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 wants.
00:05So long as there is a demand for Super Mario, Final Fantasy and Resident Evil,
00:09the gaming giants will continue to churn out sequels, spinoffs, prequels, remakes and crossovers
00:14till the cows come home. That said, there are exceptions to the rule. Despite receiving rave
00:19reviews, a few of the best platformers, RPGs and first-person shooters never got a part two.
00:26For some entries on this list, that was because a sequel was never strongly considered by the
00:30powers that be, and on the other hand, some other games got so close to becoming a franchise,
00:36it's all the more crushing how they never saw the light of day. Although the games we've got for
00:40you here may receive a sequel in the future, you probably shouldn't be holding your breath.
00:45I'm Jess from WhatCulture and here are 10 awesome video games that never got sequels.
00:50Number 10. Sleeping Dogs
00:52Starting off as a true crime sequel, United Front's project was reworked into a spiritual
00:58successor called Sleeping Dogs. Though Grand Theft Auto copycats are a dime a dozen,
01:03this Hong Kong-based crime saga is anything but a cheap imitation. In fact, in certain ways,
01:09Sleeping Dogs surpasses Rockstar North's defining brand. The gameplay moves at a steady pace,
01:14giving characters plenty of time to be fleshed out, and every voice actor is on top form,
01:20no matter how minor they roll. The slow-mo shootouts and Arkham Asylum-inspired combat is
01:25so dynamic, GTA's action pales by comparison. Though many of GTA's side missions are generic,
01:32just as much effort has been put into Sleeping Dogs' 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. Although Sleeping Dogs sold an impressive
01:471.5 million copies, the publisher regarded it as a failure. Though a Sleeping Dogs sequel and a
01:54multiplayer spin-off were intended at one point or another, both projects were put to sleep.
01:59Number 9. L.A. Noire. During its gruelling seven-year development, L.A. Noire suffered multiple
02:05delays, numerous staff complaints, and a change in platform and publisher. But it all seemed worth it
02:11in the end, since Team Bondi's detective sim was a wowing success. Though its well-designed voice
02:17acting and intricate plot were applauded, it was the motion-capture, interrogation sequences,
02:22and focus on deduction that made L.A. Noire tower over its competition. In a way, L.A. Noire didn't
02:28really have any competition, since there's never been a game like it before or since. But after selling
02:34over 7 million units and receiving every single accolade under the sun, it was obvious the masses
02:40wanted more. There was just one problem. Five months after its release, Bondi went into liquidation,
02:47placing L.A. Noire's future in jeopardy. Though a spiritual successor called Whore of the Orient was
02:51developed for several years, that too was shelved indefinitely until 2016. The rumor mill was in full
02:58swing again in 2020, with rumblings that L.A. Noire 2 was in the works. But as before, these claims
03:05went nowhere. Although the L.A. Noire VR spinoff received decent reviews, fans are still desperate
03:11for a real sequel. Number 8, Blastcore. Rare repeatedly knocked it out of the park on the Nintendo 64,
03:18firing out hits like Diddy Kong Racing, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and of course,
03:24GoldenEye 007. Due to Rare's repertoire, it's easy to forget about their earliest work on the system,
03:30Blastcore. In this game, the objective is to secure a route for an approaching nuclear transport unit by
03:36destroying anything it might collide into. Players can demolish through buildings with bulldozers,
03:41dump trucks, missiles, and mech suits. Basically, you have everything to destroy everything to save
03:46everyone. It may not have been as mind-blowing as other Rare projects, but the innovative concept,
03:51fluid controls, and variety in puzzles made Blastcore, well, a blast. Also, reducing a 20-story
03:58skyscraper into rubble by slamming into it from above never gets old. Sadly, Blastcore didn't hit
04:04its sales quota, killing any chance of a sequel. Since Rare as we knew it no longer exists,
04:10Blastcore 2 is pretty unfeasible. Since technology and motion controls have advanced so far since Blastcore
04:16debuted, it'd be amazing to see how a modern installment would turn out, so hopefully that'll
04:22happen. Number 7, Catherine. Simply put, there just is no game like Catherine. Half the gameplay is a
04:29dating sim with the protagonist Vincent trying to date multiple women who share the same name.
