History Main / ActionizedSequel

* ''Film/JackReacherNeverGoBack'' is this to ''Film/JackReacher''. While ''Jack Reacher'' was still an action movie, it was basically like a thriller with action sequences such as the car chase and the final battle at the quarry, and even those were subjected to {{Deconstruction}} of common action movie trappings and [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome reality ensues]]. ''Never Go Back'' features even more shootouts, fights, car chases, and [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], the last of which didn't occur in the first movie.

* The first two ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' games were straight-up turn-based [=RPGs=]. Starting with ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', the series became either an RPG with heavy FPS elements or an FPS with heavy RPG elements depending on who you ask; either way, it became a lot more action-packed. Then ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' [[SerialEscalation became an Actionized Sequel]] ''to the Actionized Sequel'': The combat system has taken several cues from first-person shooters, incorporating dynamic crosshairs, authentic iron sights, V.A.T.S now works like BulletTime rather than turn-based combat, you can now [[PistolWhip quick bash]] with guns, and grenades are now secondary weapons used with a trigger button rather than their own weapon. On top of that, stealth and {{Pacifist Run}}s are no longer really viable; in ''3'' and ''New Vegas'', it was possible to be fairly decent at sneaking at Level 5-ish depending on your build, but ''4'' with it's new perk system means that you need to be Level ''38'' to fully upgrade your sneaking skill. True stealth mastery like from the previous games, where you could avoid being detected by enemies in full close quarters, is no longer even really possible without a ''lot'' of skill magazines. Diplomacy options also became virtually non-existent, whereas you could usually talk your way out of most situations in the previous games.

* ''Anime/{{Iczer}}'': The original ''Fight! Iczer-1'' OVA series was a GenreBusting mix of Horror, Sci-fi, {{Tokusatsu}}'', {{Mecha}} and {{Yuri}} elements. The sequel, ''Adventure! Iczer-3'' is more of a straight up action series.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Atelier}}'' series goes back and forth with this, but the ''VideoGame/AtelierIris'' and ''[[VideoGame/AtelierRyzaEverDarknessAndTheSecretHideout Ryza]]'' subseries are very much more combat- and action-oriented than the rest. ''Iris'' in particular is known for being more of a conventional JRPG series with alchemy (complete with protagonists fighting TheEmpire in the second), and ''Ryza'' has an actionized combat system, with [[VideoGame/AtelierRyza2LostLegendsAndTheSecretFairy the second game]] being a dungeon-crawling treasure hunt.

* The original ''VideoGame/TombRaiderI'' had even balance between combat and platforming/puzzle solving. Its sequel shifted focus closer to combat by letting Lara start with a shotgun in addition to her trademark pistols and adding greater quantity of both monster and human enemies.

* ZigZagged with ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series: some games are about kicking arses and taking credits in illegal street racing, some others are about professional, ''VideoGame/GranTurismo''-esque racing. Examples of the former are ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'', ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedCarbon Carbon]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'', the latter are ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted [=ProStreet=]]]'', and the [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedShift ''Shift'' sub-series]].

* ZigZagged with ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series: some games are about kicking arses and taking credits in illegal street racing, some others are about professional, ''VideoGame/GranTurismo''-esque racing. Examples of the former are ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'', ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedCarbon Carbon]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'', the latter are ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted [=ProStreet=]'', and the [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedShift ''Shift'' sub-series]].

* ZigZagged with ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series: some games are about kicking arses and taking credits in illegal street racing, some others are about professional, ''VideoGame/GranTurismo''-esque racing. Examples of the former are ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Most Wanted]]'', ''Carbon'', and ''Hot Pursuit'', the latter are ''Pro Street'', ''Shift 1'', ''Shift 2''.

** The reboot, ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'', takes this even further. There are not many side paths and even less places to explore aside from collectibles and hidden missions. Going down the linear path locks you out from backtracking and you can only move forward. There is also, ''Uncharted'' style set pieces with easier and bigger emaphsis on platforming. Compared to past titles where platforming barely worked or was used as an after thought. Any semblance of horror elements are gone due to being an alternate continuity. Also, there is only one puzzle in the entire game.

** {{Zigzagged}} in ''Film/TheForceAwakens''. Though the film has a SlowBeginning like ''Film/ANewHope'' and is completely devoid of space battles, at the same time, it also features a handful of frantic land battles, "Starkiller Base", a planet-sized superweapon capable of destroying entire star systems at once, and a harrowing lightsaber duel taking place during a violent planet-wide tremor.

