Most Improved Sequels of All Time?

This is secretly another Mass Effect 2 thread. Shhh! 
 
Thanks to Bioware's latest RPG, the subject of sequels and more specifically, which improved the most upon their predecessor has been a common conversation amongst friends of mine. And we're not just talking about tightening up the graphics on level three and slapping a number on it ... we're talking games that were a quantum leap in quality that essentially put the one before it to shame. 
 
Mass Effect 2 is most definitely on my short-list for most improved sequels of all time (soon to become a GiantBomb list?) as Bioware completely tore down the original, built it back up and then surpassed it every conceivable way and then some. I'm a massive fan of the original and I honestly have no idea how I can ever go back to it. That my friends is the mark of an astonishingly well done sequel. 
 
What other games can you think of that didn't just leap-frog its predecessor, but leapt into a rocket and blasted clear over its horizon?  
 
Street Fighter II is an obvious one, if not THE most improved sequel of all time. Most folks don't even realize it was actually a sequel ... Capcom is probably glad for that. All joking aside, SF2 took a somewhat successful yet obscure fighting game and completely revolutionized fighting games, changed the landscape of arcades forever and become an early system seller for the SNES. No one could have possibly of seen this coming. 
 
Super Mario Bros 3 is another. As the first true sequel to Super Mario Bros (SMB2 or "Lost Levels" shouldn't really count) it just about blew people's minds at the time,. Expansive power-ups, magical suits, overworlds and flying essentially made it the blueprint for all Mario games to come. 
 
Other games that come to mind are The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall and perhaps Max Payne 2 (though that's probably the most subtle example of this). What do you folks think?

I can't believe I forgot Grand Theft Auto III. That is probably the best example I can think of.

" Daggerfall... had problems all it's own. I would say Morrowind.   

Mass Effect 2 is definitely up there. With the changes they made, it feels like they started from scratch for the sequel. Combats been improved, item management is no longer made up of dozens of similar menus, and a whole lot less backtracking. Bioware listened to the complaints against Mass Effect 1 and offered solutions for almost every one. 
 
I hope I can see just as many improvements for Mass Effect 3

I thought the leap from Gears of War to Gears of War 2 was pretty dramatic.

" Assassin's Creed 2? "

Super Smash Bros. to Super Smash Bros. Melee was a big jump for the series.

" @Shirogane said:

" Assassin's Creed 2? "

Way up there.  Also, Grand Theft Auto 2 to 3. "

Hmmm. The jump from Half-Life to Half-Life 2 was pretty substantial, which is really saying something.

Left 4 Dead 2. The first one kind of made me feel bored quickly and thanks to clever modes like realism and Scavenger. I really had a pure blast with that game.

Mass Effect 2 is certainly on my list. And I enjoyed the original. Same goes for Assassin's Creed 2.

killzone to killzone 2. That was pritty substantial just cause killzone 1 sucked and 2 was really good hell it got nominated for goty last year so i think thats a big improvment.

Deus Ex: Invisible War. Sooo much better thannNHURKKK--

Mine would probably be have to be Suikoden II.

Mass Effect 2 Simply because it imports all you choices in from the first game.

Street Fighter II wins as far as I'm concerned. Mega Man 2 deserves a mention though. It's to this date the best selling Mega Man and my personal favorite in the series. I guess Capcom has a way with sequels.

Street Fighter II is an obvious one, if not THE most improved sequel of all time. Most folks don't even realize it was actually a sequel ... Capcom is probably glad for that. All joking aside, SF2 took a somewhat successful yet obscure fighting game and completely revolutionized fighting games, changed the landscape of arcades forever and become an early system seller for the SNES. No one could have possibly of seen this coming. 
 

I'm a little hesitant to put ME2 on the list, as I'm in the middle of it. Since it's a brand-new game, I think we're in the honeymoon phase with it. Given a bit of time and distance, it'll be an easier call. I will say that I appreciate how streamlined it is compared to ME1. It frees me up to pay more attention to the story and action.

" Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec also comes to mind. "

"Mega Man 2 deserves a mention though. It's to this date the best selling Mega Man and my personal favorite in the series. I guess Capcom has a way with sequels."

"It's a good thing that Capcom surpass that game with Street Fighter III. I consider that game to be the most improve sequel of all time, and still the best in the series. "

I can't see anything equalling the jump between GTA 2 and GTA III.

Gonna go with a sports game here. Fifa 09 over all previous ones.
 
This was just not another iteration of the franchise but rather a reboot of the whole gameplay system. Made it more like and better than Pro Evo Soccer which up until that point had been the far superior game. Changed me from hating the Fifa series to absolutely loving it.

As much as I love Mass Effect 2, I love the first one as well. I do think the second one is better, but only marginally - the first holds a very soft spot in my heart. The gap between them is very thin, so I wouldn't say for me it's that much improved, although it is still improved. 

fable 2? anyone?

Fable 2,Gran Turismo 3, and UFC 2009 Undisputed are all better than the first installments.

Terminator 2

Timesplitters 
@Belonpopo said: 

" Fable 2,Gran Turismo 3, and UFC 2009 Undisputed are all better than the first installments. "

Jak and Daxter--->Jak 2

Uncharted to Uncharted 2 was notable. 
But for all time, it can only be Duke Nukem to Duke Nukem 3D. 
 
Oh, and DBZ: Budokai 3 to Tenkaichi... but in reverse. 
 
@Fallen189 said:

" Terminator 2 "

I find the lack of Killzone 2 posts here disturbing!

I'd say Persona 2 (either of them) to Persona 3 was a massive improvement.

Street Fighter 2!

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2.
 
The first game is alright, but Red Alert 2 is by far my favourite RTS of all time, it just raised the stakes on everything and it's solid throughout!
 
Metal Gear 2
 
Metal Gear 2 introduced a bunch of new features to the original game, which already basically maxed out alot of the power the MSX had to offer at the time. And the fact that MGS is considered to be a 3D remake of MG2 just goes to show how much that game had done.
 
Quake 3
 
Comparing it to both it's predecessor's, Q3 didn't focus on single-player like Q1 and (especially) Q2 did, instead choosing to go full on multiplayer focused shooter, and it (along with UT) are the fathers of the 'twitch-shooter' which have taken a backstep to more 'accessible' shooters like CoD or Halo, but there's nothing better than a good game of CTF in Q3.

How about Resident Evil 4? It turned a series of stagnating "survival horror" games (that I still enjoy for whatever reason) into something new and managed to revitalize the 3rd person shooter along the way.

• Diablo 2.  The original was an okay game, but the sequel was so good that a decade later people are still playing it.  

" fable 2? anyone? "

Definitely agree on Mass Effect 2 and Assassin's Creed 2. Hmmm, maybe Persona 4?

Suikoden 2

Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow -> Pokemon Silver/Gold/Crystal
No really. It's amazing when you look at it.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl was a vast improvement over its predecessor.

MGS2 took everything I loved about the first game and took it in such an unexpected and clever direction that it's the pinnacle of that series for me.

" Fable 2,Gran Turismo 3, and UFC 2009 Undisputed are all better than the first installments. "

Uncharted 2.