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| 3 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thank you! |
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| 7 | For other examples, return to the main page [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo here]]. |
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| 9 | * Many game franchises were simply given the subtitle "3D" for their first 3D title (as were quite a few that ''started'' around this time). [[ThirdIs3D Even more likely if this also happened to be the third installment.]] |
| 10 | ** One such series was ''VideoGame/DukeNukem''. Continuing this, the title "VideoGame/DukeNukemForever" was meant to be a play on the number four. Little did they know it would come to have [[HilariousInHindsight unexpected symbolism]] [[VaporWare of another kind]]. |
| 11 | ** See also: [[SuperTitle64Advance 64]]. Obviously never the 64th installment, unless you get creative with spin-offs in order to count ''[[VideoGame/SuperMario64 Mario]]'' that way. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | * ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': |
| 14 | ** This series of VisualNovel games became immensely popular among the English-speaking fanbase. Follow-ups to ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' use the consistent naming pattern with the exception of fourth main title, ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney''. The rest of main games have the following subtitles: ''Justice for All'', ''Trials and Tribulations'', ''Dual Destinies'', and ''Spirit of Justice''. In its native Japan, however, the series bears the moniker ''Gyakuten Saiban'' ("Turnabout Trial"), and each title is [[NumberedSequels properly numbered]] without any subtitles. |
| 15 | ** Of course, the ''Ace Attorney'' franchise also has fair share of spin-off titles like ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'', ''VisualNovel/GyakutenKenji2'' (unofficially known as ''Ace Attorney Investigations 2''), as well as ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'' prequel novels. |
| 16 | * The sequel to ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' is titled ''VideoGame/AmnesiaAMachineForPigs''. The developers even mentioned how the name stuck just because of how ''odd'' and memorable it was. |
| 17 | * ''VideoGame/AnnoDomini'': |
| 18 | ** The ''Anno'' series of historical city builders (known as ''A.D.'' in some markets) goes back and forth between the centuries. First there was ''Anno 1602'', followed by ''Anno 1503'', then ''Anno 1701'', ''Anno 1404'', ''Anno 2070'', ''Anno 2205'', and as of 2019, ''Anno 1800''. Even odder since the numeration could lead a newbie to think ''1701'' is the first, with the series going backwards 99 years with each installment. |
| 19 | ** In addition to all this in some markets the latest installment ''Anno 1404'' is sold as ''Dawn of Discovery''. This in turn has an expansion pack which is known as both ''Anno 1404: Venice'' and ''Dawn of Discovery: Venice''. |
| 20 | ** Interestingly, the dates always add up to the number nine. |
| 21 | * ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': |
| 22 | ** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI''[='s=] sequels are ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', and finally ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag''. |
| 23 | ** It seems that the developers want to keep changing the numbers only for games when a new main character is introduced. On the other hand, some naming choices, such as ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIIILiberation'', which features a completely different character unrelated to the others (except also being an ancestor of Desmond), do help throw off some people. |
| 24 | ** And then it got weird again with 2014's ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRogue'' and ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnity'', which, despite featuring new protagonists, [[StoppedNumberingSequels dropped numbering entirely]]. Ditto for 2015's ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'', 2017's ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins'', 2018's ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'', 2020's ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla'', [[VideoGameLongRunners and so on]]. |
| 25 | * ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt3'': InUniverse, the latest installment of [[MegaCorp Sumeragi's]] ''[[GameWithinAGame September Records]]'' MMO series combines this with OverlyLongName: ''September Universe Tri-Age Spirits: Prologue of Reminiscence IV (Working Title)''. {{Justified|Trope}} in that, InUniverse, said series has been going on ''for decades'' by that point. |
| 26 | * ''VideoGame/BallRevamped'' has ''Ball Revamped 2: Metaphysik'', ''Ball Revamped 3: Andromeda'', ''Ball Revamped 3: Gemini'', ''Ball Revamped 4: Amplitude'' and ''Ball Revamped 5: Synergy''. The odd subtitles are sometimes left out of the titles, leading to NumberedSequels instead. |
| 27 | * ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' was followed by ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'', which made an [[MediumAwareness in-game mention]] of a ''Banjo-Threeie'' that led some people to believe that the third game would be called that. The third game instead ended up being a midquel known as ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooieGruntysRevenge'', followed by ([[SequelGap after a five-year gap]]) ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooieNutsAndBolts'' -- which [[GenreShift shifted]] from a collectathon platformer to include an emphasis on vehicles. Before ''Nuts & Bolts'', there was also a racing game spin-off for the Platform/GameBoyAdvance called ''VideoGame/BanjoPilot''. |
| 28 | * Invoked with ''[[VideoGame/Barkley2CurseOfCuchulainn Barkley 2: Curse of Cuchulainn]]'', the full name of which being ''"The Magical Realms of Tír na nÓg: Escape from Necron 7 - Revenge of Cuchulainn: The Official Game of the Movie - Chapter 2 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa."'' It's only marginally less weird when one considers the full title of ''VideoGame/BarkleyShutUpAndJamGaiden'': ''Tales of Game's Presents Chef Boyardee's Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley [=SaGa=]''. |
| 29 | * The sequel to ''VideoGame/BattleClash'' is titled ''Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge''. The only indicator on the title that ''Metal Combat'' is a sequel is the fact that the hero's mecha in both games is called the "ST Falcon." |
| 30 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series goes as thus: ''Battlefield 1942'', ''Battlefield: Vietnam'', ''Battlefield 2'' (which was spun off onto consoles as ''Battlefield 2: Modern Combat''), ''VideoGame/Battlefield2142'', ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany'', ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHeroes'', ''Battlefield 1943'', ''Battlefield: Bad Company 2'' (which now has an ExpansionPack titled ''[[ColonCancer Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam]]''), ''VideoGame/BattlefieldPlay4Free'', ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'', ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'', ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHardline'', ''VideoGame/Battlefield1'', ''VideoGame/BattlefieldV'', and ''VideoGame/Battlefield2042''. The numbers don't indicate proper order at all (for example, the "1" in ''Battlefield 1'' stands for UsefulNotes/WorldWarI), and message boards abound with confusion over the fact that there's multiple games labeled [[UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar Vietnam]] and ''2''. |
| 31 | * ''VideoGame/{{Battletoads}}'': |
| 32 | ** Creator/{{Rare}}'s answer to ''[[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Ninja Turtles]]'' has its fair share of sidescrolling [[BeatEmUp beat-em-ups]], the first of which was the original 1991 ''Battletoads'' game. It's been ported to the [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], Platform/SegaGenesis, and Platform/GameBoy, with the latter version being [[MarketBasedTitle retitled as]] ''Battletoads in Ragnarok's World'' to avoid confusion with an already existing installment for the handheld that, despite bearing the name of the original, [[ReformulatedGame was a completely different game]]. |
| 33 | ** The original ''Battletoads'' would be followed by 1993's ''Battletoads in Battlemaniacs'' for the [[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], which would then be ported to the Platform/SegaMasterSystem in 1996, but only in Brazil. In 1994, an arcade title was then released -- it's usually known as ''Battletoads Arcade'', ''Super Battletoads'', or simply ''Battletoads''. |
| 34 | ** Special mention goes to ''Battletoads & VideoGame/DoubleDragon – The Ultimate Team'' (also known as ''Battletoads/Double Dragon''). Multiple ports were developed for this [[IntercontinuityCrossover crossover]] utilizing the original ''Battletoads''' engine. Despite accompanying NES, Genesis, SNES, and Game Boy versions of the original sidescrolling brawler, it's not a "sequel" to any of them. |
| 35 | ** Much later, a reboot with hand-drawn graphics was released for Platform/XboxOne and Windows. It is simply called ''VideoGame/BattleToads2020''. |
| 36 | * After a string of [[NumberedSequels sequentially numbered titles]], ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' changed this formula with the arrival of the fourth game, ''VideoGame/BayonettaOriginsCerezaAndTheLostDemon'' -- a prequel to the entire saga. |
| 37 | * Creator/{{Konami}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Bemani}}'' rhythm game series is '''''extremely''''' fond of this trope, to the point of almost deserving its own page. |
| 38 | ** ''VideoGame/{{Beatmania}}'' consists of, in order: ''beatmania'' (retroactively referred to as ''1stMIX''), ''2ndMIX'', ''3rdMIX'', ''completeMIX'', ''4thMIX'', ''5thMIX'', ''completeMIX 2'', ''[=ClubMIX=]'', ''featuring DREAMS COME TRUE'', ''CORE REMIX'', ''6thMIX'', ''7thMIX'', and ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin THE FINAL]]''. Did we mention ''two years'' passed between the release of ''5thMIX'' and ''6thMIX''? |
| 39 | *** It then received a sequel series by the name of ''beatmania IIDX'', which was then followed by ''beatmania IIDX substream'', and then ''beatmania IIDX 2nd style'', ''beatmania IIDX 3rd style'', etc., which leads to the most recent games, ''23'' and ''24'', actually being the '''24th''' and '''25th''' entries in the series. Justified in that ''substream'' was more of an ExpansionPack to the previous game than a new game. |
| 40 | *** And then, there was '''another''' sequel series titled ''beatmania III'', which despite the name is actually a sequel to the '''original''' ''beatmania'' series rather than ''IIDX''. ''beatmania III'' was then followed by ''beatmania III APPEND CORE REMIX'', a companion game to ''beatmania CORE REMIX'', then ''APPEND 6thMIX, APPEND 7thMIX'', and lastly ''beatmania III THE FINAL''. |
| 41 | ** ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' was doing OK for its earlier entries, with them all being numbered as [=NthMIX=], until the 6th game, which was called ''DDRMAX -Dance Dance Revolution 6thMIX-'', followed by ''DDRMAX 2 -Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX-''. The following game, ''Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME'', decided to get rid of numbers entirely (though earlier in development it was also referred to as ''8thMIX'', which stuck around for a bit after release). Then there was ''[=SuperNOVA=]'', then ''[=SuperNOVA 2=]'', ''X'', ''X2'', ''X3 vs. 2ndMIX'' [[note]]the "vs. 2ndMIX" part is due to it also containing an UpdatedRerelease of the second game[[/note]], before deciding to drop subtitles entirely and just call itself ''Dance Dance Revolution''. Then in 2016 they brought subtitles back with ''Dance Dance Revolution A'', which was followed by ''A20'', ''A20+'' and ''A3''. '''And that's just the arcade installments.''' |
| 42 | ** ''[=GuitarFreaks=]'' and ''[=DrumMania=]'', generally considered to be a single series, had ''[=GuitarFreaks=]'' being one numbered installment ahead due to the first ''[=DrumMania=]'' game coming out around the time of the second ''[=GuitarFreaks=]'' game. Konami eventually decided to fix this by starting the numbering over, by calling new games ''V'', ''V2'', ''V3'', etc. Then the series was rebooted with ''[=GuitarFreaks=]'' and ''[=DrumMania=] XG'', which lasted three games until it was rebooted ''again'' under the OfficiallyShortenedTitle of ''VideoGame/{{GITADORA}}'', which doesn't use numbers (though the third ''GITADORA'' game is subtitled '''''Tri'''-Boost''). |
| 43 | ** ''VideoGame/ReflecBeat'' followed the format of "Reflec Beat ''(insert some word here)''" until the sixth main installment, which is titled ''REFLEC BEAT Yuukyuu no Reflesia'', with the subtitle translating to "Reflesia of Eternity". |
| 44 | ** ''VideoGame/{{jubeat}}''[='=]s second, third, and fourth main installments are called ''jubeat ripples'', ''jubeat knit'', and ''jubeat copious''. When each of these games got an UpdatedRerelease, the resulting version had "APPEND", um, ''append''ed to the title (for example, ''jubeat copious'' becomes ''jubeat copious APPEND''). ''jubeat saucer''[='=]s update did away with the "APPEND" pattern, instead being called ''jubeat saucer fulfill''. ''jubeat prop'' neglected to have an "append" version of any sort. It currently remains to be seen what will come after the current version, ''jubeat Qubell''. |
| 45 | ** ''VideoGame/{{MUSECA}}''[='=]s sole "sequel" version is called ''MÚSECA 1+1/2'', the idea being that it's not thematically different enough to be a sequel, but also too big to be simply an update patch for the original. This is because ''1+1/2'' was originally announced as a [[ArcWords "RENOVATION"]] update, leading players to believe it would simply be a big update patch, but it ended up being an entire UpdatedRerelease. |
| 46 | * The ''VideoGame/BitTrip'' series was named consistently, starting with ''BIT.TRIP BEAT'', then ''BIT.TRIP CORE'', ''BIT.TRIP VOID'', ''BIT.TRIP RUNNER'', ''BIT.TRIP FATE'' and ''BIT.TRIP FLUX'', until came ''BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner 2: Future Legend Of Rhythm Alien'', justified since the latter can be considered a spin-off, but can also be considered a sequel to RUNNER. |
| 47 | * ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble'': |
| 48 | ** More a case of [[OddlyNamedSequel Oddly Named]] [[NonLinearSequel Non-Linear]] NumberedSequels, there are three second-installments (''Rainbow Islands'', ''Bubble Symphony'', '''''Part''' 2'') and two third-installments (''Parasol Stars'', ''Bubble Memories'') in the series. |
| 49 | ** Then there's ''Puzzle Bobble'' aka ''Bust-A-Move'', ''Puzzle Bobble'' aka ''Bust-A-Move Again'', ''Puzzle Bobble 3'' aka ''Bust-A-Moove '99'', and ''Puzzle Bobble 4'' aka ''Bust-A-Move 4''. Not to mention a NoExportForYou UpdatedRerelease of ''[=PB2=]'' named ''Puzzle Bobble 2X''. |
| 50 | * ''VideoGame/{{Bubsy}}'': |
| 51 | ** Creator/{{Accolade}}'s wisecracking and pun-making bobcat was an attempt to [[FollowTheLeader cash in]] on [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog a certain Blue Blur's]] [[MascotWithAttitude success]]. Sure enough, his initial lineup of games was moderately successful: ''Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind'', ''Bubsy II'', and the Platform/AtariJaguar-exclusive ''Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales''. However, the leap into the third dimension via ''VideoGame/Bubsy3D'' fared far worse compared to previous titles. |
| 52 | ** In the later half of the [=2010s=], Bubsy was suddenly brought back thanks to the ''Bubsy Two-Fur'' [[CompilationRerelease collection]]. Then two more titles were released: ''Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back'' and ''Bubsy: Paws on Fire''. |
| 53 | * ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'': |
| 54 | ** Throughout its lifespan, the franchise was actually handed back and forth between three developing companies -- Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games. After the release of fourth installment, the sequels changed as each sub-series went in their separate directions. ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty4ModernWarfare'' [[VideoGame/ModernWarfare begat]] ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2'' (the "Call of Duty" was largely omitted from advertising) which begat ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare3''. ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'' followed ''Modern Warfare'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' followed suit, then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyAdvancedWarfare'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsIII'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyInfiniteWarfare'', then ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'', [[OverlyLongGag and then]] ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps4 Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII]]'' (note as well it's numbered as "IIII" rather than "IV"). To add to the confusion factor, ''[=BO4=]'' is [[{{Interquel}} chronologically set between]] ''Black Ops II'' and ''Black Ops III''. The latest batch of titles is: ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsColdWar'' (direct sequel to the original ''Black Ops'') and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard''. |
| 55 | ** This became even more confusing starting from the [=2020s=], especially with the arrival of the reboot ''Modern Warfare'' trilogy: [[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2019 the reinterpretation of the original]] ''Call of Duty 4'' in 2019, [[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfareII its sequel]] in 2022, and [[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfareIII the final chapter]] in 2023. This era of ''Modern Warfare'' is distinguished by having Roman-numbered sequels (as opposed to the original games using Arabic numerals). If you're baffled by this point, you're not alone. |
| 56 | * The ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series of games (at least in the original, pre-''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow Lords of Shadow]]'' continuity) followed an eclectic naming pattern: The direct follow-ups to [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaI the first game]] were called ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest'', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse'', and ''VideoGame/SuperCastlevaniaIV''. Of these, only ''Simon's Quest'' was a direct sequel, with ''Dracula's Curse'' being a prequel and ''IV'' being a retelling of the original. In between the releases of these games, there were several more GaidenGame entries, including two remakes of the original called ''Vampire Killer'' and ''VideoGame/HauntedCastle''. A particularly confusing element is the existence of ''two'' games called ''Castlevania II'': the aforementioned ''Simon's Quest'', which is a sequel to the original, and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIBelmontsRevenge Belmont's Revenge]]'', which is a sequel to ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaTheAdventure'' for the Platform/GameBoy. After this point, the major sequels [[StoppedNumberingSequels stopped being numbered]] and followed a varied naming pattern until ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' came out, starting the {{Metroidvania}} era and giving future sequels a TheXOfY naming pattern. |
| 57 | * The ''VideoGame/ClockTower'' series gets this, mainly due to localisation: |
| 58 | ** [[VideoGame/ClockTower1995 The first game]], known as just ''Clock Tower'' in Japan, remained untranslated on the [[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]], and was not released internationally until the year after it came out, as a port on the Platform/PlayStation, being named ''Clock Tower: The First Fear''. This was considered necessary, because... |
| 59 | ** Not much later, another game, called ''VideoGame/ClockTower2'' in Japan, was released internationally as just ''Clock Tower''. |
| 60 | ** Later, an offshoot game with little to do with the previous games, called ''Clock Tower: Ghost Head'' in Japan, was named ''VideoGame/ClockTowerIITheStruggleWithin'' for international releases. |
| 61 | ** Thankfully, this ended with ''VideoGame/ClockTower3'', which has the same name for everyone. |
| 62 | * ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'': |
