Great Trilogies in Gaming, Part 2

Not too long ago, Handsome Phantom recounted some of their favorite gaming trilogies. The problem is, there’s so many that deserve recognition. Trilogies are a hard thing to pull off in any medium, even more so in gaming due to long development cycles. So we’re back with more of our favorites, and we’re starting with a trip to the madhouse.

Slight disclaimer: Some games are trilogies that later added another title, or had intervening titles from other developers. All games have a trilogy aspect, either by being created by the same developer, as in Halo or Arkham, or are three sequential, consecutive titles.

     1. Batman: Arkham

Kids don’t appreciate the time before iPads and smart phones. They learned games with joysticks, not the d-pad. Their controllers were ergonomic and comfortable – those little brats. They probably don’t remember a time before Rock Steady’s Arkham series, a time when Batman games were rarely any good.

Arkham Asylum is the beginning of a new era for Batman games. An era that really put players in the shoes of the Dark Knight, starting in one of Gotham’s most iconic settings. The limited scope of Arkham Asylum still manages to pack in a mix of villains as well as gameplay divided into two equally satisfying parts: stealth and fisticuffs.

Critics scored Arkham City higher than any other title in the franchise. Side quests taking place among the dirty, iconic streets of Gotham were grim and satisfying to complete. The twist at the end was hard to believe for many gamers.

Arkham Knight didn’t score so well with some players, no thanks to it’s horrible launch on PC. Nonetheless, the most recent Arkham features the most complete vision of Gotham we’ve ever seen. Though controversial, Arkham Knight put players behind the wheel of the Batmobile for the first time in the series.

Regardless of Arkham Knight’s legacy, the trilogy offers fans of the Caped Crusader a chance to fight crime against Gotham’s worst. The stories are memorable, high stakes, and grounded by the excellent voice performances from the cast of Batman: The Animated Series. Rock Steady has no announced plans for continuing the Arkham-verse, but we can be assured that Batman, like James Bond and 80’s nostalgia, will be back.

Special shout out to the under-loved Arkham Origins. This prequel released between Arkham City and Arkham Knight offered up memorable boss battles and an adaptation of moments in The Killing Joke graphic novel to rival DC’s recent animated movie, but was not developed by Rock Steady.

     2. Bungie’s Halo

The first Halo game was ambitiously titled “Combat Evolved.” This game and its silent protagonist quickly became a cornerstone of gaming. Master Chief stands beside Mario and Lara Croft as representatives of the industry. He earned his title.

The first Halo changed the console game forever. For starters, it was a launch title for the original Xbox. It’s hard today to imagine the industry without the Xbox and PlayStation. Would the original Xbox have been as successful without Halo? It’s hard to say, but the first game was a tight shooter that was unmatched by any other console title at the time.

Halo 2 and 3 continued to deliver on tight, iconic gameplay, and a science fiction world to rival the greats. Bungie leaving the title to 343 Industries wasn’t enough to kill the franchise, and fans are always looking forward to what’s next from this giant series.

     3. Uncharted

In an attitude of bipartisanship and coming together, our next trilogy is a PlayStation exclusive to rival Xbox’s Halo. Uncharted feels indebted to Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. The smarmy, cocky lead Nathan Drake presented in the first game led gamers on a jungle diving adventure that was lush and fun, if a little shallow emotionally. But fun is a good thing. Over the next two titles, Naughty Dog would add depth and emotion to the characters of Uncharted.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves introduced players to Chloe, the olive skinned heroine of morally dubious nature. This sequel had impressive graphics for its time, and Naughty Dog tightened the hell out of the first game’s gameplay. Among Thieves still lives on as a fan favorite.

Uncharted 3 took the opportunity to give life and meaning to Drake’s relationship with Sully, the wise-cracking father-figure. This entry closed out the series on PlayStation 3, and completed a trilogy of globe-trotting adventure that retained a high quality of gameplay and writing throughout. The Uncharted Collection on PS4 gives fans a chance to relive the whole trilogy in high definition glory, and we recommend it for long-time fans or players who have yet to meet Nathan Drake and company. Be sure to check out our Platted That! for Uncharted, Uncharted 2, and Uncharted 3.

     4. Ezio Collection

Assassin’s Creed had a rough couple of years. The launch of Assassin’s Creed: Unity was so atrocious that Ubisoft released the major DLC for free, and gave season pass purchasers a free Ubisoft game. Syndicate, while not nearly as bad as Unity’s launch, still left a lot of gamers cold. Thankfully, Assassin’s Creed: Origins seems to have redeemed the franchise for many gamers.

Yet it’s hard not to look back at the Ezio Trilogy with adoration and nostalgia. The current-gen rerelease of the Ezio Trilogy and the Ezio skin available in Origins reminds gamers of some of the best entries in the franchise.

Assassin’s Creed II completely revolutionized the gameplay of Assassin’s Creed and set the pace for every game to follow. Reconstructed cities throughout Renaissance Italy were available to parkour and murder through, with plenty of diversions for gamers. Brotherhood offered up the eternal city of Rome, equal parts grandiose beauty and haunting decay from it’s ancient glory. The third Ezio title,  Revelations, sent gamers to the crossroads of the world: Constantinople (which is really Instanbul).

The trilogy stars Ezio Auditore de Firenze. This charming and skillful master assassin managed to toe the line between uncomfortably arrogant and coldly brooding. Though some fans began to tire after three entries, Ezio’s final turn in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations still offered gamers a memorable experience. There are many fans and critics who would posit that Assassin’s Creed has yet to live up to the legacy of Ezio.

     5. Diablo

Diablo is a pretty standard Blizzard game, in the sense that it is an iconic series well loved by fans all over the globe. The top-down dungeon crawler is visually distinctive, accessible, and all three games have a replayibility that’s hard to match.

Diablo on PC was full of atmosphere that felt as much like a horror game as a sword-and-spell adventure. The soundtrack was incredible and the scenery disturbing. The three classes were cool but not very diverse in terms of gameplay. Even the randomly generated maps grew stale. Despite some flaws, including a very hackable online mode, the game was a massive success. The incredible soundtrack definitely helped.

Diablo II, like a good sequel tends to do, exploded the series’ lore and tightened the gameplay. Distinction between classes was huge, and all managed to have a playable niche that was fun and challenging. Randomly generated maps remained, but the plot spread across four visually distinct regions that escalated in horror and spectacle.

Diablo III, despite a tricky launch, welcomed players back with open arms. The new classes and locales continued to engage players with impressive art design. The Reaper of Souls expansion ensured a long shelf-life for a great game.

This concludes part two of our love letter to gaming trilogies. As always, we love hearing your thoughts! What other trilogies deserve special recognition? What series should have stopped after the first or second game? Be sure to check out our Platted That! for Horizon Zero Dawn, and our recent review of Battlefront II. Let Handsome Phantom know your thoughts and you could get a shout out on the Adventure Mode podcast!