Rewinding the clock is no easy job. Not every video game publisher is capable of pulling a blockbuster prequel game that is just as good as the original, let alone being a much better game. Some titles may fall short, while others may struggle to live up to the bar that the previous game has set.
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However, these titles are the exception. They are more than video games, but rather a piece of state-of-art. Fromthe highly anticipatedcall back to the good days ofthe Old Westto the PlayStation 2 cult classic, here are ten game prequels that are better than the OG, according to their Metascore.
10The Warriors (84)
Taking place during the height of New York City’s gang rivalry in the 1970s, Rockstar’s 2005 gameThe Warriorstakes players on a journey of a gang called The Warriors as they try to run their way to their home turf in one night after being accused of a murder they did not commit.
The Warriorsis based onthe classic cult movie of the same name, but it begins three months before the movie’s event. Unfortunately, its movie version plunged into 65 Metascores, although it received a cult classic status years after its release.
This entry is more of a case of a close call because the firstRed Dead Redemptiongame scored only less than two points behindRed Dead Redemption 2. It follows the story ofArthur Morganandthe notorious Van der Linde gang, and is set a couple of years before RDR1 during the Old West’s declining era.
At first, Rockstar did not plan to release anotherRedemptiongame, but the warming reception upon the first game has changed their mind. Maybe that explains much why Arthur was never mentioned in the first game.
8Half-Life: Alyx (93)
Just like the previousRedemption 2entry, VR-poweredHalf-Life: Alyxis another case of a split decision. The game has 93 Metascores, while its predecessor,Half-Life 2, falls only three points behindAlyx. It centers around 19-year-old Alyx Vance, humanity’s last hope of survival, and her fight against an evil alien race known as the Combine five years before the events ofHalf-Life 2.
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The game was so well-made that it receiveda warm welcomefrom oldHalf-Lifefans. So, maybe now is a good time to release the scrappedHalf-Life 2: Episode Three, don’t you think, Valve?
7Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (91)
Hailed as one of the greatest, most excellent prequels of all time,Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaterscores a whopping 91 Metascores. It serves as a prequel to allMetal Geargames, with the first title released in 1987.
Metal Gear Solid 3takes players on a FOX operative, codenamedNaked Snake, and his journey on rescuing a Russian scientist, which is set 31 years before the 1987 game’s events. With 3.6 million copies shipped worldwide in a year,Metal Gear Solid 3was a massive commercial success.
6Halo: Reach (91)
As a direct sequel toHalo: Combat Evolved,Halo: Reachis set in the year 2552 during the height of a fictional war between humanity and aliens. The Microsoft exclusive prequel scores 91 Metascores while the latter has 83 to its name. The game was highly successful that it marked a new milestone for the franchise, with over $200 million generated within the first day only, and that number still excludes the merchandise.
5Deus Ex: Human Revolution (89)
This is another case of a close call, but it’s still worth noting that Square Enix did wonders in rewinding the clock withDeus Ex: Human Revolution. It serves as a prequel to the original 2000Deus Exgame and is set in 2027.
Story-wise,Human Revolutioncenters the story of an ex-SWAT, Adam Jensen, as he connects the dots between his scientists' disappearance. It also is a fantastic combination of stealth mechanism à laAssassin’s Creedand gun-blazing thriller ofCall of Duty, which makes this game even better than the original.
4Assassin’s Creed: Origins (81)
Contrary to mostAssassin’s Creedgames that take place during the fourteenth or fifteenth century,Assassin’s Creed: Originsis set during the old Ptolemaic Egyptian time between 49 to 44 BC; hence we call this 2017 game as a ‘prequel.’ The game lets players take the roles of Bayek, an Egyptian nomad, and the beginning of the formation of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.
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Upon its release,Assassin’s Creed: Originshas sold more than ten million copies worldwide, which proved to be a massive success.
3Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (86)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lordsis a prequel toStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace1999 movie, which it’s safe to say that the game does better on Metacritic (86) than the original film (51).
The Sith Lordsis set between 4.000 years beforeThe Phantom Menacearound an exiled Jedi Knight. In this game, you’re more than eager to confront your past and fight your way to defeat countless restless Sith and restore the Galaxy’s fate.
2Metroid Prime (97)
We can never make a list of top ten best prequel games and leaveMetroid Primeoff it. Released in 2002,Metroid Primeis set between the events of the original 1986Metroidgame and Game Boy 1991 exclusive,Metroid II: Return of Samus.
To sum up the story,Metroid Primecenters the younger version of our favorite interstellar bounty hunter, Samus Aran, and her attempt to find the missing links in the poisoned world of Tallon IV.
1Sniper Elite III (71) vs. Sniper Elite V2 (66)
Lastly is 2019’sSniper Elite III(71), a prequel to its 2012 predecessor,Sniper Elite V2(66). Set three years beforeV2,Sniper Elite IIIfollows Karl Fairburne, the previous game’s main protagonist, as he tries to put an end to Nazi’s newest secret ‘wunderwaffe’ superweapon.
Even though both games met with mixed receptions from the critics,Sniper Elite IIIproved to be a slightly better game. The shooting and stealth systems feel alive and fantastic, even though some narratives may come across as bland and outdated.
