History Main / SlidingScaleOfContinuity

[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* Most of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' belongs here starting with the [[WebAnimation/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Recollection Trilogy]]. There's a lot of space to goof around and tell jokes that aren't usually important to the plot, but with the way episodes follow one-after-the-other to the point where the DVD releases compile them into long movies, the plot is crucial whenever it does. And speaking of said jokes, they themselves half the time can be far-reaching callbacks to the beginning of the series that make little to no sense without the context. [[WebAnimation/RedVsBlueTheProjectFreelancerSaga The Project Freelancer Saga]] and [[WebAnimation/RedVsBlueTheChorusTrilogy The Chorus Trilogy]] in particular are borderline Level 5, barring season 11 which dips into Level 3.

* Most of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' belongs here starting with the [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Recollection Trilogy]]. There's a lot of space to goof around and tell jokes that aren't usually important to the plot, but with the way episodes follow one-after-the-other to the point where the DVD releases compile them into long movies, the plot is crucial whenever it does. And speaking of said jokes, they themselves half the time can be far-reaching callbacks to the beginning of the series that make little to no sense without the context. The [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheProjectFreelancerSaga The Project Freelancer Saga]] [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheChorusTrilogy The Chorus Trilogy]] in particular are borderline Level 5, barring season 11 which dips into Level 3.

* While ''Franchise/DragonBall'' has a great amount of continuity about it, in a larger sense the various entries into the franchise almost always invoke Negative Continuity in relation to each other, [[WordOfGod especially if they aren't written]] by Creator/AkiraToriyama. The ''Manga/DragonBall'' manga forms the base from which all others are related by, but almost no works that expand the plot can ever be compatible with the others. [[note]]For example, ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' contradicts with ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', which itself is based upon [[Anime/DragonBallZ the anime]], not the manga. Meanwhile, ''[[Anime/DragonBallZBardockTheFatherOfGoku Bardock – The Father of Goku]]'' was referenced in the manga, but would later be contradicted with ''Dragon Ball Minus'', which means ''Bardock – The Father of Goku'' is only canon to the anime.[[/note]] Movies get this the worst, slotting themselves into a hypothetical status quo that is similar to but not exactly the same as a point in time in the show. [[note]]For example, ''Anime/DragonBallZTheTreeOfMight'' has Goku alive and use the Kaio-Ken technique, alongside his friends Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Piccolo. However in the show Goku learns Kaio-Ken after being killed, and by the time he's restored back to life, his aforementioned friends are dead themselves. Various machinations in the story mean that Goku and his remaining pals are too injured and/or busy for the film to slot in neatly.[[/note]] Trying to sort this out causes more harm than good for many fans, and [[ShrugOfGod the creators are none too bothered by it]] and prefer to instead focus on writing [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools interesting and]] [[RuleOfCool cool stories]] than be bothered about how every single entry fits with the rest.

* The Kurtzman-era ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series fall into this, except for ''[[WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks Lower Decks]]''.

** ''KOF'' currently[[labelnote:*]][[VideoGameLongRunners as of 2022]][[/labelnote]] has five [[StoryArc arcs]]: "The [[SNKBoss Rugal]] Saga" (the first title, ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters94 '94]]''), "The {{Orochi}} Saga" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters95 '95]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters98 '98]]''), "The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters99 '99]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2002 2002]]''), "The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]]" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2003 2003]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII XIII]]''), and "The [[BadPowersGoodPeople Shun'ei]] Saga" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIV XIV]]''-present). [[note]]Also note that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] all the playable fighters from the previous entries, even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]]. The similarly non-canon ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXII XII]]'' was also billed as a "dream match", though [[ObviousBeta in practice]] it's more of a stopgap released prior to ''XIII''.[[/note]] While it's not too bad with the NESTS chapter (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), Ash's saga almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''VideoGame/BurikiOne'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in '''1999'''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].
** ''XIV'', though giving off the appearance of [[JumpingOnPoint a standalone entry point]] as opposed to the beginning of a new arc outright, has its fair share of this. Notably, though the FinalBoss has the look of a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere at first glance, it's later revealed to be [[spoiler:a byproduct of the TemporalParadox Ash caused at the end of ''XIII'']] and, according to Geese, was foretold in the Jin Scrolls that lied at the center of 1995's ''Fatal Fury 3''. There's also the matter of [[spoiler:said TemporalParadox]] opening up a dimensional rift that allowed [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], Mui Mui, and Love Heart [[note]]hailing the pachinko section of SNK's library (''Dragon Gal'' and ''Sky Love'', respectively)[[/note]] [[TheMultiverse to cross over]], while another subplot involves remnants of NESTS running around in the background, with Angel (a former operative last [[DreamMatchGame canonically]] seen in ''2001'') being on the run from NESTS loyalists whereas newcomer Sylvie Paula Paula was deemed a "defective" experiment by the cartel. ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV XV]]'' continues to build upon by the central storyline with Shun'ei while also [[TheBusCameBack bringing back]] a large number of characters with ties to the previous arcs like Chizuru, the entire Orochi Team from ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters97 KOF '97]]'', Krohnen ([[CharlieBrownFromOuttaTown better known as K9999]]), Ash, and Elisabeth.

