History ContestedSequel / VideoGames

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' became this for [[Franchise/BaldursGate the series]] ever since the first demo playthroughs were shown to public. Supporters of the game applaud it for its excellent "turn-based" combat, use of 5th Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' rules, good worldbuilding and amazing graphical representation. Detractors, on the other hand, slam it for abolishing the "real-time with pause" gameplay from the previous games, its lower party size (four instead of six members), its somewhat lighter looking atmosphere (which reminds them of the ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' games) and the (relatively) unlikeable character companions. From these points of contention, the juxtaposition between "turn-based" and "real-time with pause" seems to yield the greatest amount of discussion nevertheless. Furthermore, there is a (relatively small) group of fans who feel that this game should have been called "Divinity: Original Sin 3" (despite it not being set in Rivellon and having nothing to do with previous ''[[VideoGame/DivineDivinity Divinity]]'' games) and long for a mainline ''Baldur's Gate'' game made by another developer entirely.

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' became this for [[Franchise/BaldursGate the series]] ever since the first demo playthroughs were shown to public. Supporters of the game applaud it for its excellent "turn-based" combat, use of 5th Edition [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]] rules, good worldbuilding and amazing graphical representation. Detractors, on the other hand, slam it for abolishing the "real-time with pause" gameplay from the previous games, its lower party size (four instead of six members), its somewhat lighter looking atmosphere (which reminds them of the ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' games) and the (relatively) unlikeable character companions. From these points of contention, the juxtaposition between "turn-based" and "real-time with pause" seems to yield the greatest amount of discussion nevertheless. Furthermore, there is a (relatively small) group of fans who feel that this game should have been called "Divinity: Original Sin 3" (despite it not being set in Rivellon and having nothing to do with previous ''[[VideoGame/DivineDivinity Divinity]]'' games) and long for a mainline ''Baldur's Gate'' game made by another developer entirely.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' is the second lowest-reviewed mainline Fire Emblem game on Metacritic in terms of critical scores, after the similarly controversial ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', and the lowest-rated mainline mainline Fire Emblem game overall in terms of user reviews (even lower than the DS remake of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'' and the ''Revelation'' route of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'') due to a divide between high and low ratings. The reason for this divide is in large part how the game compares to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', as it features more challenging and traditional gameplay that appeals to long-time fans, while lacking much of what newcomers liked in ''Three Houses'', such as the story and characters.

** [[VideoGame/LEGOAdaptationGame On the Traveler's Tales side]], there's ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelSuperHeroes2''. Some like it and consider it one of the best in the series, citing the attention to detail in [[TheOverworld Chronopolis]], the story, several improved mechanics, and the large roster that includes many an UnexpectedCharacter. Others dislike it for ''[[SequelNonEntity lacking Expected Characters]]'' from ''ComicBook/XMen'' and ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' due to Marvel's [[Film/XMenFilmseries Fox]] [[Film/FantasticFour2005 Embargo]]. as well as a copious amount of bugs, and '''[[GameBreakingBug not]]''' of the [[GoodBadBugs good bad variety]].

* ''Videogame/PhantasyStarIII'' does not have the same developers of the rest of the tetralogy, and thus a different art style and a story separated from the rest of the rest of the universe (aside from something connected to the plot of ''II'' that shows up, and [[HijackedByGanon Dark Force eventually showing up]]) make its borderline GaidenGame qualities divisive. It works well as an independent chapter due to its standalone qualities, but not for those already familiar who expected something more like its predecessors.

*** The {{nerf}}ing of ''many'' characters, the poor character balance, the extremely floaty physics, the slower-paced combat, the removal of many advanced techniques, and the tripping mechanic made many think of this game as a step backward from both ''Melee'' and ''Smash 64''. However, many non-competitive players don't care about those changes (or even see some as improvements themselves), and enjoy the expanded roster, and the expanded modes.

* ''VideoGame/ThunderForce V'' is divise compared to the beloved Genesis games and the [[{{Sequelitis}} poorly received]] ''Thunder Force VI''. Those who like it cites its excellent presentation (particularly the soundtrack), exciting boss battles and a surprisingly dramatic and elaborate (by shmup standard) storyline; those who don't lament the flat level design lacking in physical obstacles and unique level gimmicks, and the decision to design the entire game and its scoring system around the [[GameBreaker overpowered]] Free Range weapon, giving players no reason to use anything else in their arsenal.

** ''VideoGame/Yakuza6'' is the first game released on the Dragon Engine, meaning that while it was the most immersive and impressive looking entry in the ''Yakuza'' series yet, and finally leapfrogged the visual quality of the games to contemporary levels, it was offset by a host of technical issues, a feeling of unrefinement, as well as a far lower amount of content relative to previous games, though some appreciated its more focused nature with ''5'' being as large as it is. Most of these issues would have been a lot more forgivable for a spinoff game, but the fact that it's meant to be the GrandFinale for the Kiryu saga means it was held to higher standards. Points of contention are the fact that Kiryu is the only playable protagonist once more, the characters intoduced in the entry, how a certain romantic relationship ([[spoiler:Haruka and Yuta]]) was handled, the way the game treated long-time recurring characters, the FinalBoss in terms of both story and gameplay, and finally, [[spoiler:Kiryu and Haruka not receiving a happy ending after everything they've been through, with the former faking his death so the latter is no longer marked as a target due to her ties with a legendary ex-yakuza]]. In spite of that, the game has also gotten a lot of positive reception for its SliceOfLife aspects and its themes of family and humanity.

** Much like how ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' attempted to repeat the formula of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' but were met with increasing backlash, the same story repeated itself with the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake 2020 remake]] of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''. As with [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake its 2019 precursor]], the complaints center mostly around changes in the storyline and characterization, as well as related gameplay--most prominently the interactions with primary antagonist Nemesis. Whilst still very beloved, it is far less adored than its 2019 counterpart.

** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' is somewhat obscure compared to the lauded Genesis/Mega Drive trilogy, but reaction has been surprisingly split. Fans of the game praise its lush, surreal graphics, high-quality soundtrack (a point of contention itself, as it varies between the EU/JP and US releases), introduction of series longstays Metal Sonic and Amy Rose, and the time-warp mechanic (adding variety and incentives to the game). Other players denounce the labyrinthine, offbeat level design (often featuring gimmicks and loosely-scripted sequences that send Sonic to a crashing halt), frustrating special stages (ambitious Mode 7 style fields with less-impressive depth perception), and time-warp mechanic (which is difficult to activate due to the choppy level design). It doesn't help that fans are equally split on whether ''Sonic CD'' or ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]]'' is the true sequel to ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Sonic 1]]'', as they were developed concurrently--''Sonic 2'' in the US, ''Sonic CD'' in Japan.

** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. A good (if not flawed) platformer with fun, (usually) fast-paced gameplay that features a novel and enjoyable emphasis on teamwork, [[ContinuityNod nice little nods to previous continuity]], and a feel hearkening back to the Genesis era that managed to be the last good game before [[AudienceAlienatingEra everything went downhill]]? Or a plodding, clunky platformer with [[ScrappyMechanic poorly implemented ideas and gimmicks]], [[MarathonLevel unbearably long stages]], FakeDifficulty, FakeLongevity, and an ExcusePlot that was [[LighterAndSofter a complete 180]] from the ''Adventure'' series' narrative- and character-driven drama that ''caused'' [[AudienceAlienatingEra everything to go downhill]]? [[ToughActToFollow Coming right after]] ''Adventure 2'' (as well as being the series' first new installment after Creator/{{Sega}} exited the console race and went MultiPlatform), bringing back Shadow after his presumed HeroicSacrifice, ''and'' directly setting up plot points for [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Shadow's hotly contested spin-off]] only add more fuel to the fire.

** For many fans, ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'' is this due to the poorly handled '''seventeen year''' TimeSkip between it and the previous game -- this opportunity to start afresh with a slew of brand new characters and exciting older versions of established extras was instead squandered on either a) bringing the old regulars back with [[HandWave various flimsy Soul Edge magic-related excuses]] to explain why a lot of them hadn't changed or [[TheAgeless even aged at all]] in almost two decades, or b) worse, completely dropping them with little to no word on their fate or current whereabouts and replacing them with a younger SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute. And most of the cast wounded up OutOfFocus in the game's story anyway due to the rushed schedule the game was developed under.
** While ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' is, for the most part, regarded as a welcome return to form, owning to the cast being (mostly) the same as the original ''Soulcalibur'', increased game speed, a larger movepool that was present in the older games, and more fluid animations, there are those those that still have issues with the game, blaming the lack of single player content outside the two story modes, connectivity issues, the divisive Reversal Edge mechanic, and perceived bland stages (especially in comparison to, ironically enough, the previous entry).

** ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', though not considered bad, is ''far'' more contentious than its predecessor. Defenders enjoy the new gameplay features like King Salmonids, Tricolor Turf War, and Big Runs; the base game featuring a much-improved single-player campaign; added bonus content, like lockers, Tableturf Battle, Splashtags and emotes, the locker room, the catalog system, Battle Replays, and the DLC adding the ability to revisit Inkopolis Square from [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]] to see how things have changed. Detractors point to the game generally feeling [[MissionPackSequel too similar]] to previous ''Splatoon'' games, especially ''2'', to justify releasing on the same console and that the bonus content leaves the game's main attraction--its multiplayer--with numerous issues; many of the stages feeling similar to each other, with the infamous "Tetrimino" layout running rampant; a number of the new features being poorly balanced or glitchy; numerous balance and connectivity problems that remain unaddressed from the previous game alongside newly introduced ones; a slower update cycle; ''Return of the Mammalians'' once again being too similar to previous single-player modes; handling a number of fan-favorite characters poorly (the most infamous cases besides Deep Cut are turning the mysterious [[spoiler: Mr. Grizz]] into a character that many felt was a rehash of [[spoiler: Commander Tartar from the Octo Expansion]], and relegating nearly all of Off the Hook's appearances to the paid DLC campaign ''Side Order''); still missing certain notable additions that its predecessors had such as a new Ranked Battle mode; and a general feeling of cut corners and lack of polish compared to the previous ''Splatoon'' games.

** The ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' series is a big hot point among many fans, particularly "old-schoolers" who are more familiar with the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' and ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Alpha]]'' games, who claim that [[PunchParry parries]] (the ability to counter an attack without being stuck in block stun) kill the flow of the game, while its fans say that parries are what make the game great. The original version of ''Street Fighter III'' also received a lot of flak for [[PutOnABus jettisoning away]] the majority of the series' roster up to that point, the updates ''2nd Impact'' and ''3rd Strike'' tried to address this by adding back some of the original characters.

** Opinions are divided on which of the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games is the best --although [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 the first game]] and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' are generally favored due to their improvements and additions to the franchise and not significantly reusing content like the latter two games-- and whether or not that best entry can compare favorably to the old-school installments released during the 1985-95 era. ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' is generally seen as the weakest of the subseries, but even whether it's still a good game in itself or not is also debated.

** ''VideoGame/WarioWareTouched!'' is either a worthy installment that successfully [[TechDemoGame delivers on showing off the promises]] of the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS's new technologies or [[ToughActToFollow fails to live up]] to ''Twisted!'' with shallower and more repetitive microgame design, and so on. As ''Twisted'' was either [[SequelFirst released after]] ''Touched!'' or [[NoExportForYou not released at all]] outside Japan, one's opinion often hinges on which game they played first.

** Opinions are divided on which of the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games is the best --although [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 the first game]] and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' are generally favored due to their improvements and additions to the franchise and not significantly reusing content like the latter two games-- and whether or not that best entry can compare favorably to the old-school installments released during the 1985-95 era. ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' is generally seen as the least weakest of the subseries, but even whether it's still a good game in itself or not is also debated.

** ''VideoGame/WarioWareTouched!'' is either a worthy installment that successfully [[TechDemoGame delivers on showing off the promises]] of the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS's new technologies, or a lackluster BTeamSequel that [[ToughActToFollow fails to live up]] to ''Twisted!'' in every way with less content, shallower and more repetitive microgame design, and so on. As ''Twisted'' was either [[SequelFirst released after]] ''Touched!'' or [[NoExportForYou not released at all]] outside Japan, one's opinion often hinges on which game they played first.

** ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'' was fairly well-received critically bar the music, but fans of the original are divided over whether it's a good game or as good as [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland the original]]. You can also say the same about ''VideoGame/YoshisStory'' (and with that one, there are some people who like the former tend to dislike the latter and vice versa).
** ''VideoGame/YoshisNewIsland'' caused controversy among fans because of the complete retcon of the first game's ending. There are also mixed opinions over the quality of the new music featured in it, or the fact it was developed by Arzest (who is comprised of the same staff who made ''Yoshi's Island DS'').

** ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' is seen as being on par with [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]], if not better, thanks to its more polished graphics, gameplay changes to promote teamwork over [[LeeroyJenkins mindless one-man army attempts]], and the inventiveness of the "Octo Expansion" DLC single-player campaign. Debates within the community over whether ''Splatoon 2'' was MissionPackSequel died down pretty quickly, but what ''would'' continue are debates over the quality of the "Hero Mode" single-player campaign. Those that liked it cite it directly building off the AudienceParticipation ending of ''Splatoon 1'', allowing the player to use a greater variety of weapons, and offering more worldbuilding (both in-game and via the ''Literature/SquidSistersStories'' supplemental material that explains what happened during the TimeSkip). Those that dislike it felt that the adventure was too much of a re-hash of the first game's Hero Mode (while also lacking fun bonuses like the Toys/{{amiibo}} challenges), that the story wasn't as deep as the supplemental material implied it would be, and weren't fond of the lack of Callie (as she wasn't present to speak to [[spoiler:after the FinalBoss fight]] until the Version 3.0 update). Furthermore, both sides agree that it was a waste that [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter none of the characters introduced in]] ''[[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter this]]'' [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter game were involved in the plot]] (the aforementioned "Octo Expansion" would address this complaint).
** ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', though not considered bad, is far more contentious than its predecessor. Defenders enjoy the improved graphics; new gameplay features like King Salmonids, Tricolor Turf War, and Big Runs; the base game featuring a much-improved single-player campaign; and added bonus content, like lockers, Tableturf Battle, and the DLC adding the ability to revisit Inkopolis Square from [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]] to see how things have changed. Detractors point to the game generally feeling [[MissionPackSequel too similar]] to previous ''Splatoon'' games, especially ''2'', to justify releasing on the same console; many of the stages feeling similar to each other, with the infamous "Tetrimino" layout running rampant; the slower update cycle; a number of the new features being poorly balanced or glitchy; ''Return of the Mammalians'' once again being too similar to previous single-player modes; wasting the new idols ''again'', despite efforts to the contrary; and handling a number of fan-favorite characters poorly (the most infamous cases besides Deep Cut are turning the mysterious [[spoiler: Mr. Grizz]] into a character that many felt was a rehash of [[spoiler: Commander Tartar from the Octo Expansion]], and relegating nearly all of Off the Hook's appearances to the paid DLC campaign ''Side Order'').

* ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'' had this reputation since it came out, due to lacking both the two-driver system from ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash Double Dash!!]]'', the Mission Mode from ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDS DS]]'' (although it has an equivalent in it's competitions), or the extra Battle Modes from either of them with this game's iteration of the mode often seen as lackluster, but it has intensified thanks to the divisive nature of ''its'' sequels and the creation of the "Custom Track Grand Prix" mod, which adds 216 more tracks and several quality of life features to the game. The game is praised for its "loose", sportlike gameplay, which can be accredited to the introduction of bikes, the unique stats of each character in its large and varied roster, and enhancements/mechanics such as the half pipe ramp (which did not return in the series until ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartTour Tour]]''), 12-player races, and tricks. The creation of the aformentioned mod is also cited as proof of the game's staying power and vibrant community, which fans of the other entries have attempted to mimic but cannot fully attest to. Its detractors, on the other hand, criticize it for many of the same reasons, particularly with the fact that each character and kart having unique stats allows only a handful of combinations to be viable, and the significant advantages bikes have over karts that, against its name, ''Mario Kart Wii'' ends up being more "Mario Bike Wii". They also claim CTGP has distorted perceptions with how the mod masks issues with the original, such as its perceived lackluster selection of tracks, a lame Battle Mode, and various gameplay issues it has (particularly with "Ultra Shortcuts", which result in a glitchfest second only to ''VideoGame/MarioKart64''). Needless to say, especially for a game that's thrived on its community alone, there's not a lot of middle ground.

