10 Great Sequels That Changed Protagonists Mid-Series
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There are lots of great, long-running franchises in the video game industry. A hit title almost guarantees a sequel and then more entries, building up new series. In general, these later games tend to pick up where the previous ones left off, following the same main characters and continuing their stories. Some, however, take a chance on trying something completely different. Some great sequels managed to live up to the original while not only changing the focus of the plot, but by switching up the main character.
Most franchises may like to stick with the familiar. Super Mario has featured the same plumber and his friends for half a century. The Legend of Zelda, thanks to reincarnation, has continued to follow, in essence, the same iconic hero. It’s difficult to imagine Halo without Master Chief or Uncharted without Nathan Drake. Still, some series show the courage and creativity to try something new. While sometimes controversial, these sequels manage to shake up the story, give fans a different perspective of the world, and offer amazing and original experiences.
10 Assassin’s Creed 2 Changed Protagonists and Settings
The Sequel Truly Established the Franchise
While the first entry in the Assassin’s Creed series was a bit rough around the edges, still refining the core game mechanics, it still won over gamers and critics, leading to a sequel just two years later. While the follow-up to Assassin’s Creed carried on the larger plot of a global conspiracy involving an evil organization and ancient aliens, the primary element of the game, flashbacks to the past, took players to a completely new place and time and featured a brand-new assassin.
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Assassin’s Creed 2 had Desmond tracing his genetic memory back to Renaissance Italy and seeing through the eyes of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The game not only polished the gameplay and offered a much fuller world, but it also gave players a much more interesting main character with a more developed backstory and personality. Indeed, Ezio became so popular that he ultimately got a trilogy, with Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations releasing before the series moved on to Assassin’s Creed 3. While the franchise has since moved on to new settings and protagonists, Ezio remains one of the favorites. Switching to him for the first sequel was definitely one of the best decisions the developers made.
Assassin’s Creed 2
- Released
- November 7, 2009
9 The Last of Us 2 Killed Off the Original Protagonist
This Move Sparked Controversy Among Fans
The core of the first Last of Us title’s narrative, which grounded an otherwise epic story, was the relationship between Joel and Ellie. The grieving father who finds new purpose as he bonds with a young girl he must shepherd across the country was the perfect protagonist for the story. When a sequel was announced, most fans assumed they’d get to see more of his journey. Instead, the sequel began with Joel’s end.
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Having the hero of the first game and such a beloved character killed off so quickly and brutally was a major risk for Naughty Dog. Some fans were immediately turned off by the decision, and a major split emerged in the community. Still, this choice paid off narratively, with Ellie stepping up to be a great main character. The Last of Us Part II used Joel’s murder and Ellie’s quest to reflect on revenge and cycles of violence. The gameplay remained excellent, and new themes and characters helped keep the story fresh. This was a risky swap of protagonists that was definitely worth it in the end.
The Last of Us Part 2
8 Red Dead Redemption 2 Introduced Arthur Morgan
This Prequel Also Offered a Backstory for John Marston
Technically a prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2 blended old and new characters, giving fans a look at John Marston before his tragic end in Red Dead Redemption, while keeping the focus on new star, Arthur Morgan. Released eight years after the previous game, RDR2 blew away fans with improvements to gameplay. The massive, open world was teeming with wildlife, colorful characters, and things to see and do. Red Dead Redemption had received critical acclaim and love from fans, but the follow-up still managed to surpass it in nearly every way. From a bigger story to more polished game mechanics, it became one of the big hits of the decade, giving players no reason to complain about the new main character.