| 63 | ** Upon the success of ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert'', the original ''Command & Conquer'' was subtitled ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn Tiberian Dawn]]'' to differentiate it from the ''Red Alert'' games and from its own sequel, ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSun Tiberian Sun]]''. |
| 64 | ** The name ''Tiberian Dawn'' had been used by Westwood in pre-release materials, and even appeared in the readme.txt file, but didn't appear anywhere in the original game or its packaging, so didn't see widespread use among fans until it became necessary to differentiate the first game from the series as a whole. |
| 65 | ** While not oddly named by general standards, ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'' and later ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianTwilight'' were oddly named in the context of the series, since [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2 the only game]] out of five previous releases to have put a sequel-indicating number in the title had put it ''after'' the subtitle (''3''[='s=] very subtitle was also different from previously established nomenclature, being "Tiberi''um'' Wars" instead of "Tiberi''an'' Wars"). |
| 66 | *** Justified because ''Command & Conquer'' and ''Command & Conquer: Red Alert'' are two different settings and plotlines, so each got their own sequel-indicating numbers: ''[=C&C=]'' had its ''[=C&C2=]'' in the form of ''Tiberian Sun'', and then ''[=C&C3=]'' with ''Tiberium Wars''; ''[=C&C:RA=]'' on the other hand had ''Red Alert 2'' and ''Red Alert 3''. Different stories, different sequels, coherent successions. |
| 67 | * ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'': |
| 68 | ** The original ''Contra'' was followed by ''Super Contra'' -- at least, the arcade version was; the NES sequel was shortened to simply ''Super C''. The third game, ''Contra III: The Alien Wars'', arrived on SNES and Game Boy (back in Japan it was simply called ''Contra Spirits''). ''Contra 4'' didn't come out until Nintendo DS era because of the many spin-offs that were made between the numbered entries (''Contra: Legacy of War'', ''C: The Contra Adventure'', ''Contra: Shattered Soldier'', ''Neo Contra''). |
| 69 | ** Special mention goes to the Game Boy installments. ''Operation C'' serves as the reimagining of both NES titles with lesser amount of stages. Port of ''The Alien Wars'' lost its number. |
| 70 | ** Sega Genesis' ''Contra: Hard Corps'' title was eventually followed by a "''Contra''"-less ''VideoGame/HardCorpsUprising''. |
| 71 | ** For European region, the human characters [[{{Bowdlerize}} were replaced with robots]], and the title was changed to ''Probotector''. Thus ''Super C'' became ''Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces'', and ''The Alien Wars'' had been renamed to ''Super Probotector: Alien Rebels''. Ironically, the Game Boy versions have proper numbering without any subtitles. |
| 72 | ** Another NES title, ''Contra Forces'', is only vaguely similar to its console "brethren" -- simply because it was supposed to be titled ''Arc Hound'' and not have any relation to the franchise.[[labelnote:*]]Following the cancellation of ''Arc Hound'', the existing game had been retooled for the North American players. The result was supposed to be a proper third game in the series, but the release was postponed for several months -- hence why ''The Alien Wars'' changed its prior number from ''IV'' to ''III'' before arriving to SNES.[[/labelnote]] |
| 73 | ** Years later, the original game was reimagined for [=2020s=] console hardware and computers as ''VideoGame/ContraOperationGaluga''. |
| 74 | * ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'': |
| 75 | ** The original [=PlayStation=]'s mascot has a fair share of platformers. The first ''Crash Bandicoot'' was followed up by ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack'', ''[[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]'', ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'', ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'', ''VideoGame/CrashOfTheTitans'', ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'', and ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot4ItsAboutTime''. The original Creator/NaughtyDog trilogy would also get a remastered compliation called ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy'' a few years before ''It's About Time''. |
| 76 | ** ''It's About Time'' is in an interesting case by itself, being positioned as the "true" follow-up to the original trilogy (hence [[DoubleMeaningTitle the title]])... despite the fact that ''The Wrath of Cortex'' and ''Twinsanity'' received the NumberedSequels treatment [[MarketBasedTitle in Japan]], [[SequelNumberSnarl meaning there was already a fourth Crash game and now two installments bearing the title "Crash Bandicoot 4" for the Japanese market]]. |
| 77 | ** ''Crash'' racing games also don't have any sense of proper titles: ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'', ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', ''Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2'', ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled''... |
| 78 | ** The handheld branch of ''Crash'' franchise also has its moments. The platformers are represented by ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' (''Crash Bandicoot XS'' in Europe, ''Crash Bandicoot Advance'' in Japan), ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot2NTranced'' (''Crash Bandicoot Advance 2'' in Japan), and ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootPurpleRiptosRampage''.[[note]]The latter is a companion title to ''Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy'' featuring Spyro the Dragon -- both games are the crossovers between respective franchises.[[/note]] |
| 79 | * ''VideoGame/{{Crazd}}'' has a [[CreatorDrivenSuccessor Spiritual Sequel]] called ''[[VideoGame/{{Two}} 2]]''. Yes, '''just''' ''2'' instead of ''Craz'd! 2''. |
| 80 | * ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecroDancer'''s DLC prequel is called ''Crypt of the [=NecroDancer=]: Amplified''. Simple enough, right? But then the base game's direct sequel, a crossover with ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'', offers quite the doozy: ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule: Crypt of the [=NecroDancer=] Feat. The Legend of Zelda''. |
| 81 | * ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}: The Night Warriors'' (aka ''Vampire: The Night Warriors'' in Japan) was followed by ''Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' {{Revenge|OfTheSequel}}'' (''Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge'') and ''Vampire Savior'' (''Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire''; the American release was originally planned to be titled ''Darkstalkers: Jedah's Damnation'' until they decided to stick with the original Japanese sans subtitle). To make matters more confusing, Japan received two simultaneously released {{updated rerelease}}s of ''Vampire Savior'' titled ''Vampire Savior 2'' and ''Vampire Hunter 2''; [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo the main difference between the three games are in their character roster]]. The [=PlayStation=] game ''Darkstalkers 3'' (aka ''Vampire Savior: EX Edition'') is actually a pseudo-{{compilation|Rerelease}} of ''Vampire Savior'', ''Vampire Savior 2'', and ''Vampire Hunter 2''. |
| 82 | * ''VideoGame/DeathStranding'''s 2025 sequel is titled ''Death Stranding 2: On the Beach''. |
| 83 | * ''VideoGame/{{Deception}}'': |
| 84 | ** The first game in the series, ''[[InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt Tecmo's Deception]]: Invitation to Darkness'', was followed by ''[[SequelTheOriginalTitle Kagero: Deception II]]'' and ''Deception III: Dark Delusion''. Okay, at least they're numbered. Then Creator/{{Tecmo}} called the fourth game ''VideoGame/{{Trapt}}'' and published the next game abroad as ''Deception [[SequelNumberSnarl IV]]: Blood Ties'', which received an UpdatedRerelease titled ''Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess''. |
| 85 | ** The Japanese titles aren't any better. In order, we have ''Kokumeikan'' (''Deception''), ''Kagero: Kokumeikan Shinsho'' (''Kagero''), ''Soumatou'' (''Deception III''), ''Kagero II: Dark Illusion'' (''Trapt''), ''Kagero: Darkside Princess'' (''Deception IV''), and ''Kagero: Another Princess'' (''Deception IV''[='s=] UpdatedRerelease). However, despite ''Kagero: Darkside Princess'' and ''Kagero: Another Princess'' lacking the NumberedSequels treatment, [[https://www.gamecity.ne.jp/kagero3-2/ the official Japanese website for both games]] ''does'' have "kagero3" ([[UpdatedRerelease later "kagero3-2"]]) in its URL. |
| 86 | * ''Devilish'', a series of ''VideoGame/{{Breakout}}''- and ''VideoGame/{{Arkanoid}}''-[[FollowTheLeader inspired]] action/puzzle games, goes ''Devilish'' (1991 for the Platform/GameGear), then ''Bad Omen'' (1992 for the [[Platform/SegaGenesis Mega Drive/Sega Genesis]]), and finally -- [[SequelGap over a decade later]] -- ''Devilish: Ball Bounder'' (2005 for the Platform/NintendoDS). This only applies for the Japanese releases, however, as ''Bad Omen'' was released outside of Japan [[MarketBasedTitle as]] ''Devilish: The Next Possession''. |
| 87 | * The German civilization sim ''Die Volker'' (''The Nations'') was translated into English as ''Alien Nations'' and later brought to America under the CompletelyDifferentTitle of ''Amazons and Aliens''. The sequel was released as ''Alien Nations 2'' in the UK whilst the US opted for a direct translation while removing the number. If that wasn't confusing enough, the rereleases on GOG.Com use the UK name for the first game and the US name for the second. |
| 88 | * The ''Divinity'' series gets to be oddly named from the very beginning, but the sequels make their own kind of nonsense. In order: ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity'', ''VideoGame/BeyondDivinity'', ''VideoGame/DivinityIITheDragonKnightSaga'' (which is itself made up of ''Divinity II: Ego Draconis'' and ''Divinity II: Flames of Vengeance''). ''Divine Divinity'' was meant to be ''Divinity: Sword of Lies'', and ''Beyond Divinity'' was a spin-off; ''Ego Draconis'' was the original ''Divinity II'' game, which was re-released as ''The Dragon Knight Saga'' as a bundle or as just the expansion, ''Flames of Vengeance''. Then you add in ''VideoGame/DivinityDragonCommander'' and ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' as well, making the prospect of what order the games are in a little tricky. |
| 89 | * ''VideoGame/{{DJMAX}} Portable'', ''[[NumberedSequels DJMAX Portable 2]]'', ''[[LicensedGame DJMAX Portable Clazziquai Edition]]'', ''DJMAX Portable Black Square'', and the [[NoExportForYou US-only]] ''DJMAX [[strike:Portable]] Fever''. |
| 90 | * Tradewest's fighting game based on the ''WesternAnimation/DoubleDragon1993'' cartoon was titled ''Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls'', which was released for the SNES and Genesis (as well as the Jaguar), even though it had nothing to do with [[VideoGame/DoubleDragon the previous Technos-developed games]] and there was no "Double Dragon IV". While technically there was a fourth ''Double Dragon'' game, it was an SNES-exclusive installment titled ''Super Double Dragon'', meaning that the owners of the other consoles would've not been aware of it. Neither game is set in the same continuity as the original trilogy (nor is ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonNeon'') and, many years later in 2017, there would be a "proper" ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonIV'' [[{{Unreboot}} meant to serve as a direct follow-up to the first three titles]]. |
| 91 | * You would think ''Franchise/DragonAge'' would be going this way with the first game being called ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' and the expansion being called ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening''. But nope, in a reversal of Creator/MichaelBay's thoughts, the devs opted to call the sequel ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' just to make things less complicated on the audience. Next up is ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition''. It was originally announced as ''Dragon Age III: Inquisition'', but the "III" was dropped at E3 2013. |
| 92 | * ''VideoGame/DukeNukem'': |
| 93 | ** Not counting spin-offs, ''Duke Nukem'', ''Duke Nukem II'', ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'' and ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever''. As a funny note, it started out as Duke Nuk'''e'''m, but was quickly released as Duke Nuk'''u'''m because of a ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' character with the "Duke Nukem" name. When the sequel was being developed, the developers discovered that the ''Captain Planet'' character's name had not been registered, so the sequels all use the original Duke Nukem name. |
| 94 | ** A little historical background: the first two ''DN'' games were [[PlatformGame 2D platformers]] and the third one gaining an extra dimension was part of the general [[VideoGame3DLeap transition of games into 3D]] in the [[TheNineties late 1990s]]. For whatever reason, said transition [[ThirdIs3D often happened in the third installment of a given series, so many devs slapped the word "3D" onto its title]]. It started all the way back with ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' in 1992, and was merely continued with ''[=DN3D=]'' in 1996. As for ''Forever'', the fourth installment of the main series, it also makes sense if you write it this way: ''Duke Nukem [[Letters2Numbers 4ever]]'' (of course, it also ended up having [[VaporWare an entirely different meaning]]). |
| 95 | * ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'': |
| 96 | ** After ''Dwarf Fortress'' retroactively sequelized to follow the defunct ''Slaves to Armok: God of Blood'', it is now ''Slaves to Armok: God of Blood Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress'', subverting ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin since it doesn't feature Armok in any way and dwarves do not keep slaves. |
| 97 | ** Technically ''Dwarf Fortress'' is followed by [[ColonCancer yet another random subtitle]], ''Histories of <synonym of greed> and <synonym of hard work>'', i.e. ''Slaves to Armok: God of Blood Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress: Histories of Gluttony and Determination''. |
| 98 | * The virtually unknown RealTimeStrategy ''Earth 2140'' has a much more successful sequel named ''VideoGame/{{Earth 2150}}'' (or ''Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet''), which itself has two standalone {{Expansion Pack}}s named ''Earth 2150: The Moon Project'' (some editions drop ''Earth 2150'') and ''Earth 2150: Lost Souls''. The third full game in the series is, consequently, named ''Earth 2160'', even though Earth itself is gone by that point in an EarthShatteringKaboom, [[ArtifactTitle and the entire game takes place on other planets]]. Apparently, it is a rule in the series that a major conflict has to take place every 10 years. |
| 99 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Elite}}'' series seemingly follows no naming convention whatsoever. It started with ''Elite'', then the sequel was ''[[SequelTheOriginalTitle Frontier: Elite II]]'', followed by ''Frontier: First Encounters'', then ''VideoGame/EliteDangerous'' 20 years later. |
| 100 | * ''Franchise/{{Fallout}}'': |
| 101 | ** The series had been getting on just fine without the need for any if these fancy subtitles: ''VideoGame/{{Fallout|1}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' and... ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''. Oh. There was also a game with different gameplay that didn't fit into the chronology called ''VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel'', and another, with yet a different style of gameplay, called just ''VideoGame/FalloutBrotherhoodOfSteel''. |
| 102 | ** Creator/{{Bethesda}} explained that ''New Vegas'' isn't a sequel to ''3'', so it doesn't follow in number (if anything, it's more of a remake of the [[VaporWare never-released]] ''VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren'', which is itself an example only ''because'' [[WorkingTitle it wasn't released]]). Bethesda has since released [[VideoGame/Fallout4 a sequel]] numbered ''4''. |
| 103 | ** And then there was ''VideoGame/Fallout76''. Similarly to ''New Vegas'', this game is more of a spin-off, and its focus on online multiplayer is the reason why the next game in the series will probably be ''Fallout 5''. |
| 104 | * While the standard ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games are regularly named, its side game names have been getting progressively weirder over the years. |
| 105 | ** The problem developed when they started making sequels when [[NonLinearSequel they hadn't before]]. The trend started with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'', which is pronounced, according to WordOfGod, as "Final Fantasy Ten Two." |
| 106 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles: [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChroniclesRingOfFates Ring of Fates]][=/=]My Life as a King[=/=][[VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChroniclesTheCrystalBearers The Crystal Bearers]]''. Too many subtitles. |
| 107 | ** The worst offender is, without a doubt, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2: Grimoire of the Rift''. It's a CreatorDrivenSuccessor to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', which is a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics''. But because the new game isn't ''on'' the Platform/GameBoyAdvance the way ''[[SuperTitle64Advance Tactics Advance]]'' was, they couldn't call it "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2," so instead they dropped the "-dvance" but kept the "A," ''[[SerialEscalation AND THEN]]'' added the subtitle "Grimoire of the Rift," leaving us with the absolutely bonkers WordSaladTitle we have today. |
| 108 | ** Though ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' might challenge that title. The sequel (which was a movie) was ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' (not just ''Final Fantasy: Advent Children'', despite what some people think). Then there's the numerous prequels, ''Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII'', ''VideoGame/CrisisCore: Final Fantasy VII'' and ''Last Order: Final Fantasy VII'', which add to the confusion by reversing the title and subtitles. And then add on the side game ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus: Final Fantasy VII'', the Japan-only side game expansion ''Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode: Final Fantasy VII'' and the Blu-ray remake of the movie, ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete''. '''Not to mention''' ''On the Way to a Smile'' (which doesn't have the words "Final Fantasy VII" anywhere in the title, but is still part of the series), a series of novels that acts as a sort of interquel between ''Final Fantasy VII'' and ''Advent Children''. Whew! |
| 109 | ** Also ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIIRevenantWings''. |
| 110 | ** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' started off as merely suffering from GratuitousLatin. But then the sequel was named ''Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy'' (where ''Dissidias 2'' through ''11'' went we'll never know). Except it's supposed to be pronounced ''Dissidia Duodecim: Final Fantasy'', because once again, GratuitousLatin. To really drive the point home and avoid another ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2 358/2 Days]]'' confusion, they've helpfully included the correct pronunciation in the game's logo. Only now it actually gets MORE confusing because the logo now reads ''Dissidia [duodecim] 012: Final Fantasy''. Just calling it "Dissidia 2" would have been perfectly fine, Creator/SquareEnix. |
| 111 | *** The first ''Dissidia'' is ''Dissidia 013''; that is, in ''Dissidia'', the war between Cosmos and Chaos is [[ForeverWar an endlessly repeating cycle]], with the original ''Dissidia'' chronicling the thirteenth repetition of said cycle. ''Duodecim'' is a prequel covering the twelfth repetition. |
| 112 | *** Notably, [[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy2015 the 2015 arcade]] [[SoftReboot reboot]] opted to [[StoppedNumberingSequels simplify things]] by [[RecycledTitle reusing the first game's title]], with its UpdatedRerelease for the Platform/PlayStation4 in 2018 being branded ''Dissidia Final Fantasy NT''. |