** Opinions are divided on which of the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games is the best --although the first game and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'' and Wii are generally favored due to their improvements and additions to the franchise and not significantly reusing content like the latter two games-- and whether or not that best entry can compare favorably to the old-school installments released during the 1985-95 era. ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' is generally seen as the least weakest of the subseries, but even whether it's still a good game in itself or not is also debated.

* ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'' had this reputation since it came out, due to lacking both the two-driver system from ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash Double Dash!!]]'', the Mission Mode from ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDS DS]]'', or the Battle Mode from either of them with this game's iteration of the mode often seen as lackluster, but it has intensified thanks to the divisive nature of ''its'' sequels and the creation of the "Custom Track Grand Prix" mod, which adds 216 more tracks and several quality of life features to the game. The game is praised for its "loose", sportlike gameplay, which can be accredited to the introduction of bikes, the unique stats of each character in its large and varied roster, and enhancements/mechanics such as the half pipe ramp (which did not return in the series until ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartTour Tour]]''), 12-player races, and tricks. The creation of the aformentioned mod is also cited as proof of the game's staying power and vibrant community, which fans of the other entries have attempted to mimic but cannot fully attest to. Its detractors, on the other hand, criticize it for many of the same reasons, particularly with the fact that each character and kart having unique stats allows only a handful of combinations to be viable, and the significant advantages bikes have over karts that, against its name, ''Mario Kart Wii'' ends up being more "Mario Bike Wii", while they feel that the mechanical improvements that came with ''Wii'' were done better in future entries (such as with tricks, as starting with ''7'' they can be performed simply by pressing the hop button). They also claim CTGP has distorted perceptions with how the mod masks issues with the original, such as its perceived lackluster selection of tracks, a lame Battle Mode, and various gameplay issues it has (particularly with "Ultra Shortcuts", which result in a glitchfest second only to ''VideoGame/MarioKart64''). Needless to say, especially for a game that's thrived on its community alone, there's not a lot of middle ground.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''. Was it better than [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy the first]], or didn't live up to the excellence of the first? Its status as the first truly direct sequel in the 3D lineup also caused some minor division in the fanbase.
** Opinions are divided on which of the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games is the best, and whether or not that best entry can compare favorably to the old-school installments released during the 1985-95 era. ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' tends to be the least popular of the subseries, but even whether it's still a good game in itself or not is also debated.

*** The {{nerf}}ing of ''many'' characters, the poor character balance, the extremely floaty physics, the slower-paced combat, the removal of many advanced techniques, and the tripping mechanic made many think of this game as a step backward from both ''Melee'' and ''Smash 64''. However, many casual players don't care about those changes (or even see some as improvements themselves), and enjoy the expanded roster, and the expanded modes.

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'': The fandom being split between those who love ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'' and those who dislike it. Those who enjoy the title praise its longer length, creative puzzles, and the removal of the stressful time limt (as the player has [[TimedMission thirty in-game days]] to fix the ship). Those who find it weaker than ''VideoGame/Pikmin2001'' finding the randomly-generated caves to be tedious and repetitive {{padding}}, and the removal of an overarching time limit to result in a complete lack of tension: something that [[CreatorBacklash the developers themselves agreed with]], hence the removal of caves and a TimedMission structure being loosely implemented back into ''VideoGame/Pikmin3''. Outside gameplay, proponents of ''Pikmin 2'' love the introduction of new characters and worldbuilding for both Hocotate and PNF-404, along with the loads of new Olimar writing the Treasure Journals and Piklopedia provide; meanwhile, opponents prefer the more lonely atmosphere and Olimar's end of day monologues in ''1''.

** ''VideoGame/WarioWare: Touched!'' is either a worthy installment that successfully [[TechDemoGame delivers on showing off the promises]] of the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS's new technologies, or a lackluster BTeamSequel that [[ToughActToFollow fails to live up]] to ''Twisted!'' in every way with less content, shallower and more repetitive microgame design, and so on. As ''Twisted'' was either [[SequelFirst released after]] ''Touched!'' or [[NoExportForYou not released at all]] outside Japan, one's opinion often hinges on which game they played first.

** Take away the tactical elements that made ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' a call-back to the oldies like ''Franchise/BaldursGatee'' and replace them with an emphasis on interactive combat. Take away the epic storyline of saving the world and replace it with a more in-depth and character-driven storyline with more personal stakes. Add a simplified item crafting system, a SuddenlyVoiced [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking main character]], and choices that have actual meaning to the protagonist, and you've got all you need for [[FlameWar a nice, long discussion about its merits as a game on its own and as a sequel]]. However, many fans praise the more in-depth writing and the unusual storyline (which starts as a struggle for survival and develops into a clash between WellIntentionedExtremist factions) as a refreshing departure from the usual CRPG "save the world" type of plot.

* ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition2'': [[VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition Another]] SoBadItsGood DoingItForTheArt game that offers a deeper look into York and his charmingly quirky surrounding cast with some surprisingly emotional moments, or a frustrating, [[{{Flanderization}} Flanderized]] mess of an attempt to capture lightning in a bottle twice whose myriad of technical issues were probably made to run badly on purpose.

* Some fans of ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'':

* Some fans of ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' appreciate ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyVBeyondTheMyth'' for refining the tried-and-true "create your own guild and explore a 30-floor dungeon" formula, especially the four-race system, expanded cosmetic customization options (such as RGB sliders for hair and eye colors and choosing voices for characters), and some of the more unique selections of new classes (the Harbinger/Reaper and Necromancer in particular stand out). Others don't like that the game did away with the Story Mode of the ''Untold'' games and the world maps of the past two non-''Untold'' games, resulting in [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks what feels like a bare-bones product]].

** ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', though not considered bad, is far more contentious than its predecessor. Defenders enjoy the improved graphics; new gameplay features like King Salmonids, Tricolor Turf War, and Big Runs; the base game featuring a much-improved single-player campaign; and added bonus content, like lockers, Tableturf Battle, and the DLC adding the ability to revisit Inkopolis Square from [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]] to see how things have changed. Detractors point to the game generally feeling [[MissionPackSequel too similar]] to previous ''Splatoon'' games, especially ''2'', to justify releasing on the same console; many of the stages feeling similar to each other, with the infamous "Tetrimino" layout running rampant; the slower update cycle; a number of the new features being poorly balanced or glitchy; ''Return of the Mammalians'' once again being too similar to previous single-player modes; wasting the new idols ''again'', despite efforts to the contrary; and handling a number of fan-favorite characters poorly (the most infamous cases besides Deep Cut are turning the mysterious [[spoiler: Mr. Grizz]] into a character that many felt was a rehash of [[spoiler: Commander Tartar from the Octo Expansion]], and relegating all of Off the Hook's appearances to the paid DLC campaign ''Side Order'').

* ''Francihse/{{Splatoon}}''

* ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' is seen as being on par with [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]], if not better, thanks to its more polished graphics, gameplay changes to promote teamwork over [[LeeroyJenkins mindless one-man army attempts]], and the inventiveness of the "Octo Expansion" DLC single-player campaign. Debates within the community over whether ''Splatoon 2'' was MissionPackSequel died down pretty quickly, but what ''would'' continue are debates over the quality of the "Hero Mode" single-player campaign. Those that liked it cite it directly building off the AudienceParticipation ending of ''Splatoon 1'', allowing the player to use a greater variety of weapons, and offering more worldbuilding (both in-game and via the ''Literature/SquidSistersStories'' supplemental material that explains what happened during the TimeSkip). Those that dislike it felt that the adventure was too much of a re-hash of the first game's Hero Mode (while also lacking fun bonuses like the Toys/{{amiibo}} challenges), that the story wasn't as deep as the supplemental material implied it would be, and weren't fond of the lack of Callie (as she wasn't present to speak to [[spoiler:after the FinalBoss fight]] until the Version 3.0 update). Furthermore, both sides agree that it was a waste that [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter none of the characters introduced in]] ''[[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter this]]'' [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter game were involved in the plot]] (the aforementioned "Octo Expansion" would address this complaint).

