10 Exceptional Game Sequels That Skillfully Repurposed Maps

Sequels are often the most anticipated releases in the video game industry. While some companies, like Call of Duty, churn them out regularly, fans of big RPGs like the Final Fantasy series often have to wait years for a new installment. For example, there was a seven-year gap between Final Fantasy 15 and the recent release of Final Fantasy 16. Will the wait for Final Fantasy 17 be just as long, or could Square Enix consider creating a direct sequel using the same map from Final Fantasy 16? To explore this possibility, let's examine games that have successfully reused maps and other assets for faster development.

8 Final Fantasy 10-2

Final Fantasy 10-2 marked a significant milestone for the franchise as it introduced the first direct sequel in the main game series. The story takes place shortly after the events of the first game, where the people of Spira have resumed the use of machines. However, the peaceful atmosphere is disrupted by the emergence of warring factions in the absence of the church.

Yuna and her companions are entrusted with the task of maintaining peace, and they will revisit familiar environments from the first game, albeit with some modifications. Additionally, the game introduces new locations and incorporates the unique Dressphere system, ensuring a blend of both new and familiar elements.

7 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

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Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, a PSP game, utilized assets from Grand Theft Auto 3 while introducing a new story and additional features. It incorporated mechanics from subsequent sequels to enhance the gameplay experience.

Notably, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories also reused assets on the PSP, specifically from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It is unfortunate that there was no PSP spinoff for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

6 Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories

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The game Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories served as a sequel between two major releases. Initially launching on the Game Boy Advance, it was later remade for the PS2. The plot revolved around Sora's journey through Castle Oblivion, where he encountered his memories once again. While the gameplay changed significantly, adopting a card-based combat system, the familiar Disney worlds like Aladdin and Alice in Wonderland were revisited, albeit in smaller sections. The reuse of assets became more apparent in the PS2 remake, although it was less noticeable on the GBA due to its demade format.

5 Pokemon Gold/Silver

Pokemon Gold/Silver cleverly utilized existing assets, adding a sense of secrecy to the game. Alongside a fresh lineup of new Pokemon and a completely new region, players were pleasantly surprised to discover that they could also revisit the entirety of the Pokemon Blue/Red map. Unfortunately, this unique feature has not been replicated in any subsequent game in the franchise, which is a missed opportunity considering its successful implementation. At the time, this innovation garnered immense excitement among fans, proving to be a remarkable achievement given the limited memory capacity of Game Boy games.

4 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

About half of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is recycled from Resident Evil 2. In the previous game, players briefly explored Raccoon City before reaching the police station. These locations, along with the underground Umbrella lab, serve as the primary settings.

However, in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, the city becomes the main focus while the police department only occupies a small portion. Nevertheless, it is interesting to witness the remnants of the characters' actions in the police station from the previous title, albeit to a lesser extent.

3 Tales of Xillia 2

Unlike Final Fantasy, the Tales of series is known for freely creating numbered sequels to their main entries. Tales of Xillia 2 serves as a significant example, as it continues the trend of standalone adventures like Tales of Arise. Taking place after the original game, it introduces a fresh set of characters and a new storyline.

Despite these changes, the world itself remains largely unchanged, with only minor additions and adjustments. While it may not offer the same level of grandeur, the decision to recycle assets from the original Tales of Xillia, a highly acclaimed entry, was both practical and logical for creating another game within this universe.

2 Yakuza

The Yakuza franchise extensively utilizes existing assets, making it difficult to pinpoint a single game to discuss. However, spinoffs like this year's remaster of Like a Dragon: Ishin offer exceptions as they portray Japan's samurai era.

Generally, most mainline games incorporate the city of Kamurocho in varying degrees. While sequels introduce additional cities and districts, Kamurocho may only play a brief role at times. For instance, Yakuza: Like a Dragon initially unfolds in Kamurocho but later shifts its setting to Yokohama.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the latest installment in the franchise, takes a unique approach to recycling game elements. While the overworld map remains the same as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, significant additions have been made, including vast sky areas, caves, and an expansive underworld system. As a result, only a third of the game content has been selected for reuse, with the remaining two-thirds presenting fresh experiences to fans. This level of depth in repurposing assets sets The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom apart from previous entries in the series, with the exception of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which extensively reused the map from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.