| 113 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' make perfect sense (at least from [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 a past precedent]] standpoint). The third game in the series, however, was not titled ''XIII-3'', but instead became ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII''. |
| 114 | * ''VideoGame/FrogFractions'' deserves special mention. During the Kickstarter campaign for ''Frog Fractions 2'', the devs promised that the sequel's title -- plus the credits and company name of the sequel -- would be under different, completely unrelated names in their best attempt to make the sequel completely untraceable to the first ''Frog Fractions''. The sequel to ''Frog Fractions'' was finally released in 2016, as "Glittermitten Grove" (or "TXT World" or "Frog Fractions '''''3'''''"). |
| 115 | * ''VideoGame/{{Galaga}}'': |
| 116 | ** The sequel to ''Galaga'' was called ''Gaplus'', then was re-released under the name ''[[MarketBasedTitle Galaga 3]]'' in North America. There is no ''Galaga 2''. |
| 117 | ** And then, of course, ''Galaga '88''. Does the absence of intervening numbers need to be brought up again? |
| 118 | ** The Platform/GameGear port of ''[='88=]'' would in turn serve as the basis for a second Game Gear game in ''Galaga '91'' (which, unlike ''[='88=]'', actually released in the same year as its title). When brought over to Europe in 1993, the game was instead titled ''Galaga 2''. Makes sense given both its inspiration and LateExportForYou status, but also thoroughly confusing. |
| 119 | * ''VideoGame/{{Galaxian}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Galaga}}''[='s=] [[SequelDisplacement somewhat lesser-known predecessor]], was no stranger to this either. |
| 120 | ** First, there's the sequel, ''[=Galaxian3=]: Project Dragoon''. Originally a 3D RailShooter attraction that ran at Namco's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Eggs Wonder Eggs]] theme park, it would be ported to the Platform/{{PlayStation}} in 1996 for the Japanese and European markets, without the ''Project Dragoon'' subtitle. According to WordOfGod, the "3" in the title is not the number 3 but [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_(algebra) the cube of a number]] (i.e. "Galaxian Cubed") in reference to [[VideoGame3DLeap the game's polygonal models]]. Despite this, and the game's title being stylized as ''GALAXIAN³'', the Japanese characters used (ギャラクシアン3) spell out "Galaxian 3", which often leads to "Wasn't there already a ''Galaxian 3''?" among those knowledgeable of ''Gaplus''. |
| 121 | ** In 1994, ''[=Galaxian3=]'' would be followed by ''Attack of the Zolgear'', based on a smaller, six-player variation of the arcade rail shooter. Despite being offered as a conversion kit for ''[=Galaxian3=]'', there is no mention of ''Galaxian'' in ''Zolgear''[='s=] title. |
| 122 | ** Long before ''[=Galaxian3=]'' saw the light of day, there was a ''Galaxian 2''/''Galaxian II'' of sorts, released as a handheld game in 1981 (the same year as ''Galaga'') by Entex Industries. The catch? It was neither a port of ''Galaga'' or a true sequel to the original ''Galaxian''; it's named as such because there's a two-player mode where one player controls [[SpaceFighter the "Galaxy ship"]] and the other controls the aliens. |
| 123 | * ''VideoGame/GargoylesQuest'' and ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' came out for the Platform/GameBoy and [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], respectively. They were followed by ''Demon's Crest'' on the [[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Their Japanese names weren't any better, the first two games being named ''Red Arremer I'' and ''II'', and then the third game being called ''Demon's Blazon''. |
| 124 | * ''VideoGame/{{Gex}}'' was followed up by ''Gex[[SequelNumberSnarl :]] Enter the Gecko'' and then ''Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko''. |
| 125 | * The mediocre Platform/{{Amiga}} ''Doom'' knockoff, ''VideoGame/{{Gloom|Amiga}}'' has a sequel titled ''Gloom 3: Zombie Edition'' despite the absence of a ''Gloom 2''. |
| 126 | * In the ''VideoGame/{{Gobliiins}}'' series, each "i" in the title refers to the number of Goblin protagonists in the game. ''Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon'' features two Goblins. ''Goblins 3'' features a single Goblin. |
| 127 | * ''VideoGame/{{Grand Theft Auto|Classic}}'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto2'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'', then ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories'', and then ''[[CapcomSequelStagnation finally]] VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV''. And after that, ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheLostAndDamned'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheBalladOfGayTony'' before ''VideOGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. This has resulted in all of the oddly-named prequels to ''III'' being referred to as the "GTAIII Era", since unlike the prior two games they are all connected in one continuous story spanning most of two decades. |
| 128 | * ''VideoGame/GRiD'' series of racing titles is not immune from such naming conventions, as well. It goes as thus: ''Race Driver: GRID'', ''GRID 2'', ''GRID Autosport'', ''GRID'', and ''GRID Legends''. And no, ''Race Driver: GRID'' has no relation to ''TOCA Race Driver'' -- although both games had been developed and published by Codemasters. |
| 129 | * Oh boy. ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' is chock full of these, too. |
| 130 | ** The second ''Guilty Gear'' game is ''VideoGame/GuiltyGearX'', and the "X" sure doesn't stand for the Roman numeral (apparently it's pronounced "Zex"). After that, it's ''VideoGame/GuiltyGearXX'' (pronounced "Igzex"). And then come its [[CapcomSequelStagnation re-releases]], ''#Reload'' (pronounced "Sharp-Reload"), ''Slash'', and ''Λ Core'' ("Accent Core"). And ''Accent Core Plus'', the updated release of an updated release (that's right, the full title is "Guilty Gear Igzex Accent Core Plus"). There's also the spin-offs ''Isuka'', ''Judgment'', and ''Dust Strikers'' (they aren't preceded by the "XX", though), but they're more like [[MissionPackSequel Mission-Pack Sequels]]. ''Guilty Gear X [By your side "G. Gear"]'' too. |
| 131 | ** Technically, the true sequel to ''Guilty Gear'' is ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear2Overture''. This made for a bit of narrative confusion, as there was a five-year TimeSkip between ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGearTheMissingLink The Missing Link]]'' and ''Overture'', with certain plot points being set up or hinted at in ''Accent Core Plus''... which came out after ''[=GG2=]''. |
| 132 | ** ''XX'' later received a ''fifth'' update, entitled ''Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus '''R'''''. In an attempt to outdo themselves again, Creator/ArcSystemWorks then announced a new installment, ''VideoGame/GuiltyGearXrd -SIGN-'', which mixes this trope with SequelNumberSnarl. (The "Xrd" -- pronounced "Igzird" -- can be read as "X third", thereby following the lead of the ''X'' and ''XX'' subseries despite the fact that ''Xrd'' is essentially ''[=GG3=]''.) This would be followed by an update/sequel titled ''Xrd -REVELATOR-'', suggesting ''Xrd'' would adopt a naming convention similar to that of the ''XX'' [[CapcomSequelStagnation iterations]]. Even then, the update to ''-REVELATOR-'' threw something of a curveball, being titled ''REV 2'' instead using the "-[insert noun here]-" format of the previous two games. |
| 133 | ** The title of the 2021 installment? ''VideoGame/GuiltyGearStrive''. Not ''Guilty Gear '''Xrd''' -STRIVE-'' like one might have expected, just ''Guilty Gear -STRIVE-''. |
| 134 | * ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'': |
| 135 | ** The ''Guitar Hero'' saga, only counting home consoles releases, goes (''deep breath''): ''Guitar Hero'', ''Guitar Hero II'', ''Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's'' (spin-off), ''Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock'', ''Guitar Hero: Aerosmith'' (band-focused), ''Guitar Hero: World Tour'', ''Guitar Hero: Metallica'' (again, band-focused), ''Guitar Hero: Smash Hits'' (another spin-off), ''Guitar Hero 5'', ''Band Hero'' ([[RuleOfThree yet another spin-off]]), ''Guitar Hero: Van Halen'' ([[RuleOfThree yep, band-focused again]]), and ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock''. |
| 136 | ** And there's the portable games: ''Guitar Hero: On Tour'', ''Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades'', and ''Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits''. |
| 137 | * ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''[='s=] ''Battle Master/Battle Assault'' series of {{Fighting Game}}s is pretty straightforward for the most part. Emphasis on "for the most part." |
| 138 | ** Both ''Gundam: The Battle Master'' and ''Gundam: The Battle Master 2'' were [[NoExportForYou Japan-only titles]] featuring a variety of Mobile Suits (primarily from the Universal Century timeline) but OriginalGeneration pilots instead of the usual faces. When the second game was localized for release in North America and the PAL region, it was [[ReformulatedGame reworked]] [[RemadeForTheExport as]] ''Gundam Battle Assault'', using the actual ''Gundam'' characters as MS pilots and including the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Wing Gundam]] as a playable unit (as ''Gundam Wing'' was airing on Creator/{{Toonami}} and Creator/CartoonNetwork at the time). This was followed by a sequel, ''VideoGame/GundamBattleAssault2'', which featured an even bigger roster, most prominently Mobile Suits from ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Endless Waltz]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'' (which American audiences were also familiar with thanks to Toonami). However, instead of marketing the game in Japan as something like "The Battle Master 3", it was instead split into two games as part of Creator/{{Bandai|NamcoEntertainment}} and Creator/D3Publisher's [[https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/simple-characters-2000-series Simple Characters 2000 Series]] of budget-priced Platform/PlayStation games. [[note]]Not to be confused with the similarly named Simple 2000 series of budget [[Platform/PlayStation2 PS2]] titles that gave birth to ''VideoGame/{{Onechanbara}}''.[[/note]] Thus, you have ''Simple Characters 2000 Series Vol. 12: Kidō Butōden G Gundam - The Battle'' and ''Simple Characters 2000 Series Vol. 13: New Mobile Suit Gundam W - The Battle''. |
| 139 | ** Then along came a third ''Battle Assault'', this time a [=PS2=] exclusive for America. With a title like ''Battle Assault 3 Featuring [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Gundam SEED]]'', one would rightly expect ''Gundam SEED'' to [[SpotlightStealingCrossover hog the spotlight]], but the game's roster is almost entirely comprised of Cosmic Era Mobile Suits save for four {{Secret Character}}s: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Wing Gundam Zero Custom, Tallgeese III]], [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Burning (God) Gundam, and Master Gundam]]. Aside of those four, whose character models were taken from their appearance in ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space'', nearly all assets -- including most of the soundtrack -- were seemingly recycled from the ''Mobile Suit Gundam SEED'' shooting game from 2003 that was also developed by Creator/{{Natsume}}, indicating ''Battle Assault 3'' was something of [[RemadeForTheExport a consolation]] for that title [[NoExportForYou not making it out of Japan]]. |
| 140 | ** Natsume also released a ''SEED''-based fighting game for the Platform/GameBoyAdvance in 2004, between the releases of ''Battle Assault 2'' and ''Battle Assault 3''. Another U.S. exclusive, it was titled ''Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Battle Assault'', most likely to tie into the modest cult following of ''Battle Assault 2'' despite focusing on the then recent localization of ''SEED''. A sequel/updated version of the game based on ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' that [[EmbeddedPrecursor included the original title as an unlockable]] released later that same year, but only in Japan and sharing the title of the anime. |
| 141 | * ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': |
| 142 | ** ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' is followed by ''Half-Life 2: Episode One'' and ''Half-Life 2: Episode Two''. You might think this means that ''Half-Life 2'' is "{{Episode Zero|TheBeginning}}", but no -- it's a full-size game, rather than just a prologue or [[EpisodicGame episode]], whereas the two Episodes are [[MissionPackSequel Mission-Pack Sequels]]. Prior to these installments, there was also the single bonus chapter ''Half-Life 2: Lost Coast''. |
| 143 | ** [[SequelGap In 2020]], ''Half-Life 2'' received a long-awaited new installment, though not ''Half-Life 3'' as one might've expected. Instead, you have ''VideoGame/HalfLifeAlyx'', a VR interquel set between the first two games. [[spoiler:The game, to the surprise of many, also manages to move the overall narrative forward by means of a CosmicRetcon that changes the ending of ''Episode Two'', with the DistantEpilogue of ''Alyx'' taking place five years later during the now revised ending of ''Episode Two''.]] |
| 144 | * ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': |
| 145 | ** ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'' actually takes place concurrent with ''VideoGame/Halo2'' and has next-to-nothing to do with ''VideoGame/Halo3'', but because it was built on the ''Halo 3'' engine it got ''Halo 3''[='s=] number. |
| 146 | ** That said, throughout ''ODST'', there are references to the fact that the Covenant has established a dig-site in New Mombasa to uncover... something they want really badly. [[spoiler:Turns out, it's an artifact that creates a portal to The Ark, which is a major plot point for ''Halo 3''. The Legendary version of the epilogue even gives an up-close view of the Artifact.]] |
| 147 | * The ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' series has done this almost to an extreme. Except for some versions on Nintendo portables (which are simply named ''Harvest Moon 1'', ''2'', ''3'' and ''DS'') and the PSP version, every sequel has a new name: ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonBackToNature'', ''Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonAWonderfulLife'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonSaveTheHomeland'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonMagicalMelody'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonTreeOfTranquility'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonIslandOfHappiness'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonAnimalParade'', ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonSunshineIslands'', etc. Also, many of these have a ''For Girls'' version, with a twisted name (such as ''[[VideoGame/HarvestMoonAWonderfulLife Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/HarvestMoonDS Harvest Moon DS Cute]]''); the Japanese versions of these just tacked on a [[GratuitousEnglish "For Girl."]] |
| 148 | * ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'': |
| 149 | ** ''Heretic'' was followed by ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}}'', ''Hexen II'' and ''Heretic II''. |
| 150 | ** Originally, ''Hexen II'' was to be named ''Hecatomb'' -- the trilogy's names were apparently decided by John Carmack himself. ''Heretic II'' is a sidestory unrelated to the larger Serpent Riders StoryArc. |
| 151 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' series has ''Homeworld'', ''Homeworld: Cataclysm'' (a standalone ExpansionPack), ''Homeworld 2'', and ''VideoGame/HomeworldDesertsOfKharak'' (prequel to the series). |
| 152 | * ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'' plays with this: It looks like a regular {{Numbered Sequel|s}}, but its two predecessors are obscure outside of China (currently lacking pages on this wiki and instead being described on Creator/MiHoYo's page), and are titled ''Benghuai Xueyuan'' (lit. "Collapse Academy") and ''Benghuai Xueyuan 2'', which were localized as ''Zombiegal Kawaii'' and ''Guns [=GirlZ=]''. Story-wise, they aren't exactly "sequels" but {{Alternate Universe}}s in a similar setting; for ''[=HI3=]'' in particular, the name refers to the "Third Honkai Impact" that serves as an important backstory for the game. This is continued with the turn-based RPG spin-off, ''VideoGame/HonkaiStarRail'', set in another parallel universe -- and it gets even odder in that while previous ''Honkai'' titles deal with the cosmic threat called the "Honkai", in ''Star Rail'' [[ArtifactTitle the Honkai seemingly isn't a thing]], with only [[spoiler:Welt Yang]] (who explicitly [[{{Transplant}} crossed over]] from ''[=HI3=]'' to this game) mentioning it in passing to explain his past. Presumably, the "Honkai" is there for branding purposes and to more directly link ''Star Rail'' to its predecessor, as several characters in the game are [[AlternateSelf alternate versions]] of their ''[=HI3=]'' counterparts. |
| 153 | * The sequel/prequel/interquel of ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'' is titled ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami2WrongNumber''. |
| 154 | * ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'': |
| 155 | ** The main series had NumberedSequels up until the fifth game, ''House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn''. What's confusing is that ''4'' and ''Scarlet Dawn'' are {{interquel}}s to ''III'', which is chronologically the latest. |
| 156 | ** There's also ''The House of the Dead 4: Special'', originally a short, arcade-exclusive title that picks up where ''4'' left off. It's playable on home ports of the game. |
| 157 | ** Then there's ''VideoGame/TheHouseOfTheDeadOverkill'', a 2009 prequel to the first game starring a rookie agent G. ''OVERKILL'' bears the distinction of [[BTeamSequel being developed by a London-based team (Headstrong Games) as opposed to the first four titles]] as well as fusing the series' infamous voice acting with a more [[Creator/QuentinTarantino Tarantino]]-[[ExploitationFilm esque]] BMovie feel. |
| 158 | ** Not to mention all the spin-offs: ''The House of the Dead EX'', ''VideoGame/ZombieRevenge'', ''The Typing of the Dead'', and ''VideoGame/ThePinballOfTheDead''. There's also ''VideoGame/VampireNight'', a {{light gun|Game}} [[CreatorDrivenSuccessor spiritual sequel]] made in collaboration between usual ''[=HotD=]'' developers Creator/{{Sega}} [=AM1=] (then Wow Entertainment) and Creator/{{Namco}} which introduced a handful of elements that'd be included in subsequent games starting with ''The House of the Dead III'', notably the boss cancel bar. |
| 159 | * ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'' was followed by ''Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road'' and ''Ikari III: The Rescue''. Though only the Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem version of ''Victory Road'' carried the ''Ikari Warriors II'' title; the original Japanese title, ''Dogō Sōken'', had a kanji title (怒号層圏) beginning with the same character as "ikari" (怒). |
| 160 | * The ''VideoGame/ImperiumGalactica'' series starts with just ''Imperium Galactica'', then is followed by ''Imperium Galactica II''. The planned third game was to have the title ''Imperium Galactica 3: Genesis'' (it was supposed to be a prequel). After a number of bankruptcies and name changes, the third game was eventually released as ''VideoGame/NexusTheJupiterIncident''. |
| 161 | * ''VideoGame/InFAMOUS'' tends to jump between numbers "one" and "two", despite the few installments it has. In the order of release: ''[=inFAMOUS=]'', ''VideoGame/InFamous2'', ''VideoGame/InfamousFestivalOfBlood'', ''VideoGame/InfamousSecondSon'', and ''VideoGame/InfamousFirstLight''. |
| 162 | * The ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series earned a massive fanbase during its [=PlayStation=] 2 heyday. When it comes to the main titles, however, it switched between several naming conventions. ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy'' was followed up by ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'', ''VideoGame/Jak3'', ''[[VideoGame/JakX Jak X: Combat Racing]]'', ''VideoGame/{{Daxter}}'', and ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterTheLostFrontier''. Save for ''Daxter'', which is an interquel placed between ''The Precursor Legacy'' and ''Jak II'', the games were at least released in chronological order. |