** An improvement over ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' for refining its mechanics: Smirk is no longer hideously overpowered, death no longer costs a fee to come back from let alone just kicking you back to your previous save [[spoiler:except in the second-to-final dungeon]], battle partners are chooseable, have useful abilities, and are not as [[ArtificialStupidity stupid]] as in ''SMTIV'', and there's no 1/256 encounters (Want to fight the [[BonusBoss Fiends]]? Just come to this late-game dungeon!). Or...

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' is somewhat obscure compared to the lauded Genesis/Mega Drive trilogy, but reaction has been surprisingly split. Fans of the game praise its lush, surreal graphics, high-quality soundtrack (a point of contention itself, as it varies between the EU/JP and US releases), introduction of series longstays Metal Sonic and Amy Rose, and the time-warp mechanic (adding variety and incentives to the game). Other players denounce the labyrinthine, offbeat level design (often featuring gimmicks and loosely-scripted sequences that send Sonic to a crashing halt), frustrating special stages (ambitious Mode 7 style fields with less-impressive depth perception), and time-warp mechanic (which is difficult to activate due to the choppy level design). It doesn't help that fans are equally split on whether ''Sonic CD'' or ''Sonic 2'' is the true sequel to ''Sonic 1'', as they were developed concurrently--''Sonic 2'' in the US, ''Sonic CD'' in Japan.

** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. A good (if not flawed) platformer with fun, (usually) fast-paced gameplay that features a novel and enjoyable emphasis on teamwork, [[ContinuityNod nice little nods to previous continuity]], and a feel hearkening back to the Genesis era that managed to be the last good game before [[AudienceAlienatingEra everything went downhill]]? Or a plodding, clunky platformer with [[ScrappyMechanic poorly implemented ideas and gimmicks]], [[MarathonLevel unbearably long stages]], FakeLongevity, and an ExcusePlot that was [[LighterAndSofter a complete 180]] from the ''Adventure'' series' narrative- and character-driven drama that ''caused'' [[AudienceAlienatingEra everything to go downhill]]? [[ToughActToFollow Coming right after]] ''Adventure 2'' (as well as being the series' first new installment after Creator/{{Sega}} exited the console race and went MultiPlatform), bringing back Shadow after his presumed HeroicSacrifice, ''and'' directly setting up plot points for [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Shadow's hotly contested spin-off]] only add more fuel to the fire.

** Once Dimps was relegated to producing handheld tie-ins to console games (''Colors'' on DS, ''Generations'' and ''Lost World'' on 3DS), opinion on their games became extremely mixed. Many fans deride the handheld versions as watered-down, content-bare cash-ins on the superior console games made by Sonic Team; others, including several outspoken critics, consider the handheld versions to be better than the console versions. Infamously, Jim Sterling gave ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' a 4.5 on Wii and an 8.5 on DS; to this day, Sega just won't let the matter die. Kotaku's review of ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' was just as biased: it reviewed both the Wii U and 3DS games in one article, calling the 3DS version "the good one" and the Wii U version "the bad one" in the very first sentence.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': The games are praised for retrieving some of the features scrapped in the previous games (like day/night being visible in the overworld), introducing the Physical/Special split so Pokémon would not be restricted to certain Types based on their stats, and increased connectivity. However, they are also frequently criticized for a slow frame rate and a needlessly restricted selection of Pokémon (both of which were somewhat addressed in the UpdatedRerelease ''Platinum''), as well a large number of the new Pokémon being evolutions of older Pokémon or legendaries, which some viewed as lazy.

** Much like how ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' attempted to repeat the formula of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' but were met with increasing backlash, the same story repeated itself with the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake 2020 remake]] of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''. As with [[VideoGame/ResidentEvilRemake its 2019 precursor]], the complaints center mostly around changes in the storyline and characterization, as well as related gameplay--most prominently the interactions with primary antagonist Nemesis. Whilst still very beloved, it is far less adored than its 2019 counterpart.

** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. A good (if not flawed) platformer with fun, (usually) fast-paced gameplay, [[ContinuityNod nice little nods to previous continuity]], and a feel hearkening back to the Genesis era that managed to be the last good game before [[AudienceAlienatingEra things went downhill]]? Or a plodding, clunky platformer with [[ScrappyMechanic poorly implemented ideas]], [[MarathonLevel unbearably long stages]], FakeLongevity, and an ExcusePlot that was [[LighterAndSofter a complete 180]] from the ''Adventure'' series' narrative- and character-driven drama that ''caused'' [[AudienceAlienatingEra everything to go downhill]]? [[ToughActToFollow Coming right after]] ''Adventure 2'' (as well as being the series' first new installment after Creator/{{Sega}} exited the console race and went MultiPlatform), bringing back Shadow after his presumed HeroicSacrifice, ''and'' directly setting up plot points for [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Shadow's hotly contested spin-off]] only add more fuel to the fire.

** ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', coming right off the heels of the [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel critically acclaimed]] ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''. ''Lost World'' is Sega experimenting with yet another new style of gameplay, one which takes strong cues from later ''Mario'' games by slowing Sonic down, emphasizing precision platforming over fast setpieces, and introducing copious amounts of level-specific gimmicks. Fans are split whether despite the flawed execution, it was a step in the right direction as some felt the fast-paced, boosting gameplay of the aforementioned titles had run its course and needed to be scrapped, or that Sega are once again playing around with new styles instead of being consistent with one that worked. Notably, ''Lost World'' received more mixed reviews among the critics. However, like most Sonic games, ''Lost World'' became VindicatedByHistory years later. Thanks to notable improvements made to the game since, combined with it's sequel ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', receiving even ''more'' mixed reception despite a return to the Boost gameplay of ''Colors'' and ''Generations''.

** For many fans, ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'' is this due to the poorly handled '''seventeen year''' TimeSkip between it and the previous game -- this opportunity to start afresh with a slew of brand new characters and exciting older versions of established extras was instead squandered on either a) bringing the old regulars back with [[HandWave various flimsy Soul Edge magic-related excuses]] to explain why a lot of them haven't changed or [[TheAgeless even aged at all]] in almost two decades, or b) worse, completely dropping them with little to no word on their fate or current whereabouts and replacing them with a younger SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute. And most of the cast wind up OutOfFocus in the game's story anyway due to the rushed schedule the game was developed under.

*** The Adventure Mode, The Subspace Emissary, is contested enough to be considered almost separately. It's either the kind of thing players really, really wanted when they first played the original Adventure Mode from ''Melee'', making it a favorite mode, or it's overlong, overblown, and just plain subpar. Ironically enough, it was only when [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU the next game]] dropped Adventure Mode completely that the fanbase started uniting behind SSE.

** Among the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, there have been feuds between the games ''after'' ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'' (which is generally seen as the only game on par with [[VideoGame/MegaManX1 the first]]) and which one either stands as one of the better games in the series or the worst. This typically rounds to out to ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'' being deemed a worthy title on the merit of [[SignatureSeriesArc its]] [[WhamEpisode narrative]] but not necessarily [[TimedMission its]] [[ScrappyMechanic gameplay]], ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManX7'' duking it to determine which entry is the lowest point of the series, and ''VideoGame/MegaManX8'' serving as a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel (and solid entry in its own right) that had the misfortune of coming after the widely panned ''X7''.

** ''Videogame/MetroidOtherM'' is [[PlayTheGameSkipTheStory a fun game only bogged down by a poorly implemented focus on narrative]], or a complete failure that even came short in providing gameplay that fits with the rest of the series.

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin'' is the most polarizing installment in the ''Sands of Time'' trilogy. While the combat mechanics were improved and more time-based powers were added, the game got rid of the {{Arabian Nights|Days}} atmosphere of [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime its predecessor]] in favor of an extremely DarkerAndEdgier one. The huge contrast between the characterization of the Prince in the first game and in the second one (in which he might predated [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]]) was a big turn off for some. The third game, ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones'', fixed this by making it somewhat a compromise to the tone of the two games and having the Prince, portrayed much closer to his original characterization in ''Sands of Time'', acknowledge (and move past) his depiction in ''Warrior Within''. Then again, while ''The Two Thrones'' was a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for those who hated ''Warrior Within'' and had somewhat higher critical reception than its predecessors, those who were fans of ''Warrior Within'' found it weaker for those very same reasons.

