Despite the name, TMNT2 for NES is an not actually a sequel to the first NES game. It's a port of an arcade game that was never labeled as a sequel. Manhattan Project if anything is more of an actual sequel and is even better.
Great list! Most NES sequels were excellent! A few other honourable mentions are: Donkey Kong Jr. Double Dragon II Battletoads Double Dragon Adventure Island II Techmo Superbowl Zoda’s Revenge: Startropics II Batman: Return of the Joker Final Fantasy II Tetris 2 Track & Field 2 RC Pro Am 2 The Adventures of Lolo 2 Also, can you do an episode discussing trilogy games? I’m not sure if there are enough for ten, but Megaman 3, Super Mario 3, TMNT 3, Ninja Gaiden 3, and Castlevania 3 were some of the best games on the system
Batman: Return of the Joker is NOT a sequel. It's based on the comic book and it's called "Dynamite Batman" in Japan. The true sequel is...BATMAN RETURNS!!!! (based on the 1992 movie)
I know Miyamoto wanted a more vertical oriented Mario game after the original, it contributed enemies to the Mario series, and Super Mario 3D World Peach takes inspiration from SMB2 Peach; but it still doesn't feel that much like a proper sequel to the original Super Mario Bros.
sequels eh?... yeah..... i also notice you forgot to add this one which would've been a huge success to your video not being mocked by people pointing it out! Target: Renegade which happens to be a sequel to Renegade by Taito.
While TLOZ2 is not hated as it used to be, it's still a controversial entry for this series. On one hand, it contributed things such as Link's downward thrust, the magic meter, the concept of a shield that can reflect magic (reflect spell for shield in the case of TLOZ2), and towns. Not to mention the music is still quite solid, it's one of the best looking NES games, the North American version made temples look more unique from each other, and most enemy attack patterns can be learned. On the other hand; the difficulty balance is kinda atrocious, it arguably got carried away with the RPG elements, exploration is notably weaker in design compared to the first, there are a few very vague hints in regards to mandatory progress, sadly there are a couple of enemies that have ridiculous attack patterns, the Japanese version has an annoying metallic scream for Volvagia (not to mention he keeps moving too much unlike his North American counterpart and his sprite looks pretty bad in the Japanese version), the transition from over-world to battle screen is jarring (Miyamoto even admitted he wish they could have done it more seamless, but they realized it was impossible at the time), and in general feels much more like an action-platformer compared to other installments.
I'm honestly surprised that Double Dragon 2, Mega Man 3, Dragon Quest 3, Super Mario Bros 3, Kirby's Adventure (which takes place after Kirby in Dreamland), and Castlevania 3 didn't make it on here. Double Dragon 2 is not only an improvement over the NES port of the original, but is arguable better than its arcade counterpart (munch like Double Dragon GBA is with the original game). Mega Man 2 is the most understandable inclusion in the video. However, Mega Man 3 is also quite good and in my opinion even better than MM2 (despite Inafune feeling it was never fully finished). Dragon Quest 3 learned lessons from the first two and resulted in the best Dragon Quest experience on the NES. Especially with its rather good story. While I also really like the Dragon Quest 4 remake on the DS, you sadly don't have the option to control all party members back in the NES version. Super Mario Bros 3 is the true sequel to SMB; even compared to The Lost Levels. While I know the SNES and GBA versions eclipse the version on NES, the NES version still improved on basically everything; especially as you have unlimited continues as long as the system doesn't turn off. This was the best Mario game until Super Mario World arrived. Kirby's Adventure introduced the concept of Kirby gaining abilities from most enemies he inhales. It's also one of the pretties NES games in existence. I know that Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland is better in most respects, but it never fully eclipses the NES version; mainly due to the impressive scrolling effect for Butter Building and the original NES version being more challenging (though it was still designed for beginners; which contributed to the game aging quite well). As for Castlevania 3; while it may be a prequel storywise, it's the true sequel in terms of gameplay. The music is also rather terrific when it comes to the Japanese famicom version.
+Tidepool Clipper It seems only the 2nd game in each series was considered, hence "Super Mario Bros. 3" and "Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse" not being on the list. Most people would consider them superior to the 2nd games in their respective franchises. Believe me, I was confused at first, too! As far as "Double Dragon II: The Revenge" not being on this list, I feel that was a massive oversight. It's a better sequel than several on this list, in my opinion.
How are these videos not blowing up yet??? Best top 10 retro videogame lists on youtube
No Double Dragon 2!?!? it's one of the best beat em up / platformer for the NES!
Well done the explanation and detail you put into each game was a excellent 👏🏼
Castlevania 2 is a case of having genuinely great ideas, but not having access to the hardware to truly make those ideas flourish.
I don’t think life force is a sequel of gradius because in japan they got a game called gradius 2.
Despite the name, TMNT2 for NES is an not actually a sequel to the first NES game. It's a port of an arcade game that was never labeled as a sequel. Manhattan Project if anything is more of an actual sequel and is even better.
Gauntlet ll
Great list! Most NES sequels were excellent! A few other honourable mentions are:
Donkey Kong Jr.