| 163 | * Creator/{{Capcom}}'s first ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' fighting game for the arcades was released internationally under the shortened title of ''[=JoJo's=] Venture''. The sequel, which was titled ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureHeritageForTheFuture'' in Japan, was released under the manga's full title of ''[=JoJo's=] Bizarre Adventure'' internationally. The [=PlayStation=] and Dreamcast ports had no such titling issues. |
| 164 | * ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. [[ExaggeratedTrope This is gonna take a while]], so you might want to sit down. It's a common joke among fans of the series to bring up the franchise's list of titles to someone who's not familiar with the games [[SchmuckBait and then ask them what order the games take place in]]. |
| 165 | ** To start, despite its initial release on a completely different console and consequently different gameplay, ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' is a ''direct sequel'' to the first game, ''not'' a GaidenGame, a side story, nor even a FillerArc. For all intents and purposes, it is "Kingdom Hearts 2", and the nominal ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' is the third game of the series. Going straight from ''I'' to ''II'' is bound to cause confusion (well, [[KudzuPlot more confusion]]). |
| 166 | ** ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' is another infamous example. Just so you know, that's pronounced "Kingdom Hearts Three-Five-Eight Days Over Two." Some people just call it "Kingdom Hearts Three Hundred Fifty-Eight and a Half Days." Or just "Kingdom Hearts: Days" for short. Chronologically, it takes place [[SimultaneousArcs around the same time]] as ''Chain of Memories'' and ends just before ''Kingdom Hearts II'', [[TrilogyCreep bumping the latter up to game number 4]] at the time of release. |
| 167 | ** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' is a comparatively straightforward {{Prequel}}, though you can't tell that by [[WordSaladTitle the title]] alone. Creator/TetsuyaNomura said in an interview that he came up with the title mostly because not many game titles use the word "by" and [[RuleOfCool he thought it sounded cool]]. |
| 168 | ** ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' is the seventh installment of the series, but serves as a direct sequel to ''KHII'' while tying together plot threads from ''all'' previous games in preparation for ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''. |
| 169 | ** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsX Kingdom Hearts χ]]'' is another great example. Worse than ''358/2 Days'', it's a VisualPun title. The Greek letter "χ" is transliterated as "chi," but pronounced "key," as in [[IconicItem Keyblade]]. The game delves into the so-called "Keyblade War," a significant chapter from the series' lore. It would later be followed by an update known as ''Kingdom Hearts Union χ'', with the "χ" this time standing for "cross." |
| 170 | ** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts02BirthBySleepAFragmentaryPassage 0.2: Birth by Sleep]]'' doesn't just bear the longest title in the series to date (''[[WordSaladTitle Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''); it's also simultaneously an ImmediateSequel to the Secret Episode of the original ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth by Sleep]]'', an {{Interquel}} set during [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI the first game]], a loose tie-in to ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsX Back Cover]]'', '''[[FramingDevice and]]''' an ImmediateSequel to ''3D'' that puts everything into place for the GrandFinale (of the that particular StoryArc, not the entire series). The game is part of the ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'' {{compilation|Rerelease}}, which makes the odd name [[StealthPun somewhat clever]]: after all, 2.8 + 0.2 = [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII 3]]. |
| 171 | * The ''VideoGame/KingdomRush'' series of TowerDefense games doesn't use numbering, instead relying on the "Version Title" format. The original ''Kingdom Rush'' is followed by ''Kingdom Rush: Frontiers''. The third game, ''Kingdom Rush: Origins'', serves as the prequel of the saga; bonus points for the main antagonist Vez'nan serving as ''a playable hero''. The fourth title, ''Kingdom Rush: Vengeance'', continues the storyline from ''Frontiers'' while also indicating the change of alignment; the players are fighting for the evil side. The fifth title, ''Legends of Kingdom Rush'', retooled the gameplay into the RPG format while also uniting the good and bad guys against a common threat. As of February 2024, Ironhide Games have announced their return to Tower Defense roots through ''Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance'' (which is technically the ''sixth'' game overall). |
| 172 | * The ''VideoGame/KingsField'' series can be confusing because the first game was [[NoExportForYou only released in Japan]], so ''King's Field'' and ''King's Field II'' outside Japan are actually ''King's Field II'' and ''King's Field III'' in Japan. The last one is variously called ''King's Field: the Ancient City'', ''KF III'', or ''KF IV''. |
| 173 | * ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'': |
| 174 | ** Downplayed for the mainline series. The first ten main installments use a very consistent NumberedSequels naming format, derived from the respective year of release (''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters94'' up until ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2003''). As the series progressed and Creator/{{SNK}} abandoned the habit of yearly releases, however, the naming convention switched to Roman numerals starting with ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXI''. |
| 175 | ** The main source of confusion? Typical spin-offs and remakes. Among the subtitles used are ''R-1'', ''R-2'', ''EX'', ''[=EX2=]'', ''[[VideoGame/KOFMaximumImpact Maximum Impact]]'', ''[='94=] Re-Bout'', ''Neowave'', ''[[VideoGame/KOFMaximumImpact2 Maximum Impact 2]]'' (released as ''The King of Fighters 2006'' [[MarketBasedTitle in North America]]), ''[[VideoGame/KOFMaximumImpactRegulationA Maximum Impact Regulation A]]'', ''[='98=] Ultimate Match'', and ''2002 Unlimited Match''. |
| 176 | * The game series now known as ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' has a history of this. |
| 177 | ** The series started with ''VideoGame/BloodOmenLegacyOfKain'', with the weighting making it apparent the "Legacy of Kain" part was a subtitle. A few years later, the next game came out called ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainSoulReaver'' (blood no longer being much of a big deal to the wraithlike new hero Raziel). It was followed by ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainSoulReaver2''... but then came ''VideoGame/BloodOmen2LegacyOfKain'', which thoroughly confused everyone. The ''2'' sub-series finally converged in the final game, ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainDefiance'' -- to everyone's great relief. |
| 178 | ** Then, [[SequelGap over a decade after]] ''Defiance'', came ''VideoGame/{{Nosgoth}}'', a short-lived online multiplayer game that lacked the ''Legacy of Kain'' moniker altogether. |
| 179 | ** Not helping matters is the fact that the series operates on the principle of [[NonLinearSequel Non-Linear Sequels]]. Only ''Blood Omen'' and ''Soul Reaver'' occur in chronological order (though ''Nosgoth'' would disrupt the timeline order slightly on account of being an {{interquel}} between these two games), whereas everything from ''Soul Reaver 2'' on features a TimeTravel plot so sprawling and complex that most players would likely require a chalkboard to keep track of everything. |
| 180 | * ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': |
| 181 | ** The series only had one numbered sequel: ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink''. The remainder of the series are distinguished by their subtitles, e.g., ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker''. Sort of justified since ''Zelda II'' was the only true sequel to the first ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' in the series' fictional chronology and every game since then has been a relative NonLinearSequel, with only a few of them having their own direct (and still non-numbered) sequels. There's one more numbered sequel in Japan, ''The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods 2'' (''Triforce of the Gods'' is the Japanese name of ''A Link to the Past''), which was released in the West as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds''. |
| 182 | ** Given how confusing the timeline of this series was, Nintendo later published the book called ''Literature/HyruleHistoria'' -- which clarifies the order of the installments. According to the book, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' serves as the nexus point. ''Ocarina of Time'' goes as far as to split the timeline into ''three'' continuities, depending on the outcome of the battle between Link and Ganon. The events of the titles for Platform/NintendoSwitch, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'', happen many years after ''Zelda II'' -- although the connection to the remaining two branches was never clarified. |
| 183 | * The ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry'' series has a very strange naming convention. The original game is titled ''Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards''. Its first sequel is ''Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places)'', informally called ''LSL-2''. The third game, ''Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals'', is the only one with Roman numerals. Al Lowe, the creator of the series, famously said their would be no ''Leisure Suit Larry 4''... [[ExactWords But he never said anything about 5]]. Starting with ''Leisure Suit Larry 5: Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work'', an in-game joke is that ''LSL-4'' is titled ''Leisure Suit Larry 4: The Missing Floppies''. After the fifth game, ''Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out!'', the sixth Game ''Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail!'' [[StoppedNumberingSequels dropped the number 7 in most markets]]. The game changed the main character to Larry Lovage and dropped the numbering alltogether in 2004. |
| 184 | %%* Ever wondered why the ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry'' series jumped from ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry3PassionatePattiInPursuitOfThePulsatingPectorals'' to ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry5PassionatePattiDoesALittleUndercoverWork''? After making ''3'', series creator Al Lowe famously stated that [[UnInstallment there would never be a Larry 4]]. [[ExactWords He kept his word.]] Kinda. |
| 185 | %%** After ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry7LoveForSail'', the series was spun-off into a new direction with a new character (Larry's nephew, also named Larry), and the numbering scheme was abandoned. The nephew's games (which sometimes have the original Larry voice letters sent to his nephew) include ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarryMagnaCumLaude'', ''Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust'', and the cancelled ''Leisure Suit Larry: Cocoa Butter''. |
| 186 | * ''VideoGame/LoveLiveSchoolIdolFestival'' announced a sequel to the first game, titled as ''VideoGame/LoveLiveSchoolIdolFestival2MiracleLive'' |
| 187 | * ''VideoGame/LovePlus'' for the Platform/NintendoDS was followed by an UpdatedRerelease (''Love Plus+''), a [[Platform/Nintendo3DS 3DS]] sequel (''New Love Plus''), [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs an Updated Re-release of the 3DS sequel]] (''New Love Plus+''), and a short-lived app for iOS and Android (''Love Plus EVERY''). |
| 188 | * ''VideoGame/MagicalDrop F: Daibouken mo Rakujanai!'', where "F" stands for four. |
| 189 | * The ''VideoGame/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAsPortable'' games, whose first and second games were ''The Battle of Aces'' and ''The Gears of Destiny'' respectively. |
| 190 | * ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' was followed by ''Marathon 2: Durandal'' which was followed by ''Marathon Infinity''. ''Infinity'' was then given a joke award by ''[=MacFormat=]'' for "largest version number increase." As if this wasn't enough, the game engine for ''Marathon 2'' was subsequently released and developed into an open-source version named ''Aleph One'', thereby restoring/continuing sequential numbering at the expense of not being understandable by anyone who wasn't a math major. This is partially justified in that much of the "plot" of ''Infinity'' was based on [[TheMultiverse universe hopping]] and the game was released with the creators' level-design, physics-editing, and graphics-editing tools so that players could make their own stories, making the game "infinite." |
| 191 | * ''Franchise/MegaMan''. The entire franchise is a very good example where the Oddly Named Sequel approach is applicable not just to the regular titles, but different eras and iterations of main heroes as well. |
| 192 | ** The early ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' sequels were numbered with Roman numerals (at least on the title screens), but this became problematic when Capcom released a next-generation game for the SNES named ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' (as in the letter "X", [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/02/24/ not a Roman numeral 10]]), which was followed by its own series of numbered sequels (up to ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX8 X8]]'' so far, plus two handheld interquels in the form of ''VideoGame/MegaManXtreme'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManXtreme2''). Because of this, Capcom switched to Arabic numerals for both the box art and title screens in the original series starting with ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' in order to avoid any confusion, as the franchise eventually had a real ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' (and ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'' further down the line, bringing everything full circle). This was never a problem in Japan, however, where the original ''Rockman'' games always used Arabic numerals and subtitles. |
| 193 | ** While the games for the Platform/GameBoy shared the same names as the ones that were released for the NES albeit with Roman numerals (except the first one, which was titled ''VideoGame/MegaManDrWilysRevenge''), they were not an actual ports of their corresponding NES games, but sort-of remixed versions that combined Robot Masters characters from the corresponding NES games with those from its succeeding installment (e.g. ''Dr. Wily's Revenge'' has bosses from the [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 first]] [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 two]] NES games, the Game Boy ''[[VideoGame/MegaManII II]]'' has bosses from the NES ''2'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan3 3]]'', and so on). The only exception is ''VideoGame/MegaManV'', which features the new lineup of Robot Masters instead of borrowing the ones from ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan5 5]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan6 6]]''. The Japanese versions of these games were released under the ''Rockman World'' name, helping Japanese fans tell them apart. |
| 194 | ** It didn't stop there, with the Classic series being followed by ''Mega Man X''. When it came to the latter, one of the promiment characters ([[{{Deuteragonist}} Zero]]) [[BreakoutCharacter proved popular enough]] to continue his adventure a century after the conclusion of X's saga, resulting in the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' installments. At least every single entry in this SequelSeries is numbered properly (up to and including ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero4 Zero 4]]''). |
| 195 | *** Another discrepancy comes from ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'', an RPG spin-off of the mainline ''X'' series. At first glance, this game feels like an adventure that either bridges the gap between ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX7 X7]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX8 X8]]'' or bridges the gap between ''X8'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 Z1]]''. The "discrepancy" part comes into play thanks to the chronological placement of ''Command Mission'' -- 22XX, which is when the ''Zero'' series is [[{{Fanon}} commonly]] ([[CommonKnowledge albeit mistakenly]]) believed to take place.[[labelnote:]]The only official word is that ''Zero'' is set a century after the Elf Wars, with Zero's ending in ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' (where he's set to be place in hibernation for 102 years) established to be [[DistantFinale the last event in the X series timeline]].[[/labelnote]] Because of the potential {{Continuity Snarl}}s and its status as a GaidenGame, ''Command Mission'' is generally viewed as taking place in an AlternateTimeline, though WordOfGod has yet to clarify its placement in the timeline. |
| 196 | ** What follows next can be confusing to newcomers: The next era is ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''. The combination of letters is not just for show -- "ZX" ''literally'' means [[HenshinHero the combined might of previous protagonists in a single character]]. This time, however, there are only two main titles: ''Mega Man ZX'' and ''Mega Man ZX Advent'' (though the "ZX" becomes something of an ArtifactTitle due to the shift in playable characters between games, with the heroes of ''Advent'' instead using mechanics lifted from [[VideoGame/MegaManX7 Axl]] and his [[VoluntaryShapeshifting A-Trans]] ability, hence the "A" in ''Advent''[[note]]though, in-universe, Model A ''doesn't'' stand for "Model Axl" unlike the other Biometals[[/note]]). The CompilationRerelease which bundles the ''Zero'' and ''ZX'' titles together explicitly alludes to the combination of X and Zero in its Japanese title, ''Rockman Zero & ZX Double Hero Collection''. |
| 197 | ** The last era of the original timeline ([[AnachronicOrder chronologically speaking]]) is known as ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'', which happens [[DistantSequel several millennia after]] the ''ZX'' duology. Sure enough, the prequel to the first ''Legends'' title (''The Misadventures of Tron Bonne'') is dedicated to another fan-favorite character (whose popularity rivals even Zero's). The original Japanese moniker of this era, however, is ''Rockman DASH''[[note]][[FunWithAcronyms which stands for]] "Digouter's Adventure Story in Halcyon Days"[[/note]], hence why ''Mega Man Legends'' and ''Mega Man Legends 2'' are referred to as ''Rockman DASH: Episode 1'' and ''Rockman DASH: Episode 2'' respectively. |
| 198 | ** In the vein of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series also has the same problems with [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo companion pairs (and trios) of titles]], starting with ''Mega Man Battle Network 3'': ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork3WhiteAndBlue MMBN3 White/Blue]]'', followed by ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork4RedSunAndBlueMoon MMBN4 Red Sun/Blue Moon]]'', followed by ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork5TeamColonelAndTeamProtoMan MMBN5 Team Colonel/Team ProtoMan/Double Team]]'', and culminating with ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork6CybeastGregarAndCybeastFalzar MMBN6 Cybeast Gregar/Cybeast Falzar]]''. Adding insult to injury, these titles are actually the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth games in the ''Battle Network'' series respectively -- all thanks to Japan-exclusive installments. In Japan itself, the series bears the title of ''Rockman EXE''. |
| 199 | ** ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' serves as a direct continuation of the ''Battle Network'' saga (which is officially an AlternateTimeline to the original series). Yes, this also applies to the naming conventions and multiple versions. The Japanese moniker ''Shooting Star Rockman'' refers to the anime series of the same name. As for the installments themselves, they're known as ''[=MMSF=]: Pegasus/Leo/Dragon'', ''[=MMSF2=]: Zerker x Ninja/Zerker x Saurian'' (the original Japanese names for these are ''Berserk x Shinobi'' and ''Berserk x Dinosaur'' respectively), and ''[=MMSF3=]: Black Ace/Red Joker''. |
