EVERYONE loved Sleeping Dogs... so what happened??
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00:00The simplest way for gaming studios to earn money is to pump out more of what everybody
00:04wants.
00:05So long as there is a demand for Super Mario, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil, the gaming
00:10giants will continue to churn out sequels, spinoffs, prequels, remakes, and crossovers
00:14till the cows come home.
00:16That said, there are exceptions to the rule.
00:18Despite receiving rave reviews, a few of the best platformers, RPGs, and first-person shooters
00:24never got a part two.
00:26For some entries on this list, that was because a sequel was never strongly considered by
00:30the powers that be, and on the other hand, some other games got so close to becoming
00:35a franchise, it's all the more crushing how they never saw the light of day.
00:39Although the games we've got for you here may receive a sequel in the future, you probably
00:44shouldn't be holding your breath.
00:45I'm Jess from WhatCulture, and here are 10 awesome video games that never got sequels.
00:5010.
00:51Sleeping Dogs Starting off as a true crime sequel, United
00:55Front's project was reworked into a spiritual successor called Sleeping Dogs.
01:00Though Grand Theft Auto copycats are a dime a dozen, this Hong Kong-based crime saga is
01:05anything but a cheap imitation.
01:07In fact, in certain ways, Sleeping Dogs surpasses Rockstar North's defining brand.
01:12The gameplay moves at a steady pace, giving characters plenty of time to be fleshed out,
01:17and every voice actor is on top form, no matter how minor their role.
01:22The slow-mo shootouts and Arkham Asylum-inspired combat is so dynamic, GTA's action pales
01:28by comparison.
01:29Though many of GTA's side missions are generic, just as much effort has been put into Sleeping
01:34Dogs' sub-quests as the central missions.
01:37Upon its release, the odds were not in Sleeping Dogs' favour, since it was a new IP contending
01:42against heavy hitters like Borderlands, Far Cry, and FIFA.
01:46Although Sleeping Dogs sold an impressive 1.5 million copies, the publisher regarded
01:51it as a failure.
01:52Though a Sleeping Dogs sequel and a multiplayer spin-off were intended at one point or another,
01:57both projects were put to sleep.
02:009.
02:01L.A. Noire
02:02During its gruelling seven-year development, L.A. Noire suffered multiple delays, numerous
02:06staff complaints, and a change in platform and publisher.
02:10But it all seemed worth it in the end, since Team Bondi's detective sim was a wowing
02:14success.
02:15Though its well-designed voice acting and intricate plot were applauded, it was the
02:19motion capture, interrogation sequences, and focus on deduction that made L.A. Noire
02:25tower over its competition.
02:27In a way, L.A. Noire didn't really have any competition, since there's never been
02:31a game like it before or since.
02:34But after selling over 7 million units and receiving every single accolade under the
02:38sun, it was obvious the masses wanted more.
02:41There was just one problem.
02:43Five months after its release, Bondi went into liquidation, placing L.A. Noire's future
02:48in jeopardy.
02:50While a spiritual successor called Horror of the Orient was developed for several years,
02:53that too was shelved indefinitely until 2016.
02:57The rumor mill was in full swing again in 2020, with rumblings that L.A. Noire 2 was
03:02in the works, but as before, these claims went nowhere.
03:06Although the L.A. Noire VR spinoff received decent reviews, fans are still desperate for
03:11a real sequel.
03:128.
03:13Blast Corps
03:15Rare repeatedly knocked it out of the park on the Nintendo 64, firing out hits like Diddy
03:19Kong Racing, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and of course GoldenEye
03:25007.
03:26Due to Rare's repertoire, it's easy to forget about their earliest work on the system,
03:30Blast Corps.
03:31In this game, the objective is to secure a route for an approaching nuclear transport
03:35unit by destroying anything it might collide into.
03:39Players can demolish through buildings with bulldozers, dump trucks, missiles, and mech
03:43suits.
03:44Basically, you have everything to destroy everything to save everyone.
03:47It may not have been as mind-blowing as other Rare projects, but the innovative concept,
03:52fluid controls, and variety in puzzles made Blast Corps, well, a blast.
03:57Also, reducing a 20-story skyscraper into rubble by slamming into it from above never
04:01gets old.
04:02Sadly, Blast Corps didn't hit its sales quota, killing any chance of a sequel.
04:07Since Rare as we knew it no longer exists, Blast Corps 2 is pretty unfeasible.
04:13With technology and motion controls of advance so far since Blast Corps debuted, it'd be
04:17amazing to see how a modern instalment would turn out, so hopefully that'll happen.