* ''Franchise/StarWars''

* As mentioned above, there is a major shift in tone between ''Film/{{Alien}}'', a suspense movie about a creature hidden in the labyrinthine corridors of a space ship, and ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', which [[SendInTheClones sends in the clones]] for all-out war. Though fans argue over which is best, both are acknowledged to be great films in and of themselves.

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* ''{{Film/Leap}}: Rise Of The Beast'' is this to the original ''Leap'' and ''Revelation'' is this to ''Rise Of The Beast''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' had plenty of action sequences, but ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' kicks them up a notch, due at least in part to the better CGI technology available after 14 years.

* More of an Actionized Prequel, but the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequel trilogy is more action-packed than the original trilogy, with significantly larger scale battles (not that the originals skimped out on those), and more elaborate lightsaber duels. Compare the battle between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in ''Film/ANewHope'' to their battle in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' and you'll see a '''HUGE''' difference.

* The sequel to ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}''. The first movie was a FishOutOfWater movie about Lightning growing up and learning to appreciate the people around him in time for a big race. ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 2}}'' involves him and Mater being mistaken for American spies by British intelligence, leading to chase sequences and plenty of StuffBlowingUp. Averted with ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'', which went back to a tone similar to the first movie and is about Lightning's struggles over being replaced by newer and faster cars on the racetrack.

* ''VideoGame/ActionTaimanin'': A spin-off of Black Lilith's {{H Game}}s, ''Action Taimanin'' is a HackAndSlash where the titular ninjas engage in combat as opposed to getting captured by the enemy and be subjected to gruesome torture.

* ''{{VideoGame/Solatorobo}}'' is this when compared to its predecessor ''VideoGame/TailConcerto'', in part thanks to Red being a ContrastingSequelMainCharacter to Waffle. Red's first instinct when faced with anything is [[AttackAttackAttack to keep attacking it until it explodes]], so of course his gameplay would revolve around doing as much damage as possible within the shortest amount of time (and once you obtain certain upgrades, in the flashiest way, too). It helps that Red also has a SuperMode with the story having a lot higher stakes than before.

* ''VideoGame/ActionTaimanin'': A spin-off of Black Lilith's {{H Game}}s, ''Action Taimanin'' is a HackNSlash where the titular ninjas engage in combat as opposed to getting captured by the enemy and be subjected to gruesome torture.

[[folder:Films — Animated]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]

** The shared continuity allowed ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' to play this trope for all it's worth; since each of the characters got their own movie detailing their origin story and character background[[note]]except Hawkeye and Black Widow, but the former makes a couple cameos in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' that reveal that he's a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and the latter has a supporting role in ''Film/IronMan2''[[/note]] the writers could afford to make the majority of the exposition be about the team as a whole, rather than focusing on each character's history.

* This happens with the first two movies of ''Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', ''Film/PitchBlack'' & ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick''. The former is a horror movie in which a group of space crash survivors have to escape a planet filled with alien monsters, the latter is a big-budgeted sequel in which the Conan-esque Riddick has to defeat an evil empire of death-worshipping warriors.
* ''Film/CrocodileDundee'' was a weird example - the first was a FishOutOfWater comedy about an Australian from the Outback trying to adapt to life in New York. The second pitched him against a gang of drug dealers coming for him and his American girlfriend in the Outback.

** ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2'' made certain Necromorphs easier to kill (the Pregnant monsters died after getting their sack ruptured, whereas in the [[VideoGame/DeadSpace first game]] they would continue to crawl alongside their brethren), rebalanced weapons and allowed player to dispatch Necromorphs by [[ExplosiveDecompression blowing out windows to space.]] Zero-G movement was also streamlined: instead of jumping from surface to surface with the aid of his [[PowerArmor RIG's]] magnetic boots, [[PlayerCharacter Isaac]] moved by way of a {{Jetpack}} integrated into his [=RIG=]. However the game still maintained most of the original's atmosphere.
** ''VideoGame/DeadSpace3'', however, took actionization so far [[BrokenBase many players]] refused to consider it horror. Necromorphs no longer had to have their limbs surgically shot off: sufficient body damage was also enough. The balanced weapons of previous games were replaced by the extensive weapon-crafting system that allowed for extremely overpowered combos, and universal ammo eliminated most of inventory management. To compensate for this, the game threw dozens of Necromorphs in waves, as well as easily slaughtered Unitologist mooks. To deal with the latter, Isaac also learnt to crouch, take cover and perform combat rolls.