| 200 | * ''VideoGame/MetalGear'': |
| 201 | ** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' was actually the third official entry in the series, being preceded by the original ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake''. The word "Solid" in the title was a way of signifying that it was the third installment without actually being called "Metal Gear 3." Since ''MGS'' ended up being [[SequelDisplacement more popular than its 2D predecessors]], it spawned off [[MorePopularSpinoff its own series of numbered sequels]] in the forms of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', [[ArtifactTitle reducing the original meaning of "Solid" into an artifact]]. |
| 202 | ** There's also the portable side game, ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' (which at one point was considered ''Metal Gear Solid 5'' by the development team), as well as the {{multiplatform}} release ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV'' (switching from Arabic to Roman numerals), which was [[DividedForPublication split into two releases]], a standalone prologue titled ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVGroundZeroes Ground Zeroes]]'' and the main game ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain The Phantom Pain]]''. |
| 203 | ** The series also spawned other titles, including remakes and expanded editions of the main entries, an "unofficial" (i.e. developed by Konami without Kojima's involvement) NES sequel titled ''VideoGame/SnakesRevenge'' and numerous official spin-offs such as ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''. |
| 204 | * ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'': |
| 205 | ** Lampshaded in the fourth chapter of ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland'', with a souvenir pin reading "Trial of the Century II: Electric Voodooloo". |
| 206 | ** The series itself does this. The first game was called ''VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland'', then ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'', followed by ''VideoGame/TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland'' and ''VideoGame/EscapeFromMonkeyIsland''. According to WordOfGod, ''Tales of Monkey Island'' takes place "sometime after an imaginary ''Monkey Island 5''", so ''Tales'' is [[NoodleIncident actually the sixth game in the series]]. |
| 207 | * ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' does this with its basic, non-UpdatedRerelease sequels: |
| 208 | ** The "2" in ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos Monster Hunter 2]]'' is pronounced [[GratuitousSpanish "dos."]] |
| 209 | ** The third basic game in the series is called ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'', "tri" being a Greek-born word root meaning "three" (as in ''tri''angle). |
| 210 | ** The "X" in ''Monster Hunter X'' (the Japanese title for ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'') is pronounced "Cross." Its UpdatedRerelease takes it a step further, being called ''Monster Hunter XX'', with "XX" being pronounced "Double Cross." In turn, the word "Cross" refers to the MegamixGame premise, as many monsters, characters, and locations from previous games are brought together. |
| 211 | ** Then there's the 2018 installment (and beginning of the series' Fifth Generation), called either ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' or ''Monster Hunter World'', followed by another mainline entry in 2021, ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'' (or ''Monster Hunter Rise''). The Sixth Generation would begin in 2025 with ''Monster Hunter Wilds''. |
| 212 | * The ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' series started off with fairly standard numbering, even if it did switch from Roman numerals to numbers between the second and third games, but it became more and more this trope as the series went on. |
| 213 | ** The main games are: ''VideoGame/{{Mortal Kombat|1992}}'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatII'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'' (re-released as ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', and then the first three games were combined to make ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''), ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (re-released as ''Mortal Kombat Gold''), ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'' (which does feature a logo resembling the Roman numeral V), ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon'' (the three-dimensional "trilogy"), and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'' (a CrisisCrossover-type fighting game which is considered to be a pseudo-''Mortal Kombat 8'' in a sense). The game that came after these titles [[RecycledTitle is just called]] ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 Mortal Kombat]]'', as it's a ContinuityReboot. |
| 214 | ** This, of course, isn't getting into the spin-offs territory: ''VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks'' -- which only serve to create even more confusion for new fans of the series. To further exacerbate the problem, [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the film]] and [[WesternAnimation/MortalKombatTheJourneyBegins its]] [[Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation sequels]] all had their own (number-free) names, as did [[Series/MortalKombatConquest the live-action series]], [[WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm the animated series]] and [[WebVideo/MortalKombatLegacy the web series]]. |
| 215 | ** Special mention also goes for the handheld versions of ''Deadly Alliance'' and ''Deception''. The GBA port of the former was split into ''two'' separate games: the first port retains the same name as its console version, while the second one is called ''Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition''. Both include divided roster of fighters from the console version; however, ''Tournament Edition'' also adds several fighters which are unavailable in the vanilla ''Deadly Alliance''. The PSP version of ''Deception'' bears the name ''Mortal Kombat: Unchained'' and adds four additional fighters previously playable in ''Deadly Alliance''. |
| 216 | ** If all ''that'' wasn't confusing enough, the sequel to 2011's rebooted ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 Mortal Kombat]]'' was in development under the working title ''Mortal Kombat 2'' (not be confused with the Roman-numbered ''Mortal Kombat II'', the sequel to the original game) and released in 2015 as ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', in which "X" ''doesn't stand up as number 10''. And one year later, this new game got an update called ''Mortal Kombat XL'' -- which many people can still mistakingly call "Mortal Kombat 40". |
| 217 | ** The sequel to ''MKX'' was released in April 2019. It is simply named ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11''. This was followed four years later by ''another'' ContinuityReboot, this time titled... ''VideoGame/{{Mortal Kombat|1}} '''[[Title1 1]]'''''. Understandably, many were quick to [[FanNickname dub the game]] "Mortal Kombat 12", both for simplicity's sake and to avoid confusion with the original (which officially lacks a number but is typically called ''Mortal Kombat 1'') and the previous 2011 reboot. |
| 218 | * ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'': |
| 219 | ** Creator/ShigesatoItoi's signature series of [=RPGs=] has properly numbered installments -- in its native Japan, at least. The "oddly-named" principle applies to the Western releases of the first two games: ''VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings'' and ''[[VideoGame/Earthbound1994 Earthbound]]''. |
| 220 | ** When it comes to ''VideoGame/Mother3'', it was initially conceptualized as a Platform/Nintendo64 title under the moniker ''Earthbound 64''. That project was cancelled -- instead, the development carried over to the Game Boy Advance, mostly thanks to the 2003 Japan-exclusive compilation ''Mother 1+2'' released for the handheld. Since its release in 2006, ''Mother 3'' never got an official ''Earthbound'' localization as Shigesato Itoi himself believed that the game wouldn't sell in the Western territories. |
| 221 | * ''VideoGame/MushihimeSama'''s sequel is called ''Mushihime-sama Futari''. "Futari" [[BilingualBonus means]] "''[[StealthPun two]]'' people." |
| 222 | * ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'': |
| 223 | ** The first sequel to ''Myst'' was called ''VideoGame/RivenTheSequelToMyst''. Later games adopted a more conventional numbering scheme, resulting in ''VideoGame/MystIIIExile'', ''VideoGame/MystIVRevelation'', and ''VideoGame/MystVEndOfAges''. A spin-off also exists, which went through enough name changes between its development, release, the cancellation of its online component, the resurrection of its online component through [=GameTap=] and its second cancellation that it probably deserves its own trope. The last name it had was ''Myst Online: Uru Live''. |
| 224 | *** In the case of ''Riven'', this is largely because "Riven: The Sequel to Myst" is five words, and [[ArcNumber the game has a thing about the number five]]. |
| 225 | ** As a side note, ''Myst V: End of Ages'', although named in the ''Myst'' continuity, actually continues (and ends) the ''VideoGame/{{Uru}}'' storyline. |
| 226 | * ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'': |
| 227 | ** Ordering the ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'' subseries will give anyone a headache: ''Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit'', then ''Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2'', and then ''Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit''. Yes, ''the completely unnumbered title is the sequel to the game that's number two''. |
| 228 | ** Given how many games have been made in this racing franchise, the Oddly Named Sequel approach was inevitable. The original game's official title is ''[[VideoGame/TheNeedForSpeed Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed]]''. The main title of ''Road & Track Presents'' comes from the fact that the popular magazine in question shared the necessary info about the featured rides. Starting with ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedII Need for Speed II]]'', that label had been dropped completely -- and so was the numbering after the fourth title, ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHighStakes'', came out. |
| 229 | ** Only a handful of titles get the proper numbering -- namely, the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnderground'' and th ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedShift'' sub-series. The first has ''Underground'' and ''Underground 2'', but the second brings more confusion to the table. The original ''Need for Speed: Shift'' is followed by ''Shift 2: Unleashed'', with the only indication of belonging to the ''NFS'' franchise being its signature logo (which started to appear since ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUndercover Undercover]]''). |
| 230 | ** And yes, only a few games have some sort of common plot between them. For example, the storyline of ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted'' (2005 version) is directly followed by ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedCarbon''. |
| 231 | *** Speaking of follow-ups, there are installments that serve as spiritual sequels to one another. The aforementioned ''Shift'' sub-series is basically an enhancement over ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedProStreet'', thanks to participation in official racing competitions. The same goes for ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedRivals'' -- except there are numerous sources of inspiration: game mechanics carried over from 2010 version of ''Hot Pursuit'', the Frostbite engine being used for development akin to ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedTheRun'', and several aspects from the 2012 version of ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted2012 Most Wanted]]'' also featuring in ''Rivals''. |
| 232 | ** During the Black Box era of the franchise (''Underground'' to ''The Run''), several titles received handheld versions. Among these are ''Need for Speed: Underground Rivals'', ''Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0'', and ''Need for Speed: Carbon - Own the City''. |
| 233 | * ''VideoGame/NoOneLivesForever'': |
| 234 | ** The original game was titled ''The Operative in No One Lives Forever''. However, for the sequel they turned the original subtitle into the main title, resulting in ''No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way''. |
| 235 | ** Let's not even mention the terrible [[{{Interquel}} sequel/prequel]] known simply as ''Contract J.A.C.K.'' |
| 236 | * [[Creator/StuartAshen Ashens]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnrDI_Bn3rA#t=3m18s reviewed a game]] called ''Oriental Hero'' on the Platform/ZXSpectrum in his "''Terrible Old Games You've Probably Never Heard Of''" series. ''Oriental Hero'' is the sequel to a ZX game called ''Ninja Master'' but doesn't use the word "ninja" anywhere in its title, despite being made by the same developer with the purpose of following on its original title in order to seize upon its success. |
| 237 | * ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'' was followed by ''Panzer Dragoon [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment II]] [[GratuitousGerman Zwei]]'', ''Panzer Dragoon Mini'', ''Panzer Dragoon Saga'', and ''Panzer Dragoon Orta''. |
| 238 | * The ''VideoGame/PanzerGeneral'' series, as released in Germany. The first one was still ''Panzer General'', the second (''Panzer General II'') became ''Panzer General 3D'' (even though it wasn't 3D), and then the actual ''Panzer General 3D'' became ''Panzer General 4''. [[{{Facepalm}} Faces were palmed.]] |
| 239 | * ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'': |
| 240 | ** ''Parasite Eve'' got a normal numbering for its first sequel ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve2'', but the next game was named ''VideoGame/The3rdBirthday''. Not ''Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday''. Just... ''The 3rd Birthday''. According to the developers, this is due to it being set in the same universe, but having few connections to the previous games besides the main character. |
| 241 | ** Not to mention that the first game is itself a loose sequel to the novel/film of the same name. |
| 242 | * ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': |
| 243 | ** Despite the ever-increasing number of entries in the main series, there has never been a ''Pokémon 2'', let alone ''3'', ''4'' or ''5'', despite the fact that [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver the second generation]] was indeed a direct sequel to [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue the first one]]. Instead there's [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo pairs]] (and, usually, eventually trios or quartets), of games with themed names in the format of "Pokémon [Version Title]," with no indication of what falls where. For those wondering, terms like the "second generation" or "Generation V" are non-official designations for groups of games and the Pokémon within them (which also distinguish [[VideoGameRemake remakes]] from the originals). The official games' division into Generations goes as follows: |
| 244 | *** Generation I - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red, Blue and Yellow]]'' |
| 245 | *** Generation II - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gold, Silver and Crystal]]'' |
| 246 | *** Generation III - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald]]''; ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' (remakes of Gen I titles) |
| 247 | *** Generation IV - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Diamond, Pearl and Platinum]]''; ''[=HeartGold=] and [=SoulSilver=]'' (remakes of Gen II titles) |
| 248 | *** Generation V - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Black and White]]''; ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2 and White 2]]'' (direct sequels to ''Black/White'') |
| 249 | *** Generation VI - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY X and Y]]''; ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire'' (remakes of Gen III titles) |
| 250 | *** Generation VII - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]]''; ''[[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'' ([[UpdatedRerelease updated versions]] of ''Sun/Moon'' with [[AlternateUniverse an altered story]]); ''[[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee Let's Go! Pikachu & Eevee]]'' (second set of Gen I remakes) |
| 251 | *** Generation VIII - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Sword and Shield]]''; ''Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl'' (remakes of Gen IV titles); ''[[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus Legends: Arceus]]'' |
| 252 | *** Generation IX - ''[[VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet Scarlet and Violet]]''; ''Legends Z-A'' |
| 253 | ** Of note is that Generations II through IV all used precious materials for their names (''Gold'', ''Silver'' and ''Crystal'' for Generation II; ''Ruby'', ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' for Generation III; and ''Diamond'', ''Pearl'' and ''Platinum'' for Generation IV), which can be very confusing for non-fans. This has only become more confusing with subsequent generations: Gen V went back to colors (''Black/White'', which received NumberedSequels in ''Black 2/White 2''), Gen VI switched to letters/axis coordinates (''X/Y''), Gen VII used celestial bodies (''Sun/Moon'', which received [[AlternateUniverse AU]] {{Word Sequel}}s in ''Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon'', consistent with the ThemeNaming for the various interdimensional aspects introduced in the original versions [[labelnote:ex.]][[EldritchAbomination Ultra Beasts]], [[EldritchLocation Ultra Space]], [[OurWormholesAreDifferent Ultra Wormholes]], etc.[[/labelnote]]), Gen VIII used combat equipment (''Sword/Shield''), and Gen IX went back to colors once more (''Scarlet/Violet''). |
| 254 | *** Additionally, ''Gold/Silver'' can be seen as outliers, as they're both colors like Gen I ''and'' precious materials like Gen III/Gen IV. Likewise, ''Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald'' are respectively shades of '''red, blue, and green''' named for their corresponding gemstones, fitting in with how Gen III was a SoftReboot for the games. [[note]]According to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WohS2WgtSk an episode]] of ''Did You Know Gaming?'' covering ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'', Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda wanted the titles to correspond to the colors red and blue a la Gen I as part of the reboot concept, with the dev team settling on ''Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'' because gemstones would also continue the theme established by the previous entry, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon Crystal]]''.[[/note]] Similarly, ''Black/White''[='s=] titles refer to the concept of [[BlackAndWhiteMorality moral absolutes]], a principle that N adheres to [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity quite strictly]] (even going as far as to TitleDrop it at one point [[labelnote:His quote?]]"Many different values mix together, and the world becomes gray... That is unforgivable! I will separate Pokémon and people, and black and white will be clearly distinct!"[[/labelnote]]) but is slowly pulled away from through his interactions with the protagonist. |
| 255 | ** The aforementioned remakes affix [[ThemeNaming related words]] in front of the titles of the original games. So far there's been ''[=FireRed=]'' & ''[=LeafGreen=]'' [[note]]the original Gen I games were ''Red'' & ''Green'' in Japan, with ''Blue'' being an UpdatedRerelease; the international releases used the graphical updates and game script of ''Blue'', but the Pokémon distribution of ''Red/Green''[[/note]], ''[=HeartGold=]'' & ''[=SoulSilver=]'', ''Omega Ruby'' & ''Alpha Sapphire'', and ''Brilliant Diamond'' & ''Shining Pearl''. |