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While Red Dead Redemption 2 could have succeeded on gameplay alone, the new protagonist also became a fan favorite and the story was just as action-packed and moving as what came before. Arthur Morgan stands out as a tragic figure, faced with his own mortality, the consequences of his past decisions, and the end of an era as the Old West is swept away by the industrializing world. Switching to a new main character for this prequel was a no-brainer for Rockstar, offering a clean slate and the opportunity to revisit an iconic period in American history from a different perspective.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Systems
- Released
- October 26, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
7 Deus Ex: Human Revolution is Another Prequel With a New Character
Adam Jensen Has More Personality Than His Predecessor
Another prequel that released many years after the last entry, Deus Ex: Human Revolution gave fans of the cult classic series a look at how the world became a cyberpunk dystopia. The original game is still remembered as a masterpiece, pioneering the action RPG genre and taking dramatic steps forward in open-ended mission design which gave players numerous ways to accomplish their objectives. Deus Ex ended with a dramatic climax which could vary based on player choices but, no matter what, promised apocalyptic changes for humanity. A sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, followed three years later but, attempting to accommodate all possible endings while still featuring a setting similar to the original, proved disappointing in the narrative department. While some praised its gameplay, few enjoyed the new story or protagonist. It took a look backwards to give fans another good game in the Deus Ex franchise.
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Human Revolution showed fans a world on the brink of changing into that which they saw in Deus Ex. Now controlling Adam Jensen, head of security for Sarif Industries, players can uncover new conspiracies as they explore the implications of human augmentation and competing philosophies of transhumanism. Though the prequel had trouble living up to the legacy of the original, it still earned praise from critics and developed a passionate fanbase. By taking players back in time and changing protagonists, Human Revolution was able to tell an original story without being weighed down by the end of the first.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Systems
6 BioShock Infinite Took the Series to the Sky
It Gave Fans a New Character and a New Twist
BioShock is another classic which ranks among the best games of all time. Featuring phenomenal gameplay, a clever story, and one of the best twists in gaming, it was always guaranteed to get a sequel, and it would inevitably be tough for new entries to live up to it. With the first game definitively ending the story of the protagonist, regardless of which ending players ended up with, a new main character was sure to take over for the sequels. The first follow-up put players in the very large shoes of a Big Daddy, which was an interesting idea but failed to connect with players or critics the way the original did. For the next attempt, however, the series moved to a completely different setting and featured yet another main character that connected with fans.
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BioShock Infinite took to the skies, offering a new sort of dystopia developed by a different sort of megalomaniacal leader. It also gave fans a new player character, Bookeer DeWitt, the first protagonist with a true backstory and life before the events of the game. This tragic past ultimately played a large role in the plot and made DeWitt a far more interesting character than his predecessors. A narrative that was, at least, as good as the original and major improvements to gameplay helped BioShock Infinite live up to, if not surpass, the original, making it a truly great sequel with the best main character of the series.
BioShock Infinite
Systems
5 Halo 2 Split Time Between Two Characters
The Arbiter Was a Great Addition to the Story
Halo:Combat Evolved launched a whole new style of first-person shooters, established one of the biggest franchises in modern gaming, and helped establish the original Xbox as a console to challenge the PlayStation. Master Chief quickly became an iconic character, rivaling the likes of Mario and Crash Bandicoot, as a symbol of the industry and, for a time, one console in particular. When Halo 2 launched in 2004, it was a given that the silent protagonist would be leading the sequel. Fans were surprised, however, by the addition of a second main character that offered a different view of the war between the UNSC, the Covenant, and the Flood.
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While Master Chief is still the primary hero of Halo 2, the game gives considerable time to the Elite commander who comes to be known as the Arbiter. Beginning as a true believer in the Covenant, its prophets, and its mission, players got a chance to learn how members of the Covenant think and what drives them. It was a clever addition which helped build the world and set the stage for an alliance against the far deadlier Flood. Further, the Arbiter’s stealth technology offered a slight twist on combat, giving players a chance to experiment with different styles of fighting. This addition may have taken some time from Master Chief, but it certainly aided the overall narrative.
4 Every Grand Theft Auto Game Follows a New Criminal
Each Title is a Fresh Canvas
The Grand Theft Auto series launched in 1997 with a top-down action game and followed with a similar experience in 1999, but it was GTA 3 that truly made the franchise a hit with its improved graphics and shift to a more immersive, third-person perspective. Since then, two more mainline titles have been released, with another hotly anticipated, along with numerous spin-offs and expansions. Each game has won critical acclaim and pushed the series to new heights and each entry has also featured a new protagonist and a different view of the world.