From the production side of things, works closer to the episodic end of the scale are also much easier to coordinate between writers, and handle [[UnCancelled a change]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in episode count]] [[OutOfOrder or order]] better. In television, their appeal to networks is that can attract casual viewership, and easily increase viewership at any point along the series' run. On the other hand, works leaning towards continuity may find it easier to maintain a more devoted viewership once they catch on.

What this scale measures is: ''if you knew nothing of the series but the very basic premise and then happened to catch some random episodes in arbitrary order, how difficult is it going to be to understand and follow what's going on, and how much will you miss, compared to if you watched it in order from the beginning?''

A franchise with multiple long-running continuities or frequent reboots does NOT count! This category is for works like the Twilight Zone TV series and Final Fantasy games, and the aforementioned UniversalAdaptorCast.

* The Quake games were this, for a while, with Quake 1-3 having nothing on common but a name for marketing purposes. That ended with the back-to-back releases of ''Quake 4'' and ''Enemy Territory: Quake Wars'', which were a sequel and prequel respectively to ''Quake II''.

* Each entry in the ''VideoGame/EscapeVelocity'' series takes place in a completely different continuity from the others. ''EV Classic'' and ''EV Nova'' are tangentially connected because a NegativeSpaceWedgie kicked two Atinoda Kestrels from the ''Classic'' universe into ''Nova'', but it's more of an EasterEgg than anything else and doesn't affect the plot.

* While the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime is 100% StatusQuoIsGod, it has sometimes dipped into NegativeContinuity, as some events from earlier seasons or films are ignored later on. ''Anime/PokemonGenesectAndTheLegendAwakened'' is a very infamous example for ignoring ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie''.
* While ''Franchise/DragonBall'' has a great amount of continuity about it, in a larger sense the various entries into the franchise almost always invoke Negative Continuity in relation to each other, [[WordOfGod especially if they aren't written]] by Creator/AkiraToriyama. The ''Manga/DragonBall'' manga forms the base from which all others are related by, but almost no works that expand the plot can ever be compatible with the others. [[note]]For example, ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' contradicts with ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', which itself is based upon [[Anime/DragonBallZ the anime]], not the manga. Meanwhile, ''[[Anime/DragonBallZBardockTheFatherOfGoku Bardock – The Father Of Goku]]'' was referenced in the manga, but would later be contradicted with ''Dragon Ball Minus'', which means ''Bardock – The Father Of Goku'' is only canon to the anime.[[/note]] Movies get this the worst, slotting themselves into a hypothetical status quo that is similar to but not exactly the same as a point in time in the show. [[note]]For example, ''Anime/DragonBallZTheTreeOfMight'' has Goku alive and use the Kaio-Ken technique, alongside his friends Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Piccolo. However in the show Goku learns Kaio-Ken after being killed, and by the time he's restored back to life, his aforementioned friends are dead themselves. Various machinations in the story mean that Goku and his remaining pals are too injured and/or busy for the film to slot in neatly.[[/note]] Trying to sort this out causes more harm than good for many fans, and [[ShrugOfGod the creators are none too bothered by it]] and prefer to instead focus on writing [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools interesting and]] [[RuleOfCool cool stories]] than be bothered about how every single entry fits with the rest.

* ''Series/TheGoodies'', which rapidly devolved from a WorkCom-RoommateCom-BritCom hybrid into a vehicle for razor-sharp satire disguised as a live-action cartoon with dirty jokes, wasn’t afraid to do MonumentalDamage, kill off the entire main cast, turn the population of Britain into clowns or in one memorable instance [[EarthShatteringKaboom blow up the Earth]], with everything back to normal next week.

* ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpy'' fluctuates between level 0 and level 1.

* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' often ends episodes with the destruction of the laboratory and the like. All you need to know for each episode is that he's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Dexter and has a laboratory]].
* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' often ends with characters being maimed or killed, the main characters' house being destroyed, etc.

* While the games have a vague Level from 0 to 4, the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime is [[StatusQuoIsGod completely set in the status quo]], with the only real cast being Ash, Pikachu and Team Rocket. New companions join, and new Pokémon are caught, but Ash will ''always'' lose the league at the end of a series, and the ResetButton is pushed so that the whole series might as well [[CanonDiscontinuity have never happened]]. Rinse and repeat. This has resulted in Ash being no closer to his goal of [[ToBeAMaster becoming a Pokémon Master]] than he was in ''[[LongRunners 1997]]''. To wit, it took roughly ''twenty'' years [[ComicBookTime out of universe]] for Ash to [[spoiler:finally make it to the finals of a non-{{Filler}} league ([[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Kalos]])]] and about another two for him to [[spoiler:''actually'' win it all ([[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Alola]])]].
** ''Pokemon Journeys'' decisively breaks the cycle by chronicling what Ash does next after [[spoiler:winning the Alola league]]: aiding Pokemon research and setting his sights on the Pokemon World Championships.

