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Letter from the Editor…
When you’re talking about a video game company with so many video game consoles and handhelds released over several decades, you’re talking about the potential for a lot of video game sequels. And often, sequels to Nintendo’s marquee franchises is what keeps us buying those machines every few years– to play the next Mario, Zelda or Pokémon, whether it’s a canonical sequel or an unexpected sidestep into sports or pinball.
Yet in this issue, we’re putting the focus on the first follow-up: not the third or eighth or tenth. Because while a blockbuster in a brand new, unknown franchise is always exciting, the anticipation and critical analysis is even greater for the sequel. Which are our favorites, and why? What sequels went in unexpected directions for better or worse? We’ll get into all that and more this week.
Enjoy,
Noah
P.S. To provide us some flexibility, we may not always talk about a literal #2 in a series– we may also talk about a follow-up to a genre-smashing game (like Majora’s Mask following Ocarina of Time), or we may talk about what was the second game in a series for North America but it was the third or fourth in Japan.
Issue 8: Second Time’s the Charm
Round Table: Favorite Sequels by Nintendojo Staff
The staff selects its favorite sequels on Nintendo hardware.
Where’s My Sequel?! by Nester64x
C’mon, you forgot about this game. Admit it. I didn’t, though, and I wanna know where the sequel is.
Why Majora’s Mask Is Better Than Ocarina of Time by James Stank
Over here, time management and disguise trumps little, time traveling flutes.
Losing It Hard by Andrew Hsieh
Sure, it seems ripe for the playing, but Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels will play you instead.
Ace Attorney: A True Sequel by James Labalokie
A discussion on just what makes a memorable sequel to a series.
Defending The Adventure of Link by Matthew Tidman
Gamers didn’t know what to make of this side scrolling adventure when they first saw it. Was this Zelda, and could it be good? Tidman explains why the answers are “yes” and “yes.”
Super Contra Conflict! by Aaron Roberts
You may be too young to know about the Iran Contra affair, but now’s the time to get educated on how it impacted an historic sequel on NES.
Perfecting Pokémon by Andy Hoover
There are a lot of different versions of Pokémon games that have been released, but a certain pair really took the series to a new level.
We Hardly Knew Ye, Banjo by James Stank
You may be trying to scrub the cherished memories of Rare’s action adventure platformer from your memory banks since you’re unlikely to see a new one on a Nintendo console ever again, but the sequel’s worth revisiting.
Venn Diagrams: The Perfect Sequel by Matthew Tidman & M. Noah Ward
There are certain criteria folks look for in their perfect sequels…
Hot Air: Sequeled by Aaron Roberts
Aaron’s weekly column gets sequelized.
The First Return of Samus by Andrew Hsieh
Metroid II: Return of Samus hasn’t aged very well in terms of graphics and gameplay, and some say it never had them to begin with. But it’s still incredibly important in the Metroid series. Here’s why.
Counterpoint: Why Sequels? by Matthew Tidman
Sure, sequels are good fun, but would you really prefer that to something original and new?
Same Name, New Game by M. Noah Ward
In the ’80s, there were several sequels that elicited a collective “huh?” We look at Super Mario Bros. 2, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
Heeeey Youuu Guuuyyys! by Evan Campbell
Never more epic a sequel there was, than the one that had no prequel to begin with. At least not on Nintendo.
Additional features in this issue…
Monday
- Nightly News Roundup by Carter Fagan
Tuesday
- Poll: What sequel reinvented its predecessor best? by M. Noah Ward
- Nightly News Roundup by James Labalokie
Wednesday
- Dojo-Show-Go! Episode 101 by M. Noah Ward
- Nightly News Roundup by Andy Hoover
Thursday
- Nightly News Roundup by Robert Thompson
Friday
- Nightly News Roundup: Video Edition by M. Noah Ward
Coming Up Next Week…
Issue 9: Get Equipped
Mushrooms. Battle Axes. Magic-item-in-box thingies. They are the step between your hero being merely heroic and being herculean. This is a week of power-ups.
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