History Main / SequelFirst

* ''Advance Wars'', released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, is actually part of the [[VideoGame/NintendoWars long-running series]] which dates back to 1988 with the release of ''Famicom Wars''. Ironically enough, the Japanese version of ''Advance Wars'', ''Game Boy Wars Advance'', was not released in Japan until 2004 when it was included in a two-in-one cartridge with its sequel.

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' was released in North America despite the fact that the [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI previous]] [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII two games]] had never been released. Then [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI the first game]] got released in 2014 for iOS. [[NoExportForYou Still haven't gotten the second game yet, though.]]

** The first ''SMT'' game to even get a US release was a GaidenGame on a very unpopular console-that being ''Jack Bros.'' on the UsefulNotes/VirtualBoy.

* The fifth game in the ''Densetsu no Starfy'' series, ''Densetsu no Starfy Taiketsu! Daiiru Kaizokudan,'' was the first to be released outside of Japan as ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy''.

* The Game Boy Advance rhythm game ''Rhythm Tengoku'' was never released outside of Japan. However, its Nintendo DS sequel, ''Rhythm Tengoku Gold'', was released in North America as ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven'', and in Europe as ''Rhythm Paradise''.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' was the first ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game officially released outside Japan, leading to the confusing retitling of the game to simply ''Fire Emblem'' (no subtitle). This is noteworthy considering the original game for the Famicom, ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'', was released in 1990, 13 years before the series' international debut in 2003. ''Blazing Blade'' is actually the second GBA game in the series and the seventh installment overall. As if the confusion wasn't piled high enough, ''Blazing Blade'' is actually a '''{{prequel}}''' to the previous GBA game, ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade'', which was never released internationally (despite the appearance of that game's protagonist, Roy, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee''). This caused Western fans to interpret its ending (originally meant as a ForegoneConclusion) as a SequelHook that was never followed up on. And for their part, Nintendo seems utterly disinterested in clearing up this mess, [[FanTranslation leaving the fans to sort it out amongst themselves.]] The English translation for ''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light'', meanwhile, wouldn't be released until the franchise's 30th anniversary, 12 years after the translation of its DS remake ''Shadow Dragon''.

* The Italian release of ''ComicBook/DavPilkeyDogMan'' began before they even ended the release of the ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' books. As a result, George and Harold's introduction in the first ''Dog Man'' book spoils Yesterday George and Yesterday Harold's POV of the ending of ''Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot'' to Italian readers.

* When ''Anime/LupinIII'' was allowed to air on Creator/AdultSwim, Pioneer, the company dubbing it, chose [[Anime/LupinIIIRedJacket the second series]] rather than [[Anime/LupinIIIGreenJacket the first]]. The first series finally got released in North America by Creator/DiscotekMedia, but with subtitles only.

** This happened for real regarding the fighter ''VideoGame/DragonBallGTFinalBout'', which was released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation in the West in 1997, a full six years before the first English dub would debut in 2003. Thus DBZ fans were introduced to concepts like Super Saiyan 4 and Goku's granddaughter Pan as a young teenager long before their original context was understood (and in fact, long before even Super Saiyan 2 was introduced, let alone 3).

* ''[[Anime/KingOfPrism KING OF PRISM Shiny Seven Stars]]'', a sequel to both ''KING OF PRISM'' films and ''Anime/PrettyRhythmRainbowLive'' is the first official release of anything related to the ''Franchise/PrettySeries'' in North America and most territories outside of Asia. [[note]][[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-09/crunchyroll-adds-idol-time-pripara-anime-to-catalog/.169323 Prior to]] ''Idol Time VideoGame/PriPara'' [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-31/crunchyroll-adds-kiratto-pri-chan-anime-to-catalog/.168011 and]] ''Anime/KirattoPriChan'' being licensed by Website/{{Crunchyroll}} [[LateExportForYou in the 2020s]], only Spain and Italy got anything else from the Pretty Series, both getting releases of ''Anime/PrettyRhythmAuroraDream'' and nothing further, though the latter country's dub was [[UnfinishedDub incomplete]], stopping at episode 35.[[/note]] Because of this, people who haven't watched ''Rainbow Live'' or any of the ''King Of Prism'' films will be faced with problems, as the series has multiple instances of [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late Arrival Spoilers]] that require watching either the films or ''Rainbow Live'' to understand.