* Most {{Kid Com}}s, in general, are at this level. While they might occasionally have a brief story arc (and by "brief" we mean "the occasional two-parter"), they usually depict the exact same characters in the exact same situations from season to season. TGIF sitcoms are at the high end of this level, since they at least chronicle their main characters growing up and make whatever adjustments are necessary to the status quo to reflect this.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' fits this category to a tee, with each character having the same goals, motivations, and relationships with one another at the beginning of almost every episode. References to past episodes are often made, but regardless of which episode you watch, you can expect to see Phineas and Ferb trying to make the most of their Summer, Candace trying to show her mom the dangerous things they do, Dr. Doofenshmirtz trying to either take over the Tri-State Area, or get some sort of petty revenge for his HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood (or sometimes [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs both at once]]), and Perry showing up to stop him. If any episode has something that could potentially result in a status quo change, expect it to be [[ResetButton undone before the end of every episode]], save for the [[GrandFinale series finale]].

* ''The Literature/LandOfOz'' hovers between 2 and 3 on the scale, mostly because Baum was [[ArtistDisillusionment burned out on the series]], and [[MoneyDearBoy grinding them out ahead of the bill collectors]] for a [[CashCowFranchise happy-to-oblige publisher]]. There are some elements that carry over (like Ozma taking the throne in the second book, Dorothy moving to Oz by the 6th book, the magic belt), but most books are standalone and many elements can contradict one another, especially as Baum started [[CreatorsApathy phoning in]] his later entries to the series. Things got worse as the apathy gradually developed into full CreatorBacklash with repeated attempts to TorchTheFranchiseAndRun, only for Baum to find himself writing yet another Oz book that {{RetCon}}ned or otherwise undid the previous torching under the combined forces of his financial concerns, pressure from publishers... and [[PanderingToTheBase the desire to please an enthusiastic fanbase]] that he actually rather appreciated (though he desperately wished they would embrace some of his ''other'' works as fondly).
** It gets more complicated after other authors began working on the series and trying to untangle the ContinuitySnarl Baum left behind, with the canon-ness of various events DependingOnTheWriter.
* Creator/DavidDrake's ''Literature/{{RCN}}'' novels make [[CallBack Call-Backs]] to earlier books but mostly stand on their own. In only one case so far has a novel had an actual SequelHook, which turned out to be mostly a RedHerring: ''What Distant Deeps'' has Adele discover intelligence that sends Daniel and the crew to the location of ''The Road of Danger'', but once he gets there the information is handed off to a HeroOfAnotherStory and the heroes go off and do something else.

* ''Series/CriminalMinds'' falls here. Although story arcs are present from time to time and it has seen main characters get replaced, any differences between the episodes tend to be mostly cosmetic--the vast majority of episodes are simply the MysteryOfTheWeek where the storyline is introduced and wrapped up in the same episode, with arcs operating mostly in the background.
* From Season 3 on, ''Series/BlueBloods'' drops the MythArc format for Jamie Reagan's plots and becomes much more episodic. There's still consistent CharacterDevelopment going on but there's no longer a formal story arc.
* The overwhelming majority of the Classic era of ''Series/DoctorWho'' is like this, with the exception of a couple of season-long [[StoryArc arc]] plots here and there. The basic premise of the show remains the same, but actors switch out.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is a Level 3, there are {{Continuity Nod}}s and [[CallBack Call-Backs]] to previous episodes but with the exception of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon cer]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony tain]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 two]]-[[Recap/MyLittleponyFriendshipIsMagicS2E2TheReturnOfHarmonyPart2 part]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E25ACanterlotWeddingPart1 ep]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 is]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E1TheCrystalEmpirePart1 od]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E2TheCrystalEmpirePart2 es]] All the episodes are stand-alone.
** Moved up to a Level 4 in Season 4, having an arc related to [[spoiler:opening the box from the season beginning two parter.]].
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' is normally Level 3 but occasionally goes into Level 4, especially when a major event happens or characters go through major CharacterDevelopment, as well as in Season 18.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' tends towards StatusQuoIsGod, but there were a few major lasting changes in the later seasons.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' Starts off as this through most of Season one, before going straight up to a Level 5 in Season two.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats}}'' hovers between Levels 2 and 3 in its first season. Later seasons, however, fall more into Level 3 territory, with the introduction of three new Thundercats, the promotion of Snarf's nephew to the regular cast and the addition of a new team of antagonists in the form of the Lunataks. Later still, the show's regular villains (with the exception of [[BigBad Mumm-Ra]]) get written out and, for the most part, stay written out. Oh, and the Thundercats' home planet reforms.

