As popular franchises go on longer and longer, prequels eventually come into the picture. Once a new entry takes place in the past, the developers run the risk of creating certain continuity errors. The eight entries below either do not make sense in their canon because of some obvious errors, or they do not make sense because of important characters who are mysteriously never brought up again.
None of these points brought up are necessarily saying the game is bad, however. On the contrary, a couple of these are often ranked among the greatest games of all time. Even more, a lot of these still have great stories. Just because they do not make sense in the continuity does not mean the characters, plot, and themes are not powerful and compelling.
8 Metal Gear Solid 3 – Big Boss’s Age Does Not Add Up
In Metal Gear Solid on the PS1, Liquid Snake mentions Big Boss being in his 50s during the Les Enfants Terribles project. The twins were born in 1972. However, in Peace Walker, Hot Coldman mentions Big Boss being around 29 in 1964 during the events of Snake Eater.
This would make him only 37 in 1972 when the twins were born. The anachronistic technology also makes one wonder about what type of tech the world has in general in Metal Gear.
7 Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The World Looks More Futuristic Than In Deus Ex
Deus Ex came back after a long hiatus with the prequel, Human Revolution. It was seen as a proper return to form for the series, prioritizing non-linear solutions to missions and exploration over fast-paced action.
Weirdly enough, the game world looks significantly more futuristic than the one in the original Deus Ex. This can be attributed to the state of the world being more of a golden age as opposed to the oppressive dystopian tone in the original game, but it still does not quite add up. Even the futuristic ideas aside, the world just looks different.
6 Resident Evil 0 – Rebecca Doesn’t Mention The Zombies She Just Killed
Resident Evil 0 is a GameCube prequel to the first game. Players control Rebecca Chambers and the game explores what she did right before coming into contact with the characters from the 1996 classic. Why then, does she never bring up the zombie nightmare she just experienced?
It would probably help Chris and Jill if Rebecca shared her previous zombie encounters she just experienced literally hours beforehand. Ultimately, you can skip the game altogether. With an 83 on Metacritic, it is the lowest rated of the classic Resident Evil games utilizing Tank Controls.
5 Ninja Gaiden – The 3D Games Don’t Match The Old Games
It is really hard to fault the more recent Ninja Gaiden games, which serve as prequels to the 2D games, for not fitting into the continuity of the originals. Mainly, the main character’s father has a different name in the prequels.
Ryu Hayabusa’s design is also slightly changed, but this can be chalked up to the difference in time. The most important aspect of the series remains intact with the prequel series; the extreme difficulty.
4 Uncharted: Golden Abyss – Marisa Is Never Mentioned Again
Uncharted successfully avoids the trope of the male action hero having a different love interest in each game. A major part of the franchise focusing on the growing relationship between Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher. However, the series does kind of run into this problem with the prequel, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.
The female lead, Marisa Chase, is a major part of the story and seems like she will become a close partner to Nathan Drake. However, she is never seen nor mentioned again after the events of the game. Despite this narrative misstep, Golden Abyss remains a worthy Uncharted game and one of the best games on the PS Vita.
3 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories – Vic Vance Looks Different And Then Returns To Dealing Drugs
The PSP prequel to Vice City, Vice City Stories, ends with protagonist Vic Vance and his brother leaving the drug trade and Vice City. Despite the lessons learned through this game, Vic Vance returns to the criminal underground by the time Vice City starts and loses his life. Not only is it weird for the ending to be ignored, but Vic Vance also looks radically different in the opening scene of Vice City.
2 Batman: Arkham Origins – Bane Knows Batman’s Identity This Whole Time
The third of the Arkham games, Arkham Origins, is a prequel following the main character’s early exploits. The villain Bane ends up learning who Batman is in this entry. Oddly enough, Bane never brings this fact up again in future stories.
Maybe the near-death experience Bane goes through during the prequel fogs his memory a bit. If this is not the case, then there really is no explanation for this plot hole.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2 – John Marston Never Brings Up Arthur Morgan
John Marston grows into a responsible family man in Red Dead Redemption 2 thanks to Arthur Morgan. How does John repay his old, late friend? He never brings him up to anybody again.
You’d think that he and Abigail would at least bring him up once during the ending. Not even Jack Marston has any memories of him. Then there are characters like Sadie Adler who are similarly never mentioned again.