04:34The other half of the gameplay involves Vincent trapped in the dream world as a sheep, where he must
04:40complete block pushing puzzles to navigate up a collapsing tower while being chased by nightmare
04:46inducing monsters. The concept is utterly bonkers. It shouldn't work, but it does, and so well.
04:52Catherine has something for everyone. It offers brain-teasing puzzles, strategic platforming,
04:57social simulation interactions, an otherworldly narrative, a dollop of horror, and most importantly,
05:03it's got sheep. Even if puzzles aren't your cup of tea, you may be totally invested in Vincent's
05:08conflicting relationships, or vice versa. Also, the real-world sections offer a lot of freedom,
05:14so you can decide what to do or who to speak to. If players want to cut the dating section short and
05:19jump back into the dream world, there's nothing stopping you. Eight years after its release, a new
05:24version called Catherine Full Body was released, which featured a whole new love interest. Although this
05:30addition was welcome, there's no mention of a Catherine sequel, even after a decade, and that's just a pity.
05:36Number 6. Muramasa The Demon Blade
05:39On paper, Muramasa The Demon Blade sounds too ambitious for its own good. After all, this Wii title
05:45is a beat-em-up hack-and-slash-Metroidvania with RPG elements which incorporates Kabuki theater,
05:51Buddhist theology, and Japanese mythology. Even though it should be impossible to juggle that
05:57many ideas at once, Muramasa pulls it off with flying colors. Due to the absorbing battle system,
06:02luscious visuals, beautiful music, and awesome bosses, there's no doubt Vanillaware's Samurai
06:08side-scroller is among the Wii's most underrated games. Now, considering Muramasa was released the
06:13same year as not just Wii Sports, but also Wii Play and Mario Kart Wii, it really shouldn't have
06:20stood a chance. But the Demon Blade didn't just meet sales expectations, it surpassed them. Alas,
06:27even though it did, a follow-up never materialized. Weirder still, there's no real reason why.
06:33Interestingly, Vanillaware have never made a sequel to any of their properties. This is an odd practice
06:39since the company is surprisingly consistent at doling out successful games untied to established
06:44brands. I mean, how many other gaming companies can make that claim? Though the PS Vita port of Muramasa
06:50the Demon Blade contained plenty of extra content, a true sequel would definitely be appreciated.
06:56Number 5. Space Station, Silicon Valley
06:59DMA Design's quirky platformer follows a sentient microchip called Evo, who crash lands on a space
07:06station populated with animal robots. Each android has one key power, meaning Evo must figure out who to
07:13possess to complete specific tasks. Upon its release, SSS V received heavy praise and several
07:19game awards due to its wacky humor, catchy space pop tunes, inventive puzzles, and challenging levels.
07:25However, what makes the gem stand out is the variety in its gameplay. With over 40 creatures to control
07:31and dozens of diverse levels to explore, there's never a dull moment. Evo can possess gorillas to swing
07:36through vines, kangaroos to reach higher platforms, or penguins to swim in iced water. Puzzles, roots,
07:42and enemies can be conquered through multiple means, allowing players to find the solution that
07:47best suits them, and they're incentivized to revisit completed areas to locate the incredibly
07:52well-hidden trophies. Sadly, Space Station, Silicon Valley didn't sell well, which is why a follow-up
07:58never came to fruition. Since this body-hopping puzzler hasn't been ported in 20 plus years,
08:04it's tricky to get a hold of, but if you have an N64 or a PS1 handy, it's really worth tracking down a
08:10copy. Number four, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice. Though Souls fans have been pining for another
08:16Bloodborne for a decade, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice 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 foreseeable
08:28future. But Sekiro is owed a follow-up more than any other From Software title because it takes the
08:34biggest departure from the genre. Despite following the Soulsborne blueprint, this shinobi slasher has an
08:39array of unique mechanics that distinguish it from its predecessors. Rather than wailing on enemies,
08:45the combat revolves around counterattacks, parries, and dodges. The posture system urges players to focus
08:51on timing and precision instead of force. Although Sekiro beautifully captures Sengoku history, that's
08:58just one time period. Since countless conflicts raged in feudal Japan for over a millennium, there are so
09:03many other periods that could be explored in later entries. Considering how much untapped potential
09:09Sekiro Shadows Die Twice has, it's annoying how there isn't a word or a whisper of the samurai saga
09:15making a comeback. Number three, Mark of the Ninja. Even though stealth focuses on covertness and
09:21subtlety, games in the genre tend to involve a lot of direct violence. However, Mark of the Ninja takes
09:27stealth to the extreme. Facing enemies head-on never ends well, forcing players to constantly operate in
09:34the shadows. Fortunately, our ninjutsu-trained protagonist utilizes many innovative mechanics
09:39to stay hidden, including hiding bodies, picking locks, disabling lights, and distracting guards.