* ''[[Anime/KingOfPrism KING OF PRISM Shiny Seven Stars]]'', a sequel to both ''KING OF PRISM'' films and ''Anime/PrettyRhythmRainbowLive'' is the first official release of anything related to the [[Franchise/PrettyRhythm Pretty Series]] in North America and most territories outside of Asia. [[note]][[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-09/crunchyroll-adds-idol-time-pripara-anime-to-catalog/.169323 Prior to]] ''Idol Time VideoGame/PriPara'' [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-31/crunchyroll-adds-kiratto-pri-chan-anime-to-catalog/.168011 and]] ''Anime/KirattoPriChan'' being licensed by Website/{{Crunchyroll}} [[LateExportForYou in the 2020s]], only Spain and Italy got anything else from the Pretty Series, both getting releases of ''Anime/PrettyRhythmAuroraDream'' and nothing further, though the latter country's dub was [[UnfinishedDub incomplete]], stopping at episode 35.[[/note]] Because of this, people who haven't watched ''Rainbow Live'' or any of the ''King Of Prism'' films will be faced with problems, as the series has multiple instances of [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late Arrival Spoilers]] that require watching either the films or ''Rainbow Live'' to understand.

* Only the latter two books of Creator/JackKetchum's 'Off Season' trilogy (''Offspring'' and ''Literature/TheWoman'') were made into films. The first has yet to be adapted due to rights issues.

* ''[[Anime/KingOfPrism KING OF PRISM Shiny Seven Stars]]'', a sequel to both ''KING OF PRISM'' films and ''Anime/PrettyRhythmRainbowLive'' is the first official release of anything related to the [[Franchise/PrettyRhythm Pretty Series]] in North America and most territories outside of Asia. [[note]]Only Spain and Italy got anything else from the Pretty Series, both getting releases of ''Anime/PrettyRhythmAuroraDream'' and nothing further, though the latter country's dub was [[UnfinishedDub incomplete]], stopping at episode 35.[[/note]] Because of this, people who haven't watched ''Rainbow Live'' or any of the ''King Of Prism'' films will be faced with problems, as the series has multiple instances of [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late Arrival Spoilers]] that require watching either the films or ''Rainbow Live'' to understand.

* The UsefulNotes/GameBoy game ''X'' was released only in Japan, but its UsefulNotes/DSiWare sequel was released worldwide under various titles.

* ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken]]'' ("Blazing Blade") was the first ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game officially released outside Japan, leading to the confusing retitling of the game to simply ''Fire Emblem'' (no subtitle). This is noteworthy considering the original game for the Famicom, ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Ken]]'' ("Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light"), was released in 1990, 13 years before the series' international debut in 2003. ''Rekka no Ken'' is actually the second GBA game in the series and the seventh installment overall. As if the confusion wasn't piled high enough, ''Blazing Blade'' is actually a '''{{prequel}}''' to the previous GBA game, ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Fuuin no Tsurugi]]'' ("Binding Blade"), which was never released internationally (despite the appearance of that game's protagonist, Roy, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee''). This caused Western fans to interpret its ending (originally meant as a ForegoneConclusion) as a SequelHook that was never followed up on. And for their part, Nintendo seems utterly disinterested in clearing up this mess, [[FanTranslation leaving the fans to sort it out amongst themselves.]]

* ''Voltes V'' and ''{{Anime/Daimos}}'' came out in the Philippines before ''Combattler V'' and achieved ''much'' [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff greater popularity]].

* In the same vein as the ''Voltes V'' and ''{{Anime/Daimos}}'' incident, ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'' was released in Italy before its prequels, ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/GreatMazinger''. They also made the mistake of renaming Kouji in ''Grendizer''. Thus, when ''Mazinger Z'' was brought over afterwards, people dismissed ''that'' as a cheap knockoff.

* The Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} with ''VisualNovel/MahouTsukaiNoYoru''. It was the first entry to be written, then followed by its sequels (if indirect; the only major connection is how they follow up on the Aozaki sisters) ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'' and ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}''. However, ''Mahou Tsukai no Yoru'' had trouble finding a publisher, leaving it in DevelopmentHell until 2012, around twenty years after it was written and its sequels were published.