Double Dragon II
Battletoads Double Dragon
Adventure Island II
Techmo Superbowl
Zoda’s Revenge: Startropics II
Batman: Return of the Joker
Final Fantasy II
Tetris 2
Track & Field 2
RC Pro Am 2
The Adventures of Lolo 2
Also, can you do an episode discussing trilogy games? I’m not sure if there are enough for ten, but Megaman 3, Super Mario 3, TMNT 3, Ninja Gaiden 3, and Castlevania 3 were some of the best games on the system
Batman: Return of the Joker is NOT a sequel. It's based on the comic book and it's called "Dynamite Batman" in Japan.
The true sequel is...BATMAN RETURNS!!!! (based on the 1992 movie)
good vid but sometimes it sounds like you're just reading the back of the box.
Final fantasy II
I missed Double Dragon II here, otherwise great list
I know Miyamoto wanted a more vertical oriented Mario game after the original, it contributed enemies to the Mario series, and Super Mario 3D World Peach takes inspiration from SMB2 Peach; but it still doesn't feel that much like a proper sequel to the original Super Mario Bros.
I would say most would consider Castlevania III as a much better sequel. II has a bad reputation.
Ummm.... Tecmo Super Bowl?? Hello?!?!
No double dragon 2, or Adventure Island 2, or LoLo 2?
Castlevania II: The Miserable Pile
It’s a good game but everybody has there opinion.
Life Force is Gradius 2 ?
sequels eh?... yeah..... i also notice you forgot to add this one which would've
been a huge success to your video not being mocked by people pointing it out!
Target: Renegade which happens to be a sequel to Renegade by Taito.
While TLOZ2 is not hated as it used to be, it's still a controversial entry for this series.
On one hand, it contributed things such as Link's downward thrust, the magic meter, the concept of a shield that can reflect magic (reflect spell for shield in the case of TLOZ2), and towns. Not to mention the music is still quite solid, it's one of the best looking NES games, the North American version made temples look more unique from each other, and most enemy attack patterns can be learned.
On the other hand; the difficulty balance is kinda atrocious, it arguably got carried away with the RPG elements, exploration is notably weaker in design compared to the first, there are a few very vague hints in regards to mandatory progress, sadly there are a couple of enemies that have ridiculous attack patterns, the Japanese version has an annoying metallic scream for Volvagia (not to mention he keeps moving too much unlike his North American counterpart and his sprite looks pretty bad in the Japanese version), the transition from over-world to battle screen is jarring (Miyamoto even admitted he wish they could have done it more seamless, but they realized it was impossible at the time), and in general feels much more like an action-platformer compared to other installments.
I'm honestly surprised that Double Dragon 2, Mega Man 3, Dragon Quest 3, Super Mario Bros 3, Kirby's Adventure (which takes place after Kirby in Dreamland), and Castlevania 3 didn't make it on here.
Double Dragon 2 is not only an improvement over the NES port of the original, but is arguable better than its arcade counterpart (munch like Double Dragon GBA is with the original game).
Mega Man 2 is the most understandable inclusion in the video. However, Mega Man 3 is also quite good and in my opinion even better than MM2 (despite Inafune feeling it was never fully finished).
Dragon Quest 3 learned lessons from the first two and resulted in the best Dragon Quest experience on the NES. Especially with its rather good story. While I also really like the Dragon Quest 4 remake on the DS, you sadly don't have the option to control all party members back in the NES version.
Super Mario Bros 3 is the true sequel to SMB; even compared to The Lost Levels. While I know the SNES and GBA versions eclipse the version on NES, the NES version still improved on basically everything; especially as you have unlimited continues as long as the system doesn't turn off. This was the best Mario game until Super Mario World arrived.
Kirby's Adventure introduced the concept of Kirby gaining abilities from most enemies he inhales. It's also one of the pretties NES games in existence. I know that Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland is better in most respects, but it never fully eclipses the NES version; mainly due to the impressive scrolling effect for Butter Building and the original NES version being more challenging (though it was still designed for beginners; which contributed to the game aging quite well).
As for Castlevania 3; while it may be a prequel storywise, it's the true sequel in terms of gameplay. The music is also rather terrific when it comes to the Japanese famicom version.
+Tidepool Clipper
It seems only the 2nd game in each series was considered, hence "Super Mario Bros. 3" and "Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse" not being on the list. Most people would consider them superior to the 2nd games in their respective franchises. Believe me, I was confused at first, too!
As far as "Double Dragon II: The Revenge" not being on this list, I feel that was a massive oversight. It's a better sequel than several on this list, in my opinion.
Super C has 8 levels. The arcade version of super contra has 5. You're reading the wrong Wikipedia page.
Since when does Super C has a “bomb gun”?
Maybe he was talkings about the newer Fire Gun, which... well, expands on contact, like a bomb.
In the minority but I prefer all the sequels to the 1st games
You're the only person i know that likes Castlevania II. Have you ever played It? Not all sequels are good...
Castlevania 2 is good but I respect your opinion
Man, and I like Zelda 2. And it's very similar to Castlevania 2. But Castlevania 2 I don't like lol
Castlevania 2 is the best Castlevania on NES.
You guys aren't great at this....poor marks for accuracy....several times I've asked myself, "WTF are they talking about?"