* The general fandom opinion towards ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' is this from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV''. The addition of [[NintendoHard Expert Mode]] is generally a plus, for it answered the complaint of recent SRW titles are too easy, but the plot is considered too messy and lazy (as the writer tend to use "teleportations" to explain/solve everything).

* Each respective entry in the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' series since ''64'' have dealt with this reaction.

** ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'' is well-liked by some series fans, who like the balance of Arwing and ground missions, the [[DarkerAndEdgier more serious tone]] of the story, the [[AwesomeMusic/StarFox amazing score]] and visual design, and a completely new villain and storyline. That said, others chide its short length, linearity, a relative lack of on-rails Arwing stages, the on-foot controls and being in general an easy game to beat. There are some that also don't like the more serious direction ''Assault'' took, equally happy to point out {{Narm}} moments and the lack of [[MemeticMutation meme-worthy]] lines.
** ''VideoGame/StarFoxCommand'' returned the core game play to pure flying action as opposed to ''Assault'' which had way too much on-foot action, but most people didn't like it for a variety of reasons. While the lack of classic rail-stages is a valid complaint, fans also objected to everything else, including the innovative touch-screen controls (or the lack of a classic alternative). The story was also quite derided, probably because many of the MultipleEndings were rather baffling in nature, although there are people who found the idea a neat evolution of the series' usual branching paths.

* ''VideoGame/StarTropics II'': Is it an EvenBetterSequel or a sequel that lacks the punch its predecessor had? Both games have their fans (and sometimes they like both games). However, some fans of the first don't like how in the sequel, it can be easy for Mike to get killed by monsters due to no MercyInvincibility. Another common complaint was the addition of time travel to the plot, most of which had nothing to do with the tropics. This angered some of the fans of the first game. It's still by no means a bad game or a bad sequel. The ending of ''[=StarTropics II=]'' is also divisive for seeming to directly contradict that of the original. [[spoiler:The Argonian children who'd established themselves on Earth were whisked back to their home planet by their king who's inexplicably alive despite Zoda supposedly killing him, even though the 8 of them will seemingly be the ''only living things on Argonia''.]]

** The ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' series is a big hot point among many fans, particularly "old-schoolers" who are more familiar with the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' and ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Alpha]]'' games, who claim that parries (the ability to counter an attack without being stuck in block stun) kill the flow of the game, while its fans say that parries are what make the game great. The original version of ''Street Fighter III'' also received a lot of flak for [[PutOnABus jettisoning away]] the majority of the series' roster up to that point, the updates ''2nd Impact'' and ''3rd Strike'' tried to address this by adding back some of the original characters.
** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' tries to find a middle ground; while parries are absent, the Focus mechanic allows something relatively similar in that you can absorb one hit (or, in special cases, two) and exploit the advantage; the game [[TheBusCameBack also restored many characters from the original roster]] that were absent in the previous title. The original arcade release focused on the 12 original World Warrior and boss characters (plus Akuma) with 4 new characters. The original home release, and then ''[[CapcomSequelStagnation Super]]'' [[CapcomSequelStagnation and]] ''[[CapcomSequelStagnation AE]]'' [[CapcomSequelStagnation editions]] added more characters from ''III'' and ''Alpha''. However, this brings ''new'' complaints, in that the hodgepodge of old gameplay elements and characters are accused of being shallow shells of their former incarnations, with little of what made them fun or interesting.
* ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'' is praised by some for expanding the story by having five different viewpoint characters, one of whom is ''[[BigBad the villain]]'', but denounced by others for greatly altering the gameplay, in particular greatly reducing the scale of army battles and making them little different from regular party battles. Also controversial was that whereas the first two games were very closely linked and most of the returning characters in ''II'' had important roles, in ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'' there were far fewer returning characters and most of them had minor roles. And one was a beloved character who made a FaceHeelTurn; fans are split on whether this was a brilliant twist or done purely for shock value.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels'': You either like it because it offers a fresh new [[SequelDifficultySpike challenge]] and the addition of some new kinds of obstacles such as upside-down pipes and wind, or dislike it because [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks it's just a]] MissionPackSequel that's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]]. This extends to the meta sense- Nintendo of America was unsure whether fans in America would approve of the game, so they reskinned the Japan-only ''[[VideoGame/DokiDokiPanic Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic]]'' with Mario characters and released that as ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'', in turn another contested sequel because of its origins and the various differences in style and gameplay from the other games. Americans eventually got ''Lost Levels'' with ''Super Mario All-Stars'', while Japan got the American ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' as ''Super Mario USA'', but still to this day neither is exempt from this status.
** If you ask any classic Mario fan which Mario game is the best, chances are they'll choose either ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' or its sequel ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld''. Fans of ''3'' cite the more plentiful power ups, slightly smoother controls, higher number of levels (90 versus 73) and the addition of Airship levels (absent in ''World''). ''World'' fans prefer its smoother level of difficulty, longer levels, availability of secret exits and a fully featured World Map, addition of Ghost House levels, addition of a save system (at least until it was added to the ''VideoGame/SuperMarioAllStars'' version of ''3'') and the introduction of Yoshi. Most will admit to enjoying both, however.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', with its very different direction from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'', is certainly one of the most divisive titles in the series. Mario travels to a foreign resort island with only a few of the series' staple characters and enemies (Bloopers, Bob-Ombs, Pokeys and Boos)[[note]]variants of Cheep Cheep and Piranha Plant are present, including a King Mook of the latter in the form of Petey Piranha[[/note]] and levels revolve around cleaning up dynamically-generated goop and exploration-based platforming with the help of a water cannon. Public opinion was rather mixed at the time of release. As time went on, in the wake of [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks criticism on games]] like the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' series and ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'', ''Sunshine'' has been mostly [[VindicatedByHistory vindicated]], and many fans long for its daring creativity.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''. Was it better than the first, or didn't live up to the excellence of the first? Its status as the first truly direct sequel in the 3D lineup also caused some minor division in the fanbase.

** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''. The fanbase always fights over whether this one was superior to the original, or inferior.

** ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'' itself continued the trend once it finally came out. On one side are those complaining about how it's taking too many pages out of ''Sticker Star's'' book (the card based battle system, few new characters, still too many Toads, etc.) and solving none of its problems; the other side believes that while it still has nothing on the first two games, it's definitely a good game in its own right that actually does address a lot of ''Sticker Star'''s problems, (having an improved battle system, better developed characters (including Bowser who was silent in ''Sticker Star''), removing the GuideDangIt and far more clever writing) and is ''much'' better than ''Sticker Star''.
** Some believe ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' is overloaded with tutorials, the story is bland and the antagonist is a GenericDoomsdayVillain. Others think the game is a worthy successor to ''Bowser's Inside Story'' with tight gameplay, an interesting story and a detailed new location, often pointing to many of the flaws as [[FranchiseOriginalSin showing up in earlier games]]. This is to say nothing of the twist [[spoiler: Bowser is the true BigBad, not the original villain]], which is either a clever twist or a sign the [=RPGs=] are [[spoiler: getting too reliant on having Bowser as the main villain.]]

*** The Adventure mode, Subspace Emissary, is contested enough to be considered almost separately. It's either the kind of thing players really, really wanted when they first played the adventure from ''Melee'', making it a favorite mode, or it's overlong, overblown, and just plain subpar. Ironically enough, it was only when the next game dropped Adventure mode completely that the fanbase started uniting behind Subspace Emissary.
** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'': While both versions had the same roster, item list, and mechanics, they each got different stages, game modes, and extras, with the 3DS version focusing on handheld gaming history while the Wii U version highlighted consoles instead. The general consensus is that the 3DS version ended up with better content, since its stages were less frustrating, its Classic mode was better implemented, Smash Run blew Smash Tour out of the water, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and its menus were laid out better]]; however, the Wii U version won out in terms of playability, with superior graphics and control options.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'': While not the first direct sequel to a ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' game, is probably the most well-known, given that it continues the events of [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia the game that made the series popular and well-known to Western audiences.]] Some people enjoyed new characters Emil and Marta, the {{deconstruction}} of what happens after the goals of the previous game were achieved, and seeing their old favorite characters come back to kick ass. Some ''other'' people hate it for Emil and Marta, the reuse of the first game's locations, the {{Mon}}s system, and [[SpotlightStealingSquad their old favorite characters not getting enough screen time]]. There is no middle ground. DOTNW also gets a lot of hate for the fact that the old characters stop gaining levels at certain point, much earlier then Emil and Marta, forcing you to always rely on Emil and Marta and the monsters you recruit.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'': Following the 15th Anniversary title ''Xillia'', the sequel was loved and hated by fans on various aspects. ''Xillia'' had been [[ChristmasRushed rushed]] to meet the Anniversary, which resulted in the plot being rushed at the end and the game missing things, which included playing as [[FinalBoss Gaius and Muzét]], a [[HotSpringsEpisode Hot Springs Scene]] and similar. All of this was put into the sequel and some fans love to see it, others find that throwing out a sequel to add things which ''should'' have been in the first game was a poor excuse to throw the complaining fans a bone. ''Xillia 2'' also had a darker story, including having no perfectly happy Ending, with the best being a Bittersweet one; once again fans were torn between loving the darker atmosphere compared to the previous Tales games, others thought it [[TooBleakStoppedCaring too dark]]. While the ''Xillia'' cast still remained as your party and often had screentime, the fact that - aside from Jude and Milla - none of them played too big of a role in the plot was once again a split-point for fans. Happy to see their favorite characters, unhappy that majority of them were mostly there to fill up your party and do little else.

