05.30.2007 49 BEST SEQUEL-LESS GAMES

Now that we've finally got the StarCraft sequel coming our way, Games.net took an extensive amount of time to figure out the best games we've ever played that never went on to produce a sequel. Some games we're glad remained without a sequel, while others leave us feeling robbed of a revisit. I can easily think of a dozen, but this list has assembled and ranked 49 different sequel-less games that many of us are so fond of. Here's the rules they used for cutting down the competition:

"With so much room for argument, let's be clear about the ground rules. We've not only excluded games with sequels, but also expansion packs and remakes. Games that have been ported to multiple platforms are fine, but not games from gigantic franchises. You may want to see a sequel for a classic Star Wars or D&D game, but those don't count for this list. There are no games here from 2006 or later, because if you liked it, there's probably a sequel on the way. Finally, massively multiplayer online games are right out. Their constantly updated content smells too much like other games' sequels and expansions."

Normally I'd recreate the list all neat and scrollable here, but 49 is a lot, so you're on your own this time. Browse the full article here, and report back with your appraise or appalled comments. Here, I'll start: I enjoy Psychonauts and Beyond Good & Evil still getting a lot of applause, but must they be on half of all online "Best ______" lists? And how dare they go out of their way to not make it an even "Best 50" list by not including Toonstruck! Although, they completely regained my approval with the inclusion of Grim Fandango high on their list.

Sometimes, just for a few seconds in the day, I actually wish I didn't have a PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii, and I was back in that magical era of Windows 95 games. And then I remember all the awful noises my Encarta Encyclopedia 95 disc used to make, and the daydream vanishes just like my 2 GB hard drive did in a week.