** The Western world didn't receive a ''Madou Monogatari'' game until 2013, and, by that time, Arle wasn't even in it!

* ''Fortune Street'' for the Wii was the first game in the long-running ''VideoGame/ItadakiStreet'' series to be released outside of Japan.

* Due to the popularity of Ekoro's appearance in ''VideoGame/MightyGunvolt'', the ''VideoGame/GalGun'' from ''Double Peace'' on were brought westward. The first game wouldn't be translated until its remaster was announced for English territories in 2021.

* Due to the popularity of Ekoro's appearance in ''VideoGame/MightyGunvolt'', ''VideoGame/GalGun: Double Peace'' and eventually ''Gal*Gun 2'' were brought westward. The first game wouldn't be translated until its remaster was announced for English territories in 2021.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' is a good example of this trope. Jojo is split into "Parts", each part including a different main character. When the manga was adapted into an OVA, only Part 3 "Stardust Crusaders" was adapted, and they started with the final arc of Part 3, before going back years later and doing the earlier part of the series. This was later released in America, along with a Part 3 Video game by Capcom, and thus Part 3 became the most popular part of the story in the US. Because of this, when Viz optioned the rights to the Manga, they skipped parts 1 and 2 and went straight to part 3, but removed the "Stardust Crusaders" subtitle, simply showing it as "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure", and releasing the first two parts later in 2014 when the Anime for those parts was successful.

* ''VideoGame/BeatmaniaIIDX 27 HEROIC VERSE'' has been the first American arcade release of ''beatmania IIDX'' out of what was then 28 Asia-exclusive arcade installments of the series [[note]]The second game in the series, ''beatmania IIDX substream'', is excluded from the numbering scheme due to being a MissionPackSequel[[/note]]. Justified in that each installment builds off its predecessors in terms of features and song list, so there's very little reason to start with an older release.

** The same applied for the first two ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'' games when the third, ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy'' was released in the West[[note]]The second one, ''VideoGame/SoulHackers'', eventually also saw a Western release[[/note]].

* What North America got as simply ''VideoGame/{{Culdcept}}'' in 2003 was the [=PS2=] port/expansion to ''Culdcept Second'' in Japan, and it was released in America by NEC of all companies[[note]]They released the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 internationally, and after that they dropped out of video games entirely in America. They decided to go back to publishing games in America, but they only released two titles - this game and a UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube racing game called Tube Slider[[/note]]. The original ''Culdcept'' for the Sega Saturn came out in Japan in 1997.

* ''VideoGame/AkibasTripUndeadAndUndressed'' was the second cardinal game in the franchise, but the first installment to cross over westward in most territories. Its [[VideoGame/AkibasTripHellboundAndDebriefed predecessor game]] made it 5 years later, albeit after the third game and anime were released in proper order.

* The ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' series debuted internationally with its third game.

* ''WesternAnimation/NoddysToylandAdventures'' was the first ''Noddy'' series released in most of the world, as prior adaptations (save for the 70's version airing in Australia and Canada) were United Kingdom-exclusive. In Brazil, ''Make Way For Noddy'' was the first series released, with the earlier shows being released only after ''Make Way'' became popular.

* In France, the second ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'' film was dubbed and released into theaters first instead of the first film.

* ''[[Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior Mad Max II/The Road Warrior]]'' got a bigger world-wide release than the original ''Film/MadMax1'', which is why it's generally known just as ''The Road Warrior'' on some markets. The New Zealand release is especially noteworthy, as #1 was banned due to [[spoiler:Goose's death]] [[TooSoon resembling an incident in the North Island]].

* What North America got as simply ''VideoGame/{{Culdcept}}'' in 2003 was the [=PS2=] port/expansion to ''Culdcept Second'' in Japan, and it was released in America by NEC of all companies[[note]]They released the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 internationally, and after that they dropped out of video games entirely in America. They decided to go back to publishing games in America, but they only released two titles - this game and a UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube racing game called Tube Slider.[[/note]]. The original ''Culdcept'' for the Sega Saturn came out in Japan in 1997.