* While ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is extremely popular, many of the fans of the original ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'' were ''not'' happy with the changes Valve decided to make to the formula for the sequel and have not accepted it as a successor to TFC in favor of the mod known as ''Fortress Forever'', which is more faithful to the original ''Team Fortress'' mod for ''VideoGame/HalfLife''. However, there are also fans of the original ''Team Fortress'' who prefer what Valve did in [=TF2=] instead and take it as the natural progression from TFC (helped slightly by nods from Valve themselves to TFC itself occurring in [=TF2=]'s murky past). The ''Fortress Forever'' vs. [=TF2=] debate was also very contentious because ''Fortress Forever'' came out the week before [=TF2=] did, and it felt very much like deliberate counter programming; not only did the mod have quite a few issues when it launched, but some of the decisions made to further distance itself from [=TF2=] post-launch happened at the expense of gameplay balance. Ironically enough, by the time ''Fortress Forever'' had become a much more polished experience, it had (begrudgingly?) adopted some of the improvements [=TF2=] made to the core experience (this was all before [=TF2=] had turned into the different beast it is today).

* ''VideoGame/ThunderForce V'' is divise compared to the beloved Genesis games and the [[{{Sequelitis}} poorly-received]] ''Thunder Force VI''. Those who like it cites its excellent presentation (particularly the soundtrack), exciting boss battles and a surprisingly dramatic and elaborate (by shmup standard) storyline; those who don't lament the flat level design lacking in physical obstacles and unique level gimmicks, and the decision to design the entire game and its scoring system around the [[GameBreaker overpowered]] Free Range weapon, giving players no reason to use anything else in their arsenal.
* ''Franchise/TombRaider'' began running into rocks starting with ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAngelOfDarkness'', alternatively considered either the most ambitious, atmospheric game in the original series, or an unfinished glitchy mess of awful controls. ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'' was a reboot of the series by a different developer, with as much changes as that implies. Let's just leave it to the BrokenBase whether this is the point where it [[GrowingTheBeard grew the beard]] or [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]]. It happened ''again'' when the series was [[Videogame/TombRaider2013 rebooted in 2013]] and took on horror-survival and 3rd-person shooter elements, although if the 2013 did one thing, it brought ''Tomb Raider'' back into the mainstream, full-time. But even then, there is a fair amount of debate amongst those who liked it on wether or not it's two sequels,''VideoGame/RiseoftheTombRaider'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowoftheTombRaider''are worthy follow-up or lazy retreads.

** ''Pro Skater 4'' drops the 2-minute time limit and experiments with being more open-ended, which depending on who you ask is either a fresh take on the formula or something that loses the strategy elements of the previous games with finding the best line through a level.
** The two ''VideoGame/TonyHawksUnderground'' games remain popular, but have their detractors for abandoning the pure skateboarding focus of the franchise, as well as for its ''Series/{{Jackass}}'' inspired humor. There are plenty of fans however who enjoy that irreverent streak, and still think the skateboarding and open world gameplay remains fun.

* Depending [[Administrivia/EditWar on what mood]] Website/TheOtherWiki is in on a given week, ''[[VideoGame/VandalHearts Vandal Hearts II]]'' is either "vastly superior" or "vastly inferior" to the original ''VideoGame/VandalHearts''. If you bought the second game after playing through the first expecting more of the same (at least semi-)realistic looking characters, nasty-looking animated monsters, and floating backgrounds, as well as gore, character classes, intriguing narration and CGI cut scenes, you're definitely going to be disappointed to find that all the characters in the second game are now animeish, with tiny bodies, over-sized heads and no mouths, the first monsters you encounter are now just cartoonish snakes, no cut scenes, and character classes are now based on equipment along with enemies that can dodge attacks.

** ''VideoGame/WarioLand3'' has become one, primarily due to the Metroidvania style of its gameplay unlike the more linear style of ''VideoGame/WarioLandII'', the amount of backtracking and several [[ScrappyMechanic Scrappy Mechanics]], particularly the Golf minigame. Some think the execution, pacing and progression are a downgrade from II, while others still consider it an overall improvement over II and the best game in the series.
** Though still considered a good game, ''VideoGame/WarioLand4'' is more divisive than the titles before it. This is mainly because it makes Wario able to be killed again, there are fewer transformations he can go into, it makes every level a time-trial mission to escape before it explodes, it becomes mandatory to find every single treasure to beat the game, the level designs go back to the more linear ones of the first two games, and it is much shorter in length than the previous titles.
** Every game since ''Wario Land 4'' is even more contested. Which one is the 'true' sequel to the previous games? Well, you’ll get a lot of different answers to that question, as each has different gameplay mechanics and game design. Do you prefer the 3D beat-em-up/platformer hybrid approach of ''VideoGame/WarioWorld'', the stylus-oriented gameplay of ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise'', or the more return-to-form 2D platforming of ''VideoGame/WarioLandShakeIt''? As for whether any of them are even good games... that’s pretty debated as well. ''Wario Land: Shake It!'' gets flak for being too much like ''Wario Land 4'' except with less new ideas in it, ''Wario World'' has a very mixed critical reception in general, and ''Wario: Master of Disguise'' is seen by quite a few fans and critics as [[{{Sequelitis}} just plain bad]]. You can see this by the Metacritic scores of each game: 88 for ''Wario Land 4'', 71 for ''Wario World'', 60 for ''Wario: Master of Disguise'', and 78 for ''Wario Land: Shake It!''.

* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings''. Many consider it an EvenBetterSequel with top-tier production values, and an extensively player reactive, complex, mature, and adult storyline that elevates it above many games in its genre. Others however consider it something of a SophomoreSlump: with consolized design choices; a highly unbalanced combat system; and complain that it replaces much of what made the first game charming and unique with overly convoluted political intrigue that comes off more like a Series/GameOfThrones knockoff.
* ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'':
** While ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'' received good to average reviews, it was widely deemed inferior to its predecessor ''VideoGame/Yakuza2''. Many fans who had played the previous two games weren't fond of the game's sudden emphasis on the new direction focusing on the orphanage or the children, felt the plot wasn't on par with the previous games[[note]]It was also the first game in the main series without the involvement of crime novelist Hase Seishū[[/note]], and found the FinalBoss of this game wasn't nearly as memorable as Ryuji Goda, but there's a good portion of fans who consider it one of the better games of the series due to its sole emphasis on Kazuma Kiryu (which would be lost in the next 3 mainline games), loved the SliceOfLife moments involving the orphanage, felt the game had its own memorable characters and story, and found the game's FinalBoss not only to be a memorable and complex villain in his own right, but found the fight against him to be one of the best in the series.