| 256 | ** The final set of Gen VII games, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!]]'', completely deviates from the above naming conventions. Aside of centering the titles around their respective StarterMon, the names are also based in part on ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' -- justified in that ''Let's Go'' was intended to serve as a JumpingOnPoint for potential fans, particularly those who had already been exposed to ''GO'', right down to blending some of that game's mechanics into the formula of a traditional ''Pokémon'' installment. |
| 257 | ** The final game released during the Gen VIII era, ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'', is a distant prequel to the entire series which takes place in the Hisui region (the past version of Sinnoh, the main location of ''Diamond'', ''Pearl'', and ''Platinum''). It is slated to be followed by ''Pokémon Legends: Z-A'' in 2025, which similarly focuses on a past version of Lumiose City from ''X/Y''. The sequel takes inspiration from the Gen VI games -- and not just in terms of naming conventions. |
| 258 | %% Update the above entry accordingly when 1) the page for Z-A is no longer a sandbox and 2) the game is released. |
| 259 | ** The duology of [[Platform/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] titles developed by Creator/GeniusSonority consists of ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and... ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. Not ''Pokémon Colosseum XD'', but ''Pokémon XD''. Officially, the "XD" [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/3/3f/Pokemon-XD_CoroCoro-Scan_02.jpg stands]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20050821080405/http://www.nintendo.com/cpp/login/offSiteGetProfile.do?rDirect=http://www.pokemon-games.com/portal/portal.jsp for]] "Extra Dimension," but the title potentially doubles as an AntagonistTitle, as the cover mascot and a central figure in the plot is a Shadow Lugia that is codenamed '''XD'''001. |
| 260 | ** Finally, there are only three games that do not have "Pokémon" or the "Poké" prefix anywhere in their titles; ''VideoGame/HeyYouPikachu'' (which was the ''only'' example from its 1998 release all the way until 2015), ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament'' (which is technically a cop out since it only adds an extra k to indicate its (loose) ties to ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' via [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment sharing a developer]]), and ''VideoGame/DetectivePikachu'' (whose [[Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu live-action film adaptation]] otherwise tacks the franchise's name on its title anyway). |
| 261 | ** And the trope is even parodied within the games themselves: In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 B2/W2]]'' you can find a pile of "old rejected movie scripts" at the Pokéstar Studios dressing room. One of them is titled "[[Literature/GulliversTravels Galvantula's Travels]] 2: Eelektrik Boogaloo." |
| 262 | * ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia''. [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1 The first game]] was followed by the sequel ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2: The Shadow and the Flame''. Then ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia3D'' followed, with the series [[VideoGame3DLeap jumping to 3D]] and [[ContinuityReboot beginning a new story]]. Four years later came ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'', starting a new story yet again, which would continue in the direct sequels ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin'' and ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones''. Then, the story resets ''again'', with ''VideoGame/{{Prince of Persia|2008}}'' (and its Platform/NintendoDS sequel ''[[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheFallenKing The Fallen King]]'') in 2008, followed by an {{Unreboot}} [[{{Interquel}} set between]] ''Sands of Time'' and ''Warrior Within'' with 2010's ''[[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheForgottenSands The Forgotten Sands]]''. [[SequelGap Fourteen years later]], the series would see another reboot with 2024's ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheLostCrown''. |
| 263 | * The full title of the sequel to ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' in Japan is ''Project × Zone 2: Brave New World'' (a nod to the opening theme of the same name from ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom''), whereas in the West it's just called ''Project × Zone 2''. This might have to do with the fact that ''Namco × Capcom'' [[NoExportForYou never made it out of Japan]], despite both ''PXZ'' games following up on its story. |
| 264 | * ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'': |
| 265 | ** One of Creator/InsomniacGames' signature franchises has some rather... ''[[AccidentalInnuendo suggestive]]'' subtitles mixed in with multitude of "title versions" without proper numbering of said titles. Observe: ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked Deadlocked]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters Size Matters]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction Tools of Destruction]]'' (the first ''Ratchet & Clank Future'' game), ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureQuestForBooty Quest for Booty]]'' (second ''Future'' installment), ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime A Crack in Time]]'' (third ''Future'' title), ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One All 4 One]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFullFrontalAssault Full-Frontal Assault]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankIntoTheNexus Into the Nexus]]'' (the final game in the ''Future'' [[TrilogyCreep saga]] despite having no "Future" in the title), and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankRiftApart Rift Apart]]''. |
| 266 | ** What doesn't help is the fact that this series has ''two'' games having the exact same ''Ratchet & Clank'' title: the 2002 original and [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016 2016 enhanced re-imagining]] (the latter serves as a tie-in to [[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClank2016 the animated movie of the same name]]). |
| 267 | * ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'': |
| 268 | ** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' has a title that implies it's a side-story to the series, even though the plot acts as a legitimate continuation to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'', being set three months after the events of that game, featuring not only the first time the Redfield siblings (Claire and Chris) appeared together, but also the return of Albert Wesker, the antagonist from the original ''VideoGame/{{Resident Evil|1}}''. Part of the reason for this is because the game was intended to be a [[Platform/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]]-exclusive, with the development being handled by a subsidiary company of Creator/{{Sega}} and story was not originally intended to be a follow-up to ''[=RE2=]'' until some last-minute rewrites, but Sega's eventual departure from the console race allowed the game to be ported to other platforms. |
| 269 | *** The irony here is that, despite being a numbered title, ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' can arguably be considered the ''real'' side story between itself and ''Code: Veronica''. While ''3'' is a sequel to the original ''Resident Evil'' starring Jill, it's an {{interquel}} taking place before and during the Raccoon City incident and the game was originally conceived as a GaidenGame that would make use of the ''[=RE2=]'' engine. |
| 270 | ** The series had only numbered mainline games, until a subtitle was added to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7Biohazard'', with the box art only having the number in Roman algarisms: RESIDENT E'''VII'''. And then the eight game, ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilVillage'', drops the numbers... except for again disguising them in the art, this time in the subtitle '''[=VIll=]'''AGE (with the L's as '''I'''). |
| 271 | * ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'': |
| 272 | ** In North America, the sequel to ''Rival Schools: United by Fate'' was named simply ''Project Justice''. In all other regions, the connection was made more clear -- in Japan, the game was titled ''Moero! Justice Gakuen'' (the original game was ''Shiritsu Justice Gakuen'') while other regions used the ''Project Justice'' name but tacked on ''Rival Schools 2'' [[SequelTheOriginalTitle at the end]]. |
| 273 | ** It didn't help that the Japan-only UpdatedRerelease of the original game was titled ''Shiritsu Justice Gakuen: Nekketsu Seisyun Nikki 2''. The number was for the updated character creation mode (the ''Nekketsu Seisyun Nikki'' part of the title) included in the game, but the number's inclusion caused everyone outside of Japan to mistake it for a sequel. |
| 274 | * ''VideoGame/{{Sacred}} 2: Fallen Angel'' has no FallenAngel in the entire game, [[NonindicativeName nor its theme has something to do with the fallen angel concept]]. The only character that could be considered one is the relatively minor dark Seraphim in Seraphim's side quest. |
| 275 | * The ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' series goes through several changes in formatting across the series: ''VideoGame/{{Saints Row|1}}'', ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', and finally ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV''. There's also ''VideoGame/SaintsRowGatOutOfHell'' (a standalone ExpansionPack for ''IV'' starring BreakoutCharacter Johnny Gat), ''VideoGame/AgentsOfMayhem'' (a spin-off [[AlternateTimeline branching off from]] the ending of ''Gat Out of Hell''), and [[VideoGame/SaintsRow2022 the 2022 reboot]] (simply titled ''Saints Row'', [[RecycledTitle much like the original]]). |
| 276 | * ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'': |
| 277 | ** ''Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage'' for the Platform/PlayStation is not a port, but a distant sequel to the similarly titled Hyper Platform/NeoGeo 64 arcade game ''Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage'' (which itself was a sequel to the original ''[[SuperTitle64Advance Samurai Shodown 64]]''). The Japanese versions averted this by being named differently. |
| 278 | ** In Japan, the ''Samurai Spirits'' games in general have their own {{Word Salad Title}}s: ''II'' is ''Shin Samurai Spirits: Haohmaru Jigokuhen'' ("True Samurai Spirits: Haohmaru's Vision of Hell"), ''III'' is ''Samurai Spirits: Zankuro Musouken'' ("Peerless Sword of Zankuro"), ''IV'' is ''Samurai Spirits: Amakusa Kourin'' ("Amakusa's Advent"), and ''V'' is actually known as ''Samurai Spirits Rei'' ("Samurai Spirits [[EpisodeZeroTheBeginning Zero]]"). It helps to know that [[AnachronicOrder the order]] [[NonLinearSequel of the main games]] (''I-V'') is ''V'', ''I'', ''III'', ''IV'', ''II''. The two ''[=SS64=]'' games take place after ''II'', and ''Sen'' takes place after the ''64'' games but before the [=PS1=] version of ''Warriors Rage'' (which, as noted above, happens to [[RecycledTitle share its title]] with the second part of the ''64'' duology). Meanwhile, ''VI'' is a DreamMatchGame and was titled ''Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi Kenkakuden'' ("Tale of the World's Greatest Swordsmen") [[MarketBasedTitle in Japan]] to reflect its status as such. |
| 279 | ** The confusion was toned down with the 2019 installment, which is [[RecycledTitle also titled]] ''Samurai Shodown''... though that instead ran afoul of SequelNumberSnarl; it's not so much a SoftReboot as it is yet another {{interquel}}, this time set between ''V'' and the original ''[=SamSho=]''. |
| 280 | * ''VideoGame/SeriousSam: The Second Encounter'' (or "''TSE''") and ''Serious Sam 2'' (sometimes referred to as "''[=SS2=]''"" or "''II''") are actually two different games. The former is a MissionPackSequel to the original, while the latter is a completely new installment -- released well after ''The Second Encounter'' with its own art style, setting and story line. Both of these were followed by ''Serious Sam 3: BFE'' ("''Before the First Encounter''") a prequel to the original game (referred heretofore as "''TFE''", or "''The First Encounter''"). And that's not counting ''Serious Sam HD'' and ''Serious Sam: The Second Counter HD'' which are [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] of ''TFE'' and ''TSE'', respectively. |
| 281 | * ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'': |
| 282 | ** Apparently the English-speaking world ''needs'' their sequels to have subtitles. ''Shadow Hearts 2'', as it is called in Japan, was changed to ''Shadow Hearts: Covenant'' for the English version. The third game followed suit, and was called ''Shadow Hearts: From the New World'' in all versions. |
| 283 | ** And let's not forget that they're all sequels to a game called ''VideoGame/{{Koudelka}}'', [[StealthSequel a fact that isn't readily apparent to many players]]. |
| 284 | * ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'': |
| 285 | ** The adventures of the quirky heroine started with ''VideoGame/Shantae2002'' for the Game Boy Color. This relatively obscure title received more popular follow-ups in ''VideoGame/ShantaeRiskysRevenge'', ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndThePiratesCurse'', ''VideoGame/ShantaeHalfGenieHero'', and ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndTheSevenSirens''. |
| 286 | ** The sixth title, ''VideoGame/ShantaeAdvanceRiskyRevolution'', has quite an interesting story. It was conceptualized as the true follow-up to the original ''Shantae'' game back in the [=2000s=]. Thanks to the original GBC game's mediocre sales, ''Risky Revolution'' was shelved... only to be brought back decades later for the physical release on Game Boy Advance (which is ''way'' past its prime as of 2024) in addition to modern consoles and computers. It now serves as an interquel taking place between the first game and ''Risky's Revenge''. |
| 287 | * The ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series isn't exactly the most understandable in terms of naming, but ''VideoGame/Persona2'' was released as a duology, ''Innocent Sin'' and ''Eternal Punishment'', making ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'' the fourth and fifth titles in the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series respectively. ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' got the subtitle ''Lucifer's Call'', which admittedly made far more sense. Meanwhile, there's ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'', a direct sequel to (the Neutral path of) ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' but not the actual ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiV'' (which released years later, after ''VideoGame/Persona5'', its UpdatedRerelease, ''and'' [[VideoGame/Persona5Strikers its Action RPG sequel]]). |
| 288 | * ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi}}'': |
| 289 | ** ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi III|ReturnOfTheNinjaMaster}}'' may sound like a sensible name for a sequel, until you realize it's not literally the third game in the series at all. [[note]]It is, in fact, the eighth or ninth depending on how one counts ''VideoGame/AlexKidd in Shinobi World''.[[/note]] Although, it is the third ''Shinobi'' game for the Platform/SegaGenesis, the first two Genesis games were already sequels to previous ''Shinobi'' games. The first Genesis game, ''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi'', is a sequel to the Platform/SegaMasterSystem version of the first ''Shinobi'', which itself was based on [[VideoGame/Shinobi1987 an arcade game]], while ''VideoGame/ShadowDancer: The Secret of Shinobi'', the second Genesis game, was itself a loose sequel to the arcade's ''Shadow Dancer'', which was the arcade sequel to ''Shinobi''. That's not even counting ''The Cyber Shinobi: Shinobi Part 2'', the European-exclusive Master System sequel to the first ''Shinobi'', or ''The G.G. Shinobi'' and ''The G.G. Shinobi Part II: The Silent Fury'', the two Platform/GameGear installments. So which game could be considered the "true Shinobi II"? The game system of ''Shinobi III'' is clearly based on ''The Revenge of Shinobi'' and the Japanese versions of both games make their relation a lot less ambiguous, since they're [[MarketBasedTitle titled]] ''The Super Shinobi'' and ''The Super Shinobi II''. |
| 290 | ** In the next installment in the series, ''VideoGame/ShinobiLegions'' for the Platform/SegaSaturn, didn't help matters at all. While unrelated to the adventures of Joe Musashi (made clearer by the game's Japanese title, ''Shin Shinobi Den''[[note]]"New Shinobi Legend(s)"; the "Legions" part of the North American title might be a BlindIdiotTranslation of "Legends"[[/note]]), the title was released in Europe as ''Shinobi X'' ([[https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_61/page/n51/mode/2up which was the game's original title when first announced at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show]]). Given the number of ''Shinobi'' games released before then, the "X" might actually stand for the number ten as opposed to [[XMakesAnythingCool being there for artistic flair]]. |
| 291 | ** 2002 saw the series return [[SequelGap after a seven-year gap]] with... [[RecycledTitle another game titled]] ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi|2002}}''. This SoftReboot was followed a year later with ''Kunoichi'' (named so because it marked the debut of the series' first female protagonist in Hibana), released in the NA and PAL markets as ''VideoGame/{{Nightshade|2003}}''. To its credit, ''Kunoichi''/''Nightshade'' does feature the kanji 忍 ("shinobi") behind the title, keeping in line with the logo for the 2002 game, but not everyone caught this. |
| 292 | ** And then, in 2011, another game was released for the 3DS. Its title? Why, ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi|2011}}'', of course! And it's a prequel to the original trilogy featuring Joe's father Jiro. |
| 293 | * Among the lesser-known sport franchises, ''Side Pocket'' is also quite stingy with its titles. |
| 294 | ** The arcade version had been ported to numerous platforms during the 80s and 90s. However, the true sequel to ''Side Pocket'' came out exclusively for Sega consoles -- and it bears the name of ''Minnesota Fats: Pool Legend''. The next game after that was simply called ''Side Pocket 3''. |
| 295 | ** Of course, the arcade release spawned its own batch of spin-offs sharing its basic mechanics (''Pocket Gal'' and ''Pocket Gal Deluxe''). |
| 296 | * The ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series has ''VideoGame/{{Silent Hill|1}}'', ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'', ''VideoGame/SilentHill3'', then ''VideoGame/SilentHill4: The Room'', ''[[VideoGame/SilentHillOrigins Silent Hill: Ørigins]]'' (which is called ''Silent Hill Zero'' in Japan), ''VideoGame/SilentHillHomecoming'', ''VideoGame/SilentHillShatteredMemories'', and ''VideoGame/SilentHillDownpour''. |
| 297 | * The arcade version of ''VideoGame/SilentScope 2'' was titled ''Dark Sillhouette: Silent Scope 2'', although the [=PS2=] version switched the titles back around. |
| 298 | * The ''VideoGame/SimonTheSorcerer'' series uses a Roman numeral for the second game, "3D" for the third, and then switched to Arabic numerals for titles 4, 5, and 6 (stuck in DevelopmentHell). |
| 299 | * In Japan, the ''[[VideoGame/SaturdayNightSlamMasters Slam Masters]]'' (or ''Muscle Bomber'') series is comprised of ''Muscle Bomber'', ''Muscle Bomber Duo'', and ''Super Muscle Bomber''. The corresponding English versions of these three games are ''Saturday Night Slam Masters'', ''Muscle Bomber Duo'', and ''Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters II''. In other words, the series got its title changed to ''Slam Master'' for the English version of the first game, and then changed back to ''Muscle Bomber'' for the second, only to be changed back to ''Slam Masters'' for the third. |
| 300 | * ''VideoGame/SolomonsKey 2'' was subtitled ''Coolmin Tou Kyuushutsu Sakusen'' [[labelnote:Translation]]"Coolmin Tower Rescue Mission"[[/labelnote]] in Japan. |
| 301 | * ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': |