04:237.
04:24Catherine
04:25Simply put, there just is no game like Catherine.
04:28Half the gameplay is a dating sim with the protagonist Vincent trying to date multiple
04:32women who share the same name.
04:35The other half of the gameplay involves Vincent trapped in the dream world as a sheep, where
04:40he must complete block-pushing puzzles to navigate up a collapsing tower while being
04:45chased by nightmare-inducing monsters.
04:47The concept is utterly bonkers.
04:49It shouldn't work, but it does, and so well.
04:52Catherine has something for everyone.
04:54It offers brain-teasing puzzles, strategic platforming, social simulation interactions,
04:59an otherworldly narrative, a dollop of horror, and most importantly, it's got sheep.
05:04Even if puzzles aren't your cup of tea, you may be totally invested in Vincent's
05:08inflicting relationships, or vice versa.
05:10Also, the real-world sections offer a lot of freedom, so you can decide what to do or
05:15who to speak to.
05:17If players want to cut the dating sections short and jump back into the dream world,
05:20there's nothing stopping you.
05:22Eight years after its release, a new version called Catherine Full Body was released, which
05:27featured a whole new love interest.
05:29Although this addition was welcome, there's no mention of a Catherine sequel, even after
05:34a decade, and that's just a pity.
05:376.
05:38Muramasa the Demon Blade
05:39On paper, Muramasa the Demon Blade sounds too ambitious for its own good.
05:44After all, this Wii title is a beat-em-up hack-and-slash metroidvania with RPG elements
05:49which incorporates kabuki theater, Buddhist theology, and Japanese mythology.
05:55Even though it should be impossible to juggle that many ideas at once, Muramasa pulls it
05:59off with flying colors.
06:01Due to the absorbing battle system, luscious visuals, beautiful music, and awesome bosses,
06:06there's no doubt Vanillaware's Samurai Sidescroller is among the Wii's most underrated
06:11games.
06:12Now, considering Muramasa was released the same year as not just Wii Sports, but also
06:16Wii Play and Mario Kart Wii, it really shouldn't have stood a chance.
06:21But the Demon Blade didn't just meet sales expectations, it surpassed them.
06:27Alas, even though it did, a follow-up never materialized.
06:30Weirder still, there's no real reason why.
06:33Interestingly, Vanillaware have never made a sequel to any of their properties.
06:38This is an odd practice since the company is surprisingly consistent at doling out successful
06:42games untied to established brands.
06:45I mean, how many other gaming companies can make that claim?
06:48Though the PS Vita port of Muramasa the Demon Blade contained plenty of extra content, a
06:53true sequel would definitely be appreciated.
06:565.
06:57Space Station – Silicon Valley
06:59DMA Design's quirky platformer follows a sentient microchip called Evo, who crash-lands
07:05on a space station populated with animal robots.
07:09Each android has one key power, meaning Evo must figure out who to possess to complete
07:14specific tasks.
07:15Upon its release, SSSV received heavy praise and several game awards due to its wacky humor,
07:21catchy space-pop tunes, inventive puzzles, and challenging levels.
07:25However, what makes the gem stand out is the variety in its gameplay.
07:29With over 40 creatures to control and dozens of diverse levels to explore, there's never
07:34a dull moment.
07:35Evo can possess gorillas to swing through vines, kangaroos to reach higher platforms,
07:39or penguins to swim in iced water.
07:41Puzzles, routes, and enemies can be conquered through multiple means, allowing players to
07:46find the solution that best suits them, and they're incentivized to revisit completed
07:50areas to locate the incredibly well-hidden trophies.
07:54Sadly, Space Station Silicon Valley didn't sell well, which is why a follow-up never
07:59came to fruition.
08:00Since this body-hopping puzzler hasn't been ported in 20-plus years, it's tricky to
08:05get a hold of, but if you have an N64 or a PS1 handy, it's really worth tracking down
08:10a copy.
08:114.
08:12Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
08:14Though Souls fans have been pining for another Bloodborne for a decade, Sekiro Shadows Die
08:19Twice is arguably more deserving of the sequel treatment.
08:22Not only did Bloodborne already get an awesome DLC, it's likely it'll be remade in the
08:27foreseeable future.
08:29But Sekiro is owed a follow-up more than any other FromSoftware title because it takes
08:33the biggest departure from the genre.
08:36Despite following the Soulsborne blueprint, this shinobi slasher has an array of unique
08:40mechanics that distinguish it from its predecessors.
08:44Rather than wailing on enemies, the combat revolves around counterattacks, parries, and
08:48dodges.