** ''VideoGame/Yakuza6'' is the first game released on the Dragon Engine meaning that while it's the most immersive and impressive looking entry in the ''Yakuza'' series yet, and finally leapfrogs the visual quality of the games to contemporary levels, it's offset by a host of technical issues, a feeling of unrefinement, as well as a far lower amount of content relative to previous games, though some appreciate its more focused nature with ''5'' being as large as it is. Most of these issues would have been a lot more forgivable for a spinoff game, but the fact that it's meant to be the GrandFinale for the Kiryu saga means it's held to higher standards. Points of contention are the fact that Kiryu is the only playable protagonist once more, the characters intoduced in the entry, how a certain romantic relationship ([[spoiler:Haruka and Yuta]]) was handled, the way the game treated long-time recurring characters, the FinalBoss in terms of both story and gameplay, and finally, [[spoiler:Kiryu and Haruka not receiving a happy ending after everything they've been through, with the former faking his death so the latter is no longer marked as a target due to her ties with a legendary ex-yakuza]]. In spite of that, the game has also gotten a lot of positive reception for its SliceOfLife aspects and its themes of family and humanity.
** ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'', almost solely due to its GenreShift from a real-time BeatEmUp to a turn-based {{JRPG}} after 14 years.

** ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'' was fairly well received critically bar the music, but fans of the original are divided over whether it's a good game or as good as the original. You can also say the same about ''Yoshi's Story'' (and with that one, there are some people who like the former tend to dislike the latter and vice versa).

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' was destined for this by being the only ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' sequel. (Or rather, [[VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers the only sequel]] released outside of Japan [[LateExportForYou for a while]].) There are a lot of people who loved the mood of the game, the huge cast of characters, and the plot seemingly delightfully tying [[HappyEndingOverride rather darkly]] into its predecessor in a way that proved interesting and engaging. The other half of the ''Chrono'' fandom hates it for the cast of characters not getting much time to develop aside from a small handful, calling the ties to ''Trigger'' making the whole story a rather dark {{Retcon}}, also calling the plot an epic MindScrew coupled with a GainaxEnding. Most of the fandom agrees that ''Cross'' a good game in its own right, with near-universal praise going to the soundtrack, frequently called one of the best original video game soundtracks ever. But the dispute as to whether ''Cross'' is a good sequel to ''Trigger'' is pure FlameBait.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Any game following the first two generations qualify.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'': Some fans consider it one of the best games in the series thanks to the SceneryPorn, new 135 Pokémon, the introduction of new gameplay mechanics like abilities and natures which improved a lot on the battles, ''many'' more berries (as well as the ability to farm them), contests, and better graphics; others felt it was too much of a ContinuityReboot and consider it one of the worst in the series. This was not helped by how some innovations the last set of games brought were stripped out, such as trading Pokemon with the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue previous]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver games]], (visible) morning/day/night, and being able to visit the previous games' regions. There were obvious technical reasons for this, but it does make the game feel like a smaller and shorter experience compared to ''Gold & Silver''.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': The games are praised for retrieving some of the features scrapped in the previous games (like day/night being visible in the overworld), introducing the Physical/Special split so Pokemon would not be restricted to certain Types based on their stats, and increased connectivity. However, they are also frequently criticized for a slow frame rate and a needlessly restricted selection of Pokémon (both of which are somewhat addressed in the UpdatedRerelease ''Platinum''), as well a large number of the new Pokémon being evolutions of older Pokémon or legendaries, which some viewed as lazy.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' are also susceptible to this. Some fans also consider it one of the best in the series due to its large Pokémon selection and many new features such as the new legendary Pokémon forms, the Pokémon World Tournament and Black Tower/White Treehollow, and being a continuation of the story from the originals. Others have deemed it for its weaker story elements, and claimed that it introduces nothing original or new to the series. Additionally, while the original ''Black and White'' were criticized for [[ItsEasySoItSucks being too easy]], the sequels have often been criticized to be [[SequelDifficultyDrop even worse on that matter]].
** ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' have become a particularly pronounced example, especially as time has gone on. The people who dislike the game tend to point to Kalos being a rather uninteresting region overall that, despite the "French" theme, doesn't do a whole lot of interesting things mechanically or story-wise to make it memorable (especially compared to [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite the 5th Generation]], which it comes right on the heels of) and what new mechanics there are, like Mega Evolution, feeling somewhat out of character for the series, with [[ItsEasySoItSucks the very easy difficulty]] and lack of post-game not helping matters. The fact that the games feature a considerable amount of [[ShoutOut references]] and [[CallBack call-backs]] to ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' has also drawn the ire of those irritated by the prevalence of [[NostalgiaFilter Genwunners]][[labelnote:Explanation]]People who feel that the first generation of ''Pokémon'' (and in some cases the second as well) are the only good one(s)[[/labelnote]] in the fandom, believing the references to be an over-exaggerated response to Generation V's [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks detractors]] or an attempt to [[WinBackTheCrowd win back]] older fans who grew up with Gen I but lost interest in the franchise overall.\\

Those who ''like'' the games, though, tend to be very passionate about it, and are very attached to things like the huge Pokédex with two sets of starters and legendaries, trainer customization, Pokémon-Amie, the orchestral-sounding soundtrack, the more diverse cast, the vastly-improved competitive breeding/training mechanics, and Mega Evolution and how it gives a number of old favorites a new lease on life and shakes up the metagame. Additionally, the aforementioned Generation I pandering attracts many fans who enjoyed Gen I and its Pokémon, especially its iconic starters and legendaries, whether or not they identify as "Genwunners". All of these opinions came into particularly sharp relief in [[FlameWar online debates]] during the prerelease of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' about what direction future games should take.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' seems to have become this with critics, with the games either being considered better than Sun and Moon due to the positive tweaks they made to the gameplay or slightly weaker due to the games being [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks a bit too similar]]. The story is also subject to this as a few story events that occur in the base ''Sun and Moon'' games either play out differently, are replaced by new scenes, or do not occur at all.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee'' is one to ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen]]'', as both are Kanto remakes that include and exclude a variety of different mechanics and story builds. Visuals aside, those who prefer ''Let's Go!'' praise its vastly improved and modern mechanics made long after FR/LG came out[[note]] The Physical-Special-Split, which allows Pokémon to use moves better aligned with their stats by not dividing their effectiveness by type; [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness HM moves]] being replaced with Secret Techniques, no longer [[ScrappyMechanic requiring the player to keep a Pokémon with certain (often otherwise worthless) moves on board for the sake of progression]]; Mega Evolution and the Fairy type, neither of which existed when ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' were released, were still included despite other cuts; overworld encounters allow players to focus more on which Pokémon they want to get instead of having to cycle through various 'mons they don't care for, this also makes progressing through [[ThatOneLevel otherwise tedious areas]] a lot less pace-breaking and annoying.[[/note]], enjoy the multitude of references to other games and the various manga series[[note]]Archer referencing his exploits in ''[=HeartGold=] and [=SoulSilver=]'', a younger Mina waiting at the Vermillion boat for her trip back to Alola, and the first appearance of Green/Leaf in any form of media since the Gen 3 remakes[[/note]], and see the more simplified and streamlined experience as the better series starting point, particularly for players who primarily or only play ''VideoGame/PokemonGO''. Those who prefer FR/LG cite its more standard if not dated gameplay and it containing all Pokémon from the first three generations upon completion, giving it more than double what ''Let's Go!'' offers, as well as the Sevii Islands arc. They often criticize the ''Let's Go!'' games for sticking to just the Generation 1 roster and the Meltan line, not having the Sevii Islands, replacing traditional wild encounters with the ''GO'' catching mechanics, and being an incredibly simple and easy experience. Putting brand new main characters in place of Red and Blue did little to allay fans' displeasure.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' caused split reactions within the fandom, becoming one of the most divisive mainline games in the series. The games have received praise for improving access to competitive battling, a smoother gameplay pace which includes faster transitions between the overworld and battles, their lineup of new Pokémon including Galarian forms, introducing several much-needed mechanics such as mints or having online competitions taking place in-game rather than via the Global Link, well-implemented camping and cooking mechanics, many quality-of-life improvements (such as removal of random encounters and a dedicated large area for catching Pokémon), plus new characters and Pokémon that many fans (and detractors) enjoyed. The games have also received flack for their short length and increased linearity compared to previous installments, the poorly handled online modes, the controversial removal of the National Dex, which left more than half of all 890 then-current Pokémon on the chopping block[[note]]Many players who've spent ''decades'' trying to "Catch 'Em All" were outraged that they couldn't import their complete collection of {{Mons}} to the new game, not to mention any players whose favorite Pokémon didn't make the cut. But many other fans consider it an absolutely necessary step, because the number of Pokémon has gotten too huge for the National Dex to be sustainable. Especially since the franchise's transition from sprite-based 2D to 3D rendering means that including full battle animations for ''every'' Pokémon would become prohibitively time-consuming and expensive (leading to either longer gaps between games' releases or lots of corner-cutting in every osther aspect), a problem that would've kept getting worse with each generation (the franchise averages adding over 100 new Pokémon species per generation) if ''Sword and Shield'' hadn't nipped it in the bud.[[/note]], its graphics of debatable quality, the Dynamax phenomenon replacing more popular Mega Evolution and Z-moves, which detractors consider more gimmicky, a smaller postgame than past titles, the continued lack of Battle Frontier in favor of another Battle Tower clone, and the bare bones plot that spends most of the game shunting the player to the side while other characters like Sonia and Leon investigate the more interesting things and then shoehorning in a generic save-the-world plot in the game's 11th hour. The divisiveness of these games seems to somewhat coincide with a "[[CasualCompetitiveConflict casual vs. hardcore]]" and OldGuardVersusNewBlood mentality, with most of the game's most ardent critics being the more hardcore and/or "old guard" fans of the series and most of the game's most ardent defenders being newer and/or more casual fans who generally don't examine the ''Pokémon'' games to the same level of meticulousness.