| 302 | ** Not counting the [[{{Spinoff}} spin-offs]], Sonic seemed to make sense with ''VideoGame/{{Sonic the Hedgehog|1}} [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 1]]'', ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 2]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles 3]]''. Then ''Sonic & Knuckles'' came out which was basically [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo the second half]] of ''Sonic 3''. Things got confusing when they jumped over into 3D; it was ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and then ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', but the "Adventure" title was dropped when ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' appeared, with ''Heroes'' then followed up by ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. After that point, the games have been a series of very loosely connected installments with ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'', [[VideoGameLongRunners and so on]]. There's also the downloadable series ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Sonic 4]]: Episode 1'' and ''Sonic 4: Episode 2'', or its fully 2D counterpart, ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', which chronologically comes right after ''Sonic & Knuckles'' but was made decades later. [[spoiler:''Mania'' also happens to be a [[StealthSequel Stealth Prequel]] to ''Forces'', as the Classic Sonic seen in ''Forces'' is the Sonic of ''Sonic Mania'', having been time-displaced by the Phantom Ruby in the game's true ending.]] |
| 303 | ** Things get even weirder when you remember that ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' was released after ''Sonic 2'', making ''Sonic 3'' the ''fourth'' entry in the series. |
| 304 | * ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'': |
| 305 | ** Due to legal issues, the [=PlayStation=] version of ''Soul Edge'' was renamed ''Soul Blade'' in America and Europe. To sidestep this legal hurdle, the sequels were released under the ''Soul Calibur'' name instead. Thus ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'' is actually the '''sixth''' game in the series. |
| 306 | ** It gets even more confusing in terms of capitalization. The "Soulcalibur" series started off as ''Soul Calibur'', and its sequel, ''Soul Calibur II'' reflects this. With the game's third entry, the series was renamed ''Soulcalibur'' (all one word), so the the title of the game became ''Soulcalibur III''. In addition, the previous two games were retroactively renamed under this system (''Soulcalibur'' and ''Soulcalibur II'', respectively). Thankfully, the nomenclature has remained since ''III''. |
| 307 | ** The ''Soul'' series isn't immune to subtitles, too -- the arcade revision of ''Soulcalibur III'' was named (you guessed it) ''Soulcalibur III: Arcade Edition''. The re-release of ''Soulcalibur IV'' for the PSP was titled "''Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny''." |
| 308 | ** Averted in a different way with ''Soulcalibur V'': Then-series director Daishi Odashima [[http://www.vg247.com/2011/05/16/soul-calibur-v-was-almost-soul-edge-2/ very nearly named the game]] ''Soul Edge 2'', [[PublisherChosenTitle but was shut down by Namco]]. |
| 309 | ** If that wasn't confusing enough, ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' (the seventh entry in the ''Soul'' series) is a ContinuityReboot set around the time of the original ''Soulcalibur'' (the ''second'' entry), [[SequelNumberSnarl much like]] ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' before it. |
| 310 | * A slight example in ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest''. Each game is consistently named with a Roman numeral followed by a subtitle (except the first game that doesn't feature a number, of course). Starting with the fourth game, the developers have decided to include the main character's name in the subtitles, even when removing it would sound better (e.g. ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestIVRogerWilcoAndTheTimeRippers'', ''Space Quest V: Roger Wilco – The Next Mutation''). The sixth game uses an Arabic numeral out of the blue (''Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier''). The working title for the cancelled seventh game was ''Space Quest VII: Return to Roman Numerals'' as a nod to the break in numbering. |
| 311 | * The sequel to ''Speedball'' was titled ''Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe'', where "Brutal Deluxe" was the name of the player team. (The subtitle could have been something like "Electrobounce Boogaloo"; mercifully it wasn't.) |
| 312 | * ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'', as the picture on [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo the main page indicates]], has some idiosyncratic titling. |
| 313 | ** The series goes as thus: ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell'', ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow'', ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory'', ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent'', ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Essentials'' (which, despite the name, isn't a remake package with the original games), ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction'', and ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist''. |
| 314 | ** Though to their credit, they never tried to mix numbers in with their subtitles. Considering how the naming schemes of some other series turn out, that is probably a good thing. |
| 315 | ** This was actually caused by ExecutiveMeddling. Originally, ''Chaos Theory'' was supposed to be the sequel to ''Splinter Cell'' and thus known as ''Splinter Cell 2''. ''Pandora Tomorrow'' was only supposed to be an expansion pack to the original. When it was decided that ''Pandora Tomorrow'' [[MissionPackSequel would be a standalone title]], they released it without any numbering to avoid confusing people. |
| 316 | * ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon'': |
| 317 | ** Another signature franchise of Insomniac Games is treated this way, despite the fewer amount of titles. The main series goes as thus: ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon1998'', ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'', ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'', ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'', and ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail''. The former three games were later remade as part of the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy''. |
| 318 | ** The "oddly-named" principle is retained for the handheld titles, as well. We have ''VideoGame/SpyroSeasonOfIce'', ''VideoGame/Spyro2SeasonOfFlame'', ''VideoGame/SpyroAttackOfTheRhynocs'', and ''VideoGame/SpyroOrangeTheCortexConspiracy''.[[note]]The latter is a companion title to ''Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage'' featuring Crash Bandicoot -- both games are the crossovers between respective franchises.[[/note]] |
| 319 | ** Later on, Sierra Entertainment went on to reboot the series via ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'' trilogy: ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroANewBeginning A New Beginning]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroTheEternalNight The Eternal Night]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroDawnOfTheDragon Dawn of the Dragon]]''. No proper numbers were given to these installments, just subtitles. |
| 320 | * Parodied in ''[[VideoGame/TheStanleyParable The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe]]''. After [[spoiler:speaking with the Settings Person in the Epilogue and agreeing to the indefinite creation of sequels for the game]], you'll be prompted to choose fragments of phrases to make up the game's new subtitle each time you start it up, which can leave you with silly subtitles such as "Fist Full Of Paperwork" or "The Last Birthday Party". |
| 321 | * ''VideoGame/StarGladiator'' was followed by ''Star Gladiator 2: Nightmare of Bilstein''... [[MarketBasedTitle but only if you live in Japan]]. Not unlike fellow Capcom 3D fighter ''Rival Schools'', the title was changed to something completely different in other territories, ''Plasma Sword'' in this case. For added oddity, the full title of the first game is ''Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade'' (probably one of the game's [[WholePlotReference many holdovers]] from [[DivorcedInstallment its origins]] as a ''Franchise/StarWars'' fighting game), whereas ''Plasma Sword'' is simply ''Star Gladiator 2'' and not ''Star Gladiator '''Episode II'''''. |
| 322 | * ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' games have ''VideoGame/{{Star Ocean|1}}'', ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'', ''VideoGame/StarOceanBlueSphere'', ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'' (simply titled ''Star Ocean 3'' in Japan), ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheLastHope'' (which includes a "4" in the Japanese title), ''VideoGame/StarOceanIntegrityAndFaithlessness'' (which, likewise, includes a "5" in the Japanese title), ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheDivineForce'' (same deal in Japanese, but with a "6"), and mobile title ''VideoGame/StarOceanAnamnesis'' (which first released in Japan about nine months after the fifth game). The first two games were later remade in 2008 for the Platform/PlayStationPortable under the titles ''Star Ocean: First Departure'' and ''Star Ocean: Second Evolution'', with both games later getting the remaster treatment in the form of 2019's ''Star Ocean: First Departure R'' and 2023's ''Star Ocean: The Second Story R''. Not to mention TheAnimeOfTheGame, ''Star Ocean EX'', which is apparently based on ''The Second Story''. |
| 323 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Starsiege}}'' RealRobot simulators began with ''[=MetalTech=]: Earthsiege'', then moved to ''[=EarthSiege=] II''. The sequel to [=ES2=] was ''Starsiege''. After ''Starsiege'' came ''[[VideoGame/{{Tribes}} Starsiege: Tribes]]'', which was related to the previous games InNameOnly, dropping the mechs entirely for fast paced infantry combat in which you use {{Jet Pack}}s and [[AbnormalAmmo shoot exploding blue frisbees]] at enemies. The sequel to ''Starsiege: Tribes'' dropped the "Starsiege" tag entirely, simply becoming ''Tribes 2''. The prequel to ''Starsiege: Tribes'' (which actually has a plot!) is ''VideoGame/TribesVengeance''. The latest ''Tribes'' game is ''Tribes: Ascend'', with an [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPG]] known as ''Tribes: Universe'' currently in DevelopmentHell. |
| 324 | * The ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/{{Dark Forces|Saga}}'' games have a strange number sequence. They start with ''VideoGame/DarkForces'', followed by ''VideoGame/JediKnightDarkForcesII'', then ''VideoGame/JediKnightIIJediOutcast'' and finally ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy''. [[ColonCancer Even worse]] when you see that Creator/LucasArts (and no one else) considers the full titles to all be prefixed with "Star Wars." |
| 325 | * The numerous ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' installments by Creator/{{Capcom}} with their various adjectives, suffixes, and subtitles can be a bit confusing to first-time fans of the series. This is because Capcom considers most of the Roman-numbered entries in the franchise to be their own sub-series, making it a bit harder to number specific entries in each sub-series. |
| 326 | ** Ironically enough, only the original ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI'' exists as a solo installment. Ports for PC Engine and [=TurboGrafx16=], however, had been renamed to ''Fighting Street'' -- which doesn't help. Things escalated with the arrival of the [[SequelDisplacement iconic]] sequel. |
| 327 | ** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII: The World Warrior'' is the legendary example when it comes to multiple versions. It was followed by ''Street Fighter II'' (''[[MarketBasedTitle Dash]]'')'': Champion Edition'', ''Street Fighter II'' (''[[MarketBasedTitle Dash Turbo]]'')'': Hyper Fighting'', ''Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers'', and ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' (aka ''[[MarketBasedTitle Super Street Fighter II X: Grand Master Challenge]]''). '''All five of those titles are just the original arcade releases, mind you.''' The ''console-specific variations'' include: ''Street Fighter II Turbo'' for the SNES, ''Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition'' for the Genesis (both were compilations of ''Champion Edition'' and ''Hyper Fighting''), ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival'' for the GBA (a portable version of ''Super Turbo''), ''Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition'' for the [=PS2=] and Xbox (a pseudo-compilation of all five original arcade releases), ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix'' for the [=PS3=] and Xbox 360 (a totally [[StealthPun remixed]] and enhanced version of said releases), and ([[OverlyLongGag at last]]) ''Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers'' for the Switch (definitive GrandFinale-sort of version with the final roster additions and lots of options). |
| 328 | ** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha: Warriors' Dream'' (aka ''[[MarketBasedTitle Street Fighter]] [[EpisodeZeroTheBeginning Zero]]'') was followed by ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'' in the arcades. ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'' both had their share of minor upgrades. ''Alpha 2'' had ''Alpha 2 Gold'' for the [=PS1=] and Saturn (aka ''[[MarketBasedTitle Zero 2 Dash]]'', which in turn was based on a minor Asia-only arcade upgrade called ''Zero 2 Alpha''), while ''Alpha 3'' was followed by ''Alpha 3 Upper'' for the GBA (which took its title from ''Zero 3 Upper'', a Japan-only arcade upgrade with the roster additions from the console ports plus [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Eagle]], [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Yun]], and [[VideoGame/FinalFight Maki]], fresh off their appearances in ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium Capcom vs. SNK 2]]'') and ''Alpha 3 MAX'' (aka ''[[MarketBasedTitle Zero 3 Double Upper]]'') for the PSP (which added in Ingrid from ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution'' as well as a [[TagTeam 2-on-1]] Variable Battle Mode). |
| 329 | ** The ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' series consists of ''EX'', ''EX Plus'', ''EX Plus Alpha'' (a [=PS1=] port of the previous game), ''[=EX2=]'', ''[=EX2=] Plus'' (which also had a [=PS1=] port), and ''[=EX3=]'' (a [=PS2=]-exclusive). |
| 330 | ** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII: New Generation'' was followed by ''Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack'' and ''Street Fighter III 3rd Strike: Fight for the Future''. Sometimes, the ''2nd Impact'' and ''3rd Strike'' portions of their respective titles are treated as subtitles rather part of the main titles (in such cases, the actual subtitles of ''Giant Attack'' and ''Fight for the Future'' are omitted). |
| 331 | ** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' was followed by ''Super Street Fighter IV'', which was followed by ''Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition'' and ''Ultra Street Fighter IV''. There's also the ''3D Edition'' of ''Super'' for the [=3DS=]. |
| 332 | ** Downplayed with ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'', which only had two revisions: ''Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition'' (also known as ''Type Arcade'' in [[ShapedLikeItself Japanese arcades]]) and ''Street Fighter V: Champion Edition''. After ''Champion Edition'', which marked the beginning of the fifth and final wave of DLC, Capcom instead moved on to the development of ''VideoGame/StreetFighter6'' (note the Arabic numerals this time), and only time will tell if that game gets into [[CapcomSequelStagnation a similar mess to its predecessors]]. |
| 333 | * During the 90s, Creator/ElectronicArts released a series of helicopter-based shooters named the "Strike series". The series consists of ''VideoGame/DesertStrike'', ''Jungle Strike'', ''Urban Strike'', ''Soviet Strike'' and ''Nuclear Strike''. |
| 334 | * In Japan, the third game of the ''VideoGame/Strikers1945'' series is called ''Strikers 1999'' to reference the SettingUpdate. Everywhere else, it's called ''Strikers 1945 III''. |
| 335 | * ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': |
| 336 | ** No less a video game personage than '''Mario''' has been responsible for this -- ''multiple times''. First off, the sequel to the original game that started it all -- ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' -- was named ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' The follow-ups were numbered sanely until the Platform/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} came along: the fifth console game became known as ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' (although it was actually called ''Super Mario Bros. 4: Super Mario World'' [[MarketBasedTitle in Japan]]). The following game was called ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'' (originally known as ''Super Mario: Yoshi's Island'' in Japan), and it is ''a prequel to the whole series''; and then the series split -- the ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' games became their own series, while original Mario series stopped even bothering with numbering their corresponding games in sequence (up until ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' came along). Something similar to the ''Yoshi's Island'' renaming happened to the ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' games for the Platform/GameBoy, in which the third game was called ''VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3'', which spun off into the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series. |
| 337 | ** The initial ''Super Mario Bros.'' series is numbered sanely only in the Western markets: the game released in the West as ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' was released as ''Super Mario USA'' in Japan -- the game known in Japan as ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' was released as part of a compilation game in the West years later under the title ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels''. The funniest thing about western ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' in general is that it is actually [[DolledUpInstallment a reworked version]] of the Japanese game called ''[[VideoGame/DokiDokiPanic Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic]]''. Essentially, ''Super Mario USA'' is the ''second version of this game'' re-released back in Japan as the ''Mario'' title. |
| 338 | ** Speaking of ''The Lost Levels'', the Japanese version of ''Super Mario All-Stars'' (''Super Mario Collection'') calls it ''Super Mario Bros. 2: For Super Players'', whose subtitle was the slogan on the original box art. ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe'' also uses this full title, just without the ''2''. Eventually, Nintendo used their first localized title for the worldwide Virtual Console release, although the title screen is unchanged. |
| 339 | *** ''Super Mario All-Stars'' orders the main ''Mario'' games in the order of their first release date, which means that in both the Japanese and American versions, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' is treated as the fourth game in the series. |
| 340 | ** And then there are the remakes for the GBA... ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' became ''Super Mario Advance'', which was followed by ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' and ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''[[note]]The former is called ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Bros. 4'' in Japan while the original ''Super Mario World 2'' title is found unused within the latter game's files, which implemented would have made these GBA ports an outstanding case of ColonCancer[[/note]]. The worst offender is the last title called ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''. This is a clusterfuck of naming conventions ''and'' chronology issues mixed together.[[note]]The correct order for ''Advance'' titles is ''3'' - ''1'' - ''4'' - ''2''.[[/note]] |
| 341 | ** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' has three sequels so far: ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'', ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'', and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU''. ''[=NSMB2=]'' is actually the third game. |