08:49The posture system urges players to focus on timing and precision instead of force.
08:54Although Sekiro beautifully captures Sengoku history, that's just one time period.
09:00Since countless conflicts raged in feudal Japan for over a millennium, there are so
09:03many other periods that could be explored in later entries.
09:07Considering how much untapped potential Sekiro Shadows Die Twice has, it's annoying how there
09:12isn't a word or a whisper of the samurai saga making a comeback.
09:173.
09:18Mark of the Ninja
09:19Even though stealth focuses on covertness and subtlety, games in the genre tend to involve
09:24a lot of direct violence.
09:26However, Mark of the Ninja takes stealth to the extreme.
09:29Facing enemies head-on never ends well, forcing players to constantly operate in the shadows.
09:35Fortunately, our ninjutsu-trained protagonist utilizes many innovative mechanics to stay
09:39hidden, including hiding bodies, picking locks, disabling lights, and distracting guards.
09:45The nameless ninja is equipped with darts, a grappling hook, spores, mines, smoke bombs,
09:50noisemakers, and suicide-inducing darts, offering a variety of methods to dispatch baddies and
09:55disable security systems.
09:57Also, our hero is rewarded with extra points if subtler techniques are used on enemies.
10:03Since these points can be exchanged for helpful items and upgrades, players are very encouraged
10:07to assess every danger and find the most inconspicuous strategy to progress.
10:12Due to the versatility in gameplay, Mark of the Ninja is considered one of the best 2D
10:17stealth titles ever.
10:18For this reason, it's strange how Claire Entertainment have never pursued a sequel.
10:23They made a follow-up for Shank, and that's nowhere near the same caliber.
10:26Although the 2018 remaster was definitely appreciated, fans are still pining for a whole
10:32new installment.
10:332.
10:34Vagrant Story
10:35Final Fantasy is such a dominant RPG, it's easy to forget about Square's other incredible
10:41roleplayers, including Secret of Mana, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Bravely Default.
10:47But if any Square property deserved more credit, it's Vagrant Story.
10:51Simply put, the PS1 roleplayer was way, way ahead of the curve.
10:55It utilized plausible real-time combat, chained abilities, and weapon crafting long before
11:01any of those mechanics became the norm.
11:03Hiroshi Inagawa and his art team pushed the graphics as far as possible, to the point
11:08where it's hard to believe the console's hardware could even handle them without issue.
11:12Though exploration is a big factor in roleplayers, Vagrant Story cranks it up a notch, setting
11:17the entire game in a labyrinth-style grid.
11:20Though this structure could result in tedious wandering, it's never an issue due to the
11:25perfectly designed map.
11:26Thanks to the lavish score, innovative battle system, epic story, and enthralling characters,
11:32it's no surprise Vagrant Story became the third video game to receive a perfect score
11:36from Famitsu.
11:37As such, Vagrant Story has all the qualities needed to launch a franchise, but since this
11:42treasured title was released at the end of the PS1's life cycle, it didn't make a
11:48profit.
11:49Nevertheless, Vagrant Story has become so widely revered for the last 20-plus years,
11:55it's strange that Square haven't given it another look.
11:581.
11:59Bully
12:00Bully got so much attention for its controversial themes during its release, there wasn't
12:04enough focus on the fact that it was a really awesome game.
12:08Bully boasted a well-structured open world, a tight script, diverse missions, and a slew
12:13of creative mini-games.
12:14Due to its success, a remaster was released two years later, which offered new objectives,
12:19characters, classes, and a multiplayer mode.
12:22But the gaming community wanted more.
12:24Although a sequel wasn't initially on the cards, the developers changed their tune when
12:28Bully surpassed sales expectations.
12:31In 2008, a team at Rockstar New England got to work on the follow-up.
12:35Hoping to match the quality of Red Dead and GTA, Bully 2 was expected to focus more on
12:40advanced AI, so the smallest decision would affect characters' behavior later on in
12:45the main campaign.
12:47Within the first year of development, the project seemed to be shaping up nicely, with
12:50six to eight hours completed.
12:53But in 2009, Rockstar suddenly pushed the developers onto other titles, causing the
12:58project to stall.
12:59Despite former Rockstar exec Dan Howser saying the company had hoped to circle back to the
13:04sequel, nothing ended up coming of it.
13:07Although Bully 2 has been confirmed on several occasions, such news has repeatedly proven
13:12to be false.
13:14Even though a Bully sequel would be a dream, it looks like we'll have to settle with
13:18the original for the foreseeable future.