* ''VideoGame/Prototype2'' featured a new protagonist, new writing staff, and a greatly refined gameplay system. Quite a few fans were upset at the new protagonist, especially given that the previous one was now the BigBad. After the game came out, fans were split over those who felt the new protagonist was a genuine improvement, and those who didn't (many also felt that [[NotAsYouKnowThem the villain's motives, given in side materials and never even explained in-game, were out of character]]). While there is more consensus that the gameplay was improved, whether that made up for the perceived story faults is subject to debate.
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin'' is the most polarizing installment in the "Sands Of Time" trilogy. While the combat mechanics was improved and more time based powers were added, the game got rid off the Arabian nights atmosphere of [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime its predecessor]] in favor of an extremely DarkerAndEdgier one. The huge contrast between the characterization of the prince in the first game and in the second one in which he might predated [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]] was a big turn off for some. The third game ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones'' fixed this by making it somewhat a compromise to the tone of the two games. Then again that later game was a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel for those who hated ''Warrior Within'' or weaker for its fans.

** Many fans cannot stand the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 fourth]] and [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 fifth game]] because they're not like the original four (and contain ''horrific'' {{Eldritch Abomination}}s). However, some of those who have never played a ''Resident Evil'' game before enjoy both of them due to tight controls and an emphasis on action and shooting. Others who have played both think the newer controls are a welcome change to get away from tank controls which were becoming antiquated.
** In spite of its attempts to cater to both crowds (and then some) via multiple scenarios, ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' has suffered from such a pratfall. Cue one half of the broken base claiming that Creator/{{Capcom}} has sold out and completely abandoned {{survival horror}} for the sake of competing with other titles (such as ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'') and staying fresh, while the other claims it's a well-done next step of the formula introduced in ''[=RE4=]'' that simultaneously incorporates the best elements from the classic titles. The fact that ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations Revelations]]'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7Biohazard'', much closer in tone and style to the pre-''[=RE4=]'' titles, both garnered significantly better critical reception is not helping ''[=RE6=]'''s case.
** Much like how ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' attempted to repeat the formula of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' but were met with increasing backlash, the same story repeated itself with the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake 2020 remake]] of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''. As with its 2019 precursor, the complaints center mostly around changes in the storyline and characterization, as well as related gameplay--most prominently the interactions with primary antagonist Nemesis. Whilst still very beloved, it is far less adored than its 2019 counterpart.
* ''[[VideoGame/RollerCoasterTycoon RollerCoaster Tycoon 3]]''. While many people enjoy the game's VideoGame3DLeap and new additions, there are also many people who say it didn't translate well to [=3D=], mainly due to its ObviousBeta release, and the game was developed by a new developer, Frontier Developments. While the first two games' effective simplicity and Chris Sawyer's SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming holds up a lot better than ''3'' even decades later, it's now seen as a decent entry in the series, and its concepts would later be refined by its CreatorDrivenSuccessor, ''VideoGame/PlanetCoaster''.

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' is this to ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', which is widely considered to be a great game by fans of the series. The third game went a lot DenserAndWackier than its predecessor, and whether that's a good or a bad thing is a substantial topic for debate amongst fans. There are also some other things missing from the second game (less clothing customization in return for what you do have looking better, etc).

** ''VideoGame/SeriousSamII'' got a cold reception from the fanbase at release due to its intensely DenserAndWackier direction, [[ItsEasySoItSucks easier difficulty]] and somewhat pared-down enemy count. Its relative failure would cause Croteam to dismiss it as [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]] and backpedal ''hard'' from the "cartoon" era of ''Serious Sam'' for the following games. However, in recent years, the game has amassed a growing fandom who love it precisely ''because'' it's such a weird and wacky game, with praise going to its lengthy campaign filled with many unique worlds, characters and enemies. Some (including, notably, popular "boomer shooter" reviewer WebVideo/Civvie11) also praise it for toning down the frustrating qualities of the previous games.
** ''VideoGame/SeriousSam3BFE'': Some think it's a great sequel that gets the series back on track after the cartoonish excesses of the previous game and features some of the most intense and exciting combat in the genre thanks to a generous case of SequelEscalation while others think it's one of the weaker installment with criticisms going toward the SlowPacedBeginning, the abundance of DemonicSpiders (which the ''Fusion'' release goes some way toward rectifying) and the [[CutAndPasteEnvironments uninteresting]] modern Egypt setting. The additions of modern shooters conventions like sprinting, reloading and aiming down sights is also contentious.

** A downgrade for its messily-handled lore: The Law and Chaos alignments are effectively "straw" alignments in a series where debating over which side is better is a major point, and in fact their respective endings are "bad" early endings. In the Bonds route, [[spoiler:Danu forcefully fixes the problem of her son Dagda trying to kill the protagonist by [[KillAndReplace killing her son and replacing him with a new one]] in a manner too close to AbusiveParent for comfort in a route about trying to achieve a peaceful resolution to the cosmic series-traditional ForeverWar.]]

** The first three games tend to be liked universally among series fans. Every game since has been controversial to some extent, but ''VideoGame/SilentHillShatteredMemories'' has definitely proven to be the most [[BrokenBase polarizing entry]]. Half the fanbase dares to consider it to be one of the best ''Silent Hill'' games, and loved how the highly-nuanced story comes together, the other half despises it for abandoning many classic gameplay functions and re-using old characters for no reason. Many saw ''Shattered Memories'' (at least in terms of storyline) a return to form for the series' psychological roots. ''Homecoming'' received heavier negativity for starting the ReplacementScrappy line of developers. ''Downpour'' meanwhile, got hammered before it even released due to the replacement of series composer Akira Yamaoka (who had actually previously offered to score any future ''SH'' titles) and gameplay mechanics (sidequests, subways, weapon degradation) that many argue have no place in ''Silent Hill''. Then when ''Downpour'' came out, the controversy still hadn't died down. Meanwhile, the next game, ''Book of Memories'', is getting this even worse due to it being a beat 'em up.
** The Team Silent games aren’t immune to this either with ''VideoGame/SilentHill4'' being the most polarizing game they developed. It has its detractors who hate it for what they see is an "InNameOnly" sequel that lacked the themes and symbolism of the past three games and strayed ''too'' far from the original formula with more combat and some questionable at best gameplay decisions (a greatly increased emphasis on melee fighting without any major improvement to the combat mechanics, unkillable and unavoidable stalker enemies, multiple stages that are revisited several times, and an EscortMission that makes up the game's ''entire second half''), marking it as the "beginning of the end" for the series, but it also has a good sized fan following who love it for its surreal atmosphere and a uniquely dark and twisted story, all while expanding on the mythos of [[VideoGame/SilentHill2 a serial killer previously mentioned in the second game]].
** Even ''VideoGame/SilentHill3'' has been viewed as this [[DownplayedTrope to a lesser extent]], especially when compared to its predecessor ''VideoGame/SilentHill2''. Though many agree that it is a good entry overall, debate continues on whether it was a great idea to make a direct sequel to the first game with the Order returning and the cult being fleshed out, or a misstep for not continuing with the personal demons direction the 2nd game established.