** The individual films (the ''Film/IronMan'' series, ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', and ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'') are pretty self-contained but each contributes to an ongoing MythArc that hit a climax with ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', which in turn used TheStinger to set up the next major villain, ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, who would take part in ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}''. Meanwhile Phase 2 of the MCU deals directly with some of the fallout from the climax of ''The Avengers'' (i.e. ''Film/IronMan3'': Tony Stark has PTSD after nearly dying at the climax; ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'': Loki is chastised for causing the alien invasion; ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'': SHIELD is gung-ho about stopping threats before they become threats).

* Most of the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books are Level 4.
* The ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' novels are a fusion of this and AnachronicOrder, numbered thematically rather than chronologically. The first trilogy tells the story of how Cain became attached to the Valhallan 597th Regiment and their early campaigns. The second covers much more ground time-wise but is tangentially related to the ''shadowlight'', a mysterious pre-humanity artifact discovered on Perlia. "Echoes of the Tomb" and ''The Emperor's Finest'' cover his time as Imperial Guard liaison to the Reclaimers chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, and shed light on a NoodleIncident repeatedly alluded to in previous books and [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes why Cain is so terrified of necrons]]. The last two novels, ''The Last Ditch'' and ''The Greater Good'', deal with tyranid incursions.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' would have about a fifty-fifty shot between standalone "monster of the week" episodes and heavy-duty MythArc. The MythArc eps sometimes cranked the scale all the way up to 5, while monster of the week episodes were a 2.
* ''Series/BlakesSeven'' always had the ongoing struggle against the totalitarian Federation, but whether it was the foreground concern or subordinate to the current crisis depends on the episode.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' post-2005. Pre-2005 ''DW'' is more a hybrid of Level 4 and Level 3, with 4-6 episode story arcs that have a strict continuity in themselves but overall have virtually no connection to each other. The only difference a casual viewer would notice between a Season 10 story and a Season 20 story is the [[TheNthDoctor new lead actor]].
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' fits into this catagory and was known for having greater levels of continuity compared to earlier ''Trek'' shows.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' and ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' follow this model. Each show has multi-season {{Myth Arc}}s but the individual episodes are pretty self-contained, and they usually have a PreviouslyOn segment in the continuity-heavy episodes.

* ''Series/AlloAllo'' is a rare sitcom to reach this level; each episode began with the lead character summarising the ongoing events of the miniarc so far and the background arc of the painting(s) and British airmen ran through the whole series.

* The first two seasons of ''Series/BlueBloods'' fall here, with season-long arcs starring Jamie Reagan independent of the BodyOfTheWeek format of each episode's A-plot with his older brother Danny.
* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' and its companion series, ''Series/FearTheWalkingDead'', generally fall on this side of the scale. Each season is self-contained enough that you'll immediately understand what's going on, who the major players are and the general threat, but there are enough continuity nods and references to prior events that establish a strong sense of the overall arc (a group of people struggling to survive, and losing allies along the way).
* ''Series/AndiMack'' is this and teeters on Level 5, very impressive for a Disney KidCom.
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' has a tendency to set up an arc that looks like it could last a whole season, subtly settle into a formulaic pattern that the audience will find familiar, and then pull a MidSeasonTwist that irreversibly reveals a PlotDrivingSecret, ends whatever conflict that characters were going through, and launches a new arc with little resemblance to the previous arc.

* ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' lands here, with the games themselves being standalone, but characters frequently reference past adventures, and the plotlines sometimes lead into one another, like the events of ''VideoGame/KingsQuestV'' being set into motion over events in ''VideoGame/KingsQuestIII'' (the BigBad of that game takes revenge for his brother being turned into a cat), and the events of ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVI'' built on events in ''King's Quest'' with many references to ''King's Quest III'' in dialogue and flavor text. There's also an incriminating letter in ''King's Quest VI'' that hints that at least three of the previous villains may have been working together. It can get up to a 5 if you get your hands on a FanRemake or FanSequel like Creator/AGDInteractive's remakes of ''KQII'' and ''KQIII'' or ''VideoGame/TheSilverLining''.
* ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest'', like its "brother" ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' has games that stand alone mostly, but later entries reference the hell out of previous ones. Even if Roger is always busted back down to mopping floors, there's always some hint of his previous adventures that comes up when playing. In ''Space Quest 6'', this is referenced by showing Roger with a collection of inventory items from previous games. ''Space Quest 4'' spoofs this with TimeTravel by having Roger go to his future (The Latex Babes of Estros), where he gets in trouble for something he technically hasn't done yet, and the first game where the bar owner complains about the slot machine Roger broke. ''Space Quest 4's'' plot was kicked off by a VirtualGhost Vohaul wanting revenge over Roger killing him off in ''Space Quest II'', and much of the subplot in ''Space Quest 5'' (in addition to why Beatrice getting killed means NonstandardGameOver for Roger) has to do with events in ''Space Quest 4.''
* ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'' is one of the most serialized franchises Sierra ever made, and unlike other games released around this time (like the aforementioned ''King's Quest''), the ''QFG'' series allowed the player to carry their character [[OldSaveBonus over from one game to the next]]. However, this series wasn't quite as restrictive from a continuity standpoint. Each game (despite following a single hero) dwelt with a separate problem in a separate location. Although it worked in characters and continuity nods from previous installments, the games were self-contained enough that you could immediately understand what was happening without playing prior titles.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' main series of games (ie the ones with numbers in the title) fit here. Each has a brand new protagonist (the PlayerCharacter) but take place chronologically (with {{Time Skip}}s ranging from four to ''200'' years) after the previous games in the series. In the background looms the [[TheFederation (mostly) benevolent Third Tamriellic Empire]] whose involvement with the main plot of the game varies from relatively loose (''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'') to being an essential player in the game's events (every other game). The first four games, in fact, all take place during the rule of the same [[TheEmperor Emperor]] (Uriel Septim VII). Other consistent elements are the inclusion of (or at least mention of) various [[SidequestSidestory Guilds and Factions]] ([[AdventureGuild Fighters Guild]], [[MagicalSociety Mages Guild]], ThievesGuild, [[MurderInc Dark Brotherhood]], etc.) as well as the presence of the same gods and deities (save those you [[KillTheGod kill]] or otherwise [[HijackingCthulhu alter]]).
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the base game and several expansion packs that all continue from one another. Each expansion has their own story that is also built upon from the previous story and sets up for the next story. While you can skip certain arcs and still get the gist of it, you'll won't understand certain plot points, characters, or other references that are brought up from events that happened earlier.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' became this in Season 4, having an arc related to [[spoiler:opening the box from the season beginning two parter]], and having details of Season 2 episodes come up in the season finale. Season 5 seems to be setting a similar trend.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' jumped from what appeared to be Level 3 to 4 after the events of the two-parter "Mirror/Ocean Gem". With the introduction of [[spoiler:alien Gem Lapis Lazuli,]] it became apparent the Crystal Gems were on Earth for a reason and appear to be fearing contact with others off-planet. After the events of "The Message", [[spoiler:Peridot and Jasper]] shook up the status quo in a major way. Although many episodes feature self-contained stories, the show has a tendency to sneak in bits of characterization and seemingly innocuous dialogue that can pop up in later episodes to be revealed as critical to the plot without warning. The most important details will be briefly summarized, but most of the significant CharacterDevelopment and hints of it's MythArc will not, and rewards careful examination of background details. After a few episodes in Season 2, the show's jumped to Level 5.

* On an internal scale, the ''Manga/DragonBall'' manga fits here, and to a lesser extent the two [[Anime/DragonBallZ anime]] based off of it. If you skip twenty or thirty Chapters you'll generally be quite out of place as to where the story is. On a larger, franchise-wise scale, however, it's more a Level 1.

* The Kurtzman-era Star Treks fall into this, except for Lower Decks.
* ''Series/ReGenesis'', through all its interwoven multiple-episode story and character arcs, is probably impossible to understand episodically despite the lengthy PreviouslyOn recaps.

* ''Series/{{Lost}}'' is a frequently cited example of ContinuityLockout because of this.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'' later on, though the first season or so was more Level 4.
* ''Series/{{Damages}}'' is Level 5, due to the AnachronicOrder and following the case instead of a MonsterOfTheWeek format.
* ''Series/StargateUniverse'' was heavily arc-based, which had the misfortune to occur at the same time Creator/{{Syfy}} changed its scheduling strategy to where it would air part of a season, then replace it with another show, then bring the first show back, and so on. The ''SGU'' showrunners partly blame the series' cancellation on the resulting confusion driving away viewers.

* ''Series/RaumschiffGamestar'': The series swung between Level 5 (Full Lockout) in Seasons 1, 2, and 4 and Level 4 (Arc-based Episodic) in Seasons 3 and 5, occasionally tapping into Level 3 (Subtle Continuity) at some points in the third and fourth seasons.

