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Where are they? You know, the sequels to a game or a series of games that you've been waiting to see for quite some time. Some of them came and weren't exactly what you expected, right? I know it was true for me. Most of them just haven't come at all.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Yes, we got Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. It was a really fun, additive game, but you have to admit, its story was about as deep as a kiddie pool. After the deep, twisted story of the original, playing in a fantasy world just wasn't enough. I really do hate to take anything away from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, since the gameplay and class system were so well developed, but I think that the RPGamers of the world could benefit from a sequel with a little more emphasis on the story.
Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story was not your typical RPG, but it was a very unique title. While the gameplay side of this game could be cumbersome, the story was quite intense. A sequel to Vagrant Story would need quite a bit of work, but it would be a waste not to at least try to improve on the framework set by the original. Potential is the best word I can think of to explain it.
Lunar
Originally a series for the Sega CD, the two Lunar games were remade in full for the PlayStation. These epic, yet humor paced stories left us longing for more, and we are yet to be fulfilled. Lunar: Dragon Song, a prequel, was released for the DS in late 2005 to horrid reviews. To quote RPGamer's own Michael "CactuarJoe" Beckett, "Dragon Song is honestly little more than a train wreck, an unmitigated disaster." What a sad continuation of a once great, if underrated, series. Redemption for Dragon Song is needed.
Shining Force
One of the grandfathers of tactical RPGs, Shining Force just seemed to die off as a tactical RPG after the Saturn release of Shining Force III in 1998. It has seen one remake of the original Genesis title onto the Game Boy Advance and the action RPG Shining Force Neo, but no more tactical RPGs. The games never seemed to have extremely deep stories, but they all had solid, easy to pick up gameplay. The Shining Force series might be ideal to continue onto a portable system such as the DS, but it deserves more than just the remake treatment, it needs a full sequel.
Xenogears
Xenogears spawned a saga, though the Xenosaga that we received was not all we had hoped for or been led to believe we would get. A Xenogears "Bible" of sorts titled Xenogears PERFECT WORKS was released, containing an outline for a six-episode arc. When the first episode of Xenosaga was announced, we could only wait to see the six game arc released with Xenogears being part five. Now with word that the upcoming third episode will be the last one, we are missing out on two episodes, most importantly is the episode that would follow Xenogears. It will most likely never happen, but I would have liked to have seen the episode that would have followed.
Vandal Hearts
When you talk about butchering a sequel, you can feel free to talk about Vandal Hearts II. This tactical RPG sequel released in 1999 was graphically worse than the original 1997 title. The story was uninspired and gameplay was just watered down. With the original Vandal Hearts being quite a challenging title with a strong cast and an engaging story, Vandal Hearts II was a major letdown. There have been rumors of a Vandal Hearts title coming to the DS, but no details to get excited about.
Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross
This is just a no brainer. We need another Chrono game. Chrono Cross might not have lived up to the glory of the original, but it was still a great game in its own right. The fact that we've made it through an entire console generation without a Chrono game is a tragedy. Oh well, there is always the next generation.
Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe someday we will get the sequels we want.
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