shoot enemies with bubbles and then pop them - but with better graphics, different, less memorable, music, and a few new gameplay elements thrown in for good measure. It doesn't help that there weren't many copies of the game to go around. If you want to get one on eBay, it'll set you back between $200 and $300 for just the cartridge. Wowzers.
Ducktales 2 (1993 - NES, GB)
Back in the good old days, even games based on movies and TV shows were often quite good. Ducktales on NES was one of those games. Everyone loved the great gameplay, great soundtrack, and basically everything about it. It even got a remake in 2013. Unfortunately, even though there's a sequel with all new levels and the same great gameplay, hardly anyone seems to remember it since it was released so late in the console's life. Even the remake, which could have combined both games into one epic combo, seemed to forget this game's existence. And if you thought the NES version was overlooked, don't forget that there was also a port of Ducktales 2 on Game Boy.
Space Station Silicon Valley (1999, GBC)
This one is almost definitely the most obscure on the list. The original Space Station Silicon Valley on N64 was somewhat obscure in its own right, but it had incredibly unique gameplay and was quite fun to play. Now, I'm cheating a little here because the version on Game Boy Color isn't so much a sequel as it is a "de-make" of the original. This Europe-exclusive port totally re-imagined every level and mission of the original 3D game into a 2D version. Seriously, it stays true to the original to a fault, but since the transition to 2D is so drastic, most casual gamers wouldn't even realize just how similar it is. That's probably part of why it faded into obscurity; it might've been better off creating new puzzles that were more suited for 2D, while still maintaining the brilliant gameplay of the original SSSV.
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (2000, N64)
I was a pretty big fan of Bomberman 64 and Bomberman Hero as a kid, so I was hyped when I heard Second Attack was coming out. At last, I saw it in a store, but didn't buy it right then. Then I never saw it again. From the looks of it, it's more similar to Bomberman 64 than Hero, but it seems to have more of a story and more complex gameplay. Maybe I'll get around to playing it eventually...
Klonoa Beach Volleyball (2002 - PS1)
Klonoa is already a bit of a cult classic series that isn't super well known. The games are typically platforming games with 3D graphics, but this one's a sports spinoff (so, yeah, I'm kinda cheating with this one). It has all the ingredients of a forgotten sequel: it's different from the rest of the series, it came out after the next gen console was already released, and it was only released in Japan and Europe. It's too bad; it seems fairly fun.
Army Men: Major Malfunction (2006 - PS2, XBox)
When I was younger, I thought the Army Men games were so cool. Going back to them now, I've realized that most of them are pretty mediocre. I've also realized that basically the whole series is made up of forgotten sequels and spinoffs. I was going to tell you about Sarge's War, which I thought was the last real Army Men game before the kiddie reboot, but then I discovered Major Malfunction. I haven't played this one, but by the looks of it, it was forgotten for good reason. It's apparently quite a crappy game and did a good job of making people care even less when the series died.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006, GCN)
Yes, I know, Twilight Princess isn't the least bit forgotten and neither is any other Zelda game really. Even the Zelda games on CDi are pretty well known. But I'm not just talking about Twilight Princess, I'm talking about the GameCube version of Twilight Princess. Like most of these forgotten sequels, the GameCube version came out just as the next generation console was coming out. Everyone was hyped for Wii, and with hardly any worthwhile launch games to buy, everyone bought the Wii version of Twilight Princess. Only years later, did some realize that they might've been better off with the version that mapped actions to buttons after all.
Excitebots: Trick Racing (2009, Wii) (Review)
Sequel to the Wii launch title, Excite Truck (which was, itself, a sort of sequel to Excitebike), Excitebots is one of the most fun games I played last gen and also one of the most overlooked. The presentation and audio is forgettable and nonsensical, but the gameplay is unbelievably satisfying. It's not just about racing, it's about getting more stars than everyone else. The game gives you stars for practically everything, so it's nonstop rewards and off-the-wall action. You gotta play it.
If you're interested in obscure games, you might like to check out this post where I reviewed the entire Virtual Boy library. Yep, I beat them all. Have at it.