* ''Series/UnderTheDome'' features extremely tight continuity such that even the inclusion of a PreviouslyOn segment at the start of each episode isn't much help.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** ''KOF'' currently has four [[StoryArc arcs]]: The [[SNKBoss Rugal]] Saga (the first title, ''[='94=]''), The {{Orochi}} Saga (''[='95=]''-''[='98=]''), The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles (''[='99=]''-''2002''), and The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]] (the most recent saga to date, ''2003''-''XIII''). [[note]]Also note that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] all the playable fighters from the previous entries, even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]]. The similarly non-canon ''XII'' was also billed as a "dream match", though [[ObviousBeta in practice]] it's more of a stopgap released prior to ''XIII''.[[/note]] While it's not too bad with The NESTS Chronicles (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), The Tales of Ash almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''VideoGame/BurikiOne'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in ''[[VideoGameLongRunners 1999]]''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].
** ''XIV'', though appearing to be [[JumpingOnPoint a standalone entry point]] as opposed to the beginning of a new arc outright, has its fair share of this. Notably, though the FinalBoss has the look of a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere at first glance, it's later revealed to be [[spoiler:a byproduct of the TemporalParadox Ash caused at the end of ''XIII'']] and, according to Geese, was foretold in the Jin Scrolls that lied at the center of 1995's ''Fatal Fury 3''. There's also the matter of [[spoiler:said TemporalParadox]] opening up a dimensional rift that allowed [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], Mui Mui, and Love Heart [[note]]hailing the pachinko section of SNK's library (''Dragon Gal'' and ''Sky Love'', respectively)[[/note]] [[TheMultiverse to cross over]], while another subplot involves remnants of NESTS running around in the background, with Angel (a former operative last [[DreamMatchGame canonically]] seen in ''2001'') being on the run from NESTS loyalists whereas newcomer Sylvie Paula Paula was deemed a "defective" experiment by the cartel.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': From [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories the second game]] onward the games head straight into KudzuPlot with any detail potentially {{foreshadowing}} future games (Xigbar's cryptic lines in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII II]]'' being an example). ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'' has "memoirs" thought that record the plots of the preceeding games and unlocks them when a ContinuityNod[=/=]CallBack to the respective game first occurs. This makes the series a Level 4 at least, though without that game it still remains at 5.

* ''WesternAnimation/FinalSpace'' falls into this category. Although Season 1 involved recaps, protagonist Gary was an {{unreliable narrator}}. Season 2 lacked recaps except for the premiere, and had episodes that were completely self-contained, but still was more plot-driven than the previous season.
* Season two of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' fits this nicely, with there being no filler episodes and plot points almost never being resolved in the episodes they were introduced in.

* Season two of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' fits this nicely, with there being no filler episodes of the series so far, and plot points almost never being resolved in the episodes they were introduced in.

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' fits here to a similar degree as ''Series/BabylonFive'', with the first season and a half being pretty episodic but featuring continuous story arcs in the background. After about the middle of Season 2, the importance of knowing the continuity rapidly ramps up because the show starts to verge on LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters and the various arcs begin to interconnect frequently.

** ''KOF'' currently has four [[StoryArc arcs]]: The [[SNKBoss Rugal]] Saga (the first title, ''[='94=]''), The {{Orochi}} Saga (''[='95=]''-''[='98=]''), The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles (''[='99=]''-''2002''), and The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]] (the most recent saga to date, ''2003''-''XIII''). [[note]]Also note that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters all the playable fighters from the previous entries]], even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]]. The similarly non-canon ''XII'' was also billed as a "dream match", though [[ObviousBeta in practice]] it's more of a stopgap released prior to ''XIII''.[[/note]] While it's not too bad with The NESTS Chronicles (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), The Tales of Ash almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''VideoGame/BurikiOne'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in ''[[VideoGameLongRunners 1999]]''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].

* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' has a tendency to set up an arc that looks like it could last a whole season, subtly settle into a formulaic pattern that the audience will find familiar, and then pull a MidSeasonTwist that irreversibly reveals a PlotDrivingSecret and unexpectedly ends the arc.

* ''Series/AndiMack'' is this and teeters on Level 5, very impressive for a Disney KidCom

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is mostly like this -- while the [[FanNickname Gaang]] is always traveling the world to find bending masters to teach Aang and there are plenty of episodes that belong in Level 3, there are pretty steady continuous developments on the villainous side that would be very jarring to anyone who just watched individual episodes here and there. Episodes almost always air with PreviouslyOn segments, though they don't explain everything.

** The individual films (the ''Film/IronMan'' series, ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', and ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'') are pretty self-contained but each contributes to an ongoing MythArc that hit a climax with ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', which in turn used TheStinger to set up the next major villain, ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, who would take part in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''. Meanwhile Phase 2 of the MCU deals directly with some of the fallout from the climax of ''The Avengers'' (i.e. ''Film/IronMan3'': Tony Stark has PTSD after nearly dying at the climax; ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'': Loki is chastised for causing the alien invasion; ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'': SHIELD is gung-ho about stopping threats before they become threats).
** ''The Winter Soldier'' itself has its own ramifications for the MCU with the revelation that [[spoiler:HYDRA rebuilt itself from within SHIELD]]. While the only effect it has in later films is that the Avengers now work independently, in the TV series ''Series/AgentsOfShield'', the [[spoiler:revelation of HYDRA's continued existence]] loses some impact if you haven't seen ''The Winter Soldier'' before watching the final third of Season 1.