| 342 | ** The ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' series started out with ''[[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super]] [[VideoGame/SuperMarioKart Mario Kart]]'', followed by ''VideoGame/{{Mario Kart|64}} [[Platform/Nintendo64 64]]''. Then it went to subtitles with ''VideoGame/MarioKartSuperCircuit'' (for Platform/GameBoyAdvance) and ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' (for Platform/NintendoGameCube). It then returned to SuperTitle64Advance with ''VideoGame/{{Mario Kart|DS}} [[Platform/NintendoDS DS]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Mario Kart|Wii}} Platform/{{Wii}}'' before finally falling into NumberedSequels with ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' (for Platform/Nintendo3DS) and ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' (for Platform/WiiU), the latter of which received an UpdatedRerelease for the Platform/NintendoSwitch called ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''. |
| 343 | * ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'': |
| 344 | ** The series does this for each AlternateContinuity; ''Super Robot Wars F'', ''Super Robot Wars Alpha'', and ''Super Robot Wars: Original Generation'' are among the variations. |
| 345 | ** ''Super Robot Wars: Original Generation'', and ''Super Robot Wars: Original Generation 2'' were combined as a remake ''Super Robot Wars: Original Generations''. Now, the ''combined remake'' is getting a sequel: ''2nd Super Robot Wars: Original Generation''. So the second game is the 4th release and set after the one numbered 2. Okay. |
| 346 | * ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': |
| 347 | ** ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64 Super Smash Bros.]]'' was followed up with ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''. [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU The fourth game]] was a MultiPlatform release, ''Super Smash Bros. [[StealthPun for]] Platform/Nintendo3DS[=/=]Platform/WiiU'', while the fifth, ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', is a DreamMatchGame that brings back every character who was playable up until that point plus a handful of newcomers. |
| 348 | ** The Japanese naming conventions are even weirder. ''Nintendo All-Star: Dairantou Smash Brothers'' [sic], ''Dairantou Smash Bros. DX'' (DX is short for "Deluxe"), and ''Dairantou Smash Bros. X''. In other words, the third game's title is essentially the second game's title minus one letter. And ''Ultimate'' is ''Dairantou Smash Bros. Special''. All words in English in the title are actually that way, by the way. "Dairantou" roughly translates to "Melee" or "Brawl." |
| 349 | * ''VideoGame/{{Tales|Series}}'' series: |
| 350 | ** ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' and ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' both had gaiden sequels named ''Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon'', ''Tales of Phantasia: Summoner's Lineage'', and, depending on where you live, ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' or ''Knight of Ratatosk''. Add the fact that ''Symphonia'' is a {{prequel}} to ''Phantasia'' and we start entering MindScrew territory. |
| 351 | ** Another interesting issue is that there is a ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny II'' and a ''Tales of Destiny 2''; the former is the North American rename of ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia'' for purposes of WritingAroundTrademarks, and the latter is the actual sequel to ''Tales of Destiny''. |
| 352 | * The PuzzleGame ''Tant-R'' had sequels named ''Ichidant-R'' and ''Sando-R''. "Ichidan" means "more" and "sando" means "three times." |
| 353 | * In Japan, Creator/{{Toaplan}}'s sequel to ''Tatsujin'' (''Truxton'' elsewhere) was titled ''Tatsujin-Oh'' ("Expert King"), written in kanji rather than romaji as with the first game. |
| 354 | * ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': |
| 355 | ** The NES ''TMNT'' trilogy has no significant issues. In Japan, however, it's another story. The infamous [[VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1989 1989 title]] was published there under the name ''Geki Kame Ninja Den'' (loosely translated as "Legend of the Radical Ninja Turtles") because the classic 1987 cartoon didn't have an official dub yet. [[VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame The sequel]] (which is based on the iconic arcade game by Konami) was simply called ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' in contrast to its Western title of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game''. By the time ''[[VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheManhattanProject The Manhattan Project]]'' arrived on the Famicom, this ''TMNT'' title was given the number ''2'' as opposed to the ''III'' of the North American version. |
| 356 | ** While on the subject of arcades, the mentioned above hit got a sequel: ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTurtlesInTime''. It was ported to the Super Nintendo with significant changes, amongst which the most obvious one is the addition of number ''IV'' to the title; this was made in order to continue the numbering from earlier NES titles. The Sega Genesis got its own version of the game -- ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist'', which changed the subtitle to ''Return of the Shredder'' in Japan. |
| 357 | ** European policies against depictions of violence forced the publishers to rebrand the games under the moniker ''Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles'', as was done with 1987 series itself. Unfortunately, ''Hero Turtles 3'' doesn't exist -- ''The Manhattan Project'' was never released in Europe. |
| 358 | ** The 2003 era of ''Ninja Turtles'' also has its fair share of confusion, no matter the region. Since [[VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 the first game]] came out, it received sequels which were subtitled ''Battle Nexus'' and ''Mutant Nightmare''. This trilogy of beat 'em ups covers the first three seasons of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 the concurrent TV show]]. However, the handheld versions of these same games [[ReformulatedGame are completely different]], having been remade as side-scrollers in order to circumvent the limitations of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. |
| 359 | * The second ''VideoGame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'' game's name is a source of minor confusion; fans have a hard time deciding whether it's ''Tetris: The Grand Master 2 - The Absolute'' or ''Tetris: The Absolute - The Grand Master 2''. Then there's ''Tetris: The Grand Master 3 - [[WordSaladTitle Terror-Instinct]]'', ''Tetris: The Grand Master ACE'' (a spin-off of TGM), and ''Tetris: The Grand Master 4 - [[GratuitousEnglish The Masters of Round]]'' (technically the fifth game in the series). |
| 360 | * ''Theme Park'' was ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: a management game in which you run a theme park. The title of the CreatorDrivenSuccessor, ''Theme Hospital'', made less sense. |
| 361 | * The original ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series consists of ''VideoGame/TombRaiderI'', ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII'', ''VideoGame/TombRaiderIII'', then ''VideoGame/TombRaiderTheLastRevelation'', ''VideoGame/TombRaiderChronicles'' and ''VideoGame/TombRaiderTheAngelOfDarkness''. The Crystal Dynamics ContinuityReboot of the franchise continues this trend, with ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'', ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary'', and ''VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld''. Then it was rebooted ''again'' in 2013, with just ''VideoGame/{{Tomb Raider|2013}}'', which was followed by ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheTombRaider'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheTombRaider''. |
| 362 | * ''VideoGame/TotalWar'': |
| 363 | ** The series is an interesting take on this; not only does it usually put the series name after the subtitle, but it uses numbers and/or sub-subtitles for some games but not for others. In order of release the games go ''VideoGame/ShogunTotalWar'', ''VideoGame/ShogunTotalWar: Mongol Invasion'', ''VideoGame/MedievalTotalWar'', ''VideoGame/MedievalTotalWar: Viking Invasion'', ''VideoGame/RomeTotalWar'', ''VideoGame/RomeTotalWar: Barbarian Invasion'', ''VideoGame/RomeTotalWar: Alexander'', ''VideoGame/MedievalIITotalWar'', ''VideoGame/MedievalIITotalWar: Kingdoms'', ''VideoGame/EmpireTotalWar'', ''VideoGame/NapoleonTotalWar'' and just to make the naming even more confusing ''VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2'', ''VideoGame/TotalWarRomeII'' and ''VideoGame/TotalWarAttila''. Then there are spin-off games: ''Spartan: Total Warrior'', ''Total War Battles: Shogun'', ''Total War: Arena'', and ''Total War Battles: Kingdom''. |
| 364 | ** Actually numbers are used coherently according to the relevant setting. ''Medieval'' is not a sequel to ''Shogun'', but ''Medieval 2'' is a sequel to ''Medieval'' and ''Shogun 2'' is a sequel to ''Shogun''. The sequel-numeration is applied so that each setting has its own numbers. |
| 365 | * The European/Japanese-only sequel to ''Trace Memory'' (''Another Code'' in those regions) was titled ''Another Code R: A Journey Into Lost Memories'' (''Gateway of Memory'' in Japan). |
| 366 | * ''VideoGame/{{TrackMania}}'', ''[=TrackMania=] Sunrise'', ''[=TrackMania=] Nations'', ''[=TrackMania=] United Forever'', ''[=TrackMania=] Nations Forever''... and the brand new ''Trackmania 2''! This isn't counting console spin-offs, either. |
| 367 | * ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'': |
| 368 | ** The fourth and final installment in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' was released as ''Sen no Kiseki IV -The End of SAGA-'' in Japan, but the subtitle was dropped for the international release, which was just called ''The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV''. |
| 369 | ** The second game in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsThroughDaybreak'' carries the subtitle of ''-CRIMSON [=SiN=]-''.[[note]]Yes, that is how it is capitalized.[[/note]] |
| 370 | * ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'': |
| 371 | ** The second installment of the main line (after ''VideoGame/UnrealI'', not counting the ExpansionPack) is called ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening''. Likewise, the successor of ''[[VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004 Unreal Championship]]'' is called ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship2TheLiandriConflict''. |
| 372 | ** The ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' series was an odd one -- the first two sequels were numbered by year (in the vein of sports releases, given [[BloodSport the games were a different kind of sport]] and they were planning on making it a yearly release like ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL''), ''[=UT2003=]'' and ''[=UT2004=]''... but then after lying dormant for a while as Epic started on ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'', they decided the fourth ''UT'' should also be ''Unreal 3'', and so we got ''VideoGame/UnrealTournamentIII''. |
| 373 | * ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' contains an InUniverse example and ShoutOut to the {{Trope Namer|s}}: The in-game radio station runs an ad for a movie named ''Hoover 2: Hydroelectric Boogaloo''. |
| 374 | * ''VideoGame/WarioLand'': |
| 375 | ** The titular character had a very rough start -- he was featured as a final boss of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' for the original Game Boy. Wario's [[BreakoutCharacter further popularity]] gave him full-fledged series starting with ''VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3''. The follow-up game, ''VideoGame/VirtualBoyWarioLand'', arrived for [[Platform/VirtualBoy the ill-famed gaming system of the same name]] -- yet it was regarded as one of the best titles for that platform. Wario's adventures continued with ''VideoGame/WarioLandII'' (available for both Game Boy and Game Boy Color), ''VideoGame/WarioLand3'' (Game Boy Color only), ''VideoGame/WarioLand4'' (also known as ''Wario Land Advance'' in Japan), and ''VideoGame/WarioLandShakeIt'' (''Wario Land: The Shake Dimension'' in PAL regions). |
| 376 | ** Of course, the fame of Nintendo's greedy treasure hunter doesn't stop there. Among the spin-off titles are ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' series of games, as well as platformers named ''VideoGame/WarioWorld'' and ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise''. |
| 377 | * ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein}}'': |
| 378 | ** The original ''VideoGame/CastleWolfenstein'' and ''VideoGame/BeyondCastleWolfenstein''. |
| 379 | ** ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' in itself received a sequel titled ''Spear of Destiny''. |
| 380 | ** The current continuity (2001-) can be defined by its current publisher, id Software, even though none of the games are numbered the same. ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein|2009}}'' is the sequel of 2001's ''VideoGame/ReturnToCastleWolfenstein''. ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder'' is a ContinuityReboot of the 2009 game, but factors in a major character from that (Caroline Becker), who survived her injuries caused during the previous game and becomes a major part of the story. ''The New Order'' also featured a {{Prequel}} titled ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheOldBlood'', which takes place just before the events of the former. Following this, ''VideoGame/WolfensteinIITheNewColossus'' is the sequel to ''The New Order'', while ''VideoGame/WolfensteinYoungblood'' is a direct sequel to ''The New Colossus'', but doesn't share the same titling conventions. |
| 381 | * ''VideoGame/WonderBoy'' probably has the most confusing series of sequels out of all the examples listed here thanks to the numerous alternate titles the games had between different platform ports and regional releases. |
| 382 | ** [[VideoGame/WonderBoy1 The first game]] itself, originally an arcade release, is also known as ''Super Wonder Boy'' on the Japanese [[Platform/SegaMasterSystem Master System]] (since it has a few enhancements from the arcade version and there was also an earlier ''Wonder Boy'' port released in Japan for the SG-1000, Sega's first game console) and ''Revenge of Dracon'' on the American Platform/GameGear (it was still called ''Wonder Boy'' everywhere else). |
| 383 | ** The second entry in the series was ''Wonder Boy: Monster Land'' for the arcade, which was ported to the Platform/SegaMasterSystem in Japan under the name of ''Super Wonder Boy: Monster World'' and that particular version was released in the west as ''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterLand'' (the "in" was not present in the arcade version's title). |
| 384 | ** The third and last of the arcade releases was titled ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIIMonsterLair''. The console ports for the Platform/TurboGrafx16 and Platform/MegaDrive both kept the same name this time, although the cover artwork for the [=TG16=] version omits the "Wonder Boy III" portion. |
| 385 | ** The fourth entry is when things start to get confusing. The game was released for the Master System in the west as ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIITheDragonsTrap'' (titled as such since it was the third Master System game in the series), which is a distinct game from the aforementioned ''Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair''. The Master System version was supposed to be released in Japan as ''Monster World II'', but that version got canceled. Instead, the later Platform/GameGear port (which was simply titled ''Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap'' in the west, dropping the numeral altogether) came out there as ''Monster World II: Dragon no Wana''. |
| 386 | ** The next entry was ''Wonder Boy V: Monster World III'' for the Platform/MegaDrive (simply titled ''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld'' in the west, not to be confused with the aforementioned ''Super Wonder Boy: Monster World'', the Sega Mark III version of ''Wonder Boy in Monster Land''). Despite its Japanese title, ''Monster World III'' is actually the fourth game in the series released in Japan, since ''Monster World II'' (which fills the position of "Wonder Boy IV") [[SequelFirst was only released a few months later in Japan]], unless we count the ''Dragon's Curse''/''Adventure Island'' remake by Hudson Soft (which opens a whole 'nother can of worms). |
| 387 | ** ''VideoGame/MonsterWorldIV'' is the sixth and final game in the series. It drops the ''Wonder Boy'' name completely, presumably because the protagonist in this one is a girl. It remained a [[NoExportForYou Japan exclusive]] until 2012 when the Virtual Console was finally localized to English, but it kept its original title, leading to potential confusions for people unfamiliar with the Japanese titles. |
| 388 | ** ''VideoGame/MonsterBoyAndTheCursedKingdom'' is the the official seventh game in the series, but it dropped the ''Monster World'' title, as Sega no longer owns it. WordOfGod is that it combined the ''Monster World'' and ''Wonder Boy'' titles as a concession, but why it didn't just use the ''Wonder Boy'' title is anyone's guess. |
| 389 | %%* There were actually two ''Wonder Boy III'' games. The first, ''Monster Lair'', is an InNameOnly ShootEmUp sequel to the arcade version of ''Wonder Boy in Monster Land'', which has a different ending than the SMS version, while the second, ''The Dragon's Trap'' (''Dragon's Curse'' on the Platform/TurboGrafx16), is a direct sequel to the SMS version of ''Monster Land''. |
| 390 | * ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': |
| 391 | ** After doing the quest "Here Fishy Fishy", you get a follow-up involving an eel egg booby trapped with explosives. The quest name? Why, "Here Fishy Fishy 2: Eel-egg-trick Boogaloo," of course. |
| 392 | ** Also, [[ItMakesSenseInContext there is a quest to use an explosive eel egg to save a surprisingly buoyant Dwarf from certain death]]. The quest is named "The Brothers Digsong 2: Eel-Egg-Trick Boogaloo." There is no "Brothers Digsong 1." |
| 393 | * The ''[[VideoGame/WWEVideoGames WWF Smackdown]]'' games start off with the first one and the second ones using numbers (''Smackdown 2: Know Your Role''), but as of the third one [[StoppedNumberingSequels stopped using numbers]], as of the sixth one started using the title "Smackdown vs. Raw" instead, and as of the seventh one started including the year a la ''VideoGame/{{Madden|NFL}}''. |
| 394 | * The ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' usually uses the structure ''X#: Subtitle'', where the number corresponds to the MediaNotes/GameEngine version rather than a direct sequel number. On ye olde "X Engine", we have ''VideoGame/XBeyondTheFrontier'' and its ExpansionPack ''[[PunBasedTitle X: Tension]]''. ''X2: The Threat'' runs on the "X2" engine, and there was a [[CanceledVideoGames planned-but-canceled]] sequel titled ''X2: The Return''. ''X3: Reunion'' had the debut of the high-tech "X3 Reality engine", was followed by ''X3: Terran Conflict'' and its ExpansionPack ''X3: Albion Prelude'' on the same engine. ''VideoGame/XRebirth'' broke the trend as it is a significant re-imagining of the gameplay and the codebase. However, ''X4: Foundations'' went back to the trend despite running on a modified ''Rebirth'' engine. |
| 395 | * All three ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' games take their subtitles from [[Creator/FriedrichNietzsche Nietzche]]: ''Der wille zur Macht'', ''Jenseits von Gut und Bose'', and ''Also Sprach Zarathustra''. They also precisely reversed the order Nietzche originally wrote them in -- ''Also Sprach Zarathustra'' was first published from 1883-1885, ''Jenseits von Gut und Bose'' in 1886, and ''Der Wille Zur Macht'' was compiled, edited, and published posthumously by his sister. Presumably, the planned Episodes 4-6 would have continued to borrow from his earlier and earlier works for titles as well. |
| 396 | * ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'': |
| 397 | ** The aforementioned spin-off series to ''Super Mario Bros.'' franchise also has its own hurdles. The original ''Super Mario World 2'' title was followed by ''VideoGame/YoshisStory'', then came ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'' and ''VideoGame/YoshisNewIsland'' (the latter serves as the interquel taking place right after [=SNES=] original). The last mainline installments are ''VideoGame/YoshisWoollyWorld'' (an obvious reimagining of ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' for Wii U) and ''VideoGame/YoshisCraftedWorld'' for Nintendo Switch. |
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