09:45The Nameless Ninja is equipped with darts, a grappling hook, spores, mice, smoke bombs, noisemakers,
09:50and suicide-inducing darts, offering a variety of methods to dispatch baddies and disable security
09:56systems. Also, 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 to
10:07assess every danger and find the most inconspicuous strategy to progress. Due to the versatility in
10:13gameplay, Mark of the Ninja is considered one of the best 2D stealth titles ever. For this reason,
10:19it's strange how Klay Entertainment have never pursued a sequel. They made a follow-up for Shank,
10:24and that's nowhere near the same caliber. Although the 2018 remaster was definitely appreciated,
10:30fans are still pining for a whole new installment.
10:33Number 2. Vagrant Story
10:35Final Fantasy is such a dominant RPG, it's easy to forget about Square's other incredible roleplayers,
10:42including Secret of Mana, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Bravely Default. But if any Square
10:47property deserved more credit, it's Vagrant Story. Simply put, the PS1 roleplayer was way,
10:53way ahead of the curve. It utilized pausable real-time combat, chained abilities, and weapon
10:59crafting long before any of those mechanics became the norm. Hiroshi Inagawa and his art team pushed
11:05the graphics as far as possible, to the point where it's hard to believe the console's hardware
11:10could even handle them without issue. Though exploration is a big factor in roleplayers,
11:15Vagrant Story cranks it up a notch, setting the 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. Thanks to the lavish score, innovative battle system, epic story,
11:30and enthralling characters, it's no surprise Vagrant Story became the third video game to
11:35receive a perfect score from Famitsu. As such, Vagrant Story has all the qualities needed to launch a
11:41franchise. But since this treasured title was released at the end of the PS1's life cycle,
11:46it didn't make a profit. Nevertheless, Vagrant Story has become so widely revered for the last
11:5320 plus years, it's strange that Square haven't given it another look.
11:58Number 1. Bully
11:59Bully got so much attention for its controversial themes during its release, there wasn't enough
12:04focus on the fact that it was a really awesome game. Bully boasted a well-structured open world,
12:10a tight script, diverse missions, and a slew of creative minigames. Due to its success,
12:16a remaster was released two years later, which offered new objectives, characters,
12:20classes, and a multiplayer mode. But the gaming community wanted more. Although a sequel wasn't
12:25initially on the cards, the developers changed their tune when Bully surpassed sales expectations.
12:31In 2008, a team at Rockstar New England got to work on the follow-up. Hoping to match the quality
12:36of Red Dead and GTA, Bully 2 was expected to focus more on advanced AI, so the smallest decision
12:43would affect characters' behavior later on in the main campaign. Within the first year
12:47of development, the project seemed to be shaping up nicely, with six to eight hours completed.
12:53But in 2009, Rockstar suddenly pushed the developers onto other titles, causing the project to stall.
12:59Despite former Rockstar exec Dan Hauser saying the company had hoped to circle back to the sequel,
13:05nothing ended up coming of it. Although Bully 2 has been confirmed on several occasions,
13:10such news has repeatedly proven to be false. Even though a Bully sequel would be a dream,
13:16it looks like we'll have to settle with the original for the foreseeable future.