** ''Series/TheTwilightZone''

* ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' relies heavily on continuity and long-term storytelling to the point that it's practically a cartoon serial by the time it ends.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

The different installments of the series are only nominally the same work; every new installment concerns different characters, or possibly the 'same' characters but in an AlternateUniverse, such that the stories are explicitly disconnected and obviously not meant to be part of a continuity of any sort. Within any given installment, it can be assumed that every other installment either never happened or is at least completely irrelevant to the current one. What they share to make them a series is usually thematic, world or (for video games) gameplay elements, with possible minor recurring creatures, objects, etc. NonLinearSequel is the specific trope for this. If done to an entire series you've got a ThematicSeries. In some cases, the rights-holders use the already-popular name that they own for [[CashCowFranchise marketing reasons]], regardless of whether or not an installment fits in with previous ones in the series.

A franchise with multiple continuities does NOT count.

* ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'' is split up into multiple [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] and equally separate continuities. The original manga, by which all the animated versions are based around; the Creator/MamoruOshii movies, which are [[AdaptationDistillation condensed retellings]] of the manga with a bit of artistic license thrown in; ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'', the TV series that only loosely recreates and references scenes from the manga while telling a story all its own; and finally ''Anime/GhostInTheShellArise'', which serves as a prequel of sorts to the whole franchise--even to the original manga--but still remains as a completely disconnected continuity in itself. Each version all contain the same characters and their own interpretations of them therein.

* The Anime/{{Leijiverse}}--the collective body of works by Creator/LeijiMatsumoto--is one of the biggest offenders against continuity in all of Japanese media. While technically united by common [[SignatureStyle art style]], [[CentralTheme themes]], and [[CharacterOverlap overlapping characters]], each installment, from ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' to ''Film/SpacePirateCaptainHarlock2013'', had so far gleefully defied any attempt to bring them into any sort of cohesive order among each other. Even series that seem to conform with previous installments, like ''Maetel Legend'' and ''Space Symphony Maetel'', end up spawning even more alternate continuities incompatible with the rest.
* Ever since ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' has diversified from the Universal Century timeline, most newer series/installments don't necessarily port back to each other narrative-wise. Attempts at doing so (''Anime/TurnAGundam'' notwithstanding) only tend to cause massive ContinuitySnarl.

* ''ComicBook/SensationComicsFeaturingWonderWoman'': Each story takes place in its own seperate continuity, but all of them feature Franchise/WonderWoman in some way, even if she's only a comic book character within the 'verse of the tale.

[[AC:{{Film}} -- Live-Action]]
* The early installments in the Creator/MarvelComics movies fall here. Until ''Film/IronMan1'', each IP was licensed to a different studio, so although some of them got sequels each series is unconnected to the others. The films in this category are the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' and ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries'', ''Film/BladeTrilogy'', ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'', ''Film/FantasticFour2005'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}''/''Film/{{Elektra}}'', ''[[Film/GhostRider Ghost]] [[Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance Rider]]'', ''Film/ThePunisher2004'' and ''Film/PunisherWarZone''. ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' is the odd man out, with ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' written as a BroadStrokes sequel rather than a straight reboot (although it is not canonical to the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, which the latter is a part of).[[note]]Though there was an earlier attempt to create a [[SharedUniverse shared cinematic universe]] with the Fantastic Four and X-Men movies, as well as plans for a Silver Surfer spin-off movie, an X-Men/Fantastic Four/Daredevil crossover movie, and adding ComicBook/TheInhumans and ComicBook/BlackPanther into the Fantastic Four sequels; there had been separate attempts to add the Spider-Man Trilogy and the Amazing Spider-Man series into the MCU before rebooting the film franchise completely; Marvel Studios tried to reach Creator/NicolasCage to reprise as Ghost Rider for the ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' episode "[[Recap/AgentsOfSHIELDS4E6TheGoodSamaritan The Good Samaritan]]"; and ''[[Film/FantasticFour2015 Fant4stic]]'' was intended to take place in the X-Men film universe but its TroubledProduction and BoxOfficeBomb nixed the idea.[[/note]]

* On average, Creator/{{Toei}}-produced {{Tokusatsu}} (particularly the long-running ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai'') fall under here. CrisisCrossover may happen from time to time (especially during MilestoneCelebration movies/series, in which case it can range from anywhere from Level 1-4 below), but a regular Sentai/Rider series is usually a self-contained storyline.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
** The ''Pokémon '' games are generally set in different regions, and each of the installments are usually set several years apart form each other. Characters from previous games make a few appearances here and there, but each game's plot is generally self-contained and you always start off with a new protagonist. The main exceptions to this are the [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gen II games]] (which share continuity with the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Gen I games]]) with and ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', which have direct sequels, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2 and White 2]]''.
** Spin-off titles have even less continuity with the main series games, usually only related by involving the titular monsters: For example, ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'' takes place in a region based on feudal Japan and ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' takes place in a world where there are no human beings and Pokemon are more [[CivilizedAnimal civilized]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Almost every episode ends with everything in the same place it started (albeit with the occasional use of SnapBack to clean everything up) and characters fail to recognize each other despite all the adventures they've had together. However, there are also occasional {{Continuity Nod}}s and permanent changes such as Lisa permanently becoming a vegetarian or [[spoiler:Maude Flanders's death]]. However, the show does run on BroadStrokes, and uses a hefty amount of ComicBookTime, MultipleChoicePast and ChaosArchitecture as RuleOfFunny dictates. ''WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror'' segments are either a Level 0 or a Level 1.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' generally operated at this level. Most episodes focused on the Enterprise and its crew discovering new planets and alien species, and solving the problem presented in each episode. However, a few of the episodes build up ForeShadowing elements that culminate in a bigger story arc later on and some characters received promotions.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' and the series that followed it (''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'', ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]'', ''[[Series/StarTrekDiscovery Discovery]]'', and ''[[Series/StarTrekPicard Picard]]'') waver between this and Level 3, but their use of longer-running arcs (compared to previous series) bumps them up the scale.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': The reset button is often applied offscreen (such as one episode ending with the entire family except Lisa in jail) and characters fail to recognize each other despite all the adventures they've had together. However, there are also occasional {{Continuity Nod}}s and permanent changes such as Lisa permanently becoming a vegetarian or [[spoiler:Maude Flanders's death]].

