In the world of digital entertainment, there’s a notion that sequels are usually not good and live in the original work’s shadow, but I couldn’t disagree more.
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The video game industry, in particular, has proven that statement wrong,giving us dozens of exceptional second installments.
Among others, the shooter genre represents this incredibly well, with amazing titles that take to the next level what made their predecessors great.
So, whether in narrative, gameplay, level design, graphics, or otherwise,this list of the ten best FPS sequels that improve on the original shows those successors that became their series' pinnacle.
10Killzone 2
The Best of the Franchise
Killzone 2
It’s been a decade since the last installment in theKillzonefranchise, and few things make me feel more disappointed than the feeling of never seeing a title likeKillzone 2again.
While the later entries in the series failed to reach the second game’s level of quality and innovation,that’s more due to how excellent an anomaly it was at the time.
Between the nonstop doses of action, physics, graphics, and the perfect blend of campaign and multiplayer, it’s a sequel that turned a so-so first game into a recognizable IP.
At this point, I assume Guerrilla Games has dropped the series for good,but at least I have fond memories of the magnificent Killzone 2.
9Borderlands 2
The Looter Shooter King
Borderlands 2
While the firstBorderlandswas a decent game that popularized a new subgenre,Borderlands 2was the one to become the looter shooters' true king.
With the sequel, Gearbox Software refined everything present in the first entry with such a level of style and grace that it was inevitable it would become an industry benchmark.
From subjective elements like humor to quantifiable details like the number of weapons or missions (among the longest FPS of all time),Borderlands 2is a complete improvement on the first game.
I could even say it’s a perfect sequel, as there’s no aspect it doesn’t do more intelligently or funnier than its predecessor.
8Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
More and Better
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Over the last couple of years, few major titles have surprised me as much asWolfenstein II: The New Colossus, one of the best shooters I’ve ever played.
While MachineGames' rebuild of the franchise is outstanding overall, their sequel achieves masterpiece status inB.J. Blazkowicz’s latest adventure.
Everything that has madeWolfensteina household name is at its best inThe New Colossus. The slick, precise gunplay, the variety of scenarios and gameplay, and the cinematography and narrative are all on a higher level.
Honestly,I’m not afraid to sayWolfenstein II: The New Colossusis among the genre’s best games, both for what it means for the series and for how impressive it is among shooters in general.
7Unreal Tournament
A Symbol of the Classics
Unreal Tournament
Since my first console was the Dreamcast, many classics of the time left their mark on me, including the remarkableUnreal Tournament.
Its relevance and impact were such that I spent many years of my life thinking it was the franchise’s first installment, when in fact, it’s the successor to 1998’sUnreal.
Its advanced maps, movement mechanics, enemy AI, and multiplayer systemsare amongthe main reasons for my fanaticism for shooters.
Considering its audiovisual magnificence and great creativity regarding the environments, weapons, and character models, it’s an iconic sequel that greatly elevated the genre.
6Metro: Last Light
An Improvement From Start to Finish
Metro: Last Light
I often defendMetroas one of the best trilogies of all time, and a large part of that is down toMetro: Last Light’s existence.
I thought the setting, immersion, and tone ofMetro 2033would never be surpassed, but its sequel did the impossible and improved everything in terms of gameplay and story without losing any of the sensations that made the first installment popular.
Despite being more complex in terms of narrative and mechanics, with new gameplay systems and a campaign oscillating between the threats from beasts and humans,the title finds a perfect balance that never falters.
From start to finish,Metro: Last Lightis an unforgettable journey that knows exactly what to improve to be attractive to bothMetro 2033fans and newcomers.
5Titanfall 2
An Underrated Masterpiece
Titanfall 2
Speaking of sequels that improve on the original and also themost underrated games of the 21st century,Titanfall 2definitely makes it onto both lists.
After the first game’s online proposal failed to appeal to the gaming community, Respawn Entertainment redeemed itself with a masterpiece that lives on to this day.
In addition to its multiplayer remaining quite active,Titanfall 2features one of the last decade’s most intense and memorable campaigns, unlike its predecessor, which didn’t even have a story mode.
With some of the best gunplay, pacing, level design, and movement mechanics the gaming industry has ever seen,not puttingTitanfall 2in this article would have been sacrilege.
Xbox’s Icon
Though today’s gamers may not know it due to the franchise’s decline,Halowas theultimate Xbox iconthanks to unrivaled releases likeHalo 2.
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FromHalo: Combat EvolvedtoHalo: Reach, all of Bungie’s titles were masterful, but I’d venture to say the latter was the most unforgettable of all.
Because of its campaign and graphical fidelity, including improvements in multiplayer, technology, and levels,Halo 2took a revolutionary title and cleaned up the few rough edges it had.
There may not be a consensus on which Bungie’s bestHalo is. However, it’s clear to me that this is the series' greatest exponent and the one that genuinely made me fall in love with the FPS.
3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
A Spectacular Shooter
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
I still believeCall of Dutywill never be able to return to its peak, mainly because matching something likeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is nearly impossible.
After the firstModern Warfarerevolutionized war shooters,Infinity Ward dared to go even further and create a flawless sequel that made the first one look like practice.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2takes the military FPS prototype to a level of quality I genuinely believe has never been matched and probably won’t be.
The spectacle of each mission’s cinematography is simply outstanding, with a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat at every turn and perfectly crafted gameplay.
I honestly miss theCall of Dutygames of the early 2010s,given each one was a refined work that genuinely felt made with passion and intention.
2DOOM Eternal
The Only Fun Hell
DOOM Eternal
When I first playedDOOM, I felt an adrenaline rush I had never experienced with a video game. The joy of slaying demons in the most visceral ways possible gave me an unconditional love for the series.
I liked it so much that I doubtedDOOM Eternal’s positive reviews, but its first level was enough to understand why it’s held in high regard asone of the best FPS of all time.
The 2016 reboot is practically perfect, and I can’t find any relevant detail that could dent it, butwhat its sequel does is simply and plainly out of this world.
It maintains the same identity but with even more precise gunplay, systems that encourage exploration and weapon combinations, and challenges that really demand mastering its mechanics.
Throw in platforming sections, a much more developed story, and better-executed bosses, and you get a video game for posterity that’ssurprisingly great for beginners.
1Half-Life 2
Half Life 3, Coming Soon…
Half-Life 2
You know a game is a once-in-a-lifetime experience when, despite playing it 20 years after its release, it still leaves you speechless. In my case, that wasHalf-Life 2.
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In all my years as a player, there have been very few occasions when I have seen a series so far ahead of its era like this one.
The firstHalf-Lifehad already stunned me with its technical and design prowess, but the second one broke everything.
If I’m talking about the story,levels, narrative, technology, gunplay, graphics, setting, inventiveness, pacing, or personality,I don’t know if I can think of a more revolutionary game than this one.
Now that I’ve joined the long list of people who desperately wantHalf-Life 3to exist, I can saythis is one of humanity’s greatest creations,even outside video games. That’s how incredible Valve’s masterpiece is.