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From Claude’s adventures in Liberty City and Tommy’s rise to power in Vice City to Niko’s search for redemption and Michael’s return to crime in Los Santos, every game has given fans a new character, or multiple characters, to follow and a new set of challenges to overcome. While the violence, cynicism, and darkly comedic themes remain the same, the setting changes regularly and the main character every time. This leaves fans ever eager for the next installment and the next colorful cast.
Grand Theft Auto 3
- Released
- October 23, 2001
3 Dragon Age 2 is a Flawed Gem With a New Hero
The Hawke Family Were Great Characters
Dragon Age: Origins was one of the great RPGs to come out of developer BioWare’s golden age. It stands with Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic as one of the studio’s best franchises and part of an important era for the company. The Warden’s story of fighting off the fifth Blight and saving Thedas is truly epic and firmly established a new franchise that has been more successful than many of its peers. For the first sequel, BioWare took a different approach, telling a much smaller and more personal story that focused on a single city. While this entry had its flaws, it still featured great characters and notable popular changes to the gameplay.
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Beginning in the midst of the Blight that was covered in the first game, Dragon Age 2 followed the Hawkes, a family fleeing the destruction and settling in the city state of Kirkwall. Taking on the role of one of the members of the family, players didn’t get to save the world, but they could help shape the development and future of their new home as it experienced tumultuous changes. The sequel was criticized for being rushed and suffering from rough edges as a result, but it remains an important part of the larger franchise, setting up important characters, factions, and events that would become a central part of future games.
Dragon Age 2
Systems
- Released
- March 8, 2011
- ESRB
- Mature // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Content, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Lycium Engine
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
Raiden Grew On Fans Over Time
Another sequel that courted controversy and divided the fanbase by switching protagonists, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty began with a prologue starring Solid Snake but quickly transitioned players into the role of Raiden. Far less experienced and unsure of himself, Raiden certainly wasn’t as cool as Snake and some fans never warmed to him. In retrospect, however, it’s become clear that the decision to feature a new main character was a clever narrative choice.
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While no longer the star, Snake was still an important character in Metal Gear Solid 2 and, by playing as Raiden, fans got to see him from an outsider’s perspective. This helped to characterize the iconic soldier and show just how impressive he was. Further, future games saw Raiden mature, becoming a great character in his own right. He may not have been popular when he debuted, but the younger operative is now a key part of the series and Metal Gear Solid 2 is still a classic.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Released
- November 13, 2001
1 Knights of the Old Republic 2 Raised Questions About Revan
The Original Protagonist Still Casts a Shadow Over the Story
Another BioWare classic, Knights of the Old Republic remains one of the best RPGs and one of the best Star Wars games ever made. Taking place thousands of years before the original movie trilogy, it gave players a look at the legendary Republic at the height of its power and glory. It also featured an amazing twist that rivals the end of The Empire Strikes Back, revealing at the beginning of the third act that the player character is actually Revan, the Sith Lord who nearly conquered the galaxy. The canon ending sees Revan redeeming himself, defeating his old student Malak, and saving the Republic. The sequel took another look at those events from a different point of view.
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Knights of the Old Republic 2 takes place several years later, with Revan having disappeared and a new Sith faction threatening the galaxy. Now playing as the Exile, a Jedi who followed Revan before he turned to the Dark Side, fans got to reexamine Revan’s rise, fall, and redemption, asking questions about his motives and whether the Jedi Order played a role in what he became. This shift to a new main character was vital to this story, making it an important addition to Revan’s story even though he never appears in the game. While it wasn’t reviewed as well as the original, suffering from a rushed development and more than a few bugs, it remains an amazing game with a great new protagonist.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
- Released
- December 6, 2004