** ''Pokemon Journeys'' decisively breaks the cycle by chronicling what Ash does next after [[spoilers:winning the Alola league]]: aiding Pokemon research and setting his sights on the Pokemon World Championships.

* While the games have a vague Level from 0 to 4, the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime is [[StatusQuoIsGod completely set in the status quo]], with the only real cast being Ash, Pikachu and Team Rocket. New companions join, and new Pokémon are caught, but Ash will ''always'' lose the league at the end of a series, and the ResetButton is pushed so that the whole series might as well [[CanonDiscontinuity have never happened]]. Rinse and repeat. This has resulted in Ash being no closer to his goal of [[ToBeAMaster becoming a Pokémon Master]] than he was in ''[[LongRunners 1997]]'', and he probably never will. To wit, it took roughly ''twenty'' years [[ComicBookTime out of universe]] for Ash to [[spoiler:finally make it to the finals of a non-{{Filler}} league ([[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Kalos]])]] and about another two for him to [[spoiler:''actually'' win it all ([[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Alola]])]]--and the FleetingDemographicRule means the show is unlikely to change [[StrictlyFormula its overarching formula]] despite this.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' and the series that followed it, ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]],'' wavered between this and Level 3, but their use of longer-running arcs (compared to previous series) bumps them up the scale.

** ''KOF'' currently has four [[StoryArc arcs]]: The [[SNKBoss Rugal]] Saga (the first title, ''[='94=]''), The {{Orochi}} Saga (''[='95=]''-''[='98=]''), The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles (''[='99=]''-''2002''), and The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]] (the most recent saga to date, ''2003''-''XIII''). [[note]]Also note that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters all the playable fighters from the previous entries]], even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]]. The similarly non-canon ''XII'' was also billed as a "dream match", though in practice it's more of [[ObviousBeta a stopgap]] released prior to ''XIII''.[[/note]] While it's not too bad with The NESTS Chronicles (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), The Tales of Ash almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''Buriki One'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in ''[[VideoGameLongRunners 1999]]''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

[[AC:Web Original]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

* The overwhelming majority of the Classic era of ''Series/DoctorWho'' is like this, with the exception of a couple of season-long {{Arc}} plots here and there. The basic premise of the show remains the same, but actors switch out.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

** ''KOF'' currently has four {{arc}}s: The [[SNKBoss Rugal]] Saga (the first title, ''[='94=]''), The {{Orochi}} Saga (''[='95=]''-''[='98=]''), The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles (''[='99=]''-''2002''), and The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]] (the most recent saga to date, ''2003''-''XIII''). [[note]]Also note that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters all the playable fighters from the previous entries]], even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]].[[/note]] While it's not too bad with The NESTS Chronicles (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), The Tales of Ash almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''Buriki One'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in ''[[VideoGameLongRunners 1999]]''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].
** ''XIV'', though appearing to be [[JumpingOnPoint a standalone jump-on point]] as opposed to the beginning of a new arc outright, has its fair share of this. Notably, though the FinalBoss has the look of a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere at first glance, it's later revealed to be [[spoiler:a byproduct of the TemporalParadox Ash caused at the end of ''XIII'']] and, according to Geese, was foretold in the Jin Scrolls that lied at the center of 1995's ''Fatal Fury 3''. There's also the matter of [[spoiler:said TemporalParadox]] opening up a dimensional rift that allowed [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], Mui Mui, and Love Heart [[note]]hailing the pachinko section of SNK's library (''Dragon Gal'' and ''Sky Love'', respectively)[[/note]] [[TheMultiverse to cross over]], while another subplot involves remnants of NESTS running around in the background, with Angel (a former operative last [[DreamMatchGame canonically]] seen in ''2001'') being on the run from NESTS loyalists whereas newcomer Sylvie Paula Paula was deemed a "defective" experiment by the cartel.